Final answer:
While anarchy in the international relations context refers to the lack of overarching governance rather than actual chaos or lawlessness, countries with failed governments or extreme instability can be seen as the closest to anarchy. These countries have difficulty enforcing laws and providing services, resembling a state of anarchy on the national level.
Step-by-step explanation:
Identifying which country is closest to a state of anarchy can be challenging since anarchy, in the context of international relations, entails a lack of a general sense of order in the international system, rather than the absence of a formal government. In the international system, anarchy is a condition where there is no overarching global authority to enforce rules consistently. This lack of enforcement mechanisms and the absence of a broad global government create a space for the sovereignty of each state to be paramount. Because states aim to protect their sovereignty, they may act in ways that uphold or disrupt the balance of power. The modern international system operates on the tension between the fight for order and anarchy, with sovereign states maintaining control within their borders while interacting in an anarchic global environment. Although it's hard to pinpoint a specific country that is the 'closest' to anarchy, failed states or regions experiencing extreme instability, where the government is unable to enforce laws or provide basic services to its citizens, could be considered the closest national equivalents to anarchy. Examples might include countries deeply affected by civil war, internal conflict, or extreme political instability.