Lecture 3: Issues and interests I Flashcards
What distinguishes high politics from low politics in international relations?
High politics involves issues that threaten the state’s existence, such as military-security and economic interests, and requires attention from top officials. Low politics encompasses areas like environment, human rights, and health, which challenge sovereignty but not survival.
How are high and low politics overlapping in modern international relations?
Increasingly, issues categorized under low politics are gaining significance and becoming intertwined with high politics due to their broad implications on national security and economic stability, showing that the distinction between them is becoming less clear.
What is issue salience in the context of international negotiations?
Issue salience is the importance that a particular actor or set of actors assigns to an issue, reflecting the perceived stakes involved. It influences who participates in negotiations and how they are conducted.
What factors affect the salience of an issue in negotiations?
Factors include domestic stakes, sense of urgency, commitment to the issue, and media attention. Each factor influences how prominently an issue is treated and the emotional investment in its resolution.
What is the CNN effect, and how does it affect issue salience in international negotiations?
The CNN effect is a phenomenon where intense media coverage increases the salience of an issue, potentially hastening governmental responses and influencing the negotiation process by heightening public and political sensitivity to the issue.
What are the two levels in two-level games of negotiation?
Level I involves international bargaining, and Level II entails domestic ratification. Success depends on overlapping win-sets at both levels.
What is a win-set in the context of two-level games, and why is it important?
A win-set comprises agreements made at Level I that are acceptable at Level II. The size and overlap of win-sets are crucial for the successful ratification of international agreements.
How do openness and secrecy impact negotiations?
Publicizing negotiations can increase domestic pressure but allows for creative solutions; secret negotiations help avoid such pressure but risk rejection when agreements go public.
How does the type of regime affect negotiations?
Democracies face more domestic pressures due to required transparency and public accountability, whereas autocracies, although generally less pressured, still manage domestic perceptions to maintain authority.
How does a sense of urgency affect negotiations, and what is “political suicide”?
A high sense of urgency may force negotiators to make quick decisions, which can lead to political suicide if too many concessions are made, risking their positions or reputation upon returning home.
b
