Abstract: In this, his most systematic and fundamental work, Hedley Bull explores three key questions: What is the nature of order in world politics? How is it maintained in the contemporary states system? What alternative paths to world order are feasible and desirable? He argues that the system of sovereign states is not in decline and that, contrary to much superficial thinking, it is not an obstacle to world order but is its essential foundation.

The first part of the book seeks to define world order, to show that order does exist in world politics, and to explore the relationship between order and justice world politics. The second part show order is maintained in the contemporary stated system through such institutions as the balance of power, international law, diplomacy, war and the special position of the great powers.

The concluding part examines what alternative forms of universal organization exist. It considers and rejects both the idea that the states system is giving place to some such alternative as a world government or a neo-medieval order, and also the idea that the states system has ceased to be viable in the sense that it is incompatible with objectives such as peace, economic justice and ecological control. It also reviews as wide variety of proposals for the reform of the states systems.

This third edition, marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of original publication, includes a substantial new foreword Andrew Hurrell examining the continuing relevance of The Anarchical Society to subsequent developments in theory and in the structures and practices of world politics.