Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the preferred approach of a pacific dove if faced with an opponent who is a hawk?
What is the preferred approach of a pacific dove if faced with an opponent who is a hawk?
Democrats are less sensitive to war losses than autocrats.
Democrats are less sensitive to war losses than autocrats.
False
Why do autocrats engage in wars?
Why do autocrats engage in wars?
To provide private goods for their allies and to secure territory for resource extraction.
A _____ dove is more likely to engage in violence when they are weak rather than strong.
A _____ dove is more likely to engage in violence when they are weak rather than strong.
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Match the type of leader with their primary reason for engaging in war:
Match the type of leader with their primary reason for engaging in war:
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What is the primary reason states engage in war according to the structuralist explanation?
What is the primary reason states engage in war according to the structuralist explanation?
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According to the bargaining model, war is always a better solution than reaching a compromise.
According to the bargaining model, war is always a better solution than reaching a compromise.
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Name the three types of power distributions among leading states.
Name the three types of power distributions among leading states.
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A key factor that creates a security dilemma is when states try to ______ their aims and misrepresent their strength.
A key factor that creates a security dilemma is when states try to ______ their aims and misrepresent their strength.
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Match the following concepts with their descriptions:
Match the following concepts with their descriptions:
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What might cause uncertainty leading to bargaining failure?
What might cause uncertainty leading to bargaining failure?
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War is deemed to be very inexpensive for states involved.
War is deemed to be very inexpensive for states involved.
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Huntington proposed that a clash of ______ will define conflicts.
Huntington proposed that a clash of ______ will define conflicts.
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What is a first-strike advantage?
What is a first-strike advantage?
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Preventive wars are fought to stop an adversary from becoming stronger in the future.
Preventive wars are fought to stop an adversary from becoming stronger in the future.
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What was the primary audience cost faced by Kennedy during the Cuban Crisis?
What was the primary audience cost faced by Kennedy during the Cuban Crisis?
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In the context of military strategy, a __________ is a war fought when an attack by the other side is anticipated.
In the context of military strategy, a __________ is a war fought when an attack by the other side is anticipated.
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Match the type of actor to their preferred action when attacked:
Match the type of actor to their preferred action when attacked:
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What characterized the leaders' decision-making during the Cuban Crisis?
What characterized the leaders' decision-making during the Cuban Crisis?
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Weak states will always avoid initiating conflict due to their preference for peace.
Weak states will always avoid initiating conflict due to their preference for peace.
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What event is an example of a preemptive war?
What event is an example of a preemptive war?
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The __________ Incentive refers to the motivation to attack due to future uncertainties in power dynamics.
The __________ Incentive refers to the motivation to attack due to future uncertainties in power dynamics.
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What was a key feature of President Kennedy’s handling of the Cuban Crisis?
What was a key feature of President Kennedy’s handling of the Cuban Crisis?
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The presence of audience costs is higher for leaders in democracies than in autocracies.
The presence of audience costs is higher for leaders in democracies than in autocracies.
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Name one major outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Name one major outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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The Cuban Crisis escalated when the US discovered the presence of __________ in Cuba.
The Cuban Crisis escalated when the US discovered the presence of __________ in Cuba.
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What does the term 'commitment problem' refer to in military conflicts?
What does the term 'commitment problem' refer to in military conflicts?
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Study Notes
Structuralist Explanations of War
- States prioritize maximizing power for survival.
- Seeing rivals increase power creates a security dilemma, raising miscalculation risks.
- States often conceal aims and misrepresent strength, potentially leading to war.
- Balance of power theory: war is determined by the distribution of power among major states.
- Bipolar or balanced multipolarity can yield stability relative to unbalanced multipolarity.
- Anarchy exists constantly, but war isn't a constant.
- War is costly and hard to justify beyond limited cases.
Cultural Explanations of War
- Huntington (1993) suggested clash of civilizations fuels conflict.
- Certain cultures/civilizations may seek expansion or norm imposition.
- This rationale doesn't always apply in the modern era; motivations often center on interests (e.g., Saudi Arabia-West relations).
Bargaining Model of War
- War is costly; compromise is often a superior option.
- States fail to reach compromise due to:
- Uncertainty: About opponent's costs and capabilities.
- Information Asymmetry: Misrepresenting strength for advantage.
- Indivisibility of the Issue: Some things (like holy sites) are difficult to divide.
- Hawkish Leaders: Leaders with preference for war (Putin, Hussein, Netanyahu).
- Commitment Problems: Opportunities for exploiting first-strike advantage.
Commitment Problems
- Preventive War: War to deter an opponent's future strength.
- Preemptive War: War motivated by threat of immediate attack.
- Time Inconsistency: Difficulty for states to commit to future actions.
Audience Costs and War
- Democratic leaders face audience costs (reputation/political consequences) from backing down from threats.
- Audience costs are higher and more credible in democracies.
- Audience costs force leaders to keep their commitments and maintain resolve.
Shultz' Model and Audience Costs
- Includes opposition party's role impacting the outcome.
- Policies are selected based on likely success, unless winning a specific conflict ensures re-election.
Pacific Dove Hypothesis
- Weak states may initiate war despite preferring peace if the opponent is unwilling to negotiate.
- This depends on circumstances like first-strike advantage and the opponent's willingness to fight back.
Selectorate Theory and War
- Leaders fight for resources or policy concessions to maintain power.
- Autocrats often gain resources and autocratic survival through territorial gain.
- Democratic leaders value avoiding casualties and losses.
Case Study: Cuban Missile Crisis
- Context included Kennedy's reputation, Bay of Pigs failure, and the perceived Soviet threat.
- The crisis involved a US naval quarantine (not a blockade) to prevent further Soviet arms deployment.
- Audience costs were crucial; Kennedy had to maintain resolve due, to the potential harm to electoral prospects, and reputation.
- Ultimately, a public commitment from the Soviet Union caused them to back down.
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Description
This quiz explores both structuralist and cultural explanations for war, examining how states prioritize power for survival and how cultural clashes can lead to conflict. It also discusses the bargaining model of war, emphasizing the costs of warfare compared to the benefits of compromise. Test your understanding of these critical theories and their implications for international relations.
