Question 1

Which of the following countries became involved militarily in the Syrian civil war that began in 2011?

Accepted Answer

Russia became involved militarily in the Syrian civil war, providing support to the Syrian government forces. None of the other countries listed became involved militarily.

Question 2

A war that takes place between sovereign states is called

Accepted Answer

An interstate war is a conflict between two or more sovereign states. This is in contrast to an intrastate war, which takes place within the borders of a single sovereign state, or unconventional wars, which involve non-state actors and unconventional methods of warfare. Conventional war refers to conflicts that are fought using traditional military tactics and weapons. Therefore, the best choice is A, as it specifically refers to war between sovereign states.

Question 3

The wars that followed the Arab Spring in 2011 are not categorized as civil wars because the government had significantly more capacity to harm the rebels than the rebels had to harm the government.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. The wars that followed the Arab Spring in 2011 are categorized as civil wars regardless of which side had more capacity to harm the other. Civil wars are defined as armed conflicts that occur within a single country between different groups or factions.

Question 4

Which of the following refers to the ability of a state to protect its interests,secrets,and citizens from threats that endanger them?

Accepted Answer

National security refers to the ability of a state to protect its interests, secrets, and citizens from threats that endanger them. It encompasses a wide range of measures, including military, economic, and diplomatic strategies, among others. The other options are not directly related to the concept of national security. Jus ad bellum refers to the laws governing the use of force in international relations, jus in bello to the laws governing the conduct of military operations, and asymmetric conflict to a situation where two parties have different strengths and weaknesses, resulting in an unequal balance of power.

Question 5

A key characteristic of terrorism is that it is designed to be psychological in nature.

Accepted Answer

Terrorism is often characterized by the use of fear, anxiety, and other psychological tactics to achieve political, religious, or ideological goals. The intended audience of terrorist attacks is often not just the direct victims, but also the larger population or specific groups who may be targeted for their beliefs or identity. The goal is to create widespread fear and panic, disrupt social and economic systems, and sow discord and division. Thus, terrorism is considered to be primarily psychological in nature.

Question 6

The slogan "fewer weapons means greater security" represents the logic behind deterrence.

Accepted Answer

The slogan "fewer weapons means greater security" represents the logic behind disarmament, not deterrence. Deterrence is based on the principle that having a strong military and powerful weapons will prevent others from attacking, while disarmament is based on the belief that reducing the number of weapons in circulation will ultimately create a safer world.

Question 7

In the just war tradition,jus in bello deals with the question of when it is legal to go to war,and jus ad bellum deals with questions of what acts are considered legal when fighting a war.

Accepted Answer

Jus ad bellum deals with the question of when it is legal to go to war, and jus in bello deals with what acts are considered legal when fighting a war.

Question 8

The civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that began in 1996 provides an example of

Accepted Answer

The civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that began in 1996 was an intrastate conflict between rebel groups and the government, but it quickly became internationalized as neighboring countries got involved. Uganda and Rwanda supported rebel groups, while Zimbabwe, Angola, and Namibia supported the government.

Question 9

For realists,war is not an inevitable feature of interstate politics.

Accepted Answer

Realists view war as a possible outcome of interstate politics due to the emphasis on balance of power and self-interest. While they may not see it as inevitable, realists do acknowledge the importance of military strength and the possibility of conflict in international relations.

Question 10

A "hearts and minds" strategy

Accepted Answer

A "hearts and minds" strategy involves winning over the population and gaining their support through various means such as providing social and economic assistance, creating a positive image of the military, and establishing trust and communication with the locals. This can be an effective way to counter guerilla resistance by reducing the support and recruitment for the opposition.

Question 11

Power balancing is only relevant at the international level,not the regional level.

Accepted Answer

Power balancing can be relevant at both the international and regional levels. In fact, regional power balancing is often a precursor to international power balancing. Within a region, countries may seek to balance power among themselves to prevent one country from dominating the others. This can involve alliances, military buildups, and diplomatic efforts. Similarly, at the international level, countries may seek to balance power to prevent any one country or bloc from dominating the global landscape.

Question 12

The norm of noncombatant immunity has remained a norm; it has not yet been codified into a legally binding treaty.

Accepted Answer

The norm of noncombatant immunity has been codified into legally binding treaties, such as the Geneva Conventions, which explicitly protect civilians and other non-combatants during armed conflicts.

Question 13

Which of the following is true of recent trends regarding war?

Accepted Answer

From 2007 to 2016, there was indeed a significant rise in the number of deaths from conflicts within states, reflecting an increase in the intensity and lethality of internal conflicts around the world.

Question 14

Liberals argue that economic interdependence does not have an effect on the likelihood of war.

Accepted Answer

Liberals generally argue that economic interdependence decreases the likelihood of war, as countries that are economically interdependent have more to lose from conflict and more to gain from peace.

Question 15

In guerrilla warfare,the weaker party augments its capabilities by relying on the help of

Accepted Answer

In guerrilla warfare, the weaker party often relies on the support of the civilian population, either through active participation in the fight or through passive assistance such as providing shelter, food or information. This support allows the weaker party to augment its capabilities and gain an advantage over the stronger party. The use of nuclear weapons, international organizations, and collective security agreements may not be relevant or feasible in the context of guerrilla warfare.

Question 16

Following the creation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty,several states that previously had nuclear weapons dismantled their programs.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Several states, such as South Africa, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, dismantled their nuclear weapons programs after joining the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Question 17

Power transition theory argues that it is not just imbalances in power,but also the anticipation of shifts in the relative balance of power that can lead to war.

Accepted Answer

Power transition theory argues that states are more likely to engage in conflict when there is a shift in the balance of power or the expectation of such a shift. This means that the anticipation of a change in power dynamics can be just as important as the actual shift in power when it comes to the likelihood of war.

Question 18

What is one characteristic necessary for international relations scholars to define something as a war?

Accepted Answer

The characteristic necessary for international relations scholars to define something as a war is that at least 1,000 deaths occur in a calendar year. This is based on the understanding that war involves significant loss of life, and this particular threshold has been widely adopted by scholars and international organizations for the purpose of tracking and analyzing armed conflicts.

Question 19

________ is a type of warfare where the two parties are of unequal strength.

Accepted Answer

Asymmetric warfare involves two parties of unequal strength, where one party has significant military or economic advantages over the other. It is characterized by the use of unconventional tactics and strategies by the weaker side, such as guerrilla warfare, terrorism, or cyber attacks, to level the playing field. Limited warfare refers to a conflict in which the parties involved limit their military actions to achieve specific objectives, and it does not necessarily involve unequal strength. Civil warfare, on the other hand, is a conflict between opposing groups or factions within a country. General warfare is a broad term that refers to any conflict involving armed forces.

Question 20

Which of the following is true of conventional weapons?

Accepted Answer

Conventional weapons can be targeted and their destructive effects can be limited to only legitimate targets of war. This is in contrast to weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear weapons, whose effects cannot be limited in space and time. World War I and World War II were primarily fought with conventional weapons, not nuclear weapons. Therefore, option A and D are incorrect.

Quiz 6: War and Security