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PS 180 2nd LE (Ayessa's) > realism > Flashcards

realism Flashcards

1
Q

a dominant theory in international relations that provides the most powerful explanation for the state of war that is the regular condition of life in the international system.

A

realism

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2
Q

are associated with endless wars due to power politics, limited cooperation, the security dilemma, and the realist view of human nature.

A

realists

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3
Q

Realists critique the mentioned idealist approach because:

A
  • Ignored the role of power
  • Overestimated shared interests among nation-states.

-Were overly optimistic about ending war.

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4
Q

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, a _______ occurred between inter-war idealists and a new generation of realist writers.

A

Great Debate

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5
Q

_____ emphasized the ubiquity of power and the competitive nature of politics among nations.

A

realists

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6
Q

_____ emerged victorious in the Great Debate and has remained dominant since 1939.

A

realists

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7
Q

____ teaches focusing on interests over ideology, seeking peace through strength, and recognizing coexistence of great powers despite differing values.

A

Realism

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8
Q

____ offers a practical guide for state interests in a hostile environment, contributing to its continued dominance.

A

realism

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9
Q

another term for the reason of state

A

Raison d’etat

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10
Q

is a fundamental principle of international conduct.

A

reason of state

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11
Q

According to historian _______, the reason of state guides states to preserve the state ‘ s health and strength.

A

Friedrich Meinecke

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12
Q

____ the key actor in international politics, must pursue power and rationally calculate steps to maintain its survival in hostile environments.

A

the state

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13
Q

The survival of the state is not guaranteed due to the use of ______is a legitimate instrument of statecraft.

A

force culminating in war

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14
Q

Realists question the existence of universal moral principles and warn state leaders against sacrificing self-interests for _______.

A

‘ethical’ conduct

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15
Q

realists argue that the need for survival requires state leaders to distance themselves from traditional notions of _______.

A

morality

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16
Q

_______ argued that traditional moral principles were harmful if adhered to by state leaders.

A

Machiavelli

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17
Q

Proponents of Raison d’etat advocate for a dual moral standard: ___________

A

one for internal citizens and another for the state’ s external relations.

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18
Q

The ______, according to Raison d’etat, creates the possibility for an ethical political community to exist domestically.

A

existence of the state

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19
Q

Realists note an increase in ______ wars since the Cold War’s end.

A

intra-state

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20
Q

Realists attribute internal wars to the _____________.

A

loss of state authority.

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21
Q

These conflicts arise from the ___________.

A

breakdown of domestic order and international disorder.

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22
Q

realists advocate for __________ as a solution to internal conflicts.

A

separation or partition

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23
Q

argue that ethnically _______ are more stable and less reliant on external military intervention

A

homogeneous states

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24
Q

Critics argued realism failed to account for new developments like __________.

A

regional integration, humanitarian intervention, and the rise of non-state actors.

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25
Q

Transnational corporations and regional institutions are cited as examples of ________ gaining prominence over states.

A

non-state actors

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26
Q

Proponents of globalization argue that realist theory privileged actor, ______ is in decline in relative to the growing influence of _______ like transnational corporations.

A

the state: non-state actors

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27
Q

Critics question the ________ in explaining the rise of intra-state conflicts, particularly in the global South

A

efficacy of realist thought

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28
Q

who wrote the Peloponnesian war?

(during classical realism)

A

Thucydides (430-406 BC)

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29
Q

main idea: International politics is driven by an endless struggle for power, which has its roots in human nature. Justice, law, and society have either no place or are circumscribed

A

the Peloponnesian war

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30
Q

who wrote the prince?

(during classical realism)

A

Machiavelli (1532)

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31
Q

main idea: Political realism recognizes that principles are subordinated to policies; the ultimate skill of the state leader is to accept, and adapt to, the changing power political configurations in world politics.

A

The Prince

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32
Q

who wrote politics among nations?

(during classical realism)

A

Morgenthau (1948)

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33
Q

main idea: Politics is governed by laws that are created by human nature. The mechanism we use to understand international politics is the concept of interests, defined in terms of power

A

Politics among nations

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34
Q

who wrote the state of war?

(structural realism)

A

Rousseau (1750)

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35
Q

main idea: It is not human nature but the anarchical system (the lack of central authority) that fosters fear, jealousy, suspicion, and insecurity.

A

The state of war

36
Q

who wrote the theory of international politics?

(defensive realism)

A

Waltz (1979)

37
Q

main idea: Anarchy leads to a logic of self-help in which states seek to maximize their security. The most stable distribution of power in the system is bipolarity. (Number of great powers “poles” determine the landscape of international politics)

A

theory of international politics

38
Q

critics: assumes states are easily satisfied with security and rarely seek expansion. Historical evidence, however, shows many states throughout history have pursued aggressive policies and territorial gains.

A

theory of international politics

39
Q

critics: Blurring lines between offensive and defensive military capabilities; they don’t know when a state is satisfied with its security

A

theory of international politics

40
Q

wrote the Tragedy of great power politics

(offensive realism)

A

Mearsheimer (2001)

41
Q

main idea: The anarchical, self-help system compels states to maximize their relative power positions even at the expense of other states.

A

Tragedy of great power politics

42
Q

critics: The pursuit of power and hegemony often involves aggressive policies that can lead to conflict and human suffering an may undermine fundamental human rights.

A

tragedy of great power politics

43
Q

critics: The focus of maximization of power neglects other factors that may contribute and motivate states such as ideology, economic interests, technological advancement etc.

A

tragedy of great power politics

44
Q

who wrote from wealth to power?

(neoclassical realism)

A

Zakaria (1998)

45
Q

main idea: The systemic account of world pol itics provided by structural real ism is incomplete. It needs to be supplemented with better accounts of unit-level variables such as how power is perceived, and how leadership is exercised.

A

from wealth to power

46
Q

classical realism

A

1900s-1920s

47
Q

classical realism origins:
_____ view of power politics as a law of human behavior.

A

Thucydides’

48
Q

classical realism origins:
The state’s drive for power and the will to dominate are fundamental aspects of_______.

A

human nature

49
Q

classical realism origins:
The behavior of the state as a _______ is a reflection of human characteristics.

A

self-seeking egoist

50
Q

classical realism origins:
The essential features of international politics, such as _________, are rooted in human nature.

A

competition, fear, and war

51
Q

Human nature explains why international politics is necessarily _____

A

power politics.

52
Q

classical realism’s belief in power and ethics:
Classical realism is fundamental about the struggle for belonging, often _____.

A

violent

53
Q

classical realism’s belief in power and politics:
__________ is required for communities to survive in this historic battle between good and evil

A

Patriotic virtue

54
Q

________ is legitimate as it is a means of gaining greater security

A

Imperial expansion

55
Q

Thucydides’ and Machiavelli’s Influence on Classical Realism:
argued that the ________ has a direct threat to state actors’ behavior.

A

distribution of power

56
Q

Thucydides’ and Machiavelli’s Influence on Classical Realism:
Both_______ pursued power to serve their empires and survive

A

Sparta and Athens

57
Q

commences from the first great debate

A

modern realism (1939-1979)

58
Q

Officially entered after Kenneth Waltz’s Theory of International Politics

A

structural/neoclassical realism (1979 onwards)

59
Q

Structural realists view international politics as a _______, not driven by human nature.

A

struggle for power

60
Q

They attribute security competition and conflict among states to the absence of a higher authority.

A

structural realism

61
Q

key concepts of Waltz (organizing principles):
______, which corresponds to the decentralized realm of international politics

A

Anarchy

62
Q

key concepts of Waltz (organizing principles):
________, which is the basis of domestic order

A

Hierarchy

63
Q

key concepts of Waltz (differentiation of units):
argues that the units of the international system are _________; hence unit-level variation is inconsequential.

A

functionally similar sovereign states

64
Q

key concepts of Waltz (distribution of capabilities):
the _________ in the international system is the key independent variable in understanding important international outcomes such as war and peace, alliance politics, and the balance of power

A

relative distribution of power

65
Q

Distribution of Power and Defensive Realism by Waltz:
emphasizes the importance of ______ being mindful of others’ capabilities for security.

A

great powers

66
Q

Distribution of Power and Defensive Realism by Waltz:
The possibility that any state may use _______ to advance its interests results in all states being worried about their survival.

A

force

67
Q

Distribution of Power and Defensive Realism by Waltz:
states are security maximizers because power maximization can be counterproductive, as states will feel threatened by rising powers and are likely to form counter-balancing coalitions, which then disrupts the balance of power even more.
In other words,

A

states assume the perspective of defensive realism.

68
Q

Offensive Realism by Mearsheimer:
John Mearsheimer’s theory of offensive realism suggests states constantly _______ to gain power at the expense of others as states can never be certain about the intentions of other states

A

seek opportunities

69
Q

Offensive Realism by Mearsheimer:
The ideal is to be a ________, one that is impossible to achieve because of the concept of balance of power and the concept of perpetual great power competition.

A

global hegemon

70
Q

Neoclassical Realists’ Perspective on State Behavior:
They challenge the idea that state behavior is solely determined by _______

A

power distribution

71
Q

Neoclassical Realists’ Perspective on State Behavior:
acknowledge the impact of individual and domestic factors, including _______,____, and ______.

A

leader perceptions, state-society relations, and identity.

72
Q

Neoclassical Realists’ Perspective on State Behavior:
__________, not just power distribution, influence foreign policy behavior according to neoclassical realists.

A

Domestic politics

73
Q

Neoclassical Realists’ Perspective on State Behavior:
They argue that states have ________, unlike the structural realist assumption of uniform security concerns

A

diverse interests

74
Q

Neoclassical Realists’ Perspective on State Behavior:
Neoclassical realists highlight the distinction between ____, and____, emphasizing variations in interests and resource capabilities.

A

status quo and revisionist states

74
Q

all realists subscribe to the 3S. what are the three S?

A

statism, survival, and self-help

75
Q

Neoclassical Realists’ Perspective on State Behavior:
in contrast to Waltz, they reject the notion of all states being treated as _____

A

uniform entities

76
Q

For realists, the state is the main actor and sovereignty is its distinguishing trait.

A

statism

77
Q

The state is seen as the legitimate representative of the collective will of the people. The state’s existence is viewed as a prerequisite for order and security, but external relations among independent sovereign states present threats.

A

statism

78
Q

Assert that the primary goal in world politics is ______, with security being the ultimate concern.
______ is held to be a precondition for attaining all other goals, whether these involve conquest or merely independence

A

Survival

79
Q

The concept of the security dilemma arises when one state’s military preparations as part of ______ initiatives (to enhance security) create uncertainty for another state.

A

self-help

80
Q

____ is a central assumption of real ism. This involves two claims. First, the state is the pre-eminent actor in world pol itics. Second, state sovereignty signifies the existence of an independent pol itical community, one that has juridical authority over its territory.

A

Statism

81
Q

Key criticism: statism is flawed on both ___, and _____.

A

empirical and normative ground

82
Q

Key criticism: are there no limits to what actions a state can take in the name of necessity?

A

survival

83
Q

no other state or institution can be relied on to guarantee your survival

A

self-help

84
Q

Key criticism: ____ is not an inevitable consequence of the absence of a world government; it is a logic that states have selected.

A

self-help

PS 180 2nd LE (Ayessa's) (1 decks)

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