Question 1

! !The world system has been always characterized according to certain criterias such as

the distribution of power and influence of states and the number of states that exert power in the international system. From 14th centaury to mid 1940s, the international system was classified as balance of power system, where no country had the most power due to treaty alliances which made it difficult for one country to dominate the international world. The materialization of the cold war after the Second World War brought the bipolar system. The Bipolar system was made of two dominant superpowers, the Soviet Union and United States. These two superpower held sway over the rest of the world splitting the international system in to two blocs East versus West. In the early 1990s the cold war came to an end the Soviet Union collapsed. This resulted in the relative absence of balance of power competition due to the traditional East vs. West conflict, disappearing .! After the cold war, United States emerged as the only dominating power in world politics, allowing the USA to contrive and get involved in international issues. as there were no effective counterweight to the power of the United States. This new international system can, therefore be described as being Unipolar. Presently, United States has the most influence and power due to its economy, military, political and technological might making the only powerful enough to exert influence over the entire international system. The current world system is pretty stable. Apart from conflicts in some parts of the Middle East and Africa and terror attack, there have no major outbreak involving major countries as comparable to the two world wars of the balance of power system era

The only way the international system will change from its current unipolarity to balance of power system or bipolar system will depend on the ability of other countries to harness enough economic, technology, military on par or above those of United States. Currently Chinas economic power in the international system is rising steadily. Their GDP is continuing to grow and impressive rate while they also gaining influences in some parts of the world especially Africa. However, no state seems to have the ability to challenge the United States militarily. [word count- 373]

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International laws can be described as a system of rules and principles that govern the international relations between sovereign states and other institutional subjects of international laws such as United Nations (UN), Arab League and African Union (formerly Organization of African Union). After the cold war, international laws have emerged as stabilizer to the current system (unipolar system) as interactions between states have become more frequent and interdependent. Thus, international laws are the only forces that are able balance the dominance of United States in the unipolar ea. Through institutions such as United Nations and International Court of Justice and other international bodies international

laws are enforced to create a semblance of balance and stability in the international system. Stability of the international system primarily depends on all states belief in the existence of international laws. Common self-interest and necessity, are the primary factors that compels countries to follow international laws. Previously, international laws mainly promoted cooperation among states but now, the primarily role of international laws is to act acts as check and balance to the way states acts towards its own citizens and other states. Even though, international laws sometimes fail to restrain states from flouting the laws, violating the laws can be costly. Ramifications for flouting international laws can be in the form of legal sanctions, or political loss(loss of influence or respect) . Impositions of sanctions on errant states are the most common form of punishment. For example, through United Nations Security Council and other international bodies sanctions have been imposed on countries such as Iran and Zimbabwe for breaching international laws. Apart from legal sanctions, military intervention through the approval of the UN Security Council serves a deterrent to delinquent states. Under the Charter of the UN, the Security Council may take enforcement action against a state when it poses a threat to the peace, or has committed an act of aggression or breach of the peace (Art. 39 and Chapter VII UN Charter). For instance, in 2011, multi-state coalition of forces intervened in the Libyan crisis to implement UN Security Council resolutions to protect

Libyan citizens from the aggressiveness of President Ghadaffis government. This intervention led to the displacement of the Ghadaffi government from power. Without the approval of the UN Security Council, state cannot attack another state, because to do so will be flouting international laws. This is the reason other states especially the United Sates, have not been able to militarily intervene in the Syrian crisis. In conclusion, international laws promotes stability by acting as a check and balance to states. [word count-419]
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