Contemporary International Politics

Exam 1

Short Answer Section: 30 points

Directions:

Answer three (3) of the following five short answer questions. Each question is worth ten (10) points.

  1. Briefly explain the concept of national interest. Why is defining the national interest of a state so difficult?
  2. Briefly define the North-South conflict. Why is this conflict a central part of the world after the end of the Cold War?
  3. Briefly describe the structure and function of modern international governmental organizations.
  4. Briefly explain why "power" is a difficult concept to define in international relations.
  5. Briefly outline the shared perceptions of developed states. Why are these often in conflict with those of developing states?

Essay Section: 70 points

Answer two (2) of the following three essay questions. Each essay is worth thirty (35) points.

  1. As the Cold War came to an end, international relations saw a shift in the main line of divided interest in the world from East-West to North-South. How has this transition affected the major institutions of global governance crafted by the United States at the end of WWII? Does the change in the axis of division require a major restructuring of global governance?
  2. The nation state has been the dominant form of government for most of modern history. Today the nation state is seen as fading in relevance. Describe the major challenges to the preeminence of the nation state in contemporary international relations. Can the nation state survive in the face of these challenges?
  3. Compare and contrast the policy making methods of intergovernmental organizations (IGO’s) and those of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s). How does the decision making process in each of these entities reflect their role in contemporary international relations?