ABSTRACT
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
The concept of international system emerged from general systems theory, which began its assault on traditional modes of thinking in the social sciences during the 1950s. Since that time, a number of efforts have been directed toward concept formation. The following review of the literature on international systems, stability and equilibrium, and systemic crisis will reflect a certain purpose and a corresponding set of evaluative criteria. The objective is to derive a definition of systemic crisis that is valid, useful for the study of change, and analytically comprehensive. This definition must incorporate the crucial concepts related to change that permeate the literature. It should also focus attention on the sources of change at the international level, as opposed to merely describing structure and process. Finally, a viable definition of systemic crisis must connect the unit and system levels of analysis, to facilitate the comprehensive study of crisis-induced change.
