world politics exam 1

Question 1

What is comparative politics?

Answer 1

The study of political systems and governments by comparing them across countries.

Question 2

What is a coup d’état?

Answer 2

A sudden and illegal seizure of power from a government.

Question 3

What is a government?

Answer 3

The system or group of people that govern a state.

Question 4

What is imperialism?

Answer 4

A policy where a country extends its power by acquiring territories or controlling other nations.

Question 5

What are intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)?

Answer 5

Organizations formed by multiple countries to address global issues (e.g., the UN, NATO).

Question 6

What is international relations?

Answer 6

The study of interactions between countries, including diplomacy, trade, and conflict.

Question 7

What is a nation?

Answer 7

A group of people with shared culture, language, and history, but not necessarily a state.

Question 8

What is a nation-state?

Answer 8

A sovereign state where the people share a common identity and government.

Question 9

What is a regime?

Answer 9

The system of rules and norms governing a state.

Question 10

What are proxy wars?

Answer 10

Conflicts where powerful countries support opposing sides in another country’s war.

Question 11

What is sovereignty?

Answer 11

The authority of a state to govern itself without external interference.

Question 12

What is a state?

Answer 12

A political entity with a defined territory, population, government, and sovereignty.

Question 13

What is the difference between international relations and comparative politics?

Answer 13

International relations studies interactions between countries. Comparative politics studies political systems within different countries.

Question 14

When did the modern state system begin?

Answer 14

After the Peace of Westphalia (1648), which established the concept of sovereignty.

Question 15

In what order did WWI, WWII, and the Cold War occur?

Answer 15

World War I (1914-1918), World War II (1939-1945), Cold War (1947-1991).

Question 16

What side did Russia fight on in WWI?

Answer 16

The Allies (Britain, France, USA).

Question 17

What changes did the Russian Revolution (1917) bring?

Answer 17

Overthrew the Tsar and established a communist government. Led to the creation of the Soviet Union (USSR).

Question 18

What was the USSR’s role in WWII?

Answer 18

Initially allied with Nazi Germany, then joined the Allies after Germany invaded in 1941.

Question 19

What events marked the beginning and end of the Cold War?

Answer 19

Start: Truman Doctrine (1947) or Berlin Blockade (1948). End: Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) and dissolution of the USSR (1991).

Question 20

Why was it called the Cold War?

Answer 20

It was a geopolitical struggle between the US and USSR without direct military conflict.

Question 21

What were NATO and the Warsaw Pact?

Answer 21

NATO (1949): US-led military alliance against Soviet influence. Warsaw Pact (1955): Soviet-led military alliance countering NATO.

Question 22

Who came to power in China after the 1949 revolution?

Answer 22

Mao Zedong (Communist leader).

Question 23

How did the Chinese Revolution impact Taiwan?

Answer 23

The defeated Nationalists fled to Taiwan, setting up a separate government.

Question 24

How did the Industrial Revolution impact imperialism?

Answer 24

It increased European demand for raw materials, leading to colonization.

Question 25

How was colonialism in the Americas different from Africa/Asia?

Answer 25

Americas: More permanent European settlement. Africa/Asia: Mostly economic and political control without mass European migration.

Question 26

What problems do states face after gaining independence?

Answer 26

Political instability. Economic dependence on former colonizers. Ethnic and territorial conflicts.

Question 27

What were the Ogaden War and Angolan Civil War?

Answer 27

Proxy wars during the Cold War, with the US and USSR supporting different sides.

Question 28

What are the types of global actors?

Answer 28

States (e.g., USA, China). Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) (e.g., UN, NATO). Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) (e.g., Red Cross, Amnesty International).

Question 29

How is a state different from a nation?

Answer 29

A state is a political entity with sovereignty. A nation is a cultural group that may or may not have its own state.

Question 30

What is a regime?

Answer 30

The system that determines how a government operates.

Question 31

What are the two main types of regimes?

Answer 31

Democratic – Power through elections. Authoritarian – Power held by a ruler or small group.

Question 32

What is Freedom House, and what does it do?

Answer 32

An organization that ranks countries based on political rights and civil liberties.

Question 33

What are the three branches of government?

Answer 33

Legislative (makes laws). Executive (enforces laws). Judicial (interprets laws).

Question 34

How are parliamentary and presidential systems different?

Answer 34

Parliamentary: Executive is part of legislature (e.g., UK). Presidential: Executive is separate from legislature (e.g., USA).

Question 35

What do we know about the UK government?

Answer 35

It is a parliamentary democracy with a Prime Minister as head of government.

Question 36

How many members does the UN have?

Answer 36

193 member states.

Question 37

Where is the UN headquartered?

Answer 37

New York City, USA.

Question 38

What are the three key parts of the UN?

Answer 38

General Assembly – All member states. Security Council – Handles peace/security (P-5 have veto power). International Court of Justice (ICJ) – Settles legal disputes between states.

Question 39

Who are the P-5 (Permanent 5 members) of the UN Security Council?

Answer 39

USA, UK, France, Russia, China.

Question 40

Who is the current UN Secretary-General?

Answer 40

António Guterres