International Politics Final

Why acquire nuclear weapons?
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Terms in this set (16)
Why acquire nuclear weapons?
1)Extended deterrence not credible
2)Prestige/Pride
3)Cheap and efficient alternative to conventional force and to offset actual or possible future inferiority in conventional force.
What if N is beyond reach?
Go for bio and chemical weapons (most cost effective)
History of N proliferation
1) Shows the merging of security concern, national ambition, and civilizational cleavage.
Why is national pride so crucial to some poor nations but not others?
1)Poor nations cannot compete with wealthier nations in most international fields.
2)Since they are poor they would like to hold on to the only thing they have unique to them: Their traditions and customs.
Deterrence games
1) Stable deterrence: (Mutual Assured Destruction) key is both sides having second strike capability (a country's assured ability to respond to a nuclear attack with powerful nuclear retaliation against the attacker)
2) Unstable deterrence: one side or both sides have no second strike capability (India - Pakistan)
3) US' strategic defense initiative (SDI): Anti-missile system. Destabilizing the MAD? Yes, to an extent because the SDI eliminates an enemy countries second strike capabilities.
4) Extended deterrence: ability to deter attacks on allies
What if Iran is nuclear-armed?
1)Waltz had no qualm about this
2)Sokolski: Against it, calls for military action/economic sanctions
Israel?
Never joined the the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Economist Quote
Common Characteristics of Civil War Countries
economic and social misery, political instability, arrested development, poverty, human trafficking, diseases, power abuse, ethnic conflict, civil disorder or war, genocide, enclaves for terrorism; epidemics; supply chains and shipping routes disrupted
Civil wars in multiethnic societies
1)Civil wars prevalent in societies with resources, weak institutions, and ethnic divide.
2)Civil wars tend to reoccur
3)Civil wars in ethnic divided societies suppressed in the past, erupting now b/c of decolonization.
Problem with Decolonization
Europeans divided areas into countries without thinking about ethnic differences
Cold issues vs hot issuesCold: more or less issues Hot: either or or issue (ex: either sunni or shiate)Paul CollierInternational responses, inordinate and incompetentWhat to do to end civil wars?1)Let one side prevail: victory and domination 2)Segregate: partition, redrawing boundaries, swapping populations (Dalrympal; Kaufman) 3)Build a new nation (identity): crafting institutions that reward moderation, integration 4) Forge a power sharing or power dividing agreement.Power sharing and power dividing agreement1)for diversity and inclusivenessArend Lijphorts' consociational model1)Consociationalism is a form of democracy which seeks to regulate the sharing of power in a state that comprises diverse societies (distinct ethnic, religious, political, national or linguistic groups), by allocating these groups collective rights. 2)proportionality, local autonomy, mutual vetoesPower sharing and power dividing agreement likely to be adopted if three conditions are met:1)The war has been long drawn without a clear winner 2)Casualty low 3)Promised international peace keeping Ex: Lebanon.