International Politics Unit 1

Economic Interdependence: countries become economically reliant on one another due to the global nature of trade, investment, and production.

High and Low Politics: “high” urgency politics, IR recognizes mostly war and peace affairs to be of high urgency, where human rights or domestic issues are “low” urgency politics. 

Inside-out Approach: liberal viewpoint, that how countries act domestically or “in” their country demonstrates how they’ll act in IR. Ex: democracies are less likely to go to war. 

Democratic Peace Theory: Democracies are less likely to go to war with each other 

Regime Theory: analyzes how international institutions “regimes” influence state behavior 

Neo-Neo Debate: neorealism (competition) vs neoliberalism (cooperation) 

Unipolar vs. Bipolar system: unipolar - one large force has power, bipolar - power is distributed evenly 

Marxism: the class system. Critiques the border system 

Economic Base: the primary industries a state makes income from in exports

Superstructure: marxist idea of what all men say, imagine, and conceive. Politics, law, morality, metaphysics, religion. 

Class Conflict: tension between different classes domestically can impact IR 

Bourgeoisie: Capitalist class, own the means of production, economic power, exploitation 

Proletariat: Working class 

Dependency Theory: explains why some states are rich and some are poor. The poor countries sell labor and materials for cheap to rich countries, who then sell the finished products back to them for high prices. 

World Systems Theory: labor division across the world, ^ dependency theory + explains why countries with a less strong central government rely on the “core” countries for capital 

The Communist Manifesto: Marx, class struggle. Advocate for free education, universal education, progressive taxes, abolition of property in land, etc. 

Constructivism: emphasizes Norms that states should act by, recognizes that material powers can affect state’s influence, but say they aren’t the only thing 

Social Constructs: state’s actions or identities aren’t natural, they’re shaped by human ideas, beliefs, and practices. 

Social Facts: shared beliefs in the IR system, such as state sovereignty, intl law, human rights. 

Norms and Rules: shared expectations. Sovereignty, human rights, non-use of force. 

Shaping Identity: how states act domestically, with other states, and internationally 

Diffusion of Ideas: how new theories/ideas are spread and recognized, early adopters → wider community 

Feminist Theory: Developed after WWII as a critique of male-dominated IR theories. Interdisciplinary views.  

Difference vs. Liberal Feminism: Difference = women are more calm, more rational, and inherently will choose peace. Liberal = Could lead equally as well as men, gender isn’t a determinant in leadership ability 

International Relations: study of interactions between states 

State Sovereignty: authority of a state to govern itself 

Levels of Analysis: 1. Individual level: such as military, political leaders, or ordinary citizens. Ex: human nature, decision making. 2. State level: political systems, national interest, economic power. Ex: domestic politics or public opinion. 3. Systemic level: global patterns and institutions. Ex: power dynamics and international system structure

Thirty Years’ War: War in Europe, weakened divine right of kings, led to intellectual movement. Established that citizens were only subject to law of their own government 

Peace of Westphalia (1648): ended thirty years’ war and established first state system 

European State-Making (Tilly): state-making is the product of force, cooperation, and institutionalization. War makes the state. Legitimate use of force. 1. War making 2. State making 3. Extraction 4. Protection 

Divine Right of Kings: the idea that a monarch’s authority comes directly from God, therefore they can’t be held accountable 

The Great Divergence: UK and USA had rapid economic growth, whereas China, India, and most of Africa remained stagnant or fell behind. Emergence of western power 

Realism and Human Nature: typically pessimistic, self-interest and power seeking 

Thucydides Melian: the takeover of melian by athenians, they saw the melian’s negotiation attempts as naive 

Dialogue: diplomatic negotiation 

Machiavelli’s The Prince: rulers should use any means necessary to maintain power and secure the state. Better to be feared than loved. Strong military is essential. 

Hobbes’ Leviathan: realist theory and human nature, self preservation. Naturally competitive 

Anarchy: No central power. Realists: in absence of higher security, states must prioritize self-interest and security. Liberals: states can still communicate through agreements or institutions. Constructivists: anarchy is what states make of it, socially constructed norms and ideals will show. 

Statism: assumes states are the only entities that matter in international politics 

Power: capacity to influence others. Realist pov: military, Liberal: institutions, Constructivists: relationships 

Survival: states will prioritize their own survival and maintain sovereignty

Self-Help: states rely on own resources to ensure security and survive

Liberalism and Human Nature: The liberalist viewpoint generally views human nature as good or at least capable of improvement (vs realist opposite) 

Locke’s Two Treatises: law of nature and moral conduct 

Rousseau’s Social Contract: only the general will of the people has the right to legislate, for only under the general will can the people be said to obey only themselves and hence be free

Kant’s Perpetual Peace: “peace must not be temporary like a ceasefire, it must be everlasting” 

Pluralism: embraces diversity as an asset in IR, wanting different countries to lead in different aspects