IR Terms Midterm

State

An organized political entity defined by internal and external sovereignty over a clearly defined territory.

Internal Sovereignty

State has a monopoly over legitimate coercion, including taxation, police, and military.

External Sovereignty

Other states recognize a state’s right to non-interference in its internal affairs.

International System

The political order within which sovereign states interact.

Legitimate

Having authority, and those who hold authority believing in it.

Anarchy

An absence of hierarchy; no world government.

Distributions of Power

How power is spread among states. Unipolar, Bipolar, Multipolar

Unipolar

A system with one dominant power, for example, the USA right after the USSR dissolved.

Bipolar

A system with two dominant powers, exemplified during the Cold War.

Multipolar

A system with three or more great powers, as seen before World War II.

Hard Power

A nation's ability to use economic incentives or military strength to influence other actors' behaviors.

Military Coercion

Using military strength, numbers, and sophistication to influence others.

Economic Coercion

Using economic size and capacity to influence other states' behaviors, like through sanctions.

Soft Power

Using persuasion and cultural appeal to influence others. Can be via persuasion (diplomacy) or emulation (perceived political and/or cultural success or appeal)

Relative Power

Power in relation to other states. Can be structural or relative influence

Interdependence

The degree of overlap in state interests. ex. climate change, or a state that imports a ton from another

International Institutions

Rules and organizations that help states solve problems from interdependence. Ex. Geneva conventions, united nations, world health organization

Norms

Standard practices based on shared beliefs about appropriate actions.

Systemic Level of Analysis

Characteristics of the international system that drive relations among states.

Actor Level of Analysis

Characteristics of states that drive relations among them.

Decision-Making Level of Analysis

Influence of individual leaders’ worldviews and decision-making contexts on relations. Ex. Russia, EU, Ukraine 2022

Security Dilemma

A situation where efforts by one state to increase its security cause insecurity in others.

Cooperation

Coordination to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Prisoner's Dilemma

A situation in which individuals must decide whether to cooperate or act in self-interest for greater personal benefit.

Asymmetrical Interdependence

A situation where one state is more dependent than the other, making the more dependent state vulnerable.

Integration

Deep cooperation involving delegation to supranational institutions.

Legitimacy

Perception that someone or something has the right to rule or be obeyed.

noninterference

The principle that states should not interfere in the internal affairs of other states, promoting sovereignty and independence.

ordering principle

A foundational concept that guides the organization and governance of a system, often establishing norms and expectations for behavior among its members.

power

capabilities to get others to do something they wouldn’t do otherwise. Comprised of Absolute power (hard and soft) and Relative power (structural and relational influence)

structural power

relative influence in creating and upholding ‘rules of the game’ (liberal/rules-based international order) that shapes how states and actors interact within the international system.

unitary states

state where power is concentrated in a central government, with little to no autonomy granted to subnational units.

rationality

Rationality– a state’s ability to do cause-benefit analysis when making a decision

realpolitik

look powerful, or others will take advantage (from Machiavelli)

self help

a principle in international relations where states prioritize their own security and interests, often leading to competition and conflict.

elective v. unavoidable interdependence

elective interdependence are forms of interdependence that states can opt into. ex) trade. Unavoidable interdependence is just that, things you can’t avoid. Ex. security, environmental issues

ex. ethiopia damming the nile river upstream of egypt, who relies on it for agriculture and tourism

relative gains

even if an agreement gives us both things we want, are you getting more of what you want than me?This concept in international relations emphasizes that states are concerned not just with absolute gains from cooperation, but also with how their gains compare to those of others, often influencing their willingness to engage in agreements.

free riding

reap the benefits of collective action without actually contributing. ex) North Korea never joined the nuclear arms deal, but reaps the benefit of operating in a world with less nukes while making their own

dyadic

an approach to social science, you see what you want to see