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Questions and Answers
What significant international organization was established after World War I to promote peace?
What significant international organization was established after World War I to promote peace?
According to Keohane & Nye, what plays a key role in reducing the likelihood of war among states?
According to Keohane & Nye, what plays a key role in reducing the likelihood of war among states?
What event in 1979 symbolized a resurgence of skepticism towards globalism?
What event in 1979 symbolized a resurgence of skepticism towards globalism?
What does Robert Keohane argue in 'After Hegemony' regarding international institutions?
What does Robert Keohane argue in 'After Hegemony' regarding international institutions?
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How did the European Union evolve over time?
How did the European Union evolve over time?
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What does Aristotle believe is essential for political stability?
What does Aristotle believe is essential for political stability?
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Which of the following represents Aristotle's categorization of governments?
Which of the following represents Aristotle's categorization of governments?
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What distinguishes qualitative research from quantitative research?
What distinguishes qualitative research from quantitative research?
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In the context of scientific political analysis, what is an independent variable?
In the context of scientific political analysis, what is an independent variable?
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Which of the following best describes the difference between causation and correlation?
Which of the following best describes the difference between causation and correlation?
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What was the primary method of knowledge acquisition before the rise of empirical science?
What was the primary method of knowledge acquisition before the rise of empirical science?
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Which level of analysis focuses on individual actions and decision-makers?
Which level of analysis focuses on individual actions and decision-makers?
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What is a key characteristic of the scientific method as it applies to political science?
What is a key characteristic of the scientific method as it applies to political science?
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What is a primary belief of classical realism regarding human nature?
What is a primary belief of classical realism regarding human nature?
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Which of the following best describes the concept of the balance of power?
Which of the following best describes the concept of the balance of power?
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Which concept refers to the actions by a state that can inadvertently lead to an arms race?
Which concept refers to the actions by a state that can inadvertently lead to an arms race?
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What is the role of states as described in classical realism?
What is the role of states as described in classical realism?
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Who argued that it is safer for a leader to be feared than loved, yet should avoid hatred?
Who argued that it is safer for a leader to be feared than loved, yet should avoid hatred?
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What aspect does deterrence theory focus on?
What aspect does deterrence theory focus on?
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What methodology does Steven Leblanc use in his study of warfare?
What methodology does Steven Leblanc use in his study of warfare?
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What is a criticism of realism according to thinkers like Voltaire?
What is a criticism of realism according to thinkers like Voltaire?
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What does Kenneth Waltz's structural realism primarily focus on in relation to state behavior?
What does Kenneth Waltz's structural realism primarily focus on in relation to state behavior?
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According to the Balance of Threat Theory, what are some factors that affect a state's perception of threat?
According to the Balance of Threat Theory, what are some factors that affect a state's perception of threat?
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What does Hegemonic Stability Theory suggest about global order?
What does Hegemonic Stability Theory suggest about global order?
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What concept does William Wohlforth discuss regarding the behavior of smaller states toward a dominant power?
What concept does William Wohlforth discuss regarding the behavior of smaller states toward a dominant power?
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According to George Modelski's Long Cycle Theory, how long do cycles of hegemony typically last?
According to George Modelski's Long Cycle Theory, how long do cycles of hegemony typically last?
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What is one key assumption of Liberalism regarding international cooperation?
What is one key assumption of Liberalism regarding international cooperation?
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In John Locke's view, what legitimizes government authority?
In John Locke's view, what legitimizes government authority?
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What does Immanuel Kant argue is more likely to promote peace among states?
What does Immanuel Kant argue is more likely to promote peace among states?
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Study Notes
Aristotle's Politics
- Aristotle viewed politics as a means to achieve a "good life" and develop virtue in citizens.
- Three good forms of government were monarchy, aristocracy, and polity.
- Corrupt forms of government were tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy.
- Politics involves distributing power to maintain stability and avoid conflict.
- A large middle class is crucial for stability.
- Aristotle's work influenced American political thought on constitutional design and mixed government.
Pre-Scientific Methods to Knowledge
- Knowledge was derived through tradition, religious authority, and philosophical reasoning.
- Early political theories were based on observations of nature and deductive reasoning.
Science & Political Science
- The scientific method is used to study politics through systematic observation, hypothesis testing, and empirical data.
- Independent variables cause changes or predict outcomes in a study.
- Dependent variables are the outcomes or behaviors being studied.
- Levels of analysis: Individual: Focuses on individual actions, leaders, and decision-makers. State: Examines state behavior, institutions, and domestic politics. System (International): Analyzes how the international system affects state behavior.
Sound Theories, Explanations & Logical Inferences
- Causation refers to a direct cause-effect relationship between variables.
- Correlation is an association between variables that may not imply causation.
- Quantitative research uses numerical data and statistical methods to test hypotheses.
- Qualitative research aims to understand processes, institutions, and historical context.
- Longitudinal studies examine changes over time.
- Case studies provide in-depth analysis of a single case or event but may lack generalizability.
Political Science & the Modern Academy
- Political science subfields:
- American Politics
- Comparative Politics
- International Relations
- Political Theory
- Public Policy
- Each subfield uses scientific and theoretical methods to study different aspects of political behavior and systems.
Classical Realism
- Classical realism believes human nature is inherently selfish and power-seeking.
- States are the main actors in an anarchic international system.
- Conflict is inevitable because of human nature and competition for power.
- Key concepts: States as Unitary Actors, Rational Actor Model, Balance of Power, Hard Power, Soft Power.
- Deterrence theory aims to prevent aggression through credible threats.
- The Security Dilemma states that actions taken to enhance security can lead to others feeling threatened, resulting in an arms race.
- Thucydides' "Melian Dialogue" exemplifies might makes right and justice being secondary to power.
- Machiavelli advocates for pragmatic leadership, emphasizing fear over love, but avoiding hatred.
- Hobbes' "Leviathan" posits that a strong central authority is needed to prevent anarchy.
- Hans Morgenthau argues that the primary goal of states is the national interest defined by power.
- Critiques of realism argue that its cynical view ignores the potential for cooperation and idealism.
Steven Leblanc's "Prehistory of Warfare" (2003)
- Leblanc uses anthropological and archaeological data to study early human warfare.
- He challenges the idea of the "noble savage" and argues that warfare was common in prehistory.
- Leblanc concludes that warfare is not an anomaly, but has been a consistent feature of human societies.
Kenneth Waltz's Theory of International Relations (1979)
- Waltz's structural realism focuses on the structure of the international system as a determinant of state behavior.
- The international system structure can be unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar.
- Waltz breaks from classical realism by focusing on systemic structures instead of human nature.
Stephen Walt's "Alliance Formation and the Balance of World Power" (1985)
- Walt's Balance of Threat Theory describes states forming alliances not just based on power, but on perceived threats.
- Factors influencing threat include geographic proximity, offensive power, and aggressive intentions.
Hegemonic Stability Theory
- Global order achieves stability when a single hegemon enforces rules and provides public goods.
William Wohlforth's "Unipolar Stability" (2007)
- Smaller states may align with or balance against a dominant power.
- Overreaching by a hegemon can cause a decline in power and influence.
- Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is used to compare economic power and influence across countries.
Hegemonic War Theory
- George Modelski's "Long Cycle Theory": Global politics operates in cycles of rising and falling hegemons, each lasting around a century.
- Hegemonic wars reset global structures.
Assumptions of Liberalism
- Liberalism emphasizes human progress, rationality, and learning from history.
- It sees economic cooperation as key to reducing security competition.
- International cooperation can overcome the insecurity of self-help systems.
John Locke's "The Second Treatise of Government" (1690)
- Advocates for natural rights: life, liberty, and property.
- Government derives its legitimacy from the people's consent to protect natural rights.
Immanuel Kant's "First Definitive Article for Perpetual Peace"
- Republican governments are more likely to promote peace.
- Peaceful international relations can be achieved through democratic governance and international laws.
Highpoint of Liberalism After 1919
- The rise of international institutions, such as the League of Nations and the United Nations, promoted peace.
- Keohane and Nye's "Complex Interdependence" argues that states are interconnected through economic ties, diplomacy, and international norms, reducing the likelihood of war.
Liberalism & Failure of the Global Village
- The year 1979 saw a resurgence of state power and skepticism towards globalism.
- Neorealism became prominent in academic circles, challenging liberal optimism.
Robert Keohane's "After Hegemony" (1984)
- International institutions facilitate cooperation even without a hegemonic power, creating predictable frameworks for state interaction.
D'Anieri's "The EU"
- The European Coal and Steel Community evolved into the European Economic Community (EEC), facilitated by the Treaty of Rome (1957), and finally became the European Union (EU) after the Maastricht Treaty (1992).
David Brown's "Teamwork Urged on Bird Flu"
- Brown's article highlights the neoliberal perspective on global challenges, emphasizing international cooperation and coordination to address global issues.
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Description
Explore the foundational ideas presented by Aristotle in his work 'Politics'. This quiz covers his views on government forms, the significance of the middle class, and the evolution from pre-scientific to scientific methods in political science.
