Political Science Chapter 2 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What makes it possible for the United Nations to force states to comply?

It makes it possible for the United Nations to force states to comply.

The best example of institutional bias (reflecting the history of its creation) is the:

Unanimous consent of the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community before 1986.

One country-one vote procedure in the United Nations General Assembly.

Veto power of the five permanent members on the United Nations Security Council. (correct)

Consensus procedure in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Why do powerful countries bother to follow the rules of the WTO?

Powerful countries are fooled into thinking they obtain benefits.

Powerful countries see moral value in helping poorer countries.

Powerful countries receive greater benefits by maintaining a system where everyone plays by the rules. (correct)

The WTO locks in the powerful participants and binds them permanently to the institution.

Even though powerful countries like Germany, Brazil, and Japan would like a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, they have not started their own competing international organization. This is an example of what?

It is often cheaper and easier to use existing institutions even if they do not exactly match an actor's preferences. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a game of Chicken?

A nuclear crisis in which each side wants to take a tough stance. Signup and view all the answers

Which category of interest is usually considered the most basic and a prerequisite for other goals?

Security Signup and view all the answers

In contrast to the anticipated stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, what was the condition of the Iraqi state during the 2003 Iraq War?

A society on the edge of collapse from economic sanctions Signup and view all the answers

Why did the United Nations Security Council not endorse the preventive war against Iraq in 2003?

Several permanent members of the Security Council opposed going to war against Iraq and could veto any endorsement of the war. Signup and view all the answers

A person goes to college with the hope of improving his or her earning power and future income upon graduation. This is an example of which type of goal that an actor might have?

Material welfare Signup and view all the answers

Leaders within a country may want to enact democratic reform in order to increase voter participation. This is an example of what kind of state goal?

Ideological Signup and view all the answers

In international relations, actors can be any of the following EXCEPT:

Ideologies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a failed state?

A state whose central government collapses Signup and view all the answers

Which entity is the most prominent actor in international relations?

States Signup and view all the answers

What role did crosscutting lines of authority play in the emergence of the Peace of Westphalia?

The overlapping allegiances created a source of constant conflict among cities, monarchies, and religious leaders. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a potential example of state loss of sovereignty?

A corporation successfully takes over the enactment and adjudication of a state's laws. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would be considered a threat to the nature of sovereignty?

A superior international government Signup and view all the answers

The following are all examples of nongovernmental organizations EXCEPT:

The United Nations Signup and view all the answers

What is a strategic interaction?

A condition in which each actor's plan is contingent upon its estimate of what the other actor is expected to do. Signup and view all the answers

You are competing against fellow students for the highest grade in the class. Given this competition, which of the following is the best example of a potential strategic interaction?

You calculate the scores and attendance of every student in the class. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of cooperation?

A group of friends each contributing money to throw a party Signup and view all the answers

In the figure, a point on the line segment ab represents what in relation to q?

A gain for both actors Signup and view all the answers

If bargaining is a fixed-sum, what are the implications for the actors participating in it?

One will be made worse off. Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following situations would you expect defection?

Individual interests of one supersede the collective interest. Signup and view all the answers

Two actors facing a coordination problem are:

Likely to find a mutually acceptable solution that requires little enforcement. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a solution to a coordination problem?

Peacekeepers separate two armies in a civil war to stop the conflict. Signup and view all the answers

________ interactions are the simplest kind of cooperation between actors.

Coordination Signup and view all the answers

What kind of problem does the Prisoner's Dilemma story illustrate?

Collaboration Signup and view all the answers

The most likely outcome for both participants in the Prisoner's Dilemma is that:

Both provide evidence against the other and go to jail. Signup and view all the answers

What was the key characteristic of the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union that makes it applicable to the Prisoner's Dilemma?

Each side had an incentive to cheat in order to maintain superiority over the other. Signup and view all the answers

Which is the best definition of a public good?

A product that cannot be withheld from anyone and whose use does not prohibit anyone else from enjoying it Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a public good?

The clean air resulting from laws reducing pollution Signup and view all the answers

A state wanting to free ride with regard to ozone depletion would:

Sign an agreement to reduce greenhouse gases but continue to produce such ozone-depleting emissions, while other states decrease their own emissions. Signup and view all the answers

Why are countries more likely to cooperate when there is iteration?

Because countries are better able to threaten reciprocal punishment and cooperation in the future. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of linkage?

You agree to drive your little brother to school, and your older brother agrees to do the dishes when it is your turn. Signup and view all the answers

In 2003, why did Saddam Hussein keep it a secret that Iraq had destroyed its weapons of mass destruction?

Saddam Hussein thought Iran might attack if the Iranians knew he did not have any weapons of mass destruction. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of iteration and reciprocity?

U.S. forces announce that they are leaving Afghanistan. Signup and view all the answers

If the United Nations Security Council decides not to intervene to stop genocide, the reversion outcome would be that:

The genocide would continue. Signup and view all the answers

When bargaining with others, one actor will have an advantage if:

The actor is more satisfied with the reversion outcome than the others. Signup and view all the answers

Imposing some cost on others to reduce the value of the reversion outcome is known as:

Coercion Signup and view all the answers

One means with which a country can coerce other countries is:

Threatening or using military force against the other countries. Signup and view all the answers

An actor using agenda-setting power during bargaining:

Acts first and therefore changes what choices are available to the other actors. Signup and view all the answers

When an actor can get a better deal through alternatives to reaching a bargain, this is sometimes referred to as:

The reversion outcome. Signup and view all the answers

Why is enforcement by institutions actually 'self-enforcement'?

Institutions can force their own members to comply with their agreements without outside help. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of setting clear standards of behavior?

It allows others to determine if an agent is defecting. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of an institution helping to verify compliance?

International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors searching for nuclear weapons that would violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Signup and view all the answers

How did the norm of election monitoring spread even to less democratic elections?

Pseudo-democrats began copying true democrats in order to access foreign aid. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Security and Goals in International Relations

Basic Interest Category: Security is often regarded as a fundamental interest, critical for pursuing other objectives.
Iraqi State Condition (2003): Iraq was characterized by a deteriorating society due to economic sanctions, rather than having robust infrastructure or a loyal populace.
UN Security Council Position (2003): Preventive war against Iraq was not endorsed because several permanent members opposed the war and held veto power.

State Goals and Interests

Material Welfare Example: Pursuing higher education to improve future earning potential exemplifies a material welfare goal.
Ideological Goals: Leaders may promote democratic reforms to foster increased voter engagement, illustrating an ideological ambition within a state.
Failed State Definition: A state is deemed failed when its central government collapses, leading to dysfunction and loss of authority.

Actors in International Relations

Primary Actors: States hold the most significant role in international relations; groups, NGOs, and people also play important parts, but ideologies do not qualify as actors.

Peace of Westphalia and Authority

Conflict from Overlapping Affiliations: The Peace of Westphalia highlighted conflicts arising from intersecting loyalties among cities, monarchies, and religious interpretations.

Sovereignty and International Governance

Sovereignty Threats: A superior international government poses a significant threat to state sovereignty.
Nongovernmental Organizations: Various NGOs exist, like Amnesty International and Greenpeace, but the United Nations operates as a governmental body, not an NGO.

Strategic Interactions and Cooperation

Definition of Strategic Interaction: Situations where actors' plans are contingent on their expectations of others’ actions define strategic interactions.
Cooperation Examples: Cooperation can manifest in everyday contexts, such as friends pooling money for a group expense.

Bargaining and Game Theory

Bargaining Outcomes: In fixed-sum bargaining, gaining for one actor typically results in a loss for another.
Prisoner's Dilemma: This situation exemplifies a collaboration failure, where mutual defection is the most likely outcome.

Public Goods and Environmental Issues

Public Good Characteristics: Products that cannot be withheld from others and allow shared enjoyment are classified as public goods, like clean air from pollution reduction laws.
State Behavior: Countries may attempt to free ride on initiatives like ozone depletion reduction by signing agreements while still contributing to the problem.

Iteration and Reciprocity

Importance of Iteration: Iteration enhances cooperation by enabling threats of retaliation and future collaborative prospects.
Linkage Example: Offers of mutual assistance in personal agreements illustrate the linkage concept.

Coercion and Enforcement

Definition of Coercion: Imposing costs on others to diminish the value of reversion outcomes is termed coercion.
Self-Enforcement of Institutions: Institutions can compel compliance among members independently, sustaining their own operational integrity.

Compliance and Verification

Standards of Behavior: Clear behavior standards allow identification of defection in cooperative agreements.
Institutional Bias Example: The veto power of permanent members in the UN Security Council exemplifies institutional bias derived from historical power dynamics.

Powerful Nations and International Law

WTO Participation Motivation: Powerful states benefit more by adhering to established rules, ensuring systemic stability in international trade.
Utilization of Existing Institutions: Nations like Germany and Japan favor engagement within current systems to pursue reform rather than establishing competing organizations.

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards focusing on key concepts from Chapter 2 of Political Science. The questions cover essential themes like security, economic welfare, and the state of Iraq during the 2003 war. Perfect for review and preparation for exams.