Short Questions I.

4th semester A and B English.

1) What is ALLIANCE?

An agreement between two or more states to work together on mutual

security issues. States enter into such cooperative security arrangements in
order to protect themselves against a common (or perceived) threat. By
pooling their resources and acting in concert, the alliance partners believe
that they can improve their overall power position within the international
system and their security relative to states outside the alliance. Alliances can
be either formal or informal arrangements. A formal alliance is publicly
recognised through the signing of a treaty in which the signatories promise to
consider an attack on any one of them as equivalent to an attack on all of
them. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a good example of a
formal security alliance. Informal alliances are much looser and less stable
and rely, to a large extent, on the word of the parties involved and ongoing
cooperation between them. The latter may entail, among other things, joint
military exercises, the sharing of strategic information, or promises of
assistance during a military crisis. Informal alliances can also take the form of
secret agreements between leaders.

2 ) Define ARMS RACE?

A competitive struggle between two or more states seeking to improve their

security relative to each other by building up their military strength. An arms
race two or more groups compete in military superiority. It consists of a
competition between two or more states to have superior armed forces,
concerning production of weapons, the growth of a military, and the aim of
superior military technology

3 ) Define BALANCE OF POWER?

in international relations, the posture and policy of a nation or group of

nations protecting itself against another nation or group of nations by
matching its power against the power of the other side. States can pursue a
policy of balance of power in two ways: by increasing their own power, as
when engaging in an armaments race or in the competitive acquisition of
territory; or by adding to their own power that of other states, as when
embarking upon a policy of alliances.. Also, one state may opt for a self-
conscious balancing role, changing sides as necessary to preserve the
equilibrium. A balance of power policy requires that a state moderate its
independent quest for power, since too much power for one state may bring
about self-defeating reactions of fear and hostility from other states.

• Unipolarity is a situation in which one state or superpower dominates the

international system. Many would argue that the United States is in this
position today.

• Bipolarity exists when two states or blocs of states are roughly equal in
power. The term is often applied to the period of the cold war between the
United States and the Soviet Union.

• Multipolarity refers to a situation in which there are at least three great

powers. The classic example is nineteenth-century Europe.

4 ) Define COLLECTIVE SECURITY?

In formal terms, collective security refers to a set of legally established

mechanisms designed to prevent or suppress aggression by any state against
any other state. This is achieved by presenting to potential/ actual aggressors
the credible threat, and to potential/actual victims the reliable promise, of
effective collective measures to maintain and if necessary enforce the peace.
The purpose of a collective security system is to maintain peace among the
members of the system, not between the system and outsiders. For example,
NATO is not a collective security system.

5 ) Define COMMUNISM?

as a political philosophy, an existing system of political and economic rule, a

philosophy of history, and as a revolutionary ideology of change diametrically
opposed to capitalism and liberal democracy. The term derives from the Latin
word communis which means ‘belonging to everyone’. In theory, a communist
society is organised in such a way that individuals share in the fruits of their
labours equally and hold property in common. Individuals contribute what
they can and consume only what they need. They treat each other equally and
fairly, regardless of gender, age, or nationality. There is no need for the
coercive power of the state to keep individuals under control, and the
acquisitive behaviour that is characteristic of liberal capitalist societies.

6 ) What is Globalization in I.R ?

Globalization is the word used to describe the growing interdependence of the

world's economies, cultures, and populations, brought about by cross-border
trade in goods and services, technology, and flows of investment, people, and
information.

7) What is the main difference between offensive and defensive realism?

Offensive realism focuses on power maximization through aggression, while
defensive realism emphasizes security and stability through cooperation and
deterrence in international relations theory. OR Offensive realism
asks states to seek more power, while defensive realism calls for less power.
Defensive realists say that states want just enough power to ensure their
security and offensive realists believe that states want as much power as they
can get to increase the odds of their survival.

8) Difference between Nation and State ?

A nation is a group of people with a common language, history, culture, and

(usually) geographic territory. A state is an association of people
characterized by formal institutions of government, including laws;
permanent territorial boundaries; and sovereignty (political independence).

9) Define power and its types in I.R?

Power in international relations is when X can make Y do something they

would not usually do. Theories of power in international relations focus on
how states gain power. This is through capabilities, relationships, and
structures. There are three main types of power - hard power, soft power and
smart power.

1- Hard power describes a nation or political body's ability to use economic

incentives or military strength to influence other actors' behaviors.

2 - soft power is non-coercive, using culture, political values, and foreign

policies to enact change.

3- In international relations, the term smart power refers to the combination

of hard power and soft power strategies.

10 ) Define Dependency theory ?

Dependency theory explains how poor countries depend on rich countries. It

goes further and indicates that rich countries cause dependence by
destabilizing the weak countries and causing them to be in need. The rich
exploit the raw materials of poor countries and lead these countries to debt
for their benefit.

11) Define Diplomacy ?

Diplomacy is the art and science of maintaining peaceful relationships

between nations, groups, or individuals. Often, diplomacy refers to
representatives of different groups discussing such issues as conflict, trade,
the environment, technology, or maintaining security.

12) What is liberalism in international relations theory?

Liberal theories of international relations (IR) focus on the demands of

individuals and social groups, and their relative power in society, as
fundamental forces driving state policy and, ultimately, world order.

13) What is the concept of Marxism?

Marxism is a political philosophy and method of socioeconomic analysis. It

uses a materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as
"historical materialism", to understand class relations and social conflict. It
also uses a dialectical perspective to view social transformation.