Political and Strategic Culture

Question 1

Define the state in international relations

Answer 1

The state is a unitary rational actor that is value maximizing

Question 2

What are the two core principles of political culture

Answer 2

1. A set of values in which the political system operates

2. Some of the fundamental values, sentiments and knowledge that your form and substance to political process

Question 3

Define political culture

Answer 3

The assumptions ideas and beliefs expressed reflected in symbols rituals and practises, that give meaning to individual, groups, organizations or countries

Question 4

What are the four basic elements of cultural narratives

Answer 4

1. A simple, easily expressed story or explanation for events
2. A choice of words in story format that resonate with the target group
3. Symbolic imagery that creates an emotional bond (sometimes this bond is unconscious)
4. Elements of myth, Cultural undercurrent of identity and appeal to Universal ideas

Question 5

What is the normative approach to culture

Answer 5

Peter katzenstein distinguishes between
Constitutive norms
And
Regulatory norms

Question 6

Define constitutive norms

Answer 6

Norms that Express actors identities

Question 7

Define regulatory norms

Answer 7

Norms that define standards of appropriate behaviour

Question 8

What happens when you combine constitutive norms and regulatory norms

Answer 8

This establish his expectations about who the actors will be in particular environment and about how these particular actors will or should behave

Question 9

What is American political culture core set of values

Answer 9

Liberty, equality, individualism, democracy, rule of law under a constitution
Essentially the US Declaration of Independence

Question 10

What is strategic culture

Answer 10

Grace says the culture is context for individuals institutions and behaviour.
Hence strategic culture intervenes between external stimuli and affects or conditions the states interpretation and responses to that stimuli
The strategic culture conditions or shapes behaviours of states
However culture does not determine behaviour

Question 11

What is America’s self image

Answer 11

American exceptionalism
Moralism
Liberalism

Question 12

John F Kennedy‘s American exceptionalism speech

Answer 12

Refers to Winthrow sermon we must always consider that we should be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us

Question 13

What are Americas images of an interaction with others

Answer 13

Messianism,
Idealism
Paternalism
Pragmatism

Question 14

Define messianism

Answer 14

There are two approaches
Passive Messianisim
Active messianisim

Question 15

Define passive messianisim

Answer 15

To be so righteous that others will voluntarily follow and emulate Americans. ( City on the hill approach)

Question 16

Define active messianisim

Answer 16

Willingness to use coercion, including the possible use of military force, when necessary to accomplish their goals

Question 17

Define isolationism

Answer 17

George Washington’s farewell address

It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world

Question 18

John Adams isolationism quote

Answer 18

Follows with the city on the hill approach

Question 19

Define internationalism for American during the Cold War.

Answer 19

The US was the leader of the free world, it largely created most liberal international order institutions, and this period resulted in increased sense of exceptionalism. The distraction of European democracies and processes of decolonization also allowed Americans to be looked at as leaders

Question 20

Define liberal internationalism after the Cold War

Answer 20

Foreign policy doctrines that argue that liberal state should intervene in other sovereign states in order to pursue liberal objectives

Question 21

What is the American way of war or American military culture

Answer 21

Problem solving
A political
Culturally ignorant
Technologically advanced

Question 22

Define moralism

Answer 22

A philosophy that concerns it’s all within between society with justice freedom and equality

Question 23

Define idealism

Answer 23

It’s a foreign policy conduct that holds a nation state should make it internal political philosophy the goal of its conduct and rhetoric of international affairs

Question 24

Define paternalism

Answer 24

In relation to foreign and strategic policy it refers to the interference of a government or state with a person without their consent and defended or motivated by a clan that a person interfered with that be better off or protected from harm