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exam Flashcards

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1
Q

Realism

A

States are the main actors in an anarchic system, prioritizing power and security.

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2
Q

Liberalism

A

Emphasizes cooperation, institutions, and the potential for peace among states.

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3
Q

Constructivism

A

International relations are shaped by ideas, norms, and identities, not just material power.

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4
Q

Feminist Theory

A

Examines how gender shapes international politics and highlights women’s roles.

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5
Q

Power

A

A state’s ability to influence others; includes hard (military, economic) and soft (cultural, diplomatic) power.

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6
Q

Polarity

A

Distribution of power—unipolar, bipolar, multipolar systems.

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7
Q

International Order

A

The rules, institutions, and norms governing state interactions; evolves after major wars or upheaval.

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8
Q

National Interest

A

What is best for a state’s security, prosperity, and values.

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9
Q

Sovereignty

A

States’ supreme authority within their territory, free from external interference.

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10
Q

Non-State Actors

A

Entities like NGOs, corporations, or terrorist groups that influence international relations.

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11
Q

Power Shift/Transition

A

Change in the distribution of power, often causing conflict.

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12
Q

Thucydides Trap

A

Situation where a rising power may conflict with a dominant power due to competition.

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13
Q

Hegemonic Transition Theory

A

Conflict occurs when a rising challenger reaches parity with a dominant power.

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14
Q

Preventive War

A

Initiated by a declining power to destroy or undermine a growing challenger.

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15
Q

Security Dilemma

A

One state’s defensive measures undermine another state’s security, fueling a spiral of conflict.

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16
Q

Atomic Bomb (Fission)

A

Explosive nuclear reaction by splitting heavy nuclei (Uranium, Plutonium).

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17
Q

Thermonuclear Bomb (Fusion)

A

Explosive nuclear reaction by fusing light nuclei (Hydrogen).

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18
Q

Yield

A

Explosive power of a nuclear blast, measured in kt or mt of TNT.

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19
Q

Critical Mass

A

Mass needed for sustained chain reaction.

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20
Q

Nuclear Device vs. Weapon

A

one is the general use of nuclear power vs the other which is used for military purposes

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21
Q

Nuclear Triad

A

Three delivery platforms (bombers, ICBMs, SLBMs).

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22
Q

Tactical vs. Strategic Nuclear Weapons

A

battlefield vs large-scale attacks.

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23
Q

MIRV

A

Missile with multiple warheads aimed at different targets.

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24
Q

Counterforce

A

Military targets

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25
First Strike & Second Strike
destroy opponent’s ability to retaliate and retain ability to respond after attack.
26
Decapitation
military strategy aimed at removing the leadership or command and control of a hostile government or group.
27
Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)
principle of deterrence founded on the notion that a nuclear attack by one superpower would be met with an overwhelming nuclear counterattack such that both the attacker and the defender would be annihilated.
28
Existencial Deterrence
Small arsenal can deter attack due to uncertainty.
29
Stability-Instability Paradox
Nuclear stability might enable lower-level conflict.
30
Extended Deterrence
Nuclear state promises to protect its allies.
31
Tripwire Concept
Placement of troops to guarantee automatic involvement in conflict.
32
Irrational Leaders
Leaders may break with deterrence due to irrational motives.
33
Nuclear Proliferation
Spread of nuclear weapons to new states, regulated by NPT.
34
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Limits nuclear weapons to 5 states while promoting disarmament.
35
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Monitors compliance with NPT.
36
Security Model (Proliferation)
States pursue nuclear weapons for their own security.
37
Domestic Politics Model (Proliferation)
Domestic actors influence decisions to acquire nuclear weapons.
38
Norms Model (Proliferation)
Nuclear weapons symbolize prestige or modern statehood.
39
Democratic Peace Theory
Democracies rarely go to war with each other due to shared norms and institutions.
40
Game Theory
Analysis of strategic interactions between rational players.
41
Shadow of the Future
Expectation of future interactions encourages cooperation.
42
Terrorism
Violence by non-state groups to instil fear and coerce policy.
43
State Sponsors of Terrorism
States that sponsor or aid terrorist organizations.
44
Asymmetric Warfare
Conflict where weak actor attacks strong actor employing unconventional methods.
45
Coercion and Communication (Terrorism)
Using violence to send messages or produce policy change.
46
Humanitarian Intervention
Forcible intervention to protect human rights.
47
Genocide
Intentional destruction of a ethnic, racial, or religious group.
48
Responsibility to Protect (R2P)
International community’s moral responsibility to protect civilians.
49
Peacekeeping Operations (PKO)
Conflict containment with consent from all parties.
50
Peace Enforcement
Using force to impose peace, even without consent.
51
Peacebuilding
Postconflict measures to enable reconciliation and stability.
52
Multidimensional PKO
Comprehensive operations with civilian, electoral, and institution-building components.
53
Traditional PKO vs. Multidimensional PKO
ceasefires vs institution-building.
54
Globalization
Rapid growth of interconnected networks in trade, production, and communication.
55
Transnationalism
Activity by individuals or groups crossing borders, not just state-to-state.
56
Tariff
Taxes on imports, a barrier to trade.
57
Non-Tariff Barrier
Other measures (quotas, regulations) that restrict trade.
58
Factors of Production
Resources needed for production (land, labor, capital).
59
Factor Mobility
Extent to which resources can move across sectors.
60
Economic Integration
Process of reducing barriers and integrating markets.
61
Levels of Economic Integration
Free trade area, customs union, common market.
62
Regional Trading Arrangements (RTAs)
Trade pacts granting preferences to members.
63
Mercantilism
Protectionist policy to maximize surplus.
64
Embedded Liberalism
Post-WWII compromise combining free markets with social safety nets.
65
Heckscher-Ohlin Model
Trade patterns follow factor abundances.
66
Ricardo Viner Model
Trade policy divides industry and sectors.
67
Winners and Losers
Some groups lose while others gain from globalization.
68
Economic Statecraft
Using economics (sanctions, aid) to influence state behavior.
69
Negative Sanctions
Reducing a state's economic welfare to coerce policy change.
70
Positive Inducements
Offering incentives to produce desirable policy outcomes.
71
Economic Interdependence
the relationship between two individuals, groups, sects, businesses, regions, or countries where each of them is dependent over the other for the supply of necessary goods and services
72
Sensitivity vs. Vulnerability
short-term effects vs long-term dependency.
73
Asymmetric Interdependence
One side is more dependent than the other, yielding power to less-dependent actor.
74
Weaponized Interdependence
Using dependency to extract concessions.
75
Security Externalities
Trade can produce unintended effects on state security.
76
77
Countervalue
Civilian centers
78
domestic politics model
a framework that analyzes how internal factors within a country influence its political behavior
79
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