INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS #12
Realism - correct answer -Power as the main determinant of outcomes
-pursuit of power as main determinant of policies
Realism focuses on which of the following? - correct answer power
Realism assumes that, at the individual level, human nature as what? - correct answer
inherently conflictual
Under what paradigm does the following statement fall? The strong do what they can
and the weak suffer what they must. - correct answer Realism
An important lesson that derives from the prisoners dilemma is that? - correct answer
Individual rationality leads to collective irrationality
All of the following are assumptions of realism except? - correct answer International
cooperation
Liberal institutionalism shares 3 of the following views with realism. Which one is not
shared? - correct answer States as unitary, rational actors
Liberalism - correct answer -Purpose and power
-Cooperation is often as important as power
Main Actors - correct answer Realism - single actor, state
Paradigm - correct answer Theoretical approach that includes one or more theories that
share similar philosophical assumptions
How do realists and liberalists view human nature? - correct answer Realism -
aggressive
Liberalism - peaceful
Who came up with the school of thought for Realism? - correct answer Thucydides
Realists believe _____ ____ _____ is the primary cause of war and peace. - correct
answer distribution of power
Realism is characterized primarily as a? - correct answer System level paradigm:
behavior is driven by the conditions in the system, not by internal politics of the
individual states
Realists believe that morality cannot be the basis for action - correct answer
, Who are the two prominent figures in the history of Western thought? - correct answer
Niccolo Machiavelli
Thomas Hobbes
What are the 4 central assumptions of realists? - correct answer Anarchy
States as the central actors
State as unitary actors
States as rational actors
A foreign policy goal that implies that the state is a single entity, that it has a single
interest, and that the interest can be objectively determined is known as? This concept
is important in realist theory. - correct answer National Interest
The security dilemma - Realists believe in this - correct answer -Realists see a self-help
world
-Anarchy leads to insecurity
-Insecurity leads states to arm themselves
-Realists believe agreements can always be broken therefore insecurity leads states to
arm, but arms create more insecurity
Prisoners dilemma - correct answer Game theory scenario in which noncooperation is
the rational strategy but leads to both players being worse off than if they had
cooperated
Realists believe that individual rationality leads to collective irrationality. This is also
known as the collective action problem which the realist understanding of the security
dilemma. - correct answer
What is the dilemma for the realist in the security dilemma? - correct answer whether or
not to arm or to arm further
Realists believe arming is equivalent to? - correct answer defecting
Realists argue that in anarchy the rational state will arm regardless of what the neighbor
does, however when both states arm both end up less secure and less wealthy. -
correct answer
Cheating can leave a state that cooperates vulnerable - correct answer
In the realists view, the distribution of power is the _________ ________ in international
politics. - correct answer central force
Realists believe every state's national interest boils down simply to getting more? -
correct answer power
ANSWERS #12
Realism - correct answer -Power as the main determinant of outcomes
-pursuit of power as main determinant of policies
Realism focuses on which of the following? - correct answer power
Realism assumes that, at the individual level, human nature as what? - correct answer
inherently conflictual
Under what paradigm does the following statement fall? The strong do what they can
and the weak suffer what they must. - correct answer Realism
An important lesson that derives from the prisoners dilemma is that? - correct answer
Individual rationality leads to collective irrationality
All of the following are assumptions of realism except? - correct answer International
cooperation
Liberal institutionalism shares 3 of the following views with realism. Which one is not
shared? - correct answer States as unitary, rational actors
Liberalism - correct answer -Purpose and power
-Cooperation is often as important as power
Main Actors - correct answer Realism - single actor, state
Paradigm - correct answer Theoretical approach that includes one or more theories that
share similar philosophical assumptions
How do realists and liberalists view human nature? - correct answer Realism -
aggressive
Liberalism - peaceful
Who came up with the school of thought for Realism? - correct answer Thucydides
Realists believe _____ ____ _____ is the primary cause of war and peace. - correct
answer distribution of power
Realism is characterized primarily as a? - correct answer System level paradigm:
behavior is driven by the conditions in the system, not by internal politics of the
individual states
Realists believe that morality cannot be the basis for action - correct answer
, Who are the two prominent figures in the history of Western thought? - correct answer
Niccolo Machiavelli
Thomas Hobbes
What are the 4 central assumptions of realists? - correct answer Anarchy
States as the central actors
State as unitary actors
States as rational actors
A foreign policy goal that implies that the state is a single entity, that it has a single
interest, and that the interest can be objectively determined is known as? This concept
is important in realist theory. - correct answer National Interest
The security dilemma - Realists believe in this - correct answer -Realists see a self-help
world
-Anarchy leads to insecurity
-Insecurity leads states to arm themselves
-Realists believe agreements can always be broken therefore insecurity leads states to
arm, but arms create more insecurity
Prisoners dilemma - correct answer Game theory scenario in which noncooperation is
the rational strategy but leads to both players being worse off than if they had
cooperated
Realists believe that individual rationality leads to collective irrationality. This is also
known as the collective action problem which the realist understanding of the security
dilemma. - correct answer
What is the dilemma for the realist in the security dilemma? - correct answer whether or
not to arm or to arm further
Realists believe arming is equivalent to? - correct answer defecting
Realists argue that in anarchy the rational state will arm regardless of what the neighbor
does, however when both states arm both end up less secure and less wealthy. -
correct answer
Cheating can leave a state that cooperates vulnerable - correct answer
In the realists view, the distribution of power is the _________ ________ in international
politics. - correct answer central force
Realists believe every state's national interest boils down simply to getting more? -
correct answer power
