IR Midterm Exam Study Guide S25

Globalization

The widening, deepening, and speeding up of worldwide interconnectedness in all aspects of contemporary social, economic, and political life. Ex. Increased intern. trade, increased cooperation among states, fewer wars, global financial market.

Opponents of Globalization

Critics argue that major economies are no more integrated than they were before WWI. They also doubt the regional and geographic distinctions are disappearing on favor of a single global market.

Collective Goods Problem

The challenge of getting key actors to forgo individual interest for the benefit of serving the collective interest of all group members

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year, important for measuring the economic performance of a country.

Realism

A theoretical perspective in international relations emphasizing the role of the state, national interests, and military power.

Prisoner's Dilemma

A situation modeled by a game theory in which rational actors pursuing their individual interests all achieve worse outcomes than they could have by working together.

Sovereignty

The principle that a state has authority and independence to govern itself without outside interference.

Hegemony

Dominance of one state over the others, often used to describe a state's influence in international politics.

Zero-sum games

Situations in which one actors gain is exactly balanced by another participant's losses, (RELATIVE GAINS), opposed to a non zero-sum game in which it’s possible for both actors to gain or lose. (ABSOLUTE GAINS)

Liberalism

A theory that seeks to explain international relations in terms of cooperation, interdependance, the role of international organizations, and the importance of individual rights.

Regimes

Sets of norms, rules, and decision-making procedures around which actor expectations converge in a given area of international relations. A SPECIFIC AREA. (NATO)

Democratic Peace Theory

The theory that democracies are less likely to go to war with each other due to shared norms and institutions.

Collective Security

An arrangement in which states agree to respond collectively to threats to peace or aggression against any member.

Rationality

Key acts will make calculated and deliberate decisions based on the cost and benefit analysis.

Arms Race

Two or more states build up their military capabilities in response to each other.

International Norms

Shared expectations about behavior among states that can facilitate cooperation and shape international relations.

Negative Reciprocity

A response to an action that incurs costs to the initiator, often resulting in conflict; contrasted with positive reciprocity.

Liberal Institutionalism

An approach emphasizing the role of international institutions in facilitating cooperation among states.

Constructivism

An approach that seeks to explain IR in terms of identity and

What are the nine global regions of the world?

1. North America 2. Latin America 3. Europe 4. Africa 5. Middle East 6. China 7. South Asia 8. Russia/CIS 9. Japan/pacific

Anarchy

No central authority to enforce rules among states and actors within the international community.

The principle of sovereignty

The principle of sovereignty refers to the authority of a state to govern itself and make decisions independently without external interference. It is a foundational concept in international law that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of states in the global system.

Levels Of Analysis

A framework of similar actors or procesess that analyze issues at different scales, including individual, state, and systemic levels.

Individual level (Levels Of Analysis)

Perceptions, actions or choices of individual humans such as presidents

Domestic level (Levels Of Analysis)

Characteristics of a state that influences sate actions in the international arena. (political organizations)

Interstate level (Levels Of Analysis)

Influence of international systems upon outcomes. (Military power)

Global level (Levels Of Analysis)

Global trends and forces that transcend interactions of states. (Technology)

Key actors in IR

United States, China, Russia, France, Germany, Britain, Japan

Dominance

A principle for solving collective goods problem by establishing a power hierarchy that enforces compliance among group members. Those at the top control those below them.

Reciprocity

A principle for solving collective goods problem where states respond to each other's actions, rewarding cooperative behavior and punishing non-cooperative behavior to promote mutual benefit.

Identity

A principle for solving the collective goods problem that emphasizes shared beliefs and values among members, fostering cooperation based on group identity and solidarity.

Alliances

States that work together to meet the same goal or to limit powers. NATO is a U.S led military alliance formed to oppose soviet powers. The U.S-Japanese security treaty is the second most importance alliance.

Detterence

Threat to punish another actor if it takes a negative action.

How does Realism’s explanation of international events differ from other approaches?

Realism focuses on war, conflict and military power to explain events in international relations.

Power Transition Theory

Large wars result from challenges to the top position in the status hierarchy.

Major strengths and weaknesses of Liberalism

Liberalism promotes free trade, cooperation and stability. However, there are exceptions in democratic peace.

Neoliberalism

Stresses the importance of international institutions in reducing the conflict realists assume. They share the belief with realists that actors are rationally perishing their self interests.

Collective Security

The formation of broad alliances to jointly appose aggression by any actor.

Power

The ability to influence others’ behavior through military force. The most powerful states today are the United States, China, Russia, Japan, Germany, France, and Britain. They have large GDPs, strong military forces and economies.

Nation States

States whose population shares a sense of national identity, including language and culture.

Non-state Actors

Actors other than state governments that operate below the level of the state for across state borders.

Intergovernmental Organization

An organization composed of multiple national governments that collaborate on issues of common interest, such as trade, security or environmental protection.

Subnational Organizations

Local government entity that operates below the national level is typically responsible for managing public affairs and services with specific regions or communities.

Nongovernmental Organizations

Private organizations that deal with carious social, political, or environmental goals, often operating independently of government influence.

Multinational Corporations

Large companies that operate in multiple countries, engaging in international trade and investment that often control greater recourses.

Empirical approach to IR

How things actually are in international relations based on observation and evidence rather than theory or speculation.

Observable approach to IR

Falsifiable facts (subject to verification) that can be measured and tested in the study of international relations.

Hard Power

Use of force (war).

Soft power

Persuasion (diplomacy).

Indication Of Power

Economy (total GDP), military might (size effectiveness), diplomatic skills (soft power).

Security Dilemma

One state poses a threat (or is perceived to be a threat) to another state, and they respond. Ex. Arms Race during the Cold War.

International Organizations

Agencies develop and implement/enforce international organization rules, norms, and procedures. Ex. United Nations

International Institutions

A broad set of rules, norms, and procedures of IR. Ex. Geneva Conventions

Long term power

GDP, population, territory, geography, and natural resources.

Short term power

Military force

Balance Of Power

One or more states power being used to balance that of another state or group states.

Power transition theory

Large wars result from challenges to the top position in the status hierarchy. Ex. North Korea’s threats since 2010 to the U.S.

NATO

A U.S.led military alliance was formed to oppose Soviet power.

Compellence

Threat to make another actor take an action.

The Security Council

Responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

International trade regimes

Rules/institutions on specific issues only to countries signed on to the member states.

Relative Power

Power levels among competing states or the ratio of a state vs. another state. Ex. How powerful the U.S is vs. Russia.

Multilateral Alliance

An alliance that involves multiple countries working together towards a common goal, often in the context of security, trade, or international cooperation. Ex. NATO due to the Warsaw Pact

Bilateral Alliance

An alliance involving two countries that agree to cooperate and support each other in various areas, including security, trade, or diplomatic relations. Ex. U.S and Japanese Security treaty.

Democratic Peace

Democracies are less likely to engage in armed conflict with one another compared to conflicts involving at least one non-democratic state. It emphasizes the idea that democratic nations tend to resolve disputes through negation rather than warfare.

Bureaucracies

Organizations composed of administrative and management structures that implement policies and carry out foreign policy

Supranational

Larger institutions and groupings such as EU to which state authority or national identity is subordinated.

Intrastate wars

Wars within states

Interstate wars

Wars among states

Liberal institutions

International organizations, institutions and regimes mitigate the effects of anarchy to provide cooperation and communication.

Representation deficit

The gap between the needs or interests of a group and the level of political power or representation they have within decision-making processes

Immanuel Kant

Scholar who thought that peace depended on internal characteristics of government and said that democracies will be more peaceful than autocracies. He also said that states should develop organizations and rules to facilitate cooperation.

Collective Security

A broad coalition of alliances to jointly oppose aggression by other actors. Ex. UN Security Council

International Regimes

States will establish a set of rules, norms, and procedures around the expectations of actors converging on issues. Ex. Arms Control

Positive reciprocity

Rewards. Ex. Trade agreements

Negative Reciprocity

Punishment for non-cooperation. Ex. Cuba was sanctioned by the U.S and then struggled economically.

Liberal institutionalism

IO’s write the rules (institutions) that organizations follow and will be punished if they don’t cooperate.

Brexit

The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, driven by a referendum in 2016. It reflects complex factors, including sovereignty concerns, economic considerations, and immigration policies, reshaping the UK's relationship with Europe and the global community.

International conflict

A conflict does not necessarily involve violence, but violence is likely. The U.N. charter does not use the word conflict; instead refers to them as disputes, since a dispute is more formulated than a conflict, and conflict implies escalation (armed conflict).

Idea-based causes of international conflict

Ethnic wars, religious, and ideological.

Ethnic War cause of international conflict

Hutus and Tutsi ethnic war in Rwanda which resulted in the Tutsi genocide and the ethnic war between north and South Sudan.

Religious cause of international conflict

Muslim death by Isis/AlQaida.

Idealogical cause of international conflict

American civil war and slavery.

Interest based causes of international conflict

Territorial, Governmental, Economic

Territorial cause of international conflict

In World War II, Germany wanted to gain more territory for more power.

Governmental cause of international conflict

The Syrian government was run by one family, which resulted in a civil war.

Economic cause of international conflict

Control of oil resources, such as conflicts driven by the desire to control petroleum reserves in the Middle East, influence energy security and geopolitical power dynamics.

Interstate conflict

between two or more states and opposing forces. Ex. Russia and Ukraine war (2022).

Non-international state conflict

Intrastate war, between the government and other forces.

Hegemonic War

Control over the entire world. It is a threat to civilization and can no longer occur. Ex. WWI and WWII.

Total War

Warfare by one state waged to conquer and occupy another with the goal of reaching the capital city and forcing the surrender of the government, which can then be replaced with the victor’s choosing. Ex. Isis (Iraq and Syria).

Limited Wars

Military actions carried out to gain some objective short of the surrender and occupation of the enemy such as raids or singular actions. Ex. Allied forces retook Kuwait from Iraq (1991).

Guerilla Warfare

Warfare without frontlines, irregular forces operate amid civilians to harass and punish, to gradually liberate territory without confronting an army directly. Ex. Taliban vs. U.S in which Afghanistan practiced this.

Terrorism

Political Violence that deliberately targets civilians to harm as many people as possible. Ex. Taliban, Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11, and the Boston marathon.

Civil War

An intra state war between factions within states in which factions seek to prevent a new government.

Causes and effects of terrorism

Idea and interest-based that is primarily psychological to impose fear.

State Terrorism

Political violence against a government’s own citizens within territorial borders. Ex. Germany (Holocaust), Syria’s use of chemical weapons against its people, U.S Japanese citizens put in internment camps after WWI.

Domestic Terrorism

Terrorism within a country by individuals with no ties to any government, against other civilians. Ex. Oklahoma City bombing, Boston marathon.

International Terrorism

Terrorism outside state borders. Ex. Iran supporting Hezbollah, U.S support of apartheid in South Africa, U.S support of Nicaraguan contras.

Transnational terrorism

Terrorism by individual groups operating in different countries and coordinating their efforts. Ex. Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.