POLI 315 – MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE (TERMS, THEORIES & ORGANIZATIONS)

A set of flashcards covering key terms, theories, and organizations relevant to POLI 315 exam preparation.

International Organization (IO)

An institution created by states to facilitate cooperation through rules, norms, and decision-making procedures.

Anarchy (IR)

The absence of a central global authority above states.

Cooperation

Coordination between states to achieve mutual gains despite conflicting interests.

Transaction Costs

Costs of negotiating, monitoring, and enforcing agreements.

Information Asymmetry

Unequal access to information between actors.

Realism

A theory in international relations stating that states seek power and survival, and that IOs are tools of powerful states.

Liberalism

A theory that suggests cooperation is possible and that IOs reduce uncertainty and facilitate agreements.

Constructivism

A theory that posits norms, ideas, and identities shape behavior and that IOs influence what states see as "appropriate."

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

Organizations created by states, such as the UN and WTO.

United Nations (UN)

A global IO created to maintain peace and cooperation.

Security Council (SC)

A UN body with authority to make binding decisions on peace and security.

General Assembly (GA)

A UN body where all states participate; its decisions are non-binding.

P5 (Permanent Five)

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council: US, UK, France, China, and Russia, which hold veto power.

Veto Power

The ability to block resolutions in the Security Council.

UN Charter

The founding legal document of the UN.

Negotiation Theory

The process of reaching agreement by focusing on interests rather than positions.

Peacekeeping Operations (PKOs)

UN missions aimed at maintaining or restoring peace.

Chapter VI Peacekeeping

Consent-based peacekeeping utilizing neutral, limited force.

Chapter VII Peace Enforcement

Peace enforcement that allows the use of force.

Multidimensional Peacekeeping

Missions that involve military, political, and humanitarian roles.

Responsibility to Protect (R2P)

The norm that states must protect citizens, and if they fail, intervention is justified.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

An IO governing global trade rules, established in 1995.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

Predecessor to the WTO aimed at reducing trade barriers.

Comparative Advantage

The economic principle that countries should specialize in producing goods efficiently.

Most-Favoured Nation (MFN)

A principle ensuring equal trade treatment for all members.

Reciprocity

The mutual exchange of concessions in trade relations.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)

A non-state, non-profit actor working across borders.

Transnational Advocacy Network (TAN)

A network of actors sharing values and exchanging information to influence policy.

Boomerang Model

The process in which domestic NGOs bypass their state, seek international allies, and pressure returns to the state.

Leverage Politics

Using pressure (economic, moral, political) to influence outcomes.

Accountability Politics

Holding actors responsible through strategies such as naming and shaming.

Binding vs Non-Binding

Binding refers to actions that must be followed (e.g., Security Council), whereas non-binding refers to recommendations (e.g., General Assembly).

Position vs Interest

Position refers to what an actor states they want; interest refers to the underlying reason for that demand.