Deck 5: Power, Politics, Conflict, and Violence

Question 1

What does Anite's narrative about her illness suggest about her attitude toward biomedicine?

A) Biomedicine is only effective if implemented early.
B) Hospitals in Haiti are understaffed, leading to a rejection of biomedicine.
C) There are many possible causes and cures for illness.
D) Opinions of medical doctors are more important than those of other medical experts.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

How does Farmer's account of structural violence differ from violence as seen on the news or in film?

A) Structural violence is rare, therefore difficult to depict.
B) Structural violence is perpetuated by the membership of a social order rather than by an individual actor.
C) Structural violence results in the deterioration of roads, bridges, and hospitals.
D) The concept of structural violence is less important in the study of oppression.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The current levels of poverty in Haiti can be traced back as far as:

A) The 20^th century, when Haiti was economically dependent on the United States.
B) The 19^th century, when Haiti was economically dependent on France.
C) The forced payment of reparations from Haiti to former slave owners.
D) Slavery and the colonization of Haiti.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

How was AIDS first introduced to Haiti?

A) By migrant workers arriving from Africa.
B) Through sex tourism from America.
C) Through intravenous drug use in poor neighborhoods.
D) In contaminated blood introduced by international aid organizations.

Question 5

Which of the following is not ethnographically visible within Haiti?

A) Increased disease rates-including HIV and tuberculosis.
B) Deterioration of the public health system.
C) Loss of productive agricultural land.
D) International demands for loan repayments.

Question 6

Neoliberalism can be defined as:

A) A model of the social order that champions unhindered market forces as the most effective means toward achieving economic growth and guaranteeing social welfare.
B) A new attitude of social permissiveness that encourages liberal social values.
C) An increase in government-sponsored programs for social welfare.
D) A social order that relies on redistribution of wealth, heavy taxation, and a loosening of traditional morality.

Question 7

A business model that celebrates diversity by dedicating each day of the week to a particular commodified identity group is referred to as:

A) Gender equity.
B) Neoliberal multiculturalism.
C) Engaged consumerism.
D) Identity politics.

Question 8

Puerto Rican migration to Florida has been driven by:

A) Dominance of good-paying entry-level jobs in Florida.
B) A desire to preserve traditional Puerto Rican culture.
C) U.S. economic domination and exploitation of Puerto Rico.
D) The increasing number of nightclubs in Puerto Rico.

Question 9

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has been used in Congress as a tool to:

A) Protect LGBTQ+ individuals from violence.
B) Allow contractors to discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals.
C) Neither a nor b.
D) Both a and b.

Question 10

The systematic ways in which the political and economic organization of our social world harms or disadvantages certain individuals or populations is called:

A) Explicit racism.
B) Subconscious racism.
C) Structural violence.
D) Symbolic violence.

Question 11

There is no convincing evidence that humans in general have a biological drive for war. Among humans:

A) Males are more biologically prone to violence than females.
B) Males are more biologically prone to aggressive behavior.
C) There is no solid evidence that males are biologically inclined to be more violent or aggressive.
D) Male aggressiveness parallels behaviors seen in chimpanzees.

Question 12

Which of these is a reason why war went from rare to commonplace around the world?

A) The rise of ancient states projected militarism deep into their peripheries and along trade routes.
B) Increases in sedentism and population density.
C) Western expansion since the late 15^th century.
D) All of the above.

Question 13

Ferguson argues that a scientific understanding of war:

A) Is not possible, since war is chaotic and varies in its causes.
B) Is possible, since it stems from a basic need for aggressiveness.
C) Is possible, since wars can be traced to the self-interests of decision makers.
D) Is not possible, since we never know in advance when a war will start.

Question 14

In terms of opposing groups, war:

A) Is the result of deep-seated binary oppositions between groups.
B) Creates and stabilizes opposing groups.
C) Is almost always the result of exactly two opposing groups.
D) Is the product of social groupings, not the cause of those groups.

Question 15

In contrast to war, peace is best defined as:

A) The absence of war.
B) A set of institutions, values, and behaviors that reject violence and support equality.
C) The presence of peacekeeping troops to prevent hostility.
D) An impossible condition, since humans are naturally warlike.

Question 16

What is one result of Dr. McNamara's work in an engineering laboratory?

A) She is able to publish more frequently than she would in academia.
B) Her collaborators learn and collaborate in ethnographic study methods.
C) She is exposed to a multidisciplinary team from whom she learns new methods and techniques.
D) Her work is less likely to gain attention within academia.

Question 17

Agency is the ability of humans to make decisions that influence the world around them. In terms of violence, what is more important-social, political, and cultural structures or the individual agency of humans? Select a position and support that position using the text.

Question 18

Many of the problems we face in the world today have roots in the history of colonialism. Based on this section, describe two issues that have resulted in part or whole from colonialism. Be sure to support your points with evidence from the text.

Question 19

Systems of power are interwoven with structural violence. Give three examples of power imbalances leading to structural violence. Cite evidence from the text to support your examples.

Question 20

Define militarism. How is militarism connected to violence within the domestic civilian sector?

Question 21

Ferguson argues that humans are not innately (biologically) destined toward warfare. Assuming that he is correct, what practical steps might anthropologists take to help reduce warfare?