Unit 1: Characterizations of the International System

Question 1

Actors

Answer 1

participants in international relations

Question 2

States

Answer 2

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

Question 3

IGO or supranational organizations

Answer 3

inter-governmental organizations (created by treaty to work in good faith for common interest)

Question 4

Colonial Period

Answer 4

westernization of international system
domination of eurowhite cultural beliefs and values

Question 5

Multipolar Period

Answer 5

concert of GB, Russia, Prussia, Austria-Hungary and France

Question 6

Two World Wars

Answer 6

multipolar ends
rigid alliance leads to WWI
rise of nationalism militarism and imperialism
league of nations fails

Question 7

Bipolar (Tripolar)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Post Cold War

Answer 8

US dominates
China rises to power
nuclear arms reductions

Question 9

Hegemony

Answer 9

one country dominates
US is a hegemon currently

Question 10

Sovereignty

Answer 10

the ability to carry out actions and policy within a territory independently of external actors and internal rivals + recognition by international actors

Question 11

Regime

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

Government

Answer 12

the leadership that runs the state. these come and go but states and regimes don’t

Question 13

Country

Answer 13

political system, a combo of state, regime, and government

Question 14

multinational state trouble?

Answer 14

having a legitimate government

Question 15

Hobbes

Question 16

JJ Rousseau

Question 17

Consensus

Answer 17

democratic
individuals band together to protect themselves and create common rules leadership is chosen among the people

• security through cooperation

Question 18

Coercion

Answer 18

authoritarian
individuals brought together by a ruler who imposes authority and monopolizes power

• security through domination

Question 19

Legitimacy

Answer 19

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

Question 20

traditional legitimacy

Answer 20

idea that someone/thing is valid because its always been that way (ex. a monarchy)

traditional doesn’t mean outdated

Question 21

charismatic legitimacy

Answer 21

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

Question 22

rational legal legitimacy

Answer 22

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

Question 23

federalism

Answer 23

division of powers into local/state/national governments

asymmetrical is when the power is divided unevenly

Question 24

unitary states

Answer 24

power concentrated at national level ex. china, japan, france

Question 25

devolution

Answer 25

process towards decentralization, send power to lower levels of govt

Question 26

capacity

Answer 26

ability of the state to wield power to carry out basic tasks

Question 27

autonomy

Answer 27

ability to wield power independently of international actors or others

(like sovereignty)

Question 28

dominance

Question 29

reciprocity

Question 30

identity

Question 31

modern

Answer 31

secular, rational, materialistic, techy, beauracratic, individual freedoms

Question 32

post-modern

Answer 32

values centered on quality of life and less on material gain

Question 33

integration

Answer 33

how states pool their sovereignty and surrendering some individual freedoms for broader benefits. blurs lines between countries

Question 34

non-governmental organizations

Answer 34

private groups or individuals
ex. red cross, green peace

Question 35

Multinational Corporations

Question 36

Euroskepticism

Answer 36

political position criticizing the EU and integration