The difference between international relations model and international relations system

System and mode are two different concepts, but they are deeply related. As far as international relations are concerned, my definition of the system is that after the formation of modern international relations, the major countries in the world, especially the big countries in a certain historical period, are constrained by a relatively stable political and economic order. For the pattern, I understand it as: under a certain system of international relations, the power distribution between countries, especially among big countries.

It is generally believed in academic circles that modern international relations originated after the Thirty Years' War. European powers established some principles of modern international relations by holding international conferences. As a result, the first international relations system in modern times-Westphalia system was formed. Since Europe basically established its dominant position in the world at that time, it can be summarized as a worldwide system of international relations. In this system, the Holy Roman Empire, Austria, France, Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden and other countries temporarily adjusted their complicated interests and ensured a relatively peaceful and stable balance of power in Europe. As far as the pattern under its system is concerned, it can be expressed as a pattern of balance of power in many countries, but this pattern is limited to Europe, and the interest contrast between countries in other parts of the world is another world.

Since modern times, the world has experienced various systems of international relations. When the political and economic development of countries is unbalanced under the old international relations system, it is bound to be a process of disrupting and reorganizing. During this period, it is easy to have a large-scale interest war. Just like World War I, the stability of the pattern and strength is the basic factor to maintain the survival of the system, but the most fundamental thing is the economic and technological strength of each country. After the French Revolution, France was no longer the largest monarchy in Europe, which made other feudal monarchies in Europe very afraid of their own bourgeois revolution. So, they joined forces to stifle the French revolution. With the failure of the anti-French alliance wars again and again, in the late Napoleon period, the French army galloped across the European continent, sowing the seeds of revolution and democracy and completely breaking the stability of this system. In the end, France was exhausted and defeated by the European anti-French alliance. At this time, countries held a meeting in Vienna, and planned to establish a Vienna system with Britain, Russia, Austria, France and Pope as the core, so as to maintain the feudal order in the European continent and redraw the mainland territory. Thus forming a new system and pattern.

Of course, the same pattern may exist in different systems. But the basic spirit of this model is the balance of power. No matter how many countries, five countries or two countries during the Cold War, they are all based on the balance of power. Only by balancing power can we achieve stable mutual restraint and form a system.

Image points to describe systems and patterns can be understood in this way. The system is like a tall building, and the pattern is the division of steel bars inside. No matter which way is adopted, the forces in all directions will cancel each other out, thus stably supporting the building and ensuring its stability. Of course, once the steel bars in any position are long or broken, the day when the building collapses is not far away.

For today's system and pattern, I think the most unstable time has passed. In the early 1990s, the drastic changes in Eastern Europe, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the dominance of the world by the United States had already broken the balance. However, due to globalization and nuclear confrontation, there was no major war. In the future, China, European Union, Indian and other countries are all rising, and the gap with the United States is getting lower and lower, which is closer to the balance of power. It is unlikely that a large-scale war will break out in the world in the next 20 years.