Abstract
In 2003, the professors in International Relations Barry Buzan, at the London School of economics, and Ole Waever from the University of Copenhagen, published a book exploring a new field in Theory of International Relations: Regions and Powers- The Structure of International Security. This work laid the foundations of the concept of Regional Security Complex (RSC), arguing that the main schools of thought in International Relations- Neorealism, Neoliberalism, Neomarxism-are wrong in explaining the world systematically globally, and that it is necessary to differentiate geographical levels in International Relations (IR). While these main theories focus whether on the domestic level or the global level, the regional level is essential to understand the international relations: indeed, regions are "mini systems" where all theories of IR can be applied, including the Balance of Power theory.
To that extent, it is difficult to identify Buzan and Waever in a specific school of thought, because their theory, by considering all the different levels of international relations- from the domestic affairs to the systemic relations between States-, takes in fact arguments on most of the main theories. They include as well constructivist elements in their theory, notably when talking about the "level of amity and enmity" in a region and how these feelings are created. Their main contribution is to add to the view of a systemic and interdependent world order the concept of "regional interdependence": the security interdependence between States is always more important at the regional level.
