CH. 4: Levels of Analysis

When looking at the international system level, (a) are most likely to emphasize security issues, whereas (b) point out the importance of human rights and economic issues.

(a) Realists (b) Liberals

International and regional organizations are part of the (a) level of analysis, whereas the personalities, choices, and activities of specific leaders are part of the (b) level of analysis.

(a) System (b) Individual. More important to liberalists and constructivists than realists

How is public opinion most directly measured in democracies?

Public opinion polls

Individuals are prone to making several cognitive errors. One involves seeing one's own actions as inherently good and the actions of one's opponents as inherently evil. We call this (a). Another happens when a person thinks of past situations to try and find similar ones, even if the analogy is not accurate. This is known as (b).

(a) mirror imaging (b) evoked set

The Levels of Analysis in International Relations

- Individual: includes influential individuals and mass public; personality, perceptions, choices - State: helps us determine how states come to see their national interests; government, economy, interest groups, national interests - International System: involves interactions between states; interdependence, intergovernmental organizations, polarity, international norms/rules

Which of the following are levels of analysis in international relations: - liberal - international system - state - individual - realist

- Individual: includes leaders and other influential people - State: includes domestic factors, such as the capabilities of each country and power sources - International system: includes the distribution of power between countries Not: liberal and realist (these are theoretical perspectives instead of levels of analysis)

Which of these are examples of USA's natural sources of power: - Geographic location - Economic diversity - Oldest continuous democracy - Largest, most expensive military in the world - Important resources, such as petroleum and metals

- Petroleum and metals - Geographic location

Which of the theoretical perspectives would agree that the international system is inherently "anarchic"? Which wouldn't?

- Realists: Realism is based on the fundamental idea that there is no central authority in the international system. - Neoliberal institutionalists: Although some liberals reject the notion of anarchy, neoliberal institutionalists specifically believe in it but believe that states can still cooperate even in anarchy. Not: - Constructivists. Constructivists believe that anarchy, similar to most ideas, is socially constructed and can therefore change or be interpreted differently in different times and places.

Which theoretical perspective hold this view: Changes in global norms can lead to dramatic changes in the international system?

Constructivism

Because of the framing American leaders use in their public discourse on the issue, most Americans are less troubled by the United Kingdom having nuclear weapons than Iran possessing them. This is most consistent with which theoretical perspective's approach to the individual level of analysis?

Constructivism. Constructivists have helped draw attention to the importance of words and ideas in international relations

Which theoretical perspective match this view: A state's national interest is ever changing, often in response to changes in norms at the international level.

Constructivism. Constructivists see the idea of national interest as changeable depending on how the concept is defined from within and beyond state borders.

Explain evoked set and provide example.

Details from a present situation that are similar to information gleaned from past situations. During the Vietnam War, U.S. decision makers saw the Korean War as a precedent, although there were critical differences.

Of all the theoretical perspectives, liberals are most likely to agree with the statement that "the state has a single national interest." (T/F)

False. Liberals view states as potentially internally divided, whereas realists tend to see them as acting toward a single national interest.

Which traits are characteristic of an independent orientation toward foreign policy and which are characteristic of a participatory one: - little belief in their own ability to control events - high levels of distrust for others - high need for affiliation - high levels of nationalism - a strong need for power

Independent: - High levels of distrust for others: Independent leaders tend to go it alone in international relations and believe that their state can solve its own problems. - High levels of nationalism - A strong need for power Participatory: - High need for affiliation: participatory leaders tend to work with other states to solve problems - Little belief in their own ability to control events

What source of power is a unified public that strongly supports its government?

Intangible

Which theoretical perspective hold this view: New nonstate actors on the world stage can drive change at the system level?

Liberalism

Which theoretical perspective match this view: Domestically, states have numerous actors competing for control.

Liberalism. Liberals, in contrast to realists, believe that there is often jockeying within a state to define its national interest.

Which theoretical perspective hold this view: War is most likely to drive change in the international system?Which theoretical perspective hold this view: Technological developments beyond the control of states can lead to change at the system level?

Liberalism. The key here is that it is beyond the control of the state.

Identify whether these conditions make individuals more important or less important in influencing the course of events in international affairs: - There are many institutional constrains on a leader - Political institutions are unstable - A state's economy is in crisis - A state has a well-established democracy

More important: - A state's economy is in crisis. People often seek out strong leadership during times of crisis. - Political institutions are unstable. Unstable institutions give a leader more latitude in which to influence outcomes. Less important: - There are many institutional constraints on a leader. The more institutional constraints, the less a leader is able to influence outcomes. - A state has a well-established democracy. Established democracies tend to have more limits placed on the authority of leaders.

A balance-of-power system, such as the one that existed before World War I, is an example of which kind of international system?

Multipolar. The distribution of power to conquer is concentrated in more than two states. Before WW1, the centers of power include Germany, U.K., Russia, France, and Austria-Hungary.

What source of power is control over the Panama Canal?

Natural - geography

What source of power are large copper deposits within a state?

Natural - resources

Choose all of the following that are examples of natural resources: - natural resources - population - economic diversification - geography - national image

Natural resources: - Natural resources i.e. gold and oil - Geography - Population Not natural resources: - National image: intangible - Economic diversification: tangible

Explain mirror image and provide example.

One views the opponent as hostile and uncompromising, while one views oneself as friendly and compromising. During the Cold War, the U.S. elites and public viewed the Soviet Union in terms of their own mirror image: the U.S. was friendly, the Soviet Union was not.

Which theoretical perspective emphasizes changes in the polarity of the international system?

Realism. According to realists, changing from a bipolar to multipolar or multipolar to a unipolar system has tremendous consequences for the likelihood of war and peace.

Which theoretical perspective places the least emphasis on the individual level of analysis?

Realism. Because realists believe that the state acts with one national purpose as a unitary actor, they do not put much emphasis on who the leadership is in that state.

Which theoretical perspective hold this view: War is most likely to drive change in the international system?

Realism. Realists are focused on security and military power as the driver of change.

Which theoretical perspective match this view: States act toward a single national interest.

Realism. Realists see the state as a unitary actor, which means it pursues its goals with one voice in a united manner.

What kind of power refers to the ability to persuade others because of the legitimacy of a state's values or policies and leading by example?

Soft power. Realists do not believe that soft power is important, whereas liberals believe it can be a vital source of strength for a state.

Explanations of events in international relations that focus on domestic factors, such as the type of government or economic system a country has, are using which level of analysis?

State

What source of power are highly developed infrastructure, such as road and rail systems?

Tangible

What is the era that best represents a bipolar distribution of power?

The Cold War. During the cold war, each blocs (Warsaw Pact and NATO) sought to negotiate rather than to fight.

Explain groupthink and provide example.

The tendency of individuals to strive for cohesion and sometimes unanimity to achieve cohesion, at the risk of not examining alternative policies. During the U.S. planning for the Bay of Pigs operation against Cuba in 1961, opponents were ostracized from the planning group.

Explain cognitive consistency and provide example.

The tendency to accept information that is compatible with what has previously been accepted, often ignoring inconsistent information. Just prior to Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, military spotters saw unmarked planes approaching Hawaii. Not believing evidence, they discounted the sightings.

Why can private individuals sometimes be more effective than official leaders in accomplishing goals in international relations?

They are not as constrained by rules and norms such as state interests, electoral demands, diplomatic obligations, or other norms.

Whether a country has a capitalist or socialist economic system would be a consideration at the state level of analysis. (T/F)

True. A state's economic system might shape the way they view which countries are their allies or their enemies.

Mass publics tend to have the same psychological tendencies as individuals. (T/F)

True. Individual and mass psychological tendencies can be very similar. This includes thinking in terms of perceptions and images, seeing mirror images, and using similar information-processing strategies.

A hegemon is most likely to occur in which international system polarity?

Unipolar

Which of the following does an entity need to have in order to be considered a state: - Access to port and shipping - Recognition from other states - A defined territory - An effective government

Yes: - A defined territory - Recognition from other states. Constructivists would argue that sovereignty for states only exists because everyone agrees that it does. - An effective government No: - access to port and shipping

Choose all of the following ways that the mass public can influence international affairs: - joining the United Nations - being involved in collective actions related to foreign affairs - opinions expressed through polling - directly voting in foreign affairs-related referenda

Yes: - Opinions expressed through polling: most direct way - Being involved in collective actions related to foreign affairs: i.e. protests, refugee migrations, and demonstrations - Directly voting in foreign affairs-related referenda: include recent votes in U.K. to leave EU No: - joining the United Nations: the states are the members, not individuals

Which of the following are realist beliefs about change in the international system: - War is most often the cause of change at the system level. - New issues, such as economics or human rights, might become more important. - Changes in norms can change the way the system functions.

Yes: - War is most often the cause of change at the system level. One example would be World War II, which led to a transition from a multipolar to a bipolar system. - Technological changes can lead to changes in the distribution of power at the system level. The creation of the nuclear bomb and its subsequent development by a small number of countries has enhanced their power at the expense of others. No: - New issues, such as economics or human rights, might become more important. For realists, international relations has always been primarily about national security, and that is unlikely to change. This argument is more consistent with a liberal perspective. - Changes in norms can change the way the system functions. Realists pay little attention to norms. This argument is more consistent with a constructivist perspective.

Although the Cold War was scary for those who lived through it, some scholars argue that a bipolar system of that type can actually be the most stable and peaceful. Choose all of the following reasons scholars make that argument: - Each side can anticipate the action of the others - States can switch alliances to keep balance of power - With only two clear poles, both sides are able to exclusively focus on the other - The hegemon can ensure that states stay in line and war does not break out

Yes: - With only two clear poles, both sides are able to exclusively focus on the other. There are no mistakes about who is important and which crises matter. - Each side can anticipate the action of the others. The sides interact repeatedly over decades. No: - States can switch alliances to keep balance of power. Rare in bipolar, more common in multipolar. - The hegemon can ensure that states stay in line and war does not break out. Hegemons only exist in unipolar systems since, by definition, they would be the only dominant power or pole.