International

Balance of power

  • The balance of power ensures that no state can unilaterally dictate the rules of the international system, promoting a more equitable environment for international relations.

  • Deterrence

    • threat of retaliation can prevent aggressive actions

    • Example : NATO and the Warsaw Pact in the Cold War didn’t get attacked due to MAD

    • Assumption: rational actions

      • States are often irrational


democratic peace theory:

  • Democracies are less likely to go to war with one another

  • Shared values and norms (human rights, individual freedoms, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.)

  • Political transparency and public opinion

  • Challenge: causality vs causation 

    • as democracies still fight with non democratic states


Kantian triangle

  • For peace we need Democratic Governance, Economic Interdependence, International Institutions

  • democratic peace theory, trade or other types of interdependence making the cost of war too high, UN or other factors are extremely important

  • Talks about democracies with one another but what about non democracies


internal balancing

  • strengthen its own military forces, technological capabilities, and overall defense infrastructure

  • enhance sovereignty and strategic autonomy

  • national security policy

  • High cost and arms race


hegemonic stability theory

  • hegemon is a state that possesses overwhelming power—whether military or economic

  • When a hegemon weakens or disappears, the international system may become more anarchic, with states competing for power and the global order becoming less predictable.

  • The British Hegemony : dominant position in global trade, military capability, and international diplomacy

    • providing a stable framework for global economic interaction

  • Changed world now, globalization and technological impacts


Most-favored-nation principle (MFN)

  • most favorable manner possible when it comes to trade

  • Creates a level playing field in terms of trade 

  • WTO 

  • Reduces trade barriers

  • Regional trade agreements can allow for certain favoritism ( European Union, NAFTA) as well as Special Treatment for Developing Countries


Paris Climate Accord

  • global challenge of climate change by limiting global warming, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigating the effects of climate change through collective global action

  • Countries must report on emissions creating accountability

  • Due to flexibility it is extremely inclusive

  • non-binding in terms of emission reduction targets and no legal repercussions for not meeting it 

  • Political issues

    • Trump wasn’t a part of it, biden was, etc


bureaucratic politics model

  • multiple actors with their own goals, priorities, and interests

    • State Department, military, intelligence agencies, and economic ministries

  • turf wars to protect or expand their jurisdiction, funding, or influence

  • Cuban missile crisis and how John F kennedy had to use various factors into his decisions


beggar thy neighbor policies

  • Help one nation at the expense of the other

  • Devaluing currency to help make their goods cheaper | makes country B’s goods more expensive

  • Tariffs however dangerous as they can cause a trade war

  • Britain, France, and Germany in the 1930s devalued their currency however it did have bad repercussions


jus ad bellum | The Right to Go to War

  • Just cause 

    • In process of being attacked or having one’s people threatened

  • restoring peace or protecting citizens rather than revenge or power (econ or poli)

  • Benefits must outweigh harm

  • US and Iran 

    • There were no weapons found however the threat was there


jus in bello | The Right Conduct in War

  • Differ between combatants and those who are not in combat (civilians)

  • Must be in proportion to the previous act of war done

  • US and Japan , was it proportional the attack on Nagasaki


Détente

  • period of relaxed tensions and improved diplomatic relations between rival nations, particularly during the Cold War era

  • Potential prevention of a nuclear arms 

  • Ideological challenges to creating peace among states like the US and Soviet Union

  • There can be potential peace through negotiations and non-violent peacemaking strategies 


Washington consensus

  • based on free-market principles, with an emphasis on structural adjustment 

  • A focus on Latin America

  • Fiscal policies to promote economic stability and reduce inflation

  • Privatization, free trade 

  • Must have more attention to the social and political context of developing countries

  • Losing sovereignty as they have to adopt ideas from the IMF and world bank