The relationship between Politics and Conflict Flashcards
(125 cards)
1
Q
What are the 3 definitions of politics
A
Politics is about the authoritative allocation of scarce resources. Politics is about who gets what, when and how. Politics is the activity in which people make, preserve and amend the rules they live under.
2
Q
Why is there competition in politics?
A
There is competition in politics due to the scarcity of resources.
3
Q
Name 9 manifestations of political conflict?
A
Territorial and border disputes, Conflict about resources, Ideological conflicts, Security perceptions, Ethnic/religious/cultural differences, Quest for independence, Terrorism, Power motivations and Interest differences.
4
Q
What are 9 means of managing conflict?
A
Negotiation, 3rd party facilitation, Mediation, Arbitration, Humanitarian assistance, Public law, Risk Analysis and Truth commissions and reconciliation.
5
Q
How would you classify a conflict that was between Protestants and Catholics?
A
Ethic/Religious/Cultural Conflict
6
Q
What is conflict according to Johan Galtung?
A
Conflict is made up of contradiction, attitude and behavior.
7
Q
Explain “contradiction” in the conflict structure according to Johan Galtung:
A
Contradiction refers to the underlying conflict situation, it includes the actual or perceived incompatibility of goals between parties involved.
8
Q
Explain “attitude” in the conflict structure according to Johan Galtung:
A
Refers to the perceptions or stereotypes of parties about themselves or others.
9
Q
Explain “behavior” in the conflict structure according to Johan Galtung:
A
Includes cooperation or coersion, gestures signifying conciliation or hostility.
10
Q
What did CR Mitchell replace contradiction with in Galtung’s triangle?
A
He replaced it with conflict situation focusing mainly on international conflict.
11
Q
What kind of situations give rise to incompatible goals?
A
The existing value system, scarcity, physical limitations on the availability of material goods.
12
Q
What are symmetric conflicts?
A
Conflicts between similar parties
13
Q
What are asymmetric conflicts?
A
Conflicts between very different parties.
14
Q
Name 5 dimensions of security
A
The military dimension, political dimension, economic dimension, societal and environmental dimension.
15
Q
The military dimension of security:
A
concerned with a two-level interplay of the armed offensive and defensive capabilities of states.
16
Q
The political dimension of security:
A
Has to do with the organizational stability of states, their systems of government and ideologies that give them legitimacy.
17
Q
The economic dimension of security:
A
Has to do with access to the necessary resources, finances and markets to sustain acceptable levels of welfare and state power.
18
Q
The societal dimension of security
A
Has to do with the sustainability of traditional patterns of language, culture and religions.
19
Q
The environmental dimension of security:
A
Has to do with the maintenance of the natural environment.
20
Q
What is a minimal state?
A
Is a state determined by the values directly derived from the interests of individual citizens.
21
Q
What is a maximal state?
A
A state that has interests of its own.
22
Q
Name different types of political conflict
A
direct or physical conflict, structural conflict and cultural conflict.
23
Q
Name the 4 classes of basic needs affected by direct conflict
A
Survival needs - killing, Well-being needs - maiming, Identity needs - desocialization and Freedom needs -repression.
24
Q
Why is structural conflict controversial?
A
It is controversial because it is harder to spot than direct conflict.
25
Name the 4 classes of basic needs affected by structural conflict
Survival needs - Exploitation, Well-being needs - Exploitation, Identity needs - segmentation/penetration and Freedom needs -marginalization.
26
Is the following true or false? The law formalizes what is acceptable and unacceptable conduct in a society
True
27
Which one of the following is NOT a legal means to resolve disputes and conflicts? Judgements, Settlements negotiated by representatives, mediation, legal opinion by the judiciary and arbitration
Mediation - it is a form of negotiation facilitated by an outsider and does not involve any legal means.
28
Which one of the following is not a correct statement about the difference between municipal and international law? Municipal law is the law of local authorities while international law is applicable to states as a whole and the international community, The UN General Assembly is a world parliament but cannot act as a central legislature, The UN does not have an international police force which can enforce international law, Judgment courts rely only on the consent of the states and their judgements cannot be be enforced.
Municipal law is the law of local authorities while international law is applicable to states as a whole and the international community - because it affects the state as a whole.
29
Which form of international law is defined by the following? It is a body of rules and principles which are binding upon states in their relations with one another.
Public International Law
30
Which one of the following is NOT a source of public international law? Treaties & conventions, codifications, judicial precedent, speeches by the UN secretary, text writings by legal specialists, customs.
Speeches delivered by the UN secretary.
31
Is the following an example of International Human Rights Law or International Humanitarian Law? The law protects civilians in time of war and also protects the victims of international armed conflicts.
International Humanitarian Law.
32
Fill in the missing words: The International Court of Justice is primarily responsible for disputes between___, while the International Criminal Court is responsible for crimes committed by___. The ___ is primarily responsible for the enforcement of ICJ judgements. The ICC has jurisdiction over the following crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity and___.
states, individuals, security council and war crimes.
33
Is the following an example of arbitration, negotiated settlement or a legal opinion? Two states are in dispute over possession of a strategically placed island in a river. They decided to present the matter to a panel with the understanding that its opinion will be binding on both parties.
Arbitration
34
Put these in order of the most binding to the least binding: Arbitration, legal opinion, ICJ judgement and ICC judgement
Arbitration, ICC judgements, ICJ judgements and Legal opinion.
35
What is the most important limitation on the use of law in political conflict resolution?
Application on Public International Law depends in most cases on the consent of state.
36
What does the social contract explain?
The social contract explains why the state as a central authority is responsible for providing security and managing conflict in society.
37
According to chapter VI and VII of the UN Charter, conflict management includes:
Negotiation, mediation, enquiry, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, use of regional agencies, sanctions and the use of armed forces.
38
Which one of the following is NOT an element of a conflict triangle? Attitude, behavior, symmetry
Symmetry
39
Name the two concepts of rationality choice theory:
Rationality and choice.
40
What does rationality refer to?
Refers to rules of logic and the ability to verify actions.
41
5 assumptions of rationality according to Anthony Downs:
People can always make a choice when faced with a range of options, People rank their options in order of their preference, The preference order is transitive (if A is preferred to B, and B is preferred to C then logically A will be preferred more than C), People will choose the highest ranking preference, People always make the same decisions when confronted with the same options.
42
What does Rational-choice theory assume?
It assumes that a rational decision is one that achieves maximum social gain.
43
What are the 2 implications of the rational-choice theory?
A decision should not be taken if its costs exceed its benefits, Decision makers must choose the option that produces the greatest benefits.
44
Is the rational-choice theory concerned with maximizing utility?
True
45
Advantages of utility?
Utility is a measurable good, It is a set of well-defined and mutually exclusive decision options, the decision makers can calculate the amount of utility that can be derived from each option.
46
How can the utility of an option be determined?
Cost-benefit analysis
47
What is a win-win analysis?
A decision that can achieve divergent goals simultaneously without striking a compromise.
48
What are game theories?
They are a special variation of rational choice theories.
49
What is a key concept in game theories?
Strategy
50
What is the Mini-max strategy?
It is a strategy that minimizes maximum losses.
50
What is a Maxi-mini strategy?
It is a strategy that maximizes minimum gain.
51
What is a Mini-mini strategy?
It is a strategy that minimizes the minimum gain.
52
What is a Max-max strategy?
It is a strategy that maximizes the maximum gain.
53
Name the best know variations of game theory:
Prisoners dilemma, battle of avranches, chicken and battle of the sexes.
54
What is political conflict resolution used for?
It is used to address the symptoms of conflict asap to enable the parties in conflict to communicate and reach an agreement or compromise.
55
Name the 5 generation of theoretical approaches
Psychological theories, power and utilitarian theories, value/norm theories, structural theories and theories about human needs and conflict transformation.
56
What do Psychological theories focus on?
Focuses on individuals and consists of two divisions: Frustration-aggression theories and Relative deprivation theories.
57
What do power and utilitarian theories focus on?
They focus on combining power and relative deprivation.
58
What do value/norms theories focus on?
They focus on the absence of a value consensus in conflict.
59
What do structural theories focus on?
They focus on the role of the state
60
What is relative deprivation?
Relative deprivation is a subjective perception of a person's conditions.
61
What is the Davis' J Curve?
It is a hypothesis that states that violent civil disturbances are most likely to occur over a prolonged period objective economic and social developments.
62
What does the saying "Frustration is a facilitative condition of aggression" mean?
It implies that frustration leads to aggression in individuals who have learned to behave aggressively and whom aggression has a functional value.
63
What is Walter Korpi's hypothesis?
Change in control f power resources is linked to conflict through its effect on three motivational variables: expectancy of success, expected loss and relative deprivation.
64
What does Fishbein's hypothesis on value/norm theories state?
It states that three variables function as basic determinants of behavior, namely: attitude towards behavior, normative beliefs and motivation to comply with norms.
65
Name 2 variations of structural theories
Theda Skocpol's structural perspective and the failure of the state or the weak state.
66
Which schola is associated with the Davies J curve?
James C Davies
67
Who is the relative deprivation theory associated with?
Ted Gurr
68
What is conflict building?
Conflict building is an essential element of conflict resolution. it is often the key in a mediation process.
69
At what point does Arbitration become an option?
When negotiation and meditation fail to produce the desired results.
70
What is the name of the conflict resolution confidence building is part of?
Conflict transformation
71
What is conflict transformation?
It is an approach that focuses on conflict resolution as a process to transform a society's political and socio-economic systems
72
Can confidence building be initiated at any time in a conflict situation?
No, it happens when the conflict has reached a mutually hurting or stalemate point
73
What are the purposes of confidence building?
Confidence building creates a situation that is conducive to negotiation, confidence building helps build trust
74
How can trust be built?
Using Track II and Track III initiatives, Ceasefire and Amnesty, release of political prisoners and decommissioning weapons.
75
Define Track I diplomacy
This is government-led negotiations conducted by government officials.
76
What is the objective of Track I diplomacy?
To facilitate or negotiate an official peace agreement. It follows the formal procedures of conventional diplomacy.
77
Define Track II diplomacy
It is an unofficial, non structural interaction between members of groups or nations to address conflict by address psychological factors
78
Define Track III diplomacy
It involves interactions between the private sector business people.
79
Define Track IV diplomacy
It includes civil society exchanges such as scientific, cultural academic, education, sport and student.
80
Define Track V diplomacy
It involves efforts by the media on both sides. It is designed to break down negative stereotypes about the other.
81
What is a ceasefire?
It is a public promise to suspend violence or armed activities for a period of time without denouncing violence or conceding a military defeat.
82
Name the 8 mechanisms that can be used to draw sustainable peace
Elections, Power sharing coalitions, proportional representation, special majorities in decision-making, protection of human rights, decentralized government, amnesty and international/regional peacekeeping.
83
Name the two criteria sets of criteria applied in determining the nature of power sharing
A group building block and Powe-sharing as a temporary or permanent constitutional arrangement
84
The group building block approach
Groups are viewed as the basic building blocks of society. It emphasizes that groups have to accommodate each other in society. In institutional and constitutional terms it utilizes guarantees for group autonomy and minority rights.
85
Define the integrative approach
In this approach institutions and policies are used to promote social and political integration across groups. It seeks to build coalitions and to create incentives for political leaders to be moderate on divisive ethnic issues and to enhance minority influence in decision making.
86
Examples of permanent constitutional arrangements
Garand coalition, Group autonomy, Proportionality and Minority veto.
87
Name the 6 truth commissions
A commission to bring out the hidden truth, Commissions focused on victims using a legal approach, Commissions that establish who the perpetrators are, Commissions to address broad historical and economic issues and Commissions that emphasize their process of investigation.
88
Proportionality as a component of consociational democracy is associated with..
A formular for distribution of public service appointments
89
What is the characteristic of international criminal tribunals?
One of them was established to address the genocide in Rwanda in 1994.
90
Name the 2 structured phases of negotiation
Normalization - Democratisation - Consolidation and Talks about Talks - Preliminary Bargaining - Substative Negotiation.
91
Name the 3 commitments that should be made in the pre-negotiation phase
The parties have to commit to peaceful negotiation as a mutually advantageous process, Consensus has to be reached on political violence, The parties have to accept joint responsibility for the management of the transition or negotiated agreement.
92
What is discussed in the preliminary bargaining phase?
Who are the participants in the negotiation, Who are the parties in the conflict, What is the negotiation agenda, Who will facilitate the negotiation, decision-making, and time frame.
93
What is the structuring of the negotiation?
Symbolic Agenda, Fractionated Agenda and Package deal.
94
Name 2 basic approaches to negotiation
Positional negotiation and Interest based negotiation.
95
What is a Positional Negotiation?
It is a negotiation in which each side in the negotiation takes a position, argues it and makes concessions to reach a compromise. Parties enter the negotiation with a prepared position and if their positions are rejected they enter a bargaining process where power is a central concept.
96
What are the 4 negative effects of positional negotiation?
It produces unwise agreements, It creates incentives to stall settlement, It endangers an ongoing relationship and It invokes more positions.
97
Name the 4 elements of Interest-based negotiation
People: separate the people from the problem, Interests: focus on interests not positions, Options: generate a variety of possibilities before deciding what to do and Criteria: the result must be based on criterion.
98
What the 4 steps of the negotiation process?
Preparation, Opening the negotiation, Bargaining and problem-solving, Closure and agreement
99
What is the difference between mediation and conciliation?
Mediation- The mediator makes proposals based on the information supplied by the parties. Conciliation- The facilitators make proposals based on their own investigation.
100
What is Conciliation?
When an outside party investigates the dispute and resents the parties with a set of formal proposals for its solution.
101
What is Mediation?
When the mediator is an active participant in the negotiations. Mediators acts as a communication channel between the parties.
102
Where can mediation be used?
Mediation can be used in international and regional conflicts and internal conflicts.
103
Characteristics of mediation
Mediation involves the intervention of an individual, group or organization in a dispute between two or more parties, Mediation is a continuation or extension of the parties involved, Mediation is non-coercive/non-violent, Mediation turns an originally bilateral dispute into a 3 sided interaction, A mediator enter a dispute to resolve or influence in some way, mediators bring knowledge and resources, Mediation is a voluntary form of intervention and Mediation operates on an ad hoc basis.
104
What are the 4 aspects of of the mediation process?
Parties' agreement on mediation, Identifying the mediator, Deadlock breaking in mediation and Mediation limitations
105
Agreement on mediation
Parties in conflict have to agree thay they accept mediation, it cannot be forced on parties.
106
Identifying the mediator
A mediator must be respected and have the required authority.
107
Name 4 deadlock breaking mechanisms in mediation
Shuttle mediation or diplomacy, Proximity talks, Track II mediation and Power mediation
108
What is shuttle mediation?
Type of mediation where the facilitator of the negotiation shuttles between the parties in conflict.
109
What are proximity talks?
Talks happen with the facilitator moving between the different parties (within close proximity).
110
Name 4 legal means of conflict resolution
Judgement by judicial officers, settlements, A legal option by the judiciary and arbitration.
111
What is International law?
It is the law of the international community and law that is applicable to private relations between citizens of different states.
112
What is Public International Law?
Is a law that governs the relations between states.
113
What is Private International Law?
Has to do with relations between individuals whose legal relations are governed by the laws of different states.
114
What is the ICJ?
The International Court of Justice deals only with disputes between states
115
What is the ICC?
The International Criminal Court deals with individuals and does not need the consent of sates.
116
Name 7 sources of Public International Law
Treaties and conventions, International custom, General principles of law, Judicial precedent, Text writings, Codifications and Norms and obligations.
117
What are treaties and conventions?
They are written agreements between two or more states.
118
What is International custom?
Custom is the common law of the international community.
119
What is judicial precedent?
When a judge is bound in their judgement by previous judgments.
119
What is Codifications?
It is a process of bringing together and putting in writing the law on a certain matter.
120
Name the 5 areas that Public International Law concentrates on
International human rights law, international humanitarian law, Law of the sea, Air and space law, International environmental law.
121
Name 2 courts that are responsible for applying Public international law
International Court of Justice and The International Criminal Court
122
Facts about the ICJ:
It is the UN's primary judicial organ. It is based in Hague, Netherlands.
123
Functions of the ICJ
To settle legal disputes submitted by member states.
To give advisory opinions on legal questions to the UN, its agencies and specialized organs.
