International Relations Mid-Term Flashcards
The study of IR
What conflicts make conflict/cooperation more or less likely
- probability rather than certainty
International System
1.
2.
3.
- Relevant actors
- Methods of study and analysis
- Theoretical frameworks
Relevant actors (3 key actors)
- States
- International organizations (IO’s)
- Non-governmental organizations (NGO’s)
States
main aspect
states want to protect their sovereignity
power
key characteristics differ across theories
IO’s (International organizations)
why would a state create/join IO’s?
- centralization and independece
NGO’s (non-governmental organizations)
Information-generating
Methods of study and analysis
- Systemic
- Dyadic
- Monadic
Systemic
structure of the system
- realism
- neoliberal inst.
- constructivism
Dyadic
interactions of states (rivalries, etc)
- democratic peace
- territory
- int. security
- constructivism
Monadic
characteristics of individual states
- democratic peace
- foreign policy
- national security
International security
bigger picture (instability)
National security
individual states
Human security
individuals and communities and their well-being
Theoretical frameworks
Realism
Liberalism (neoliberalism inst.)
Hieratical approaches
Constructivism
Critical approaches
Bargaining framework of war
Dyadic factors
Realism
~ key assumption = the international system in anarchic, meaning no central factor enforcing anything
~ key actors = states (they are concerned with their survival)
~ key characteristics = material capabilities
~ conclusion = states have incentives and are pressured to compete rather than cooperate
~ anarchy is constant
~ states improve their material capabilities to ward off rivalries
~ competition instead of conclusion
Deterrence theory
decrease war
Spiral model
increase likelihood
Neoliberalism institutionalism
~ key assumption = the international system in anarchic
~ key actors = states
~ key characteristics = concerned with “cheating” therefore states create a collection of institutions to foster independence and reduce “cheating”
~ conclusion = under certain conditions states are incentivized to cooperate with one another
~ reaches a different conclusion than realism
Liberalism
~ key critique = certain state characteristics can help overcome the pressures of anarchy
~ key actors = states
~ key elements = economic interdependence, democracy, and international institutions
~ conclusion = cooperation is possible under certain conditions
~ more optimistic about cooperation
Hegemonic stability/power transition
~ key critique = hierarchies can be created in the international system
~ key actors = states
~ key element = hegemons approach to the international system
~ conclusion - in a unipolar system with an involved hegemon, stability is feasible. however, instability increased as a rising power hegemon challenged states
~ the most stable system; unless a challenger state is moving toward them
Constructivism
~ key critique = the structure and pressures of the international system emerge as the intersubjective meanings of states. change is feasible in the international system
~ key actors = individuals, groups, and states
~ key mechanisms = ideas, discourse, norms, and taboos
~ conclusion = the likelihood of conflict and cooperation depends on the identity of states and their perspectives
Critical approaches
Marxists approach
feminist approach
post-colonial approach
Bargaining framework of war
~ look at war as a tool for state to pursue their process
~ states are rational actors
~ war is a tool to pursue state interest; war is costly
~ wars are limited; therefore states should be able to negotiate an end to a dispute without resorting to war
Dyadic factors
regime type
- democratic peace
territory
- most salient
- territorial disputes seem particularly prone to conflict
Rivalries
most conflict prone states
economic factors
certain theories suggest economic factors could increase the likelihood of conflict
conflict negotiation processes
- negotiations
- non-binding third-party process
- arbitration
- adjudication
