Chapter 1, IR as an Academic Subject Flashcards
state-centrism, sovereignty, anarchy, levels of analysis, how did the modern state system become what it is today
what is state-centrism and why do we use it?
IR focuses on theorizing states’ behaviours, as they are the most prominent actors in the international system. it simplifies the reality of the international system in order to help us better understand international relations.
define the concept of “black box”
realists see the state as a unitary actor, meaning that they do not take domestic politics into account. all states are perceived as the same unitary, egoistic and rational actors, the only difference being their material capabilities.
what is sovereignty on the international system level?
because states are in an anarchic setting, there is no higher authority. nothing governs states.
what is sovereignty on the internal level?
to be a sovereign state, the state needs to have a clear and defined territory. inside those borders, the state needs to have a population over which it has control. therefore, the state needs to have a hierarchic decision-making process, meaning that there is a group of people that can make decisions about foreign and domestic policies.
what is sovereignty on the external level?
for a state to be sovereign, other sovereign states need to recognize it as such.
what does it mean to say that the international system is anarchic?
this means that there is no superior political authority to the state. therefore, each state has the legitimate use of force on its territory.
what is the first image of analysis?
the first image is the individual level. according to this level of analysis, foreign policy decisions and a state’s behaviour are explained by the characteristics of the given decision-maker.
what is the second image of analysis?
the second image is the state level. this level of analysis presupposes that the political regime or the political culture (e.g.: values held by a state) of a state explain its behaviour.
what is the third image of analysis?
the third image is the international system level. this level of analysis focuses on the system, not the units. therefore, it sees things such as polarity, level of interdependence, norms, alliances and international organizations as explanations for a given state’s behaviour.
what is parsimony?
it is the optimal combination between simplification and explanatory power. the goal is to explain a lot by looking at a very few things.
what treaty led to the birth of the modern state system by recognizing state sovereignty?
Peace of Westphalia (or Treaty of Westphalia).
what did the Treaty of Westphalia change in how we collectively view states?
(I will go into material from other courses I have taken, but don’t worry, I doubt this will be on the exam)
- the end of universalism
decision-makers thought that war was caused by the desire to expand a given worldview globally (a religious ideology, for example). the goal of the treaty was to ensure that the influence of the Church would end at the borders of a state.
- double state sovereignty
now, states’ internal and external sovereignty was recognized. the goal was to ensure equality between European states and put an end to the concept of empire (having colonies was still okay tho……….).
- raison d’état (states’ interests)
the need to survive gained in importance. now, the state developed interests (survival and security) of its own, rather than being a direct representation of the monarch’s interests.
- new european world order
letting other states have a different worldview, different conception of the world, but still perceiving them as equal.
- balance of power
ensuring that no great power could attack other great powers without threatening its own survival.
