Question 1

Proponents of raison d'état argue that the state itself represents a moral force.

Accepted Answer

Proponents of raison d'état, or "reason of state," argue that the state's interests and survival are paramount, often justifying actions that prioritize the state's needs over individual moral considerations, thus viewing the state as a moral force in its own right.

Question 2

The realism that emerged after the end of the Second World War was an entirely new approach with a different set of core assumptions.

Accepted Answer

The realism that emerged after World War II built upon earlier realist ideas, adapting and expanding them to address the new global context and the lessons learned from the war, rather than being an entirely new approach.

Question 3

Realism has been a minor theory of world politics since the beginning of academic international relations.

Accepted Answer

Realism has been a major and foundational theory of world politics since the beginning of academic international relations, emphasizing the role of the state, national interest, and the inevitability of conflict.

Question 4

Offensive realism proposes that the structure of the international system compels states to maximize their relative power position.

Accepted Answer

Offensive realism, a theory in international relations proposed by John Mearsheimer, argues that the anarchic nature of the international system forces states to seek maximum power relative to others to ensure their own survival and security.

Question 5

Structural realists argue that states are more concerned about absolute rather than relative gains.

Accepted Answer

Structural realists, particularly those of the neorealist school, argue that states are primarily concerned with relative gains in power and security rather than absolute gains, as their main interest is in how their power compares to that of other states.

Question 6

Who argued that life in the state of nature, which is similar to the condition of world politics, is 'nasty, brutish, and short'?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Hobbes is the philosopher who described life in the state of nature as "nasty, brutish, and short" in his work "Leviathan." He argued that without a powerful sovereign to impose order, human life would be filled with constant fear and danger from others.

Question 7

The condition/structure of the international system, having no overarching central authority above the individual collection of sovereign states, is known as:

Accepted Answer

Anarchy in international relations theory refers to the lack of a central authority above the state. This concept highlights the decentralized nature of international politics, where states operate in a system without a global government.

Question 8

Classical realism represents power politics as a result of:

Accepted Answer

Classical realism attributes power politics primarily to human nature, emphasizing that the inherent selfishness and competitive nature of humans drive states to seek power and security.

Question 9

In the 'Melian dialogue', the Spartans assert the logic of power politics, while the Athenians respond with arguments invoking justice, the gods, and their allies the Melians.

Accepted Answer

In the 'Melian Dialogue', it is the Athenians who assert the logic of power politics, arguing that might makes right, while the Melians appeal to justice, the gods, and their hope for support from their allies.

Question 10

A branch of modern realism that sees the construction of individual state leaders' perceptions as playing an important role is called:

Accepted Answer

Neo-classical realism incorporates the perceptions and actions of state leaders into the analysis of international relations, emphasizing that these individual perceptions can significantly influence state behavior and the international system.

Question 11

Neorealists define the structure of international system in terms of three elements: organizing principles, differentiation of units, and distribution of capabilities.

Accepted Answer

Neorealists, or structural realists, indeed define the structure of the international system using these three elements: organizing principles (how the system is ordered, such as anarchy), differentiation of units (whether units are considered different or similar in function), and distribution of capabilities (how power is spread across the units).

Question 12

Which of the following is not a core assumption of realist thought?

Accepted Answer

Sovereignty is not exclusively a core assumption of realist thought; it is a principle that underpins the international system at large, recognized across various schools of thought, not just realism. Realism primarily focuses on the concepts of statism (the state as the primary actor), survival (the primary goal of states), and self-help (the necessity for states to rely on their own capabilities for security).

Question 13

__________ argued that the underlying cause of the Peloponnesian War was 'the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta', which is considered to be the classic example of the impact of the distribution of power on state behaviour.

Accepted Answer

Thucydides, the ancient Greek historian, is credited with this analysis of the Peloponnesian War, highlighting the power dynamics between Athens and Sparta as a fundamental cause of the conflict.

Question 14

Kenneth Waltz argues that the key difference between domestic and international orders is that domestic orders are hierarchical, while the international order is anarchic.

Accepted Answer

Kenneth Waltz, in his theory of international relations, posits that a fundamental distinction between domestic and international systems is that domestic systems have a clear hierarchy of authority (a government) that can enforce rules and norms, whereas the international system lacks a central authority to enforce order, making it anarchic.

Quiz 8: Realism