Midterm - Identifications Flashcards
Counterfactual reasoning
If one of the causal factors had not occurred, then the resultant event would not have followed
EG if you are arguing that the assassination was the cause of WW1, you would say that if the Archduke had not been assassinated war would not have broken out
3rd level analysis
Analysis of the system and the set of interactive elements.
Chicken game
A proverbial game of chicken, where the best case scenario is the other defecting and the worst case is mutual defection. To defect is to swerve off of the road
CD>CC>DC>DD
Cult of the offensive
A positive attitude towards war, seen at the beginning of WW1
Iron and Rye Coalition
The unification of Germany under Prussia in 1871.
Standard Operating Procedures
The general way that things operate. For example if there are measures in place for when a certain event/set of events occurs
Method of Difference
Finding the key difference in a set of events in order to allow us to determine the key factors in causing certain outcomes
Congress of Vienna/Concert of Europe
This was the idea that European countries had to work together in order to maintain peace.
Worked until the 1850s
Democratic Peace Theory
The idea that democratic countries tend to be peaceful with one another
Constructivism
This is the idea that states are social systems and as such ideas, norms, identities and discourses play a key role.
How we perceive our world depends on how we personally construct/structure it
The Von Schleiffen Plan
This was the plan that Germany tried to execute in the beginning of WW1 whereby they would quickly attack and annihilate France, then they would turn their attention to Russia and survive a 2-front war
Franco-Russian Treaty of 1892
This stated that the French and Russians would protect each other through full engagement of their forces if they were attacked.
This mobilisation was to take place without any hesitation or question
Method of Agreement
Finding the key similarity in a set of events in order to allow us to determine the key factors in causing certain outcomes
Discuss two factors that affect the likelihood of cooperation in the Prisoner’s Dilemma
1) Level of anarchy - anarchy necessitates self-help
2) The costs - defection may be considered to be of a greater reward than cooperation or vice versa
Second level analysis
Analysis of the regime type and political institutions. This includes analysis of the economic structures (e.g. mercantilism v liberalism)
The Triad force structure
The system where there can be attacks via land launched ICBMs, Nuclear Submarines, and strategic air attacks involving Nuclear bombs
Otto von Bismarck
Oversaw the unification of Germany.
Second strike capability
Ensures MAD as your weapons have the ability to withstand the initial strike and as such can hit back after the first attack on them
First level analysis
Understanding our decision making process by examining individual psychological traits and group decision making
The Security Dilemma
A structural notion where the increasing of one person’s military, defensive or offensive, intimidates those who they could come to blows with and causes an arms race
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)
This heightens the threat as there is no way of telling where any of the enemies nuclear arsenal could be
EG trident in the UK
Mercantilism
A conservative idea of economic protectionism (no exports, etc).
Influenced by Zero-Sum nature of international politics
Economic competition = political competition (war)
Endowment effect
People are more likely to want to retain the property that they already have instead of acquiring new property, even if that property is of the same value
Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)
If you strike, both the enemy and yourself will be destroyed
Counterforce doctrine
The targeting of an opponent’s military infrastructure with a nuclear strike
Anchoring point in bargaining
You have to have an anchoring point, ideally not of your own making (e.g. don’t say what you want to be paid, get them to say what you would be paid and bargain for more)
Cognitive dissonance
The tendency to revert to existing belief, even when provided with evidence to the contrary
EG GER through they could prevent GB from entering the war
Bureaucratic Politics Model
Foreign policy decisions are the product of political resultants or bargaining between individual leaders in government positions. These resultants emerge from a foreign policy process, characteristic of a competitive game, where multiple players holding different policy preferences struggle, compete, and bargain over the substance and conduct of policy. The policy positions taken by the decision makers are determined largely by their organizational roles.
Brinkmanship
Exploring a dangerous policy the limits of safety before stopping
