Question 1

Proponents of raison d'&#233;tat argue that the state itself represents a moral force.

Accepted Answer

Proponents of raison d'état, or "reason of state," argue that the state's interests and survival are paramount, often justifying actions that prioritize the state's needs over individual moral considerations, thus viewing the state as a moral force in its own right.

Question 2

The realism that emerged after the end of the Second World War was an entirely new approach with a different set of core assumptions.

Accepted Answer

The realism that emerged after World War II built upon earlier realist ideas, adapting and expanding them to address the new global context and the lessons learned from the war, rather than being an entirely new approach.

Question 3

Realism has been a minor theory of world politics since the beginning of academic international relations.

Accepted Answer

Realism has been a major and foundational theory of world politics since the beginning of academic international relations, emphasizing the role of the state, national interest, and the inevitability of conflict.

Question 4

Offensive realism proposes that the structure of the international system compels states to maximize their relative power position.

Accepted Answer

Offensive realism, a theory in international relations proposed by John Mearsheimer, argues that the anarchic nature of the international system forces states to seek maximum power relative to others to ensure their own survival and security.

Question 5

Structural realists argue that states are more concerned about absolute rather than relative gains.

Accepted Answer

Structural realists, particularly those of the neorealist school, argue that states are primarily concerned with relative gains in power and security rather than absolute gains, as their main interest is in how their power compares to that of other states.

Question 6

Who argued that life in the state of nature, which is similar to the condition of world politics, is 'nasty, brutish, and short'?&#10;A) Machiavelli&#10;B) Thucydides&#10;C) Rousseau&#10;D) Hobbes

Accepted Answer

Thomas Hobbes is the philosopher who described life in the state of nature as "nasty, brutish, and short" in his work "Leviathan." He argued that without a powerful sovereign to impose order, human life would be filled with constant fear and danger from others.

Question 7

The condition/structure of the international system, having no overarching central authority above the individual collection of sovereign states, is known as:&#10;A) Anarchy.&#10;B) Political community.&#10;C) International system.&#10;D) Sovereignty.

Accepted Answer

Anarchy in international relations theory refers to the lack of a central authority above the state. This concept highlights the decentralized nature of international politics, where states operate in a system without a global government.

Question 8

Classical realism represents power politics as a result of:&#10;A) International relations.&#10;B) State sovereignty.&#10;C) Human nature.&#10;D) Anarchy.

Accepted Answer

Classical realism attributes power politics primarily to human nature, emphasizing that the inherent selfishness and competitive nature of humans drive states to seek power and security.

Question 9

In the 'Melian dialogue', the Spartans assert the logic of power politics, while the Athenians respond with arguments invoking justice, the gods, and their allies the Melians.

Accepted Answer

In the 'Melian Dialogue', it is the Athenians who assert the logic of power politics, arguing that might makes right, while the Melians appeal to justice, the gods, and their hope for support from their allies.

Question 10

A branch of modern realism that sees the construction of individual state leaders' perceptions as playing an important role is called:&#10;A) Rational choice realism.&#10;B) Neo-classical realism.&#10;C) Neo-liberalism.&#10;D) Neo-realism.

Accepted Answer

Neo-classical realism incorporates the perceptions and actions of state leaders into the analysis of international relations, emphasizing that these individual perceptions can significantly influence state behavior and the international system.

Question 11

Neorealists define the structure of international system in terms of three elements: organizing principles, differentiation of units, and distribution of capabilities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Neorealists define the structure of international system...

Question 12

Which of the following is not a core assumption of realist thought?&#10;A) Statism.&#10;B) Sovereignty.&#10;C) Survival.&#10;D) Self-help.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is not a...

Question 13

__________ argued that the underlying cause of the Peloponnesian War was 'the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta', which is considered to be the classic example of the impact of the distribution of power on state behaviour.

A) Schweller.
B) Machiavelli.
C) Waltz
D) Thucydides.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ argued that the underlying cause of...

Question 14

Kenneth Waltz argues that the key difference between domestic and international orders is that domestic orders are hierarchical, while the international order is anarchic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kenneth Waltz argues that the key difference...

Deck 8: Realism