INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TERMS
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Imperialism - ANSWER -the practice of foreign conquest and rule in the context of
global relations of hierarchy and subordination. It can lead to the establishment of an
empire.
Enlightenment - ANSWER-associated with rationalist thinkers of the 18th century. Key
ideas include: secularism, progress, reason, science, knowledge and freedom
Democratic peace thesis - ANSWER-Makes two claims (1) liberal polities exhibit
restraint in their relations with other liberal polities (2) they are imprudent in relations
with authoritarian states
Free trade - ANSWER-an essential element of capitalism that argues for no barriers to
the exchange of goods, services, and investments between states
Empire - ANSWER-a distinct type o political entity, which may or may not be a state,
possessing both a home territory and foreign territories. This may include conquered
nations and colonies
Collective security - ANSWER-a security arrangement in which all states cooperate
collectively to provide security for all by the actions of all against any states within the
groups which might challenge the existing order by using sanctions and force.
Integration - ANSWER-a process of ever-closer union between states, in a regional or
international context. The process often begins with cooperation to solve technical
problems.
Functionalism - ANSWER-An idea that suggests that cooperation should begin with
efforts aimed at resolving specific regional or transnational problems.
Transnational non-state actor - ANSWER-any non-state actor or nongovernmental actor
from one country that has relations with any actor from another country or with an
international organization.
Pluralism - ANSWER-political power and influence in society does no belong just to the
elite groups in various sectors of society, but I distributed among a wide number of
groups in society. It can also mean recognition of ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity.
Interdependence - ANSWER-condition where states (or people) are affected by
decisions taken by others. Can be symmetric or asymmetric.
,Relative gains - ANSWER-states are less concerned about whether everyone benefits
(absolute gains) and more concerned about whether someone may benefit more than
someone else.
Neo-liberalism - ANSWER-see the international system as archaic but believe the
establishment of international institutions and regimes can manage relations. Purports
that actors with common interests will try to maximize their gains.
Liberalism of privilege - ANSWER-developed democratic states have a responsibility to
spread liberal values for the benefit of all peoples of earth.
Radical liberalism - ANSWER-This is the utopian side of liberalism. Scholars advocated
a world in which states promote values like social justice, economic well being, peace,
and ecological balance. These scholars see the liberal order as predatory and clearly in
need of transformation.
Democratic deficit - ANSWER-leaders have created to many policy making institutions
at the global, regional, and national levels with policy-making power led by individuals
who are appointed and not elected. Thus policy decisions are not subject to review by
citizens.
Society of states - ANSWER-an association of sovereign states based on their common
interests, values, and norms.
Cosmopolitan society - ANSWER-a condition in which international organizations,
transnational corporations and global markets are accountable to the peoples of the
world.
Interparadigm debate - ANSWER-debate between two theoretical approaches namely
liberalism and realism
Normative theory - ANSWER-systemic analyses of the ethical, moral, and political
principles, that either governs or ought to govern the organization or conduct of global
politics. The belief that theories should be concerned with what ought to be, rather than
diagnosing what is.
Non-state actor - ANSWER-any actor that is not a government
Positivism - ANSWER-we can explain the social world the same as scientists do with
the natural sciences. Post-positivists believe we cannot possibly be objective observers
because we are actively or passively a part of the events and issues unfolding before
us.
, Economic base - ANSWER-the substructure of the society is the relationship between
owners and workers. Capitalists own the means and production so they exploit their
workers
Superstructure - ANSWER-the government or political structure that is controlled by
those who own the means of production
Class - ANSWER-social group that in Marxism is identified by its relationship with
means of production and the distribution of societal resources. Examples: bourgeoisie,
and proletariat (worker)
Monopoly capitalism - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-Realism and liberalism are problem-solving
theories. Example: How can we fix capitalism? How can we make society more
democratic?
Critical theory - ANSWER-theories that are critical of the status quo and reject that
things can be fixed under present system.
Ideational - ANSWER-refers to ideas like democracy, capitalism, peace and social
justice
Game theory - ANSWER-a branch of mathematics that explores strategic interaction
World order - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-The normative and the institutional pattern in the
relationship between states. Includes issues such as - sovereignty the forms of
diplomacy, international law etc.
Feminism - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-"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
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
Imperialism - ANSWER -the practice of foreign conquest and rule in the context of
global relations of hierarchy and subordination. It can lead to the establishment of an
empire.
Enlightenment - ANSWER-associated with rationalist thinkers of the 18th century. Key
ideas include: secularism, progress, reason, science, knowledge and freedom
Democratic peace thesis - ANSWER-Makes two claims (1) liberal polities exhibit
restraint in their relations with other liberal polities (2) they are imprudent in relations
with authoritarian states
Free trade - ANSWER-an essential element of capitalism that argues for no barriers to
the exchange of goods, services, and investments between states
Empire - ANSWER-a distinct type o political entity, which may or may not be a state,
possessing both a home territory and foreign territories. This may include conquered
nations and colonies
Collective security - ANSWER-a security arrangement in which all states cooperate
collectively to provide security for all by the actions of all against any states within the
groups which might challenge the existing order by using sanctions and force.
Integration - ANSWER-a process of ever-closer union between states, in a regional or
international context. The process often begins with cooperation to solve technical
problems.
Functionalism - ANSWER-An idea that suggests that cooperation should begin with
efforts aimed at resolving specific regional or transnational problems.
Transnational non-state actor - ANSWER-any non-state actor or nongovernmental actor
from one country that has relations with any actor from another country or with an
international organization.
Pluralism - ANSWER-political power and influence in society does no belong just to the
elite groups in various sectors of society, but I distributed among a wide number of
groups in society. It can also mean recognition of ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity.
Interdependence - ANSWER-condition where states (or people) are affected by
decisions taken by others. Can be symmetric or asymmetric.
,Relative gains - ANSWER-states are less concerned about whether everyone benefits
(absolute gains) and more concerned about whether someone may benefit more than
someone else.
Neo-liberalism - ANSWER-see the international system as archaic but believe the
establishment of international institutions and regimes can manage relations. Purports
that actors with common interests will try to maximize their gains.
Liberalism of privilege - ANSWER-developed democratic states have a responsibility to
spread liberal values for the benefit of all peoples of earth.
Radical liberalism - ANSWER-This is the utopian side of liberalism. Scholars advocated
a world in which states promote values like social justice, economic well being, peace,
and ecological balance. These scholars see the liberal order as predatory and clearly in
need of transformation.
Democratic deficit - ANSWER-leaders have created to many policy making institutions
at the global, regional, and national levels with policy-making power led by individuals
who are appointed and not elected. Thus policy decisions are not subject to review by
citizens.
Society of states - ANSWER-an association of sovereign states based on their common
interests, values, and norms.
Cosmopolitan society - ANSWER-a condition in which international organizations,
transnational corporations and global markets are accountable to the peoples of the
world.
Interparadigm debate - ANSWER-debate between two theoretical approaches namely
liberalism and realism
Normative theory - ANSWER-systemic analyses of the ethical, moral, and political
principles, that either governs or ought to govern the organization or conduct of global
politics. The belief that theories should be concerned with what ought to be, rather than
diagnosing what is.
Non-state actor - ANSWER-any actor that is not a government
Positivism - ANSWER-we can explain the social world the same as scientists do with
the natural sciences. Post-positivists believe we cannot possibly be objective observers
because we are actively or passively a part of the events and issues unfolding before
us.
, Economic base - ANSWER-the substructure of the society is the relationship between
owners and workers. Capitalists own the means and production so they exploit their
workers
Superstructure - ANSWER-the government or political structure that is controlled by
those who own the means of production
Class - ANSWER-social group that in Marxism is identified by its relationship with
means of production and the distribution of societal resources. Examples: bourgeoisie,
and proletariat (worker)
Monopoly capitalism - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-Realism and liberalism are problem-solving
theories. Example: How can we fix capitalism? How can we make society more
democratic?
Critical theory - ANSWER-theories that are critical of the status quo and reject that
things can be fixed under present system.
Ideational - ANSWER-refers to ideas like democracy, capitalism, peace and social
justice
Game theory - ANSWER-a branch of mathematics that explores strategic interaction
World order - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-The normative and the institutional pattern in the
relationship between states. Includes issues such as - sovereignty the forms of
diplomacy, international law etc.
Feminism - ANSWER-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 - ANSWER-"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
