Exam 2 International Relations VCU

Currently updated to chapter 5,6,7,13 flashcards. More to be made

asymmetric war

armed conflict between two or more groups of very different military size or power.

civil war

armed conflict between competing factions within a country or between a government and a competing group within that country over control of territory or the government.

constructivism (and ethnicity)

an explanation of ethnic conflict that emphasizes the social construction of identity and the ways in which social interactions define ethnicity for groups of people.b

conventional war

armed conflict between two or more states in which military forces of each side are used against each other and in which weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons, are not used.

cyberwarfare

the attempt by one state or nation to cause disruption, discord, damage, death, or destruction by using computers and other digital devices to carry out digital attacks on the computer systems of another.

cyclical theories of war

conflict based on the rise and relative decline of leading powers in the international system in which stability occurs as the victors in major wars assert themselves, and war occurs as a function of the subsequent and inevitable rise of challengers to those dominant powers.

diversionary theory

the idea that states suffering from poor economic conditions or internal strife are more likely to resort to force outside their borders in efforts to divert attention from those internal problems or to rally the public behind their leadership.

ethnic geography

the spatial and ecological aspects of ethnicity (e.g., where groups live in relation to one another), which affect the culture, politics, and social practices of states, nations, groups, and individuals.

extra-systemic or extra-state war

armed conflict between a state and a non-state entity, such as colonial wars and wars with non-state national or terrorist groups.

frustration-aggression theory

the idea that people resort to violence under conditions of persistent denial of expected treatment, for example, fairness and equality.

hegemon

a country that is an undisputed leader within its region or the world. After World War II, the United States was considered the world hegemon.

hegemonic stability theory

a theory holding that the international system is most stable when one state (the hegemon) dominates.

human nature

innate characteristics of human beings, said by some to be a cause of war.

improvised explosive device (IED)

a homemade bomb, often placed on roadsides and other sites, fashioned from an explosive device and a detonator, and usually triggered by remote device or “booby trap” mechanism.

instrumentalism

an explanation of ethnic conflict that stresses the role of leaders who emphasize and exacerbate ethnic differences (and commonalities) as a means to their own ends.

interstate war

armed conflict between two or more states.

irredentist claims (or irredentism)

claims to territory in another state based on historical control or the presence of people with common ethnic identity.

national attributes

features of states or nations such as regime type, type of economy, culture, geography, resources, and the like.

personality traits

varying characteristics of individuals, some of which may lead to more aggressive behavior and preferences.

power transition theory

a systemic theory holding that wars are most likely when changes in power distributions occur.

primordialism

an explanation of ethnic conflict that stresses the fundamental bonds of kinship and identity that establish ethnic differences that divide people and often generate ancient ethnic hatreds.

psychological needs

essential emotional and psychological requirements of humans, said to be hierarchical by theorists such as Maslow.

relative deprivation

the discrepancy between what people have and what they think they deserve based on what others have

state-sponsored terrorism

terrorism that includes covert and overt repression of and violence against civilian populations and more extreme acts such as genocide, supported or perpetrated by the state.

terrorism

indiscriminate violence aimed at noncombatants to influence a wider audience.

unconventional war

armed conflict in which civilian and nonmilitary targets are emphasized, forces used include nontraditional forces outside organized militaries, and a wide array of weaponry, including weapons of mass destruction, may be employed.

war

organized, violent (i.e., military) conflict between two or more parties.

war weariness

the idea that states that have most recently experienced a significant, costly war are more peaceful in the aftermath because of the impact of those costs and experiences.

weapons of mass destruction

nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons.

revolution in military affairs

the transformation of weapons, military organizations, and operational concepts for military force that leverages the information and communications revolutions of the latter 20th and early 21st centuries.

revolution in military affairs

the transformation of weapons, military organizations, and operational concepts for military force that leverages the information and communications revolutions of the latter 20th and early 21st centuries.

brinkmanship

the strategy of escalating conflicts or crises to nuclear threats in order to force the other side to back down.

coercive diplomacy

a strategy that combines threats and the selective use of force with negotiation in a bargaining strategy to persuade an adversary to comply with one’s demand.

direct deterrence

the use of retaliatory threats to discourage attacks against the state making the deterrent threat.

disarmament

the elimination of arsenals or classes or types of weapons.

security community

a group of states bound by shared identities and interests and complex interactions among which security threats are virtually nonexistent.

territorial integrity

the principle that other actors should not violate the territory or boundaries of a state.

theater missile defense

the capability to protect a specific or limited geographic area from nuclear attack by shooting down incoming missiles.

collective security

an approach to security and conflict in which states join together into an organization, ban the use of force by its members, and commit themselves to joining together to respond to any attack by one member on any other member.

compellence

the use of military force to stop a foe from doing something it was already doing or to force it to start doing something it was not yet doing.

Concert of Europe

a 19th-century multilateral organization composed of Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Prussia, and France to promote stability, cooperation, and multilateral diplomacy.

extended deterrence

retaliatory threats to discourage attacks against allies and friends of the state making the deterrent threat.

external balancing

countering the power of a rival by forming coalitions with other states.

internal balancing

countering the power of a rival by increasing one’s own power and military might.

cultural exchange

programs involving the exchange of citizens—students, teachers, scientists, artists, and others—between countries to foster cultural understanding and cooperation.

defense

deploying and using military force to fight off an attack.

democracy promotion

a cluster of activities, ranging from diplomacy to aid to intervention, designed to foster and support democratization in other countries.

deterrence

persuading a potential adversary to refrain from attacking through the threat of costly retaliation.

alliance

a formal commitment between states to cooperate for specific purposes, such as mutual defense.

arms control

regulation of the amount, type, positioning, or use of weapons.

arms race

peacetime competition in armaments by two or more states driven by conflict interests, fear, and suspicion.

balancing

in alliances, forming coalitions to counter the rising power and threat of a state.

bandwagoning

in alliances, siding with a rising power to gain benefits.

Baruch Plan

a nuclear disarmament proposal authored by US statesman Bernard Baruch after World War II to place nuclear weapons and energy activities under the control and authority of the United Nations.

functionalism and neo-functionalism

technical cooperation on economic and social issues that build linkages and shared interests among societies and expand to more areas, leading to even greater cooperation and institutional connections.

general deterrence

threats to retaliate in a context of underlying politico-military competition but when there is no active military conflict generating the need to respond.

mutually assured destruction (MAD)

the ability of both sides to field a secure, second-strike capability of sufficient size to destroy a significant portion of the other side’s society.

national missile defense

the capability to protect a country from nuclear attack by shooting down incoming missiles.

immediate deterrence

the threat to retaliate against attackers who are believed to be actively considering specific military operations against the target.

peacekeeping

the provision of third-party forces from the UN or other regional organizations to help keep peace by providing a buffer between parties in conflict, often along a border or an agreed-upon cease-fire line to monitor and maintain the peace.

political sovereignty

the principle that a state has authority and independence to rule without interference within its own borders.

preemption

the use of military force to strike first when an attack is imminent to blunt the effectiveness of the impending attack.

prevention

the use of military force to strike first when an attack is inevitable to take advantage of a more favorable balance of forces, rather than wait for an adversary to gain the advantage from which to strike.

protection

in alliances, an arrangement by a small state to gain help from a larger state.

diplomacy

the art and practice of conducting negotiations between states and other actors in world politics.

diplomatic immunity

the principle that accredited diplomats are exempt in almost all cases from prosecution under the laws of the state where they are assigned.

diplomats

individuals occupying positions in the foreign policy establishments of states or the management of other organizations who represent and negotiate on behalf of their country or employer.

epistemic communities

networks of experts who bring their knowledge and expertise to the political arena to help policymakers understand problems, generate possible solutions, and evaluate policy success or failure.

European Commission (EC)

the executive branch of the EU. The Commission is led by a president; it has budgetary powers; and it includes 27 members that oversee policy development in agriculture, trade, social policy, the environment, and other areas.

international law

a body of rules that binds states and other agents in world politics in their relations with one another.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

one of the Bretton Woods organizations created in 1946 to help maintain a cooperative international financial system. The IMF helps countries facing balance-of-payments problems with short-term loans and also helps countries reschedule their debt.

Law of the Sea Convention

a treaty that first went into force in 1982 and then was revised in 1994; 167 states are parties to this treaty, as is the EU, which sets rules for the use and protection of the high seas and its resources.

settlement gap

the difference between the minimal preferences of two parties to a negotiation.

summit meetings

diplomatic meetings involving the top officials of their respective states

third-party diplomacy

the engagement of an outside party in negotiations between the actual parties to a dispute to facilitate a resolution of the disagreement.

track II diplomacy

the activities and involvement of private individuals, nongovernmental organizations such as civil society organizations, and religious and business leaders in dialogue and negotiation to facilitate conflict resolution.

treaty

a formal, written agreement among states.

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

the component of the UN that handles matters considered economic or social, broadly defined.

UN General Assembly (UNGA)

the plenary body of the UN in which all UN members have a seat. Functioning on a majority-rule decision process, it is the central forum for discussion of global issues.

Compulsory jurisdiction

in international law, the condition in which parties to a dispute must submit the case to a court.

conference diplomacy

large diplomatic meetings of many officials from states, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and other non-state actors.

European Council

the EU body made up of the heads of government of the EU member states, who represent the interests of their member states within the EU.

European Court of Justice (ECJ)

the EU’s judicial branch whose rulings take precedence over even national law; it is charged with interpreting EU law and ensuring that it is applied equally across all member states.

European Parliament (EP)

the EU legislative body made up of directly elected representatives; it amends, approves, or rejects EU laws, together with the Council of Ministers.

linkage strategy

in diplomacy, the strategy of connecting solutions on one issue to proposals on another to facilitate agreement.

majority rule

in international organizations, a decision process that relies on voting with one vote per member, in which gaining a majority of the votes prevails.

most-favored nation (MFN)

the trade status that members of the GATT gave to each other, ensuring that each received the best trade terms available. MFN could also be granted to nonmembers if a country chose to do so.

multilateral diplomacy

diplomacy involving three or more states at a time; typically many states are involved.

Council of Ministers (CoM)

the EU legislative body made up of sitting ministers of their national governments, who represent their member states and approve all EU legislation.

custom

the general practice of states accepted as law; a source of international law.

national enforcement

states enforce some international law through their own national legal systems.

United Nations (UN)

an international institution established after World War II to promote peace and security, the development of friendly relations and harmony among nations, and cooperation on international problems.

unit veto

in international organizations, a decision rule in which some or all members can block decisions with their votes. In a pure unit veto decision rule, every member exercises a veto; in a modified unit veto, only some members have the veto power.

universal jurisdiction

the idea that states have a right and a duty to enforce international law when it comes to the most serious human rights abuses, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, war crimes, extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances, regardless of where these offenses may occur or whether or not the alleged violator is from another country.

UN Secretariat

the bureaucracy and administrative arm of the UN.

UN Secretary-General

the head of the UN Secretariat; the UN’s administrative leader elected by the UNGA at the recommendation of the UNSC.

UN Security Council (UNSC)

a 15-member council that carries the primary UN responsibilities for peace, security, and collective security operations.

vertical enforcement

the enforcement of international law by international institutions.

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

a 1969 agreement among states defining the nature and obligations regarding treaties under international law.