IS101 Flashcards
0
Q
Interstate system
A
Today’s prevailing international order
1
Q
What is international studies?
A
Involves nearly any issue that transcends borders including health, war, environment, business, religion and culture.
2
Q
What is soft power?
A
Power without coercion. Attained through culture, political values, and/or policies. Using media, brands, news etc (attraction and/or co-option)
3
Q
Comparative culture
A
How different people (groups of people) believe different things, adopt different values and behave in various ways according to local customs
4
Q
Urbanization
A
The growth of cities at the expense of the countryside and its pros and cons
5
Q
Nationalism
A
Recognition of, and attachment to, ones nation. The drive of a nation to get its own state.
6
Q
Realism
A
First and foremost, ones nation or country must look out for its own interests and advantages on the world stage.
7
Q
Idealism
A
The most important thing for nations and countries to do is to contribute what they can towards the creation of a better world for all.
8
Q
Countries consist of what 4 basic elements?
A
Territory (natural resources)
Population (people)
Culture (high and low)
State (governance)
9
Q
Hard power
A
Books down to wealth and strength. Get what you want by buying it, bribing others to get it or taking it by force.(coercion) “bullets and bucks”
10
Q
Nation
A
Belonging together in some meaningful sense as a unit
Having its own identity
Separate and distinct from other comparable groups
11
Q
High culture
A
Of especially good quality
Enduring merit (worthy)
Represents the very best and most meaningful pieces of culture. (Sophisticated art)
12
Q
Low culture
A
Common or widespread forms of belief and behaviour
Pop culture (music, books, sports, TV, radio content, Internet/new media content)
Common ways of speaking/dressing
13
Q
Non-state actors
A
Non governmental groups such as businesses, corporations, churches, charities and NGOs
14
Q
Multinational corporations
A
Big businesses with multiple units in multiple countries
15
Q
Terrorist group
A
Armed group that deliberately uses violence against civilian populations, as opposed to military targets, in hopes that the spread of terror will further their political agenda.
16
Q
Insurgent forces
A
Revolutionary armed groups, committed to the violent overthrow of the government
17
Q
Private militias
A
Armed groups that’s are not part of any country’s official military with a private or political agenda
18
Q
Privatized
A
When a medium or product of any kind is sold to for-profit companies
19
Q
Empire
A
System of governance forged in military conquest without the consent of the people. Consists of a “hub of empire” or metropole and colonies (dependencies). Substantial inequality between the two.
20
Q
Treaty of Westphalia
A
Deal for peace.
Birth of modern interstate system.
No more killing over religion. The right to separate religions in separate countries.
Live and let live.
21
Q
Political sovereignty
A
The right of a group of people to rule themselves.
22
Q
Hegemony
A
Strong influence/dominant power
Us is said to be the global hegemon
Brazil the hegemon of South America
23
Q
How many military bases does the U.S. have outside of its own borders?
A
700
24
Domestic policy
Concerns the way ones national community is or should be governed.
25
Foreign policy
Concerns the way one country does or should relate to other countries, and their national governments around the world.
26
Diplomacy
The attempt to persuade another country to adopt your view and act accordingly.
27
Idealists multilateralism
The idealists response to the realists assurance problem.
| Instead of a unilateral (one sided) approach, join in with others so that everyone can help each other.
28
The assurance problem
Countries cannot trust each other. They cannot rely on anyone but themselves. They are too different and there is no effective world governance.
29
Prehistoric period
10,000 - 3500 BCE
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Pre-modern period
3500 - 1500 BCE
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Early modern period
1500-1750
32
Modern period
1750-1970
33
Contemporary/postmodern
1970- present
34
Elitism
The rule of the most able. The existence of a ruling group beyond popular control in all societies on any complexity.
35
Feudalism **
The dominant social system in medieval Europe, in which the nobility held lands from the crown in exchange for military service, and vassals were in turn tenants of the nobles, while the peasants (villeins or serfs) were obligated to live on their lords land and give him homage, labor, and a share of the produce, notionally in exchange for military protection.
36
Mercantilism
Economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which a government should encourage by means of protectionism.
37
Primitive accumulation
Historical process of gaining wealth prior to the capitalist transformation that eventually led to class-creation (elite, bourgeois, proletariat)
38
Four phases of imperialism
1. In 1600, Portuguese, Spanish & Dutch establish strong seaborne empires (shipbuilding)
2. In 1759, seven yrs war (WWI). Britain emerges as victorious winning ground in Europe, Canada & India
3. Late 1800s, Great Depression and the scramble for Africa.
4. Bankruptcy and resistance. Decolonization begins.
39
Protectionism
Government power that is inconsistent with free trade.
| Tariffs & subsidies
40
Tragedy of the commons
When things are owned in common, or are unowned, and results in a decline of both quality and quantity of the thing.
Grazing areas were public, cows chewed up everything, everyone lost.
41
Zero-sum conflict
It is impossible for one party to advance without the other party suffering a corresponding loss.
(+1) + (-1) = zero
42
Positive-sum conflict
The sum of winnings and losses are greater than zero
43
Negative-sum conflict
The gains and losses add up to less than zero.
44
Failed state
Still exists as a separate country where government can't function --> doesn't provide protection
45
Bretton Woods System - five features
1. Peg currencies based on US (35$/ounce of gold)
2. Central banks agreed to exchange currency on "par value"
3. Creation of IMF and world bank to oversee exchange rates and stabilize currency
4. Eliminate all restrictions on currency exchange
5. Entire system was based on the U.S. Dollar.
46
Transnational adaption
Calls for an adaption of the global system to manage climate change as a violation of rights
Incorporates the right to development concept while placing greater responsibility on developed states
47
Transnational mitigation
Seeks to prevent damage from the impacts of climate change already coming.
48
3 kinds of labour
Slavery - forced. Unproductive and catalyst for American Revolution
Tribute - in-kind. Still exists, associated with debt-bondage
Indentured - contracted. Similar to tribute but by contract (not paid)
49
Rise of american power - manifest destiny (expansion)
1. Civil war
2. Aboriginal displacement
3. Immigration
4. Developing the economy
50
Rise of American power - Monroe doctrine (economic independence from Europe)
1. Not get involved in European wars
| 2. Rejected further European encroachment
51
American Exceptionalism
1. The right to liberty
2. The right to egalitarianism
3. Individualism
4. Popularism
5. Laissez faire economics
52
Neoliberalism
Policy-wise: identified with capitalism and western democratic values and institutions
Favours privatization over gov intervention
Improve efficiency, minimize unemployment and mitigate labor policies.
Opposes socialism, protectionism and environmentalism
53
Sources of international law
1. Treaties
2. Custom of nation states
3. International court of justice
4. General principles
54
Characteristics of international law
```
Values of political liberalism
Multilateral form of legislation
Consent based form of legal obligation
Language and practice of justification
Discourse of institutional autonomy
```
55
Why international law works
* the common good (self interest)
* psychological (stigma of breaking law)
* practitioners (diplomatic trade)
* flexibility (rules are unclear)
* politics (political will)
* economic (sanctions)
56
Why international law doesn't work.
* Lack of institutions
* Lack of certainty
* Unilateral interests
* No enforcement mechanism
* Powerless to punish security council
57
The bubonic plague (Black Death)
* Travelled Silk Road trading route
* killed at least 25% and up to 60% of population
* spurred the Protestant reformation and the scientific revolution
* promoted people to turn to science instead of religion
58
Smallpox
Indigenous people were not immune.
| Smallpox infested blankets
59
Ethnic Cleansing
Practice of driving out a whole, distinct people from a certain territory where they've been clearly established and living as a community
60
Neo-Malthusian
The belief that the incredible growth of human population simply cannot be sustained
61
Worldwide Life expectancy
30 years before scientific revolution
| 68 years today
62
Tipping point
In 1750 Human population has not only never fallen again, but has only exploded upwards from 1 billion in 1800 to 7 billion today
63
Health and human rights
Argues everyone has the right to minimal standards of healthcare
Linking poor human rights records to poor public Health outcomes
64
Peace through health
The many physical and psychological traumas of armed conflict can affect millions of people and can last for decades following the end of battle
65
Spanish flu pandemic
Followed WWI
Estimated to have killed between 50 million and 100 million people worldwide due to destroyed infrastructures, water treatment and distribution facilities
- more than the war itself
66
Neoliberalism
Favours privatization over direct government intervention & production
To improve efficiency & minimize unemployment, strives to reject or mitigate labor policies such as min. Wage, & collective bargain rights.
It opposes socialism, protectionism, environmentalism, fair trade, and critics say it prevents democratic rule.
67
6 facts of Neoliberalism
Hint: Policy-wise: identified with capitalism and western democratic values and institutions
Free trade and democracy promotion
Functional integration theory and complex interdependence literature
Institutions can achieve co-operation; multilateralism can promote national interest.
Regimes & institutions help govern a competitive and anarchic international system.
States cooperate to achieve absolute gains
Greatest obstacle to cooperation is cheating, not lack of mutual interest.
68
The emergence of International Law
Produced by post-French revolution changes in European governance
Before "age of absolutism"
Law: the command of a legitimate superior.
International law: God's command, derived from natural law
Modern:
Law: contract between legal subjects, or their representatives
International law: expression of nations mutual will
69
Symmetric War
Conflicting states with equal might
70
Civil war
State against internal actor (rebel group)
71
Interstate war
Two or more states engaged in war
72
Intrastate war
Internal (competing rebel groups)
73
High/medium/low intensity wars
force/politics/victims
74
Protracted conflict
Continuous, complex, destructive (Israel-Palestine conflict)
75
Complex emergencies
I protracted inter or intrastate conflict exposed to a humanitarian crisis (Somalia)
76
Westphalian security
```
External intervention is illegal
State sovereignty is a right
Pluralism (political regimes)
Protection of weak states
Intervention imposes values
Intervention undermines UN charter
```
77
Post-Westphalian Security
Human rights focused (politically driven)
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) as driver
Focuses on democracy, economics, rights
Shift from the state to the individual
Responsibility can trump sovereignty
Responsibility to protect (r2p) doctrine emerges as latest concept
78
Realist security
Cold War theory (deterrence and containment)
State-centric model based in neorealist ideology
States delivers security and controls the solutions
State security trumps individuality security (including economic security)
79
China and Taiwan
Chinese revolutionary era
Taiwan relations act (1979) rise in Chinese nationalism and growth of democracy (1990s)
President Lee visits US in 1995, China simulates war games shoots missiles
US navy and 'strategic partnership'
Election of democratic people's party (DPP) in 2000
Between 1000-1200 ballistic missiles pointed at Taiwan
80
Four approaches to poverty
Monetary approach
Capability approach
Social exclusion approach
Participatory methods
81
Monetary approach
Basic income approach measured
Nutritional requirements of individual is key to approach
Primary and secondary poverty (rowntree)
Include private resources (income) not public (school)
Critique: what about neglected members of the household? Also the utility of differentiating between poverty and core poverty
82
Capability approach
Human capabilities and functioning (freedom)
Identifying the so called 'good life'
Individualist approach to poverty
Human development index (UN)
Challenges: measures could be seen as objective
83
Social exclusion approach
Explores marginalization and depravation
Focuses on relativity, agency and future dynamics
Sees poverty as a process and tends to focus on groups
Explores the dynamic of the excluders and the excludees
Multidimensionality and depravation (more than one)
Challenges: relative nature of the method and precision in finding a clear definition
84
Participatory Methods
Encourage populations to assess their own poverty
Internal rather than external assessment
Self determination and empowerment
Improve anti-poverty drives and support mutual learning
Method often used by world bank
Challenges: who has a right to participate? How can we be sure that this group has an objective perspective? Sometimes issues are not addressed based on donor requirements
85
Four poverty traps
Conflict trap
Natural resource trap
Geographical trap
Governance trap
86
Conflict trap
```
Political instability
Warlord governance
Continues civil wars
Ongoing military coups
Social disruption
Trade disruption
Infrastructure destruction
```
87
Natural Resources Trap
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Excessive dependence on natural resources
Exploit one resource, ignore others
Periods of boom and bust
Fuels corruption and weak governance
Weak law and infrastructure
Exploitation by the west
```
88
Geography trap
Landlocked and bad neighbours
40% of bottom billion are landlocked
Neighbours must have infrastructure
Neighbours of war-torn states
89
Governance Trap
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Dysfunctional democracies
Authoritarian states
Corruption and patronage
Elite politics
Weak taxation system
Lack of investment
```
90
Global consequences of poverty
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Human trafficking
Migration, refugees, IDPs
Gender imbalances (female infanticide)
Reduction in productivity
Violence, crime and corruption
Terrorism
```
91
The organization for economic cooperation and development
| OECD
A forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems.
China gives more aid today than world bank.
Philanthropy: over 47billion/year
bill and Melinda gates foundation (over 24 billion since 1993)
Diasporas: over 125 billion/year
92
Cold War policy
Rebuilding Europe and Asia (Marshall plan) development state, geopolitics
93
Traditional aid
Containment, humanitarian development, economic growth, military assistance
94
Modern aid
Human security, war on terror, counter to China growth, liberal democratic development, economic relations. (Ie:Burma)
95
Jeffery Sachs on development
Poor infrastructure, health and geography
Endorsed neoliberal economic "shock therapy"
Increase aid, trade, debt forgiveness and technology
Attacks the world bank and imf for failed policies
Clinical economics and increase capital
Strong proponent of MDGs
96
William easterly on development
Counters Sachs and argues aid has contributed to problem
Parallel between colonial powers and aid donors
Calls for local political, economic and social reforms
Entrepreneurs and free markets (incentive based policy)
Differentiates between planners vs searches - attack on policy makers
Some aid can work (health)
97
Paul collier on development
Headless heart syndrome
Democratic development and trade
Military intervention for at least 10 yrs and , modified aid strategies (to neighbours) and investment/ governance charters
Laws and regulations around despots
Refocusing aid agencies solely on the bottom billion and eliminating development bias
98
Controversies of aid
Aid linked to governance performance
Strategic aid mirroring national interests
Limited aid and greater emphasis on trade
Impartiality, neutrality and independence
Non-state actors (NGOs, business, IGOs)
Humanitarian aid won't solve Somalia's problems, beyond keeping people alive for better times in the distant future (msf)
99
Dependency theory
Failure of import-substitution or infant industry argument
Dependent on foreign capital, imported machinery and increasing inequality in global south (especially Latin America- Cuba, Brazil and DR)
Core themes: underdevelopment is a historical process; developed and dependant countries form the world
System; underdevelopment is a consequence of the world
System: periphery is plundered for its surplus of goods.
Multinational corporations: impose universal consumption; outcompete nation capital; use capital to exploit labour; transfer capital and are political
100
Modernization Theory
Opposite of dependancy theory
Argues underdeveloped societies will follow the same path as developed states Rostow's 5 stages of growth
Structural adjustment and Washington consensus
Includes industry, economics, right and political systems
Eventually over time the world will update itself
101
Rostow's 5 stages of growth
1. Traditional society
2. Preconditions for take off
3. Take off
4. Drive to maturity
5. Age of high mass consumption
Estimates 70 years to accomplish all 5 steps
102
World systems theory
Simple theory that solved dependancy theorists challenge of assessing "competing capitalism"
Isolated counties that were self supporting entered world economy
Underdevelopment happens because states are forced to operate in an unequal trade regime
Industrial, agricultural and buffer countries (newly industrialized countries)
Critique: avoids class analysis, diversity of global south and belief in a fatalist/rigid political regime
Crates dependencies and promotes exploitation
103
International development studies
Aims to explain both the diversity in the world in relation to human wellbeing and the patterns that emerge when comparing people, social groups, nations, economic and political systems and regions of the world.
104
Three waves of development
Top-down "state centric"
Structural adjustment programs
Bottom-up pluralism
105
Top-down "state-centric"
```
Successes: reconstruction of Germany and Japan
Problems
Tied aid
Military transfers
Corruption
Dependancy (indirect neo-colonialism)
```
106
Structural adjustment programs
```
Less state intervention
Allow foreign ownership (MNCs)
Legal changes (private property rights)
Systemic anti-corruption measures
Inflation under control
```
107
Bottom-up pluralism
Charities/NGOs think tanks, uni departments focusing on specific needs
Investments in developing world (IMF, UNDP, world bank, OECD and DAC)
Governments are no longer the only players which has been very beneficial.
108
Capabilities Approach
Give up on "top-down" development plans
| Focussing on enabling and developing every individuals basic capabilities
