Chapter one Flashcards
What is Dominance in the context of collective goods problems?
A principle for solving collective goods problems by establishing a hierarchy where powerful actors enforce rules and order.
Example: The United Nations Security Council, where major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia have veto power.
Define Sovereignty.
The principle that states have supreme authority within their borders and are free from external interference.
Example: The U.S. governs itself without external control.
What is a State?
A political entity with a defined territory, permanent population, government, and sovereignty.
Example: France, China, or the United States.
Define Reciprocity.
A strategy where states respond to the actions of others with equivalent behavior, rewarding cooperation and punishing defection.
Example: Trade agreements where one country lowers tariffs in exchange for another doing the same.
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
A 1962 Cold War confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, nearly leading to nuclear war.
What does NGO stand for?
Non-Governmental Organization.
Example: Amnesty International, Red Cross.
Define Identity in international relations.
A principle that solves collective goods problems by encouraging members of a community to prioritize shared interests over individual gain.
Example: The European Union fostering unity among member states.
What is the Global North / South?
A division of the world based on economic development, with the Global North being wealthier and the Global South being less developed.
Examples: Global North (U.S., Europe, Japan) and Global South (Africa, Latin America, parts of Asia).
What is an MNC?
Multinational Corporation, a company that operates in multiple countries.
Example: Apple, McDonald’s.
Define Collective Goods Problem.
The challenge of providing public goods that benefit all but are difficult to maintain without cooperation.
Example: Climate change policies requiring global participation.
What are Proxy Wars?
Conflicts where major powers support opposing sides indirectly instead of fighting directly.
Example: The Vietnam War, where the U.S. backed South Vietnam, and the Soviet Union supported North Vietnam.
What does IO / IGO stand for?
International Organization / Intergovernmental Organization, organizations formed by states to address international issues.
Example: The United Nations, the World Trade Organization.
What is the North-South Gap?
The economic disparity between developed (North) and developing (South) nations, with wealth concentrated in the Global North.
Define Cold War.
A period of geopolitical tension (1947-1991) between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, characterized by nuclear threats, espionage, and ideological conflicts.
What are Nonstate Actors?
Entities that influence international relations but are not tied to any government.
Example: Terrorist groups (Al-Qaeda), NGOs, MNCs.
What are the Levels of Analysis in international relations?
The framework for studying international relations through different perspectives: individual, state, and international.
Define Containment.
A Cold War policy to prevent the spread of communism.
Example: The U.S. intervening in Korea and Vietnam.
What are Substate Actors?
Groups within a country that influence foreign policy.
Example: Lobbying groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
What was the Warsaw Pact?
A military alliance (1955-1991) of the Soviet Union and its satellite states, formed in response to NATO.
What is NATO?
A military alliance of Western nations founded in 1949 for collective defense against Soviet threats.
What was the Gulf War?
A U.S.-led coalition war against Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait, demonstrating international military cooperation.
List different Actors in International Relations.
- States
- Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Multinational Corporations (MNCs)
- Nonstate Actors
What are ways to solve the Collective Goods Problem?
- Dominance
- Reciprocity
- Identity
What are the three Levels of Analysis?
- Individual Level
- State Level
- International Level
Fill in the blank: Dominance establishes a power hierarchy where _______ enforce cooperation.
[stronger states]
Fill in the blank: Reciprocity encourages states to cooperate by _______ good behavior and punishing defection.
[rewarding]
Fill in the blank: The European Union promotes economic _______.
[unity]
