Which philosopher is associated with the idea of the “social contract” in modern political thought?
A) Aristotle
B) John Locke
C) Karl Marx
D) Thomas Hobbes
What is the main idea behind John Locke’s theory of government?
A) Government should have absolute power over individuals
B) The state exists to protect the natural rights of individuals
C) The government should have no involvement in citizens’ private lives
D) Citizens should always follow the will of the monarch
Which of the following is a core idea in Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s political theory?
A) The government should have absolute power over the people
B) Society corrupts the natural goodness of people
C) Democracy is an inefficient system of governance
D) Power should be inherited through monarchy
What did Karl Marx argue about the nature of capitalism?
A) Capitalism promotes equality and fairness
B) Capitalism exploits the working class and leads to inequality
C) Capitalism is the final stage of human society
D) Capitalism creates equal opportunities for all
Which political thinker is most closely associated with the concept of “the invisible hand” in economics?
A) Thomas Hobbes
B) John Stuart Mill
C) Adam Smith
D) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
What is the principle of utilitarianism, as promoted by thinkers like Jeremy Bentham?
A) The greatest good for the greatest number of people
B) The protection of individual rights is the primary concern
C) Government should control all means of production
D) Individuals should always act in their own self-interest
What is a key tenet of liberalism in modern political thought?
A) The state should control all aspects of social life
B) Individual liberty and rights are fundamental to political life
C) Governments should be unresponsive to public opinion
D) The economy should be entirely planned by the government
Which of the following is a central idea in modern democratic thought?
A) Rule by a single monarch is the best form of government
B) Political power is derived from the consent of the governed
C) The economy should be centrally controlled by the state
D) Citizens should not have any involvement in political processes
What does the “veil of ignorance” concept, developed by John Rawls, suggest about justice?
A) Society should be structured in a way that benefits the most powerful
B) People should make political decisions without knowing their own social status
C) Justice is irrelevant in political theory
D) Political decisions should be made by experts, not the general population
Which of the following thinkers argued that individuals have the right to rebel against unjust governments?
A) Hobbes
B) Marx
C) Locke
D) Smith
What is the main idea behind Thomas Hobbes’ view of human nature and governance?
A) Humans are naturally peaceful and cooperative
B) The state should only intervene in extreme situations
C) Humans are naturally selfish, requiring a strong central authority to maintain order
D) Democracy is the ideal form of government for humans
Which of the following best describes the concept of “civil disobedience,” popularized by Henry David Thoreau?
A) Unconditional obedience to laws and regulations
B) Peaceful protest and refusal to obey unjust laws
C) The right of the state to use violence to enforce laws
D) Direct violent rebellion against the government
What did John Stuart Mill emphasize in his political philosophy?
A) The government should have complete control over individual lives
B) Individuals should be free to pursue their own happiness, as long as they do not harm others
C) Societies should be ruled by a single, absolute ruler
D) Economic inequality should be maintained for social stability
Which of the following concepts is central to Friedrich Hayek’s political thought?
A) Central planning of the economy ensures fairness
B) Government control of social issues is essential for social order
C) Economic freedom and a market-based economy promote individual liberty
D) The government should eliminate all forms of inequality
Which political thinker is known for the development of the concept of “the general will” in democratic societies?
A) Thomas Hobbes
B) John Locke
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D) Immanuel Kant
What does the concept of “positive liberty,” as discussed by Isaiah Berlin, refer to?
A) Freedom from external interference
B) The freedom to realize one’s potential and achieve self-mastery
C) The right to be left alone by the government
D) The right to vote in elections
What is the core of Marx’s theory of historical materialism?
A) History is shaped by moral ideals and abstract concepts
B) Economic forces and class struggles drive historical change
C) Political power is derived solely from religion
D) History is a result of human kindness and cooperation
Which of the following is a central tenet of feminist political theory in modern thought?
A) Women should be excluded from public and political life
B) Gender equality is essential for a just and fair society
C) Women’s primary role is in the domestic sphere
D) Political power should be concentrated in the hands of men
What does “the separation of powers,” a concept central to modern liberal thought, advocate?
A) All branches of government should be merged into one
B) Different branches of government should have distinct and independent powers to prevent tyranny
C) The judicial branch should have complete control over government actions
D) The executive branch should hold supreme power over all matters
What does Michel Foucault argue about power in society?
A) Power is only held by the government and its officials
B) Power is diffuse and embedded in social institutions, relationships, and knowledge
C) Power should be concentrated in the hands of a few elites
D) Power only arises in times of political crisis
Which of the following thinkers argued for the importance of a “right to privacy” in modern democracies?
A) John Locke
B) Immanuel Kant
C) John Stuart Mill
D) Thomas Hobbes
Which political theory emphasizes the redistribution of wealth to reduce economic inequality?
A) Liberalism
B) Marxism
C) Conservatism
D) Libertarianism
What does the “veil of ignorance” thought experiment aim to achieve in political theory?
A) It demonstrates that individuals cannot be trusted with power
B) It helps determine principles of justice by considering fairness without bias
C) It suggests that society should be structured based on individual preferences
D) It argues that government intervention should be minimal
What is a key feature of the “libertarian” perspective in modern political thought?
A) Strong state control over all social and economic matters
B) Minimal government intervention in individual lives and the economy
C) The concentration of political power in a single ruler
D) Government provision of all basic needs and services
What did Karl Marx predict as the inevitable result of capitalist societies?
A) The development of a classless, stateless society
B) The rise of authoritarianism and dictatorship
C) The triumph of democracy over all other forms of government
D) The collapse of government and the return to feudalism
Which philosopher is known for arguing that “individual liberty” is central to democratic government?
A) John Stuart Mill
B) Thomas Hobbes
C) Friedrich Hayek
D) John Locke
What is the core principle behind “social contract” theory in modern political thought?
A) Individuals should never agree to any form of government
B) The state derives its legitimacy from the consent of the governed
C) People should submit to the government without question
D) Governments should rule without any formal agreements with citizens
Which of the following modern thinkers is associated with the concept of “power/knowledge”?
A) Karl Marx
B) Michel Foucault
C) John Stuart Mill
D) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
What does “modernity” in political thought often refer to?
A) A return to ancient traditions of governance
B) The era of political stability brought by monarchies
C) The rise of individualism and secularism in political life
D) A society that rejects all forms of technology
What is the key argument in Edmund Burke’s critique of the French Revolution?
A) The revolution promotes the idea of universal equality
B) Revolution leads to chaos and the destruction of traditions and social order
C) The revolution’s emphasis on liberty is a false promise
D) Revolution is necessary to achieve political stability
Which of the following is central to the thought of contemporary political theorist Noam Chomsky?
A) The need for global centralized governance
B) The dangers of unchecked corporate power and its influence on politics
C) The justification of state control over the media
D) The pursuit of economic inequality for national security
