Questions: Introduction to International Relations

Question 1

The 'security dilemma' in international relations refers to which of the following?

• A. States always prefer war to negotiation
• B. One state's defensive build-up makes other states feel less secure, triggering a cycle of armament
• C. International institutions are too weak to prevent conflict
• D. Nuclear weapons guarantee mutual destruction

Answer: (B)

The security dilemma arises from anarchy: when a state arms for self-defense, rivals cannot be certain the intent is purely defensive. They arm in response, leaving everyone less secure than before — even without any state wanting conflict. It is a structural problem, not a problem of bad intentions.

Question 2

International anarchy means that sustained cooperation between states is very difficult.

• T. True
• F. False

Answer: False

Anarchy means the absence of a supranational authority, not the absence of order or cooperation. States regularly cooperate through repeated interactions, international institutions, shared norms, and mutual interest. Liberal and constructivist IR theories explain how cooperation is sustained under anarchy.

Question 3

What is the central puzzle that motivates the study of international relations, and how do realism and liberalism differently explain it?

Model answer: The central puzzle is how states behave under anarchy — why wars occur and how cooperation is possible without a world government. Realism holds that anarchy forces states to prioritize self-help and power; conflict is the natural outcome. Liberalism argues that institutions, trade, and repeated interaction create incentives to cooperate even without enforcement.

IR theories are competing frameworks for explaining the same facts. Identifying the core puzzles — war despite its costs, cooperation despite anarchy — reveals what each theory must explain and where they disagree.