Week 12-13

What is the main focus of Marxist International Relations?

Capitalist globalization and the exploitation of developing countries by developed countries.

What does the Realist perspective emphasize in international relations?

Power and security.

What is the Liberalism perspective in international relations?

Cooperation and the role of institutions.

What is collective security?

A system where states pledge to intervene on behalf of a member whose security is threatened.

What was the failure of the League of Nations an example of?

The ineffectiveness of collective security in preventing aggression.

What was the Briand-Kellogg Pact (1928)?

An agreement not to use war to resolve disputes, which ultimately failed to prevent WWII.

How does economic interdependence relate to war?

It posits that economic ties make war costly and less likely.

What is the Constructivist approach in international relations?

It emphasizes the role of ideas, norms, and values in shaping national interests.

How did Japan's national identity change post-1945?

From a militarist identity to a pacifist identity, promoting anti-war norms.

What are the three levels of analysis in foreign policy?

Individual level, state level, and systemic level.

What does the individual level of analysis focus on?

The characteristics and beliefs of individual leaders.

What is the state level of analysis concerned with?

The structures of states and how domestic political systems influence foreign policy.

What does the systemic level of analysis examine?

The distribution of power in the international system.

What is the significance of GDP in classifying countries?

It measures the market value of goods and services produced by a country.

What is the difference between economic growth and development?

Economic growth focuses on increasing GDP, while development emphasizes satisfying basic needs.

What does the term 'Third World' refer to?

Countries that were neither aligned with the US/Western Europe nor the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

What is the Global South?

A term often used to refer to developing countries and low-income nations.

What is the role of national identity in foreign policy?

It influences state behavior and interactions based on historical experiences and cultural factors.

How did Russia's political system influence its foreign policy?

Through authoritarian practices, suppression of opposition, and control over media.

What was the significance of NATO expansion for Russia?

Russia perceives it as a threat, particularly in relation to Ukraine.

What is meant by the term 'resource curse'?

The paradox where countries rich in natural resources experience less economic growth and worse development outcomes.

What is the role of international norms in foreign policy?

They shape state behavior and influence how states interact with one another.

What is the impact of capitalist production on global relations according to Marxism?

It leads to the domination of developed countries over developing ones, maintaining inequality.

What is the Human Development Index (HDI)?

A measure that includes health, education, income, and living conditions.

What are the Four Asian Tigers?

Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, known for rapid industrialization and high growth rates from the 1960s to 1990s.

What is the middle-income trap?

A situation where a country reaches middle-income level but does not progress further due to limited industrial diversification and poor labor market conditions.

What economic policies are associated with the middle-income trap?

Import substitution industrialization and export-oriented industrialization.

How does the political system affect economic development?

Development can occur in both democratic and authoritarian regimes, with examples like South Korea and Taiwan transitioning to democracy post-development.

What is the Modernization Theory?

A theory suggesting that developing countries should adopt values and institutions from developed countries to achieve growth.

What are the criticisms of Modernization Theory?

It can lead to the destruction of indigenous cultures and does not guarantee democracy or growth.

What is Dependency Theory?

A theory that views the developed world (core) as exploiting developing countries (periphery) for resources and labor.

What is the Washington Consensus?

A set of economic policy prescriptions for developing countries that includes austerity measures, trade liberalization, and privatization.

What are Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs)?

Programs that require governments to implement economic reforms in exchange for loans, often leading to increased poverty.

What is the role of foreign aid (ODA)?

Resources provided by wealthy governments to promote economic and social development in poorer countries.

What are the main criticisms of foreign aid?

It can be paternalistic, unaccountable, and ignore local needs, leading to ineffective top-down solutions.

Who are Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo?

Nobel Prize-winning economists advocating for evidence-based, tailored economic solutions.

What is the significance of institutions in economic development?

Inclusive institutions promote prosperity, while extractive institutions hinder development and perpetuate poverty.

What is the impact of political and economic institutions on development?

Concentration of power can stifle economic growth and create instability.

What is the role of state ownership in socialist models?

State ownership of production means and directed allocation of resources to prioritize public needs.

What is export-oriented industrialization?

An economic strategy focused on producing goods for export to stimulate growth.

What challenges do countries face with high state involvement in the economy?

Vulnerability to global market fluctuations and potential fiscal deficits due to high spending.

What is the Democratic Socialist Model?

A model that combines market capitalism with a strong welfare state and public ownership.

What does the term 'statist approaches' refer to?

Economic strategies where the state plays a significant role in guiding capitalism and influencing investment.

What is the significance of high literacy and healthcare in economic development?

They contribute to a skilled workforce and improve overall living conditions, promoting growth.

What are the consequences of noncompliance with the Washington Consensus?

Countries may lose access to credit and face increasing poverty and weakened governance.

What is the Great Leap Forward?

A campaign in China aimed at rapid industrialization that resulted in famine and economic damage.

What is the role of the IMF and World Bank in developing countries?

They provide financial assistance and impose economic reforms to ensure debt repayment.

What is a semi-presidential system?

A mixture of parliamentary and presidential systems.

Who is the head of state in a semi-presidential system?

The President.

What role does the Prime Minister play in a semi-presidential system?

The Prime Minister is the head of government and is dependent on parliamentary confidence.

Name two countries that have a semi-presidential system.

France and Ukraine.

What is the power-sharing arrangement in a semi-presidential system?

Power is shared between the President, Prime Minister, and Cabinet.

What is the term length for the President in the French semi-presidential system?

5 years, with a maximum of two terms.

What is cohabitation in the context of a semi-presidential system?

When the President and Prime Minister come from different political parties.

What is the primary actor in the realist school of international relations?

The state.

What is the main objective of states according to realism?

Power.

What does the term 'national interest' refer to in realism?

The core of foreign policy focused on increasing power.

What is the classic security dilemma in realism?

Increasing military strength leads to insecurity for others, creating a cycle of armament and tension.

What is the difference between classical realism and neorealism?

Classical realism focuses on human nature driving conflict, while neorealism emphasizes the structure of the international system.

What does the phrase 'Si vis pacem, para bellum' mean?

'If you want peace, prepare for war.'

What role do International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) play in realism?

They are tools to pursue national interests and maintain order.

What is the significance of the P5 in the UN?

The P5 (US, UK, China, Russia, France) holds veto power.

What is a zero-sum game in the context of feminist IR critique?

If one side gains power, the other side loses power.

What does the term 'bipolarity' refer to in international relations?

A system dominated by two superpowers.

What was the period of the Cold War?

1946 to 1989.

What is 'Mutual Assured Destruction' (MAD)?

A military doctrine where the use of nuclear weapons by one superpower would lead to complete annihilation of both.

What are the characteristics of a multipolar system?

Three or more poles compete to secure interests without dominance.

What is the significance of the Peace of Westphalia?

It marked the beginning of the modern state system and a multipolar balance of power.

What is the primary focus of feminist IR critiques?

To challenge state-centrism and highlight the implications of militarism on civil liberties.

What is the role of the President in the French semi-presidential system regarding foreign policy?

The President handles foreign policy and defense.

What happens if the National Assembly controls the opposition in the French semi-presidential system?

The Prime Minister becomes stronger.

What is the role of the ICJ in international relations?

To settle disputes between states.

What is global governance?

The establishment of international norms and treaties to provide order and predictability.

What is unipolarity in international relations?

A system where a single dominant power, or hegemon, exists, such as the US after the Cold War.

What does Krauthammer (1990) suggest about unipolarity?

He argues that unipolarity is not durable and will face challenges from other great powers.

How does Wohlforth (1999) view unipolarity?

He believes that unipolarity is unlikely to end and can facilitate peace and cooperation.

What is the 'end of history' according to Fukuyama?

The idea that there are no more ideological alternatives, leading to fewer ideological conflicts.

What does Kennedy (2008) argue about US decline?

He suggests that the US will decline due to 'imperial overstretch' in various conflicts.

What is the shift from unipolarity to multipolarity?

The transition towards a system where multiple great powers exist and influence global politics.

What role did the US play after 1991 in international relations?

The US was the great power in the system, promoting democracy and liberal institutions.

What challenges does unipolarity face from countries like China and Russia?

China's size, technology, and sophisticated military pose significant challenges to US unipolarity.

What is the Munich Security Report 2025's perspective on global order?

It views the shift from US-led unipolarity to multipolarity as a path to a fair and just world.

How does liberalism view human nature and state behavior?

It takes an optimistic view, believing states can work together for a stable and interconnected world.

What discourages states from engaging in war according to liberalism?

Economic integration and interdependence discourage states from engaging in conflict.

What is the role of IGOs in liberalism?

International Governmental Organizations provide avenues for cooperation without reducing sovereignty.

What is collective security in liberalism?

A system where states pledge to intervene on behalf of a member whose security is threatened.

What is the radical approach in international relations?

It focuses on social classes and transnational economic elites, viewing capitalism as a source of conflict.

What does constructivism in international relations emphasize?

It examines how national interests are constructed by social and political elites.

How does the individual level of analysis influence foreign policy?

It focuses on the impact of individual leaders and their psychological factors.

What does the state level of analysis consider?

It examines how domestic political systems influence foreign policy.

What is the systemic level of analysis in international relations?

It looks at the distribution of power in the international system (multipolar, bipolar, unipolar).

What is the significance of the concept of sovereignty in liberalism?

Sovereignty is evolving, with states responsible for protecting human rights and ensuring collective security.

What is the impact of globalization on state sovereignty?

Globalization redefines sovereignty, intertwining foreign and domestic policies.

How do states perceive threats in the constructivist approach?

Threat perception is influenced by shared identities and collectively held beliefs.

What is the role of reputation and credibility in international relations?

They increase the cost of defection and encourage compliance with international norms.

What is the liberal view on the importance of international law?

States comply with international law to maintain prestige and ensure a predictable world.

How does economic interdependence affect conflict according to liberalism?

It makes war costly and less desirable for resolving disputes.