Month 1 Flashcards
Foreign Policy
Strategy chosen by a national government to achieve its goals with respect to external entities
What does foreign policy focus on?
HUMAN decisionmakers and characteristics of them
How does regime type affect leadership?
constraints differ based on regime type
—democracy higher constraints than autocracy
Are states truly actors?
no because humans make the decisions…states are abstractions
Foreign Policy Analysis
States create, execute, and react to foreign policy
Comparative Foreign Policy
analysis of foreign policies across countries
Realism
power and security
Liberalism
economic cooperation and democratic norms
Idealism/Constructivism
Identity and values
Marxism
social classes (global north v south)
Security dilemma
states are in a constant struggle for power (power allows for security)
Democratic peace theory
democratic states will not engage in conflict with one another
—their shared values and attitudes
Systemic analysis
studies interaction patterns
—GENERALIZED in order to address large populations/areas
National State level of analysis
focus on smaller parts (differentiation among actors)
Ptolemaic Parochialism
focus on small sections rather than the bigger picture
National Attributes in Foreign Policy
Size
Natural Resources
Geography
Demographics
Political System
Military Capabilities
Economic Capabilities
Equilibrium Rules
Negotiation trumps all other factors
—stop fighting rather than eliminate an essential actor
Universal system
A body has power to enforce will against recalcitrant nations
Hierarchical system
Hegemon rules via force
Unit veto system
Many nations have first-strike nuclear capabilities
—no need for alliances
Stages of 120 year international system cycle
1)Global War
2)World Power
3)Delegitimization of World Power
4) Deconcentration of Power to Other Actors
What is the current level of system?
Closer to unipolarity and bipolarity than multipolarity
Two level games
leaders cope simultaneously with pressure of domestic affairs as well as international system
Domestic politics “extremes”
Clash of particularistic interests within structured national governments
Leaders manipulate foreign policy to save themselves from domestic opponents
Building policy coalitions
Building domestic support for policy initiatives
International crisis
One state resists a threat made by another, with both taking actions that suggest military action
Audience costs
a leader suffers domestically upon backing down
Misrepresentational dilemma
both sides have strong incentives to misrepresent their willingness to go to war in order to gain a better deal
Physical costs
mobilization and deployment of troops
simple impatience
International costs
crisis escalation
Proximity
relative weight of each actor in political system
Cohesiveness
how fragmented each actor us
Size
number of people represented by each actor
Viewpoint
degree of difference between domestic actor and regime
Activity
activity on particular foreign policy issue
Direct tactics
provide tangible rewards and punishments to opposition
Indirect tactics
outpersuade the opposition
form alliances with others in society to support regime in exchange for consideration
deflect attention—new focus promises rally for government
