Week 1

Question 1

Realism

Answer 1

States are main actors
states relate to each other under the condition of anarchy
states are motivated by power
states are in competition with each other

Question 2

classical realism

Answer 2

human nature is translated to international political action
constant state of insecurity
maximization of power to prevent conflict
morality is not entirely absent

Question 3

structural realism

Answer 3

states seek to maximize power
states are motivated by power - exogenous and unchanging interest, determined by strucutre of anarchy
states are unitary, rational actors
Offensive and defensive
Kenneth waltz

Question 4

liberalism

Answer 4

international cooperation is possible
motivated by ideals
states as primary actors but also secondary actors
foreign policy is determined by domestic politics
Immanuel kant; perpeutal peace

Question 5

structural liberalism

Answer 5

‘economic version’ of liberalism
absolute gains rather than relative gains
reducing transaction costs; international cooperation
structure remains anarchical but states work together to reduce dangers of anarchy
Robert keohane

Question 6

constructivism

Answer 6

Importance of intersubjective ideational structures (norms)
mutual constitution of agents and structures
influence of identity on state’s interest
anarchy does not force states into a particular course of action
Martha finnemore

Question 7

Offensive realism

Answer 7

More power = more security
more power = hegemony
hegemons are unlikely to be attacked
competitive, offensive and expansionist policies
maximize power
John Mearsheimer

Question 8

Deffensive realism

Answer 8

more stability = more security
presevering the balance of power
unlimited maximization of power; enter security dilemma
practive restraint
maximize security

Question 9

Balance of power

Answer 9

When states maximize power, other states seek to match it

Question 10

band wagoning

Answer 10

forming alliances to counterbalance a hegemon

Question 11

Balance of power during Syrian Civil War

Answer 11

There was multipolarity in the region
Allows states to intervene because the risk of an immediate response is smaller
Allows states to pick and choose allies
Complicated proxy war and reduced the credibility of the Syrian united opposition
Prompted the US to practice restraint as not to ‘force’ a closer alliance between Russia and Iran

Question 12

Anti-Assad

Answer 12

Saudi Arabia
Turkey
USA
Europe
Free Syria Army
Syrian democratice forces
Islamic State
Syrian national coalition

Question 13

Pro-Assad

Answer 13

Iran
Hezbollah
Russia

Question 14

International relations

Answer 14

1906
International organisation
Political science
e.g. Thucydiden, Machiavelli

Question 15

Strategic studies

Answer 15

after WWII
Stability nuclear war
State security
e.g. oppenheimer, vietnam war, clausewitz

Question 16

Security studies

Answer 16

Human security
Decline interstate warfare
e.g. Rwanda genocide, cybersecurity, economic security

Question 17

International + regional level

Answer 17

regional and international (power) raltions constantly change
parties have many (contradicting) interests
are not unitied themselves
Power relations exist on vairous levels
are fought by various proxies
The lens use to analyze these relations is not singular