IAFF first half terms

Hard Power

power derived through coercion, force, or economic/military might (ex: sanctions, tariffs, military intervention, etc.)

Soft Power

power of attraction via cultural exports, diplomacy, and appealing political ideals (ex: pop culture, cinema, art, human rights, etc.)

Hegemony

predominance of one nation-state over others

Left-Wing Populism

common people vs. corporate elites & the wealthy

Right-Wing Populism

nationalism, protectionism, social conservatism

Anarchy

the absence of a common sovereign for protection/enforcement

Comparative Advantage

countries specialize in what they do best (production-wise) and trade freely in open markets, expanding global welfare over time

Power Asymmetries

economic interdependence empowers the less dependent party in the relationship (trade deficits can give a country more bargaining power)

Enumeration

use of colonial systems to enforce asymmetric rules

Interests

what actors want to achieve through political action (generally power/security, economic/material welfare, or idealogical goals)

Actors

basic IAFF unit of analysis, individuals or groups with a common interest

Sovereignty (Core Principles)

• the sovereign has ultimate authority

• no other power has authority

• indivisible

• all sovereign units are the same/equal status

Interactions

how the choices of multiple actors combine to produce political outcomes

Game Theory

the formal study of strategic decision-making where the choices of one nation or actor affect the outcomes and payoffs of other actors

Absolute Gains/Positive Sum Game

• situation in which, by interacting, all participating actors benefit

• specialization expands welfare for all actors (liberalism)

Cooperation

multiple actors adopt policies that benefit at least one of them without harming the others

Pareto Frontier

line representing possible divisions of maximum feasible benefits between 2 actors

Bargaining

multiple actors decide how to distribute something valuable (increasing one actor’s share decreases the others’)

Coordination

actors benefit from making the same choice & have no incentive not to comply

Public Goods

non-excludable and nonrival in consumption (ex: national defense)

Collective Action Problem (Free-Riders)

actors have incentives to collaborate but each assumes the other will pay the cost of cooperation

Linkage

links cooperation on one issue to interactions on a second issue

Relative Gains/Zero Sum Game

one state gains at another’s expense (realism)

Realism

States are the main actors in international politics, and because the international system is anarchic, states prioritize survival, security, and power

Liberalism

International conflict is not inevitable; cooperation is possible because of institutions, democracy, and economic interdependence

Trade Deficit

more imports than exports

Constructivism/Idealism

International politics is shaped by ideas, identities, norms, values, and shared beliefs, not just material power

Non-State Actors

• transnational organizations: IGOs, NGOs, MNCs

• sub-state: rebel groups, terrorist groups, political parties, etc.

Unipolarity

a single state exercises unmatched economic, military, and political dominance

(bipolar = 2 states, multipolar = 3+ states)

Offensive Realism

Because the international system is anarchic and states cannot be certain of others' intentions, states have incentives to maximize their relative power, especially when opportunities arise.

Defensive Realism

States generally seek enough power to be secure, but seeking too much power can make other states feel threatened and create a security dilemma.

Motivational Realism

(Glaser --> Defensive) A realist approach that focuses on what motivates states/leaders, including whether they are driven by security, expansion, or other motivations.

Structural/Neo Realism

Rejects the human nature explanation: state behavior is primarily explained by the structure of the international system, especially anarchy and the distribution of power among states

Classical Realism

Emphasizes human nature causing pursuit of power: people and leaders naturally seek power, which shapes state behavior.

"Capitalist Peace”

the liberalist theory that free trade prevents conflict by promoting economic interdependence, specialization, and comparative advantage (initiating conflict can lead to massive economic repercussions)

Commercial Liberalism (Interests)

free trade discourages states from the costliness of war

Ideational Liberalism (Ideas)

foreign policy is shaped by a state’s values/societal norms

Republican Liberalism (Institutions)

domestic institutions shape foreign policy

Democratic Peace

Democracies are less likely to fight wars with each other. (reasons: accountability, transparency, & shared norms)

Democracy

political system in which candidates compete for office through frequent, fair elections that most of the adult population can vote in

Autocracy

nondemocratic system where an individual or small group exercises power with little competition/constraints

Internal Security Seekers

• states whose primary foreign policy goal is survival and self-defense rather than territorial expansion or maximizing relative power

• done through buildup of economic capacity and military forces

External Security Seekers

• states whose primary foreign policy goal is survival and self-defense rather than territorial expansion or maximizing relative power

• done through alliances used to gather/amass resources

Neoliberal Institutionalism

built on realist foundations BUT states may cooperate to promote mutual gains over relative gains (Keohane)

International Law

a body of rules that binds states & other agents in world politics, considered to have the status of law (ex: UNCLOS)

Primary Rules/Law

directly regulate behavior

Secondary Rules/Law

regulate how primary rules are made

Regulative Norm

external constraint on states/actors with set consequences

Constitutive Norm

internal constraint (usually based on identity)

Nuclear Taboo

norm against the first use of nuclear weapons in a conflict

1st Image

Role of the individual & human nature (ex: Greta Thunberg)

2nd Image

Internal structure/politics of states (domestic institutions & political groups)

3rd Image

International level norms (ideas/identities/structures)

Transformative Intervention

• trying to change/build the target state’s domestic institutions

• common with internally focused leaders

Nontransformative Intervention

• focuses on defeating/reversing the external threat without rebuilding the target’s domestic system

• common with externally focused leaders

Prospect Theory

the theory that people are systematically more willing to take risks to avoid losses than to make gains

Rational Choice Theory

a methodological framework stating that political actors—primarily states and their leaders—make decisions by weighing expected costs and benefits to maximize their self-interest and utility

Compellence

an effort to change the status quo through threats of force

Deterrence

an effort to preserve the status quo through threats of force

Offense/Defense Theory

states that war is more likely when offense has the advantage (mutual belief that attacking first is beneficial)

Power Transition Theory

war theory stating that war is more likely when a state’s leading power is in decline relative to a rising power

Diversionary War

• conflict with “out group” increases cohesion of “in group”

• rally effect incentivizes leaders to provoke external conflict to solve domestic troubles

Bargaining Model of War

war can occur when states fail to reach a peaceful agreement over how to divide something they both want, often because of miscommunication, private information, or inability to make credible commitments

(states have a bargaining range: war happens when they can’t agree on a deal within both of their ranges)