Chapter 1: Approaches to International Relations
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. International relations encompasses the interactions among various actors that participate in
international politics, including:
a. states and government bureaucracies.
b. international organizations and for-profit organizations.
c. individuals and local municipalities.
d. all of the above.
e. none of the above.
ANS: D DIF: E REF: Page 3
2. Which of the following is not a way in which a college student might be able to influence
international relations?
a. Watching the evening news
b. Traveling to a foreign country
c. Joining a non-governmental organization
d. Purchasing products made abroad
e. Marching to protest foreign oppression
ANS: A DIF: M REF: Pages 1–2
3. According to the text, three of the more prominent theoretical approaches used to study
international relations are:
a. historicism, liberalism, and radicalism.
b. realism, radicalism, and historicism.
, c. constructivism, radicalism, and statism.
d. liberalism, realism, and radicalism.
e. radicalism, environmentalism, and constructivism.
ANS: D DIF: E REF: Page 3
4. How can theories of international relations be characterized?
a. International relations theory has remained unchanged since the time of ancient Greece.
b. Competition between the various theories has prevented scholars from understanding the
world.
c. International relations theory has developed dynamically: old theories have been
challenged by new ones.
d. International relations theory has little to do with economics or human nature; it focuses
solely on power.
e. One unified theory of international relations has emerged in recent years, displacing all
others.
ANS: C DIF: M REF: Page 4
5. According to the text, political scientists develop theories in order to:
a. understand the causes of events.
b. give direct advice to the government on policies to follow.
c. answer foundational questions in the field.
d. both a and b.
e. both a and c.
ANS: E DIF: M REF: Page 3
6. Which methods do political scientists use to find answers to international relations questions?
a. discourse analysis.
, b. scientific.
c. historical.
d. philosophical.
e. all of the above.
ANS: E DIF: E REF: Pages 4–12
7. As an approach to the study of international relations, historical analysis:
a. is an outdated approach.
b. focuses primarily on the interactions of multinational corporations.
c. provides useful background to many contemporary issues.
d. is always a good guide for today’s foreign policies.
e. is remarkably similar to behavioralism.
ANS: C DIF: M REF: Page 4
8. What is a drawback to the historical approach to international relations?
a. It ignores the normative element in political life.
b. The lessons of history may be misapplied or may be obsolete because of technical change.
c. Focusing on empirical methods may obscure some of the fundamental questions of
international relations.
d. All of the above.
e. None of the above.
ANS: B DIF: D REF: Page 5
9. Thucydides used diplomatic history to:
a. launch the behavioral revolution.
, b. examine the causes of war.
c. formulate a new philosophy of international relations.
d. describe the “state of nature”.
e. illustrate the value of constructivism.
ANS: B DIF: M REF: Page 5
10. Comparing the war in Iraq to the Vietnam War is not a perfect application of history because:
a. Unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq was a short war.
b. Unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq is about ideology.
c. Unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq was against a single clear enemy.
d. Unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq is about ethnic groups’ self interest.
e. Unlike Vietnam’s insurgency, the Iraqi insurgents oppose the U.S. occupation.
ANS: D DIF: D REF: Pages 5–6
11. Class analysis and dialectical reasoning, two important tools later used by Karl Marx, were
introduced by which one of the following thinkers?
a. Plato.
b. Hobbes.
c. Rousseau.
d. Kant.
e. Aquinas.
ANS: A DIF: D REF: Page 6
12. What types of relationships does the philosophical approach to international relations explore?
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. International relations encompasses the interactions among various actors that participate in
international politics, including:
a. states and government bureaucracies.
b. international organizations and for-profit organizations.
c. individuals and local municipalities.
d. all of the above.
e. none of the above.
ANS: D DIF: E REF: Page 3
2. Which of the following is not a way in which a college student might be able to influence
international relations?
a. Watching the evening news
b. Traveling to a foreign country
c. Joining a non-governmental organization
d. Purchasing products made abroad
e. Marching to protest foreign oppression
ANS: A DIF: M REF: Pages 1–2
3. According to the text, three of the more prominent theoretical approaches used to study
international relations are:
a. historicism, liberalism, and radicalism.
b. realism, radicalism, and historicism.
, c. constructivism, radicalism, and statism.
d. liberalism, realism, and radicalism.
e. radicalism, environmentalism, and constructivism.
ANS: D DIF: E REF: Page 3
4. How can theories of international relations be characterized?
a. International relations theory has remained unchanged since the time of ancient Greece.
b. Competition between the various theories has prevented scholars from understanding the
world.
c. International relations theory has developed dynamically: old theories have been
challenged by new ones.
d. International relations theory has little to do with economics or human nature; it focuses
solely on power.
e. One unified theory of international relations has emerged in recent years, displacing all
others.
ANS: C DIF: M REF: Page 4
5. According to the text, political scientists develop theories in order to:
a. understand the causes of events.
b. give direct advice to the government on policies to follow.
c. answer foundational questions in the field.
d. both a and b.
e. both a and c.
ANS: E DIF: M REF: Page 3
6. Which methods do political scientists use to find answers to international relations questions?
a. discourse analysis.
, b. scientific.
c. historical.
d. philosophical.
e. all of the above.
ANS: E DIF: E REF: Pages 4–12
7. As an approach to the study of international relations, historical analysis:
a. is an outdated approach.
b. focuses primarily on the interactions of multinational corporations.
c. provides useful background to many contemporary issues.
d. is always a good guide for today’s foreign policies.
e. is remarkably similar to behavioralism.
ANS: C DIF: M REF: Page 4
8. What is a drawback to the historical approach to international relations?
a. It ignores the normative element in political life.
b. The lessons of history may be misapplied or may be obsolete because of technical change.
c. Focusing on empirical methods may obscure some of the fundamental questions of
international relations.
d. All of the above.
e. None of the above.
ANS: B DIF: D REF: Page 5
9. Thucydides used diplomatic history to:
a. launch the behavioral revolution.
, b. examine the causes of war.
c. formulate a new philosophy of international relations.
d. describe the “state of nature”.
e. illustrate the value of constructivism.
ANS: B DIF: M REF: Page 5
10. Comparing the war in Iraq to the Vietnam War is not a perfect application of history because:
a. Unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq was a short war.
b. Unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq is about ideology.
c. Unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq was against a single clear enemy.
d. Unlike Vietnam, the conflict in Iraq is about ethnic groups’ self interest.
e. Unlike Vietnam’s insurgency, the Iraqi insurgents oppose the U.S. occupation.
ANS: D DIF: D REF: Pages 5–6
11. Class analysis and dialectical reasoning, two important tools later used by Karl Marx, were
introduced by which one of the following thinkers?
a. Plato.
b. Hobbes.
c. Rousseau.
d. Kant.
e. Aquinas.
ANS: A DIF: D REF: Page 6
12. What types of relationships does the philosophical approach to international relations explore?
