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Chapter 2
International Relations
29
Political Studies
Undergraduate 2
03/03/2012

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Term
Realism
Definition
A broad intellectual tradition that explains international relations in terms of power
Term
Thomas Hobbes
Definition
English philosopher of the 1600s. Wrote Leviathan. Thought humans can coexist only by creating government. Thought of life as solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
Term
Fungible
Definition
In terms of international relations, power can be changed into another form of power. For example, and economic power can use their money to buy tanks, thus creating military power
Term
Anarchy
Definition
A lack of a central government that can enforce rules
Term
Sovereignty
Definition
A state's right, at least in principle, to do whatever it wants within its own territory
Term
Security Dilemma
Definition
States ensure own security > Threat to other states > Others build up defense in response > Overall security is decreased
Term
Balance of Powers
Definition
The general concept of one or more states' power being used to balance that of another state or groups of state
Term
Great Powers
Definition
China, France, Russia, U.S.A., U.K., Germany, Japan
Term
Middle Powers
Definition
Some large but not highly developed, some small but serve special capabilities. Canada, Italy, India, Brazil, Israel, Spain
Term
Polarity
Definition
The way in which power is distributed in the international community
Term
Multipolar
Definition
Multiple great powers
Term
Unipolar
Definition
One great power
Term
Tripolar
Definition
Three great centers of power
Term
Power Transition Theory
Definition
A theory that the largest wars result from challenges to the top position in the status hierarchy, when a rising power is surpassing (or threatening to surpass) the most powerful state.
Term
Hegemony
Definition
The holding by one state of a preponderance of power in the international system, so that it can single-handedly dominate the arrangements by which international political and economic relations are handled
Term
Hegemonic Stability Theory
Definition
The argument that regimes are most effective when power in the international system is most concentrated
Term
Treaty of Westphalia
Definition
The treaty that ended the Thirty Years War. Established principles of Sovereignty, Territorial integrity, Legal equality, Nonintervention, and Political/religious self-determination
Term
Alliance
Definition
An agreement or friendship between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to secure common interests.
Term
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
Definition
An intergovernmental alliance founded in 1949. The organization constitutes a system of collective defense whereby its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.
Term
Warsaw Pact
Definition
A Soviet led Eastern European military alliance that opposed NATO. Founded in 1955 and disbanded in 1991
Term
US-Japanese Security Treaty
Definition
A bilateral alliance between the U.S. and Japan, created in 1951 against potential Soviet threat to Japan. The U.S. maintains troops in Japan to defend it if attacked, and Japan pays the U.S. to offset half the cost of maintaining the troops
Term
Non-aligned Movement
Definition
A movement of third world states, led by India and Yugoslavia that attempted to stand apart from the U.S.-Soviet rivalry in the Cold War
Term
Deterrence
Definition
The threat to punish another actor if it takes a certain negative action
Term
Compellence
Definition
The use of force to make another actor take some action
Term
Arms Race
Definition
A reciprocal process in which two or more states build up military capabilities in response to each other
Term
Rational Actors
Definition
Actors conceived of as single entities that can "think" about their actions coherently , make choices, identify their interests, and rank interest in terms of priority.
Term
Game Theory
Definition
A branch of mathematics concerned with predicting bargaining outcomes.
Term
Prisoner's Dilemma
Definition
A situation modeled by game theory in which rational actors pursuing their individual interests all achieve worse outcomes than they could have by working together
Term
Bipolar
Definition
Two powers ir rival alliance bloc
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