GVPT 200 Final Exam 2023 Study Guide with complete
solution
Anarchy
the absence of a central higher authority in the world that can reliably enforce state
behaviors
Liberalism
-optimistic about human nature
-faith in human reason
-cooperation is easier than realists think
-state is not necessarily the primary actor
-variable sum game, not zero sum game
-belief in power of international law, norms, institutions and democracy
-belief in progress through cooperation
Sociological liberalism
-shared culture/community
-promoted cross-border contact
-interaction and communication
-emphasis on transnationalism
-fosters peace and cooperation
Interdependence liberalism
"commercial peace"
-mutual dependence between 2+ actors in which changes in one affect another
-emphasizes economic independence through growing flows of trade
-cost of work up, benefits down
-self interest
Institutional liberalism
system of rules that governs state action (UN, EU, AU)
Republican Liberalism (Democratic peace)
democracies rarely go to war with each other bc the ppl have to agree to go to war and
the ppl bear the costs of war
views states as self-seeking actors and democratic states as peaceful
How to test liberalism
-historical record
-case studies
-elite interviews
-qualitative reasoning
-experiments
-statistical analysis
Classical realism
-pessimistic about human nature
-states are self seeking
-states act as individuals
-states are primary actors
-international system is anarchic
, Structural realism (neorealism)
-states are not self seeking, they are forced to act that way bc the structure is anarchic
-no assumptions about human nature
-international system is anarchic
-states are primary actors
-states can seem unitary and rational, valuing SECURITY above all else
-states are uncertain, don't know other state's plans, making them insecure and leading
them to seek more power to increase their own security, which causes security
dilemmas
Offensive realism
-Mearsheimer's theory
-states are always searching to increase their power
-hegemony is final goal
-military advantage over other states provides security
Defensive realism
-Waltz theory
-states concern should not be on military power on maintaining status quo
Constructivism
-emphasis on social construction of reality
-neorealism focuses on too few things and is too pessimistic
-focus on human consciousness and the way it creates shared meaning
-IDEATIONAL not material view of world politics
-emphasis on variables like culture, ideology, norms, social INTERACTION, not material
distribution of power
-empirical mismatches
-advances in human study of perceptions
-don't deny existence of military power, but believe ideas, culture, and norms are what
drive military power
-anarchy does not necessarily lead to self help
-the INTERACTION with states lead to self help
Systemic constructivism
International
-between states
-anarchy is what states make of it
-anarchy does not lead to fear, self help, or composition of power, it depends on the
social interaction of states
-creates views about the other
-Norms of international society teach states what their interests and identities should be
Unit-level constructivism
Domestic
-within states
-focus on how states own histories, cultures, and ideologies shape their identities,
interests, and ultimately behavior on the world stage
Deterrence
solution
Anarchy
the absence of a central higher authority in the world that can reliably enforce state
behaviors
Liberalism
-optimistic about human nature
-faith in human reason
-cooperation is easier than realists think
-state is not necessarily the primary actor
-variable sum game, not zero sum game
-belief in power of international law, norms, institutions and democracy
-belief in progress through cooperation
Sociological liberalism
-shared culture/community
-promoted cross-border contact
-interaction and communication
-emphasis on transnationalism
-fosters peace and cooperation
Interdependence liberalism
"commercial peace"
-mutual dependence between 2+ actors in which changes in one affect another
-emphasizes economic independence through growing flows of trade
-cost of work up, benefits down
-self interest
Institutional liberalism
system of rules that governs state action (UN, EU, AU)
Republican Liberalism (Democratic peace)
democracies rarely go to war with each other bc the ppl have to agree to go to war and
the ppl bear the costs of war
views states as self-seeking actors and democratic states as peaceful
How to test liberalism
-historical record
-case studies
-elite interviews
-qualitative reasoning
-experiments
-statistical analysis
Classical realism
-pessimistic about human nature
-states are self seeking
-states act as individuals
-states are primary actors
-international system is anarchic
, Structural realism (neorealism)
-states are not self seeking, they are forced to act that way bc the structure is anarchic
-no assumptions about human nature
-international system is anarchic
-states are primary actors
-states can seem unitary and rational, valuing SECURITY above all else
-states are uncertain, don't know other state's plans, making them insecure and leading
them to seek more power to increase their own security, which causes security
dilemmas
Offensive realism
-Mearsheimer's theory
-states are always searching to increase their power
-hegemony is final goal
-military advantage over other states provides security
Defensive realism
-Waltz theory
-states concern should not be on military power on maintaining status quo
Constructivism
-emphasis on social construction of reality
-neorealism focuses on too few things and is too pessimistic
-focus on human consciousness and the way it creates shared meaning
-IDEATIONAL not material view of world politics
-emphasis on variables like culture, ideology, norms, social INTERACTION, not material
distribution of power
-empirical mismatches
-advances in human study of perceptions
-don't deny existence of military power, but believe ideas, culture, and norms are what
drive military power
-anarchy does not necessarily lead to self help
-the INTERACTION with states lead to self help
Systemic constructivism
International
-between states
-anarchy is what states make of it
-anarchy does not lead to fear, self help, or composition of power, it depends on the
social interaction of states
-creates views about the other
-Norms of international society teach states what their interests and identities should be
Unit-level constructivism
Domestic
-within states
-focus on how states own histories, cultures, and ideologies shape their identities,
interests, and ultimately behavior on the world stage
Deterrence
