Recent Developments Flashcards

1
Q

the extent to which realism and liberalism explain recent developments in global politics

A

all topics in global politics can be understood from a realist and liberal perspective; state and globalisation, global governance, power

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2
Q

STATE AND GLOBALISATION: realists

what are realists sceptical about?

A

realists are sceptical about the novelty and extent of globalisation

they argue that globalisation is nothing new and that its impact has been exaggerated, they point to the East India Company and the Silk Route as historical examples of trade and cultural influence

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3
Q

STATE AND GLOBALISATION: realists

what do realists argue about the state?

A

globalisation has not weakened the standing of the state; the state continues to be the most important actor in the international system

after all, it is states rather than ordinary citizens or other groups that are represented in international organisations like the UN

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4
Q

STATE AND GLOBALISATION: realists

what have states promoted?

A

states have promoted globalisation in their own interests, especially the West and the USA

for instance, the USA created the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates pegged against the dollar to promote financial stability to ensure markets for US goods

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5
Q

STATE AND GLOBALISATION: realists

what will greater interdependence lead to?

A

greater interdependence will lead to ‘mutual vulnerability’

arguably, Brexit came about because the UK voters felt that British interests were being undermined by EU membership

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6
Q

STATE AND GLOBALISATION: liberals

what do liberals argue about globalisation?

A

liberals argue that globalisation is novel and intensifying

trade and the number of TNCs grew exponentially in the latter half of the 20th century

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7
Q

STATE AND GLOBALISATION: liberals

what is globalisation leading to?

A

globalisation is leading to the declining importance of the state as an international actor and the growing importance of organisations such as the EU, which is now the largest aid donor in the world and a leader in addressing climate change

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8
Q

STATE AND GLOBALISATION: liberals

who benefits from globalisation?

A

everyone benefits from globalisation

the integration of national economies allows for ‘comparative advantage’ (which refers to the production of goods at the lowest price and to the best quality – China has become the workshop of the world because its goods are cheap but well made)

economic interdependence spreads ideas and values such as democracy and human rights (the Arab Spring of 2011 can be seen as a product of globalisation)

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9
Q

STATE AND GLOBALISATION: liberals

what does globalisation promote?

A

globalisation promotes economic, cultural and political interdependence, which leads to peace and cooperation

for example, the UN resolves conflict and was established to prevent a third world war, which it has been successful in doing

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10
Q

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: realists

what are realists sceptical about?

A

realists are sceptical about the ability of international organisations to deliver systems of global governance, seeing them as weak and ineffective

states will not cooperate in international organisations because they are always competing for power, which is why there have been so many failures in UN peacekeeping

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11
Q

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: realists

why is the growth of international organisations undesirable?

A

the growth of international organisations is undesirable as they undermine state sovereignty, this explain Euroscepticism across EU member states

international organisations can be useful for powerful states who can use them to promote their own national interests, as seen in the US domination of NATO, IMF and the World Bank

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12
Q

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: liberals

why do liberals advocate global governance?

A

liberals advocate global governance through international organisations as a way to promote peace and cooperation in the world

the UN, through the General Assembly and UN Charter, provides a forum and a set of rules to promote peaceful cooperation

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13
Q

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: liberals

why do states cooperate?

A

states cooperate because it is in the interests to do so, which is why there has been a growth in the number of international organisations and in the level of integration, as in the EU

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14
Q

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: liberals

what do international organisations promote?

A

international organisations promote complex interdependence by enforcing a set of rules that prevent states from ‘free riding’ or defecting, as the EU does with its regulation of the single market

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15
Q

POWER: realists

what do realists argue about unipolarity?

A

realists argue that in a unipolar system, the dominant power can act as the world’s ‘police officer’ and guarantee economic and financial stability by setting and maintaining ground rules for economic behaviour

for instance, the USA was widely seen as the guardian of peace and security at the end of the 20th century

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16
Q

POWER: realists

what do realists argue about bipolarity?

A

realists favour a system of bipolarity between states because it is stable and relatively peaceful

they believe that bipolar systems tend to produce a balance of power and a natural tendency to world order

states seek to establish a balance to prevent the emergence of a hegemon

the Cold War produced a bipolar system that was stable and relatively peaceful

17
Q

POWER: realists

what do realists argue about multipolarity?

A

neo-realists claim that multipolarity leads to fluidity and uncertainty, which can only lead to instability and an increased likelihood of war

arguably, the world has become a more uncertain and dangerous place with the rise of China and the re-emergence of Russia which some claim has created a system of multipolarity

18
Q

POWER: liberals

what do liberals argue about unipolarity?

A

unipolarity promotes megalomania on the part of the dominant power and creates fear, resentment and hostility towards the dominant power among other powers

for instance, the USA’s invasion of Iraq was an act of megalomania that increased hostility towards it in the Middle East and spawned new enemies such as Islamic State (ISIS)

19
Q

POWER: liberals

what do liberals argue about bipolarity?

A

liberals claim that bipolarity causes tension and insecurity due to its tendency to breed hegemonic ambition and prioritise military power

bipolarity led to an arms race that came near to producing a nuclear conflict in the Cuban Missile Crisis

20
Q

POWER: liberals

what do liberals argue about multipolarity?

A

multipolar systems are characterised by a tendency towards multilateralism which involves greater cooperation and integration

for example, the agreement at the Paris Climate Change conference to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius shows how cooperation can increase in a multipolar world