Core topics Flashcards
What are the core topics of Global Politics Unit 1 (2024-2025)?
Focus: Power dynamics and global political systems.
Key themes include stakeholders and actors, systems—structures and dynamics, and legal frameworks, norms, and institutions.
What are the four criteria for statehood according to the Montevideo Convention (1933)?
- Permanent population
- Defined territory
- Effective government
- Capacity for foreign relations
These criteria outline the fundamental requirements for a political entity to be recognized as a state.
Define a state.
A political entity with a government, population, and territory.
Sovereignty is a key characteristic, recognized by other states and international actors.
What is the difference between a nation, a state, and a nation-state?
- State: Political entity with a government, population, and territory
- Nation: Group of people with shared culture, language, and history
- Nation-State: A state where the population identifies with the polity
Example of a Stateless Nation: Kurds.
What historical event established the modern nation-state system?
Peace of Westphalia (1648).
This event ended the Thirty Years’ War and recognized states as sovereign entities.
List the characteristics of a state.
- Internal Sovereignty
- External Sovereignty
- Monopoly on Force
- Legal System
- Taxation
These characteristics define the authority and functions of a state.
What are Non-State Actors (NSAs)?
Political actors not part of the state but wield significant power in global politics.
Examples include NGOs, Multinational Corporations (MNCs), social movements, interest groups, and media.
What is an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO)?
An organization composed of member states that work on common interests.
Examples include the United Nations (UN) and NATO.
Why do states join IGOs?
- Collectivism
- Regionalization
States may prioritize group aims over individual interests or address regional needs.
What distinguishes formal IGOs from informal IGOs?
- Formal IGOs: Established by treaties with permanent structures
- Informal IGOs: Fluid, without formal arrangements
Examples: UN (formal), G8 (informal).
Define Civil Society.
Institutions independent of the state and market that hold governments accountable.
Examples include environmental groups and human rights organizations.
What are the functions of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)?
- Monitor policies
- Advocate for marginalized groups
- Deliver humanitarian services
Examples include Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
What defines a social movement?
Groups of people with a shared concern about societal issues.
Characteristics include spontaneity and informal structure.
What are the stages of social movements?
- Emergence
- Coalescence
- Bureaucratization
- Decline
These stages outline the lifecycle of social movements.
What are interest groups?
Organized groups aiming to influence public policy.
Types include associational, non-associational, and communal interest groups.
What is the role of lobbyists?
Intermediaries between interest groups and policymakers.
They influence policy decisions, often through biased information.
What distinguishes traditional media from social media?
- Traditional Media: Newspapers, TV
- Social Media: Platforms that mobilize movements and shape public opinion
State restrictions often affect social media usage.
What are the key questions regarding IGOs?
- Why do states join IGOs despite potential conflicts with self-interest?
- How do MNCs rival state power in global politics?
- Do pressure groups enhance or undermine democracy?
- What role does social media play in global political movements?
- How do states and non-state actors interact in shaping global politics?
These questions encourage critical thinking about global politics.
What is the nature of state sovereignty?
- Traditional and modern notions
- Sources of sovereignty
- Internal and external dimensions
Understanding sovereignty is crucial for analyzing global political dynamics.
What are the key principles established by the Peace of Westphalia (1648)?
- Sole jurisdiction
- Unrestricted domestic control
- Freedom in foreign relations
These principles define state sovereignty and non-interference.
What does self-determination mean in the context of sovereignty?
People should decide their rulers and political status.
It assumes no state should control another.
What challenges modern notions of sovereignty?
- Failed states
- Rogue states
- Globalization
- Human rights
These factors complicate traditional understandings of sovereignty.
What are the two theoretical perspectives on sovereignty?
- Realism: Sovereignty is absolute and inviolable.
- Liberalism: Sovereignty is important but not absolute.
Realism focuses on state-centric views, while liberalism emphasizes cooperation.
What are the three faces of power according to Steven Lukes?
- First Face: Decision-Making
- Second Face: Agenda-Setting
- Third Face: Thought Control
These faces illustrate different ways power is exercised in politics.
How is power measured as resources?
By tangible factors like military strength, economic wealth, population size, and geographical position.
This approach allows for hierarchical classification of states.
What is the significance of the Montevideo Convention (1933)?
It outlines the criteria for statehood.
This convention is crucial for understanding international law regarding state recognition.
What is the most insidious form of power?
It prevents conflict by controlling perceptions.
What are the core beliefs of Realism in global politics?
- Power as Currency
- State-Centric
- National Interest
Who is a key thinker associated with Classical Realism?
Hans Morgenthau
What distinguishes Offensive Realism from Defensive Realism?
- Offensive: Maximize power and seek hegemony
- Defensive: Seek an ‘appropriate amount of power’
What is a key assumption of Structural Realism?
- Anarchy
- Offensive Military Capacity
- Uncertain Intentions
- Survival
- Rational Actors
What are the core beliefs of Liberalism in global politics?
- Interdependence
- Cooperation
- Non-State Actors
Define Complex Interdependence in Liberalism.
- Multiple Channels
- Multiple Issues
- Decline of Military Force
What is Soft Power?
The ability to influence others through persuasion and attraction rather than coercion.
Give two examples of Soft Power.
- Cultural Power
- Economic Power
What is Smart Power?
Combining hard power (coercion) and soft power (persuasion) for effective strategies.
What does Structural Power refer to?
The ability to shape the global political system to advance state interests.
What is Cyberpower?
Using cyberspace to create advantages and influence events.
Define Power-Over.
One actor has coercive power over another.
What is Power-To?
The ability of an actor to carry out a specific action.
What does Power-With mean?
Collaborative power where actors work together to achieve a goal.
What is a significant feature of the Ukraine Conflict?
Smart Power: Russia and Ukraine using a mix of hard and soft power.
What is the primary goal of all states according to Structural Realism?
Survival
What is the definition of State Legitimacy?
Legitimacy refers to the acceptance by the population of a state’s right to rule over them.
List contemporary forms of state legitimacy.
- Democracy
- Constitutionalism
- Hereditary/Traditional Leadership
What are the core elements of legitimacy?
- Citizen Belief
- Social Values
- Behavior
- Continuous Process
What is Social Contract Theory?
Citizens give up some liberties in exchange for rights and protections provided by the state.
Who proposed the concept of Rational-Legal Legitimacy?
Max Weber
What is Input Legitimacy?
How power is acquired (e.g., fair elections).
What is Output Legitimacy?
How well power is exercised (e.g., providing security, justice, and welfare).
Name a challenge to state legitimacy.
- Lack of Control
- Protests and Revolutions
- Economic Sanctions
What can undermine state legitimacy according to external challenges?
- Lack of International Recognition
- Economic Sanctions
- Transnational Crime
What role do Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play in legitimacy?
- Moral High Ground
- Transparency and Accountability
- Collaboration
What is the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)?
The international community’s role in addressing states that fail to protect their citizens.
What is Economic Interdependence?
Expressed through trade agreements and economic partnerships between states.
What does Global Governance entail?
The way states organize themselves to tackle shared challenges beyond national levels.
What is the difference between government and global governance?
Government refers to formal institutions that exercise power, while global governance addresses shared issues through collaboration.
What organization facilitates global trade by reducing tariffs and trade barriers?
WTO
What term describes the formation of defense treaties and collective security alliances to address transnational threats?
Security Interdependence
Who introduced the concept of Complex Interdependence?
Joseph Nye & Robert Keohane
What is the main idea of Complex Interdependence?
States are connected through multiple social and political relationships
Fill in the blank: Governance occurs beyond the nation-state, often through international organizations like the _______.
UN
What is the difference between government and governance?
Government operates at the state level; governance is a broader process involving multiple institutions
What type of law is created by states through international governmental organizations?
International Law
What is the founding document of the United Nations called?
UN Charter
What are two main aims of the United Nations?
- Maintain international peace and security
- Promote human rights and sustainable development
What is the composition of the UN Security Council?
15 members, including 5 permanent members with veto power
What significant document did the UN adopt in 1948?
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
True or False: The UN has unlimited power to enforce its decisions.
False
What economic institutions were established by the Bretton Woods System in 1944?
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- World Bank
- General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
What was the US dollar’s role in the monetary order established by the Bretton Woods System?
Currencies were fixed to the US dollar, which was convertible to gold
What perspective views the global economy as a competition among states?
Realism
What is a key feature of Liberalism in the context of global economic governance?
Emphasizes free markets and economic interdependence
What is the G-7?
Group of Seven: US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada
What challenge does the G-20 primarily focus on?
Addressing global economic issues, including financial crises
What successful global agreement aimed to phase out ozone-depleting substances?
Montreal Protocol (1987)
What is the main goal of the Paris Agreement (2015)?
Limit global warming to 1.5°C
What is a significant challenge to global governance related to wealth?
Inequality
Fill in the blank: States may resist ceding power to _______.
international organizations
What are two discussion points regarding global governance?
- How does interdependence shape global politics?
- What are the achievements and limitations of the UN?
