24 Questions
What is the main concept that refers to the idea that the world lacks any supreme authority or sovereignty?
Anarchy
What is the primary goal of realism in international relations?
Pursuing self-interest
What is the main difference between realism and liberalism in international relations?
Realism focuses on conflict, while liberalism emphasizes cooperation
What is the primary focus of constructivism in international relations?
The social construction of reality and identity
What is the main concept that refers to a state's ability to influence the behavior of other states?
Power
What is the primary goal of feminism in international relations?
Challenging patriarchal structures
What is the Prisoner's Dilemma typically used to illustrate in international relations?
The difficulty of achieving cooperation due to self-interest
What is the main concept that refers to the diversity of states in terms of their peoples, cultures, and systems?
Complexity of states
What is the primary characteristic of state sovereignty?
The right of a state to determine and control what happens within its borders
Which of the following is a key component of a state?
A permanent population
What is the study of international relations primarily concerned with?
The study of how states and non-state actors interact with and relate to each other
Which of the following is an example of a non-state actor?
An international organization
What is the primary goal of global governance?
To address global issues such as climate change and poverty
What is a key feature of international conflict?
The use of force to achieve goals
What is the primary benefit of global cooperation?
Addressing global issues such as climate change and poverty
Which of the following is a characteristic of a state?
A defined territory with internationally recognized borders
What is the primary objective of the hunters in the stag hunt scenario?
To cooperate with each other to bring down a stag
What is the characteristic of a collective action problem?
More than two individuals or states are involved in the situation
What is the role of a powerful state in resolving a collective action problem?
To force cooperation among the smaller states
What is the principle of the tit-for-tat strategy in resolving a prisoner's dilemma?
To punish the other party for non-cooperation
What is a necessary condition for the tit-for-tat strategy to work?
The prisoners are able to punish each other in the future
What is a key factor in resolving a stag hunt problem?
The ability of the hunters to see each other
What is an example of a solution to a collective action problem in international relations?
The nuclear arms limitation deals between the US and Soviet Union
What is a characteristic of a cohesive group in the context of the stag hunt problem?
Members are able to trust each other to cooperate
Study Notes
The Concept of Power in International Relations
- Power refers to a state's ability to influence the behavior of other states.
- Powerful states are more likely to reach their foreign policy goals than less powerful states.
Key Idea: Relative Power Changes Over Time
- No state remains powerful forever.
The Fundamental Challenges of World Politics
- The concept of anarchy: the world lacks a supreme authority or sovereignty.
- States are diverse in terms of people, races, cultures, geographic and resource restrictions, political systems, and economies.
- States are complex, and their behavior depends on many factors.
Theories of International Relations
- Realism: emphasizes conflict and power, and the role of states pursuing their self-interest.
- Liberalism: emphasizes cooperative approaches and the role of non-state actors.
- Constructivism: emphasizes the social construction of reality and the role of identity, culture, norms, and interactions.
Alternative Theories of IR
- Foreign Policy Analysis: emphasizes the individuals and groups who make decisions and the processes they produce.
- Marxism: emphasizes class-based economic interests and the role of wealth and control.
- Feminism: focuses on gender issues and approaches.
Can People (and States) Cooperate?
- The Prisoner's Dilemma: a situation where two individuals or states would be better off cooperating but fail to do so due to conflicting interests.
- The Stag Hunt: a collective action problem where multiple individuals or states fail to cooperate due to conflicting interests.
Solutions to Prisoner's Dilemma
- A powerful state can force cooperation (e.g., a mafia boss).
- Tit-for-tat: a strategy where one party places trust in another and punishes them if they betray that trust.
Solutions to Stag Hunt Problem
- Building trust within a cohesive group.
- Transparency and visibility among individuals or states.
Course Objectives
- Introduction to actors and current issues in world politics.
- Topics include states and non-state actors, international organizations, negotiations, global governance, and more.
Definition of International Relations
- The study of how countries interact and relate to each other.
- The study of how states and non-state actors interact with and relate to each other.
What is a State/Country?
- A self-governing political entity with:
- Territory with internationally recognized borders.
- A permanent population.
- A government.
- Sovereignty over its people and territory.
- External recognition from other states.
State Sovereignty
- The right of a state to determine and control what happens within its borders.
- Means no other state has power or control over its territory.
- Means governments are free to do what they want within their own state.
This quiz explores the concept of power in international relations, its significance, and how it changes over time. It also touches on different types of security and map projections.
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