Midterm 1 Study Guide Flashcards
Balance of Power
The strategy by which states counterbalance to ensure no single state dominates the international system, or an outcome that establishes a rough equilibrium among states. Concerns over this can lead to alliances between states. Outcomes may involve equilibrium or hegemony
Cult of the Offensive
The belief that attacking one’s enemy first provides an advantage in war. This belief leads states away from resolving conflict peacefully, and the invention of the machine gun contributed to this notion in World War I
Prisoner’s Dilemma
A game in which two prisoners rationally choose whether or not to cooperate to avoid even worse outcomes. This situation helps us illustrate realist, liberal, and identity perspectives of international relations
Zero Sum Game
The idea that one party’s gain from a conflict is equivalent to the other’s loss. This implies the net power in the international system does not change
Shadow of the Future
In game theory, the idea that we behave differently when we expect to interact with someone repeatedly. People saw no shadow during World War I because they thought a single European power would emerge and take control of the world, so states felt compelled to act
Multilateralism
Cooperation between three or more states. Liberal thinkers support this course of action to build trust among states and in international organizations
Hegemony
Where one state dominates all others. It is a potential outcome of power balancing and the primary goal of states according to offensive realists
Globalization
The growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures, and populations. This is a result of more liberal approaches to international relations
Universal Jurisdiction
The recognition that certain crimes are so serious that the duty to prosecute them transcends all borders. War crimes are an example of something subject to this
League of Nations
This was created in the aftermath of World War I in an attempt to sustain international peace. The United States chose not to participate, and it ultimately failed to stop World War II
Social Darwinism
Simply put, it is the “survival of the fittest”. Realist thinkers view the domination of stronger states in this light
Fungible
The capacity of one type of power to be converted into another. Money is the best example of this
Security Dilemma
The situation states face when they arm to defend themselves and, in doing so, threaten other states. It is a real-life illustration of the Prisoner’s Dilemma
Bipolarity
Where two states hold significant power in the international system (Ex: post-WWII USA and USSR). Some realists believe this outcome is the most stable because the two hegemons have only each other to worry about
Tripolarity
Where three states hold significant power in the international system (Ex: pre-WWII Germany, USSR, and USA/GB)
Multipolarity
Where several states hold significant power in the international system. Some realists believe this outcome is the most stable because declining powers have more potential allies and thus are more inclined to deter than fight rising powers
Collective Security
The establishment of common institutions and rules among states to settle disputes peacefully and enforce agreements by a preponderance, not a balance, of power. It is a fundamental idea of liberal theory
Thucydides
A realist thinker who lived in fifth-century Greece. He wrote “History of the Peloponnesian War” and is a prime example of a realist thinker
K. Waltz
The father of structural realism, a perspective based primarily on the systemic level of analysis. He identified the following measures of a state’s capabilities: “size of population and territory, resource endowment, economic capability, military strength, political stability, and competence”
Machiavelli
An Italian Renaissance thinker who wrote “The Prince”, in which he argues for a pragmatic, power-focused, and state-centric view of international relations. His ideas laid the groundwork for realism theory
Van Evera
An influential figure in the realm of international relations. He argued that World War I was the result of “six remarkable misperceptions… prevalent in Europe during the years before…”; these were the Cult of the Offensive, overestimation of hostility, fear of bandwagoning, exaggerated rewards of conquest, beneficial views of war, and mythical nationalism. He is a defensive realist
Bismark
The foreign minister for Prussia in the nineteenth century. He understood the threat Prussia’s growth posed to other states, so he set up a complex series of alliances between states. We credit him for staving off a great power war in Europe until 1914 with a liberal approach to international affairs.
Triple Entente
The alliance of Russia, France, and Great Britain during World War I. Russia and France don’t want to fight Germany alone, and Great Britain doesn’t want one power ruling the European continent
Triple Alliance
The alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy during World War I. Germany is a rising power at this time, and Italy decides this alliance is better for them than the Triple Entente
