INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS QUESTIONS
WITH EXPLAINED ANSWERS
Monopoly capitalism - A term introduced by Lenin that suggested that competitive capitalism
had been replaced by large corporations that control the market in specific sectors
Washington Consensus - the belief in Washington that global welfare would be maximized by
the universal application of neoclassical economic policies that favour a minimalist state and an
enhanced role for the market
Problem-solving theory - Realism and liberalism are problem-solving theories. Example: How
can we fix capitalism? How can we make society more democratic?
Critical theory - theories that are critical of the status quo and reject that things can be fixed
under present system.
Ideational - refers to ideas like democracy, capitalism, peace and social justice
Game theory - a branch of mathematics that explores strategic interaction
World order - This takes its unit of order not states, but individual human beings, and assesses
the degree of order on the basis of the delivery of certain goods (be they security, human rights,
basic needs, or justice) for humanity as a whole
International order - The normative and the institutional pattern in the relationship between
states. Includes issues such as - sovereignty the forms of diplomacy, international law etc.
Feminism - a political project to understand so as to change women's inequality, liberation, or
oppression. Make it so gender no longer matters.
Sex and gender - "Sex" is biological difference, born male or female, the sex act; sexual
difference. "Gender" is what it means to be male or female in a particular place or time; the social
construction of sexual difference
,Foreign policy - the articulation of national interests and the means chosen to secure those
interest, both material and ideational, in the international arena
Statecraft - the methods and tools that national leaders use to achieve the national interests
of a state
Nationalism - the idea that the world is divided into nations that provide the overriding focus
of political identity and loyalty, which in turn should be the basis for defining the population of
states. Nationalism also can refer to this idea in the form of a strong sense of identity (sentiment) or
organizations and movements seeking to realize this idea (politics) Example: the idea of 'American
exceptionalism', US is a place unlike any other, with values and traditions others should emulate
National self-determination - the right or desire of distinct national groups to become states
and govern themselves
Failed (or failing) state - a state that does not command the primary loyalty of its citizens or
subjects. These states have no monopoly of force at home and lack complete control over their own
territory
Material interest - the tangible physical goals of state officials as they set foreign and domestic
policy. Example: trade agreements, energy resources, control over strategic territory
Ideational/ideal interest - the psychological, moral, ethical goals of a state as it set foreign and
domestic policy. Promotion of values, norms and policy ideas that enhance the security and
prosperity of a nation-state
National interest - the combination of material and ideal goals that comprise the goals of the
governments of a state. Morgenthau considered "national interest as the pursuit of power" the
essence of politics.
Vital nation interests - national interests over which a state is willing to go to war
Public diplomacy - the use of media, the Internet, and other social culture outlets to
communicate the message of a state
, Coercive diplomacy - the use of diplomatic and military methods that force a state to concede
to another state. These methods may include the threat of force and the actual mobilization of
military forces so as to gradually "turn the screw" but exclude the actual use of force. The implication
is that war is the next step if diplomacy fails
Hard power - the material threats and inducements leaders employ to achieve the goals of
their state
Soft power - influence and authority deriving from attraction that a country's political, social,
and economic ideas, beliefs, and practices have for people living in other countries
Non-polar - an international system which power is not concentrated in a few states but is
diffused among a variety of state and non-state actors
Standard operating procedures (sops) - the prepared-response patterns that organizations
create to react to general categories of events, crises, and actions
Reciprocity - a form of statecraft that employs retaliatory strategy, only cooperating if others
do likewise
Foreign policy style - this describes how a country deals with other states and how it
approaches and decision making situation. Example: does the state act multilaterally or unilaterally,
does it seek consensus on an issue or go with majority rule.
Foreign policy tradition - a tradition includes national beliefs about how the world works and a
list of national interests and priorities based on these beliefs. It also refers to past action or
significant historical events that act as analogs and give guidance to leaders about what strategy
would best secure their national interests.
Promotive foreign policy - a foreign policy that promotes the values and interests of a state
and seeks to create an international system based on these values
Intransigent foreign policy - a foreign policy that challenges the rules established by the great
powers or rule-making states
WITH EXPLAINED ANSWERS
Monopoly capitalism - A term introduced by Lenin that suggested that competitive capitalism
had been replaced by large corporations that control the market in specific sectors
Washington Consensus - the belief in Washington that global welfare would be maximized by
the universal application of neoclassical economic policies that favour a minimalist state and an
enhanced role for the market
Problem-solving theory - Realism and liberalism are problem-solving theories. Example: How
can we fix capitalism? How can we make society more democratic?
Critical theory - theories that are critical of the status quo and reject that things can be fixed
under present system.
Ideational - refers to ideas like democracy, capitalism, peace and social justice
Game theory - a branch of mathematics that explores strategic interaction
World order - This takes its unit of order not states, but individual human beings, and assesses
the degree of order on the basis of the delivery of certain goods (be they security, human rights,
basic needs, or justice) for humanity as a whole
International order - The normative and the institutional pattern in the relationship between
states. Includes issues such as - sovereignty the forms of diplomacy, international law etc.
Feminism - a political project to understand so as to change women's inequality, liberation, or
oppression. Make it so gender no longer matters.
Sex and gender - "Sex" is biological difference, born male or female, the sex act; sexual
difference. "Gender" is what it means to be male or female in a particular place or time; the social
construction of sexual difference
,Foreign policy - the articulation of national interests and the means chosen to secure those
interest, both material and ideational, in the international arena
Statecraft - the methods and tools that national leaders use to achieve the national interests
of a state
Nationalism - the idea that the world is divided into nations that provide the overriding focus
of political identity and loyalty, which in turn should be the basis for defining the population of
states. Nationalism also can refer to this idea in the form of a strong sense of identity (sentiment) or
organizations and movements seeking to realize this idea (politics) Example: the idea of 'American
exceptionalism', US is a place unlike any other, with values and traditions others should emulate
National self-determination - the right or desire of distinct national groups to become states
and govern themselves
Failed (or failing) state - a state that does not command the primary loyalty of its citizens or
subjects. These states have no monopoly of force at home and lack complete control over their own
territory
Material interest - the tangible physical goals of state officials as they set foreign and domestic
policy. Example: trade agreements, energy resources, control over strategic territory
Ideational/ideal interest - the psychological, moral, ethical goals of a state as it set foreign and
domestic policy. Promotion of values, norms and policy ideas that enhance the security and
prosperity of a nation-state
National interest - the combination of material and ideal goals that comprise the goals of the
governments of a state. Morgenthau considered "national interest as the pursuit of power" the
essence of politics.
Vital nation interests - national interests over which a state is willing to go to war
Public diplomacy - the use of media, the Internet, and other social culture outlets to
communicate the message of a state
, Coercive diplomacy - the use of diplomatic and military methods that force a state to concede
to another state. These methods may include the threat of force and the actual mobilization of
military forces so as to gradually "turn the screw" but exclude the actual use of force. The implication
is that war is the next step if diplomacy fails
Hard power - the material threats and inducements leaders employ to achieve the goals of
their state
Soft power - influence and authority deriving from attraction that a country's political, social,
and economic ideas, beliefs, and practices have for people living in other countries
Non-polar - an international system which power is not concentrated in a few states but is
diffused among a variety of state and non-state actors
Standard operating procedures (sops) - the prepared-response patterns that organizations
create to react to general categories of events, crises, and actions
Reciprocity - a form of statecraft that employs retaliatory strategy, only cooperating if others
do likewise
Foreign policy style - this describes how a country deals with other states and how it
approaches and decision making situation. Example: does the state act multilaterally or unilaterally,
does it seek consensus on an issue or go with majority rule.
Foreign policy tradition - a tradition includes national beliefs about how the world works and a
list of national interests and priorities based on these beliefs. It also refers to past action or
significant historical events that act as analogs and give guidance to leaders about what strategy
would best secure their national interests.
Promotive foreign policy - a foreign policy that promotes the values and interests of a state
and seeks to create an international system based on these values
Intransigent foreign policy - a foreign policy that challenges the rules established by the great
powers or rule-making states
