Deck 5: Critical Perspectives

Question 1

Marx wrote that class struggles

A) begin with capitalism
B) begin with feudalism
C) date back to the global trading established by the Roman Empire.
D) transcend all historical periods.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Lenin's theory of imperialism suggests that

A) capitalism is a dynamic, expansive system with a mission to spread around the world.
B) capitalism derives from technological advances.
C) capitalism will struggle with the end of colonialism.
D) capitalism creates a natural counterhegemony.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Marx's view of Asia was that:

A) It would be the vanguard of revolutionary communism.
B) It would reject Western models of development.
C) It would first need to become capitalist to move towards socialism.
D) Colonialism would prevent capitalism from taking root.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Dependency theorists argue that

A) the terms of trade deteriorate over time for LDCs
B) imperialism pushes LDCs into capitalism
C) there is no room for pro-active policies in the South
D) a regional strategy for the South is needed to create equitable growth

Question 5

Unlike the Cardoso-Faletto strain of dependency theory, the André Gunder Frank strain

A) argued that the development of capitalist economies required the underdevelopment of the periphery.
B) examined the relationship between external and internal processes of domination.
C) gave primacy to external factors.
D) argued that only dependent development could occur in the periphery.

Question 6

Differences between structural Marxists and neomercantilists include the fact that neomercantilists view the state as

A) providing some benefits to the working class.
B) furthering the national interest.
C) adopting policies opposed by some capitalists.
D) somewhat autonomous.

Question 7

Unlike dependency theory, world-systems theory

A) is concerned with both "relations of exchange" and "relations of production."
B) underestimates the important of domestic factors in development.
C) uses the "semi-periphery" concept.
D) views development as possible for LDCs, even if it is dependent development.

Question 8

Neo-Gramscians

A) view the capitalist class as maintaining hegemony by coercion.
B) tend to be economistic.
C) view the capitalist class as maintaining hegemony with a good deal of consent.
D) predict that the semiperiphery will bring about the downfall of the dominant class in the long term.

Question 9

Fordism refers to:
The development of heavy industry at the beginning of the twentieth century10) Constructivists

A) engage in the systematic, objective testing of hypotheses.
B) are concerned with social facts as well as material facts.
C) generally reject material reality, because its meaning depends on ideas and interpretation.
D) believe that agents are more important than structures.

Question 10

Constructivists claim the relationship between agents and structures is:

A) agents define structures
B) structures define agents
C) agents are constrained by structures
D) agents and structures are "co-constitutive"

Question 11

Feminist theorists

A) believe that those who ignore gender distinctions reinforce unequal economic relations.
B) are striving to increase their influence by developing a more unified perspective.
C) believe that historical materialists are attuned to feminist interests unlike mainstream liberals and neomercantilists.
D) believe that the main IPE perspectives can avoid downgrading the role of women by being gender neutral.

Question 12

Patriarchy is defined as

A) the patrilineal aspect of family structure
B) the fact that men have traditionally received most inheritance
C) a dominance in positions of power by men
D) the greater purchasing power across societies by men

Question 13

The greens often

A) call for tradable pollution permits to induce firms to produce environmental products.
B) argue that economic growth can cause global environmental problems.
C) call for government involvement as well as market-based solutions to improve environmental conditions.
D) support IMF and World Bank finance to help LDCs promote sustainable development.

Question 14

Marxists agree that capitalism needs to be stopped before socialism can be built.

Question 15

Marxists see globalization as a neutral process.

Question 16

Structural Marxists have similarities with liberals, and instrumental Marxists have similarities with neomercantilists.

Question 17

Marx expected that a communist revolution would be inevitable.

Question 18

Revolution is likely to occur according to dependency theorists as the South unites against imperialism.

Question 19

World-systems theory is more economistic than Gramscian analysis

Question 20

The "transnational historic bloc" refers to a coalition that includes international organizations.

Question 21

All of the following theoretical perspectives have liberal as well as critical variants: environmentalism, feminism, and constructivism.

Question 22

Feminist theorists generally agree that the gender equality problem should be addressed by including more women in our major institutions.

Question 23

The most vehement critics of critical theorists are usually mainstream liberals and neomercantilists.

Question 24

Marxists that view the state as being subject to direct political pressure from the capitalist class are called______________ Marxists.

Question 25

The dominant theoretical approach to development among Latin American intellectuals during the 1960s was______________ theory.

Question 26

Raúl Prebisch argued that LDCs in the periphery suffer from declining ______________ with DCs in the core because of their dependence on primary product exports.

Question 27

______________ theorists introduced the concept of the "semiperiphery."

Question 28

The Gramscian concept of an _______________ refers to the congruence between state power, institutions, and ideas.

Question 29

A network of professionals with recognized expertise and policy relevant knowledge in a particular issue area is an______________ ______________ . community.

Question 30

Goods such as air, water, and outer space that are rival but nonexcludable are called ______________ .

Question 31

Do you think that historical materialism is passé as a result of the breakup of the Soviet bloc and the end of the Cold War? What evidence can you give to support your position?

Question 32

Marxism tends to focus on economic relations, as opposed to political or social relations. What is your perspective on how critical analysis would proceed if it incorporated all three perspectives? Take a concrete case to test it out, such as global inequality.

Question 33

Compare and contrast the two main strains of dependency theory. Which do you find more compelling? Test it out against the historical experience of a country in the South.

Question 34

How would a dependency theorist respond to the criticism that the East Asian NICs and subsequently China were able to develop? How would a Marxist? Evaluate their responses.

Question 35

What are the similarities and differences between world-systems theory and dependency theory? How did world-systems theorists address some of the criticisms directed at dependency theory?

Question 36

What are the main features of neo-Gramscian analysis, and how is it similar to, and different from classical Marxism?

Question 37

What are the similarities and differences between Marxism, dependency theory, and world-systems theory?

Question 38

Evaluate some recent academic articles on the prospects for automation. What, in your estimation, is the real danger of jobs and the middle class disappearing from the West over the foreseeable future?

Question 39

How does the constructivist approach differ from the rationalist approach to IPE?

Question 40

In what ways do neomercantilists, liberals, and historical materialists fail to adequately address gender issues in IPE? How do feminist scholars think we should remedy the problem of inattention to gender issues in IPE?

Question 41

What are the differences between public goods, private goods, common property goods, and club goods? In what ways do public goods and common property goods present collective action problems?

Question 42

Despite the differences between the critical perspectives, what criticisms are made in general about them? How valid are the criticisms in your view, and why? Use a concrete example such as the 2016 response to the covid pandemic in your answer.