International Relations Final Review

Morgenthau Plan?

post-WWII plan to deindustrialize Germany and deprive it of resources to depower it; not implemented by FDR

Orthodox view of the Cold War's origins

US responded to Soviet aggression and expansionism

Revisionist view of the Cold War's origins

Soviet Union responded to the US aggressively attempting to maintain its newfound status as a military and economic superpower

Post-Revisionist view of the Cold War's origins

inevitable due to a conflict of interest and the bipolar nature of the two superpowers

liberal institutionalism

theory that states that all nations can benefit from cooperation through international institutions like the UN

Hugo Grotius’s view

it is in every state's interest to submit to and participate in internal law and cooperation

international regime

a set of principles, norms, rules and procedures that international actors' expectations converge around in a given area of international relations

universal human rights - relativism

human rights are a western construct with limited universal applicability, form of cultural imperialism

universal human rights - universalism

similarities across civilizations are what matter for human rights; human beings all share the same basic needs

3 Levels of Human Rights: Concepts

there is a consensus on the rights of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; appeals to relativism fail

3 Levels of Human Rights: Interpretations

culture is source of differences in interpretations of Universal Declaration of Human Rights

3 Levels of Human Rights: Implementation

how different nations actually enforce human rights; most human rights issues occur at this level—culture is irrelevant

3 Levels of Intervention Ethics: Skeptics

moral categories have no meaning in international politics because no institutions exist to provide order; order is necessary for justice.

3 Levels of Intervention Ethics: State Moralists

society of states with certain rules, especially sovereignty; national boundaries have moral significance

3 Levels of Intervention Ethics: Cosmopolitans

international politics is a society of individuals, and individuals have human rights; state borders do not matter

horizontal enforcement of human rights

human rights determined by nation states and international organizations, no enforcement

vertical enforcement of human rights

interaction, interpretation, and internalization of global human rights norms by domestic legal systems

normatization/internalization

the process of establishing human rights and international law as norms between and within nations

political economy

the system of interaction between politics and the global economy that establishes society

three levels of the political economy

governments, the economy, and society

liberal conception of the political economy

economy is the most important aspect of the political economy; "Rising tides lift all boats"

mercantilist conception of the political economy

governments and politics are the most important aspects of the political economy; "Rising tides lift some boats, and nobody wants to be on a sinking boat"

Marxist-Leninist conception of the political economy

society and individuals are the most important aspects of the political economy; "Rising tides lift all yachts"

tragedy of the commons

individuals will exploit public resources at the cost of society as a whole

Why does Voeten say the "elite pact" is the best explanation for the legitimacy of the Security Council?

The Security Council sacrifices democratic deliberation for stability brought on by great powers.

public goods

Things such as clean air, water, and infrastructure that international law declares everyone to have rights to

When does the UN allow nations to intervene in issues?

When issues bring about a disturbance to peace and mass human safety.

When does the UN allow nations to use aggression as means of enforcement of international law?

As a last resort after all other means have been exhausted.

What are the basic rules of war?

No targeting civilians or important infrastructure

No targeting medical workers

No torturing detainees

Limits on weaponry

What is the Responsibility to Protect?

States have a responsibility to protect their citizens and other states have a responsibility to help other states protect their citizens and act upon them if they don't.

Jack Donnelly "Human Rights and Cultural Relativism"

Argues in favor of the universality of human rights despite cultural differences (which are often used to justify infringements on human rights)

Robert Gilpin "The Nature of Political Economy"

Outlines political economy and argues that because economic policy is used to pursue political goals, the economy is inherently political.

Erik Voeten "The Political Origins of the UN Security Council"

Argues that the Security Council exists based on Post-WWII conditions and to ensure the participation of great powers. It is also primarily effective in preventing war between the great powers, but not humanitarian crises.

Garrett Hardin "The Tragedy of the Commons"

Argues that international regulations are needed to prevent the exploitation of common goods.

Samantha Power "Bystanders to Genocide"

Argues that policymakers prioritize political cost, national interest, and bureaucratic convenience over moral responsibility and that nations do not act in crises without incentive.

security dilemma

one state's attempts to increase security cause other state to fear for their own security, causing other state to increase security