Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a part of a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are not a part of a bureaucracy. Bureaucracy refers to the administrative branches of government responsible for implementing policies, and interest groups are organizations formed outside of government that aim to influence policy-making. The other options - leader of a country, military leadership, intelligence agency, and diplomatic corps - are all examples of government bureaucracies.

Question 2

What action did the Arbenz government take in 1954 that the United Fruit Company opposed?

Accepted Answer

The Arbenz government took control of lands held by the United Fruit Company in 1954, which was opposed by the company. This was known as the Agrarian Reform Law, which aimed to distribute unused or underutilized land to peasant farmers in the country. The United Fruit Company, which held a significant amount of land in Guatemala, was one of the main beneficiaries of the previous government's land policies and was therefore directly affected by the law. This, in turn, led to the company's involvement in the CIA-backed coup that overthrew the Arbenz government in 1954.

Question 3

What is an interest group?

Accepted Answer

An interest group is a group of individuals that shares a common interest or goal and works together to achieve policies that benefit the group's members. These groups can be formed by businesses, organizations, or individuals, and they engage in lobbying and other forms of advocacy to influence public policy.

Question 4

In 1982,what event changed popular discontent in Argentina into widespread support for the government?

Accepted Answer

In 1982, Argentina's military government ordered an invasion of the Falkland Islands, a British territory in the South Atlantic. The war ended in Argentine defeat, but the initial military success of the invasion led to a surge in nationalism and popular support for the government.

Question 5

Why did Argentina attack the Falklands/Malvinas Islands?

Accepted Answer

The Argentine government expected that taking control of the islands would improve its ability to stay in power.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of a national interest?

Accepted Answer

National interest refers to the interests of a country as a whole, rather than the interests of a particular group or individual. Maintaining economic growth is an example of a national interest because it benefits the entire country, rather than just one sector or group.

Question 7

Why was the war between Argentina and Britain over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands surprising?

Accepted Answer

The British had signaled a lack of commitment to the islands shortly before the war, and Argentina did not expect the British to fight over the territory. The surprise was that despite this seeming lack of commitment, the British did choose to defend the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, leading to a military conflict.

Question 8

War could further the particularistic interests of all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

War may benefit political leaders, ethnic lobbies, the military, and business lobbies, but it rarely benefits the general public. War often results in significant loss of life, widespread destruction, and economic turmoil for ordinary citizens.

Question 9

How does the overthrow of the Arbenz government in Guatemala illustrate the problem of collective action?

Accepted Answer

The overthrow of the Arbenz government involved the intervention of a small group, United Fruit, which stood to benefit greatly from the removal of Arbenz and the installation of a friendlier government. The costs of this intervention were spread among taxpayers, who had no incentive to act collectively to prevent it. This illustrates the problem of collective action, where a small group is able to achieve its goals by exploiting the collective action problems of a larger group.

Question 10

Kashmir is a contested territory on the border of which two rival states?

Accepted Answer

Kashmir is a disputed region on the border of India and Pakistan. Both countries claim the territory in its entirety, but each controls only a part of it. The conflict over Kashmir began in 1947 when India and Pakistan gained independence from Britain.

Question 11

Countries that restrict competition in elections such that one party is almost assured of victory are considered:

Accepted Answer

Countries that restrict competition in elections, preventing parties from competing fairly and freely, are considered nondemocratic. This is because one of the fundamental principles of a democracy is the ability of citizens to choose their leaders through free and fair elections. Without this, the government is not truly representative of the will of the people.

Question 12

Which of the following explanations of the United States' wars with Iraq relies on a particularistic interest explanation?

Accepted Answer

This explanation specifically mentions the interests of U.S. oil companies as the driving force behind the wars with Iraq.

Question 13

What is the unitary state assumption?

Accepted Answer

The unitary state assumption treats states as single entities with coherent interests, simplifying the analysis of international relations by assuming states act as unified actors.

Question 14

What is a bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

A bureaucracy refers to the different organizations that carry out governance in the state. It includes government agencies, departments, and other institutions that perform administrative and regulatory functions. It is a hierarchical organization with specialized roles and procedures.

Option A is incorrect because the size of an agency does not define a bureaucracy.

Option C is incorrect because formal organizations that exist outside of the state are not considered a bureaucracy.

Option D is incorrect because an entrenched interest group refers to a private organization that seeks to influence government policies and decision-making.

Option E is incorrect because creating laws or deciding what is legal is the responsibility of the legislative and judicial branches of government, respectively.

Question 15

Which of the following would be considered an interest group in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The Cuban American National Foundation is a private interest group advocating for a specific policy goal, which in this case is increased democracy in Cuba. The other options listed are not interest groups, but rather governmental or advisory bodies. The National Security Council, the Department of State, and the Pentagon are all agencies within the executive branch of government that provide information and advice to the president. The Iraq Study Group was a panel appointed by the government to prepare a report on a specific issue, but it is not an interest group in and of itself.

Question 16

The two largest wars in human history-World War I and World War II-were fought in part between neighboring rivals who have since become close allies,as both countries have also become more democratic.This country pair is:

Accepted Answer

France and Germany were rivals who fought in both World War I and II. However, the two countries have since become close allies, with both becoming more democratic, as mentioned in the statement. The other options are incorrect: A) France and the United Kingdom were allies in both World Wars, B) Germany and Russia were on opposite sides in both World Wars and have not become close allies, D) China and Russia did not fight in either of the World Wars, and while they have a current political alliance, they are not neighboring rivals, E) China and India did not fight in either World War and are not neighboring rivals.

Question 17

Why did Britain react so strongly to the Argentine attack on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands?

Accepted Answer

The British public strongly opposed Argentina's attack on the Falklands and supported Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's aggressive response, leading to a strong reaction from Britain.

Question 18

Why is it important to examine the interests of state leaders when attempting to explain the likelihood of war?

Accepted Answer

Leaders have the power to make foreign policy decisions, but can be influenced by other actors. Therefore, examining a leader's interests is important in understanding the likelihood of war.

Question 19

Why would Dwight Eisenhower warn the American people about the military-industrial complex?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why would Dwight Eisenhower warn the American...

Question 20

The following statements are all consistent with realism EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Realism emphasizes the importance of territory, and its control and protection by the state. Therefore, the statement that "territory is less important in the era of the Internet" is inconsistent with this perspective.

Quiz 5: Domestic Politics and War