International Relations: Comprehensive Study Guide PSC 124

These flashcards cover foundational concepts and vocabulary from the International Relations lecture notes.

International Relations

The academic discipline concerned with understanding the dynamics of global politics, state behavior, and cooperation and conflict among sovereign nations.

Anarchy

The absence of a central government or sovereign authority above states, creating a political structure where no global power enforces rules.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself and conduct its affairs without interference from external powers.

State

An institution that has a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence within a defined territory.

Nation

A community of people who share a common identity based on culture, history, and a sense of solidarity.

Constructivism

A theoretical paradigm that argues that interests and identities are socially constructed through interactions and discourse.

Realism

A dominant paradigm in international relations emphasizing the role of power in political interactions and the inherent conflictual nature of international politics.

Liberalism

An approach to international relations focused on the possibility of cooperation, institutions, and the potential for progress through democracy and economic interdependence.

Self-Determination

The principle that nations have the right to determine their political fate, often leading to demands for independence or autonomy.

Collective Action Problem

A situation where individual rational choices lead to a collectively suboptimal outcome, such as overuse of a common resource.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

A strategic situation in which two or more nuclear powers each possess a second-strike capability, making any nuclear conflict devastating for both.

Security Dilemma

A situation where efforts by one state to increase its security provoke fears in other states, leading to an arms race and mutual insecurity.

Comparative Advantage

The economic principle that countries benefit from specializing in the production of goods in which they have a lower opportunity cost.

Terrorism

The deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence to achieve political change.

International Law

The body of rules that govern the behavior of states and other international actors, which lacks a central enforcing authority.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

An international institution established to promote monetary cooperation, exchange rate stability, and provide financial support to countries.

Globalization

The process of increasing integration among national economies and the flow of goods, services, information, and people across borders.

Deterrence

The use of threats or force to prevent an adversary from taking action by creating fear of significant punishment.

Civil War

An armed conflict occurring within a state between factions or groups competing for control or rights.

Nationalism

A political principle advocating for nations to have their own states and pursue their cultural and political interests.

Humanitarian Intervention

The use of military force by external powers to protect human rights or prevent humanitarian disasters in another state.

The Tragedy of the Commons

A situation where individual use of a shared resource leads to its depletion, as no user has an incentive to conserve it.