home
theories of international relations history of world politics states and international relations international law and organization global conflict and international security international politicial economy global challenges and issues  
   
         
 
theories of international relations
 
  infotrac reader
  internet activities
  microcase
  weblinks
  simulation
   
   
global resources
international relations texts
cia factbook
international relations in history
thinking globally, acting locally
english/spanish glossary
toolbox
credits
site map
 
Microcase
 
Instructions:
  1. You may find it works well to print out these Exercises so you can have the directions always in front of you. Click Here to print out this page.

  2. Click on the Microcase button to get to Online MicroCase, the software you need to complete this exercise.

  3. Enter your answers into the boxes below. If you'd like a print-out of your responses, click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page, and you will be taken to a printer-friendly page.

  4. If you have been instructed to submit your exercise online, enter both your and your instructor's name and e-mail address, then click the Email button at the bottom of the page. Your answers will be e-mailed immediately.

    Macintosh Users: If you have been instructed to submit your reponses to your instructor, you must enter your responses, then click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page to receive a printer-friendly version of your responses that you can then print and turn in to your instructor.
 
 
Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) are playing increasingly critical roles in international relations. Let’s explore their development over the last century.

CLICK DATA FILE: HISTORICAL
CLICK TASK: Historical Trends
SELECT VARIABLE 1: IGO
CLICK: [Continue]


1. Approximately how many inter-governmental organizations were there in 1908?




2. True or False: The number of inter-governmental organizations has increased by more than 200 percent over the last century.




The best-known inter-governmental organization, and arguably the most important, is the United Nations. Among its primary goals are the maintenance of peace, the promotion of international cooperation, and the development of friendly relations among nation-states. Let’s explore how the United Nations has changed over time.

CLICK: VARIABLES
CLICK TASK: Historical Trends
SELECT VARIABLE 1: UN MEMBERS
SELECT VARIABLE 2: SOVSTATES
CLICK: [Continue]


3. When was the United Nations founded?



4. Approximately how many nation-states are currently members of the United Nations?




5. Both the number of sovereign states and the number of UN members expanded dramatically at the end of the 1950s. What key process, begun in 1957, heralded the increase in membership?




6. True or False: Most nation-states are members of the United Nations.




The United Nations, as an actor in international relations, has been subjected to intense scrutiny by people and governments around the world. Let’s explore the views people hold about the United Nations.

CLICK: DATA FILES
CLICK DATA FILE: WVS 95-97
CLICK TASK: Univariate
SELECT PRIMARY VARIABLE: CONF:UN
CLICK: [Continue]


7. True or False: More people express a "great deal" of confidence in the United Nations than "none" at all




8. _____ Percent of people express "a lot" of confidence in the United Nations.

%
 

CLICK: DATA FILES
CLICK DATA FILE: ISSP1995
CLICK TASK: Univariate
SELECT PRIMARY VARIABLE: INTL ENFC
CLICK: [Continue]


The process of decision-making in the United Nations is critical to its success. Each member has one vote in the General Assembly, one of the two, key decision-making bodies in the United Nations. Building broad-based voting coalitions is necessary to pass resolutions, even for Great Powers such as the United States or Russia. Let’s explore voting in this body.

CLICK DATA FILE: HISTORICAL
CLICK TASK: Historical Trends
SELECT VARIABLE 1: AGREEUS
SELECT VARIABLE 2: AGREEUSSR
CLICK: [Continue]


9. The United States agreed with the majority in the United Nations General Assembly approximately percent of the time in 1950. (23, 48, 74, or 95)

%

 
10. Between 1950 and 1990, the level of agreement between the United States and the majority in the United Nations General Assembly

a. declined steadily.
b. increased steadily.
c. declined gradually until 1970 and then increased dramatically.
d. remained relatively constant.




11. The Soviet Union agreed with the majority in the United Nations General Assembly approximately percent of the time in 1960. (23, 48, 74, or 95)

%


12. Between 1960 and 1990, the level of agreement between the Soviet Union and the majority in the United Nations General Assembly

a. declined steadily.
b. increased steadily.
c. declined gradually until 1980 and then increased dramatically.
d. remained relatively constant.




Now let’s examine the United Nations Security Council. Important United Nations decisions must be approved by the Security Council, which currently has 15 total members. Any of its five permanent members (China, France, Russia – or the former USSR, the United Kingdom, or the United States) can prevent a resolution from passing simply by voting "no" (usually this is called a "veto"). This means that votes of 9 "yes" and 6 "no," or even votes of 14 "yes" and 1 "no" can result in the defeat of a resolution, provided that at least one "no vote" is cast by a permanent member.

CLICK: VARIABLES
SELECT VARIABLE 1: VETO USA
SELECT VARIABLE 2: VETO USSR
CLICK: [Continue]


13. True or False: Prior to 1965, the United States cast more than 25 vetoes in the Security Council.




14. True or False: Prior to 1965, the Soviet Union cast more vetoes than the United States.




15. Since 1965 it is most accurate to say that the overall number of vetoes cast by

a. both the Soviet Union and United States has increased.
b. both the Soviet Union and United States has decreased.
c. the Soviet Union has increased, but the number cast by the United States has decreased.
d. the Soviet Union has decreased, but the number cast by the United States has increased.




16. Looking specifically at the period from 1985 through 1995, it is most accurate to say that the overall number of vetoes cast by:
a. both Russia and United States increased.
b. both Russia and United States decreased.
c. Russia increased, but the number cast by the United States decreased.
d. Russia decreased, but the number cast by the United States increased.




17. Given what you’ve learned about the decision-making processes in the United Nations, it is most accurate to say that the United States can _____ persuade the United Nations to adopt its foreign policy positions. (sometimes, always, or never)


 

A variety of reasons explain why the levels of agreement between the United States and Soviet Union/Russia, on the one hand, and the majority in the United Nations General Assembly, on the other, changed over time. Similar arguments can be used to explain permanent member veto patterns over time. Among those explanations is the changing composition of the United Nations, which has been influenced by its increase in membership. Let’s explore that issue.

CLICK: VARIABLES
SELECT VARIABLE 1: UN MEMBERS
SELECT VARIABLE 2: AGREEUS
SELECT VARIABLE 3: AGREEUSSR
CLICK: [Continue]


18. Over the last half century, the number of members in the United Nations has increased by

a. less than 10 percent.
b. about half.
c. more than 200 percent.




19. What characteristics do you think it is likely that the new members have had that help to explain the changes in voting patterns that you’ve observed?




Now let’s see what people believe about whether the United Nations should be able to enforce its decisions.

CLICK: DATA FILES
CLICK DATA FILE: ISSP1995
CLICK TASK: Univariate
SELECT PRIMARY VARIABLE: INTL ENFC
CLICK: [Continue]


20. What percent of people across the world either "strongly agree" or "agree" that for certain issues, such as environmental problems, the United Nations and other international bodies should have the right to enforce solutions?

%


CLICK: DATA FILES
CLICK DATA FILE: HISTORICAL
CLICK TASK: Historical Trends
SELECT VARIABLE 1: UNBUDGET
CLICK: [Continue]


21. About how large was the United Nations’ budget in 1999?

$


Let’s compare the UN budget to the governmental expenditures of other countries, starting by examining Sudan, a country with a relatively small economy and overall budget.

CLICK: VARIABLES
SELECT VARIABLE 1: UNBUDGET
SELECT VARIABLE 2: EXPENDSU
CLICK: [Continue]


22. It is most accurate to argue that in terms of its regular budget, over the last four decades the United Nations Sudan’s expenditures for the same period.

a. has spent far more money than
b. has spent far less money than
c. has spent roughly the same amount of money as



 
CLICK: DATA FILES
CLICK DATA FILE: GLOBAL02
CLICK TASK: Mapping
SELECT VARIABLE 1: EXPEND
CLICK: Rank Table


23. How large was Sudan’s budget in 2001?

$


24. The annual budget for the United Nations in 2001 was about $1.3 billion (1300 to convert it into the figures used for the expenditure list you’ve generated). How many countries annual expenditure levels are greater than the budget of the United Nations?




25. What were United States expenditures in 2001??

$


26. True or False: Given what you’ve learned about the historical development of the United Nations, decision-making in the body, and its budget, it appears likely that the United Nations is an international organization that is poised to serve as a world government.




27. Explain your reasoning for your answer to the previous question.

 
 
Student Name:*
Student Email:*  
Professor Name:*  
Professor Email:*  
     
*required


Print
 
      Return to Exercise List