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poli 105 exam 1 Questions with Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
liberalism Answer: posed against realism. not a theory but a
philosophical approach. it is what people should do, not what they will
do. hopeful. started in the 50s-60s. not as variable driven as realism.
cooperate variables. based on 5 principles: law, morality, economics,
institutions, and collective security (self-help). absolute gains is what
states seek. cooperation vs conflict. relative gains make states defect.
realists say idealists are Answer: "utopian" or not realistic. thus a theory
of realism is grounded in science and logic, not in what "ought to be".
so the response is a theory that says idealists underpinning are okay,
but theory must be scientific, grounded in core assumptions, logic and
empirical evidence.
major flaws in realism Answer: - Static, not over time
- Does not explain cooperation—and the international system is mostly
about cooperation
- Does not explain change very well (end of the cold war)
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- Only explains short-term gains, relative gains
philosophically, liberalism follows: Answer: Kant, Adam Smith, J.S. Mills,
and Woodrow Wilson - new idealism, the League of Nations, post ww1
liberalism is about Answer: COOPERATION. COOPERATION MATTERS.
liberals see the role of power as less absolute, grounded in
military/security area
relative gains Answer: "states that wealth cannot be expanded and the
only way a state can become richer is to take wealth from another
state".
realtive gains = realism
all states who seek relative gains will defect, thus, no collective action
absolute gains Answer: "the total benefit that an actor recieves from a
particular outcome or action".
for liberals, absolute gains are what states seek - profits. liberals note
that states do commit to absolute gains in collective action - realists
cannot explain this
© 2025 All rights reserved
poli 105 exam 1 Questions with Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
liberalism Answer: posed against realism. not a theory but a
philosophical approach. it is what people should do, not what they will
do. hopeful. started in the 50s-60s. not as variable driven as realism.
cooperate variables. based on 5 principles: law, morality, economics,
institutions, and collective security (self-help). absolute gains is what
states seek. cooperation vs conflict. relative gains make states defect.
realists say idealists are Answer: "utopian" or not realistic. thus a theory
of realism is grounded in science and logic, not in what "ought to be".
so the response is a theory that says idealists underpinning are okay,
but theory must be scientific, grounded in core assumptions, logic and
empirical evidence.
major flaws in realism Answer: - Static, not over time
- Does not explain cooperation—and the international system is mostly
about cooperation
- Does not explain change very well (end of the cold war)
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2
- Only explains short-term gains, relative gains
philosophically, liberalism follows: Answer: Kant, Adam Smith, J.S. Mills,
and Woodrow Wilson - new idealism, the League of Nations, post ww1
liberalism is about Answer: COOPERATION. COOPERATION MATTERS.
liberals see the role of power as less absolute, grounded in
military/security area
relative gains Answer: "states that wealth cannot be expanded and the
only way a state can become richer is to take wealth from another
state".
realtive gains = realism
all states who seek relative gains will defect, thus, no collective action
absolute gains Answer: "the total benefit that an actor recieves from a
particular outcome or action".
for liberals, absolute gains are what states seek - profits. liberals note
that states do commit to absolute gains in collective action - realists
cannot explain this
© 2025 All rights reserved
