The environment in which units interact is also a critical component of Holsti's framework. The environment can be characterized by:
Holsti came of age during the Cold War—a bipolar struggle defined by nuclear brinkmanship, proxy wars, and ideological rigidity. He saw that the dominant theories of the 1950s and 60s (primarily Classical Realism as articulated by Hans Morgenthau) were failing to explain new phenomena: the rise of non-state actors, the explosion of newly independent states, and the growing complexity of international trade. The environment in which units interact is also
The book opens by addressing the "how" of the discipline. Holsti explores the development of International Relations as a distinct field of study, surveys the major contemporary "schools" of thought, and emphasizes the need for organizing devices, including the critical concept of "levels of analysis." This introductory chapter sets the stage, explaining how different analytical lenses lead to different conclusions about world politics. The book opens by addressing the "how" of the discipline