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1 results

  • 8 - Functional Differentiation and Distribution of Capabilities

  • from Part II - Waltzian Structural Theory
  • Jack Donnelly, University of Denver
  • Book:
    Systems, Relations, and the Structures of International Societies
    Published online:
    19 October 2023
    Print publication:
    02 November 2023, pp 146-152

  • Summary

    Waltz claimed that although functional differentiation is inherently a feature of the structure of political systems, the units of anarchic systems are functionally undifferentiated. But states clearly perform differentiation functions than nonstate actors. And, as Waltz emphasized, great powers perform managerial functions in international systems that lesser powers do not. Furthermore, his focus on the similarity of great powers ignores this functional differentiation in the system in favor of attention to particular attributes of one type of parts. Turning to the distribution of capabilities, Waltz’s focus on system polarity (the number of great powers) looks not at how capabilities are actually distributed but only where they are concentrated. This is especially unfortunate because the relativity of power means that the places where capabilities are not concentrated is of great structural importance. And Waltz perversely excludes inequalities of power and relations between the strong and the weak from his account of international political structures.