Session 7 Flashcards
Q: What is the core idea behind “authoritarian international law”?
- The way authoritarian regimes engage with and reshape international law to reinforce their rule,
- rather than merely operating within a framework shaped by democracies.
Q: How do authoritarian regimes differ from democracies in their approach to international law?
- Prioritize regime survival and avoid legally binding commitments that could limit their power,
- democracies create long-term legal obligations that outlive individual governments.
Q: How do authoritarian states use regional organizations like ASEAN or the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?
- To emphasize sovereignty,
- resist democratic influence, and
- coordinate repression of political opposition.
Q: How do authoritarian regimes manipulate democratic legal norms?
- Adopt the appearance of democratic institutions, such as elections and courts,
- use them to consolidate power rather than ensure genuine democratic governance.
Q: What are some emerging legal trends that facilitate authoritarian rule?
A: The expansion of cybercrime laws,
- anti-extremism regulations, and
- sovereignty-based human rights frameworks that justify repression.
Q: What are the potential consequences of the rise of authoritarian international law?
-Weaken transparency,
- reduce human rights protections, and
- create a more stable authoritarian bloc resistant to democratic influence.
Q: What were the main reasons for the failure of the liberal international order?
- destined to fail due to inherent flaws—
- its push for global democracy provoked conflict,
-hyperglobalization led to economic inequalities - nationalism consistently overpowered liberal values
Q: What is the difference between the Cold War order and the post-Cold War order?
Cold War Order (1945–1989):
- A realist, bounded order,
- primarily Western and based on balance-of-power politics.
Post-Cold War Order (1990–2019):
- A true liberal international order, aimed at global democracy promotion, economic integration, and institutional governance
Q: How did nationalism contribute to the decline of the liberal international order?
A: Nationalism, the strongest political ideology, often clashed with liberal values, particularly over sovereignty, immigration, and cultural identity.
- fueled resistance to liberal governance and led to rising populism
Q: Why was unipolarity essential for the liberal international order?
- Because the U.S. was the dominant global power
- multipolarity emerged with the rise of China and Russia, the liberal order weakened and realist competition returned
Q: How did hyperglobalization undermine the liberal international order?
- led to job losses,
- wage declines,
- rising inequality in Western countries,
- fueling political backlash and eroding support for liberal economic policies
Q: What will replace the liberal international order?
A: A realist-based multipolar system, where great powers—particularly the U.S. and China—compete through bounded regional orders rather than a universal liberal system
Q: What is the primary focus of the U.S.-China strategic competition?
- Not primarily military or economic,
- a struggle over global norms, narratives, and legitimacy—
-Shaping international rules and institutions
Q: Why does Mazarr argue that military and economic power are secondary in the U.S.-China rivalry?
Military and economic serve as tools for a broader ideological and normative contest rather than being the main objective
Q: How do the U.S. and China compete for global influence?
- shaping the dominant global ideas, rules, and norms.
- The U.S. has historically led by promoting a rules-based order,
- China struggles to offer a compelling alternative
Q: How does legitimacy play a role in international leadership?
A: The U.S. has historically maintained influence not just through military and economic strength, but by shaping international institutions in a way that others view as legitimate and beneficial
Q: Why does China struggle to establish legitimacy as a global leader?
- China’s authoritarian model lacks global appeal.
- particularly in Asia and Europe, view China’s rise with suspicion and resistance
Q: What does Mazarr recommend for the U.S. to maintain global leadership?
- must reinforce the legitimacy of its leadership
- addressing challenges like inequality, climate change, and economic justice.
- If isolates it risks losing the competition not because China wins, but because the U.S. undermines its own influence
Q: Why do analysts frequently underestimate Europe?
- Many predict Europe’s decline,
- despite crises like COVID-19, Russia’s aggression, migration waves, and Brexit, Europe has consistently prevailed through pragmatic, nonmilitary tools
Q: How does Europe exert global power differently from the U.S., China, and Russia?
- Europe relies on economic strength,
- regulatory influence,
- diplomacy, and
- international law to shape global affairs
Q: How has Europe successfully managed recent global crises?
- Russia & Ukraine: Economic sanctions and diplomacy, not war.
- Migration Crisis: Deals with transit countries like Turkey and Libya reduced irregular migration.
- Populism & Brexit: Right-wing populism remains weak outside Britain, and Brexit has shown the costs of leaving the EU
Q: What is the “Brussels Effect” and why is it significant?
- Europe is a global regulatory superpower,
- shaping global markets through strict data privacy, trade, and environmental standards,
- forcing major economies to comply
Q: Why does Moravcsik argue that Europe’s lack of centralized military power is a strength?
- Europe solves problems through incremental, consensus-based policymaking,
- making it more stable and resilient than autocratic rivals
Q: Why does Moravcsik believe Europe represents the future of global order?
- U.S. and China face instability, populism, and legitimacy crises,
-Europe remains a stable, high-income, well-governed region, - leading through multilateralism and pragmatic governance
Q: How have civil wars evolved in modern international politics?
- Become the dominant form of conflict,
- surpassing interstate wars,
- now shaped by the transition from unipolarity (U.S. dominance) to multipolarity (U.S., China, Russia, and others)
Q: How did U.S. unipolarity affect civil war interventions?
- U.S. led interventions with little opposition,
- promoting liberal norms (e.g.,
- humanitarian interventions, democracy promotion) and managing conflicts like the Balkan Wars
Q: What happens to civil wars in a multipolar world?
- Rise of China and the resurgence of Russia = civil wars battlegrounds for great power competition = to longer and deadlier conflicts (e.g., Syria, Ukraine)
Q: How do major powers interact with civil wars today?
- Great powers back different factions
- prolonging conflicts instead of resolving them
Q: Why is it harder to end civil wars today?
External support prevents stalemates where peace talks might begin.
Conflicting great-power interests block UN or diplomatic solutions.
Peacekeeping becomes harder when major powers have opposing stakes
Q: What are the long-term effects of multipolarity on civil wars?
Interventions will be more competitive and destabilizing.
Local actors will manipulate great-power rivalries for support.
Diplomacy must shift from liberal interventionism to pragmatic power balancing
Q: How has China expanded its influence in international organizations?
- secured leadership roles in key UN agencies,
- shaping global norms and
- advancing its strategic interests
Q: How did the U.S. retreat from multilateralism help China?
- The U.S. withdrew from organizations like WHO and the UN Human Rights Council,
- China stepped in to fill the leadership gaps,
- increasing its control over global governance
Q: Which UN organizations are led by Chinese officials?
A: China leads four major UN agencies, including:
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (digital governance)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (global food policy)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) (air travel standards)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (economic policies)
These allow China to promote policies benefiting its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
Q: How does China secure votes in international organizations?
A: China offers loans, investments, and debt relief to developing countries in exchange for support in UN leadership votes.
Example: Cameroon’s $78 million debt was forgiven just before it withdrew its UN candidate, allowing China’s nominee to win
Q: How does China’s UN influence protect it from criticism?
A: By controlling key UN agencies, China can block or weaken discussions on issues like Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet, ensuring international bodies avoid condemning its actions
