Question 1

Which of the following is an example of civil and political rights?

Accepted Answer

Freedom of speech is a civil and political right, as it allows individuals to express their opinions and ideas without censorship or fear of punishment by the government. A, C, and E are examples of human rights, but not specifically civil and political rights. B is a concept related to international relations and sovereignty, but not a civil or political right.

Question 2

Cultural relativism is the idea that

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism suggests that different cultures have different values, beliefs, and practices, and therefore different human rights may be relevant in different cultural settings. It does not prioritize the rights of the individual or the community over each other or assign universal human rights. It recognizes the importance of understanding cultural context when addressing human rights issues.

Question 3

Confucianism puts most focus on what aspect of responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Confucianism emphasizes the importance of the social group and one's responsibilities within it, including duties to family, friends, and community. The concept of Ren, which is central to Confucianism, involves cultivating benevolence, kindness, and compassion towards others, which includes fulfilling one's social roles and responsibilities. Individual rights and government policies are not as prominent in Confucianism, and while there is some emphasis on caring for those in need and environmental concerns, these are not the primary focus. Therefore, option B is the most appropriate choice.

Question 4

Which statement is correct about human rights and international politics?

Accepted Answer

Human rights have become increasingly important in international politics over the last century, with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights being adopted by the United Nations in 1948 and the creation of various international human rights organizations. While human rights have always been important, the modern focus on them in international politics is a relatively recent development. Choices A, B, D, and E are incorrect because they are either false (A, D, E) or incomplete or inaccurate (B).

Question 5

Realists believe liberal states seek to spread civil and political rights because they feel it is in their national interest, as states that share these values trade with each other.

Accepted Answer

Realists view states as primarily motivated by self-interest, and believe that liberal states see the spread of civil and political rights as beneficial to their economic and political relationships with other liberal states.

Question 6

The first global human rights movement was the

Accepted Answer

The antislavery movement is widely recognized as the first global human rights movement, focusing on the abolition of slavery and the slave trade.

Question 7

Imposing economic sanctions on states violating rights is uncontroversial because it is so effective in changing state behavior, as evidenced by the case of South Africa and apartheid.

Accepted Answer

Imposing economic sanctions is not always effective in changing state behavior, as evidenced by cases such as North Korea, Iran, and Cuba. The effectiveness of sanctions depends on various factors, including the level of economic interdependence between the target state and its trading partners, the willingness of the target state to endure economic pain, and the ability of the sanctioning states to maintain their unity and credibility. While economic sanctions played a role in weakening the apartheid regime in South Africa, they were not the sole or decisive factor in ending apartheid, as other factors such as internal resistance, international isolation, and diplomatic pressure also played a critical role.

Question 8

Early human rights movements on slavery and protection of wounded soldiers were led by

Accepted Answer

Early human rights movements on slavery and protection of wounded soldiers were initiated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Powerful states also played a role in promoting these causes, but the lead was taken by NGOs. The United Nations and the League of Nations did not exist at the time of these early movements, and corporations were not yet a significant force in global affairs.

Question 9

While most states repress civil rights when state security is at risk, this is not True of democracies.

Accepted Answer

Democracies can also repress civil rights when state security is at risk, although there may be greater oversight, checks and balances, and legal protections for individual rights in democratic systems.

Question 10

Less developed states, even liberal democratic ones, often fail to meet obligations of social and economic rights.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Many less developed states, even those that are liberal democracies, struggle to provide their citizens with basic social and economic rights such as access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. This is often due to structural factors such as a lack of resources, inadequate infrastructure, and political corruption.

Question 11

States in the West are most likely to prioritize which rights?

Accepted Answer

States in the West are typically associated with a strong emphasis on political rights, such as the right to free speech, assembly, and democratic participation. This is in part due to the region's history of progressive politics and activism, as well as its relatively high level of social and economic development. While other rights may also be prioritized in the region, political rights are likely to be the most prominent.

Question 12

Some observers argue that indicting sitting leaders like Sudan's President al-Bashir can complicate efforts to negotiate peace agreements.

Accepted Answer

Indicting sitting leaders may lead to them refusing to participate in peace negotiations and can impede progress towards a resolution of the conflict. It can also create tensions between the indicted leader's supporters and opponents, further complicating the peace process.

Question 13

Theorists in the radical tradition place emphasis on

Accepted Answer

The answer of Theorists in the radical tradition place emphasis...

Question 14

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights acknowledges that heads of state may revoke some civil-political liberties when national security is threatened.

Accepted Answer

Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights allows for some restrictions on certain rights, such as freedom of expression, if they are necessary for the protection of national security. However, these restrictions must be proportionate and not discriminate against individuals or groups.

Question 15

The UN Charter recognized the importance of protecting human rights even if that meant violating state sovereignty.

Accepted Answer

The UN Charter does not recognize the importance of protecting human rights even if that meant violating state sovereignty.

Question 16

Which statement is True about the abolition movement?

Accepted Answer

The abolition movement was successful in individual countries adopting their own laws abolishing slavery, such as the British Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 and the US 13th Amendment in 1865. However, international law did not ban all slavery until the 20th century with the 1926 Slavery Convention. The movement was not led by slaves in South America, and while the Catholic Church did play a role in some abolition efforts, it was not the leading force. Freed slaves did not immediately enjoy full rights as institutionalized racism and discrimination continued to exist.

Question 17

The R2P norm not only obligates states to take coercive action against state offenders, but it also obligates states to protect people by providing asylum and refuge.

Accepted Answer

The R2P norm, or Responsibility to Protect, includes the obligation for states to protect people from mass atrocities, which includes the provision of asylum and refuge to those fleeing such violence. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 18

The United States is a strong supporter of the ICC.

Accepted Answer

The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court and has not ratified the Rome Statute, which established the ICC. While the United States has cooperated with the ICC in some cases, it has also criticized the Court for what it considers to be political bias and infringement on national sovereignty.

Question 19

Annual human rights reports by the U.S. State Department help determine what states receive U.S. foreign aid.

Accepted Answer

Annual human rights reports by the U.S. State Department are taken into consideration when deciding which countries receive U.S. foreign aid, as stated in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The reports assess a country's human rights practices and can impact the amount and type of aid provided.

Question 20

States disagree on what types of rights should be given priority.

Accepted Answer

Different states have different values and beliefs which can lead to disagreement on what rights should be given priority.

Quiz 10: Human Rights