Midterm #1 Flashcards
What is a theory in the context of social sciences?
A statement of relationship between two factors (how does x cause y?)
What are perspectives in relation to theories?
Sets of theories that highlight similar sets of factors to explain events
What is a dependent variable (DV)?
What we are trying to explain variation in
What is an explanatory variable (EV)?
The factor whose variation we think leads to variation in the dependent variable
What does behaviorism propose?
Individuals alone and in groups behave according to certain patterns that can be described, explained, and predicted
What are the three purposes of theories?
- Descriptions
- Explanation
- Prediction
What defines the international system according to realism?
Anarchy (no hierarchical system)
What are the four criteria to be a state?
- Defined territory
- Permanent population
- Government
- Capacity to enter relations with other states
What do international institutions consist of?
- International laws
- Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
What is the key explanatory variable for realism?
Various aspects of state power
What does liberalism emphasize as a key explanatory variable?
Interdependence and institutions
What are the key explanatory variables in constructivism?
Ideas, identities, and norms
What is a hypothesis?
Falsifiable statements positing a particular relationship among two or more variables
What type of data involves qualitative analysis?
Comparing human rights violations in different types of states
What type of data involves quantitative analysis?
Statistical analysis of a large number of countries
What is the definition of national security?
The ability of a state to protect its interests, secrets, and citizens from threats
What is the difference between interstate and intrastate wars?
- Interstate: violence between two or more states
- Intrastate: violence within a state
What is unconventional warfare?
Warfare where effects are not limited in space and time, often involving chemical or nuclear weapons
What is the strategy of guerrilla warfare?
Hiding among civilians and using hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, and sabotage
What are the implications of realism regarding state behavior?
States cooperate with concerns over relative gains and fear of cheating
What is the concept of ‘soft power’?
The possibility of persuading based on the legitimacy of ideas or norms
Fill in the blank: The three economic problems in Marxism are __________, __________, and __________.
[Overproduction of goods and services, Underconsumption by workers, Over Savings by the upper classes]
What is the main focus of dependency theory?
Explaining underdevelopment as a consequence of the expansion of dominant states
True or False: Realism assumes that states are unitary actors.
True
What does the concept of ‘social construction’ imply in constructivism?
Meanings and identities are socially constructed through interaction
What are the two types of balancing in realist theory?
- Internal Balancing
- External Balancing
What is the significance of the ‘security dilemma’ in realism?
The actions taken by a state to increase its own security can lead to increased insecurity for others
What type of war involves multiple countries on one side or the other?
Internationalized intrastate war
What is guerilla warfare?
A strategy where guerillas hide among civilians and use hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, sabotages, and raids against stronger military opponents.
How does guerilla warfare reverse the conventional relationship between soldiers and civilians?
In conventional warfare, soldiers risk their lives; in guerilla warfare, civilians risk their lives to protect the guerillas.
According to realism, what is a primary cause of war?
Anarchy leads to war because no authority exists to prevent it.
What does power transition theory argue?
Power transitions can cause war as rising power states seek to solidify their position, while currently powerful states may initiate preemptive wars.
What is the logic of power balancing?
States evaluate the costs and benefits of aggressive policies; without balance, stronger states may attack weaker ones.
What is deterrence in the context of preventing war?
Deterrence is the manipulation of fear to prevent unwanted actions through credible threats of force.
What is the democratic peace theory?
Democracies rarely go to war with each other due to shared norms of compromise and cooperation, and transparent decision-making processes.
What is commercial peace theory?
States that are more interdependent are less likely to go to war because war disrupts trade and incurs costs.
What is the idea behind collective security?
Unlawful aggression will be met by united action from many states, discouraging potential aggressors.
What are the requirements of jus in bello?
- Noncombatant immunity
- Proportionality of means and ends
- Avoidance of human suffering
- Prohibition of particularly heinous weapons.
What is the significance of identities in constructivism regarding causes of war?
Identities such as ‘restrained’ vs. ‘aggressive’ can influence foreign policy and contribute to conflict.
What is the role of socialization in constructivist approaches to preventing war?
As identities change, state behavior can change; states previously in conflict can start to cooperate.
What is the ‘Law of War’?
A set of guidelines that includes jus ad bellum and jus in bello, governing the legality and conduct of war.
Fill in the blank: War is illegal under the _______.
[UN Charter]
True or False: The security dilemma is completely resolved by collective security.
False
What are the main problems identified in the realist argument for cooperation?
- Focus on relative gains
- Security dilemma
- Cheating concerns.
What is the Prisoner’s Dilemma?
A scenario where two individuals, acting in their own self-interest, end up worse off than if they had cooperated.
What do neoliberalists argue regarding cooperation in an anarchic system?
Self-interest often points to cooperation; repeated interactions allow for reciprocity.
What is the Kantian Triangle of Peace?
A theory explaining cooperation through democracy, economic interdependence, and international institutions.
How do identities foster cooperation in constructivism?
Shared identities among democracies foster norms of nonviolent and compromise-oriented resolutions to disputes.
What is the role of international institutions in promoting cooperation?
- Reduce transaction costs
- Facilitate negotiation of cooperative agreements
- Help states make credible commitments.
What is the assumption of rational decision-making in deterrence theory?
Decision makers want to avoid war when anticipated costs of aggression exceed expected gains.
What is the effect of nuclear weapons on state behavior regarding war?
They pose an unacceptable risk of mutual destruction, discouraging states from initiating war against nuclear states.
What are the two conditions under which war is permissible according to the UN Charter?
- Acting in self-defense
- UNSC approval.
