POLI 283 Topic 3

What is the significance of understanding power in global politics?

It helps interpret the nature, source, holder, and usage of power in various forms.

How does Joseph Nye describe power?

He states, 'Power is like the weather. Everyone talks about it, but few understand it.'

What does Harold Lasswell say power helps explain?

'Who gets what, when, and how.'

What are the challenges in defining power?

Power is elusive, manifests in contradictory forms, and is not the same as coercion.

What is 'Power as Asset'?

It refers to power as something to possess, often discussed in terms of fungibility, especially in political contexts.

What is 'Power as Aspiration'?

It is the idea that states naturally seek power due to the dangers and instability in the anarchic international system.

What characterizes 'Hard Power'?

It involves the use or threatened use of material power assets to compel other actors to act or refrain from acting.

What is 'Soft Power'?

It centers on persuasion and uses positive incentives like foreign aid and cultural exchanges to influence others.

What does 'Absolute Power' refer to?

It is the numerical amount of an item, such as the US stockpile of nuclear warheads.

How is 'Relative Power' defined?

It is the comparison of power or goods between nation-states, considering the power of adversaries.

What factors shape 'Capabilities' in power analysis?

Military strength, economic assets, technological infrastructure, demographics, and natural resources.

What is the role of 'Credibility' in power?

It refers to the willingness to use material power, which is essential for a powerful global presence.

What does 'Objective Power' entail?

It consists of assets that an actor possesses and their willingness to deploy them.

What is 'Subjective Power'?

It is based on others' perceptions of power, where reputation and credibility are crucial.

What does 'Power as Production of Effects' mean?

It refers to elements that shape the outcomes of other actors, including compulsory, institutional, and structural power.

What is 'Compulsory Power'?

It is the direct control over another actor.

What is 'Institutional Power'?

It is the control over socially distant actors.

What does 'Structural Power' focus on?

It examines how structures define the range of social interactions and the complexity of power in the global system.

What are the three levels of analysis in understanding power?

Individual-level, state-level, and system-level analysis.

What is the importance of critical thinking regarding types of power?

It encourages consideration of the various forms of power and their significance in global politics.

What are the three levels of analysis in global politics?

Individuals, States, and the International System.

What does the Levels-of-Analysis Approach focus on?

It analyzes phenomena from different perspectives: system, state, and individual.

What is the significance of states in global politics?

States exert great power and influence due to their central role in global politics.

How do individual actors influence global politics?

They play an increasing role through foreign policy, diplomacy, and social influence.

What is the origin of the Levels-of-Analysis Approach?

It has roots in behavioralism and focuses on both unit-level and structural factors.

What questions does the Levels-of-Analysis Approach raise?

It questions who has power in global politics, how power is distributed, and the sources of power at each level.

What is the individual-level analysis in global politics?

It examines the power of individuals or small groups and their influence on global politics.

What is the state-level analysis in global politics?

It looks at how states and other societal actors influence global politics.

What is the system-level analysis in global politics?

It examines how the global system exerts power on states, individuals, and nonstate actors.

How do individuals shape global politics?

Through foreign policy and diplomacy, influenced by their social status and rank.

What is bounded rationality?

It refers to the limitations of rational choices due to time pressures, imperfect information, and biases.

What are the three coping mechanisms in cognitive considerations?

Cognitive Consistency, Optimistic Bias, and Heuristic Devices.

What is cognitive consistency?

The tendency to ignore contradictory information and hold fast to prevailing views.

What is optimistic bias?

The tendency to overestimate favorable outcomes and underrate potential failures.

What are heuristic devices?

Mental shortcuts that simplify complex decisions and allow for quicker decision-making.

How does individual rationality affect decision-making in global politics?

Individuals are assumed to be rational actors who can identify and rank their preferences.

What is the impact of new media on individual-level analysis?

More individuals have greater influence in global politics due to the rise of new media.

What is the role of heads-of-state in individual-level analysis?

They are key examples of individuals who influence global politics through their leadership.

How do cognitive factors influence individual decision-makers?

They are influenced by emotional, psychological, and biological factors that affect their actions.

What is cognitive dissonance?

A psychological state where an individual struggles to process contradictory information.

What is the significance of the 2010 Wikileaks Scandal in the context of global politics?

It serves as an example of how individual actions can impact state and international relations.

What is the difference between sex and gender?

Sex is a biological condition, while gender is a societal construct rooted in idealized types of masculinity and femininity.

What does the gender opinion gap refer to?

The difference in attitudes on various issues between those identifying as male and those identifying as female.

How does including women in decision-making impact conflict resolution?

It has a positive impact, as women are generally less prone to advocate violence as a means of conflict resolution.

What major contributions have feminist IR scholars made?

They reveal critical issues affecting women and girls, such as the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war and the transnational sex trade.

What is idiosyncratic analysis in the context of leadership?

It focuses on the unique characteristics of specific individual leaders and how these traits affect their decisions.

What questions are raised regarding the personal traits of leaders?

How do their traits affect their conception and use of power? Why are older leaders more likely to initiate military confrontations?

What does the personality type analysis focus on?

It examines a leader's basic orientations towards self and others, including behavioral patterns and attitudes about power and authority.

What are the two scales used in personality categorization?

An active-passive scale and a positive-negative scale.

What is an operational code in leadership analysis?

It refers to an individual's philosophical and instrumental beliefs that explain their decisions and behaviors.

What elements are considered in state-level analysis?

Governmental sources, state sovereignty, regime authority, bureaucracy, military capabilities, and economic capacity.

How does the political structure of a state influence its foreign policy?

The political infrastructure shapes decisions, behaviors, and overall use of power on the world stage.

What societal factors impact state-level analysis?

Political culture, demographics, and human development.

What physical and technical factors are relevant in state-level analysis?

Technological sophistication and geography.

What is the 'Top-Down' approach in system-level analysis?

It focuses on the organization of authority and the role of international institutions.

What does polarity refer to in global politics?

The number of actors existing in the global system, which is important to realism and balance of power.

What are the three types of polarity?

Unipolar (one state), bipolar (two states), and multipolar (many states).

What is hegemony in the context of global politics?

A power maintaining control of the political system.

What is the foundation of global politics according to the levels-of-analysis approach?

Power forms the foundation, with motivations and perceptions of individuals and states being key to understanding decisions.

How can societal governance affect a state's power?

It can either help the state gain or lose power depending on the effectiveness of its government, economy, etc.