international system

plural international systems

1. governmentThe global constellation of states and their relations among each other.

   “We call on all states, including China, to uphold their international commitments and obligations and to act responsibly in the international system, including in cyberspace,” according to a statement from NATO.

   2021 July 19, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, David E. Sanger, quoting NATO, “U.S. Formally Accuses China of Hacking Microsoft”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

   1 more example

   In acting this way today, though, Putin is not only aiming to unilaterally rewrite the rules of the international system that have been in place since World War II — that no nation can just devour the nation next door — he is also out to alter that balance of power that he feels was imposed on Russia after the Cold War.

   2022 February 25, Thomas L. Friedman, “We Have Never Been Here Before”, in The New York Times, →ISSN

2. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of International System of Units, using an alternative case form.