Chapter 8: Comparative Politics

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. Juxtaposing its economic policies, China is governed by a ______ political regime.

a. communist

b. democratic

c. liberal

d. socialist

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Which of the following best defines the subfield of Comparative Politics?

a. the study of the rules and norms that guide how individuals behave politically

b. the study of the actions and decisions of individuals within a political system

c. the study of countries and politics around the world

d. the study of interconnectedness of politics, economics and law on a global level

Learning Objective: 8.1: Outline the comparative method.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Which of the following social scientists explained that the comparative method focuses on “the how but does NOT specify the what of the analysis”?

a. Arend Lijphart

b. John Stuart Mill

c. Peter Mair

d. Seymour Lipset

Learning Objective: 8.1: Outline the comparative method.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Comparative Method

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. A challenge that occurs in political science research in which chosen cases to be studied are systematically skewed is known as ______.

a. counterfactuals

b. explanatory bias

c. selection bias

d. selecting on the dependent variable

Learning Objective: 8.1: Outline the comparative method.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Comparative Method

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. The inductive approach developed by John Stuart Mill that compares cases that differ on the dependent variable is known as the ______.

a. Comparative Method

b. Method of Difference

c. System of Logic

d. Method of Agreement

Learning Objective: 8.1: Outline the comparative method.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Mill’s Method of Difference and Method of Agreement

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. The inductive approach developed by John Stuart Mill that compares cases that are the same on the dependent variable is known as the ______.

a. Comparative Method

b. Method of Difference

c. System of Logic

d. Method of Agreement

Learning Objective: 8.1: Outline the comparative method.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Mill’s Method of Difference and Method of Agreement

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. A group of people living under a single government is known as ______.

a. an administration

b. a regime

c. a society

d. a state

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The State

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. Which social scientist defined the state as a “human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of violence within a given territory”?

a. Hobbes

b. Krasner

c. Mitchell

d. Weber

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Idea of the State

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Which social scientist argued that instead of trying to define the state, “we need to examine the detailed political processes through which the uncertain yet powerful distinction between state and society is produced”?

a. Hobbes

b. Krasner

c. Mitchell

d. Weber

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Idea of the State

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Which of Krasner’s concepts of the state would describe the state as the tools and structures of government?

a. The state as government

b. The state as administration or bureaucracy

c. The state as the ruling class

d. The state as the normative order

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Idea of the State
Difficulty Level: Hard

11. Which of Krasner’s concepts of the state would describe the state as the individual or group of people who govern an organized community?

a. The state as government

b. The state as administration or bureaucracy

c. The state as the ruling class

d. The state as the normative order

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Idea of the State
Difficulty Level: Hard

12. Which of Krasner’s concepts of the state would describe the state as representing commonly held ideas and notions about what government should be?

a. The state as government

b. The state as administration or bureaucracy

c. The state as the ruling class

d. The state as the normative order

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Idea of the State
Difficulty Level: Hard

13. The modern state system (as we know it today) emerged following which major conflict?

a. World War I

b. The Seven Years’ War

c. World War II

d. the Thirty Years’ War

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: State Formation

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. The modern state system is also known as the ______ system.

a. Bretton Woods

b. Glass-Steagall

c. Westphalian

d. Wilsonian

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: State Formation

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Which of the following is the best example of a failed state?

a. Ukraine

b. Syria

c. Somalia

d. Transdniestria

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: State Strength

Difficulty Level: Easy

16. States that “lack the capacity to discharge their normal functions and drive forward development” are called ______.

a. disorganized states

b. failed states

c. fragile states

d. states that don’t exist

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: State Strength

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. State strength refers to the ______.

a. ability of states to control political outcomes

b. size and capability of states’ militaries

c. growth and robustness of the economy within states

d. level of economic and social development of states

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: State Strength

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. A democratic state is one ______.

a. in which the authorities have total and complete control over society

b. that has free, fair, and frequent elections and in which civil liberties are recognised and protected

c. that allows for some political freedoms although there are no political protections or democratic procedures in place

d. in which political outcomes are controlled by a small (typically wealthy) groups of individuals

Learning Objective: 8.3: Define democracy and identify ways in which it is measured.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Defining Democracy

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. The takeaway from many studies in how to measure democracy and democratization is that ______.

a. the need to raise taxes can force a state to democratize

b. a strong, past history or experience with some form of democratization will ensure it proceeds

c. a belief in gradual revolutionary reform contributes to democracy

d. ideas in civil society and beliefs about what the government should or should not do contribute to democratization

Learning Objective: 8.3: Define democracy and identify ways in which it is measured.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Measuring Democracy

Difficulty Level: Hard

20. Which of the following political scientists argued that social capital—connections we have with one another—contribute to a democratic life?

a. Almond and Verba

b. Dahl

c. Lijphart

d. Putnam

Learning Objective: 8.3: Define democracy and identify ways in which it is measured.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Measuring Democracy

Difficulty Level: Medium

21. The increasing economic and political inter-connectedness between states around the world is known as ______.

a. modernization

b. globalization

c. institutionalization

d. democratization

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Globalization

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. Which of the following organizations is the best example of economic globalization?

a. Bretton Woods

b. World Trade Organization

c. European Union

d. United Nations

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Globalization

Difficulty Level: Medium

23. Which of the following organizations is the best example of both economic and political globalization ?

a. Bretton Woods

b. World Trade Organization

c. European Union

d. United Nations

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Globalization

Difficulty Level: Medium

24. The first leader of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia was ______.

a. Vladimir Lenin

b. Leon Trotsky

c. Joseph Stalin

d. Nikita Khrushchev

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Communism in Practice

Difficulty Level: Medium

25. The first leader of the Soviet Union was ______.

a. Vladimir Lenin

b. Leon Trotsky

c. Joseph Stalin

d. Nikita Khrushchev

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Communism in Practice

Difficulty Level: Easy

26. The communist People’s Republic of China was founded in______.

a. 1917

b. 1939

c. 1949

d. 1956

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Communism in Practice

Difficulty Level: Medium

27. The series of political reforms in the Soviet Union that were meant to foster transparency in government are referred to as ______.

a. democratization

b. glasnost

c. liberalization

d. perestroika

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Studies of Communism

Difficulty Level: Medium

28. A totalitarian state is one ______.

a. in which the authorities have total and complete control over society

b. that has free, fair, and frequent elections and in which civil liberties are recognised and protected

c. that allows for some political freedoms although there are no political protections or democratic procedures in place

d. in which political outcomes are controlled by a small (typically wealthy) groups of individuals

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Authoritarianism

Difficulty Level: Easy

29. States that allow for some political freedoms although they lack many political protections or democratic procedures are ______.

a. authoritarian

b. democratic

c. oligarchic

d. totalitarian

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Authoritarianism

Difficulty Level: Easy

30. Which of the following theories argues that states can developmentally advance if they adopt more Western political and economic practices?

a. democratization theory

b. development theory

c. modernization theory

d. globalization theory

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Modernization and Western Bias

Difficulty Level: Easy

31. Attitudes in favor of protecting a country’s economic independence and autonomy are known as ______.

a. civic nationalism

b. economic nationalism

c. ethnic nationalism

d. ideological nationalism

Learning Objective: 8.5: Define nationalism and identify how it can often lead to conflict.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict

Difficulty Level: Easy

True/False

1. “Comparative Politics” gets its name from the methodologies used in the subfield.

Learning Objective: 8.1: Outline the comparative method.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Political scientists are unable to control most factors when trying to isolate the effect of a single variable.

Learning Objective: 8.1: Outline the comparative method.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Comparative Method

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. The challenge of defining the state in political science has been ongoing since the Hobbes and Locke.

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The State

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Theorization on the nature and definition of the state is on the rise in political science.

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Idea of the State

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. States and the international system as we know them in the present day found their origins in the mid-seventeenth century.

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: State Formation

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. ISIS had its origins in the Syrian Civil War.

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Case Study: Is ISIS a State?

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Globalization is a modern phenomenon

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Globalization

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Early on, China and Russia adopted different paths and styles of communism.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Communism in Practice

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Early studies of communism focused on the regime type’s relationships with religion.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Studies of Communism

Difficulty Level: Hard

10. There is no one agreed-upon definition for what makes a country developed.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Development and Developing Countries

Difficulty Level: Medium

Essay

1. What is a “state”? How do we know it when we see it? What differentiates one “state” from another, and why?

Learning Objective: 8.2: Explore the meaning of the state and its key characteristics.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The State

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. What is democracy? What is required for a state to be democratic, and why?

Learning Objective: 8.3: Define democracy and identify ways in which it is measured.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Democracy

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. What is globalization, and what does that mean? What are the consequences of globalization? Is globalization a good thing? Why or why NOT?

Learning Objective: 8.3: Define democracy and identify ways in which it is measured.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Globalization

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Democracy—what it is and what it isn’t—has been a well-researched topic in political science, but what about authoritarian regimes? What makes a state authoritarian? Are all authoritarian states alike? Explain.

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Authoritarianism

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. Consider a relationship between modernization, development, and political regimes or types of states. What is meant by development? Should different levels of development be associated with different types of regimes like democracies or authoritarian states? Why or why NOT?

Learning Objective: 8.4: Discuss patterns in postcommunist transitions and state development.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Development and Developing Countries

Difficulty Level: Hard