Anarchical Society & Society of States (Edexcel A Level Politics): Revision Note
Exam code: 9PL0
Anarchy in the global system
Anarchy means the absence of rules and authority
The global system is one of anarchy
Sometimes we associate anarchy with chaos, but this is not what it means
Society of States theory
Developed by the political theorist Hedley Bull to describe the global system
Argues that although the international system is anarchic, states form a society governed by shared rules, norms and institutions
The theory sits between realism and liberalism
It accepts anarchy and sovereignty, but also sees cooperation and institutions as meaningful
Key elements
States are the only actors of importance and always act in their own self-interest
States recognise each other’s sovereignty and accept common principles such as diplomacy, international law and non-intervention
Anarchy exists, but it produces order rather than chaos because states value predictability and legitimacy
Power remains important, but state behaviour is constrained by norms and expectations
Strengths and weaknesses
Its main strength is explaining why states often follow international law without enforcement
Its key criticism is that it prioritises order over justice and is highly state-centric
State co-operation
Anarchical society recognises that state co-operation with other states, actors and stakeholders does take place if the co-operation is mutually beneficial
This co-operation can lead to a relatively stable society of states even though states prioritise their own self-interest
Liberals believe co-operation is mutually beneficial and leads to a more stable global system
They are more optimistic about the motivation of states and the significance of global governance institutions and international law
Case Study
The Paris Climate Agreement (2015)
The Paris Agreement shows how cooperation can emerge in an anarchic system
It demonstrates both the Society of States idea of order without government and the liberal belief in cooperation and institutions
Despite anarchy, nearly every state agreed to cooperate to limit global temperature rise
Cooperation exists because climate change poses shared risks that no state can address alone
States recognise that the mutual benefits of economic stability, environmental protection and long-term security outweigh acting alone
A stable society of states
The agreement created shared norms, expectations and regular diplomatic processes
Even when states act in self-interest, cooperation has produced a relatively stable framework for global climate governance
This reflects the Society of States' view that order can exist without central authority
Liberal interpretation
Liberals see the Paris Agreement as evidence that cooperation is mutually beneficial and achievable
International law and institutions, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, are viewed as meaningful and influential
The case supports the liberal belief that global governance can reduce conflict and increase stability
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