PSC International Relations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'realism' as a theory of international relations?
- The belief that international institutions can create lasting peace
- The view that states are the primary actors in an anarchic international system, driven mainly by self-interest and power (Correct answer)
- The theory that economic interdependence prevents war
- The idea that domestic political systems determine foreign policy
Correct answer: The view that states are the primary actors in an anarchic international system, driven mainly by self-interest and power
Realism holds that international politics is shaped by self-interested states competing for power and security in an anarchic world with no overarching authority.
Question 2: The United Nations Security Council has five permanent members with veto power. Which countries hold these permanent seats?
- USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan
- USA, Russia, China, UK, France (Correct answer)
- USA, Russia, China, India, Brazil
- USA, UK, France, Germany, Russia
Correct answer: USA, Russia, China, UK, France
The five permanent members (P5) of the UN Security Council — the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France — each hold veto power over substantive resolutions.
Question 3: What does 'sovereignty' mean in international law and relations?
- The right of powerful states to intervene in weaker states
- A state's supreme authority within its own territory and independence from external control (Correct answer)
- The obligation of all states to follow UN Security Council resolutions
- The economic dominance of one nation over others in a region
Correct answer: A state's supreme authority within its own territory and independence from external control
Sovereignty refers to a state's supreme authority over its territory and population, and its legal equality with other states in the international system.
Question 4: Liberalism as a theory of international relations emphasizes which of the following?
- Power politics and military strength as the drivers of peace
- International cooperation, institutions, and interdependence as pathways to peace (Correct answer)
- The inherent tendency of states toward conflict
- The dominance of great powers over international order
Correct answer: International cooperation, institutions, and interdependence as pathways to peace
Liberal IR theory emphasizes that international institutions, trade interdependence, democracy, and cooperation can overcome the anarchic tendencies of the state system.
Question 5: What is 'soft power' in international relations, as defined by Joseph Nye?
- Military force used with diplomatic justification
- The ability to influence others through attraction, culture, and values rather than coercion (Correct answer)
- Economic sanctions imposed on adversary states
- Intelligence operations conducted by covert means
Correct answer: The ability to influence others through attraction, culture, and values rather than coercion
Joseph Nye coined 'soft power' to describe a state's ability to shape the preferences of others through the appeal of its culture, political values, and foreign policies — as opposed to 'hard power' (military and economic coercion).
Question 6: The term 'balance of power' in international relations refers to:
- Equal distribution of economic wealth among all nations
- A situation where states align to prevent any single state from dominating the international system (Correct answer)
- The equal representation of all states in international organizations
- A treaty requiring all nations to maintain equal military forces
Correct answer: A situation where states align to prevent any single state from dominating the international system
Balance of power describes a distribution of power in which no single state is dominant, often maintained through alliances where states counter-balance a rising or threatening power.
PSC International Relations 1
What is 'realism' as a theory of international relations?