Question 1

What foreign policy philosophy contends that the motivating factor of a nation's international decision-making process is (or should be) that nation's own interests?

Accepted Answer

Realism contends that a nation's international decision-making process should be motivated by self-interest, specifically in terms of power and security. Realists argue that states should prioritize their own national interests above all else, and that international relations is ultimately a struggle for power among states.

Question 2

Idealists might favor action against the Syrian government because they believe the United States is morally obligated to protect innocent civilians from violence and to uphold human rights.

Accepted Answer

Idealists prioritize morality and human rights, and therefore may support action against governments that violate these principles, such as the Syrian government's actions against civilians.

Question 3

The U.S. policy of containment during the Cold War represented the United States' attempt to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. policy of containment during the Cold War was a strategy to prevent the spread of communism, whereas the Monroe Doctrine was a policy stating that the U.S. would not tolerate European colonization or interference in the Western Hemisphere.

Question 4

U.S. antiterror actions that are not coordinated with other nations are an example of:

Accepted Answer

Unilateral action refers to actions taken by one nation without the cooperation or coordination of others. In this case, U.S. antiterror actions that are not coordinated with other nations are an example of unilateral action.

Question 5

The United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, and the United States serve on the United Nations Security Council.

Accepted Answer

This is true, these five countries are the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Question 6

What foreign policy philosophy contends that the United States' best interests are served by avoiding formal agreements and activity with other nations?

Accepted Answer

Isolationism is a foreign policy philosophy that advocates for avoiding formal agreements and activity with other nations. It is based on the belief that the United States' best interests are served by staying out of international affairs and focusing on domestic issues. This philosophy was especially prevalent in the interwar period between World War I and World War II, but has also emerged at other times in American history.

Question 7

The efforts of the "Six Powers" to negotiate limits with Iran on its nuclear program is an example of a unilateral action.

Accepted Answer

A unilateral action refers to a decision or action taken by one party without consulting or involving others. However, the negotiations between the "Six Powers" and Iran involved multiple parties and therefore cannot be classified as a unilateral action.

Question 8

The rise of internationalism as a guiding principle in U.S. foreign policy can be seen in U.S. efforts to create the United Nations in 1945.

Accepted Answer

The creation of the United Nations represents a shift towards international cooperation and collaboration, which aligns with the principle of internationalism in foreign policy.

Question 9

Invading Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 attacks is an example of the Bush Doctrine.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Invading Afghanistan in response to the 9/11...

Question 10

The United States' operating on its own to target and kill Osama bin Laden is an example of a unilateral action.

Accepted Answer

Unilateral action is when a country takes independent action without consulting or seeking support from other countries. In this case, the US carried out the operation to target and kill Osama bin Laden without seeking assistance from other countries.

Question 11

What foreign policy philosophy contends that it is in the United States' best interests to pursue foreign relations with other nations out of both self-interest and a moral obligation to intervene during international crises?

Accepted Answer

Internationalism is the foreign policy philosophy that suggests the U.S. should engage with other nations for both self-interest and moral reasons, especially during international crises.

Question 12

The difference between the foreign policies of President George W. Bush and President Obama is that Bush acted as a realist while Obama acted as an idealist.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. George W. Bush's foreign policy was largely influenced by idealism, especially in the context of the War on Terror and the spread of democracy. Obama's foreign policy, on the other hand, was characterized by a mix of realism and multilateralism.

Question 13

Interest groups play a very small role in foreign policy because foreign governments are prohibited from lobbying.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups can and do play a role in foreign policy by advocating for their preferred policies to government officials, the media, and the public. While foreign governments are prohibited from directly lobbying in the United States, they can still work through interest groups and other channels to influence foreign policy. Additionally, many interest groups focus on international issues and may have expertise and resources that can inform foreign policy decisions.

Question 14

The National Security Council primarily assists the U.S. Congress by keeping the legislative branch informed of national security threats.

Accepted Answer

The National Security Council primarily assists the President of the United States in matters of national security and foreign policy. While they may provide briefings to members of Congress, their primary responsibility is to advise the President.

Question 15

Foreign policy includes issues that concern human rights.

Accepted Answer

Foreign policy often includes issues related to human rights, such as advocating for the protection of basic freedoms, addressing humanitarian crises, and promoting democratic values.

Question 16

Isolationists favored the war in Iraq because the United States was attempting to maximize its own economic and national security interests.

Accepted Answer

Isolationists typically do not favor foreign military intervention and prioritize staying out of foreign conflicts. Therefore, it is unlikely that they would have favored the war in Iraq.

Question 17

An internationalist would support U.S. efforts to provide humanitarian aid to people in a foreign nation engulfed in a civil war, even if other nations were unwilling to help.

Accepted Answer

An internationalist believes in promoting cooperation and collaboration among nations, and supporting humanitarian aid to people in need is consistent with this belief.

Question 18

Numerous nations have coordinated their efforts to deter pirate attacks against civilian shipping. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Multilateral action refers to the coordination of efforts and resources by multiple nations towards a common goal. In this case, the goal is to deter pirate attacks against civilian shipping, which involves the participation of multiple nations. Unilateral action, on the other hand, would involve one nation acting independently without the cooperation of others. Isolationism, containment, and détente are not relevant in this context.

Question 19

An example of how trade policy can influence foreign policy occurred in the 1990s when the Clinton administration bestowed "most-favored-nation" status on China in exchange for China's willingness to moderate its human rights policies.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The granting of most-favored-nation status (now called Permanent Normal Trade Relations) was a key part of the U.S. trade policy towards China at the time, and was seen as an incentive for China to improve its human rights record. This decision also had a significant impact on U.S.-China relations and influenced foreign policy towards China.

Question 20

Between 1945 and the Vietnam War, architects of U.S. foreign policy primarily had an isolationist viewpoint.

Accepted Answer

Between 1945 and the Vietnam War, the architects of U.S. foreign policy did not have an isolationist viewpoint. In fact, they pursued an active foreign policy aimed at containing the spread of communism and promoting democratic values around the world. This policy was known as the Truman Doctrine and was later continued by other presidents, such as Eisenhower and Kennedy.

Quiz 17: Foreign Policy