Question 1

For much of the cold war period, most writing on the subject of security was dominated by the idea of national security.

Accepted Answer

During the Cold War, the concept of national security was paramount, as the geopolitical tension between the Eastern and Western blocs centered on military and nuclear threats, leading to a focus on state-centric security measures to protect national interests.

Question 2

There is widespread agreement among writers that globalization and geopolitics are incompatible and that geopolitics is no longer important in an era of globalization.

Accepted Answer

Globalization and geopolitics are not seen as incompatible by all writers; many argue that geopolitics remains highly important and influential in the era of globalization. Geopolitics continues to shape international relations, trade, and global power dynamics, even as globalization promotes increased interconnectedness and interdependence among nations.

Question 3

Critical theorists argue that states can be providers of security, but states can also be a source of threat to their own people, and are therefore often a part of the problem of insecurity in the international system.

Accepted Answer

Critical theorists highlight that while states can offer protection and security to their citizens, they can also pose significant threats to their own populations, contributing to broader issues of insecurity within the international system. This perspective emphasizes the dual role of states in both safeguarding and endangering their inhabitants.

Question 4

The security dilemma emerges out of a lack of trust among states, and is consequently judged to be the essential source of conflict between states according to some.

Accepted Answer

The security dilemma arises because states, in the absence of trust and in the effort to ensure their own security through armament or alliances, inadvertently threaten other states. This leads to a cycle of escalation that can result in conflict, making it a fundamental source of international tension and conflict according to realist theories in international relations.

Question 5

Critical security theorists generally argue that most approaches do not give enough emphasis to the state.

Accepted Answer

Critical security theorists argue that traditional security approaches focus too much on the state and its military security, neglecting broader aspects of security such as economic, social, and environmental issues that affect individuals and communities.

Question 6

Until recently, what was the main area of interest for both academics and statespeople regarding security?&#10;A) Anarchy&#10;B) Military capabilities&#10;C) Sovereignty&#10;D) Self-help doctrine

Accepted Answer

The main area of interest for both academics and statespeople regarding security has traditionally been military capabilities. This focus stems from the understanding that military strength is a primary means by which states can ensure their security and pursue their interests on the international stage.

Question 7

Traditional ideas about geopolitics originate from the writings of such people as&#8230;&#10;A)E. H. Carr and Hans Morgenthau&#10;B) Amartya Sen and Mahbub al Haq&#10;C) Harold Mackinder and Nicholas Spykman&#10;D) Kenneth Waltz and John Mearsheimer

Accepted Answer

Harold Mackinder and Nicholas Spykman are foundational figures in the field of geopolitics, with Mackinder's Heartland Theory and Spykman's Rimland Theory significantly influencing geopolitical strategy and thought.

Question 8

In debates about security, what is traditionally the primary actor in international relations?&#10;A) Anarchy&#10;B) The state&#10;C) Structures&#10;D) Institutions

Accepted Answer

The state is traditionally considered the primary actor in international relations, especially in discussions about security, as states are the main entities responsible for the security and defense of their territories and populations.

Question 9

Similar to the human security approach, feminist writers also challenge the traditional emphasis on the central role of the state in studies of international security.

Accepted Answer

Feminist writers challenge the traditional emphasis on the state in international security studies by highlighting how security issues affect individuals, especially women, differently and advocating for a broader understanding of security that includes human rights, economic security, and personal safety.

Question 10

Which branch of international relations theory allows for more cooperation between states when it comes to security?&#10;A) Liberal institutionalism.&#10;B) Neorealism&#10;C) Neo-classical realism&#10;D) None of the given answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

Liberal institutionalism posits that international institutions and organizations can help foster cooperation between states, including in the realm of security, by providing platforms for dialogue, reducing uncertainty, and creating mechanisms for trust-building and conflict resolution.

Question 11

According to Richard Falk, 'Old Geopolitics' is West-centric and remains embedded, especially in Western thinking, while 'New Geopolitics'&#8230;&#10;A) Rests on military power.&#10;B) Rests more on the importance of soft power.&#10;C) Cannot account for the rise in importance of a wide variety of non-state actors.&#10;D) Has been proven irrelevant by the collapse of colonialism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Richard Falk, 'Old Geopolitics' is...

Question 12

'Human security' includes which of the following areas?&#10;A) Poverty&#10;B) Disease&#10;C) Environmental degradation&#10;D) All of the answers given are correct.

Accepted Answer

The answer of 'Human security' includes which of the following...

Question 13

Which two approaches operate largely within the same framework with regards to national security?&#10;A) Realism and liberal institutionalism.&#10;B) Constructivism and liberal institutionalism.&#10;C) Neorealism and constructivism.&#10;D) Poststructuralism and neoliberalism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which two approaches operate largely within the...

Question 14

Human security is a contested concept for all of the following reasons except&#8230;&#10;A) Some critics argue that as states have developed, poverty and disease are no longer significant threats.&#10;B) Some critics argue that it widens the boundaries of the meaning of 'security' too much and that it is too vague to have much conceptual value.&#10;C) Some critics believe that the focus on internal conflicts ignores the very dangerous geopolitical changes that are currently taking place in international relations.&#10;D) Some critics argue that it is too moralistic, unattainable, and unrealistic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Human security is a contested concept for...

Deck 15: International and Global Security