Alternative Views Chapter 4 3rd Edition Exam Prep

CHAPTER 4: ALTERNATIVE VIEWS

Test Questions

Multiple-Choice Questions

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.1 Why Alternative Interpretations?

1. Political psychology focuses not just on ________ but also on _____.

1. Institutions and states . . . behavior and group think.
2. Institutions and states . . . individuals and groups.
3. Individuals and groups . . . society as a whole.
4. Individuals and groups . . . corporations.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.2 Constructivism

2. Constructivism is BEST reflected in which of the following statements?

• 1. States develop their interests and notions of security in many different ways, according to diverse social norms and historic experiences.
  2. States develop their interest based on maximizing their resources and power in an anarchic international relations system.
  3. States cooperate with other states to build lasting alliances and maintain the status quo in world politics.
  4. States all have the same motivations and will thus usually react to changes in the international system in the same way.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.2 Constructivism

3. Constructivists are likely to posit that

• 1. State policies are based on how governments interpret the available information.
  2. State polices are based on how much military power governments can exert.
  3. State policies are based on what economic resources are available at the time.
  4. State policies are based on the struggle between workers and the owners of capital.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

4. Constructivists believe that a serious threat

• • • 1. Is perceived the same everywhere.
      2. Can be perceived differently by different states.
      3. Represents danger only if the threatened state does not have the military means to meet it.
      4. Can be avoided if the state has a nuclear arsenal.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

5. In the eyes of constructivist scholars, if two countries agree on ___, they are ____ prone to cooperate.

• • • 1. What is fair . . . more.
      2. What will harm them . . . more.
      3. A potential obstacle . . . less.
      4. The nature of the international system . . . less.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

6. Which of the following is NOT a factor shaping state interests that is emphasized by constructivists?

• • • 1. History.
      2. Culture.
      3. Norms.
      4. Power.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

7. In constructivism, beliefs, perceptions, and lessons spring from the imagination. True?

1. Yes, but they are mostly formed and promoted by political elites.
2. No, rather, they are collective perceptions, shared by powerful societal groups.
3. No, they are based on statistical models.
4. Yes, but they can change slowly over time.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

8. Constructivists agreed on Thucydides’ description of how ____, honor, and self-interest provoked Greek cities to go to war.

• • • 1. Fear.
      2. Pride.
      3. Greed.
      4. Religion.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

9. Russia’s current nuclear arsenal is much greater than that of the Soviet Union in the 1950, yet the United States and Russia work together on the assumption that nuclear weapons must never be used. How would constructivists explain this?

• • • 1. Russia has a week power position.
      2. More trust developed over time between the two states.
      3. The United States is in a declining hegemonic position in international relations.
      4. Russia has a need for U.S. aid.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.2 Constructivism

10. Which of the following is NOT one of three international environments defined by Alexander Wendt when examining constructivism?

1. The Hobbesian model.
2. The Lockean model.
3. The Kantian model.
4. The Wilsonian model.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.2 Constructivism

11. Constructivists argue that state leaders make decisions based on at least three factors. Which of the following is NOT one of those factors?

• • • 1. Assumptions and beliefs about their state’s role in international affairs.
      2. Statistical assessments of how strong their state’s military power is compared to that of other states.
      3. Perceptions of other actors of international relations and the rules of interactions with them.
      4. Lessons of history, in past errors and accomplishments.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.2 Constructivism

12. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gravitated toward which of Alexander Wendt’s models?

• • • 1. The Hobbesian model.
      2. The Lockean model.
      3. The Kantian model.
      4. A mix of the Hobbesian model and the Lockean model.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

13. Adolf Hitler believed most likely in which of Alexander Wendt’s three models?

• • • 1. The Hobbesian model.
      2. The Lockean model.
      3. The Kantian model.
      4. An equal mix of all three models.

Question type: factual

Section 4.2 Constructivism

14. Where did the Allied forces meet in 1945?

• • • 1. Yalta.
      2. Berlin.
      3. Bandung.
      4. Dayton.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

15. Constructivists would be LEAST likely to turn to which of the following explanatory factors?

• • • 1. History.
      2. Economy.
      3. Culture.
      4. Traditions.

Question type: applied

Section 4.2 Constructivism

16. For constructivists, ______are crucial.

• • • 1. Alliances.
      2. A country’s resources.
      3. History lessons.
      4. International organizations.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

17. Marxism typically views a ____as an instrument of the ____groups, such as aristocracy or capitalists.

• • • 1. Corporation . . . weaker.
      2. State . . . dominant.
      3. Military force . . . ruling.
      4. Nongovernmental organization . . . oppressed.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

18. According to Marx,

• • • 1. Only a revolution of industrial workers, the proletariat, can save humanity.
      2. Only a revolution led by the peasantry can save humanity.
      3. The aristocracy needs to monitor its resources to stay in power.
      4. The state has the obligation to provide welfare to its workers.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

19. According to Lenin, sovereign states are just obedient ______of powerful corporations.

• • • 1. Legislative committees.
      2. Judicial constructs.
      3. Executive committees.
      4. Legislative assemblies.

Question type: applied

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

20. Marxists and Leninists consider ______ an inherent part of politics and international relations and a legitimate form of struggle against the ruling classes.

• • • 1. Violence.
      2. Strikes.
      3. Revolution.
      4. Peace.

Question type: applied

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

21. Which of the following statements is true?

• • • 1. West European social democratic parties grew apart ideologically from Communist beliefs.
      2. West European Communists won power in several countries after 1945.
      3. Communism did not play an important role in developing countries.
      4. The majority of developing countries vehemently fought against Communism after 1945.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

22. According to Marxism-Leninism, distributive justice is mostly concerned with

• • • 1. An unfair distribution of resources in the contemporary world.
      2. An equilibrium to be achieved by exploiting rich countries.
      3. An unfair set of labor laws in a given country.
      4. Giving weaker countries more power in international judicial bodies.

Question type: factual

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

23. Dependency theorists were primarily reacting against

• • • 1. Economic benefits.
      2. Social programs.
      3. Fair trade.
      4. Liberal modernization.

Question type: applied

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

24. What is the reason that Wallerstein’s work gained importance again recently?

• • • 1. The war in Iraq.
      2. The Arab Spring.
      3. The 2008 global financial crisis.
      4. The rise of China.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

25. According to Wallerstein’s concept of word-systems theory, there exists

• • • 1. Only winners.
      2. Bifurcated structures.
      3. A periphery and a core.
      4. Strong alliances.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.3 Marxism, Postcolonial Studies, and Feminism

26. Feminist theories point to ______, arguing that _______ by men and the oppression of women shape international relations.

• • • 1. Gender conflict and arms race concepts . . . economic freedom advocated.
      2. Women’s issues . . . free trade promoted.
      3. Gender conflict and injustice . . . political domination.
      4. Women’s issues . . . globalization advocated.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.4 Political Culture and Identity Factors

27. In a(n) _________ political culture, people obey government, act like subjects, and have little impact on government policies.

1. Parochial.
2. Authoritarian.
3. Participatory/democratic.
4. Mixed or hybrid.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.4 Political Culture and Identity Factors

28. In a(n) _________ political culture, people are only remotely aware of government.

1. Parochial.
2. Authoritarian.
3. Participatory/democratic.
4. Mixed or hybrid.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.4 Political Culture and Identity Factors

29. In a(n) _________ political culture, people act like citizens and have the right to elect leaders and influence politics.

1. Parochial.
2. Authoritarian.
3. Participatory/democratic.
4. Mixed or hybrid.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.4 Political Culture and Identity Factors

30. According to Samuel Huntington’s views on “civilizations,”

1. Civilizations are now more important than political interests in international affairs.
2. A civilization is contained with a single country with a single political culture.
3. Civilizations form only around dominant countries with an authoritarian political culture.
4. Civilizations are distinguished primarily by ethnicity.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.4 Political Culture and Identity Factors

31. _________ involves contempt for foreign countries.

1. Tribalism.
2. Nationalism.
3. Fundamentalism.
4. Xenophobia.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.4 Political Culture and Identity Factors

32. _________ involves identifying with an ethnic or religious group rather than a nation-state.

1. Tribalism.
2. Nationalism.
3. Fundamentalism.
4. Xenophobia.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.4 Political Culture and Identity Factors

33. _________ involves rigid adherence to traditional principles and is often accompanied by intolerance of others outside of the group.

1. Tribalism.
2. Nationalism.
3. Fundamentalism.
4. Xenophobia.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.5 Political Psychology

34. The resistance bias refers to

• • 1. The rule that leaders resist changing their ideas about international relations.
    2. The rule that leaders apply changing ideas about global politics.
    3. The rule that leaders resist changing regimes in foreign policy.
    4. The rule that leaders insist changing their ides in foreign affairs.

Question type: applied

Section 4.5 Political Psychology

35. The Bush administration’s intention to invade Iraq despite the lack of new evidence confirming weapons of mass destruction is likely to have been a

• • • 1. Perseverance bias.
      2. Resistance bias.
      3. Accessibility bias.
      4. Emotional bias.

Question type: factual

Section 4.5 Political Psychology

36. Political psychologists believe that

• • • 1. Early childhood experiences might affect later political decision making.
      2. Policy decisions are always influenced by childhood experiences.
      3. Fears are irrational and should not interfere in foreign policy decisions.
      4. Memories do not have an impact on a leader’s decisions.

Question type: conceptual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

37. Why is information on political leaders incomplete or misleading?

• • • 1. Heads of states are not available for surveys and experiments.
      2. Psychologists have trouble studying alpha males in society.
      3. External factors are stronger than individual decisions in foreign policy.
      4. There is very little information available about political leaders.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

38. The fateful decision of sending Soviet troops to Afghanistan in 1979 might be explained by

• • • 1. Leonid’s Brezhnev’s addiction to medication.
      2. Nikita Khrushchev’s impulsive behavior.
      3. Michael Gorbachev’s lack of power.
      4. The change in U.S. administrations.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

39. Which of the following statements is most likely true about the Cuban regime?

• • • 1. Fidel Castro’s brother Raul took over in 1999.
      2. For years Cuban authorities did not reveal Fidel Castro’s illness.
      3. Fidel Castro was engaged in secret negotiations with the United States to introduce a market economy.
      4. It was secretly bankrolled by China.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

40. Which president had attitudes from youth that led him to promote human rights?

1. Ronald Reagan.
2. Jimmy Carter.
3. Richard Nixon.
4. George W. Bush.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

41. Which president grew up an orphan and was later reckless in his personal life?

1. Ronald Reagan.
2. Bill Clinton.
3. Barack Obama.
4. George W. Bush.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

42. Which president was raised in an upper-class environment and displayed a sense of self-righteousness as president?

1. Ronald Reagan.
2. Jimmy Carter.
3. Richard Nixon.
4. George W. Bush.

Question type: applied

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

43. Despite women in power positions, such as Hillary Clinton or Angela Merkel, more peaceful policies in international relations are still wishful thinking. Feminist scholars would most likely argue that

• • • 1. Foreign policy has become more peaceful.
      2. Patriarchal structures still persist despite advances in women’s rights.
      3. Not all women are peaceful matriarchs.
      4. Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel are not typical of most women.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

44. The domino theory posits that

• • • 1. The loss of one Communist country would lead to a U.S. grand victory.
      2. Leaders see international politics as a game.
      3. Democracy’s spread is inevitable.
      4. The loss of a single country to Communism would trigger a chain reaction.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

45. Diagrams of information processing and decision making used to predict Soviet decisions are called

• • • 1. Cognitive apps.
      2. Cognitive maps.
      3. Conscious trails.
      4. Conscious minds.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

46. The fast-growing volume and complexity of information is ______to any decision maker.

• • • 1. A serious challenge.
      2. A technological blessing.
      3. An insurmountable roadblock.
      4. Comparable to a computer game.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

47. Putnam’s two-level game does NOT include

• • • 1. Legislative institutions.
      2. Lobbies.
      3. Foreign governments.
      4. Individuals.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

48. Match the correct important collective experience and country.

1. Soviet Union; Nazi invasion.
2. United States; development of atomic power.
3. France; joining the European Union.
4. Canada; friendship treaty with the United States.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

49. The missiles that the Soviet Union planned for Cuba in 1962 could reach to

1. Southern Florida only.
2. The southern United States only.
3. Much of the United States.
4. All of the United States and much of Western Europe.

Question type: factual

Section 4.6 Critical Applications of Alternative Views

50. How was the Cuba Missile Crisis resolved?

1. President Kennedy agreed to allow nuclear missiles in Cuba.
2. Khrushchev agreed to only place short-range missiles in Cuba.
3. Russia removed the missiles from Cuba and the United States removed missiles from Turkey.
4. The United Nations developed and implemented a comprehensive plan.

Short-Answer Questions

1. What are the principal arguments of constructivism?

2. What are conflict theories?

3. Define political psychology and give an example of its contribution to international relations.

4. What are gender theories?

5. Describe the three types of international environments presented by Alexander Wendt.

6. Why are history lessons important for constructivists?

7. What is the appeal of Marxist theories in international relations?

8. What is dependency theory?

9. Is Marxism still applicable today? Name events to support your argument.

10. For what is Immanuel Wallerstein famous?

11. Explain the basic premise of the world-systems theory.

12. What kind of bias types exist in foreign policy decision making?

13. Describe political socialization.

14. Define analogies in foreign policy formation using a historical example.

15. What are cognitive maps?

16. What are two-level games?

17. Explain the concept of democratic–authoritarian continuum.

18. Why are analyses of state leaders for foreign policy only of limited value?

19. What is competitive authoritarianism and why is it considered a hybrid form of political culture?

20. What are rational choice theories?

21. List and briefly describe the three main types of political culture.

Essay Questions

1. Explain the major differences between liberalism and constructivism.

2. Discuss why constructivist concepts might be more helpful to explain the changes after 1989 compared to realist explanations.

3. Use different international theories to explain the confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

4. Describe the differences between Marxism and Leninism using historical examples.

5. What are the main tenets of feminist theory? How do they apply to international relations?

6. Is China still a Communist regime? Discuss.

7. Why did the global financial crisis that began in 2008 revive some of the conflict theories? Discuss.

8. Examine the pros and cons of a gendered analysis of international relations.

9. What are important factors at the individual level that can help explain decision making in international affairs?

10. Are states still powerful actors in international relations? Discuss.

11. What are the three main types of political culture? Which types tend to prevail in which types of countries, and why?

12. Are women leaders more peaceful in international relations? Name examples to support your argument.