IRP 645 'Literacy Test' Questions

Final form!

The test will consist of three questions drawn from those below.  No books or notes will be allowed at the test. 

1. What do Hollis and Smith mean by explaining "in the scientific manner"?

2. Identify the core claims of political Realism.

3. Identify the essential components of a theory of international relations which purports to offer understanding?

4. Hans Morgenthau offers six principles of his version of Realism.  Relate and explain [clarify] the principle(s) which refer to the "national interest."

5. Write a short (no more than 150 words) account of the professional life of Tekemthe/Tecumseh from the point of view of an investigator who wishes to understand his actions.

6. The articles by Zhang and Inoguchi  are quite different in scope and purpose.  Can you nevertheless identify points on which they agree and points on which they disagree?

7. Identify and explain the principal claims of the version of Liberal international relations theory often called "liberal institutionalism."

8. Write a short (no more than 150 words) account of the professional life of Tekemthe/Tecumseh from the point of view of an investigator who wishes to explain his behavior.

9.  What does Ruggie mean by 'embedded Liberalism'?  For a Liberal, what is the practical significance of 'embedding'?

10.  According to Wendt, what are the differences between 'constitution' and 'causation'?

11. Describe and evaluate the uses made of history in the article by Haass and Indyk.

12.  "Reflection on wealth and power as state objectives soon yields the conclusion that they are complementary. For contemporary statesmen, as for the mercantilists of the 17th and 18th centuries, power is a necessary condition for plenty, and vice versa." Briefly evaluate this claim from a Liberal perspective.

13.  What is the importance of the abstract concept of "power" to political Realism?

14. Explain and evaluate the concept of imperialism from a Leninist perspective.

15. What reasons and evidence did Vladimir Lenin offer to support his claim that capitalism, once spreads over the entire globe,  must collapse?

16. Sketch a Liberal argument in support of this claim: "A just world order is possible." 

17.  "Reflection on wealth and power as state objectives soon yields the conclusion that they are complementary. For contemporary statesmen, as for the mercantilists of the 17th and 18th centuries, power is a necessary condition for plenty, and vice versa." Briefly evaluate this claim from a Realist perspective.

18. In your judgment, which theory studied in this course comes closest to presenting a set of  claims of understanding?  How do you support this judgment?

19. What does Georg Iggers take to be the identifying features of histories written by proponents of the Annales school?

20. What importance does Georg Iggers attach to the professionalization of  the writing of histories?

21. In  Yongjim Zhang's article, does he offer "system," "empire" and "state" as alternative levels of analysis? Explain.

22. What does Georg Iggers take to be the identifying features of Marxist historiography?

23. What reasons does Georg Iggers offer to support his concern with the end of 'history' as a scholarly discipline?

24. What is meant by writing a "history of everyday life," and why do its proponents find that an important objective?

25. What are the central claims of Wallerstein's "world system theory"?