PS 230 FINAL EXAM

Question 1

What are the 5 assumptions of realists?

Answer 1

1. ) political actors are atomistic (source of their own good)
2. ) political actors are self interested ( primarily concerned of their own interests)
3. ) political actors are assumed to be rational (establish most efficient way)
4. ) actors interests are assumed to be exogenous to social interaction
5. ) society is understood as a strategic realm (pursue predefined interests)

Question 2

What is the ordering principle in the international system?

Answer 2

Anarchy. Self-Help no 911 international. Absence of an overarching authority.

Question 3

What are the level of analysis of images?

Answer 3

1. ) individual level= Hobbes
2. ) state level= inside out approach a state’s foreign policy
3. ) the system level= waltz neorealists

Question 4

What is the ordering principle in a domestic system?

Answer 4

It’s hierarchical.

Question 5

John Measherimer Neorelaism. How do realists paint a picture?

Answer 5

1. ) grim picture of world politics
2. ) international relations not a constant state of war. But state of relentless security competition. Always a possibility of war
3. ) genuinenes peace not likely

Question 6

What are Mearsheimer 5 assumptions about the international system?

Answer 6

1. ) the international system is a anarchic = ordering principle
2. ) states inherently possess offensive military capability, which gives them the wherewithal to hurt and destroy each other
3. ) states can never be certain about each other’s intentions
4. ) the most basic motive driving states is survival
5. ) states think strategically or instrumentally rational

Question 7

What are Measheimer three main patterns of behaviors result in?

Answer 7

1. ) states in the international system fear each other
2. ) states in the international system aims to guarantee its own survival
3. ) states in the international system aim to maximize their relative power positions over other states.

Question 8

What is cooperation?

Answer 8

1. ) cooperation is not harmony
2. ) Harmony requires equivalent interests
3. ) cooperation can take place in situation in a mixture of conflicting and complementary interests
4. ) cooperation is when actors adjust their behavior to the actual or anticipated preferences of others

Question 9

What do neoliberals argue the international system resembles?

Answer 9

A prisoners dilemma.

Question 10

What does the following equation mean:

U=V-k(W-V)?

Answer 10

States, neorealists argue are concerned with the distribution of power in the system and relative gains.

U= utility of state A

V= payoff of state A

W= payoff of state B

k= coefficient for a state’s sensitivity to gaps in payoffs

W-V refers to gap in payoffs between State B and State A.

Question 11

What does W-V mean?

Answer 11

Distance between payoff of state B and state A model V.

Let W-V= Gr for relative gain

Gr denotes state A’s gain relative that of state B.

Question 12

Can K in the equation be 0?

Answer 12

No the coefficient for a state’s sensitivity to gaps will vary but always be greater than k>0.

Question 13

What conditions will cause K to go up?

Answer 13

1. ) a state’s partner is a long term adversary or ally
2. ) the issue involved security rather than economic
3. ) states relative power has been on the decline rather then on the rise.
4. ) if payoffs in the particular issue-area are more rather than less easily converted into capabilities within that issue area.

Question 14

What is the main question of difference between neoliberals and neorealists?

Answer 14

Whether states can achieve cooperation under conditions of anarchy.

Neoliberals say that while difficult it can be achieve.

Question 15

What are structuralist theorists?

Answer 15

Basically subset of neoliberals whose principal argument is to analyze other strategic situations besides cooperation games or PD.

Question 16

What does it mean to be a utility maximizers?

Answer 16

Means to be self interested in obtaining highest utility possible

Question 17

What does it mean to be rational?

Answer 17

To establish most effective and efficient way to realize their interests within the environmental constraints they encounter.

Question 18

What is the payoff of Prisoners dilemma?

Answer 18

Player A: cooperate: 3,3 first level across

Defect : 5,1 second level

Player B: cooperate 1,5 first level second second level 2,2

Defect: 2,2 second level

What is players A best move?

Defect 5 (1)

What about B?

Defect 2 (2)

Since A plays Defect 5 eliminates top part of level leaving B to play defect which both together is 2,2.

Question 19

What is the Nash Equilibrium in a Prisoners dilemma?

Answer 19

Defect and Defect. Which is (2,2)

Question 20

What is a Pareto superior outcome?

Answer 20

Nash equilibrium in which a move to a different outcome would make one player worse off. The opposite is the Pareto inferior or suboptimal.

Question 21

Why does the prisoners dilemma always end in defect in play once?

Answer 21

Because there is the fear of cheating by the other side.

Question 22

What helps state achieve cooperation under anarchy?

Answer 22

Regimes. Which are principles, norms, rules, and decision making procedures.

Question 23

What do regimes provide states?

Answer 23

Provide states with information and or reduction of costs

Question 24

What are the 3 second ordering problems?

Answer 24

Distribution: refers to the allocation of gains or benefits or utilities

Monitoring: inability to know the behavior of other actors

Sanctioning: refers to attaching penalties for noncompliance

Question 25

What second order problems are in the following games: deadlock, suasion games, collaboration(PD), coordination, and assurance?

Answer 25

Deadlock nothing because cooperation is just impossible

Suasion: involves all three monitoring, sanctioning, and distribution

Collaboration (PD) games suffer from monitoring and sanctioning problems

Coordination (battle of the sexes) only from distribution

Finally Assurance games have none of 2nd order problems.

Question 26

What is the result of a deadlock game?

Answer 26

Defect and Defect. Which is 3,3

But unlike PD this outcome is the Pareto superior meaning it’s the optimal outcome for both parties.

Question 27

What about for a Suasion game? If A dominant strategy is to cooperate?

Answer 27

Effect is cooperate and defect. A= 3, and B=5. The Nash equilibrium is cooperate and defect.

Question 28

In what game is there a hegemon?

Answer 28

In a suasion game.

Question 29

What is an open international economy?

Answer 29

A public good.

Question 30

What is the Nash equilibrium is a coordination game(battle of sexes)?

Answer 30

Opera and Opera (4,3)

Or. World Series and World Series (3,4)

There are 2 Nash equilibriums either wide or husband has to attend the event.

Question 31

What is the outcome for an assurance game?

Answer 31

Cooperate and cooperate is (4,4)

Or defect and defect is (2,2)

Again two Nash equilibrium. But cooperate and cooperate is Pareto Superior than defect and defect which is Pareto inferior. Build cooperation if fight together.

Question 32

What are the three goals of social life?

Answer 32

Elementary= life, truth promises made will be kept, property: because if do

Primary= goals must be first achieved if a society wants to accomplish any other goals

Universal= all societies appear to account of them/be present

Question 33

What is a system of states emerge?

Answer 33

Sufficient contact and when sufficient impact on one another’s decisions.

Question 34

When can we say a society of states has emerged? Hint the 4C’s

Answer 34

1. ) Common Interests
2. ) Common Values
3. ) Common Rules
4. ) Common Institutions

Question 35

What is the paradox and how to solve it?

Answer 35

Bull argues that the first goal of international order is preservation of society of states. And second subsidiary is the goal of external sovereignty of the member states of the international system. Why?

The ordering of the goals reflect the role performed by the great powers. The answer to the previous question view themselves as custodians or protectors of the system.

Their main goal is preventing the emergence of a hegemon. In doing so they maintain balance of power.

In maintaining the answer to the previous question. They are frequently permitted to have smaller states be absorb or extinguished by larger states.

Do not want to see system transform
Into a hegemony. By way of conquest.

Question 36

What is a hegemon?

Answer 36

A state that is so overwhelming dominant that it’s in the position to lay the law down the law to all other states.

Question 37

What do the numbers 5>3>1 payoff mean?

Answer 37

These numbers are payoff and not years. They are meaningless. Highest payoff 0 years is 5.

Question 38

How to denote optimal strategy on second player?

Answer 38

Two dashes.

Question 39

What are rules? What are norms?

Answer 39

General imperative principles of conduct. Specific prescription or proscriptions of action.

Norms are standards of behavior defined in terms of rights and obligations.

Question 40

Why do Neoliberals argue there would be no cooperation in the system?

Answer 40

Because there are no contracts. Which are rights and obligations that states must maintain.

Question 41

What are the 4 regimes and defintion?

Answer 41

1. ) principles: beliefs of facts, causation, and rectitude
2. ) norms: standards of behavior defined in terms of rights and obligations
3. ) rules: specific prescriptions or proscriptions for action
4. ) decision making procedures: prevailing practices for making and implementing collective choice.

Question 42

What does it mean to enforce contracts?

Answer 42

Rights and obligations. Attach penalties for noncompliance

Question 43

How do regimes facilitate cooperation?

Answer 43

Because they provide states with information and reputations of members raising costs associated with noncompliance

Question 44

Can a state devalue its currency and why?

Answer 44

Yes with approved of IMF have to check their books. Devalue because they can sell more goods and get more money. Gives ability to export more goods increasing revenue.

Question 45

What do regimes provide?

Answer 45

1. ) information
2. ) quick feedback
3. ) iteration
4. ) enforcement/sanctioning.

Question 46

What are the solutions to the 5 games?

Answer 46

Deadlock solution: 3,3

Suasion: 3,5

PD: 2,2

Coordination: 4,3 and 3,4

Assurance: 4,4 and 2,2

Question 47

What happens when V-K(D)? What happens when V-k(-D)

Answer 47

Utility maximizers goes down

And then goes up in second scenario

Question 48

Elementary, primary, and universal?

Answer 48

Primary have to be accomplish first if wish to accomplish any other goals. Universal because appear to be in every society. Elementary because unless realized we have no society.

Question 49

How does K vary?

Answer 49

1.) if a states partner is a long adversary or an ally

2,) if the issue of involves security rather than economic well-being

3. ) state’s relative power has been on the decline rather than on the rise
4. ) payoffs in the particular issue-area are more rather than less easily converted into capabilities within that issue-area.