BASIC TERMS AND CONCEPTS FOR
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
power - ANSWER-the ability or potential to influence behavior of others as measured by
the possession of certain tangible and intangible characteristics
interdependence - ANSWER-the increasing interrelationship and mutual dependence
among nations, especially in an economic sense
geopolitics - ANSWER-the use of geography as an element of power; theories and
concepts emphasizing location, size, and geographic factors as primary influences in IR
imperialism - ANSWER-a policy or course of action that through which a state imposes
control over others; identified with the acquisition of colonies or colonial authority
non-governmental organizations (NGO) - ANSWER-international/transnational
organizations with private membership that interact with states (IGOs), multinational
corporations (MNCs), other NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations
nan-state actors - ANSWER-transnationally active groups other than states, such as
international organizations whose members are states and non-governmental
organizations whose members are individuals and private groups from more than one
state
proliferation - ANSWER-the spread of weapons capabilities from a few to many states
preemption - ANSWER-taking action against an opponent before the opponent can act;
acting against a potential threat
soft power - ANSWER-power based on intangible or indirect influences such as culture,
values, and ideology; the ability to advance interests through attraction rather than
through coercion. Involves economic assistance, public diplomacy, educational and
cultural exchange
diplomacy - ANSWER-the range of actions taken by a nation to represent and pursue its
interests
public diplomacy - ANSWER-the process of creating an overall international image that
enhances a country's ability to achieve diplomatic success; promoting national interests
by understanding, informing, and influencing foreign audiences
, deterrence - ANSWER-strategy of having a credible counter-threat so as to pose
unacceptable risks to an opponent considering an attack
containment - ANSWER-a guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy in the post-World War
II period based on preventing the spread of Soviet communism; more broadly used to
describe a strategy aimed at preventing a state from using force to increase its territory
or sphere of influence
détente - ANSWER-French term indicating lessening or relaxation of tensions between
nations
weapons of mass destruction - ANSWER-generally deemed to be nuclear weapons with
massive destructive capabilities, but may also include exceptionally devastating
conventional arms as week as certain biological and chemical weapons
international political economy - ANSWER-study of the politics/policies of trade,
monetary and other economic relations among nations and their connection to
transnational forces
international security - ANSWER-a subfield of IR that focuses on questions of war and
peace
just war doctrine - ANSWER-a moral criteria identifying when a 'just war' may be
undertaken and how it should be fought
free trade - ANSWER-the flow of goods and services across national boundaries
unimpeded by tariffs or other restrictions
free trade area - ANSWER-a zone in which there are no tariffs or other restrictions on
the movement of goods and services across borders
cartel - ANSWER-an association of producers or consumers (or both) of a certain
product, formed for the purpose of manipulating the price on the world market
protectionism - ANSWER-protection of domestic industries against international
competition by trade, tariffs and other means
mercantilism - ANSWER-the economic theory and political ideology opposed to free
trade; it shares with the realism belief that each state must protect its own interests
without seeking mutual gains through international organizations and agreement
balance of trade - ANSWER-a value of a state's exports relative to its imports
genocide - ANSWER-systematic persecution/extermination of a group of people on the
basis of their national, ethnic, racial or religious identity
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
power - ANSWER-the ability or potential to influence behavior of others as measured by
the possession of certain tangible and intangible characteristics
interdependence - ANSWER-the increasing interrelationship and mutual dependence
among nations, especially in an economic sense
geopolitics - ANSWER-the use of geography as an element of power; theories and
concepts emphasizing location, size, and geographic factors as primary influences in IR
imperialism - ANSWER-a policy or course of action that through which a state imposes
control over others; identified with the acquisition of colonies or colonial authority
non-governmental organizations (NGO) - ANSWER-international/transnational
organizations with private membership that interact with states (IGOs), multinational
corporations (MNCs), other NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations
nan-state actors - ANSWER-transnationally active groups other than states, such as
international organizations whose members are states and non-governmental
organizations whose members are individuals and private groups from more than one
state
proliferation - ANSWER-the spread of weapons capabilities from a few to many states
preemption - ANSWER-taking action against an opponent before the opponent can act;
acting against a potential threat
soft power - ANSWER-power based on intangible or indirect influences such as culture,
values, and ideology; the ability to advance interests through attraction rather than
through coercion. Involves economic assistance, public diplomacy, educational and
cultural exchange
diplomacy - ANSWER-the range of actions taken by a nation to represent and pursue its
interests
public diplomacy - ANSWER-the process of creating an overall international image that
enhances a country's ability to achieve diplomatic success; promoting national interests
by understanding, informing, and influencing foreign audiences
, deterrence - ANSWER-strategy of having a credible counter-threat so as to pose
unacceptable risks to an opponent considering an attack
containment - ANSWER-a guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy in the post-World War
II period based on preventing the spread of Soviet communism; more broadly used to
describe a strategy aimed at preventing a state from using force to increase its territory
or sphere of influence
détente - ANSWER-French term indicating lessening or relaxation of tensions between
nations
weapons of mass destruction - ANSWER-generally deemed to be nuclear weapons with
massive destructive capabilities, but may also include exceptionally devastating
conventional arms as week as certain biological and chemical weapons
international political economy - ANSWER-study of the politics/policies of trade,
monetary and other economic relations among nations and their connection to
transnational forces
international security - ANSWER-a subfield of IR that focuses on questions of war and
peace
just war doctrine - ANSWER-a moral criteria identifying when a 'just war' may be
undertaken and how it should be fought
free trade - ANSWER-the flow of goods and services across national boundaries
unimpeded by tariffs or other restrictions
free trade area - ANSWER-a zone in which there are no tariffs or other restrictions on
the movement of goods and services across borders
cartel - ANSWER-an association of producers or consumers (or both) of a certain
product, formed for the purpose of manipulating the price on the world market
protectionism - ANSWER-protection of domestic industries against international
competition by trade, tariffs and other means
mercantilism - ANSWER-the economic theory and political ideology opposed to free
trade; it shares with the realism belief that each state must protect its own interests
without seeking mutual gains through international organizations and agreement
balance of trade - ANSWER-a value of a state's exports relative to its imports
genocide - ANSWER-systematic persecution/extermination of a group of people on the
basis of their national, ethnic, racial or religious identity
