Definitions
ideology holding that the political and the national unit should be congruent
Nationalism
Coercive control of the population, Territorial sovereignty, Functional specialization, Hierarchy and International recognition are characteristics of this entity
The Modern State
The explanation that policy choice is influenced by the conflict between domestic and international policy. Ex. Guns versus Butter
Domestic Politics
This body of political thought stresses the importance of logic and the pursuit of power by states in the international anarchic system
Realism
The lack of a common power capable of resolving disputes
Anarchy
Grievances of population and ease of resistance to the state are two possible causes for states to not be able to exert effective control over its territory and population
State Failure
A political system in which candidates compete for political office through frequent, fair elections in which a sizeable portion of the adult population can vote
Democracy
The explanation that policy choice is influenced by the nature of governments being large organizations with their own interests and coordination issues.
Bureaucratic Politics
This body of political thought is based on the critique of another body of thought that became popular in the 20th century to explain World War I.
Liberalism
The framework of analysis that explains war as being caused by bad individuals and the inherent evil of human nature.
Individual Level of Analysis
the treatment of states as coherent actors with a set of interests that belong to the state
Unitary State Assumption
A political system in which an individual or small group exercises power with few constraints and no meaningful competition or participation by the general public
Autocracy
The explanation that policy choice is influenced by the desires and fears of leaders and the overestimation of the importance of historical events, opponents or ones own government
Perception and misperception
This theory traces its originals back to historical thinkers Thucydides, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Thomas Hobbes.
Development of Realist Tradition
The framework of analysis for war that focuses on states and argues that democracies and more economically developed countries are less warlike
State Level of Analysis
wars are that fought to prevent an adversary from becoming more powerful in the future
Preventive War
Faster economic growth, Extraction of revenue, and Superior decision-making institutions are advantages of this government system
Democracy
States force concessions by threatening to use force if no agreement is reached to achieve this
Coercive Diplomacy
This theory developed in critique and response to some political scientists analyzing World War I and the international system
Liberalism Development
The framework for analysis of war that stresses that war is caused by the changes in the balance of power between states
System-level explanation for war
Wars are fought because at least one state thinks war is imminent and wants a first, strive advantage
Preemptive War
Countries with democratic governments are less likely to go to war with other democracies.
Democratic Peace
a condition in which each actor’s plan is contingent upon its estimate of what the other actor is expected to do
Strategic Interaction
Incomplete information, commitment problems, and issue indivisibility are three factors that can cause this process to fail.
Bargaining Model of War