International Relations Review

Describe the stages of the demographic transition.

• Death rates fall as food and healthcare increase

• Birthrates fall as wealth increases, women’s status rises,
  education increases

• Both rates are again close at the end of the transition

n

What are the primary theories of trade?

Mercantilism and Liberalism

What types of entity are allowed to bring cases to the World Court?

states

What are the main sources of International Law?

treaties, custom, general principles of law, and legal scholarship

What are two countries, discussed in class, which experienced hyperinflation?

Germany and Zimbabwe

What is the difference between NGOs and IGOs?

IGOs are composed of sovereign states for state cooperation and NGOs are independent of government control

Name the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council besides the U.S

China, France, Russia, UK

Name two trading regimes that are currently active

WTO and bilateral agreements

Name four reserve currencies.

USD, British pound, Euros, Yen

What are some of the effects that corruption has on development?

Make negotiations more difficult, makes trade deals more expensive, and concentrates wealth in the hands of a few

North-South Gap

The economic and development disparity between wealthy industrialized countries and poorer developing countries

Birth Rate

The number of live births per 1,000 people per year in a population

MFN Status (Most-Favored Nation)

trade restrictions imposed by a WTO member on its most-favored trading partner must be applied equally to all WTO members

Microcredit

the use of very small loans to small groups of individuals to stimulate economic development

Ozone Layer

the part of the atmosphere that screens out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. certain chemicals used in industrial economies break down the ozone layer. 

Foreign Assistance

Aid provided by one country to another. grants, technical cooperation, credits, loans, loan guarantees, military aid,

Montreal Protocol

an agreement on the protection of the ozone layer in which states pledged to reduce & then eliminate use of CFCs. it is the most successful environmental treaty to date. 

Mercantilism

economic policy that aims to increase a states wealth by maximizing exports and minimizing imports

Comparative Advantage

principle that states should specialize in making goods that they produce with the greatest relative efficiency and the lowest relative cost

Protectionism

the protection of domestic industries from international competition

Tragedy of the Commons

when shared resources are overused because individuals act in their own short-term self-interest

Greenhouse Emissions

Gases like CO2 and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere & drive climate change

UN Structure & Bodies

main bodies- general assembly, security council, secretariat, ECOSOC, ICJ

Remittances

money sent home by migrants working abroad

Resource Curse

the paradox where resource-rich countries experience poor development, corruption, and conflict

Enclave Economy

form of dependency where foreign capital is invested in a developing country to extract a particular raw material in a particular place

WTO (World Trade Organization)

international body that regulates global trade, resolves disputes, and promotes trade liberalization

UN & League of Nations

the UN replaced the League after WWII; the League failed largely because it lacked enforcement power and key members like US & SU

World Court (ICJ)

UN judicial body that settles disputes between states and gives advisory opinions

Autarky

a state’s attempt to be economically self-sufficient and reduce reliance on foreign trade

Exchange Rate Policy

how a country manages its currency’s value relative to others- fixed, floating, or managed. 

Hard Currency

stable, widely accepted currencies (USD, Euro) used in global trade & reserves

Reserve Currency

a currency held in significant amounts by governments and central banks (primarily USD)

Imperialism

a states domination of foreign lands through colonization, political control, or economic exploitation

Decolonization

the process by which colonies gained independence after WWII

World-Systems Theory

A framework dividing countries into core, semi-periphery, and periphery based on global economic power and exploitation

Asian Tigers

South Korea, Tawian, Hong Kong, Singapore, rapidly industrialized, export-driven economies

China’s Special Economic Zones

areas with market-oriented policies to attract foreign investment and boost exports

China & India Development Experiences

China: export-led industrialization, SEZs, manufacturing powerhouse

India: service-sector growth, gradual liberalization, strong tech IT sectors

Transparency International

NGO that monitors global corruption; publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index

Foreign Investment

Money invested by foreign companies or individuals in another country’s businesses or assets

Grants

Aid that does not need to be repaid- often used for development or humanitarian purposes

Debt Default

failure of a government to meet its debt repayment obligations

War Crime

Violations of law governing the conduct of warfare, such as mistreatment of prisoners of war or the unecessary targeting of civilians

Hegemonic War

control over whole world order- WWI WWII

Total War

whole society is mobilized / attempt to capture capitals- WWII American Civil War

Limited War

settle border, push out invaders, etc.- Korean War

Civil War

intrastate war, several possible goals- American Civil War

Guerilla War

irregular groups, without front lines- Vietnam war, Cuban revolution

nationalism

Identification with and loyalty to one’s nation, often placing it above others.

ethnocentrism 

Viewing one’s own culture or group as superior to others.

dehumanization

Denying the humanity of another group, often used to justify violence or genocide.

genocide

The deliberate and systematic extermination of an ethnic, racial, or religious group.

islamist movements 

Political movements seeking to base government and society on Islamic principles.

irredentism

A movement to reclaim or reoccupy territory considered historically or ethnically “ours.”

secession

A group’s effort to break away and form a new state.

territorial waters

The area extending 12 nautical miles from a state’s coastline under its sovereignty.

control of government

A type of conflict where the goal is to take over or influence state power.

conventional forces

Regular military units such as ground troops, air forces, and navies.

Signal and Human Intelligence

SIGINT involves intercepting communications; HUMINT involves gathering information from human sources.

electronic warfare

The use of electromagnetic spectrum operations to disrupt enemy systems

defense

to ward off attack or to minimize damage

deterrence

to prevent an adversary from doing something by threatening him with unacceptable punishment- threat of retaliation 

compellence

to initiate an action, that can cease, only if the opponent responds, probably abides

swaggering

hard to define, show of power

terrorism

Political violence by non-state actors targeting civilians to influence government or public opinion.

logic of suicide terrorism

Suicide attacks are used to coerce democracies by demonstrating resolve and causing high psychological impact

WMDs

Nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons capable of massive destruction and casualties.

ballistic missiles

Weapons launched into the atmosphere that follow a ballistic trajectory to deliver warheads.

proliferation

The spread of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and the technology to produce them.

NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)

1968 treaty to prevent spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament, and encourage peaceful nuclear use.

MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)

Deterrence doctrine where both sides can destroy each other, making nuclear war irrational.

Arms control

International agreements to limit or reduce the development, testing, or deployment of weapons.

Rational Actor Model

Views the state as a single actor making cost-benefit decisions to maximize national interest.

Organizational Process Model

Decisions result from standard operating procedures within bureaucracies, not unified rational choice.

Government Bargaining Model

Foreign policy outcomes reflect bargaining among competing bureaucratic agencies.

Misperceptions

Incorrect beliefs or interpretations that distort decision-making and can lead to conflict.

Wishful thinking

The tendency to overestimate favorable outcomes and underestimate risks

Bounded Rationality

Decision-makers aim for satisfactory solutions given limited information and time, not perfect ones.

Prospect Theory

Suggests people are risk-averse when gaining but risk-seeking when facing losses.

Groupthink

Pressure for consensus in small groups leading to poor decisions and suppression of dissent.

Interest Groups

Organizations that attempt to influence government policy to benefit their members.

Realism

Theory emphasizing power, self-interest, and anarchy; states act rationally to ensure survival.

Idealism

Perspective stressing cooperation, international law, and moral values in shaping state behavior.

Power (Influence and Capability)

The ability of an actor to influence others’ behavior and outcomes using tangible or intangible resources.

Fungibility

The extent to which power in one area (e.g., military) can be converted into influence in another (e.g., economic or diplomatic)

Anarchy

The absence of a central governing authority in the international system

Security Dilemma

When one state’s efforts to increase its security make others feel insecure, often leading to arms races.

Balance of Power

A system in which states form alliances to prevent any one power from dominating.

Bandwagon

When weaker states align with stronger powers to share in the benefits or protection.

Power distribution (polarity)

The number of major powers in the system — unipolar (1), bipolar (2), multipolar (3+).

Hegemony

Dominance of one state or actor over others in the international system.

Alliance

Formal agreement between states for mutual defense or cooperation.

Statecraft

The use of policy tools such as diplomacy, sanctions, or force to achieve foreign policy goals.

Arms Race

Competitive buildup of weapons and military capacity between rival states.

Sovereignty

The principle that states have authority within their territory and are legally equal and independent.

Interdependence

Mutual reliance between states, especially economic, where actions in one affect the other.

Reciprocity

A strategy of mutual exchange — cooperation is rewarded and defection punished.

Neoliberal Institutionalism

Theory that cooperation is possible under anarchy through institutions that foster rules and transparency.

International Regimes

Sets of norms, rules, and decision-making procedures around which actors’ expectations converge.