Week 4

Question 1

Why is sovereignty considered indivisible in IR theory?

Answer 1

Because a state either has full sovereignty or it doesn’t — it cannot be partially sovereign or share supreme authority with another entity.

Question 2

What does anarchy mean in international relations?

Answer 2

Anarchy refers to the absence of a central governing authority above sovereign states — not chaos, but a decentralized system.

Question 3

How do realists interpret anarchy in IR?

Answer 3

Realists see anarchy as the root of insecurity and conflict, forcing states to prioritize power and survival in a self-help system.

Question 4

How do liberals interpret anarchy in IR?

Answer 4

Liberals acknowledge anarchy but believe it can be mitigated through international institutions, economic interdependence, and democratic governance.

Question 5

How does sovereignty create anarchy in the international system?

Answer 5

Sovereign states recognize no higher authority, preventing the formation of a global government and creating an authority vacuum.

Question 6

What is the significance of Article 2(1) of the UN Charter?

Answer 6

It declares the sovereign equality of all UN members, meaning all states are legally equal regardless of size or power.

Question 7

What legal rights are guaranteed to sovereign states under international law? (Article 2(1) )

Answer 7

• Territorial integrity
• Political independence
• Non-interference
• Equal application of international law
• One vote per state in the UN General Assembly

Question 8

What is the significance of Article 2(1) of the UN Charter

Answer 8

It declares the sovereign equality of all UN members, meaning all states are legally equal regardless of size or power.

Question 9

How does sovereignty shape diplomacy between states?

Answer 9

Diplomacy is built on mutual recognition of sovereignty — states treat each other as equals in law, even if unequal in power.

•All states can send and receive ambassadors with equivalent diplomatic status
•Treaties are negotiated between formal equals (even if power asymmetries exist)
•States must consent to be bound by international law no state can impose laws on another without consent
•Disputes between states are theoretically resolved through legal mechanisms that treat countries as equals like the (International Court of Justice) that treat states as equals before the law

Question 10

What is the neorealist view of international structure?

Answer 10

Neorealists argue that the distribution of capabilities (military, economic, technological,natural recourses,population ) determines outcomes more than legal equality.

Question 11

According to Kenneth Waltz, what defines the structure of the international system?

Answer 11

The distribution of material capabilities among states — not legal norms or institutions.

Question 12

How do neorealists categorize states in the international system?

Answer 12

• Great powers (e.g., USA, China, Russia) shape the system
• Middle powers have regional influence (Brazil,Turkey,Canada,South Africa )
• Small states must adapt to rules they didn’t create(Luxembourg,Fiji,Malta Iceland)

Question 13

What are material capabilities?

Answer 13

Material capabilities are the tangible resources and assets that determine a state’s actual power in the international system

Question 14

What is the security dilemma in IR?

Answer 14

A situation where one state’s defensive actions (e.g., military buildup) are perceived as threats by others, leading to mutual insecurity.

Question 15

Who coined the term “security dilemma” and when?

Answer 15

John Herz in 1950.

Question 16

Give a modern example of the security dilemma.

Answer 16

The Russia-Ukraine conflict — Russia viewed Ukraine’s Western alignment as a threat (NATO), while Ukraine sought protection from Russian aggression.

Question 17

What is a self-help system in IR?

Answer 17

: A system where states cannot rely on a higher authority for protection and must ensure their own security, often leading to arms races.

Question 18

Could the Russia-Ukraine conflict have been averted? How?

Answer 18

Possibly, through diplomacy, trust-building, and institutional guarantees — but sovereignty and anarchy make such cooperation fragile.

Question 19

What is diplomacy ?

Answer 19

Diplomacy is the mechanism through which nations negotiate agreements, manage conflicts, and collaboratively address global challenges.

Question 20

Characteristics of small states in IR?

Answer 20

• Limited military/economic power.
• Depend on alliances, diplomacy, and international law.
• Often active in peacekeeping, mediation, and multilateral institutions

Question 21

Characteristics of medium states in IR?

Answer 21

• Regional leadership roles.
• Active in multilateral diplomacy (UN, WTO, climate talks).
• Balance between great powers and small states.

Question 22

Characteristics of great power states in IR?

Answer 22

• Military strength
• Economic power
• Diplomatic influence
• Cultural and ideological reach (soft power)
• Global recognition by other states
• Historical continuity of influence
• Ability to shape international order

Question 23

Importance of Diplomacy?

Answer 23

• Maintains peace and stability in an anarchic system.
• Allows small and medium states to have a voice despite limited material capabilities.
• Builds trust and cooperation between rivals.
• Prevents escalation of conflicts into war.
• Facilitates global governance through institutions like the UN.

Question 24

Examples of diplomacy ?

Answer 24

• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Diplomacy between the U.S. and USSR prevented nuclear war.
• Paris Climate Agreement (2015): Multilateral diplomacy brought states together to address climate change.

Question 25

What is Multilateralism?

Answer 25

Multilateralism is the practice of coordinating international relations among three or more states to pursue common goals through cooperation, negotiation, and shared responsibility. • It is based on principles of inclusivity, equality, and cooperation.

Question 26

What is international law ?

Answer 26

International law is a set of rules and principles that regulates relations between states and other international actors, setting standards for peace, security, trade, human rights, and conflict resolution, which states voluntarily accept through treaties, customs, and international institutions

Question 27

What is the international structure?

Answer 27

The international structure refers to the overall arrangement of power, rules, and institutions that shape how states interact in an anarchic world system.