Question 1

German reunification took place in October 1990. This refers to the reunification of:

Accepted Answer

German reunification refers to the reunification of East Germany and West Germany, which took place in October 1990. The other options are incorrect as they do not refer to the correct countries involved in the process of reunification.

Question 2

Portugal, Spain, and Greece experienced transitions to democracy in which decade?

Accepted Answer

Portugal had a peaceful transition to democracy in 1974, Spain had a transition to democracy in the late 1970s after the death of Franco, and Greece had a transition to democracy in 1974 after a period of military dictatorship.

Question 3

South Korea experienced a transition to democracy in which decade?

Accepted Answer

South Korea experienced a transition to democracy in the 1980s, specifically in 1987. Prior to this, the country had been ruled by military dictatorships.

Question 4

Chile, Brazil, and Uruguay experienced transitions to democracy in which decade?

Accepted Answer

Chile transitioned to democracy in the late 1980s, Brazil in the mid-1980s, and Uruguay in the early 1980s. Therefore, the correct answer is option B, which represents the 1980s.

Question 5

The noninterventionist policy of which Soviet leader was instrumental in the democratic transitions of 1989 across much of Eastern Europe?

Accepted Answer

Mikhail Gorbachev's noninterventionist policy, or the "Sinatra Doctrine," allowed the countries of Eastern Europe to pursue their own paths towards democratization without fear of Soviet intervention. This led to the peaceful transitions of power in countries such as Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia in 1989.

Question 6

The "velvet revolution" is a reference to the peaceful democratic transition in:

Accepted Answer

The "velvet revolution" is a term used to describe the peaceful overthrow of the communist government in Czechoslovakia in 1989. This revolution led to the establishment of a democratic government and the eventual split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Romania's transition to democracy in 1989, on the other hand, was marked by violent uprisings and the overthrow of longtime dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Question 7

The violent repression of citizens protesting in favor of democracy in Tiananmen Square in June 1989 occurred in which country?

Accepted Answer

The violent repression of citizens protesting in favor of democracy in Tiananmen Square in June 1989 occurred in China.

Question 8

Which country invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to prop up a Communist government against Islamic rebels (who were funded at the time by the United States)?

Accepted Answer

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support a Communist government against Islamic rebels who were funded by the United States.

Question 9

According to recent studies of attempts to externally impose democracy on a country by using military force, there is very little evidence, if any, to support the claim that such intervention increases the level of democracy in the target countries.

Accepted Answer

Recent studies indicate that there is very little evidence to show that externally imposed democracy through military force increases the level of democracy in the target country.

Question 10

Some politicians like to refer to cases in which the United States intervened successfully in order to establish democracy; Japan and West Germany after WWII are the favorite examples. However, according to the recent empirical research discussed in Chapter 8 (on democratic transitions), evidence shows that although attempts at the external imposition of democracy may promote some democratic-seeming reforms in the short run, they ultimately produce political instability in the target countries and are unlikely to lead to a stable democracy.

Accepted Answer

The text states that recent empirical research discussed in Chapter 8 shows that attempts at the external imposition of democracy may promote some democratic-seeming reforms in the short run, but ultimately produce political instability in the target countries and are unlikely to lead to a stable democracy.

Question 11

The introduction of elections, legislatures, and parties in many dictatorships around the world is a sign that these countries are definitely moving toward democracy.

Accepted Answer

Although the introduction of elections, legislatures, and parties may be a step toward democracy, it does not necessarily mean that the country has become fully democratic. These institutions can be manipulated or controlled by the ruling party or individuals, and true democratic values such as freedom of speech and a free press may still be lacking. Therefore, it is important to consider other factors such as the level of political participation, human rights protections, and the independence of the judiciary in assessing a country's democratic status.

Question 12

Public goods are, by their nature, desirable. Thus, anyone who would benefit from such a good can be expected to contribute to its provision.

Accepted Answer

While public goods are desirable, the free-rider problem exists, meaning that people may choose not to contribute to its provision because they can still benefit from it without paying.

Question 13

Collective action theory indicates that individuals will automatically act collectively to achieve their goals whenever they share common interests (such as wanting to listen to NPR, protect environmental resources, or promote democracy).

Accepted Answer

Collective action theory suggests that individuals may face obstacles to acting collectively, such as free-riding (benefiting from the collective action without contributing to it) or coordination problems (difficulty in organizing group action). Therefore, collective action is not automatic, but requires strategic efforts to overcome these obstacles.

Question 14

Say you belong to a group that has fifty members (N), and in order to get a particular benefit (B. you need fifteen members (K) to contribute. Those who contribute to the provision of the benefit pay a cost (C). Of course, B > C.
-If you know that 10 members of the group (aside from yourself) are willing to contribute, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Say you belong to a group that...

Question 15

Say you belong to a group that has fifty members (N), and in order to get a particular benefit (B. you need fifteen members (K) to contribute. Those who contribute to the provision of the benefit pay a cost (C). Of course, B > C.
-If you know that 45 members of the group (aside from yourself) are willing to contribute, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

Given that 45 members are already willing to contribute, the requirement of 15 members to contribute for the benefit to be provided is already met. Therefore, you can enjoy the benefit without contributing, avoiding the cost.

Question 16

Say you belong to a group that has fifty members (N), and in order to get a particular benefit (B. you need fifteen members (K) to contribute. Those who contribute to the provision of the benefit pay a cost (C). Of course, B > C.
-If you know that 14 members of the group (aside from yourself) are willing to contribute, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

Since B > C, it is likely that the benefit is worth more than the cost. Additionally, if 14 members are already willing to contribute, then only one more member is needed to reach the required 15. By contributing, you can help ensure that the group receives the benefit and potentially strengthen the cohesion of the group. It is also possible that not contributing could create resentments within the group. Therefore, it is better to contribute in this scenario.

Question 17

When groups are small enough that members can monitor each other's behavior, solving the free-rider problem becomes:

Accepted Answer

In small groups where members can easily monitor each other's behavior, it is easier to identify and sanction free-riders, making it easier to solve the free-rider problem.

Question 18

Collective action theory suggests that minority groups may actually be more powerful than majority groups in some circumstances. This might explain why business lobbies are usually considered to be more effective at influencing political elites than trade unions are.

Accepted Answer

Collective action theory proposes that minority groups may have an advantage in mobilizing resources and exerting pressure on decision-makers, particularly when they are more cohesive and committed than the majority. This suggests that business lobbies, which often represent a small but wealthy and influential group of individuals, can have significant power to shape policies and regulations. Trade unions, on the other hand, may face more challenges in mobilizing members and sustaining collective action, which can limit their effectiveness in influencing political elites.

Question 19

Collective action theory helps explain why:

Accepted Answer

Collective action theory suggests that individuals are less likely to participate in protests if they believe their participation will not make a difference or if the costs outweigh the benefits. During most of the Cold War, the risks of protesting in Eastern Europe were high, and the perceived impact was low, leading to rare protests.

Question 20

Imagine the following 10-person society featuring the threshold sequence
Α = {0, 1, 2, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10}.
What would happen in this society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Imagine the following 10-person society featuring the...

Quiz 7: Democratic Transitions