International Exam 1

State power comes from what

Natural, tangible, and intangible resources

natural resources that enhance state power

resources: oil, minerals, animals, etc

geography: size, length of border, control of the sea

population: large, educated, healthy populations enhance power

tangible resources that enhance state power

military, economic status, industrialization, infrastructure

Ex. Singapore is a small country but it has advanced industries and technology that helps enhance its power

intangible resources that enhance state power

national image, public support and morale, leadership, government quality, soft power

Ex. Ghandi's soft power enhanced state power but Husseins harsh ruling diminished the state power

Ex. US during Vietnam war lost state power due to low public support and war morale

types of polarity in international system

multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar

multipolar system

Pre WWII, countries were mainly level with each other, some advantages for few but still mainly level

bipolar system

Cold War, 2 superpowers, US and Soviet Union were the top dogs and ahead of all other countries

unipolar system

1 superpower that cannot be checked by others, closest example to this is the US post- Cold War

hegemony with the rise of China

“when it wakes, it will shake the world”

2014: China surpassed US for largest economy by the IMF

2025: China has largest GDP

South China Sea conflict: 40% of China’s trade and 1/3 of global trade

• China claims all sea, builds artificial islands and bases to ‘defend’

• 9 Dash line from 1930s

• importance of Freedom of Navigation

• Involvement of Philippines and ASEAN groups

hegemony with US military

US spends more on military than next 9 countries combines as of 2023 stats

US dominated military spending in 2025

theories of international relations

classical realism and liberalism (idealistic)

classical realism

international system is a brutal arena where states look for opportunities to take over

survival depends on becoming stronger than others

military and alliances are a must

what keeps peace in this brutal arena

• power ratio: power is on one side

• allies: allies can’t risk fighting since their common front would diminish

• distance and size: harder and more costly to fight across large distances and to go up against a bigger country

liberalism (idealistic)

believe in that individuals are rational, people can work together to build peace and take out anarchy

large international organizations are a must to solve problems and to work together

democratic governments and economic interdependence are big

what keeps peace

• democracy: conflicts resolved by negotiation, compromise, hold leaders accountable

• international trade: medium for communication, greater understanding, desire to preserve national economies

• international organizations: makes it harder for countries to just attack

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR)

1948

48 yay, no nays, 8 abstentions

outlines first generation rights

• prospective rights: civil and political

• individual rights, no need for government to interfere in the lives of citizens

• articles 2-21

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

1966

expanded and ratified first generation rights

took until 1976