Unipolar World

The distribution of power and influence over a state, region, or globally is called polarity. It is described as the nature of the international system at any given period. 

Polarity can be distinguished into different types – unipolarity, bipolarity, and multipolarity. 

In the international political system, the unipolar world order is a power distribution in which only one state dominates most of the economic, social, cultural, and military influence over the globe. The unipolar world should not be confused with monarchy or empire. Unipolarity happens in an anarchical international system; there is only one superpower, and no one challenges that superpower. 

What is a Unipolar World?  

A unipolar world is when the majority of the world is dominated by a single state or nation’s military and economic power, and social and cultural influence.

After the end of the Cold War between the USA and the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union collapsed, and the USA emerged as a single powerful nation globally. Scholars of International relations believe that this was the beginning of America’s emerging unipolar world order. 

America holds superiority and dominance in commercial and military power, and the US dollar is considered to be the world’s dominant reserve currency. Politics is all about power and influence; the nation with the most power and economic, social, cultural, and military influence becomes a hegemony. 

Countries and nations keep engaging with each other to gain and retain power. The rise of the USA as the single superpower of the world after the end of the Cold War can be considered the unipolar order moment. The US asserted a certain global dominance through economics and military support and also with political influence.                                 

Bipolar World

A bipolar world can be defined as an international political system in which the majority of the global economy, culture, politics, and military is influenced by two superpower states. 

The classic example of the bipolar world is the Cold War Period (1947-1991). The Soviet Union and the USA emerged as superpowers trying to dominate each other for decades. However, the Sino-soviet split led to the emergence of China as a possible third superpower. 

In the bipolarity system, it is possible that the power and influence of international relations can be extended to a much larger domain, such as alliances or organisations coming together to exert dominance and power on the globe. 

For example, in the case of both World Wars, the power was divided into two spheres – the Axis power and the Allies of the world in World War 2, which was fought from 1939 to 1945, formed a military alliance, and the axis power was defeated. And in the First World War or also known as the Great War, which was fought from 1914 to 1918, the power was divided between the Central Powers and the Allied Powers.  

Multipolar World 

Multipolarity can be defined as the distribution of power in which more than two nations have almost equal amounts of power and influence on the global economy, society, culture, and military.    

The non-polarity world is the power domain where there are numerous superpowers but there is no central power dominating any other superpower. This power can be formed in many places and regions. This international system dilutes the meaning of the term ‘polarity’ and is an example of a non-polar world that is not widely found or discussed.

Conclusion

To put it simply, the nation with the most power and influence in the economy, social, cultural, and military spheres becomes a hegemony or superpower and this leads to a unipolar world. The international political system in which the majority of the global economy, culture, politics, and military are influenced by two superpower states is called the bipolar world. The most classic example of the bipolar world is the Cold War period, 1947-1991. The Soviet Union and the USA emerged as superpowers trying to dominate each other for decades.  

The power domain with numerous superpowers but no central power dominating any other superpower is termed non-polarity. There is no example of this kind of polarity. 

When the power is equally distributed among two or more and no conflict of issue exists, it is called multipolarity.