Unit 1: Characterizations of the International System Flashcards
Actors
participants in international relations
States
the organization that maintains a monopoly of force over a territory, a central authority/locus of power
is also the set of political institutions that help create and implement policies and resolve conflicts
a state is political while a nation is cultural and transcends borders or a government
IGO or supranational organizations
inter-governmental organizations (created by treaty to work in good faith for common interest)
Colonial Period
westernization of international system
domination of eurowhite cultural beliefs and values
Multipolar Period
concert of GB, Russia, Prussia, Austria-Hungary and France
Two World Wars
multipolar ends
rigid alliance leads to WWI
rise of nationalism militarism and imperialism
league of nations fails
Bipolar (Tripolar)
western europe collapses as global world center
- US and USSR as major military powers (cold war starts, leads to proxy wars, etc.)
- US and Japan as economic powers
Post Cold War
US dominates
China rises to power
nuclear arms reductions
Hegemony
one country dominates
US is a hegemon currently
Sovereignty
the ability to carry out actions and policy within a territory independently of external actors and internal rivals + recognition by international actors
Regime
the fundamental rules and norms of politics (also embodies long term goals that guide the state on freedom and equality where power should be and how it should be used ex. democratic and autocratic)
Government
the leadership that runs the state. these come and go but states and regimes don’t
Country
political system, a combo of state, regime, and government
multinational state trouble?
having a legitimate government
Hobbes
JJ Rousseau
Consensus
democratic
individuals band together to protect themselves and create common rules leadership is chosen among the people
- security through cooperation
Coercion
authoritarian
individuals brought together by a ruler who imposes authority and monopolizes power
- security through domination
Legitimacy
A value whereby something or someone is recognized and accepted as right and proper
creates power w/ consent
state provides security and other benefits creating feeling of reciprocity and that the state can ask things of us
traditional legitimacy
idea that someone/thing is valid because its always been that way (ex. a monarchy)
traditional doesn’t mean outdated
charismatic legitimacy
based on the power of ideas of beliefs + who presents them.. embodied by moving leaders
ex. jesus, muhammad, hitler
this often dies w/ the individual
rational legal legitimacy
based on a system of laws and procedures that are neutral or rational.. gain this by following rules.. but power comes from the office/position not the person in the spot
federalism
division of powers into local/state/national governments
asymmetrical is when the power is divided unevenly
unitary states
power concentrated at national level ex. china, japan, france
devolution
process towards decentralization, send power to lower levels of govt
capacity
ability of the state to wield power to carry out basic tasks
autonomy
ability to wield power independently of international actors or others
(like sovereignty)
dominance
reciprocity
identity
modern
secular, rational, materialistic, techy, beauracratic, individual freedoms
post-modern
values centered on quality of life and less on material gain
integration
how states pool their sovereignty and surrendering some individual freedoms for broader benefits. blurs lines between countries
non-governmental organizations
private groups or individuals
ex. red cross, green peace
Multinational Corporations
Euroskepticism
political position criticizing the EU and integration
