Question 1

When the United States supported China and Pakistan to exert leverage over the Soviet Union and to offset India's growing power, respectively, this was an example of carrying out a policy based on the idea of ________.

Accepted Answer

Power balancing refers to the strategy of supporting weaker states to balance the power of stronger or potentially threatening states. In this scenario, the United States supported China and Pakistan to balance the power of the Soviet Union and India, respectively.

Question 2

Iraq's forced retreat and surrender to the U.S.-led coalition after invading Kuwait is an illustration of

Accepted Answer

Iraq's forced retreat and surrender illustrate defensive realists' argument that few wars benefit the states that start them. Saddam Hussein's ill-fated invasion of Kuwait resulted in his defeat and subsequent deposition, which harmed Iraq's reputation and left the country in a weaker position than before. Defensive realists contend that states should avoid offensive wars because they are more likely to bring disadvantageous results than positive ones.

Question 3

Which of the following do liberals think aids peace?

Accepted Answer

Liberals believe that international institutions such as the United Nations and the International Criminal Court aid peace by providing a platform for diplomatic negotiations and facilitating cooperation among nations. Options A and B are not typically associated with liberal beliefs, and while power balancing (option E) may be utilized by liberals, it is not considered a distinct mechanism for peace. Additionally, bandwagoning (option D) is not typically associated with peace in liberal thought.

Question 4

The radical perspective places emphasis on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The radical perspective places emphasis on economic class conflict and how it shapes international relations. This perspective argues that the global system is divided between the wealthy few who control the means of production and the impoverished many who are exploited for their labor. Therefore, understanding global politics requires an analysis of how economic class structures impact international politics. Options A, B, C, and E are not central to the radical perspective.

Question 5

Which theory argues that the amount of peace and war in the international system depends on the distribution of power in the system?

Accepted Answer

Neorealism, also known as structural realism, argues that the distribution of power in the international system is a key factor in determining whether peace or war will prevail. This theory suggests that states seek to maximize their power and security, which can lead to competition and conflict with other states. According to neorealism, a balance of power between states is necessary to maintain stability and prevent war.

Question 6

International institutions are important to neoliberal institutionalists in that they

Accepted Answer

According to neoliberal institutionalists, international institutions provide a framework for ongoing interactions between states, which facilitates cooperation on economic and political issues. They do not necessarily sidestep disagreements caused by economic competition or overthrow governments, and human rights are not their main focus. While institutions may help maintain alliances, this is not the primary reason for their importance.

Question 7

That human nature is basically good and that people can cooperate to affect social progress are basic tenets of

Accepted Answer

The belief that human nature is good and that people can work together for progress is a core aspect of liberalism, which emphasizes individual rights, democracy, and the potential for cooperation and collective action to improve society. Marxism and radicalism tend to emphasize conflict and class struggle, while nationalism and realism focus on power, self-interest, and competition.

Question 8

Realists argue that states' concern with relative gains will undermine international cooperation. What do they mean by this?

Accepted Answer

Realists argue that states are primarily concerned with relative gains, meaning they care about how much power or advantage they have in relation to other states. Therefore, they may be reluctant to cooperate even if it is mutually beneficial because their partners may come out with a greater share of the gains, giving them more power and potentially using it against them in the future. This fear of relative loss undermines international cooperation.

Question 9

What lesson do neoliberal institutionalists learn from the prisoner's dilemma?

Accepted Answer

Neoliberal institutionalists learn from the prisoner's dilemma that if states confront each other repeatedly, they find it is in their self-interest to cooperate. The prisoner's dilemma demonstrates that cooperation can be achieved through repeated interactions and the establishment of institutions that promote trust and reduce the temptation to defect. Therefore, neoliberal institutionalists advocate for the creation of international institutions such as the United Nations to facilitate cooperation between states.

Question 10

Which of the following is associated most closely with realist thinking?

Accepted Answer

Realist thinking emphasizes the importance of power and security, and thus places great importance on balancing power between states to prevent any one state from becoming too dominant. This is reflected in the concept of the balance of power. Cooperation, free trade, international institutions, and class conflict are concepts more associated with other schools of thought in international relations.

Question 11

Democratic peace theory argues that

Accepted Answer

Democratic peace theory specifically posits that democracies are less likely to engage in war with one another, not that they are inherently peaceful or less likely to go to war in general.

Question 12

Neoliberal institutionalists argue that international actors cooperate with each other not because they are innately good, but rather because

Accepted Answer

Neoliberal institutionalists believe that states are rational actors who pursue their self-interest. Therefore, international actors cooperate with each other when it is in their self-interest to do so. This is the best answer because it aligns with the core of neoliberal institutionalist theory.

Question 13

According to radical thinking, history is

Accepted Answer

Radical thinking emphasizes the importance of history in understanding present-day events.

Question 14

According to neorealists, which two factors make cooperation among states difficult?

Accepted Answer

Neorealists argue that states are primarily concerned with increasing their relative power in relation to other states, rather than absolute gains. This creates a disincentive for cooperation, as states are wary of giving up resources or advantages that could potentially strengthen their competitors. Additionally, neorealists argue that the lack of effective international institutions to enforce agreements and prevent cheating further undermines the potential for cooperation among states.

Question 15

The idea that aggression by one state would be countered by automatic and joint reaction by other states is known as

Accepted Answer

The idea of collective security proposes that aggression by one state would result in automatic and joint countermeasures by other states in the collective. The overall objective of collective security is to deter aggression and prevent the recurrence of war. This approach works on the assumption that if every state in the world is dedicated to maintaining a peaceful international system, a state that is aggressive or threatening will be opposed by others.

Question 16

The idea that institutions such as the League of Nations and the United Nations will significantly change international politics is a product of ________ thinking.

Accepted Answer

The belief that institutions like the League of Nations and United Nations can bring about change in international politics is a core belief of liberal internationalism. This worldview assumes that international cooperation and institutions can play a key role in promoting peace and prosperity in the world.

Question 17

The basic proposition of idealism is that

Accepted Answer

Idealism argues that war is preventable through the collective action of states. Idealists believe that by working together, states can establish institutions and norms that promote peace and cooperation, ultimately leading to a more peaceful world. This view is in contrast to realism, which views war as inevitable due to the anarchic nature of the international system.

Question 18

The analysis of the production process and the social relationships it produces are fundamentally important to which of the following theoretical perspectives?

Accepted Answer

The analysis of the production process and the social relationships it produces are central to the perspective of radicalism. Radicals argue that capitalism and the structures of production result in unequal power relations and the exploitation of certain groups by others. Therefore, it is important to critically analyze these relationships to understand how they can be challenged and transformed to achieve a more just society.

Question 19

What differentiates liberalism and neoliberal institutionalism?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between liberalism and neoliberal institutionalism is their beliefs about what causes states to cooperate. Liberalism holds that states have inherent tendencies to cooperate with each other, whereas neoliberal institutionalism argues that cooperation is best achieved through the formation of international institutions and regimes. The other choices listed are not central differences between these two theories.

Question 20

Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Libya's choice to abandon its efforts to acquire nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in order to hedge against potential aggression from the United States is an example of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in...

Quiz 3: International Relations Theories