Chapter 3: realism, liberalism, and critical theories Flashcards
realism
The belief that it is fundamentally the nature of people and the state to act in a way that places interests over ideologies. The drive for power and the will to dominate are held to be fundamental aspects of human nature.
- hard power, anarchy
- rationality
statism
the state is the main actor and sovereignty is its distinguishing trait
civil society
The totality of all individuals and groups in a society who are not acting as participants in any government institutions or acting in the interests of commercial companies.
ethic of responsibility
For realists, it represents the limits of ethics in international politics; it involves the weighing up of consequences and the realization that positive outcomes may result from amoral actions.
self-help
In realist theory, in an anarchic system, states cannot assume other states will come to their defense even if they are allies. Each state must take care of itself.
security dilemma
A central concept in realist thought. As states build up their military to address real or perceived threats to their national security, they may create insecurity in other states
anarchic system
A realist description of the international system that suggests there is no common power or central governing structure.
comparative advantage
A theory developed by David Ricardo stating that two countries will both gain from trade if, in the absence of trade, they have different relative costs for producing the same goods
protectionist policies
An economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow “fair competition” among imports and goods and services produced domestically.
classical realism
The belief that it is fundamentally the nature of people and the state to act in a way that places interests over ideologies. The drive for power and the will to dominate are held to be fundamental aspects of human nature.
structural realism
A theory of realism that maintains that the international system and the condition of anarchy or no common power push states and individuals to act in a way that places interests over ideologies. This condition creates a self-help system
offensive realism
A structural theory of realism that views states as power maximizers.
defensive realism
A structural theory of realism that views states as security maximizers—more concerned with absolute power as opposed to relative power
neoclassical-realist
A version of realism that combines both structural factors such as the distribution of power and unit-level factors such as the interests of states.
liberalism
argues for human rights, parliamentary democracy, and free trade
- states and people are not evil
- goodness
multilateralist
These states, because of their position and past roles in international affairs, have very distinctive interests in world order. Middle powers are activists in international and regional forums, and they are confirmed multilateralists in most issue areas
liberal internationalism
A perspective that seeks to transform international relations to emphasize peace, individual freedom, and prosperity and to replicate domestic models of liberal democracy at the international level.
anarchy
A system operating in the absence of any central government. It does not imply chaos but, in realist theory, the absence of political authority.
imperialism
The practice of foreign conquest and rule in the context of global relations of hierarchy and subordination. It can lead to the establishment of an empire.
enlightenment
A movement associated with rationalist thinkers of the eighteenth century. Key ideas (which some would argue remain mottoes for our age) include secularism, progress,
democratic peace thesis
A central plank of liberal-internationalist thought, the democratic peace thesis makes two claims: first, liberal polities exhibit restraint in their relations with other liberal polities (the so-called separate peace), but second, they are imprudent in relations with authoritarian states
free trade
A liberal international economic order based on the pursuit of free trade but allowing an appropriate role for state intervention in the market in support of national security and national and global stability.
collective security
An arrangement where “each state in the system accepts that the security of one is the concern of all, and agrees to join in a collective response to aggression
integration
An idea formulated by early proponents of European integration that suggests cooperation should begin with efforts aimed at resolving specific regional or transnational problems. It is assumed that resolution of these problems will lead to cooperation, or spillover, in other policy areas.
functionalism
An idea formulated by early proponents of European integration that suggests cooperation should begin with efforts aimed at resolving specific regional or transnational problems. It is assumed that resolution of these problems will lead to cooperation, or spillover, in other policy areas.
pluralism
A political theory holding that political power and influence in society do not belong just to the citizens nor only to elite groups in various sectors of society but are distributed among a wide number of groups in the society. It can also mean a recognition of ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity.
interdependence
A condition where states (or peoples) are affected by decisions taken by others. Interdependence can be symmetric (i.e., both sets of actors are affected equally) or asymmetric
relative gains
One of the factors that realists argue constrain the willingness of states to cooperate. States are less concerned about whether everyone benefits (absolute gains) and more concerned about whether someone may benefit more than someone else.
neoliberalism
Theory shaped by the ideas of commercial, republican, sociological, and institutional liberalism. Neoliberals see the international system as anarchic but believe relations can be managed by the establishment of international regimes and institutions.
liberalism of privilege
The perspective that developed democratic states have a responsibility to spread liberal values for the benefit of all peoples of Earth.
