IR210 Cards - 1

Cosmopolitan culture

All humans are members of the same community as “world citizens”.

Grotian

• State-created moral and legal constraints

• Utilizes treaties, laws, alliances, and rule based systems

• Political, economic exchanges result in interdependent societies

Kantian

• Believes human interactions define IR.

• Optimistic

• Promotes peace, social justice, economic wellbeing

• Protects the community of humankind

Realist

• Strategic use of military force

• Security, self-preservation, and national interest

• Global politics is competitive, and conflict-driven

Marxist

• Seeks total system overhaul

• Capitalism is the root of structural violence

• Globalization is a "race to the bottom", with minimal rules protecting people and environment

Domestic sources and national attributes include:

A state’s

• History

• Traditions

• Political, economic, and social structures

• + military power, geographic location

What’s the difference between a state and a nation?

State:

• legal, political entity, with sovereignty and borders,

Nation

• shared cultural identity among citizens.

Factor levels of analysis are…

• Global factors

• Systemic factors

• Domestic sources

• Individual or human dimension

Global polity

Totality of global political structures

• including non-state actors

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness among societies.

Idealism says…

“World peace is possible through the rule of law”.

Individual / human dimension

Range of variables affecting leaders’ policy choices.

Kantian (liberalism) argues for…

• human rights

• free trade

• democracy

• mutual benefits of international cooperation

Machiavellianism (realism)

• The international system is anarchic,

• states are constantly in conflict and pursue their own interests

Nation

A community of people who:

• share a common sense of identity, possibly derived from history, language, culture, religion, or ethnicity.

Nation-state

State claiming legitimacy that it represents all citizens,

• including those who may identify as a separate community.

Nongovernmental organization (NGO)

Organizations with policy goals, who are not governmental themselves.

Nonstate actors

Participants in global politics,

• not for government, nor created by government.

Prescription

Recommendations for state survival in the international system based on IR traditions.

Sovereignty

A state having control and authority over its own territory,

• freedom from any higher legal authority

State

A legal territorial entity composed of a population and government;

• who’s sovereignty is recognized by other states in the international system.

Reciprocity

States respecting the sovereignty of others, expecting others to do the same.

What are some examples of transnational actors?

• Multinational corporations

• Global humanitarian organizations

• NGO’s

Hegemony

Political, economic, cultural, or military dominance of one leading state over others.

Multilateral

Involving multiple countries,

• to pursue a common goal

What are examples of defining activities?

• Protecting borders

• Means of exchange with others countries

• Accumulating wealth

“National interest”

The material and ideational goals of a nation-state.

“Human interest”

Altruistic, humanitarian goals of a person or nation-state to aid

States are in a constant search for...

Order

When a system is anarchic, there is …

No common power

Agnotology

The intentional engineering of ignorance or doubt to prevent debate and criticism

Failed state

A political entity facing:

• government breakdown,

• severe instability characterized by conflict, poverty, and corruption

• has lost ability to provide basic services and security to citizens

Grotian “moments”

• Instances of accelerated formation,

• and acceptance of new international laws.

• “re-establish world order and address problems that might disrupt order in the future.”

These two theories are both critical.

Kantian, Marxist

“Carrots”

• Economic incentives, rewards:

• trade deals

• foreign aid

“Sticks”

• Sanctions

• Tariffs

• Military activity

“Sermons”

• Communication-based tools

• knowledge transfer

• major speeches

Permacrisis

A continuous period of instability and insecurity

• especially resulting from a catastrophic series of events

Who’s fighting the Islamic State?

Turkey, EU, U.S.

Ungoverned regions include _________ states.

Failed, fragile

General reactions to refugees?

Rise in populism and right-wing party wins

What often happens to promises made at global events?

They are ignored or rejected by new leaders

What is meant by Westphalian sovereignty?

Each nation-state is inviolable from external interference.

Normative theory

What ought to ideally be, rather than what is.

This IR tradition posits that the system is not anarchic, but intederpendent.

Grotianism

The 4 Crises are…

• Legitimacy

• Identity

• Efficiency

• Inequality

Constructivist theory says…

World politics are shaped by shared beliefs, culture, indentity, social constructs.

T/F: Constructivism is one of big 4 Theoretical IR Traditions.

False

Which is 1 of 3 IR Narratives?

International system

Which is 2 of 3 IR Narrartive?

Those used by political actors to influence policy

Which is 3 of 3 IR Narrartive?

Those about identity

What are some examples of material interests?

• Oil

• rare earth materials

What are some examples of ideational interests?

Promoting democracy!

Foreign policy is…

Articulation of national interests, both material ad ideational,

• + the means to secure them

What are the three types of capitalism?

• Anglo-American

• Asian

• Nordic

What is the overall goal of Anglo-American capitalism?

To benefit the individual.

What is the overall goal of Asian capitalism?

To empower the state.

What is the overall goal of Nordic capitalism?

Ensuring no unfair advantages or disadvantages.

Which is 1 of 3 parts of the Wilsonian Triad?

Democracy

Which is 2 of 3 parts of the Wilsonian Triad?

Capitalism

Which is 3 of 3 parts of the Wilsonian Triad?

Rule of Law

A drawback of complex interdependence is that it’s a source of….

Vulnerability

The Wilsonian Triad provides a general form of this…

Light global governance

What is an example of a global health regime?

WHO

What is meant by the “ 30 Years Crisis”?

Belief that the Treaty of Versailles was not a true peace agreement:

• it’s too optimistic, too normative to actually deter us from starting WWII.

What Grotian moments came of the end of WWII?

• The U.N. is founded

• Creation of rule-based systems: LIO, LIEO

Why not connect with the Global South at the founding of the U.N.?

Many Global South countries:

• Were still considered colonized territories

• Had communist leanings

What is one way to have productive conversations with global states and powers?

Summits

Why is Waltz wrong when he says “anarchy is the cause of war?”

Because…

The Melians are the…

Grotians

What was the message of the Melian Dialogue?

Power always wins over ethics.

According to Thucydides…

• Weak states result to moral arguments

• Powers pursue national interests, NOT abstractions or wishful thinking

What else did Thucydides say?

• In bipolar systems, if a power feels a chance at hegemony, they’ll go for it

• People can’t restrain desire for power

• Self interest always wins over the common good

Is Thucydides still relevant?

Yes, because…

Machiavelli says these factors make effective leaders:

• opportunity

• ingenuity

• ability

• skill + luck

Who says “necessity over morality”?

Machiavelli

Hobbes is a __________ realist.

Structural

Hobbes favors _________, what we would now call __________.

absolute rule, autocracy

Who says that anarchy is the defining cause of war?

Hobbes

Duality Argument

Sovereign states shouldn’t be judged in the same standard as individuals,

• because states are acting in an amoral environment

Who says “all men seek supremacy”?

Hobbes

According to Hobbes, conflicts are competition for these factors:

• wealth

• dignity

• fear

• lack of trust

A feature designed into the Liberal International Order:

Interdependence

1 - What is a possible future of the LIO?

Multi-polarity

2 - What is a possible future of the LIO?

Three competing spheres of influence:

• U.S.

• China

• Russia

3 - What is a possible future of the LIO?

Three major powers clashing over territory, commerce:

• + the Global South pushes back, asserts sovereignty

4 - What is a possible future of the LIO?

Restraint

• The U.S. turns focus inward,

• cedes rest of the world to China

What is the end goal of Realism?

Power!

• Protecting national interests with that power