International relationsLesson 1 of 2 in the course International Relations

Military, Economic, and Political Power in International Relations

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces power in international relations and explains how states use military strength to protect their interests and sovereignty.

In international relations, power is the ability of a state to prompt its preferred outcome in a given situation. A state may use its capabilities to pursue an outcome directly, or to shape the choices other states make.

All flashcards

How is power defined in international relations?
A state's ability to prompt its preferred outcome in a given situation.
What is sovereignty?
A state's authority to govern itself.
What is military deterrence?
Displaying military capability to make an adversary reconsider attacking.
What is hard power?
Influence that relies on coercion or pressure.
What is internal economic power?
Economic strength that comes from a state's domestic economy.

Quiz questions

  1. What does external economic power refer to?Answer: A state's leverage in international economic relationships.
  2. How does soft power seek to achieve a state's goals?Answer: Through attraction and persuasion.
  3. What does a security pact generally provide to its members?Answer: An agreement to support one another if a member is attacked.
  4. What is one purpose of recognizing another state?Answer: To welcome it into the international system and its institutions.
  5. Which activity belongs to the quaternary level of economic development?Answer: Research and development.

Based on Introduction to Political Science by Mark Carl Rom, Masaki Hidaka, Rachel Bzostek Walker (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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