Systemic level
The lack of an overarching central authority in the international system
What is anarchy?
Democracies do not go to war against other democracies.
What is democratic peace theory?
The model which assumes that two states having a dispute will want to avoid war in order to prevent wasting resources they could employ more beneficially.
What is the Bargaining model of war?
Objects symbolizing the two main options of state policymakers in dealing with other states.
What are 'sticks' and 'carrots'?
(What are force and cooperation?)
The international system is stable when the distribution of military and economic power is roughly equal.
What is 'Balance of Power' theory?
Capitalism (in its final stage as monopoly capitalism) leads to war between the most heavily industrialized countries in a fight for primary resources and export markets.
What is Lenin's argument?
The situation where two states might disagree over who will the war.
What is the 'private information' problem?
The situation in which the pursuit of security by country A makes neighboring country B feel threatened and its subsequent pursuit of security makes country A feel insecure, thus allowing the conditions for an arms race.
What is the 'security dilemma'?
The international system is stable when the distribution of military and economic power is unequal.
What is 'Power transition' theory?
Trade between capitalist countries leads to peaceful relations.
What is Kant's argument?
The situation in which one state does not trust that the other will adhere to the agreement. (Iran deal, Paris Climate Accord)
What is the 'commitment problem'?
American IR scholar, author of Perception and Misperception in International Politics (1976).
Who is Robert Jervis?
The theory which states that war might occur because human beings give more weight to actual losses rather than possible gains.
What is prospect theory?
A situation in which any solution is incapable to satisfy competing claims between two states. (e.g. Israel/Palestine)
What is an 'indivisible issue'?
If country A acts forcefully against country B, country B will submit to the will of country A.
What is 'deterrence theory'?
The situation in which use of force by country A leads to a violent reaction by country B or in which cooperative policies pursued by country A are responded with cooperation by country B.
What is the 'spiral model'?