Question 1

How do collective security organizations reduce joint decision making and commitment problems?

Accepted Answer

Collective security organizations, such as the United Nations (UN), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the African Union (AU), are designed to promote peace and security among nations. They aim to reduce joint decision-making and commitment problems through several mechanisms:

1. **Establishing Clear Rules and Procedures**: Collective security organizations typically have charters or treaties that outline the rules and procedures for decision-making. This legal framework provides a clear process for how decisions are made, who makes them, and how commitments are to be fulfilled. This reduces ambiguity and helps ensure that all members understand their responsibilities.

2. **Institutionalizing Decision-Making Bodies**: These organizations have established bodies, such as the UN Security Council or NATO's North Atlantic Council, which are responsible for making decisions on behalf of the entire membership. These bodies allow for a more streamlined decision-making process, as they can convene quickly and work on the basis of established protocols.

3. **Majority Voting**: To avoid paralysis by unanimity, many collective security organizations use majority voting for some decisions. This means that not every member has to agree for a decision to be made, which can reduce the likelihood of a single member or a small group of members blocking action.

4. **Collective Defense Clauses**: Some organizations, like NATO, have collective defense clauses (e.g., Article 5 of the NATO treaty) that stipulate that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. This automatic commitment reduces the need for case-by-case decision-making in the event of an attack, thereby streamlining the commitment process.

5. **Regular Meetings and Communication Channels**: Frequent meetings at various levels (heads of state, ministers, ambassadors, military officials) facilitate ongoing communication and coordination among member states. This helps build trust and understanding, which are essential for joint decision-making and commitment.

6. **Shared Interests and Values**: Members of collective security organizations often share common interests and values, which can make it easier to reach consensus on security issues. The shared commitment to maintaining peace and security provides a common ground for cooperation.

7. **Transparency and Accountability**: Many organizations have mechanisms to ensure transparency in decision-making and to hold members accountable for their commitments. This can include regular reporting, monitoring, and verification measures.

8. **Conflict Resolution Mechanisms**: Collective security organizations often have built-in mechanisms for conflict resolution among members, which can help prevent disputes from escalating and affecting joint decision-making.

9. **Capability and Burden Sharing**: By pooling resources and capabilities, member states can share the burden of security commitments. This can include financial contributions, military forces, or other resources necessary for operations, which can make it easier for members to commit to collective actions.

10. **Incentives and Sanctions**: Organizations may use incentives to encourage compliance with decisions and commitments, as well as sanctions to deter and punish non-compliance. This can help align member states' behavior with the collective goals of the organization.

By employing these mechanisms, collective security organizations work to mitigate the challenges of joint decision-making and commitment problems, thereby enhancing their ability to maintain international peace and security.

Question 2

All of the following statements about alliance commitments are true EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) states have honored their alliance commitments in war most of the time. 
B) it is difficult to know whether states would have gone to war even if there had been no alliance. 
C) states' military situation can change,reducing the benefit of an alliance and therefore the states' dedication to the alliance. 
D) states honor their alliance commitments,even when there is no world government to enforce these obligations. 
E) states honor their alliance commitments because the cost of following through on their pledges is usually minimal. 
A) states have honored their alliance commitments in war most of the time. 
B) it is difficult to know whether states would have gone to war even if there had been no alliance. 
C) states' military situation can change,reducing the benefit of an alliance and therefore the states' dedication to the alliance. 
D) states honor their alliance commitments,even when there is no world government to enforce these obligations. 
E) states honor their alliance commitments because the cost of following through on their pledges is usually minimal. E

Question 3

How did European states "pass the buck" before World War II?

Accepted Answer

A) France created alliances with Poland,Czechoslovakia,Yugoslavia,and Romania. 
B) France and Poland adopted defensive postures on the German border. 
C) Italy allied with Germany. 
D) Britain pledged to defend Poland and France if they were attacked by Germany. 
E) France,Britain,and the Soviet Union each hoped one of the others would prevent Germany from becoming too powerful. 
A) France created alliances with Poland,Czechoslovakia,Yugoslavia,and Romania. 
B) France and Poland adopted defensive postures on the German border. 
C) Italy allied with Germany. 
D) Britain pledged to defend Poland and France if they were attacked by Germany. 
E) France,Britain,and the Soviet Union each hoped one of the others would prevent Germany from becoming too powerful. E

Question 4

How did the Korean War start?

Accepted Answer

A) North Korea invaded South Korea,and the United Nations authorized troops to repel the attack. 
B) South Korea invaded North Korea,and the United Nations sent troops to help North Korea. 
C) North Korean soldiers infiltrated South Korea and began a long insurgency to overthrow the government. 
D) China invaded Korea,and the United Nations authorized troops to reverse the attack. 
E) The Soviet Union invaded Korea,and the United States sent troops to repel the attack. 
A) North Korea invaded South Korea,and the United Nations authorized troops to repel the attack. 
B) South Korea invaded North Korea,and the United Nations sent troops to help North Korea. 
C) North Korean soldiers infiltrated South Korea and began a long insurgency to overthrow the government. 
D) China invaded Korea,and the United Nations authorized troops to reverse the attack. 
E) The Soviet Union invaded Korea,and the United States sent troops to repel the attack.

Question 5

While the Klingons and Romulans have long been enemies,the Klingons recognize how powerful the Romulans are and so they join them in declaring war on the relatively weak Vulcans so that they can share in the spoils.This is an example of what concept?

Accepted Answer

A) Genocide. 
B) The balancing of power. 
C) Collective security. 
D) Peacekeeping. 
E) Bandwagoning. 
A) Genocide. 
B) The balancing of power. 
C) Collective security. 
D) Peacekeeping. 
E) Bandwagoning.

Question 6

What of the following are alliances LEAST likely to affect in terms of war and conflict?

Accepted Answer

A) Whether a dictatorship is more or less likely to go to war with a democracy. 
B) Whether outsiders will join a conflict when war breaks out. 
C) The bargaining that precedes the war. 
D) The bargaining that seeks to end an ongoing war. 
E) The bargaining that takes place in the aftermath of the fighting. 
A) Whether a dictatorship is more or less likely to go to war with a democracy. 
B) Whether outsiders will join a conflict when war breaks out. 
C) The bargaining that precedes the war. 
D) The bargaining that seeks to end an ongoing war. 
E) The bargaining that takes place in the aftermath of the fighting.

Question 7

All of the following are reasons an alliance commitment might be questionable EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) the commitments of an alliance can be costly to carry out. 
B) there are incentives for alliance partners to bluff. 
C) alliances are binding contracts. 
D) alliance partners have not always honored their commitments. 
E) accurate information about alliance partners can be difficult to obtain. 
A) the commitments of an alliance can be costly to carry out. 
B) there are incentives for alliance partners to bluff. 
C) alliances are binding contracts. 
D) alliance partners have not always honored their commitments. 
E) accurate information about alliance partners can be difficult to obtain.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a benefit that the United Nations (UN)has provided to world security?

Accepted Answer

A) It has facilitated joint decision making in venues such as the Security Council. 
B) It has provided peacekeeping troops to help uphold cease-fire agreements. 
C) It has allowed for a unified global response to terrorism in places such as Syria and Iraq. 
D) It has provided UN legitimacy to actions in Kuwait and Korea. 
E) It has successfully protected human rights in places like El Salvador and,after 1995,Bosnia. 
A) It has facilitated joint decision making in venues such as the Security Council. 
B) It has provided peacekeeping troops to help uphold cease-fire agreements. 
C) It has allowed for a unified global response to terrorism in places such as Syria and Iraq. 
D) It has provided UN legitimacy to actions in Kuwait and Korea. 
E) It has successfully protected human rights in places like El Salvador and,after 1995,Bosnia.

Question 9

In what country did NATO intervene during 2011?

Accepted Answer

A) Iraq. 
B) Syria. 
C) Lebanon. 
D) Libya. 
E) Bosnia. 
A) Iraq. 
B) Syria. 
C) Lebanon. 
D) Libya. 
E) Bosnia.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about Tibet is true?

Accepted Answer

A) The Soviet Union invaded Tibet after the Chinese Revolution. 
B) China has no historical claim to Tibet. 
C) China invaded Tibet,and the United Nations took no action to repel the attack. 
D) China invaded Tibet,and the United Nations sent troops in an attempt to repel the attack. 
E) North Korea helped China invade Tibet after the Korean War. 
A) The Soviet Union invaded Tibet after the Chinese Revolution. 
B) China has no historical claim to Tibet. 
C) China invaded Tibet,and the United Nations took no action to repel the attack. 
D) China invaded Tibet,and the United Nations sent troops in an attempt to repel the attack. 
E) North Korea helped China invade Tibet after the Korean War.

Question 11

All of the following statements about the United Nations Security Council are true EXCEPT the:

Accepted Answer

A) veto rule ensures that when the United Nations acts,it will have the support of the world's major powers. 
B) size of the Security Council makes rapid responses more difficult. 
C) size of the Security Council makes achieving consensus easier. 
D) veto rule helps alleviate the collective action problem that results in lack of resources for United Nations actions. 
E) veto rule results in more actions taken against weaker states than more powerful states. 
A) veto rule ensures that when the United Nations acts,it will have the support of the world's major powers. 
B) size of the Security Council makes rapid responses more difficult. 
C) size of the Security Council makes achieving consensus easier. 
D) veto rule helps alleviate the collective action problem that results in lack of resources for United Nations actions. 
E) veto rule results in more actions taken against weaker states than more powerful states.

Question 12

Why did the United Nations Security Council authorize its response to the Korean War?

Accepted Answer

A) All permanent members voted to repel the reprehensible attack. 
B) The Soviet Union condemned the attack and took the lead in proposing the resolution. 
C) The United States and the Soviet Union cooperated in the wake of the end of the Cold War to end aggressive actions by China. 
D) The Soviet Union had been boycotting the Security Council meetings and missed the vote. 
E) The Security Council members unanimously agreed that the attack violated international law and had to be condemned. 
A) All permanent members voted to repel the reprehensible attack. 
B) The Soviet Union condemned the attack and took the lead in proposing the resolution. 
C) The United States and the Soviet Union cooperated in the wake of the end of the Cold War to end aggressive actions by China. 
D) The Soviet Union had been boycotting the Security Council meetings and missed the vote. 
E) The Security Council members unanimously agreed that the attack violated international law and had to be condemned.

Question 13

Why is Srebrenica an example of the limitations of United Nations (UN)peacekeeping?

Accepted Answer

A) United Nations peacekeepers could not effectively monitor elections to ensure their fairness. 
B) NATO had to bomb Serbian forces to keep them from taking Srebrenica. 
C) The United Nations could not convince any countries to contribute troops to a peacekeeping mission in Srebrenica. 
D) United Nations safe havens proved to be breeding grounds for transnational terrorist groups. 
E) United Nations peacekeepers could not prevent Serbian forces from massacring 7,000 Muslim men and boys. 
A) United Nations peacekeepers could not effectively monitor elections to ensure their fairness. 
B) NATO had to bomb Serbian forces to keep them from taking Srebrenica. 
C) The United Nations could not convince any countries to contribute troops to a peacekeeping mission in Srebrenica. 
D) United Nations safe havens proved to be breeding grounds for transnational terrorist groups. 
E) United Nations peacekeepers could not prevent Serbian forces from massacring 7,000 Muslim men and boys.

Question 14

All of the following are examples of increased collective security cooperation after the end of the Cold War EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) an increase in the number of peacekeeping missions approved by the United Nations Security Council. 
B) approval and support of the United Nations Security Council for an attack on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. 
C) the response to the killing of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994. 
D) participation of some Arab and Muslim states in the United Nations coalition against Iraq in 1991. 
E) international monetary support helped lower the costs of the Iraq War. 
A) an increase in the number of peacekeeping missions approved by the United Nations Security Council. 
B) approval and support of the United Nations Security Council for an attack on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. 
C) the response to the killing of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994. 
D) participation of some Arab and Muslim states in the United Nations coalition against Iraq in 1991. 
E) international monetary support helped lower the costs of the Iraq War.

Question 15

Why would states risk being dragged into another war by joining an alliance?

Accepted Answer

A) Since they are in an alliance together,states can trust their allies not to risk a war. 
B) A state can easily leave an alliance if its partners needlessly go to war. 
C) Allies can control what the alliance does,and the alliance will not be dragged into a war without the whole alliance's approval. 
D) States can clearly signal whether they will support their allies if a war begins and will be able to deter enemies from attacking. 
E) Alliances make war more likely and states can often gain from a successful military intervention. 
A) Since they are in an alliance together,states can trust their allies not to risk a war. 
B) A state can easily leave an alliance if its partners needlessly go to war. 
C) Allies can control what the alliance does,and the alliance will not be dragged into a war without the whole alliance's approval. 
D) States can clearly signal whether they will support their allies if a war begins and will be able to deter enemies from attacking. 
E) Alliances make war more likely and states can often gain from a successful military intervention.

Question 16

Alliances can make cooperation between states more likely for all of the following reasons EXCEPT alliances can:

Accepted Answer

A) decrease the costs of fighting a war. 
B) increase the benefits of fighting a war. 
C) increase the cost of not fighting a war. 
D) force states to honor their commitments. 
E) improve states' bargaining positions in a conflict. 
A) decrease the costs of fighting a war. 
B) increase the benefits of fighting a war. 
C) increase the cost of not fighting a war. 
D) force states to honor their commitments. 
E) improve states' bargaining positions in a conflict.

Question 17

Before World War I,which countries were in the Triple Alliance?

Accepted Answer

A) France,Russia,Britain. 
B) France,the Soviet Union,Britain. 
C) Germany,Austria,Russia. 
D) Germany,Austria,Italy. 
E) Prussia,Russia,and France. 
A) France,Russia,Britain. 
B) France,the Soviet Union,Britain. 
C) Germany,Austria,Russia. 
D) Germany,Austria,Italy. 
E) Prussia,Russia,and France.

Question 18

Which of the following would be an asymmetric alliance?

Accepted Answer

A) The de facto agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union not to use nuclear weapons. 
B) The Cold War weapons agreements that allowed the Soviet Union to keep more nuclear missiles than the United States. 
C) The United States pledging to defend Costa Rica if that country is attacked. 
D) The agreement between France and Russia before World War II to come to each other's aid. 
E) When the more powerful countries in the European Union contribute more in taxes. 
A) The de facto agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union not to use nuclear weapons. 
B) The Cold War weapons agreements that allowed the Soviet Union to keep more nuclear missiles than the United States. 
C) The United States pledging to defend Costa Rica if that country is attacked. 
D) The agreement between France and Russia before World War II to come to each other's aid. 
E) When the more powerful countries in the European Union contribute more in taxes.

Question 19

Which of the following countries is NOT an ally of the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) The People's Republic of China. 
B) Canada. 
C) South Korea. 
D) Japan. 
E) Great Britain. 
A) The People's Republic of China. 
B) Canada. 
C) South Korea. 
D) Japan. 
E) Great Britain.

Question 20

Why did the "Long Peace" occur?

Accepted Answer

A) Germany reunited and created a balance of power with France until just before World War I. 
B) The United States returned to its isolationist strategy and did not start new wars. 
C) The Soviet Union recognized that the United States was much stronger and made significant concessions to the West. 
D) The fact that just the United States and the Soviet Union dominated international relations meant miscalculations were less likely. 
E) The alliance system was less institutionalized,meaning that European powers could shift allegiances when necessary to protect their interests. 
A) Germany reunited and created a balance of power with France until just before World War I. 
B) The United States returned to its isolationist strategy and did not start new wars. 
C) The Soviet Union recognized that the United States was much stronger and made significant concessions to the West. 
D) The fact that just the United States and the Soviet Union dominated international relations meant miscalculations were less likely. 
E) The alliance system was less institutionalized,meaning that European powers could shift allegiances when necessary to protect their interests.

How do collective security organizations reduce joint decision making and commitment problems?

All of the following statements about alliance commitments are true EXCEPT:

How did European states "pass the buck" before World War II?

How did the Korean War start?

While the Klingons and Romulans have long been enemies,the Klingons recognize how powerful the Romulans are and so they join them in declaring war on the relatively weak Vulcans so that they can share in the spoils.This is an example of what concept?

What of the following are alliances LEAST likely to affect in terms of war and conflict?

All of the following are reasons an alliance commitment might be questionable EXCEPT:

Which of the following is NOT a benefit that the United Nations (UN)has provided to world security?

In what country did NATO intervene during 2011?

Which of the following statements about Tibet is true?

All of the following statements about the United Nations Security Council are true EXCEPT the:

Why did the United Nations Security Council authorize its response to the Korean War?

Why is Srebrenica an example of the limitations of United Nations (UN)peacekeeping?

All of the following are examples of increased collective security cooperation after the end of the Cold War EXCEPT:

Why would states risk being dragged into another war by joining an alliance?

Alliances can make cooperation between states more likely for all of the following reasons EXCEPT alliances can:

Before World War I,which countries were in the Triple Alliance?

Which of the following would be an asymmetric alliance?

Which of the following countries is NOT an ally of the United States?

Why did the "Long Peace" occur?

Introduction

What Shaped Our World

Understanding Interests, interactions, and Institutions

Why Are There Wars

Domestic Politics and War

Violence by Nonstate Actors: Civil War and Terrorism

International Trade

International Financial Relations

International Monetary Relations

Development: Causes of the Wealth and Poverty of Nations

International Law and Norms

Human Rights

The Global Environment

The Future of International Politics

Foundations, war, and Peace

International Political Economy, transnational Politics, and Looking Ahead

Filters

Exam 6: International Institutions and War

How do collective security organizations reduce joint decision making and commitment problems?

All of the following statements about alliance commitments are true EXCEPT:

How did European states "pass the buck" before World War II?

How did the Korean War start?

While the Klingons and Romulans have long been enemies,the Klingons recognize how powerful the Romulans are and so they join them in declaring war on the relatively weak Vulcans so that they can share in the spoils.This is an example of what concept?

What of the following are alliances LEAST likely to affect in terms of war and conflict?

All of the following are reasons an alliance commitment might be questionable EXCEPT:

Which of the following is NOT a benefit that the United Nations (UN)has provided to world security?

In what country did NATO intervene during 2011?

Which of the following statements about Tibet is true?

All of the following statements about the United Nations Security Council are true EXCEPT the:

Why did the United Nations Security Council authorize its response to the Korean War?

Why is Srebrenica an example of the limitations of United Nations (UN)peacekeeping?

All of the following are examples of increased collective security cooperation after the end of the Cold War EXCEPT:

Why would states risk being dragged into another war by joining an alliance?

Alliances can make cooperation between states more likely for all of the following reasons EXCEPT alliances can:

Before World War I,which countries were in the Triple Alliance?

Which of the following would be an asymmetric alliance?

Which of the following countries is NOT an ally of the United States?

Why did the "Long Peace" occur?

Introduction

What Shaped Our World

Understanding Interests, interactions, and Institutions

Why Are There Wars

Domestic Politics and War

Violence by Nonstate Actors: Civil War and Terrorism

International Trade

International Financial Relations

International Monetary Relations

Development: Causes of the Wealth and Poverty of Nations

International Law and Norms

Human Rights

The Global Environment

The Future of International Politics

Foundations, war, and Peace

International Political Economy, transnational Politics, and Looking Ahead

Filters