The Anarchical Society

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that Hedley Bull wrote 'The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics' thirty years ago; that was nearly twenty-five years before the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. brought down the World Trade Center and changed the political climate worldwide. The writer discusses that nevertheless, what he wrote in this book in 1977 - and in other books and articles - is considered highly germane and pertinent to today's world order. The writer points out that scholars who have written about Bull's work have provided a variety of approaches to the value and tone of Bull's offering. This paper reviews and summarizes Bull's book, and provides insights from scholars who always seem to have heady comments and analysis when it comes to commenting on Bull's research and narrative.

From the Paper:

"Bull is the kind of intellect and author who likes to break subjects down into categories; and albeit not all of his categories are neat little compartments, he does try to bring his reader to a point of understanding through a king of grouping and common sense explanations. On page 16 he brings his first chapter to a close - after discussing what he means by states, society of states and system of states - by setting out the three goals that societies are seeking to meet (or should be seeking to obtain) and sustain in this international order he describes. This is always instructive to the reader, as being able to anticipate what the author is tackling alerts a head's up consciousness."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bull, Hedley. 1977. The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics. New York: Columbia University Press.
• Harris, Ian. 1993. Order and Justice in 'The anarchical society.' International Affairs, 69, 725- 741.
• Hoffman, Stanley. 1986. Hedley Bull and his contributions to international relations. International Affairs, 62 (Spring): 179-188.
• Makinda, Samuel M. 2002. Hedley Bull and global governance: a note on IR theory. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 56, 361-371.
• Tucker, Michael J. 1978. The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics by Hedley Bull. Canadian Journal of Political Science, 11 (September): 691-693.

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• Analytical Essay # 133074 : "Paul Cignac, Pointillism and Anarchism"

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