Final Flashcards
1
Q
Henderson on early IR works
A
- Based around race and informed by social darwinism (led to civilizing mission —> imperialism)
- Reinsch (foundational IR scholar) talks about white intellectual superiority due to physiological differences
- Foreign Affairs magazine was called Journal of Race Development
2
Q
Henderson on interwar IR writings
A
- Increasingly talked about race war in context of white defeats at hands of non-whites (Russo-Japanese war)
- Lent credence to new doctrine of separate but equal as to not fuel anti-white sentiments that came from outright domination
3
Q
Henderson on Boas and Locke
A
- Boas and Alain Locke write about cultural relativism, say that cultural hierarchies don’t exist and that culture reflects shared beliefs and practices, people can be socialized into other cultures
- Locke goes further and says that race is purely social construct that refers to group with common history that occupy certain region
4
Q
Henderson on lack of discussion about race in IR
A
- IR focuses a lot on abstract conceptions instead of historical analysis that includes race
- When talking about race, IR usually focuses on four things: non-impact of non-racial factors on racial outcomes, impact of racial outcomes on non-racial factors, impact of racist practices on state relations, impact of racist ideologies on state relations. Thus ignoring how race is baked into IR paradigms/theories
5
Q
Henderson on race in social contract theories
A
- Hobbes depicts state of nature only as existing in non-civilized places like North America while as hypothetical for Europeans, so existence of sovereign that results from Europeans’ greater understanding of natural law prevents them from descending to level of Native Americans
- Locke depicts the world as given by God to the industrious and rational to use, thus rationalizing conquest of New World as wild lands open for taking - same with slavery
- Rousseau talks of European savagery as something long past due to their mastery of agriculture and metallurgy while ignoring the advent of such practices in the savage New World, his praise for “noble savage” is limited to paternalistic praise akin to admiration for animals
- Kant explicitly establishes racial hierarchy based on talents and abilities of races to reason, blacks need to be trained with stern punishment
6
Q
Henderson on race in anarchy and realism
A
- Root of realism was justification for imperialism by limiting anarchy via rational colonial administration, liberalism similarly based in the rational spread of democracy, rule of law, free trade, etc (imposing white order on the ruled peoples)
- Limiting the conflict that might arise through additional colonial conquest required appropriate distribution of conquered territories
- Wendt and Waltz’ neorealism, neoliberalism, constructivism continue to use the idea of a primitive society as a concept, respectively advocating for maintaining great power balance of power / sphere of influence and western imposed progress
7
Q
Rational model of foreign policy
A
- Where decision makers set goals, evaluate relative importance of each, calculate cost/benefit and choose best one
8
Q
Organizational process model of foreign policy
A
- Using standard operating procedures instead of contemplating each decision, such as in state departments where most responses not seen by top officials
9
Q
Government bargaining model of foreign policy
A
- Decisions are made via inter-agency bargaining between different departments
10
Q
Ways in which individual decision making differs from rational models
A
- Individuals suffer from misperception, selective perception based on information filters
- Rationality can be hampered by emotions (affective bias) and feelings towards persons/states/etc.
- Individuals suffer from cognitive biases and limits of human brain (sunk cost, wishful thinking, image of strong enemy, etc.)
11
Q
Two proposed modifications to rational model of decision making that accommodate psychological realities
A
- Bounded rationality (replacing idea that optimal solutions are decided upon with idea that satisfactory solutions are decided upon due to time constraints, etc.)
- Prospect theory where decision makers go through two phases: editing (framing available options) and evaluation (assessing and choosing options). Uses reference point (usually status quo) to determine whether options are desireable
12
Q
Types of group-based psychological biases in decision making
A
- Groupthink (individuals go along with group consensus), where groups typically also tend to be overly optimistic about chances of success
13
Q
Difficulties in crisis management
A
- Time constraints limit amount of choices
- Groupthink can be heightened to due close circle of people typically making decisions
- Psychological stress, sleep deprivation that amplifies biases
14
Q
Ways bureaucracies influence state actions
A
- Tension between leaders and foreign policy diplomats who may not share views
- Tension between agencies and factions within agencies that may favor different approaches to problems
15
Q
Ways interest groups influence state actions
A
- Lobbying (can be corrupt) that influences decisions on particular issues
- Ethnic groups that organize and influence policy towards their home countries (Israel)
