Book excerpt: I. Human Artifacts, Social ¡Dilemma and the International System -- 1. The International System as a Human Artifact -- 2. States and the International System as a Response to the Social Dilemma and as a Means of Exploitation and Oppression -- 3. Nature of International Actors, of International Aims and Issues -- II. International Political Systems -- 1. Basic Laws of the International Political System -- 2. The Multipolar International System -- 3. Balance of Power Systems -- 4. Factors Causing the Breakdown of Balance of Power Systems -- 5. Factors Causing the End of the European Balance of Power System -- 6. The Bilateral Power System (Bipolar System) -- 7. The Universal Empire -- III. Factors Determining the Power of States -- 1. Military Power -- 2. Geographical Situation, Size and Population -- 3. Education, Science, Economic and Technological Development -- 4. Social and Political Organization -- IV. Aims of International Politics -- 1. Limited Aims: The Nation State -- 2. Expansionist Aims: The Nation State and Economic Interests -- 3. Economic Relations between State and Non-State Actors -- 4. Holy and Unholy Imperialism -- 5. The Aims of Universal States -- V. The Means of Foreign Policy -- 1. Economic Pressure and Warfare -- 2. Infiltration, Internal Destruction and Terrorism -- 3. Ideology and Religion -- 4. Guerilla War -- 5. Diplomacy -- VI. Contradictions and Dilemmas of International Politics -- 1. The Armaments Race -- 2. The Preservation of Knowledge and the Continuity of Foreign Policy -- 3. The Dilemma between External and Internal Policies -- 4. International Disorder, International Law and Morality -- VII. The Present World System -- 1. The Bipolar Post-War System -- 2. Possible Future Developments of the Present International System -- 3. What Kind of World do we Want? -- 4. Can we Move Towards an Improbable Future?