Polarity in the International System

The term polarity in international relations refers to the number of centers of power
(typically states, but might also include alliance blocs, IGOs, or other non-state actors) in
the international system at any given time. For instance, the Cold War is often
characterized as a period of bipolarity due to the dominance of the United States and Soviet
Union (although some now claim it was a period of unipolarity), and the first half of the
19th century is often viewed as a period of multipolarity due to the presence of several
powerful European states.
Your task in this paper is to describe the current and future polarity of the international
system. First and foremost, are we currently in a situation of unipolarity, bipolarity,
tripolarity, multipolarity, or some other type of arrangement? In addition, you also should
discuss what you expect the polarity of the international system will look like in 2040,
based on any recent trends or patterns you observe.
There is no right or wrong answer, but you must support your position with clear
argumentation as well as data and evidence. You may want to begin your research by
reviewing discussions of power, polarity, and other relevant terms from the assigned
readings, which also will cite other related scholarship. You then should formulate your
primary argument(s) and conduct additional research to help you justify your argument(s)
and to support your argument(s) with facts and evidence. You are particularly encouraged
to find additional academic scholarship (from periodicals, academic journals, or books)
that speaks to this issue, as well as data on the power of various actors and power
distributions in the international system