Question 1

Policy agenda are t he unintended side effects resulting from choices, such as inflation from runaway government spending, that are not taken into account at the time of the decision.

Accepted Answer

Policy agenda refers to the set of issues that policymakers prioritize and focus on, not unintended side effects of decisions.

Question 2

The history-making individual's model analyzes foreign policy at the state level.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect because foreign policy is typically analyzed at the national level, not the state level.

Question 3

Political efficacy refers to a person's belief in his or her own ability to make effective rational choices.

Accepted Answer

Political efficacy is defined as a person's belief in his or her own ability to participate effectively in political processes and influence the government. This includes being able to make rational choices and decisions regarding political issues.

Question 4

National leaders often describe their foreign-policy-making process as neat, orderly, and rational.

Accepted Answer

National leaders often describe their foreign-policy-making process as neat, orderly, and rational, but in reality, it is often messy, chaotic, and emotional.

Question 5

The more economically developed a state is, the more likely it is to remain  isolationist and to seek to avoid getting involved in disputes outside of its borders.

Accepted Answer

The statement is not necessarily true. Economic development does not always correlate with a state's foreign policy approach. Many economically developed states, such as the United States, are heavily involved in international affairs and have engaged in multiple interventions and conflicts outside of their borders. Conversely, some less-developed states may have a more isolationist foreign policy approach.

Question 6

Complete information regarding the nature of the problem, possible solutions, and projected goals is an essential component of rational decision making.

Accepted Answer

Providing complete information regarding the problem, possible solutions, and projected goals is crucial in making an informed decision. Without knowing the nature of the problem and the available options, it is difficult to make a rational decision. Similarly, setting realistic and achievable goals helps in evaluating the success or failure of the decision. Therefore, complete information is an essential component of rational decision-making.

Question 7

The majority of political scientists consider global conditions to be the most significant of the three categories of influence.

Accepted Answer

Political scientists often consider domestic factors and individual leaders as significant influences alongside global conditions, and there is no consensus that global conditions are the most significant.

Question 8

It is fairly simple to determine which single category explains foreign policy decisions.

Accepted Answer

Foreign policy decisions are complex and are shaped by various factors such as national security interests, economic considerations, ideological beliefs, historical alliances, and public opinion. Therefore, it is unlikely that a single category can fully explain foreign policy decisions.

Question 9

A national crisis is a potent circumstance that increases a leader's control over foreign policy making.

Accepted Answer

National crises often result in the public demanding action and a strong response from their leaders, giving them increased control over foreign policy making. This can be seen in examples such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Question 10

An example of an externality, or unintended consequence, might be deforestation that results from a timber agreement between Canada and the United States.

Accepted Answer

Deforestation is an unintended consequence, or externality, of the timber agreement between Canada and the United States.

Question 11

Robert Putnam's analogy of a two-level game states that policy makers must consider both the domestic factors in formulating foreign policy and the impact of foreign policy on domestic constituencies.

Accepted Answer

Robert Putnam's analogy of a two-level game does indeed state that policy makers must consider both the domestic factors in formulating foreign policy and the impact of foreign policy on domestic constituencies.

Question 12

In general, people tend to prefer change, progress, and uncertainty to the "status quo."

Accepted Answer

In general, people tend to prefer the "status quo" due to a psychological preference for stability and predictability, often fearing the risks and uncertainties associated with change.

Question 13

A description of policy making that sees foreign policy choices based on bargaining and compromises among competing government agencies is called the bureaucratic politics model.

Accepted Answer

The bureaucratic politics model sees foreign policy choices as the result of bargaining and compromises among competing government agencies.

Question 14

One of the key factors in deciding the direction of global politics has been the rise in "bureaucratic politics."

Accepted Answer

Bureaucratic politics refers to the influence of government bureaucracy and administrative processes in the decision-making process of global politics. As bureaucracies have become larger and more complex, their influence on policy-making has increased. Therefore, the rise of bureaucratic politics has been a key factor in shaping global politics.

Question 15

Poliheuristic theory is a  decision-making theory that accounts for process and outcome of decisions through a two-stage analytic model that incorporates cognitive approaches with rational choice expectations.

Accepted Answer

Poliheuristic theory does indeed involve a two-stage analytic model that incorporates cognitive approaches and rational choice expectations.

Question 16

Rational choice theory states that actors will always make the smartest decisions that seems to make the most sense to an outside observer.

Accepted Answer

Rational choice theory posits that actors make decisions based on their preferences and the information available to them, aiming to maximize their utility, not necessarily what seems smartest to an outside observer.

Question 17

The degree with which nations cluster around the powerful nations is known as polarization.

Accepted Answer

Polarization refers to the tendency of nations to align themselves with the most powerful nations in the international system. This can create a clustering effect, with groups of countries forming alliances or partnerships based on their shared interests and values.

Question 18

Game theory is the use of hypothetical situations to help determine standard operating procedures.

Accepted Answer

Game theory is the study of strategic interactions where the outcome for each participant depends on the actions of all involved, not just hypothetical situations for SOPs.

Question 19

Realism assumes that foreign policy making consists primarily of an international actor adjusting to the pressures of an anarchical global system whose essential properties do not vary.

Accepted Answer

Realism views the international system as anarchic and unchanging, with states primarily focused on self-preservation and the pursuit of power. Foreign policy making is seen as a process of managing and responding to external threats and pressures within this context.

Question 20

The bureaucratic decision-making process produces an optimal outcome because it increases efficiency and rationality by assigning responsibility for different tasks to different people.

Accepted Answer

The bureaucratic decision-making process can lead to inefficiencies and suboptimal outcomes due to rigid structures, lack of flexibility, and potential communication breakdowns among different departments.

Quiz 3: Theories of International Decision Making