Study Guide for POL 201 Final Exam* 
*note: this page will be updated; also remember that the final is comprehensive

Chapter 10:  National Security & unconventional warfare &  Frontline: Missile Wars  & Chompsky clips
  1. How did the ABM treaty ensure MAD?  What do NUT followers argue?  Is GW Bush a belierver in MAD or NUT?
  2. Read the textbox on p.335.  How would a working missile defense affect your decision-making?  Is this help or hurt international peace?
  3. With regard to nuclear proliferation, what arguments could you make to support the claim that “more is better?"
  4. The Bush administration has considered "first use" of nuclear weapons.  Is that a good idea?
  5. How does the text define terrorism?  What has happened to the number of terrorists attacks in recent years?
  6. What does Pape's research tell us about the motivations of terrorists?
  7. How did Chomsky answer the question "Why do they hate us?"  
  8. Ben Barber discusses Bin Laden's "Jujitsu."  What did he mean by that?  How does he believe  the US should stop terrorism?
Ch. 11: Arms Control
  1. Should the world limits WMDs?  If so, how?  Blocking proliferation?  Disarming current nuclear powers?
  2. What are some of the stumblings blocks to halting nuclear proliferation? (see p.352)
  3. Are there any conventional weapons that should be limited (such as landmines)?  Should the US support the APM treaty?
  4. Why are UN peacekeeping forces usually so weak?  Should the UN have a permanent military force at the command of the Secretary General?
  5. How does the China-India-Pakistan relationship illustrate the difficulty of arms control?
  6. Using the case of Pakistan, Iran & Israel, explain how natinoal pride can be a barrier to arms control.
  7. what are the 3 tenets of collective security?  Does the preemptive on Iraq violate international law?
Chapter 12 & "Life & Debt" clip: go here to watch the entire clip online

  1. Compare economic nationalism to economic liberalism (internationalism) and economic structuralism (dependency theory). 
  2. Discuss Chompsky's views on globalization. In what way has globalization increased and decreased in recent years? What does he argue about the trend in investor rights versus those of ordinary people.
  3. How do countries use economic means for economic and political purposes?
  4. Discuss the history, effectiveness & drawbacks of economic sanctions.
  5. Do you think the world is heading towards more globazlization or economic nationalism? 
Chapter 13 & Palast pp143-158 & Chua pp19-21 & 244-249
  1. Explain the mission of the WTO, World Bank and IMF. 
  2. Discuss the North-South disagreements at the Doha Round of trade negotiations.
  3. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of NAFTA.  Why does the WTO dislike regional trade organizations? 
  4. Would you consider yourself an economic nationalist or internationalist (liberal)?  Why?
  5. According to Palast, what are the IMF's four steps to economic damnation?  How does Life & Debt reflect this?
  6. According to Chua, how has globalization & free-market economics heightened anti-Americanism?
  7. Discuss Chua's arguments about the negative impact of economic and political liberalization in developing countries.
End of Quiz 3 material
Chapter 15
  1. Explain the sustainable development dilemna that faces the earth's carrying capacity (see the formula on p490).
  2. Explain how Kyoto treats EDCs and LDCs differently.  Why does it do so?  
  3. Explain the two options for sustainable growth as laid out in the text (pp491-494).  How would you solve the conundrum of sustainable development?  
  4. Explain the link between educational and economic opportunities for women and birth rates.
  5. How effective has the international community been at improving sustainable develoment?  Specifically discuss the efforts to control the international population (of people) and to save sea mammals, such as whales, from extinction.
  6. Explain Al Gore's "2 Canaries" of global climate change.
  7. Bjorn Lomborg agrees that there is global climate change, but is less worried than most scientists.  What is his argument? 
  8. What are the consequences of "too much" concern about global climate change as opposed to the consequences of "too little" concern?
Review questions for chapter 7 (regarding the EU)
  1. Explain how functionalism was the basis for the EU.
  2. Discuss the "democracy deficit," the CAP and language problems facing the EU.
  3. Why does Roesler argue that the EU is an economic giant, a political dwarf and a military worm?
  4. What was the position of your "country" on strengthening the EU?   Do you think (your opinion) Europe will become a "state" in the near future? 

Take-Home Long Essay for the IR Final Exam  (about 2 typed pages).  USE EXAMPLES!!!

Answer ONE of the following (40 points):  Updated 12/4/2007

1. How has American foreign policy changed from Washington to the beginning of the Cold War?  (Use examples from the films Casablanca and the Quiet American to illustrate the shift.) Discuss US foreign policy during the Cold War, giving examples from The Trials of Henry Kissinger, The Fog of War and the Palast readings.  Contrast President Bush's belief in American exceptionalism with McNamara's arguement that "if we can't persuade nations of comparable values of the merit of our cause, we better reexamine our reasoning."  What are the dangers (discussed in the text) of overemphasis on the military (look at military overstretch & the "spiral of insecurity)."   How does this NOW clip on Why We Fight illustrate US overemphasis on military power.  Do you agree that we have historically overused our military in foreign policy?

2.Compare economic nationalism to economic liberalism (internationalism) and economic structuralism (dependency theory).   Compare the modernization and dependency approaches to explaining economic development. How are large corporations and powerful countries able to manipulate trade rules to their advantage?  Compare the arguments of Palast, Chua, and the Life & Debt flim regarding the IMF.  Should the US promote stronger international laws even if US citizens and corporations are held accountable (specifically, discuss the UNOCAL lawsuit)? Why or why not?

Note: if you did not take notes or were absent during the in-class showing of films, most of the films listed are availble at any large movie rental facility.

The final is comprehensive, covering everything above this point on the page plus what was covered on the midterm.
International Organizations: Chapter 14
  1. Differentiate between functionalism and neofunctionalism and between IGOs and NGOs.
  2. How did the 1991 Gulf War affect the notion of collective security?
  3. Discuss the role of the UN Security Council, the General Assembly and the General Secretary. Is the UN democratic? How would you reform the UN? (also see this article http://search.csmonitor.com/search_content/0406/p06s01-wogi.html)
  4. Discuss the history of the EU in terms of pooled sovereignty and functionalism.
  5. Is Europe a customs union or a supranational state or something else?
  6. Discuss some of the problems facing a new, larger EU.
  7. Listen to this interview of T.R. Reid and this article on Microsoft and the EU. Explain Reid's point of view. Even though Europe is not a military power, do you think it will be a superpower?

International Law & Treaties: Ch. 15 & Video: NOW segment: Unocal; Review Kiesling: Letter of Resignation & Perle: Thank God For the Death of the UN;

  1. Kiesling argues that the international laws limit our foes far more than it constrained us. Do you agree?
  2. " As we sift the debris, it will be important to preserve, the better to understand, the intellectual wreckage of the liberal conceit of safety through international law administered by international institutions." What does Perle mean?
  3. Who enforces international law? Is it applied consistently? Explain.
  4. Did the US violate the Geneva Convention if it did torture thousands of Iraqis in US-run prisons?
  5. Discuss the benefits and drawbacks for the US to be a party to the International Criminal Court?  For more info, go to http://www.iccnow.org/
  6. Discuss the Unocal lawsuit. Should US corporations abide by human rights and environmental standards?
  7. Should companies or groups that commit or benefit from human rights violations be held accountable and/or be forced to compensate victims? Should victims be able to sue Unocal, Volkswagen, Bin Laden or Hussein?

Globalization-- ch. 10; Videos: Chomspky clip, Life & Debt; Palast pp143-158 & 192-201); Chua (19-21, 190-197 & 244-249)

  1. Discuss Chompsky's views on globalization. In what way has globalization increased and decreased in recent years? What does he argue about the trend in investor rights versus those of ordinary people.
  2. Discuss Fukuyama's "endism" theory (see chapter 1). Contrast that to Chomsky's views on the "end of history."
  3. Explain the concept of cross-conditionalities discussed in "Life and Debt."
  4. Why is the debt burden so difficult for some countries. Read this article and explain your position on debt-relief.
  5. Be familiar with the IMF, the GATT, and the WTO. 
  6. Explain the Big Mac Index and 'PPP.' (note: see the chart on page 173 of Clemens)
Ch. 11: Free Trade and Economic Development & Water for Profit clip
  1. Why do countries privatize their water systems and other utilities? What are the drawbacks of privatizing public utilities. How does that fit with Chompsky's arguments on globalization and investor rights.
  2. Neoliberals argue that capitalism is essential to growth, yet China is one of the most successful stories in history.  What factors might explain China's amazing growth without capitalism?
  3. Discuss the economic and environmental concerns of NAFTA. Did the fears become reality?
  4. The text argues that "fitness requires a middle ground between order and disorder." What does Clemens mean?
Ch. 12: Economic Development
  1. Discuss realism, liberalism and marxist (dependency) approaches to explaining economic development.  
  2. Discuss modernization theory. Do you think internal or external factors are most important in explaining growth (or lack thereof) in third world countries?
  3. Explain the economic strategies of the Asian Tigers.
  4. Compare the text's discussion of the World Bank and the IMF (pp454-455) to those from the Palast reading.
  5. How much aid do wealthy countries give to poorer ones?
  6. As a percentage of US GDP, how does the US rank in terms aid? How much of US aid is for aid and how much for security assistance? Is this enough?
  7. Explain how debt service and high tariffs burden developing countries.
  8. Discuss the three most important (in your opinion) steps you would take to promote economic development.

CH.13: Environment & Sustainable Development--CO2 emissions chart; Frontline: Is Wal-Mart Good for America? ; Video: Globalization: Winners & Losers

  1. Which country produces the most carbon dioxide? Describe the basic elements of the Kyoto protocol.
  2. Discuss the tragedy of the commons and the concept of collective (public) goods.
  3. Explain the North-South split over sustainable development.  How did this split play out in the Kyoto talks?
  4. Read this article and explain how aid can disrupt local economies. Compare this to the "Life & Debt" segment.
  5. Listen to this article on the World Bank & compare this article to what we saw in Shell's investment in Nigeria. How would you change development projects.
  6. Based on the Frontline video, is Wal-Mart good for America? Are companies such as Wal-Mart good for developing countries?

Chapter 7: Negotiating Conflict

  1. Why do you think the Tit-for-tat strategy works the best in computer simulations?
  2. What does game theory (specifically the Prisoner's Dilemna) suggest about cooperation.  What does Derek Parfit argue about cooperation and rational self-interest?
  3. List two potential pitfalls of GRIT. Give examples (of the two you selected) that were discussed in the chapter.
  4. Explain how the US used triangular diplomacy during the Cold War.