PS 230 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - International Law, Nazi Germany, United Nations
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
PS 230
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
International Relations
8/27/18
Introduction
Politics is the study of the use of power.
International Relations is politics is the absence of a common sovereign. There is no established
world ruler.
International Relations focuses on external policies among the units of the world (states).
The UN has very limited rights to violence and must confer with the states before making
decisions.
The international system is in a state of anarchy, because there is no higher authority. Anarchy
does not (necessarily) mean chaos or violence. It also does not mean that there are no rules.
Sometimes there are rules in an anarchy, they just can’t be enforced.
A good example of an anarchy is a classroom before a professor walks in. There is no authority,
every student is equal. It is not chaotic. Students respect the “first come, first serve” rule with
seats without a governing body to enforce this rule.
Who? Why? How?
Who-States
Elements of a state.
▪ You must have a political organization (government).
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▪ You must have territory (Check out Israel throughout history. Always a nation,
sometimes a state).
▪ You must have a population.
▪ You must have sovereignty. (This is what makes the USA a state and Kentucky not a
state.)
Historical Origins. In 1648 the treaty of Westphalia established the modern form of states. It
ended the 30-year war in Europe.
▪ It recognized the right of every ruler to determine the religion in their own land.
▪ It created a legal equality among states. (States differ in power, but legally they are
equal).
▪ It created the principle of a binding international treaty.
▪ It created the principle of non-intervention.
Non-intervention has weakened quite a bit. Take the US. We don’t want anyone even looking at
our domestic policy, but we have no problem butting in on other states when we don’t like their
government. A good example of the weakening of non-intervention is the UN policy against
genocide.
A nation is a cultural group. Sometimes a nation is also a state, but they don’t have to be. Japan
is a nation and a state. The Kurds are a nation and not a state, but the US is a state and not a
nation.
Nationalism has two forms. Offensive and defensive. Offensive is the belief in superiority of
your culture (We should expand! And eliminate others! ***Do not be a Nazi***). Defensive is
just the want to preserve your culture. Defensive nationalism promotes the passing of traditions,
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Politics is the study of the use of power. International relations is politics is the absence of a common sovereign. International relations focuses on external policies among the units of the world (states). The un has very limited rights to violence and must confer with the states before making decisions. The international system is in a state of anarchy, because there is no higher authority. Anarchy does not (necessarily) mean chaos or violence. It also does not mean that there are no rules. Sometimes there are rules in an anarchy, they just can"t be enforced. A good example of an anarchy is a classroom before a professor walks in. There is no authority, every student is equal. Students respect the first come, first serve rule with seats without a governing body to enforce this rule. Elements of a state: you must have a political organization (government), you must have territory (check out israel throughout history.
