Power, Politics, and Artificial Intelligence

The article rightly highlights the importance of Artificial Intelligence in International Relations, but the issue goes far beyond treating AI as just another strategic resource. AI is transforming how power operates globally by reshaping influence, decision-making, and responsibility. While realism explains why states compete for AI dominance, the growing influence of major tech companies challenges the traditional state-centered view. Liberalism’s focus on cooperation seems weakened by rising mistrust and rivalry in AI development, and constructivism faces new questions as AI systems shape ideas, information, and political narratives. Most concerning is accountability: when algorithms guide critical decisions, it becomes unclear who is truly responsible. Therefore, AI should not simply be added to existing theories; it requires a deeper rethinking of power, agency, and control in global politics.

The article feels intellectually stimulating and relevant to contemporary global politics. It helped me understand that AI is not just a technological development but also a strategic tool that influences state power, global competition, and policymaking. The way the article connects AI with traditional IR theories makes it especially useful for students because it bridges classical concepts with modern technological realities.

However, while the article is academically strong, it sometimes feels more like a summary of the book rather than a fully critical review. As a reader, I would have appreciated more personal analysis from the writer, especially regarding whether the arguments presented in the book are fully convincing or if there are alternative viewpoints. Additionally, including more practical examples—such as AI in warfare, surveillance, cyber security, or global economic competition—would make the discussion more concrete and easier to relate to real-world situations.

In conclusion, the article is informative, well-organized, and highly relevant for students of International Relations. It encourages readers to think critically about the political implications of artificial intelligence. With slightly more critical evaluation and real-world illustrations, it could become even more engaging and impactful.

The collaboration between Ndzendze and Marwala is particularly striking because it refuses to treat artificial intelligence as a purely technical phenomenon, instead dragging it into the messy, contentious world of political philosophy. By pairing an IR scholar with a computer scientist who also serves as a high-ranking UN official, the work avoids the shallow “techno-optimism” often found in Silicon Valley or the “techno-panic” common in policy circles. Their greatest contribution is likely the bridge they build between the rigid “rational actor” models of mainstream theory and the messy realities of algorithmic bias and data sovereignty.
When the authors dissect AI through the lens of realism, they effectively update the definition of national power for the 21st century. In the past, a state’s survival depended on its geography, its steel production, or its nuclear silo count. Ndzendze and Marwala argue that we are entering an era of “data-centrism,” where the “security dilemma”—the idea that one state’s quest for security inherently makes another feel insecure—is being automated. This creates a terrifying feedback loop: if an AI can launch a counter-strike in milliseconds, the human window for diplomacy vanishes. They correctly identify that AI doesn’t just help states compete; it changes the speed at which competition happens, perhaps beyond human control.
However, the analysis of liberalism is where the most troubling contradictions emerge. Liberalism is built on the pillars of transparency, international cooperation, and open markets. The authors point out a “liberal decay” where the race for AI dominance is actually forcing democratic states to act more like autocracies. To protect their “algorithmic edge,” democracies are closing borders to tech talent, slapping on export controls, and monitoring their own digital spaces. This suggests that AI might be fundamentally incompatible with the “Open Society” model, as the quest for technological security necessitates a level of secrecy and surveillance that erodes democratic norms from the inside out.
Perhaps the most intellectually honest part of their framework is the inclusion of critical and post-colonial theories. Most mainstream discussions about AI focus on the “Big Two”—the United States and China. By applying dependency theory and economic structuralism, the authors highlight a digital “center-periphery” relationship. The Global South is often relegated to providing the raw materials for AI: the minerals for hardware, the cheap labor for data labeling, and the consumer data for training, while the “algorithmic rent” flows back to a few corporate giants in the North. This reframes AI not as a tide that lifts all boats, but as a potential tool for a new kind of “digital colonialism” that could freeze current global inequalities in place for decades.

The article provides a clear, well-structured, and timely review of Artificial Intelligence and International Relations Theories, successfully introducing readers to the book’s central arguments and thematic scope. It effectively highlights the multidisciplinary collaboration between Bhaso Ndzendze and Tshilidzi Marwala, which strengthens the credibility of the work and reflects the growing importance of integrating technological developments into International Relations scholarship. The article also demonstrates solid command over major IR theories by systematically explaining how realism, liberalism, dependency theory, the English School, and critical approaches interpret the rise of artificial intelligence in global politics. Its emphasis on the timeliness and policy relevance of AI in reshaping power dynamics, security dilemmas, and global hierarchies is particularly valuable for students and researchers.

However, the article remains largely descriptive and would benefit from deeper critical engagement. It tends to summarize the authors’ arguments without sufficiently questioning their assumptions, empirical foundations, or theoretical limitations. Some claims—such as the assertion that all IR theories will be affected by AI—are presented somewhat deterministically and would be stronger if accompanied by cautious qualification or counterarguments. Moreover, while the article references statistical support in the book, it does not evaluate the robustness of the methodology or the reliability of the evidence, which is important at the graduate level. The reviewer’s independent analytical voice is also somewhat limited; incorporating original insights, especially from a Global South or Pakistan-focused perspective, would significantly enhance the contribution. Minor stylistic improvements, such as shortening dense sentences and strengthening transitions, would further improve readability. Overall, the article is informative and well organized, but adding deeper critique, methodological reflection, and original perspective would elevate it to a more rigorous scholarly standard.

It explains that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not just a new technology, but something that is changing global politics. The article shows that AI can increase national power, create new competition between states, and even widen inequality between strong and weak countries. It also highlights that there is a debate about whether AI simply fits into existing IR theories or whether it can completely transform the international system.
In my opinion, the article raises a very important and timely issue. I agree that AI is influencing security, trade, and diplomacy, and IR theories must adapt to these changes. However, the article mainly summarizes the authors’ ideas and could have included more critical analysis or real-world examples. Overall, it clearly shows that AI is not only a technical issue but also a serious political and global matter.

Excellent and insightful review of Artificial Intelligence and International Relations Theories. You’ve clearly explained how the book connects AI with both mainstream and critical IR theories in a structured and engaging way. I especially appreciated the emphasis on AI as not just a tool but potentially a new unit of analysis in global politics. A very thoughtful and timely contribution to the AI–IR discourse.

The article offers a concise and accessible overview of Artificial Intelligence and International Relations Theories and succeeds in conveying the significance of integrating artificial intelligence into contemporary International Relations scholarship. By foregrounding the collaboration between Bhaso Ndzendze and Tshilidzi Marwala, the piece appropriately underscores the interdisciplinary strength of the book and situates it within an important emerging debate. The discussion of how AI intersects with major IR theories is generally accurate and demonstrates the reviewer’s familiarity with the theoretical landscape, making the article useful for readers seeking an introductory understanding of the book’s contributions.

That said, the article reads more like an extended summary than a critical review. It largely reproduces the structure and claims of the book without sufficiently interrogating their analytical limits or theoretical tensions. For instance, the transformative impact of AI on the international system is largely accepted at face value rather than examined in light of competing scholarly perspectives that question technological determinism. The piece could also engage more directly with potential gaps in the book, such as the uneven global distribution of AI capabilities, the agency problem surrounding autonomous systems, or the possibility that existing IR theories may be more resilient than suggested. Additionally, the article misses an opportunity to contextualize the discussion within the strategic concerns of developing countries, which would have strengthened its policy relevance. Stylistically, while generally clear, the prose occasionally becomes dense and could benefit from tighter sentence construction and more explicit analytical signposting. Overall, the article is informative and coherent, but it would achieve greater scholarly impact with deeper critique, stronger authorial voice, and more engagement with alternative viewpoints.

This article offers a rigorously argued and conceptually rich contribution to the evolving interface between technology and International Relations. The book’s primary strength lies in its systematic integration of AI into both mainstream and critical IR theories, demonstrating not only how artificial intelligence can be interpreted through existing paradigms such as realism, liberalism, dependency theory, and the English School, but also how it challenges and refines them. Rather than treating AI as a purely technical phenomenon, the authors thoughtfully interrogate whether it functions as a tool, a structural force, or even a potential unit of analysis, thereby engaging deeply with foundational methodological debates in IR. Their balanced assessment recognizing the enduring explanatory power of traditional theories while acknowledging the transformative pressures AI places on global power hierarchies, governance, and norms reflects analytical maturity and theoretical inclusivity. Overall, the book succeeds in advancing a nuanced argument that AI is not external to IR theory but integral to its future development, making it a timely and intellectually significant work for scholars and students alike.

The article offers a clear, organized, and timely overview of Artificial Intelligence and International Relations theories, effectively presenting the book’s main arguments and thematic focus. It successfully underscores the multidisciplinary collaboration between Bhaso Ndzendze and Tshilidzi Marwala, which enhances the work’s credibility and reflects the increasing need to integrate technological change into International Relations scholarship. The article also shows strong familiarity with key IR theories by systematically explaining how realism, liberalism, dependency theory, the English School, and critical approaches interpret the rise of artificial intelligence in global politics. Its focus on the relevance of AI in transforming power relations, security concerns, and global hierarchies is especially useful for students and researchers.

Despite these strengths, the article is largely descriptive and would benefit from more critical analysis. It mainly restates the authors’ arguments without sufficiently challenging their assumptions, empirical basis, or theoretical constraints. Certain claims—such as the idea that all IR theories will be influenced by AI—are presented in a deterministic way and would be more convincing if balanced with qualifications or alternative viewpoints. In addition, although the article mentions the use of statistical evidence in the book, it does not assess the strength of the methodology or the reliability of the data, which is essential at an advanced academic level. The reviewer’s independent analytical perspective is also limited; including original insights, particularly from a Global South or Pakistan-centered viewpoint, would greatly strengthen the discussion. Minor stylistic revisions, such as simplifying lengthy sentences and improving transitions, would enhance clarity and flow. In sum, while the article is informative and well structured, incorporating deeper critique, methodological evaluation, and original perspective would raise it to a more rigorous scholarly level.