International Relations: Perspectives, Levels of Analysis, and Causal Reasoning

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These vocabulary flashcards cover the major theories, concepts, and analytical tools presented in Chapter 1 on international relations perspectives, levels of analysis, and causal reasoning.

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36 Terms

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Realist Perspective

IR viewpoint focusing on conflict, power struggles, and war; treats sovereign states as the main actors operating in an anarchic system.

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Security Dilemma

A situation in which one state’s efforts to increase its security make other states feel less secure, often leading to arms races.

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Balance of Power

Realist concept that stability is maintained when military capabilities are distributed so that no single state is dominant.

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Anarchy (in IR)

Absence of a central authority above states, compelling them to rely on self-help for security.

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Alliances

Formal or informal agreements between states to cooperate militarily for mutual defense.

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Polarity

The number of dominant power centers (poles) in the international system—unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar.

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Prisoner’s Dilemma

Game-theory model illustrating how rational actors might not cooperate even when it is in their collective interest; interpreted differently by realist, liberal, and identity perspectives.

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Liberal Perspective

IR viewpoint emphasizing cooperation, interdependence, diplomacy, and the role of international institutions.

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Reciprocity

Liberal principle that states cooperate because beneficial actions are returned in kind over time.

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Interdependence

Mutual dependence among states and societies through trade, finance, and information flows.

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Nongovernmental Organization (NGO)

Private, voluntary association that works across borders to pursue political, economic, or social goals.

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Civil Society

Web of nongovernmental associations through which people organize and express shared interests.

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Transnational Relations

Interactions that cross state boundaries and involve at least one non-state actor.

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Human Security

Concept focusing on individual well-being (e.g., health, freedom from violence) rather than solely state security.

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Intergovernmental Organization (IGO)

Body composed of sovereign states that seeks to coordinate policies (e.g., UN, NATO).

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International Regime

Set of implicit or explicit principles, norms, rules, and decision-making procedures around which actor expectations converge in a given issue area.

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Path Dependence

The idea that once states choose a cooperative path, repeated interactions lock in that trajectory and make change harder.

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International Law

Body of rules and norms regulating interactions among states and other international actors.

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Multilateralism

Liberal practice of coordinating policy with multiple states simultaneously, often through institutions.

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Identity Perspective

IR viewpoint stressing the role of ideas, norms, and identities in shaping state interests and behavior.

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Constructivism

Theory arguing that international realities are socially constructed through shared ideas and interactions.

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Logic of Appropriateness

Decision rule in which actors behave according to norms and identities—doing what is "right."

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Logic of Consequences

Decision rule in which actors calculate costs and benefits to choose actions that maximize interests.

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Relative Identities

How states define themselves in relation to others (friend, rival, neutral), influencing behavior.

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Democratic Peace

Identity-based claim that democracies rarely, if ever, fight wars against other democracies.

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Soft Power

Ability to shape the preferences of others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion.

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Feminism (in IR)

Approach critiquing male-dominance in international relations and highlighting gendered power structures.

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Critical Theory

Broad school challenging existing power relations in IR and advocating transformative, often radical, change.

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Marxism (in IR)

Critical theory focusing on class struggle, economic inequality, and the effects of global capitalism.

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Postmodernism (in IR)

Critical approach that deconstructs dominant narratives and exposes marginalized voices in world politics.

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Levels of Analysis

Framework locating causes at systemic, domestic, individual, or foreign-policy levels.

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Systemic Level of Analysis

Examines how the structure of the international system (e.g., polarity, distribution of power) influences events.

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Domestic Level of Analysis

Explores how internal characteristics of states—political, economic, or cultural—shape foreign policy.

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Individual Level of Analysis

Attributes events to the beliefs, personalities, and actions of specific leaders or individuals.

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Foreign Policy Level of Analysis

Focuses on how governmental processes and bureaucratic politics produce external actions.

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Causal Arrows

Analytic tool indicating the direction of cause-and-effect relationships used to form hypotheses in IR.