Midterm Flashcards
When did the study of international relations start? Where?
Around 80 years ago in Canada and US
What is globalization?
Increasing interdependance among economies, societies, and cultures on a global level.
Things happening around the world are impacting things happening here.
What are some indicators of globalization?
Division of labour Increased importance of MNC, IGO, MGO, more information economy urbanization migration across state borders Global preference for democracy Preference for liberal trade market
What are some of the bad aspects of globalization?
Loss of cultural diversity and specificity
preoccupation with cyber-security
dependence on telecom and internet
creation of transnational identity groups
Gotta fight against westernization
What did the Treaty of Westphalia bring?
Creation of sovereign states in Europe.
What is sovereignty?
Supreme, independant political authority answerable to no higher authority.
How does power affect sovereignty?
How does globalization affect sovereignty?
Examples
The more power you have, the more sovereign you are.
Countries are interdependent, so things I can’t do because of the alliance, etc.
- Germany couldn’t act against Russia in the beginning of the war because of the pipelines that were being built
- China cant act against Russia because signed an agreement
- US can do watever they want because they have power
What are the three spheres of international relations?
Society of states (govt, states, power)
Market ($$)
Civil society (people, movements, values, groups)
What books did Thomas Hobbes write?
The Leviathan
Explain what does the Leviathan say?
He says that if two people want to have the same thing - they can’t both have it. So they will become enemies.
Humans are always in conflict because hardwired to compete, fear, and glory. No one is immune or exception.
War is inevitable because no common power to keep everyone in check.
Global peace is temporary if at all.
What is realpolitik?
Rational politics. We suspend values/moral beliefs for interests.
What we do is not guided by morals or values but by self-interest.
The only reason ill be nice is if it’s convenient & doesn’t hurt me.
Pragmatic: I focus on calculations over emotions.
Alliance is only if each party is equally afraid of each other
When did realpolitik come to be?
Unification of Germany.
18 January 1871
Niccolo Machiavelli, what did he write? Explanation
He wrote The Prince.
Playbook on how to be a leader. How to rule. Comes from art of war.
Peace is only a a pause, defaut setting is war. Peace is only a pause to rebuild the army.
Von Bismarck writing.
Coined Realpolitik as real political concept.
Says: real way to settle thing is iron and blood.
Agreements are temporary,
Han Morgan Morgentnaw writing.
Official father of realism.
Power is absolute, the more you have, the less I have. State always pursue power.
What is power for realists?
Resources: water, mineras, waterways, nuclear, landaccess, population (healthy, young, educated), vibrant economy, data
Military power
Realists view on UN?
Doesn’t work because state sovereignty.
UN is not a government its a book club and if it doesn’t fit my interest than ill just leave.
What are the 3 core assumptions of realism? Explain each
1- Anarchy exists in world politics
There is no higher authority to keep everyone in check. So people will act according to their nature which is to be selfish, looking for glory, etc.
2- States are sovereign
Principle value. States do not want other people to mess with their sovereignty. Whats mine is mine and dont touch my shit or my people.
3- States are rational unitary actors.
Little room for civil society. States are the most important aspect in international relations. There is not place for emotions in politics because what is right doesnt work. I will act according to my self-interest. Means justifies the end. This also means that states act as one. One state is one piece on the chess board (no civil society).
Explain from a realist point of view why many countries don’t legitimize the international court of law?
Because they believe that States are sovereign. Dont mess with my sovereinty.
Explain balance of power?
Early war or during peace time, gotta make sure that no state overtakes the system.
So if one big state does something, bunch of tinier states will come back against them.
Explain bandwagoning.
Joining sides with the winning team. More common with weak states and allies.
What are the main criticism to realism?
Costly (arms, economic power)
Say that cooperation is impossible but how do they explain globalization.
Name the 5 alternative to realism.
Liberalism Idealism Constructivism Feminism Neo-Marxism
Idealism: Who is the philosopher? What are the 3 elements necessary to have peace in their opinion?
Immanuel Kant
1- Federation of free states (if all of us are committed to peace and security)
2- Spirit of commerce (alliances based on common interests to do well economically)
3- Commit republican government (common values inside our own homes). If we all have the same system of government.
Idealism:
Lots of countries today are idealists and they are comited to peace. What did they do to make it happen?
Created a place to make all of these 3 things happen after WW1.
Created league of nations:
Watch out for non-democratic states, trade, etc.
Explain the Kantian peace triangle.
Institutions comitted to being economically interdependent and to create democracy, = peace.
What is the difference between idealism and liberalism?
Same thing, idealism is kant, Liberalism appeared with league of nations after WW1
What are the assumptions of idealism?
If we give mor power to peace loving states, and transfer some power to a higher authority #malade
What are the kew assumptions of modern liberalism? What was built on those principles
1- Global cooperation is possible if we all commit to it
2- You are not alone: survival not just self-help
3- Hold on, security dilemma is not inevitable: if both democracies, part of institutions, and we have economic alliances, we will act in predictable ways.
4- Be good and do good: UN charter of rights and freedoms. There is space for morality and justice in politics. Judicial international court
5- Give peace a chance: War is not inevitable. Since WW2, no full democracies have gone to war.
6- Play well with others: Need cooperation among states.
The UN
For realists power is ______ gains
Liberal see ______ gains
Explain
Liberals say that everyone can be powerful. If my friends are more powerful than I am more powerful as well. As long as democracies gain power.
Realists say that power is relative. The more I have the less you have.
Liberal institutionalism:
What is the goal of the institutions? Opportunity?
They believe that as long as ____ exists there will be war.
reduce anarchy
opportunity to talk it out
anarchy
Liberal commercialism:
Why is this necessary for peace?
We are all in this together.
If it goes well for me, goes well for you cause we do trade.
If goes bad for me, goes bad for everyone.
So no one wants war because war is bad for the economy and all of us are in this together.
When did economic relations spike?
1950s especially in 2000s
Liberal democracy:
Why would that help peace?
Critique of this?
because democracies dont fight
Little condescending to think that we have the answer and to impose our democracy on people who dont want it. Kind of cultural imperialismm
Name and explain the 3 theories about why would democracy help with peace.
1- Dyadic: Real established democracies dont fight each other.
2- Systemic: If the system has more democracies it is more peaceful overall.
3- Monadic: democracies are more peaceful
What is one of the complaints of against liberal democracy?
Democracies are stable
democracies are not getting better
What is the overall context of constructivism?
We are not alienated from the system. We decide what composes the global system. The system only exists because we give it meaning, if we cease to give something importance- than it will cease to be.
Glass half-empty, half-full for all paradigms?
Realist: half empty
Liberalism: half-full
Constructivism: Dont care, does it quench my thirst
Importance of civil society in constructivism
Its all in civil society
What are the 3 key factors of constructivism?
1- Structure of system is not all-determining
2- Norms, ideas, and values are important
3- Individuals and non-state actors are key to the promotion of ideas
1- Structure of system is not all-determining
Explain
Anarchy is what states make of it. You can decide if anarchy is scary or if you’re okay with it.
There is no inevitable outcome.
What do constructivist think of balance of power?
Replace it with balance of threat.
If power isnt a threat, then why do we need to balance it. Ill deal with the threat when it arises.
2- Norms, ideas, and values are important
Explain
The power of changing ideas and challenging assumptions challenging authority affects legitimacy.
3- Individuals and non-state actors are key to the promotion of ideas
Explain
Transnational advocacy networks.
Echange lead to shared norms
What are the 3 key assumptions of Marxism
1- Conflict is rooted in structural characteristics of the international and world systems 2- Conflict is rooted in differences in class interests. The have and have nots shape the system. 3- Whole thing is based on the idea that economic terms drive political decisons.
1- Conflict is rooted in structural characteristics of the international and world systems
explain
The system is unequal, has always been unequal, and will always be unequal.
Relationship of dominance and oppression creates class conflict.
World politics is meant to create class conflict.
UN, NATO, are made by wealthy countries, for wealthy countries, and who’s at the head of it… Oh yeah, wealthy people.
2- Conflict is rooted in differences in class interests. The have and have nots shape the system. Explain
Class interest align between countries. Really wealthy of all countries align, and really poor of all countries align.
Neo-marxists agree with liberals on…
and with realists on…
Liberals: system stable and unequal. However, they do not think that what makes the system unstable is non-democracies, instead, it is inequality.
agree with realists that self-interest is dominant
Neo-marxism... \_\_\_\_\_ interests shape the system. What in the world can we see that represents the dominant class interests?
economic
MGO, IGO
3- The whole thing is based on the idea that economic terms drive political decisions
Capitalist states, elites, and transactional class - given their privileged position and a large degree of autonomy
.
Acting as a source of cheap labour and raw materials. Exploitation assures the positioning of priviledge.
All of the world economies depend on the wealthiest economies. So they never fail, they cant. System is made that way because people benefit from it.
What is the name of the theory that cinludes the core, etc.
World System theory
Core. Criteria and examples
High HDI
High GDP/capita
Lots of resources and diversified economy
Canada, US, Autralia, Western Europe
semi-periphery. Description and example
Average GDP, mostly manufactuing, semi-diversified because no quartrary
Ok life expenctancy
Periphery examples and description
Low everything: HDI, GDP, Failed/fragile state, specialized economy (1st sector)
Yemen, Aphganistan, Myanmar
What is the neo-marxist critique of Liberalism?
You give them aid they dont want, that isnt good enough (expired vaccines), instead of teaching them. Call it charity then asked to be thanked.
Core was installed with ______.
Core doesn’t want people to rise up because..
colonialism
Because it would make the whole chain stop. They make you believe that you should be grateful to be oppressed (at least those kids have a job)
What are the 3 key elements of feminism?
1- women and gender minorities are not visible as social, economic, and political subjects in mainstream international relations. Gendered problems are then ignored.
2- Gender inequality are embedded in day to day practice in international relations. IR are male dominated
3- Empower women and gender minories groups because they are subject of knowledge.
Explain broadly feminism
Men dont take women and gender minorities into account.
They mostly profit of current capitalist system. Lifting up women and gender minorities would help empoversihed places because they have a very other-directed way of doing things.
What event marked the birth of the states and of the current international system? What was before that?
Treaties of Westphalia
Holy roman empires and other empires (all had influence from HRE because pope).
What event caused the treaties of Westphalia? What happened after
30 years war
last religious war
