International Politics

Question	Answer
3 Major Aspects of Global Change	1. Nature of world order has changed 2. Growth of ideological, political and economic diversity 3. Changes in actors and ideas in global politics
Evolution of "Polarity" (4)	1. Bipolarity: in the Cold War; 2 competing superpowers 2. Unipolarity: USA won the Cold War (90's) 3. Multipolar: several powerful global actors (early 2000's) 4. Nonpolar: no powers with single-handed influence on global politics (now)
Bipolarity	Global order divided between two competing superpowers during the Cold War (USA and Soviet Union); period of side-taking and division throughout the world
Europe Back to the Future	1990, John Mearsheimer Europe is built on division; if this disappears, Europe will collapse into conflict and war. This is why Euroskepticism is on the rise as role of European Union increases
Political Religion	Religion has made a comeback in terms of political power, having much more power than it did during the Cold War. Political religion is now trumping political ideology
Globalization-Caused Similarities (4)	1. Global economic order (market driven) 2. Increasing interdependency 3. Communication technology (social media) 4. Democracy as political norm
Globalization-Caused Differences (2)	1. Rise in political nationalism (ex. Euroskepticism) 2. Role of political religion
Actors in Global Politics (Then & Now)	Before the Cold War, nation states were the only important political actors. Now, the state has taken a backseat in favour of NGO's, international and transnational organizations
Crisis of the Nation State	More states than ever before, but also rise in the idea that states are becoming less and less relevant (possibly because of globalization)
Sub-State Regionalization	Challenging the state from within (usually from a smaller part of the state); challenges coming from below Ex. Scotland challenging British state rule
Single Non-State Actors	Actors which have no political power in theory, but still have a huge impact on politics/society (ex. terrorists)
Ideas in World Politics (2 changes)	1. Universalism of human rights: written into international agreement literature (UN, EU) 2. Sovereignty becoming less important
When did the Cold War start?	Some say after the October Revolution in Russia in 1917; most say after WWII Lasted until late 80's
Traditional Interpretation of Cold War (3)	1. Struggle between two conflicting ideologies (bipolar) 2. Blamed on expansionist foreign policy of Soviet Union 3. USA defending against Soviet aggression
Revisionist Interpretation of Cold War	In this theory, the Cold War is generally blamed on the USA, who was trying to achieve global domination Soviet Union was defending themselves against US economic imperialism
Post-Revisionist Interpretation of the Cold War (3)	1. No prime responsibility; pattern of action/reaction 2. Not so ideological, but power struggle for global influence 3. De-Europanization of Cold War (effect of Cold War all around the world)
Was the Cold War "War"? (4)	Not war, but superpower competition; everything but warfare: 1. Economic competition 2. Propaganda 3. Competing ideology 4. Military competition (arms race)
Détent	Period of lessening tensions after the death of Stalin; Khrushchev (new leader of Soviet Union) led radical de-Stalinization campaign Peaceful coexistance, rather than inevitable warfare, with the West
Khrushchev's Secret Speech	Speech given by Nikita Khrushchev which was distinctly critical of Stalin's regime and Stalin-model communism; marked the beginning of a period of détent during the Cold War
Was the Cold War "Cold"? (3)	Cold in terms of direct contact between USA/USSR, but instead there was proxy warfare and proxy conflict 1. Wars: Korea, Vietnam 2. Conflicts: Afghanistan, Iran, Cuban Missile Crisis 3. Uprisings against communism and capitalism (East Europe and South America)
Arms Race	Culmination of growth in science and technology since World Wars, applied to Cold War power competition USA and Soviet Union engaged in rapidly building up armies through military conscription, as well as development of nuclear weapons
Nuclear Anti-Proliferation Act	Signed by several countries (including USA, UK, France, USSR) to make sure that other countries could not develop nuclear power
Mutually Assured Destruction	Nuclear weapons on either side of the Cold War meant that the bottom line was total annihilation; both sides knew that if nuclear warfare broke up they could destroy everything
Helsinki Final Act	Pushed through during the period of détent of the Cold War, which finalized the creation of the OSCE
Peace Movements during Cold War	Happened in both East and West; there was no popular support for the Arms Race; populations resented their government for causing such fear
Gorbachev's Role in Soviet Decline	Gorbachev recognized that, though USSR was militarily strong, it had a weak economic base. He implemented reforms, wanting to improve Soviet system from within, but inadvertently brought about Soviet collapse
Strategic Defense Initiative	Part of Ronald Reagan's "star wars" plan, which involved employing satellites in order to detect missiles and destroy them, thereby rendering MAD ineffective
Why do policy makers need theory? (4)	1. Making predictions 2. Understanding what is important 3. Evaluating existing policies 4. Understanding trends
Realism (in International Relations Theory) (5 assumptions)	*Billiard ball metaphor 1. State-centric 2. Balance of power 3. Anarchy 4. Humans are selfish 5. Game theory
Variants of Realism (4)	1. Classical realism 2. Neorealism 3. Offensive realism 4. Defensive realism
4 Types of Liberalism	*Each one has own card later 1. Commercial liberalism 2. Regulatory/institutional liberalism 3. Republican liberalism 4. Neoliberal idealism
Commercial Liberalism	Focus on economic interdependence; theory that free trade is the key to global cooperation because as long as there is commercial interaction we all benefit *State still focus of analysis
Regulatory/Institutional Liberalism	How state actors determine the rules for cooperation under anarchic systems (ex. in theory, United Nations governs state behaviour)
3 Roles of Insitutions in International Politics	1. Facilitate information exchange 2. Formalize agreements 3. Enhance cooperation
Republican Liberalism	Liberalism which concerns republics; heavily influenced by Enlightenment thinking Relies on the Liberal Peace Theory
Liberal Peace Theory	The theory that democracies do not go to war with other democracies for three reasons 1. Citizens are wary of war and states are accountable 2. Democracies share values 3. Negotiation over conflict
Neoliberal Idealism	The idea that liberal, democratic and capitalist systems are the only ones worth considering (think of Fukuyama's 'End of History' from 1991) - democracy is the end of the road; the best option
Culturalist Constructivism	The idea, in international theory, that in politics we construct ideas about identity of self, and identity of others (not exploring all sides, but demonizing an "other") Also concerns constructing national interest as a means of justifying policy (national identity)
English School Constructivism	The idea, in international theory, that norms are constructed (by the West), and then imposed as universal rules States are more like a carton of eggs than billiard balls; international rules are put in place to protect some states
International Relations Theory (2 types)	1. Problem solving theory: accepting the state of the world as framework for policy making 2. Critical theory: addressing world problems with the idea of CHANGING the world (ex. feminism)
"Rogue State" according to Litwak	A state which demonstrates "external behaviour of concern"
"Rogue State" according to Nincic (4 requirements)	"Method of rule which violates international norms" 1. Violation of human rights 2. Pursuit of weapons of mass destruction 3. Terrorism 4. Territorial aggression
Appeasement	Acceding to demands of aggressive states in order to prevent/avoid war. Heavily criticized since the disastrous consequences of the appeasement at Munich Agreement
Munich Agreement	Sept 30, 1938 When the Allies agreed that Hitler's Germany was allowed to annex parts of Czechoslovakia which they considered "Sudetenland"
North Korea & Nincic's Definition of Rogue States	They are building up weapons of mass destruction, and could be accused of practicing terrorism and territorial aggression (Yeonpyeong killing)
The Interview (2014)	Comedy film about two men being sent to assassinate a current, living head of state (Kim Jong Un of North Korea) which raised a lot of controversy ("cyber-terrorism") Lindsay Black says, for comparison, think of how the US would react to such a film being made about Obama
Crisis-Oriented Negotiations	Method of international relations used by North Korea whereby they can use international crises in order to get what they want (ex. make threats which require negotiations to be on the table)
Containment	Method adopted by USA (and allies) during the Cold War which was used to avoid both appeasement and war; involved containing communist threat by halting its spread wherever possible
Multifaceted Approach to Containment (5)	1. Economic sanctions/aid (to key areas) 2. Diplomatic negotiations 3. Media use (propaganda) 4. Psychological 5. Military use = bottom line
NSC-68	American national security report from 1950 which outlined what containment will be, and set up the role USA would play in international politics (stressing USA as strong, special, powerful)
Bombing of Wansan	USA bombed North Korean town of Wansan in 1951, leading to the (not unsurprising) feeling of N. Korea that they were under threat; that USA had violated rules of war by bombing a civilian city Contribution to why North Korea might view the outside world as a threat
North Korea After Cold War (4)	1. Loses major allies (Soviet Union & China) 2. Economy collapse, leading to slight economic reform and things getting better 3. Economic reform replaced by military concentration (2002) 4. Rise as a problematic "rogue state"
Korean Energy Development Organization (timeline: 4)	1. 1993; N. Korea threatens to withdraw from non-proliferation treaty 2. 1994; Carter negotiates with N. Korea (lessening tensions) 3. 1994-2000; period of improvements in relations & within N. Korea 4. Nov 2000; George W. Bush elected, and takes much harder line towards N. Korea
Sunshine Policy	South Korean's policy from the early 90's until 2000, which involved engaging in peaceful negotiations with N. Korea (warming relations, returns to trade); lost in 2000 with South Korean regime change
Problems of Sunshine Policy (3)	1. North Korea still operating under military-first policy 2. North Korea fear of democracy/capitalism 3. South Korea frustrated with lack of recipocracy
Axis of Evil	Used by George W. Bush after 9/11 to describe problematic states; the members of this so-called axis is not consistent throughout Bush administration Some argue N. Korea was added so it didn't look like Bush was only targeting Muslim countries
Bush's Hard-line Policy towards North Korea	They must have complete, verifiable, irreversible disarmament before negotiations could continue
Libya Model	Intense pressure (in the form of economic sanctions) on Gaddafi regime forced them to abandon their nuclear armament program (which then allowed them to "reenter" the international community)
Blow-Back States	Concerned with the unintended consequences of foreign policy action abroad (ex. CIA arms Afghanistan against the Soviet Union, and then the Al-qaeda can benefit from American military expertise and later use it against them)
Language-Based Constructivist Approach	Why does USA not invade North Korea?; the theory states that actions occur within diplomatic framework as agreed on by "players". Howard argues that because N. Korea has been in negotiations with USA for a long time, they are "playing by the rules". Relations with Iraq, however, has always been that of unilateral action (not negotiation)
Fear of Escalation	Bleiker argues that the reason USA does not invade North Korea is because they know they have nuclear weapons, making invasion much more risky
3 Paradoxes within USSR before collapse	1. Necessity of economic reform vs. inevitability of political stagnation 2. Totalitarian state vs. multinational/pluralist society 3. Gorbachev realized that they were a "giant on clay feet"
Decolonization "Turned Upside-Down"	Rather than the colonies gaining independence from the colonizer, in terms of the Soviet Union, Russian Federation emancipated itself from it's own colonies
Russian Independence from Soviet Union (3 factors)	1. Power imbalance; Yeltsin vs. Gorbachev 2. No empire without Russia 3. Nationalism much stronger for Russian Federation than for Soviet Union
"Theft of the Century"	After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the capitalization process of previously national goods was considered by some as "theft"; it was possible for key people to concentrate extreme wealth by privatizing that which used to be national wealth
Russia's Impact on Global Affairs (7)	1. Borders geopolitically trouble areas 2. Role in fighting transnational terrorism 3. Part of international institutions (UN, IMF, WB) 4. Determines security of Europe 5. Role in climate change (country size) 6. Energy superpower 7. Part of authoritarianism vs. democracy discussion
Conditions under Boris Yeltsin	1991-2000 Local conditions: collapse, integration, political and economic chaos International environment: Cold War defeat -> Western supremacy Therefore Yeltsin adopted pro-Western foreign policy
Conditions under Vladimir Putin	2000 - Domestic conditions: economic recovery, state strengthening, political legitimacy International environment: oil/gas price hikes, international terrorism, end of US supremacy Putin's foreign policy concerned great power pragmetism and revisionism
Great Power Pragmatism/Revisionism (5 elements)	1. Revisionist, assertive and aggressive power 2. Issue-based (rather than principles) 3. Ad hoc and strategic policy 4. Policy towards West: integration & confrontation 5. Focusing again on "near abroad"
Russian Priorities Concerning Near Abroad (5)	1. Establishing border security 2. Maximizing economic opportunities 3. Protecting "fellow ethnic Russians" beyond Russian border 4. Gaining sphere of influence 5. Focus on Ukraine area
Common Foreign and Security Policies	A concept which is controversial in Europe because, while Europe has proven to be able to be united and strong, European members can not agree on matters of foreign policy and security
Coordination Reflex	Reaction from European Union member states to discuss national foreign policy decisions within the EU before acting, even though it is not required
Foreign Policy Failures in EU (2)	1. Bosnian civil war intervention 2. Opinion of American invasion of Iraq
Reasons for Increasing CFSP in EU (7)	1. End to Cold War 2. Growing gap between EU/US 3. Risk of marginilization (rise of Rest) 4. Fear of internal division 5. Pressure from inside 6. Outside powers want to deal with the EU directly (not individual members) 7. Identity through foreign policy?
Soft Power	Power which attracts (recommends/persuades/seduces) in order to make another state do what they would not normally due (ex. European Union)
Hard Power	State's ability to force (through military/coercion?) another state to do what they what they would otherwise not want to do
Treaty of Lisbon & Foreign Policy	Lisbon Treaty oversaw the creation of "high represententatives" with power over foreign affairs; not called "ministry of foreign affairs" because EU does not have the power to make collective foreign policy decisions (these representatives, therefore, must be politically weak)
Federica Mogherini	Essentially she is the minister for foreign affairs, although European Union language describing her job clearly distinguishes foreign policy in EU from national level foreign policy
Instruments of CFSP (4)	1. Trade (lifting restrictions, facilitating free trade) 2. Development aid 3. Diplomacy 4. Military capabilities (only possible if agreed on by all member states)
Colonialism vs. Imperialism	Colonialism: exploitation of land, settlement in foreign land, domination of foreign peoples Imperialism: emphasizes the role of spreading ideology (political, economic and cultural domination) - settlement not necessary
3rd World	Traditionally, the third world is the non-West and the non-Soviet Union; developing nations Controversial term
When did Colonialism End? (2 schools of thought)	1. Liberalists think colonial period ended after WWII 2. Post-colonialists describe colonialism as colonial period + colonial legacies
3rd World during Cold War (3)	1. USA worried instability in 3rd world would lead to more communist countries 2. Creation of World Bank, IMF, to help develop 3rd world 3. Continued colonialist discourse; West "teaching" the rest how to develop properly
Western "Benevolence"	Aspect of mainstream international development theories which describes the West as altruistically "helping" the 3rd world develop their economies Ignores the fact that West also benefits greatly from having 3rd world dependent on their aid
Death Traps in 3rd World	Developmental aid from the West into the 3rd world leads the peripheral countries to go way into debt to the West, become dependent and ultimately lose out
Schools of Thought Concerning 3rd World during Cold War (3)	According to Gaddis... 1. Peripheral states manipulating superpowers to achieve their own ends 2. Superpowers misunderstanding and underestimating periphery 3. 3rd world totally unimportant in Cold War (purely binary ideological struggle)
Centrality of 3rd World to Cold War	According Saull, the 3rd world was totally central in the development of the Cold War. Look at all the stuff that happened in the periphery: Korean War, Vietnam War, Cuban Missile Crisis
USA/USSR Management of Periphery during Cold War	USSR: intent on ideological victories of communism over capitalism (3rd world allies = economic burden) USA: exercised influence through multinational corporations (trade gave them the ability to dominate political, social and economic affairs in periphery)
Non-Alignment Movement Goals (6)	1. Great power disarmament 2. Anti-Cold War alliances 3. Elimination of colonialism/imperialism 4. Economic development 5. Self-determination 6. Democratizing UN
1983 NAM Meeting	Roughly twenty years after NAM was formed, things were starting to divide; certain members were undermining core goals (ex. China developing nuclear weapons) They also became more and more divided between liberalism vs communism, despite original intentions
Failed State (6 traditional aspects)	State where the government is not able to govern 1. Can't provide safety or other public goods 2. No monopoly on use of violence 3. Illegitimate (nationally or internationally) 4. Civil war perpetuated 5. Harbours terrorists/criminals 6. Run by warlords
Why do states fail? (3)	1. War is perpetuated by actors who benefit from continued violence 2. Corruption 3. Bound to fail (historical context)
"Fixing" Failed States (5)	1. State building 2. Reform (to democracy + capitalism) 3. Aid 4. Guidance 5. Instituting international trusteeships
Problems with Failed State Theory (5)	1. Don't hear voice of "other" 2. Justifies Western intervention 3. Ignores Western role in failed states (ex. colonialism) 4. Orientalist 5. Cookie-cutter policies applied everywhere the same way

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	Created by Emily Fenton over 9 years ago