International Relations Exam Review

Flashcards reviewing key concepts from International Relations lecture notes.

What is International Relations (IR)?

A sub-discipline of Political Science encompassing relations between sovereign states, intergovernmental relations, transgovenrmental relations, and transnational relations.

In what year were the Treaties of Westphalia signed?

1648

What concepts were introduced by the Treaties of Westphalia?

Territoriality, internal sovereignty (monopoly of force), and external sovereignty (autonomy and non-interference).

What type of international system did the Treaties of Westphalia create?

An anarchic system where disputes were settled by force rather than law.

Which university established the first IR chair in 1919?

Aberystwyth University

In what year was the League of Nations founded?

1920

What did Woodrow Wilson's '14 Points' aim for?

International cooperation, disarmament, and collective security.

What are some of the key attributes to consider when examining states in IR?

Their increasing number, varying degrees of fragility, and political systems.

What are some examples of non-state actors in IR?

Transnational networks, NGOs, and public-private partnerships.

What are the three major theoretical paradigms in IR?

Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism.

What emerged as a response to realist optimism in IR?

A critique of the 'idealist' optimism of early IR scholarship.

Who are considered key precursors to Realism?

Niccolò Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes.

What concepts are Machiavelli known for?

Reason of state and the pursuit of national interest through power.

How did Hobbes view the state of nature?

The state of nature as 'war of all against all,' applied to the international system.

What is a core tenet of Classical Realism regarding human nature?

Politics is driven by human nature's 'animus dominandi' (will to dominate).

According to Classical Realism, what is international politics?

International politics is a struggle for power.

What is the primary political duty according to Classical Realism?

To recognize national interest ('survival').

What overrides universal morality in Classical Realism?

Political reason (self-help) overrides universal morality.

What does theory aim to define in Classical Realism?

To define a rational 'homo politicus.'

What does Neorealism focus on as the primary determinant of state behavior?

The international system's structure (anarchy, distribution of power).

According to Neorealism, what are states driven by?

States are unitary actors driven by 'self-help' and 'security maximization'.

What are the two main types of realism in Neorealism?

Defensive realism and Offensive realism.

How is stability achieved according to Neorealism?

Balance of power or hegemony.

What does Stephen Krasner argue about the Westphalian Order?

State sovereignty remains robust, with violations primarily affecting weaker states.

How does John Mearsheimer view International Organizations (IOs)?

IOs as mere reflections of power distribution, serving the interests of powerful states.

What do realists attribute conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war to?

NATO enlargement.

What do Graham Allison and John Mearsheimer suggest about power transitions?

Shifts in power distribution destabilize the international order.

What does Liberalism emphasize in international relations?

Reason, universal values (human rights, democracy, peace), and the potential for cooperation.

Who are some key precursors to Liberalism?

John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Hugo Grotius.

What is the state's role in Liberalism?

To ensure individual flourishing and democratic freedoms.

What is crucial in shaping foreign policy, according to Liberalism?

Internal political structures and societal actors.

What does interdependence refer to in Liberalism?

Modernization increases economic, security, and social interdependence.

What is the 'democratic peace' theory?

Liberal democracies are inherently more peaceful, especially with each other.

What role do international institutions play in Liberalism?

They are vital for facilitating and stabilizing cooperation.

What does Institutional Liberalism emphasize?

Interdependence drives states to cooperate even without a hegemon.

What type of games does cooperation lead to according to Institutional Liberalism?

Positive-sum games.

How do international institutions help overcome collective action problems?

Rules, information, transparency, and enforcement mechanisms.

What does Institutional Liberalism focus on explaining?

Explaining cooperation in an anarchic world.

What does Keohane and Nye argue about the Westphalian system?

States are willing to cede some sovereignty to international institutions.

What does John Ikenberry suggest about emerging powers?

Emerging powers seek integration into the liberal international order.

What does John Owen highlight regarding competing international orders?

A reduced liberal international order vs. an authoritarian-capitalist international order.

What do Kupchan and Kupchan argue led to wars, including WWI, WWII, and the Cold War?

The emergence of 'aggressor states' driven by ideology and domestic politics.

When did Neo-Marxism and Critical Approaches emerge?

Emerged during the decolonization era and the formation of the 'Group of 77' at the UN.

Who were key theorists developing 'Dependencia' theory?

Robert W. Cox and Immanuel Wallerstein.

What is a core tenet of Neo-Marxism?

The economic system (capitalism) largely determines politics, serving the interests of capital.

How does Neo-Marxism view international relations?

They replicate class exploitation.

Who are international trade rules biased against according to Neo-Marxism?

Against developing countries.

In Neo-Marxism, what does 'reflexivity and normativity' emphasize?

Theory is always for a purpose.

Who views neoliberal globalization as intensifying discipline on labor and strengthening capital?

Stephen Gill.

How does Gill view global governance mechanisms?

They sustain an unequal international order.

Who explain wars like the Iraq War as driven by the interests of national capital fractions within the US state?

Andreas Bieler and Adam David Morton.

Who suggests that the integration of rising powers into global capitalism leads to a less liberal, more statist hybrid governance order?

Mathew Stephen.

When did Constructivism gain prominence?

After 1989.

What did the 'third great debate' in IR focus on regarding epistemology?

Positivist vs. interpretive approaches.

What is Alexander Wendt's core argument in Constructivism?

'Structures of human association are determined primarily by shared ideas rather than material forces.'

What shapes international relations according to Constructivism?

Communication, learning, and persuasion.

According to Constructivism, actors base their choices on what type of logic?

Logic of appropriateness.

Who created the concept of 'Anarchy is what states make of it'?

Wendt.

What model is explained by Frieden et al.?

Bargaining Model

According to Monadic Hypothesis, what makes democracies more accountable?

Domestic Constraints \ Accountability

Since what year have rounds of GATTS taken place?

1947

After WWII, what financial institutions were formed?

IMF

What can monetary devaluation cause?

Economic and Political instability

What is one possible effect trade shocks can create?

Increased Support for Populists

According to Art_Climate, Stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system must not exceed ____ C°

2

According to the Norm Life Cycle Stages, what tactics do supporters take on?

Naming and Shaming

What are the key assumptions of Realism regarding the international system?

Anarchy, states as primary actors, rationality, and the pursuit of power.

How do realists view morality in international politics?

Morality is secondary to the national interest and the pursuit of power.

What is the focus of Liberalism regarding individual rights?

Protecting and promoting individual rights and freedoms.

What are the key tenets of Constructivism regarding international norms?

International norms shape state identities, interests, and behaviors.

In Constructivism, how are state interests determined?

State interests are socially constructed through interactions and shared understandings.

What role do non-state actors play in Liberalism?

They play a significant role in shaping international relations, especially through economic and social interdependence.

What is emphasized by Neo-Marxism regarding global inequality?

The global capitalist system perpetuates inequality between core and periphery states.

What is the significance of 'naming and shaming' in the context of international norms?

It is a tactic used to enforce international norms by publicly condemning norm violations.

What is meant by 'logic of appropriateness' in Constructivism?

Actors make decisions based on what is considered appropriate or legitimate within a given social context.

How does the Bargaining Model (Frieden et al.) explain international conflict?

Conflict arises from incomplete information, commitment problems, and issue indivisibility.

What are Peacekeeping Operations?

Operations involving military personnel, police, and civilians to maintain peace and security in conflict areas.

What are the main goals of the UN?

Maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, and foster international cooperation.

What are the major international financial institutions?

IMF, World Bank, and WTO.

What does the International Political Economy (IPE) study?

Exchange rates, trade policies, and foreign direct investment.