INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
Primary Approaches to understanding events and actions in International Relations -
Answer -1) Single Event/person: focus on individual, limited application
2) Normative/Prescriptive: focus on what should be, use political tools to advance
objectives and desired outcomes
3) Empirical/Descriptive: identify patterns of behavior, see world as it is
What is a theory? - Answer -a story constructed to describe and explain something
What are the characteristics associated with an effective theory? - Answer -1)
falsifiability
2) unity
3) simplicity/elegance
What are the different levels of analysis (described as contexts in the textbook) that are
used to
analyze events in IR? - Answer -1) individual context: role of political leaders
2) state context
3) global context
What are the three primary areas of international relations identified by S&Z? - Answer
-1) international politics
2) international law
3) international political economy
What is the problem of depletion? - Answer -threats to forests, sources of fresh water,
and many plants and animals (EXTINCTION)
What is power? - Answer -control of environment, ability to alter behaviors of others,
and possession of tools or resources that may be used to affect change
What is authority? - Answer -the right to use power
What does the concept of legitimacy refer to? - Answer -public willingness to accept
authority of its leaders/govt.
What are the primary sources of legitimacy identified in class? - Answer -1) charisma
2) traditional (continuation of established ways)
3) legal/procedural: coming into power "right" way
What actors are important to the study of international relations? - Answer -1) the
states
, 2) nations or national groups
3) nation-states
4) international organizations
5) multi-national corporations
6) criminal organizations
What are the defining characteristics of each set of actors? - Answer -1) the states:
political/legal nature, defined territory, population, govt. exercising sovereignty
2) nations: social/culture nature, population
3) nation-states: combination of characteristics
4) international organizations: IGOS and NGOS
5) multi-national organizations: impact on global economy
6) criminal organizations: trans-national illegal activities
How did the state system develop? - Answer -The 30 Years War under the Treaty of
Westphalia established the principle of sovereignty and legal equality between states.
How many states are part of the modern international system? - Answer -193
How does the concept of a nation differ from that of the state? - Answer -A state is a
government entity with a settled population occupying a permanent area with
recognized borders. A nation more commonly refers a homogeneous country with no
large ethnic minorities.
What impact did the Thirty Year's War have on the development of the state? - Answer
-It ushered in the modern international system and brought upon the Westphalia
System, an international community made up of independent states.
In the Melian dialogue, which group's behavior is most consistent with realism? -
Answer -Athenians
. How do the Athenians respond to the Melians arguments about:
a. Neutrality?
b. Their alliances?
c. The importance of the gods?
d. The justice of their cause? - Answer -a) If they allow the Melians to be neutral, then
the Athenians appear weak.
b) They believed that Melians could not fully count on their allies because they would do
what benefited them.
c) Just like the Melians, the Athenians believe the gods are on their side as well.
d) that is opinion based
What are the primary functions of political systems? - Answer -1) security of territory
2) security of population
3) promotion of economic growth
4) general welfare
Primary Approaches to understanding events and actions in International Relations -
Answer -1) Single Event/person: focus on individual, limited application
2) Normative/Prescriptive: focus on what should be, use political tools to advance
objectives and desired outcomes
3) Empirical/Descriptive: identify patterns of behavior, see world as it is
What is a theory? - Answer -a story constructed to describe and explain something
What are the characteristics associated with an effective theory? - Answer -1)
falsifiability
2) unity
3) simplicity/elegance
What are the different levels of analysis (described as contexts in the textbook) that are
used to
analyze events in IR? - Answer -1) individual context: role of political leaders
2) state context
3) global context
What are the three primary areas of international relations identified by S&Z? - Answer
-1) international politics
2) international law
3) international political economy
What is the problem of depletion? - Answer -threats to forests, sources of fresh water,
and many plants and animals (EXTINCTION)
What is power? - Answer -control of environment, ability to alter behaviors of others,
and possession of tools or resources that may be used to affect change
What is authority? - Answer -the right to use power
What does the concept of legitimacy refer to? - Answer -public willingness to accept
authority of its leaders/govt.
What are the primary sources of legitimacy identified in class? - Answer -1) charisma
2) traditional (continuation of established ways)
3) legal/procedural: coming into power "right" way
What actors are important to the study of international relations? - Answer -1) the
states
, 2) nations or national groups
3) nation-states
4) international organizations
5) multi-national corporations
6) criminal organizations
What are the defining characteristics of each set of actors? - Answer -1) the states:
political/legal nature, defined territory, population, govt. exercising sovereignty
2) nations: social/culture nature, population
3) nation-states: combination of characteristics
4) international organizations: IGOS and NGOS
5) multi-national organizations: impact on global economy
6) criminal organizations: trans-national illegal activities
How did the state system develop? - Answer -The 30 Years War under the Treaty of
Westphalia established the principle of sovereignty and legal equality between states.
How many states are part of the modern international system? - Answer -193
How does the concept of a nation differ from that of the state? - Answer -A state is a
government entity with a settled population occupying a permanent area with
recognized borders. A nation more commonly refers a homogeneous country with no
large ethnic minorities.
What impact did the Thirty Year's War have on the development of the state? - Answer
-It ushered in the modern international system and brought upon the Westphalia
System, an international community made up of independent states.
In the Melian dialogue, which group's behavior is most consistent with realism? -
Answer -Athenians
. How do the Athenians respond to the Melians arguments about:
a. Neutrality?
b. Their alliances?
c. The importance of the gods?
d. The justice of their cause? - Answer -a) If they allow the Melians to be neutral, then
the Athenians appear weak.
b) They believed that Melians could not fully count on their allies because they would do
what benefited them.
c) Just like the Melians, the Athenians believe the gods are on their side as well.
d) that is opinion based
What are the primary functions of political systems? - Answer -1) security of territory
2) security of population
3) promotion of economic growth
4) general welfare
