Midterm

Question 1

What is poli sci

Answer 1

Involves the systematic development of knowledge of the behavior of political processes, political actors and government

Question 2

IR Theory

Answer 2

consists of abstract, simplified and general propositions that answer why and how

Question 3

3 levels of analysis

Answer 3

Individual
State/domestic
International system

Question 4

Additional level

Answer 4

global level such as climate change or non state actors

Question 5

What are the pros and cons of qualitative methodology

Answer 5

Pros: Facilitates deep understanding of the factors that influenced particular cases

Cons: Harder to create general explanations of state behavior due to limited observation

Question 6

What are the pros and cons of quantitative methodology

Answer 6

Pro facilitates broad applicable explanations of behavior since there is more observation

Cons: Less detail and nuance

Question 7

Classical realism’s state of nature

Answer 7

states like people are power hungry and wish to dominate on another. People are bound to violence

Question 8

Anarchy

Answer 8

absence of a centralized, legitimate governing power

Question 9

sovereignty

Answer 9

having total control over territory and people

Question 10

Self help

Answer 10

A state is responsible for themselves

Question 11

What philosopher do classical realists refer to

Answer 11

Hobbes

Question 12

How do we know how much power a state has

Answer 12

Military force but also Size, Wealth, Ressources, Scientific progress

Question 13

Intangible elements of power

Answer 13

mobilization of population
popular support
military preparedness
reputation
state bureaucracy

Question 14

Relative power

Answer 14

power relative to another state

Question 15

Three core assumptions of structural/neo realism

Answer 15

Anarchy exists
States are sovereign
States are rational unitary actors

Question 16

Four implications for state behavior according to Neo R.

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Role of morality according to all realists

Answer 17

there is no its about survival

Question 18

Distribution of power system

Answer 18

Multipolar system
Bipolar
Unipolar

Question 19

Bipolar system is

Answer 19

Split hierarchies
dominance within blocks
stable

Question 20

Unipolar is

Answer 20

one steep hierarchy
more dominance
more stable

Question 21

Multipolar is

Answer 21

Flat hierarchy
More reciprocity
less stable

Question 22

Hegemonic stability theory

Answer 22

state with most power gives stability and order can resolve conflicts among smaller states

Question 23

Power transition theory

Answer 23

holds that the largest wars result from challenges to hegemon powers by rising powers

Question 24

Democratic peace theory

Answer 24

last 2 centuries no democracies have fought against each other

Question 25

Interstate war is when

Answer 25

between 2 sovereign states

and 1000 battle fatalities

Question 26

Kantian triangle

Answer 26

Institutions, democracy and economic interdependence reinforce global international coop and peace

Question 27

Immanuel kant argues that peace can result from

Answer 27

Federation of free states, spirit of commerce and internal character of states

Question 28

liberalism

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Absolute gain

Answer 29

gains of others do not matter as long as you gain smt

Question 30

Liberals and prisoners dillema

Answer 30

The scenario is repeated therefore trust and coop are better

Question 31

Constructivism

Answer 31

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

Question 32

States interests & identities are intertwined?

Answer 32

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)

Question 33

Constructivism argues

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Gorbachev argued

Answer 34

that coop could increase security
he embraced a multilateral community in Europe
he stated no winner in nuclear war

Question 35

3 points on constructivism

Answer 35

Structure is not all determining
Norms and Ideas are important
Individual and non state actors are key to the promotion of ideas