Understanding International Politics: Realism and Multiple Perspectives, Quizzes of Political Science

Download Understanding International Politics: Realism and Multiple Perspectives and more Quizzes Political Science in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 what good comes from understanding that many important questions have more than one plausible answer DEFINITION 1 if we are able to see the same problem from multiple perspectives, we can understand it more thoroughly, and perhaps make more effective policiesthus, although we often see different approaches as competing with one another, in practice, they are often complementary TERM 2 realism is focused on what liberalism is different how DEFINITION 2 realism is focused almost exclusively on power, viewing power as the main determinant of outcomes and the pursuit of power as the main determinant of policiesliberalism is concerned with power and purpose, it asserts that states have a range of goals beyond accruing power and is more skeptical of the role of power in achieving state aims TERM 3 paradigm VS theory DEFINITION 3 theoretical approaches rather than theoriesa paradigm is broader than a single theory, and usually encompasses many theoriesthese theories may contradict each other in some ways, but if they are based on similar philosophical assumptions, we group them together TERM 4 paradigm DEFINITION 4 describes an approach to a problem shared by a group of scholarswithin a given paradigm, there is agreement concerning which assumptions are uncontroversial and which are debatablein other words, a paradigm determines which questions are asked and which are not TERM 5 paradigm and levels of analysis DEFINITION 5 a paradigm is a set of beliefs about what should be taken for granted and what needs to be investigated, and what sorts of forces are most important in the world, and about what assumptions should begin the analysisa level of analysis is a "place" where the paradigm takes place. every analysis focuses on one aggregation (individual, group, or collection of groups) and holds the other aggregations constant for the purposes of analysis TERM 6 can multiple theories exist within each paradigm or each level of analysis DEFINITION 6 both TERM 7 "the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must" means what DEFINITION 7 indicates that the distribution of power determines the options open to states TERM 8 "of gods we trust and oh men we know it is in their nature to rule whatever they can" means what DEFINITION 8 asserts that ruling others is a primordial human motivation TERM 9 "what made war inevitable was the growth of athenian power and the fear that this caused in sparta" means what DEFINITION 9 the distribution of power is the primary cause of war and peace TERM 10 "so far as right and wrong are concerned, there is no difference between the two" means what DEFINITION 10 warns that in international politics, there is no shared morality, and hence, morality cannot be the basis for action TERM 21 prisoners dilemma leads to what assumption DEFINITION 21 individual rationality leads to collective irrationalitythis paradox is also known as the collective action problem TERM 22 "international politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power" DEFINITION 22 hans morgenthau TERM 23 hans morgenthau DEFINITION 23 Hans Joachim Morgenthau (February 17, 1904 - July 19, 1980) was one of the leading twentieth-century figures in the study of international politicsrelatively powerful states are able to shape the behavior of othersbecause power is necessary to achieving any other goal, every state's national interest boils down simply to getting more power TERM 24 how did hans define power DEFINITION 24 man's control over the minds and actions of other men TERM 25 what was the problem with hans definition of power DEFINITION 25 it does not distinguish power as a resource from power as an outcomepower can only be observed when it has successfully been exercised TERM 26 failure of the US in vietnam indicates what DEFINITION 26 the fact that military force is not always the most appropriate tool for governing a country TERM 27 how did John Mearsheimer define power DEFINITION 27 power represents nothing more than specific assets or material resources that are available to a statehe defines power as military power because force is the ultimo ratio (last resort) in international politics TERM 28 many realists stress what kind of power as an essential underpinning of military power, especially in the long run DEFINITION 28 economic powereconomic power can prove to be stronger than creating threats and inducementsthere is a large literature on the use of economic sanctions to achieve goals,however, wealth does not translate directly into military poweradditionally, better technology may yield greater military affect for less money TERM 29 what 2 aspects help to consider realism as an amoral theory DEFINITION 29 in its explanation of how the world works, realism finds that morality plays little or no role in the relations between states, in other words, normative arguments can be just another weapon in power politicsthe recommendations that realists make to leaders are often seen as amoral. realists contend that the international system is a harsh realm and that only hard headed pursuit of self interest will avoid ruinrealists feel that in a dangerous world, efforts to be moral can lead to immoral results, while unethical behavior might avoid larger evils TERM 30 "it doesn't matter if he's a son of a bitch as long as he's our son of a bitch" DEFINITION 30 franklin roosevelt TERM 31 in the realist view, how is power politics moral DEFINITION 31 because it most effectively prevents such aggressors from doing evil on a huge scalethus, the realist normative approach is straggly conditioned by the belief that power politics cannot be transcended TERM 32 what are the two variants or realism DEFINITION 32 balance of power theoryhegemonic stability theory TERM 33 balance of power theory DEFINITION 33 when many individuals strive for superiority, the likely result is balancefocuses on the most powerful states in the system because these are the states that will be able to cause fundamental changesrealists consider it inevitable that powerful states will seek to dominate, but balance of power theorists consider it equally inevitable that other states will strive to prevent gaps from emerging because their security depends on their ability to battle the best TERM 34 according to balance of power theorists, war can start in what 2 ways DEFINITION 34 if states do not balance as they should, then power can become unbalanced, encouraging the powerful to attackstates may initiate war in pursuit of power, either to augment their own power, or to prevent another state from becoming too powerfulwar only starts when balance of power is in disequilibrium