s contended, they are often found in symbiotic relationships with one another.
With respect to the hierarchy of prestige among states, the systemic hypothesis holds that, ultimately, such a hierarchy rests on economic and military power. Prestige is the reputation for power, and military power in particular. In this context, prestige refers primarily to the perceptions of other states with respect to a state's capacities and its ability and willingness to exercise its power. Prestige, rather than power, is, according to the proponents of the systemic hypothesis, the everyday currency of international relations. By contrast, the proponents of the second image hypothesis contend that power is essential for the construction and maintenance of regimes, and accorded economic power a primary role in this context.
With respect to the rules that govern interactions between states, the proponents of the systemic hypothesis hold that such rules apply to (1) the conduct
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