Contemporary World Governments
Final Exam Questions
Course Introduction
This course provides an in-depth exploration of modern governmental systems across the world, examining the structures, functions, and processes that define contemporary political institutions. Students will analyze a variety of government types including democracies, authoritarian regimes, and hybrid systems while considering how historical, cultural, and economic factors influence governance. Through comparative studies, the course investigates key themes such as political participation, public policy, constitutional frameworks, and the challenges faced by governments in the globalized 21st century. By the end of the course, students will have a nuanced understanding of the diversity and complexity of todays world governments.
Recommended Textbook
Introduction to Comparative Politics 6th Edition by Mark Kesselman\
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Chapter 1: Introducing Comparative Politics
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Q1) The difference between comparative politics and international relations can best be described as
A) the study of comparative politics involves comparing political parties between countries, whereas the study of international relations involves the examination of why wars occur.
B) the study of comparative politics refers only to domestic politics, whereas the study of international relations refers to globalization.
C) the study of comparative politics involves comparing domestic political institutions, processes, and politics in different countries; whereas the study of international relations involves examining the foreign policy of and interactions among different countries.
D) the study of comparative politics involves comparing nations, whereas the study of international relations involves examining international organizations, such as the United Nations or International Monetary Fund.
E) There is no difference between the two.
Answer: C
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3
Chapter 2: Britain
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Q1) Backbencher dissent
A) rarely occurs in Parliament.
B) has occurred more often since the 1970s.
C) occurs only in the House of Lords.
D) often occurred before the 1980s, but has since decreased in frequency.
E) is sparked by the opposition parties towards the governing party(s).
Answer: B
Q2) Which of the following is TRUE of the Liberal Democrats?
A) They are insignificant in British politics.
B) They are emerging as an alternative to the two major parties.
C) They have won the prime minister position once since World War II.
D) They alternate power with the two major parties.
E) They are a socialist party.
Answer: B
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Chapter 3: France
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Q1) Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A) French citizens hold local officials in higher regard than national ones.
B) Beginning in the 1980s, local governments were given more administrative powers including those involving education and cultural policy.
C) Today, many economic inequalities exist among France's various localities and regions.
D) Traditionally, France's subnational governments have been very strong due to the country's federal system.
E) France had more municipalities than all other West European countries combined.
Answer: D
Q2) During periods of united control
A) the president has control over vast areas of the economy.
B) the same party controls the parliament and the subnational governments.
C) the parliament has control over the executive.
D) labor unions have a majority in the National Assembly.
E) the president has control over the executive branch but can still control the parliament's agenda and dissolve parliament.
Answer: E
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5
Chapter 4: Germany
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Q1) The 5 percent clause means that a party must
A) have the support of 5 percent of registered voters to be an official party.
B) have 5 percent minority membership.
C) win 5 percent of the seats in the Bundestag to be part of the governing coalition.
D) win 5 percent of the vote to be awarded seats in the Bundestag.
E) win 5 percent of the vote to be awarded public financing in the next election.
Q2) The process by which representatives of employees help determine the direction of the company in which they work is called
A) co-option.
B) co-determination.
C) co-direction.
D) democratic corporatism.
E) democratic socialism.
Q3) Germany attained both industrial development and democracy later than its European neighbors Britain and France. What are the benefits and liabilities for Germany being an economic and political latecomer?
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Chapter 5: Japan
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Q1) Which of the following is TRUE?
A) The Four Great Pollution Trials led to the enactment of stiff anti-pollution laws that have substantially reduced pollution in the country.
B) The Four Great Pollution laws led to the enactment of stiff anti-pollution laws but these have not substantially reduced pollution in the country.
C) Environmental issues have been in the forefront of the public's attention since the 1950s and 1960s.
D) Among industrialized countries, Japan has one of the best records in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
E) Although Japan has a large number of nuclear reactors, these supply less than 10 percent of the country's energy.
Q2) Japan's postwar constitution was
A) drafted by a group of Japanese lawyers.
B) based on a draft prepared by American lawyers.
C) drafted by a group of lawyers from all of the Allied occupying powers.
D) based on a draft prepared by British lawyers.
E) accepted only after a country-wide referendum.
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Chapter 6: India
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Q1) The Partition that led to the formation of the separate states of India and Pakistan, A) was supported by Mohandas Gandhi.
B) occurred without any kind of inter-ethnic violence
C) resulted in hardly any migration and displacement as the Muslim and Hindu populations were largely already settled in accordance to the Partition's boundaries. D) was brought about, at least in part, due to tensions between the Hindu and Muslim populations.
E) was the result of a decision by the United Nations.
Q2) The effects of India's state-led economic development include A) India developing into a significant industrial power.
B) the creation of a large middle class.
C) the stagnation of private enterprise.
D) uneven regional economic growth.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q3) Discuss the ways in which India's numerous bases of stratification: along lines of caste, class, gender, religion and ethnicity: have both undermined and enhanced democratic processes in the country. Please cite specific examples in your answer.
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Page 8
Chapter 7: The United States
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Q1) The separation of powers
A) grants each branch of government with independent powers so that no one branch can permanently dominate the others.
B) helps make the policy-making and governing process in the United States inefficient.
C) can be seen in the power of the president to veto a law and by Congress' power to override a presidential veto.
D) prevents any one branch from carrying out its responsibilities without the cooperation of other branches.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q2) Regulations
A) determine how a law is actually implemented.
B) are written by Congress.
C) set broad principles rather than specific rules about the implementation of legislation.
D) are written in a way that is independent of the input of interested parties.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q3) Who votes and who does not in the United States? What are the implications of this for American democracy?
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9
Chapter 8: Russia
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Q1) Soft authoritarianism refers to
A) a tightening of political controls combined with a loosening of economic controls.
B) the re-emergence of the communist party as a political force in Russia.
C) Russia's increasingly militant actions in its near abroad.
D) a system of informal and formal mechanisms that assure the dominance of a ruling group despite the existence of some forms of political competition and opposition.
E) the use of repressive political controls designed to limit opposition.
Q2) Which of the following was a feature of the country during the Stalin era?
A) Collectivization of agriculture
B) Rapid industrialization which favored heavy industries
C) The development of satellite states in Eastern Europe
D) Increased personal control of the party by its leader as indicated by purges
E) All of the above
Q3) How have center-periphery (national-regional) relations changed in post-communist Russia? What have been the political effects of this change? In light of this, can one argue that Russia is truly a federal system?
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Page 10
Chapter 9: Brazil
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Q1) Traditional landowners and agribusiness elite hold positions of great influence in congress because
A) complex constitutional provisions determining representation in congress favor sparsely populated states that traditionally have been the political bases of such individuals.
B) they are able to spend more money on getting elected than industrial elites.
C) they are closer to the presidency than are other groups.
D) complex constitutional provisions determining representation in congress favor the larger states that are the political bases of such individuals.
E) by tradition, these elites tend to chair important congressional committees.
Q2) The policy that led to the transition from military to democratic rule was called A) glasnost.
B) "the great awakening".
C) abertura.
D) coronelismo.
E) machismo.
Q3) Discuss how the Brazilian state is a mixture of professionalism and clientelism.
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Chapter 10: Mexico
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Q1) Which of the following may be a potential limit on the future role of the media in Mexican politics?
A) The number of newspapers is declining.
B) Many citizens have access to CNN and other global networks.
C) The ownership of many influential media outlets is fairly broad and widespread among many individuals and corporations.
D) Violence and intimidation of reporters by drug cartels has limited the ability of the media to report on a key issue.
E) The circulation of newspapers is declining.
Q2) Emiliano Zapata's plan for agrarian reform, which became a cornerstone of the 1917 Constitution, was called the Plan de ______________.
A) Cientificos
B) Ejidatorios
C) Tierra
D) Ayala
E) Zapata
Q3) How did the PRI maintain control over Mexico for so long without facing significant challenges to its power? Please cite specific examples in your answer.
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12
Chapter 11: South Africa
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Q1) In looking at the results of the four post-apartheid elections, it is clear that
A) ANC electoral support has been fairly stable.
B) The Democratic Party/Democratic Alliance's electoral support has grown substantially.
C) Voter turnout-as measured by both a percentage of registered voters and as a percentage of the voting age population-has declined.
D) The ANC and the Democratic Party/Democratic Alliance have the greatest electoral support among voters.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q2) International sanctions against South Africa
A) began as early as 1948 and accelerated in the 1970s.
B) led the government to invest in strategic industries.
C) were meant to put pressure on the government to end apartheid.
D) were applied selectively by various countries and the United Nations.
E) All of the above are true of the international sanctions against South Africa.
Q3) What political and economic factors shaped the nature of institutionalized racism in South Africa? Begin your discussion prior to the official start of the apartheid era.
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Page 13
Chapter 12: Nigeria
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Q1) Nigeria's four republics (periods of civilian rule) have seen different types of party systems. How did the parties of the First and Second Republics differ from those of the Third and Fourth? What do you see as different about the parties of the Fourth Republic, and what are their strengths and weaknesses compared to their predecessors? What bearing does this assessment have upon the democratization process in Nigeria?
Q2) Since the 1970s, Nigeria's economy has been dominated by the export of a single product. What have been the political and economic impacts, both negative and positive, of this?
Q3) The modern state of Nigeria is about _____________ years old.
A) 50
B) 100
C) 200
D) 75
E) 60
Q4) Nigeria has spent most of its independent existence under military rule. What have been some of the most important legacies of military rule with which the Fourth Republic has had to contend? How have these been addressed? Which remain the most destabilizing?
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Chapter 13: Iran
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Q1) Which of the following is TRUE of Iran's economy in the pre-Islamic Revolutionary period?
A) It was an important member of OPEC.
B) It was a major purchaser of arms, especially from the United States.
C) It imported many products from the West that sometimes had a detrimental effect on domestic production.
D) The country became dependent on oil as a commodity that was subject to volatile market prices.
E) All of the above are true of Iran's economy in the pre-Islamic Revolutionary period.
Q2) Which of the following is NOT a power of the Leader?
A) He can mediate between the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
B) He chooses the president.
C) He is commander-in-chief.
D) He has extensive appointment and removal powers over the judiciary.
E) He can nominate clerics to the Guardian Council.
Q3) The Shah undertook many changes in Iranian society. First, briefly describe these changes. Second, assess both the negative and positive impacts that these changes had on the country. Finally, evaluate which of these changes led to his downfall.
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Chapter 14: China
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Q1) Which of the following is NOT true?
A) China's one-child policy, along with other factors, has produced a surplus of young, unmarried males.
B) China's one-child policy, along with other factors, has led to a low population growth rate relative to the country's level of economic development.
C) China's one-child policy has been especially resisted in the rural areas of the country.
D) Given the fact that the country still has the largest population in the world, China's one-child policy must be described as unsuccessful.
E) China has made exceptions to its one-child policy, notably in cases involving ethnic minorities.
Q2) What became of the Nationalists?
A) They were absorbed by the communists after World War II.
B) They fled to the more remote western portion of the country.
C) They fled to Taiwan after losing to the communists.
D) They disbanded after formally surrendering to the communists.
E) They established a "government-in-exile" in the United States.
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