Midterm Exam
Please answer all of the following in one word document and send to me at Khofheimer@ecpi.edu
Part 1: Essay (30 points)
Please select one question and answer all parts of each in essay form. Your essay should be about one and a half pages long double-spaced and well-organized, with a descriptive title, engaging introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and a satisfying conclusion.
1. Which level of analysis (individual, country, or sytem) do you think is most useful for describing international politics in today’s world? Explain, using appropriate terminiology and real-world references as applicable. 1. 2. How do international relations affect your life, specifically, in terms of finances, culture, social relations, technology, and other aspects of day-to-day existence? Be very specific and detailed as well as holistic and thoughtful. Go beyond the obvious.
3. What is the key differences between realism, liberalism, and constructivism?
4. Is the world more hobbessian, lockean, or kantian—or some combination of these? Explain, taking into account potential alternative arguments.
Part 2: Short Answer
Please answer each of the following using complete sentences.
6. What are some of the notable contributions to IP (International Politics) from Ancient Greece and Rome?
7. Why and how were the Dark and Middle Ages marked by determinism?
8. Why and how was the Renaissance marked by existentialism, in a very general sense?
9. When and what were the multipolar eras following the Middle Ages?
10. Why was the Treaty of Westphalia significant?
11. How did the Treaty of Versailles potentially make a Second World War likely or at least feasible?
12. Discuss how proxy wars reflected the bipolar Cold War international system.
13. How and why did the Cold War end?
14. Some say mercantilism was defeated with the ending of the Cold War. What is meant by this? Do you agree?
15. What are some the prominent scholarly prognostications for the future? (Be sure to name the prognosticators).
16. Which of these prognostications (per number 15), or combination thereof, is the most viable, in your opinion? Why?
17. What is economic interdependence?
18. What is NAFTA and why was the United States’ signing of it controversial in the presidential race of 1991?
19. Define globalization from a holistic standpoint, using YOUR own words.
20. Do you think democracy has “triumphed,” as some contend? Explain.
21. Differentiate between hard and soft power.
22. How do hard and soft power affect one another? Cite a specific example or examples.
23. What are the Bretton Woods Institutions and what does each do?
24. What is nationalism?
25. What are some of the positive, or potentially positive, characteristics of nationalism?
26. What are some of the negative, or potentially negative, characteristics of nationalism?
27. Is the nation-state likely to remain relevant and viable into this new millennium, in your opinion? Why or why not?
28. Where is the World Bank headquarters? 29. What are structural adjustments programs (same as conditionalities)?
30. How does the field of IP affect your field (ECPI major)?
31. And how does IP affect one other ECPI major?
32. What makes transnational corporations so potentially powerful?
33. Please put the following quote in layman’s terms and then tell whether or not you agree and why.
“The internationally supervised independence of Kosovo from Serbia has received a mixed reaction from the international community. The controversy over Kosovo’s independence includes not only the legality of the declaration itself but also a possible partition of Kosovo and inflammation of irredentism…[the controversy also is focused on the] impact on the international rule of law, and whether it [Kosovo’s independence] sets a legal precedent for other separatist conflicts throughout the world.”
Extra credit: (no set length, up to 5 points)
Discuss the evolution of the political process through the primary season, who you think the frontrunners is or frontrunner are for each party (Democrats and Republicans), how the media is playing a role in the process, and what issues you think are most important right now. Basically, tell me what you know about this year’s lead up to the presidential race that will impress, inspire, and open up new ideas….
