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International Relations > Lecture 2 - Realism > Flashcards

Lecture 2 - Realism Flashcards

1
Q

What is the first assumption of Realism in IR ?

A

The most important actors in international relations are states, with the concept of territorial sovereignty being central

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1
Q

What does the concept of territorial sovereignty englobed ?

A
  • Internal sovereignty
  • External sovereignty
  • The principle of political independence & non-intervention.
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2
Q

How does Realism define “anarchy” in the international system ?

A

The lack of a central authority over states in the international system
-> states operate in a self-help environment without a higher governing power

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3
Q

What are the four types of sovereignty mentioned in Realism ?

A
  • Domestic: Ability to regulate society
  • Interdependence: Ability to control international flows
  • Legal: International legal recognition
  • Westphalian: Principle of non-interference
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4
Q

What is the second assumption of Realism about the state ?

A

The state is a unitary actor, it speaks with one voice (metaphor of the billiard ball) and what happens inside the state is not relevant to understanding its external behavior
-> Only exogenous factors matter in explaining foreign policy

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5
Q

What is the third assumption of Realism regarding state behavior ?

A

The state is a rational actor
-> It defines its national interests, identifies priorities, weighs costs and benefits, and seeks to maximize its advantages.

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6
Q

What is the fourth assumption of Realism regarding the international agenda ?

A

It is centered on security. -> In an anarchic system, issues of security (high politics) dominate the international agenda

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7
Q

What is the “billiard ball” metaphor in Realism ?

A

It suggests that states in the international system are like billiard balls : solid, unitary, and independent
-> Their internal characteristics don’t matter; instead, their behavior is shaped by external forces and interactions with other states

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8
Q

What is Dahl’s definition of power ?

A

“The ability to make another actor do what they would not have otherwise done”
-> or prevent them from doing what they would have otherwise done

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9
Q

How does Waltz define power ?

A

An actor has power as long as it can influence the behavior of others more than others can influence it

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10
Q

What are the primary instruments of power in IR ?

A

Military & Economic means

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11
Q

What are the different types of power in IR ?

A
  • Economic power
  • Military power
  • Ideological/soft power
  • Religious power
  • Normative & legislative power
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12
Q

What is “soft power” ?

A

Immaterial, cultural, and cooptative form of power that involves the ability to set standards and rules, create international institutions, and influence others without using force

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13
Q

What is the “balance of power” concept ?

A

It refers to the distribution of power among states that can be in parity or a collective resistance to prevent any single state from becoming a hegemon

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14
Q

What is hegemonic stability ?

A

Hegemonic stability occurs when one state (the hegemon) holds a dominant, legitimate power and manages the costs of maintaining the international system (Pax Romana & Pax Americana)

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15
Q

How do modern realists view multipolar and bipolar scenarios ?

A
  • Modern realists : believe multipolar scenarios are more stable
  • Neorealists : argue that bipolar scenarios are more stable
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16
Q

What does Stephen Walt’s “balancing and threat” theory state ?

A

States balance against the most threatening state, not necessarily the most powerful one, based on factors like aggregate power, offensive capabilities, geography, and intentions

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17
Q

What is the “Thucydides Trap” ?

A

The idea that when a rising power threatens a dominant one, war becomes likely, with 12 of 16 historical cases resulting in war

18
Q

What are the different distributions of power in the international system ?

A
  • Unipolar (one hyper power)
  • Bipolar (two superpowers)
  • Multipolar (distributed among multiple great or regional powers)
19
Q

What are strategies against aggressors ?

A
  • Balancing (internal and external)
  • Buck-passing : pushing another state to oppose the aggressor while staying aside
20
Q

What are strategies to avoid in IR ?

A
  • Appeasement
  • Hiding or declaring neutrality
  • Bandwagoning : creating an alliance with the winner
21
Q

What is the classic mechanism of alliances ?

A

Alliances are interest-based and unstable, with the idea that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” and breaking an alliance carries credibility costs

22
Q

What is the “security dilemma” ?

A

A situation where a state’s actions to increase its security (e.g., military buildup) cause other states to respond similarly, leading to increased tensions and potential conflict

23
Q

How did Carl von Clausewitz define war ?

A

War is the continuation of politics by other means

24
Q

Why is the balance of power considered an unstable concept ?

A

Because the more balanced the power among states, the more instability it creates

25
Q

What issue does mass politics present to the balance of power concept ?

A

It makes the balance of power less flexible and more challenging to maintain

26
Q

According to the critiques of the balance of power, what is considered the best guarantee of peace ?

A

Either clear asymmetry in power or the certainty of reciprocal vulnerability among states

27
Q

What are the 2 situations in which order is achieved ?

A
  • Balance of power
  • Hegemonic stability
28
Q

What is Realism in the context of IR, and what do realists believe ?

A
  • Theory in IR that emphasizes the role of the state as the primary actor in an anarchic international system
  • They believe that states act in their self-interest, are rational actors, and prioritize power and security above all else
  • They view international politics as a struggle for power, where conflict is inevitable due to the lack of a central authority and the pursuit of national interests
29
Q

What is Geopolitics ?

A

The study of the relationship between territory and politics, focusing on factors of continuity, constant elements beyond major events, ruptures, and changes in IR

30
Q

What is Talassocracy ?

A

Refers to maritime empires, such as the USA and the UK, characterized by fluid societies, a weak state but strong society, and the pursuit of freedom

31
Q

What is Tellurocracy ?

A

Refers to land powers, such as Russia, Germany, and France, characterized by rooted societies, a strong state but weak society, and the pursuit of equality

32
Q

What did Alfred Mahan’s Navalist Theory state ?

A

Emphasized that maritime power is developed through controlling seas and oceans, particularly isthmuses & channels

33
Q

Who was Halford Mackinder ?

A

British geopolitical theorist

34
Q

What is Halford Mackinder’s theory about ?

A

Whoever controls the Heartland (Central Eurasia) controls the World Island (Eurasia and Africa), and in turn, controls the world

35
Q

What is the Rimland theory by Nicholas Spykman ?

A

Controlling the rimland (coastal fringes of Eurasia) leads to ruling Eurasia, which ultimately means controlling the world

36
Q

What was Karl Haushofer’s Pan-Ideas concept ?

A

Suggested regional dominance through four key powers :
- Russia & Eurasianism
- USA & Pan-Americanism
- Japan & Pan-Asianism
- Germany & the European Empire

37
Q

What is China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) ?

A

China’s global development strategy aiming to enhance infrastructure, trade, and investment across Asia, Africa, and Europe

38
Q

What are the key characteristics of Classical Realism ?

A

Focuses on the struggle for power and survival, with key authors like Thucydides, Sun Tzu, Hobbes, and Machiavelli, and was prominent up to the early 20th century

39
Q

Who are some key figures in Modern Realism, and when did it emerge ?

A

Emerged in the 1930s–1970s & 1990s–today
-> with authors like Carr, Morgenthau, Aron, Huntington & Kissinger

40
Q

What is Neo-Realism, and who are its prominent authors ?

A

Emerged in the 1970s–today, focuses on the structure of the international system
-> with authors such as Waltz, Krasner, Walt & Mearsheimer

41
Q

What is Neoclassical Realism ?

A

Blends classical realism with insights from Neo-Realism, focusing on how internal factors affect state behavior, from the 1990s–today
-> with authors like Jervis & Wohlforth

42
Q

What is Critical Realism, and who are its notable authors ?

A

Emphasizes the deeper structures underlying IR
-> with authors like Patomaki & Wight

International Relations (5 decks)

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