Pol 003 Midterm 1

Anarchy

Defines the international system as no hierarchy, all states are equal.

sovereignty

states main interest (goal) state security “self-help system”

explanatory variable (EV)

(sometimes called “independent” variable) = the factor whose variation we think leads to variation in the dependent variable 

rational actors

states are ___

unitary actors

coherent units

socialization

process of inducting actors into the norms and/or identity of a given community

Balancing (internal and External)

economic, military power
alliances of convenience

International institutions

sets of rules meant to govern state behavior
international laws
international governmental organizations (IGOs)

Discourse

influences construction of identities
US and Iran post 9/11 (effect of “axis of evil” discourse)

Relative gains

power in relation to another state

Absolute gains

What you actually gain

Dependent variable (DV)

what we are trying to explain variation in

Hypothesis

falsifiable statements posting a particular relationship among 2 or more variables

Eg, the more authoritarian a state, the less respect for human rights we are likely to see.

Defensive realists

Argue that few wars actually end up benefiting the states that started them
If states balance against powerful state:

More powerful state will pursue policies of restraint

Balancing protects your from attack in the first place

Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait of 1990

offensive Realists

Argue that conquest pays - creates reputation for willingness to attack
Weaker states will bandwagon to avoid getting attacked
Libya 2003

Bottom Up liberal theory

Individuals and domestic groups most important actors

different groups in society have different interest

groups that government is responding to define state action

state preferences

neoliberal institutionalism

international system is anarchic
states are rational actors
Interdependence of states
use of force is costly
repeated interactions over time - reciprocity
important in helping solve PD (cheating) problem

Constructivism

ideas, identities, and norms

Kantain peace theories

1. Democracy

2. Economic Interdependence

3. International institutions

Marxist Theory Problems

1. overproduction of goods and services

2. underconsumption by workers/lower class → low wages

3. over savings from upper class

Multinational corporations (MNCs)

key players in establishing and maintaining dependency relationships

Agents of penetration - forge relationships with elites in developing countries

Legal conditions of war (under international law)

1. acting in self-defense

2. UNSC approval

realist argument to PD

Accept assumptions of anarchy & unitary, rational state actors that pursue own self-interest

NLI argument to PD

self-interest points to cooperation
states interact continuously → have opportunity to reciprocate cooperation or noncooperation