PSCI 230X Intro to international relations midterm (good deck) Flashcards

1
Q

what is the key structural difference between international political systems and domestic political systems

A

International: anarchical system
Domestic: heirarchical system

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2
Q

what does it mean when states are considered to be anarchical (3)

A

There is no world government
we depict states as coexisting in a flat realm
States are independent and have authority over their own affairs (sovereignty)

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3
Q

In order for something to be considered a state by definition they must exhibit what

A

monopoly of legitimate force over a territory

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4
Q

for a realist, a written constitution is not good enough to prove sovereignty, what must be present for a realist to consider a territory a state

A

Sovereignty has to be able to physically demonstrate that it is sovereign through actions and physical evidence

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5
Q

what is the difference between a country and a state

A

a country is an area on a map
a state has control of a territory
there can be multiple states within a country

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6
Q

Nation state:

A

a state that contains all and only the members of one culture or civilization

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7
Q

why is history not a reliable guide for predicting political outcomes (2)

A

conditions change
trends can be deceiving

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8
Q

Theories focus on what (that is able to help predict outcome and prescribe policy)

A

cause and effect
if the same conditions exist as before we should expect a similar outcome

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9
Q

what are the two main political families

A

Realists and idealists

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10
Q

what is the difference between realist and idealist theory at their very core in regards to conflict and cooperation

A

realists are pessimistic
idealists are optimistic

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11
Q

what is the difference between classical realists and structural realists? What is the root of their pessimistic nature?

A

Classical realists are pessimistic about human nature and it ability to resolve conflict
structural realists believe international anarchy makes cooperation difficult

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12
Q

What level of analysis do structural realists focus on compared to classical realists?

A

SR - international level of analysis
CR - individual level of analysis

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13
Q

according to classical realists what causes perpetual conflict

A

human nature

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14
Q

according to classical realists, what are the characteristics of humans

A

power seeking, greedy, irrational

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15
Q

what is the policy advise of classical realists and why

A

maximize power
People and states should try to have as much power as possible so they can influence or control others (zero sum logic)

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16
Q

according to structural realists what leads to perpetual conflict

A

international anarchy

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17
Q

according to structural realists, due to the lack of world government, what do states do to protect themselves

A

develop capabilities

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18
Q

what causes a security dilemma

A

states build up capabilities with no intention of harming others but their capabilities may inadvertently frighten other states who may retaliate in self defense
uncertainty of intentions

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19
Q

according to structural realists, perpetual peace and cooperation is impossible. What takes the place of a world government?

A

balance of power politics

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20
Q

according to structural realism, what are the 2 aspects of the international political system

A

anarchy and polarity

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21
Q

what are the three types of polarity and in what time period do they exist?

A

multipolarity pre 1944
bi polarity 1945-1989 US and Russia 2015- present US and China
Unipolarity 1990-2014 US

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22
Q

for structural realists, power is based on blank instead of blank

A

capabilities instead of control

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23
Q

what are the main two schools of thought in idealist thought and what is their core belief system?

A

liberalism - perpetual peace and cooperation can occur over time due to human nature
critical evolutionary theory - change is possible but only through revolutionary change

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24
Q

what are the three types of liberals and what do they believe to be the path to peace

A

classical economic liberals - capitalism
classical political liberals - democracy
neoliberals - international trade and organizations

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25
Q

what are the three types of critical evolutionary theorists and what do they believe to be the path to peace

A

marxists - revolution from capitalism to socialism
feminists - revolution from male leadership to female leadership
constructivists - more cooperative ideas

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26
Q

what is the economic liberal view to peace

A

Individual desire for wealth will lead to capitalist states which will lead to international peace cooperation and prosperity

27
Q

what is the political liberal logic and path to peace

A

all people desire freedom and justice = democratic states = peace and cooperation

28
Q

what level of analysis do the 2 classical liberal branches focus on

A

individual

29
Q

what level of analysis do neoliberals focus on

A

international level of analysis

30
Q

what is the neoliberal logic and path to peace

A

mutual respect among states and a focus on collective gains will lead to cooperation through international cooperations

31
Q

what are the three branches of critical revolutionary theory

A

feminist
Marxist
constructivists

32
Q

what is the logic of Marxist theory

A

Socialist states respect their people and cooperate with each other so as they spread international peace and cooperation

33
Q

what is the logic of Marxist theory

A

Socialist states respect their people and cooperate with each other so as they spread international peace and cooperation
socialism is non exploitative as compared to capitalism

34
Q

what could make feminist theory revolutionary

A

if they call for a revolution to replace all male leadership with female leadership

35
Q

for constructivists, what is the core of conflict and cooperation and how could this core change the world for the better

A

ideas
different ideas centered around peace and cooperation would make the world better

36
Q

for constructivists what would help lessen global conflict

A

if states shifted their focus to collective gains and ideas about universal human rights instead of sovereignty and relative gains

37
Q

what are the four aspects in a perfect foreign policy creation

A

Clarify goals
Prioritize goals
List available policies evaluate pros and cons
Select best policy

38
Q

what are the sources of imperfection in foreign policy at the global level of analysis

A

amount and quality of information about the world
difficulty of calculating costs of war (conventional vs nuclear era)

39
Q

what are some sources of imperfection in foreign policy at the international level of analysis

A

anarchy
polarity
relative capabilities
presence or absence of international organizations

40
Q

what are the two types of conflict and what are they

A

conflict of interests- conflict over tangible material things
conflict of ideas- ethnic religious national etc

41
Q

what are the four types of conflict resolution

A

back down
coexist
compromise
use leverage

42
Q

what are the three types of leverage

A

diplomatic isolation
economic sanction
military force

43
Q

what is the spectrum of military force

A

occasional raids
limited war (confined to an area and use of conventional weapons) (Korea)
total war (WWII)

44
Q

what are the three types of war

A

conventional war
guerilla war
terrorism

45
Q

what are the aspects of conventional war

A

armies on the front lines with the goal of taking over territory

46
Q

what are the aspects of guerilla war

A

usually a state vs a non state
throw off an occupying force or change the goc by wearing down the opponents will to continue fighting

47
Q

what is the strategy and the goal of terrorism

A

strat: kill civilians until the other side does what you want
goal: compel political change

48
Q

what are two examples of terrorism

A

Hiroshima and nagasaki- get the civilians to pressure japan to give up
9/11- citizen pressure to convince US to end support of Israeli government

49
Q

what are two examples of terrorism and what was the associated goal

A

Hiroshima and nagasaki- get the civilians to pressure japan to give up
9/11- citizen pressure to convince US to end support of Israeli government

50
Q

what are the three possible military goals

A

deterrence (threaten to retaliate so attacks dont happen)
offense (impose your will)
defense (defend state or territory if an attack occurs)

51
Q

when determining the proper strength of a military force what are the 2 considerations

A

international political (how much is enough relative to other countries capabilities)
domestic political (how much is necessary to make citizens feel safe) (what helps get leaders re-elected)

52
Q

what are the two types of military forces

A

conventional (armies navy airforce)
Weapons of Mass Destruction

53
Q

what are the two main components to controlling forces

A

coordination/logistics
authority

54
Q

what can occur if there is not clear organizations and logistics what is an example

A

accidental bombings of the wrong target
bombings in syria accidentally killed civilians

55
Q

How can forces be controlled (2)

A

hierarchical chain of command with clear rules and punishments
faith in the cause or regime and agreement that the war is just

56
Q

what is an effect of nuclear weapons

A

those with engage in cold wars those without engage in hot wars with conventional weapons

57
Q

what is an effect of nuclear weapons

A

those with engage in cold wars those without engage in hot wars with conventional weapons
nukes are cheap and easy

58
Q

according to realists, why do states cooperate

A

states cooperate to enhance their own national security
states get more from working together than from not working together

59
Q

according to idealists, why do states cooperate

A

States cooperate to achieve common interests such as world peace and collective security

60
Q

what are the types of international law

A

diplomatic law
law of war
human rights laws

61
Q

what are the two parts of the law of war

A

just vs unjust war (just to defend not to attack)
conduct of war (dont target civilians, treat pows well, force must be necessary)

62
Q

what is included in diplomatic law

A

exemption from some minor laws

63
Q

what is included in human rights laws

A

genocide mass rape civilian murder