Chapter 4: Domestic Politics and War §

(F) Day of the week: Wednesday Class: IS203 Created Time: January 8, 2020 3:51 PM Database: Class Notes Database Date: January 8, 2020 3:51 PM Days Till Date: Passed Last Edited Time: June 9, 2021 10:42 AM Type: Presentation Notes

• Content

National Vs Particularistic Interests §

• General Interest: most or all actors in a country shares the same interest

Ex: physical security, economic well-being

• Narrow or Particularistic interests: interests shared by a small group of actors in a country.

Ex: Capitalistic Companies

Interactions, Institutions, and Influence §

3 Kinds of Actors

• Leaders: make foreign policy
• Groups: influence leaders decisions
  1. Bureaucratic Actor: military…
  2. Interests Groups: have same goal to make change to benefit their group
• General Public

Wars abroad to hold power at home §

1982 Argentina and Britain war

Invaded nearby islands

• Imbalance between two states
• not valuable

Argentina thought military conflicts is best option

1. What leaders want §

• Interests for nation and them
• Responsive to voters’ issues

2. The Rally Effect and the Diverionary Incentive §

• Rally Effect: international or national crisis causing nationalism and support for political leaders

• Diversionary Incentive: causing conflict or crisis for public support

  Ex: Argentina causing conflict with Britian for support

3. WAG THE DOG §

Scholars found little evidence that leaders resort to force when in trouble

4. Political Costs of War §

Domestic political cost

Ex: Vietnam War: Johnson lost respect from people after starting war.

War to satisfy military or Interest Groups §

Military-industry complex: industries that benefits from war and conflicts

1. Bureaucratic §

military

2. Interest Groups §

• Economic Motives: actors (companies & industries) incomes depend on events in country.

Ex: Iraq War: oil industry wanted more oil

• Ethnic Ties: ideologies and ethnics cause actors to support or oppose other states.

3. Small groups influence on policy §

• military controls big portion of resources

  intervine in politics to make sure balance of power

• Leaders rely on small groups

Why Democracies dont Fight one another §

“Democratic Peace: mature democratic states don’t fight each other”

1. Representation, Accountability, and Interests §

“The easiest thing in the world to do is declare war”

• Representative Institution: decisions are made shared with the election
• Accountability: democratic leaders have consequences for wrong doings

2. Democracy and Bargaining Interaction §

• Institutions influence bargaining
• Democratic Systems:
  • Transparent: open and observable
• Non-Democratic System:
  • More Privacy, closed door, less transparent
  • Less free speech, social media

3. Domestic Institutions or Strategic Interests §

• Economic Development: development happens faster with democracy
• Common Enemies: of communistic countries

World of Democracy is world of Peace? §

• Break down of democracy: democracy could fall apart by mismanagement