Midterm Flashcards
What is poli sci
Involves the systematic development of knowledge of the behavior of political processes, political actors and government
IR Theory
consists of abstract, simplified and general propositions that answer why and how
3 levels of analysis
Individual
State/domestic
International system
Additional level
global level such as climate change or non state actors
What are the pros and cons of qualitative methodology
Pros: Facilitates deep understanding of the factors that influenced particular cases
Cons: Harder to create general explanations of state behavior due to limited observation
What are the pros and cons of quantitative methodology
Pro facilitates broad applicable explanations of behavior since there is more observation
Cons: Less detail and nuance
Classical realism’s state of nature
states like people are power hungry and wish to dominate on another. People are bound to violence
Anarchy
absence of a centralized, legitimate governing power
sovereignty
having total control over territory and people
Self help
A state is responsible for themselves
What philosopher do classical realists refer to
Hobbes
How do we know how much power a state has
Military force but also Size, Wealth, Ressources, Scientific progress
Intangible elements of power
mobilization of population popular support military preparedness reputation state bureaucracy
Relative power
power relative to another state
Three core assumptions of structural/neo realism
Anarchy exists
States are sovereign
States are rational unitary actors
Four implications for state behavior according to Neo R.
National security requires self help
One nation’s security is another nation’s insecurity
war is inevitable
the road to order lies through balance of power
Role of morality according to all realists
there is no its about survival
Distribution of power system
Multipolar system
Bipolar
Unipolar
Bipolar system is
Split hierarchies
dominance within blocks
stable
Unipolar is
one steep hierarchy
more dominance
more stable
Multipolar is
Flat hierarchy
More reciprocity
less stable
Hegemonic stability theory
state with most power gives stability and order can resolve conflicts among smaller states
Power transition theory
holds that the largest wars result from challenges to hegemon powers by rising powers
Democratic peace theory
last 2 centuries no democracies have fought against each other
Interstate war is when
between 2 sovereign states
and 1000 battle fatalities
Kantian triangle
Institutions, democracy and economic interdependence reinforce global international coop and peace
Immanuel kant argues that peace can result from
Federation of free states, spirit of commerce and internal character of states
liberalism
States are independent actors but they respond to demands of domestic and international pressures
States do not all share the same preferences
In a varying degree represent the preferences of its constituents
Absolute gain
gains of others do not matter as long as you gain smt
Liberals and prisoners dillema
The scenario is repeated therefore trust and coop are better
Constructivism
asks how states construct their interests through their interactions with one another
Constructivism is interested in how actors define their national interests, threats to those interests, and their relationship to one another
An approach rather than a theory
States interests & identities are intertwined?
Shared history, Shared alliances, and shared norms
Socialization over time
Changes in what societies consider threatening
States may also come to value and covet something like status or reputation (social not material)
Constructivism argues
Realists fail to explain/anticipate end of cold war
realists fail to explain how relations improved
Realists fail to explain how they escaped security dilemma
Liberals cannot explain end of Cold war with Kantian triangle
Gorbachev argued
that coop could increase security
he embraced a multilateral community in Europe
he stated no winner in nuclear war
3 points on constructivism
Structure is not all determining
Norms and Ideas are important
Individual and non state actors are key to the promotion of ideas
