Chapter 2 Flashcards
What’s the foundation of realism?
dominance
What’s idealism?
emphasizes International Law, Morality, and International Organizations instead of power. They believe human nature is inherently good.
What does Realism think of Human Nature?
Selfish (Rational Pursuit of self-interest)
What are the causes of state behaviour according to Idealism?
Psychological motives of decision makers.
Nature of International System according to Realism and Idealism
Realism: Anarchy
Idealism: Community
Most Important Actors according to Idealism and Realism
Idealism: States AND other actors (including individuals)
Realism: States
What is relative power?
Relative power is the ratio of the power that two states can bring to bear against each other
What is the league of nations?
forerunner of today’s United Nations.
What’s power? What’s the best indicator of power?
Power is the ability or potential to influence others. The best single indicator of a state’s power may be its total gross domestic product (GDP), but not a precise one.
What are capabilities?
Capabilities give a state the potential to influence others only to the extent that political leaders can mobilize and deploy these capabilities effectively and strategically.
What is soft power?
a state’s own values become widely shared among other states, that state will easily influence others
What is relative power?
ratio of the power that two states can bring to bear against each other.
Give examples of long-term power bases
- GDP
- Population
- Territory
- Geography
- Natural resources
- Credibility of commitments
- Power of ideas (soft power)
Give examples of short term power bases
- Military forces
- Willingness to fight
- Quality of state’s bureaucracy
What are the three ways in which an actor (state) can exert power?
- Dominance
- Reciprocity: promise a candy bar at the checkout as a reward for good behavior
- Identity: Be a big boy/girl” or “You want to help Daddy, don’t you?”
Define geopolitics. What are the three most important considerations?
The use of geography as an element of power. The three most important considerations are location, location, location.
How can states increase their power with geography?
Enhance their military capabilities, such as by securing allies and bases close to a rival power or by controlling key natural resources
What is anarchy?
Lack of a central government that can enforce rules. States rely on self-help & pay attention not to the intentions of other states but rather to their capabilities.
What is sovereignty?
A government has the right, in principle, to do whatever it wants in its own territory. States are separate and autonomous, and they answer to no higher authority
Explain the security dilemma.
A situation in which actions taken by states to ensure their own security (such as deploying more military forces) threaten the security of other states
The dilemma is a negative consequence of anarchy in the international system
What is the balance of power? Give an example.
One or more states’ power being used to balance that of another state or group of states. Ex: states grouping up against the US post-cold war.
Who are the great powers (7)? Name two characteristics
Half-dozen or so most powerful states
1. US
2. China
3. Russia
4. Japan
5. Germany
6. France
7. Britain
- share a global outlook based on national interests far from their home territories
- have the world’s strongest military forces and the strongest economies to pay for them
Who is the only superpower?
The US
What are the middle powers?
Rank somewhat below the great powers in terms of their influence on world affairs
