The Basics
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
Explanation of policy choice: policy 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
situation in which defensive actions by one state threaten other states
Security Dilemma
the inability of a state 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
Explanation of policy choice: policy is influenced by the nature of governments being large organizations with their own interests and coordination issues.
Bureaucratic Politics
This body of political thought believes in the possibility of cooperation among states
Liberalism
This level of analysis explains war as a cause of bad individuals and human nature
Indiviudal-level
the treatment of states as coherent actors with a set of interests that belong to the state
Unitary Actor 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
Explanation of policy choice: policy is influenced by the desires and fears of leaders and the overestimation of the importance of historical events, opponents or one's own government
Perception and misperception
This theory traces its origins back to historical thinkers Thucydides, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Thomas Hobbes.
Development of Realist Tradition
This level of analysis argues economically developed states and democracies are less warlike
State-level
wars that are fought to stop an adversary from becoming more powerful in the future
Preventive War
Marked the beginning of the modern state system
The Peace of Westphalia
States force concessions by threatening to use force if no agreement is reached to achieve this
Coercive Diplomacy
The expected outcome in a single-play Prisoner's Dilemma
Both prisoners will talk to the police
This level of analysis stresses war is caused by the changes in the balance of power between states
System-level
wars that are fought because at least one state thinks war is imminent and wants a first strike 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
The lack of a common power capable of resolving disputes
Anarchy
Incomplete information, commitment problems, and issue indivisibility are three factors that can cause this process to fail
Bargaining Model of War