Question 1

Grand strategy is an evolution of strategy away from a narrow focus on victory in war towards ______&#10;A) a geographically-based understanding of strategy.&#10;B) a set plan for the future.&#10;C) a much broader, more long-term vision that is essentially political in nature.&#10;D) a greater understanding of the political implications of geographic space.

Accepted Answer

Grand strategy involves a broader and more long-term vision that goes beyond just winning wars. It is essentially political in nature and involves a focus on achieving overall national goals and objectives.

Question 2

Geopolitics and grand strategy are academic theories rather than practical political concepts.

Accepted Answer

Geopolitics and grand strategy are not just academic theories, but they are also practical political concepts that are used by governments and other international actors to shape their foreign policies and actions. These concepts help governments to understand the broader international landscape, identify potential threats and opportunities, and formulate strategies to achieve their goals and protect their interests.

Question 3

According to Stefanie Ortmann and Nick Whittaker in chapter 17 of Strategy in the Contemporary World, which phenomenon highlighted the importance of geographical factors?&#10;A) The establishment of the nation-state&#10;B) The Industrial Revolution&#10;C) Great power war&#10;D) Imperial expansion

Accepted Answer

Imperial expansion highlighted the importance of geographical factors because it involved the acquisition of new territories and the control of resources, which were often located in different geographical regions.

Question 4

Who coined the quote, 'Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; Who rules the Heartland commands the World Island; Who rules the World Island commands the World'?&#10;A) Friedrich Ratzel&#10;B) Halford Mackinder&#10;C) Alfred Thayer Mahan&#10;D) Rudolph Kiellen

Accepted Answer

The quote is attributed to Halford Mackinder, a British geographer and politician, who presented the Heartland Theory in his paper "The Geographical Pivot of History" in 1904.

Question 5

According to Stefanie Ortmann and Nick Whittaker in chapter 17 of Strategy in the Contemporary World, who coined the term 'grand strategy'?&#10;A) Alfred Thayer Mahan&#10;B) Basil Liddell Hart&#10;C) Halford Mackinder&#10;D) Edward Mead Earle

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Stefanie Ortmann and Nick Whittaker...

Question 6

Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski were responsible for rehabilitating which idea(s) in US academic and policy circles?&#10;A) Grand strategy&#10;B) Geopolitics&#10;C) Grand strategy and geopolitics&#10;D) None of the other answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Henry Kissinger and Zbigniew Brzezinski were responsible...

Question 7

What is driving the current surge of interest in geopolitics and grand strategy?&#10;A) Russia's renewed challenge to the Western-led order&#10;B) Europe's increasing withdrawal from effective foreign affairs&#10;C) The rise of China and the relative economic decline of the United States&#10;D) The growing importance of African natural resources

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is driving the current surge of...

Question 8

Classical geopolitical thought links territory to power and sees world politics as a competition between the most powerful states.

Accepted Answer

Classical geopolitical thought, as developed by scholars such as Halford Mackinder and Nicholas Spykman, emphasizes the importance of territory in securing power and influence in international politics. This perspective sees states as constantly competing with one another for territorial control and resources, and views the world as a dynamic and often violent arena of power struggles.

Question 9

What is a danger of not having a grand strategic framework?&#10;A) Policy will be based more upon short-term pressures.&#10;B) Biases will remain unexamined.&#10;C) Policy will be based more upon short-term pressures and biases will remain unexamined.&#10;D) None of the other answers is correct.

Accepted Answer

Without a grand strategic framework, policy decisions are likely to be made based on short-term needs and pressures rather than long-term goals and objectives. Additionally, biases may go unexamined and lead to suboptimal outcomes. Therefore, having a grand strategic framework is essential for making well-informed and effective policy decisions.

Question 10

Geography is a fixed and immutable factor in world affairs. Its influence on international politics is not affected by technological change.

Accepted Answer

While geography does play a significant role in international politics, technological advancements have significantly increased the speed and ease of transportation and communication, making it possible for countries to overcome physical barriers in ways that were not possible before. This has impacted the way states interact with each other, as well as the emergence of new global issues that were not present in the past. Therefore, technology has had an impact on the role of geography in international politics.

Deck 16: Geopolitics and Grand Strategy, Stephanie Ortmann and Nicholas Whittaker