PSC 1003

Security Dilemma

Defensive measures by a state appear threatening to others, leading to fear and arms (Snyder)

Wohlforth unipolarity

US unipolarity is stable

Monteiro unipolarity

Unipolarity provokes unrest and balancing

What shapes domestic trade policy

Political coalitions, interest groups, and institutions; democracies more likely to liberalize (Rogowski; Milner and Kubota)

Cult of the Offensive

States overestimate offensive advantage>>>preemptive strategies and miscalculations (Van Evera)

How can postwar stability be maintained

Strategic restraint and institutions help rebuild order after major wars

Kennan on the Soviet Union

USST expansionist due to ideology and insecurity; containment is the US strategy

Orthodox cold war origins

USSR responsible (Schlesinger)

Revisionist cold war origins

US actions also contributed (Schlesinger)

Walz nuclear proliferation argument

Proliferation stabilizes via deterrence

Sagan nuclear proliferation argument

Proliferation risky due to accidents/miscalculation

Mearsheimer on great power politics

States seek dominance due to structural pressures; conflict is inevitable

Ikenberry on China's rise

Rising powers can be integrated into institutions meaning stability; interdependence reduces conflict

How do states view gains from trade

States care about relative gains and security, not just absolute gains (Grieco and Ikenberry)

Hegemonic stability theory

A dominant state provide public goods like monetary order and market stability (Eichengreen)

How are trade institutions formed?

GATTO/ WTO rules emerges from state bargaining and enforcement of agreements (Barton)

How does trade shape domestic politics?

Exporters vs import completing industries form coalitions that influence policy (Rogowski)

What determines exchange rate policy

Trade and integration increase prosperity but many exacerbate domestic inequality; institutions mediate effect (Williamson; Dean)

How do authoritarian regimes liberalize economically

They open markets while maintaining control via targeted repression and elite co-optation (Dean)

How does democracy affect trade in developing countries

Democracies respond to voters making it more likely to liberalize trade (Milner and Kubota)

What is the role of migration in development

Skilled migration and diaspora networks facilitate trade, investment, and knowledge flows (Kapur and McHale)

How do firms influence diplomacy

Multinational corporations exercise structural power meaning they influence markets, policy, and diplomacy (Strange)

Why is the liberal order under threat

Inequality and elite capture reduce legitimacy, fueling populism and unrest (Colgan and Keohane)

Low wage jobs in developing countries?

Better than no jobs; provide income, skills and growth opportunities (Krugman)

What happens if trade losers aren't compensated timely

Slow compensation= populist backlash and anti-trade sentiment (Rodrik)

Why do groups use suicide terrorism

To coerce democratic states to withdraw from contested territories (Pape)

Is terrorism a major threat

Often exaggerated; most groups are small, fragmented and ineffective (Mueller)

How can authoritarian regimes open economically without losing control

Targeted repression of challenges and economic incentives for the elites maintain stability (Dean)