In my last blog I talked about different dimensions of power and the philosophy that shapes it. For me power, at all levels, have always been a zero sum game where only the strong survives and weak gets dominated. However, what was missing in my thoughts was the the inherent driver of this 'lust of power'. However after reading Helen Milner I believe I have been shown direction. Milner talks about the instrumental role of anarchy in the global political arena. And it is this anarchy, the lack of a central governing body, which always allows Powerful to always rule the roost and might to become always right.
The Basic difference between national and international is the absence of Anarchy. where in a nation, there is a state as a governing body to curb any form of discontent from erupting, the international arena is handicapped from any form of state-like force. Organisations such as the UN tries to play the role of the one calling the shots but they are rather persuaded and insinuated by the powerful ones and hence fails to maintain order in the international arena. And this is why, for Milner, International politics is so different from domestic politics. Anarchic world system, hence is deprived any form of structure and is only molded by the one standing at the top of that pyramid. Therefore terms like mutual cooperation and mutual betterment cannot be taked literally as they are always driven hidden motives which are only used to serve a purpose.
Well Sobi, it's clear that you missed Milner's central point, i.e. that the international system should be assessed based on both anarchy AND interdependence. She critiqued realists for not fully understanding that pure anarchy does not exist in the international system.
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