PSCI247

Anarchy

Absence of a central authority in international relations.

Cold War

Geopolitical tension between the US and USSR.

Constructivism

Theory emphasizing social constructs in international relations.

Deterrence

Strategy to prevent aggression through threat of retaliation.

Hegemony

Dominance of one state over others in international system.

Liberalism

Theory advocating for cooperation and international institutions.

Manifest Destiny

19th-century doctrine justifying US territorial expansion.

Mercantilism

Economic theory prioritizing state power through trade.

Nash Equilibrium

Situation where no player benefits from changing strategy.

Prisoner's Dilemma

Game theory scenario illustrating cooperation vs. betrayal.

Security Dilemma

Situation where one state's security measures threaten others.

Zero-sum Game

Situation where one player's gain equals another's loss.

Public Good

Non-excludable and non-rivalrous resource or service.

Polarity

Distribution of power in international relations.

9-Dash Line

China's claim over parts of the South China Sea.

South China Sea

Strategically important maritime region with territorial disputes.

Spratly Islands

Group of islands in South China Sea with contested claims.

Identity

Understanding of self in relation to others in politics.

Free Rider

Individual benefiting from resources without contributing.

Monroe Doctrine

US policy opposing European colonialism in Americas.

Dyadic Democratic Peace Mechanisms

Peace between pairs of democratic states.

Monadic Democratic Peace Mechanisms

Peace associated with individual democratic states.

Realism

Theory focusing on power and national interest.

Neorealism

Structural realism emphasizing international system's influence.

Defensive Structural Realism

Focus on state security and survival.

Offensive Structural Realism

Focus on state expansion and power maximization.

Power Transition Realism

Focus on rise and fall of great powers.

Sucker's Payoff

Outcome where a player cooperates but is betrayed.

Temptation Payoff

Outcome where a player betrays for maximum gain.

Vladimir Putin

Current President of Russia, known for assertive policies.

Xi Jinping

Current General Secretary of the Communist Party of China.

Joe Biden

President of the United States

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine, notable for wartime leadership.

Donald Trump

45th President of the United States

Immanuel Kant

Greatest German philosopher of Enlightenment-separated science and morality into separate branches of knowledge-science could describe nature, it could not provide a guide for morality. Wrote Critique of Pure Reason

Martha Finnemore

constructivist scholar known for work on norms in international relations.

John Mearsheimer

Realist theorist known for offensive realism.

Stephen Walt

Defensive. Scholar known for balance of threat theory.

Kenneth Waltz

The original neorealism

John Forbes Nash Jr.

Mathematician known for contributions to game theory.

Alexander Wendt

Anarchy is what states make of it

Norms

rules and expectations by which a society guides the behavior of its members

Narendra Modi

Prime Minister of India

Neoclassical Realism

a theory in international relations that emphasizes the influence of domestic politics on a state's foreign policy, integrating both realist and liberal perspectives.

Angela Merkel

Former Chancellor of Germany and significant figure in European politics, known for her leadership during multiple crises in Europe, including the Eurozone debt crisis and the migrant crisis.

Barack Obama

44th President of the United States, known for his healthcare reforms and foreign policy initiatives, including the Affordable Care Act and the Iran nuclear deal.

Game Theory

A mathematical framework for analyzing strategic interactions among rational decision-makers, often used in economics and political science.

Normal Form Games

A representation of a game in which players' strategies and payoffs are displayed in a matrix format, allowing for a straightforward analysis of strategic choices.

Extensive Form Games

A representation of a game that illustrates sequences of actions and decisions over time, often depicted in a tree structure, allowing for an analysis of dynamic strategic interactions.

Credibility

The quality of being believable or trustworthy, particularly in the context of commitments or threats in strategic interactions.

Balance of Power

A political and military strategy that aims to maintain stability in international relations by ensuring that no single nation or alliance becomes overwhelmingly powerful, preventing any potential domination.

Game of Chicken

A game theory scenario where two players must choose between cooperation and a risky strategy, with the outcome depending on the choices made. The goal is to avoid mutual destruction while trying to assert dominance.

Conventional Constructivism

A theoretical approach in international relations that emphasizes the role of social constructs, norms, and identities in shaping state behavior and interests, often contrasting with materialist perspectives.

Critical Constructivism

A theoretical approach in international relations that critiques traditional constructivism by emphasizing the power dynamics and social inequalities that influence state behavior, focusing on how norms and identities are shaped by these factors.

Friedrich Merz

A German politician and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), known for his conservative views and influence in German politics.

Kim Jong Un

North Korean leader and Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, known for his authoritarian regime and nuclear weapons program.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Former President of Brazil, known for his focus on social programs and efforts to combat poverty.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister, known for his strong stance on security and controversial policies regarding Palestine.

Antonio Guterres

Secretary-General of the United Nations, focusing on global issues like climate change and conflict resolution.

Dominant Strategy

In game theory, a dominant strategy is a course of action that yields a greater payoff for a player, regardless of the actions of other players.

The Rise of China

Refers to China's rapid economic growth and increasing global influence, impacting international relations and trade dynamics.

Uncertainty

A condition where the outcomes of an event or situation are unpredictable, often impacting decision-making in political science and economics.

Agents and Structure

In constructivism, __ refer to individuals or groups that act and make decisions, while __ comprises the social and institutional contexts that shape those actions. This interplay influences the development of social norms and political outcomes.

Pivot to Asia

A strategic shift in U.S. foreign policy aimed at strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with Asian nations, particularly to counterbalance China's growing influence.

Shadow of The Future

The length of time states expect to interact shapes their behavior, encouraging cooperation and trust over time.

Intersubjective Interactions

Refers to the shared understanding and mutual interpretations between individuals or groups that facilitate communication and social interactions. This concept highlights the role of collective meaning in shaping social realities.

Securitization

The process through which state actors transform subjects into matters of security, allowing them to take extraordinary measures to address perceived threats. This involves framing an issue as a threat to the state's survival or core values.

Bipolarity

A distribution of power in the international system where two states dominate the global arena, influencing international relations and conflicts.

Multipolarity

The distribution of power in the international system where multiple states hold significant influence, creating a balance of power among several nations.