International Relations Notes International Relations Notes
These notes cover the core topics in International Relations that are found on most undergraduate syllabi and in standard textbooks. They are primarily taken from tutorial sessions, and are thus a great complement to lectures or lecture notes. They provide concise explanations of key concepts, case studies, and examples that could be used in an IR essay or exam, as well as references to key works and newer literature to look up and use in essays and coursework.
In addition to the notes, this ...
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Democratic Peace Theory
Important Democratic Values
Freedom of Assembly:
Ensures that opposing political parties can meet each other on an equal plane (i.e. no banning political parties)
Also allows for different types of citizen assembly such as on the on the internet: Avaaz, facebook, twitter (i.e. freedom of cyberspace)
Electoral mechanism which results in peaceful transitions:
Q: What does it do for us on the int’l and democratic peace level?
A: Can ensure…
Predictability
Continuity
Creation of an environment in which norms carry through
Where, for example, permanent private secretaries very rarely change (apolitical) and the civil service is strong and works long
Path Dependency Element (in terms of transitions)
An Independent Judiciary
Prescence of the Rule of law:
i.e. people follow through with decisions made
An expectation that these mechanisms can be used internationally
Good relationship between the civil service and army
Mechanisms
Dispute Resolution
States like knowing that other states have a good mechanism for dispute resolution
Mechanisms behind the democratic peace:
Does it have to do with democracy or liberal democracy ?
Perhaps the transparency of parliamentary systems has a role?
Creating democratic processes for a state is like ‘hoops to go through,’ that take a long time
Countries create democratic mechanisms
Stemming from a high commitment to democracy
Examples of the use of democratic mechanisms include:
in India -
associating symbols to candidates during voting in the face of widespread illiteracy
in Canada -
total media blackout (broadcasting) during federal election coverage because of its 6 time zones (Section 329 of Canada Elections Act)
On other hand, a liberal democracy view…
Zakaria: is it is not just institutions, but also values that must be taken into account
For example, in considering colonization, must look at how different colonizers colonized and see the historical impact
Could be key to figuring out why former British colonies ‘worked out bit better’
Interesting examples to look at of countries that use institutions for democracy:
Post-Cold...
Buy the full version of these notes or essay plans and more in our International Relations Notes.
These notes cover the core topics in International Relations that are found on most undergraduate syllabi and in standard textbooks. They are primarily taken from tutorial sessions, and are thus a great complement to lectures or lecture notes. They provide concise explanations of key concepts, case studies, and examples that could be used in an IR essay or exam, as well as references to key works and newer literature to look up and use in essays and coursework.
In addition to the notes, this ...
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