International Relations - Final Exam

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Power

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The ability to get someone to do something they would not have otherwise done
Hard Power: any power using tangible or physical capabilities to exert force
Soft Power: the ability to exercise influence through attraction rather than force
Materials Capability Index uses: Military, Economic and Population measurements

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Steps to Actualized Power

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1. Persuasion ($)
2. Bribery ($$)
3. Sanction - removal of a benefit ($$$)
4. Coercion - threat of violence ($$$$)
5. Brute Force ($$$$$)

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Coercion

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Influence used to change the behavior of another state - behavioral power
Compellance: using power and influence to cause another actor to do something they would not do otherwise
Deterrence: using power and influence to stop another from doing something they would otherwise want to do.
Threats must be communicated, credible and capable

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Prospect Theory

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A perspective suggestion that decision makers are willing to take greater risk to avoid loss and fewer risks to acquire new gains
Standard Utility Theory suggest that an actor will make a decision that maximizes utility (the gains)

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Ruhr Occupation of 1923

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When France invaded Germany after WWI, they were met with a passive resistance from the Germans

Opposite of the Melian dialogue in that right made might

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Levels of Analysis

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A framework for organizing explanations in world politics in terms of size and complexity of the actors, behavior and outcomes involved

Individual - Unit - Relationship (Dyadic) - Systemic

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State

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A corporate body claiming sovereign power over a particular geographic area. The have legitimate power and monopoly over the use of violence within their state and their sovereignty is recognized by other states.

In return for protection, states demand taxes, obedience and fighting force (similar to organized crime!)

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Nation

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A group of people loyal to each other because of perceived ethnic, linguistic, historical or cultural affinity.
Each state has different rules for membership.
Nationalism: complex set of psychological, social or cultural forces that drive the formation of nations
Nation-making: when a state tries to engineer a sense of nationalism within its population

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Sovereignty

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A body which rules itself and answers to no higher authority. This body has independence from external authority and a monopoly over internal authority.

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Moral Hazard Problem

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If the cost to an actor for reckless behavior is shared among others, that actor is more likely to engage in reckless behavior.

Think of the insurance example!

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Perpetual Dialogue

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The ongoing debate between realists and liberals in foreign policy

Realists: views individuals as selfish and power driven

Liberals: views individuals as reasonable, just and cooperative

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Popper's Solutions
(to cognitive traps by theories)

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1) Work with alternative or competing theories
2) Test competing hypothesis
3) Embrace an ethos of being wrong!

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Prisoner's Dilemma vs. The Stag Hung

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Prisoner's Dilemma: realist model where the best option is for you to defect and for others to cooperate

Stag Hunt: Liberal model where the best option is for all actors to cooperate

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Rationality

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The idea that actors would make perfect decisions if they had all the information

Bounded rationality: the recognition that actors do not have access to all the information, therefore we are bounded by our ignorance. Actor will most likely choose the first acceptable decision they come across.

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Security Dilemma

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A situation in which one state's security is seen as another state's insecurity, leading to a vicious circle of competitive power accumulation

This is what causes Arms Races and the main cause of the Cold War between the US and Russia

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Seville Statement on Violence

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Statement in which the authors rejected the idea that humankind is destined to make war because of nature, but because of nurture and the environment

Main argument is that the same species who make war also make peace

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Theory

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An intellectual tool that provides us with a way to order the complexity of the world. It can simplify reality but must be tested.

Empirical Theory: what DOES happen, it is based on observation and evidence

Normative Theory: a judgement of the rightness of the event, a belief of what SHOULD happen.

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Treaty of Westphalia

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Ended the 30 Year War. Said that the religion of the region was decided by the ruler of that region. Established sovereignty and marked the beginning of the state system in Europe.

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Wilson's Fourteen Points

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Principles for Establishing a Peaceful Society
1) Democratic Rule
2) No secret diplomacy
3) Arms Limitations
4) Free Trade
5) Formation of the League of Nations

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Anarchy

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An arrangement that lacks a higher authority, which is the central feature of the modern international system.
No LEGAL authority exists over the nation-state, but states vary in their resources and capabilities
Self-help: each state is responsible for its own well-being

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Balance of Power

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An arrangement, whether bipolar or multipolar, in which capabilities are fairly evenly distributed upon the major actors
Classic realist theory that power corrupts
MEANS: alliances (unreliable), arming (expensive)
ENDS: achieve sovereignty, peace among power, fair outcomes for all

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Conflict - Cohesion Relationship

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Rally 'Round the Flag: sociological phenomenon where citizens of the state band together and become more supportive of their leader during times of crisis. Creates internal cohesion
Diversionary Theory: leaders will "create" conflict in times of unpopularity to boost morale and divert attention away from the problems and dislike. Cynical view of a leader's abuse of Rally 'Round the Flag.
Only creates short-lived popularity and cohesion!

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Democratic Peace

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Dyadic phenomenon and belief that democratic states do not go to war against one another

Explanations: shared cultural beliefs of conflict and structural factors of democracy
Critiques: Too few democracies in world system, similar governments do not go to war against each other, capitalism and trade can also explain the peace

Critiques do not stand - democratic peace is one of the strongest findings in IR today

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Groupthink

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A phenomenon often observed in small-group decision making in which individual views tend to conform to group views

Possible remedy is having a devil's advocate

Can arise when there is a leader, stereotypes of the opposition, and much more!

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Hegemony

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A phenomenon in which one state is disproportionately powerful compared to all other states

Hegemonic Stability: a theory emphasizing that international stability is brought about by a single states ability to establish and enforce the international rules of the game. Moves world system away from anarchy into having a central authority

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International Regimes

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A set of formal or informal rules and procedure that regulates behavior in some areas of world politics

Usually set by the hegemonic power in the system

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Levee en Masse

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The principle of popular sovereignty in which the power of the state resides in the power of the masses

Phase coined in France during the French Revolution

Moving away from the power of princes which was established in the Westphalian System

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Melian Dialogue

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Realist perspective of a conversation between Athens and Melios
Example of hard power, security dilemma and the disrespect of Melios' sovereignty by Athens

Might (power) made right. Opposite finding of the Ruhr occupation.

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Absolute vs. Relative Gains

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Absolute gains: The gains of a state
Relative gains: The gains of one state compared with another

Both states gain in absolute terms, but one state grows at a faster rate. This could result in a hegemonic shift and bring the danger of war between major world powers that such a shift can produce. A realist is more concerned with relative gains while a liberal is more concerned with absolute gains.

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Bretton Woods System

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A gathering of economists to create a more peaceful free trade environment in 1944. Established three institutions:

WTO/GATT: regulations on trade and trade restrictions, can impede sovereignty
World Bank: Provides capital for international developments
IMF: fixes currency and exchange rate stability

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Clash of Civilizations

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A realist theory for the future of international relations developed by Huntington. The expectation that people will organize into civilizations based on similar cultural, religious and ideological criteria and this will promote conflict between members of different civilizations.
This is not currently proven through evidence, as we see more clashes within civilizations. Huntington claims this is because the "future" has not happened yet.

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Correlation and Causation

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Correlation is data that shows a relationship between two variables, but does not necessarily mean their is causation. To establish causality, one must fulfill various criteria such as the cause must proceed the effect in time.

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Dependency Theory

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Radical theory that the central powers will exploit the smaller powers by setting up policies at their expense. Big powers grow bigger while small powers remain small. But real world examples show that small powers can also become stronger, such as South Korea and Brazil.

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End of History

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Idea developed by Fukuyama that all states will eventually adopt a democratic, capitalist system. There is some evidence to suggest that the global community is headed in this direction. China, however, is a powerful contradiction to this idea as it is a successful communist government which uses many capitalist ideas. Its power is growing at a faster rate than all democratic, capitalist entities. There are also many other ideologies that states can disagree over.

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Externalities

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The benefits or costs of goods experienced by those who do not own them (private goods) or who have not contributed to them (collective or public goods).

Negative Externalities: The Tragedy of the Commons, which is a result of individual, rational choices, realism
Positive Externalities: The Invisible Hand, which is a result of individual, rational choices, liberalism

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Free Trade

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A economic policy that dictates that a state should produce goods it creates most efficiently and import goods it cannot so that the system overall will be more efficient.

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Globalization

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The process whereby economic, political and cultural transactions are less and less constrained by national boundaries and sovereignty. Transactions are good and bad and contribute to decreasing state sovereignty. Driving factors are technological advancements and less involvement of state governments in information exchanges.

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Growing Domestic Income Gap

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A critique of free trade in which states will grow through trade, but the growth is not spread equally through the population. Some will gain at the expense of others.

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Just War Traditions

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Jus ad Bellum: reasons to use violence must be just and fair. You must have the legitimate authority declare war, have just cause to fight with violence, and act with proportionality with peace as the ultimate end

Jus en Bello: once engaged in war, you must use just and ethical conduct, such as fair treatment of prisoner's of war, not involving neutral citizens in violent combat and proportionality of uses of war.

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M.A.D. (Mutual Assured Destruction)

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A doctrine of military strategy which states that a full-scale use of high-yield weapons by two opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender. It is based on deterrence in which the threat of using strong weapons against the enemy prevents the enemy's use of those same weapons. It creates a tense, but stabilized peaceful situation.

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Marshall Plan

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A foreign aid program created by the United States after WWII with the intention to rebuild war torn Europe. Gave aid with the stipulation that countries must act under free trade policies. Logic was that this would allow increased production and promote free trade. Also allowed US to strengthen its allies after the war and create a BOP against the Soviets.

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Obsolescence of Major Power War

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Phenomenon in which less violent conflict has been occurring. This is partially explained by the theory of Mutually Assured Destruction and increasing economic interdependence among nation-states.

Also argues that people are learning that costs of war are too great and that war is not worth it anymore.

Great power wars have become less frequent but more serious and destructive.

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Second Debate (Wisdom vs. Science)

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Science: Generalization or trends, proof in observations and tests, replicable and testable BUT needs many cases/observations and few variables

Wisdom: Specialization (few or one case), many variables and insights are given BUT must have faith in specialists and it is non-replicable