Stability in international relations

Stability in international relations (IR) and politics means the condition of worldwide stabile position, when states do not want do deviate and changes will appear not in a dramatic and fast way. Stability in international relations can be achieved through both domination and cooperation of countries. Domination is the key concept of realism, while cooperation is a principle of liberal theory of International Relations. Both concepts have their benefits and drawbacks, nevertheless, neither of them can help to achieve stability in the best manner. Thus, both realism (domination) and liberalism (cooperation) support the idea of stability, both have the chance to achieve it in the most favourable condition.

Firstly, the domination is a key element in the theory of IR-realism. The goal of stability can be achieved by the influence of the great power. Realists argue that states and their rulers sick to reach as much power as possible in order to survive. Grieco (1995) highlighted that leaders of states will always try to maximize their power in order to have enormous difference with other states in terms of power. Machiavelli is known as a premodern realism theorist; he argued that a successful state will use every possible chance to gain power in international area. He claimed that it is a state’s interest to become more powerful among other states. He as a realist said that self-help is a key to achieve security in the international area. This means that realistic approach of IR argues that through self-help and reliance only on your power will keep the world on the stable position. Domination of one part of the world over the other is a necessary condition to realise the international stability. What is more, some scholars claim that realism is how world is and it is not ‘just’ a concept, but it is a global reality. Also, realists and Machiavelli too argued that security and stability will not be achieved if states will not use power and threat over others. This means that a security dilemma will appear in any case. Realists see that even decent intentions of one state will somehow be seen by other as a real threat to their stability and freedom. Therefore, realists believe that domination is the best source of the global security and stability.

Secondly, cooperation is seen as a key source of stable situation by liberalists. Kant is a traditional realist thinker argues that cooperation as a form should be achieved in order to provide world with security and stability. He argue that states should become republics, which in his view the best form of states because such states are more reasonable and responsible in relations with other because they are governed not by a monarch with narrow opinion, but people choose people to decide for them on issues of politics. What is more, Kant claimed that the next step for stability is a cooperation itself. This means that states should create alliances with each other.