Deck 8: Realism

Question 1

Proponents of raison d'état argue that the state itself represents a moral force.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The realism that emerged after the end of the Second World War was an entirely new approach with a different set of core assumptions.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Realism has been a minor theory of world politics since the beginning of academic international relations.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Offensive realism proposes that the structure of the international system compels states to maximize their relative power position.

Question 5

Structural realists argue that states are more concerned about absolute rather than relative gains.

Question 6

Who argued that life in the state of nature, which is similar to the condition of world politics, is 'nasty, brutish, and short'?

A) Machiavelli
B) Thucydides
C) Rousseau
D) Hobbes

Question 7

The condition/structure of the international system, having no overarching central authority above the individual collection of sovereign states, is known as:

A) Anarchy.
B) Political community.
C) International system.
D) Sovereignty.

Question 8

Classical realism represents power politics as a result of:

A) International relations.
B) State sovereignty.
C) Human nature.
D) Anarchy.

Question 9

In the 'Melian dialogue', the Spartans assert the logic of power politics, while the Athenians respond with arguments invoking justice, the gods, and their allies the Melians.

Question 10

A branch of modern realism that sees the construction of individual state leaders' perceptions as playing an important role is called:

A) Rational choice realism.
B) Neo-classical realism.
C) Neo-liberalism.
D) Neo-realism.

Question 11

Neorealists define the structure of international system in terms of three elements: organizing principles, differentiation of units, and distribution of capabilities.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a core assumption of realist thought?

A) Statism.
B) Sovereignty.
C) Survival.
D) Self-help.

Question 13

__________ argued that the underlying cause of the Peloponnesian War was 'the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta', which is considered to be the classic example of the impact of the distribution of power on state behaviour.

A) Schweller.
B) Machiavelli.
C) Waltz
D) Thucydides.

Question 14

Kenneth Waltz argues that the key difference between domestic and international orders is that domestic orders are hierarchical, while the international order is anarchic.