Chapter 2 Flashcards
realism
a broad intellectual tradition that explains international relations mainly in terms of power
idealism
an approach that emphasizes international law, morality, and international organization, rather than power alone, as key influences on international relations
League of Nations
an organization established after WW1 and a forerunner of today’s UN; it achieved certain humanitarian and other successes but was weakened by the absence of US membership and by its own lack of effectiveness in ensuring collective security
power
the ability of potential to influence others’ behavior, as measured by the possession of certain tangible and intangible characteristics
anarchy
in IR theory, a term that implies not complete chaos but the lack of a central government that can enforce rules
norms
the shared expectations about what behavior is considered proper
sovereignty
a state’s right, at least in principle, to do whatever it wants within its own territory; traditionally, sovereignty is the most important international norm
security dilemma
a situation in which actions states take to ensure their own security (such as deploying more military forces) are perceived as threats to the security of other states
balance of power
the general concept of one or more states’ power being used to balance that of another state or group of states
the term can refer to (1) any ratio of power capabilities between states of alliances, (2) a relatively equal ratio, or (3) the process by which counterbalancing coalitions have repeatedly formed to prevent one state from from conquering an entire region
neorealism
a version of realist theory that emphasizes the influence on state behavior of the system’s structure, especially the international distribution of power
hegemony
one state’s holding of a preponderance of power in the international system, so that it can single-handedly dominate the rules and arrangements by which international political and economic relations are conducted
hegemonic stability theory
the argument that regimes are most effective when power in the international system is most concentrated
deterrence
the threat to punish another actor if it takes a certain negative action (especially attacking one’s own state or one’s allies)
compellence
the threat of force to make another actor take some action (rather than, as in deterrence, refrain from taking an action)
