Question 1

What does the term state mean in international relations? What are the characteristics of a state? Why and how have nation-states been important in the history of international relations?

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Many were convinced that under President George W. Bush, the U.S. saw itself as above the international community and was willing to rely on its military power to achieve its ends.

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects a common perception during the Bush administration's foreign policy.

Question 3

U.S. foreign policy during most of the nineteenth century was isolationist.

Accepted Answer

U.S. foreign policy during most of the nineteenth century was indeed isolationist, meaning that the country avoided involvement in foreign conflicts and focused on internal development. This changed in the late 1800s with the Spanish-American War and the country's growing global interests.

Question 4

With the defeat of Hitler and Mussolini, fascism disappeared as a political ideology.

Accepted Answer

While the defeat of Hitler and Mussolini did lead to the decline of fascism as a political force, it did not entirely disappear as an ideology. There are still far-right extremist groups today that embrace fascist ideology.

Question 5

The war on terrorism pitted the United States not against a particular country but an enemy who could be anywhere.

Accepted Answer

The war on terrorism was a war against non-state actors and insurgent groups who were not confined to a particular country, making it difficult for the United States to identify a specific enemy location.

Question 6

What are isolationism, interventionism, internationalism, and preemption and what roles have they played in the history of U.S. foreign policy?

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

What is the nature of national power? What are the sources of national power? How and why is national power limited? What recent examples show how the will of the United States is limited by social and cultural conventions?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

Since World War I, the three most prevalent ideologies have been fascist, democratic capitalist, and communist ideology.

Accepted Answer

These three ideologies have been dominant since the post-World War II era and continue to shape global politics today. While there were fascist and communist regimes in power during World War I and its aftermath, democratic capitalist ideology did not become as widespread until later.

Question 9

In the world community how do sovereign states maintain their security? What are the differences between the balance of power and the theory of complex interdependence?

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

After World War II, the balance of power was between a Western bloc (U.S. led) and an Eastern bloc (U.S.S.R. led).

Accepted Answer

This is true. After World War II, the world was divided into two major power blocs: the Western bloc, which was led by the United States, and the Eastern bloc, which was led by the Soviet Union. The two blocs were in a state of political and economic tension, known as the Cold War, which lasted until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Question 11

The state is the institution empowered to conduct international relations for its citizens.

Accepted Answer

This is a basic definition of the role of the state in international relations.

Question 12

The election of Barack Obama in 2009 brought a shift towards unilateral foreign policy and continued preemption.

Accepted Answer

The statement is false as Barack Obama's foreign policy was characterized by a shift towards multilateralism and a cautious approach to preemption.

Question 13

In the U.S. government, the president has little control of diplomacy.

Accepted Answer

The president has a significant role in shaping and implementing diplomacy of the United States through the State Department and other agencies. As the head of state, the president has the authority to negotiate treaties, enter into agreements with foreign countries, and appoint ambassadors.

Question 14

The U.S. president can declare war.

Accepted Answer

Only Congress has the power to declare war under the U.S. Constitution, although the President can direct military action in certain situations.

Question 15

Why and how do geography and ideology affect foreign policies of sovereign states? What is geopolitics? What three ideologies have been most important in twentieth century international relations? Where in the world can examples of these ideologies can be found?

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 18: International Political Relations