MIDTERM-FINAL QUIZ-INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the scientific method? - ANSWER-Disciplined thought acquired as a result of
systematic testing
-what really constitutes the scientific method is not the content but the method
What is the goal of the scientific method? - ANSWER--only with the adoption of
scientific method we can reach a general theory of behavior
-explanations of behavior that capture regularities in behavior and apply to as many
cases as possible
Can you name the major elements/steps in the scientific method? - ANSWER-1.
Choose your topic and ask a question (driven by theory)
2. Formulate an answer in the form of a working hypothesis that provides an answer
3. Collection of data
4. Use of data
-choose technique to analyze data you have collected
-statistical techniques (quantitative analyses)
-case study, comparative case study (qualitative analysis)
5. Draw inferences, make the procedure public
-report uncertainty (probabilistic statements- holds only under certain conditions)
Can you give examples of hypotheses (cause and effect relations) that can be tested
using the scientific method? - ANSWER--states with resource dependent economies
are more likely to experience civil wars
-counterinsurgents that victimize civilians to find insurgents are less successful in
reducing insurgent attacks
Can you name the levels of analysis that international relations scholars commonly
adopt? - ANSWER-1. Individual
2. State or internal
3. Global or system
What is the methodological question that drives the levels of analysis approach? -
ANSWER-Where are the major causes of behavior to be found?
-levels of analysis problem is not a problem of identifying the specific causes of why
states do what they do
-instead, it is a problem of where to find such causes
Which specific entities are the levels focusing on? - ANSWER-1. Individual
-action begins in the minds and emotions of men
,-individual factors that we can adopt: individual perceptions and beliefs; personal
character and human psychology
2. International System
-causes of behavior originate from the system level. Certain characteristics of the
international system affect states' behavior
-most comprehensive of the levels
3. State
-causes of behavior emanate from internal politics of states such as regime type,
economic system, and domestic groups
Which level of analysis might be the most problematic one? Why? - ANSWER-Individual
because it is not always testable or easy to test. It is also hard to falsify
According to your perspective, is it a micro or macro level analysis that better explains
state behavior in world politics? - ANSWER--macro explains what has occurred
because of factors emanating from the environment outside a particular decision
making unit
-micro helps us understand the significance of events from the point of view of people
within the units
Broadly speaking, who are the two main types of actors that international relations
study? - ANSWER--states
-non-state actors
-interact in a cooperative of conflictual way
When does a political entity acquire statehood? - ANSWER-1. Prior to 1920:
-population greater than 500,000 and have had diplomatic missions with Britain and
France
2. After 1920:
-member of UN (with UNSC approval) or League of Nations
-or, have population greater than 500,000 and receive diplomatic missions from any two
major powers (France, Russia, China, UK, USA)
What does sovereignty mean? - ANSWER-self-governing, supreme power or authority
Is there a distinction between internal and external sovereignty? - ANSWER--internal:
supremacy over all entities within one's territory (can change due to civil war, ex: Syria,
has external but not internal)
-external: independence from authorities outside that territory
What is the role that the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) played in establishing the
sovereignty of state? - ANSWER--recognized the existence and defined the rights of
sovereign states
-challenged hierarchical structure, thirty years war
, Can you give examples of non-state actors? - ANSWER--International organizations
(IGOs- World bank, IMF, UN)
-nongovernmental organizations (NGOs- Catholic church)
-violent non-state actors
-MNCs
-indigenous groups
What do you think is the main difference between inter-governmental (IGOs) and non-
governmental organization (NGOs)? - ANSWER-1. intergovernmental organization:
broadly defined, the way states arrange themselves for purposes of promoting
cooperative and collaborative practices in world politics
2. nongovernmental organization: transnational organization composed of private
actors, whether individuals or groups
How would you define anarchy? - ANSWER-lack of a world government
What is the relationship between state sovereignty and anarchy? - ANSWER--direct
outcome of sovereignty
If anarchy is defining characteristic of the international system, then, how does this
affect state behavior? - ANSWER--state uses force to defend itself
-goal is to survive, needs power to do this
-anarchic system is a self help system
Is building power important in an anarchic system? Why? - ANSWER-yes, so one
power doesn't become stronger than another and threaten a state's own sovereignty
Power is a core concept in the study of international relations; especially in realist
theories of state behavior. Can you suggest a definition of power? - ANSWER-ability of
a nation to exercise and resist influence
-war fighting capacity
How do scientists measure power? - ANSWER-By material capabilities:
-population
-industrial production and consumption
-military personnel and expenditures
*states with highest power score high on all of these indicators
*power is relative to other states
Can you give examples to the main indicators that scholars use to measure power? -
ANSWER-Correlates of War project measures power according to states' material
capabilities
1. Demographic indicators
-urban population
RELATIONS EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the scientific method? - ANSWER-Disciplined thought acquired as a result of
systematic testing
-what really constitutes the scientific method is not the content but the method
What is the goal of the scientific method? - ANSWER--only with the adoption of
scientific method we can reach a general theory of behavior
-explanations of behavior that capture regularities in behavior and apply to as many
cases as possible
Can you name the major elements/steps in the scientific method? - ANSWER-1.
Choose your topic and ask a question (driven by theory)
2. Formulate an answer in the form of a working hypothesis that provides an answer
3. Collection of data
4. Use of data
-choose technique to analyze data you have collected
-statistical techniques (quantitative analyses)
-case study, comparative case study (qualitative analysis)
5. Draw inferences, make the procedure public
-report uncertainty (probabilistic statements- holds only under certain conditions)
Can you give examples of hypotheses (cause and effect relations) that can be tested
using the scientific method? - ANSWER--states with resource dependent economies
are more likely to experience civil wars
-counterinsurgents that victimize civilians to find insurgents are less successful in
reducing insurgent attacks
Can you name the levels of analysis that international relations scholars commonly
adopt? - ANSWER-1. Individual
2. State or internal
3. Global or system
What is the methodological question that drives the levels of analysis approach? -
ANSWER-Where are the major causes of behavior to be found?
-levels of analysis problem is not a problem of identifying the specific causes of why
states do what they do
-instead, it is a problem of where to find such causes
Which specific entities are the levels focusing on? - ANSWER-1. Individual
-action begins in the minds and emotions of men
,-individual factors that we can adopt: individual perceptions and beliefs; personal
character and human psychology
2. International System
-causes of behavior originate from the system level. Certain characteristics of the
international system affect states' behavior
-most comprehensive of the levels
3. State
-causes of behavior emanate from internal politics of states such as regime type,
economic system, and domestic groups
Which level of analysis might be the most problematic one? Why? - ANSWER-Individual
because it is not always testable or easy to test. It is also hard to falsify
According to your perspective, is it a micro or macro level analysis that better explains
state behavior in world politics? - ANSWER--macro explains what has occurred
because of factors emanating from the environment outside a particular decision
making unit
-micro helps us understand the significance of events from the point of view of people
within the units
Broadly speaking, who are the two main types of actors that international relations
study? - ANSWER--states
-non-state actors
-interact in a cooperative of conflictual way
When does a political entity acquire statehood? - ANSWER-1. Prior to 1920:
-population greater than 500,000 and have had diplomatic missions with Britain and
France
2. After 1920:
-member of UN (with UNSC approval) or League of Nations
-or, have population greater than 500,000 and receive diplomatic missions from any two
major powers (France, Russia, China, UK, USA)
What does sovereignty mean? - ANSWER-self-governing, supreme power or authority
Is there a distinction between internal and external sovereignty? - ANSWER--internal:
supremacy over all entities within one's territory (can change due to civil war, ex: Syria,
has external but not internal)
-external: independence from authorities outside that territory
What is the role that the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) played in establishing the
sovereignty of state? - ANSWER--recognized the existence and defined the rights of
sovereign states
-challenged hierarchical structure, thirty years war
, Can you give examples of non-state actors? - ANSWER--International organizations
(IGOs- World bank, IMF, UN)
-nongovernmental organizations (NGOs- Catholic church)
-violent non-state actors
-MNCs
-indigenous groups
What do you think is the main difference between inter-governmental (IGOs) and non-
governmental organization (NGOs)? - ANSWER-1. intergovernmental organization:
broadly defined, the way states arrange themselves for purposes of promoting
cooperative and collaborative practices in world politics
2. nongovernmental organization: transnational organization composed of private
actors, whether individuals or groups
How would you define anarchy? - ANSWER-lack of a world government
What is the relationship between state sovereignty and anarchy? - ANSWER--direct
outcome of sovereignty
If anarchy is defining characteristic of the international system, then, how does this
affect state behavior? - ANSWER--state uses force to defend itself
-goal is to survive, needs power to do this
-anarchic system is a self help system
Is building power important in an anarchic system? Why? - ANSWER-yes, so one
power doesn't become stronger than another and threaten a state's own sovereignty
Power is a core concept in the study of international relations; especially in realist
theories of state behavior. Can you suggest a definition of power? - ANSWER-ability of
a nation to exercise and resist influence
-war fighting capacity
How do scientists measure power? - ANSWER-By material capabilities:
-population
-industrial production and consumption
-military personnel and expenditures
*states with highest power score high on all of these indicators
*power is relative to other states
Can you give examples to the main indicators that scholars use to measure power? -
ANSWER-Correlates of War project measures power according to states' material
capabilities
1. Demographic indicators
-urban population
