Exam 2 Flashcards
Attribution Theory
Humans tend to explain outcomes through situational attributions when they occur to ourselves or people we like.
Crisis conditions
- critical outcomes
- time is constrained
- limited information processing
Public opinion
- The attitude that people have regarding their states foreign policy.
- May be divided or bay be at consensus
- for public to be considered a source of foreign policy three conditions must be satisfied:
1. The public must have knowledge of foreign policy
2. public opinion must be stable enough for leaders to judge what the people want.
3. The public views must be taken into account by policy maker.
Attentive Public
- The people who attend to and are knowledgable
- No more than 10-15% of the population
- Generally, in times of peace interest declines
democratic governance
-Recognition of rights of minority peoples to have some degree of autonomy within states
-Protected rights (ex. cultural expression without fear of political repression)
-Obligations (ex. no to impose cultural standards or political agenda on others.)
“Regime of managed ethnic heterogeneity”
Consociationalism
power-sharing government that could help with managing ethnic conflict
Government’s use of media
- governments efforts to control the message using the media
- framing gov. policy “oversell”
- propaganda
- spin control (what do people view the power and actions)
CNN Effect
- power from news to give the people
- influence peoples mind
Bandwagoning
Smaller states join the bigger and stronger actors
Polarity
- number of independent power centers in the international system
1. multipolar
2. bipolar (USSR and US)
3. unipolar (hegemonic)
Counter balancing
balancing against the strangest actor
Hegemonic Stability Theory
- They can play the role of an overarching authority
- reduce anarchy
- deterring aggression
- promote certain norms (free trade)
- provide currency used as a world standard
Modernization Theory
-The idea that economic modernization assimilates people
-Identity to the country (citizenship) replaces ethnic and religious attachments
Religion would be replaced with secularism
Ancient Hatred Explanation
- Long history of conflict
- Periods of relative peace indicate the strength of central authority
- Ireali-Palestainain conflict (Karen conflict in Burma)
“Anarchy” Explinations
- In situations of anarchy, groups face a security dilemma and must protect themselves
- Failed states that lack sovereign governments
- but, ethic conflicts are not isolated to failed states
Material Factors
- Theory of relative deprivation
- Victims of economic discrimination will mobilize
- Relatively prosperous groups may also take action if threat to their privileges is perceived.
Social Identity Theory
- Group membership promotes self-esteem and creates favorable in-group basis
- Ethnocentrism-believe hat one’s ethnic group is superior to others
- Dehumanized view of out-group members
Instrumentalist approach
- Explanation of ethnic conflict focusing on leader’s intentional use or creation of ethnic division
- ex.Milosevic of Serbia
The Iron Triangle
- legislative committee/ congressional
- Government agencies
- Organized interest groups
Group think
blurred responsibility/ accountability
Domestic/ State level of analysis
- types of states
- decision making process
- domestic political actors
systemic level of analysis
aka the pool ball approach
- structure of international system
- states relative power positions and interactions
- similar to the realist approach
levels of approach
- competing explanations and theories in International Relations
- Concerned with where the focus lies in an explanation
- components (ex. individuals or states)
- Systems (focus on international structure)
Five cultural traits
- language/ dialect
- social customs
- religious beliefs
- physical appearance
- region of residence
Why did ethnic conflicts become internationalized?
Ethnic groups spread over the boundaries
Irredentism
Annexation of an area that includes people of same ethnicity residing in another state
Ethnicity
- people who share a distinctive and enduring collective identity
- similar to the concept of a “nation”
- based on a belief of common descent/ shared experiences and cultural traits
Democratic peace theory
proportion that democratic states will not start a war against each other
Fast-track authority
An important power that can be used by he U.S. president to speed up the process and decrease Congressional influence on key trade legislation.
Diversionary theory of war
The idea that political leaders attempt to divert attention away from internal conflict by initiating foreign conflict. Also referred to as the scapegoat hypothesis and the wag-the-dog effect.
Two-Level Games
Dual pressure on leaders whereby international agreements can be forged only when they meet the concerns of both domestic and international audiences.
Interest Groups
Organized parts of a soviet that articulate a particular sector’s interests and mobilize to pressure and persuade the government.
aka pressure groups/ lobbies
Rally-around-the-flag effect
An increase in a leader’s popularity following the use of force.
Deterrence
Preventing another actor from doing something they would otherwise do.
Compellence
Forcing another actor to do something they would not otherwise do.
Security dilemma
The idea that when one states enhances its power for security, this leads other states to do the same, thereby undermining security for all.
Body-bag syndrome
The negative relationship between high levels of troop casualties and public support for a war.
