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IB Global Politics HL study materials
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IB Global Politics HL practice questions

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Question 1Power, sovereignty and international relations

In IB Global Politics, which concept best describes a state's legal authority to govern its territory and population without external interference?

  1. Sovereignty Correct answer.
  2. Legitimacy
  3. Hegemony
  4. Anarchy

Explanation

Sovereignty refers to the supreme legal authority of a state over its territory and people, including the principle of non-interference by other states. It is a foundational concept in the power, sovereignty and international relations unit.

Question 2Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which term describes the situation in the international system where no authority stands above states to enforce rules?

  1. Supranationalism
  2. Anarchy Correct answer.
  3. Interdependence
  4. Sovereignty

Explanation

Anarchy in international relations refers to the absence of a central governing authority above states. It does not mean chaos but rather a self-help system where states must rely on their own power.

Question 3Power, sovereignty and international relations

A state joins an international organization and agrees to accept binding rulings from its court even when these override national law. Which concept does this best illustrate?

  1. Isolationism
  2. Absolute sovereignty
  3. Nationalism
  4. Pooled sovereignty Correct answer.

Explanation

Pooled sovereignty occurs when states voluntarily share or transfer some decision-making authority to a collective body. Accepting binding external rulings shows sovereignty being exercised collectively rather than absolutely.

Question 4Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which statement best reflects a realist view of international relations?

  1. Economic interdependence makes war irrational and obsolete.
  2. States pursue power and security in a self-help system. Correct answer.
  3. State behaviour is mainly shaped by domestic identities.
  4. International institutions can reliably enforce cooperation.

Explanation

Realism emphasizes state survival, power maximization and the self-help character of an anarchic system. Realists are sceptical that institutions or trade alone can guarantee peace.

Question 5Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which theoretical approach emphasizes that state interests are constructed through shared ideas, norms and identities?

  1. Realism
  2. Neorealism
  3. Constructivism Correct answer.
  4. Mercantilism

Explanation

Constructivism holds that international reality is socially constructed through ideas, norms and identities rather than fixed material interests. It explains change in state behaviour through shifts in shared understandings.

Question 6Power, sovereignty and international relations

A government is widely accepted by its citizens and recognized by other states as having the right to rule. Which concept does this describe?

  1. Autonomy
  2. Coercion
  3. Legitimacy Correct answer.
  4. Sovereignty

Explanation

Legitimacy refers to the acceptance of a government's right to rule, both internally by citizens and externally by other states. It is distinct from the mere capacity to coerce.

Question 7Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which concept describes the ability of one state to shape the behaviour of others through attraction and agenda-setting rather than coercion?

  1. Soft power Correct answer.
  2. Structural violence
  3. Coercive diplomacy
  4. Hard power

Explanation

Soft power, a concept associated with Joseph Nye, is the ability to influence others through attraction, values and agenda-setting rather than payment or force. It contrasts with hard power based on coercion or inducement.

Question 8Power, sovereignty and international relations

In international relations, what does the principle of non-interference generally prohibit?

  1. States signing treaties that limit their own conduct
  2. External actors intervening in a state's domestic affairs without consent Correct answer.
  3. Citizens protesting against their own government
  4. States joining defensive military alliances

Explanation

Non-interference is a corollary of sovereignty, holding that outside actors should not intervene in another state's internal affairs without consent. It is enshrined in the UN Charter and is central to debates about humanitarian intervention.

Question 9Power, sovereignty and international relations

A powerful state pressures a smaller neighbour to adopt its preferred trade policy by threatening to cut off essential energy supplies. Which form of power is primarily being exercised?

  1. Normative power
  2. Hard power Correct answer.
  3. Soft power
  4. Institutional power

Explanation

Threatening to cut essential supplies is coercion, a form of hard power based on threat and dependence. Hard power operates through inducements or threats rather than attraction.

Question 10Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of unipolarity in the international system?

  1. One state possesses preponderant power relative to all others Correct answer.
  2. Several great powers compete for influence
  3. Two blocs of states balance against each other
  4. No state has significant military capability

Explanation

Unipolarity describes a distribution of power in which a single state holds a dominant share of capabilities. It is contrasted with bipolarity and multipolarity.

Question 11Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which concept refers to the process by which decision-making authority and political identity shift from the nation-state toward global and regional institutions?

  1. Globalization Correct answer.
  2. Bilateralism
  3. Sovereignty
  4. Autarky

Explanation

Globalization involves the intensification of cross-border flows and the growth of transnational institutions, which can shift authority away from the state. It is central to debates about whether sovereignty is being eroded.

Question 12Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following is a defining feature of a supranational organization?

  1. Members retain complete veto power over all decisions
  2. Membership is limited to a single region with no legal authority
  3. Members cooperate only on a voluntary and non-binding basis
  4. Member states accept decisions that are binding even against their opposition Correct answer.

Explanation

Supranational organizations can make decisions binding on member states, sometimes by majority vote, meaning states may be bound against their will. This distinguishes them from intergovernmental bodies where unanimity and voluntary compliance dominate.

Question 13Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best describes the role of the UN Security Council in relation to sovereignty?

  1. It can authorize measures that limit a state's sovereignty when it deems peace threatened Correct answer.
  2. It can only act with the unanimous consent of all UN members
  3. It acts solely as a court for resolving trade disputes
  4. It has no authority to take any action affecting member states

Explanation

Under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Security Council can authorize sanctions or force when it determines that international peace and security are threatened, limiting the sovereignty of the target state. This creates tension between collective security and non-interference.

Question 14Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which statement best captures the concept of 'responsibility to protect' (R2P)?

  1. Sovereignty is absolute and no external action is ever justified
  2. Only regional organizations may use force in any circumstance
  3. States have a duty to protect populations from mass atrocities, and the international community may act if they fail Correct answer.
  4. States have the right to intervene in any state for economic reasons

Explanation

R2P holds that each state has a responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, with the international community acting as a fallback. It reframes sovereignty as responsibility.

Question 15Power, sovereignty and international relations

A state refuses to sign a treaty banning certain weapons because it argues the treaty would constrain its ability to defend itself. Which tension does this illustrate?

  1. Sovereignty versus collective security Correct answer.
  2. Legitimacy versus authority
  3. Soft power versus hard power
  4. Anarchy versus hierarchy

Explanation

The state prioritizes its sovereign right to self-defence over collective agreements that would limit its military options. This illustrates the recurring tension between state sovereignty and collective security norms.

Question 16Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best explains why realists argue that international institutions have limited ability to constrain powerful states?

  1. Institutions are created only by weak states to balance strong ones
  2. Institutions reflect the interests of powerful states and lack enforcement capacity Correct answer.
  3. Institutions always have more military power than states
  4. Institutions are irrelevant because states never cooperate

Explanation

Realists argue that institutions are shaped by powerful states and cannot enforce compliance against them in an anarchic system. This is why realists remain sceptical of institutional solutions to security dilemmas.

Question 17Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which concept refers to a situation in which one state's increase in security makes other states feel less secure, prompting them to arm in response?

  1. Collective security
  2. Deterrence
  3. Balance of power
  4. Security dilemma Correct answer.

Explanation

The security dilemma describes how defensive measures by one state can appear threatening to others, triggering an arms race. It is a key concept in explaining conflict under anarchy.

Question 18Power, sovereignty and international relations

A country's government collapses and no authority can maintain order within its borders. Which term best describes this condition?

  1. Hegemony
  2. State failure Correct answer.
  3. Supranationalism
  4. Détente

Explanation

State failure refers to the breakdown of a state's capacity to maintain order, provide services and exercise authority over its territory. It raises questions about sovereignty and external intervention.

Question 19Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best illustrates the exercise of 'hard power' by an international organization?

  1. The UN Security Council authorizes sanctions and a peace enforcement mission Correct answer.
  2. A state hosts an international sporting event
  3. A state broadcasts its values through international media
  4. A state funds a cultural exchange programme abroad

Explanation

Sanctions and peace enforcement are coercive measures, which are forms of hard power. Cultural exchanges, broadcasting and sporting events are typically instruments of soft power.

Question 20Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which argument is most consistent with a liberal institutionalist perspective on international relations?

  1. States are inherently aggressive and cannot cooperate
  2. Institutions can reduce uncertainty and facilitate cooperation even under anarchy Correct answer.
  3. International law has no effect on state conduct
  4. Power distribution alone determines all state behaviour

Explanation

Liberal institutionalism argues that institutions can promote cooperation by providing information, reducing transaction costs and creating credible commitments. This contrasts with realist scepticism about institutions.

Question 21Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which concept best captures the idea that a state's power is partly constituted by the recognition and legitimacy it receives from other states?

  1. Economic output
  2. Coercive power
  3. Military capability
  4. Social power Correct answer.

Explanation

Social power refers to influence derived from recognition, status and legitimacy within international society. It highlights that power is relational and not reducible to material capabilities.

Question 22Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best explains the paradox that globalization may both erode and strengthen state sovereignty?

  1. Globalization only affects weak states and never powerful ones
  2. Globalization always eliminates the state entirely
  3. States lose some autonomy to global forces but gain new capacities and incentives to regulate cross-border flows Correct answer.
  4. States never respond to globalization with new policies

Explanation

Globalization can constrain states through markets and institutions while also prompting them to develop new regulatory capacities and cooperate to manage cross-border issues. This dual effect is central to contemporary debates about sovereignty.

Question 23Power, sovereignty and international relations

A regional organization can adopt binding regulations by majority vote, and member states must comply even when they voted against them. Which concept does this most directly challenge?

  1. Deterrence
  2. Collective security
  3. Absolute sovereignty and unanimous consent Correct answer.
  4. Soft power

Explanation

Binding majority voting limits a state's ability to control decisions affecting it, challenging absolute conceptions of sovereignty and the requirement of unanimous consent. It exemplifies pooled sovereignty.

Question 24Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best illustrates how international law can constrain state sovereignty in practice?

  1. A state refuses to join any international agreement
  2. A state is found in breach of a human rights treaty and must change its domestic law Correct answer.
  3. A state ignores all international obligations without consequence
  4. A state voluntarily signs a trade deal and later withdraws

Explanation

When a state is bound by a treaty and required to amend domestic law, international law directly constrains its sovereign discretion. This illustrates the legal dimension of sovereignty transfer.

Question 25Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which statement best explains why constructivists argue that sovereignty is not a fixed concept?

  1. It is determined solely by a state's military capability
  2. It is a natural fact that cannot change over time
  3. Its meaning and content have changed historically through shared norms and practices Correct answer.
  4. It is defined only by the United Nations Charter

Explanation

Constructivists emphasize that sovereignty is a social institution whose meaning evolves through norms and practices, such as the shift from absolute to conditional sovereignty under R2P. This makes it historically contingent rather than fixed.

Question 26Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which concept describes a state's capacity to control what happens inside its own borders, including the making and enforcement of law?

  1. Collective security
  2. External sovereignty
  3. Supranationalism
  4. Internal sovereignty Correct answer.

Explanation

Internal sovereignty refers to supreme authority within a territory, exercised through institutions that make and enforce rules over the population. External sovereignty concerns recognition by other states and equality among states, not domestic control.

Question 27Power, sovereignty and international relations

In the international system, what does 'anarchy' mean when used by International Relations scholars?

  1. The absence of a central authority above states Correct answer.
  2. The collapse of a state's domestic institutions
  3. The rule of the strongest state over others
  4. A period of constant war between great powers

Explanation

Anarchy in IR theory refers to the absence of any overarching world government with authority over states, meaning states must ultimately rely on themselves. It does not mean chaos or perpetual war; it is a structural condition of the system.

Question 28Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following is the clearest example of a state exercising external sovereignty?

  1. A central bank setting interest rates for the national economy
  2. A court prosecuting a citizen under domestic criminal law
  3. A parliament passing a budget for domestic health services
  4. A government signing a bilateral treaty with another state in its own name Correct answer.

Explanation

External sovereignty is expressed when a state acts as an independent, equal legal person in relation to other states, for example by concluding treaties in its own name. Domestic legislation, prosecution and monetary policy are exercises of internal authority.

Question 29Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best describes the 'Westphalian' model of international order?

  1. Empires legitimately govern multiple peoples under one crown
  2. Religious authorities hold final jurisdiction over secular rulers
  3. A world government enforces law directly on individuals
  4. States are legally equal and sovereign over their own territory Correct answer.

Explanation

The Westphalian model is associated with the principle that states are sovereign, territorially defined and formally equal, with no higher secular authority above them. It underpins the modern system of sovereign states.

Question 30Power, sovereignty and international relations

A government is recognised by nearly all states but controls only part of the territory it claims. Which statement best assesses its sovereignty?

  1. It exercises supranational authority over the disputed region
  2. It holds external sovereignty but its internal sovereignty is incomplete Correct answer.
  3. It has lost sovereignty entirely because territory is disputed
  4. It holds full internal sovereignty but no external sovereignty

Explanation

Recognition by other states indicates external sovereignty, while effective control over the whole claimed territory is a condition of internal sovereignty. Where control is partial, internal sovereignty is incomplete even though external standing may be secure.

Question 31Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best illustrates the operation of the balance of power?

  1. A state joins a military alliance to counter a rival's growing capabilities Correct answer.
  2. A state signs a human rights treaty and accepts monitoring
  3. A state appeals to the World Trade Organization to settle a tariff dispute
  4. A state hosts a multinational corporation that invests in its economy

Explanation

Balance of power describes states combining or building capabilities to prevent any single state from dominating the system. Joining an alliance against a rising rival is the classic illustration of this behaviour.

Question 32Power, sovereignty and international relations

According to neoliberal institutionalists, why might states cooperate even under conditions of anarchy?

  1. A single hegemon permanently guarantees order
  2. Human nature is fundamentally cooperative and peaceful
  3. Military alliances deter all forms of aggression
  4. Institutions can reduce uncertainty and lower the costs of cheating Correct answer.

Explanation

Neoliberal institutionalists argue that institutions provide information, monitoring and repeated interaction, which reduce uncertainty and make reciprocity easier. Cooperation is therefore possible without a world government.

Question 33Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which concept refers to the ability of a state to prevent other states from achieving outcomes it opposes, as distinct from making them do something?

  1. Soft power
  2. Negative power Correct answer.
  3. Structural power
  4. Compulsory jurisdiction

Explanation

Negative power is the capacity to block or veto outcomes, for example through a veto in a council or by denying access to resources. It is distinguished from positive power, which is the capacity to secure desired outcomes.

Question 34Power, sovereignty and international relations

A state uses its control over a key shipping chokepoint to influence the trade of other countries. Which form of power does this most directly illustrate?

  1. Soft power derived from cultural attraction
  2. Legitimate authority derived from international recognition
  3. Productive power derived from shaping identities
  4. Structural power derived from control of a strategic economic node Correct answer.

Explanation

Control over a strategic node such as a shipping chokepoint gives a state the ability to shape the options available to others, which is a form of structural power. It operates through the material architecture of the international economy rather than attraction.

Question 35Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which statement best explains why a small state may still exercise influence in international organisations?

  1. Its sovereignty is suspended while it is a member
  2. Formal equality in voting and coalition-building can amplify its leverage Correct answer.
  3. Its population size automatically grants it a permanent seat
  4. Its military capacity determines all decisions in the organisation

Explanation

Many international organisations operate on one-state-one-vote rules or consensus procedures, so small states can gain influence by forming coalitions and using procedural rules. This illustrates how institutional design can offset material weakness.

Question 36Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best distinguishes a 'failed state' from a state with limited but functioning institutions?

  1. A failed state cannot maintain a monopoly on the legitimate use of force Correct answer.
  2. A state with limited institutions has no armed forces
  3. A state with limited institutions lacks international recognition
  4. A failed state has no constitution

Explanation

State failure is generally identified by the loss of a monopoly on the legitimate use of force and the inability to provide basic order, not merely by weak capacity. Limited institutions may still maintain order and legality.

Question 37Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best describes the principle of 'sovereign equality' in the United Nations Charter?

  1. Only states recognised by all members enjoy legal equality
  2. All member states have equal legal standing regardless of size or power Correct answer.
  3. States with larger economies hold more votes in the General Assembly
  4. Permanent members of the Security Council are exempt from Charter obligations

Explanation

Sovereign equality holds that states are equal as legal persons irrespective of their material capabilities. It is a foundational principle of the UN Charter even though actual influence in the Security Council is unequal.

Question 38Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best illustrates the tension between sovereignty and international human rights norms?

  1. A state rejects external criticism of its treatment of minorities as interference Correct answer.
  2. A state ratifies a trade agreement that lowers tariffs
  3. A state contributes troops to a peacekeeping mission
  4. A state hosts a regional summit on climate finance

Explanation

Human rights norms claim to apply to individuals regardless of borders, while sovereignty protects states from external interference in domestic affairs. A state invoking non-interference against criticism of its minority policies captures that tension directly.

Question 39Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best explains why international organisations can sometimes constrain the freedom of action of powerful states?

  1. They control the global supply of currency
  2. They possess armed forces that can compel great powers
  3. They can revoke a state's sovereignty
  4. They generate legitimacy costs that make non-compliance politically expensive Correct answer.

Explanation

Institutions can constrain even powerful states by generating legitimacy costs: violating agreed rules can damage reputation and make future cooperation harder. This reputational and normative mechanism is central to institutionalist arguments.

Question 40Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which concept best describes a situation where a state's dependence on trade with a single partner gives that partner leverage over its foreign policy?

  1. Collective security
  2. Positive neutrality
  3. Sovereign equality
  4. Asymmetric interdependence Correct answer.

Explanation

Asymmetric interdependence describes a relationship in which one party is far more dependent than the other, giving the less dependent party leverage. It shows how economic ties can become a source of power.

Question 41Power, sovereignty and international relations

A regional court rules that a member state's domestic law violates a treaty, and the state amends its law accordingly. Which concept does this best illustrate?

  1. The collapse of the state's internal sovereignty
  2. A balance of power strategy
  3. A state exercising hard power
  4. Legal sovereignty being pooled in a regional institution Correct answer.

Explanation

When a state changes domestic law to comply with a regional court's ruling, it has pooled or delegated legal authority to a supranational body. This shows sovereignty being exercised jointly rather than abandoned entirely.

Question 42Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best explains why realists are sceptical that international law meaningfully limits state behaviour?

  1. Law is created only by non-governmental organisations
  2. Law is always written to favour weaker states
  3. Law applies only to domestic courts
  4. Law depends on enforcement that no central authority can reliably provide Correct answer.

Explanation

Realists argue that without a central enforcer, compliance with international law depends on state consent and power, so law is weak when vital interests are at stake. This scepticism rests on the anarchic structure of the system.

Question 43Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best captures the constructivist claim that sovereignty is socially constructed?

  1. It is determined solely by a state's military capability
  2. Its meaning and obligations change as shared understandings among states change Correct answer.
  3. It exists only where a written constitution provides for it
  4. It is a fixed legal category that has never changed since 1648

Explanation

Constructivists argue that sovereignty is not a natural fact but a set of shared understandings that shape what states may legitimately do. As those understandings shift, for example on intervention or human rights, the content of sovereignty changes.

Question 44Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best explains why globalisation can both weaken and strengthen state sovereignty?

  1. Globalisation transfers all authority to a world government
  2. Globalisation removes the need for borders entirely
  3. States lose control over some flows but gain new capacities and incentives to regulate Correct answer.
  4. States always lose sovereignty in equal measure to their economic growth

Explanation

Globalisation reduces a state's unilateral control over cross-border flows such as capital and information, yet it also creates demands and tools for regulation, coordination and border management. The effect on sovereignty is therefore uneven and contested.

Question 45Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best illustrates 'bandwagoning' rather than balancing?

  1. A state refuses to trade with a powerful neighbour
  2. A state builds up its military to match a rival's arsenal
  3. A state forms an alliance with others to contain a common threat
  4. A weaker state aligns with a rising power rather than joining a coalition against it Correct answer.

Explanation

Bandwagoning occurs when a weaker state sides with a stronger or rising power instead of balancing against it, often to share in gains or avoid attack. Balancing, by contrast, involves countervailing against the source of threat.

Question 46Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best explains why the UN Security Council's composition is often described as a tension within the principle of sovereign equality?

  1. All members hold equal voting weight in the Council
  2. The Council is elected directly by citizens rather than states
  3. Five permanent members hold veto power that other equal states do not Correct answer.
  4. The Council has no legal authority over member states

Explanation

Sovereign equality implies equal legal standing for all states, yet the Security Council grants five permanent members a veto that others lack. This institutionalised inequality is the source of the tension.

Question 47Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best defines 'hard power'?

  1. The ability to influence others through attraction and values
  2. The ability to shape identities through discourse
  3. The ability to influence others through coercion or payment Correct answer.
  4. The ability to set the agenda through framing

Explanation

Hard power relies on material inducements and coercion, such as military force, sanctions or economic incentives. Soft power, by contrast, works through attraction and agenda-setting.

Question 48Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best illustrates a state invoking the norm of non-interference?

  1. Requesting UN observers for its own elections
  2. Signing a treaty on the transfer of prisoners
  3. Joining a regional free trade area
  4. Rejecting a foreign government's statement on its electoral process Correct answer.

Explanation

Non-interference protects states from external involvement in their domestic affairs, so rejecting foreign commentary on an election is a direct invocation of that norm. Inviting observers or joining agreements involves consent and is not an objection to interference.

Question 49Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best describes the difference between 'de jure' and 'de facto' sovereignty?

  1. Legal right to rule versus actual effective control Correct answer.
  2. Military occupation versus peaceful secession
  3. Constitutional monarchy versus republicanism
  4. Recognition by the UN versus recognition by regional bodies

Explanation

De jure sovereignty is the legal entitlement to authority, while de facto sovereignty is the actual exercise of control on the ground. A government may hold one without fully holding the other.

Question 50Power, sovereignty and international relations

Which of the following best explains how a hegemonic state can shape international order?

  1. It refuses to participate in international institutions
  2. It relies exclusively on the UN General Assembly for authority
  3. It dissolves its own sovereignty to lead by example
  4. It provides public goods and sets rules that others adopt Correct answer.

Explanation

Hegemonic stability theory suggests that a dominant state underwrites order by providing public goods such as security or a stable currency and by setting rules others follow. Its preponderance of power allows it to shape the system's institutions.