The Anarchical Society by Hedley Bull - 1977: A Study of Order in World Politics

London and Basingstoke: Macmillan. Trade Paperback. 1977. 1983 reprint. Good. Extensive highlighting, underlining, and notes. Not from a library. xv + 335 pages.

Hedley Bull explores three key questions: what is the nature of order in world politics?; how is it maintained in the contemporary state system?; and what alternative paths to world order are feasible and desirable?

Contents: Introduction -- Part 1. The nature of order in world politics: the concept of order in world politics; does order exist in world politics?; how is order maintained in world politics?; order versus justice in world politics -- Part 2. Order in the contemporary international system: the balance of power and international order; international law and international order; diplomacy and international order; war and international order; the great powers and international order -- Part 3. Alternative paths to world order: alternatives to the contemporary states system; the decline of the states system; the obsolescence of the states system; the reform of the states system; conclusion.