Week 1 Textbook

Question 1

The Global Political System

Answer 1

The patterns of interactions among international political actors.

Question 2

Nationalism

Answer 2

A belief that one’s nation is supreme; above all others.

Question 3

Transformation

Answer 3

A change on the global political scale (e.g., Post-911)

Question 4

Describe the Cold War in a nutshell.

Answer 4

1. 1949 - 1991
2. Rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union
3. World dominance of communism OR democracy
4. An expansion of alliances and territory
5. Marked most notably by an arms race and events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis

Question 5

What is the difference between Nation and State?

Answer 5

State - an independent, territorially defined community in the global system administered by a sovereign government (e.g., UN member states)

Nation - a group of people who feel bound by a common language, culture, religion, history, or ethnicity (e.g., Kurds - spread in a number of different countries).

http://glossary.usip.org/resource/state-versus-nation

Question 6

Anarchy

Answer 6

A state of society without government or law.

Question 7

Cognitive Dissonance

Answer 7

Clashing beliefs and actions leading a person to change one or the other.

Question 8

What are the 4 major IR theories?

Answer 8

1. Liberalism
2. Realism
3. Constructivism
4. Marxism

Question 9

Constructivism

Answer 9

Global events are socially constructed, rather than inevitable consequences of human nature or other essential characteristics of world politics.

Question 10

Ideology

Answer 10

Ideas and ideals which guide economic or political theory and policy.

Question 11

Mirror images/complimentary behaviour

Answer 11

You are hostile towards me, I am hostile toward you - non-complimentary behaviour breaks the chain.

Question 12

Global North

Answer 12

Wealthy industrialized countries located primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 13

Global South

Answer 13

Less developed countries located in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 14

Politics

Answer 14

The process of making decisions applying to all members of a defined set of groups.

Question 15

Non-State Actors

Answer 15

An individual or organization that has significant political influence but is not allied to any particular state (e.g., IGOs, TNCs, NGOs).

Question 16

State Sovereignty

Answer 16

Under international law, all states are set equal - a state is subject to no higher external authority than its own government.

Question 17

Hegemony

Answer 17

Supreme power.

Question 18

The Security Dilemma

Answer 18

Arms introduced for defence trigger an arms race, and thus create more instability than in the first place.

Question 19

Realism in a nutshell.

Answer 19

IR theory based on the assumption that humans are programmed for conflict resulting in an endless struggle for power involving war.

Question 20

Liberalism in a nutshell.

Answer 20

IR theory with a belief in our capacity for compassion and cooperation resulting in collective gains for everyone.

Question 21

Theory

Answer 21

An organizing idea.