POLS 1301 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Brinkmanship, Mutual Assured Destruction, Bargaining
4 Oct 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Interstate war war in which the main participants are separate states. Security dilemma when states make efforts to defend themselves, other states feel insecure. Theories of war: realism anarchy, insecurity, competition for power, preventative tactics, misperceptions or mistakes inaccurate estimation of chances of winning or costs of war, wars serve the interests of influential groups within the state. Some object of value; each state would rather have more than less (presumably: territory, policies, regime type. States must bargain because international institutions lack effective judicial systems. War from commitment problems: bargaining over goods that are a source of future bargaining power, preventative war in response to changing power. Preventative war war that prevents a state from becoming stronger: preemptive war in response to fear of attack. Preemptive war war fought anticipating an imminent attack by the other side. First-strike advantage when military or geography give an advantage to the offensive side.
