Deck 3: Theories of International Decision Making

Question 1

Which concept might explain a leader's reluctance to change the course of action due to their fear of potential losses?

A)rational choice
B)prospect theory
C)utility maximization
D)policy agenda

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following eschews the explanatory importance of the individual level of analysis in favor of systemic explanations?

A)neorealism
B)liberalism
C)constructivism
D)Marxism

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What is the second decision making stage of poliheuristic theory?

A)rejecting suboptimal options
B)simplifying alternatives
C)using cognitive heuristics
D)assessing the remaining alternatives

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following refers to the degree to which nations cluster around the powerful state?

A)groupthink
B)collaboration
C)balancing
D)polarization

Question 5

Which theoretical approach assumes that foreign policy making consists primarily of an international actor adjusting to the pressures of an anarchical global system whose essential properties do not vary?

A)realism
B)liberalism
C)constructivism
D)feminism

Question 6

Which level of analysis does the history-making individual model operate at?

A)individual
B)state
C)global
D)systemic

Question 7

Which of the following is a decision-making theory that accounts for process and outcome of decisions through a two-stage analytic model that incorporates cognitive approaches with rational choice expectations?

A)irrational choice
B)theory of risky prospects
C)poliheuristic theory
D)affective intelligence theory

Question 8

The bureaucratic politics model posits that large bureaucratic organizations rely on which of the following?

A)policy networks
B)standard operating procedures
C)groupthink
D)two-level games

Question 9

Which of the following claims can be associated with rational choice theory?

A)Decision makers are susceptible to their psychological biases.
B)Decision makers tend to be erratic under stress.
C)Decision makers are purposeful and goal-oriented.
D)Decision makers are susceptible to cognitive dissonance.

Question 10

Which of the following are the elements of the three-part decision-making framework?

A)individual decision makers, internal influences, and global factors
B)individual decision makers, internal influences, and public opinion
C)individual decision makers, public opinion, and the media
D)Congress, the military, and the executive branch

Question 11

What concept refers to a person's belief in their own ability to make effective rational choices?

A)satisficing
B)political efficacy
C)zeitgeist
D)caucus

Question 12

Which of the following makes use of hypothetical situations to help determine standard operating procedures?

A)affective intelligence theory
B)game theory
C)road-trip diplomacy
D)cognitive dissonance

Question 13

Which of the following refers to the constraints written into law or custom that predispose decision makers in a particular governmental position to act in a manner and style that is consistent with expectations about them and their position?

A)poliheuristic constraints
B)efficacy
C)roles
D)heuristics

Question 14

Which of the following can liberate a leader from constraints that he or she faces during decision making?

A)a crisis
B)bureaucracy
C)cognitive dissonance
D)policy networks

Question 15

What is a common problem a policy maker may experience when conducting foreign policy?

A)lack of diplomatic support
B)inflated ego
C)erratic institutions
D)incomplete information

Question 16

Which of the following refers to a model of policy which sets foreign policy choices based on bargaining and compromises among competing government agencies?

A)bureaucratic politics model
B)legislative politics model
C)policy networks
D)rational choice

Question 17

What term describes the blocking of information that does not conform to one's preexisting beliefs?

A)satisficing
B)cognitive dissonance
C)affective intelligence
D)game theory

Question 18

Which of the following is a central tenet of prospect theory?

A)utility maximization
B)satisficing
C)cognitive dissonance
D)risk aversion

Question 19

Which theoretical approach is most likely to explain decision-making processes by looking at concepts such as culture, identity, ideas, discourse, and roles?

A)realism
B)liberalism
C)constructivism
D)Marxism

Question 20

Which of the following is an implication of the prospect theory?

A)Decision makers tend to gravitate toward the "status quo."
B)Decision makers are utility maximizers.
C)Decision makers are inherently irrational.
D)Decision makers are not constrained by global factors.

Question 21

Which of the following statements describes the concept of zeitgeist ?

A)Men and women are genetically different.
B)Great men are the sole determinants of foreign-policy events.
C)The spirit of the times or the dominant cultural norms influence behavior.
D)Gorbachev engineered the revolutionary, system-transforming changes in the USSR.

Question 22

Which of the following models perceives world leaders as the people who change the course of history?

A)rational choice model
B)history-making individuals model
C)visionary model
D)leaders of the free world model

Question 23

Which of the following refers to the propensity for members of a group to accept and agree with the group's prevailing attitudes?

A)cognitive dissonance
B)satisficing
C)groupthink
D)socializing

Question 24

When a member of the State Department consults the diplomatic protocol, which of the following are the using?

A)standard operating procedures
B)diplomatic immunity
C)a policy network
D)diplomatic heuristics

Question 25

Which of the following explains why a country's leader might attribute greater value to lost territory as opposed to gained territory?

A)prospect theory
B)utility maximization
C)cognitive dissonance
D)diversionary theory

Question 26

In a realist world, states are considered to be "unitary actors." What does this mean?

A)States are assumed to be internally united, without multiple decision makers at the domestic level.
B)States can only have one foreign policy strategy.
C)States behave in a linear fashion with a clearly observable chain of events that leads to policy.
D)States do not reveal their true preferences; they prefer to put on an act on the international stage.

Question 27

How does an individual's susceptibility to cognitive dissonance affect their decision-making capability?

A)Leaders are likely to become confused by multiple sources of conflicting information.
B)Individuals may be prone to block out dissonant, or inconsistent, information and perceptions about their preferred choice.
C)Those who consider themselves "political experts" tend to make the wisest and most consistent decisions.
D)Snap judgments are typically just as good as decisions made cautiously and deliberately.

Question 28

Which of the following refers to informal groups that individuals in governments and other groups join to promote their common interests?

A)caucuses
B)bureaucracies
C)policy networks
D)civic clubs

Question 29

According to Robert Putnam, what characterizes the way most leaders make policy decisions?

A)Political leaders play a game with international organizations as well as with other leaders.
B)Policy makers can easily ensure that the demands of internal and global politics are compatible.
C)States must formulate policies both to satisfy domestic groups and to maximize their foreign goals.
D)Policy makers are familiar with established international regimes.

Question 30

Which of the following argues that more rational decisions are reached in a group that allows differing opinions to be heard and rival options to receive critical evaluation?

A)groupthink
B)multiple advocacy
C)game theory
D)rationality

Question 31

Which of the following is true of differing opinions between key advisors?

A)Differing opinions can be beneficial because it forces a more thorough examination of reasons and alternatives.
B)Differing opinions rarely occur.
C)Differing opinions usually lead to security dilemmas.
D)Differing opinions usually lead to suboptimal results.

Question 32

How do standard operating procedures (SOPs)make bureaucracies more efficient?

A)They facilitate groupthink.
B)They provide methods to be followed in carrying out tasks once a decision is made.
C)They prevent rivalries among bureaucratic agencies.
D)They engage in multiple advocacies.

Question 33

Which of the following are the steps of the decision-making process under rational choice?

A)recognizing problems, selecting goals, considering alternatives, and choice
B)recognizing problems, analysis, and choice
C)identification, satisficing, and choice
D)cost-benefit analysis and choice

Question 34

If members of a group conform with the prevailing attitude of the group, which of the following behaviors

A)prioritizing
B)satisficing
C)groupthink
D)prospective behavior

Question 35

Decision makers in international relations often act without access to complete information and operate under pressure. When, despite these deficiencies, the decision makers attempt to choose the best course of action, they are acting in a way consistent with which concept?

A)game theory
B)bounded rationality
C)asymmetric information
D)cognitive dissonance

Question 36

How can understanding a leader's personality help us predict how this leader will choose to deal with uncertainty in policy decision making?

A)Personality influences the options a leader sees as acceptable in a particular situation.
B)It can demonstrate that individuals who are introverted and highly conscientious prefer to accept high levels of risk.
C)Personality is a factor that is correlated with bureaucratic success.
D)It can explain why leaders always make choices that are productive and rational.

Question 37

Rational decision making can be impeded by which of the following?

A)complete information
B)ambiguity of international situations
C)agreeing on the facts
D)communicating with the parties involved

Question 38

Critics of the two-level game model argue that the model can be further improved by incorporating infights from which of the following?

A)realism
B)game theory
C)constructivism
D)rational choice

Question 39

According to diversionary theory of war, why might a leader start a war?

A)in order to stimulate domestic economy
B)in order to direct public attention away from domestic problems
C)to attain balance of power
D)to establish hegemony

Question 40

How did Presidents Kennedy and Nixon differ in their responses to political protesters?

A)Kennedy attempted to shut down protests; Nixon encouraged them.
B)Kennedy changed his policies based on protests; Nixon refused to change.
C)Kennedy and Nixon both reacted rationally to protests.
D)Kennedy saw protests as an opportunity; Nixon saw them as a threat.

Question 41

Rational choice theory states that individuals will make decisions guided by defining situations, weighing alternatives, and selecting the option that is most likely to achieve the highest goal for that individual. Could a suicide bomber be behaving in a way consistent with rational choice? Could he or she be rational? Why or why not?

Question 42

If one day the People's Republic of China becomes a superpower, equal to or more powerful than the United States, what will change in the global distribution of power?

A)polarity
B)power asymmetry
C)geopolitics
D)zeitgeist

Question 43

Which of the following represent a state's attributes?

A)the state's characteristics that shape foreign policy behavior, such as size, wealth, and type of government
B)the relationship that states have with neighboring states
C)how involved the state is with international organizations
D)its nuclear capabilities

Question 44

Which of the following typically features a single leader with unlimited power?

A)a constitutional democracy
B)an authoritarian government
C)a republic
D)a theocracy

Question 45

There are numerous constraints on the foreign policy making process. What are they? Which are the most important? Give an example of when they adversely affected foreign policy.

Question 46

The type of government a country possesses is often thought to influence foreign policy. According to those who subscribe to this view, whether a country is democratic or autocratic will have a bearing on how policy is made and, in turn, on the kind of policy that results. What are the consequences of different types of government for the formulation and conduct of foreign policy?

Question 47

How can military capacity shape foreign policy priorities?

A)Military strategy leads to security dilemmas.
B)The smallest countries with minimal military power can coerce other states to behave differently.
C)Military capabilities can limit the range of prudent policy choices, constraining states that cannot easily use force.
D)States with robust militaries tend to be less economically and industrially advanced, changing their foreign policy goals.

Question 48

The geography and natural resources of a state may have a significant influence on its foreign-policy-making. Think about the geographical characteristics of the United States. How might these characteristics have affected American foreign policy and the position of the U.S. in world politics?

Question 49

Some scholars argue that states are unitary actors with a single foreign policy output, while others argue that states are made up of many decision makers at the domestic level and cannot act unilaterally. Define both positions. Which one do you find more persuasive?

Question 50

What is the theory of geopolitics?

A)the focus on the isolationist and neutral policies of Switzerland
B)the idea that states' foreign policies are determined by their location, natural resources, and physical environment
C)the study of the locations of major international organizations headquarters
D)the theory that states with large supplies of natural resources will be more likely to experience corruption