PLSC 102 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
Describe how arguments against female marines in combat are misstated? - Answer-
people believe it is a misguided social experiment that places women in a threatening
position of military readiness
What is the main factor that constructivists focus on? - Answer- constructivism explains
events in international politics through a focus on norms and identities -- both of
individuals and of states
Why do constructivists believe that political structure (anarchy, democracy, dictatorship,
etc.) is often unimportant in international politics? - Answer- constructivists place a
higher emphasis on the identities found in international politics and how those explain
phenomena rather than political structure
Why do liberals focus on cooperation between states as a primary point to study? -
Answer- liberals believe that injustice, war, and aggression are not inevitable but can be
moderated or even eliminated through institutional reform and collective action.
In complex interdependence, what is the difference between vulnerability and
sensitivity? - Answer- sensitivity- you feel an action a bit, but it does not hurt you
vulnerability- you feel an action a lot, it does hurt you
What lesson do liberals want us to understand from the prisoner's dilemma? - Answer-
liberals argue for trust and cooperation, when we cooperate we get the best possible
outcome
Why are institutions important to liberal scholars? - Answer- institutions allow for
institutional reform to take place and provide collective action
Briefly describe the main points of democratic peace theory - Answer- two democratic
countries will not go to war with each other, correlation/causation problem that
democracies are more powerful
Briefly describe the main points of dependency theory - Answer- core countries are
northern and industrial, periphery countries are southern and developing
What is the main factor that radicalists focus on? - Answer- places a primary role on the
role of economics in explaining international phenomena
, What three things are theories used for in international relations? - Answer- -explain
material entities
-explain conceptual factors
-to form ideas about norms and identities
what is the difference between the everyday usage of the word 'theory' and the scientific
usage of the word? - Answer- In everyday use, the word "theory" often means an
untested hunch, or a guess without supporting evidence. But for scientists, a theory has
nearly the opposite meaning. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect
of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses and facts.
theory definition - Answer- a collection of propositions that combine to explain
phenomena by specifying the relationships among a set of concepts
Theories often involve correlation/causation problems. Briefly describe what this means.
- Answer- example: 15th century dutch experiencing a great population of babies and a
huge migration of storks leading to the greatest harvest of all time and increased fertility
of women.
correlation between the amount of babies and migration of storks does not lead to the
cause of storks bringing babies
correlation definition - Answer- a mutual connection between two or more things
causation definition - Answer- the action of causing something
what is the basic premise of the behavioralist perspective on international relations? -
Answer- behavioralism finds patterns in human behavior and state behavior using
empirical methods, grounded in scientific method
behavioralism definition - Answer- proposes that individuals, both alone and in groups,
act in patterned ways
what contribution does philosophy/philosophers make to discussions of international
relations? briefly mention the contributions of two philosophers. - Answer- Philosophy
has contributed to the development of international relations by calling attention to
fundamental relationships: those between the individuals and society, between
individuals in society, and between societies.
Thomas Hobbes: In Leviathan, described life in a state of nature as solitary, selfish, and
brutish. Individuals and society can escape from the state of nature through a unitary
state, a leviathan.
Immanuel Kant: Associated with the idealist or utopian school of thought. In Idea for a
Universal History and Perpetual Peace, advocated a world federation of republics
bound by the rule of law.
WITH 100% CORRECT ANSWERS
Describe how arguments against female marines in combat are misstated? - Answer-
people believe it is a misguided social experiment that places women in a threatening
position of military readiness
What is the main factor that constructivists focus on? - Answer- constructivism explains
events in international politics through a focus on norms and identities -- both of
individuals and of states
Why do constructivists believe that political structure (anarchy, democracy, dictatorship,
etc.) is often unimportant in international politics? - Answer- constructivists place a
higher emphasis on the identities found in international politics and how those explain
phenomena rather than political structure
Why do liberals focus on cooperation between states as a primary point to study? -
Answer- liberals believe that injustice, war, and aggression are not inevitable but can be
moderated or even eliminated through institutional reform and collective action.
In complex interdependence, what is the difference between vulnerability and
sensitivity? - Answer- sensitivity- you feel an action a bit, but it does not hurt you
vulnerability- you feel an action a lot, it does hurt you
What lesson do liberals want us to understand from the prisoner's dilemma? - Answer-
liberals argue for trust and cooperation, when we cooperate we get the best possible
outcome
Why are institutions important to liberal scholars? - Answer- institutions allow for
institutional reform to take place and provide collective action
Briefly describe the main points of democratic peace theory - Answer- two democratic
countries will not go to war with each other, correlation/causation problem that
democracies are more powerful
Briefly describe the main points of dependency theory - Answer- core countries are
northern and industrial, periphery countries are southern and developing
What is the main factor that radicalists focus on? - Answer- places a primary role on the
role of economics in explaining international phenomena
, What three things are theories used for in international relations? - Answer- -explain
material entities
-explain conceptual factors
-to form ideas about norms and identities
what is the difference between the everyday usage of the word 'theory' and the scientific
usage of the word? - Answer- In everyday use, the word "theory" often means an
untested hunch, or a guess without supporting evidence. But for scientists, a theory has
nearly the opposite meaning. A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of an aspect
of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses and facts.
theory definition - Answer- a collection of propositions that combine to explain
phenomena by specifying the relationships among a set of concepts
Theories often involve correlation/causation problems. Briefly describe what this means.
- Answer- example: 15th century dutch experiencing a great population of babies and a
huge migration of storks leading to the greatest harvest of all time and increased fertility
of women.
correlation between the amount of babies and migration of storks does not lead to the
cause of storks bringing babies
correlation definition - Answer- a mutual connection between two or more things
causation definition - Answer- the action of causing something
what is the basic premise of the behavioralist perspective on international relations? -
Answer- behavioralism finds patterns in human behavior and state behavior using
empirical methods, grounded in scientific method
behavioralism definition - Answer- proposes that individuals, both alone and in groups,
act in patterned ways
what contribution does philosophy/philosophers make to discussions of international
relations? briefly mention the contributions of two philosophers. - Answer- Philosophy
has contributed to the development of international relations by calling attention to
fundamental relationships: those between the individuals and society, between
individuals in society, and between societies.
Thomas Hobbes: In Leviathan, described life in a state of nature as solitary, selfish, and
brutish. Individuals and society can escape from the state of nature through a unitary
state, a leviathan.
Immanuel Kant: Associated with the idealist or utopian school of thought. In Idea for a
Universal History and Perpetual Peace, advocated a world federation of republics
bound by the rule of law.
