Historic International Systems

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HISTORIC INTERNATIONALSYSTEMS

K.J. Holst i



Historic International Systems

Contents

I. Definition of International Systems

II. The Five Aspects of Analysing International

Systems

III. Historic International Systems: Chou Dynasty,

Greek City – States and 1648 – 1814 European

Inter – state System

IV. The 21st Century International System

V. Conclusion




What is an International System?

- “A collection of independent political entities –

tribes, city – states, nations or empires – that

interact with considerable frequency andaccording to regularized processes.” – K.J.

Holsti

- “Pattern of relationships between and amongst

states that establishes measure of order and

predictability.” – Andrew Heywood




Five Aspects of Analysing

International Systems

1. Boundaries of States

2. Characteristics of the Political Units

3. Structure of the System

4. Forms of Interactions

5. Major Rules of the Systems




International Politics of the Chou

Dynasty1122 B . C.

– 221 B. C.I. Boundaries of the Chou Dynasty

Western Chou Dynasty

1122 B. C. – 771 B. C.Spring and Autumn

Period

771 B. C. – 483 B. C.

Warring States Period

403 B. C. – 221 B. C.




International Politics of the Chou

Dynasty1122 B . C.

– 221 B. C.

Nature of thePolitical Units Structure of theSystem Forms ofInteraction Rules of theSystem

- Central Monarchy

- Small feudal

units; subdivided

into fiefs

-Autonomy for the

nobles: officials,

taxes, armies

- Large scale

irrigation and

construction

projects

- Administrative

mechanisms

- Nationalism

- Attached states :

fu - yung

- Hierarchical

power relations

- Consolidation of

power among

feudal lords andvassals

- Authority based

on inheritance no

longer from the

central monarchs

-Self – sufficientpolitical units

- Polarization of

power: Ch’i and

Ch’u

- Territorial

expansion

- Hierarchical

communication

and interactions

- Independent

external relationsand diplomatic

exchanges:

Spring and

Autumn and

Warring periods

-Transactionsbased on the

state’s interests

- Commercial

exchanges

- Wars

-Subversion and

intervention

- Rules and

customs that

reflected major

political and

military

characteristics of

the system

- Treaties between

equals

- Exercise of

sovereignty

-Treaties

containing

specific

obligations of

states, means for

enforcement and

conduct inwarfare




International Politics of Greek City –

States800 B.C.

– 322 B.C.

Boundaries of the Greek City – States

500 B. C.

I. Boundaries of the Greek City - States

- Geographically more

extensive

-Greeks travel and trade toIndia, Baltic shores, Spain

and North Africa

- Colonized territories in the

Mediterranean

-Maintained commercial anddiplomatic relations with the

Phoenicians, Persians,

Arabs, Indians, Europe and

Southern Russia




International Politics of Greek City –

States800 B.C.

– 322 B.C.Nature of the

Political UnitsStructure of the

SystemForms of

InteractionRules of the

System

- City – states

(pol is)

- Forms of

government:

priest – kings

ruling over tribal

organizations,

small oligarchies,

military

tyrannies, elected

governments andcitizens

- Other types of

political units:

po leis, cleruc hy,

non-mi l i tary

colonies

- Territorial wars,

personal

rivalries/few

hierarchies of

dominance – dependence

- Presence of

external threats

- Stratification of

States

- Commercial

activities and

transactions

- Religious

festivals and

council meetings

- Diplomatic means

to wield influence

- Wars

- Independence

and equality

among the units

- Standard

procedures for

war, asylum and

citizenship

- Arbitration and

conciliation

-Larger and morepowerful political

units

overpowered

smaller and

weaker Greek city

- states




The Interstate System of Europe1648 - 1814

I. Boundaries of Europe

Boundaries of Mainland Europe

1815

- Essentially religious:

Christianity and

Christendom

- Regular contacts with the

Ottoman Empire; European

states colonized territories in

North America, Caribbean,

Latin America, India and East

Indies

- Include countries from

Europe or European Dynasts




The Interstate System of Europe1648 - 1814

Nature of the

Political Units

Structure of the

System

Forms of

Interaction

Rules of the

System

- Political dynastic

units called

states

-Bureaucraticmechanisms to

administer the

monarch’s realms

- Common persons

made up about

90% of thepopulation, the

remaining are the

nobles who

receive privileges

and status from

the king

- Diffused power

relations;

decisions are

made from the

central monarchs

- Balance of power

to maintain

states’

independence

-

Shiftingalliances; none

accepted any

form of

subordination

- Symbolic

allegiance to the

Holy Roman

- Limited

interaction due to

slow and

unreliable

communication

- Economic

warfare

- Diplomatic corps

- Zero – sum

foreign trade:monopolies and

commercial

exclusivity

- Wars – 58 wars in

every 2.9 years

but not asdestructive as

- Treaty of

Westphalia in

1648

-Absence ofsupranational

authority over

dynastic states

- Principle of

sovereignty and

its corollaries- Territoriality

- Emergence of

international law

- Diplomatic

immunities

- No IO’s

Hi t i I t ti l S t




The 21st Century International SystemPost Cold - War

Contemporary Political Map

-Territorial borders arestandardized through laws,

treaties and conventions

- Greater cultural, religious,

political, social and economic

diversities and freedomamong states

- New actors

- Increased interdependence

and interactions

-Global governance

- Transnational issues and

objectives

Hi t i I t ti l S t




The 21st Century International SystemPost Cold - War

Nature of the

Political Units

Structure of the

System

Forms of

Interaction

Rules of the

System

- Different states

have varied forms

of government –

democratic,

totalitarian,

socialist states

- Presence of non-

governmental

organizations and

groups serving

differentpurposes that are

not necessarily

for the state

- More freedom for

government and

citizens

- Multipolar power

relations

- Roles of both

state and non-state actors

- Opportunities for

both conflict and

cooperation

- Competing

values,ideologies and

perceptions

- Balance of power,

collective

security and

collective

dilemma

- Exponential

speed and

reliability in

communication

and information

technology

- Establishment of

alliances and

coalitions

- Presence of

threats tosecurity,

sovereignty and

territories

- Transnational

organized groups

and criminalswielding

- International law

and other legal

tenets

-Internationalregimes in the

forms of legal

conventions ,

international

agreements,

treaties and

internationalinstitutions

- Checks and

balances created

by dominant

actors and

regimes

Hi t i I t ti l S t




Conclusion

-Some aspects of contemporary and future international systems have itsbeginnings from the historic international systems, e.g., institutions of

diplomacy from the Chou Dynasties and Greek City – States, sovereignty

from the Westphalian order and the concept of “balance of power” from the

European International System.

-Extent and magnitude of cooperation, globalization, global governance andinternational society pervades the analysis of current international systems

and could be added to the five aspects discussed by K.J. Holsti.

- New forms of power, e.g. soft and hard power, transnational and non-state

actors and international regimes of considerable influence and power

affects the interactions and behaviours of states toward each other.

- Domestic politics shape the structure of international system and in turn the

structure of the international environment influences the domestic affairs

and national interests of states.

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Historic International Systems

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