IR 002: Lecture 6

Question 1

What are the 3 inter-connected levels of analysis to understand a states foreign policy?

Answer 1

-individual
-state
-international

Question 2

What are the advantages of a democracy in foreign policy?

Answer 2

-Elections mean bad leaders can be replaced
-More liberties mean more economic effectiveness
-More transparency means democracies can find allies more easily

Question 3

What are the disadvantages of a democracy in foreign policy?

Answer 3

-Politicians are obsessed with re-election so they prefer “military half measures”
-Politicians focus on the short term
-Major dysfunctions (populism, paralysis, etc.)

Question 4

What are the advantages of an authoritarian regime in foreign policy?

Answer 4

-Less checks and balances make it easy to mobilize state resources
-No elections allows leaders to consider long term
-No transparency means it easier to surprise enemies

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of an authoritarian regime in foreign policy?

Answer 5

-No elections means no incentive to adjust if there is a failure
-No freedom of thought (ideological rigidity)
-Advisers are afraid of giving bad news to their leaders)

Question 6

What are the conseuqnces of US foreign policy?

Answer 6

After the failure successfully intervene in Somalia the US population was more resistant to intervene abroad leading to the US doing nothing about the Rwandan genocide

Question 7

What do lobbies do?

Answer 7

Weigh in on decision-making circles on specific issues

Question 8

What are some results of foreign policy from international factors?

Answer 8

-National capabilities (demography, size of territory, natural resources, education level, etc.)
-Geographic location (No. of neighbors, access to oceans, etc.)