All Free International Relations MCQs with Answers
Every International Relations question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
1,618 questions · page 79 of 81
- A. A great opportunity for free trade to expand in the world
- B. A fad of the 1990s
- C. The new international order
- D. A forced that causes states to lose control over their institutionsRead Political News
Explanation: Kenneth Waltz treated globalization as an exaggerated trend or ‘fad’ rather than a force that had fundamentally displaced the state…
Correct answer: A fad of the 1990s- A. Because game-theoretic approaches are easier to understand
- B. Game-theoretic approaches are not suited to realist work
- C. Because this approach allows an analysis of relative and absolute gains, which is a central point of the 'neo-neo' debate
- D. None of the above
Explanation: Game theory suits the neo-neo debate because it models strategic cooperation and conflict while distinguishing absolute gains, emphasized…
Correct answer: Because this approach allows an analysis of relative and absolute gains, which is a central point of the 'neo-neo' debate- A. Liberalism, neo-liberalism and post-liberalism
- B. Northern liberalism, southern liberalism and compassionate liberalism
- C. Commercial liberalism, republican liberalism and sociological liberalism
- D. Neo-liberal internationalism, sociological liberalism, liberal institutionalismGet Study Guides
Explanation: The standard three-part classification is commercial liberalism, republican liberalism and sociological liberalism.
Correct answer: Commercial liberalism, republican liberalism and sociological liberalism- A. The role of domestic politics
- B. The possibility leaders learn from their experiences
- C. Political globalization and the shift of Political activity away from the state
- D. All of the above
Explanation: The neo-neo debate concentrates mainly on systemic conditions, rational states and cooperation, leaving domestic politics, learning and…
Correct answer: All of the above- A. The structure of the system is a major determinant of actor behaviour
- B. States are rational actors, selecting strategies to maximize benefits and minimize losses
- C. The most critical problem presented by anarchy is survival]
- D. All of the above
Explanation: Neorealism treats the international structure as shaping state behavior, assumes states calculate rationally, and views survival as the…
Correct answer: All of the above- A. Offensive realists are more contemporary, defensive realists are more traditional
- B. Offensive realists emphasize the importance of relative power and are always wary of expansionary power Defensive realists recognize the cost of war and are more open to cooperation, but realize that weapons will always be needed given the existence of expansionary powers
- C. Offensive realists are advocates of free trade and international cooperation, while defensive realists propose protectionist measures and isolationism
- D. Offensive realists prefer pre-emptive attacks, defensive realists will only go to war to defend themselves
Explanation: Offensive realists argue that anarchy encourages states to maximise relative power, while defensive realists stress that excessive…
Correct answer: Offensive realists emphasize the importance of relative power and are always wary of expansionary power Defensive realists recognize the cost of war and are more open to cooperation, but realize that weapons will always be needed given the existence of expansionary powers- A. The debate has not dominated international theory
- B. Because it represents a debate between paradigms that define an agenda for research, policymaking, the field of study
- C. Because academics want to keep the debate alive by inventing new theories
- D. None of the aboveRead Political News
Explanation: The neo-neo debate contrasts neorealism with neoliberal institutionalism, two major paradigms that shape research questions, theoretical…
Correct answer: Because it represents a debate between paradigms that define an agenda for research, policymaking, the field of study- A. Because the brain-drain has resulted in most academics in International Relations to be in American institutions
- B. Because it is a debate among 'rule-makers'. and the United States needs to define a direction for its approach to foreign policy
- C. Because the US is today's hegemon
- D. All of the above
Explanation: The debate became particularly American because it developed largely within the US-dominated discipline and reflected arguments about the…
Correct answer: Because it is a debate among 'rule-makers'. and the United States needs to define a direction for its approach to foreign policy- A. Iran (1979) & the United States (1776)
- B. China (1949)
- C. Russia (1917)
- D. All these answers are correct
Explanation: The Iranian, American, Chinese, and Russian revolutions were driven by powerful ideologies, but their original revolutionary fervor…
Correct answer: All these answers are correct- A. They explain wars in terms of power relations among major actors in the international system
- B. There are two major theories and neither holds up very well in reality
- C. One theory at the individual level, consistent with realism, holds that the use of war and other violent means of leverage in international conflicts is abnormal and reflects the irrational decisions of national leaders
- D. The two major theories in this arena are based on the assumptions of realism
Explanation: Individual-level explanations commonly examine leaders’ personalities and psychological factors, and textbooks often identify two major…
Correct answer: There are two major theories and neither holds up very well in reality- A. Islamic Fundamentalists
- B. The State
- C. The United Nations
- D. None of the options given is correct
Explanation: In the realist view, the state is the central authority in international politics and claims a monopoly over the legitimate use of…
Correct answer: The State- A. Was created by the post 9/11 US as a tool in the global 'war on terror.'
- B. Is irrelevant to post-structuralism and international politics.
- C. Emerged in an early modern Europe as a replacement for the principle of hierarchical subordination.
- D. Emerged during the Russian revolution of 1917.World Current Affairs
Explanation: Walker links sovereignty to early modern Europe, where it helped replace a hierarchical order based on religious and imperial…
Correct answer: Emerged in an early modern Europe as a replacement for the principle of hierarchical subordination.- A. The definition of this practice is centered around territoriality and the idea of state boundaries, as well as creating a particular identity for those women who are trafficked.
- B. The concept of s*x trafficking is not highlighted as of interest to post-structuralists.
- C. It is the only example of a defined concept that can be deconstructed to highlight the creation of identity in international politics.
- D. The definition of s*x trafficking has been created by those who are themselves involved in s*x trafficking and so is an opportunity for non-state actors to have a voice in international politics.
Explanation: Post-structuralists examine how the definition of sex trafficking constructs categories, identities and boundaries, including the…
Correct answer: The definition of this practice is centered around territoriality and the idea of state boundaries, as well as creating a particular identity for those women who are trafficked.- A. All groups, including NGOs, refugees and stateless individuals, have an equal voice in global affairs.
- B. As a consequence of how world politics has been theorised by conventional approaches such as Realism, non-State groups such as NGOs cannot gain a voice in international relations.
- C. Only states have the right to a voice in the international political realm.
- D. There is a hierarchy of those non-state actors that have a voice in international politics, with stateless people coming at the top of the hierarchy.Humanities
Explanation: Post-structuralists question whose knowledge is treated as authoritative and show how conventional state-centred theories marginalise…
Correct answer: As a consequence of how world politics has been theorised by conventional approaches such as Realism, non-State groups such as NGOs cannot gain a voice in international relations.- A. Through the UN sanctioning and taking full responsibility for humanitarian intervention.
- B. By parliamentary hearings that raise awareness and legitimacy of humanitarian intervention.
- C. Through discourse in the international political arena that split the other into 'innocent civilians' and 'Balkan governments.'
- D. All of the options given are correct.
Explanation: Post-structuralists argue that intervention is legitimised through discourse that represents some people as innocent victims and others…
Correct answer: Through discourse in the international political arena that split the other into 'innocent civilians' and 'Balkan governments.'- A. 'foreign policy' and 'Foreign Policy'
- B. 'post-structuralism' 'poststructuralism'
- C. 'State' and 'state'
- D. None of the options given is correct
Explanation: David Campbell distinguishes “foreign policy” as a conventional policy activity from “Foreign Policy” as a broader discourse that helps…
Correct answer: 'foreign policy' and 'Foreign Policy'- A. All post-structuralists are uniform in their agreement that it is impossible to create such a methodology.
- B. All post-structuralists are uniform in their agreement that there is only one possible methodology.
- C. Post-structuralists have divergent views on both what such a methodology would look like and indeed whether it is at all possible.
- D. Rita Floyd argues that the scholar Derrida would have argued in favour for a uniform methodology.
Explanation: Post-structuralism rejects a single universal method, but its scholars do not all reach the same conclusion about whether methodology is…
Correct answer: Post-structuralists have divergent views on both what such a methodology would look like and indeed whether it is at all possible.- A. The term underlines that post-structuralism is not confined to a particular post-modern period and is a position with shares more with its opponents, as scholar Waever argues.
- B. Post-modernism connotes 'anti-modernism,' and post-structuralist theory is concerned with 'modern' events.
- C. Post-structuralism has more letters.
- D. Other international relations scholars were too overtly critical of 'post-modern' theories.Social Sciences
Explanation: Post-structuralism is preferred because it is not limited to a particular historical period called post-modernity and stresses continuity…
Correct answer: The term underlines that post-structuralism is not confined to a particular post-modern period and is a position with shares more with its opponents, as scholar Waever argues.- A. Post-structuralism is too concerned with human rights.
- B. Post-structuralism does not focus enough on 'the state' as the primary category of political organisation.
- C. He argues that post-structuralism is, in its current form, unable to comprehend world politics and security studies and instead focuses too much on being a critical approach.
- D. Post-structuralism does not place enough focus on civil liberties and human rights.
Explanation: Walt's realist criticism is that post-structuralism gives insufficient attention to the state and cannot adequately explain central…
Correct answer: He argues that post-structuralism is, in its current form, unable to comprehend world politics and security studies and instead focuses too much on being a critical approach.- A. Every theory poses differents and, therefore, what counts as 'fact' and 'truth' differs in every case.
- B. All truth claims can be judged true or false, usually against empirical facts.
- C. Causal statements about the relationship between dependent and independent variables can be made.
- D. Truth is the foundation for international politics theory.Try Prep Courses
Explanation: Anti-foundationalism denies that knowledge rests on one fixed, universal foundation of truth; what counts as fact or truth is shaped by…
Correct answer: Every theory poses differents and, therefore, what counts as 'fact' and 'truth' differs in every case.