war midterm,

anarchy

the absence of a legitimate government above the individual actors capable and willing to resolve conflict of interests between them.

global policy

Issues that affect but are beyond the purview go any one actor (e.g states) in world affairs.

global regimes

A set of rules and decision making procedurals prescribing how actors should behave which is often formalized and negotiated. (NATO, International Criminal Court)

offense dominance

The advantage a country gains by striking first in a military conflict

relative power

international relations measures a state’s influence, capabilities, or resources in comparison to another state or group of states

power maximization

refers to the strategy where states seek to increase their power relative to others in the international system.

policymaker biases

Policymakers and/or citizens may believe that a risk is not that substantial because they trust too much that they have the means to control it

The nuclear revolution

Nuclear weapons fundamentally change global and foreign policy due to massive and rapid destruction potential and there is no way to defend against it.

Security dilemma

the steps an actor takes to preserve its security decrease other actors’ feelings of security.

Domestic structures (regimes)

Influences behaviors in shaping what actors want (domestic preferences such as war and peace) and shapes what actors can do (domestic constraints: outcomes)

World War One

“The July crisis”: the chain of events beginning from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Bosnia-Herzegovina that culminated in total war on the European continent. Offensive dominance: strongly held belief among leaders in the early 20th century that striking first is the easiest and most desirable way to prevail in a conflict in lieu of defensive strategies. Domestic regimes: The form of government that constitutes a state, shaping a state’s preferences and capacity to act. Domestic regimes can face internal challenges from political upheaval, public protest and nationalist movements.

Nuclear Proliferation

the spread of nuclear weapons to additional countries, particularly those not recognized as nuclear-weapon states.

Foreign Policy

Efforts by individual actors to pursue their interests within the global context (affecting the issues at play and possible solutions)

Alliances

Finding partners to share capabilities to address a threat (NATO)