Topic 1 vocabulary preparation (Christopher Alan Walton) (Siana ISH) by Siana Muppidi

Directions

cwalton55 — 2025-08-26 04:07:57 UTC

Pick ten words or terms from the Topic 1 vocabulary list in the Content and Concepts section that are unfamiliar to you but that you think might be particularly important. Then

Define the term in your own words
Attach an image that you feel represents your term

Gellner’s Theory of Nationalism

sianaish — 2025-08-26 15:13:34 UTC

This theory basically says that nationalism (the idea that a group of people with a common identity should have their own state) was invented by modern industrial society (factories) because a complex economy needs a standardized, educated workforce that can all read the same manuals and communicate easily.

Hence, the state created an education system to teach one common language and culture to its people. This, in turn, gave people an identity and made them feel like they belonged to one nation.

Essentially, it's the idea that nationalism creates nations, not the other way around.

Complex Interdependence Theory

sianaish — 2025-08-26 17:45:07 UTC

This is a view that says countries are connected in many ways, making it hard for any one country to dominate or use military force to get its way.

It's basically a tangled web where countries depend on each other for trade, investment, technology, and dealing with global issues like climate change.

Additionally, because everyone is so interconnected, collective cooperation through organizations like the UN or WTO often makes more sense than fighting. It’s the idea that being mutually vulnerable and connected leads to more peace.

Constitutive Theory of Statehood

sianaish — 2025-08-26 17:47:56 UTC

According to this theory, what makes a state legitimate and real is that other existing states officially recognize it. It’s a social and political process. Without this recognition from the international community, even if a place has a government, borders, and a permanent population, it will still struggle to act on the world stage.

Declarative Theory of Statehood

sianaish — 2025-08-26 17:51:25 UTC

This is the opposite of the constitutive theory. It essentially states that if a country has a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states, it is still a country even if it is not recognized by other countries. This is a more legal, checklist-based approach to defining a state.

Responsibility to Protect (R2P)

sianaish — 2025-08-26 17:53:21 UTC

This is a global political promise that states a country's sovereignty (its right to control its own affairs) is not absolute. The primary job of any government is to protect its own people from mass atrocities like genocide, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing. If a government fails to protect its people, or is actively harming them, the responsibility to protect those people shifts to the international community (like the UN), which can then take action. This also includes even military action as a last resort.

Jus ad Bellum, Jus in Bello, Jus post Bellum

sianaish — 2025-08-26 17:57:48 UTC

These are three parts of the ethical and legal rules around war.

1. Jus ad Bellum (Justice to War): The rules for deciding if going into a war is justified. Essentially, is your cause just? Is it a last resort?

2. Jus in Bello (Justice in War): The rules for how you fight during the war. You must distinguish between soldiers and civilians, and not use disproportionate force.

3. Jus post Bellum (Justice after War): The rules for what you do after the war ends. How do you build a just peace, hold war criminals accountable, and help rebuild?

Deterrence Theory

sianaish — 2025-08-26 18:00:28 UTC

This is the idea of preventing an attack by making the other side afraid of the consequences.

It's the same logic used during the Cold War arms race of "If you nuke me, I will nuke you back, (and we will both be destroyed)."

The goal is not to win a fight, but to make starting a fight so terrifying that no one ever dares to do it. Basically, it's about having a credible threat to keep the peace.

Sticky Power

sianaish — 2025-08-26 18:05:29 UTC

This is a type of influence that comes from building deep, long-term connections that are hard to break. This type of power is not about military threats (hard power) or cultural appeal (soft power); it's about creating a system (like a network of trade deals, financial systems, or legal agreements) that other countries get locked into. Once they're invested in the system, it becomes too costly and difficult for them to leave, giving the creating country steady influence. It's the power of being the indispensable hub everyone is connected to.

Non-Decision-Making Power

sianaish — 2025-08-26 18:07:15 UTC

This is the most subtle form of power. It's the power to keep certain issues from ever being discussed or becoming part of the political debate in the first place. By controlling the agenda, powerful groups can make sure that challenges to their interests are never even considered as options. It’s not about saying "no" to a proposal; it's about making sure the proposal is never made at all.

Neoconservatism

sianaish — 2025-08-26 18:10:18 UTC

A political ideology, especially influential in US foreign policy, that believes American power should be used aggressively to spread democracy and other American values, like free markets and human rights, around the world.

Neoconservatives are skeptical of international organizations and multilateral agreements, preferring unilateral action when possible. They believe that promoting democracy everywhere is not just morally right, but also makes the world safer for the United States. They are known for having a strong, muscular view of military power.