POSC240 Exam 2
neoliberalism
- A strategy for economic development -the rule of the market - cutting public expenditure for social services -deregulation - privatization eliminating the concept of "public good" or "community" - lack of empathy Why important? - great impacts on the global south and the us - global south - created emerging markets - cut global poverty in half - US - loss of the middle class - huge amount of wealth but in the hands a few people
what are three key points of tension between the united states and iran since 1979? explain why
- Iranian islamic revolution - attack on the US embassy and taking hostages in 1979 - they were upset with the US for interfering with their affairs - putting the Shah in power - 1980-88 US backed Iraqi attack on Iran - US gave chemical weapons to Iran - "Axis of Evil" - bush declared Iran, North Korea, and iraq as the axis of evil even though iran condemned 9/11 - Proxy wars in the middle east -rather than fighting directly - iran supported shia groups in Iraq especially after US invasion - syria, yemen, lebanon, iraq, and Bahrain - Syrian War - US took rebel side, iran took govt side
structural adjustment
- World Bank programs which offer financial and management aid to poor countries -demand privatization, trade liberalization, and governmental fiscal restraint programs imposing major economic policy reform packages on developing countries - the world banks wants the country to take off so that they can pay back their loans why important? - an effect of the Bretton Woods order which created institutions like the world bank
the World Bank
- a collection of 5 agencies w/ headquarters in DC. -formal objective is to encourage development in low and medium income countries with project loans and various advisory services -aims to eliminate poverty by helping people help themselves. - outcome of the Bretton Woods system after WWII -Why important - US has enough power to veto - this is how the US controls the international economy
proxy wars
- a war instigated by a major power that does not itself become involved. - why important? nuclear revolution helped spawn "proxy wars," - example - the Syrian Civil War - US took rebel side and Iran took the government's side. Neither country is directly involved in the war
the Marshall Plan
- an American program that was introduced by US Secretary of State George Marshall after wwii - aid to countries in western europe to help rebuild their economies - improve industrial growth - From 1948 to mid 1952, more than $13 billion -Prevent spread of Communism
the IMF (international monetary fund)
- an institution of 188 members -the global currency police - no cheating on exchange rates - countries cant print too much money to pay bills - imf looks at the books of each member and makes sure they do not interrupt the intl market by going crazy and cheating with their money - they are the lender of last resort - global credit union Important - The IMF was originally created in 1945 as part of the Bretton Woods agreement.
New/Post-Westphalian Wars
- another term for the new wars -these wars are not state to state warfare - not about establishing a central political authority - Militias, paramilitaries, warlords, criminal gangs, private security firms their venue is failed states - about cash not governance - may also be about ethnic cleansing/control - example - Liberian Civil War (1989-96, 1999-2003) -child soldiers - pillage of natural resources - blood diamonds - you dont need to control the capital of the country, you just need to control the diamond trade - this is important because these wars replace the Westphalian wars which did not have the idea of a failed state. The new wars are about cash not governance. -they produce "complex humanitarian emergencies"
geopolitics
- in recent years there has been a return to the importance of geography and crucial heartlands and chokepoints in relation to security issues - "control over space and resources" - globalization is the opposite of this - key: this is the view of a realist because it is about a struggle for resources and anarchy suggests that geographical position is a key determent of the policies a state pursues, especially in relation to its security and strategy, both at global and regional level - example - "pivot to asia", south china sea, artic resource scramble
the protection myth
- men fight wars to protect defenseless women and children -the reality - 90% of casualties are non-combatants - women are the favorite targets in war - raped -it is a myth that war is a just and noble thing that protects the civilian life why important? - this is a major part of Feminist IR theory and their ideas on military and the gendering of security
the Bretton Woods system
- system introduced at the end of WWII - make people agree to the international institutions during the war and not after - learning from WWI -attempt to bring stability to the elements of the world economy under the US sphere of influence. - govern monetary relations among independent states - doing this with the idea of the "commercial theory of peace" - the more countries and their economies are interlinked, the more likely there is peace - create an open economy - never have WWIII Why important? - it led to the founding of key multilateral institutions like the IMF and the World Bank
what is the "Bretton Woods system" and why was it set up when it was?
- system introduced at the end of WWII - make people agree to the international institutions during the war and not after - learning from WWI -attempt to bring stability to the elements of the world economy under the US sphere of influence. - govern monetary relations among independent states - doing this with the idea of the "commercial theory of peace" - the more countries and their economies are interlinked, the more likely there is peace - create an open economy - never have WWIII Why important? - it led to the founding of key multilateral institutions like the IMF and the World Bank
supranational law
- the fourth or fifth age in the phases of history of IR - after 1989- transition to this in the last 30 years - from international to supranational law - a form of international law - limits the rights of sovereign states by creating organizations and groups that have reach that extend beyond those boundaries - EU, Nafta - big reaction in the last 5 years - many world governments turning to the right - reacting against this
apart from altruistic/benevolent reasons for giving foreign aid, discuss three other reasons or motivations for giving aid
1. May be used by the donor state to induce openness to establish military bases in a recipient state - military aid - help to build up the military of another country. The US has done this to help build up their allies, especially those that may be breeding grounds for terrorists. By building up their militaries, the US may seem to be acting out of benevolence, but really it is selfish because the other country's strength militarily benefits them in their fight against terrorism 2. increases their political and economic influence - economic aid - aid to help build up the economy and economic institutions - this may seem altruistic because the building up of their economy does benefit the inhabitants, but there are selfish reasons. By building up the economy of a foreign country, the developed countries are building up a future trading partner for themselves. this increases their political and economic influence 3. Foreign aid may be used to achieve a country's diplomatic goals (cooperation and goodwill) - if you contribute aid to country whether it is humanitarian, economic, ore military, that country
militarized masculinity
A masculinity constructed to support militarism, with an emphasis on heroism, physical strength, lack of emotion, and appearance of invulnerability Militarized masculinity, at its most basic level, refers to the assertion that traits stereotypically associated with masculinity can be acquired and proven through military service or action, and combat in particular portrays men as "the just warrior" - really on the rise since 9/11 portrays women as the patriotic and supportive mother, wife daughter, beautiful soul why important - part of the Feminist IR theory's ideas on the gendering of security
the Iran nuclear deal
Agreement negotiated between the U.S. and five other world powers - prevents Iran from developing a nuclear weapon for 10-15 years - in return - lifting harsh international sanctions. - The deal has been sharply criticized by Republicans in Congress, President Trump, Israel and the Arab gulf countries. - agreement reached during Obama's presidency
what is the feminist definition of security? how does it differ from the typical realist one?
Feminist definition of security: -states seek security in masculine ways: $trillions on weapons - feminist ir counters this by saying what if we spent this on schools or hospitals -Also excludes women from positions of power -Seek "diminution of all forms of violence"- physical, social, economic, ecological - poverty is a type of violence -Redefine roles: citizen defender, not warrior patriot -security is not just about the military Realist definition of security: - for realists survival is the primary goal so there is no room for ethics. Feminists care much more about ethics and stopping violence. Realists are not averse to violence because they are willing to do whatever it takes to survive -the security of the state and place particular emphasis on the preservation of the state's territorial integrity and the physical safety of its inhabitants -A state is thought to be secure if it can defend against or deter a hostile attack and prevent other states from compelling it to adjust its behavior in significant ways or to sacrifice core political values.
"emerging markets"
a country that has some characteristics of a developed market, but does not satisfy standards to be termed a developed market. This includes countries that may become developed markets in the future or were in the past. examples: Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Hungary in the process of rapid growth and development with lower per capita incomes and less mature capital markets than developed countries. why important? - this is one of the good outcomes of neoliberalism - large countries like China and India were emerging markets and people all over the world wanted to invest in them. They were taking advantage of the global world economy and the rising middle classes.
what are the key features of the new/post westphalian wars? how are they connected to the "complex humanitarian emergencies" phenomenon?
another term for the new wars -these wars are not state to state warfare - not about establishing a central political authority - Militias, paramilitaries, warlords, criminal gangs, private security firms their venue is failed states - about cash not governance - may also be about ethnic cleansing/control -these wars produce "complex humanitarian emergencies" - the groups causing these wars - goal is not governance - great human suffering and death - giant refugee camps persist for decades - efforts to save these people can lead to the people causing the violence to use them as resources - gang members us the camps for medical treatment and blackmail
the "revolution in military affairs"
development of new military strategies - 'high-tech' technology and 'smart' weapons - swift and decisive outcomes. the RMA- the "revolution in military affairs" Led by the US, by far Begins with the First Gulf War in 1991 -Almost no US battle deaths Serbia/Kosovo (1999), Iraq (2003), Afghanistan/War on Terror "effortless victory through superior technology" Tools of the RMA: -Smart weapons, laser guidance, (PMCs) -Satellites -Outsourcing to private (PMCs) -What is the fear of such a revolution? - other countries will think that America is coming for them so they may want to get weapons of mass destruction and chemical and biological weapons - if they have nukes, maybe no one will attack them --Dissociating soldiers from the horrific realities of warfare? Latest RMA= Drones
the WTO (world trade organization)
established in 1995 with headquarters in Geneva, with 164 members as of mid-2016. - deals with the rules of trade between nations - talking shop for trade negotiations - a meeting for bringing down tariffs - multilateral agreements prevent bilateral trade wars - bilateral agreements cause tit for tat problems - multipolarity means equal vices - now the US can't control it so not much much has been done in the last 15 years
what seem to be the military and ethical advantages of drones in warfare? why have droves turned out to be so controversial in practice?
military advantage - the accuracy of these drone - operated from a remote location so the country using the drone does not have to put a soldier in danger the use of drones in warfare - part of the RMA ethical advantages - reduce unintended tragedies because it can distinguish between friend and foe - don't have to attack a whole village to take out one house of terrorists controversial because: - there is Cleaner warfare but it can be viewed as a terror weapon -civilians in the countries are afriad to gather in groups because they may be a victim of an accidental attack - large, loud flying drone over your town is terrifying -drones lead to the Killing of innocents - sometimes it is hard to distinguish who is a militant -Who is "militant" What is the Obama doctrine? -Low footprint, "counter-punch" The problem with drones? -Terror, backlash
the nuclear revolution
the Nuclear Revolution - shift in the nature of warfare - protection through deterrence -Not much other military benefit to nuclear powers -Helped spawn "proxy wars," odd conventional wars, and the Revolution in military affairs -Dangerous? The realist logic= nukes favor status quo powers and reduce the utility of conventional militaries, making world safe for ideological considerations The term refers to the belief that the invention of nuclear weapons constituted a fundamental shift in the nature of warfare, and conceivably in international relations itself. provide states with the ability to protect their sovereignty and independence not via direct defense but rather through deterrence. Instead of defending one's borders or vital interests with conventional military forces, states could deter enemy attack by threatening to inflict unacceptable damage on an aggressor.
the gunpowder revolution
the introduction of gunpowder transformed militaries in the 16th century the military revolution in the sixteenth century -AKA "the gunpowder" revolution: army size - no longer needed large armies to fight, fortress design - needed low and thick walls instead of high walls, territorial expansion - the countries with gunpowder expanded and the ones without it disappeared or were absorbed -"war made the state and the state made war"- Charles Tilly - suddenly you need a lot of money to go to war - you needed a big army - so lots of countries disappeared and got absorbed - the states in the "Gunpowder Empire" dominated parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia
what are some important impacts of the gunpowder revolution? of the nuclear revolution?
the introduction of gunpowder transformed militaries in the 16th century the military revolution in the sixteenth century -AKA "the gunpowder" revolution: army size - no longer needed large armies to fight, fortress design - needed low and thick walls instead of high walls, territorial expansion - the countries with gunpowder expanded and the ones without it disappeared or were absorbed -"war made the state and the state made war"- Charles Tilly - suddenly you need a lot of money to go to war - you needed a big army - so lots of countries disappeared and got absorbed - the states in the "Gunpowder Empire" dominated parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia the Nuclear Revolution - shift in the nature of warfare - protection through deterrence -Not much other military benefit to nuclear powers -Helped spawn "proxy wars," odd conventional wars, and the Revolution in military affairs -Dangerous? The realist logic= nukes favor status quo powers and reduce the utility of conventional militaries, making world safe for ideological considerations The term refers to the belief that the invention of nuclear weapons constituted a fundamental shift in the nature of warfare, and conceivably in international relations itself. provide states with the ability to protect their sovereignty and independence not via direct defense but rather through deterrence. Instead of defending one's borders or vital interests with conventional military forces, states could deter enemy attack by threatening to inflict unacceptable damage on an aggressor.
drone policy and ethics
the use of drones in warfare - part of the RMA -"distinction" as a quality of weapons - accuracy - the drone can distinguish between friend and foe -"proportionality" = harm vs. gain - don't have to attack a whole village - just one house Drones: Clean warfare vs. terror weapon -there are less casualties but people are Afraid to gather becuase they may become a target Killing of innocents -Who is "militant" What is the Obama doctrine? -Low footprint, "counter-punch" The problem with drones? -Terror, backlash