PCST 240 1st EditionExam #1 Study Guide: Lectures 1-14Lecture 1-4 (January 12-21)International Relations as a DisciplineWhat is the role and meaning of International Relations? How doesit relate to the Globalized Economy?International Relations: Decisions of the government about foreign actors, especially other states– Foreign Policy which is about the goals that a transnational actor seeks abroad and the means to pursue them. – Global Politics which is about the relations between different actors in the world, the characteristics ofthose relations, and their consequencesTwo areas of study in International Relations: Security Studies and International Political EconomySecurity Studies: questions of states and their decisions regarding security – War and Peace: What causes war? How is peace between warring states achieved? – Terrorism: How does a state create effective counterterrorism legislation? – Nuclear Proliferation: What steps can we take to significantly curb nuclear weapons programs on an international scale? – WMD: What stance should the United States take on its military contracts with foreign states? – Arms Control: What will gun control change in international conflicts? – Civil Wars: What causes Civil wars?International Political Economy– Trade Policy: What states trade with another?– Foreign Investments: Stakes in foreign economic markets.– International Cooperation: Promotion of interests for economic favors.- Actors: those who play major roles in world politics• States • Non-state actors – IGOs (intergovernmental organizations) United Nations, NATO, World Bank– (I)NGOs (non-governmental organizations) Red Cross, Doctors without Borders – MNCs (TNCs): (transnational organizations) Intel, Microsof– Informal networks and movements: Liberty in North Korea – Transnational terrorist groups and organizations- Boko Haram, ISIS, al-Queda – Individuals: Barack ObamaLevels of Analysis: what lenses are questions of International Relations being examined through?• Individual Level: perceptions, choices and actions of individual human beings • Domestic (State) Level: social groups, political organizations, government agencies• Interstate (International) Level: interaction of states, their relative power positions • Global Level: global trends and forcesLecture 5-8 (January 23-28)Methods and Approaches in International Relations-studying research methodsin International RelationsResearch method is how to approach a problem. The choice of research method defines a set of tools and technique to be used by researcher. Each method requires special training. Methods are chosen according to researcher’s preference, the character of researchquestion and available resources.Three Research Methods: Qualitative Research Quantitative Research  Formal Modeling or Game TheoryQualitative Research• Contextual analysis (country or area specific): Small, focused sample ; In-depth, detailed knowledge of the sample • Based on empirical observationAdvantages Disadvantages• Detailed examination of the subject • Flexible, interdisciplinary, not limited to pre-defined variables • Can examine complex questions in one study • Less abstract • Practical policy oriented• Researcher’s being impartial and neutral is sometimes problematic • Maybe too descriptive • Sources of information may not be credible • Not really generalizable results • Requires a lot of special training • Requires considerable resources • Not replicableQuantitative Research• Large-N research; Investigates quantifiable properties and characteristics; Examines universal patterns of relationships• Relies on statistical (reliable) resultsAdvantages Disadvantages• Provides big picture and answers big questions • Produces generalizable knowledge • Good for theory testing • Less resource-consuming • Replicable• Can be limited to pre-defined variables • May miss important variables •Too abstract • May miss important details • May not be useful for real-life practical policy situations. • Requires knowledge of statistics and special sofwareFormal Modeling or Game Theory• Analysis of strategic behavior • Based on clear cost-benefit calculations • Based on rational choice theoryAdvantages Disadvantages• Clear, simple models based on expected payoffsof players • Same model can be applicable to various situation • Less resource-consuming • Replicable• May be disconnected from real-life situations • Developing models with many players may be problematic • Takes rationality for granted and ignores irrationality (e.g. altruism) • May be too simple and even simplistic • Depends on measurement of expected utilities • Requires some mathLecture 8-11 (January 30- February 6) Theory is a testable and tested concept (hypothesis), which is used to explain an aspect (a phenomenon, process, occurrence, event, fact) of the world around us. Theory Building:Correlation: relationship between things Causality: one thing will cause another Prediction: statement about the ways thing will happen in the future Parts to Theory Testing:• Experiment • Observation• Simulation Theory cannot be proved true but can only be proved wrong.Lecture 12-14 (February 11-16) State SystemsState is an independent legal entity with clearly defined territory, permanent population and a government which is capable of exercising and maintaining internal and external sovereigntyHow many states in the world today? 266 – countries, dependent areas, and other entities (The CIA factbook); 195 – independent states in the world (U.S. Department of State); 193 – independent states, members of the UN; Most recent members of the UN: South Sudan (14 July 2011) Montenegro (28 June 2006) East Timor (27 September 2002) Switzerland (10 September 2002)How does a state become a UN member? “…Membership in the UN is open to all peace-loving States which accept the obligations contained in the [United Nations Charter] and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able to carry out these obligations”. (UN Charter) The State submits an application to the Secretary-General; The Security Council approves the application – 9 out of 15 votes with no veto from permanent members; Application is passed by a two-third majority vote in the General Assembly;Membership becomes effective the date the resolution for admission is adopted.What is