GOV 312L Exam Questions With Correct Answers

GOV 312L Exam Questions With Correct Answers What are the two main components of the international system? Explain the differences between actors and structure in the international system - answerActors and structure are two main components Actors: individuals or groups of individuals with a common purpose or collective identity. Have a goal and understand how their actions will shape other interactions and be evaluated by others (purposive and reflective). Ex: states, firms, international orgs, political parties or transnational activists. Structure: overarching principles, rules, constraints; the set of properties or arrangements that connect and order the actors in the system. Allocates power and shapes interactions; rewards or penalizes certain behaviors. Ex: speed limits How does structure in the international system constrain behaviors of international actors? Discuss some examples of how structure constrains actors' behaviors. - answerStructure constrains actors by preventing or encouraging certain behaviors, such as international economic pressures, sanctions or treaties. Ex: Iran Nuclear Accord in which US, China, France, Germany, UK and Russia created a structural constraint against Iran because of their combined global military and economic power arrayed against Iran How does structure constitute actors by influencing their identities and interests? Discuss some examples. - answerStructure constitutes actors when attributes of the actor, like identity or interests, are enabled by or dependent upon the larger structure; generates or alters fundamental dispositions and characteristics.Ex: EU, European Coal and Steel Community, European Parliament and European Court of Justice have all constituted European countries by creating a European identity which has affected their international relations and broader political community - bail out of Greece According to the reading, what are the most prominent actors in the international system? - answerstates, firms, powerful individuals, international organizations - as well as the EXAM STUDY MATERIALS July 30, 2024 11:26 AM structures that constrain them.Structures may cause actors to act in ways they otherwise wouldn't and may produce unintended results What does it mean to say that international relations is marked by a condition of anarchy? Why does this aspect of the international system make cooperation among international actors like states so difficult? - answerAnarchy threatens cooperation by increasing challenges associated with enforcing interstate agreements. It is an absence of supranational authority over states and an absence of a third-party enforcement mechanism to facilitate cooperation among states. Absence of an international source of authority capable of punishing states when they negotiate in bad faith and revoke their promises, other states might just choose not to make agreements in the first place What is the prisoner's dilemma? How does the prisoner's dilemma help to illustrate the difficulty of cooperation between political actors in the international system? - answerPrisoner's dilemma refers to the thought experiment of two prisoners offered freedom if they testify against the other.If both refuse to testify, they get a two year sentence each, if one testifies against the other, their sentence becomes 1 year while the other's becomes 10 years, and if both testify against each other they both get a 10 year sentence. Because both are rationally self interested, they would always choose to testify against the other prisoner. Within the international system, this illustrates how the best outcome cannot always be reached since actors are rationally self interested. Therefore they will do what is best for them individually rather than for the collective good. Prisoner's dilemma is this The point of the situation is that 2 individual or groups or nations etc. could be completely rational people but might not decide to do what's in each other's best interest. (MAN 320F anyone?) They focus on what is best for them individually, even though it may not actually be best for them in the long run Discuss the Iran nuclear accord in light of the impact of actors and structure within the international system. How did the decision by the United States to include Iran in the "axis of evil" along with Iraq and North Korea affect Iran's incentives to pursue nuclear weapons, particularly after the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003? How did the Iran nuclear accord affect Iran, the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq? - answerIran responded to the US's invasion of Iraq in 2003 and stationing of troops in Iraq by developing a nuclear weapons program. Iraq was invaded and didn't even have nuclear weapons so Iran wanted to deter potential US attack by acquiring nuclear weapons. By being included in the axis of evil, Iran was suspicious of a US attack after they attacked another member of the axis. The completion of the Iran Nuclear Accord in 2015 preserved peace among the US, Iran, and Israel. It extenuated domestic conflicts in the US, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen. Also reflected shifting foreign policy orientations of US, Iran, and Saudi Arabia EXAM STUDY MATERIALS July 30, 2024 11:26 AM What is foreign policy? What are the differences among the beliefs, capabilities, interests, and actions (behavior) of political actors? - answerFP: actions or statements made by the US for a foreign audience. Beliefs: what foreign countries think about US and expect from us in the future; Capabilities: relative military power, shapes bargaining leverage, threatening; Interests: what states want and how they change other states' interests; Actions: alter behavior of other states. Each state acts toward own interest What are the main components of the foreign policy bureaucracy in the United States and what are their main responsibilities? - answerState Department: manages passports, negotiating arms control and free trade agreements, peace deals, etc. Defense Department: oversees and works with joint chiefs of staff, responsibility over military force, living up to threats - used to keep political order. Treasury Department: manages coordination of monetary policies between US and foreign policies, works with finance ministers, significant domestic responsibilities of taxes and borrowing to ensure gov can function. CIA & DNI: intelligence to ensure US knows what is going on and what other countries will do NSC: White House council that coordinates all FP within executive branch UN: representing US within the UN, platform for expression of ideals and goals. What is the national interest? - answerDefines national identity - what do we want for security and economy? The US promotes ideals of democracy, free trade, and basic human rights/ dignities Guide policy for FP; subject to domestic political conflict. What was President George W. Bush's 2002 national security strategy? What are its central components/foundational arguments? What are the major threats to American interests that it identifies? How did 9/11 change the national security threats facing the US? - answerBush saw terrorism as primary security thre