Deck 1: Issues in Comparative Politics

Question 1

The process of economic development can be seen in the changing labor force of a country.This change is a transition from

A)an industrial to agrarian economy.
B)an agrarian to industrial economy.
C)an industrial to advanced industrial economy.
D)both B and C

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Political scientists study decisions that are:

A)voted on by the people.
B)private.
C)difficult to make.
D)public and authoritative.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The public sphere deals with collective decisions beyond the control of individuals; as such,the public sphere would tend to be the most extensive in which types of states?

A)liberal-democratic states
B)constitutional states
C)laissez-faire states
D)totalitarian states

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Creating a national identity is considered the least problematic in a country in which

A)the people do not share common physical traits.
B)the people share several common languages.
C)the people share a common history but not a common religion.
D)the people share a common history,language,and religion.

Question 5

Which of the following states are most likely to foster and promote civil liberties and civil rights?

A)totalitarian states
B)democratic states
C)authoritarian states
D)fascist states

Question 6

Strictly speaking,political scientists use the term nation to refer to:

A)the borders surrounding a country.
B)the land claims of a given nation.
C)a group of people with a common identity.
D)all of the above

Question 7

The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau believes that:

A)only people unfettered by government can form bonds that allow them to develop their full human potential.
B)people need the guidance of government to develop their full human potential.
C)under the system of government,all people will be treated equally.
D)democracy holds the key to allow people to develop to their full human potential.

Question 8

Libertarians see society as composed of

A)collections of individuals.
B)individual human beings with fundamental human rights.
C)communities of people who are equal.
D)individuals who do not accept the rights to property.

Question 9

Current trends in democratization show

A)a slight halt to the process in recent years.
B)a reverse in democratization since 1990.
C)democracy continuing to spread rapidly in the 2000s.
D)that transitions to democracy have become easier.

Question 10

In 2006,UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette said that a country can boost its economic productivity by

A)empowering women and girls around the globe.
B)reducing armed conflict between states.
C)increasing international trade.
D)reducing the price of exports.

Question 11

Which of the following is or was considered a multinational state?

A)Germany
B)The Soviet Union
C)Japan
D)Mexico

Question 12

The core of politics is

A)money.
B)power.
C)decision making.
D)corruption.

Question 13

While economic development can be a partial solution to many countries' needs,it can also lead to the following:

A)an unequal distribution of resources among the rich and poor.
B)an economic benefit to only particular regions of a country.
C)economic success for particular social groups.
D)all of the above

Question 14

Authoritarian political systems can take the form of:

A)oligarchies.
B)totalitarian systems.
C)democracies.
D)both A and B

Question 15

All of the following are public goods EXCEPT

A)public parks.
B)clean air.
C)food products.
D)national defense.

Question 16

When states and nations do not coincide,the result is often

A)political conflict.
B)economic development.
C)democracy.
D)a stronger political culture.

Question 17

A politically defined community within which political decisions take place is called a(n)

A)political system.
B)autocracy.
C)authority pattern.
D)democracy.

Question 18

Governments have to create public goods because even though all may not contribute to creating them,

A)minorities may be prevented from enjoying them.
B)all may enjoy them equally.
C)access can be limited to those who can afford them.
D)all may have to pay the price for their negative effects on the environment.

Question 19

Most discussions of globalization focus on its economic impact,but globalization can also have an important impact on:

A)social and political institutions.
B)wealthy countries.
C)poorer countries.
D)reducing the price of exports.

Question 20

Gross National Income (GNI)refers to

A)the overall output of the economy,including imports and exports.
B)the value of imports minus exports.
C)the relative price levels and cost of living across states.
D)the measure of national affluence.

Question 21

Demographic characteristics and the distribution of income and wealth greatly affect decisions in a political system.

Question 22

Government-created private gains are difficult to change or abolish once they have been established,because some people enjoy government jobs,contracts,or other favors.

Question 23

Ethnic groups are typically defined by common physical traits,languages,cultures,or history.

Question 24

Libertarians see the greatest problem of government as its encroachment on individual freedoms.

Question 25

All democracies guarantee and protect human rights and civil liberties to all their people.

Question 26

Research demonstrates that economic development improves the equality of income.

Question 27

Religious fundamentalism has emerged in some form in all major faiths,often in reaction to social modernization.

Question 28

When nations and states do not coincide,the result is often political conflict.

Question 29

In order to foster economic development,states need to develop a skilled and healthy labor force.

Question 30

The terms nation and state both refer to the self-identification of a people.