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Politics > YR 2 - Global Politics: lib vs real > Flashcards

YR 2 - Global Politics: lib vs real Flashcards

1
Q

name 3 aspects of (general) realism

A
  • sovereign states as the primary actor of geopolitics
  • the balance of power
  • international anarchy
  • the inevitability of war
  • the security dilemma
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2
Q

how can we define sovereignty

A

the authority of a state to govern itself

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3
Q

what is the Westphalian system?

A
  • every state is sovereign over its designated territory
  • all states are legally equal
  • establishes the notion of non-intervention
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4
Q

what is the notion of non-intervention

A

‘nothing should authorise intervention in matters essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state’

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5
Q

What are the 2 types of realism in global politics?

A

classical realism + neorealism

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6
Q

what philosopher inspires classical realists about the nature of states?

A

Thomas Hobbes - said that human nature is selfish and a involves a ceaseless desire for power. Realists apply this to states, made up of humans. States are all similar in their hunger for power.

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7
Q

what do classical realists like to ignore in geopolitics regarding states?

A

the morality, religious beliefs, motives or ideological preferences of states / individual political leaders

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8
Q

What is the billiard ball model of politics? (snooker balls)

A

The (prominent) states are protected by their hard outer shell of sovereignty, hard to break these states

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9
Q

neorealists have a _________ explanation of geopolitics

A

STRUCTURAL EXPLANATION

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10
Q

What do neorealists believe is the main aim of all states

A

survival / security

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11
Q

neorealists believe that international anarchy proposes what kind of system for states?

A

a self - help system

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12
Q

what different capabilities can countries / states have that contribute to their measure of power?

A
  • military
  • economic
  • large population?
  • geographical: land, natural resources
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13
Q

what are the 2 reasons as to why the anarchic international system limits long term cooperation between states?

A

-insecurity
-fear of unequal gains

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14
Q

what is meant by the principle of the inevitability of war?

A

-the THREAT of war is always present
-it doesn’t mean that global politics is always a world of constant war

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15
Q

what different explanations do realists and neorealists give for the inevitability of war?

A

realists - it is due to human nature (hunger for power)
neorealists - the structure of the self-help system

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16
Q

what is meant by the security dilemma?

A

a situation in which the military preparations of one state creates an unresolvable uncertainty in the mind of another. Security dilemma contributes to a spiral of insecurity

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17
Q

what are the 2 possible responses a country can take to gain safety + security when they are under threat according to neorealists

A

balancing - an equilibrium of power between rival states
band wagoning - where states get behind a more powerful state

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18
Q

NAME the 3 main possibilities of worlds (__polar) ?

A

-unipolarity
-bipolarity
-multipolarity

19
Q

what is meant by a ‘global hegemon’ ?

A

a globally dominant state

20
Q

explain unipolarity / a unipolar world

A

there is a global hegemon who can produce peace + stability as it is secure so doesn’t need to start war to gain more power. The lesser powers cannot challenge the global hegemon, so they relax and accept the situation

21
Q

give an example of a period of time which was arguably a unipolar world.

A

1990 - 2001. USA became the global hegemon after the USSR collapsed in 1990. (2001 = 9/11)

22
Q

explain bipolarity / a bipolar world

A

-there is 2 superpowers competing, which makes 1 security dilemma.
-this structure is likely to create a balance of power.
-there is less chance of miscalculation and less opportunity for war than a multipolar system.

23
Q

give an example of a period of time which was arguably a bipolar world.

A

1945 - 1990: the cold war. USA vs USSR

24
Q

explain multipolarity / a multipolar world

A

-where there are 3 or more great powers and there is no potential hegemon with a power advantage.
-more security dilemmas, likely to escalate. less peaceful than bipolarity

25
Q

give an example of a period of time which was arguably a multipolar world.

A
  • WW1, WW2
  • arguably the present day, 3 big powers: USA, China, Russia.
    + Japan and India growing.
26
Q

classical realists believe that states are _______ maximisers
neorealists believe that states are ______ maximisers

A

1) power maximisers
2) security maximisers

27
Q

which geopolitical ideology opposes realism?

A

liberalism.

28
Q

name 3 key aspects of liberalism (global politics)

A
  • harmony + balance within the international system
  • complex interdependence
  • global governance
  • the importance + growth of international institutions
  • believe in significance of morality + an optimism towards human nature
29
Q

explain the liberal view on human nature and therefore the nature of states.

A
  • humans are rational beings who can recognise and respond to shared interests (such as climate change)
  • humans understand that war badly affects EVERYONE.
  • a world governed by rationalism produces a world of cooperation
30
Q

which triangle explains why liberals believe in the possibility for a world of perpetual peace?

A

THE KANTIAN TRIANGLE. - Immanuel Kant

31
Q

NAME the 3 points / peace theories of the Kantian triangle.

A

1) DEMOCRATIC PEACE THEORY
2) COMMERICIAL PEACE THEORY
3) INSTITUTIONAL PEACE THEORY

32
Q

Explain the democratic peace theory.

A

-Democratic countries are less likely to go to war with one another than non-democracies.
-Democracies have a shared culture of moral liberal values that usually make them anti-war, so elect peacemakers

33
Q

what is another informal name for the commercial peace theory?

A

the Golden Arches Theory - (McDonalds)

34
Q

Explain the Commercial peace theory

A

-countries that trade with one another have an overwhelming economic reason to maintain those trading links (won’t fight them)

35
Q

Explain the Institutional peace theory

A

International organisations can create a space for cooperation between states. Disputes can be resolved in a non-violent manner.

36
Q

give an example of institutions which liberals think can help to maintain peace.

A

-United Nations: International Court of Justice
-European Union
-NATO

37
Q

how / why do realists often criticise institutions such as the UN as being ineffective?

A
  • 5 of the UN’s members are permanent. These are extremely powerful states. (USA, Russia etc). They can also veto decisions.
  • they hardly make any resolutions as it is rare that 5 extremely powerful states can agree on something that is in all of their best interests.
38
Q

What is meant by complex interdependence?

A

-there are multiple channels of connection / interdependence between states, and there is no fixed hierarchy of relevant issues.

39
Q

what is meant by soft power and hard power?

A

Soft power - ‘the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion.. it arises from the attractiveness of a country’s culture, political ideals and policies’.
Hard power - military power and threats

40
Q

what do liberals mean by ‘global governance’?

A

can be defined as a system of institutions, rules, norms and procedures that enable international cooperation on issues that cross national borders, like climate change, trade etc.

41
Q

give an example of an intergovernmental organisation that globally governs on climate change.

A

COP29 Azerbaijan.
-states are willing to cooperate as they have mutual interests of stopping climate change
-they work together to develop mutual gains (they all benefit)

42
Q

give an example of 1 international organisation that has grown in role and members

A

EU- 1950s: set up as a free market for coal + steel. 6 members
today: 27 members. used as a single market to support the free movement of people, goods, money and services around Europe.
International Criminal Court - 2002. Can prosecute individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

43
Q

What is collective security?

A

where an attack on one is an attack on all.

44
Q
A

Politics (15 decks)

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