International studies test

Differences between neorealism and classical realism?

• Classical realism – Human nature drives conflict.

• Neorealism (Waltz) – The structure of the international system causes conflict

Political Science is the study of politics, government, and how power works in society. It has different areas, including:

• Comparative Politics – Compares governments and political systems across countries.

• International Relations (IR) – Studies how countries interact with each other.

• Political Theory – Examines ideas about politics, justice, and power.

• Public Administration – Focuses on government operations and management.

• Public Policy – Looks at how governments make and enforce laws.

• Political Economy – Studies how politics and economics influence each other.

Big 3 International Relations Theories

1. Realism – Says the world is competitive, and countries seek power to stay safe.

2. Liberalism – Believes cooperation, democracy, and international organizations help maintain peace.

3. Constructivism – a theory that people construct knowledge through their experiences and talking with others

Key Concepts in Realism

• Treaty of Westphalia (1648) – Established modern countries with borders and sovereignty (the right to rule themselves).

• Thucydides Trap – When a rising power threatens an existing one, war is likely (e.g., U.S.-China tensions).

• Security Dilemma – When one country builds up its military for protection, others do the same, increasing tensions.

• Polarity – The balance of power in the world:

  • Unipolarity – One dominant power (e.g., U.S. after the Cold War).

  • Bipolarity – Two major powers (e.g., U.S. vs. USSR during the Cold War).

  • Multipolarity – Multiple powerful countries (e.g., Europe before World War I).

Famous Realist Thinkers

• Thucydides – Wrote about power struggles in ancient Greece.

• Machiavelli – Believed leaders should be feared, not loved, to stay in control.

• Hobbes – Thought life without government would be chaotic and violent.

Neorealism (Structural Realism)

• Kenneth Waltz – Argued that international relations are shaped by the system (anarchy), not human nature.

• Offensive Realists – Believe countries always try to gain more power.

• Defensive Realists – Believe countries seek security but don’t always try to dominate.

Alliances & Strategy

• Balancing – Joining forces to counter a stronger power.

• Bandwagoning – Siding with a stronger power for protection or benefits.

• Internal Balancing – Strengthening one’s own military.

• External Balancing – Forming alliances to boost security.

Nuclear Weapons & Stability

• Waltz’s View – Believed nuclear weapons prevent wars because of mutual destruction.

• Iran & Nuclear Weapons – Waltz argued that if Iran had nukes, it would stabilize the Middle East by deterring attacks.

Major Fields of Political Science

1. Comparative Politics – Compares governments, political systems, and institutions across different countries. It examines how different political systems operate, why they succeed or fail, and how political cultures shape governance. Topics include democracy vs. authoritarianism, political parties, elections, and political development.

2. International Relations (IR) – Studies interactions between countries, including diplomacy, war, trade, and international organizations. It looks at global conflicts, alliances, treaties, and issues like climate change, human rights, and terrorism.

3. Political Theory – Explores philosophical ideas about politics, justice, liberty, and power. It studies classic and modern thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Marx, and Rawls, and examines concepts like democracy, sovereignty, and the role of the state.

4. Public Administration – Focuses on the implementation of government policies, bureaucracies, and the management of public institutions. It covers topics like policy execution, civil service, budgeting, and public sector ethics.

5. Public Policy – Analyzes how governments create, implement, and evaluate policies in areas like healthcare, education, economy, and environmental protection. It looks at policy effectiveness, decision-making processes, and the role of interest groups.

6. Political Economy – Studies the relationship between politics and economics, including how political decisions affect economic systems and vice versa. It explores capitalism, socialism, globalization, trade policies, and economic development.

The Big Three Theories in International Relations

1. Realism – Sees international relations as a struggle for power in an anarchic (lawless) world. It argues that states are primarily concerned with survival and security, often leading to competition and conflict.

2. Liberalism – Believes cooperation is possible in international politics through democracy, trade, and international organizations (e.g., the UN). It emphasizes diplomacy, human rights, and economic interdependence to maintain peace.

3. Constructivism – Argues that international relations are shaped by ideas, identities, and social norms rather than just power or institutions. It suggests that perceptions and shared beliefs influence global politics.

Key Concepts in Realism

• Treaty of Westphalia (1648) – Established the principle of state sovereignty, where each country has the right to govern itself without outside interference. It laid the foundation for the modern international system.

• Thucydides Trap – A theory that when a rising power threatens an existing dominant power, war becomes likely. Examples include tensions between the U.S. and China today, similar to Athens and Sparta in ancient Greece.

• Security Dilemma – When one country increases its military capabilities for self-defense, others perceive it as a threat and do the same, leading to an arms race and heightened tensions.

• Polarity – Refers to the distribution of power in the international system:

  • Unipolarity – One dominant global power (e.g., U.S. after the Cold War).

  • Bipolarity – Two dominant powers competing (e.g., U.S. vs. USSR during the Cold War).

  • Multipolarity – Multiple great powers exist (e.g., Europe before World War I).

Famous Realist Thinkers

• Thucydides – Ancient Greek historian who analyzed power struggles in the Peloponnesian War, arguing that power politics drive conflicts.

• Machiavelli – Italian political thinker who argued that rulers should prioritize power and stability, often using fear and manipulation to maintain control.

• Hobbes – Believed that without a strong central authority, human life would be chaotic and violent ("state of nature"), justifying the need for a powerful government.

Neorealism (Structural Realism)

• Kenneth Waltz – Argued that the international system is anarchic (no overarching authority), and the structure of the system, rather than human nature, determines state behavior.

• Offensive Realists – Believe that states are always seeking to gain more power to ensure security. They argue that expansion and dominance are necessary for survival.

• Defensive Realists – Believe that states seek enough power to ensure security but do not necessarily aim for dominance, as aggressive expansion can provoke counterbalancing.

Alliances & Strategy in Realism

• Balancing – Countries join together to counter a stronger power (e.g., NATO against the Soviet Union).

• Bandwagoning – Weaker states align with a stronger power for protection or benefits.

• Internal Balancing – A state strengthens its own military capabilities to deter threats.

• External Balancing – A state forms alliances to boost its security against a stronger rival.

Nuclear Weapons & Stability

• Waltz’s View on Nuclear Weapons – Believed nuclear weapons promote stability because of the concept of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)—if two nuclear-armed states go to war, both will be destroyed, deterring conflict.

• Iran & Nuclear Weapons – Waltz controversially argued that if Iran obtained nuclear weapons, it might create stability in the Middle East by discouraging attacks from other countries.