This talk is a brief exploration of the anarchic state of international politics as understood by scholars of international relations. It would define anarchy in the international system, examine power politics as an extension of that system, suggest institutions (both formal and social) as potential solutions to the problem of anarchy, and warn about the limits of those institutions. It covers core concepts about the international system and its limits as well as the social science research behind these approaches. Mr. Kearney is in his fifth year as an Instructor at IMSA where he teaches Economics and Social Science. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and holds Masters degrees in Political Science from Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin where he studied International Relations, Political Economy and Quantitative Political Science. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx