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Power Politics

Power Politics. CHAPTER TWO. Dr. Clayton Thyne PS 235-001: World Politics Spring 2009 Goldstein & Pevehouse, International Relations , 8/e Student notes version. Realism. Central position in the study of IR Foundation is the principle of dominance. 3-part framework: 3. . Realism.

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Power Politics

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  1. Power Politics CHAPTER TWO Dr. Clayton Thyne PS 235-001: World Politics Spring 2009 Goldstein & Pevehouse, International Relations, 8/e Student notes version

  2. Realism • Central position in the study of IR • Foundation is the principle of dominance. • 3-part framework: 3.

  3. Realism • Realism developed in reaction to a liberal tradition that realists called ____________________. • Idealism: • Since WWII, realists have blamed idealists for looking too much at how the world ______________rather than _________________________.

  4. Realism • Realist tradition • Sun Tzu: • Thucydides: • Machiavelli (around 16th century): • Thomas Hobbes (17th century): • Hans Morgenthau:

  5. Defining and Estimating Power • A central concept, but difficult to measure • Power (theoretical definition): • Power (empirical definition): • Material elements (tangible capabilities): • Nonmaterial elements (intangible capabilities): • Power can only explain so much. Real-world IR depends on many other elements, including ________________________. • Relational concept: Relative power is…

  6. Estimating Power • The logic of power suggests: • However…

  7. Elements of Power • State power is a mix of many ingredients. • Long-term elements of power: • Tangible: • In/less tangible: • Short-term elements of power: • Tangible: • In/less tangible: • Trade-offs among possible capabilities always exist. • Fungible: • Realists: _____________________ is the most important element of national power

  8. Elements of Power • Tanks versus Gold • Geopolitics • Morality

  9. The International System • States interact within a set of long-established “rules of the game” governing what is considered a state and how states treat each other. • Together these rules shape the international system.

  10. Anarchy and Sovereignty • Anarchy (def): • Sovereignty (def): • Lack of a “world police” to punish states if they break an agreement  _________________________________________ • In practice, most states have a harder and harder time warding off interference in their affairs. • Security dilemma:

  11. Anarchy, Sovereignty and the “Bush Doctrine” • The Bush doctrine:

  12. Balance of Power (BOP) • Def: • BOP theory: • BOP and US dominance: • Russia, China & France seem to be balancing against US power • World support of US foreign policy is very low

  13. Great Powers and Middle Powers • Great powers (def): • Get the most attention from IR scholars because they exert the most influence • Generally have the world’s strongest military forces and the strongest economies • Until the past century, the club was exclusively… • Today’s great powers include: • _____________________: the world’s only superpower • _____________________: the world’s largest population, rapid economic growth, large military, credible nuclear arsenal

  14. Great Powers and Middle Powers • Middle powers • Rank somewhat below the great powers • Some are large but not highly industrialized • Others may be small with specialized capabilities • Examples: • midsized countries: • Larger or influential countries in the global South:

  15. Power Distribution • The concept of the distribution of power among states in the international system • Neorealism, or structural realism • Explains patterns of international events in terms of the _____________________________________ rather than the ___________________________________.

  16. Power Distribution • Polarity refers to the __________________________________________. • Multipolar system: • Bipolar system: • Unipolar system: • Power transition theory

  17. Figure 2.3

  18. Hegemony • Hegemony (def): • The hegemon can dominate the rules and arrangements by which international political and economic relations are conducted • Instances: • ___________________ in the 19th century following defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars • ___________________ after WWII after defeat of Japan/Germany and exhaustion of USSR, France, UK and China • ___________________ after the end of the Cold War

  19. Hegemony • Hegemonic stability theory • For the hegemon to provide stability, it must: • Ambivalence of U.S. hegemony • Internationalist (e.g., ____________________) versus isolationist moods (________________________) • Unilateralism versus multilateralism

  20. The Great-Power System, 1500-2000 • Treaty of Westphalia, 1648 • Rules of state relations • Originated in Europe in the 16th century • Key to this system was…

  21. Figure 2.4

  22. Purposes of Alliances • Alliance (def): • Most are formalized in ________________________ • Endure across a range of issues and a period of time • Purposes of alliances: • Pooling capabilities … • For smaller states, alliances can be their most important power element. • Most form in response to a ________________________. • Dilemmas:

  23. NATO • North Atlantic Treaty Organization • 1 of the 2 most important alliances • Encompasses Western Europe and North America • Founded in 1949 to oppose and deter Soviet power in Europe • Countered by the Warsaw Pact (1955); disbanded in 1991 • Article 5: • Includes ½ of world’s GDP • First use of force by NATO was in Bosnia in 1994 in support of the UN. • Biggest issue for NATO is …

  24. Figure 2.5

  25. Other Alliances • U.S.-Japanese Security Treaty • 2nd of 2 most important treaties • A _____________________________alliance • U.S. maintains nearly 50,000 troops in Japan. • Japan pays the U.S. several billion dollars annually to offset about half the cost of maintaining these troops. • Created in 1951 against the potential Soviet threat to Japan. • Asymmetrical : … • Other U.S. alliances: • De facto alliances:

  26. Figure 2.6

  27. Strategy: Statecraft • Statecraft (def): • Key aspect of strategy:

  28. Strategy: Statecraft • Deterrence (def): • Compellence (def): • Arms race (def):

  29. Rationality • Most realists assume that… • Two implications for IR: • States and other international actors can _____________________ and ____________________their interests 2. Actors are able to perform _______________________ – calculating the costs incurred by a possible action and the benefits it is likely to bring.

  30. The Prisoner’s Dilemma • Prisoner’s Dilemma: • 2 rational actors, A and B • Preferences for A: • Defect while B cooperates • Cooperate while B cooperates • Defect while B defects • Cooperate while B defects • Preferences for B: the same as A

  31. The Prisoner’s Dilemma • India/Pakistan nuke example: Should each state build nukes? • 2 rational actors, India (A) and Pakistan (B) • Preferences for India: • Build nukes while Pakistan doesn’t • Neither side builds nukes • Both sides build nukes • Don’t build nukes while Pakistan does • Preferences for Pakistan: the same as India

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