Abstract
International Relations scholars argue the structure of the international system is important in ordering relations between states. Both Neorealist and Neoliberal scholars highlight the importance of the system regarding interstate conflict, though they argue for two different constructions of the system, with Neorealists focusing on power and Neoliberals the web of relations between states. This paper tests the arguments of these two paradigms using a social network approach focusing on the position of states in the system. This paper finds both Neorealist and Neoliberal arguments for conflict hold, with important implications for the systemic level study of conflict in international relations, and for the use of social network analysis as a viable method in the discipline.