A Chaotic Theory of International Relations? The Possibility for Theoretical Revolution in International Politics

Dylan Kissane, University of South Australia

Abstract

In describing the nature of the international system contemporary international relations theorists frequently divide themselves into two groups: neorealists and neoliberalists. The neorealists emphasise an anarchical structure, drawing implications from this anarchy to explain the order and disorder that greets the analyst of international affairs. Conversely, neoliberalists favour an explanation that focuses on the interdependence of international actors. Yet the international system of the twenty-first century is not one that can be so simply described as either ‘anarchical’ or ‘interdependent’. Instead, the features of the system can best be described in terms reminiscent of other systems from the biological and meteorological sciences. This article argues that the international system is something more complex than what the neorealists and neoliberalists suspect, sensitive to seemingly insignificant inputs and beyond discussions of order and disorder. The essence of the international system is chaos and, thus, a chaotic theory of international relations is now required.