Political Science · International Relations
UGC NET January 2025 Political Science
Passage
The debate between the Neorealists and the Neoliberals emerged in the 1970s and developed over the next two decades into the major theoretical controversy within IR. Waltz himself contributed to the classical level of Realism with his 'Man, the State and War' (1959), which described Morgenthau's and Carr's treatment of IR as a never-ending series of conflicts among states trapped in a condition of anarchy. Twenty years later, Waltz published his 'Theory of International Politics' (1979) in which he sought to explain the causes of war. The structural realism is captured in the concept of the balance of power. This system is one where we need to focus our attention because its constituent units perform the same functions in the system, regardless of where they are located, their ideology and culture. Waltz argues that bipolar systems are more stable than multipolar systems. According to him, in International Relations the idea of the system is all important.
According to Waltz, which system is better to prevent war?
ABipolar system ✓ Correct
BMultipolar system
CUnipolar system
DUnit Veto system
Correct answer: (A) Bipolar system — Waltz held that the bipolar system is better at preventing war.
Explanation
★Waltz held that the bipolar system is better at preventing war.
★In bipolarity two great powers dominate, here the United States and the Soviet Union.
★With only two main powers, uncertainty is low and each watches the other closely.
★States balance mainly through their own internal military build-up.
★Waltz argued this makes bipolarity more stable than multipolarity.
★In multipolar systems shifting alliances and miscalculation raise the risk of war.
★The unipolar and unit-veto systems are not what Waltz favoured for stability.
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