Global politics exam revision
1
,Index
Political perspectives……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...3
Unit 1: power, sovereignty and international relations…………………………………………………6
Unit 2: human rights……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...15
Unit 3: development……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….19
Unit 4: peace and conflict…………………………………………………………………………………………………..28
Case studies……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………40
2
, GloPo exam revision
POLITICAL THEORIES
Realism → a political perspective that is mostly short-term, emphasises the
importance of sovereignty, security, independence, hard power and the state
and believes that states naturally aggressively seek power, hence strength,
natural resources and military power are crucial. States will prioritise
competition and interest over ideology, and will seek allies to balance power.
- Humans are capable of rationality and progress, and states can act in
ways that promote peace and shared interests.
- Democracies are less likely to go to war with each other.
- International organisations help solve global problems and reduce
conflict.
- Economic interdependence makes war too costly, encouraging peace.
- Cooperation is not only possible, it’s often preferable to conflict.
Classical realism → relates to Niccolo Machiavelli’s II Principle, “it is better to be
feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both”. Argues that politics is driven by
human nature, which is inherently self-interested and power-seeking, and views
the world as a stage where states act in their own national interest to gain
power and ensure survival.
Assumptions:
- The international system is anarchic, with no overarching authority.
- COnflict is inevitable because of the struggle for power.
- Morality should not dictate state behaviour ー pragmatism comes first.
Defensive realism → argued that because of the anarchic structure of
international relations and the self-interest that nations pursue, they must
ensure they maximise their security. E.g. Japan in Asia.
Defensive realism differs from offensive realism in that it defends that states
seek enough power to be secure, but not so much that they provoke others;
security is the main goal, not domination.
For defensive realists, the main threat to states is insecurity, not necessarily
others’ desire to dominate. If a state gains too much power, it will trigger
balancing behaviour from other states. Thus, stability comes from a balance of
power, not domination by one actor. In contrast, aggression is often irrational
and dangerous because it provokes counter-responses.
Offensive realism → agrees with defensive realism that the international
structure is anarchic and states’ priority is survival, but to ensure this states
must behave aggressively to maximise their power, and should ensure that any
power vacuum is filled by them before any state does so.
3
, Their view of the world is that, since there’s no global authority, the only way to
ensure survival is to be the strongest actor, ideally a regional hegemon.
This theory assumes states do not trust each others for help in their attempt
for survival, and states must compete for power because it equals security.
Offensive realists view war and conflict as natural results trying to dominate.
For them, cooperation is rare and temporary because the system rewards
aggression.
Liberalism → a political perspective that favours globalism, treaties and
international organisations. It is more optimistic in its view of states, and seeks
long-term solutions often based on soft and smart power. It views sovereignty
as not as crucial, because for them cooperation is the norm.
Neoliberalism → argues that, while the world is anarchic, cooperation is
possible through institutions and mutual interests. Assumes that
interdependence between states can reduce conflicts, democracy and
international markets promote peace and institutions help states cooperate
by creating rules and reducing uncertainty.
Social constructivism → argues that none of the principles or realism and
liberalism are a given, but instead are created in a social context or reality.
Given the fact that humans have agency, they create structures that allow for a
form of social organisation, which then become rules that drive the acts of
people and their agency.
Communism → the optimal system is a classless, stateless society where the
means of production are owned collectively, and everyone contributes
according to their ability and receives according to their needs. Capitalism
creates inequality and must be replaced by a system where wealth is shared.
Eventually, the state will wither away after revolution and class struggle.
Feminism → argues that global politics is shaped by gendered assumptions
and power structures that tend to marginalise women because traditional
political theories ignore of undervalue the role of women and the nature of
power is gendered.
4
1
,Index
Political perspectives……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...3
Unit 1: power, sovereignty and international relations…………………………………………………6
Unit 2: human rights……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...15
Unit 3: development……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….19
Unit 4: peace and conflict…………………………………………………………………………………………………..28
Case studies……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………40
2
, GloPo exam revision
POLITICAL THEORIES
Realism → a political perspective that is mostly short-term, emphasises the
importance of sovereignty, security, independence, hard power and the state
and believes that states naturally aggressively seek power, hence strength,
natural resources and military power are crucial. States will prioritise
competition and interest over ideology, and will seek allies to balance power.
- Humans are capable of rationality and progress, and states can act in
ways that promote peace and shared interests.
- Democracies are less likely to go to war with each other.
- International organisations help solve global problems and reduce
conflict.
- Economic interdependence makes war too costly, encouraging peace.
- Cooperation is not only possible, it’s often preferable to conflict.
Classical realism → relates to Niccolo Machiavelli’s II Principle, “it is better to be
feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both”. Argues that politics is driven by
human nature, which is inherently self-interested and power-seeking, and views
the world as a stage where states act in their own national interest to gain
power and ensure survival.
Assumptions:
- The international system is anarchic, with no overarching authority.
- COnflict is inevitable because of the struggle for power.
- Morality should not dictate state behaviour ー pragmatism comes first.
Defensive realism → argued that because of the anarchic structure of
international relations and the self-interest that nations pursue, they must
ensure they maximise their security. E.g. Japan in Asia.
Defensive realism differs from offensive realism in that it defends that states
seek enough power to be secure, but not so much that they provoke others;
security is the main goal, not domination.
For defensive realists, the main threat to states is insecurity, not necessarily
others’ desire to dominate. If a state gains too much power, it will trigger
balancing behaviour from other states. Thus, stability comes from a balance of
power, not domination by one actor. In contrast, aggression is often irrational
and dangerous because it provokes counter-responses.
Offensive realism → agrees with defensive realism that the international
structure is anarchic and states’ priority is survival, but to ensure this states
must behave aggressively to maximise their power, and should ensure that any
power vacuum is filled by them before any state does so.
3
, Their view of the world is that, since there’s no global authority, the only way to
ensure survival is to be the strongest actor, ideally a regional hegemon.
This theory assumes states do not trust each others for help in their attempt
for survival, and states must compete for power because it equals security.
Offensive realists view war and conflict as natural results trying to dominate.
For them, cooperation is rare and temporary because the system rewards
aggression.
Liberalism → a political perspective that favours globalism, treaties and
international organisations. It is more optimistic in its view of states, and seeks
long-term solutions often based on soft and smart power. It views sovereignty
as not as crucial, because for them cooperation is the norm.
Neoliberalism → argues that, while the world is anarchic, cooperation is
possible through institutions and mutual interests. Assumes that
interdependence between states can reduce conflicts, democracy and
international markets promote peace and institutions help states cooperate
by creating rules and reducing uncertainty.
Social constructivism → argues that none of the principles or realism and
liberalism are a given, but instead are created in a social context or reality.
Given the fact that humans have agency, they create structures that allow for a
form of social organisation, which then become rules that drive the acts of
people and their agency.
Communism → the optimal system is a classless, stateless society where the
means of production are owned collectively, and everyone contributes
according to their ability and receives according to their needs. Capitalism
creates inequality and must be replaced by a system where wealth is shared.
Eventually, the state will wither away after revolution and class struggle.
Feminism → argues that global politics is shaped by gendered assumptions
and power structures that tend to marginalise women because traditional
political theories ignore of undervalue the role of women and the nature of
power is gendered.
4
