How did the end of the cold war alter the international system?

Intro:
The Cold War unnaturally foreshortened (Lagon, 1995, pg. 54) the
complexities of international relations reducing complex
international dynamics into a framework of bipolar competition in
security, economics, technology and ideology (Lagon, 1995).
New Structures

Unique Context
o Unprecedented peaceful collapse of a major super
power
Historically unique context from which unique
structures and institutions would arise
o Undercut realist assumptions and predicative nature of
international relations
Movement to unipolar or multipolar position
o Rapid creation of new states
o Rising powers questioning legitimacy of existing
international institutions
Three main changes:
o Persistence of regional conflict
o Non-state actors
o Regional centres of power
Changing role of international institutions:
o Increased involvement peace keeping process
o Changing notions of sovereignty and right to protect
Spread of liberal institutionalism
Growth of NATO

New Threats
o Non state actors
o Move from Jihadists of 1980s to those of 9/11
o Terrorism
o International crime
o Change in Nuclear Questions
o Worried about proliferation rather than use
o Cold War typified by management of superpower
nuclear conflict
o Increased role of nuclear weapons in regional conflict
o Clandestine programs means nuclear deterrence is no
longer a viable means of conduction nuclear politics
o Move to nuclear diplomacy
o International threats requiring international
responses:
o Climate change

o Displaced people
o Food security
New Ideas
o Human Security:
o Responsibility to protect
o Unstable states prone to human rights violations
o Changes in approaches to international politics
o End of bipolar power politics
o International management of transnational issues
o Undercut existing realist notions no counterhegemonic
bloc arised rather states tried to align with US
hegemony
o Increased interdependence economics, globalisation
o Decline in interstate conflict
o Internet
o Changing notions of sovereignty
o Development intergration of the peace and
development agenda
o Human rights
o Sexual violence
o Conflict