Question 1

Realism is important to study because it continues to guide much of the scholarly thought regarding international relations.

Accepted Answer

Realism remains a dominant perspective in international relations scholarship and is influential in shaping policy decisions. Understanding realism is important for analyzing and predicting global events and responses to them.

Question 2

Constructivism is the study of how the global system is constructed or managed.

Accepted Answer

Constructivism is a theory in international relations that emphasizes the role of social constructs, such as ideas, norms, and identities, in shaping the international system, rather than focusing solely on material factors.

Question 3

A theory is a scholarly idea that is doubted and not observable.

Accepted Answer

A theory is a scholarly idea that is supported by evidence and observations, not doubted and is observable.

Question 4

One major liberal criticism of the realist school of thought is realism's neglect of nonstate actors, which liberals argue have become major players in the international system.

Accepted Answer

Liberals argue that realists focus too much on states and their power and ignore the influence and actions of nonstate actors such as multinational corporations, international organizations, and civil society groups.

Question 5

Consequentialism is an approach to evaluating moral choices on the basis of the results of the action taken.

Accepted Answer

Consequentialism is a moral theory that judges whether an act is right or wrong based on the results or consequences of the action. It holds that the morality of an action depends on the outcome or the consequences it generates, rather than any intrinsic features of the act itself.

Question 6

Balance of power theory posits that when all states are seeking to maximize their own power, no single superpower or hegemon will be able to control the world.

Accepted Answer

Balance of power theory suggests that in a multipolar system, no single state or coalition of states can achieve complete dominance or control over other states. This is because other states will band together and seek to counterbalance the power of any state or coalition that becomes too powerful or aggressive.

Question 7

Liberalism believes that global politics is primarily a zero-sum game.

Accepted Answer

Liberalism believes in the possibility of mutual gains and cooperation in global politics through international institutions and diplomacy. It sees global politics as positive-sum game rather than zero-sum game.

Question 8

Vladimir I. Lenin maintained that advanced capitalist states would eventually cause wars as a result of the twin problems of overproduction and underconsumption.

Accepted Answer

Lenin's theory of imperialism and the necessity of war was based on the idea that in advanced capitalist states, overproduction and underconsumption would lead to competition for markets and resources, which would eventually result in wars of aggression.

Question 9

Liberal feminism is a category of feminism that sees women as experiencing a very different reality from that of men, and consequently holding a different perspective on international affairs.

Accepted Answer

Liberal feminism focuses on achieving gender equality through political and legal reform within the current system, rather than emphasizing different realities or perspectives between genders.

Question 10

Liberals believe that intergovernmental institutions have no power to constrain state behavior, and states will only join these institutions when it is in their own self-interest.

Accepted Answer

Liberals believe that intergovernmental institutions can have some power to constrain state behavior, and that states may join these institutions for reasons beyond just their own self-interest, such as promoting democracy or human rights.

Question 11

Feminist theory rejects the "idea that theorizing is 'objective'" for a more "perspective approach" to analyzing global politics.

Accepted Answer

Feminist theory emphasizes that knowledge and understanding are shaped by social and cultural perspectives and experiences, and therefore, rejects the notion of objectivity in theorizing about global politics. Instead, feminists advocate for a more diverse and inclusive approach to analyzing politics, one that highlights the experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups, such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and other minority groups.

Question 12

Realist theory of international relations is a very recent idea; there is very little historical basis for the concept of "power politics."

Accepted Answer

The concept of power politics has a long historical basis, dating back to ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome. Realist theory of international relations, on the other hand, emerged in the 20th century as a response to the idealism of the interwar period.

Question 13

Constructivism is a paradigm based on the premise that world politics is a function of the ways that states construct and then accept images of reality and later respond to the meanings given to power politics; as consensual definitions change, it is possible for either conflictual or cooperative practices to evolve.

Accepted Answer

This is an accurate definition of constructivism as a paradigm in international relations theory.

Question 14

Constructivists tend to have an optimistic outlook on world politics, with a cooperative view of human nature and a belief in progress.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Constructivists tend to have an optimistic outlook...

Question 15

When states agree that an act of aggression by any state will be met by a collective reaction from all other states, this is known as the security dilemma.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. When states agree to collective action against aggression by any state, it is known as collective security, not the security dilemma. The security dilemma refers to the paradoxical situation where states' efforts to increase their own security lead to greater insecurity for all, as each state's actions may be perceived as a threat by others.

Question 16

The liberal school of thought supports globalization, commerce, and free trade as a way to promote peace and diplomacy.

Accepted Answer

The liberal school of thought believes that economic interdependence and cooperation through globalization, commerce, and free trade can promote peace and diplomacy between nations.

Question 17

Those who espoused what is called classical realism include writers such as Morgenthau and Niebuhr.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Both Hans Morgenthau and Reinhold Niebuhr are considered to be influential figures in the development of classical realism.

Question 18

Dependency theory is the policy of expanding state power through the conquest and/or military domination of foreign territory.

Accepted Answer

The definition provided for dependency theory is incorrect. Dependency theory is an economic theory which states that the economic development of a country is influenced by its relationship with developed countries and the global economic system, and that developing countries are dependent on developed countries and exploited by them.

Question 19

Liberal reforms after World War I stressed the ideal of self-determination, which meant that the states that lost the war were allowed to determine whether or not to continue to have standing armies.

Accepted Answer

Self-determination referred to allowing ethnic groups to form their own independent states, not the decision to have standing armies.

Question 20

Realism is based in the assumption that states are unitary actors that seek their own self-interest in an anarchical international system.

Accepted Answer

Realism is based on the idea that states are the primary actors in the international system and they prioritize their own self-interest in a world without a global government or authority to enforce rules or norms.

Quiz 2: Interpreting World Politics Through the Lens of Theory