International Security Final

Terrorism

The use or threatened use of violence against civilians in pursuit of a larger political goal

Instrumental Rationality

The logic that terrorist actors are rational beings who perceive violence as their only option to achieve political ends

Terrorist Cell

A small, tight-knit group of operatives who know one another but may not know the identities of members in other cells

Attribution

A strategy where terrorists use violence to communicate their resolve and future capacity to impose costs on an enemy government

Intimidation

Signaling to domestic actors that the terrorist organization can punish anyone who does not comply with their goals

Provocation

Inciting a target government to attack a population broadly to build societal support for a radical movement

Spoiling

Using violence to undermine international confidence in moderates and challenge their ability to implement peace settlements

Outbidding

Demonstrating a superior capacity to protect a group’s interests compared to rival organizations to cultivate societal support

Principle-Agent Problem

A challenge where society (the principle) hires an agent (the hardliner) to protect them, but the agent uses terrorism to secure a better deal for themselves

Nuclear Paradox

The concept that while nuclear weapons have catastrophic potential, their deadliness may actually encourage caution and restraint among great powers

Nuclear Revolution

The shift in warfare where the speed of nuclear strikes shrinks decision-making time and enables the direct targeting of civilians without defeating an army first

First Strike

An initial nuclear attack intended to take out an adversary's command centers and retaliatory capabilities

Second Strike Capability

Possession of enough nuclear weapons to survive an initial attack and launch a devastating retaliatory strike

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

A condition where opposing powers both possess secure second-strike capabilities, ensuring neither side can win a nuclear war

Deterrence

A strategy of preserving the status quo through credible threats to impose unacceptable costs rather than using actual military force

Defense

Military instruments, such as conventional weapons or walls, that physically limit an adversary’s ability to inflict harm

Punitive Capabilities

Military power, such as nuclear strikes or invasions, intended specifically to punish and cause harm

Nuclear Triad:

A diverse nuclear arsenal consisting of strategic bombers, ICBMs, and SLBMs to ensure survivability

Brinkmanship

A strategy of manipulating the risk of disaster to signal resolve, making the unthinkable credible by moving a crisis toward a "nonzero" chance of accident

Extended Deterrence

A commitment by a nuclear power to protect its allies under its "nuclear umbrella," often involving "trip wire forces" stationed in the ally's territory

Stability-Instability Paradox

The theory that states may engage in more frequent low-level conflicts because they are confident those conflicts will not escalate to a nuclear level

Preemptive War:

An attack launched against a small force before it can become operational during a crisis

Preventive War

An attack intended to destroy an adversary's nuclear forces before they are fully developed

Commitment Problem

A bargaining failure where a faction is reluctant to disarm because they fear post-peace vulnerability

Moral Hazard

A situation where insurance (like international support) encourages risky behavior because the actors no longer face the full costs of a bad outcome

Corner Solution

A game-theory outcome where negotiation never begins because one side’s probability of victory is so low that fighting is irrational

International Hierarchy

A relationship where weak states trade some sovereignty to a dominant state in exchange for security and order

Rule of Law

Respect for official decisions administered by the state or judiciary based on established legal principles

Grievances

Sources of collective dissatisfaction held by groups within a state, often based on ethnic, religious, or economic differences

State

An institutionalized coalition of political groups that maintains a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence and provides public goods

Sovereignty

An external recognition of a government's authority and autonomy, which acts as a pledge by other nations not to interfere

Institutionalized Predation

The capacity of a state to use its monopoly on violence to enforce directives and deter rivals

Lootable Resources

Natural resources like oil or diamonds that provide economic opportunities and funding for rebel groups

Insurgency

A technology of military conflict characterized by small, lightly armed groups operating in rural or rugged terrain

Collective Identity

A connection between individuals and groups emerging through shared constitutive norms, purposes, and relational comparisons

Great Power

A nation that dictates the structure of international relations through resource control, economic influence, and military superiority

Hegemony

A state of dominance by one nation that sets and enforces the rules of the international system

Hegemonic Stability Theory

The idea that global prosperity and peace are maintained by a single dominant power that provides public goods and open markets

Sphere of Influence

A geographic region where a great power denies local governments the right to ally with rival powers

Commitment Technologies

Tools like arms control agreements used to preserve the existing distribution of military power

Energy Weaponization

The use of the flow of energy and critical materials as a geopolitical tool to compel other nations to change their policies

Mineral Dominance

Control over the processing of critical minerals (like rare earths) necessary for green technologies

Blanket Tariffs

Broad import taxes applied across many industries, often used in protectionist "America First" policies

Friend-shoring

Eliminating trade barriers for trusted allies to create resilient, diversified supply chains

Chokepoints

Highly centralized nodes in the global economy—such as semiconductors, the US dollar, or shipping lanes—that can be manipulated to exert influence

Weaponized Interdependence

An era where states use their control over global networks and technological stacks for surveillance or to exclude rivals

Power Transition Theory

The premise that instability and war result when a shift in the distribution of power reduces a hegemon's supremacy

Strategic Ambiguity

A policy (specifically regarding Taiwan) where a state remains unclear about its commitment to defend a territory to deter both an attack and a declaration of independence

Security Dilemma

A spiral where one state's efforts to increase its security are perceived as a threat by another, leading to a dangerous buildup of military power

Porcupine Strategy

A defensive approach of stockpiling weapons to make the cost of an invasion prohibitively high for an aggressor

Decoupling

The process of reducing economic dependence between two major powers, such as the US and China

Putinism

An ideology blending illiberalism, conservative nationalism, and a rejection of Western liberalism

Ethnic pogroms

Violent attacks between ethnic groups

Greed

Desire for more wealth or resources

Grievances

Group complaints or feelings of unfair treatment

Industrialization

Shift from farming to factory-based economy.

Inequality

Unequal distribution of wealth

Issue indivisibility

The inability to reach compromise over disputes like territory, policy, or control of government

Marxist-Leninist

Ideologies based on Marx and Lenin emphasizing class conflict between workers and capital owners.

Moral hazard

A situation where actors take greater risks because they expect protection from negative outcomes.

Organized violence

Coordinated violence between groups within a state, with or without the goal of controlling government.

Physical integrity rights

Basic rights protecting individuals from torture, imprisonment, rape, or killing.

Responsibility to Protect Doctrine

The principle that states must protect citizens’ rights or risk losing sovereignty.

Rule of law

Governance based on established laws applied impartially, not political motives.

Urbanization

The shift from rural, agrarian living to city-centered economic and social life.

Asymmetrical conflict

A conflict with a significant power imbalance between opposing sides.

Counterterrorism

State policies aimed at preventing and responding to terrorism, including security measures, surveillance, and military actions.

Demonstrative terrorism

Attacks meant to attract attention and gain support, typically less destructive to avoid alienating sympathizers.

Domestic surveillance

Monitoring communications and activities within a country to gather intelligence, sometimes targeting large populations.

Drone strikes

Missile attacks carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles, often used in counterterrorism to target threats with fewer troop deployments.

Non-state actors

Individuals or groups operating independently of government control, including terrorist organizations and other groups.

Outbidding

Use of violence by competing groups to demonstrate greater commitment and attract support or resources.

Provocation

Attacks intended to trigger a strong response that ultimately benefits the terrorist group by increasing support.

Terrorism

The use or threat of violence by non-state actors against civilians to achieve political goals and create broader fear.

Terrorist’s dilemma

The trade-off between communication (which risks detection) and secrecy (which can weaken coordination and effectiveness).

Deterrence by denial

Preventing attacks by making them difficult to carry out or succeed.

Deterrence by retribution

Preventing attacks through the threat or use of severe retaliation.

Lone wolf

An individual who carries out a terrorist attack independently, without direct support from a group.

Defensive capabilities

The ability to limit damage from an adversary, such as through defenses like borders, walls, or military forces.

Extended deterrence

When a country threatens retaliation to protect allies, even at the risk of its own safety, raising credibility concerns.

General deterrence

Maintaining military strength over time to discourage potential attacks, usually in low-tension situations.

Immediate deterrence

Threats made during a crisis to prevent an imminent attack, involving higher tension and urgency.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)

Land-based missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads across very long distances.

Manhattan Project

A secret U.S. program during World War II that developed the first nuclear weapons.

Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs)

Missile systems that carry multiple warheads, each able to strike different targets.

Mutually assured destruction (MAD)

A situation where both nuclear states can retaliate after a first strike, ensuring devastating damage to both sides.

Nuclear revolution

The transformation of warfare due to nuclear weapons, including rapid destruction, targeting civilians, mutual vulnerability, and a shift toward deterrence strategies.

Brinkmanship

Deliberately taking high risks in a crisis to gain a bargaining advantage.

Counterproliferation

Using or threatening military force to stop states from acquiring nuclear weapons.

National missile defense (NMD)

A system that uses missiles and satellites to intercept incoming ballistic missiles, potentially weakening an adversary’s ability to retaliate.

Nonproliferation

Efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons without using military force.

Nuclear forbearance

When a state chooses not to develop or keeps from retaining nuclear weapons despite having the capability or opportunity.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

An international agreement (1968/1970) aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and related technology.

Nuclear proliferation

The spread or acquisition of nuclear weapons by states that do not already have them.

Problem of credibility

The challenge of making threats believable when carrying them out would also harm the issuer, especially under mutually assured destruction.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A proposed U.S. missile defense program under Reagan intended to stop nuclear attacks, but never implemented due to feasibility concerns

Balance of Power

A decentralized process where states’ balancing efforts prevent any one state from dominating global military and economic power over time.

Balancing

Actions taken by states to counter or offset another state’s growing military or economic strength.

Bipolar System

An international structure where two dominant powers hold most global capabilities (e.g., U.S. and Soviet Union during the Cold War).

Empire

A hierarchical system where a powerful state rules over subordinate territories that lack full sovereignty and autonomy.