Modules 11-12: Great Powers and International Order

Explores great power characteristics and how they shape international order Covers post-war settlements, polarity concepts (unipolar, bipolar, multipolar) Examines US-Russia tensions, NATO expansion, and the Ukraine conflict Includes power transition theory and US-China relations

Great Power

A state with exceptional military capabilities, economic strength, global political influence, and the ability to shape international norms and institutions.

How do great powers restructure international politics after major wars?

establish new territorial boundaries, create international institutions, set norms for behavior, and establish rules for managing conflicts.

main pillars of the peace settlement after World War I

Wilson's Fourteen Points, the League of Nations, collective security principles, self-determination for nations, and punitive measures against Germany.

Main elements of the post-World War II settlement

The United Nations, Bretton Woods economic institutions, containment of the Soviet Union, collective defense alliances (NATO), and promotion of liberal democracy.

What is polarity in international relations?

distribution of power among states in the international system, classified as unipolar (one dominant power), bipolar (two dominant powers), or multipolar (several competing powers)

 How did bipolarity affect US-Soviet competition during the Cold War?

created a stable but tense standoff where both superpowers built competing alliance systems, engaged in proxy wars, and developed nuclear deterrence strategies.

What explains the absence of great power war since the mid-20th century?

Nuclear deterrence, economic interdependence, spread of democracy, stronger international institutions, and the high costs of modern warfare.

How did the end of the Cold War affect US-Russian relations?

Russia experienced political and economic collapse while the US emerged as the sole superpower, creating resentment in Russia and triumphalism in the West.

What is an alliance?

formal agreement between states to coordinate their security policies, typically involving commitments to mutual defense, resource sharing, and diplomatic coordination.

What were arguments for NATO expansion?

Securing new democracies, preventing Russian influence, extending stability eastward, and fulfilling promises of Cold War victory.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance between European and North American countries. NATO was formed in 1949 to protect member countries' security and freedom.

Arguments against NATO expansion

Provoking Russian insecurity, creating new dividing lines in Europe, diluting alliance effectiveness, and generating commitment problems for the US.

Why did Russia intervene in Ukraine in 2014?

To prevent Ukraine from aligning with the West after the Euromaidan revolution, secure strategic assets in Crimea, and maintain influence in its near abroad.

What were Putin's goals in invading Ukraine in 2022?

preventing Ukraine's NATO membership, installing a pro-Russian government, demilitarizing Ukraine, and reasserting Russia as a great power.

Why has the US supported Ukraine against Russia?

To defend the principle that borders cannot be changed by force, maintain NATO credibility, prevent Russian expansion, and uphold the liberal international order.

What two major problems does Ukraine face in its conflict with Russia as of 2024?

• Resource limitations (manpower, equipment)

• uncertainty about long-term Western support, particularly given potential policy changes in the US.

Power transition theory

war is most likely when a rising power approaches parity with a declining dominant power, creating commitment problems and incentives for preventive war

How does power transition theory apply to South China Sea disputes?

China's rising power creates incentives to challenge US-established maritime rules, while the US seeks to maintain its dominance, creating potential for conflict.

How has the Ukraine war affected China-Russia relations?

•  strengthened cooperation between China and Russia

• China providing economic support to Russia while both countries challenge US global leadership.