Comparative Politics 10th Edition TEST BANK
Chapter 01: Global Challenges.
1. What impact is globalization having on the country you live in? Why do you reach this conclusion?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
2. The text makes the case that change is the only constant in the world today. On the basis of what you already know
about the country you live in, does that argument make sense? Why (not)?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
3. Colonel Christopher Holshek argues that matters over there matters over here. Take one major issue in the world today
and assess his statement for the country you live and/or study in .
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
4. With the increasing prevalence of globalization, do you think the United Nations will become more or less relevant than
it is now? Do you think we are moving towards or away from the realization of transnational governance? Why?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
5. The text makes the case that we live in a more complex or interdependent world in which everything and everyone is
directly or indirectly connected to everything and everyone else. Given what you know about the country you live/study
in, do you agree with that statement? Why (not)?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
6. The text introduces the term VUCA. What does it mean to you? Is it a good description of the world we live in today?
Why do you reach that conclusion?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
7. The text introduces the term wicked problem. Define it and then assess the degree to which it applies to the country
you live/study in.
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
8. Chapter 1 of the text introduces some core concepts in comparative politics, including political culture, political
participation, the state, power, public policy, and feedback. Given what you know now, which of the concepts seems
most important for understanding political life in the country you live/study in? Why do you reach that conclusion?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
9. There are tremendous political, economic, and social differences separating the advanced industrialized democracies
and the rest of the world. Which of those differences seems most important to you given what you know at this time?
Why do you reach that conclusion?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
Page 1
,Chapter 02: Domestic Responses
1. Should political science be considered a science? Why (not)?
2. Draw a system map of the country you live in or the university you attend. Explain in a paragraph or less how each of
the elements in your systems map affects the others directly or indirectly.
3. Comparative analysis helps us understand the similarities and differences between phenomena. Thus, in the book,
Hauss cites the fact that voter turnout is much lower in the United States than in the United Kingdom. Given what you
know at this point, which of the elements of the political system best helps you understand those differences? Why did
you reach this conclusion?
a. True
b. False
4. Of the major system components discussed in Chapter 2, input (political culture, supports and demands), the state,
outputs (public policy), which is most important in understanding politics in the country you live/study in?
5. Chapter 2 includes a template that features historical (imperialism and state building) and contemporary (pressure from
below and globalization). Show how each of them applies to the country that you live/study in.
Page 1
,Chapter 03: The Industrialized Democracies.
1. Which of the following countries is NOT considered a full democracy according to the textbook?
a. United States
b. Japan
c. Mexico
d. Belgium
e. France
ANSWER: c
2. Which of the following countries is considered a full democracy according to the textbook?
a. Mexico
b. Chile
c. Greece
d. Turkey
e. Argentina
ANSWER: c
3. Freedom House has developed an influential scale to determine how __________ a country is.
a. liberal
b. conservative
c. legitimate
d. politicized
e. democratic
ANSWER: e
4. Rather than operating under the literal “rule by the people,” democratic countries have adopted
a. authoritarianism.
b. representative forms of government.
c. communism.
d. capitalism.
e. fascism.
ANSWER: b
5. Freedom of speech is an example of a(n)
a. coalition.
b. right.
c. rule.
d. civil code.
e. penalty.
ANSWER: b
Page 1
, 6. The United States is unique among industrialized democracies because it has
a. a written constitution.
b. regular, competitive elections.
c. a free press.
d. an elected parliament.
e. two major political parties.
ANSWER: e
7. The role of competitive elections is best described as
a. one of multiple factors, including rule of law and civil society, for determining if a society is democratic.
b. the sole determining criteria for establishing if a society is democratic.
c. best achieved through the use of force.
d. only legitimate if 75 percent of eligible voters cast their ballot.
e. necessary for the development of a capitalist economy.
ANSWER: a
8. The different ways of counting votes and allocating seats in legislatures is known by what term?
a. Separation of powers
b. Selective representation
c. Division of labor
d. Electoral systems
e. Separation of powers
ANSWER: d
9. When the things that people are allowed to do or not do are spelled out in a constitution or in laws, this is known as
a. rule of law.
b. anarchy.
c. totalitarianism.
d. fascism.
e. democracy.
ANSWER: a
Page 2
Chapter 01: Global Challenges.
1. What impact is globalization having on the country you live in? Why do you reach this conclusion?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
2. The text makes the case that change is the only constant in the world today. On the basis of what you already know
about the country you live in, does that argument make sense? Why (not)?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
3. Colonel Christopher Holshek argues that matters over there matters over here. Take one major issue in the world today
and assess his statement for the country you live and/or study in .
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
4. With the increasing prevalence of globalization, do you think the United Nations will become more or less relevant than
it is now? Do you think we are moving towards or away from the realization of transnational governance? Why?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
5. The text makes the case that we live in a more complex or interdependent world in which everything and everyone is
directly or indirectly connected to everything and everyone else. Given what you know about the country you live/study
in, do you agree with that statement? Why (not)?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
6. The text introduces the term VUCA. What does it mean to you? Is it a good description of the world we live in today?
Why do you reach that conclusion?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
7. The text introduces the term wicked problem. Define it and then assess the degree to which it applies to the country
you live/study in.
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
8. Chapter 1 of the text introduces some core concepts in comparative politics, including political culture, political
participation, the state, power, public policy, and feedback. Given what you know now, which of the concepts seems
most important for understanding political life in the country you live/study in? Why do you reach that conclusion?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
9. There are tremendous political, economic, and social differences separating the advanced industrialized democracies
and the rest of the world. Which of those differences seems most important to you given what you know at this time?
Why do you reach that conclusion?
ANSWER: Answers may vary.
Page 1
,Chapter 02: Domestic Responses
1. Should political science be considered a science? Why (not)?
2. Draw a system map of the country you live in or the university you attend. Explain in a paragraph or less how each of
the elements in your systems map affects the others directly or indirectly.
3. Comparative analysis helps us understand the similarities and differences between phenomena. Thus, in the book,
Hauss cites the fact that voter turnout is much lower in the United States than in the United Kingdom. Given what you
know at this point, which of the elements of the political system best helps you understand those differences? Why did
you reach this conclusion?
a. True
b. False
4. Of the major system components discussed in Chapter 2, input (political culture, supports and demands), the state,
outputs (public policy), which is most important in understanding politics in the country you live/study in?
5. Chapter 2 includes a template that features historical (imperialism and state building) and contemporary (pressure from
below and globalization). Show how each of them applies to the country that you live/study in.
Page 1
,Chapter 03: The Industrialized Democracies.
1. Which of the following countries is NOT considered a full democracy according to the textbook?
a. United States
b. Japan
c. Mexico
d. Belgium
e. France
ANSWER: c
2. Which of the following countries is considered a full democracy according to the textbook?
a. Mexico
b. Chile
c. Greece
d. Turkey
e. Argentina
ANSWER: c
3. Freedom House has developed an influential scale to determine how __________ a country is.
a. liberal
b. conservative
c. legitimate
d. politicized
e. democratic
ANSWER: e
4. Rather than operating under the literal “rule by the people,” democratic countries have adopted
a. authoritarianism.
b. representative forms of government.
c. communism.
d. capitalism.
e. fascism.
ANSWER: b
5. Freedom of speech is an example of a(n)
a. coalition.
b. right.
c. rule.
d. civil code.
e. penalty.
ANSWER: b
Page 1
, 6. The United States is unique among industrialized democracies because it has
a. a written constitution.
b. regular, competitive elections.
c. a free press.
d. an elected parliament.
e. two major political parties.
ANSWER: e
7. The role of competitive elections is best described as
a. one of multiple factors, including rule of law and civil society, for determining if a society is democratic.
b. the sole determining criteria for establishing if a society is democratic.
c. best achieved through the use of force.
d. only legitimate if 75 percent of eligible voters cast their ballot.
e. necessary for the development of a capitalist economy.
ANSWER: a
8. The different ways of counting votes and allocating seats in legislatures is known by what term?
a. Separation of powers
b. Selective representation
c. Division of labor
d. Electoral systems
e. Separation of powers
ANSWER: d
9. When the things that people are allowed to do or not do are spelled out in a constitution or in laws, this is known as
a. rule of law.
b. anarchy.
c. totalitarianism.
d. fascism.
e. democracy.
ANSWER: a
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