Polarity (international relations)
description of power in international relations; any of the various ways in which power is distributed within the international system; describes the nature of the international system at any given period of time
Polarity in international relations is any of the various ways in which power is distributed within the international system. It describes the nature of the international system at any given period of time. One generally distinguishes three types of systems: unipolarity, bipolarity, and multipolarity for three or more centers of power. The type of system is completely dependent on the distribution of power and influence of states in a region or across the globe.
The Cold War period was widely understood as one of bipolarity with the US and the USSR as the world's two superpowers, whereas the end of the Cold War led to unipolarity with the US as the world's sole superpower in the 1990s and 2000s. Some scholars believe that the world is currently bipolar with the US and China as the world's dominant powers. However, scholars have debated how to characterize the current international system.
Political scientists do not have an agreement on the question what kind of international politics polarity is likely to produce the most stable and peaceful system. Kenneth Waltz and John Mearsheimer are among those who argue that bipolarity tends to produce a relatively high stability. In contrast, John Ikenberry and William Wohlforth are among those arguing for the stabilizing impact of unipolarity.
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