Question 1

The condition that results when each state's increase in military capability is matched by the others, resulting in no significant gain in security for any one state, is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The security dilemma describes a situation where the increase in one state's security leads to increased insecurity in others, prompting them to also increase their military capabilities, which in turn makes the original state less secure, creating a cycle of arms build-ups without significantly enhancing the security of any state.

Question 2

Why did some countries call for an explicit ban on AI weapons?

Accepted Answer

AI weapons include machines that have the discretion to take human life, which raises ethical, moral, and accountability concerns, leading some countries to call for an explicit ban.

Question 3

Which of the following states has the highest relative burden of military spending?

Accepted Answer

Saudi Arabia has the highest relative burden of military spending among the options listed. This is measured as a percentage of GDP, and Saudi Arabia consistently ranks among the top countries in the world for military expenditure as a share of its GDP.

Question 4

Variables such as the relative size of a state's economy, its population and territorial size, geographic position, raw materials, and many others can be thought of as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

These variables are indicators of a state's power potential, as they contribute to its overall capacity to influence global affairs and exert power.

Question 5

When describing the trade-off between government expenditures on the military versus social welfare and economic programs, the common adage "guns vs. butter" is used. This situation is referring to which of the following concepts?

Accepted Answer

The "guns vs. butter" model is a classic example of opportunity costs, illustrating the trade-off between a nation's investment in defense and civilian goods.

Question 6

Biological and chemical weapons share which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Biological and chemical weapons are both considered "poor man's atomic bombs" due to their potential for mass destruction at a lower cost than nuclear weapons. They can cause widespread injury and death and are prohibited by various international treaties and laws, reflecting the global consensus on their inhumane nature.

Question 7

What did President Bush advocate for when he argued that the United States "must take the battle to the enemy" and "confront the worst threats before they emerge"?

Accepted Answer

President Bush argued for a preemptive war when he said that the United States "must take the battle to the enemy" and "confront the worst threats before they emerge." A preemptive war is a war that is fought to prevent an enemy from attacking first.

Question 8

Which weak military power managed to prevail over the United States?

Accepted Answer

Vietnam managed to prevail over the United States in the Vietnam War, which lasted from 1955 to 1975. Despite being a weaker military power, North Vietnam and the Viet Cong guerrillas in the South fought a guerrilla war that eventually led to the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Question 9

The capabilities or resources held by a state that are considered necessary to its asserting influence over others is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Power potential refers to the capabilities or resources a state possesses that can be used to exert influence over others.

Question 10

What percentage of the world's military expenditures were the 29 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization responsible for?

Accepted Answer

The 29 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) were responsible for approximately 53% of the world's military expenditures. This high percentage reflects the significant investment in defense by these countries, many of which are among the world's largest economies.

Question 11

Which preventive strategy is designed to dissuade an adversary from doing what it would otherwise do?

Accepted Answer

Deterrence is a strategy aimed at dissuading an adversary from taking an action not yet started by threatening negative consequences. It is about preventing an action through the fear of consequences, rather than compelling them to stop an action already started or to take a specific action.

Question 12

What are the key elements of deterrence?

Accepted Answer

Deterrence relies on the ability to convince potential adversaries that the costs of their actions will outweigh the benefits. This is achieved through a combination of military capabilities, the credibility of the threat to use those capabilities, and clear communication of one's intentions and the consequences of aggression.

Question 13

What is the common criticism of the use of private military companies in warfare?

Accepted Answer

All of these points are common criticisms of private military companies. They are often criticized for lacking adequate monitoring and evaluation, making it difficult to establish corporate liability, and having a potential incentive for armed conflicts to persist due to the nature of their business model.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of an indirect intervention?

Accepted Answer

Broadcasting propaganda in a target country is considered an indirect intervention because it aims to influence or change public opinion or government actions without direct military or physical involvement.

Question 15

Which weapons are sometimes called a "poor man's atomic bomb"?

Accepted Answer

Biological and chemical weapons are sometimes referred to as a "poor man's atomic bomb" because they can cause widespread devastation and loss of life similar to nuclear weapons, but are much cheaper and easier to produce.

Question 16

What is the goal of coercive diplomacy?

Accepted Answer

Coercive diplomacy aims to change the behavior of the target state by altering its calculations of costs and benefits, making it more costly for the state to continue its current behavior than to comply with the coercing state's demands.

Question 17

The term for attacks on an adversary's telecommunications and computer networks with the purpose of degrading an enemy's defense capabilities is known as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Information-warfare tactics specifically refer to operations aimed at disrupting, damaging, or gaining access to an adversary's information systems, which includes attacks on telecommunications and computer networks to degrade an enemy's defense capabilities.

Question 18

From a realist perspective, what is the pervasive concern of states?

Accepted Answer

Realist theory in international relations prioritizes national security as the primary concern of states, emphasizing the importance of survival in an anarchic international system.

Question 19

The United States supplied weapons to the Taliban during the Soviet-Afghan War. Some of these weapons were later used by the Taliban to fight the USU.S. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of blowback, which refers to the unintended consequences, unwanted side-effects, or suffered repercussions of a covert operation that fall back on those responsible for the initial action. In this case, the U.S. support to the mujahideen, some of whom would later form the Taliban, during the Soviet-Afghan War led to unintended consequences when those same groups used their resources against the U.S.

Question 20

Which country is the leading global weapons exporter?

Accepted Answer

The United States is the leading global weapons exporter, accounting for a significant portion of the global arms trade.

Quiz 8: The Pursuit of Power Through Arms and Alliances