International Relations
Armistice
A ceasefire agreement between enemies in wartime.
Arms race
A central concept in realist thought. As states build up their military to address real or perceived threats to their national security, they may create insecurity in other states. These states in turn develop their military capacities and thus begin this. This never-ending pursuit of security creates the condition we know as a security dilemma.
Democratic Peace Thesis
A central plank of liberalist international thought. The thesis make two claims : first, liberal polities exhibit restraint in their relations with other liberal polities (the so-called seperate peace), but second, they are imprudent in relations with authoritatioan states. Argues that democratic or liberal states tend not to go to with other liberal or democratic states, but they will go to war with non-liberal or undemocratic states. Sais democracies do not go to war because they are interdependent
Nation
A community of people who share a common sense of identity, which may be derived from languages, culture, or ethnicity; this commiunity may be a minority within a single country or live in more than one country.
Cosmopolitan democracy
A condition in which international organizations, transnational corporations, and global markets are accountable to the peoples of the world.
Interdependence
A condition where states (for peoples) are affected by decisions taken by others. Can be symmetric ( both sets of actors are affected equally) or it can be asymmetric ( the impact varies between actors).
Muli-polarity
A distribution of power in which more than two nation-states have nearly equal amounts of military, cultural, and economic influence.
Uni-polarity
A distribution of power in which one state exercises most of the cultural, economic, and military influence. Most people argue that this is the current state of International Relations and that America is this one state.
Reciprocity
A form of statecraft that employs a retaliatory strategy, cooperating only if others do likewise.
Theory
A formal model with hypotheses and assumptions A simplifying divide that helps the analyst divide which facts matter and which facts do not.
Tit - for - tat
A game theory mechanism subject to a payoff matrix similar to that of a prisoner's dilemma. Was introduced by Robert Axelrod, who developed a strategy where each participant in a prisoner's dilemma follows a course of action consistent with his opponent's previous turn.
State
A legal territorial entity composed of a stable population and a government ; it possesses a monopoly over the legitimate use of force ; its sovereignty is recognized by other states in the international.
Grotian tradition
A liberal transition in international relations theory named for Hugo Grotius that emphasizes the rule of law and multilateral cooperation. Grotians believe the international system is not anarchic, but interdependent; a society of states is created in part by international law, treaties, alliances, and diplomacy which states are bound by.
Paradigm
A model or example. In the case of international relations theory, the term is a rough synonym for academic perspective. Provides the basis for a theory, describing what is real and significant in a given area so that we can select appropriate research questions.
Liberal institutionalism
A perspective that seeks to transform international relations to emphasize peace, individual freedom, and prosperity and to replicate domestic models of liberal democracy at the international level.
Appeasement
A policy of making concessions to a territorially acquisitive state in the hope that settlement of more modest claims will assuage that stat's expansionist appetites.
Pluralism
A political theory holding that political power and influence in society do not belong just to the citizens nor only to elite groups in various sectors of society but are disturbed among a wide number of groups in the society. It can also mean a recognition of ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity.
Integration
A processs of ever close union between states in a regional or international context. The process often begins with cooperation to solve technical problems.
Anarchic System
A realist description of the international system that suggests there is no common power or central governing structure.
Kantian Tradition
A revolutionary tradition in international relations theory that named for Immanuel Kant that emphasizes human interests over states.
Global
A scholar asserts that movement of capital and environmental problems explain an outcome. This is an example of what level of analysis?
Theocracy
A state based on religion
National attributes
A state's history, traditions, and political structures are examples of what level of analysis?
Fourteen Points
A statement of principles for peace that was to be used for peace negotiations in order to end World War I Included the principle of self determination, the conduct of diplomacy on an open basis, and the establishment of an association of nation states to provide guarantees of independence and territorial integrity.
Offensive Realism
A structural theory of realism that views states as power maximizers. Argues that the structure of the international system encourages states to maximize their shared world powers Sais that a good foreign policy includes pursing hegemony and relative gains, keeping everyone down. - Emphasis on intentionality - Great power behavior - Goal is hegemony and no peer competitor - Offensive military capability - What you buy signals your intentions - Pay attention to what kind of capabilities states have ex/ John Mearashimer
Defensive Realism
A structural theory of realism that views states as security maximizers. It is more concerned with absolute power as opposed to relative power. According to this view, it is unwise for states to try to maximize their share of power and hegemony. Says that we don't pursue hegemony, and that states are best served by signaling restraint and not aggression. emphasis on state behavior Goal is surviving Kenneth Waltz follows this way of thinking
Hegemony
A system regulated by a dominant leader or politics ( and or economic) domination of a region. It also means power and control exercised by a leading state over other states.
Realism
A theoretical approach that analyzes all international relations at the relation of states engaged in the pursuit of power. Realists see the international system as anarchic, or without a common power, and they believe conflict is endemic in the international system. Realism is based on the following three assumptions: 1) states are the only actors in international relations that matter 2) a policy makers primary responsibility is to create, maintain, and increase national power - the means available to a state to secure its national interests at all costs. 3) No central authority stands above the state. The anarchic nature of the international system is an essential assumption for realist thinkers and in face, for most liberal thinkers and even some critical approach thinkers 4)Asserts that without central government "the life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" -- without civilizing state power and authority, the world looks like human nature, very disgusting
Liberalism
A theoretical approach that argue human rights, parliamentary democracy, and free trade while also maintaining that all that all such goals must begin with a state. Argues that states and other actors do & can cooperate.
Marxism
A theory critical of the status quo or dominant capitalist paradigm. It is a critique of the capitalist political economy from the view of the revolutionary proletariat of workers. Its ideal is a stateless and classless society.
Structural Realism (Neorealism)
A theory of realism that maintains the international system and the condition of anarchy or no common power pushes states and individuals to act in a way that places interests over ideologies, which creates a self-help system. States act aggressively because of structure as well as anarchy of the system. The international system is seen as a structure acting on the state with individuals below the level of the state acting as agency on the state as a whole. Believes the anarchic international system creates conditions of fear, jealousy, suspicion, and insecurity among states. Believes that balance of power develops in the absence of any state policy, and that the international system operates impersonally. Argues that self help system compels states to maximize their relative power position. Argues that international structures produce stability or instability Argues that bi polarities are peaceful and that multi polarities aren't States do not make the system more or less anarchic, they are just this way
Economic Sanctions
A tool of statecraft that seeks to get a state to behave by coercion of a monetary kind, for example, freezing banking assets, cutting aid programs, or banning trade.
Machiavellian Tradition
A tradition in international relations theory named for Niccolo Machiavelli that characterizes the international system as anarchic; states are constantly in conflict and pursue their own interests as they see fit.
Neo-Classical Realism
A version of realism that combines both structural factors such as the distrubution of power and unit-level factors such as the interest of states.
Competition(gain), diffidance(safety) and reputation (glory)
According to Hobbes, what causes quarrel?
State power
According to Hobbes, what prevents war?
Increased interaction over time
According to a liberal lens, what is something that changes the state of anarchy?
Anarchy
According to realists, trust is often difficult between states because of the problem of what?
They are political groups that go beyond state boundaries
Al Queda and ISIS are examples of what type of Non-State Actors?
Blocking Power of Water
An argument of Meareshimer which argues that global hegemony is not possible because it is very hard to project power overseas. He said that the best thing you can get is regional hegemony, and that the United States is the only state that has become a regional hegemony.
Group of Twenty(G20)
An assembly of governments and leaders from twenty of the worlds largest economies - United States, European Union, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea
Society of states
An association of sovereign states based on their common interests , values , and norms.
Protectionist
An economic policy of restraining trade between states through methods such as tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas, and a variety of other government regulations designed to allow "faithful competition" among imports and goods and services produced domestically.
Free Trade
An essential element of capitalism that argues for no barriers or minimal barriers to the exchange of goods, services, and investments among states.
Functionalism
An idea formulated by early proponents of European integration that suggests cooperation should begin with efforts aimed at resolving specific regional or transnational problems. It is assumed that resolution of these problems will lead to cooperation or spillover in other policy areas.
Concert of Europe
An informal institution created in 1815 by the five great powers of Europe (Austria, Britain, France, Prussia, and Russia) whereby they agreed on controlling revolutionary forces, managing the balance of power, and accepting interventions to keep current leaders in power. This system kept the peace in Europe from 1815 until WW1. After the defeat of the French Emperor Napoleon, the leading states increasingly set themselves apart from the smaller ones in a great powers club. The aims of this was to maintain the European balance of power drawn up at the end of the Napoleonic Wars and reach decisions on potentially divisive issues.
Bi-polarity
An international political order in which two states dominate all others. It is often used to describe the nature of the international system when the two superpowers, the Soviet Union and the United States, were dominant powers during the Cold War.
Non-polar World
An international system in which power is not concentrated in a few states but is diffused among a variety of state and non-state actors.
Non governmental organization(NGO)
An organization, usually a grassroots one, with policy goals but not governmental in makeup. An NGO is any group of people relating to each other regularly in some formal manner and engaging in collective action, provided the activities are non commercial and non-violent and are not on behalf of the government.
Positivists
Analysts who use the scientific method to structure their research
Transnational actor
Any non-governmental actor, such as a multinational corporation or a global religious humanitarian organization that has dealings with any actor from another country or with an international orginization.
Non-state actor
Any participant in global politics that is neither acting in the name of government nor created and served by government. Nongovernmental orginizations, terrorist networks, global crime syndicates, and multinational corporations are an example. Other examples include the European Union, United Nationsm and African Union.
Rational Actor
Calculating the benefits and costs before acting Basic assumption of neo liberalist and neo realist
Security Council
Charged with maintenance of international peace and security
Thucydides
Father of realism He argues that because of the shape of power between Sparta and Athens caused a war to break out (Peloponnesian war)Some scholars call this power transition He argued that there is a direct and indirect cause of war - because Athens was wealthier than Sparta, there was likeliness of war breaking out He argues that Fear, Self Interest, and Honor must be worked with and manipulated.
Ethic of responsibility
For realists, it represents the limits of ethics in international politics; it involves the weighing up of consequences and the realization that positive outcomes may result from amoral actions
United Nations
Founded in 1945 following World War 2, it is an international orginization composed of 193 member states dedicated to addressing issues related to peace and security, development, human rights, humanitarian affars, and international law.
Hold your ground-- if you signal that you will be more powerful or expand, this will promote balance behavior Waltz argues this because he is a defensive realist, he puts the security of states over everything.
If you are a Unipole, what does Waltz argue that you do?
Seek Legitimacy for stable order Tactic acceptance of the social structure in which power is emphasized is given by your peers and makes like easier States should also put power in orgianizations, rules, and laws.
If you are a unipole, what does Finmore suggest you do?
It depends -- as long as you're running them, you're fine
If you are a unipole, what does Ikenberry, Mastanduno, and Wohlforth argue that you do?
Keep potential competitors down-- no one is safe-- you don't have to do this by violence
If you are a unipole, what does Mearsheimer argue that you do?
Alliances with other humans and other human states No alliances, the human state goes it alone Alliances with zombies and zombie states if necessary. Structural realists believe in putting interests over ideologies, so in this case, you are just doing what is the best for your state even if that means going against what you believe in.
In a zombie apocalypse, what foreign policy options exist for human survival through a structural realist lens?
Security Dilemma
In an anarchic international system, one with no common central power, when one state seeks to improve its security it creates insecurity to other states, so it is hard for a state to increase its own chances of survival without causing a threat to other states. This is the basic logic of offensive realism.
Self Help
In realist theory, in an anarchical environment, states cannot assume other states will come to their defense even if they are allies. Each state must take care of itself.
See if there are any other rising powers before doing anything in terms of military spending, economic state craft, or international/regional influence. Create international institutions to lock in international balance pf power and hegemony, as well as get other states to pay.
It is 1945 and you are Ikenberry, Mastanduno, and Wolhforth. What would you advise the United States to do?
Increase military spending, deploy forces abroad to become a regional hegemon Keep your competition down by all means necessary (ideally by economic means).
It is 1945 and you are John Mearsheimer ( an offensive realist). What would you advice the US to do?
Why does Maershimer argue that bipolarity is most stable?
Maershimer argues that bipolarity is most stable because in a bipolar world, you have certainty. You are certain which country is your enemy, and which country you should follow. In a bipolar world, superpowers have more flexibility, and there is no entanglement witth allies. Entanglement with allies is the cause of the first world war In a bi-polar world superpowers don't have to care about their allies as much. In a multipolar system, this is not possible. You don't know which countries threathen you. He also argues that in a bi-polar world, there is no bug pausing so because the other two superpowers have no third party to pass the buck.
Oligarchs
Members of a small group that controls a state
Relative Gains
One of the factors that realists argue constrain the willingness of states to cooperate. States are less concerned about whether everyone benefits and more concerned about whether someone may benefit more than someone else. Both sides gain, but one side gains more
Zero-sum game
One state gains and the other loses, gets nothing
Maastricht treaty
Ordered to integrate the European Union, and it Was signed by 12 countries in Massatritch, Netherlands. The treaty also provided for the introduction of a central banking system and a common currency (the euro), committed members to implementing common foreign and security policies, and called for greater cooperation on various other issues, including the environment, policing, and social policy.
Prisoner's dilemma
Prisoner's Dilemma is a game with specific decision options for each actor. In this case, the prisoner's dilemma is used to help us understand cooperation between two individuals. A situation where two individuals are both arrested for a crime. However, while they were arrested for a crime, there is a belief that they committed another crime (that carries with it a much harsher penalty). But the police cannot prove that the two individuals committed the much more serious crime (although they do have enough evidence for the lesser crime). The authorities are planning on questing the two individuals to see if they are going to tell on one other for the more serious crime. Now, the two individuals are separated from one another, so they are unable to communicate with one another. Each of the prisoner's has two options: they can admit to committing the crime, or they can deny committing a crime. The outcome will depend on the choices each individual makes. Below is an example of what the outcomes will be for each prisoner depending on the four possible outcomes. So, Player Green (or Player 1) has two options (cooperate with one another or defect (and tell on the other)). Player Blue (or Player 2) has the same two options. S/he can cooperate with her/his partner, or s/he can defect and tell on the other. Authorities allow them to defect for a reduced penalty (in this case, no penalty). The outcomes of each player's decisions are on a scale of 0-5. If one player defects (tells on the other), and the other does not, then the one who tells (defects) will get immunity, whereas the one who continue to cooperate with their partner will get the harshest penalty. The same exact outcomes go for Player 2. If both cooperate with one another (that is, neither tells on each other), then they would each get a penalty of 1, which is each of their second best outcome. However, the best outcome for Player Green (Player 1) is to defect, as it is for Player Blue (Player 2). But when this happens, both of them get a penalty of 3 each. So, in rational choice theory, if each player acts rationally (what is best for them), the outcome for each will be determined: both will tell (defect). The reason is because "No matter what one guy does, the other guy is better off ratting him out. Yet if each player works for his own self interest, both are made worse off. It's a frustrating problem.
Prescription
Recommendations for state survival in the international system based on international relations traditions
Idealism
Referred to by realists as utopianism since it underestimates the logic of power politics at the constraints this imposes on political action. A substantive theory of international relations generally associated with the claim that it is possible to create a world of peace based on the rule of law.
Collective Security
Refers to the arrangement where "each state in the system accepts that the security of one is the concern of all, and agrees to join in a collective response to aggression"
Unitary Actor
Regarding domestic politics of state as a black box-- you don't want to look at what happening in the state - you do not look at what is happening in domestic politics of a state Basic assumption of neo liberalist and neo realist
Intersubjectivity
Regarding each state as a subject Shared meaning, norms, understanding, and expectations
Arms embargo
Stops the flow of arms from one country to another
Soft Power
The ability to share the preferences of others through appeal and attraction.
Buck-passing
The act of attributing to another person or group one's own responsibility. It is often used to refer to a strategy in power politics whereby a state tries to get another state to deter or possibly fight an aggressor state while it remains on the sidelines. In a bi-polar world, this is not possible because the two superpowers have no third party to pass the buck to.
Classical Realism
The belief that it is fundamentally the nature of people and the state to act in a way that places interests over ideologies. The drive for power and the will to dominate are held to be fundamental aspects of human nature. Sais that international politics is driven by an endless struggle for power that its roots in human nature. Justice, law, and society either have no place or are circumscribed. Argues that political leaders and character of each state determines balances of power.
Sovereignty
The condition of a state having control and authority over its own territory and being free from any higher legal authority. It is related to, but distinct from, the condition of a government being free from any external political constaints.
League of Nations
The first permanent collective international security organization aimed at preventing future wars and resolving global problems. Failed due to the unwillingness of the United States and Russia ( who had the most power at this point) to join and the inability of its members to commit to a real international community. Specified the rights and obligations of the victorious defeated powers. It failed to tackle the central problem of European security after 1870 (a united and frustrated Germany).
Sovereign Equality
The idea that all countries have the same rights, including the right of non-interference in their internal affairs
Hard-Power
The material threats and inducements leaders employ to achieve the goals of their states
Government
The people and agencies that have the power and legitimate authority to determine who gets what, when, where, and how within a given territory.
Liberalism of Privilege
The perspective that developed democratic states that have a responsibility to spread liberal values for the benefit of all peoples of the earth.
Global Politics
The politics of global social relations in which the pursuit of power, interests, order, and justice transcends regions and continents
Imperialism
The practice of foreign conquest and rule in the context of global relations of heiarchy and subordination. It can lead to the establishment of an empire.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
The prepared response that organizations create to react to general categories of events, crises, and actions.
Diplomacy
The process by which international actors communicate as they seek to resolve conflicts without going to war and find solutions to complex global problems.
Multilateralism
The process by which states work together to solve a common problem.
Globalization
The process of increasing interconnectedness among societies such that events in one part of the world more and more have effects on people far away. A historical process involving a fundamental shift or transformation in the spatial scale of human societal organization that links distant communities and expands the reach of power relations across regions and continents.
Global governance
The regulation and coordination of transnational issue areas by nation-states, international and regional organizations, and private agencies through the establishment of international regimes. These regimes focus on problem-solving or the simple enforcement of rules and regulations.
International Relations
The study of the interactions of states (countries) and other actors in the international system.
Normative Theory
The system analyses of the ethical, moral, and political principles that either govern or ought to govern the organization or conduct of global politics. The belief that theories should be concerned with what ought to be rather than merely diagnosing what is.
Coercive Diplomacy
The use of diplomatic and military methods that force a state to concede to another state. Methods include threat of force and the mobilization of the military. Seeks to persuade an opponent to cease his aggression rather than go to war.
Radical Liberalism
The utopian side of liberalism best exemplified by the academic community called the World Order Models Project (WOMP). These scholars advocate a world in which states promote values like social justice, economic well-being, peace, and ecological balance. The scholars see the liberal order as predatory and clearly in need of transformation. Sees liberalism as benefitting only a few states and individuals.
Neo/institutional liberalism
Theory shaped by the ideas of commercial, republican, sociological and instutitional liberalism. Neoliberals see the international system as anarchic but believe relations can be managed by the establishment of international regimes and instutitions. Neoliberals think actors with common interests will try to maximize absolute gains.
Norms
These specify general standards of behavior and identify the rights and obligations of states. Together, norms and principles define their essential character of a regime, and these cannot be changed without transforming the nature of the regime.
It would not change much
Through a structural realist lens, how would the introduction of Zombies affect world politics?
Functional Similarity
Waltz argues that the function of states are similar to each other-- all states want to protect their states from the same things(military invasions, etc) All states are similar in that they have the same functions
1) The international system is anarchic, which means that there is no central authority above the states that make up the system. (WAR) 2) Great powers possess the means to physically harm and possibly destroy other powers. (MILITARY POWER) 3) A state can never be certain about the intentions of other states in the system and can therefore never be certain that other states will not attack. (INTENTIONS) 4) Survival is the primary goal of great powers. Mearsheimer defines survival in terms of the maintenance of territorial integrity and the "autonomy of [the] domestic political order." (SURVIVAL) 5) Great powers are rational actors, which means that they "are aware of their external environment" and "think strategically about how to survive in it." (RATIONAL ACTOR)
What are the bedrock assumptions of offensive realism according to John Meareshimer?
Global factors, systemic factors, domestic sources, individual or human dimension
What are the four levels of analysis in the study of global politics?
Initiation/Articulation, The Formulation of Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy Implementation, Foreign Policy Evaluation
What are the four phases of foreign policy making?
Individual, Domestic Politics, and International System
What are the three levels of analysis of the world Kenneth Waltz believes in?
A realist who argued that the relationship of a man before the existence of the government or states was anarchy (man v man) and disorder because there was no hierarchical system to organize relations between people Argues that anarchy does not necessarily mean war, it just means that there is no higher power above the state
What did Hobbes argue?
Perpetual peace argues that nature offers us the opportunity to choose perpetual peace, reason tells us it is our duty to choose perpetual peace It also argues that the public will not vote for war unless in defense. Served as the basis for the Democratic Peace Thesis.
What did perpetual peace argue?
Mearshimer and Waltz agree that a bipolar systems are most stable than multi-polar systems.
What do Mearshimer and Wantz agree on?
Classical realists believe that political leaders and character of each state determine balances of power, and that is why there are sometimes bad or aggressive states
What do classical realists believe about the balance of power?
There is no single historical narrative, therefore, no single perspective holds the truth.
What do constructivist scholars tens to assert?
The security dilemma & anarchy
What do structural realist writers see as the essential source of conflict between states?
Structural realists believe that balances of power develop in the absence of any state policy international system operates impersonally doesn't matter is the state or the leaders are bad or not -- the features of states don't matter Balance of power is morality-free
What do structural realists believe about the balance of power?
According to him, public opinion is the first restraint of war between democracies, because if the public does not agree with you going to war, there will be much opposition.
What does Doyle argue?
Waltz argues the ultimate goal of states is security and survival, and power is only a means. He argues against power maximization. He is a defensive realist.
What does Kenneth Waltz argue?
Cooperation among states is inhibited because of 1) concerns about relative gains 2) concerns about cheating Because the structure of the international system compels states to maximize their relative power position under anarchy, self-help is the basic principal of action While all states possess some offensive military capability, there is a great deal of uncertainty about intentions of others.
What does Mearshimer argue limits cooperation among states?
structural realism does not care about the features of the state because they do not change outcomes.
What does structural realism not care about and why?
Ambivalent and contradictory
What impact does globalization appear to have on international security?
Balance of Power
What is a core feature of classical and structural realism?
An IGO is an International Organization It is a non-state actor
What is an IGO?
An MNC is a Multi-national Corporation This is a business or firm with administration, production, distribution and marketing located in countries around the world. Such a business moves money, goods, services, and technology around the world depending on where the firm can make the post profit.
What is an MNC?
Individual
What is the level of analysis that seeks to explain the preferences of leaders?
This allegory created by Rousseau is helped used to explain the dilemma of international cooperation. Helps explain why cooperation is not very likely, but conflict is. - Collective goods problem - States cooperate for short term only -the logic of self help mitigates against provision of collective goods such as security and free trade
What is the stag hunt?
Writer of the book Perpetual Peace in which he speaks of the condition of injustice in which states find themselves when arranged in an international anarchy with no higher authority.
Who was Immanuel Kant?
Morgantheu was a classical realist who argued that human nature is constant and that it can not explain events. He believed we need a theory of foreign policy Believed that the goal of the state and a states person is survival Argued that power varies- some have less, some have more, and that it can be found in every type of relationship
Who was Morgantheau and what assumptions did he make?
Hold your ground. Do nothing. Retrench from war effort and spending, because if you indicate to other countries you are expanding your reign, they will rally against you.
You are Kenneth Waltz (a defensive realist). What would you advice the United States to do in 1945?
Capitalism
a system of production in which human labor and its products are commodities are bought and sold in the marketplace
