Fifth footnote to the post titled “The Virtues of Anarchy”

The default manner in which the major powers will manage the international system is through the exercise of their power over smaller countries. And this power can be exercised in one of three ways by the major powers, as Bull argued: dominance, primacy, or hegemony. Dominance is when major powers treat smaller countries as “second-class citizens” of the international system. It is when a major power tramples smaller countries. Primacy is when the status of a major power is automatically acknowledged by smaller states, and without any hassle, and with deference, and without the use of force on the part of major powers. Force is considered as the ultima ratio of international affairs, and in the case of primacy, force is not used. And then there is hegemony, whereby force is employed occasionally in order to exercise control and power over smaller states. The basic and mutual understanding between major powers, or the turf of the major powers, is established and carved out through the acknowledgement and recognition of “spheres of influence.” The establishment of “spheres of influence” is what prevents friction between the major powers and it is what maintains order in the international system in general. Given that it is unlikely that the major powers will act and manage the global order “in concert” with one another, it is “spheres of influence” which keep the international order intact. And in order to avoid raising the ire of smaller countries, major powers will co-opt smaller countries in their management of the international order.