Section II Flashcards
Realism
Pessimistic about the possibility of perpetual peace and cooperation
Classical Realism
Individual LOA, human nature arguments about wanting power, control, and/or to dominate others
Structural Realism/Neoliberalism
International LOA, all states exist in an anarchic realm where they can only rely on themselves. States try to balance their power against others to ensure their security
National Security
The protection of a country’s citizens, economy, and institutions.
International Security
Military and diplomatic measures that nations and international organizations take to ensure mutual safety and security
Anarchy
There is no higher world government/authority, each state is able to make their own decisions
Hierarchy
A system where some states hold significantly more power and authority over others
Security Dilemma
One state makes actions to increase their security which makes other states feel threatened and subsequently increase their own security in response
Power/Capabilities
The ability or potential to get another actor to do what it would not otherwise have done. Often based on certain characteristics of a state (size, income, military)
Fungibility
An element of power that can be converted into another (ex. money can buy other capabilites)
Tangibility
A physical capability (tank)
Balance of Power
The general concept of the power of one or more states being used to balance that of another state or group of states.
Polarity (unipolarity, bipolarity, multipolarity)
The number of great powers in the system. One or two or three or more powers
Great Powers
States with significant military, economic, and diplomatic strength, allowing them to exert major influence on a global scale and shape international politics
Middle Powers
A nation that is not considered a superpower or great power, but still holds significant influence and plays a notable role in global affairs
Weak States
States which fail to fully meet the needs of their citizens
North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO)
A military alliance of countries in Europe and North America to secure peace and security
Warsaw Pact
Created in 1955, a military alliance between the USSR and Eastern European countries
Nonaligned movement
A movement of developing countries, initially led by India and Yugoslavia, that attempted to stand apart from the U.S.-Soviet rivalry during the Cold War and not support either side
Bush Doctrine
Policy adopted in 2001 that asserts America’s right to attack any nation that has weapons of mass destruction that might be used against U.S. interests at home or abroad.
Idealism
Optimistic about perpetual peace and cooperation
Liberalism
Incremental progress over time due to human nature
Collective Security
The formation of a broad alliance of most major actors in an international system for the purpose of jointly opposing aggression by any actor
Relative Gains
A state’s concern about how much better off it is compared to other states
Absolute Gains
The total benefit a state receives regardless of how other states fare
Economic Liberalism
Individual/state, human nature arguments about wanting prosperity. state arguments about the differing economic attributes of a state impact how it interacts with other nations. capitalism will spread, increasing trade and thus peace
Political Liberalism
Individual/State LOA, human nature argument about wanting liberty/freedom. State - the differing attributes of a state impacts how it interacts with other nations.
Neoliberalism
International/global, assumes international anarchy but finds cooperation between states is feasible and sustainable through institution and norm building which reduces transaction costs
International Norms
The shared expectations
about what behavior is considered
proper.
International Regimes
A set of principles, norms, rules, and decision-making procedures that guide the expectations and behavior of actors within a specific issue area
Collective Goods Problem
The challenge of coordinating cooperation among multiple countries to achieve a shared benefit, even when individual nations have an incentive to “free ride” by not contributing their fair share
Democratic Peace Theory
Democracy will spread, increasing liberty for all, and thus, peace
Neoconservative
International LoA, negative effects of security dilemma and anarchy can be reduced by mutual respect, international interdependence, and international institutions
Critical Theory
Change is possible but not inevitable, a deliberate change would be required
Marxism
State LOA, similar goals to political liberalism. Capitalism is better than feudalism but still not good. Eventually technology will evolve and no one will have a job. People will then launch a revolution to seize means of production and install a communist state. Must suffer through capitalism to reach communism
Capitalism
An economic system where private individuals or businesses own the means of production
Socialism/Communism
A society in which all property is publicly owned
Bourgeoisie
The capitalist class who own most of society’s wealth and means of production.
Proletariat
Workers or working-class people
Core
Wealthy, militarily strong, and hold significant social power and colonial power. Manufacturing regions
Periphery
Poor countries with exploitable resources, and without great social stability or government. Extraction regions
Semi-periphery
Contains attributes of both core and periphery states
Dependency
A situation where one country is heavily reliant on another, usually a weaker state depending on a stronger one.
Imperialism
The acquisition of
colonies by conquest or otherwise.
Neocolonialism
The continuation, in a former colony, of colonial exploitation without formal political control
Essentialist/Difference Feminist
Individual LOA, the biological differences between male and female are the primary factor shaping gender roles and power dynamics in international politics
Postmodern/Radical Feminists
State LOA, gender norms are socially constructed. International system is inherently patriarchal with power structures and global politics deeply rooted in male dominance
Postmodernism
An approach that denies the existence of a single fixed reality and pays special attention to texts and to discourses-that is, to how people talk and write about a subject.
Constructivism
See ideas as the most important cause of conflict/cooperation, people with similar ideas will cooperate with each other
Militarism
The glorification of war, military force, and violence
Structural Violence
A form of violence where social structures, like economic systems, political institutions, or legal frameworks, systematically prevent certain groups from meeting their basic needs
Positive Peace
A peace that resolves the underlying reasons for war, a transformation of relationships
