International Relations MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for International Relations - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is 1959

Key Points

• The Declaration of the Rights of the Child was passed by the United Nations in 1959 to promote the well-being of children worldwide.
• The declaration outlined various rights for children, such as the right to education, health, and protection from abuse.
• The declaration marked a significant step towards international recognition of children's rights.
• It provided a framework for future international treaties on children's rights, culminating in the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

Important Points

• The Declaration was non-binding, but it was a major influence on the development of children's rights globally.
• The Declaration emphasized the need for the protection of children’s rights in the face of issues like child labor, education, and health.

Additional Information

• The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was later adopted in 1989, which became a legally binding treaty for the protection of children's rights worldwide.
• The rights outlined in the 1959 Declaration include the right to education, the right to play, and the right to be protected from neglect and exploitation.

The correct answer is 'Provincial governments'.

Key Points

• Provincial governments in Germany:
  • Germany is a federal republic consisting of 16 federal states known as Bundesländer (singular: Bundesland).
  • Each Bundesland has its own government, constitution, and specific responsibilities, much like provincial governments in other federal systems.
  • The Bundesländer have significant autonomy and legislative authority in various areas such as education, law enforcement, and cultural affairs.
  • This federal structure allows for regional diversity and local governance within the framework of the German nation.

Additional Information

• Civil society:
  • Civil society refers to organizations and institutions that operate independently from the government and represent the interests and will of citizens.
  • Examples include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community groups, and trade unions.
  • It is not related to the administrative or governmental divisions within Germany.
• High Courts:
  • High Courts are judicial bodies that handle significant legal cases and appeals.
  • In Germany, the judiciary is separate from the federal states, and High Courts do not represent the administrative division of Bundesländer.
• Election Commission:
  • The Election Commission is a body responsible for overseeing the conduct of elections and ensuring they are free and fair.
  • In Germany, this function is carried out by the Federal Returning Officer and respective state election officials, but it is not synonymous with the term Bundesländer.

Key Points

• Freedom of information and accountability in France:
  • France has a rich history of emphasizing the importance of freedom of information and accountability of public servants.
  • The French Constitution and various laws ensure that citizens have the right to access information held by public authorities.
  • This commitment is seen as a fundamental aspect of France's democratic principles, fostering transparency and accountability in government operations.
  • The French government's measures include the enactment of laws and regulations that mandate the disclosure of public information and establish mechanisms for citizens to request and receive such information.

Additional Information

• Britain:
  • While Britain has its own mechanisms for ensuring transparency and accountability, such as the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the emphasis on these principles as integral to constitutional rights is not as pronounced as in France.
• Australia:
  • Australia also values transparency and accountability, with its Freedom of Information Act 1982 providing public access to government documents. However, these principles are not explicitly enshrined as constitutional rights.
• Germany:
  • Germany has robust laws for transparency and accountability, including the Federal Freedom of Information Act. Yet, similar to Australia, these principles are not explicitly stated as constitutional rights.

The correct answer is '2005'

Key Points

• Right to Information Act:
  • The Right to Information Act (RTI) was enacted by the Parliament of India in 2005.
  • The act sets out the practical regime of right to information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities.
  • The aim of the RTI Act is to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.
  • It allows citizens to request information from public authorities, thereby ensuring that the functioning of the government is transparent and open to scrutiny.

Additional Information

• Other Options:
  • 2000:
    • This year is incorrect as the RTI Act was not introduced at this time. The year 2000 saw other legislative activities but not the passage of the RTI Act.
  • 2010:
    • By 2010, the RTI Act had already been in effect for five years, and the information access mechanisms were already in place.
  • 2015:
    • This year is also incorrect as it is a decade after the RTI Act was passed. The RTI Act was well-established by this time, and numerous amendments and improvements had been made.

The correct answer is 'Sweden'

Key Points

• Adoption of Provisions Related to Press Information:
  • Sweden is recognized as the country that adopted provisions related to press information at the earliest.
  • Sweden's Freedom of the Press Act of 1766 is one of the world's first laws supporting the freedom of the press.
  • This act established the right to access public documents and aimed to promote transparency and accountability in the government.

Additional Information

• USA:
  • The United States has a strong tradition of press freedom, enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1791.
  • While significant, this came later than Sweden's adoption of press freedom provisions.
• Japan:
  • Japan's modern press freedom laws were established post-World War II, particularly with the new constitution in 1947.
  • This is much later compared to both Sweden and the United States.
• India:
  • India's press freedom is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, adopted in 1950.
  • Like Japan, this was established significantly later than the press freedom provisions in Sweden.

The correct answer is World Trade Organisation.

Key Points

• Liberalization of foreign trade and investment
  • It refers to the removal of barriers i.e. economic barriers protecting the domestic producers from the foreign producers.
  • The WTO has increasingly promoted the policy of liberalization at the international level to allow the mechanism of trade to function worldwide without any difficulty. Hence, Option 4 is correct.

Important Points

• World Trade Organisation
  • The WTO is the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was created in 1947.
  • The Uruguay Round (1986-94) of the GATT led to the WTO's creation. WTO began operations on 1^st January 1995.
  • The Agreement Establishing the WTO, commonly known as the “Marrakesh Agreement”, was signed in Marrakesh, Morocco in 1994.
  • WTO is an international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
  • The main difference between GATT and WTO was that GATT mostly dealt with trade in goods, the WTO and its agreements could not only cover goods but also trade in services and other intellectual properties like trade creations, designs, and inventions.
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The WTO has 164 members (including European Union) and 23 observer governments (like Iran, Iraq, Bhutan, Libya, etc).
  • India is a founder member of the 1947 GATT and its successor, the WTO.

Additional Information

• International Labour Organisation
  • It is the only tripartite U.N. agency. It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
  • Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations.
  • Became the first affiliated specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.
  • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
  • Founding Mission: social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
  • Promotes internationally recognized human and labour rights.
  • Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  • It is an organization of 190 member countries, each of which has representation on the IMF's executive board in proportion to its financial importance so that the most powerful countries in the global economy have the most voting power.
  • The IMF, also known as the Fund, was conceived at a UN conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States, in July 1944.
  • The 44 countries at that conference sought to build a framework for economic cooperation to avoid a repetition of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s.
  • Countries were not eligible for membership in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) unless they were members of the IMF.
  • IMF, as per the Bretton Woods agreement to encourage international financial cooperation, introduced a system of convertible currencies at fixed exchange rates and replaced gold with the U.S. dollar (gold at $35 per ounce) for official reserve.
• World Health Organisation
  • It is the United Nations’ specialized agency for Health was founded in 1948.
  • Its headquarters are situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • There are 194 Member States, 150 country offices, six regional offices.
  • It is an inter-governmental organization and works in collaboration with its member states usually through the Ministries of Health.
  • The WHO provides leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
  • It began functioning on April 7, 1948 – a date now being celebrated every year as World Health Day.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade between nations. WTO commenced its operations under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 countries. As of 2016, the WTO has 164 members.

Key Points

• World Trade Organisation (WTO) commenced its operations on 1 January 1995.
• But its trading system is half a century older.
• Since 1948, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) had given the rules for the system.
• The second WTO ministerial meeting, held in Geneva in May 1998, included a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the system.
• WTO commenced its operations under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 countries.
• As of 2016, the WTO has 164 members.

Additional Information

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations.
• Its main function is to ensure that global trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible.
• The headquarters of WTO is in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The WTO facilitates trade in goods, services, and intellectual property among participating countries by providing a framework for negotiating trade agreements, which usually aim to reduce or eliminate tariffs, quotas, and other restrictions.

hence the correct answer from the above statements is, that WTO commenced its operations under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 countries. and As of 2016, the WTO has 164 members.

The correct answer is Communism and capitalism.

Explanation: The Cold War, which lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, was characterized by a profound ideological conflict between communism and capitalism. This period was marked not by direct military conflict between the two main powers, the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR), but by a tense atmosphere of rivalry, competition, and indirect conflicts in various parts of the world.

Key Points

Communism: Communism, as practiced by the Soviet Union and its allies, was based on the principles of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who advocated for a classless society where the means of production (factories, land, resources) would be owned communally, not by individuals or corporations. The state, in theory, would ensure equality and distribute resources according to need. In practice, however, communism in the Soviet Union was marked by a highly centralized government that controlled all aspects of the economy and society, suppressing political dissent and individual freedoms.

Capitalism: Capitalism, as championed by the United States and its allies, emphasizes private ownership of the means of production, market competition, and the pursuit of profit. In capitalist systems, the market is supposed to determine the allocation of resources and services through supply and demand, with limited government intervention. Capitalism is often associated with democracy, where citizens have the right to vote and enjoy a range of personal freedoms.

The Conflict: The ideological conflict between communism and capitalism during the Cold War manifested in various ways:

• Military Alliances: The US led the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a collective defense alliance of capitalist countries, while the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact, a similar alliance of communist states.
• Arms Race: Both sides engaged in an arms race, notably developing and stockpiling nuclear weapons, leading to a state of "Mutually Assured Destruction" (MAD), where neither side could use these weapons without facing total destruction.
• Space Race: Competition extended to space exploration, symbolized by the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik in 1957 and the US landing on the moon in 1969.
• Proxy Wars: Instead of direct conflict, the superpowers engaged in indirect conflicts by supporting opposing sides in regional conflicts, such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and various insurgencies in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
• Economic and Technological Competition: Both blocs sought to demonstrate the superiority of their economic systems through technological innovation and aid to third-world countries.
• Propaganda and Cultural Influence: Both sides used media and cultural exports to spread their ideologies and win global support.

 Additional Information

• The Cold War was a complex period of history, where the ideological battle between communism and capitalism shaped not only international relations but also the internal policies and the societal structures of countries around the world.
• The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of the Cold War, with many seeing this event as the triumph of capitalism and liberal democracy over communism.

• A. Relative Deprivation Theory:
  • ​The Relative Deprivation Theory suggests that social conflicts and tensions arise when a group or individual perceives themselves as being worse off or deprived compared to others in their social environment.
  • It is based on the idea that people evaluate their well-being and status not just in absolute terms but also relative to the standards and conditions of others.
  • If they feel that others around them have better resources, opportunities, or social status, it can lead to feelings of frustration, resentment, and a desire for change or improvement.
• B. Conflict Theory:
  • ​ Conflict Theory is a social theory that focuses on the power struggles and conflicts between different social groups.
  • It suggests that society is characterized by inequalities in resources, opportunities, and power, and these inequalities lead to conflicts between groups with opposing interests.
  • Conflict theorists, such as Karl Marx, argue that these conflicts are central to understanding the dynamics of society and that they drive social change and progress.
• C. Structural Functionalism:
  • Structural Functionalism is a sociological theory that views society as a complex system with interconnected parts, each serving specific functions to maintain social order and stability.
  • According to this theory, various institutions (such as family, education, economy, etc.) work together to ensure the smooth functioning of society.
  • It emphasizes the roles and contributions of different social structures in maintaining equilibrium and fulfilling the needs of individuals and society as a whole.
• D. Political Theory:
  • ​ Political Theory deals with the study and analysis of political ideas, concepts, principles, and ideologies.
  • It clarifies the meaning and implications of key political concepts such as freedom, equality, justice, democracy, and rights.
  • Political theorists examine the historical and philosophical foundations of political thought and use these insights to understand and evaluate political systems, governance, and the distribution of power in society.

Hence, the correct answer is A - III, B - IV, C - I, D - II

The Clash of Civilizations is a theory that contends that in the post-Cold War world.

Key Points

• The phrase itself was first used by Albert Camus in 1946.
• This phrase is derived from the "clash of civilizations," which was popular during colonial and Belle Époque times.
• Its core ideas conflicts will mostly stem from people's cultural and religious identities.
• In reaction to his former student Francis Fukuyama's 1992 book The End of History and the Last Man.
• Huntington in the article The Clash of Civilizations argued that "This is not to promote the merits of battles between civilizations. Its purpose is to present a descriptive notion of what the future could look like." 

Thus, The 'Clash of Civilization' thesis means the conflict would not be primarily ideological or economic but, rather cultural in character

The correct answer is Seven.

Key Points

• There are seven articles (sections) are there in the US Constitution.
• Article I vests all legislative powers in the Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate. 
• Article II vests executive power in the office of the presidency of the United States. 
• Article III places judicial power in the hands of the courts. 
• Article IV deals, in part, with relations between the states and privileges of the citizens of the states.
• Article V stipulates the procedures for amending the Constitution.
• Article VI prohibits religious tests for officeholders, also deals with public debts and the supremacy of the Constitution.
• Article VII stipulated that the Constitution would become operational after being ratified by nine states.

Additional Information

• The United States of America adopted a democratic constitution in 1787.
• Constitution of America came into force in 1789.
• 'We the People' are the first three words of the American constitution.
• American constitution has been amended 27 times.
• The first ten amendments are collectively known as the Bill of Rights.

The correct Answer is Jawaharlal Nehru 

Explanation:

• The Prime Minister who spoke about India's approach towards the US and Soviet Union drifting towards a cold war as "They are our neighbors in Asia and inevitably we shall have to undertake many common tasks and have much to do with each other" was Jawaharlal Nehru.
•  Key PointsJawaharlal Nehru was India's first Prime Minister and served from 1947 to 1964. He was a key figure in shaping India's foreign policy during the early years of its independence.
• Nehru's foreign policy approach, often referred to as "Non-Alignment," aimed at maintaining India's independence and neutrality in the midst of the Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.
•  Additional InformationThe quote you provided reflects Nehru's belief in India's need to maintain friendly relations with both superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, as they were influential players in Asia.
• He emphasized the importance of cooperation and common tasks with these nations while avoiding alignment with either bloc in the Cold War.
• This policy was intended to safeguard India's sovereignty and pursue its national interests while avoiding being drawn into the ideological conflicts of the Cold War era.

The correct answer is World Trade Organization (WTO).

Key Points

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only international body in the world that deals with international trade regulations.
  • The WTO agreements, which were negotiated, signed, and ratified by the majority of the world's trading states, form its foundation.
  • There are 164 members of the WTO (including the European Union) and 23 observer nations (like Iran, Iraq, Bhutan, Libya etc).
• The Uruguay Round, which took place between 1987 and 1994, resulted in the Marrakesh Agreement, which founded the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • The WTO integrates the GATT's guiding principles and offers a more robust institutional structure for its application and expansion.
  • The GATT, which was completed in 1947, is now known as the GATT 1947.
  • In 1996, the GATT 1947 came to an end, and the WTO incorporated its rules into the GATT 1994.
  • All WTO Members are obligated under the terms of the GATT of 1994. It exclusively addresses the trading of products.

Additional Information

• The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) dates back to the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, which established the post-World War II financial system and two essential institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
• The conference attendees also advocated for the creation of an additional organisation that would be known as the International Trade Organization (ITO), which they saw as the system's third leg.
• The UN Conference on Trade and Employment adopted the Havana Charter, a proposed charter for the ITO that would have established stringent regulations covering trade, investment, services, company conduct, and employment practises. Because the U.S. Senate refused to ratify it, the Havana Charter was never put into effect. The ITO was consequently stillborn.
• The GATT, which was signed by 23 nations in Geneva in 1947, entered into force on January 1, 1948, with the goals of eliminating import quotas and lowering tariffs on merchandise trade.
• From 1948 until the establishment of the WTO in 1995, the GATT was the only multilateral instrument (not an institution) regulating international trade.

The correct answer is 1947.

Explain: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was conceived in July 1944 during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, commonly known as the Bretton Woods Conference, which was held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA.

 Key Points

• The IMF officially came into existence on December 27, 1945, when its first 29 member countries signed its Articles of Agreement. It began its operations on March 1, 1947.
• The creation of the IMF was a response to the financial instabilities of the 1930s, which culminated in the Great Depression.
• The primary aim was to ensure the stability of the international monetary system—the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries to transact with each other.
• The IMF's key functions include monitoring the economic and financial developments of its member countries, providing financial assistance to countries facing balance of payments problems, and offering technical assistance and training to help countries improve their economic management.
• The institution's work is aimed at fostering global monetary cooperation, securing financial stability, facilitating international trade, promoting high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reducing poverty around the world.

 Additional Information

• Since its inception, the IMF has adapted to changes in the world economy, including the transition from fixed exchange rates to floating rates in the 1970s and the more recent financial crises in emerging and developed economies.

The correct answer is Geneva.

Explanation: The second Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is a significant event in the history of international trade. It was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 18 to May 20, 1998. This conference was particularly noteworthy as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the multilateral trading system initiated under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was the predecessor to the WTO.

Key Points

• Anniversary Celebrations: The event was used to celebrate and reflect on five decades of the multilateral trading system. Since the establishment of the GATT in 1948, the system had played a central role in regulating international trade, reducing tariffs, and setting the ground rules for global commerce. The conference provided an opportunity for member states to assess the progress made since the creation of the WTO in 1995 and to reaffirm their commitment to a rules-based trading system.
• Agenda and Discussions: The Geneva conference served as a platform for discussions on a wide range of issues affecting the global trading system. Topics included the implementation of agreements reached during the Uruguay Round (the 8th round of multilateral trade negotiations conducted within the framework of the GATT, which led to the creation of the WTO), issues related to trade and investment, and the integration of developing countries into the global trading system.
• Challenges and Criticisms: The conference was not without its challenges and criticisms. There were significant debates and disagreements among member countries on various issues, including agricultural trade, services, and intellectual property rights. Moreover, the conference took place against a backdrop of increasing concerns about globalization and its impacts on developing nations, labor rights, and the environment. These concerns were highlighted by various non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, some of which staged protests during the conference.
• Outcomes: While the conference did not result in significant breakthroughs in ongoing trade negotiations, it did reaffirm the WTO's role in governing international trade and underscored the importance of a multilateral trading system. The member states reiterated their commitment to the principles of the WTO and pledged to continue working on unresolved issues.

 Additional Information

• The second Ministerial Conference of the WTO was a pivotal moment that reflected both the achievements and challenges of the multilateral trading system.
• It underscored the complexities of global trade negotiations and highlighted the need for continued dialogue and cooperation among nations to address the evolving challenges of international trade.