Question 1

Removing trade barriers is a key goal of
A) the International Monetary Fund.
B) the World Trade Organization.
C) the World Bank.
D) the United Nations.
E) non-governmental organizations.

Accepted Answer

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is specifically focused on regulating international trade between nations with the aim of ensuring that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible, which includes efforts to remove or reduce trade barriers.

Question 2

The difference between comparative politics and international relations can BEST be described as
A) the study of comparative politics involves comparing political parties between countries, whereas the study of international relations involves the examination of why wars occur.
B) the study of comparative politics refers only to domestic politics, whereas the study of international relations refers to globalization.
C) the study of comparative politics involves comparing domestic political institutions, processes, and politics in different countries; whereas the study of international relations involves examining the foreign policy of and interactions among different countries.
D) the study of comparative politics involves comparing nations, whereas the study of international relations involves examining international organizations, such as the United Nations or the International Monetary Fund.
E) There is no difference between the two.

Accepted Answer

Comparative politics focuses on the internal politics, political institutions, and conflicts within countries, comparing these aspects across different nations. International relations, on the other hand, deals with the interactions between countries, including diplomacy, war, trade, and foreign policy.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about GDP per capita is CORRECT?
A) It is a good measure for determining which countries are rich (developed) and which are poor (developing).
B) It is the same as GDP according to purchasing power parity.
C) It is the best way to determine the overall size of a country's economy relative to other countries.
D) It is not a factor taken into account in determining the Human Development Index.
E) It is a good measure for determining how environmentally sustainable a country's economy is.

Accepted Answer

GDP per capita is commonly used as an indicator to classify countries as rich or poor, reflecting the average economic output per person. It helps in distinguishing between developed and developing countries by showing the average income level of citizens.

Question 4

One thing highlighted in relation to the countries studied in this text is _____________, which are important historical moments when political actors make decisions that shape institutions and future outcomes.
A) precipitating events
B) critical junctures
C) catastrophic moments
D) crucial points
E) critical crossroads

Accepted Answer

Critical junctures are significant periods in history when decisions made by political actors have long-lasting impacts on institutions and future developments.

Question 5

Globalization
A) blurs the line between the subfields of American politics and comparative politics.
B) is of concern only to those who study international relations.
C) is of no concern to comparativists.
D) makes it easy to distinguish between domestic and international politics.
E) blurs the line between comparative politics and international relations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Globalization
A) blurs the line between the subfields...

Question 6

Political legitimacy exists
A) when the broad citizenry believes that the state exercises rightful authority.
B) when the United Nations recognizes a state.
C) only in democratic political systems.
D) only in consolidated democracies.
E) when voter turnout is particularly high.

Accepted Answer

Political legitimacy is generally understood to exist when the broad citizenry believes that the state exercises rightful authority, reflecting the population's acceptance and recognition of the government's authority.

Question 7

Keynesianism
A) has been the dominant economic approach used by advanced capitalist countries since the 1980s.
B) is a strain of neoliberal economic theory.
C) emphasizes competition and market-friendly economic policies.
D) emphasizes government regulation of the economy.
E) suggests that governments erect trade barriers.

Accepted Answer

Keynesianism emphasizes the role of government intervention in the economy to manage aggregate demand and address economic fluctuations, which is why option D is correct. It does not primarily focus on competition, market-friendly policies, or erecting trade barriers as its core principles, nor is it a strain of neoliberal economic theory. Since the 1980s, neoliberal policies emphasizing deregulation and free markets have been more dominant than Keynesian policies in many advanced capitalist countries.

Question 8

In comparative politics, the term state refers to
A) subnational units of government like Missouri.
B) the total area of a country.
C) the key political institutions in a country.
D) the government in power in a country.
E) a group of people with a common ethnicity.

Accepted Answer

The term state in comparative politics refers to the key political institutions in a country, encompassing the structures of governance and authority, such as the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, rather than subnational units, geographical areas, specific governments, or ethnic groups.

Question 9

A country's executive may include
A) the president.
B) the prime minister.
C) the cabinet.
D) a religious supreme leader.
E) all of these.

Accepted Answer

The executive branch of a country can include various figures and bodies depending on the country's government structure. This can include a president (in presidential systems), a prime minister (in parliamentary systems), the cabinet (which usually consists of the heads of the executive departments, chosen by the president or prime minister), and in some countries, a religious supreme leader (such as in theocratic systems).

Question 10

Institutional design refers to
A) arrangements that define relationships between the various parts of government and between different levels of government.
B) how states are formed.
C) arrangements that define relationships between states and international organizations.
D) different conceptualizations of states used by comparativists.
E) the relationship between markets and the state.

Accepted Answer

Institutional design refers to the arrangements that define relationships between the various parts of government and between different levels of government, focusing on the structure and interconnections within the political system.

Question 11

When we say "if X happens, then Y will result," we are
A) engaging in scientific analysis.
B) utilizing causal theory.
C) stating a hypothesis.
D) stating a relationship between a dependent variable and an independent variable.
E) all of these.

Accepted Answer

This statement encompasses all the given options: it is a form of scientific analysis (A) as it involves examining the cause and effect relationship between variables; it utilizes causal theory (B) by proposing a cause (X) and its effect (Y); it is stating a hypothesis (C) by suggesting a possible outcome based on a condition; and it is stating a relationship between a dependent variable (Y, the outcome) and an independent variable (X, the condition) (D).

Question 12

The process of _______ refers to the historical development of a state.
A) nation building
B) state development
C) state building
D) state formation
E) state creation

Accepted Answer

State formation refers to the historical development and establishment of a state, including its institutions and governance structures.

Question 13

According to your text, globalization includes all of the following EXCEPT
A) increased speed and magnitude of cross-border trade.
B) increased speed and magnitude of cross-border communications.
C) increased cultural diffusion.
D) increased migration of peoples.
E) the global spread of democracy.

Accepted Answer

Globalization encompasses the increased speed and magnitude of cross-border trade, communications, cultural diffusion, and migration of peoples, but it does not inherently include the global spread of democracy. The spread of democracy is a political phenomenon that can be influenced by globalization but is not a direct component of it.

Question 14

2014 can be considered a critical juncture because
A) there was a spike in terrorist incidents targeting the United States.
B) China supplanted the United States as the country with the highest Gross National Product.
C) Russia annexed Crimea and threatened Ukrainian sovereignty.
D) the United States held congressional elections.
E) a number of European regional governments held referendums calling for independence.

Accepted Answer

2014 is marked as a critical juncture primarily due to Russia's annexation of Crimea, which significantly threatened Ukrainian sovereignty and marked a pivotal moment in international relations.

Question 15

Democratic transitions describe a process in which
A) the president of a country resigns from office and is replaced by the vice president.
B) there are elections involving the peaceful transfer of power between political administrations.
C) a democratic country becomes a dictatorship.
D) two countries resolve a conflict by peaceful means rather than by military force.
E) authoritarian governments develop into more participatory and democratic regimes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Democratic transitions describe a process in which
A)...

Question 16

Which of the following statements about collective identities is INCORRECT?
A) It refers to groups with which people identify.
B) It can be based upon gender, race, class, nationality, or religion.
C) It provides the building blocks upon which social and political action is based.
D) It is nonexistent as a factor in homogenous societies like Britain, France, and Germany.
E) It involves issues of inclusion, political recognition, representation, resource allocation, and the ability to shape public policies.

Accepted Answer

Collective identities exist in all societies, including those perceived as homogenous like Britain, France, and Germany. These societies still contain diverse groups with distinct collective identities based on factors such as region, ethnicity, or social class.

Question 17

Comparative politics as a type of methodology
A) dates to the time of Aristotle.
B) was developed only after the Enlightenment.
C) was developed after World War II.
D) first appeared during the Renaissance.
E) is a non-scientific method of analysis.

Accepted Answer

Comparative politics, as a methodology, has its roots going back to the time of Aristotle, who is often credited with being one of the first to systematically compare different political systems and constitutions.

Question 18

To say that we live in a globalized world of states is to say that
A) the United Nations is a world government.
B) there is an interaction between the national and international levels in shaping the politics of states.
C) countries are becoming more alike.
D) international processes are more important than domestic processes in explaining state behavior.
E) there are more countries today than ever before.

Accepted Answer

Globalization involves the interaction between national and international levels, influencing the politics and behaviors of states. This means that what happens within a country is often affected by and can affect international dynamics, but it does not imply that international processes override domestic ones or that the UN acts as a world government.

Question 19

There is a general consensus among comparativists about the value of __________, which focuses on specific features of the political world.
A) middle-level theory
B) rational choice theory
C) grand theories
D) fundamental theories
E) constructivist theories

Accepted Answer

Middle-level theory focuses on specific features of the political world, offering a balance between overly broad theories and highly specific observations. This approach allows for more precise and testable hypotheses about political phenomena.

Question 20

The term political economy refers to
A) how much a country spends on elections.
B) how a country promotes ecologically sound ways to modernize the economy and raise the standard of living.
C) how states and political processes affect the economy and how the economy in turn affects a country's political processes.
D) the global economic system.
E) the ratio of GDP compared to the percentage of voting citizens.

Accepted Answer

Political economy is a study that combines economics and political science to understand how political institutions, the political environment, and the economic system (capitalist, socialist, mixed) influence each other. It looks at how public policy is created and implemented and how it affects economic practices and outcomes.

Quiz 1: Introducing Comparative Politics

Removing trade barriers is a key goal of

The difference between comparative politics and international relations can BEST be described as

Which of the following statements about GDP per capita is CORRECT?

One thing highlighted in relation to the countries studied in this text is _____________, which are important historical moments when political actors make decisions that shape institutions and future outcomes.

Globalization

Political legitimacy exists

Keynesianism

In comparative politics, the term state refers to

A country's executive may include

Institutional design refers to

When we say "if X happens, then Y will result," we are

The process of _______ refers to the historical development of a state.

According to your text, globalization includes all of the following EXCEPT

2014 can be considered a critical juncture because

Democratic transitions describe a process in which

Which of the following statements about collective identities is INCORRECT?

Comparative politics as a type of methodology

To say that we live in a globalized world of states is to say that

There is a general consensus among comparativists about the value of __________, which focuses on specific features of the political world.

The term political economy refers to