IR Theories
This IR theory argues that international politics is driven by anarchy and the pursuit of power.
What is Realism?
The main deliberative body of the United Nations.
What is the General Assembly?
A conflict fought by non-state groups using tactics like ambushes and sabotage.
What is guerrilla warfare?
A political system where power is concentrated in a single party or leader.
What is an authoritarian regime?
This term describes the interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and societies.
What is globalization?
This theory emphasizes international cooperation through institutions like the UN.
What is Liberalism?
This institution settles legal disputes between states.
What is the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?
The idea that nuclear weapons reduce the likelihood of great-power war through fear of retaliation.
What is deterrence?
The wave of democratic transitions beginning in the 1970s is known by this phrase.
What is the Third Wave of Democracy?
The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to this target.
What is 1.5°C?
This theory focuses on how ideas, norms, and identities shape state behavior.
What is Constructivism?
This organization handles global monetary stability and provides financial assistance to states in crisis.
What is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
The security dilemma occurs because states cannot be certain of this.
What is another state’s intentions?
A state with limited institutional capacity and weak rule of law is often called this.
What is a fragile/weak state?
This rising power is central to modern debates about great-power competition with the U.S.
What is China?
Kenneth Waltz is most associated with this branch of realism.
What is Neorealism/Structural Realism?
NATO was originally founded in 1949 primarily to counter this state.
What is the Soviet Union?
This 1990–1991 conflict was triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
What is the Gulf War?
The country that underwent a major political transformation after apartheid ended in 1994.
What is South Africa?
Cyberattacks carried out by state or non-state actors fall under this category of modern conflict.
What is cyber warfare?
This theory argues that global politics is driven by economic class conflict and exploitation.
What is Marxism/Neo-Marxism?
This UN council can authorize sanctions and the use of force.
What is the UN Security Council?
A conflict where two major powers fight indirectly through supporting third parties.
What is a proxy war?
This concept describes when domestic groups push leaders to escalate foreign policy actions
What is the “rally-around-the-flag” effect?
This theory explains why states commit to agreements to protect human rights even when it constrains sovereignty.
What is the Norms/Constructivist theory of compliance?