International Relations and Political Theory Quiz

The period when European powers colonized vast areas of the world, including Africa and Asia. This led to major conflicts, including World War I, and created lasting inequalities.

The intense race among European countries to claim as much territory in Africa as possible for economic, political, and prestige reasons.

A major event that marked the formal division of Africa among European powers. It took place in Berlin, Germany in 1884.

A violent conflict between Britain and France in 1896 over control of Fashoda, a town in present-day Sudan. This incident represented the inevitable clash of rival imperial ambitions.

A British colony in Southeast Asia, now known as Myanmar, was annexed in 1886. This conquest marked the British imperialist expansion in the region.

A brutal uprising against British rule in Kenya from 1952 to 1960, which was met with harsh suppression, torture, and detention camps. This highlights the dark side of colonialism in Africa.

A rebellion in Sierra Leone, where the British imposed a tax on huts, which sparked a violent response. This rebellion led to scorched-earth tactics and demonstrates the oppressive nature of colonial rule.

A major event in 1871 that marked the completion of German unification. This unified Germany emerged as a powerful force on the European stage.

A political system where one individual or a small group holds absolute power, with no checks or balances.

A type of autocracy where elections are held, but the outcome is predetermined, and opposition is effectively suppressed.

A group of powerful individuals who support and benefit from the autocratic regime.

The ability of the autocratic ruler to maintain control over the population.

The actions taken by the autocratic ruler to gain and maintain power.

Techniques used by autocratic rulers to influence public opinion and behavior.

Strategies used by autocratic rulers to gather information about the population's preferences and behavior.

The challenge for autocrats to balance the power and influence of their close allies.

The WTO provides a structured process for resolving trade disputes between member countries. It involves consultations, dispute panels, and an appellate body to ensure fair and binding resolutions.

Countries are increasingly reluctant to further liberalize trade, especially in the agricultural sector, as seen in the stalled Doha and Hong Kong trade rounds.

Due to increased global tensions and sanctions, countries are increasingly turning to bilateral trade agreements instead of multilateral ones, creating a fragmented trade landscape.

Multinational Corporations (MNCs) have a significant impact on global economies. They negotiate directly with governments, leverage their power, and can create dependency or extract resources from countries.

NGOs play a vital role in improving lives worldwide, advocating for human rights, providing humanitarian aid, and challenging problematic practices.

The WTO's dispute resolution process involves several stages, including consultations, dispute panels, and an appellate body, culminating in binding recommendations for countries to comply with.

A group of individuals whose support is essential for a leader to stay in power. Members benefit from public goods, pay taxes, and receive private rents.

A larger subset of the population than the winning coalition, whose members could potentially join the leader's support base. They gain from public goods and pay taxes but don't receive private rents.

The leader (or incumbent) holds ultimate control. They decide tax rates, public goods distribution, and private benefits for the winning coalition.

The size of the Winning Coalition (W) and the Selectorate (S) affect the stability of a political system. Smaller coalitions require fewer resources but offer more benefits to individual members.

A coalition of 2 members is inherently unstable because one member can easily betray the other to gain all the benefits.

A coalition of 3 members can be stable if the power distribution is carefully balanced, but circularities in preferences can cause instability.

Coalitions of 4 members can sometimes be stable, depending on the power configurations and potential alliances.

Autocratic institutions in politics, particularly in dictatorships, often serve as a tool to coordinate alliances, ensure the leader's commitment, and monitor performance.

The idea that the structure of the international system influences the way states interact with each other, and that moral arguments are less important than power and self-interest.

A core principle of realism that emphasizes the importance of caution and logic in international politics, as survival is the ultimate goal.

Machiavelli's belief that the prince must be willing to use deception, cruelty, and even violence to maintain power and ensure the state's survival and success.

Hobbes' theory that the state of nature is a chaotic and dangerous place, prompting individuals to come together under a strong ruler to ensure security. This concept applies to international relations where states are considered actors in this state of nature.

A central tenet of realism, where the absence of a world government leads to anarchy and a constant struggle for power among states.

A political-economic theory that emphasizes the role of the state in accumulating wealth and power through economic means, such as trade and manufacturing.

A political-economic theory that sees economic production as the driving force behind social relations and power dynamics. It emphasizes class conflict, exploitation, historical materialism, and the inevitability of revolutions.

A core concept within Marxism that emphasizes the hierarchical relationship between capitalist nations and the exploited periphery (developing countries). The core extracts resources and cheap labor from the periphery and periphery for creating cheap products to sell back to themselves and the periphery, thereby further enriching the core and exacerbating inequality.

A school of thought influenced by Marxism, post-structuralism, and postmodernism. They critique traditional power structures and emphasize the role of language, discourse, and culture in constructing meaning.

A post-Marxist theory that criticizes traditional structures of knowledge and challenges the idea of a unified, objective truth. It emphasizes the power of language and discourse to shape our understanding of the world.

A movement that challenges traditional notions of stability and order, emphasizing the fluidity of meaning and the instability of power structures.

A post-Marxist theory that emphasizes the role of culture and language in shaping political and social power dynamics.