Poli sci final Flashcards
(45 cards)
When are revolutions likely to occur?
revolutions are born when the social climate in a country changes and the political system doesn’t react accordingly
What was John Locke’s ideas and why were they incorporated into the declaration of independence
He said that people should have the right to overthrow or challenge a tyrannical government, but their rebellion does not guarantee a happy result. He also said that people should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of property. If they were being deprived of this, they should be allowed to rebel.
what was the reign of terror and who was involved?
Maximillian Robespierre and his committee of public affairs were in charge. It was an era in France when people were executed for opposing the revolution and daring to dissent. Robespierre was a utopian thinker who wanted to make perfect French citizens.
what was Edmund Burke’s position on the French Revolution
He said that the revolution oversimplified politics and romanticized radical change.
What was Thomas Paine’s position on war, independence, and monarchies?
He was a big supporter of revolutions and tried to glorify and justify the need for revolution by citing instances of British corruption and injustice. He said that monarchies thrive on ignorance and are wrong in principle.
What is the difference between a revolt and a a revolution?
any mass action that does not result in fundamental change can be called a revolt. They are often accompanied by social upheaval and violence. Just because there is violence does not mean there will be a revolution, and not all revolutions are violent.
Every colony wrote their own constitution. Why were they different than most European governments?
the way that each colony wrote its own constitution and then those constitutions were incorporated into the US constitution is an early form of majority rule when Europe was still heavily dominated by monarchies and autocracies.
What is the book’s definition of war?
The central problem of world politics. It is a continuation of politics by other means
Understand the philosophers we talked about regarding war. What were the positions and ideas of Hobbes, Morgenthau, Rousseau, Lenin/ Marx, and Plato
Hobbes said that the only way we could understand what people are really like is by looking at how they would behave outside of civil society. He believed life outside of society would be wrought by fear. This natural human fear of things like death results in aggression and violent behaviors that lead to war. There are three causes of war, fear, dissidence, and glory
Morgenthau believed humans were deeply flawed too. He thought they were motivated by self interest, which predisposes humans to an eternal struggle for power.
Rousseau thought that it was flaws in society and the creation of private property that were to blame for war.
Lenin said that capitalism was to blame for war. Capitalistic nations would pursue war to gain power in a comparative market system.
Plato said that war was at least in part caused by human’s passion for worldly possessions and comforts.
How are civil wars different than interstate wars?
an interstate war is a war that is happening between two or more nations. A civil war is a war that is happening within a single nation.
why is Saint Augustine important in war?
he taught that war is a product of our corrupt nature. He has had a big influence on Western political thought.
What is zionism?
the movement that wants to create a Jewish nationalist state in Israel (the creation of Palestine)
what is the Iran Contra?
the US arms dealing to a right wing rebel group in Iran during the second term of Reagan’s presidency.
Why were the Camp David Accords important?
it was a peace treaty signed by Israel and Egypt facilitated by Jimmy Carter. It is very hard to negotiate peace in the middle east, so this treaty was very significant.
what are the goals of terrorists?
It is intended to intimidate or coerce a government, people, or group of peoples to modify their behavior or politics.
what type of terrorism was the Oklahoma city bombing or the Tokyo subway attacks?
both are domestic terrorism
Name and explain the different types of terrorism
state terrorism is directed by the state against its own people with no foreign government involvement
international terrorism is linked to a state, but the effects are felt outside of the state’s borders
state-sponsored terrorism is when one government harbors international terrorists
transnational terrorism is when terrorist groups in different countries cooperate or when a groups actions cross national boundaries
domestic terrorism is terrorism practiced in a single country by terrorists with no ties to any government
what is an accidental war?
the unintentional launching of a nuclear attack due to a mistake or a miscalculation. This can happen due to bad communication or misinterpretations.
What is counterterrorism and its goal
it is opposing terrorism. The goal is to stop terrorism using almost any means possible, including invading another country or starting a war.
understand the difference between guerrilla fighters and terrorists
guerrilla fighters are freedom fighters. They mostly focus their acts violence against government or security forces rather than against civilians and noncombatants, who are the main target of terrorists.
who are the members of today’s nuclear club?
US, Russia, China, France, and the UK are declared nuclear powers. Israel and Pakistan possess nuclear weapons. North Korea is testing weapons, and Iran has the capacity to create weapons even though they have not yet.
Why did the Soviet Union and the US not attack each other during the cold war?
Mutual Assured Destruction.
Why is Machiavelli important in his view of rulers?
Machiavelli said that the wise ruler must always play to win. He would recognize what must be done to preserve and enlarge his dominion and would not allow moral qualms to cloud his judgement. Rulers should keep their promises only when it suits them to do so. He taught REALISM. We should not worry about what we should or ought to do, instead we should focus on what nations will actually do and why they act the way they do.
what is the reailst view of power?
realism says that power is the key variable in all political relationships, and it should be used prudently and pragmatically to advance the national interest. Policies are judged good or bad based on their effects on the national interests and not on their level of morality.
