TY - JOUR

T1 - What is a (global) polity?

AU - Corry, Olaf

PY - 2010/10

Y1 - 2010/10

N2 - Despite sustained theoretical and empirical criticism of statism, a recognisable model of political structure other of hierarchy and anarchy (the models that underpin the state system-model) has long been lacking. Even many proponents of radical transformation of the international system often remain post-international, describing world politics essentially in terms of complications to the international system. This article agrees that a new point of departure is needed but offers a different model of political structure by redefining the term polity - a term which is increasingly used to capture non-territorial political entities neither constituted by hierarchy nor by the lack of it. With the new definition building on Waltz's theory of theory as a picture, mentally formed in order to simplify a domain, a polity is deemed to exist when a set of subjects are oriented towards a common governance-object. The new polity model is applied illustratively to the idea of a global polity and a new polity research agenda of international relations is suggested.

AB - Despite sustained theoretical and empirical criticism of statism, a recognisable model of political structure other of hierarchy and anarchy (the models that underpin the state system-model) has long been lacking. Even many proponents of radical transformation of the international system often remain post-international, describing world politics essentially in terms of complications to the international system. This article agrees that a new point of departure is needed but offers a different model of political structure by redefining the term polity - a term which is increasingly used to capture non-territorial political entities neither constituted by hierarchy nor by the lack of it. With the new definition building on Waltz's theory of theory as a picture, mentally formed in order to simplify a domain, a polity is deemed to exist when a set of subjects are oriented towards a common governance-object. The new polity model is applied illustratively to the idea of a global polity and a new polity research agenda of international relations is suggested.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960180132&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0260210510000975

DO - 10.1017/S0260210510000975

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:79960180132

VL - 36

SP - 157

EP - 180

JO - Review of International Studies

JF - Review of International Studies

SN - 0260-2105

IS - SUPPL. 1

ER -