Midterm - Identifications

Question 1

Counterfactual reasoning

Answer 1

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

Question 2

3rd level analysis

Answer 2

Analysis of the system and the set of interactive elements.

Question 3

Chicken game

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Cult of the offensive

Answer 4

A positive attitude towards war, seen at the beginning of WW1

Question 5

Iron and Rye Coalition

Answer 5

The unification of Germany under Prussia in 1871.

Question 6

Standard Operating Procedures

Answer 6

The general way that things operate. For example if there are measures in place for when a certain event/set of events occurs

Question 7

Method of Difference

Answer 7

Finding the key difference in a set of events in order to allow us to determine the key factors in causing certain outcomes

Question 8

Congress of Vienna/Concert of Europe

Answer 8

This was the idea that European countries had to work together in order to maintain peace.

Worked until the 1850s

Question 9

Democratic Peace Theory

Answer 9

The idea that democratic countries tend to be peaceful with one another

Question 10

Constructivism

Answer 10

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

Question 11

The Von Schleiffen Plan

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Franco-Russian Treaty of 1892

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Method of Agreement

Answer 13

Finding the key similarity in a set of events in order to allow us to determine the key factors in causing certain outcomes

Question 14

Discuss two factors that affect the likelihood of cooperation in the Prisoner’s Dilemma

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Second level analysis

Answer 15

Analysis of the regime type and political institutions. This includes analysis of the economic structures (e.g. mercantilism v liberalism)

Question 16

The Triad force structure

Answer 16

The system where there can be attacks via land launched ICBMs, Nuclear Submarines, and strategic air attacks involving Nuclear bombs

Question 17

Otto von Bismarck

Answer 17

Oversaw the unification of Germany.

Question 18

Second strike capability

Answer 18

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

Question 19

First level analysis

Answer 19

Understanding our decision making process by examining individual psychological traits and group decision making

Question 20

The Security Dilemma

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Mercantilism

Answer 22

A conservative idea of economic protectionism (no exports, etc).

Influenced by Zero-Sum nature of international politics

Economic competition = political competition (war)

Question 23

Endowment effect

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

Answer 24

If you strike, both the enemy and yourself will be destroyed

Question 25

Counterforce doctrine

Answer 25

The targeting of an opponent’s military infrastructure with a nuclear strike

Question 26

Anchoring point in bargaining

Answer 26

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)

Question 27

Cognitive dissonance

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Bureaucratic Politics Model

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Brinkmanship

Answer 29

Exploring a dangerous policy the limits of safety before stopping