All Free Political Science MCQs with Answers
Every Political Science question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
100 questions · page 3 of 5
- A. Influence a target's conduct through economic pressure
- B. Guarantee immediate military defeat of the target
- C. Create a permanent customs union among allies
- D. Replace all diplomatic communication with trade restrictions
Explanation: Sanctions restrict trade, finance or other economic activity to pressure a state or organisation to change its behaviour.
Correct answer: Influence a target's conduct through economic pressure- A. The survival and welfare of individuals
- B. The expansion of a state's territory
- C. The size of a state's armed forces
- D. The protection of diplomatic buildings
Explanation: Human security broadens the focus of security from the state alone to the safety and well-being of people.
Correct answer: The survival and welfare of individuals- A. A government formed after a military coup
- B. A set of principles, norms and rules for a specific issue area
- C. A secret agreement between two intelligence agencies
- D. A single country's constitutional system
Explanation: An international regime consists of agreed principles, norms, rules and decision procedures within an issue area, such as trade or the…
Correct answer: A set of principles, norms and rules for a specific issue area- A. Manage the global monetary system
- B. Maintain international peace and security
- C. Administer national elections in member states
- D. Set uniform tax rates for international companies
Explanation: The Security Council has primary responsibility within the United Nations system for maintaining international peace and security.
Correct answer: Maintain international peace and security- A. Political and economic cooperation in South Asia
- B. Military integration among European states
- C. A common currency across the Middle East
- D. Worldwide regulation of private corporations
Explanation: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation promotes cooperation among South Asian countries in areas such as economic and social…
Correct answer: Political and economic cooperation in South Asia46. Which proposition is most closely associated with the liberal approach to international relations?
- A. States can achieve cooperation through institutions and interdependence
- B. States mainly seek security through military competition
- C. International politics is shaped only by material capabilities
- D. Domestic culture has no effect on foreign policy
Explanation: Liberalism holds that institutions, economic interdependence and repeated cooperation can reduce conflict among states.
Correct answer: States can achieve cooperation through institutions and interdependence- A. Treaties must be performed in good faith
- B. Treaties must be approved by every state
- C. Treaties must apply only during wartime
- D. Treaties must be reviewed by the United Nations
Explanation: Pacta sunt servanda means that agreements must be kept, so states must perform their treaty obligations in good faith.
Correct answer: Treaties must be performed in good faith- A. Joining or aligning with the stronger power
- B. Remaining neutral during an international crisis
- C. Forming a coalition against the strongest power
- D. Using trade restrictions to change another state's policy
Explanation: Bandwagoning occurs when a weaker state aligns with a powerful state, often to gain protection or avoid becoming its target.
Correct answer: Joining or aligning with the stronger power- A. Jus ad bellum concerns entering war, while jus in bello concerns conduct during war
- B. Jus ad bellum concerns diplomacy, while jus in bello concerns economic sanctions
- C. Jus ad bellum concerns treaties, while jus in bello concerns state recognition
- D. Jus ad bellum concerns peacekeeping, while jus in bello concerns refugee protection
Explanation: Jus ad bellum examines whether resorting to force is legally or morally justified.
Correct answer: Jus ad bellum concerns entering war, while jus in bello concerns conduct during war- A. Administering rules for international trade
- B. Providing military protection to member states
- C. Managing global monetary reserves
- D. Prosecuting individuals for international crimes
Explanation: The World Trade Organization provides a framework for trade rules and handles disputes between its members.
Correct answer: Administering rules for international trade- A. Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah
- B. The Muqaddimah
- C. The Republic
- D. The Reconstruction of Religious Thought
Explanation: Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah explains the caliphate, judicial authority, administration and other public offices in Islamic governance.
Correct answer: Al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah- A. Virtuous City
- B. Covenant Community
- C. Caliphal Province
- D. Balanced Kingdom
Explanation: Al-Farabi calls the ideal political community Al-Madinah al-Fadilah, commonly translated as the Virtuous City.
Correct answer: Virtuous City- A. Asabiyyah
- B. Shura
- C. Ijtihad
- D. Bay'ah
Explanation: Ibn Khaldun uses asabiyyah, or group solidarity, to explain how ruling groups gain power and why their cohesion later weakens.
Correct answer: Asabiyyah54. According to Ibn Khaldun's analysis, a dynasty usually becomes vulnerable when its ruling group:
- A. Loses its group solidarity
- B. Adopts written law
- C. Consults religious scholars
- D. Expands judicial offices
Explanation: For Ibn Khaldun, a dynasty declines when luxury and dependence weaken the solidarity that originally brought it to power.
Correct answer: Loses its group solidarity- A. Consultation in public affairs
- B. Allegiance to a ruler
- C. Independent legal reasoning
- D. Collection of public revenue
Explanation: Shura means consultation and indicates that public decisions should involve deliberation and advice.
Correct answer: Consultation in public affairs- A. A pledge of allegiance
- B. A system of taxation
- C. A legal analogy
- D. A military campaign
Explanation: Bay'ah is a pledge of allegiance through which political support or recognition is given to a leader.
Correct answer: A pledge of allegiance- A. Maslahah
- B. Asabiyyah
- C. Futuwwah
- D. Hijrah
Explanation: Maslahah refers to public benefit or welfare and is used in legal and political reasoning to consider the interests of society.
Correct answer: Maslahah- A. Restore moral and social balance
- B. Separate religion from public life
- C. Replace law with tribal custom
- D. Reject all forms of interpretation
Explanation: Shah Waliullah sought religious renewal and social balance by addressing moral decline, political disorder and economic injustice.
Correct answer: Restore moral and social balance- A. A means of legal renewal
- B. A rejection of legislative authority
- C. A fixed medieval procedure
- D. A purely mystical experience
Explanation: Iqbal treats ijtihad as a principle that allows Islamic legal and political thought to respond to changing circumstances.
Correct answer: A means of legal renewal- A. The former concerns historical institutions, while the latter concerns contemporary political design
- B. The former rejects law, while the latter creates law without religion
- C. The former is purely economic, while the latter is purely military
- D. The former concerns local tribes, while the latter concerns only foreign policy
Explanation: Classical caliphate theory addresses institutions such as the caliph, allegiance and delegated offices within historical Muslim…
Correct answer: The former concerns historical institutions, while the latter concerns contemporary political design