Anarchy and International Relations theory: A reconsideration
| Date | 01 October 2017 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1755088217719911 |
| Author | Jonathan Havercroft,Alex Prichard |
| Published date | 01 October 2017 |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1755088217719911
Journal of International Political Theory
2017, Vol. 13(3) 252 –265
© The Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/1755088217719911
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Anarchy and International
Relations theory: A
reconsideration
Jonathan Havercroft
University of Southampton, UK
Alex Prichard
University of Exeter, UK
Abstract
In this introduction to the Special Issue, we undertake a little ground clearing in order to
make room in International Relations for thinking differently about anarchy and world
politics. Anarchy’s roots in, and association with, social contract theory and the state
of nature has unduly narrowed how we might understand the concept and its potential
in International Relations. Indeed, such is the consensus in this regard that anarchy is
remarkably uncontested, considering its centrality to the field. Looking around, both
inside and outside International Relations, for alternative accounts, we find ample
materials for helping us think anew about the nature of and possibilities for politics
in anarchy. In the second part of the introduction, we show how our contributors
develop and expand on these resources and what we hope the Special Issue brings to
International Relations.
Keywords
Anarchy, history of International Relations theory, International Relations theory,
Waltz
Introduction
What is anarchy? Despite its centrality to the self-image of the discipline of International
Relations (IR), few have critically enquired into the essence of this concept. Most still deploy
textbook definitions, namely, that anarchy is the absence of rulers, of a centralised authority
Corresponding author:
Alex Prichard, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK.
Email: A.Prichard@exeter.ac.uk
719911IPT0010.1177/1755088217719911Journal of International Political TheoryHavercroft and Prichard
research-article2017
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