POSC FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What is the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and how was it applied in Libya? - Answer-
R2P was meant to protect civilians, but NATO's actions in Libya went beyond this
mandate, leading to civilian deaths from airstrikes that were not fully investigated and
continued rebel abuses.
What does the concept of world order refer to? - Answer- World order refers to how
global power is organized and how countries interact, focusing on who has power and
how it is used.
What are the different types of global orders? - Answer- Types of global orders include
unipolar (one dominant power), bipolar (two superpowers), and multipolar (several
major powers).
What are geopolitical shifts and their implications? - Answer- Geopolitical shifts are
changes in global power, alliances, and priorities, which affect how conflicts are
managed and how the UN operates.
How do geopolitical shifts influence peace missions? - Answer- New powers bring new
ideas about intervention, making it harder for the UN Security Council to agree and
potentially changing funding and support for missions.
How has the understanding of security evolved in international relations? - Answer-
Security used to mean protecting the state from military attack, but now includes civil
wars, terrorism, cyber threats, climate change, and pandemics.
What types of wars have emerged in modern times? - Answer- Wars have shifted from
interstate wars to civil, asymmetric, and hybrid wars.
In what ways is artificial intelligence (AI) impacting international politics? - Answer- AI
affects military power, cyber security, surveillance, decision-making, and propaganda,
reshaping how states compete and cooperate.
How does AI expand the definition of international security? - Answer- AI expands
security to include digital threats such as hacking, data theft, spying, and critical
infrastructure attacks, raising ethical and legal questions regarding AI-driven weapons.
, What is International Law? - Answer- International Law is a body of norms, rules, and
principles that govern the interactions between different states.
What role does law play in peacekeeping? - Answer- International law forms the
boundaries for peacekeeping operations. It's essential that peacekeepers follow
international law to maintain credibility.
What does the UN Charter provide regarding intervention? - Answer- The UN charter
provides the authority for intervention by UN peacekeepers. Missions are authorised
based on decisions under Chapter VI and Chapter VII.
What is Chapter VI of the UN Charter about? - Answer- Chapter VI addresses peaceful
resolutions of disputes.
What is Chapter VII of the UN Charter about? - Answer- Chapter VII pertains to the use
of force and enforcement actions.
What are the foundational principles of UN peacekeeping? - Answer- The foundational
principles include Consent of the Parties, Impartiality, and the Non-Use of Force except
in self-defense.
What does Consent of the Parties mean in peacekeeping? - Answer- Peacekeeping
operations are deployed only with the consent of the main parties to the conflict,
ensuring respect for sovereignty.
What is the principle of Impartiality in peacekeeping? - Answer- Peacekeepers must
carry out their duties without bias or preference towards conflicting parties. They can,
however, take sides if one side is violating international law.
What does Non-Use of Force Except in Self-Defense imply? - Answer- Force is used
only for self-defense or defense of the mandate and civilians, emphasizing
peacekeeping over peace enforcement.
What are Human Rights? - Answer- Human rights encompass the right to life and
liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to
work and education, and numerous other fundamental rights. Everyone is entitled to
these rights, without discrimination.
What is the Human Rights Approach? - Answer- The Human Rights Approach suggests
that human rights abuses can both cause and escalate conflicts, and addressing these
abuses can also help to resolve them.
How do Human Rights differ from Conflict Resolution? - Answer- Conflict resolution
aims for immediate peace agreements, while human rights seek long-term social,
political, and economic reforms.
AND ANSWERS
What is the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and how was it applied in Libya? - Answer-
R2P was meant to protect civilians, but NATO's actions in Libya went beyond this
mandate, leading to civilian deaths from airstrikes that were not fully investigated and
continued rebel abuses.
What does the concept of world order refer to? - Answer- World order refers to how
global power is organized and how countries interact, focusing on who has power and
how it is used.
What are the different types of global orders? - Answer- Types of global orders include
unipolar (one dominant power), bipolar (two superpowers), and multipolar (several
major powers).
What are geopolitical shifts and their implications? - Answer- Geopolitical shifts are
changes in global power, alliances, and priorities, which affect how conflicts are
managed and how the UN operates.
How do geopolitical shifts influence peace missions? - Answer- New powers bring new
ideas about intervention, making it harder for the UN Security Council to agree and
potentially changing funding and support for missions.
How has the understanding of security evolved in international relations? - Answer-
Security used to mean protecting the state from military attack, but now includes civil
wars, terrorism, cyber threats, climate change, and pandemics.
What types of wars have emerged in modern times? - Answer- Wars have shifted from
interstate wars to civil, asymmetric, and hybrid wars.
In what ways is artificial intelligence (AI) impacting international politics? - Answer- AI
affects military power, cyber security, surveillance, decision-making, and propaganda,
reshaping how states compete and cooperate.
How does AI expand the definition of international security? - Answer- AI expands
security to include digital threats such as hacking, data theft, spying, and critical
infrastructure attacks, raising ethical and legal questions regarding AI-driven weapons.
, What is International Law? - Answer- International Law is a body of norms, rules, and
principles that govern the interactions between different states.
What role does law play in peacekeeping? - Answer- International law forms the
boundaries for peacekeeping operations. It's essential that peacekeepers follow
international law to maintain credibility.
What does the UN Charter provide regarding intervention? - Answer- The UN charter
provides the authority for intervention by UN peacekeepers. Missions are authorised
based on decisions under Chapter VI and Chapter VII.
What is Chapter VI of the UN Charter about? - Answer- Chapter VI addresses peaceful
resolutions of disputes.
What is Chapter VII of the UN Charter about? - Answer- Chapter VII pertains to the use
of force and enforcement actions.
What are the foundational principles of UN peacekeeping? - Answer- The foundational
principles include Consent of the Parties, Impartiality, and the Non-Use of Force except
in self-defense.
What does Consent of the Parties mean in peacekeeping? - Answer- Peacekeeping
operations are deployed only with the consent of the main parties to the conflict,
ensuring respect for sovereignty.
What is the principle of Impartiality in peacekeeping? - Answer- Peacekeepers must
carry out their duties without bias or preference towards conflicting parties. They can,
however, take sides if one side is violating international law.
What does Non-Use of Force Except in Self-Defense imply? - Answer- Force is used
only for self-defense or defense of the mandate and civilians, emphasizing
peacekeeping over peace enforcement.
What are Human Rights? - Answer- Human rights encompass the right to life and
liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to
work and education, and numerous other fundamental rights. Everyone is entitled to
these rights, without discrimination.
What is the Human Rights Approach? - Answer- The Human Rights Approach suggests
that human rights abuses can both cause and escalate conflicts, and addressing these
abuses can also help to resolve them.
How do Human Rights differ from Conflict Resolution? - Answer- Conflict resolution
aims for immediate peace agreements, while human rights seek long-term social,
political, and economic reforms.
