Set 2A — Levels of Analysis, Power & the International System

What are the three levels of analysis in international relations?

International system level, state (domestic) level, and individual level.

Why do scholars divide international politics into levels of analysis?

Dividing the analysis of international politics into levels helps orient questions and suggests the appropriate type of evidence to explore.

What does the international system level of analysis focus on?

Systemic characteristics such as the distribution of power.

What does the state (domestic) level of analysis focus on?

Domestic factors and internal characteristics of states, such as the type of government (e.g., democratic or authoritarian).

What does the individual level of analysis focus on?

Individuals and their perceptions, choices, activities, and other individual factors.

What is a system?

An assemblage of units, objects, or parts united by some form of regular interaction.

What is polarity in international relations?

The distribution of capabilities among states, based on the number of “poles” (states or coalitions of states) where material power is concentrated.

What are the three types of polarity?

Multipolar, bipolar, and unipolar systems.

What is power according to the lecture slides?

“An actor controlling another to do what that other would not otherwise do.”

How do most scholars measure power?

In terms of resources, specifically wealth and military assets.

Why do scholars measure power using wealth and military assets?

Countries with more wealth and military assets tend to get their way more often than countries with fewer of these resources.

What are common indicators used to measure national power?

Gross domestic product (GDP), military spending, and the Composite Indicator of National Capability (CINC).

What is the Composite Indicator of National Capability (CINC)?

A measure that combines data on military spending, troops, total population, urban population, iron and steel production, and energy consumption.

What is one criticism of using resource-based indicators to measure power?

They can systematically exaggerate the wealth and military capabilities of poor, populous countries because they count resources without deducting the costs of policing, protecting, and serving their people.

According to Kenneth Waltz, which polarity system is more stable?

Bipolarity.

According to Waltz, why can bipolarity be more stable?

Disruptive behavior is immediately evident, there are fewer chances for miscalculation or miscommunication, each superpower has one primary rival, and shifting alliances are less critical.

Why might bipolarity reduce miscalculation or miscommunication?

With only two major actors, each has one primary rival, which simplifies threat perceptions.

Why are alliances less critical in a bipolar system, according to Waltz?

The two superpowers hold most of the power themselves and do not need to rely as heavily on shifting alliances to maintain their positions.

How does liberalism view the international system?

As an interdependent system with multiple and fluid interactions through multiple channels, rather than an unchanging structure.

Which actors does the liberal view of the international system include?

States, intergovernmental organizations, multinational corporations (MNCs), and substate actors.

According to liberalism, what issues matter in the international system besides security?

Economic and social issues also matter because actors interact across multiple levels and affect one another.

How does liberalism view the possibility of cooperation in the international system?

The international system may be cooperative.

According to constructivism, does anarchy dictate a specific outcome?

No. Anarchy itself does not dictate particular outcomes or require states to act in a self-interested or conflictual manner.

According to constructivism, what shapes state behavior under anarchy?

Interactions and shared ideas. Through repeated interactions, states may develop cooperative or hostile relationships depending on how they perceive each other.

Why is the argument for a multipolar world popular, according to the slides?

It represents hope that Western dominance is ending and power is becoming more distributed; it is seen as a way to fix multilateralism; it reflects a desire to avoid another Cold War; and China and Russia view it as a way to appeal to the Global South and strengthen their influence.