Untitled Flashcards Set

Realism: we live in an anarcical international system, no single government power

Classical realism: Human nature is the driver of this (out of date though)

Structural realism: (neorealism) focuses on international system structure, power distribution among states, not human nature

Offensive realism: aggressive military

Defensive realism: War is the last resuly

Security Dilemma: When a state increases its arms or capabilities causing another state/states to also increase their arms out of intimidation, increased security

3 Conceptual Models

Rational Actor: Singular, Decision making influenced by standard operating procedures

Organizational processes: Decision making influenced by standard operating procedures

Buereaucratic Politics: decisions result from bargaining among government agencies

Article I- Grants congress power to declare war, other specific powers to them, raise an army

Article II- Grants presidential authority, commander in chief, outlines their powers

NSA 1947- Establishes DOD, NSC, and CIA

Goldwater- Nichols Act:  Bridges the operational gap between army and navy, restructured chain of command, more military power to civilians, established the NSS

Snowcroft Model: most successful model; promotes processes based NSC, fair decision making, ensures no political bias

NSC for decisions: discussion dona at lower level, works its way up to POTUS

NSC for operational: POTUS makes direct decision

NSA Honest Broker: Mediator between cabinets, high potus trust

NSA POTUS Activate; Argues for the POTUS, gets POTUS desired outcome