Cramming for Exam

What is the term for the absence of a central world government in international relations?

Anarchy

What is the authority of a state to govern itself without outside interference?

Sovereignty

What is strategic interdependence?

A situation where the actions of one actor affect the outcomes of others.

In scientific analysis, what is the independent variable?

The cause or factor that influences another variable.

In scientific analysis, what is the dependent variable?

The outcome or effect being explained.

What is a causal mechanism?

The process through which one factor produces an outcome.

What is the collective action problem?

A situation where everyone benefits from a goal, but nobody wants to pay the costs.

What is a free rider?

One who benefits from others' efforts without contributing.

What is a public good?

A good that is non-rival and non-excludable.

What are transaction costs?

The costs of negotiating, monitoring, and enforcing agreements.

What logic describes actors making decisions based on costs and benefits, often asking "What benefits me?"

Logic of consequences

What logic describes actors making decisions based on what is considered proper or the "right thing to do?"

Logic of appropriateness

Who are norm entrepreneurs?

Individuals or groups that promote and spread new norms.

What is "naming and shaming"?

Publicly criticizing states to pressure them into changing behavior.

What is the tragedy of the commons?

The overuse of a shared resource because individuals act in self-interest.

What is a treaty?

A legally binding agreement between states.

What is soft law?

Nonbinding agreements, guidelines, or declarations without strong legal force.

What is customary international law?

Law developed through consistent state practice and accepted as legally required.

What are greenhouse gases?

Gases that trap heat in the Earth atmosphere.

What is a carbon sink?

A natural or artificial system that absorbs more carbon than it releases.

What situation illustrates that cooperation benefits everyone, but individual incentives encourage defection?

Prisoner's Dilemma

What is Hegemonic Stability Theory?

The idea that a dominant power promotes international stability and cooperation.

What is a Principal-Agent Relationship?

A relationship where one actor (principal) delegates authority to another (agent).

What term refers to the difficulty of distinguishing climate trends from natural variation?

Signal-to-Noise Ratio

What is a taboo?

A strong social norm prohibiting certain actions.