IR theory exam prep

International legal soveriegnty

The practices of mutual recognition

Westphalian sovereignty

Exclusion of external authority structures in a state

Domestic sovereignty

Organisation of political authority within the state that effectively exercises control within borders

Interdependence sovereignty

Public authorities regulate the flow of material and non-material goods across borders

Sovereign statehood

Territorial space, exclusive but delimited authority, legally & socially equal

Nation

An imagined political community that is inherently limited and sovereign (Anderson)

State

A human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a territory (Weber)

War

An act of violence intended to compel our opponent to fulfil our will (Clausewitz)

The paradoxical trinity Clausewitz

Blind natural force, chance, reason

War is determined by

Strength (capabilities) and will (resolve)

Bargaining

Actors interact to resolve disputes over the allocation of a good

Compellence

The effort to change the status quo through the threat of force

Deterrence

Efforts to perserve the status quo by threatening with unacceptable costs

Resolve

The willingness of an actor to endure costs to acquire some good

Credibility

Actors’ perceptions of their opponents willingness to act in a given situation

Credibility depends on

Nature of the interest, asymmetry of material strength, credibility of regime type, reputation for action

Brinkmanship

Strategy of introducing an element of randomness that cannot be controlled, making actions credible

Tying hands

Making threats that make backing down difficult

Audience costs

Avoids temptation to back down

Coercion

The threat or use of force with a purpose of influencing actor behaviour. Is contingent and a latent threat.

Credibility

An actor’s perception of their opponent’s willingness to act in a given situation

Tripwires

Language of coercion: purpose to deter aggression by ensuring their death trigger escalation (justification)

Practices of diplomacy

Bargaining deal, treaty breaking, diplomatic competence, manipulating audiences, use of representatives

Limits of nuclear threats

Strike capability, taboos, international insitutions

Possible outcomes of nuclear weapon use

Firestorm crisis, stability/instability, brinkmanship, staircase, reverse traditional military logic (Jervis), bolstering, compromise, independence, aggression & expansion

War occurs when

bargaining fails, goods are indivisible, peacemaking increases the conflict costs

Logic of hierarchy: contract-functionalists

Hierarchy is rational and it provides goods to weaker states

Logic of hierarchy: broad

Hierarchy has a socialising effect and influences what position states assume

Logic of hierarchy: Very broad

Hierarchies create the space of politics. Borders create vulnerabilities.

Heterogenous contracting (Nexon & Wright)

States give different commitments and identities to different audiences

Homogenous contracting

Federations have symmetric relations

Divide and rule (empire tactic)

Strategy to maintain hierarchy

Capitalism definition

Endless cycle of capital accumulation