ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Anarchy (international relations)

Anarchy in international relations means that there is no central authority or government that controls the actions of countries towards one another. This is different from the way things work within a country, where there are laws and police to keep people from breaking the rules.

When countries interact with each other on a global scale, they do so in their own self-interest. Some countries may be more powerful or influential than others, but there is no one supreme leader or group that controls everything. This means that conflicts, multiple alliances, and international agreements are decided through negotiations and diplomacy.

It sounds chaotic, but it's actually a pretty common way of operating in the world of international relations. It's thought that countries that are strong and can protect their borders and allies tend to have more success in this type of environment. Sometimes, this leads to competition and even wars.

All in all, the main idea behind anarchy in international relations is that countries are responsible for their own actions and are accountable for maintaining their own security and interests.