The anti-formalist concept of isolationism assumes that the values and motivation of possible or real blocs are irreconcilable. Isolationists believe that the political world order should be guided by a policy of economical competition or Cold War-type tensions between countries. The isolationist's world is or ought to be dominated by a competitive system of opposed interests. There is not, nor ought to be, room for opening commercial relations with other side, the competitor or the enemy. There is or there ought to be mutual suspicion.

An anti-formalistic explication of integrationism regards the political world order, in the East, as in the West, in terms of detente. Many politicians on both sides are committed to the effort of preventing war. Both sides are, or ought to be, prepared to promote cooperation. The values and motivations behind this policy are diverse. There are economic motives (developing new markets by opening previously closed frontiers), political motives (encouraging democratization by reducing the fears of external threats) and military values (ending the arms race by agreements aimed at achieving strategic parity).