ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses management challenges in a unipolar system with a focus on the main challenges generated by the international structure and their specifics in the case of unipolarity. According to Chapter 3, conventional wars play a minor role in a unipolar system. Instead, the states are pushed towards adaptation or, in some cases, achieving ultimate means in order to maintain their position and protect themselves against the only superpower and its influence. Consequently, the proliferation of nuclear weapons demands special attention in the case of unipolarity. Should nuclear weapons still be attributed with a unique character? Because of their devastating character, neorealist theory1 has thus far attributed nuclear weapons with the special status of being able to transcend the structural impact, thereby offsetting the risk of war. In the meantime, technological development has made horizontal proliferation a widespread possibility. Consequently, it is discussed here whether nuclear weapons ought to be considered something special in the case of unipolarity; the incentives to ‘go nuclear’ and the superpower’s incentive to prevent this from happening; and the problems arising from nuclear weapons. International terrorism represents another type of violent attempt at resisting the influence of the sole superpower. Although terrorism may hardly affect the structure, it demands management and is, as we argue, encouraged in the case of unipolarity. Thus far, terrorism has only been of limited interest to neorealist theory. Previously, international terrorism was small-scale and typically did not directly target the superpowers. This changed with the end of the Cold War, but does this change relate to unipolarity? And should international terrorism still be considered an inferior problem (i.e. with limited impact on international politics), or has it developed into a challenge to the world order? The third area to be dealt with is the formation of states. State formation typically takes place within the context of change in the international system. Below, ‘the entrance to the unipolar market’ is discussed and it is argued that unipolarity leaves room for comparatively more state formations and that it becomes a challenge to ‘preserve’ states that cannot cope with the conditions of competition and therefore risk collapse.
