Question 1

Which of the following is true of cyberwarfare?

Accepted Answer

States like the United States and China have created special government military units dedicated to dealing with cybersecurity. While the US has not made an offensive use of cyberwarfare, it has acknowledged using it as a tool for espionage and intelligence gathering. Cyberattacks can also be carried out by nonstate actors such as hacktivists and criminal organizations, not just governments. Finally, although China has been accused of carrying out cyberattacks against other states, it is not the only state known to engage in cyberwarfare.

Question 2

Some liberal theorists argue that economic interdependence

Accepted Answer

This is because economic interdependence creates incentives for states to avoid war, as it would disrupt economic ties and potentially harm their own economic growth. Therefore, when states have more to lose economically, they are less likely to go to war.

Question 3

According to balance-of-power theorists,

Accepted Answer

Balance-of-power theorists argue that states must be flexible and willing to shift alliances to maintain a balance of power, viewing alliances as temporary and expendable based on changing circumstances.

Question 4

Power balancing is ________ approach to managing state security

Accepted Answer

Power balancing is a realist approach to managing state security, which focuses on maintaining a balance of power between states to prevent any one state from becoming dominant and threatening the security of others.

Question 5

A key characteristic of all forms of terrorism is that

Accepted Answer

Terrorism is a form of violence that relies on fear and intimidation to achieve political or ideological goals. Its effectiveness comes from the psychological impact it has on its victims and the broader society. While terrorism can have physical components, such as bombings or assassinations, its essence is psychological in that it seeks to create a climate of fear and uncertainty that undermines the stability of the targeted society.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of international cooperation regarding cyberwarfare?

Accepted Answer

Regional cooperative agreements have been forged not only between European states but also between states such as China, Russia, and other Eurasian states. This shows that international cooperation regarding cyberwarfare is not limited to certain regions only.

Answer: B 
 Cooperation to deal with cyberattacks has taken place between governments, but not between nonstate actors. This means that international cooperation in cyberwarfare is still largely dependent on government-led initiatives.

Answer: C 
 Bilateral cooperation agreements have been created between states, but none have yet been created with states that are known to be central sources of cyberattacks. This implies that cooperation in cyberwarfare is still hindered by political and diplomatic factors.

Answer: D 
 The statement "cooperation at the global level has been more effective than bilateral cooperation" is not supported by the given options. Therefore, this choice is not a valid option.

Question 7

Democratic peace theory posits that

Accepted Answer

Democratic peace theory asserts that democracies form peaceful relationships with each other, making it unlikely that they engage in warfare. Essentially, democratic governments are believed to avoid taking aggressive actions against other democratic nations.

Question 8

Which of the following is true of terrorism?

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Global Terrorism Database, the number of deaths per terrorist attack has increased significantly since the 1990s, indicating that attacks have become more lethal. However, the dispersion of terrorist groups has also increased, making it more difficult for them to carry out attacks.

Question 9

The Islamic State (IS)is

Accepted Answer

The Islamic State (IS) is a terrorist group that has effectively controlled territory in Syria and Iraq. They have also carried out numerous terrorist attacks both within the region and globally, but their main focus has been establishing and maintaining control over their self-proclaimed caliphate. They are not a Shiite terrorist group, nor did they play a role in the 9/11 attacks. They do engage in mainstream terrorist acts, including taking hostages for ransom.

Question 10

The three factors highlighted by Immanuel Kant that many liberal theorists believe can foster peace are

Accepted Answer

This answer aligns with Kant's three factors, as democracy promotes peaceful conflict resolution through mechanisms such as free and fair elections and the protection of individual rights. Economic interdependence means that countries rely on each other economically, making conflict less likely as it could harm both parties. International institutions, such as the United Nations, provide a platform for resolving conflicts peacefully and promote a sense of global cooperation. A balance of power, as mentioned in options A and B, can sometimes lead to fear and mistrust between states, and may not necessarily guarantee peace.

Question 11

After having been defeated in World War I,Germany significantly rose in power and almost achieved parity with France and Britain.That this led Germany to act militarily to secure its new position in the international system would be an argument made by a ________.

Accepted Answer

The power transition theory argues that shifts in power and the rise of new great powers disrupt the stability of the international system and increase the likelihood of conflict. Germany's rise in power after World War I upset the balance of power in Europe and threatened the existing hegemonies of France and Britain. This would lead Germany to act militarily to secure its new position, according to the power transition theory.

Question 12

Power transition theory posits that

Accepted Answer

Power transition theory suggests that the anticipation of shifts in a relative balance of power is what leads to the temptation to go to war. As states perceive a rising power posing a threat to their own status, they may be more likely to engage in conflict to prevent that power from surpassing them. The theory does not suggest that a relative balance of power in itself causes war; rather, it is the perception of a shifting balance of power that creates the potential for conflict.

Question 13

Which theory posits that war is natural,and hence an inevitable feature of international politics?

Accepted Answer

Realism is the theory that posits war as natural and inevitable because it sees the international system as anarchic, with competition and conflict being the norm among states. Realists believe that war is the result of the pursuit of power and security, and that conflicts cannot be avoided as long as nation-states exist.

Question 14

Which of the following is a reason highlighted by liberal theorists to help explain the democratic peace?

Accepted Answer

Liberal theorists believe that democracies, with their transparency in decision making and commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes, are more trusted by other states and therefore less likely to engage in conflict with other democracies.

Question 15

The United States' and United Kingdom's formation of an alliance with Russia as Germany rose in power in the lead-up to World War II is an example of ________?

Accepted Answer

The formation of alliances with Russia was a strategy of power balancing, which involves forming alliances with other powers to counterbalance a rising threat. This was in response to Germany's increasing power and aggression in the years leading up to World War II. Power balancing is a common strategy in international relations to maintain stability in the face of shifting power dynamics.

Question 16

Why do realists believe that the anarchic international system leads to war?

Accepted Answer

Realists believe that in the anarchic international system, there are no effective institutions or mechanisms to resolve conflicts peacefully or to prevent one state from using force against another. Without a central authority, states must rely on their own military strength to ensure their security, which can lead to an arms race and a potential for war as each state seeks to protect its own interests. Therefore, realists argue that the condition of anarchy makes war more likely as there are no constraints on state behavior. Option A is not entirely accurate as there is no direct causal relationship between nondemocratic regimes and aggression. Option C is also inaccurate as realists argue that states need to have strong militaries to protect themselves from external threats, such as other states, rather than terrorist groups. Option D is incorrect as realists do attribute the potential for conflict to the anarchy of the international system.

Question 17

The argument that the United States went to war against Iraq in 2003 in order to stop Iraq's development of nuclear weapons before it could rise in power through their development and thus threaten U.S.power would be made by a ________.

Accepted Answer

Power transition theory focuses on the dynamics of power shifts between dominant and rising powers and how such shifts can lead to conflict. The argument that the U.S. went to war to prevent Iraq from becoming a more powerful threat through nuclear development aligns with this theory's emphasis on preventing shifts in power that could threaten the current dominant power's position.

Question 18

Guerilla warfare and nonviolent resistance are similar in that

Accepted Answer

Both guerilla warfare and nonviolent resistance involve ordinary people and can place them at risk, though guerilla warfare involves violence and nonviolent resistance does not.

Question 19

The aggressive foreign policy stemming from North Korea's image of itself as standing in opposition to the imperialist United States would be highlighted by which perspective as a potential cause for war?

Accepted Answer

Constructivism emphasizes the role of ideas, beliefs, and identities in international relations, suggesting that North Korea's aggressive foreign policy could be driven by its constructed identity and oppositional stance towards the US, rather than just material factors or strategic interests.

Question 20

Which of the following is an idea that a people have a right to decide their own future political status,which some constructivists argue can therefore lead to war?

Accepted Answer

Self-determination is the idea that a people have a right to decide their own future political status, and some constructivists argue that this can lead to war because different ethnic, religious, or cultural groups within a state may have conflicting visions for their political future, which can lead to violence and conflict. Therefore, the concept of self-determination can be a source of instability and conflict.

Quiz 6: War and Security