Waltz's Three Images of World Politics

Waltz's Three Images of World Politics provides a framework to understand the causes of international conflict. The first image focuses on individuals, suggesting that human nature and personal choices drive conflict. The second image looks at states, arguing that the internal characteristics of countries—like their political systems—shape their behavior. The third image examines the international system itself, emphasizing how the structure of global power and anarchy among states influence their actions. Together, these perspectives offer a comprehensive view of why conflicts arise and how they can be understood and addressed.