Exam 1: Introduction: Problems and Questions in International Politics

Which of the following is an example of what both natural scientists and political scientists who study international politics do in their studies?

What is the question posed by explanatory theory?

What do you believe are some of the biggest puzzles in international politics today? When addressing these issues, which level of analysis (systemic, state, individual, substate, etc.)might be most important? Why?

What is one way to categorize theories?

Which of the following is true about methodology in political science?

One could assume that "political science" is a science in the same way as physics or chemistry. Obviously, it is not, but there are some ways in which we can examine international politics from a "scientific" perspective. What are some of these ways?

Besides the individual, state, and system levels of analysis, what other level of analysis do researchers study?

Which of the following refers to the goals that actors pursue?

Analyses that examine the bureaucracies and small groups that make foreign policy, such as interest groups, are focusing on what level of analysis?

Whereas policymakers and journalists concentrate on specific problems and look for specific answers, what type of questions do political scientists ask?

Which of the following are themes that scholars in the field of international relations seek to understand?

Prestige and the ability to persuade are both key elements of which type of power?

Which of the following is a main goal of this textbook?

In terms of explaining the causes of war, Waltz prefers a system level of analysis, which focuses on which of the following?

Deciding whether to accept or reject an assertion made about international politics is considered to be which of the following?

In order to achieve their purposes, what must actors have?

Which famous political scientist argued that one can explain war at any of the three levels of analysis?

What is the essential question stemming from normative theory?

In the context of international relations, what are power and purpose? In what way are they connected to each other?

What are the four levels of analysis that are looked at by researchers of international politics? Why might it be important for those studying international politics to consider more than one in order to explain global events? Give examples.