International Relations Flashcards
polarity
how power is distributed within the international system
- unipolarity, bipolarity, multipolarity (+3 center sof power)
system is completely dependent on the distribution of power and influence of states in a region/globally
shatter belt
geopolitical term
- strategically positioned and oriented regions on a political map that are deeply internally divided and encompassed in the competition between the great powers in geostrategic areas and spheres
2 states engaging in brinksmanship even though ideally one state should yield to another
chicken game
collective action problem
situation where uncoordinated action for each state will not result in the best outcome for either state
democratic peace treaty
theory that democratic states will not normally engage war on each other
Realism
international relations theory based on the premise that states will act rationally to maximize their power which inevitably leads to conflict
chain ganging
group of alliances that requires all memebrs to declare war against the attacking party
tendency of states to refuse to address a growing threat in hopes other states will
buck passing
sanction
state prohibits their citizens from trading with/traveling to a target country in order to punish it or deter it w/o use of military force
Balkanization
fragmentation of a larger state/region into smaller regions/states which may be hostile to each other
- caused by differenes in ethnicity, culture, religion, past greviences
- often used by voices who prefer the status quo to underscore the dangers of runaway secessionism
security dilemma
situation in international relations where a state decision to increase its security by expanding its military causes others to do the same to promote their security interests too.
_ vicous cycle
type of government that combines democratic and dictatorial frameworks
Anocracy
Arms Race
situation where nations increase their military expenditure due to a shared distrust
- creates a spiral of insecurity
acqusition of another state’s territory by force
annexation
- may be legitimized by international bodies
(different from succession where it is sold via treaty)
African Union
AU
formed in 2002
- replaced the ORganization of African Unity
Marxist owners of capital
Bourgeoise
Bourgeoise
Marxist owners of capital
- those who own the means of production exploit those who sell their labor for a wage (proletariat)
who are the heroes of Marxism
laborers- proletariat
capital owners - bourgeoise
Bretton Woods System
fixed exchange rate system
weak state between two larger ones
Buffer State
Abrahamic Accords
Israel & USE
USA/Trump mediated
2020
- first normalization of relations between Israel and neighboring Arab states since mid-1990s
sovereignty
idea that a state has teh right to control what occurs within its own borders
states have the right to control what happens within their own borders
soverignty
single person has supreme/absolute pwoer
autocray
Carter Doctrine
1977-81
- pledge to employ military forces to defend American interests in teh Persian Gulf
- to deter the Soviets from seeking hegemony in a region of strategic importance to Washington
Communism
common ownership of the means of production
- state-centric economic system of common ownership
- social cohesion/communal norms should take higher priority over the rights of the individual
which president did containment
Truman
prevent the spread fo Cold War Communism
Containment
(Truman)
Cultural Flattening
process where information, commodities, and images produced in one part of hte world enter the global village
- associated with homogenizing monocultural set of Western values that tend to undermine cultural differences
class conflict
Marxism
Bourgeioise versus proliteriate
both party consents to an exchange of territorty
sucession
- e.g Louisiana Purchase
3 factors in capitalism
economic market forces
private ownership
minimal state intervention
weak states align with stronger ones
Bandwagoning
- occurs when the weaker state decides the costs of opposing the stronger power exceeds the benefits
“what the law ought to be”
versus
“what the law is”
what the law ougth to be = de lege ferenda
what the law is = de lege lata
commercial peace theory
the perspective that the spread of capitalism creates a more peaceful global system.
- there is a clear economic incentive for states to avoid warfare
CNN factor
“something must be done” mindset
- media compels decision makers to intervene in order to address a particular issue
individual who favors peace to resolve a dispute
individidual who favors war
dove versus hawk
- dove is a peace signal
ERga Omnes
principles upon which legislation is applicable towards everyone regardless of social background
dominant group manipulates another
exploitation
4 Freedoms
per FDR
speech, religious worship
from want and fear
- formed the basis of the Unviersal Declaration of Human Rights
basis for the Universal Declaration of Human RIghts
FDR’s 4 Freedoms
speech
religous freedom
from want and fear
Fundamentalism
ideological doctrine which demands total obedience from memebrs
G4
4 countries who campaign for a permament seat on UN Security Council
Germany
Japan
Brazil
India
G20
international forum of the most advanced ecnomies in teh world
- EU, IMF, World bank
aim: address issues surrounding global financial stability
aim of G20 summit
address issues surrounding global financial stability
inability to take united/decisive action against an organization
gridlock
country with considerable influence within international relations
Great Power
Idealism
belief that states can trust the positive intentions of each other
- states are rational actors who recognize the benefits of mutual cooperation
state that is dominant in every domain of international relations
hyperpower
extending power/dominion over territories via acqusition
imperlaism
prosecutes war criminals
International Criminal Tribunals
Institutional Peace Theory
establishment of international institutions help foster peace and stability by fostering a habit of cooperation between states
how many judges are on the International Court of Justice
panel of 25 judges
- needs support from UN Security Council to enact decisions
ideological differences between capitalism and communism
Bamboo curtain
non-refoulement
principle within international law that prevents a country receiving asylum seekers then returning them to their coutnry of orgin if they would be in danger of prosecution
Montreal Protocol
international treaty in 1987 aimed at protecting the Ozone layer
global spread of nucelar weapons
nuclear proliferation
why do states want to become nuclear capable
b/c joining the nuclear club enables them to become a great power
&
possession gives political benefits like deterrence
Paris Agreement
UN agreement in 2015 that seeks to limit greenhouse gases. no enforcement mechanism
Positivism
built on the assumption that social sciences should replicate the methodology employed within the natural sciences
- that would let knowledge be verified on a scientific and casual basis
scenario where the government has no control and no group has replaced them
power vaccuum
- insurgents, extremists…may seek to fill the void of a gailed state
Bush stance on terrorism
Bush administratino said we could take military action against threats of terrorism (e.g. preemptive strikes)
- preemptive strike was a defense against a perceived future therat
- used as justification for war in Afghanistan and Iraq
Realpolitik
system of policies/principles based on practical considerations
- “pursuit of pragmatic policies”
soft power
use of persuasion (rather than force) in order to exert influence over other actors, convincing the other states to want the sme ends as one’s own state
smart power
combination of coercion and persuasion in order to promote the national interest
- most effective strategies in foreign policy necessitate coercion and persuasion
Stimson Doctrine
nonregnition of states created as a result of military aggression
one person has absolute power in a government
autocracy
what type of government is a dictatorship
autocracy
what is often superimposed within a dictatorship
cult of personality
autarky
self-sufficiency in economics
Balkanisation
term used to describe the division of a country into a series of smaller ones. often hostility to each other
AUKUS
Australia, UK, US
core: pledge to help Australia build at least 8 nuclear POWERED (not nuke armed) attack submarines
benefits of nuclear powered submarines
can stay underwater for longer than conventional ones
