ABSTRACT
The American government reacted to 9-11, understandably enough, as if the attack had come from an enemy state. It declared war, and from that day to this many, if not most, Americans believe that they are ‘at war’, although the precise definition of the adversary has varied over the years. The Cold War quickly brought it to an end as the leading powers divided into two blocs, each identifying itself with a different concept of ‘democracy’ and a different vision of ‘world order’. But stability of a curious kind did result, if only from the fact that, in the nuclear age, neither side dared go to war. The Westphalian system is far from extinct and traces of it will be with us for many years yet. States may no longer enjoy a monopoly of violence but wars between them are still possible, especially between small new states with ill-defined frontiers.
