International Relations: Final!

Absolute advantage

When one country can produce more of one resource more easily and cheaply than others despite effort or materials.

Bandwagoning

When a weaker state joins a stronger state to avoid being targeted.

Audience costs

Negative consequences that occur for leaders due to not following through with promises, which may involve domestic or international pushback.

Balance of Power

A situation in which two countries have roughly equal military power, preventing domination by any one state.

Collective security organizations

Organizations like the United Nations that promote international peace and security.

Comparative advantage

The ability to produce a good more efficiently than another good within a country.

Democratic Peace Theory

The observation that mature democracies rarely go to war with each other.

Humanitarian Interventions

Actions taken to stop large-scale human rights abuses, such as genocide.

Bargaining model of war

A model influenced by uncertainty about outcomes and costs of war.

Commitment problems

Issues that arise from the inability to make credible promises, often related to civil war, terrorism, or collective security.