POLS2401- exam #1 Flashcards
In simple terms, how do you define International Relations
IR is the study of interactions and relationships between states/organizations. It explores conflict, cooperation, economic forces, and global affairs.
How has the scope of IR changed over time?
Where did IR begin as an academic discipline?
Abersytwyth University (1919)
Why was IR established?
IR was originally created to explore the idea of how to establish peace
Define a nation
a group of people that recognize each other as belonging to the same group/identity (e.g. language,religion, ties to homeland)
Define a state
a place with established borders, sovereignty, domestic support, and recognition from other international entities (“external actors”)
What’s the difference a nation and a state?
The main difference is the right to sovereignty, which is the exclusive right to govern a territory. A state has established formal institutions backed by laws and are recognized by other political powers. Meanwhile a nation is simply a group of people that share a commonality.
What are some of the most important characteristics of a nation?
common geographical background, language, religion, cultures etc.
What are some of the most important characteristics of a state?
territory, domestic support, sovereignty
The Treaty that started the system of states; what is it a result of?
The treaty that started the system of states is called the “Treaty of Westphalia” (1648). It ended the Thirty Years’ War in the Holy Roman Empire and the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch Republic.
Sovereignty – what is it?
exclusive right of a state to govern its territories or others territories
Are states legally equal as per sovereignty?
Yes, the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
“States have a monopoly of violence” – What does this mean?
the state is the only legitimate authority within its territory that has the right to use, authorize, and regulate the use of physical force or coercion
Multinational states – what are they; examples?
a sovereign entity that comprises two or more nations or states. Korea is a great example because there are two states: North and South Korea
Can a nation exist in more than one state? Explain with example.
not every nation has a state, and some states contain all or parts of multiple nations.
Why don’t we consider Antarctica to be state? What about Taiwan and Sealand?
Antarctica doesn’t belong to anyone. There is no single country that owns Antarctica. Instead, Antarctica is governed by a group of nations in a unique international partnership. Taiwan lacks diplomatic recognition bc of pressure from China on other nations. Sealand does not tick the boxes of the characteristics of a state it was just a family that “claimed” land at sea.
What is a nation-state?
a state where only one nation exists and that state represents that nation, which basically doesn’t exist because almost all states have multiple nations within them
Discuss the implications of the French Revolution on the concept of sovereignty
Before the revolution, sovereignty was seen as the absolute authority of kings, who ruled by hereditary right and divine sanction. However, after the revolution the idea arose that sovereignty resides in the nation or its citizens
How did the Revolution redefine sovereignty?
Linked sovereignty to nations rather than to rulers endangering the idea of “national self-determination”
What was the Total War?
is a war that incorporates the mobilization of all sectors of society, which means that no sector of society is immune from the impact of war. All sectors become part of that war making machine.
What was the first modern total war?
WWI
Why did the first modern total war change the perception of war?
It changed the perspective because it was so destructive to human lives, the economy, and natural costs
Which new military technologies changed the concept of war?
trench warfare and machine guns
The Great War – also known as?
WWI
Why was the US reluctant to join WWI?
they didn’t see how it was of concern to them
“Complex alliance system” and how it contributed to the outbreak of the Great War
It’s basically if one country is allied to another, which is allied to another which means that if one of them goes to war all of them go to war
What were the major consequences of the Great War for international politics?
everyone was mainly concerned with how they could create peace amongst the countries so that a war did not happen again. so they started making organizations to help
What was the Inter-War period?
(1919-1939) the period between wwi and wwii, a very sad time in us history. there was an economic depression and famine was very widespread
Role of the League of Nations?
an organization that would check countries from going to war
Why did the League of Nations fail? (US participation and type of voting system)
lack of military, lack of support form major powers, voting structure sucked (needed a unanimous vote for everything)
Why was the inter-war period a suitable time for the rise of extreme political ideologies?
Everyone was struggling and looking for something/someone to follow. Tensions and emotions were extremely high
Germany’s attack on which country prompted the beginning of WWII? What were the two theatres of this war?
Germany attacks Poland. The two theatres of this war were: European and Pacific
Major outcomes of the end of WW2? (Pay attention to shift from multipolarity to bipolarity.)
what does this mean?
End of colonial system in Europe. The bipolar system emerges after wwii which is basically when you have two major powers that can compete internationally for influence across the world, they are militarily the most advanced countries. these two powers become the US and the USSR
What prompted American involvement in WWII? How did WWII end?
The U.S. enters wwii after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the war ends after the U.S. drops two nuclear bombs on Japan
The Cold War – what kind of system was this period characterized by?
(think of polarity)
multipolar
Marshall Plan
a program that provided economic assistance to Western Europe after World War II
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union
Warsaw Pact
a military alliance between all of the communist east European countries, headed by the Soviet Union in 1955. It was designed as a response to NATO. Members were to support each other if attacked.
