Terms And History

Question 1

Peace of Westphalia

Answer 1

• 1648
• end of European wars of religion
• birth of western state system
• recognition of key principles

Question 2

Key principles of western world order

Answer 2

1. Sovereignty
   
   • rulers of a territory concentrate decision-making powers in their hands
   • rejection of external interference by other states
2. Territoriality
   
   • (new) states posses clear borders to the outside in which ruler possesses sovereignty
   • cuius regio eius religio
3. Equality
   
   • right to make treaties
   • formal equality of territories
   • independent of size and power

Question 3

Feudal rule

Answer 3

Division of societies into different classes (nobility, clergy, commoners)

Rulers invest land or other rights in nobility or clergy in exchange for loyalty and services

Stability results from fixed functions and mutually beneficial exchanges

Question 4

Territorial division

Answer 4

Kingdoms/ dukedoms have fluid borders and are dependent on loyalty, marriage and conquest

Question 5

Invention of nation state

Answer 5

1. Decline of multicultural empires
   
   • Holy Roman, Ottoman, A-H
2. Bottom-up developments
   
   • destruction of the ideas of monarchy and divine rule
   • printed products create a common discourse
   • emerging ideas of belonging together, overcoming problems of separation and Kleinstaaterei
3. Top-down developments
   
   • promotion of national language
   • national standing armies (conscription)
   • powerful bureaucracies

Question 6

Nation states

Answer 6

• powerful form of social organisation
  1. Resources
  
  • levying of taxes
    
    2. Organisation
  • bureaucracy
  • military
    
    3. Loyalty
  • nationalism
  • democracy

Question 7

Inter-national relations

Answer 7

• diplomacy and war as key forms of interaction
• absence of an authority “above” the states
• states have different sizes and capabilities
• security problems - conflict and conquest

Question 8

Congress of Vienna

Answer 8

• 1815
• restitution of the order after downfall of Napoleon
• concert of 5 major European powers
  
  • France, Britain, Prussia, Russia, A-H
  • assume common responsibility for maintaining peace in Europe
  • interstate diplomacy = the key instrument
• successes and failures
  
  • management of minor crisis but unable to prevent conflict between members
  • legitimation of colonialism
  • increasing significance and outbreak of WWI

Question 9

League of Nations

Answer 9

• 1919
  1. basic idea of the League
  
  • system of collective security replaces concert of powers
  • obligation to consult and search for peaceful resolution
  • ban of the use of force

2. Flaws
   
   • USA abstains, USSR and Ger initially excluded
   • no power to mediate and to sanction
   • insignificance in the face of aggression by Japan, Italy and eventually Nazi Germany

Question 10

UN

Answer 10

• 1945
  1. Collective security 2.0
  
  • participation of all relevant powers (possession of nuclear technology)
  • possibilities to sanction and intervene (UNSC)
  • more enhanced role of Sec Gen

2. Flaws
   
   • biased representation
   • inhibited by UNSC veto
   • weakness in the face of crisis

Question 11

3 ways of dealing with security issues

Answer 11

1. After 1648 (peace of Westphalia)
   - sovereign states begin to exist
   
   • no superior authority
   • balance of power
   • variable alliances
2. After 1815
   - nationalism and industrialisation create coherent and capable states
   
   • attempts to avoid major war through great power coordination - Concert of Europe
3. After 1919
   - world experiences imperialism and WWI and WWII
   
   • control through international law and collective security systems

Question 12

Role of IR theories

Answer 12

Not right or wrong just more or less useful
- neo-realism
- competition and mistrust between states under anarchy
- liberal institutionalism
- cooperation between states is possible
- international organisations and non-state actors are important
- domestic processes are key to understand how states behave
- constructivism
- norms, ideas, and identities influence state behaviour

Question 13

Two logics of rational social action

Answer 13

1. Materialist rationality based on cost-benefit analysis
   
   • preference -> calculation pros and cons -> action based on material value expectations
   • Realism & liberal institutionalism
2. Ideational materiality based on norms
   
   • structure of norms -> knowledge and understanding of the norms -> social interaction -> action based on interpretation and norm expectations
   • social constructivism