The Behavior of States

Unit 2: The Behavior of States Alliance: A formal agreement between two (bilateral) or more (multilateral) states to protect each other in case of attack. Ambassador: The highest ranking diplomat stationed in a foreign country. Ambassadors facilitate formal communications between governments and serve to promote bilateral relations between the host country and their own. Diplomatic relations: The formal contact established between two governments. When states establish diplomatic relations, they extend diplomatic recognition to each other’s governments. Diplomatic recognition: The official acceptance by one government of another government as the legitimate representative of a sovereign state. Embargo: A complete cutoff of all trade with another country. Appeasement: A policy of buying off or giving into the demands of an aggressor so as to avoid conflict. Embassy: A permanent diplomatic mission which houses the offices (and sometimes residences) of a country’s diplomatic representatives (especially its ambassador) in the capital city of another country. Balance of power: A concept used in analyzing the distribution of power between states. When there is a balance of power, a number of major states enjoy relatively equal power and no one state dominates. Engagement: A policy of actively dealing with another government. Engaging with another government may involve using negotiations, dialogue, or trade in order to maintain or improve relations. Balance of power theory: The theory that states will form alliances or adopt policies intended to maintain a balance of power and prevent any one state from becoming too powerful. Espionage: The practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities of a foreign government. Bilateral: Means “two-sided.” In international relations, used to describe anything involving two countries. Foreign aid: Economic or military assistance given to a country by another government or an international institution. Foreign aid can be used as a reward to win the cooperation of other states. Border: An internationally recognized boundary line that is used to separate one state from another. Borders mark the area within the legal jurisdiction of a state. Boycott: The refusal to buy certain goods from another country. A boycott is an example of an economic sanction. “Carrot and Stick” Approach: Describes an approach to foreign policy using both the offering of rewards (carrots) and the threat of punishments (sticks) to induce the cooperation of other states. Clandestine: Describes undercover or secret activities. Coercion: The act of one state forcing or threatening another state to do something. Coercion may involve the use of sanctions and/or application of military force. Covert operations: Undercover or secret operations. Détente: The relaxation of tensions or a decrease in the level of hostility between states. Diplomacy: Conducting relations between states through peaceful negotiations and dialogue. Diplomat: A representative of a government who conducts relations with governments of other countries. Foreign policy: The actions taken by a government in pursuit of a country’s interests and goals. Geopolitics: The influence of geography on a country’s politics or foreign policy. Geopolitics often involves the competition between states for control of strategically important territory, resources, and influence around the globe. Idealism: An approach to international relations based on the belief that a state’s foreign policy should be based on universal moral values and legal principles rather than its own national interests. Idealism stresses the need to consider what is good for humanity or the world at large rather than what would benefit one’s own country. The opposite of realism. International law: A commonly accepted system of rules on the rights and duties of states in their relations with each other. International law is based on treaties, customs, and general principles of law such as justice and equality. Internationalism: A policy of active involvement in world affairs. The opposite of isolationism. Interventionism: A policy of using military force or the threat of force to interfere in another state’s internal affairs. Isolationism: A policy of withdrawal and noninvolvement in world affairs. The opposite of internationalism. Multilateralism: Means “many-sided.” A policy of acting together with other states. Used to describe anything involving many states. The opposite of unilateralism. National interests: The goals or objectives viewed as beneficial to a country and reflective of its security, economic, and ideological concerns. National interests determine a country’s foreign policy. National resolve: Shared strong beliefs about a country’s national interests and a strong determination to achieve them. Strong national resolve on the part of a country’s people may help overcome other disadvantages (such as small size and population and scarce natural resources) and increase the likelihood that its foreign policy goals are achieved. (practical) considerations and stresses the need to deal with the world as it exists. German for “the politics of reality,” realpolitik is often applied to the policies of states that consider only their own interests in dealing with other countries. The opposite of idealism. Sanctions: Economic or diplomatic actions meant to punish another state for bad behavior. Sanctions are designed to force the targeted state to change its policies or behavior and may be imposed unilaterally by another state or by the United Nations Security Council. Show of strength: The strategic positioning of a state’s military forces intended to force a potential opponent to back down before a conflict occurs. Negotiations: Talks between the diplomatic representatives of states that are meant to resolve a conflict peacefully. Subversive: Describes activities, usually covert, that seek to undermine or weaken a foreign government. Neutrality: A policy of not taking sides in a dispute. Summit: A meeting between two heads of state (bilateral) or several heads of state (multilateral). Normalization of relations: The establishment of full diplomatic relations between two countries for the first time or the reestablishment of relations that had been broken. Power: A state’s ability to influence the behavior of other states. States that possess power are more likely to achieve their foreign policy goals. States may use “hard power” (economic and/or military power) or “soft power” (using diplomacy or the power of attraction) in the pursuit of these goals. Economic power: Countries have economic power when they possess products or resources that other countries want to buy and have the wealth to buy what other countries want to sell. Military power: Countries have military power when they are strong enough to deter outside attack and when they have the ability to project military power overseas. “Soft power”: The power that comes from attraction to a country’s culture, values, political ideals, or policies. A country’s soft power causes others to follow and emulate it out of admiration and respect. Soft power may also refer to a country’s use of diplomacy or humanitarian gestures such aid or disaster relief. Rapprochement: The establishment or reestablishment of friendly relations. Means to “come together” or approach and is used to describe a reconciliation between states that have had poor relations. Realism (realpolitik): An approach to foreign policy that stresses the importance of a country’s national interests rather than universal values or ideals. Realism is based on hard, pragmatic Treaty: A formal, written agreement between two states (bilateral) or several states (multilateral). Treaties are typically signed by a country’s executive and ratified by a country’s legislature before they become binding under international law. Peace treaties: Agreements to end wars. Defense treaties: Agreements in which states establish alliances and promise to defend each other in case of attack. Commercial treaties: Agreements between states to trade with each other on favorable terms. Unilateralism: A policy of acting alone in the conduct of foreign affairs, characterized by minimal consultation and involvement with other countries. The opposite of multilateralism. War: An armed conflict between states. Limited war: A war fought with limited objectives with limited types of weapons or targets. Limited wars usually end with some kind of negotiated agreement between the warring parties. Total war: A war fought without limitations on the objectives, targets, or weapons used. The goal of total war is usually the defeat and unconditional surrender of an enemy.