Full Study Guide for Political Science Test

Here is a comprehensive study guide to cover all the key topics in detail for your test tomorrow. Full Study Guide 1\. Aristotle's Politics Overview: Aristotle views politics as a means to achieve the "good life" and develop virtue in citizens. His primary work, Politics, categorizes government...

Here is a comprehensive study guide to cover all the key topics in detail for your test tomorrow. Full Study Guide 1\. Aristotle's Politics Overview: Aristotle views politics as a means to achieve the "good life" and develop virtue in citizens. His primary work, Politics, categorizes governments into three good types (monarchy, aristocracy, polity) and their corrupt forms (tyranny, oligarchy, democracy). Power & Conflict Resolution: Politics involves distributing power in a way that maintains stability and avoids conflict. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of a large middle class for stability. Subfields & American Politics: Aristotle's classifications of governments and discussions on civic virtue have influenced American political thought, particularly on constitutional design and the importance of mixed government. 2\. Pre-Scientific Methods to Knowledge Tradition & Authority: Before the rise of empirical science, knowledge was derived through tradition, religious authority, and philosophical reasoning. Observation & Logic: Early political theories were based on observations of the natural world and deductive reasoning. 3\. Science & Political Science Scientific Method in Politics: Applying systematic observation, hypothesis testing, and empirical data to study political behavior and institutions. Dependent & Independent Variables: Independent Variable: A factor that causes change or predicts outcomes in a study. Dependent Variable: The outcome or behavior being studied, which is influenced by the independent variable. Levels of Analysis: Individual Level: Focuses on individual actions, leaders, and decision-makers. State Level: Examines state behavior, institutions, and domestic politics. System Level (International): Analyzes how the international system as a whole (e.g., distribution of power) affects state behavior. 4\. Sound Theories, Explanations & Logical Inferences Causation vs. Correlation: Causation: A direct cause-effect relationship between variables (e.g., economic sanctions causing economic hardship). Correlation: An association between two variables that may not imply direct causation. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research: Quantitative: Uses numerical data, often employs statistical methods to test hypotheses (e.g., voting patterns). Qualitative: Focuses on understanding processes, institutions, and historical context (e.g., case studies, interviews). Longitudinal vs. Case Study: Longitudinal Studies: Examine changes over time (e.g., development of democracies). Case Studies: In-depth study of a single case or event, which can provide detailed context but may lack generalizability. 5\. Political Science & the Modern Academy Political science is divided into subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Public Policy. Each subfield applies scientific and theoretical methods to study different aspects of political behavior and systems. 6\. Classical Realism Framework/Paradigm: Classical realism is rooted in the belief that human nature is inherently selfish and power-seeking. It views states as the main actors in an anarchic international system. Pessimism & Assumptions: Realists see conflict as inevitable due to human nature and competition for power. Key Concepts: States as Unitary Actors: States act as single entities making rational decisions to pursue their national interest. Rational Actor Model: States make decisions by weighing costs and benefits to maximize utility (expected utility theory). Balance of Power: A system in which states balance each other's power to prevent dominance by any one state. Types of Power: Hard Power: Military and economic means. Soft Power: Cultural influence, diplomacy, and values. Deterrence Theory & Security Dilemma: Deterrence aims to prevent aggression through credible threats (e.g., nuclear deterrence, MAD). The security dilemma refers to a situation where actions taken by a state to enhance its security (e.g., arms build-up) lead others to feel threatened, prompting an arms race. Thucydides' "Melian Dialogue": Classic example of power politics; might makes right, and justice is secondary to strength. Machiavelli: Advocates for pragmatic leadership; it is safer to be feared than loved, but a leader should avoid hatred. Hobbes & the Leviathan: In the "state of nature," life is "nasty, brutish, and short." A strong central authority (Leviathan) is necessary to prevent anarchy. Hans Morgenthau: The primary goal of states is the national interest, defined in terms of power. Critiques of Realism: Critics like Voltaire and Vonnegut argue that realism's cynical view of human nature ignores the potential for cooperation and idealism. 7\. Steven Leblanc's "Prehistory of Warfare" (2003) Methodology & Variables: Leblanc uses anthropological and archaeological data to understand early human warfare. Conventional Wisdom Challenged: Disputes the idea of the "noble savage" and argues that warfare was common in prehistory. Conclusions: Warfare is not an anomaly but has been a consistent feature of human societies. 8\. Kenneth Waltz's Theory of International Relations (1979) Polarity & Structuralism: Waltz's structural realism focuses on the international system structure (unipolar, bipolar, multipolar) as a determinant of state behavior. Breaks with Classical Realism: Shifts from focusing on human nature to systemic structures that compel states to behave in certain ways. 9\. Stephen Walt's "Alliance Formation and the Balance of World Power" (1985) Balance of Threat Theory: States form alliances not just to balance against power but against perceived threats. Factors affecting threat include geographic proximity, offensive power, and aggressive intentions. 10\. Hegemonic Stability Theory Suggests that global order is most stable when a single hegemon (dominant state) enforces rules and provides public goods. 11\. William Wohlforth's "Unipolar Stability" (2007) Balancing vs. Bandwagoning: Smaller states may align with (bandwagon) or balance against a dominant power. Latent Power & Self-Inflicted Overstretch: Overreaching by a hegemon can lead to a decline in power and influence. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): Used to compare economic power and influence across countries. 12\. Hegemonic War Theory George Modelski's "Long Cycle Theory": Global politics operates in cycles of rising and falling hegemons, each lasting about a century. Hegemonic wars reset global structures. 13\. Assumptions of Liberalism Age of Enlightenment & Rational Choice: Emphasizes human progress, rationality, and learning from history. Economics vs. Security: Liberals see economic cooperation as key to reducing security competition. Perils of Self-Help: Unlike realists, liberals argue that international cooperation can overcome the insecurity of self-help systems. 14\. John Locke's "The Second Treatise of Government" (1690) Liberty vs. Security: Advocates for natural rights (life, liberty, property) and government by consent. Social Contract & Consent of the Governed: Government's legitimacy comes from the people's consent to protect natural rights. 15\. Immanuel Kant's "First Definitive Article for Perpetual Peace" Republican Constitutions & Peace: Republican governments are more likely to promote peace. First & Second Articles: Advocates for peaceful international relations through democratic governance and international laws. 16\. Highpoint of Liberalism After 1919 Rise of International Institutions: Establishment of the League of Nations and later the United Nations to promote peace. Keohane & Nye's Complex Interdependence: States are interconnected through economic ties, diplomacy, and international norms, reducing the likelihood of war. 17\. Liberalism & Failure of the Global Village 1979 & Year of the State: Resurgence of state power and skepticism towards globalism. Neorealism in Academia: Realist theories became prominent in academic circles, challenging liberal optimism. 18\. Robert Keohane's "After Hegemony" (1984) Value of International Institutions: Even without a hegemonic power, international institutions facilitate cooperation and create predictable frameworks for state interaction. 19\. D'Anieri's "The EU" Evolution of the European Union: Began as the European Coal and Steel Community, evolved into the European Economic Community with the Treaty of Rome (1957), and became the European Union with the Maastricht Treaty (1992). 20\. David Brown's "Teamwork Urged on Bird Flu" Neoliberal Perspective on Global Challenges: