Unit 4+5

Flashcards of key vocabulary terms with definitions from lecture notes on International Political Economy.

International Political Economy (IPE)

Developed as a modern academic field after WWII, based on centuries-old economic theories.

Mercantilism

Constant competition, trade is a zero-sum game (winners, exporters, and losers, importers), see everything as a war, the state needs to play a large role in shaping its economy

Economic Liberalism

Developed in response to mercantilism (critique of what came before), clear line between politics + economics, trade is net-positive (all benefit), the market is best at allocating resources (invisible hand).

Marxism

Developed as a critique of liberalism, important actors=social classes, capitalist markets are exploitative and create inequalities, these relationships are recreated internationally between countries.

Society-centered approaches

Govt policies shaped by pressure forced by people, influenced by the ability of groups to overcome the collective action problem and organizing. Companies have more influence.

Globalization

The spread of political, economic, and cultural dynamics among government, groups, and individuals beyond the border of any one particular country.

WTO

Focuses on trade rules and facilitating international trade

IMF

Financial stability and international growth

WB

Aims to reduce poverty through development programs.

Classic Modernization Theory

All societies pass through the same historical stages of development. Tradition → modernity, some societies are just “behind”.

Power Transition Theory

Suggests that conflicts are more likely to occur when a rising power (challenger) threatens to suppress a dominant state in the international system.

Normalization

Restoring economic diplomatic relations between countries after a period of hostility.

BRICS

Intergovernmental organization of rising economies, BRICS challenge western dominance, defended liberalism and free trade in response to America.

Sex

Biological characteristics

Gender

Social codes expressing masculinity and femininity

Hegemonic Masculinity

Defends a man’s role in IR and in power.

Race vs. Ethnic Group

Race is a categorization of humans supposedly based on heritable physical characteristics, origin: imposition of a classification on others. Ethnic group: a group of people who self-identify due to cultural attributes of a common history

European Imperialism

Driven by the belief that white Christian Europeans are at the top of human hierarchy, religious doctrine, stages of evolution, The White Man’s burden: “educate and civilize” by colonization, scramble for Africa

Eco-fascism

Scapegoating others for the climate crisis, reactionary racist ideas masquerading as environmentalism.

Postcolonialism

Shift from a Western perspective

NGOs Characteristics

Non-commercial, non-violent, not on behalf of government

Information politics

Raising awareness on key issues

Symbolic politics

Events/protests

Accountability politics

Name + shame

Leverage politics

Using powerful actors and international transnational advocacy networks (TANs) to exert pressure and affect change

Boomerang Model

One NGO wants state A to do something, so an NGO with connections to state B gets them to put pressure on state A.

Anthropocene

Era we live in, human activity has the most influence on the environment.

Tragedy of the Commons

When individuals at their own self-interest consume resources at the expense of society.

UNEP

United Nations Environment Programme - efforts to counter the global climate crisis.

Kyoto Protocol

International treaty aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Paris Climate Agreement

2015 treaty aiming to combat climate change.

Voluntary vs. Forced Migration

Usually based on economics, Forced - involuntary response to existing political, environmental, and violence-related threats

Asylum Seekers

Those who have crossed a border but the claim of refugee status is still pending

Refugees

Asylum seekers who have proved before a judge that they are refugees

People in Refugee-like Situations

Refugee status not ascertained

Internally Displaced People

Most common type of forced migrant

Principle of Non-refoulement

Prohibiting states from returning individuals to a country where they face a real risk of persecution

Nation vs. State

Group of people united by cultural, historical, or ethnic ties, state - 3 criteria: territory, population, monopoly over legitimate use of physical force. Nation-states, where nation and state overlap

Zionism

Emergence of the Zionist movement in the late 19th century, Jewish community was seen as a nation, not just a religion, decided on Palestine as the home of the Jewish nation, although 90% of people

Vaccine Nationalism

Countries buy more than they need of vaccines

Anti-Globalization

Autarchy, self-sufficiency, nationalistic, anti IOs, protection over the state's own resources is causing these anti-globalization movements.

Rodrick’s Political Trilemma

Govt has 3 desirable options, but can only achieve two - 1. Globalization, 2. Democratic decision-making, 3. National autonomy

Populism

An ideology that divides the country’s population into “pure people” and “corrupt elite”. Us vs them mindset, can appear as left or right wing, relies on a charismatic leader, nationalistic rhetoric and scapegoating minority populations, democratic backsliding