Politics of Developing Nations
Chapter Exam Questions
Course Introduction
This course explores the political systems, institutions, and processes of developing nations, examining the unique challenges they face in pursuit of political stability, economic growth, and social development. Students will analyze factors such as colonial legacies, state-building, democratization, corruption, ethnic conflict, and the influence of global actors like international organizations and multinational corporations. Through comparative case studies, the course highlights the diversity of political experiences across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, enabling students to critically assess policies and prospects for sustainable development in the Global South.
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Introduction to Comparative Politics 6th Edition by Mark Kesselman\
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Chapter 1: Introducing Comparative Politics
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Q1) The 2010 Failed States Index identified all of the following as being most vulnerable to political collapse EXCEPT
A) Iraq.
B) Afghanistan.
C) Pakistan.
D) Sudan.
E) Somalia.
Answer: A
Q2) As demonstrated by Freedom House, the spread of democracy has A) consistently increased over the years.
B) consistently decreased over the years.
C) been consistently static over the years.
D) achieved the status of being taken as generally right.
E) been most affected by the shift of Russia from "partly free" to "free".
Answer: D
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Chapter 2: Britain
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Q1) According to the text, the event that marked the end of Britain's position as a dominant player in world politics was
A) the end of World War II.
B) the UK's membership in the European Union since 1973.
C) the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
D) the formal independence of India and Pakistan in 1947.
E) David Cameron's recasting of British foreign policy beginning in 2010.
Answer: C
Q2) Electoral reforms introduced by the coalition government will
A) make positions in the House of Lords fully elected.
B) make the position of prime minister a directly elected position.
C) stagger elections for the House of Commons, so that only one-third is up for election at any one time.
D) establish fixed terms of four years for the regional assemblies.
E) establish a fixed term of five years for House of Commons members subject to dissolution by a majority of MPs.
Answer: E
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Chapter 3: France
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Q1) Which of the following statements about the French tradition of direct protest is NOT true?
A) The tradition stems from the lack of adequate institutional channels of representation.
B) The tradition is centuries old.
C) Direct protest is a tactic utilized only by the young and the poor.
D) This tradition is exemplified by 2010 demonstrations against pension reform.
E) France has one of the highest proportions of citizens who participate in demonstrations in Europe.
Answer: C
Q2) Recently, France has suffered from numerous incidents of terrorist violence from A) groups opposed to globalization.
B) communist cell groups.
C) environmental groups opposed to genetically modified crops.
D) students, workers and immigrants.
E) Al-Qaeda and affiliated groups.
Answer: E
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Chapter 4: Germany
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Q1) It is estimated that _____________ million Jews were killed in Nazi concentration camps.
A) 2
B) 4
C) 6
D) 8
E) 10
Q2) Markedly different attitudes towards immigrants can be seen between formerly east and west Germans. What are the causes for these differences? What have been some government policies regarding immigration and how do these relate to these differences? How does immigration factor into current economic issues?
Q3) 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.
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Chapter 5: Japan
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Q1) A keiretsu is a
A) semipublicly owned financial corporation.
B) semipublicly owned industry.
C) business alliance of closely linked firms that have preferential trading relationships and often interlocked directorates and stock-sharing arrangements.
D) lobbyist who works for a private firm or collection of firms.
E) financier of public and private corporations and public works projects.
Q2) Which of the following is NOT true?
A) Japan typically has a trade deficit with countries that export fuel, foodstuffs, and raw materials.
B) Japan makes up its trade deficits with large surpluses to the United States, some European countries, and most Asian countries.
C) Japan's import of industrial goods has greatly increased in recent years.
D) Japan has never been particularly concerned with increasing intra-regional trade preferring instead to focus on its trade relationship with the United States and other western countries.
E) Japan's income from foreign direct investment has been larger than its trade account surplus since 2004.
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Chapter 6: India
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Q1) India is typically cited as a large, successful democracy. What historical factors have contributed to the country's generally stable democracy? What current factors threaten the country's democracy?
Q2) The Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, is unable to play a significant role in policy-making for all of the following reasons EXCEPT
A) most legislation is introduced by the government.
B) most legislators are beholden to their party leaders.
C) parties maintain tight discipline.
D) parliament's social composition makes this difficult.
E) all of the above.
Q3) The roles of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, include A) passing legislation.
B) electing the prime minister.
C) debating government action.
D) voting to unmake government.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q4) Discuss the major underpinnings to secularism in India. Explain why the challenges to secularism have grown and yet why India remains a secular state.
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Chapter 7: The United States
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Q1) Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) Most members of the House of Representatives and the Senate have a business occupational background.
B) Since women were enfranchised, both the House of Representatives and the Senate have become increasingly gender balanced.
C) The Senate has historically been more racially diverse than the House of Representatives.
D) Members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate have tended to be white male Protestants.
E) All of the above are true statements.
Q2) The Civil War
A) established a national citizenship to supplement state citizenship.
B) ended slavery.
C) established the indivisibility of the nation.
D) established that states did not have the right to nullify federal laws.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q3) How has the governments, both federal and state, intervened in the economy? How is such intervention reconciled with principles such as laissez-faire and the free market?
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Chapter 8: Russia
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Q1) The term patrimonial state refers to
A) the great overrepresentation of males in state leadership positions.
B) the tradition of authoritarianism which characterized Russian politics until the early 1980s.
C) the personalistic nature of politics during the Soviet era in which one leader was elevated to a top position.
D) the system of government in which the rule treats the state as his personal property.
E) none of the above.
Q2) Tensions between Russia and the United States have emerged recently as a result of A) Russia's opposition to American involvement in Iraq.
B) American support for admitting countries like the Ukraine and Georgia into NATO.
C) American plans to install an antimissile system in Central Europe.
D) Russia's military intervention in Georgia.
E) all of the above.
Q3) How have executive-legislative relations changed in post-communist Russia? Have such changes strengthened or weakened democratization?
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Chapter 9: Brazil
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Q1) The implication of the phrase para ingles ver (for the English to see) is that
A) transparency of democratic elections is important.
B) democracy is just a show for outsiders.
C) Brazilians feel dominated by the United States.
D) there is a division between English and non-English speakers in Brazil.
E) business entities in Brazil operate under English law.
Q2) Brazil's military and civilian police forces
A) have emerged since the 1990s as being highly efficient and successful in reducing the crime rate especially in urban areas.
B) have been efficient at greatly reducing the crime rate but at the cost of human rights. C) have been accused of arbitrary detention, torture, corruption and even systemic killings.
D) have only rarely been victims of attacks by organized crime syndicates.
E) have been characterized by all of the above.
Q3) What weaknesses of Brazilian political parties have been apparent since the transition to democracy in the 1980s? To what extent are these reflections of historical circumstances? Assess the impact these weaknesses have had upon Brazilian democratization.
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Chapter 10: Mexico
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Q1) Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) As state laws have become more expansive, state courts have increasingly become important.
B) From the presidency of Zedillo onward, courts have been increasing their independence from the executive.
C) Constitutional amendments that call for the introduction of public trials with oral testimony and the presumption of innocence have been introduced although their implementation has been slow.
D) Human rights groups and the media have put pressure on the courts to play a stronger role than has traditionally been the case.
E) All of the above are true statements.
Q2) What factors helped to bring about the end of the PRI's hegemonic position? Why was the party unable to adequately respond to these factors?
Q3) How has recent drug-related violence affected the country's politics? Does such violence fundamentally threaten the ongoing democratic transition?
Q4) How might Mexico be a useful example for other countries moving from authoritarian rule towards democratic rule?
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Chapter 11: South Africa
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Q1) Which of the following statements is TRUE about South Africa in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks?
A) The government has withheld formal public support for America's offensive against fundamentalist Islamic movements.
B) The government has offered discreet cooperation with American and British intelligence.
C) The government deported several suspected Al Qaeda operatives.
D) The government has drafted legislation allowing for detention without charge for up to fourteen days.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q2) Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A) The president appoints the cabinet.
B) The president appoints the deputy president.
C) The president appoints members of the judiciary although his discretion in this regard is limited by constitutional provisions.
D) The president's appointment powers have increasingly been used to reward political allies.
E) All of the above statements are true.
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Chapter 12: Nigeria
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Q1) Since the early 1970s, Nigeria has relied upon oil for about _____________ percent of its exports and about _____________ percent of its government revenues.
A) 60; 75
B) 80; 50
C) 90; 50
D) 75; 75
E) 90; 75
Q2) The lengthy transfer of the presidency from Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to Goodluck Jonathan
A) occurred within the country's constitutional framework.
B) illustrated how the country has become one dominated by a competitive oligarchy. C) came about without direct military intervention.
D) was brought about at least in part due to international and domestic pressure.
E) All of the above statements are true.
Q3) The multi-ethnic character of Nigeria has had profound impacts on the country's political development. Which would you say have been the most important of these? Justify your argument.
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Chapter 13: Iran
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Q1) Discuss any three challenges facing Iran today. Is the current structure of the regime well suited to address these challenges?
Q2) Which of the following ethno-linguistic groups in Iran does NOT practice Sunni Islam?
A) Kurds
B) Turkmans
C) Arabs
D) Baluchis
E) Armenians
Q3) Which agency has the authority to approve candidates for elections?
A) Guardian Council
B) Assembly of Religious Experts
C) Expediency Council
D) Interior Ministry
E) National Election Board
Q4) 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) The Taiping Rebellion was
A) a peasant uprising against the Chinese empire.
B) a revolt by an ethnic minority group against the Chinese empire.
C) an attempted coup against the Chinese emperor.
D) a revolt by Tibetans against the Chinese emperor.
E) a revolt against the Chinese emperor led by landlords upset over high imperial taxes.
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.
Q3) Between 1953 and 1957 China took steps that moved it decisively towards socialism. These included all of the following EXCEPT
A) the collectivization of agriculture.
B) implementing a planned economy.
C) the government takeover of industries.
D) virtually eliminating private property.
E) instituting a secret police organization to silence its opponents.
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