Security studies vocabulary, including deterrence, collective security, and the balance of power.
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- What is the security dilemma?
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A situation where defensive measures by one state appear threatening to others, creating a cycle of insecurity.- Define deterrence in international relations.
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The threat to retaliate in order to prevent an adversary from attacking.- What is hegemony?
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The dominance of one state over others in military, economic, or political power.- What does balance of power mean?
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The distribution of military and economic capabilities among states to prevent any single state from dominating.- Define collective security.
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An arrangement where an attack on any member is treated as an attack on all members, who agree to respond together.- What is extended deterrence?
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A security guarantee where a powerful state threatens retaliation against anyone who attacks its ally.- What does Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) mean?
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A strategic situation where both sides possess enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other even after a first strike.- Define soft power.
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The ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion or payment.- What is hard power?
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The ability to influence others through coercive means, typically military or economic sanctions.- What is an alliance in international relations?
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A formal agreement between two or more states to provide mutual defense or support against threats.- What is realism as an IR theory?
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A theory holding that states act primarily in self-interest, that international anarchy makes conflict inevitable, and that military power is paramount.- What is liberalism as an IR theory?
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A theory emphasizing that institutions, international law, democratic governance, and economic interdependence can reduce conflict.- What is constructivism in IR theory?
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A theory arguing that identities, ideas, and social constructs shape state interests and behavior, not just material factors.- What does balancing mean in international relations?
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The practice of weaker states aligning together to counter the power of a dominant or threatening state.- What is bandwagoning?
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When a state joins the stronger side in a conflict or power dynamic to gain advantages and security.
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