International Relations Midterm

Collective Goods Problem

The dilemma of how a group serves common interests when individuals have incentives to act selfishly (free rider problem)

Dominance

A solution to collective goods problems where a power hierarchy enforces rules

Hegemony

A system dominated by a single powerful state that sets and enforces rules

Reciprocity

A system of rewarding cooperation and punishing defection to encourage group-beneficial behavior

Identity

A shared sense of belonging that encourages individuals or states to act in the group’s interest

State

A sovereign political entity with territory, population, and government

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself without external interference

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Treaty that established the modern system of sovereign states

Levels of Analysis Framework

Approach that explains IR at individual, domestic, and systemic levels

Individual Level

Focus on leaders’ perceptions and decisions

Domestic Level

Focus on internal state actors like interest groups and institutions

Systemic Level

Focus on the international system and distribution of power

World War I

A global war driven in part by the belief in offensive advantage

Treaty of Versailles

Agreement ending WWI that punished Germany and contributed to WWII

World War II

A global war partly caused by failed appeasement of Hitler

Appeasement

Policy of conceding to aggression to avoid conflict

Cold War

A bipolar rivalry between the US and Soviet Union

Containment

US policy to stop the spread of communism

Arms Race

A competition to build military power in response to rivals

Proxy War

Conflict where major powers support opposing sides indirectly

Realism

A theory emphasizing power competition and survival in an anarchic system

Neorealism

A structural version of realism focusing on the international system rather than human nature

Anarchy

The absence of a central authority in the international system

Power

Material capabilities such as military and economic strength

Relative Power

Power compared to other states

Soft Power

The ability to influence through culture, values, and ideas

Polarity

The number of major power centers in the system

Unipolarity

System with one dominant power

Bipolarity

System with two dominant powers

Multipolarity

System with multiple major powers

Balance of Power

States form alliances to prevent dominance by one state

Security Dilemma

Actions taken for defense are perceived as threats by others

Power Transition Theory

War is likely when a rising power challenges a dominant one

Liberalism

A theory emphasizing cooperation, institutions, and interdependence

Kant’s Conditions for Peace

International institutions, democracy, and trade promote peace

Democratic Peace Theory

Democracies rarely fight each other

Liberal Institutionalism

States cooperate through institutions for mutual benefit

Prisoner’s Dilemma

A model showing how rational actors may fail to cooperate

International Regimes

Rules and norms that guide state behavior in specific areas

Constructivism

A theory that state interests and identities are socially constructed

International Norms

Shared expectations for appropriate behavior

Logic of Appropriateness

Acting based on what is socially acceptable rather than self-interest

Marxism

A theory viewing global politics as class struggle and exploitation

Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism

Capitalism drives wealthy states to exploit poorer ones

Postmodernism

A theory rejecting objective truth and analyzing power in knowledge

Difference Feminism

Argues men and women are inherently different and women may be more cooperative

Liberal Feminism

Argues gender equality means men and women would behave similarly in power

Postmodern Feminism

Argues gender categories are socially constructed

Race in IR

Critique that IR ignores colonialism and racial hierarchies

Rational Model

Decision-making based on cost-benefit analysis

Organizational Process Model

Decisions based on standard operating procedures

Bureaucratic Politics Model

Decisions result from competition among agencies

Cognitive Bias

Systematic errors in thinking

Cognitive Dissonance

Discomfort from conflicting beliefs leading to rejection of new info

Psychic Numbing

Inability to emotionally grasp large-scale suffering

Prominence Effect

Over-focusing on one goal while ignoring others

Interest Groups

Organizations that influence policy to benefit members

Military-Industrial Complex

Relationship between government, military, and defense industry

Public Opinion

Views of citizens that influence policy decisions

Diversionary Foreign Policy

Using conflict to distract from domestic problems

Groupthink

Poor decisions due to pressure for consensus

Causes of War

Factors at individual, domestic, and systemic levels leading to conflict

Hegemonic War

War for control of the entire international system

Total War

War aimed at complete conquest of another state

Limited War

War with limited objectives short of total conquest

Civil War

Conflict within a state between groups

Nationalism

Strong identification with one’s nation

Ethnic Conflict

Conflict between different ethnic groups

Ethnocentrism

Belief in superiority of one’s own group

Dehumanization

Denying humanity to an opposing group

Territorial Conflict

Disputes over land ownership

Secession

A region breaking away to form a new state

Irredentism

Claiming and attempting to reclaim lost territory

Military Forces

State tools used for defense, deterrence, and power projection

Deterrence

Preventing attack through threat of retaliation

Power Projection

Ability to use force far from home territory

Counterinsurgency (COIN)

Strategy to win support of local population against insurgents

Terrorism

Use of violence by nonstate actors for political purposes

State-Sponsored Terrorism

When states support terrorist groups

Objective of Terrorism

To provoke overreaction and gain support

Psychological Effects of Terrorism

Use of fear to influence political outcomes

Oxygen of Publicity

Media attention that amplifies terrorism

Counterterrorism

Strategies combining military, political, and social efforts to combat terrorism

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Weapons capable of causing large-scale destruction

Nuclear Weapons

Highly destructive weapons central to deterrence

Deterrence (Nuclear)

Preventing attack through threat of nuclear retaliation

Security Dilemma (Nuclear)

States build nukes due to fear of others

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

Both sides can destroy each other, preventing nuclear war

Secure Second Strike

Ability to retaliate after a nuclear first strike

Extended Deterrence

Protection offered by a nuclear state to its allies

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Agreement to prevent spread of nuclear weapons

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Organization that monitors nuclear programs

Biological Weapons

Weapons using pathogens to cause harm

Chemical Weapons

Toxic chemical agents used to harm or kill

Nuclear Taboo

Norm against the use of nuclear weapons

South Korean Nuclearization

As U.S. commitments to South Korea waver, arguments for nuclear self-sufficiency arise, emphasizing the need for national security amid uncertainty.

Psychology of Brinkmanship

Cognitive biases can impact decision-making under pressure, with effects like the prominence effect leading leaders to focus overly on immediate threats, while psychic numbing may cause desensitization to catastrophic risks, especially in nuclear contexts.

China's Strategic Outlook

In regard to Taiwan, perceptions of U.S. weakness may embolden Chinese actions, raising the stakes for conflict and strategic miscalculations.