International Relations Overview
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Questions and Answers

What key question arose from the events of World War II that influenced the study of international relations?

  • What is the impact of technology on warfare?
  • How can economic factors lead to peace?
  • How can we promote cultural exchange between nations?
  • How can we reduce occurrence and intensity of wars? (correct)

    • What is one of the main goals of theory in international relations?

  • To predict and control future occurrences (correct)
  • To increase the number of variables analyzed
  • To limit the influence of historical events
  • To promote political ideologies

    • Why do multiple theories exist within the field of international relations?

  • They rely solely on quantitative data
  • They are based on the same assumptions and variables
  • They address different questions and possess varying assumptions (correct)
  • They reflect different philosophical beliefs

    • In the context of theory, what function does a 'variable' serve?

    <p>It specifies what information a theory considers essential</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the analytical tool that theories represent in international relations?

    <p>It simplifies reality by focusing on important variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Mearsheimer suggest is the primary goal of states in the international system?

    <p>Complete security</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which actor is NOT considered a main player in the international system?

    <p>Local Government Entities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary limitation on achieving global dominance according to Mearsheimer?

    <p>Nuclear weapons and geographical barriers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of the 'individual level' of analysis in international relations?

    <p>Actions and decisions of individual leaders</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does neoclassical realism differ from offensive and defensive realism?

    <p>It considers domestic factors in foreign policy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which solution to the Collective Goods Problem emphasizes power dynamics?

    <p>Dominance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'security dilemma' refer to?

    <p>A situation where state power increases insecurity for all.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant principle was established by the Peace of Westphalia?

    <p>Principle of sovereignty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to neoclassical realism, which of the following factors influences a state's understanding of the international system?

    <p>The state's strategic culture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a main objective of the Congress of Vienna?

    <p>Maintaining peace through redistribution of power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During World War I, which countries were part of the opposing alliance against Central Powers?

    <p>United States, France, and Russia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect does game theory NOT address according to its essential elements?

    <p>Motivations behind players' actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines a state's strategic culture in the context of neoclassical realism?

    <p>The state's propensity to choose particular strategies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which strategy is associated with confronting a rising and threatening actor in balance of power theory?

    <p>Building internal power and forming alliances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the immediate effect when one state increases its power for security?

    <p>Increased threats perceived by other states.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does external sovereignty refer to in the context of international relations?

    <p>The recognition of a state by other states</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of realism in international relations?

    <p>The use of military power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level of analysis is primarily associated with realism?

    <p>Interstate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What assumption of realism suggests that states are the principal actors in international relations?

    <p>Primary actors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of realism argues that states compete for power due to human nature?

    <p>Classical realism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to realism, what are the main variables that influence international relations?

    <p>Military and economic power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the general nature of politics described by realism?

    <p>Primarily conflictual</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the key assumptions of realism regarding the international system?

    <p>It is inherently anarchic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following forms of realism is specifically associated with John Mearsheimer?

    <p>Offensive realism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the concept of 'balance of power' in realism?

    <p>Actors combining strength to counter a threatening power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of realism, what does the term 'unitary actors' refer to?

    <p>States functioning as coherent entities despite internal differences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a zero-sum game, what does one player's gain imply for the other player?

    <p>One player's gain is equal to the other's loss.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the optimal individual strategy in the Prisoner's Dilemma if both players act selfishly?

    <p>Confessing to minimize personal time in prison.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When both players in the Prisoner's Dilemma confess, what is the resulting consequence?

    <p>Both players receive two years in prison.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect characterizes a non-zero-sum game?

    <p>Participants can achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of game strategy, what does 'payoffs' refer to?

    <p>The incentives or outcomes that influence players' decisions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Main Actors in International System

    • Nation-states are the primary actors in the international system.
    • International organizations like the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) play a significant role by setting rules and providing platforms for cooperation.
    • Multinational Corporations (MNCs) like Apple and Toyota exert economic power and influence across borders.
    • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International are influential in advocating for specific causes and shaping public opinion.
    • Non-state actors include various groups, such as individuals with significant influence, terrorist groups, and prominent figures.

    Levels of Analysis

    • The global level analyzes overarching factors and trends influencing international relations, such as climate change or globalization.
    • The interstate level focuses on interactions between states, including alliances, conflicts, and trade agreements.
    • The domestic level examines internal factors within states, such as political structures, economic systems, and public opinion.
    • The individual level analyzes the role of individual leaders and their decisions in shaping international relations.

    The Collective Goods Problem

    • A collective good is available to all members of a group, regardless of their individual contributions.
    • The problem arises when individuals can benefit from the good without contributing, leading to a decrease in overall contributions and potentially jeopardizing the good's provision.

    Solutions to the Collective Goods Problem

    • Dominance involves a powerful actor enforcing rules and ensuring contributions.
    • Reciprocity relies on mutual cooperation and the understanding that actions will be reciprocated (an eye for an eye).
    • Identity promotes cooperation based on shared values and a sense of belonging within a group.

    The Thirty Years' War and the Peace of Westphalia

    • The Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) was a major European conflict that marked the beginning of modern international relations.
    • The Peace of Westphalia (1648) established the principle of sovereignty, recognizing the political rights of monarchs and laying the foundation for the modern nation-state.

    Sovereignty

    • Internal sovereignty refers to a state's monopoly on the use of force within its territory.
    • External sovereignty signifies recognition by other states as an equal and independent entity.

    The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)

    • The Napoleonic Wars challenged the sovereignty of many European powers.
    • The Congress of Vienna aimed to reorganize European political boundaries, restore monarchies, and redistribute power to maintain a balance of power and prevent future conflicts.
    • The Congress of Vienna fostered relative peace among European powers until 1914.

    Balance of Power

    • The balance of power process involves states combining their strength to counter a rising and threatening actor.
    • This can be achieved through building internal power (military, budget, etc.) or forming alliances.

    World War I (1914-1918)

    • The war pitted Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire against Great Britain, the U.S., France, Russia, Italy, and Japan, along with other smaller powers.
    • The war resulted in over 9 million military deaths and an estimated 40 million civilian casualties.
    • This event catalyzed the emergence of international relations as a distinct field of study.

    World War II (1939-1945)

    • The war claimed an estimated 70-85 million lives, representing about 3% of the world population.
    • The scale of destruction and human suffering underlined the need for theoretical frameworks to better understand and prevent future conflicts.

    Theory

    • Theory provides a simplified framework to understand complex events by focusing on key variables and assumptions.

    Uses of Theory

    • Description: Offers an overview of concepts, events, or actions.
    • Explanation: Provides reasoning for observed outcomes based on theoretical principles.
    • Prediction: Enables forecasting future occurrences or trends based on theoretical models.
    • Control: Helps guide decision-making and policy interventions.

    Theories of International Relations

    • Realism: Emphasizes power, national interest, and conflict.

    • Liberalism: Focuses on cooperation, interdependence, and institutions.

    • Constructivism: Highlights the role of ideas, norms, and identities in shaping international politics.

    • Historical Materialism (Marxism): Analyzes class conflict and economic power dynamics.

    • Feminism: Examines gender and its impact on international relations.

    • Key Variables Across Theories*

    • Main Actors: States, MNCs, political parties, influential individuals.

    • Main Variables: Military, economic, and ideational power.

    • Nature of Politics: Cooperative or conflictual.

    • Possibility of Change: Optimistic or pessimistic.

    • Levels of Analysis: From individual to global.

    Realism:

    • Main Actors: States.
    • Main Variables: Military power.
    • Nature of Politics: Conflictual.
    • Possibility of Change: Pessimistic.
    • Main Level of Analysis: Interstate.

    Liberalism:

    • Main Actors: States and other actors.
    • Main Variables: Economic power.
    • Nature of Politics: Cooperative.
    • Possibility of Change: Optimistic.
    • Main Level of Analysis: All levels.

    Constructivism:

    • Main Actors: States and other actors.
    • Main Variables: Ideas, norms, and identities.
    • Nature of Politics: Conflictual and cooperative.
    • Possibility of Change: Optimistic.
    • Main Levels of Analysis: Global, interstate, and domestic.

    Historical Materialism (Marxism):

    • Main Actor: Economic classes.
    • Main Variables: Material power.
    • Nature of Politics: Conflictual.
    • Possibility of Change: Optimistic.
    • Main Level of Analysis: Global

    Realism:

    • It's a tradition of thought dating back thousands of years.
    • Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War" between Athens and Sparta is considered a foundational text.
    • Realism comprises several theories that share core assumptions about power, states, anarchy, and the balance of power.

    Assumptions of Realism:

    • Power: Central to realist theories, especially "hard power" (military force or threat).
    • States: Primary actors in the international system.
    • Anarchy: The absence of a higher authority to regulate state behavior.
    • Balance of Power: The process of counterbalancing a rising power by uniting other states.

    Types of Realism:

    • Classical Realism (Human Nature): States compete for power based on the inherent lust for power within human beings.
    • Defensive Realism: States act defensively due to the structure of the international system, where there is no security guarantee.
    • Offensive Realism: States inherently seek to expand their power, pursuing regional hegemony.
    • Neoclassical Realism: Attempts to explain variations in state foreign policies by considering domestic factors (state apparatus, leaders, domestic support).

    Security Dilemma:

    • When a state increases its military capabilities, it can create insecurity for other states, prompting them to increase their own military power as well. This leads to a cycle of escalating military buildup and heightened tensions.

    Game Theory

    • Players: Actors involved in the game.
    • Rules: Constraints on actions.
    • Outcomes: Possible results of interactions.
    • Payoffs: Preferences over the outcomes.
    • Information: Knowledge available to the players during decision-making.
    • Chance: Unforeseen events or probabilities that can impact the game.

    Zero-sum Games

    • One actor's gain is another actor's loss.
    • Examples include poker and gambling.

    Non-zero-sum Games

    • Interactions can lead to gains for both actors.
    • Examples include trade or cooperation.

    Prisoner's Dilemma

    • Demonstrates how rational actors can fail to achieve the best outcome due to lack of trust and cooperation.
    • Each player has the choice to cooperate or defect.
    • The best outcome for both players is to cooperate; however, the dominant strategy is for both to defect, resulting in a suboptimal outcome for both.

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    Description

    Explore the main actors in the international system, including nation-states, NGOs, and multinational corporations. This quiz also delves into levels of analysis that shape international relations, from global trends to domestic factors. Test your knowledge on these essential concepts in political science.

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