Question 1

Poststructuralism takes which view of identity and foreign policy?&#10;A) Performative.&#10;B) Performative and mutually constitutive.&#10;C) Rationalist.&#10;D) Mutually constitutive.

Accepted Answer

Poststructuralism views identity and foreign policy as both performative and mutually constitutive, emphasizing that identities are constructed through discourse and practices, and that these identities in turn shape foreign policy decisions.

Question 2

What are the central concepts in poststructuralist philosophy?&#10;A) Discourse, deconstruction, genealogy, and intertextuality.&#10;B) Rational economics.&#10;C) Institutions and cooperation.&#10;D) Discourse, deconstruction, intertextuality.

Accepted Answer

Poststructuralist philosophy focuses on concepts such as discourse, deconstruction, genealogy, and intertextuality, which challenge traditional structures and meanings in texts, social practices, and historical narratives.

Question 3

Why is language central to poststructuralist theory of international relations?&#10;A) Because poststructuralism focuses on local dialects.&#10;B) Because language decides, and communicates reality while also being the medium through which all political actors must legitimate the foreign policies they adopt.&#10;C) Because language solely defines individuals.&#10;D) Because language is the same as discourse.

Accepted Answer

Language is central to poststructuralist theory because it is seen as both constructing and communicating reality, and it is through language that political actors justify their foreign policies. This perspective emphasizes the power of language in shaping our understanding of the world and in the practice of international relations.

Question 4

Poststructuralism views language as&#8230;&#10;A) Entirely value-neutral.&#10;B) A system of unstable dichotomies where certain terms are superior to others.&#10;C) Irrelevant to politics.&#10;D) A system of stable dichotomies.

Accepted Answer

Poststructuralism, particularly through the work of theorists like Derrida, views language as a system of unstable dichotomies (e.g., good/bad, male/female) where certain terms are privileged over others, challenging the idea of fixed meaning in language.

Question 5

According to poststructuralist theory, 'state sovereignty' is&#8230;?&#10;A) A historical concept.&#10;B) A value-neutral concept with an immortal essence.&#10;C) A practice that constitutes identity and authority in a particular manner.&#10;D) The most important political actor in an anarchic world system.

Accepted Answer

Poststructuralist theory argues that concepts like 'state sovereignty' are not fixed or essential, but rather are practices that constitute identity and authority in a particular manner.

Question 6

'Biopower' works at two levels: at the individual level we are told to discipline and control our bodies, and at the collective level we find that governments and other institutions seek to manage whole populations.

Accepted Answer

Biopower, a concept introduced by Michel Foucault, indeed operates on both the individual and collective levels. It involves the regulation of populations through an array of techniques for achieving the subjugations of bodies and the control of populations, highlighting the power over life.

Question 7

According to poststructuralism, foreign policies&#8230;&#10;A) Constitute the identity of the Self through the construction of its Other(s).&#10;B) Should be based solely on self-interest.&#10;C) Are unimportant to international politics.&#10;D) Will revolve around the importance of human rights.

Accepted Answer

Poststructuralism emphasizes the role of discourse in the construction of identity and argues that foreign policies help constitute the identity of a state (the Self) through the construction of its Others. This approach suggests that identities are relational and constructed through differences and oppositions.

Question 8

According to the poststructuralist scholar Judith Butler, identity&#8230;&#10;A) Is irrelevant.&#10;B) Is central to showing how foreign policy will be formed.&#10;C) Is performative and can only be constituted through repeated practices.&#10;D) Is static and independent of practices and surroundings.

Accepted Answer

Judith Butler argues that identity is performative, meaning it is constituted through repeated practices and actions, rather than being a fixed or inherent attribute. This perspective emphasizes the fluidity and constructed nature of identities.

Question 9

According to poststructuralism, 'the global'&#8230;&#10;A) Is a political category, which can be used to replace 'the state'.&#10;B) Is of no concern to international politics.&#10;C) Is the most important political category in international politics.&#10;D) Must be engaged in a way that makes possible to rethink all the complex dichotomies around which it revolves.

Accepted Answer

Poststructuralism emphasizes the complexity and fluidity of global interactions, challenging binary oppositions and advocating for a nuanced understanding of global issues. It suggests engaging with 'the global' in a manner that reconsiders entrenched dichotomies, such as local/global, East/West, or developed/developing, to better understand the interconnectedness and multiplicity of global relations.

Question 10

The events of 9/11 and the subsequent so-called 'war on terror' have:&#10;A) Made the poststructuralist concept of territoriality redundant.&#10;B) Challenged the poststructuralist concept of territoriality but not made them entirely redundant.&#10;C) In some ways shown the concept of territoriality to be redundant but in other ways illustrated a 'return' of the concept of territoriality.&#10;D) Made the concept of territoriality more flexible and in some ways precipitated a 'return' of the concept but has also challenged the poststructuralist conception of the term.

Accepted Answer

The events of 9/11 and the subsequent 'war on terror' have indeed made the concept of territoriality more flexible, as seen in the global nature of terrorism and counterterrorism efforts that transcend traditional territorial boundaries. However, these events have also precipitated a 'return' of the concept, as nations reinforce their borders and assert territorial sovereignty in response to perceived threats. Additionally, these developments challenge the poststructuralist conception of territoriality, which often emphasizes the fluidity and constructed nature of borders and territories, by demonstrating both the enduring significance and the evolving understanding of territoriality in the contemporary geopolitical landscape.

Question 11

Poststructuralism entered the field of international politics in the 1980s.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Poststructuralism entered the field of international politics...

Question 12

Poststructuralism makes a distinction between Foreign Policy and foreign policy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Poststructuralism makes a distinction between Foreign Policy...

Question 13

The inside-outside dichotomy is stabilized by which of the following dichotomies?&#10;A) Peace and war.&#10;B) Reason and power.&#10;C) Order and anarchy.&#10;D) All of the given answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The inside-outside dichotomy is stabilized by which...

Question 14

Compared to constructivists, who adopt a concept of causality as structural pressure, poststructuralists hold that causality conceptualized as such is inappropriate because these structures are constituted through human action.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compared to constructivists, who adopt a concept...

Question 15

Poststructuralism as a theory of international relations is based upon the four concepts of poststructuralist philosophy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Poststructuralism as a theory of international relations...

Deck 11: Poststructuralism