Balance of Power & Global Politics MCQs with Answers
What does the concept of “balance of power” in international relations refer to?
a) The equality of military forces between nations
b) A system in which no single nation can dominate others
c) The economic parity between countries
d) The balance of trade between nations
Which of the following is an example of a balance of power mechanism in global politics?
a) Formation of military alliances
b) Establishment of international trade organizations
c) A country’s participation in the United Nations
d) Launching economic sanctions against a nation
Which theory suggests that international stability is best achieved when power is distributed among several nations?
a) Power politics
b) Realism
c) Liberalism
d) Balance of power theory
Which historical event is often cited as an example of balance of power politics in the 19th century?
a) The Cold War
b) The formation of the European Union
c) The Congress of Vienna in 1815
d) The signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919
Which of the following is an implication of a “unipolar” world in global politics?
a) Multiple powerful nations sharing equal influence
b) One dominant nation holds the most power
c) A global balance of power with no clear dominant force
d) Equal distribution of power among international organizations
In the balance of power theory, how do nations seek to prevent the dominance of one state?
a) By creating trade barriers
b) By forming alliances with other nations
c) By engaging in arms races
d) By establishing military dominance
Which of the following global politics strategies is based on the principle of balance of power?
a) Isolationism
b) Collective security
c) Humanitarian intervention
d) Appeasement
Which term refers to the strategy of preventing the rise of any single nation’s dominance in global affairs?
a) Containment
b) Hedging
c) Balance of power
d) Realpolitik
Which of the following is a major challenge to the concept of balance of power in the modern world?
a) The rise of international organizations
b) The existence of nuclear weapons
c) The spread of democracy
d) The expansion of trade agreements
Which of the following is a criticism of balance of power theory in global politics?
a) It leads to the proliferation of military alliances
b) It disregards economic relationships between nations
c) It promotes peace and cooperation
d) It is based on unrealistic assumptions about global unity
What is “bandwagoning” in the context of international relations?
a) A country choosing to ally with the strongest state
b) A country resisting power shifts through balancing
c) A global treaty aimed at maintaining the balance of power
d) The economic policy of avoiding trade with powerful nations
What does the “security dilemma” refer to in international relations?
a) The difficulty in balancing military power between states
b) The fear that a state’s military buildup will provoke a rival’s buildup
c) The decision-making process in forming international organizations
d) The global debate over arms control treaties
Which of the following is an example of “balance of power politics” in action?
a) The formation of NATO during the Cold War
b) The end of the Vietnam War
c) The spread of free-market economies
d) The signing of the Paris Agreement
In a multipolar system, how is power distributed among nations?
a) One country holds the majority of power
b) Power is distributed among several countries
c) There is no central authority with power
d) Power is divided between two main blocs
Which of the following best describes a “bipolar” world order?
a) Multiple powerful nations dominating global politics
b) One nation holding global dominance
c) Two superpowers competing for global influence
d) A stable and equal distribution of global power
What is “balance of terror” in the context of nuclear politics?
a) A global effort to reduce nuclear weapons
b) The doctrine of mutually assured destruction (MAD)
c) The global prohibition of nuclear weapons
d) The military strategy of using nuclear weapons as a deterrent
What is a key characteristic of a “hegemonic” global system?
a) Power is shared equally among all nations
b) One nation has preeminent control over global affairs
c) Military alliances dominate global politics
d) Nations act independently with little international cooperation
Which of the following is a key component of “realist” theory in global politics?
a) The idea of moral and ethical diplomacy
b) The belief in the inevitability of international cooperation
c) The emphasis on national interest and power as central to state behavior
d) The importance of global trade agreements
Which of the following is an example of a balancing coalition in international relations?
a) The Axis Powers during World War II
b) The formation of the European Union
c) The United Nations Security Council
d) The Cold War alliances of NATO and the Warsaw Pact
In the context of the balance of power, what does “deterrence” aim to achieve?
a) Preventing war through economic sanctions
b) Preventing war through military force
c) Preventing war by threatening retaliation with nuclear weapons
d) Establishing trade agreements to avoid conflict
What is the main focus of “constructivism” in global politics?
a) The distribution of military power
b) The role of ideas, norms, and identities in shaping international relations
c) The importance of economic power and influence
d) The inevitability of conflict between nations
Which of the following is a strategy used by states to maintain the balance of power?
a) Forming military alliances
b) Promoting economic sanctions
c) Encouraging regional cooperation
d) Isolating themselves from international organizations
Which event marked the end of the Cold War and the bipolar balance of power?
a) The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
b) The signing of the Paris Peace Accord
c) The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991
d) The signing of the Helsinki Accords
Which term describes the practice of preventing one country from becoming too powerful by forming an alliance with other states?
a) Hegemony
b) Bandwagoning
c) Balancing
d) Deterrence
Which factor is a major challenge to the balance of power theory in the 21st century?
a) The rise of nuclear proliferation
b) The end of military alliances
c) A decrease in global trade
d) The collapse of international organizations
Which of the following is a common consequence of the balance of power system in global politics?
a) Increased military spending and arms races
b) Decreased international trade
c) Global political unity
d) Diminished global cooperation