Self-study
P1
Social scientists have traditionally defined multipolar international systems as consisting of three or more nations, each of roughly equal military and economic strength. ███
Mulitpolar systems ·
Three or more nations of equal strength
Characteristics of multipolar ·
Shifting, temporary alliances promote stability
Small confrontations prevent any one nation from dominating ("hegemony")
Example of multipolar ·
Concert of Europe
100 years of peace under miltipolar regime
P2
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Bipolar systems ·
Only two nations of equal strength
Smaller nations ally with the big two
Characteristics of bipolar ·
Frequent, large-scale conflict, one side wins in the end
No third power to balance out conflict and provide stability
Examples of bipolar ·
Athens vs Sparta, USA vs USSR
P3
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Author's criticism ·
A new view is needed
Based on political changes after Cold War, author calls into question the traditional view of multipolar and bipolar systems
Premise ·
Multipolar system in present-day Europe threatens stability
Traditional view says multipolar systems should be stable; author gives counterexample of unstable multipolar system
P4
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Premise ·
Second example of multipolar system undermining stability
Author again counters traditional view of stable multipolar systems using historical example where Europe's multipolar system led to World War I and later World War II
Premise ·
Bipolar system improved stability
Historical example of bipolar system that promoted peace and stability. Author's main point becomes clearer: the traditional view is wrong because history shows that multipolar systems can cause instability and bipolar systems can cause stability.
Passage Style
Critique or debate
3.
The author's reference to the ███████████ ████ ██████████████ ███ ████ ██ ████████████ █
a
indicate that bipolar ███████ ███ ████ ███████ ████████ ███████████████
The referenced text supports the traditional view that bipolar systems are unstable. The fact that they often involve conflict that leads to the capitulation— or surrender— of one of the two major members indicates that these systems can have certain unstable characteristics.
b
illustrate how multipolar ███████ ███ █████████ ██████████ ████ ███████ ███████
Neither the author nor the traditional view ever mentions multipolar systems transforming themselves into bipolar systems. Also, the referenced text is in P2, which only discusses bipolar systems.
c
contrast the aggressive ██████ ██ ███████ ███████ ████ ███ ████ ████████ ████████ ██ █████ ██████████ ████████████
Neither the author nor the traditional view ever suggests that one system is less rational than the other. Instead, P2 presents the traditional view that bipolar systems are less stable than multipolar systems. The referenced text illustrates this instability.
d
indicate the anarchic ██████ ██ █████████████ █████████
Neither the author nor the traditional view ever discusses anarchy. Also, P2 is describing bipolar systems in particular, not international relations in general. The referenced text indicates the unstable nature of bipolar systems.
e
suggest that military ███ ████████ ████████ ██████ ██ ███████ ██ ██████████ ██ ██ ██████████ ███████
The traditional view explains that multipolar systems are made of three or more nations with roughly equal military and economic strength, while bipolar nations are made of two nations with roughly equal military and economic strength. It doesn’t suggest that these factors shift just as frequently in each system.