International Relations Theory
Exam Materials
Course Introduction
International Relations Theory explores the foundational concepts, frameworks, and debates that shape our understanding of interactions among states and non-state actors in the global arena. This course examines major theoretical perspectives including realism, liberalism, constructivism, Marxism, feminism, and critical theories analyzing how they interpret issues such as power dynamics, conflict and cooperation, international institutions, globalization, foreign policy, and identity. By engaging with classic and contemporary scholarship, students develop analytical tools to critically assess historical and current events in international relations, deepening their insight into the complexities of global politics.
Recommended Textbook
International Politics Power and Purpose in Global Affairs 3rd Edition by Paul D'Anieri
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15 Chapters
1112 Verified Questions
1112 Flashcards
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Chapter 1: Introduction: Problems and Questions in International Politics
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39 Verified Questions
39 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Why does the author think that international politics is especially interesting? Why do you think this topic is of interest to you?
Answer: The author believes that international politics is especially interesting because it involves the interactions and relationships between different countries, each with their own unique cultures, histories, and political systems. This creates a complex and dynamic environment where global issues such as trade, security, and human rights are negotiated and resolved. Additionally, international politics often involves high-stakes decision making and has a direct impact on the lives of people around the world.
As for why this topic is of interest to me, I find international politics fascinating because it provides insight into the interconnectedness of the world and the ways in which different nations collaborate and compete on the global stage. It also offers a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges that arise when addressing global issues. Overall, studying international politics allows me to gain a broader perspective on the world and the forces that shape it.
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Chapter 2: The Historical Evolution of International Politics
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94 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 1648, European countries signed the Treaty of Westphalia that
A) united Christian and Muslim countries.
B) ended the Thirty Years' War.
C) created a free trade alliance.
D) brought back the Roman Empire.
Answer: B
Q2) The Triple Alliance consisted of
A) Britain, France, and Russia.
B) Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
C) United States, Canada, and Italy.
D) Russia, Germany, and Italy.
Answer: B
Q3) Which of the following are nonstate actors?
A) Sony, Apple, and Microsoft
B) The European Union
C) The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
D) All of the above are true.
Answer: D
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4
Chapter 3: Theories of International Relations: Realism and Liberalism
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which U.S. military actions apparently increased the Iranian government's fears of a U.S. attack?
A) U.S. naval exercises against pirates in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean
B) The success of U.S. air power in Iraq in 1991
C) The U.S. special forces raid in Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden
D) The successful blockade of the Persian Gulf by U.S. naval forces
Answer: B
Q2) The realist theory that states stability results from unipolarity is
A) balance of power.
B) democratic peace.
C) collective action.
D) hegemonic stability.
Answer: D
Q3) Which theorist argued that in order to solve the problem of domestic anarchy, a powerful monarch, the "Leviathan," was necessary?
A) Thomas Hobbes
B) John Locke
C) Niccolo Machiavelli
D) Saint Thomas Aquinas
Answer: A
Page 5
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Chapter 4: Theories of International Relations: Economic
Structuralism, Constructivism, and Feminism
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84 Verified Questions
84 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The economic structuralist argument about free trade is that
A) it benefits both the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
B) it is necessary to increase a country's wealth.
C) it works well for some countries.
D) it is a way for owners of capital to increase their power over workers.
Q2) How has feminist theory influenced the study of international politics? How are women's lives affected by international politics?
Q3) According to Marxist language, the bourgeoisie refers to the A) owners of capital.
B) the workers.
C) the shopkeepers.
D) the middle class.
Q4) Which of the following South American countries defaulted on its $93 billion international debt in 2001, but later, after restructuring its economy, did make good on its debts?
A) Ecuador
B) Brazil
C) Venezuela
D) Argentina
6
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Chapter 5: The State, Society, and Foreign Policy
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85 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Latent public opinion refers to
A) active though superficial public opinion.
B) inactive opinion that can become very active.
C) the rising influence of public opinion in times of war.
D) the economic implications of foreign policy on public opinion.
Q2) Rational choice theorists argue that democratic political institutions have two effects on their leaders that make them cautious about going to war with one another: democratic states are more likely to win wars and
A) leaders have a greater sensitivity to the political costs of losing a war.
B) citizens are unlikely to support their government's war efforts.
C) conflict rarely solves the problem at hand.
D) other democracies will intervene to prevent conflict.
Q3) According to the text, Freedom House is a(n)
A) Washington-based NGO that assesses the state of democracy in the world.
B) NGO that some has characterized as a "half-way house" for recent U.S. federal prison parolees.
C) is an NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland that seeks commutation of death sentences for victims of human rights abuses in the Middle East and East Asia.
D) None of the above is true.
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Page 7
Chapter 6: Bureaucracies, Groups, and Individuals in the Foreign Policy Process
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84 Verified Questions
84 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following was not a reason that Pakistan was outraged at the U.S. killing of Osama bin Laden?
A) Pakistan was embarrassed that bin Laden was living in one of its cities.
B) Pakistan was disgusted with the large number of civilian deaths that accompanied the SEALS team raid.
C) U.S. forces were able to fly undetected deep into Pakistani territory.
D) The U.S. government did not trust Pakistan enough to share intelligence on the matter.
Q2) Unmotivated bias is a result of
A) whether the decision maker successfully weighs the costs and benefits of a decision.
B) the inability of an individual to process large amounts of information.
C) whether the bias is accurate or not.
D) psychological or emotional needs of the individual.
Q3) The study of foreign policy includes all of the following areas of study except A) psychological characteristics of leaders.
B) bureaucratic behavior.
C) the economic budgets of governments.
D) the process of decision making.
Q4) What is cognitive dissonance? What problems can it cause in decision making?
Page 8
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Chapter 7: International Organizations and Transnational Actors
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85 Verified Questions
85 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following concepts refer to efforts needed to negotiate and organize collaboration?
A) Arbitration
B) Synchronicity
C) Transaction costs
D) Mediation
Q2) Which of the following theories claims that states form IGOs because it is in their interest to do so, as they help to solve problems more easily and less expensively?
A) Liberal institutionalism
B) Constructivism
C) Structuralism
D) Complex interdependency
Q3) All of the following international organizations are transnational advocacy networks except
A) Human Rights Watch.
B) Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
C) Greenpeace.
D) Doctors Without Borders.
Q4) List and briefly describe the four views of the United Nations.
Page 9
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Chapter 8: International Insecurity and the Causes of War and Peace
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85 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) According to the author, the actual decision to initiate a conflict usually is preceded by
A) random decisions.
B) territorial disputes.
C) underlying causes.
D) economic tensions.
Q2) One important feature of a peacekeeping force is that they are
A) typically heavily armed.
B) given the authority to attack one or both of the warring parties.
C) usually lightly armed.
D) permitted to take sides in the conflict.
Q3) Which term represents the phrase "the nation is the primary unit of political allegiance?"
A) Statehood
B) Nationalism
C) Nation-state
D) Imperialism
Q4) Liberals claim that free trade reduces the probability of conflict. Why would an increase in free trade lessen the likelihood of conflict? What evidence can you discuss that supports this claim?
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Chapter 9: The Use of Force
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Sample Questions
Q1) Drones have become popular weapons for the United States for all of the following reasons except
A) their ability to hover in outer space allows for limited detection by most opposing forces.
B) they are fairly inexpensive to build.
C) the absence of a pilot eliminates the risk to military personnel.
D) they have less political costs for countries that are sensitive to military casualties.
Q2) The definition of force contains two important components. Which ones are they?
A) Power and violence
B) Threats and power
C) Weapons and money
D) Violence and threat of violence
Q3) Which of the following was responsible for the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881?
A) Daggers
B) Zealots
C) The People's Will
D) Sicarii
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Chapter 10: Fundamentals of International Political Economy
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70 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) Economic structuralists examine international trade from the perspective of the distribution of benefits on
A) the state.
B) classes.
C) the individual.
D) women.
Q2) Which of the following are real challenges for China in the future?
A) A demographic crisis that will make it more difficult for workers to support retirees
B) Sound investment policies that have taken a back seat to maintaining political stability
C) Regional development disparities that have emerged between the east coast and the interior
D) All of the above are true.
Q3) How do the main theories of international relations explain the level of world poverty?
Q4) What is the balance of trade? Why is it important? How does it affect domestic politics?
Q5) Why do feminists argue that the costs of globalization are unevenly distributed?
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Chapter 11: The Globalization of Trade and Finance
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70 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which U.S. President took the United States off the gold standard?
A) Nixon
B) Ford
C) Carter
D) Eisenhower
Q2) In much of the Third World, where labor is plentiful, labor and industries that rely on abundant labor
A) support free trade.
B) oppose free trade.
C) do not have an opinion regarding free trade.
D) support free trade with limited protectionist measures.
Q3) In Japan where land is scarce, farmers generally
A) oppose free trade.
B) support free trade.
C) support the limited reduction in tariffs.
D) align themselves with the interests of other workers.
Q4) What are the competing costs and benefits of globalization?
Q5) Discuss the key aspects of globalization. How important is each as a means to explain globalization? In what practical ways has globalization impacted your daily life?
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Chapter 12: The Problem of Global Inequality
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Sample Questions
Q1) Discuss the benefits and risks with foreign aid. In what way does foreign aid help a country to develop and in what way does it hinder its development?
Q2) Self-interest is an important motive for countries who express concern that poverty may be linked to a rise in
A) religious activity.
B) environmental deterioration.
C) terrorist events.
D) capitalist entrepreneurialism.
Q3) The Gini Coefficient refers to the A) percentage breakdown of those living below and above the poverty line.
B) income ratio of the top and bottom fractions of society.
C) relative rise in income for certain segments of society.
D) absolute rise of a country's income.
Q4) Which concept refers to the relative prices of goods a country imports and exports?
A) Balance of payments
B) Capital account
C) Foreign debt
D) Terms of trade
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14
Chapter 13: International Law, Norms, and Human Rights
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Sample Questions
Q1) States generally are willing to enforce international law themselves because
A) more powerful states could invade any state that breaks the law.
B) the International Court of Justice would decide against them anyway.
C) they tend to benefit from international law.
D) the United Nations would impose greater sanctions against those states.
Q2) ___________ represent an intermediate category of agreements that are not formal laws but are significant nonetheless in shaping state behavior. Often, they remain unwritten and are not represented by formal organizations.
A) Norms
B) International law
C) International regimes
D) Treaties
Q3) The idea that rational inquiry could reveal to people what behaviors should be legal is known as
A) rational law.
B) collective action.
C) just war.
D) natural law.
Q4) What are the various sources of international law?
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Chapter 14: The Global Environment and International Politics
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Sample Questions
Q1) Approximately how much of U. S. corn production goes into ethanol production, rather than into the food supply?
A) 10 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 40 percent
D) 55 percent
Q2) Which of the following was not a result or outcome from the Durban meeting in late 2011?
A) All the important questions relating to resolving climate change and global warming were deferred until the future.
B) The countries present agreed to set binding commitments by 2015 on greenhouse gas emissions.
C) The negotiation partners agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012.
D) China agreed to limit greenhouse gases, but the United States balked at having to do so.
Q3) Discuss the efforts by which national governments attempt to work together to solve global environmental problems. What are some challenges working against this cooperation and what are the ways in which they have successfully cooperated?
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Chapter 15: Conclusion: Power and Purpose in a Changing World
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Sample Questions
Q1) The United States retains a dominant __________ position in the scheme of international politics.
A) moral
B) economic
C) military
D) judiciary
Q2) The WHO developed scenarios for the future, by looking at challenges that have arisen in recent years. Which of the following was not one of the three crises they focused on?
A) The 2001 anthrax scare
B) The dumping of toxic chemicals
C) The dangers of radiological and electromagnetic pulse weaponry
D) The H1N1 virus pandemic
Q3) The text identifies a number of emergent trends in international politics that include all of the following except
A) an increase in global economic equality.
B) erosion of sovereign states' power relative to other actors.
C) globalization of trade and finance.
D) the rise of transnational terrorism.
Q4) How has terrorism changed the way we deal with international politics?
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