Deck 3: Power Politics

Question 1

Preponderance theory predicts that dramatic power imbalances are more likely to produce peace than balances of power.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The most prominent effort to implement collective security was

A)the Peace of Westphalia.
B)the United Nations.
C)the Marshall Plan.
D)the League of Nations.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a weakness of collective security systems?

A)It is difficult to identify the aggressor.
B)They ignore the importance of power in international politics.
C)They require nations to use force even when their national interests are not involved.
D)They are biased in favor of the status quo.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

When we characterize international relations as "anarchic," we mean that

A)there is no central political authority with a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.
B)international relations are chaotic.
C)there is no order in international relations.
D)we have the beginnings of a global government in the United Nations.

Question 5

The security dilemma is the result of

A)the self-help of international anarchy.
B)collective security.
C)nuclear weapons.
D)liberalism.

Question 6

Collective security requires

A)the creation of a world government.
B)an agreement to aid states subject to aggression.
C)a balance of power.
D)democracy.

Question 7

Because realists see international anarchy as a fundamental cause of conflict among nations, they usually call for the creation of a world government.

Question 8

Balance of threat theory assumes that very powerful states are automatically viewed as threatening

Question 9

According to constructivists, international anarchy

A)is a myth.
B)inevitably leads to insecurity and war.
C)may or may not lead to insecurity and war.
D)is preferable to world government.

Question 10

In international relations, the security dilemma refers to

A)the problems of implementing collective security.
B)how security communities manage to escape the insecurities of international anarchy.
C)the difficulty of making one nation secure without making others feel less secure.
D)how unsatisfied (revisionist) states overcome the power of the hegemonic state.

Question 11

When there is a reasonable expectation of non-violence among a group of nations, we refer to this as

A)a balance of power.
B)collective security.
C)a security community.
D)liberalism.

Question 12

When nations align against the strongest state, this is known as

A)containment.
B)balancing.
C)hegemony.
D)bandwagoning.

Question 13

According to preponderance theory,

A)the most powerful nations always align with each other.
B)a balance of power between satisfied and dissatisfied states best preserves peace.
C)the security dilemma is a myth.
D)an imbalance of power in favor of satisfied states best preserves peace.

Question 14

Evaluating the validity of balance of power theory is problematic because of the difficulty of measuring power.

Question 15

Balance of threat theory rejects the basic assumptions of realism.

Question 16

Balance of threat theory predicted that an anti-U.S.coalition would definitely have emerged after the Cold War.

Question 17

Power politics is most closely associated with a realist perspective on international politics.

Question 18

According to balance of power theory, other states should have aligned against the United States after World War II.

Question 19

According to preponderance theory,

A)the most powerful nations are the most likely to start wars.
B)dramatic imbalances of power are more peaceful.
C)balances of power tend to be more peaceful.
D)all states seek to change the status quo.

Question 20

The decision of many nations to align with the United States instead of the Soviet Union in the early years of the Cold War is most consistent with

A)balance of power theory.
B)the principle of collective security.
C)balance of threat theory.
D)constructivism.

Question 21

The ______________________________ results because most of the actions that make nations feel secure make other nations feel less secure.

Question 22

____________________ argue that the consequences of international anarchy depend on how statesmen think about international relations.

Question 23

Balance of _______________ theory is most consistent with alignment patterns after World War II.

Question 24

Collective security is incompatible with international anarchy.

Question 25

Collective security systems recognize the importance of power and deterrence in international politics even though they reject the principles of power politics.Explain.

Question 26

According to ________________________theory, nations align based on their assessment of the power and intentions of other states.

Question 27

Realists believe that it is easy to form security communities under conditions of international anarchy.

Question 28

What are the main obstacles to implementing collective security?

Question 29

The United Nations was an attempt to implement the principles of ____________________.

Question 30

The League of Nations was an attempt to implement balance of power theory.

Question 31

A ______________________ is a group of states that have a reasonable expectation of mutual nonviolence.

Question 32

Compare and contrast how realists and constructivists view the consequences of international anarchy.

Question 33

_______________ theory classifies nations according to their degree of power and satisfaction.

Question 34

______________________ theory predicts that peace is most likely when satisfied states are more powerful than dissatisfied states.

Question 35

States can either ______________ against or ______________ with the most powerful states.

Question 36

Constructivists argue that international politics is not anarchic.

Question 37

________________________ is the ultimate theoretical alternative to international anarchy, though most dismiss it as unrealistic.

Question 38

Compare and contrast alternative perspectives on the distribution of power and the likelihood of war/peace.

Question 39

Power politics is most closely associated with a __________________ perspective on international relations.

Question 40

According to ___________, self-help is the logical result of the anarchic nature of the international system.

Question 41

What are security communities and how does their existence challenge realism?