Question 1

In October 1950,the Chinese government warned the United States that crossing the 38th parallel on the Korean peninsula would lead to a Chinese intervention on behalf of North Korea.What type of deterrence is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Extended deterrence refers to a country's use of its military power to protect the security of its allies. In this case, China was warning the United States that any action that threatened North Korea could lead to a Chinese military intervention to protect their ally. This warning serves as an example of extended deterrence.

Question 2

Which of the following is an explanation for Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990?

Accepted Answer

Iraq invaded Kuwait because Kuwait was pumping more oil than the limit to which it had agreed, which decreased the price for Iraq's oil.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of deterrence?

Accepted Answer

Deterrence refers to the use of threats to prevent an adversary from taking a certain action. Option B is an example of deterrence because the United States is threatening to attack Iran in order to deter it from developing nuclear weapons. Options A, C, and D do not fit the definition of deterrence. Option A describes sanctions, which are a form of punishment rather than a threat. Option C is an example of coercion, where one side seeks to manipulate the actions of another by the use of force. Finally, option D is an example of a military action, rather than a threat, which is the characteristic of deterrence.

Question 4

A state's resolve is determined by:

Accepted Answer

A state's resolve is determined by the amount of resources it is willing to devote to its war effort. A state with high resolve will be more willing to dedicate significant resources to achieve its objectives, while a state with low resolve may be more likely to give up or surrender. Winning in the end may contribute to a state's resolve, but it is not the determining factor. The superiority of armaments and quality of military leadership can influence the outcome of the war, but do not necessarily determine a state's level of resolve.

Question 5

Which is the best definition of total war?

Accepted Answer

Total war is a concept in which a state mobilizes its entire military and economic resources towards a war effort. This means that all aspects of society, including civilians, are involved in the war effort. Examples of total wars include World War I and World War II, where entire populations were mobilized and economies geared towards the war effort. Choices B, C, and D do not fully capture the essence of total war.

Question 6

A risk-return trade-off is the idea that:

Accepted Answer

The risk-return trade-off refers to the fact that states want to minimize the chance of war but also want to get the best deals they can in order to advance their own interests. This means that they must balance the potential risks of conflict with the potential rewards of achieving their goals, and make strategic decisions based on this trade-off.

Question 7

If a state has incomplete information,it could refer to:

Accepted Answer

Incomplete information in a state could refer to uncertainty about an opponent's capabilities, which could create doubts about their intentions and thus lead to cautious decision-making in terms of military strategy.

Question 8

Which of the following explains the decline in interstate conflict?

Accepted Answer

International institutions have helped states overcome important bargaining problems, such as resolving disputes and setting rules for behavior between states. This has helped to reduce the likelihood of interstate conflict. The other options are not sufficient explanations for the decline in interstate conflict.

Question 9

In the case of the threat by the United States to attack Afghanistan in 2001,the status quo was:

Accepted Answer

Before the United States threatened to attack Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban controlled Afghanistan. This was the status quo or the existing state of affairs at that time.

Question 10

The United States did not believe China would intervene in the Korean War because:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The United States did not believe China...

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of compellence?

Accepted Answer

Compellence is the use of threats or force to get another country to take a certain action. In this case, the United States threatening Cuba to remove Soviet missiles is an example of compellence. Option A is an example of territorial dispute, B is an example of interventionism, and D is an example of deterrence.

Question 12

Why might the spread of democracy lead to an overall decline in war?

Accepted Answer

The transparency of democratic institutions can help reduce uncertainty about a state's resolve. By making information about policies, decision-making processes, and capabilities more publicly accessible, democratic institutions can increase the predictability of state behavior. This can help reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings or misinterpretations between states, which can sometimes lead to war.

Answer: D
 Democracies are more likely to bargain with rogue regimes. This is because democratic leaders tend to prioritize diplomatic engagement and compromise over the use of military force. By engaging with states considered to be rogue or hostile, democracies can help reduce tensions and build trust over time. This can lower the risk of conflict, as states are less likely to resort to war if they perceive that peaceful solutions are possible. However, it is worth noting that democracies are not immune to conflict, and some scholars argue that democratic transitions can actually increase the risk of war in the short term due to political instability and uncertainty.

Question 13

Resolve is difficult to measure because it depends on:

Accepted Answer

Resolve is a measure of a state's willingness to pay and take risks in order to achieve a particular goal. This makes option B the best choice as it directly addresses this aspect of resolve. Option A may contribute to a state's military capabilities, but it does not necessarily determine resolve. Option C and D are not directly related to resolve as they focus on trust and deception, respectively.

Question 14

What is a credible threat?

Accepted Answer

A credible threat is a threat that the target of the threat truly believes will be carried out. In other words, it is a threat that is perceived as authentic and capable of being realized, rather than an empty or hollow threat.

Answer: D 
 A credible threat is also sometimes defined more broadly as a threat that could potentially be carried out, even if it is not necessarily likely to be implemented. This definition includes both realistic and fanciful threats, so long as they have some degree of plausibility. However, choice A is more specific and accurate in its definition.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about compellence is true?

Accepted Answer

Compellence refers to the use of threats or force to change the status quo or behavior of another actor. It is different from deterrence, which is an effort to preserve the status quo by threatening to use force. Option B is incorrect because compellence does not necessarily involve international mediation. Option D is incorrect because it refers to the enforcement of existing commitments rather than an attempt to change the status quo.

Question 16

During the Cuban missile crisis,the United States put nuclear missile crews on alert and took other advanced steps to prepare for war.This is an example of what?

Accepted Answer

Brinksmanship is defined as the use of risky actions or tactics to secure a desired outcome. The actions taken by the United States during the Cuban missile crisis, including placing nuclear missile crews on alert and preparing for war, can be seen as an example of brinksmanship as they were taking a risky approach to force the Soviet Union to remove their missiles from Cuba.

Question 17

Why is it difficult to make a threat of attack seem credible to an opponent?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it difficult to make a...

Question 18

How is extended deterrence different from general deterrence?

Accepted Answer

General deterrence is the threat of using military force to prevent an adversary from taking certain actions, while extended deterrence applies to a state's allies rather than the state itself. It involves the use of the state's military capabilities to not only protect itself but also provide a security umbrella to its allies, to deter potential aggression against them. Therefore, option C is the correct choice. Options A, B and D are not relevant to the difference between extended deterrence and general deterrence.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about deterrence is true?

Accepted Answer

Deterrence is a strategy that attempts to preserve the status quo by threatening to use force, rather than changing it. The other choices listed (B, C, and D) all involve some attempt to change the status quo or gain compliance from other actors, which is not the primary goal of deterrence.

Question 20

How did incomplete information cause Kuwait to make a mistake when Iraq threatened to attack in 1990?

Accepted Answer

Kuwait underestimated Saddam Hussein's willingness to wage war, leading them to not make sufficient concessions to avoid conflict.

Quiz 3: Why Are There Wars