Introduction to International Relations Exam Questions with Complete Solutions

International Relations - ANSWER-the diplomatic-strategic relations of states as understood in diplomatic, military and strategic terms; stresses a relationship of anarchy; self-help system; try to control borders over which transactions are made; regulate international activities of their citizens--issue passports and visas; make treaties with one another to manage trade flow; set up international institutions; complex interdependence anarchy - ANSWER-The absence of a formal system of government; lack of government completely. self-help system - ANSWER-A state system where participants in international relations look after their own interests and pursue them by employing their own resources. Creates a state-centric view of international relations, wherein the state is the key international actor. sovereignty - ANSWER-distinguishing feature of the state; idea of legal autonomy; no higher body has the right to issue orders to the state. Means that there is no domestic equal and no international superior; there are two parts of sovereignty: juridical status--legal position so that there is no legal superior and its power is unqualified and a political concept--possesses certain capacities but is also a matter of degree. Pooling of sovereignty is necessary to achieve all goals and to establish international bodies. They won't sacrifice their juridical sovereignty but will sacrifice the political concept. structuralism - ANSWER-center-periphery analysis; stresses the existence of global forces, a world structure in which dominant interests are located in the advanced world, dominate and exploit the rest of the world, using economic, political and military means; a neo-Marxist view; stratified global system; creates allegedly-separate societies. Types of theories - ANSWER-explanatory: explain why and under what circumstances, wars happen; normative or prescriptive: tell us what our attitude about war should be; interpretive: give meaning to certain events; all theories are related to one another. American exceptionalism - ANSWER-Where America protects its interests in the world, but it also sees itself as promoting democracy and human rights which are taken to be universally desired; USA is acting in the assumed "global interest"; reverse--everything bad in the world is attributed to the American government.