The role of international authority in lake's hierarchical "scheme" of world politics

Abstract

Although the agreement of different theoretical approaches regarding the role and importance of power in world politics can easily be reached, when it comes to its definition even elementary consensus is lacking. In this paper, we analyze theoretical interpretations of power given by David Lake, which in its conceptual scope and explanation of international order deviates from the established theoretical tracks in the field of IR. We focus on the concept of authority as a form of international power, which is one of the fundamental pillars of Lake's theory of hierarchy in international relations. Comparing the content of Lake's concept of authority with different theoretical interpretations of international power, primarily those that preceded it, we emphasized the theoretical advantages of Lake's interpretation of the structure of the international system. We conclude that Lake?s theory can be characterized as "non-canonical" rethinking of world politics to some extent. The relation of superiority and subordination, which does not rest on coercion, nor fear of force, but on voluntary consent, forms the backbone of Lake's theory, and at the same time represents its most recognizable and controversial part. Subjugation to the force is often read as a dark chapter of human history, a chapter that humanity seemingly scornfully closed after the rise and success of the anti-colonial movement in the second half of the twentieth century. In this context, Lake's study indicates that reality is something completely different. Former colonies still agree to a subordinate position in order to benefit from it, but today voluntarily. By analyzing his concept of authority and comparing it to other conceptions of power, we tried to explain Lake's view on world politics, and why his findings on authority, subordination, superiority and international hierarchies in the field of economics and security represent unavoidable theoretical destinations for every scholar interested in the study of contemporary international relations.