International Society Flashcards
(25 cards)
Anarchy
the foundational organizing principle of the international system
governance not government
Sovereign States Are
the ultimate authority in the system
- Also, important non-state actors
International System
regularized (mechanical) patterns of interactions (shared fundamental institutions) between states
International Society
regularized (mechanical and social) patterns of interactions between states with shared interests and manufactured institutions (international law)
Components of International Society
- Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
- Diplomacy and shared ideas
- Economic interdependence
- Contending state interests
- Balance of power
- Power imbalances
- International civil society
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs):
organizations formed between 3 or more states with international activities
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) Examples:
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
- European Union (EU)
- United Nations
Diplomacy and Shared Ideas
regularized diplomatic relations between states
- includes shared norms + ideas
- i.e. human rights, environmental protection
Economic Interdependence
capitalism-driven globalization integrating domestic economies in a global economy
- Including international trade + finance
Balance of Power
the tendency of states to (internally or externally) balance the power of other states
Balance of Power Includes
- nuclear weapons and mutually assured destruction
- security alliances
International Civil Society
the set of voluntary associations, (independent of the state + the market), geared toward some form of political or economic change internationally
International Civil Society Includes
International non-government organizations (NGOs)
The United Nations
- A central component of international society
- An intergovernmental organization (not supranational)
- Universal in membership
- A microcosm of international relations
The United Nations is Central…
- to international peace and security with a wide scope of global governance mandates
- (i.e. development, sustainability, human rights, humanitarian assistance, etc.)
The Charter of the United Nations
- signed in 1945 by 51 states
- a legally-binding treaty + a foundation of international law
- a basis of the post-World War II international order
- created the United Nations
- codified the basic principles of international society
The Basic Principles of International Society
- legal sovereign equality amongst states
- prohibition on the use of force
- self-defence
- respect for human rights, etc.
The General Assembly
- the universal multilateral body of the UN
- sets the international agenda and passes non-binding resolutions
The Security Council
- the peace and security body of the UN
- composed of 15 members (5 permanent with veto power, 10 non-permanent members)
Theories of International Society
- Realism
- Liberalism
- Constructivism
- Marxist-inspired theories
- The English School
Realism
emphasis on self-interested states in a self-help condition of anarchy and the distribution of material capabilities amongst states
Liberalism
emphasis on shared institutions + interdependence among states with shared interests
Constructivism
emphasis on the role of ideas in shaping state behavior
Marxist-inspired theories
emphasis on the global political economy, global relations of production and trade and the inherent class-based structure of the system
