Question 1

Realists argue that states' concern with relative gains will undermine international cooperation.What do they mean by this?

Accepted Answer

Realists argue that states are primarily concerned with their own security and power, and therefore are hesitant to engage in cooperation that may result in their partners benefiting more, thus gaining an advantage over them in the future. This focus on relative gains can undermine international cooperation, even when there is potential for mutual gain.

Question 2

Constructivist theory has

Accepted Answer

Constructivist theory emphasizes the importance of social norms, ideas, and practices in shaping reality, rather than inherent material structures or fixed meanings. It does not directly address questions of sovereignty and citizenship, and it is not a unified or substantive theory in the sense of providing clear prescriptions or predictions.

Question 3

Many liberal theories believe that ________ and ________ can reduce the likelihood of war.

Accepted Answer

Liberal theories suggest that democracies are more inclined towards peaceful outcomes because democratic institutions promote greater transparency and accountability, thereby reducing the likelihood of leaders engaging in aggressive actions. Free trade, on the other hand, fosters greater economic interdependence between nations, making conflict more costly and less appealing. Therefore, the combination of democracy and free trade is believed to further reduce the likelihood of war.

Question 4

Realists argue that states are focused on relative gains because

Accepted Answer

Realists argue that states are focused on relative gains because they believe that a relative loss, even if absolute gains were made, makes them more vulnerable to attack. Therefore, their priority is to ensure that they do not fall behind their competitors in military or economic power, rather than achieving absolute gains through cooperation.

Question 5

The fact that India's development of nuclear weapons made Pakistan less secure,leading it to pursue nuclear weapons as well,illustrates

Accepted Answer

The situation described exemplifies the security dilemma, in which the actions of one country to increase its security at the expense of another's security can actually lead to increased insecurity overall. India's development of nuclear weapons made Pakistan feel less secure, prompting it to pursue its own nuclear weapons as a means of ensuring its safety. This cycle of escalation is a classic example of the security dilemma. The other choices listed do not adequately capture the dynamics at work in this situation.

Question 6

The fact that the European Union provides an institutional framework that creates an expectation of continued interactions among its member states is a reason

Accepted Answer

Neoliberal institutionalists argue that international institutions promote cooperation between states, and the institutional framework of the EU is likely to create a norm of cooperation among its member states. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

Question 7

Following the U.S.invasion of Iraq in 2003,Libya's choice to abandon its efforts to acquire nuclear,chemical,and biological weapons in order to hedge against potential aggression from the United States is an example of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Following the U.S.invasion of Iraq in 2003,Libya's...

Question 8

That individuals are rational and capable of collective action that can help moderate or eliminate aggression is one of the central tenets of the foundations of ________ thinking.

Accepted Answer

The belief in rationality and collective action as means to moderate or eliminate aggression is a key element of liberal thinking, which emphasizes the importance of individual freedom and the role of institutions in promoting cooperation and conflict resolution. Marxist thinkers emphasize historical materialism and the struggle between social classes, while realists posit that international relations are driven by power and self-interest. Constructivists view international relations as shaped by ideas, norms, and identities rather than material factors alone.

Question 9

The idea that informal meetings,such as the one between heads of state Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at Merkel's country retreat in 2017,can help to foster cooperation between those states is an argument consistent with ________.

Accepted Answer

The concept of complex interdependence stresses the importance of informal interactions and non-state actors in promoting cooperation and reducing conflict between states. The informal meeting between the heads of state of Germany and India at Merkel's country retreat exemplifies this concept. The democratic peace theory suggests that democracies tend not to fight each other, while the Beijing and Washington Consensus relate to economic policy and development.

Question 10

The idea that aggression by one state would be countered by automatic and joint reaction by other states is known as

Accepted Answer

The concept of collective security involves states joining together to provide mutual defense against aggression by any one state. This collective response is intended to deter potential aggressors and promote peace and stability. Bandwagoning refers to a state aligning with a more powerful state in the hopes of sharing in its benefits, while balancing power involves states seeking to maintain a balance of power among themselves. Rollback refers to the policy of seeking to reverse the gains of an adversary through military force. None of these concepts fully capture the idea of automatic and joint reaction to aggression that is central to collective security.

Question 11

The foundations of liberalism lies in the idea that

Accepted Answer

The foundations of liberalism lie in the belief that human beings are rational and social creatures, capable of creating institutions to cooperate and solve collective problems. The emphasis is on individual liberty and rationality, with the belief that institutions and cooperation can enhance both.

Question 12

What differentiates liberalism and neoliberal institutionalism?

Accepted Answer

Liberalism and Neoliberal institutionalism differ in their beliefs about what causes states to cooperate. Liberalism believes that cooperation is driven by shared values, norms, and institutions, while neoliberal institutionalism argues that cooperation is driven by self-interest and the creation of international institutions to manage and facilitate cooperation. The other options do not capture the key difference between these two approaches.

Question 13

Democratic peace theory argues that

Accepted Answer

Democratic peace theory specifically posits that democracies are unlikely to engage in armed conflict with other democracies, rather than making broader claims about the peacefulness of democracies in general or their relationships with non-democratic states.

Question 14

The liberal theorists with a "bottom-up" view of international politics believe

Accepted Answer

The "bottom-up" view of international politics emphasizes the importance of domestic society and actors in shaping state behavior. States' actions are seen as representing only a subset of domestic society, which includes non-governmental organizations, individuals, and interest groups. This view emphasizes the role of civil society and grassroots movements in promoting international cooperation and resolving conflicts.

Question 15

When the United States supported China to exert leverage over the Soviet Union and supported Pakistan to offset India's growing power,this was an example of carrying out a policy based on the idea of ________.

Accepted Answer

The policy of supporting China to exert leverage over the Soviet Union and supporting Pakistan to offset India's growing power is a classic example of power balancing. Power balancing involves aligning with weaker states to balance or counter the power of stronger states, in order to create a more stable international system. In this case, the United States was trying to balance the power of the Soviet Union and India, respectively, by supporting their weaker rivals.

Question 16

According to realists,forming alliances with other states is

Accepted Answer

Realists believe that forming alliances with other states is a rational decision because it allows states to pool resources and increase their power and security. Realists also argue that states are motivated by self-interest and the pursuit of power, so forming alliances to enhance their power is a logical strategy.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of the liberal perspective?

Accepted Answer

Liberal theories often acknowledge that while cooperation is possible and desirable, it is not guaranteed to always occur due to various factors such as differing interests and power dynamics.

Question 18

Which theory argues that the amount of peace and war in the international system depends on the distribution of power in the system?

Accepted Answer

Neorealism, also known as structural realism, asserts that the international system is inherently anarchic, meaning that there is no global authority and every state pursues its self-interest. Neorealists argue that the level of peace or conflict in the international system is highly dependent on the distribution of power among states. They suggest that if power is equally balanced, then there is a lesser chance of conflict, but if power is highly concentrated in one state or group of states, then there is a greater likelihood of war.

Question 19

Iraq's forced retreat and surrender to the U.S.-led coalition after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait is an illustration of

Accepted Answer

The forced retreat and surrender of Iraq after the invasion of Kuwait supports the defensive realists' argument that few wars benefit the states that start them. This is because Iraq started the war, but ultimately ended up losing territory and suffering economic sanctions as a consequence.

Question 20

The idea that institutions such as the League of Nations and the United Nations will significantly change international politics is a product of ________ thinking.

Accepted Answer

The idea that institutions such as the League of Nations and the United Nations will significantly change international politics is a product of liberal thinking, which suggests that international cooperation and institutions can help to promote mutual interests and resolve conflicts peacefully. Realists, on the other hand, tend to be skeptical of the effectiveness of such institutions, emphasizing instead the importance of power and self-interest in international relations. Constructivists focus on the role of ideas and norms in shaping international politics, while dependency theorists analyze international relations through the lens of global inequality and economic exploitation.

Quiz 3: International Relations Theories