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IR unit 2
Armed Conflict/ Global security
52
Political Studies
Undergraduate 1
10/14/2009

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
asymmetric warfare
Definition
strong state vs weak state/organization
Term
Interstate war
Definition

-Sustained armed conflict between two sovereign states

-On the decline recently

Term
Civil War
Definition
War between government and one or more insurgent groups
Term
Internationalized Civil War
Definition
Civil war with outside state(s) supporting insurgents
Term
Xenophobia
Definition
fear of strangers
Term
Socialization
Definition
Process where one becomes accustomed to beliefs, values, behaviors acceptable in a given society
Term
Relative Deprivation
Definition
People's perception that they are unfairly deprived of wealth and status in comparison to others who don't deserve their wealth and status
Term
Cross Cutting Cleavages
Definition
Two states agreeing on some things and disagreeing on others
Term
Overlapping cleavages
Definition
disagreements on some things are overlooked by stronger agreements on others
Term
Power transition theory
Definition
  • Relatively stable hierarchy
  • Parity = war
Term
Power Cycle theory
Definition
  • War is likely during a raise or decline in power
  • Huge war likely when numerous states raising/declining in power
Term
terrorism
Definition
  • Victims- civilians
  • Actors: Subnational actors or clandestine agents
  • Fear: Symbolic, show weakness, gain attention
  • Target audience: politically motivated, influence policy/behavior
  • Purpose: to gain media/widespread attention (to influence policy/behavior)
  • seperatism, self-determination
Term
Information warfare
Definition

attacks on telecommunication network to decline target's defense, economic well being

 

Good example: estonia was greatly affected by information warfare

Term
Bush Doctrine
Definition
Preemptive strikes on states supporting terrorist groups in order to prevent future attack on US
Term
state-sponsored terrorism
Definition
assistance, training and arming of terrorists by a state in order to achieve foreign policy goals
Term
failing states
Definition
states in danger of collapsing due to internal strife
Term
power conversion
Definition
  • ability to change wealth into military might
  • considered non-military form of power
  • requires stable leaders
Term
Power potential
Definition

State's capabilities to influence

  1. Hard power- military strength
  2. Soft power- attractiveness influences
  3. Economic powers- Powerful sanctions
Term
opportunity costs
Definition
Cost of decisions- when something is gained, something is lost
Term
Military-industrial complex
Definition
relationship between government, industry, and national military
Term
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
Definition
international arms control agreement on nukes
Term
MIRV's
Definition
many nuclear missiles delivered by a single missile
Term
smart bombs
Definition
technology that makes bombs search for their target and detonate at a specific time to cause most damage
Term
firebreak
Definition
psychological barrier between conventional and nuclear war
Term
nuclear winter
Definition
expected freeze from dust fallout after nuclear weapons are used. Smoke/dust block out sun killing plant and animal life
Term
compellence
Definition
a threat of force, making enemy change ways against will
Term
brinkmanship
Definition
game of chicken. threatening war in order to get submission from enemy.
Term
massive retaliation
Definition
threat of responding to any attack with everything available
Term
countervalue targeting strategy
Definition
pointing nukes at enemy's valued non-military resources
Term
counterforce targeting strategy
Definition
aiming at enemy's military targets
Term
deterrence
Definition
strategy to threaten retaliation unless ways are changed.
Term
second strike capability
Definition
ability to respond to nuclear attack with another, stronger, nuclear attack
Term
triad
Definition
three forms of firing nukes. made sure there could be a second strike
Term
mutually assured destruction
Definition
form of deterrence. both sides able to survive first strike and retaliate.
Term
Nuclear Utilization Theory
Definition
NUTs. Deterrence/nuclear threats more credible if proliferation were easier.
Term
Strategic Defense Initiative
Definition
Space based lasers that will destroy enemy nukes. Never happened.
Term
preemption
Definition
quick strike, kill before they can retaliate. (similar to blitzkrieg)
Term
Preventative War
Definition
war to make sure enemy can't attack sometime in the future.
Term
Coercive diplomacy
Definition
flexing military might to persuade domestic change.
1. gunboat diplomacy- naval strength
2. Tomahawk diplomacy- shooting cruise missiles
3. military intervention- limited armed force
4. Economic coercion- sanctions
Term
ultimatum
Definition
final demand. "do it or face punishment."
Term
covert operations
Definition
state's secret means to achieve specific goals in other countries
Term
Sanctions
Definition
form of coercion by using economic strategies to exercise influence over policies
Term
Balance of Power
Definition
Verb: Actively joining alliances to create equilibrium
Noun: State of equilibrium
Benefit: peace
Term
alliance
Definition
agreement among sovereign states to join together to increase mutual security
(stalin-roosevelt-churchill)
Term
balancer
Definition
influential state that supports weaker side in order to balance hegemon
Term
bandwagoning
Definition
joining with the more powerful state regardless of ideology or form of gov't

dangerous: hegemon could easily crush you
Term
hegemonic stability theory
Definition
hegemon required to maintain rules, keep the peace. (US expected to intervene in sudan because we are hegemon)
Term
concert
Definition
great powers jointly managing international relations
Term
clandestine
Definition
secretive
Term
arms control
Definition
2+ states agreements to contain arms buildup. (not getting more)
Term
disarmament
Definition
agreement to reduce or eliminate weapons
Term
extended deterrence
Definition
threats to deter an attack on its allies
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