PS 100 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
EXAM Q&A
What is multilateralism? - ANSWER-An approach to international politics where groups
of countries work together collectively to resolve problems and prevent conflict
What is the connection between multilateralism and the United Nations? - ANSWER-
The United Nations is the prominent form of multilateralism
What are the main goals of the United Nations? - ANSWER-Maintain international
peace and security
What is the principle of collective security and how does it relate to the mandate of the
United
Nations? - ANSWER-Nation states respect each other's sovereignty and promise to use
their collective strengths to deter or punish aggressors who violate international peace
and law
What is arms control? - ANSWER-Negotiations and agreement to limit the production of
new weapons
What is disarmament? - ANSWER-Negotiations and agreements to reduce or eliminate
existing weapons
What is preventive diplomacy? - ANSWER-Process for resolving international disputes
before they escalate to armed conflict
What is peaceful settlement? - ANSWER-Resolution of disputes through non-violent
means such as mediation or influence
What is globalization? - ANSWER-A state of the international economy where national
economies become increasingly interdependent
What are some examples of globalization? - ANSWER-Business moving operations to
other countries, international movement of capital, increased international trade-flows
What are the main effects of globalization? - ANSWER-Challenge to state sovereignty,
political instability, environmental degradation, and the plight of labor
What is regional integration? - ANSWER-The process by which countries in a world
region agree to integrate specific government activities and policies
Ex: European Union
, What is realism? - ANSWER-A dominant theory in international relations where states
are the only important actors in the international system
What are the six principles of realism? - ANSWER-1. International politics is governed
by objective laws and state behavior
2. States motivated by "interest defined as power"
3. National interests change over time
4. Universal moral behavior doesn't influence state behavior
5. Moral principle of individual nation-state doesn't influence state behavior
6. International relations is distinct from moral philosophy, economics, and law
What is war? - ANSWER-War is a military activity or armed violence carried out in an
organized and systematic way by nation-states seeking to impose their will on other
nation-states
What is the difference and the similarity between war and conflict? - ANSWER-War is
armed and violent conflict
What is the main cause of conventional war in the modern international system? -
ANSWER-Nation-states and their pursuit of national interest colliding with national
interest of other nation-states
What is the cause of civil war? - ANSWER-Groups and factions inside a nation-state
engage in armed, violent conflict
Why is the cause of civil war exceptional? - ANSWER-It's exceptional because it is
internal conflict within a nation-state
Why is the cause of international terrorism
exceptional? - ANSWER-It's exceptional because it is not war between nations states.
Terrorist organizations are transnational, and involve domestic security concerns
What is peace? - ANSWER-The absence of war, harmony among nation-states but
conflict is still present
Why is war undesirable? - ANSWER-Because of the costs of war
What are the three types of costs of war? - ANSWER-Economic, human, and political
and social costs
How does a balance of power achieve world peace? - ANSWER-Powerful countries
balance each other out
How do UN third party activities achieve world peace? - ANSWER-UN intervene to
diffuse conflict
EXAM Q&A
What is multilateralism? - ANSWER-An approach to international politics where groups
of countries work together collectively to resolve problems and prevent conflict
What is the connection between multilateralism and the United Nations? - ANSWER-
The United Nations is the prominent form of multilateralism
What are the main goals of the United Nations? - ANSWER-Maintain international
peace and security
What is the principle of collective security and how does it relate to the mandate of the
United
Nations? - ANSWER-Nation states respect each other's sovereignty and promise to use
their collective strengths to deter or punish aggressors who violate international peace
and law
What is arms control? - ANSWER-Negotiations and agreement to limit the production of
new weapons
What is disarmament? - ANSWER-Negotiations and agreements to reduce or eliminate
existing weapons
What is preventive diplomacy? - ANSWER-Process for resolving international disputes
before they escalate to armed conflict
What is peaceful settlement? - ANSWER-Resolution of disputes through non-violent
means such as mediation or influence
What is globalization? - ANSWER-A state of the international economy where national
economies become increasingly interdependent
What are some examples of globalization? - ANSWER-Business moving operations to
other countries, international movement of capital, increased international trade-flows
What are the main effects of globalization? - ANSWER-Challenge to state sovereignty,
political instability, environmental degradation, and the plight of labor
What is regional integration? - ANSWER-The process by which countries in a world
region agree to integrate specific government activities and policies
Ex: European Union
, What is realism? - ANSWER-A dominant theory in international relations where states
are the only important actors in the international system
What are the six principles of realism? - ANSWER-1. International politics is governed
by objective laws and state behavior
2. States motivated by "interest defined as power"
3. National interests change over time
4. Universal moral behavior doesn't influence state behavior
5. Moral principle of individual nation-state doesn't influence state behavior
6. International relations is distinct from moral philosophy, economics, and law
What is war? - ANSWER-War is a military activity or armed violence carried out in an
organized and systematic way by nation-states seeking to impose their will on other
nation-states
What is the difference and the similarity between war and conflict? - ANSWER-War is
armed and violent conflict
What is the main cause of conventional war in the modern international system? -
ANSWER-Nation-states and their pursuit of national interest colliding with national
interest of other nation-states
What is the cause of civil war? - ANSWER-Groups and factions inside a nation-state
engage in armed, violent conflict
Why is the cause of civil war exceptional? - ANSWER-It's exceptional because it is
internal conflict within a nation-state
Why is the cause of international terrorism
exceptional? - ANSWER-It's exceptional because it is not war between nations states.
Terrorist organizations are transnational, and involve domestic security concerns
What is peace? - ANSWER-The absence of war, harmony among nation-states but
conflict is still present
Why is war undesirable? - ANSWER-Because of the costs of war
What are the three types of costs of war? - ANSWER-Economic, human, and political
and social costs
How does a balance of power achieve world peace? - ANSWER-Powerful countries
balance each other out
How do UN third party activities achieve world peace? - ANSWER-UN intervene to
diffuse conflict
