Ch. 1 Power & Systems

In what sense was the bipolar system in place during the Cold War a "zero-sum game"? a) A gain by the East bloc was also a loss by the West bloc. b) The Cold War adversaries were playing a game of chicken to see which side would yield first. c) Cracks in the free world enabled the Soviet block to game the system. d) There was zero probability that the Cold War would lead to the use of nuclear weapons because both sides would stand to lose.

a) A gain by the East bloc was also a loss by the West bloc.

Which of the following is sometimes presented as evidence that the balance-of-power theory is flawed? a) Brutal wars occurred during periods that are generally thought to have balanced powers. b) The Westphalian system ushered in war and not peace. c) Sovereignty typically diminishes during periods with balanced powers. d) Bismarck's efforts to divide Germany resulted in balancing power rather than concentrating it.

a) Brutal wars occurred during periods that are generally thought to have balanced powers.

In what way has sovereignty in the international system always been somewhat fictional? a) Powerful states have been able to routinely dominate less powerful states. b) Sovereignty lacks significance when a state's population becomes too wealthy. c) Few states other than the United States and Europe recognize the concept of sovereignty. d) Sovereignty is mostly a state of mind that can vanish depending on one's emotional state.

a) Powerful states have been able to routinely dominate less powerful states.

Which of the following is an advantage of systems thinking in international relations? a) Systems thinking helps us to understand international relations holistically, rather than as a bunch of unrelated events. b) Systems thinking simplifies the decision-making process. c) Systems thinking allows for a fuller understanding by viewing each component in isolation. d) Systems thinking encourages an understanding of what goes right, but is seldom helpful in understanding what goes wrong.

a) Systems thinking helps us to understand international relations holistically, rather than as a bunch of unrelated events.

Which of the following best describes the system in place between the world wars? a) anti-balance-of-power system b) superpower system c) hierarchy-of-power system d) balance-of-power system

a) anti-balance-of-power system

Which of the following is a hallmark of a globalized system? a) international capitalist competition b) a large zone of chaos c) Russia and China team up to counterweigh the United States d) unipolarity

a) international capitalist competition

Which of the following best describes the approach taken by the United States at the start of World War II? a) isolationist b) aggressive c) expansionist d) power balancer

a) isolationist

In a resource war, which of the following would China be most likely to do in order to ensure that it maintains sufficient access to natural resoruces? a) leverage its near monopoly of rare-earth elements to ensure that it gets the other resources that it needs b) rescind its claims to the South China Sea in order to focus its resource allocation efforts on more productive areas c) invoke its most-favored-nation trading status to ensure that it receives American goods at rock-bottom prices d) increase its fossil fuel exports in order to take advantage of record-high prices

a) leverage its near monopoly of rare-earth elements to ensure that it gets the other resources that it needs

What are the three strata that comprise the stratified model's interpretation of the current political system? a) rich nations, rapidly industrializing countries, and zones of chaos b) democratic, autocratic, and theocratic c) Russia, China, and the United States d) Western, Slavic/Orthodox, and Latin American/African

a) rich nations, rapidly industrializing countries, and zones of chaos

If the current political system were unipolar, which state would be the only major power? a) the United States b) Russia c) China d) Britain

a) the United States

Of the following states, which emerged from the chaos of World War II with the most power? a) the United States b) Britain c) China d) Germany

a) the United States

How does a nation-state differ from a state? a) A nation-state is more progressive, while a state is more retrogressive. b) A nation-state is a state whose citizens share a sense of identity as a distinct people. c) A nation-state is democratic, while a state is not necessarily democratic. d) A nation-state is found in the state of nature, while a state is a human construct.

b) A nation-state is a state whose citizens share a sense of identity as a distinct people.

According to the counterweight theory of what best describes the current political system, which states are acting to counterweigh the sole remaining superpower? a) the United States and the Soviet Union b) Russia and China c) the United States and Canada d) North Korea and Iran

b) Russia and China

How did balance-of-power theory operate between World Wars I and II? a) Balance of power was practiced by the victors of World War I, but not by those states that were defeated. b) The major states decided not to pursue a balance of power. c) The major states pursued a balance-of-power system, but the minor states did not. d) The balance of powers created by the Versailles Treaty kept peace in Europe until the economy collapsed, precipitating World War II.

b) The major states decided not to pursue a balance of power.

Which of the following exemplifies the use of force in international relations? a) rational persuasion b) military action c) lawmaking d) treaty making

b) military action

Which of the following is more likely to be used to settle a disagreement in international politics than in domestic politics? a.) enacting legislation b) the use of force c) running for office d) filing a lawsuit

b) the use of force

How did power in the international system shift at the start of the twenty-first century? a). Power shifted from elected leaders to non-elected leaders. b.) Power shifted away from the United States and toward China. c.) Power shifted away from the Soviet Union and toward the United States. d.) Power shifted away from the United Nations and toward the United States.

b.) Power shifted away from the United States and toward China.

What danger does reification pose as it relates to associating specific time periods with specific international systems? a) Political systems are new constructs that are not appropriate for past time periods. b) Time periods are often determined by the victor. c) Real world situations are often messy and do not fit neatly under a single label. d) Reification may encourage complacency with an inefficient political system.

c) Real world situations are often messy and do not fit neatly under a single label.

Which of the following was a characteristic of the bipolar system of the Cold War? a) the decline of third world nationalism b) Soviet domination of the Pacific Rim c) an arms race d) tranquility

c) an arms race

According to adherents of the hierarchy-of-power theory, what preserves peace? a) the temporary nature of post-war stability b) a war that diminishes the power of all states involved c) each state knowing and accepting its place in the power hierarchy d) several states simultaneously having roughly equal power

c) each state knowing and accepting its place in the power hierarchy

What are strong states able to do? a) prevent poverty b) instill patriotism c) enforce sovereignty d) win reelection

c) enforce sovereignty

What is the best way to determine which of two countries is the most powerful? a) examine their systems of government b) compare the size of the militaries c) examine the countries after they have been at war d) compare the size of their economies

c) examine the countries after they have been at war

What did the American and French Revolutions add to the concept of strong states? a) sovereignty b) "we-they" thinking c) mass enthusiasm and participation d) large armies and navies

c) mass enthusiasm and participation

Which of the following is part and parcel of being a state? a) natural resources b) shared culture c) sovereignty d) a constitution and laws

c) sovereignty

Which of the following accurately describes the world during the Cold War? a) optimistic b) communist c) tense d) unipolar

c) tense

Which of the following is permissible under the concept of sovereignty? a) A state can punish another state for human rights violations. b) A state can take over the territory of another state in order to create a nation-state. c) A state can compel neighboring states to conserve water. d) A state can prohibit the display of Christian symbols.

d) A state can prohibit the display of Christian symbols.

Which of the following was a Cold War ally of the Soviet Union? a) Japan b) Brazil c) France d) China

d) China

Which of the following characteristics is most closely associated with a balance-of-power system? a) States engage in isolationist behavior. b) Power in the international system is shared among a dozen or more states. c) One state holds most of the power in the international system. d) Power is distributed roughly equally among major nations and their alliances.

d) Power is distributed roughly equally among major nations and their alliances.

Under which of the following situations is a balance-of-power system most likely to materialize? a) Two states with large armies compete for limited natural resources. b) Several major states suffer from a systemwide economic downturn caused by a lax financial regulation or other shared root cause. c) A powerful state seeks to expand while weaker states seek to attach their fortunes to the powerful state. d) Seven major states share a common culture, viewpoint, and desire for stability in the international system.

d) Seven major states share a common culture, viewpoint, and desire for stability in the international system.

In what way has sovereignty within the international system been slipping? a) Sovereignty no longer allows a state to do whatever it wants as long as that action is in the state's self interest. b) Fewer states are willing to allow the international community to monitor their domestic affairs in the name of preserving the peace. c) States are now reluctant to claim sovereignty over matters within their territory for fear of being excluded from the global economy. d) The world community is becoming more willing to prevent states from taking actions that violate international norms.

d) The world community is becoming more willing to prevent states from taking actions that violate international norms.

How can the current international system be made more peaceful and cooperative? a) by eliminating supranational entities b) by abandoning the R2P doctrine c) by states building bigger and stronger armies d) by states giving up some of their sovereignty

d) by states giving up some of their sovereignty