UCI Political Science 41A Midterm 1 Prof Lockwood

Behavioralist vs non-behavioralist approaches to theory

Behavioralism focuses on order, continuity, and commonality at the expense of disorder and change. Other approaches deconstruct basic concepts that are often taken for granted to understand their history, meanings, and what kind of actions they make possible

anarchy

Realism and Liberalism believe the international system is anarchic - no central authority to enforce rules and each state is a unitary actor.

Relative Gains vs. Absolute Gains

In the international system states are concerned about the distribution of power and not absolute power - this is due to the Offensive / Defensive Balance

Balancing

Balancing power of states to keep one power from getting to strong - states will form alliances to balance the international system

Bandwagoning

a strategy in which states join forces with the stronger side in a conflict

Security Dilemma

A dilemma that arises when efforts that states make to defend themselves cause other states to feel less secure. This dilemma can lead to arms races and war due to fear of being attacked.

Realism

A theory of international relations that focuses on the tendency of nations to operate from self-interest. States are concerned with relative gains and would sacrifice absolute gains for this. Believes international politics is inherently conflictual and that states act rationally to pursue security.

Liberalism

A theory of IR that focuses on absolute gains and cooperation. Believes that international organizations and political groups have influence, and that cooperation is likely and possible. Economic ties reduce chances of conflict

Constructivism

A theory of IR where the starting point is not anarchy but by identity/norms discourse and relationships. Fundamental condition with global politics is encounters with the other. Believe international anarchy is true but a result of specific behavior and is not fact. State perception is shaped by past interactions

Feminist Theory

A theoretical approach that looks at gender inequities in society and the way that gender structures the social world. Global interactions affect men and women differently. activities coded as feminine are valued less than activities coded as masculine.

Dependency Theory/Marxism

A theory of IR where power is a result of capital. The conflict of global politics is between rich and poor states and economic classes. The international system is not anarchic but hierarchical

Complex Interdependence

"A school of thought that predicts increased international cooperation because of the decline in the utility of military force and the increase in global interdependence."

discourse

how different groups of people define themselves, talk about their actions, and differentiate themselves from others

Socialization

States interactions with one another can cause states to adopt the identities of their peers

Treaty of Westphalia

Conventional starting point of the modern state. Principle of territorial sovereignty: absolute right to rule within territorial bounds and a principle of non-interference, end of religious rule,

Sovereignty resides in the state not an individual ruler/leader (perpetual power)

Nationalism

Peoples devotion to the nation

Legitimacy

moral and legal right to rule

Concert of Europe

A series of alliances among European nations in the 19th century that helped keep the multipolar balance of power and kept the peace

Imperialsim

forced annexation of other territories and inhabitants

Colonialism

forcible settlement of Europeans among indigenous people, often accompanied by genoicde, ethnic cleansing, extermination and imperialism

balance of power

a political situation in which no one nation is powerful enough to pose a threat to others

Consequences of WWI and WWII on international relations

The world entered bipolarity (Cold War), Western vs Soviet alliances, United Nations formed, relative end of colonialism (happened in Cold War)

League of Nations

A world organization established in 1920 after WWI to promote international cooperation and peace and enforce the treaty of Versailles. It was first proposed in 1918 by President Woodrow Wilson, although the United States never joined the League. Essentially powerless, it was officially dissolved in 1946.

United Nations

An international organization formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation.

Containment

A U.S. foreign policy adopted by President Harry Truman in the late 1940s, in which the United States tried to stop the spread of communism by creating alliances and helping weak countries to resist Soviet advances

Cold War

A conflict that was between the US and the Soviet Union. The nations never directly confronted each other on the battlefield but deadly threats went on for years.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949); an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries

Warsaw Pact

An alliance (1955) between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European nations. This was in response to the NATO

Denete

1970s: USA and USSR try and lower tensions by releasing SALT treaty lowering number of nukes; nixon visits china.

War on Terrorism

Response to 9/11, US would actively fight terrorism throughout the world, began with invasion of Afghanistan

Caliphate

Islamic empire ruled by those believed to be the successors to the Prophet Muhammad.

Populism

the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite

Polarity

The number of states or blocs of states that have power

Multipolar

an international system in which there are several states or great powers of roughly equal strength or weight (concert of Europe). Stable because more interactions = less focus on competitive dynamics from any one state, more cross cutting alliances enhances stability, each state less likely to respond to the actions of any single other state

Bipolar

The world divided into two power centers, as in the Cold War. Stable because disruptive behavior is immediately evident, deterrence: two sides can absorb destabilizing changes, easier to anticipate opponents actions + predict responses

Unipolar

One main power, hegemony, US post Cold War.

Multilateralism

A foreign policy that encourages the involvement of several nation-states in coordinated action, usually in relation to a common adversary, with terms and conditions usually specified in a multicountry treaty, such as NATO

Evoked set

Details from a present situation that are similar to information gleaned from past situations.

Groupthink

The tendency of individuals to strive for cohesion and sometimes unanimity to achieve cohesion, at the risk of not examining alternative policies

Mirror image

Seeing in one's opponent the opposite of characteristics seen in oneself. One views the opponent as hostile and uncompromising, whereas one views oneself as friendly and compromising.

cognitive consistency

The tendency to accept information that is compatible with what has previously been accepted, often ignoring inconsistent information.