PSCI 230X Intro to International Relations Flashcards
idealism
an approach that emphasizes international law morality and international organization rather than power alone as key influences on international relations
realism
a broad intellectual tradition that explains international relations mainly in terms of power
league of nations
an organization established after ww1 and a forerunner of todays UN; it achieved certain humanitarian and other successes but was weakened by the absence of US membership and by its own lack of effectiveness in ensuring collective security
Munich agreement
a symbol of the failed policy of appeasement, this policy, signed in 1938, allowed nazi Germany to occupy part of Czechoslovakia. rather than appease German aspirations, it was followed by further German expansions, which triggered ww2
power
the ability or potential to influence others behavior, as measured by the possession of certain tangible and intangible characteristics.
anarchy
in IR theory, a term that implies not complete chaos but the lack of a central government that can enforce rules
norms
the shared expectations about what behavior is considered proper
sovereignty
a states right at least in principle to do whatever it wants within its own territory; traditionally sovereignty is the most important international norm.
security dilemma
a situation in which actions that states take to ensure their own security (such as deploying more military forces) are perceived as threats to the security of other states.
balance of power
the general concept of one or more states power being used to balance that of another state or group of states. ther term can refer to 1) any ratio of power capabilities between states or alliances 2) a relatively equal ratio or 3) the process by which counterbalancing coalitions have repeatedly formed to prevent one state from conquering an entire region.
great powers
generally, the half-dozen or so most powerful states; the great power club was exclusively European until the twentieth century
middle powers
states that rank somewhat below the great powers in terms of their influene on world affairs (ex brazil and india)
neorealism
a version of relist theory that emphasizes the influence on state behavior of the systems structure especially the international distribution of power
power transition theory
a theory that the largest wars result from challenges to the top position in the status hierarchy, when a rising power is surpassing (or threatening to surpass) the most powerful state
hegemony
one states holding of a preponderance of power in the international system so that it can singlehandedly dominate the rules and arrangements by which international political and economic relations are conducted
hegemonic stability theory
the argument that regimes are most effective when power in the international system is most concentrated
alliance cohesion
the ease with which the members hold together an alliance; it tends to be high when national interests converge and when cooperation among allies becomes institutionalized
burden sharing
the distribution of the costs of an alliance among members; the term also refers to the conflicts that may arise over such distribution
NATO
a us led military alliance, formed in 1949 with mainly west european members, to oppose and deter soviet power in europe. itis currently expanding into the former soviet bloc
warsaw pact
a soviet led eastern European military alliance, founded in 1955 and disbanded in 1991. it opposed the nato alliance
US Japanese security treaty
a bilateral alliance between the US and Japan, created in 1951 against the potential soviet threat to Japan. the US maintains troops in Japan and is committed to defend Japan if attacked and Japan pays the US to offset about half the cost of maintaining troops
deterrence
the threat to punish another actor if it takes a certain negative action especially attacking ones own state or ones allies
