Unit 1 Study Guide

Question 1

What is international relations

Answer 1

Study of the interactions among various actors that participate in international politics
States, international organizations, non-government organizations, subnational entities, individuals

Question 2

What are the tools used for studying international relations?

Answer 2

History – examines individual or multiple cases
Philosophy – develops, rational’s from core texts and analytical thinking
Behavioralism – find patterns in human behavior and state behavior, using empirical methods (grounded scientific method)
Alternatives- deconstructs major concepts, and uses discourse analysis to build a thick description

Question 3

What is theory

Answer 3

A logically consistent set of statements that explain the phenomenon of interest
Explain why something happen
Casual explanations

Question 4

What are the 2 steps in IR to understand the causes of events

Answer 4

1) build theories
2) asses these theories

Question 5

What is philosophy

Answer 5

Study of fundamental questions about reality knowledge and value

Question 6

Key actors in realism/neorealism

Answer 6

State
Most powerful and matters the most

Question 7

What are the characteristics of individuals in realism/neorealism

Answer 7

Egoism
Insecure selfish and power seeking

Question 8

What are the characteristics of the state in realism/neorealism

Answer 8

Rational, have relationships including friends and rivals, characteristics of the state matters like if it’s democratic authoritarian etc

Question 9

What are the characteristics of the international system in realism/neorealism

Answer 9

Anarchy abridged by interdependence among actors
International order

Question 10

What are realist/neorealist beliefs abt change

Answer 10

Self interest managed by structure leads to possibility of cooperation and peace

Question 11

Who are the major theorist in realism/neorealism

Answer 11

Hobbes
St Augustine
Montesquieu
Kent
Wilson
Keohone
Moravcsik

Question 12

who are the key actors in constructivism

Answer 12

Ppl elites culture

Question 13

What are the characteristics of individuals in constructivism

Answer 13

Key actors in creation of meaning bound by education socialization and culture
Identity matters

Question 14

What are the characteristics of the state in constructivism

Answer 14

Artifacts whose significance is socially constructed thru discourse
Identity matters

Question 15

What are the characteristics of international system in constructivism

Answer 15

Artifacts whose significance is socially constructed thru discourse
Identity matters

Question 16

What are constructivist beliefs abt change

Answer 16

Possible thru socialization diffusion of ideas of internationalization of norms

Question 17

Who were the major constructivist theorist

Answer 17

Hoef
Wendt

Question 18

Which of the 3 main theoretical perspectives believes in power politics and what is power politics

Answer 18

Realism
States can only rely on themselves to protect against attacks so must pursue power

Question 19

Who are the key actors in liberalism

Answer 19

Individuals and groups

Question 20

What are the characteristics of individuals in liberalism

Answer 20

Individuals are rational and able to understand basic laws of nature and human society

Question 21

What are the characteristics of the state in liberalism

Answer 21

Optimistic about prospects for cooperation and peace
Interdependence and common interest

Question 22

What are the characteristics of international system in liberalism

Answer 22

Democracies don’t fight each other
International law and organizations

Question 23

What guides classical realist

Answer 23

Power
Determines state interest

Question 24

What is neorealism

Answer 24

Rejects ideas on flawed human nature to explain conflict but rather structure of international system

Question 25

What is the difference between offensive neorealism and defensive in how states can gain power

Answer 25

Offensive war and conquest Defensive balancing against powerful states by taking allies to offset their power and fend potential attacks

Question 26

Why is the study of international relations from a theoretical perspective valuable?

Answer 26

Political scientists develop theories to understand the causes of events that occur in international relations.

Question 27

What is the security dilemma

Answer 27

Situation that arises when a state feels insecure and decides that its best policy is to increase military strength

Question 28

Where are three main influences on the development of of liberal thought in IR

Answer 28

Individualism natural law Liberal republicanism Commercial liberalism

Question 29

That is the democratic peace theory

Answer 29

Liberal states, founded on such individual rights as equality before the law, free speech and other civil liberties, private property, and elected representation tend to be more peaceful and against war There are few, if any, clear cases of war between mature democratic states

Question 30

What is the central idea behind complex interdependence?

Answer 30

➢States are connected through multiple channels. ➢Not the only actors in the international system ➢Hierarchy of issues: security is not the only concern. ➢Decline in the use of military force.

Question 31

How does neoliberal institutionalism differ from classical liberalism in explaining cooperation among states?

Answer 31

Cooperation emerges not due to humanity’s desire for positive change (Classical liberals) Instead, cooperation emerges from self-interested behavior

Question 32

How do international institutions facilitate cooperation, according to neoliberal institutionalism? List the different ways and provide examples.

Answer 32

Coordination and collaboration collective action problems ➢Coordination actors benefit from all making the same choices and face no incentives not to comply (or defect) ➢Collaboration actors benefit from cooperation but nonetheless face incentives to defect (not to comply)

Question 33

What is the significance of the "Melian Dialogue" to Realist theory?

Answer 33

Political realism vs idealism Highlight needs and dangers of cooperation thru alliances Cost risks and benefits of war

Question 34

Why are Neorealists referred to as “Structural” Realists?

Answer 34

Structure of system affect how state interact

Question 35

Briefly explain Kenneth Waltz's theory about how the distribution of power (polarity) affects the likelihood of war.

Answer 35

Great power war greater in multipolar than bipolar

Question 36

Constructivist anarchy view

Answer 36

Depends on state do not know how would turn out bc matter how states perceive not having a global power

Question 37

What does it mean for a security dilemma to be considered “socially constructed”?

Answer 37

Based on how states perceive themselves and other states

Question 38

In what ways does constructivism broaden the understanding of power beyond material resources?

Answer 38

It is also purposive

Question 39

How is war defined according to the provided material, and what are some common events often excluded from this definition?

Answer 39

War is an event involving the organized use of military force by atleast 2 parties that reach a minimum threshold of severity Genocide terrorist attacks and massacres usually no count

Question 40

What are the two primary categories of war, and how do they differ in terms of the actors involved?

Answer 40

Interstate war between states which have recognizable leadership and locations and formal militaries Intrastate/Civil War between factions within the state

Question 41

According to the provided data, has the incidence of war increased or decreased since the end of World War II and the Korean War? What change has occurred in the twenty-first century?

Answer 41

Following the world wars in the Korean War war incidence, and intensity has declined 21st century has seen a significant increase in the number of casualties from internal conflicts

Question 42

What distinguishes conventional warfare from unconventional warfare?

Answer 42

Conventional warfare is fought by people chosen, trained, and authorized to attack or defend against their counterparts fought with conventional weapons Unconventional disregard restrictions on legitimate targets of violence

Question 43

Briefly describe the realist perspective on the causes of war, referencing at least two key concepts from that theory.

Answer 43

Security dilemma efforts by state to defend themselves lead to spiral fear and insecurity, resulting in war Preventive motives, wars are an attempt to prevent an enemy from becoming relatively more powerful

Question 44

According to realists, what two main strategies can be used to prevent or decrease war?

Answer 44

Power balancing use of alliances to balance power, both internationally and regionally Deterrence the manipulation of fear to prevent an unwanted action, credible threat of use of force can prevent violence and war through fear

Question 45

What are the three assumptions of deterrence theory?

Answer 45

Decision makers are rational and want to avoid costly war The threat of destruction from nuclear warfare is too great Alternatives to war are available