Significance of States and State Sovereignty Flashcards
REALISM
Who is the principal actor on the international stage? Why?
REALISM
the state
because there is no higher authority
REALISM
What does being sovereign mean?
REALISM
- able to act as an autonomous entity
- no higher authority
- non-intervention
REALISM
How can national power be defined?
REALISM
military, economic, political, diplomatic, cultural resources
strong emphasis on military power
REALISM
How is power a relative term?
REALISM
- does a state have the ability to defend itself against the power of another state?
- does a state have the ability to coerce another state to change the state’s policies?
REALISM
What does state sovereignty ensure?
And what is this due to?
REALISM
that the international system in anarchical
and due to power politics
LIBERALISM
What are Liberals concerned with less?
What are they more concerned with?
LIBERALISM
less concerned with: empirical analysis - how international actors behave
more concerned with: normative judgements - how they should behave
LIBERALISM
Do they believe state sovereignty has been eroded in recent years? Why is this?
LIBERALISM
Yes
due to the proliferation of globalisation and global governance in the form of international organisations (‘society of states’)
LIBERALISM
How important are states?
LIBERALISM
They are important but they are by no means the only significant actors on the global stage
LIBERALISM
Is it reasonable to compromise national sovereignty?
LIBERALISM
Yes, for causes that are higher in value
(i.e. humanitarian intervention)
REALISM
What is the current state of state sovereignty?
REALISM
It has come under siege to some extent, but has come to forefront in recent years
LIBERALISM
What has lead to the declining importance of the state as an international actor according to Liberals?
LIBERALISM
Globalisation
