1. Introduction: Multipolarity and Unipolarity after the Cold War

After the Cold War there has been a contradiction between multipolar and unipolar interpretations of the new international system after the end of bipolarity. In this book, we explore this contradiction. Because neorealism and neoclassical realism see polarity as a central structuring element in international relations, one has to agree on whether a particular period is unipolar, bipolar or multipolar. Moreover, multipolarity is often used in official statements by the BRICs countries or the European Union (EU). We address this contradiction by first applying the concept of polarity to the Cold War, the nineteenth century (and the post-Cold War). We further compare the polarity discourse in France and the USA with the historical balance of power tradition.