Review Questions and Answers for International Relations Final Exam What are International Law and International Norms How are they formed and how do they relate to each other Why do they matter International law is established by states through either custom or convention as a way to bind one another s hands They are a body of rules that binds states and other agents in world politics in their relations with one another and is considered to have the status of law International norms are also a type of international institution that constrains states Norms are standards of behavior defined in terms of rights of obligations Both laws and norms are related and matter because they establish a basic context of what is conventional legally and socially Norms are social conventions ie holding the door open for someone while law is legal convention ie not running the stop sign at an intersection Additionally laws and norms create a system of order and functionality within our day to day lives and in our cultures and societies What are TANs and what role do they play in international relations Transnational Advocacy Networks TANs are central to spreading norms throughout the international system Comprised of individuals and NGOs deeply committed to ethical beliefs TANs aim to persuade other individuals and groups to share their commitment TANs also alter interactions between states and facilitate cooperation by providing information about international agreements and monitoring compliances What are human rights and why are they abused Why do countries sign human rights treaties and are these treaties effective Human rights are rights that all individuals possess by virtue of being human regardless of their status as citizens of particular states or members of a group or organization These rights are universal and apply to all humans equally Due to differing legal traditions domestic political regimes and institutions and philosophies states often have different interests in human rights which thus translates into which ones they promote over others Countries sign human rights treaties based upon the effect of a treaty on a state and hence the state s willingness to commit to it and thus the way in which it is largely determined by the domestic enforcement of the treaty and the treaty s collateral consequences For example states with less democratic institutions will be no less likely to commit to human rights treaties if they have poor human rights records because there is little prospect that the treaties will be enforced Conversely states with more democratic institutions will be less likely to commit to human rights treaties if they have poor human rights records precisely because treaties are likely to lead to changes in behavior This can often be effective because countries will often seek to be perceived as good on an international scale But it is important that the treaty not only be passed but enforced in order for best results to be achieved What is civil war How does it differ from interstate war How does the bargaining theory explain civil war A civil war is an armed conflict that occurs between organized actors within a state that meets some minimum threshold for severity Conventionally this minimum must stand at least 1 000 battle related deaths to qualify Civil wars differ from interstate wars in that they occur within a region or state When thinking of these terms note that the prefix intra of intrastate war which is synonymous to civil war means within The prefix inter of interstate war which is synonymous to international war means between If a war occurs within a state border it is civil If a war occurs between 2 or more states borders it is interstate And the bargaining theory explains civil war in the way in which it effects the actors involved When the costs and benefits of war are outlined among the members different goals strategies and methods of communication can be implemented to better distribute power and highlight strengths and weakness before advancing in various decisions for optimum outcomes What is terrorism Why does it occur What tactics do terrorists use and what tactics can states use to respond to them Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims The causes of terrorism or why it occurs typically stems as a result of two main factors the first of which being injustice both social and political People choose terrorism when they are trying to right what they perceive to be a wrong having been stripped of land or denied their rights The second factor is the belief that violence is an effective method to usher in change Many terrorists believe that it is a means to justify the ends and is only used after long deliberation at the point when they feel as though they no longer have any other choice Their tactics may range from hijacking planes blowing up buildings and vehicles to individual hostages and assassinations States are able to respond to terrorists through a number of means including devising artificial intelligence strategies to survey the activity of other countries that may pose potential threats Also the TSA Transportation Security Adminstration has been able to establish regulative rules for travelers by plane in terms of how they are checked by person baggage and the items in which they are permitted and prohibited to bring with them onto the aircraft How is the environment an issue in international relations Why is international environmental cooperation difficult and how is it achieved The environment is an issue in international relations because humans all humans everywhere are changing and impacting our biome and global climate Indeed the atmosphere is not limited to one set of borders or boundaries but instead it is transnational and is therefore a matter that pertains to each nation collectively Despite widely shared interests in the quality of the environment the interactions of the individuals as well as countries suffer from problems of collective action In the absence of any international authority that can mandate improved performance the net result is less overall environmental cooperation than individuals and even countries themselves collectively desire So even though we as individuals may have a strong interest passion to help the environment our individual actions can do little to effect change However it can be achieved through banning together through coalitions or organizations that
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