Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents the non-mobility argument, along with some modifications to it. It explores the international relations (IR) literature on explanatory levels and demonstrates the shading of the environment level taking place. The book discusses a further presentation of the preferred explanatory logic and level. It illustrates the notion of environment polarity instead of the usual systemic polarity. The book investigates theoretically and empirically the precise nature of this state-centrism in relation to international governmental organizations and the European Union. Most of the academic IR discipline proceeds, as if states were mobile like floating vessels in the sea with no specific environment. By contrast, nation-states in international politics are mutually non-mobile; this is an implicit, but fundamental property of international politics on a par with its anarchy.