IR Exam 1 Key Terms and Concepts

Flashcards covering key terms, concepts, and periods from IR Exam 1 notes.

What are 'Interests'?

Actors' fundamental preferences over outcomes, motivating goals and choices (e.g., state security, economic prosperity, leader power retention). They shape policies and strategies in international relations.

What are 'Interactions'?

How actors influence each other, pursuing interests through processes like bargaining, cooperation, or conflict. Shaped by interests, power, and institutions (e.g., diplomatic talks, trade agreements).

What are 'Institutions'?

Formal or informal rules that structure behavior, reduce transaction costs, and make interactions predictable (e.g., UN, GATT, diplomatic immunity). They define acceptable behavior and help resolve disputes.

Define Liberalism.

Theory emphasizing cooperation, institutions, and interdependence among states and other actors (e.g., NGOs, IOs). Views progress optimistically, highlighting shared interests and democratic peace (e.g., European Union).

Define Constructivism.

Theory focusing on how ideas, norms, and identities shape state behavior and construct the international system. Emphasizes shared understandings of what is possible or appropriate (e.g., human rights, non-intervention, identity of states).

Define Realism.

Theory stressing power, anarchy, and competition, viewing states as primary actors pursuing national interests. Focuses on self-help, security, and power accumulation in an anarchic system (e.g., Cold War arms race).

What does 'Anarchy' mean in the context?

Absence of a central, world-government authority in the international system. States rely on self-help for security and agreement enforcement (e.g., no global police or compulsory court jurisdiction).

What is 'Sovereignty'?

A state's supreme, recognized authority within its territory. Grants exclusive right to govern internal affairs without external interference (e.g., national education policy).

Explain 'Theory (and evaluation)'.

A framework of assumptions explaining/predicting phenomena; evaluated by predictive power, scope, and limitations (e.g., how well it explains state conflict or alliances, its inability to explain non-state actors).

What is 'Empiricism'?

A scientific approach drawing conclusions from observation, evidence, and experience, analyzing tangible data (e.g., historical records, economic statistics) to prioritize verifiable facts.

What is the Peace of Westphalia (1648)?

Treaties (1648, ending Thirty Years' War) that established state sovereignty, recognized secular rule, and laid the foundation for the modern state-centric international system, shifting power from religious authority.

Define Mercantilism.

Economic doctrine (16th-18th centuries) prioritizing state control, a favorable balance of trade, and wealth accumulation (gold/silver). Involved protectionist policies and colonial exploitation (e.g., European colonial trade restrictions).

Define Pax Britannica.

Period (approx. 1815-1914) of British maritime dominance, promoting free trade and relative global peace as a hegemon (e.g., securing shipping lanes, stable currency).

What does 'World War I and Interwar Instability' refer to?

Era (1914-1939) marked by WWI's aftermath, including the Treaty of Versailles (Paris 1919), global economic Depression, and rising aggressive nationalism, destabilizing the system and leading to WWII.

What is encompassed by 'World War II and Effect'?

WWII (1939-1945) and its reshaping of the international order: decline of empires, rise of superpowers (Cold War), creation of UN/Bretton Woods, and decolonization (e.g., division of Germany, NATO/Warsaw Pact).

Define Gold Standard & Trade.

Monetary system (pre-WWI) with fixed exchange rates backed by gold, promoting stable international trade and investment. Limited monetary policy control and could worsen economic downturns (e.g., gold outflow with trade deficit).

What is a Hegemon? (concept and examples)

A dominant leading power that sets international rules and provides public goods (e.g., historical Britain, post-WWII US).

What is a 'State' in terms?

Sovereign political entity with defined territory, permanent population, effective government, and the capacity to enter relations with other states (e.g., France).

Define 'Terms of Trade'.

Ratio of a country’s export prices to its import prices, impacting national welfare and competitiveness. Improvement means more imports for same exports (e.g., falling oil prices worsen terms for oil exporter).

Differentiate NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

NATO: Western security alliance. Warsaw Pact: Eastern Bloc security alliance (Cold War).

What is the Bretton Woods System?

Post-WWII economic framework (1944) creating the IMF (stabilize exchange rates) and World Bank (long-term development), establishing fixed-to-managed exchange rates pegged to the US dollar/gold to promote global trade and cooperation. For example, IMF loans help countries maintain currency value.

Define Decolonization.

Process of colonies gaining independence from colonial powers, primarily post-WWII. Fueled by nationalism and weakened empires, leading to creation of new independent states in Asia, Africa (e.g., India 1947).

What is Cooperation?

Mutual coordination by actors to achieve shared benefits, often via institutions and agreements (e.g., trade deals, arms control). Aims for Pareto-improving outcomes, like solving collective problems (e.g., Paris Agreement).

What is Bargaining in IR?

Strategic interaction where actors pursue favorable outcomes in a (often) zero-sum resource division. Influenced by relative power, commitment, information, and outside options (e.g., trade tariff negotiations).

Define Bargaining Leverage.

Power to influence bargaining outcomes, derived from factors like outside options (alternatives if negotiations fail), information, and time sensitivity.

What is Agenda Setting in bargaining?

The power to determine which issues enter negotiations, influencing discussion scope and outcomes by framing, prioritizing, or excluding topics (e.g., G7 host setting summit agenda).

What is a Reversion Outcome?

The default outcome if no bargaining agreement is reached. Serves as a baseline; actors accept deals only if better than this option (e.g., existing tariffs if new trade deal fails).

What is an Outside Option?

The best alternative available to an actor if current negotiations fail. A strong outside option significantly increases bargaining leverage (e.g., another alliance offer).

Explain the Prisoner’s Dilemma.

Game theory concept showing conflict between individual rationality and collective benefit. Rational actors often defect, leading to a suboptimal collective outcome, even if cooperation would be better for all (e.g., arms races vs. mutual disarmament). ( Payoff matrix: (Cooperate, Cooperate) > (Defect, Cooperate) > (Defect, Defect) > (Cooperate, Defect) where D,D is the Nash Equilibrium)

Define Collective Action Problems.

Situations where actors benefit from a public good but have incentives to free-ride on others' contributions, leading to under-provision (e.g., climate change mitigation, where states shirk emission reductions).

What is Iteration in interaction influences?

Repeated interactions between actors that build trust and increase cooperation by allowing reputation building, reciprocity, and strategies like 'tit-for-tat' (e.g., annual diplomatic meetings fostering long-term cooperation).

What is Linkage in negotiation?

A negotiation strategy connecting multiple issues to facilitate trade-offs and concessions between them, increasing agreement flexibility (e.g., lowering tariffs for UN resolution support).

What is Information in interactions?

Sharing accurate information to reduce uncertainty and improve coordination in interactions. Lack of info can cause misperceptions or hinder cooperation; transparency builds trust (e.g., arms control verification).

Define Public Goods (Definition and Free Riders).

Goods that are non-excludable (difficult to prevent consumption by non-payers) and non-rival (one's consumption doesn't diminish another's). Leads to free-rider problems, as actors benefit without contributing (e.g., clean air, stable climate).

What are Coercion Strategies?

Strategies using threats or sanctions (military/economic) to influence behavior: Deterrence (prevent action), Compellence (force action/stop ongoing action), and Coercive Diplomacy (threats + negotiation). Effectiveness depends on credibility (e.g., sanctions on Iran's nuclear program).

What is the difference between Cooperation and Collaboration?

Cooperation: Working together for mutual benefit, often by aligning interests and making concessions (e.g., reducing tariffs). Collaboration: Deeper, more integrated, sustained joint effort, pooling resources and sharing responsibilities for a shared vision (e.g., jointly building a space station).

What is the 30 Years Crisis?

Period (approx. 1914-1945) of repeated