International Relations: Core Principles,
Theories, and Key Events Newest
Update 2026/2027
Core Principles of International Relations-CORRECT ANSWER--Fundamental ideas
that guide how states interact in the international system.
Collective Goods Problem-CORRECT ANSWER--A situation where a public good
benefits everyone but individuals prefer others to bear the cost of providing it.
Dominance-CORRECT ANSWER--A situation where one actor has enough power to
control or strongly influence others.
Hegemon-CORRECT ANSWER--The dominant state in the international system.
Hegemony-CORRECT ANSWER--A system in which one state possesses
overwhelming power and sets international rules and norms.
Reciprocity-CORRECT ANSWER--The practice of responding to another state's
actions with similar actions.
Identity-CORRECT ANSWER--How a state or group defines itself socially and
politically.
States-CORRECT ANSWER--Sovereign political entities with defined territory,
permanent population, government, and capacity to conduct foreign relations.
Peace of Westphalia (1648)-CORRECT ANSWER--Agreements ending the Thirty
Years' War, establishing the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference in
domestic affairs.
Levels of Analysis Framework-CORRECT ANSWER--A method for explaining
international events at different levels: individual, domestic, and systemic.
Evolving International System-CORRECT ANSWER--Refers to the changing
structure of global politics over time.
, Common Causes of WWI and WWII-CORRECT ANSWER--Militarism, nationalism,
alliance systems, imperial competition, economic instability.
Consequences of WWI and WWII-CORRECT ANSWER--Massive loss of life,
collapse of empires, creation of international institutions, beginning of the Cold War.
Cult of the Offensive-CORRECT ANSWER--Pre-WWI belief that offensive military
strategies had a decisive advantage over defense.
Munich Agreement / Appeasement (1938)-CORRECT ANSWER--Agreement
allowing Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
Causes of the Cold War-CORRECT ANSWER--Ideological conflict between
capitalism and communism, power vacuum after WWII, security fears and mistrust.
Consequences of the Cold War-CORRECT ANSWER--Nuclear arms race, proxy
wars, military alliances, bipolar global system.
Containment-CORRECT ANSWER--Strategy developed by the United States to
prevent the spread of communism.
Arms Race-CORRECT ANSWER--Competitive buildup of military weapons between
rival states.
Proxy War-CORRECT ANSWER--Conflict where major powers support opposing
sides in a third country's war rather than fighting directly.
Realist Critique of Idealism-CORRECT ANSWER--Argues that idealism
overestimates morality and cooperation in international politics.
Classical Realism-CORRECT ANSWER--Focuses on human nature and the desire
for power.
Neorealism (Structural Realism)-CORRECT ANSWER--Focuses on the structure of
the international system (anarchy) rather than human nature.
Anarchy-CORRECT ANSWER--Absence of a global government.
Self-help-CORRECT ANSWER--States must rely on themselves for survival and
security.
Power-CORRECT ANSWER--The ability to influence or control others' behavior.
Theories, and Key Events Newest
Update 2026/2027
Core Principles of International Relations-CORRECT ANSWER--Fundamental ideas
that guide how states interact in the international system.
Collective Goods Problem-CORRECT ANSWER--A situation where a public good
benefits everyone but individuals prefer others to bear the cost of providing it.
Dominance-CORRECT ANSWER--A situation where one actor has enough power to
control or strongly influence others.
Hegemon-CORRECT ANSWER--The dominant state in the international system.
Hegemony-CORRECT ANSWER--A system in which one state possesses
overwhelming power and sets international rules and norms.
Reciprocity-CORRECT ANSWER--The practice of responding to another state's
actions with similar actions.
Identity-CORRECT ANSWER--How a state or group defines itself socially and
politically.
States-CORRECT ANSWER--Sovereign political entities with defined territory,
permanent population, government, and capacity to conduct foreign relations.
Peace of Westphalia (1648)-CORRECT ANSWER--Agreements ending the Thirty
Years' War, establishing the principle of state sovereignty and non-interference in
domestic affairs.
Levels of Analysis Framework-CORRECT ANSWER--A method for explaining
international events at different levels: individual, domestic, and systemic.
Evolving International System-CORRECT ANSWER--Refers to the changing
structure of global politics over time.
, Common Causes of WWI and WWII-CORRECT ANSWER--Militarism, nationalism,
alliance systems, imperial competition, economic instability.
Consequences of WWI and WWII-CORRECT ANSWER--Massive loss of life,
collapse of empires, creation of international institutions, beginning of the Cold War.
Cult of the Offensive-CORRECT ANSWER--Pre-WWI belief that offensive military
strategies had a decisive advantage over defense.
Munich Agreement / Appeasement (1938)-CORRECT ANSWER--Agreement
allowing Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
Causes of the Cold War-CORRECT ANSWER--Ideological conflict between
capitalism and communism, power vacuum after WWII, security fears and mistrust.
Consequences of the Cold War-CORRECT ANSWER--Nuclear arms race, proxy
wars, military alliances, bipolar global system.
Containment-CORRECT ANSWER--Strategy developed by the United States to
prevent the spread of communism.
Arms Race-CORRECT ANSWER--Competitive buildup of military weapons between
rival states.
Proxy War-CORRECT ANSWER--Conflict where major powers support opposing
sides in a third country's war rather than fighting directly.
Realist Critique of Idealism-CORRECT ANSWER--Argues that idealism
overestimates morality and cooperation in international politics.
Classical Realism-CORRECT ANSWER--Focuses on human nature and the desire
for power.
Neorealism (Structural Realism)-CORRECT ANSWER--Focuses on the structure of
the international system (anarchy) rather than human nature.
Anarchy-CORRECT ANSWER--Absence of a global government.
Self-help-CORRECT ANSWER--States must rely on themselves for survival and
security.
Power-CORRECT ANSWER--The ability to influence or control others' behavior.
