PSC 116G Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Democratic Peace Theory, Immanuel Kant, Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship
Document Summary
Not typically general theories for all i. p. No 2 democracies have gone to war. Dems just as likely to fight non-dems. Immanuel kant democracies are inherently more peaceful than other types of government . Link between democracy and peace depends on pair of states (dyad) Explains why democracies don"t fight each other but do fight non-dems. Political institutions make war between dems less likely and cautious. Assumes leaders want to stay in office. Translating a theoretical concept into attributes that can be measured. A group of states that tend to not go to war with each other because they are democratic. Even good choices can turn out badly. Level of risk propensity cost/benefit of different actions. Transaction costs: actual expenditures (money, time, personel) Opportunity costs: other alternatives expenditures can be used for. War occurs when utility of war > peace. Predicts actors will choose policy of greatest values, not policy of high payoff.
