POLS 121 Final Study Guide (Condensed) PDF

POLS 121 Final Study Guide (Condensed) Kaplan: Environmental degradation, overpopulation, tribalism, and disease destabilize fragile states, leading to chaos and global insecurity. Homer-Dixon: Climate change intensifies poverty, weakens states, and fuels conflict, making it a severe security th...

POLS 121 Final Study Guide (Condensed) Kaplan: Environmental degradation, overpopulation, tribalism, and disease destabilize fragile states, leading to chaos and global insecurity. Homer-Dixon: Climate change intensifies poverty, weakens states, and fuels conflict, making it a severe security threat requiring urgent action. Rotberg: Weak States: Corruption, limited authority. Failed States: Loss of territory and services. Collapsed States: Total disintegration. All lead to conflict and regional instability. Patrick: Weak states suffer from poor governance but are not always global threats; policy responses should be case-specific. Eichengreen: Global economic conditions risk a currency crisis like the 1930s or 1970s; coordinated policies can prevent this. Solow: Supports Piketty's call for progressive taxation and global wealth redistribution to combat rising inequality. John: Border fences are ineffective; they ignore the deeper causes of migration and require broader policy solutions. Atzili: Fixed borders weaken fragile states by removing incentives for state-building, fostering conflict and instability. Saleyhan: Neighboring states providing sanctuary to rebel groups prolong conflicts and destabilize entire regions. Horowitz: Drones offer military advantages, but their proliferation has a limited destabilizing impact and requires nuanced analysis. Lindsay: Stuxnet shows cyber warfare’s potential but highlights barriers to weaponization and risks of retaliation; cyber tools complement traditional warfare. Greenhill & Oppenheim: Rumors in conflict zones shape perceptions, escalate violence, and can be weaponized by various actors. Prier: Social media is a tool for information warfare through trend hijacking and propaganda to influence public opinion and outcomes. McCoy et al.: Severe polarization fosters authoritarianism, violence, and instability; institutional reforms are needed to restore democracy. Klein: Social media amplifies Alt-Right/Antifa conflicts, escalating real-world violence and complicating law enforcement responses. Lund & Tyson: Globalization thrives due to digital tech (e-commerce, platforms), making trade faster, cheaper, and resilient despite protectionism. Owen: The U.S. and China are shaping competing global orders, increasing the potential for conflict or cooperation. Pinker: Violence has declined due to state authority, international cooperation, and cultural shifts making violence less acceptable. Stephan & Chenoweth: Nonviolent resistance (mass participation, disruption, international support) is more effective than violence for political change. Miscellaneous Terms Polarization: No compromise, growing divisions, less middle ground (McCoy). Solutions to State Failure: Foreign aid, transitional administration, trusteeships, shared sovereignty. Tragedy of the Commons: Self-interest depletes shared resources. Resource Curse: Resource-rich countries face corruption, conflict, and poor governance.  Great Recession Lesson: Powerful states act freely; weaker ones suffer. McDonald: Peace occurs when private assets outweigh public assets; the reverse leads to war. Strong Neighbors: Weaken neighbors, increase violence, cause migration, and create rebel safe havens. Creative Destruction: Technology disrupts industries; companies must adapt (Schumpeter). Democratic Backsliding: Gradual erosion of democratic institutions. Rumors on Social Media: Fuel conflict, make violence easier to start and harder to stop. War: Still possible due to territory, culture, and rogue actors, despite being costly and irrational.