Exam 2 Review Flashcards
What happened in the Peloponnesian war?
consult notes
Reasons for Peloponnesian war?
Arguments:
BoP, Bipolarity, Regime Type, Free-riding, and National Culture
BOP explanation for P war
States were worried about power shifts, so they entered the war.
Bipolarity explanation for P war
2 big states are more prone to war.
(Athens and Sparta)
Regime Type explanation for P war
Non democracy vs Democracy
(Limited bc Athens wasn’t a true democracy considering only rich men could vote)
Free-riding explanation for P war
Athens did not believe that Sparta allies would help so they were just going to free ride (they were wrong)
National Culture starting p war
Sparta seen as warrior society who goes to war, so obviously they would go to war, Weak because they were reluctant and last state to join.
Why is it important to apply theories?
Because when you apply and deep dive many of them break down.
Which theories tend to hold up better?
Power theories
Feudal system
Power and sovereignty were divided, overlapping, and shared sovereignty b/w pope, prince, and holy roman emperor.
Pope
sovereign over religious matters
Prince
local leader and in charge of domestic or civil affairs
Holy Roman Emperor
in charge of foreign affairs and foreign policy
Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
established sovereignty, international binding treaty, state legal equality, and non-intervention.
-ended thirty years war
-marked decline of feudal system and increase of modern system.
-Power shifted to pope, rise of strong states and mass armies.
How did the rise of strong states and mass armies happen after treaty of Westphalia?
International trade and taxation allowed economic increase and money to fund the army which led to a bureaucracy structure and big armies which led to massive power.
Dominant states during modern system
Austria-Hungary (roman empire), Russia, Sweden, Spain
19th century main themes
- Change in BOP
- Rapid Rise of Germany and Japan
- Territorial expansion/ Imperialism
- Peace and Stability
19th century change in bop theme
1815 France and Napolean fall, British power begins to rise. England dominates world as hedgominc. Industrialization allowed for military and political power and strong navy increased trade.
19th century rapid rise of Germany and Japan theme
Industrialization at a rapid pace and Japan defeated Russia which helped them gain legitimacy
19th century theme of territorial expansion (imperialism)
-before 1870’s imperialism was always economic and forcing other states to do business.
-after 1870’s imperialism was actually conquering land.
late forming states conquered colonies in Africa to make up for lost time and become powerful.
Why do states use imperialism?
- Power (realist pov) to gain resources/territory for power.
- Superiority (constructivism pov) belief that they tried to spread their superior culture to help inferior culture
- Colonial conquest. wanted mote territory
- Conquer new lands to keep capital system (Marxist Pov) bringing in new materials to keep state growing
19th Century Peace and Stability theme
after 1815 there were no international wars. Rise of Marxist left so leaders of the world feared revolution in non-democratic states so states in international system avided war and cooperated.
Congress system in peace and stability era
after 1815. Major powers came together in congress meetings to avoid conflict. Constant summit meetings of leaders using diplomacy to work through issues.
Arms race (dyadic level argument)
2 states continually engaging in rapid and uncommon increases to military spending
Themes of arm races:
- Rapid growth
if you generally spend 2-3% it would jump to 8% military spending - Action-reaction
must have ar process. I increase my weapon spending which causes you to increase yours. You have to be acting to your opponent directly. - Duration
Must last for long period of time (8-10years)
Idea that arms races lead to war
“pressure builds during arms races” you view them as bad and aggressive for increasing but view yourself as safe for doing so and vice versa which leads to a fight.
Do they actually lead to war?
No. only 20% of arms races were followed by war. On its own it does not cause war but can play a role. Neither necessary or sufficient
World war one causes
Bipolarity, nationalism, military doctrine, democracy vs authoritarian states, individuals.
Proximate cause of WW1
assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (example of nationalism, serbain nationalist wanting to form their own state)
Bipolarity cause of WW1
2 “chain gang alliances”
Triple Entente; Great Britain, France, and Russia.
Triple alliance; Germany, Austria, and Turkey
BUT they weren’t really chain gangs because they all had really loose ties and no strong commitments.
Nationalism cause of WW1
Widespread nationalism.
Germany was trying to gather and bring Germans together
France was trying to gain border territory back from Germany because half French and half German citizens.
Russia and Austria competing for Slavic territory
Military Doctrine cause of ww1
(many blame this)
The cult of offensive and military bureaucracy
Cult of Offensive
the idea that you have to be a strong and good military leader you have to support the attack. You have to have massive first-strike capability to win war quickly.
Military Bureaucracy
Developed massive military bureaucracies to carry out attacks and built elaborate plans that time down to the minute how it all would go down. Once the plan started there was no going back and left no breathing room for diplomacy.
Democracy vs Authoritarian states as ww1 cause
England + France vs Germany + Austria
(But, Russia is on the side with the democracies even though it is not once itself. Russia is on the wrong side for this thought process)
Individuals as WW1 cause
Mostly focused on the German Kaiser and Moltke.
-Kaiser caused war by not being worried about it. Treated it as no big deal.
-Moltke caused war because he lived in the shadow of his uncle who had defeated France. When he became head of German military he was driven to fight for glory.
Treaty of Versailles 1919
- Punitive by BoP standards.
(changed the way we treated losers and how peace treaties worked) - France seeked punishment
Desired to get compensated for war and make it where Germany could not rise again. - Germany:
-lost all colonies, paid reparations, had limited military. - Keynes economic consequences of peace predicted that too much of a burden was put on Germany and their only solution was to fight.
Causes of ww2
Versailles treaty (put too much on Germany), phoenix phenomenon, depression, US/UK/ France foreign policy
Phoenix Phenomenon
states that lose wars rebuild and gain power faster than states that won them. “rise from ashes”
Hitler as cause?
No. He used traditional German policy, no unique ideology, no evidence of being mentally ill, and may have been scapegoat for German elite.
Necessary Conditions
must have it for event to take place
sufficient conditions
it will cause the event but not needed
Define war
war is politics, Warfare + fighting is a political act. You have goals + things you wany to achieve, so you can use diplomacy or economy, or you can use war. War is politics by other means.
Reasons you fight a war are
politically defined.
Victory or defeated in war is determined by
whether or not you win your political objectives
Types of conflicts
war, militarized interstate disputes, extra systemic war, or civil wars.
Wars
Military conflicts between two states with atleast 1,000 battle deaths
MIDS
militarized interstate disputes
Lower-level military conflict b/w 2 or more states that falls short of 1,000 deaths.
Extra systemic wars
war b/w a state and non state actor outside territory of state
Civil wars
wars b/w a state and non-state actor inside territory of the state
Security dilemma
the means by which one state seeks to increase its security decreases the security of the states around it.
example of security dilemma
military wants to provide security so you expand your military, but this can be used to attack others so their security decreases.
Question of security dilemma: why do states who genuinely want peace usually end up fighting?