Midterm Flashcards
What is the state?
inhabited central authority that has the ability to make and enforce laws, rules, and decisions within a specified territory.
What’s Sovereignty?
Having exclusive power over its territory and people
What are the 4 levels of analysis?
International System
Individual
Global
State/Domestic
Explain the International System level of analysis.
influences the international system upon outcomes (ie: distribution of power, economic system, international law)
Explain the Domestic/State level of analysis.
Centers on the internal attributes of states and how they influence a state’s foreign policy.
Explain the Individual level of analysis.
the role and influence of individual actors (ie: leaders) in shaping the behavior of states (personal beliefs, values, experiences, cognitive biases, personalities)
Explain the Global level of analysis.
points to factors that are not the result of the interactions between states (ie: global trends, climate change, natural disasters, terrorism, colonial legacy)
What factors influence the domestic level of analysis? (6)
- type of government
- economic system and performance
- cultural identity
- interest groups and public opinion
- gender
- economic sectors and industries
What is the Security dilemma?
When one state attempts to increase its own security, it decreases the security of other states, as well as their relative power
What is anarchy?
absence of centralized, legitimate governing authority that can enforce rules
What is the state of nature?
hypothetical time when humans existed without any form of government where they are violent and power-seeking beings
What is Power?
the ability to influence other actors and defend themselves from others
What factors affect a state’s power? (13)
- military force
- size of country
- wealth
- natural resources
- industrial capacity
- size of territory
- geography
- scientific and technological progress
- potential to mobilize its population
- popular support
- military preparedness
- reputation
- state bureaucracy
What is the democratic peace?
democratic states can solve conflict without resorting to violence
What are absolute gains?
as long as you are better off as a result of cooperating with others, the gains of others should not matter
What are relative gains?
how much power one state has in comparison with another state. zero-sum game where an increase in power of one state necessarily means a decrease in power of another
What is the distribution of power/balance of power?
Process by which counterbalancing coalitions have repeatedly formed in history to prevent one state from conquering an entire region, helps maintain stability of the international system
What is the hegemonic stability theory?
state with dominance of power provides the international system with some order and stability. It can resolve moderate conflicts among less powerful states, can enforce rules and can reduce anarchy
What is the power transition theory?
the largest wars result from challenges to the top position in the status hierarchy, when a rising power is surpassing (or threatening to surpass) the most powerful state. temptation of “preventive war” from most powerful state
What are the two main components of Idealism?
- reform of the international system could move us beyond the power politics emphasized by realism.
- belief that humans are essentially good has implications for our understanding of human relations, and of international relations.
What is the difference between Classical and neo-realism?
Classic Realism: states want to increase their relative power because states are like humans and want to be powerful and dominate their rivals
Neo-Realism: states want to increase their relative power because in the absence of a central government (anarchy), acquiring power is the only thing that will prevent others from attacking.
What is Self-help?
accumulating military assets or seeking alliances (for smaller, poorer states)
What is Economic interdependence?
trade promotes peace because it increases wealth, cooperation, and global well-being. Conflicts are less likely since governments will not want to disrupt any process that adds to the wealth of their state.
What is liberalism?
belief that significant global cooperation is possible & that conflicts can be resolved peacefully.
- human reason and progress can overcome anarchy
- mutually beneficial cooperation is more rational
- international institutions help provide stability in anarchy
- states are independent actors, but respond to domestic and international pressures
- states do not all share the same preferences
