Omnibalancing: authoritarian head of state as unit of analysis Flashcards
What does the balance of power theory predict?
predicts that threats will be resisted, states will do what they can to balance threat
In the balance of power theory what is the balance for?
balance for credibility and survival
With the balance of power theory, what is alignment determined by?
determined by the structure of the international system, particularly external threats
What does omnibalancing consider that balance of power theory does not?
internal threats (it also considers external threats but balance of power does as well)
Why does omnibalancing look at internal threats?
they can sometimes be more immediate and more unpredictable than external threats
for authoritarian regimes in the Global South the domestic politcal environment is _________________ as the international one
-at least as unstable and dangerous
Why is the domestic environment as dangerous or more dangerous as the international environment in the global south?
states may not have the ability or heed to wage interstate war
What does balance of power theory say about secondary adversaries?
states will align with secondary adversaries to focus on primary threats (WW2)
What does omnibalancing say about secondary adversaries?
states will still align with secondary adversaries to focus on primary threats
-but secondary threats are often other states and primary threats are often domestic
Describe alliances in omnibalancing
-states will sometimes make international alliances to address domestic primary threats
authoritarian leaders want power so they _________
protect themselves at the expense of state interests
What are authoritarian leaders trying to protect themselves from>
coup d’état
What are dictators more often afraid of than external enemies and why?
- their own armed forces
- afraid because armies are central to the state, capable of ‘banding’ together (paranoid of coup d’états)
What is coup-proofing?
leaders deliberately weaken their militaries to avoid overthrow
-this can be by killing talented officers or sending them to prison camps (Stalin did this in the 1930s)
How is omnibalancing similar to realism, and how is it different?
- same: argues that IR focuses on power, interests, and rationality
- different: states are NOT unitary actors
