Global Politics: War, Crisis, and Power

Key Concepts in Global Politics

• Crisis bargaining involves negotiation during a crisis, potentially escalating or de-escalating conflict through strategic threats, deals, or compromises; an example is the Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Prevention in war is acting to avoid a potential future threat, illustrated by Germany in WWI feeling encircled.
• Preemption in war is striking first based on the belief that the enemy will soon attack, such as Israel's strikes in the Six-Day War.
• Indivisibility of resources and war occurs when a resource (like land or oil) is considered unable to be split, leading parties to war over its control; the Arab-Israeli conflict over Jerusalem exemplifies this.
• "Paying for power" involves states incurring military or diplomatic costs to expand their influence and global position, exemplified by the U.S. entry into WWI.
• Credible threats deter adversaries from unwanted actions when the opposing party believes the threat will be carried out if not heeded, as seen in the U.S. threat to the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Resolve in crisis is the willingness of a state to bear the costs of war, and it is often hard to gauge, leading to miscalculations in international conflicts; in WWII, both the U.S. and USSR persisted in battles like Vietnam and Korea.

World War I

• WWI began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary.
• The major alliances included the Triple Entente (France, Russia, Britain) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy).
• Key factors relating to WWI: Nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the system of alliances.
• Germany's surrender and the Treaty of Versailles led to the U.S. emerging as a dominant global power.

World War II

• Triggered by the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939.
• The Axis Powers were Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Allied Powers were the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and France, among others.
• WWII ended with the surrender of Germany and Japan in May and September 1945, respectively.
• Major impacts: Shifts in global power, the Cold War begins, the creation of the United Nations.

Nuclear Weapons and the Cold War

• The U.S. and USSR developed nuclear weapons, emphasizing Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).
• The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world came to nuclear war.

United Nations (UN)

• Founded after WWII to promote peace and cooperation among states.
• Includes the Security Council (with 5 permanent members: U.S., Russia, China, France, UK).
• Peacekeeping missions often face limitations because of political divisions or insufficient military resources.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

• Formed in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, and Western European countries, NATO's function was to counter the Soviet threat during the Cold War.
• Article 5 of NATO's treaty states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

System of Alliances in Pre-WWI Europe

• The Triple Entente (France, Russia, Britain) opposed the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy).
• These alliances created a delicate balance that, once disrupted, led to WWI.

Kargil War (1999)

• It was a conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed Kargil region.
• Pakistan infiltrated high-altitude posts in Indian territory, followed by India responding with military force.
• Military involvement occurred at high altitudes, with significant military operations by both countries.

The Role of Military in Conflicts

• Military can influence global politics by acting as a deterrent, as a tool for statecraft, and sometimes as a means of enforcing political or ideological aims.
• The U.S. military involvement in the Gulf War, Vietnam War, and the NATO-led interventions in the Balkans are examples of military conflict.

Audience Costs

• Political consequences that leaders face when they make promises or threats that they do not fulfill, leading to a loss of credibility or domestic support.
• U.S. involvement examples: Korean and Vietnam Wars, where public opinion was split.

The Role of Economic Power in Global Politics

• Economic strength is critical for a state to project power and influence globally.
• Trade agreements, sanctions, and economic aid can act as tools of influence.
• Example: The U.S. using economic sanctions against Iran and Russia to influence their behavior.

Pax Britannica

• The period of British global dominance, particularly in the 19th century, characterized by relatively peaceful international relations under British naval and economic power.
• Contributed to a stable global economic system via British leadership in global trade and finance.

The United Nations and Crisis Management

• The UN plays a role in mediating conflicts and preventing war through its peacekeeping forces and diplomatic efforts.
• However, its effectiveness is often limited by the political interests of the Security Council's permanent members.

Explore key concepts in global politics, including crisis bargaining, war prevention and preemption, and resource indivisibility. Understand how states leverage threats and power dynamics to shape international relations and avoid conflicts. Examples include the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Arab-Israeli conflict.