Intro to international relations- Ch 1,2

Theory

A logically consistent set of statements that explains a phenomenon of interests.

Theories are these three things…

Probabilistic, explanatory, and falsifiable

Rational Actors are…

Internally consistent

Interests

What actors want to achieve through political action (states are dominant actors).

Bargaining

Two or more actors must choose outcomes that make one better off at the expense of others (one better of, one worse off).

Cooperation

Two or more actors adopt policies that make at least one actor better off relative to the status quo without making the others worse off (both can improve, as long as one improves and the other does not).

Two ways of Interactions

Bargaining and Cooperation

Levels of Analysis

International Level, Domestic Level, Transnational Level

Is there one Level of Analysis more important than the others?

No, they are interconnected, one is not automatically more important.

Internation Level

Representatives of states with different interests interact in different forums.

Domestic Level

Subnational actors with different interests and different institutional structures.

Transnational Level

Groups that span borders (NGO, Red Cross).

International Relations has produced several broad theories including…

Realism, Institutionalism, Liberalism, Constructivism

Realism

Most developed IR Theory, International system defined by Anarchy, State power is key attribute, emphasizes material capability but does recognize economically, diplomatically power, 4 assumptions (survival is goal of every state, states are rational actors, world is uncertain, Great power politics)

Institutionalism

Similar assumptions as realism: anarchy, self-interest, rational actors. Institutions increase efficiency through centralization. International law works because of reciprocity and reputation (do me a favor, I'll do you one).

Liberalism

More complex and cohesive, National characteristics of states matter for their IR. Idea that States have different preferences. Democratic Peace-democracies that trade are less likely to fight.

Constructivism

Stress social meaning of concepts, emphasizes role of non-state actors. Argues concepts that are more than simplistic survival instinct or pursuit of power.

Mercantilism

Era between the 16th to 18th centuries. The use of military power to enrich imperial governments. Favored mother country over colonies and competing empires.

The Thirty Years War

From 1618-1648. Rising imperial powers emerge, start of State system sovereignty.

The Peace of Westphalia

Stabilized borders, helped resolve religious conflict, beginning of modern system of States; pledge of noninterference.

Fight for Hegemony

States are fighting for world domination, to set the rules, if you set the rules for the game… you most likely win.

7 Years War

1756-1763, Britain defeats French for New World dominance, also called French and Indian War.

Napoleonic War

1804-1815, France challenges Britain, Britain emerges as hegemon.

The Mercantilists Era: Interests

Security through power, control of markets and resources, "civilizing" missions.

The Mercantilists Era: Interactions

Zero- Sum bargaining among States, economic and technological superiority, subjugation of colonies.

The Mercantilists Era: Institutions

Empires

Zero-Sum

Once an actor has it, the other actors cannot have it, comes with limited supply.

The Hundred Years Peace

1815-1914, Pax Britannica, convergence of interests, Britain hegemony.

The Industrial Revolution

Altered interests, exchange replaces mercantilism, economic integration increases, mechanisms (migration, free trade, gold standard)

Why gold standard?

Can establish future contracts, it's malleable, accessible, pretty, anti-corrosive

The Gold Standard

Gold system (1870-1914), becomes major monetary system, promised exchange for pre-established rate, integrates finance.

Gold standard promotes what?

Stability and Predictability

Central Powers during Thirty Year Crisis (1914-1945)

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

Allied Powers during Thirty Year Crisis (1914-1945)

France, Russia, Japan, United States

The Treaty of Versailes

June 1918, punishes Germany as main aggressor, hyperinflation renders Germanys currency to worthless

Axis Power

Germany, Italy, Japan

Allied Powers

United States, Britain, the Soviet Union

Outcome of WWII

United States and Soviet Union emerge as super powers at the end of the war.

Cold war- The Eastern Bloc

USSR, Eastern Europe

Cold War- The Western Bloc

United States, Western Europe, Latin America

Actors

The basic unit for the analysis of International politics; can be either individuals or groups of people with common interests.

State

A central authority that has the ability to make and enforce laws, rules, and decisions within a specified territory.

Sovereighty

The expectation that States have legal and political supremacy or ultimate authorization within their territorial boundaries.

Actors are…

Purposeful and strategic

Actors are purposeful…

They develop strategies that they believe are the best response to the anticipated strategies of others.

Actors are strategic…

Each actors' strategy or plan of action depends on the anticipated strategy of others.

Can cooperation harm actors who are NOT involved?

Yes it can

Bargaining interactions are characterized by what?

Distributional conflict as each actors seeks a greater share of the good at the expense of the other, however to reach a bargain, both sides must decide that deal is better than the alternative.

Coordination

A type of cooperative interaction in which actors benefit from all making the same choices and subsequently have NO incentive NOT to comply.

Collaboration

A type of cooperative interpretation in which actors gain from working together but nonetheless have incentives NOT to comply with any agreement.

Single Shot Simultaneous Game

Only once, the dominant strategy is to defect. The dynamics change with repetition.

Public Goods

Products that are excludable and non-rival in consumption, such as national defense.

Collective Action Problems

Obstacles to cooperation that occur when actors have incentives to collaborate but each acts with the expectation that others will pay the costs of cooperation.

Free Riding

The failure to contribute to a public good while benefitting from the contributions of others.

Veto-Players

Decision nodes that can terminate a process, this makes things difficult at times.

Iteration

Repeated interactions with the same partners.

Side-Payment

Theoretically a bribe

Linkage

The linking of cooperation on one issue to interactions on a second issue.

Power

Is the ability of Actor A to get Actor B to do something that Actor B would otherwise not do; the ability to get the other side to make concessions and to avoid having to make concessions oneself.

Reversion Outcome

The outcome that occurs when no bargain is achieved.

Coercion

A strategy of imposing or threatening to impose costs on other actor in order to induce a change in their behavior.

Outside Options

The alternatives to bargaining with a specific actor.

Agenda Setting

Actions taken before or during bargaining that make the reversion outcome more favorable for one party.