Foundational Concepts Flashcards
What is R Dahl’s definition of power?
‘The ability of A to make B do something that B would not otherwise do’
What is influence?
The ability to persuade somebody to do something they would not otherwise do
What is coercion?
The threat or use of force
What is Jackson and Jaden’s definition of authority?
‘The justification or the right of the state to exercise power in the form of issuing commands and binding decisions’
What are Weber’s 3 types of authority?
Charismatic, tradition and legal/ rational
What is charismatic authority?
Authority due to personal character
What is traditional authority?
Institutions granted authority because they always have
What is legal/ rational authority?
Authority because we have logically worked out they ought to
How can a government be seen as legitimate?
We make the choice to accept their authority. Even if we do not agree with everything they say, we accept their decisions.
How do regular elections ensure legitimacy?
It ensures that we do accept the governments legitimacy. As a result, Even if the person we didn’t vote for succeeds, we don’t question authority.
What is geopolitics?
Relationships among states based on physical/ geographical factors
What is a climatic example of geopolitics?
The Israeli/ Palestinian dispute over the border, which is based upon a water divide.
What is an example of geopolitics regarding control of population?
US/ Mexico border- the differences in GDP across borders
What is an example of political control of natural resources?
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine impacts the resources that reach Europe
What does Emmerich de Vattel day regarding balance of power?
It causes ‘state affairs such that no one poweR is in a position where it is preponderant and can lay down the laws of others’
Why do realists see all states to seek balance of power?
It is not in any state’s interest to have another state as hegemon
What are the 2 means of balance of power?
Internal balancing and external balancing
What is internal balancing?
Increasing defence if threatened
What is external balancing?
Forming alliances to block other states infringing on them
What is unipolarity?
- hegemony
- empire by invitation- other states won’t try to balance against the hegemon- they go along with the rules of the hegemon as this has more benefits
What are examples of unipolarity?
US, Roman Empire
What is bipolarity?
A system where 2 powers are overwhelmingly stronger than others. Argued to be the most stable.
What is an example of bipolarity?
Cold War
What is multipolarity?
A system with roughly equal several powers. Argued to be the least stable as it is hard to predict as each state has to take account of all other powers.
What is an example of multipolarity?
Europe in the lead up to WW1, where alliances shifted frequently.
