CHAPTER 12: International Organizations and Transnational Actors
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which actor consists of at least three nation-states?
a. Non-government organizations c. International governmental
organizations
b. Red Cross d. Transnational organizations
2. The primary difference between an international governmental organization and a non-
governmental organization is
a. the geographic region in which they are located
b. whether states or private actors are members
c. the global reach of the organization
d. the focus of their work
3. Which of the following organizations is a non-governmental organization?
a. Amnesty International c. United Nations
b. European Union d. North Atlantic Treaty Organization
4. The primary objective of the United Nations is to
a. solve global environmental problems c. promote peace and development
b. protect the world’s children d. solve the crisis in the Middle East
5. The primary principle of the United Nations highlights the importance of
a. global peace c. non-governmental organizations
b. economic development d. state sovereignty
6. The voting framework for the General Assembly of the United Nations is based on
a. the veto power of the great powers
b. one state/one vote
c. the economic share of the world’s regions
d. the victorious countries following World War II
7. Which part of the United Nations has as its main purpose the creation of a forum for debate on
global issues and to express international consensus?
a. General Assembly c. International Court of Justice
b. Security Council d. Food and Agricultural Organization
8. The current Secretary-General of the United Nations is
a. Kofi Annan c. Ban Ki-moon
b. Jimmy Carter d. Nelson Mandela
9. Which United National component is the only one which permits its members to have veto
power?
a. General Assembly c. Secretariat of the UN
b. Security Council d. International Court of Justice
10. The primary purpose of the Security Council is to
a. prevent conflict in the world by performing deterrent, peacekeeping, and
negotiating functions
b. distribute wealth from the rich to the poor countries
c. protect the interests of the most industrialized countries of the world
d. create and sustain a large though ineffective UN bureaucracy
11. Second generation peacekeeping has as its objectives all of the following but one.
a. Offering humanitarian relief c. Protecting civilians
b. Running elections d. Remaining neutral in the conflict
12. UNICEF, IAEA, and WHO are examples of
a. non-governmental organizations associated with the UN
b. specialized agencies of the UN
c. organizations established by the European Union
d. agencies under the management of the US Department of State
13. The original institution which led to the formation of the European Union was the
a. United Nations c. World Bank
b. NATO d. European Coal and Steel Community
14. What is the name of the concept used in the formation of the European Union that focused on
how each step would build an interest in collaboration which would lead to demands for
further steps?
a. Spillover c. evolutionary
b. incrementalism d. rationality
15. The primary objective of the European Union is to
a. offset the power and wealth of the United States
b. promote peace by binding countries together economically
c. be the first step towards a world government
d. create a European military to fight global terrorism
16. The evolution of the European Union focused on two processes.
a. Financial and political c. Widening and deepening
b. Military and financial d. Global and regional
17. Which agreement sought to harmonize domestic legislation across the member states?
a. Maastricht Treaty c. Treaty of Rome
b. Single European Act d. European Constitution
18. The 1992 Maastricht Treaty stated as its goal the
a. establishment of a single currency
b. maintenance of distinct foreign policy positions of all member states
c. writing of a new constitution
d. provision of separate tariff and non-tariff barriers between countries
19. In order for the states of the European Union to have a single currency, they also had to agree
to a single
a. foreign policy c. monetary policy
b. social welfare policy d. defense policy
20. Europe’s single currency, the Euro, has to some extent
a. failed as a common currency
b. decreased its value relative to the dollar
c. not been sought after by other investors and businesses
d. displaced the dollar as the standard currency for international transactions
21. Which of the following countries has not adopted the Euro?
a. France c. Britain
b. Italy d. Germany
22. The executive branch of the European Union is known as the
a. Council of Ministers c. European Parliament
b. European Commission d. European Court of Justice
23. Members of the European Parliament are
a. selected by the European Commission
b. chosen by each European government
c. elected directly by the citizens
d. selected by representatives of the UN and the European Union
24. All but one of the following issues is a challenge to the European Union.
a. Formation of a single currency c. Continued expansion of its members
b. Effectiveness of decision-making d. Sustained use of agricultural subsidies
25. Which of the following actors consists of the most?
a. states c. non-governmental organizations
b. international governmental d. transnational corporations
organizations
26. The definition of a transnational corporation is a
a. non-business organization that operates across state boundaries
b. network group that works on a specific issue
c. governmental organization focusing on a particular issue
d. a company whose production and sales operations span more than a single country
27. Although transnational corporations have existed for hundreds of years, today’s TNCs are
different in terms of
a. pursuing global strategies for production, sales, research, and investment
b. targeting only a few regions of the world
c. having most of their products manufactured in just a few countries
d. remaining politically neutral in most instances
28. The process of forcing foreign companies to sell their investment for less than they are worth
is known as
a. divestment c. expropriation
b. disinvestment d. privatization
29. The main difference between foreign companies that invest in “portfolio investments” and
those that invest in “bricks and mortar” investments concerns the
a. total value of the investment
b. mobility of the assets
c. degree to which countries can regulate those investments
d. origin of those investments
30. One of the major issues concerning the political impact of transnational corporations is that
they
a. strengthen the political independence of countries
b. are major supports of the spread of democracy in the world
c. effectively erode state sovereignty
d. are eager to cooperate with international organizations on the environment
31. Which organizations act across national boundaries to pursue political, social, or cultural
goals?
a. International governmental c. National states
organizations
b. Transnational corporations d. Transnational advocacy networks
32. All but one of the following international organizations is a transnational advocacy network.
a. Human Rights Watch c. Greenpeace
b. Association of Southeast Asian d. Doctors Without Borders
Nations
33. Many transnational advocacy networks perform a function that identifies and publicizes
government shortcomings so that others can promote accountability. This function is known
as
a. a watchdog c. spillover
b. a whistleblower d. good governance
34. What is the source of leverage for a transnational advocacy network?
a. Political power c. Information
b. Armed forces d. Money
ESSAY
1. What are the main defining characteristics of international governmental organizations and
non-governmental organizations? How are they different and in what way are they similar?
2. What are the objectives of the United Nations? How well does it succeed in fulfilling its
expectations and what are the weaknesses of the UN?
3. Discuss the historical evolution of the European Union. What were the main motivating
factors behind the creation and growth of the European Union?
4. What are the primary challenges facing the European Union? Do you think the EU will
continue to widen and deepen its structure and functions?
5. In what ways do transnational corporations help a country’s level of development and in what
ways do they hinder a country’s development?
6. What are the primary objectives of the reforms of the United Nations? Which reforms are
more likely to succeed?
