INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS #5
Social science theory - correct answer - seeks to explain social phenomena, NOT
PROVE
- logical explanations of social phenomenon
Goals of IR theory - correct answer - Logic and debate
- Solve or predict problems to improve the world
- Generalizability, generalize explanations
Theories - correct answer grounded in logic and evidence
Parsimony theory - correct answer smallest number of x for the biggest amount of y
What should theory do? - correct answer Provide a:
- Causal explanation
- Use empirical evidence
- Work from a solid and coherent core logic: theories must make sense and have a
strong core of case evidence to support it
Independent thought - correct answer can at times interfere with the outcomes of a
theory
Falsifiability - correct answer - to falsify a theory—all theories can be falsified, because
they are SOCIAL in nature...no laws in social world.
- If you cannot explain 100% of something then you should be open to be falsified
Your goal should always be... - correct answer to have a better explanation
Theoretical degeneration - correct answer to add to the independent or add more
independent variables—hurts the strength of the explanation, hurts parsimony. Trying to
explain every case by adding to the independent variable is DEGENERATION.
Defining factor of states - correct answer Sovereignty
Sovereign states & countries - correct answer PRIMARY ACTORS in world politics
The State - correct answer key unit of analysis
Anarchy - correct answer not chaos but the absence of any known authority over the
concept of a sovereign state
Treaty of Westphalia - correct answer 1648 official start of sovereign state system (end
of 30 Years War)
WITH ANSWERS #5
Social science theory - correct answer - seeks to explain social phenomena, NOT
PROVE
- logical explanations of social phenomenon
Goals of IR theory - correct answer - Logic and debate
- Solve or predict problems to improve the world
- Generalizability, generalize explanations
Theories - correct answer grounded in logic and evidence
Parsimony theory - correct answer smallest number of x for the biggest amount of y
What should theory do? - correct answer Provide a:
- Causal explanation
- Use empirical evidence
- Work from a solid and coherent core logic: theories must make sense and have a
strong core of case evidence to support it
Independent thought - correct answer can at times interfere with the outcomes of a
theory
Falsifiability - correct answer - to falsify a theory—all theories can be falsified, because
they are SOCIAL in nature...no laws in social world.
- If you cannot explain 100% of something then you should be open to be falsified
Your goal should always be... - correct answer to have a better explanation
Theoretical degeneration - correct answer to add to the independent or add more
independent variables—hurts the strength of the explanation, hurts parsimony. Trying to
explain every case by adding to the independent variable is DEGENERATION.
Defining factor of states - correct answer Sovereignty
Sovereign states & countries - correct answer PRIMARY ACTORS in world politics
The State - correct answer key unit of analysis
Anarchy - correct answer not chaos but the absence of any known authority over the
concept of a sovereign state
Treaty of Westphalia - correct answer 1648 official start of sovereign state system (end
of 30 Years War)
