When assessing the US security under international anarchy from the standpoint of structural realism, one can note that there are no significant threats to the state. Anarchy assumes the absence of a single global system of government, and, as Nedal and Nexon argue, “fails to produce recurrent balances of power”. However, such a superpower as America can count on domination. Although other states pose a threat to national security due to uncertainty about their intentions, the political power of the United States is strong enough to withstand potential aggression. According to Bain, despite the alleged fragmentation, international anarchy involves interaction among countries in the face of changing values. Military power becomes one of the main criteria determining the nature of relationships. As a result, as applied to the United States, the country’s readiness to repel any attack precludes significant threats due to a change in the world order. Perhaps more problems will manifest themselves in the economic sphere because of the violation of trade relations. Nevertheless, from a national security perspective, there is no reason to believe that America will fall under the influence of international anarchy.
US political activities will not be affected significantly because, under the theory of the balance of power, countries will strive for equilibrium even despite anarchy (Fettweis 28). Structural realism does not imply the chaos of the world system and does not consider the absence of an ordered system of power an apocalypse. Moreover, the potential of America is sufficiently strong to establish control not only in its part of the world but also in other regions. Therefore, despite the threats posed by international anarchy, US security will not be critically compromised.
Works Cited
Bain, William. “International Anarchy and Political Theology: Rethinking the Legacy of Thomas Hobbes.” Journal of International Relations and Development, vol. 22, no. 2, 2019, pp. 278-299.
Fettweis, Christopher. Psychology of a Superpower: Security and Dominance in US Foreign Policy. Columbia University Press, 2018.
Nedal, Dani K., and Daniel H. Nexon. “Anarchy and Authority: International Structure, the Balance of Power, and Hierarchy.” Journal of Global Security Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, 2019, pp. 169-189.