Spheres of influence in international politics

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to give an account of spheres of influence in contemporary international politics with the ultimate intention of specifying the place they have had in international order. In this connection, the most important spheres of influence have been those of the Soviet Union and the United States. Neither of these two powers either publicly recognises the sphere of the other or uses the term "sphere of influence" to describe its relationship with states which are considered by other powers to be under its influence. Nevertheless, spheres of influence are part of the reality of international politics and the Soviet Union and the United States have both behaved as though they do recognise each other's sphere. Indeed, because of the way they have behaved it may be inferred that they have reached a tacit and reciprocal understanding as to the range of behaviour each will tolerate of the other with regard to their respective spheres of influence. It is principally through such understanding that spheres of influence contribute to international order.