Midterm 1 Flashcards
(128 cards)
1
Q
international relations (lower case)
A
Relations between states and between the international system
2
Q
International Relations (upper case)
A
the study of international relations (lower case)
3
Q
Comparative Politics
A
How states internal affairs compare to one another
4
Q
League of Nations
A
Created by idealists during the interwar period to settle disputes, encourage disarmament and to encourage collective security
5
Q
Woodrow Wilson
A
American President who was a big advocate for the League of Nations (despite the fact that the US was not a part of said League)
6
Q
Idealists
A
People who believed (particularly during the inter war period) that war/conflict are not inevitable and are preventable
7
Q
Realists
A
Anarchy is key to the structure of the international system and because of this conflict is inevitable
8
Q
E. H Carr
A
First IR professor in the Woodrow Wilson Chair at what is now the Uni of Wales. Big realist
9
Q
Twenty Years’ Crisis 1919-1939
A
Carr’s book about failures of the interwar period – rise of dictatorships with foreign policy ambitions
10
Q
Balance of Power
A
Stability can be maintained by counterbalancing powerful countries
11
Q
Treaty of Westphalia
A
Considered the start of international relations as it was the first international treaty that established modern day sovereign states
12
Q
Thirty Years War
A
War between Catholics and Protestants in Europe ended by 4 years of negotiations used to create the Treaty of Westphalia
13
Q
Sumerian City States
A
3.500 BCE near the fertile crescent .. their claim to fame is perhaps have the first international relations / treaties
14
Q
City States
A
Established territory but no clear authorities
15
Q
City Leagues
A
Coalitions with little clear established territorial boundaries OR clear authorities
16
Q
Sovereign State
A
A state which has both territorial boundaries and a clear centralized authority
17
Q
Polity
A
Political Unit that is not a state
18
Q
Nation
A
Internally recognized as a community through shared culture, language or identity
19
Q
State
A
Externally recognized
20
Q
Nation State
A
Both internally and externally recognized
21
Q
Anarchy
A
in IR refers to the absence of a supra authority. Emerges from Hobbes’s Leviathan
22
Q
Counter balancing
A
States working in unison to counter the coercive power of another state
23
Q
Self Help Principle
A
Essentially under anarchy, states will make decisions in their own self interests
24
Q
Rational State
A
A state that knows what it want and that what it wants is in its best interest
25
Peloponessian War
War between Spartans and Athens due to Spartan's fear of Athens increasing importance
26
International System
Structure of interacting units characterized by anarchy and the self help principle
27
Structural/NeoRealism
Combination of anarchy and the self help principle to explain international relations - especially after the strength of the post WW2 structure
28
Power
The ability of one state to make another state do what they would otherwise not do
29
Polarity
Distribution of power
30
Pole
Commands an especially large share of resources and capabilities
31
Bipolarity
When two states have a preponderance of power
32
Unipolarity
When one state has a preponderance of power AND counterbalancing is not possible
33
Multipolarity
when 2+ states hold power
34
Hegemon Stability Theory
Instability under a hegemony only occurs with emergence of a rising competitive power
35
Defensive Realism
States seek power in order to maintain security and the status quo - maintain positions within a structure
36
Offensive Realism
Structural positioning is a means to obtaining more power .. goal is power maximization
37
Institutional Power
power to indirectly influence based on placement in the structure
38
Compulsory Power
Classic perception of power.. ability of one state to directly force another state to do what that state does not want to do
39
Productive Power
Power over social relations can influence indirectly
40
Structural Power
Direct power over another utilizing social pressure
41
Status Quo States
States seeking to mantain the status quo
42
Offensive Defensive Balance
Dependent on technology on geography but generally is it cheaper to attack a place or to defend that place
43
Security Dilemma
Refers to the fact that one states actions to expand their own security may be perceived/ be a threat to the security of another nation
44
Scleiffen Plan
German plan to attack france than Russia
45
Allied Powers WW1
UK, France, Russia, US, Japan, italy
46
Central Powers WW1
Germany, Turkey, Austria-Hungary,Bulgaria
47
Allied Powers WW2
US, USSR, UK, France, China, Canada
48
Axis Power WW2
Germany, Italy, Japan
49
Trustworthy
A state which would rather cooperate than exploit
50
Mistrust
The belief that a state is likely to not cooperate
51
Prisoner's Dilemma
Two untrustworthy states both prefer to defect when the other cooperates which leads them both to defect despite the fact that cooperation might be more beneficial
52
First big debate
Idealists vs Realists during the interwar period
53
Second big debate
Traditionalists vs Scientists
54
Presentism
Connecting a lineage of historical thought to the fairly new field of IR
55
Contextualism
Exogenous events have shaped the development of IR as a field
56
Anachronism
Event/Person/Idea placed in the improper chronology
57
Misinterpretation
Incorrect portrayal of an event
58
Neglecting Context
Changing meaning by neglecting key detail
59
Distortion
Purposely manipulating data to fit a specific narrative
60
The Chanyuan System (1004)
Treaty establishing territorial boundaries between two dynasties
61
Chinggisid Sovereignty Model
Peace within Mongolian empire when Genghis Khan centralized power
62
Hobbes Leviathan
Argues that man exists in a "state of nature" in which glory, greed and mistrust run rampant and exit can only be facilitated by some sort of supra authority
63
Revisionist State
Competitive, Offensive and Expansionist
64
Alliance
Formal agreement: If you go to war, I'll go to war with you
65
Collective Security
Formal Agreement:We only work together when we are at war
66
Balance of Power
Multipower is stable because these nations can serve as eachothers checks and balances
67
Liberalist
Focusses on social relations and institution
68
Constructionist
It's all how things are perceived
69
Age of Enlightenment
18th century period of liberty, progress, and constitutional governments - where Kant emerges - predecessor to Liberalism
70
Peace under realism
1. Defensive Advantage
2. Posturing is distinguishable which removes the security dilemma
71
Relative Gains Concerns
The power ratio --> even if we both are gaining power, I will be insecure if the difference is increasing
72
Cooperation under realism
Inhibited by cheating and relative gains concerns
73
Horizontal Accountability
Refers to how republics separate executive and legislative powers and in doing so slows mobilization
74
Democratic Peace Theory
Theory that democracies are less likely to go to war with one another because of informational effects and institutional constraints
75
Frontline State
A state that borders your adversary
76
Kant's Perpetual Peace
Ideological base for league of nations - argues peace is more likely under conditions where (1) republic state (2) Law of nations (3) Universal Hospitality
77
Rosato 2003: Counter Argument to Democratic Peace Theory
1. Democracies don't externalize internal norms - Liberal Democracies fight imperial wars
2. Democracy is perception
3. Autocrats can face extreme political pushback
4. Publics are not inherently anti war!!
78
Institutional Constraint (DPT)
1. Democratic States are more likely to abide to International law
2. Democratic States are more likely to have guard rail institutions
79
Informational Efficiency (DPT)
Democracies tend to be more transparent - which means less of the private information issue
80
Schulz: Democratic Institutions constrain or inform
Because democratic institutions are more transparent, their threats in disputes are seen as more genuine
81
International Regimes
Systems of norms, principles and procedures which leads to expectations (NOT agreement) - think climate change, trade
82
Tectonic Plate Model
Alternative to billiard ball model in which interactions between states restructure the international environment - states are tectonic plates
83
Hegemonic Stability Theory
Hegemons are the only state with the resources in order to maintain a stable, open regime
84
Hearts and Minds Fallacy
Can't force democracy
85
Keohane
Argues cooperation is possible post hegemony with the presence of institutions (Mearshiemer disagrees because this argument disregards relative gains concerns)
86
Transaction Costs
The costs of cooperation, enforcement and coordination solved by institutions
87
Cooperation under Liberal Institutionalism
Regime type matters and cooperation is possible and sustainable
88
Barrnet and Finnemore 1999: The Politics, Power and Pathologies of International Organizations
International Organizations are dysfunctional because they are more than just reflections up power dynamics they are beaurocracies
89
Mearshiemer 1994: The false promise of International Institutions
Institutions are simply reflections of existing power dynamics and do nothing to address relative gains concerns and for this reason are not forums for cooperation
90
Globalization Elephant Curve
Refers to the fact that the poorest and the richest of the rich have seen the greatest increase in income
91
Five Predictors of Cross Border Exchange
1. Trade Policy
2. War / Peace (Security)
3. Technology
4. Liquidity of Capital Markets
5. Economic Organization
92
Protectionism
Tariffs and taxes
93
Liberalism
Free trade woo
94
Liquidity
How much money and how fast the money moves: Low inflation, stable exchange rates, low interest rates
95
Economic Organizations
Legal protections for traders, insurance, systems for dispute settlement
96
Rationalism (Methodology)
You can put a "price" on everything
97
Constructivism (Methodology)
Meaning is socially constructed - not because of facts or testable things. Constructivists do not buy the anarchy premise
98
Liberals
We live in anarchy which is why states cooperate because
99
Farell and Newman: Weaponized Interdependence
Global economic networks have security consequences, because they increase interdependence between states that were previously relatively autonomous. The networks are reflections of existing power structures - they do NOT redistribute power
100
Gartzke: Capitalist Peace
Revised theory of capitalist peace - economic development leads to less territory disputes, more overseas war and financial integration reduces war
101
Soviet Invasion in 1979
Communist party is elected in 1978 and faces enormous discontent from Islamists (Muhajideen). Soviets invade and fight 9 year war and lose to CIA backed Muhajideen
102
Operation Cyclone
CIA operation to fund the Muhajideen (which later becomes the Taliban) - side effect turns Karchi dangerous
103
Glastnost and Perestroika
Restructuring and openness by reformer Gorbachev ending Cold War
104
Why does the US lose in Afghanistan?
1. Airstrikes were ineffective because there was an incentive to invest in reputation
2. Asymmetrical Home team discount for the Taliban
105
Doha Agreement
US handing back control of the Taliban to Afghanistan
106
Montiero 2014: The Sources of Competition under Unipolarity
Unipolarity can be durable if the costs of war are high enough (nuclear revolution does this AND reduces need for counter balancimg) and when the unipole engages in defensive accommodation (letting the other countries grow economically to prevent counterbalancing)
107
Debs and Montiero 2014: Known Unknowns: Power Shifts and Wars
Preventative wars like the war in Iraq only exist when there are information issues because there is always a way to peace
108
Fearon on rationalist explanations for war
War happens rationally for three reasons
(1) Private Information / Incentives to misrepresent
(2)Commitment Problems
(3) Issue Indivisibility
109
Information Asymmetry
Like Saddam! Break down in information sharing within country
110
Private Information
Diff countries have diff information
111
Bargaining Model of War
Idea that war is the worst option!
112
Confucianism Political Philosophy
Hierarchical society based on loyalty
and filial piety
113
Mandate of Heaven
Right to rule is bestowed upon a leader – when the country is successful they are justified rulers - CCP is justified leader as long as China is stable
114
Century of Humiliation
A century where China is humiliated mainly by Britain and Japan, loses its political and economic stability (1839-1945)
115
Authoritarian Power Dilemmas
1. Power Sharing (yay or nay - accountability v stability)
2. Control (
116
Integrated Power Structures
Bearocracies talk to eachother and leader (Most successful Mao's early period)
117
Fragmented Power Structure
Buearocracies talk to each other and then present one front to leader
118
Siloed Power Structure
Talk to leader but not to eachother
119
Material Structure
Material itself
120
Ideational Structure
Meaning we attach ourselves
121
Fravel 2005: Regime Insecurity and International Cooperation
China compromised through 2010 because of regime insecurity
122
Shirk 2014: Domestic Context of Chinese Foreign Security Policies
China has become more aggressive/struggled to reassure it's neighbors because of (1) political insecurity (2) nationalism (3) bureaucracy (feeding itself inaccurate information + ppl within trying to gain more power for their mini institution)
123
Christenson 1997: Perceptions and Alliances in Europe: 1865- 1940
Offensive advantage: More alliances
Defensive Advantage: Buck Passing
Differences between front line states and second line
124
Mearshiemer (2010): China’s Challenge to US power
China's rise will not be peaceful because it struggles to reassure it's neighbors, because China sees the US as aggressive towards China...
125
China and the Future of World Politics (Weiss 2007)
War is not inevitable - domestic politics and minor crosses will have a big impact
126
Finemore and Skikkink 1998: International Norm Dynamics and Political Change
Norms are important and have a life cycle -- emergence, cascade and internalization
127
Goddard 2008: When right makes might
Prussia used norms in order to trick European states to not counterbalance
128
Wendt 1999: Anarchy is what states make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics
Identity and what is in a states best interest is entirely constructed!
