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Questions and Answers

Which of the following was proposed as an alternative explanation for the empirical during the Cold War?

Democracies are more transparent

Democracies were on the same side during the Cold War (correct)

None of the above

Which of the following organizations was least successful in fulfilling its mission?

NATO

United Nations

World Trade Organization

League of Nations (correct)

According to empirical research, what type of alliance actually deters aggression?

Neutral alliances

Defensive alliances (correct)

Offensive alliances

Non-aggression pacts

Which of the following is true for the game known as Stag Hunt?

There are multiple equilibria in this game Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following leaders likely has the largest selectorate?

The president of a democratic state Signup and view all the answers

All of the following can facilitate cooperation in the Prisoner’s Dilemma except:

Allowing the prisoners to communicate before acting Signup and view all the answers

An adherent of which of the following perspectives would attribute conflict to human nature?

Classical realism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a real-world example of the principles behind Chicken?

Nuclear escalation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is always true of alliances?

They increase the cost of war for the opponent Signup and view all the answers

We can think of game theory as decision theory plus:

Strategic interaction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following perspectives is most concerned with power?

Realism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of the concept of balancing?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a real-world example of the principles behind Stag Hunt?

Coordinating on a language for civil aviation Signup and view all the answers

According to Max Abrahms, which of the following is an effective counter-terrorism strategy?

Sowing discord within terrorist groups Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was most likely said by a constructivist?

"Power resides where men believe it resides." Signup and view all the answers

It is always true that the rally-’round-the-flag effect leads to reelection.

False Signup and view all the answers

Suzerainty means that a state:

Has control over domestic affairs, but not foreign policy Signup and view all the answers

Which of these major events helped to end the cycle of empire?

The dropping of the Atomic Bomb Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is one of the only remaining Communist countries today?

Laos Signup and view all the answers

The realist approach to international relations assumes that cooperation is the only way to prevent war.

False Signup and view all the answers

What country actively worked to keep the peace within Europe during the nineteenth century?

Great Britain Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a collective security organization?

United Nations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following perspectives believes that institutions can have a real effect on politics?

Liberal institutionalism Signup and view all the answers

Suppose that I believe in the exercise of a muscular foreign policy to promote morality. I am most likely associated with:

Neoconservatism Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is sufficient to cause war under the informational explanation?

None of these is sufficient Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not one of the benefits that institutions bring, according to neoliberals?

They ensure all actors behave truthfully Signup and view all the answers

What concept does not have direct implications for the bargaining model of war?

Democratic Peace Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not an example of a commitment problem?

A state claiming to have a secret weapon in order to get a better bargain Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true for the game known as Prisoner’s Dilemma?

The equilibrium in this game is suboptimal Signup and view all the answers

What is a state’s primary interest, according to realists?

Survival Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following situations is most likely to lead to free riding?

Over 100 countries sign a climate change pledge Signup and view all the answers

In the article that we read for class, John Mearsheimer argued that:

Institutions simply reflect the distribution of power. Signup and view all the answers

When we say that the international system is anarchic, we mean that:

There is no world government. Signup and view all the answers

What was generally true of the contiguous land empires of the past?

They needed to expand geographically in order to grow economically Signup and view all the answers

In bargaining theory, the reversion point necessarily describes:

The status quo Signup and view all the answers

The diversionary theory of war suggests that leaders:

Use war to distract from political problems Signup and view all the answers

How many times has NATO invoked Article V?

One Signup and view all the answers

What often happens to non-democratic leaders who are removed from office after losing a war?

They are often punished by being exiled, imprisoned, or even executed Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of the concept of bandwagoning?

Weak states aligning with a stronger state Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Alternative Explanations for Empirical Evidence During Cold War

The Cold War saw an unexpected divergence between empirical evidence and realist theory.
The Democratic Peace theory emerged as an alternative explanation, stating that democracies are less likely to engage in conflict with each other.
The transparency of democratic systems, allowing for observation of internal politics, was suggested as a deterring factor for war.

Success of International Organizations

The League of Nations, founded after World War I to prevent future conflicts, was widely seen as a failure in achieving its objectives.

Types of Alliances

Defensive alliances, where states pledge to come to each other's aid in case of attack, are more effective in deterring aggression than other forms of alliances.

Stag Hunt Game

The Stag Hunt game demonstrates the importance of coordination and trust for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.
The game has multiple equilibria, meaning that there are several possible outcomes depending on the players' choices.

Selectorate and Leaders

Leaders with larger selectorates, representing a broader base of support, tend to be more responsive to the needs of their constituents.

Prisoner’s Dilemma and Cooperation

The Prisoner's Dilemma demonstrates the challenges of cooperation in the face of individual incentives to act in a self-interested manner.
Communication between players can facilitate cooperation by allowing them to coordinate strategies and understand each other's interests.

Classical Realism and Human Nature

Classical realism attributes conflict to human nature, suggesting that humans are inherently aggressive and power-seeking.

Chicken Game

The Chicken Game is a model of strategic interaction where two players face a situation where there is a strong incentive to avoid a mutually destructive outcome.
Nuclear escalation is a real-world example of the principles behind the Chicken Game, where both sides face the risk of annihilation if they fail to negotiate a compromise.

Alliances

Alliances usually increase the cost of war for the opposing side, as they bring in additional military resources and political support.
Alliances can provide strategic advantage by allowing states to pool their resources and coordinate their efforts.

Game Theory

Game Theory can be seen as decision theory with the addition of strategic interaction between multiple players.

Realism and Power

Realism, a dominant school of thought in international relations, focuses on the central role of power in international politics.

Balancing

Balancing is a concept in international relations where states form alliances or take other actions to counteract the power of a dominant state in order to maintain their own security.

Stag Hunt and Real-World Examples

Coordinating on a language for civil aviation is a real-world example of the principles behind the Stag Hunt game, where countries need to cooperate to avoid accidents.
Establishing common standards for trade and commerce is another example of how coordination can benefit all parties involved.

Counter-Terrorism Strategies

According to Max Abrahms, one effective counter-terrorism strategy is to sow discord within terrorist groups, weakening their internal cohesion and undermining their operations.

Constructivism and Power

Constructivists believe that power is socially constructed and dependent on shared beliefs and norms.
Constructivists argue that "Power resides where men believe it resides."

Rally-’Round-the-Flag Effect

The rally-’round-the-flag effect refers to the tendency for national unity and support for the government to increase during times of crisis or external threat.
The effect is not always guaranteed to lead to reelection for the leader.

Suzerainty

Suzerainty refers to a political relationship where one state exerts control over the domestic affairs of another state, but does not have control over its foreign policy.

End of Empires

The end of the cycle of empire was influenced by several factors, including the dropping of the Atomic Bomb and the rise of nationalism.
The Atomic Bomb demonstrated the destructive power of modern weaponry and shifted the balance of power in favor of the United States and the Soviet Union.

Communist Countries

Laos remains one of the few remaining Communist countries in the world today.
China, Vietnam, North Korea, and Cuba are others.

Realist Approach to International Relations

Realism does not assume that military force is the only way to prevent war, but acknowledges it as a significant factor in international politics.

Peacekeeping in Europe

Great Britain played a key role in maintaining peace within Europe during the 19th century, acting as a balancer to prevent major wars from breaking out.

Collective Security Organizations

The United Nations is a prominent example of a collective security organization, with a mandate to maintain international peace and security.

Liberal Institutionalism

Liberal institutionalism is a perspective in international relations that believes that international institutions can have a real effect on politics by promoting cooperation, reducing uncertainty, and providing mechanisms for dispute resolution.

Neoconservatism

Neoconservatism advocates for a muscular foreign policy that uses military force to promote democracy and American interests abroad.

Causes of War

The informational explanation of war suggests that misperceptions and incomplete information can lead to conflict.
However, none of the factors identified in this explanation are sufficient on their own to trigger war.

Benefits of Institutions for Neoliberals

Neoliberals believe that institutions offer several benefits, including reducing transaction costs, facilitating cooperation, and providing information.
They do not believe that institutions can ensure all actors behave truthfully, as there will always be incentives to cheat and manipulate the system.

Bargaining Model of War

The bargaining model of war is a framework for understanding conflict that focuses on the distribution of gains and losses between states.
The Democratic Peace concept, which suggests that democracies are less likely to go to war with each other, does not have direct implications for the bargaining model of war.

Commitment Problems

Commitment problems arise when states cannot credibly commit to their future actions, leading to distrust and potential conflict.
These arise from issues such as changes in the balance of power, shifting preferences, or lack of enforcement mechanisms.

Prisoner's Dilemma

The Prisoner's Dilemma is a classic game theory scenario where two individuals acting in their own self-interest inevitably lead to a worse outcome for both.
The equilibrium in this game is suboptimal, meaning that there is a better alternative for both players, but they are unable to achieve it due to the lack of trust and communication.

State Interest According to Realists

According to realists, a state's primary interest is survival.
This means that states prioritize actions that ensure their continued existence, even at the expense of other goals.

Free-Riding

Free-riding occurs when individuals or states benefit from a public good without contributing to its provision.
International agreements on climate change is a real-world example where free-riding is a major concern.

John Mearsheimer's Argument

John Mearsheimer, a prominent realist scholar, argued that international institutions simply reflect the distribution of power and do not fundamentally alter the behavior of states.
He believes that institutions are tools used by powerful states to advance their own interests.

Anarchy in the International System

The anarchy of the international system refers to the absence of a world government with the power to enforce rules and settle disputes.
This means that states are responsible for their own security and must rely on self-help strategies.

Contiguous Land Empires

Historically, contiguous land empires often needed to expand geographically to grow economically, as they relied on extracting resources and controlling trade routes.
This dynamic was particularly evident in empires like the Roman Empire and the British Empire.

Reversion Point in Bargaining Theory

The reversion point in a bargaining model is the status quo, or the outcome that would occur if no agreement is reached.
It is a crucial factor in determining the bargaining power of each party involved.

Diversionary Theory of War

The diversionary theory of war argues that leaders may use war to distract the public from domestic problems or to boost their popularity.
It suggests that leaders may be more likely to initiate conflict when they are facing political challenges at home.

NATO Article V

NATO has invoked Article V only once, following the September 11th attacks on the United States.
This invokes the principle of collective defense, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.

Leaders' Fate After War

Non-democratic leaders who are removed from office after losing a war often face severe consequences, such as exile, imprisonment, or even execution.
This is due to the nature of non-democratic regimes, where leaders are often seen as responsible for the success or failure of their state.

Bandwagoning

Bandwagoning is a strategy in international relations where weaker states align themselves with a powerful state to gain protection or benefits.
This strategy is distinct from balancing, where states work together to counter a dominant power.
None of the examples given in the text are clear instances of bandwagoning.

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