IR

What is international relations (IR)?

The study of interactions among actors involved in global politics.

What is a state?

A political unit that exercises authority over a territory.

What is a nation?

A group of people who see themselves as a common community based on shared history, ethnicity, or culture.

What is sovereignty?

A state's authority to govern itself without a higher external authority.

What is foreign policy?

The self-interested strategies a state uses in global politics.

What is the international system?

The set of relationships among states and other international actors.

What are the three types of international systems?

Unipolar, bipolar, and multipolar.

What is anarchy in international relations?

There is no higher authority above sovereign states.

What is the collective-action problem?

States must choose between pursuing their own interests and cooperating for collective interests.

What are the three levels of analysis?

Individual, domestic/state, and international system.

What are the three main IR theories?

Realism, liberalism, and constructivism.

What does realism focus on?

Power, security, self-interest, states, and anarchy.

What does realism assume about states?

States are rational and pursue their self-interest, especially survival and security.

Why do states seek power according to realism?

Power helps states survive and protect themselves in an anarchic system.

What is a status quo state?

A state that wants to preserve the existing international system.

What is a revisionist state?

A state that wants to change the existing international system or distribution of power.

What are relative gains?

Concern about how much one gains compared with another actor.

What is classical realism?

The view that conflict comes largely from human nature and the desire for power.

What is neorealism/structural realism?

The view that the anarchic structure of the international system drives states to seek security.

Who is associated with neorealism?

Kenneth Waltz.

What is the security dilemma?

When one state's defensive actions make another state feel threatened, causing it to increase its own security.

What is the main lesson of the Melian Dialogue?

Power and survival can matter more than morality or being right.

What does liberalism focus on?

Cooperation, institutions, rules, trade, domestic politics, and mutual gains.

How does liberalism view anarchy?

Anarchy exists, but institutions and rules can help states cooperate.

How does liberalism view international politics differently from realism?

Liberalism argues that cooperation and mutual gains are possible.

What is a zero-sum game?

One actor's gain is another actor's loss.

What is the Prisoner's Dilemma?

A situation where actors would benefit from cooperating but may fail because they cannot trust each other.

What is tit-for-tat?

Copying the other actor's previous move: cooperate if they cooperate and respond to noncooperation.

What are Kant's three ideas for promoting peace?

Reciprocity/institutions, democracy, and trade.

What is neoliberal institutionalism?

The idea that self-interested states can use institutions and rules to facilitate cooperation.

What is a regime?

A set of rules, norms, principles, and procedures that states agree to follow in a specific area.

What is soft power?

Influence through attraction and persuasion.

What is hard power?

Influence through coercion or rewards.

What is deterrence?

Preventing another state from doing something by threatening consequences.

What does constructivism focus on?

Identity, norms, beliefs, social interactions, and shared meanings.

What does constructivism say about state interests?

They are shaped by social interactions, identities, beliefs, and norms and can change over time.

What does constructivism say about anarchy?

Anarchy does not have one fixed meaning; states can shape its meaning through their interactions.

What are the three types of anarchy in constructivism?

Hobbesian, Lockean, and Kantian.

What is Hobbesian anarchy?

States see each other as enemies and engage in a war of all against all.

What is Lockean anarchy?

States recognize each other but engage in limited rivalry.

What is Kantian anarchy?

States have friendly and peaceful relationships.

What are norms?

Shared expectations about appropriate behavior.

What is the logic of consequences?

“What will happen if I do this?”—emphasized by realism and liberalism.

What is the logic of appropriateness?

“How should I behave in this situation?”—emphasized by constructivism.

How does realism explain state behavior in anarchy?

States pursue power and security because the international system is anarchic.

How does liberalism explain cooperation?

Institutions, reciprocity, trade, and domestic politics can make cooperation possible.

How does constructivism explain state behavior?

Identities, norms, beliefs, and social interactions shape what states want and how they behave. what type of theory explains state behavior?

What is the easiest way to remember realism?

POWER + SECURITY.

What is the easiest way to remember liberalism?

COOPERATION + INSTITUTIONS.

What is the easiest way to remember constructivism?

IDENTITY + NORMS + SOCIAL MEANING.