International Relations Flashcards
The mastery of international relations in order to ace the PRAXIS.
Traditional Analysis
Descriptive process focuses on global issues, international institutions, and the foreign policies of individual nation-states.
Strategists’ Approach
Zeroes in on war and deterrence. Employ game theory to analyze negotiations, the effectiveness of weapon systems, and the likelihood of limited v. all-out war in a given crises situation.
Middle Range Theorists
Analyze specific components of international relations, (politics of arms races, escalation of international crises, and the role of prejudice and attitudes toward other cultures in a participating war and peace).
World Politics Approach
Takes into consideration such factors as economics, ethics, law, and trade agreements and stresses the significance of international organizations and the complexities of interactions among nations.
Hans J. Morgenthau
Presents the grand theory of international relations in ‘Politics Among Nations’ (1948) He argues for realism in the study of interactions on the international stage. He suggests that an analysis of relations among nations reveals such recurring themes as ‘interest defined as power’ and striving for equilibrium/balance of power as a means of maintaining peace.
Idealists
Assume that human nature is essentially good,hence, people and nations are capable of cooperation and avoiding armed conflict. They highlight global organizations, international law, disarmament, and the reform of institutions that lead to war.
Unitary/rational actor model
Foreign policy perspective- Assumes that all nations or primary players share similar goals and approach foreign policy issues in similar fashion. Action players are influenced by other action player (not internal influences). Rational component in this model is based on assumption that actors will respond on the world stage by making the best choices after measured consideration of alternatives. Maximizing goals and achieving specific objectives motive.
The major instruments of foreign policy
diplomacy, military strength/actions, and economic initiatives.
The implementation of foreign policy depends upon
The tools a nation or primary player has at its disposal.
Bureaucratic model
Assumes that, due to many large organizations involved in formulating foreign policy, particularly in powerful nation-states, final decisions are the result of struggles among bureaucratic actors.
Which of the following best defines realism in the context of international relations?
Realism has been one of the dominant forces guiding international relations theory and influencing foreign policy, especially since the end of WWII. Realism is an international theory that holds that nation-states are the basic governmental unit and there is no authority above individual nations.
Which term describes a mechanism in international relations to prevent any one side from gaining dominance?
Balance of Power is a doctrine to prevent an one nation from becoming too strong so that it would end up having power over all of the other nations.
