TENSIONS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: CONCEPTUAL BASIS FOR COMPARATIVE RESEARCH

Abstract

The article is devoted to the theoretical interpretation of the concept of “tension” as a necessary prerequisite for its operationalization and transformation into a tool for applied comparative analysis. The increase of tensions in different regions and types of government, within and between countries is a refl ection of the profound changes that the modern world is undergoing. At the same time, the number of attempts at serious scientifi c understanding and conceptualization, as well as operationalization and measurement, remains extremely limited. The fi rst part of the article presents a brief review of previous studies on the phenomenon of “tension” in the context of world politics and international relations. The second part is devoted to a conceptual analysis of the phenomenon of “tension” as a special dynamic state that is present not only in competition (war) relations, but also in cooperation (peace) relations, and which, therefore, is a more common type of interstate interactions.

Keywords

• tension
• world politics
• international competition
• international cooperation
• war
• confl ict
• peace
• partnership
• comparative analysis