What is anarchy in international relations?

2. Nations live in a context of anarchy

The international political system is anarchic, as there is no supranational authority to enforce rules;

The often-used analogy of there being ‘no one to call’ in an international emergency might help to underline this point.

Within our own countries, we typically have police forces, militaries, courts, and so on. There is an expectation that these institutions will "do something" in the event of an emergency.

However, there is no clear expectation of anyone or anything 'doing something ’ on a global scale because there is no defined hierarchy. As a result, nations can only rely on themselves in the end.

2. Nations live in a context of anarchy

The international political system is anarchic,

as there is no supranational 
authority to enforce rules;

The often-used analogy of there being ‘no one to

call’ in an international emergency 
might help to underline this point.

Within our own countries, we typically have 
police forces, militaries, courts, and so on.

There is an expectation that these institutions 
will "do something" in the event of an emergency.

However, there is no clear expectation of 
anyone or anything 'doing something ’ on a

global scale because there is no 
defined hierarchy. As a result,

nations can only rely on themselves in the end.