International Politics

Question 1

What are the 2 viewpoints on what makes politics in the international arena?

Answer 1

State centric (realist)
Non-state centric (liberal)

Question 2

What is the dominant unit in international relations from the realist view?

Answer 2

The nation-state

Question 3

How does the realist approach see the world and why?

Answer 3

Anarchic as there is no global sovereign

Question 4

How does the realist approach view states?

Answer 4

As self-contained and self-interested

Question 5

What is the ideal of international order in the realist approach?

Answer 5

Achieved through common rules which benefit states

Question 6

How does the liberal approach view states?

Answer 6

As less than unitary actors, states do not speak with one voice or have one goal

Question 7

How does the liberal approach view NGOs

Answer 7

Relatively autonomous actors in the international arena

Question 8

What is the ideal in the liberal approach?

Answer 8

Co-operation among states and sub-state governments/NGOs are ideal

Question 9

What goals does the liberal approach believe are important?

Answer 9

Humanitarian goals

Question 10

What different systems describe how states interact in the world?

Answer 10

Multi-polar world system
Bi-polar world system
Uni-polar world system

Question 11

How does the multi-polar world system view the way states interact?

Answer 11

There are several strong states that dominate the international arena
This existed in 1914
Supporters argue that this is the way the world has been since 1990s

Question 12

How does the bi-polar world system view the way states interact?

Answer 12

There are 2 strong states that dominate the international arena and are rivals
Existed during the cold war
Can be stable but conflict escalates
Supporters argue that now this is the case between the U.S and China

Question 13

How does the uni-polar world system view the way states interact?

Answer 13

One dominant state in the international arena
The U.S is the sole superpower in the world

Question 14

What differences do states have that can lead to conflicts?

Answer 14

1. Ideology
2. Cultural values
3. Economic resources
4. Territorial borders

Question 15

What is the United Nations?

Answer 15

Founded in 1945 for reasons of international security
Exists to protect state sovereignty

Question 16

What are the main parts of the UN?

Answer 16

1. General assembly (UN Members)
2. Security Council: 5 Permanent member with veto power (U.S, U.K, France, Russia, China), 10 rotating members
3. Secretariat (not really a world leader)
4. International court of justice
5. World Bank/IMF (gives aid in emergencies)

Question 17

How did the EU begin and what is it now?

Answer 17

Began as a free trade zone and is now the largest single market. It is less restricted than even NAFTA

Question 18

What makes the EU considerably different than NAFTA?

Answer 18

The EU has supranational institutions

Question 19

What are the EU’s supranational institutions?

Answer 19

A real executive government with some independent powers (the commission)

Question 20

How is the EU legislature divided?

Answer 20

Council of Ministers
Elected European Parliament

Question 21

What does the EU have that makes it unique?

Answer 21

A European court
A common currency
Most Europeans are EU citizens

Question 22

What are some major international concerns?

Answer 22

War and Terrorism
Disease
Globalization
Human Rights
Environment

Question 23

Why are war and terrorism an international concern?

Answer 23

U.S and Russia have 6000 nuclear weapons
Terrorists can operate without the support of states and are growing more powerful as they access weapons of mass destruction

Question 24

Why is disease an international concern?

Answer 24

Nation-states and people are vulnerable to fast-spreading diseases such as covid

Question 25

What is globalization?

Answer 25

The global nature of economics means that states must increasingly co-operate to benefit from economic growth; free trade is both a cause and a consequence of globalization

Question 26

What are some of the pros of globalization?

Answer 26

Global trade can create much wealth and reduce poverty in developing countries
Cultural convergence can increase communication and reduce hostilities between people
Political co-operation can lead to better global or continental governance and solutions to problems

Question 27

What are some of the cons of globalization?

Answer 27

Global trade may mainly benefit rich elites and rich countries; inequality within and between countries may increase
Cultural convergence may mean the death of local customs, religions, and languages; consumer culture may get too strong
Global or continental governance may reduce national sovereignty and lead to democratic deficits
Can lead to the spread of diseases

Question 28

What are human rights?

Answer 28

Claims that human beings have against society or the state by the virtue of being human

Question 29

What are some aspects of human rights?

Answer 29

They generally apply to individuals and not groups
Are universalistic
Generally involve equality
Have ancient origins but are a pretty recent thing
Generally involve rights to live an unmolested life in freedom (‘negative liberty’) and can involve rights which allow one to enjoy that freedom (‘positive liberty’)
The politics is about making gov. respect these rights

Question 30

Why is the environment a subject of international concern?

Answer 30

Pollution and greenhouse gasses cross over national borders and may lead to many short-term problems and severe long- term issues; problem: will the developing world and richer world co-operate in things like climate change or ocean and air pollution?