Contemporary International Problems
Professor S. Hafezi
Contemporary International Problems
Midterm Exam
February 10, 2010
STUDENT NAME : Sunil Shrestha
Write (type) at least four (4) sentences on each of the following ten (10) questions. Be analytical and factual. You must upload you answers to Doc Sharing by February 12, 24:00 ET to give me enough time and post the grades online by the university deadline. If I do not receive any student’s answers by February 12, 24:00 ET, I will report the grade of “F” for that student. The exam is open-book.
1. What were the main features of the Cold War bipolar system? Was it stable? Why or why not?
Cold War bipolar system was the “zero sum game” where if West won the territory from the free land, the East lost. This was the clash between two super powers Soviets and Americans who never fought directly instead maintained a proxy because they knew it could have lead to nuclear attack and then the existence of both the continents could have been in danger. The numerous island and other small nations who remained neutral between those super powers proves this was a “loose bipolar” cold war. Both the countries hated each other but did not take a step in any kind of violent acts that could have end their dominance over the world.
The cold war was somewhat stable because it stopped the Third World War, which could have lead to the destruction of human civilization and the earth itself. It prevented the nuclear attacks from both sides. Though we know both the countries had to go through other wars like the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and Americans in Vietnam, which broke down the Soviet economically and collapsed and Americans had to go through economic crisis as well, but still it balanced itself from attacking one another and saved the world.
2. What new international system is emerging? How can you tell?
After the fall of the Soviet Union, American became the supreme power of the world establishing Unipolar system and dominating the
Contemporary International Problems
Midterm Exam
February 10, 2010
STUDENT NAME : Sunil Shrestha
Write (type) at least four (4) sentences on each of the following ten (10) questions. Be analytical and factual. You must upload you answers to Doc Sharing by February 12, 24:00 ET to give me enough time and post the grades online by the university deadline. If I do not receive any student’s answers by February 12, 24:00 ET, I will report the grade of “F” for that student. The exam is open-book.
1. What were the main features of the Cold War bipolar system? Was it stable? Why or why not?
Cold War bipolar system was the “zero sum game” where if West won the territory from the free land, the East lost. This was the clash between two super powers Soviets and Americans who never fought directly instead maintained a proxy because they knew it could have lead to nuclear attack and then the existence of both the continents could have been in danger. The numerous island and other small nations who remained neutral between those super powers proves this was a “loose bipolar” cold war. Both the countries hated each other but did not take a step in any kind of violent acts that could have end their dominance over the world.
The cold war was somewhat stable because it stopped the Third World War, which could have lead to the destruction of human civilization and the earth itself. It prevented the nuclear attacks from both sides. Though we know both the countries had to go through other wars like the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and Americans in Vietnam, which broke down the Soviet economically and collapsed and Americans had to go through economic crisis as well, but still it balanced itself from attacking one another and saved the world.
2. What new international system is emerging? How can you tell?
After the fall of the Soviet Union, American became the supreme power of the world establishing Unipolar system and dominating the