Question 1

Until the early twentieth century, the United States rejected the idea of isolationism.

Accepted Answer

The United States actually embraced the idea of isolationism in the early twentieth century, particularly after World War I. This policy focused on avoiding involvement in international conflicts and prioritizing domestic affairs.

Question 2

The United States accounts for roughly what share of global military spending?

Accepted Answer

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US accounted for 39% of global military spending in 2019, which is slightly more than one-third. Therefore, option C) one-third is the closest approximation.

Question 3

In the post-Cold War era, non-state actors have generally been deterred from action against the United States by the same means that deter nation-state actors.

Accepted Answer

Non-state actors (such as terrorist organizations) do not necessarily respond to traditional deterrence methods like nation-states do, as they have different motivations and goals. Therefore, they cannot be deterred in the same way as nation-states.

Question 4

To counter new security threats posed by non-state actors, the United States has shifted from a policy of deterrence to a policy of appeasement.

Accepted Answer

The United States has not shifted from a policy of deterrence to a policy of appeasement. In fact, the U.S. has taken various measures to counter security threats posed by non-state actors, including military action and targeted drone strikes. The policy approach may vary depending on the specific situation, but appeasement is not a widespread or official policy.

Question 5

These neighboring countries are the top recipients of U.S.military aid.

Accepted Answer

Israel and Egypt are the top recipients of U.S. military aid, with Israel receiving the highest amount. This aid is primarily used to support their security and defense efforts.

Question 6

To many Americans, the chief purpose of the nation's foreign policy is protection of America's security.

Accepted Answer

Many Americans believe that the primary goal of U.S. foreign policy should be to protect the nation's security and interests, both at home and abroad. This often involves maintaining strong national defense, promoting democracy and human rights, countering threats from terrorist groups and hostile nations, and strengthening alliances and partnerships with other nations.

Question 7

One example of an organization forged by a collective security treaty is

Accepted Answer

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was forged by the North Atlantic Treaty, a collective security treaty signed in 1949 by countries in North America and Europe. Its purpose is to provide a collective defense against external threats, and it has since expanded to include multiple countries in Europe and North America.

Question 8

What does NATO stand for?

Accepted Answer

NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which is a political and military alliance of North American and European countries aimed at ensuring the collective defense against potential security threats.

Question 9

Security includes transportation, infrastructure, and energy supplies.

Accepted Answer

Security is a broad concept that includes various aspects such as national defense, economic security, and public safety. Transportation, infrastructure, and energy supplies are critical components of national security, and their protection is essential for maintaining the overall security of a state or country.

Question 10

What provoked the first formal mobilization of the NATO Alliance?

Accepted Answer

The first formal mobilization of the NATO Alliance was provoked by Al Qaeda's terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, leading to the invocation of Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

Question 11

What major lesson did U.S.policy makers learn from the U.S.military actions in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. military actions in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq all involved prolonged conflicts with unclear goals and minimal progress. As a result, public support for these conflicts diminished over time. This suggests that U.S. policy makers learned that conflicts that do not show positive results over a long period of time are not sustainable without public support.

Question 12

The first collective security agreement the United States entered into was the

Accepted Answer

The Rio Treaty, also known as the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, was signed in 1947 and established the Organization of American States (OAS). This was the first collective security agreement the United States entered into, as it was designed to promote solidarity and mutual defense among the nations of North, Central, and South America.

Question 13

This facility is used to hold indefinitely people captured overseas who are linked to terror organizations.

Accepted Answer

Guantanamo is a well-known detention center located in Cuba that is used to hold individuals captured overseas who are suspected of being linked to terrorist organizations. It is operated by the United States military and is known for being a controversial facility due to human rights concerns and allegations of torture.

Question 14

When the United States asked the International Court of Justice to resolve a long-standing dispute with Italy over American property confiscated by the Italian government, it exemplified the resolution of conflict through the process called

Accepted Answer

The answer of When the United States asked the International...

Question 15

As part of its Cold War strategy of appeasement, the U.S.defended South Korea against invasion by North Korea.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. did not employ a strategy of appeasement in the Cold War, but rather a policy of containment. The U.S. defended South Korea against invasion by North Korea through military intervention in the Korean War.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of a bilateral treaty?

Accepted Answer

A bilateral treaty involves two parties. In this case, the United States entering into a security agreement with Israel is an example of a bilateral treaty, as it involves an agreement between two nations.

Question 17

Which of the following is a treaty organization that was formed in 1949 to counter the perceived threat from the Soviet Union?

Accepted Answer

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 with the purpose of collective defense against the perceived threat from the Soviet Union and its allies. It consists of 30 member countries, primarily from Europe and North America, and is considered one of the most important treaties in the history of post-World War II international relations.

Question 18

Treaties between two countries are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Bilateral treaties refer to agreements between two countries, which are negotiated and signed by representatives from both countries. This is the most commonly used term for treaties between two countries. The other options are not correct:

A) Bipolar refers to a political situation where two major powers dominate a particular area or region, and is not relevant to treaties between two countries. 
C) Bipartite means involving two parties or two sides, but is not specifically related to treaties. 
D) Bicameral refers to a legislative body that is divided into two separate assemblies or chambers, and is not relevant to treaties. 
E) Dual state refers to a political system in which power is divided between two distinct entities, such as in federal systems, and is not relevant to treaties between two countries.

Question 19

The Bush Doctrine asserts that the United States will no longer attack other nations unless the United States is attacked first.

Accepted Answer

The Bush Doctrine, which was introduced in 2002, asserts that the United States has the right to pre-emptively attack other nations if it perceives them as a threat to national security. This doctrine was famously used as justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was not in response to an immediate attack on the United States.

Question 20

What is the most visible instrument of foreign policy?

Accepted Answer

Military force is often the most visible instrument of foreign policy as it involves the use of armed forces and can be easily observed through media coverage and public reactions. Other instruments such as arbitration, collective security treaties, sanctions, and disaster assistance may not receive the same level of attention or scrutiny.

Quiz 17: Foreign Policy