Question 1

The main impetus for the establishment of IR as a discipline was&#8230;&#10;A) the rise of liberal internationalism in the early twentieth century.&#10;B) the First World War.&#10;C) the Treaty of Versailles.&#10;D) the League of Nations.

Accepted Answer

The main impetus for the establishment of IR as a discipline was the First World War. The devastation caused by the war led scholars to seek an understanding of why states go to war and how to prevent future conflicts. This led to the development of IR as a field of study. While the rise of liberal internationalism, the Treaty of Versailles, and the League of Nations were all important factors in the post-World War I political landscape, they were not the driving force behind the creation of IR as a discipline.

Question 2

Hugo Grotius was an early liberal thinker who argued&#8230;&#10;A) that the legitimacy of actions in the international sphere can be judged in the light of universal moral standards.&#10;B) that no universal moral standards are available to judge right action in any sphere.&#10;C) that the domestic and international spheres should be treated as totally separate when judging moral actions in each.&#10;D) that self-preservation is a universal right that can be pursued by every individual as they see fit.

Accepted Answer

Hugo Grotius believed that the legitimacy of actions in the international sphere can be judged in the light of universal moral standards. He believed in the concept of natural law, which holds that there are certain moral principles that are inherent in human nature and can be discovered through reason. This belief led him to argue that states had an obligation to respect the rights of other states and individuals in their pursuit of self-preservation.

Question 3

A major theme that unites liberal thinkers, and which distinguishes them from realists, is a pessimistic view of human nature.

Accepted Answer

Liberal thinkers generally have an optimistic view of human nature, believing in the potential for progress and cooperation, which distinguishes them from realists who often have a more pessimistic view, emphasizing conflict and competition.

Question 4

Liberal institutionalism expresses a faith in which of the following? Select all that apply.&#10;A) The capacity of international institutions to ameliorate the negative effects of anarchy.&#10;B) The human capacity to make positive progress through creating social institutions at both national and international levels.&#10;C) The inherent inability of humans to construct institutions which guarantee peace on a permanent basis.&#10;D) The tendency for humans to sacrifice long-term interests for short-term gains.

Accepted Answer

Liberal institutionalism expresses a belief in the capacity of international institutions to reduce the negative effects of anarchy and in the potential for humans to create social institutions at both national and international levels to make positive progress. It does not express a belief in the inherent inability of humans to construct institutions that guarantee peace on a permanent basis or a tendency for humans to sacrifice long-term interests for short-term gains.

Question 5

The principle of self-determination has several nuances that include which of the following? Please select all that apply.&#10;A) The right of revolution against an unjust political order.&#10;B) The quest of a nationalist movement to secure political autonomy, including an act of secession to form a new nation state.&#10;C) The right of citizens to determine their own government.&#10;D) A guarantee of the universality of civil and political rights.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The principle of self-determination has several nuances...

Question 6

Which of the following reflects purely liberal institutionalist ideas?&#10;A) The United Nations&#10;B) The League of Nations&#10;C) The Treaty of Versailles&#10;D) The Treaty of Sevres

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following reflects purely liberal...

Question 7

How does realism purport to describe the world? Please select all that apply.&#10;A) As it ought to be rather than how it actually is.&#10;B) How it ought to be when human nature is taken into account.&#10;C) In terms which see anarchy as inevitable.&#10;D) How it actually is rather than how it ought to be.

Accepted Answer

Realism describes the world as it actually is, focusing on the inevitability of anarchy and power struggles in international relations, rather than how it ought to be.

Question 8

Why is the Melian Dialogue taken as a classic statement in realist thought?&#10;A) It illustrates the primacy of power politics in relations between states.&#10;B) It highlights the importance of moral considerations in relations between states.&#10;C) It suggests that relations between states are essentially immoral in character.&#10;D) It reflects the triumph of justice over pragmatism.

Accepted Answer

The Melian Dialogue illustrates the dominant role of power in international relations, as the stronger Athens demands submission from the weaker Melians, demonstrating the realist idea that states act in their own self-interest and pursue power to ensure their survival.

Question 9

The political thought of Machiavelli is regarded as pragmatic and amoral.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The political thought of Machiavelli is regarded...

Question 10

The political thought of Thomas Hobbes is regarded as integral to the classical realist tradition because it&#8230; (Please select all that apply)&#10;A) Posits an anarchic state of nature that is constant through time and space.&#10;B) Takes immorality as an essential characteristic of the state of nature.&#10;C) Recognizes that only a sovereign power can enforce genuine order.&#10;D) Insists that security is achieved though the pursuit of self-interest.

Accepted Answer

Hobbes's political thought, as articulated in his work "Leviathan," posits an anarchic state of nature where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" (A), necessitating the establishment of a sovereign power to enforce order and prevent the return to the state of nature (C). He also argues that in the pursuit of self-preservation, individuals in the state of nature act out of self-interest, which leads to the conclusion that security can only be achieved through such pursuits (D). While Hobbes does describe the state of nature as a place of conflict, he does not specifically characterize it as immoral (B); instead, he views it as a rational response to the conditions of scarcity and fear.

Question 11

E. H. Carr regarded classical realism as a failure because it took insufficient account of the positive aspects of human nature and the quest for power in international affairs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of E. H. Carr regarded classical realism as...

Question 12

The pluralist approach adopted by some members of the English School of IR placed an emphasis on&#8230;&#10;A) Cultural differences between states.&#10;B) Cultural similarities between states.&#10;C) Cultural transformations in international society.&#10;D) The elimination of cultural factors in international politics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The pluralist approach adopted by some members...

Question 13

The idea of complex interdependence is a key aspect of which of the following?&#10;A) Neoliberal thought&#10;B) Neorealist thought&#10;C) English School thought&#10;D) Classical liberal thought

Accepted Answer

The answer of The idea of complex interdependence is a...

Question 14

Neorealism plays down the importance of structure in the international sphere and emphasizes instead the creative interaction of domestic and international political dynamics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Neorealism plays down the importance of structure...

Deck 14: Traditional Theories in Global Politics