key writers

Question 1

posen - command of commons

Answer 1

• US command of air, sea and space lends to its hegemony
• still doesn’t and won’t have power over contested zones
• US. hyperactivity may lead to its fall from primacy

Question 2

Abrams - terrorism

Answer 2

• the strategic model - terrorists act because their political gains outweigh the costs
• Abrams study rejects this
• use terrorism primarily to develop strong affective ties with fellow terrorists

Question 3

Scott - rules based int’l order

Answer 3

• not everyone has the same political power
• law decides the distribution of power
• no int’l legislature to pass law
• main source of int’l law is treaties/customary law
• no int’l police force
• everyone is equal under the law (rule of law)

Question 4

tannenwald - nuclear taboo

Answer 4

• the habit of non-use has become expected and required behavior, reminding us that there was nothing inevitable about it
• became stigmatised in 50’s when there were concerns over weapons being used for racism (use in Hiroshima)

Question 5

kahneman + renshon - hawks + individual psychology

Answer 5

• hawk leaders favour coercive action
• doves seek conversation + resolution
• policy makers are predisposed to believe hawks more
• fundamental attribution error (ignoring the context people make decisions and choose to judge them on their actions only)
• reactive devaluation - The very fact that a concession is offered by somebody perceived as hostile undermines the content of the proposal

Question 6

Oatley - globalisation

Answer 6

• debate is having a corrosive effect on political support for globalization
• Public opinion polls indicate that the American public is uneasy about the global economy
• fear that globalization is eliminating jobs and lowering wages in the United States, generating poverty and widening income inequalities, trade is destroying the environment
• anti-globalisation movements based on incorrect claims
• evidence doesn’t support ^^

Question 7

reus-smit - int’l order

Answer 7

• absolutist Europe - divinely ordained social order, authoritative justice, dynastic sovereignty
• modern society - individualist, liberal sovereignty, legislative justice
• int’l order = system of political authorities under the rule of institutions

Question 8

bukovansky

Answer 8

enlightenment brought ideas of legitimacy and democratically elected gov’t by the people for the people
- american + French rev’ were signs of this