MCQs on Liberalism for UGC NET and Assistant Professor Examinations
1. Who among the following is considered the father of classical liberalism?
A) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
B) John Locke
C) Karl Marx
D) Thomas Hobbes
✅ Correct Answer: B) John Locke
Explanation: John Locke is regarded as the father of classical liberalism due to his emphasis on natural rights (life, liberty, and property), social contract theory, and limited government. His ideas influenced democratic governance and constitutional liberalism.
2. The concept of the ‘Invisible Hand’ in economic liberalism is associated with:
A) John Stuart Mill
B) David Ricardo
C) Adam Smith
D) Jeremy Bentham
✅ Correct Answer: C) Adam Smith
Explanation: Adam Smith, in The Wealth of Nations (1776), introduced the "invisible hand", a metaphor for the self-regulating nature of the free market, where individuals pursuing their own interests contribute to economic prosperity.
3. Which of the following statements best describes Republican Liberalism?
A) It argues that democracies do not go to war with each other.
B) It supports state intervention in the economy.
C) It rejects the idea of international institutions.
D) It is based on Marxist economic principles.
✅ Correct Answer: A) It argues that democracies do not go to war with each other.
Explanation: Republican liberalism, inspired by Immanuel Kant and developed by Michael Doyle, supports the democratic peace thesis, which states that democratic states are less likely to engage in war with each other due to shared values, institutions, and economic interdependence.
4. According to Neo-liberalism, what is the key factor that enables cooperation in an anarchic international system?
A) Balance of power
B) International institutions
C) Military alliances
D) National interest
✅ Correct Answer: B) International institutions
Explanation: Neo-liberalism, as developed by Robert Keohane and Robert Axelrod, argues that international institutions (e.g., UN, WTO, IMF) facilitate cooperation by promoting transparency, reducing uncertainty, and creating norms for international behavior, even in an anarchic world order.
5. Which of the following thinkers proposed that utilitarianism should be applied to international relations and advocated for an international court?
A) Jeremy Bentham
B) John Rawls
C) David Hume
D) Immanuel Kant
✅ Correct Answer: A) Jeremy Bentham
Explanation: Jeremy Bentham, a key figure in utilitarian liberalism, proposed the greatest happiness principle and argued for the establishment of an international court, influencing modern institutions like the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
6. Which of the following best represents the core idea of liberalism in international relations?
A) The pursuit of power is the primary goal of states.
B) Economic interdependence and institutions can promote peace.
C) War is inevitable due to human nature.
D) States operate in a zero-sum game.
✅ Correct Answer: B) Economic interdependence and institutions can promote peace.
Explanation: Liberalism in international relations argues that economic interdependence, international institutions, and democratic governance reduce the likelihood of conflict by fostering cooperation and shared benefits.
7. Which concept introduced by David Ricardo forms the basis of liberal economic theory?
A) Protectionism
B) Comparative advantage
C) Mercantilism
D) Economic nationalism
✅ Correct Answer: B) Comparative advantage
Explanation: David Ricardo's theory of comparative advantage states that countries should specialize in producing goods where they have the lowest opportunity cost, leading to mutually beneficial trade and economic growth.
8. The ‘Perpetual Peace’ theory, which influenced modern liberalism, was introduced by:
A) Thomas Hobbes
B) Immanuel Kant
C) Niccolò Machiavelli
D) Karl Marx
✅ Correct Answer: B) Immanuel Kant
Explanation: Immanuel Kant's Perpetual Peace (1795) proposed that republican constitutions, economic interdependence, and international law would lead to lasting peace among states. This idea later influenced democratic peace theory.
9. Which of the following is NOT a feature of classical liberalism?
A) Support for free markets
B) Emphasis on individual liberty
C) Expansion of state control over the economy
D) Limited government
✅ Correct Answer: C) Expansion of state control over the economy
Explanation: Classical liberalism, associated with John Locke and Adam Smith, advocates for limited government, individual freedoms, and free markets, opposing excessive state intervention in the economy.
10. According to Neo-liberal Institutionalism, what is the primary role of international organizations?
A) To ensure a balance of power
B) To act as an arbitrator in conflicts
C) To provide a forum for cooperation among states
D) To enforce international law through military means
✅ Correct Answer: C) To provide a forum for cooperation among states
Explanation: Neo-liberal Institutionalism, advanced by Robert Keohane, argues that international organizations like the UN and WTO reduce uncertainty, encourage transparency, and facilitate cooperation among states, even in an anarchic international system.
11. Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points mainly aimed at:
A) Strengthening military alliances
B) Establishing a world government
C) Promoting international cooperation and peace
D) Supporting protectionist trade policies
✅ Correct Answer: C) Promoting international cooperation and peace
Explanation: Wilson’s Fourteen Points (1918) laid the foundation for the League of Nations and promoted principles like self-determination, free trade, and collective security, shaping modern liberal internationalism.
12. What does the term ‘Democratic Peace Theory’ suggest?
A) Democracies are more likely to engage in wars with each other.
B) Democratic states never engage in any form of conflict.
C) Democracies do not go to war with each other.
D) Democracy leads to a balance of power.
✅ Correct Answer: C) Democracies do not go to war with each other.
Explanation: The Democratic Peace Theory, rooted in Immanuel Kant’s Perpetual Peace and expanded by Michael Doyle, argues that democratic states are less likely to fight wars against one another due to shared values, political institutions, and economic interdependence.
13. Which of the following best describes Neo-liberalism in international relations?
A) It accepts anarchy but emphasizes cooperation through institutions.
B) It rejects the role of international organizations.
C) It focuses solely on military power.
D) It argues that human nature is inherently conflict-driven.
✅ Correct Answer: A) It accepts anarchy but emphasizes cooperation through institutions.
Explanation: Neo-liberalism, as developed by Robert Keohane and Robert Axelrod, acknowledges anarchy in the international system but argues that institutions can facilitate cooperation by reducing transaction costs and creating trust among states.
14. Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism contributed to the development of:
A) Social contract theory
B) International humanitarian law
C) Balance of power theory
D) Marxist economic theory
✅ Correct Answer: B) International humanitarian law
Explanation: Bentham’s utilitarianism, which promotes the greatest happiness of the greatest number, influenced international humanitarian law, human rights discourse, and the establishment of institutions like the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
15. According to Adam Smith, which of the following drives economic prosperity?
A) Government regulation
B) State-controlled industries
C) Free markets and competition
D) Central planning
✅ Correct Answer: C) Free markets and competition
Explanation: Adam Smith, in The Wealth of Nations, argued that laissez-faire capitalism, driven by market forces and competition, leads to economic prosperity, with the invisible hand guiding individuals toward the common good.
16. Which of the following is a key assumption of classical liberalism?
A) Human beings are naturally aggressive and war-prone.
B) Economic protectionism leads to national prosperity.
C) Individuals are rational and capable of self-governance.
D) The state should have complete control over economic affairs.
✅ Correct Answer: C) Individuals are rational and capable of self-governance.
Explanation: Classical liberalism, rooted in the ideas of John Locke and Adam Smith, emphasizes individual freedom, rationality, and limited government, opposing excessive state intervention in both politics and economics.
17. Who is known as the "father" of modern international law and contributed significantly to liberalism?
A) Thomas Hobbes
B) Hugo Grotius
C) John Locke
D) Edmund Burke
✅ Correct Answer: B) Hugo Grotius
Explanation: Hugo Grotius is considered the father of modern international law. His work laid the foundation for legal norms in international relations, just war theory, and the idea that states must abide by laws even in an anarchic international system.
18. What is the core argument of Robert Keohane’s Neo-liberal Institutionalism?
A) Power politics is the primary determinant of international relations.
B) International institutions help states cooperate despite anarchy.
C) International anarchy leads to inevitable conflict.
D) Global governance requires a world government.
✅ Correct Answer: B) International institutions help states cooperate despite anarchy.
Explanation: Keohane’s Neo-liberal Institutionalism argues that international institutions reduce uncertainty, facilitate cooperation, and mitigate the anarchic nature of the international system by promoting dialogue and norms.
19. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Neo-liberalism in international relations?
A) Acceptance of international anarchy
B) Emphasis on cooperation through institutions
C) Belief in absolute gains over relative gains
D) Advocacy for a centralized world government
✅ Correct Answer: D) Advocacy for a centralized world government
Explanation: Neo-liberalism does not advocate for a centralized world government. Instead, it argues that international cooperation is possible through decentralized institutions that promote transparency, reciprocity, and shared interests.
20. The concept of "Laissez-faire" is most closely associated with which thinker?
A) Karl Marx
B) Adam Smith
C) Immanuel Kant
D) Jeremy Bentham
✅ Correct Answer: B) Adam Smith
Explanation: Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations (1776) introduced laissez-faire capitalism, which advocates for minimal government intervention in the economy and relies on the invisible hand to guide economic prosperity.
21. According to David Ricardo’s theory of comparative advantage, trade is beneficial because:
A) It ensures self-sufficiency.
B) Countries should produce everything they need.
C) Nations should specialize in producing goods where they have a lower opportunity cost.
D) Protectionist policies strengthen national economies.
✅ Correct Answer: C) Nations should specialize in producing goods where they have a lower opportunity cost.
Explanation: Ricardo’s comparative advantage theory suggests that countries should specialize in producing goods in which they have a lower opportunity cost, leading to mutual benefits from trade.
22. Which thinker introduced the principle of "the greatest happiness of the greatest number"?
A) John Stuart Mill
B) Jeremy Bentham
C) David Hume
D) John Rawls
✅ Correct Answer: B) Jeremy Bentham
Explanation: Bentham’s utilitarianism argues that policies should be designed to maximize happiness for the greatest number of people, influencing liberal democratic governance and international law.
23. The ‘Democratic Peace Theory’ suggests that:
A) Democracies are more likely to go to war than authoritarian states.
B) Democracies do not fight wars with each other.
C) War is necessary to establish democracy.
D) Democratic states are always peaceful.
✅ Correct Answer: B) Democracies do not fight wars with each other.
Explanation: The Democratic Peace Theory, based on Immanuel Kant’s Perpetual Peace, argues that democracies rarely engage in war against each other due to shared norms, public accountability, and economic interdependence.
24. Which of the following best describes the key difference between classical liberalism and neo-liberalism?
A) Classical liberalism focuses on individual liberty, while neo-liberalism emphasizes institutions and global governance.
B) Classical liberalism supports state intervention, while neo-liberalism promotes free markets.
C) Neo-liberalism is primarily concerned with domestic governance.
D) Classical liberalism is a socialist ideology.
✅ Correct Answer: A) Classical liberalism focuses on individual liberty, while neo-liberalism emphasizes institutions and global governance.
Explanation: Classical liberalism (Locke, Smith) emphasizes individual rights and free markets, while Neo-liberalism (Keohane, Axelrod) focuses on global cooperation through international institutions.
25. Which thinker argued that commerce fosters peace by creating mutual dependencies among nations?
A) David Hume
B) Thomas Hobbes
C) Niccolò Machiavelli
D) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
✅ Correct Answer: A) David Hume
Explanation: David Hume emphasized that commerce and economic interdependence create mutual benefits, reducing the likelihood of war and fostering peace. This idea influenced liberal economic thought and modern globalization theories.
26. What was the key contribution of Woodrow Wilson to liberal internationalism?
A) The establishment of the United Nations
B) The introduction of the social contract theory
C) The promotion of the League of Nations and collective security
D) The idea of absolute sovereignty
✅ Correct Answer: C) The promotion of the League of Nations and collective security
Explanation: Wilson’s Fourteen Points (1918) promoted collective security, self-determination, and international cooperation, laying the foundation for the League of Nations and later the United Nations.
27. Which of the following is an example of an international institution that neo-liberalism considers essential for cooperation?
A) The Warsaw Pact
B) The United Nations
C) NATO’s military command
D) The Axis Powers
✅ Correct Answer: B) The United Nations
Explanation: Neo-liberals argue that institutions like the United Nations, WTO, and IMF help facilitate cooperation, resolve conflicts, and promote transparency in global politics.
28. Who among the following is considered a key proponent of the ‘Social Contract’ theory in liberal thought?
A) Thomas Hobbes
B) John Locke
C) Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D) Edmund Burke
✅ Correct Answer: B) John Locke
Explanation: Locke’s social contract theory argued that government is based on the consent of the governed and must protect natural rights (life, liberty, and property). His ideas influenced modern constitutional democracy.
29. Which liberal thinker argued that "the government that governs least governs best"?
A) John Stuart Mill
B) Thomas Paine
C) Adam Smith
D) David Ricardo
✅ Correct Answer: B) Thomas Paine
Explanation: Paine, in Common Sense, emphasized limited government and argued for individual freedom, reflecting classical liberal values of minimal state intervention.
30. What is the central focus of John Stuart Mill’s concept of liberty?
A) Absolute freedom without limitations
B) Protection of minority rights against majority tyranny
C) Government control over economic affairs
D) Elimination of private property
✅ Correct Answer: B) Protection of minority rights against majority tyranny
Explanation: In On Liberty, Mill argued that democracy must safeguard individual liberty, especially from the "tyranny of the majority." His ideas support freedom of speech and civil liberties.
31. Which of the following is NOT a principle of liberal democracy?
A) Free and fair elections
B) Separation of powers
C) Absolute sovereignty of the ruler
D) Protection of civil liberties
✅ Correct Answer: C) Absolute sovereignty of the ruler
Explanation: Liberal democracy opposes absolute rule and instead supports constitutionalism, the rule of law, and the protection of individual freedoms.
32. Which of the following best defines the principle of “economic liberalism”?
A) Government control over industries
B) State-led industrialization
C) Free markets with minimal government interference
D) Redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation
✅ Correct Answer: C) Free markets with minimal government interference
Explanation: Economic liberalism, associated with Adam Smith and David Ricardo, promotes free trade, competition, and limited government intervention in economic affairs.
33. Which of the following statements about Jeremy Bentham is correct?
A) He opposed the idea of international law.
B) He introduced the principle of "greatest happiness of the greatest number."
C) He supported monarchy as the best form of government.
D) He argued that war is inevitable in international politics.
✅ Correct Answer: B) He introduced the principle of "greatest happiness of the greatest number."
Explanation: Bentham’s utilitarianism is a core foundation of liberalism, advocating for policies that maximize overall happiness and well-being.
34. Which international institution reflects the core principles of liberal institutionalism?
A) The European Union (EU)
B) The Axis Powers
C) The Non-Aligned Movement
D) The Soviet Union
✅ Correct Answer: A) The European Union (EU)
Explanation: The EU embodies liberal institutionalism by promoting economic cooperation, shared governance, and conflict resolution through diplomacy.
35. According to the "Democratic Peace Theory," democratic states are unlikely to:
A) Engage in war with each other
B) Form international alliances
C) Promote human rights
D) Support economic globalization
✅ Correct Answer: A) Engage in war with each other
Explanation: The Democratic Peace Theory, rooted in Kantian liberalism, suggests that democratic states rarely fight wars against one another due to shared norms and accountability to their citizens.
36. Which thinker is associated with the concept of "invisible hand" in economic liberalism?
A) Karl Marx
B) Adam Smith
C) John Maynard Keynes
D) Friedrich Hayek
✅ Correct Answer: B) Adam Smith
Explanation: Smith’s Wealth of Nations (1776) introduced the idea of the "invisible hand," which describes how self-interest in free markets leads to economic prosperity.
37. Which liberal thinker argued that a "market society" fosters peace by promoting economic interdependence?
A) David Hume
B) Niccolò Machiavelli
C) Karl Marx
D) Edmund Burke
✅ Correct Answer: A) David Hume
Explanation: Hume emphasized that trade and commerce create mutual benefits, reducing conflicts and encouraging peaceful cooperation.
38. What was the primary goal of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points?
A) Expansion of colonial rule
B) Establishment of the League of Nations
C) Strengthening of military alliances
D) Promotion of national sovereignty through war
✅ Correct Answer: B) Establishment of the League of Nations
Explanation: Wilson’s Fourteen Points (1918) aimed to promote collective security, self-determination, and peaceful diplomacy, leading to the creation of the League of Nations.
39. What does neo-liberal institutionalism argue about international cooperation?
A) It is impossible due to anarchy.
B) It is only achieved through military alliances.
C) It is facilitated by international institutions.
D) It requires a world government.
✅ Correct Answer: C) It is facilitated by international institutions.
Explanation: Neo-liberal institutionalism (Keohane) suggests that institutions like the UN, WTO, and IMF help states cooperate by reducing uncertainty and promoting transparency.
40. Which of the following best describes the relationship between liberalism and globalization?
A) Liberalism supports globalization as it promotes free trade and interdependence.
B) Liberalism opposes globalization to protect national sovereignty.
C) Liberalism advocates for economic isolationism.
D) Liberalism considers globalization a threat to democracy.
✅ Correct Answer: A) Liberalism supports globalization as it promotes free trade and interdependence.
Explanation: Liberalism views globalization as a means to enhance economic growth, cooperation, and peace through trade and institutions.
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