Site MapHelpFeedbackChapter Outline
Chapter Outline
(See related pages)



  • International politics: Use of power to make collective choices among states


  • The evolution of the international system since WWII
    • Background of pre-WWII development of Europe
    • Major changes in international politics resulting from exhaustion of Europe
    • Cold War period


  • The World since the Cold War
    • Steadily the set of actors involved in international politics expanded
    • The interdependence of the world's states grew enormously
    • Box: Banning Land Mines
    • The bipolar rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States disappeared
    • Shift in economies in the direction of open markets
    • Body of international law developed that has the potential
    • Only beginning to work out the implications


  • International Politics
    • Full agenda of problems to address
    • How international politics different than politics within states
    • How international politics similar to politics within states


  • The absence of central authority
    • States involved in disputes must ultimately settle disputes themselves
    • The UN and International Court of Justice as potential bodies of authority but that cannot enforce decisions


  • Fiduciary political roles and international morality
    • Definition of fiduciary role
    • Prevalence of fiduciary roles in international politics
    • We expect leaders of states to be more cold-blooded in international politics
    • Role of emotions


  • Impediments to international communication
    • Communication between leaders more cumbersome and vulnerable to misunderstanding
    • Frequent lack of shared assumptions and motivations


  • Power and international politics
    • Military power
    • Population
    • Economic power
    • Geography
    • Leadership


  • The process of international politics
    • Diplomacy and other non-military measures
    • Causes of War
      • Nationalism
      • Transitions
      • Misperceptions by leaders
      • Power and wealth of states
      • The "democratic peace"


  • Power and choice in international politics
    • Regime theory
    • Terrorism


  • Examples:
    • An International Failure in Rwanda
    • United Nations





To learn more about the book this website supports, please visit its Information Center.
(c)2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.


Power & ChoiceOnline Learning Center

Home > Chapter 18 > Chapter Outline