poli sci midterm 2 Flashcards
Interstate War:
wars between sovereign states. Capture bulk of attention.
Realist Perspective on War
war is a natural, inevitable feature of interstate politics as a result of anarchy. Territorial disputes. Anticipation of shifts in relative balance of power. In this sense, WWI broke out because of the anticipation that the rising Germany would use its military to secure its position.
- waltz
Liberal Perspective War
focus more on domestic and institutional analysis. Democratic peace theory maintains that democracies rarely go to war with other democracies because they share norms (domestic level of analysis) and institutional transparency. Marxist theory directly opposes this, claiming capitalist states are more prone to war.
Levy reading
Constructivist Perspective War
focus on identities of states. The idea of the right to self-determination. This is most clearly evident in mid-19th c. colonial wars.
Balance of Power:
States aim to maintain or increase their power to ensure survival. This leads to balancing behavior and a constant jockeying for position, which can result in states perceiving shifts as threats to their security.
Jervis, “War and Misperception.” Explores misconceptions and misjudgements by political leaders and states, what are examples?
overestimation/underestimation of capabilities, misunderstanding of conflicts (often leading to arms races and conflict), assumptions about rationality. In WWI, misperceptions about alliances, mobilization intentions, and the belief that the war would be short led to catastrophic conflict.
Balance of POwer/shifts after end of ww1
Europe was devastated after WWI. The Ottoman Empire & Austria-Hungarian Empire ended. Woodrow Wilson believed WWI ended the balance of power politics.
Treaty of Versailles
ended the war, but broke the traditional Balance of Power condition that you don’t eliminate old enemies/create weak states. It punished Germany harshly. There was vindictive peace as a result.
Appeasement:
Chamberlain basically lets Hitler do what he wants. He thinks it will reverse Hitler’s malcontent with the Treaty of Versailles. In a multipolar system, an aggressive state can exploit appeasement. In a bipolar system, there’s less uncertainty or chance for wishful thinking.
Offense-Defense Balance
The offense had the advantage (unlike that in WWI), leading to policies like Blitzkrieg.
League of Nations/14 Points:
Collective Security agreement; an attack on one is an attack on all. Europe was difficult to convince of (wanted revenge, retaliation, and retribution) & the US didn’t join making it weak. Didn’t work well in the context of vindictive peace. Wilson called for self-determination in one of his 14 points, embodying the growing sensation of nationalism.
How does hitler take advantage of the uncertainty in the states?
France also wants more from Germany, but the UK is realizing the effects of harsh punishment from the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler exploited this division between allies (essentially betting against the balance of power)– essentially won through the 1930s.
How does FDR combat isolation?
FDR struggles against isolationist policies at home. He devises cash & carry + lend/lease programs to support Great Britain without directly offering them aid. Offers to “escort” Great Britain across the Atlantic; basically fighting an undeclared war against German submarines with a “shoot on sight” policy.
Why did japan enter the war?
japan lacked raw materials. FDR tried to capitalize on their vulnerability by pushing a trade embargo and freezing their assets. Japan was desperate for materials and knew they couldn’t expand without provoking the US, so their strategy was to strike first and hope for a short war (Pearl Harbor).
Yalta Conference
meeting between the three great leaders to discuss what the world would look like after the world. They disagree over how to divide up Poland, marking the beginning of the end of the Alliance.
