INST 101 Exam 1 Review

paradigm

a perspecitive or frame-work commonly accepted that helps to guide thinking

Realism

based on the assumption that intl relations are a struggle for military power against sovereign states in an anarchical world

anarchy

the absence of an effective world government leading to no enforcement of rules or norms of behaviour

state of nature

pure sovereign freedom. unlike within states, they didnt sacrifice infinite freedom in exchange for security,

soverignty

supreme independent political authority awnserable to no higher authority

national interests

state objectives that transcend the particular interests of individuals that reside in a state and drive the states behaviour in the international system

self-help

a state protecting its interests by accumulating military power or forming alliances,

security dillemma

the idea that what a state does for purely defensive purposes will cause other states to interpret that as a threat

melian dialogue

“big countries will push around small countries and it’s in the small countries best interest to just submit to them”

balance of power

how spread out military capability is between many powers in the intl space

Hegemonic Stability theory

the idea that one ‘top dog’ that has the majority of the power in the intl space will be able to tamp things down and be an intl policeman

offensive realism

the idea that to feel secure great powers seek hegemony and pure power

defensive realism

the idea that to feel secure great powers seek an even balance of power.

liberalism

paradigm that suggests global cooperation is possible and that challenges the realist assumption that the competitive power oriented and violent character of world politics is inevitable.

absolute gains

total benefits that accrue to a state as a consequence of its interactions with other states without regard to the benefits that accrue to others

relative gains

benefits that accrue to a state from its international interactions assessed in comparison to the benefits that accrue to other states

liberal institutaionalism

liberal subtype suggeesting international instutions mitigate anarchy and facilitate cooperation.

liberal commercialism

liberal subtype that suggests international commerce leads to a mutual economic interdependence and reduces the likelihood of wars.

liberal internationalism

liberal subtype suggetsting domestic regime type impacts foreign behaviour.

democratic peace theory

idea that democracies dont usually fight wars against each other, and that spreading democracy is key to reducing conflict in the world.

kantian triangle

idea that the intersection of intl institutuons, democratic govts, and economic interdependance supports notions toward peace.

constructivism

paradigm emphasizing the rule that norms human agency and norms play in making the character of intl relations

nuclear taboo

the idea that using nukes is a red line in foreign policy

Norms

the expectations of how nations should act

levels of analysis

mix and location of the (three) factors that influence the foreign policy between states

Billiard Ball Model

idea that the movement of the intl system is caused by the intl system (pool table) and not what happens inside the balls (states) themselves

rational actor model

view that foreign policy decisions are made assuming policy makers have a shared view of the national insterst which they seek to gain through a rational process finding the most efficent mean to those ends.

unitary actors

view that sees states as entities speaking with one voice and not an emalgamation of them to pursue their interests

two level game

idea that leaders simultaneously negotiate with other states and with key domestic actors in the conduct of international relations

bureaucratic role

responsibilities associated with a particular job or position that shape the perspective and behaviour of the individual who bolds that position in foreign policy making.

great man of history

idea that history is driven more by individuals and their character traits rather than social economic or political forces

satisficing

accepting policies and outcomes that minimally satisfy foreign policy objectives without necessarily maximizing outcomes achieved and interests attained

heuristic

mental shortcut allowing one to simplify policy making

groupthink

tendency to operate under conditions of stress to abandon critical thinking in favour of viewpoints that reflect the solidary of the group youre working in

poliheuristic theory

theory of decision making as a two step process in which individuals first use congntive shortcuts to reduce the range of options and then engaged in a rational detailed decision process with the options that remain

polarity

having power heavily focused in one state or multiple.

coercive diplomacy

threats and small demonstrations of military power designed to send fear to show the possible impact of the use of that military force to an enemy

power transition / theucidities trap

a shift in power from one country to another, like from an older to a rising power.

total war

war of by and against the whole population of states. characteristic of the two world wars

Mutually assured destruction

nuclear deterrance; if one has the capability to destroy the other, than the other will in return. loose-loose

second strike capabilty

ability to retaliate after being hit after a nuclear strike

deterrence

the abillity to dissuade another state from causing harm by threat of the harm one might do in response

stability/instability paradox

idea that states will engage in conventional war precisely because the feel secure that i can never escalate to nuclear war among superpowers

Nuclear Utilization Theories (NUTS)

strategies for fighting, surviving, and winning nuclear war

Strategic Defensie Initiative (SDI, Star Wars)

Reagan initiative to design and develop a nuclear defense system in space, rendering any target harmless before it could hit its mark

Nuclear Proliferation

spreading nuclear weapons to previously non-nuclear states

Non Preliferation Treaty (NPT)

a treaty sought to limit spread of nuclear weapons to non nuclear states. IND, PAK, ISR never signed on.

Long Peace

era from WWII on of no big power wars

security community

a group of states that have ruled out use of war and violence as means of conflict I.E.: NATO + Commonwealth Realms + Japan + KOR + TWN

Democracy

political system characterized by right of political participation, political competiion and civil liberties

third wave

wave of democratization starting in Spain and portugal in ‘74 and spreading to the rest of the world

Assymetric war

war in which theres a fundamental differnece in the nature of its participants

terrorism

politically motivated violence aimed at civilian targets n order to spread fear and alarm

Al Qaeda

radical sunni terrorist organization composed of a grouping of semiautonomous cells located around the world