POLSC311 Final Exam - United States Foreign Policy | Practice Test / Quiz / MCQs

1. Today, the United States is deeply and actively involved in issues and problems around the world. But this was not always the case. Dating back to the time of George Washington and as late as the US entry into World War II, the US tended to steer clear of 'foreign entanglements'. What is the word used to describe US foreign policy in these early years?

RealismLiberalismInternationalismIsolationism

2. Which of the following policies do Ogden and Anderson ('US Foreign Policy Toward North Korea: A Way Ahead') not recommend in US policy toward North Korea?

The United States should cease pushing for an improvement of human rights in North Korea as a condition for better relations; pressing for human rights is counterproductive.The issue of WMD proliferation should be put on the back-burner, as it is more important to basic trust in other areas first.The United States should give South Korea the lead in negotiating with North Korea, since South Korea is in the best position to negotiated with North Korea and can be regarded as a trusted and reliable ally.The United States should adopt a hard-line stance toward North Korea, insisting that important benchmarks be met by North Korea before engaging in substantive negotiations.

3. In 1949, amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 established which of the following?

The Central Intelligence AgencyThe War Powers ActThe Department of Homeland SecurityThe National Security Council

4. Which of the following accurately describes an issue with regard to Russia's role in the international system?

Russia's significant energy resourcesRussia's bellicose approach to dealing with IranThe lack of Russian language experts in the U.S. foreign policymaking bureaucracyFear of the resurrection of the Soviet Union

5. Which theoretical model does Scott Sagan recommend the US adopt as a basis for its nonproliferation policy?

The domestic politics modelThe norms modelThe security or realist modelNo one model, by itself, provides a basis for dealing with all cases

6. In what ways does President Obama's speech in Cairo differ from the thesis put forward by Samuel Huntington in the 'Clash of Civilizations'?

President Obama believes that all people, regardless of differing cultural backgrounds, ultimately embrace the same basic values and rights.President Obama believes that there are no cultural distinctions between civilizations; to the extent that conflict exists between civilizations, it is based national self-interest only.President Obama is a constructivist; he believes that cultural differences can be overcome through a conscious process of constructing a global culture to which all people subscribe.President Obama believes that, despite irreconcilable differences between and among cultures and civilizations, it is possible to build a basis for cooperation rather than conflict.

7. What previous event might explain the reluctance of the Clinton Administration to intervene in the Rwandan genocide?

The HolocaustThe Korean WarThe failed marine intervention in SomaliaThe Gulf War

8. Which of the following is a seminal historical even in US-Iranian relations?

In the 1970s, the United States helped to dispose of the Shah or Iran, an autocratic and highly repressive leader.The United States initially was supportive of the revolutionary movement led by Ayatollah Khomeni, but eventually turned against it when revolutionary forces seized control of the American embassy.After Mossadegh began to nationalize the Iran oil industry, the United States joined Britain in a plot that eventually overthrew a properly elected and very popular prime minister.The United States support of Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war helped turned warming relations between the two countries into a very hostile relationship.

10. According to E.S. Herman, what role or roles do the mainstream media generally play with regard to the conduct of US foreign policy?

The mainstream media informs the public on the major issues of the day with sufficient context, depth, and honesty.The mainstream media tend to follow a state agenda in reporting foreign policy.Reporters and others in the mainstream media root about and expose abuses freely and without discrimination; they keep an eye on the government.Reporters and other play an adversarial role: they challenge and prod government officials to ensure that the truth come out.

11. What is the main concept that President Obama articulated in his Nobel Prize Acceptance speech?

The Democratic Peace thesisThe security dilemmaAll of theseJust war theory

12. How was the Cuban Missile crisis finally resolved?

The Soviets threatened an all-out war, which forced the United States to back down.In exchange for the Soviets removing all their missiles from Cuba, the United States agreed to secretly remove all US missiles set in southern Italy and Turkey.The United States carried out a successful, but secret, raid against the missile installations in Cuba, and destroyed all the missiles on the ground.The United States, in classic realist fashion, threatened to annihilate Cuba and launch a first strike against the Soviet homeland, which forced the Soviets to remove all missiles.

13. What was Henry Cabot Lodge's main criticism of the League of Nations?

The League of Nations contradicted the basic principle of nationalism, of always putting the interests of the United States first.The League of Nations was dominated by Bolsheviks and enemies of the United States.The League of Nations was not strong enough to be successful; it needed more widespread participation and an army of its own.The League of Nations was undemocratic.

14. Complete the following sentence. As an example of a contemporary vision of a grand strategy for the United States, the Bush Doctrine emphasized all of the following EXCEPT:

Aggressive action against states and groups that aid and harbor terrorists.The spread of democracy abroad.Preemptive military action abroad when necessary.Unilateral disarmament.

15. The initial success of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan is novvw compromised by which factor?

All of theseThere is anger over the civilian casualties that result from U.S. airstrikes on al Qaeda and Taliban targets.The Taliban and al Qaeda have found new sanctuaries in the Eastern provinces of Afghanistan and the western tribal areas of Pakistan.The Taliban has continued to attract recruits and money.

16. What is a general issue concerning the European Union that has lead to debt crises in countries like Greece, Portugal, and Italy?

Common fiscal policy but no common monetary policyLack of common monetary or fiscal policyCommon monetary policy but no common fiscal policyAll of these

17. Fill in the blank. _________ was a response to European attempts to control or intervene in North and South America. It read, in part, 'It is impossible that the allied powers should extend their political system to any portion of either continent, without endangering our peace and happiness...'.

ExpansionismThe Monroe DoctrineEminent DomainThe Mayflower Compact

18. Robert Jervis discusses a major foreign policy stance by the Bush administration, which basically asserted that the US had the right to wage a war based on what might happen sometime in the future; that is, wars fought to preserve the status quo are a right the United States enjoys. What type of war is this?

Just warPreventive warHegemonic warPreemptive war

19. John Lewis Gaddis identifies three types of causes for the Cold War: long-term, intermediate, and immediate. What are some of the intermediate causes he identifies?

Ideological factors in the US and Soviet Union that led to very different and contradictory visions of the postwar world.The nature of the Soviet system, which was totalitarian and unable to compromise with other states.The rise of great nation states, which inherently create the basis for conflict.A US leadership that did not understand fully understand Soviet intentions and aims in the postwar era.

20. Which of the following was not a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission?

Improved intelligence sharing among the various agencies responsible for intelligence gathering and national securityA decreased reliance on covert operationsMore imagination and creativity with regard to foreign policyGreater unity with regard to domestic and foreign policy priorities

21. President Wilson's Speech asking Congress to declare war on Germany and his 14 points are examples of which IR theory?

LiberalismOffense-defense theoryBoth C and DRealismThe Democratic Peace Thesis

23. Lebow writes that he and his colleagues came to two primary conclusions regarding lessons to be learned from the end of the Cold War. First, the Cold War should be understood as a non-linear process. Second, it was amazing how badly leaders miscalculated during 'the end of the end of the Cold War.' What theoretical perspective do these two conclusions best reflect?

Bureaucratic PoliticsLiberalismCognitive ApproachMarxismRealism

24. Among the reasons Huntington cites for future conflicts between and among civilizations, which of the following is not included:

The processes of economic modernization and social change throughout the world are separating people from longstanding local identities.The world is becoming a smaller place.Differences among civilizations are not only real they are basic.Cultures continue to change and adapt to new conditions all the time.

25. The NSC (National Security Council) has a number of purposes. Which of the following is not included among the purposes of the NSC?

To advise the President with respect to the integration of domestic, foreign, and military policies relating to national security.To assess and appraise the objectives, commitments, and risks of the US in relation to the country's actual and potential military power, in the interest of national security, for the purpose of making recommendations to the President.To collect, evaluate, and disseminate foreign intelligence to assist the President and senior US Government policymakers in making decisions related to national security.To consider policies on matters of common interest to the departments and agencies of the government concerned with national security and to make recommendations to the president.

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25 Questions

❤ If you liked Fatskills, consider supporting us by checking out The Life Manuals You Never Got.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know? Privacy | Terms |

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All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know?
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Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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