Why the absence of a world government makes global conflict an inevitable structural reality.

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Kenneth Waltz revolutionized international relations by arguing that global politics is defined by anarchy, not human nature. He proposed that the structure of the international system—specifically the distribution of power among states—dictates how nations behave, regardless of their internal ideologies or the specific leaders currently in charge.

Kenneth N. Waltz, who passed away in 2013, remains a foundational figure in political science for his development of neorealism, or structural realism. While classical realists like Hans Morgenthau focused on the competitive nature of human actors, Waltz sought a more scientific, systemic explanation. In his seminal 1979 work, Theory of International Politics, he argued that the international system is inherently anarchic because there is no central authority to adjudicate disputes between sovereign states.

For Waltz, the primary driver of international behavior is the system's polarity—the number of superpowers dominating the global stage. He famously contended that the unipolarity following the Soviet Union's collapse was uniquely dangerous, as it lacked the balancing mechanisms that keep great powers in check. Because no higher authority exists to enforce order, Waltz believed that great powers are almost structurally compelled to abuse their influence, often to their own long-term detriment.

Waltz’s perspective extended to the controversial realm of nuclear proliferation. Contrary to the common fear that more nuclear-armed states increase the risk of global catastrophe, Waltz argued that nuclear weapons actually buttress peace. He posited that the prospect of mutual retaliation forces competent governments to act with caution, effectively deterring large-scale conflict. Throughout his career, which included teaching at institutions like UC Berkeley and Columbia, he remained a critic of U.S. military interventions, viewing wars in Vietnam and Iraq as misguided efforts that ignored the structural realities of international power dynamics.

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