Realism and Constructivism in Foreign Policy

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What is the main focus of realism in foreign policy according to Snyder?

Emphasizing ethical governance and moral imperatives

Strict adherence to ideological doctrines

Encouraging international collaboration and treaties

Pursuing national interest and assessing power dynamics (correct)

Which type of regime is most likely to pursue aggressive external strategies during economic strain?

Coalition governments with a focus on diplomacy

Federal states with diversified economies

Democratic governments with open economies

Autocratic regimes reliant on state control (correct)

In the context of peaking powers, what key pressure influences their foreign policy?

The push for democratization and human rights

The competition for technological supremacy

The need to maintain geopolitical standing and economic stability (correct)

The desire to promote global peace

What aspect of global politics does constructivism primarily highlight?

Normative and ideological underpinnings Signup and view all the answers

What does Snyder criticize about liberal and neoconservative approaches?

Their failure to acknowledge diversity in global values Signup and view all the answers

Snyder compares contemporary China to which historical rivalry?

The Anglo-German rivalry Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of realism as understood by Snyder?

Flexibility in assessing power dynamics Signup and view all the answers

What drives the foreign policy of aggressive peaking powers?

Economic instability and geopolitical pressures Signup and view all the answers

What is essential for China to strengthen its hegemonic prospects according to the discussion?

Aligning its identity with global aspirations Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of international relations does Constructivism emphasize?

Ideational factors like beliefs and norms Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the barriers to China's hegemonic ambitions mentioned in the discussion?

The distribution of identity among states Signup and view all the answers

How does the U.S. approach global values compared to China's approach?

The U.S. uses institutions to reinforce its values, while China focuses on economic pragmatism. Signup and view all the answers

What role do shared beliefs play in Constructivist theory?

They serve as the primary motivators of state behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does China face in reshaping global norms?

Addressing its normative deficits. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of hegemony, why is identity deemed important?

It influences how states align themselves ideologically and politically. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notable project mentioned as enhancing China's global influence?

Belt and Road Initiative Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested as the most effective means to secure Ukraine's future?

NATO membership Signup and view all the answers

What does the author suggest Ukraine could pursue to define its borders?

Establishing a militarily defensible provisional border Signup and view all the answers

What assurance would ease NATO allies' fears regarding Ukraine's membership?

Renouncing the use of force beyond defined borders, except for self-defense Signup and view all the answers

Which historical example is referenced as a model for Ukraine’s potential path?

West Germany's approach during the Cold War Signup and view all the answers

How did NATO adapt its mission post-Cold War?

By managing crises and addressing emerging threats like terrorism Signup and view all the answers

What institutional asset of NATO contributed to its resilience?

Established norms of cooperation Signup and view all the answers

What is a criticism mentioned about NATO’s post-Cold War role?

Perceived mission creep and overreach Signup and view all the answers

What effect has NATO's enlargement had on former Eastern Bloc countries?

Promotion of stability and democracy Signup and view all the answers

How does the normalization of violence within the home impact societal behavior?

It contributes to a precedence for resolving conflicts through aggression. Signup and view all the answers

What key concept introduced by Putnam illustrates the simultaneous navigation of domestic and international political pressures?

Two-level game Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors influences the size and shape of a win-set?

Domestic political preferences Signup and view all the answers

What effect does a larger win-set have on the negotiation process?

It increases the probability of agreement but may reduce bargaining power. Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of societies that tolerate domestic violence and gender inequality?

Higher levels of internal and external conflict. Signup and view all the answers

What role do domestic constraints play in international negotiations?

They can be used as leverage to extract concessions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the relationship between gender equality and conflict levels?

Lower gender equality is linked to higher levels of violence. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'synergistic linkages' in the context of international negotiations?

They help expand the range of feasible agreements by aligning conflicting interests. Signup and view all the answers

How does China's recent behavior in the South China Sea compare to its past actions?

It is consistent with past practices. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested by the narrative that characterizes China as 'newly assertive'?

It cherry-picks aggressive actions while ignoring cooperative ones. Signup and view all the answers

What potential consequence is associated with mischaracterizing China's diplomatic stance?

Exacerbation of U.S.-China tensions. Signup and view all the answers

According to the concept of 'powerplay,' what is a primary reason for the U.S. forming asymmetric alliances in East Asia?

To exert maximum control over its allies. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following reflects the operational command retained by the U.S. over South Korea?

Imposed conditions on the use of military force. Signup and view all the answers

What does the bilateral framework of U.S. alliances allow in terms of regional dynamics?

Tighter control over potential conflict provocation. Signup and view all the answers

Which action by China has been critiqued as being exaggerated in the context of its assertiveness?

Claims in the South China Sea. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant aspect of the U.S. alliances in East Asia compared to NATO?

They required direct U.S. control over allies. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor that helps foster trust and collaboration over time in repeated interactions?

Information transparency Signup and view all the answers

What do classical liberal thinkers like Kant and Bentham emphasize as essential for peace?

Economic interdependence Signup and view all the answers

What theory suggests that democracies rarely engage in conflict with one another?

Democratic Peace Theory Signup and view all the answers

According to the concept of hegemonic stability, what role does a dominant power play?

Maintains global order by providing public goods Signup and view all the answers

What does constructivism assert about the international system?

It is socially constructed through shared beliefs and norms. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does Alexander Wendt's 'Cultures of Anarchy' focus on?

States can perceive one another as friends, rivals, or enemies. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a central component of constructivism regarding state behavior?

Norms and identity Signup and view all the answers

What do norms and identities regulate in the context of international relations?

State conduct and interests Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Week 2: Critiques of Methodological Sophistication in Political Science

Political science has become less relevant to policy due to scholars prioritizing academic recognition over practical contributions.
Evolving needs of policymakers (moving from broad theories to detailed operational knowledge) reduce academia's direct policy relevance.
Trump's election is linked to a broader geopolitical shift from a unipolar to a multipolar system, driving a demand for policies prioritizing national interests, reflecting a structural realist approach.
Liberal Internationalism is viewed as overly costly and out of touch with American concerns, with Trump's foreign policy aligning with offshore balancing, limiting US intervention, and encouraging regional action.

Week 2: Enduring Relevance of International Relations Theories

Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism remain crucial for understanding global politics and foreign policy.
Realism explains military dominance and responses (like post-9/11 US actions) but struggles with explaining enduring US dominance without balancing coalitions and the rise of non-state actors.
Realism is relevant for understanding post-9/11 ideological conflicts and transnational activism but has weaknesses in addressing material conditions for sustained change
A combination of all three theories offers a balanced perspective, avoiding ideological overreach.

Week 3: Peaking Powers and Aggressive Foreign Policy

"Peaking powers" (nations with rapid economic growth followed by a slowdown) often engage in aggressive foreign policy to maintain geopolitical standing.
Autocratic peaking powers are more prone to aggressive expansion than democratic ones due to state control of resources to sustain patronage networks.

Week 3: Realism as an Attitude

Realism is not a set of doctrines but a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, emphasizing national interest, power balancing, and consequentialist morality.
Realist judgments diverge based on threat perceptions and assessments of adversaries.

Week 3: Historical Parallels and China's Rise

China's rise mirrors historical contests like Anglo-German rivalry, where economic systems, technology, and infrastructure investments are used to challenge dominant powers.
The U.S. should reinvest in innovation, science, and infrastructure, secure intellectual property, and re-commit to multilateral trade agreements to maintain global leadership.

Week 3: Predicting Intense Security Competition

The article predicts a new Cold War-style security competition between the U.S. and China, with potential for conflict.
Optimistic arguments about China's peaceful rise, like building trust or focusing on defensive capabilities, are dismissed.
The security dilemma and uncertainty of intentions are emphasized.

Week 4: Protecting Trade Through Legal Adjudication

Strong trade ties incentivize countries to mitigate uncertainty from political disputes, preventing trade disruption.
International Courts like the ICJ are vital mechanisms to isolate political disputes from trade concerns, promoting commercial peace.
Countries with significant economic interdependence are more likely to use international courts to resolve disputes.

Week 4: Middle States in the U.S.-China Rivalry

Middle powers (e.g., Japan, South Korea, ASEAN) must navigate a changing landscape, balancing economic ties with China and security alliances with the U.S.
They should emphasize multilateralism, regional integration, and hedging strategies.
Maintaining a rules-based international order requires cooperation among middle powers to advocate for norms and multilateralism.

Week 4: Mutual Assured Production and Economic Interdependence

Mutual Assured Production (MAP) suggests intertwined economies deter conflict by making war economically devastating.
Extensive economic ties between China and Japan act as a deterrent.
Diplomacy and dispute resolution mechanisms are crucial to maintain economic incentives over nationalist impulses or miscalculations.

Week 5: China's Hegemonic Prospects and Identity

China's rise depends on its ability to reshape global norms and values instead of solely relying on material power.
The distribution of identity (shared norms, values, ideologies) significantly constrains China's transformative ability.
China must align its identity with broader global aspirations for a successful global order transition.

Week 5: Constructivism as an Approach

Constructivism emphasizes the importance of ideational factors (beliefs, norms, identities) shaping state behavior.
The study of constructivism should engage more comparative politics analysis and examine the connection between ideas and material power.

Week 5: Chinese Exceptionalism

China's hybrid system (beyond socialism and capitalism) drawing upon Confucian values, state control, and strategic governance, is challenged as an oversimplified model.
China's reported economic growth figures are potentially inflated.
Authoritarian governance under Xi Jinping faces issues like capital flight, regulatory uncertainty, and eroding private sector dynamism.

Week 5: China's "Assertiveness"

China's assertive actions are not necessarily a new phenomenon, but rather consistent with established conduct.
Interpretation and causal analysis of these actions should consider historical context and nuanced perspectives on cooperation.

Week 7: Asymmetric Alliances and Power Control

The U.S.'s strategy of "powerplay" formed asymmetric alliances to exert maximum control over allies (Korea, Taiwan, Japan).
Bilateral agreements were used to constrain alliances that could provoke adversary conflict, a necessary approach to controlling unpredictable leaders.

Week 7: A Better Path for Ukraine

NATO membership is the most effective way to secure Ukraine's future, transcending temporary bilateral agreements.
History (unilateral self-limitations) and West Germany's approach demonstrate strategies for Ukraine to adopt.
Seeking a militarily defensible border while renouncing force beyond that border will prevent immediate war with Russia after Ukraine's accession to NATO.

Week 7: NATO's Institutional Strengths

NATO's resilience stems from its institutional strengths: cooperation norms, robust decision-making, and flexible operations.
NATO adapted to post-Cold War realities, managing crises and addressing emerging threats.
NATO's enlargement and decision-making processes ensured member input, maintaining cohesion and credibility.

Week 8: Asymmetric Strategic Problems in Nuclear Nonproliferation

Cooperation between powerful democracies and weaker non-democracies in nuclear nonproliferation faces significant challenges due to power asymmetry and incomplete information.
Time inconsistency of policies from stronger states reduces trust in commitments, while weaker states' opaqueness creates negotiation hurdles.

Week 9: Postcolonial Moment in Security Studies

Traditional security studies are Eurocentric and marginalize the Global South's impact on global dynamics.
Security challenges often stem from colonial practices (arbitrary borders, exploitation), requiring a postcolonial approach.
Global security is interconnected, not solely dominated by Western priorities.

Week 11: The Democratic Peace and Racialized Assumptions

Racialized assumptions in public opinion impact perceptions of the democratic peace.
Public reluctance to support military action against other democracies connects to racial and ethnocentric (whiteness/Western) perceptions. Recognizing this bias helps refine theoretical models and understanding of foreign policy decisions.

Week 11: Gender Inequality and State Conflict

Gender inequality (violence and discrimination against women) is a significant yet overlooked factor influencing state conflict and insecurity.
Societies tolerating gender inequality show patterns of broader societal aggression.
Improving gender equality enhances state security, peacefulness, and stability.

Week 11: Diplomacy and Domestic Politics

National leaders face the complexity of navigating both international and domestic political pressures (two-level game).
Agreements must be internationally viable and domestically ratifiable, reflected by a "win-set."
Domestic institutions profoundly impact the negotiation process, significantly influencing the feasibility of international agreements

Week [Unknown]: Realism : Key Aspects

Realism emphasizes state prioritization of survival and power within an anarchic international system.
Classic realism connects to human nature, while neorealism links to international system structure.
Key concepts include security dilemma, relative gains, balance of power, hegemonic stability theory.

Week [Unknown]: Realism : Contemporary Issues and Debates

Realism's use in evaluating power transitions (like China's rise) and associated policy implications (like defending Taiwan) is discussed.
Debates involve the inevitability of war during power transitions and the weight of strategic interests versus power dynamics.

Week [Unknown]: Liberalism: Key Aspects

Liberalism posits international cooperation attainable through modernization, democratic governance, and institutional design.
Liberalism sees global order maintenance through a dominant power that provides public goods, believing it to be benign.
Concepts include democratic peace theory, institutions like WTO facilitating cooperation, and complex interdependence (beyond military considerations).

Week [Unknown]: Constructivism: Key Aspects

Constructivism argues that the international system is social constructed through shared beliefs, norms, and identities shaping state behavior.
Concepts like cultures of anarchy (Hobbesian, Lockean, Kantian) and focus on "how" questions (interpretivism) instead of strict causality are emphasized.
Constructivism acknowledges institutional shaping of norms and behaviors to promote transparency and cooperation.

Week [Unknown]: Rationalist Theories of War

Rationalist theories of war explain why wars occur despite their high costs.
Key causes include incomplete information, commitment problems, and indivisibility of goods.
Bargaining strategies (compellence, deterrence, brinkmanship) and mechanisms reducing war likelihood (e.g., nuclear deterrence) are discussed.

Week [Unknown]: Balance of Power

States strive for security by concentrating power, internally or externally balancing against threats.
Emulation and bandwagoning strategies are discussed.

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Description

This quiz explores the key concepts and critiques related to realism and constructivism in foreign policy, as presented by Snyder. It examines the characteristics of aggressive regimes, the pressures on peaking powers, and the contrasting approaches of the U.S. and China. Test your understanding of these critical theories in international relations.