Table of Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1
Neorealism........................................................................................................................... 5
Neoliberalism ..................................................................................................................... 10
Constructivism ................................................................................................................... 15
English school .................................................................................................................... 19
Normative Theory .............................................................................................................. 24
Marxism ............................................................................................................................. 28
Critical theory .................................................................................................................... 34
Post-structuralism .............................................................................................................. 39
Post-colonialism ................................................................................................................. 43
Feminism ........................................................................................................................... 47
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 51
Introduction
1. Which view of theory and theoretical pluralism is argued for by Steve Smith?
a. Theories explain the same world from different perspective.
*b. Theories constitute different but sometimes overlapping social
worlds c. Theoretical pluralism can be compared to a jigsaw.
d. Theoretical pluralism can be compared to a mobile over a child's bed.
2. According to Steve Smith: Which of the following statements about theory choice is correct?
a. Theory choice should depend on what you want to explain.
b. Theory choice is entirely a matter of subjective preference.
*c. Theory choice is influenced by position in the social world.
d. Theory choice should be determined by epistemology and methodology.
3. Which statement about Thomas Kuhn's view of theory choice is correct?
a, Choosing between paradigms must rely on empirical testing.
*b. Choosing between paradigms is subjective and in the last instance arbitrary.
c. Choosing between paradigms must be based on a multi-criteria comparison of theories.
d. Choosing between paradigms is not possible unless one develops research programs.
4. According to Kurki and Wight: Which of the following statements about the Great Debates in
IR is NOT correct?
a. Contenders in the first debate had no clear account of science,
1
, b. In the second debate behaviorists embraced positivism as the best way of doing social science.
c. In the third debate the contending theories did not have competing philosophies of science.
*d. It is a commonality of post-positivists in the fourth debate that they question the validity
of scientific knowledge altogether.
5. In what sense is scientific realism an alternative to positivism?
a. It provides a non-empiricist alternative to positivism.
*b. Contra positivism it also includes unobservables as researchable entities
c. Contra positivism it declares that qualitative methods matter more than quantitative.
d. Contra positivism it declares that power does not matter
6. Which of the following statements is not correct?
a. Waltz’s neo-realism takes an instrumental view on theory.
*b. In the first debate idealists aimed to produce normative rather than scientific
theory.
c. A Kuhnian paradigm shift is not necessarily caused by scientific progress.
d. Behaviourists are positivist
7. The editors of the textbook – Dunne, Kurki, and Smith - defend a certain view on theory
choice. Which one?
a. Ultimately, theory choice is arbitrary.
*b. While theory choice is not arbitrary, it cannot be based on a fixed set of
methodological prescriptions. It must consider a multiplicity of factors.
c. Theories should be chosen according to the matter to be analyzed: for instance, green theory
for environmental issues, realism for power politics.
d. Theories should be tested against reality. Only those not falsified in the test should be chosen.
8. What is typical of ‘constitutive theory’?
a. Constitutive theories ask and answer what certain social objects are.
b. Constitutive theories examine the way in which norms and ideas create the social world.
c. Constitutive theories theorize how the world is constituted through theories.
*d. All previous statements (a, b, c) are correct
9. Which of the following statements about positivism is correct?
a. Because contemporary positivists still treat non-observable entities in merely instrumental
terms, they see quantitative research as incompatible with positivism.
b. Positivism assumes that power is the most important factor in international politics.
*c. Positivists believe that a scientific analysis of sufficient collection of data will reveal
regularities of the social world indicative of the operation of general laws.
d. All previous statements (a, b, c) are correct.
10. In 1970, Hans Morgenthau published a text entitled ‘IR: qualitative and quantitative
approaches’. Recall what you know about the ‘great debates’ in IR: to which debate was this text
obviously a contribution?
2
,a. First debate.
*b. Second
debate.
c. Third debate.
d. Fourth debate.
11. In the 1960s, German sociology saw a fierce dispute between positivists and critical theorists.
Recall what you know already about critical theory and about positivism: which of the four
issues below was clearly not one of the most hotly debated topics?
a. Whether sociologists could and should do without normative judgements (or not).
b. Whether sociology should proceed in the same way as the natural sciences (or not).
c. Whether sociology could and should work with observable data only (or not).
*d. Whether sociologists should use quantitative or qualitative methods primarily.
12. Which of the following statements about the debates in IR history is incorrect?
*a. The first debate took place between normative theory and realism.
b. In the second debate the English School and behaviourism were on opposing sides.
c. In the third debate three paradigms faced each other: realism, pluralism, and Marxism.
d. In the fourth debate the distinction between explaining and understanding played an important
role.
13. Which of the following statements about post-positivism is not correct?
a. Some post-positivists aim at articulating a non-positivist version of science.
b. Some post-positivists reject the idea that science produces anything like true knowledge.
c. Some post-positivists develop a position that entails interpretive understanding.
*d. Some post-positivists build a unified logic for quantitative and qualitative inquiry based
on observation and measurement.
14. Which of the following statements concerning the so-called fourth debate is correct?
a. According to Kurki and Wight in their textbook chapter, the fourth debate is sometimes also
referred to as the fifth debate.
b. Neo-realism, neo-liberalism, and the English School together constitute the rationalist side of
the debate.
c. Explanatory theorists try to avoid the theoretical reduction of the complexity of the world.
*d. Under the label of Reflectivism, Keohane lumped together critical theory, feminism,
constructivism and post-structuralism.
15. Which statement about positivism is not correct?
*a. Positivists believe that we can make claims about the world independent from experience.
b. Leaving the second debate behind, positivists aimed at building a unified logic for
qualitative and quantitative methods.
c. Positivists believe in the distinction between facts and
values.
d. All knowledge claims must be grounded in observation.
3
, 16. Which of the following statements about IR’s ‘great debates’ is correct?
a. Explanatory theorists hold that meaning, language, ideas, and beliefs should be
incorporated into a scientific framework of analysis.
b. Supporters of an ‘understanding’ approach usually reject any claim to validity or
specific methods, because interpretation is subjective anyway.
c. Reflectivists acknowledge the non-neutral nature of political explanation and therefore do
not make knowledge claims.
*d. Rationalism claims to be able to make well-grounded predictions despite
ignoring complexity of the social world.
17. Which of the following statements characterizes textbook editor Steve Smith’s view
of theory choice?
a. Theoretical diversity is good, because all theories together provide all pieces of a jigsaw.
b. Theory choice cannot be made on the basis of empirical validity but can be made on the
basis of logical coherence.
c. Theories can be tested against each other with adequate methodological sophistication.
*d. Advocates of a certain theory cannot pass judgement on another’s theories legitimacy
or relevance.
18. Steve Smith argues for a certain view of theory pluralism and choice. Which?
a. Different theories add up like pieces of a puzzle to a complete picture of the world.
b. Different theories offer different perspectives on the same social world.
*c. Different theories are part of the different social worlds they constitute.
d. Different theories are all equally appropriate. There are no grounds for theory choices.
19. Which of the following statements about Thomas Kuhn’s philosophy of science and
its
application in IR is correct?
a. Knowledge progresses only in the revolutionary phase of science.
*b. Paradigms are incommensurable.
c. The second debate was much informed by Thomas Kuhn’s study of the history of
science.
d. All three (a, b, and c) are correct.
20. Which of the following statements is not correct?
a. All positivists believe that the social world is governed by general laws.
*b. All varieties of post-positivism reject the idea of science.
c. Today’s positivists in IR apply quantitative and qualitative methods for scientific
inference.
d. Positivism is founded on an empiricist theory of knowledge.
21. Scientific realism purports to be an alternative to positivism. How?
a. Unlike positivism it is strictly non-empiricist.
*b. Contra positivism it also includes non-observables as researchable
entities.
4
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1
Neorealism........................................................................................................................... 5
Neoliberalism ..................................................................................................................... 10
Constructivism ................................................................................................................... 15
English school .................................................................................................................... 19
Normative Theory .............................................................................................................. 24
Marxism ............................................................................................................................. 28
Critical theory .................................................................................................................... 34
Post-structuralism .............................................................................................................. 39
Post-colonialism ................................................................................................................. 43
Feminism ........................................................................................................................... 47
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 51
Introduction
1. Which view of theory and theoretical pluralism is argued for by Steve Smith?
a. Theories explain the same world from different perspective.
*b. Theories constitute different but sometimes overlapping social
worlds c. Theoretical pluralism can be compared to a jigsaw.
d. Theoretical pluralism can be compared to a mobile over a child's bed.
2. According to Steve Smith: Which of the following statements about theory choice is correct?
a. Theory choice should depend on what you want to explain.
b. Theory choice is entirely a matter of subjective preference.
*c. Theory choice is influenced by position in the social world.
d. Theory choice should be determined by epistemology and methodology.
3. Which statement about Thomas Kuhn's view of theory choice is correct?
a, Choosing between paradigms must rely on empirical testing.
*b. Choosing between paradigms is subjective and in the last instance arbitrary.
c. Choosing between paradigms must be based on a multi-criteria comparison of theories.
d. Choosing between paradigms is not possible unless one develops research programs.
4. According to Kurki and Wight: Which of the following statements about the Great Debates in
IR is NOT correct?
a. Contenders in the first debate had no clear account of science,
1
, b. In the second debate behaviorists embraced positivism as the best way of doing social science.
c. In the third debate the contending theories did not have competing philosophies of science.
*d. It is a commonality of post-positivists in the fourth debate that they question the validity
of scientific knowledge altogether.
5. In what sense is scientific realism an alternative to positivism?
a. It provides a non-empiricist alternative to positivism.
*b. Contra positivism it also includes unobservables as researchable entities
c. Contra positivism it declares that qualitative methods matter more than quantitative.
d. Contra positivism it declares that power does not matter
6. Which of the following statements is not correct?
a. Waltz’s neo-realism takes an instrumental view on theory.
*b. In the first debate idealists aimed to produce normative rather than scientific
theory.
c. A Kuhnian paradigm shift is not necessarily caused by scientific progress.
d. Behaviourists are positivist
7. The editors of the textbook – Dunne, Kurki, and Smith - defend a certain view on theory
choice. Which one?
a. Ultimately, theory choice is arbitrary.
*b. While theory choice is not arbitrary, it cannot be based on a fixed set of
methodological prescriptions. It must consider a multiplicity of factors.
c. Theories should be chosen according to the matter to be analyzed: for instance, green theory
for environmental issues, realism for power politics.
d. Theories should be tested against reality. Only those not falsified in the test should be chosen.
8. What is typical of ‘constitutive theory’?
a. Constitutive theories ask and answer what certain social objects are.
b. Constitutive theories examine the way in which norms and ideas create the social world.
c. Constitutive theories theorize how the world is constituted through theories.
*d. All previous statements (a, b, c) are correct
9. Which of the following statements about positivism is correct?
a. Because contemporary positivists still treat non-observable entities in merely instrumental
terms, they see quantitative research as incompatible with positivism.
b. Positivism assumes that power is the most important factor in international politics.
*c. Positivists believe that a scientific analysis of sufficient collection of data will reveal
regularities of the social world indicative of the operation of general laws.
d. All previous statements (a, b, c) are correct.
10. In 1970, Hans Morgenthau published a text entitled ‘IR: qualitative and quantitative
approaches’. Recall what you know about the ‘great debates’ in IR: to which debate was this text
obviously a contribution?
2
,a. First debate.
*b. Second
debate.
c. Third debate.
d. Fourth debate.
11. In the 1960s, German sociology saw a fierce dispute between positivists and critical theorists.
Recall what you know already about critical theory and about positivism: which of the four
issues below was clearly not one of the most hotly debated topics?
a. Whether sociologists could and should do without normative judgements (or not).
b. Whether sociology should proceed in the same way as the natural sciences (or not).
c. Whether sociology could and should work with observable data only (or not).
*d. Whether sociologists should use quantitative or qualitative methods primarily.
12. Which of the following statements about the debates in IR history is incorrect?
*a. The first debate took place between normative theory and realism.
b. In the second debate the English School and behaviourism were on opposing sides.
c. In the third debate three paradigms faced each other: realism, pluralism, and Marxism.
d. In the fourth debate the distinction between explaining and understanding played an important
role.
13. Which of the following statements about post-positivism is not correct?
a. Some post-positivists aim at articulating a non-positivist version of science.
b. Some post-positivists reject the idea that science produces anything like true knowledge.
c. Some post-positivists develop a position that entails interpretive understanding.
*d. Some post-positivists build a unified logic for quantitative and qualitative inquiry based
on observation and measurement.
14. Which of the following statements concerning the so-called fourth debate is correct?
a. According to Kurki and Wight in their textbook chapter, the fourth debate is sometimes also
referred to as the fifth debate.
b. Neo-realism, neo-liberalism, and the English School together constitute the rationalist side of
the debate.
c. Explanatory theorists try to avoid the theoretical reduction of the complexity of the world.
*d. Under the label of Reflectivism, Keohane lumped together critical theory, feminism,
constructivism and post-structuralism.
15. Which statement about positivism is not correct?
*a. Positivists believe that we can make claims about the world independent from experience.
b. Leaving the second debate behind, positivists aimed at building a unified logic for
qualitative and quantitative methods.
c. Positivists believe in the distinction between facts and
values.
d. All knowledge claims must be grounded in observation.
3
, 16. Which of the following statements about IR’s ‘great debates’ is correct?
a. Explanatory theorists hold that meaning, language, ideas, and beliefs should be
incorporated into a scientific framework of analysis.
b. Supporters of an ‘understanding’ approach usually reject any claim to validity or
specific methods, because interpretation is subjective anyway.
c. Reflectivists acknowledge the non-neutral nature of political explanation and therefore do
not make knowledge claims.
*d. Rationalism claims to be able to make well-grounded predictions despite
ignoring complexity of the social world.
17. Which of the following statements characterizes textbook editor Steve Smith’s view
of theory choice?
a. Theoretical diversity is good, because all theories together provide all pieces of a jigsaw.
b. Theory choice cannot be made on the basis of empirical validity but can be made on the
basis of logical coherence.
c. Theories can be tested against each other with adequate methodological sophistication.
*d. Advocates of a certain theory cannot pass judgement on another’s theories legitimacy
or relevance.
18. Steve Smith argues for a certain view of theory pluralism and choice. Which?
a. Different theories add up like pieces of a puzzle to a complete picture of the world.
b. Different theories offer different perspectives on the same social world.
*c. Different theories are part of the different social worlds they constitute.
d. Different theories are all equally appropriate. There are no grounds for theory choices.
19. Which of the following statements about Thomas Kuhn’s philosophy of science and
its
application in IR is correct?
a. Knowledge progresses only in the revolutionary phase of science.
*b. Paradigms are incommensurable.
c. The second debate was much informed by Thomas Kuhn’s study of the history of
science.
d. All three (a, b, and c) are correct.
20. Which of the following statements is not correct?
a. All positivists believe that the social world is governed by general laws.
*b. All varieties of post-positivism reject the idea of science.
c. Today’s positivists in IR apply quantitative and qualitative methods for scientific
inference.
d. Positivism is founded on an empiricist theory of knowledge.
21. Scientific realism purports to be an alternative to positivism. How?
a. Unlike positivism it is strictly non-empiricist.
*b. Contra positivism it also includes non-observables as researchable
entities.
4
