A New Anarchy? Scenarios for World Order Dynamics

... where stability and common norms make the world safer and more predictable. Strictly speaking, both interpretations conceive of the world order as the opposite of anarchy or as a means of avoiding a worse outcome in the form of war between major powers. Anarchy in international relations is akin to the state of nature described in classical theories of government [ 1 ]. State power is the only means of ending the war of all against all. The social contract confers on the state a monopoly on violence under laws ...