Poli world exam 2

What are international intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)?

Organizations created by states to cooperate on international issues.

How does the UN Security Council reflect international politics?

Its permanent members hold unequal power through veto authority.

Why is UN Security Council reform unlikely?

Powerful permanent members benefit from the current system and can block reforms.

How is the UN General Budget politically influenced?

States' financial contributions and disagreements reflect unequal wealth and political influence.

How are great powers typically defined?

States with substantial military, economic, political, and diplomatic influence.

What are the primary attributes of great powers?

Military strength, economic resources, population, technology, and global influence.

Why can power be examined in different ways?

Power can mean resources, the ability to influence behavior, or control over outcomes.

What is hard power?

Influence through military force or economic pressure.

What is soft power?

Influence through attraction, culture, values, and diplomacy.

What is economic power?

The ability to influence others through trade, investment, wealth, and financial resources.

What is military power?

The ability to use armed forces and military capabilities to influence other states.

Why are there different measurements of power?

Power has multiple dimensions, and no single measurement captures all influence.

If states feel insecure, what options might they pursue?

Military buildups, alliances, deterrence, arms races, or acquiring nuclear weapons.

What is a security dilemma?

One state's efforts to increase security make other states feel threatened.

What is a military buildup?

Increasing military forces, weapons, technology, or defense spending.

Where does most global military spending occur?

Primarily among major powers and economically developed states.

Why are nuclear weapons considered particularly useful?

Their destructive power can deter attacks by threatening unacceptable retaliation.

What are the major effects of nuclear weapons on humans?

Blast injuries, extreme heat, radiation sickness, cancer, and long-term health effects.

Why is nuclear damage more than immediate destruction?

Radiation, long-term illness, environmental contamination, and generational consequences.

What is nuclear deterrence?

Preventing an attack by threatening devastating nuclear retaliation.

What is nuclear proliferation?

The spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology to additional states.

How is nuclear proliferation related to the security dilemma?

One state's nuclear buildup can encourage other states to acquire nuclear weapons.

What conditions make deterrence effective?

Credible threats, sufficient capability, clear communication, and rational decision-making.

Why must nuclear retaliation be credible?

An opponent must believe the state has both the ability and willingness to retaliate.

What is mutually assured destruction (MAD)?

Both sides can destroy each other through nuclear retaliation.

What is the most prominent military alliance today?

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

What is NATO's Article 5?

An attack against one member is considered an attack against all members.

What is collective defense?

Members agree to defend one another against an external attack.

How do military alliances differ from collective security organizations?

Alliances defend members against specified threats; collective security addresses aggression against members of the wider system.

What is arms control?

Agreements that limit, regulate, or monitor weapons and their use.

What is disarmament?

Reducing or eliminating existing weapons and military capabilities.

What is an example of nuclear arms control?

The New START treaty between the United States and Russia.

What is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?

An international agreement intended to prevent nuclear spread, promote disarmament, and support peaceful nuclear energy.

Why is the NPT important?

It is the most widely supported international agreement addressing nuclear weapons proliferation.

What are challenges for future arms control?

Distrust, changing technology, geopolitical competition, and disagreements over verification.

Why are arms control treaties difficult to enforce?

States may cheat, withdraw, disagree over compliance, or lack effective enforcement mechanisms.

Why should developed countries care about poverty in less-developed countries?

Poverty can contribute to instability, conflict, migration, disease, and economic insecurity.

How can poverty affect international security?

It can contribute to political instability, conflict, extremism, and humanitarian crises.

How does colonization affect less-developed economies?

It can create dependency, extract resources, distort economies, and weaken local industries.

What is economic dependency?

A situation where a country's economy relies heavily on wealthier countries for trade, investment, or resources.

Why is the traditional approach to international economic development important?

It provides a framework for understanding differences in development and economic growth.

Why do scholars argue alternative development methods are necessary?

Traditional approaches may overlook inequality, historical disadvantages, and different national circumstances.

Why compare different countries' development strategies?

Comparisons show how political systems, resources, and policies affect economic outcomes.

What is import substitution industrialization (ISI)?

Developing domestic industries by producing goods previously imported.

What is one advantage of import substitution?

It can protect domestic industries and reduce dependence on foreign products.

What is one obstacle to import substitution?

Protected industries may become inefficient and struggle to compete internationally.

What is export-oriented industrialization?

Promoting economic growth by producing goods for international markets.

What is one advantage of export-oriented development?

It increases access to international markets, investment, and foreign income.

What is one obstacle to export-oriented development?

Dependence on foreign demand, competition, and global economic conditions.

What is foreign direct investment (FDI)?

Investment by a foreign company or individual in another country's businesses or production.

What is one benefit of foreign direct investment?

It can create jobs, bring technology, and increase economic growth.

What is one disadvantage of foreign direct investment?

Profits may leave the country, and foreign companies may gain excessive influence.

What is sustainable economic development?

Economic growth that considers long-term environmental and social well-being.

What obstacles can limit economic development?

Political instability, corruption, debt, inequality, weak infrastructure, and dependency.