Martill & Sus: Neoclassical Realism, Foreign Policy Change, and the and European responses to Russia-Ukraine War

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the academic INTRODUCTION of 'Winds of change? Neoclassical realism, foreign policy change, and European responses to the Russia-Ukraine War' by Martill and Sus.

Neoclassical Realism

An international relations theory that explains foreign policy variation by understanding the interaction between systemic forces and unit-level attributes like military capabilities, geopolitical position, ideas, and domestic politics.

Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA)

A sub-field of international studies focused on the 'ground' of IR, including the specific actors who make decisions and the contextual environment they operate in.

Zeitenwende

A German term meaning 'watershed' or 'turning point,' used to describe Germany's commitment to a more active defense role and the abandoning of its long-held 'civilian' identity following the 2022 invasion.

European Peace Facility (EPF)

An off-budget instrument used by the European Union to reimburse member states for the military aid they provide to Kyiv.

Commitment

A dimension of national response variation describing whether a state seeks a leadership role (e.g., Estonia, Poland) or a 'back seat' role (e.g., Germany) in the collective effort.

Contribution

A dimension of variation referring to the amount of military, financial, and humanitarian resources a country provides, as well as the number of refugees it hosts.

Convergence

The degree to which a state's response to the war aligns with its existing national attributes, such as state identity, culture, and strategic preferences.

Contestation

The degree of societal or political disagreement within a state regarding its response to the conflict, such as the protest of Polish farmers against Ukrainian agricultural exports.

Consistency

The extent to which a state maintains a stable position on the conflict over time versus changing positions, as seen in France's shifting stance on Ukraine's NATO membership.

Institutional Choice

The preference of a state for specific frameworks to channel their response, such as the UK prioritizing NATO or France promoting EU-integrated defense industry alternatives.

Ontological Security

A concept relating to how secure actors are in their sense of self, suggesting states aim to minimize the disconnect between their actions and their national identities.

Strategic Culture

The dominant culture within politico-military circles that influences decisions on the use of force and strategic thinking based on historical events and routinized actions.

Geopolitics

The assumption that geography is the most permanent explanatory factor behind foreign policy, often encompassing territorial location, military capability, and economic power.

Geo-economics

A category of power where economic strength determines the national resources that can be allocated to foreign policy.

Populist Radical Right (PRR) parties

Political actors that often face internal divisions or seek to de-politicize relations with Moscow due to shifting public sentiments following the 2022 invasion.