Class Notes

Question 1

International relationships

Answer 1

a set of relations not only among governments but also among other actors (such as the UN, multinational corporations, and individuals) with other social relationships (including economics, culture, religion and domestic politics), and with geographic and historical influences.

Question 2

International system

Answer 2

A set of relationships among the world’s states and actors, structured according to certain rules and patterns of interaction.

Question 3

List some actors and influences

Answer 3

• States
• Nations
• Nation-States
• Multinational corporations
• Non-sate Actors/ Transnational Actors (IGO’s; NGO’s, IO’s)
• Terrorist Groups
• Individual Actors
• GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

Question 4

Sovereignty

Answer 4

Every country is said to be a sovereign state

Question 5

What do the following describe?
• An equal has no dominion over an equal
• The power of national autonomy
• To the victor goes the spoils

Answer 5

Sovereignty

Question 6

Countries are supposed to honor each other’s …

Answer 6

Sovereignty

Question 7

What does the following describe?
The problem of how to provide something that benefits all members of a group regardless of what each member contributes to it

Answer 7

Collective goods problem

Question 8

Give an example of a Collective Goods Problem

Answer 8

Global Warming

Question 9

In which societies and groups do Collective goods problems occur?

Answer 9

In all

Question 10

List the 3 major solutions to the collective goods problem

Answer 10

Dominance
Reciprocity (give and take)
Identity

Question 11

Describe dominance

Answer 11

Solves the collective goods problem by establishing a power hierarchy in which those at the top control those below

Question 12

What are 2 advantages of the dominance solution?

Answer 12

o Forces members of a group to contribute to the common good

o Minimizes open conflict within the group

Question 13

What are 2 disadvantages of the dominance solution?

Answer 13

o Stability comes at a cost of constant oppression of, and resentment by, the lower-ranking members of the status hierarchy.
Conflicts over position can sometimes harm the group’s stability and well-being.

Question 14

Describe reciprocity

Answer 14

Solves the collective goods problem by rewarding the behavior that contributes to the group and punishing behavior that pursues self-interest at the cost of the group

Question 15

What is easy to understand and can be “enforced” without any central authority?

Answer 15

Reciprocity (give and take)

Question 16

What is one disadvantage of reciprocity?

Answer 16

It can lead to a downward spiral as each side punishes what it believes to be the negative acts of the other.

Question 17

Does Identity principle rely on self-interest?

Answer 17

No

Question 18

True or False: Members of an identity community care about the interests of others in the community enough to sacrifice their own interests to benefit others.

Answer 18

True