Theorists Flashcards
Clausewitz
Prussian general in Napoleonic wars; Wrote “On War”; “War is the continuation of politics [/policy/] by other means”; Most of “On War”, however, is devoted to operational art specific to the Napoleonic Wars, does not run together by common theme (the book was a compilation of Clausewitz’s personal papers discovered after his death) and is incomplete/ largely un-revised
John Mearshiemer
“The Tragedy of Great Power Politics” Offensive structural realist. Powers are primed for offense, No state is likely to achieve permanent global hegemony. Constant great power competitions to maximize relative power.
Kenneth Waltz
“The Origins of War in Neorealist Theory”. The father of structural realism: States are the primary factor. All states function the same way; the way states function is irrelevant to the way the int’l system functions. Domestic criteria is irrelevant
Robert Jervis
“Cooperation Under the Security Dilemma” Anarchy encourages behavior that leaves everyone worse off. Incentives to defect are strong. the Security dilemma: one state’s gain in security invariably threatens another
States, given the right structural conditions, though, can cooperate to alleviate the security dilemma
Stacie Goddard
“When Might Makes Right” Why states underbalance in IR. Legitimation strategies: 1. Signal constraint. 2. Set Rhetorical Traps. 3. Resonate with a state’s “ontological security” Balancing is not automatic
Hans Morgenthau
“Politics Among Nations”. Last of the Classical realists, where power is an end to itself and people seek it out solely to have it. Political realism is guided by objective laws.
Alexander Wendt
“The Social Construction of Power Politics” Creator of the constructivist theory. Identities and interests offer an alternative to both realism and liberalism. Power politics do not flow causally from anarchy
Robert Keohane
Interdependence through institutions (method by which institutions are “sticky”: the “lives of their own” that they take on spring from shared nexus at the institution)
John Ikenberry
Liberal institutionalism. The Liberal character of America, and the institutions they helped create facilitate cooperation and overcome fears of domination or exploitation, which allows the U.S to maintain a hegemonic position through the use of liberalized institutions
The restraining effects of democractic polities and institutions reduces the incentives of states to engage in strategic rivalry or balancing against the US
Institutions are “sticky”
Edward Mansfield, Jack Snyder
“Democratization and the Danger of War”. Breakaway from Democratic Peace Theory” They contend that mature democracies will likely avoid confrontation with other democracies for a variety of reasons
However, democracies do not “mature overnight”, in a transitional stage, emerging democracies can be more war prone and volatile.
Arguably, the transition periods, either towards democracy or away from it, are the reason for greater degrees of conflict. Mature or stable democracies OR autocracies are likely to be more peaceful in foreign policy endeavors
Sebastian Rosato
“The Flawed Logic of Democratic Peace Theory” Democratic states have consistently violated liberal norms when deciding to go to war (ie instigating regime changes in Iran, Guatemala, Indonesia, Brazil, Chile, etc.)
The democratic nature of a state/a nation’s defined regime type is often contested, inaccurate, and subject to redefinition
Flaws in institutional logic: there is reason to believe that accountability doesn’t affect democratic leaders any more than autocratic ones. The later may be exiled, imprisoned or killed, and losing autocrats are more likely to suffer severe punishment than their democratic partners; autocratic leaders are constantly accountable to public opinion whereas democratic leaders accountable to elections over time
Bruce Russett
"Debating the Democratic Peace" Alternative explanations: Institutional approach Transnationalism: Distance Prevents War. Alliances Make Peace. Wealth Makes Peace. Political Stability Makes Peace.
Robert Gilpin
Hegemonic War Theory
Jessica Weeks
“Strongmen and Straw Men” Can domestic institutions affect autocratic leaders decision making? Some types can be held accountable. Elite constrained dictatorships can be more peaceful than democracies
Martha Finnemore
“Constructing Norms of Humanitarian Intervention” The normative context of humanitarian interventions drive its use. Concepts of “Humanity” and sovereignty are fluid
Framework to critique Just War theory by
