“What in the World? Weekly Quiz" | Apr 12-18, 2021

A global affairs awareness service provided by the
Tennessee World Affairs Council

CLICK IMAGE FOR QUIZ

Thanks to quiz master Matthew Jackson for this week’s quiz.

LAST WEEK’S QUIZ WINNERS (10s)

Austin Travis, Nashville, TN
Donald McKenzie, Nashville, TN
Melissa Davis, Nashville, TN
Mary Raffety, Nashville, TN
David Hillinck, Huntsville AL
Charles Bowers, Nashville, TN
Roger French, Washington, IL
Barbara Gubbin, Jacksonville, FL
Laurie Bergner, Normal, IL
Joseph Mendenhall, Bedford, TX
Robert Kapanjie, Peoria, IL
Campbell Lahman, Nolensville, IL
Beverly Ketel, Peoria, IL
Nathan Solomon, Nashville, TN
Kevin O’Brien, Washington, IL
Jack Hartert, Nashville, TN
Connie Tomczyk, Peoria, IL
Stephen Freidberg, Jamaica Plain, MA
Muhammad Rahman, Nashville, TN
Yezzie Dospil, Nashville, TN
Barbara Drake, Peoria, IL
Peter Sharadin, Blandon, PA
Thomas George, Marieta, BA
Ethan Burnett, Bellevue, WA

WELL DONE!

Hey! Dozens of quiz takers are on our weekly winners list. You will be eligible for our end of month quiz prize if you become a TNWAC member. Join today to be in the running for the December quiz prize.

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April 2021 – Quiz Prize

Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order

by Kathryn E. Stoner

An assessment of Russia that suggests that we should look beyond traditional means of power to understand its strength and capacity to disrupt international politics.

Too often, we are told that Russia plays a weak hand well. But, perhaps the nation’s cards are better than we know. Russia ranks significantly behind the US and China by traditional measures of power: GDP, population size and health, and military might. Yet 25 years removed from its mid-1990s nadir following the collapse of the USSR, Russia has become a supremely disruptive force in world politics. Kathryn E. Stoner assesses the resurrection of Russia and argues that we should look beyond traditional means of power to assess its strength in global affairs. Taking into account how Russian domestic politics under Vladimir Putin influence its foreign policy, Stoner explains how Russia has battled its way back to international prominence.

From Russia’s seizure of the Crimea from Ukraine to its military support for the Assad regime in Syria, the country has reasserted itself as a major global power. Stoner examines these developments and more in tackling the big questions about Russia’s turnaround and global future. Stoner marshals data on Russia’s political, economic, and social development and uncovers key insights from its domestic politics. Russian people are wealthier than the Chinese, debt is low, and fiscal policy is good despite sanctions and the volatile global economy. Vladimir Putin’s autocratic regime faces virtually no organized domestic opposition. Yet, mindful of maintaining control at home, Russia under Putin also uses its varied power capacities to extend its influence abroad. While we often underestimate Russia’s global influence, the consequences are evident in the disruption of politics in the US, Syria, and Venezuela, to name a few. Russia Resurrected is an eye-opening reassessment of the country, identifying the actual sources of its power in international politics and why it has been able to redefine the post-Cold War global order.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What in the World? Quiz – Week of Apr 5-11, 2021

1. Security forces in Jordan detained a number of individuals including THIS former Crown Prince in a crackdown said to be aimed at preserving the security and stability of the Kingdom, a key American Middle East ally.

A. Prince Hamza
B. Prince Abdullah
C. Prince Mohammed
D. Prince Salman

Correct Response: A. Prince Hamza
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jordan-security/estranged-prince-hamza-defies-jordans-military-in-voice-recording-idUSKBN2BS0VK?il=0

2. WHAT world leader recently signed a law that would permit him to run for two more six-year terms extending his rule through 2036?

A. Xi Jinping of China
B. Min Aug Hlaing of Myanmar
C. Vladimir Putin of Russia
D. Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela

Correct Response: C. Vladimir Putin of Russia
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-politics-putin/putin-signs-law-that-could-keep-him-in-kremlin-until-2036-idUSKBN2BS18W?il=0

3. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue was revived in 2017 amidst new tensions and security challenges. WHICH of these four countries IS NOT part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue?

A. India
B. Australia
C. Japan
D. Canada

Correct Response: D. Canada
https://amti.csis.org/why-quad-2-0-matters/

4. A US federal court sentenced the brother of President Juan Orlando Hernández to life in prison on drug-trafficking charges in a trial that underscored allegations that the president has helped turn the Central American nation into a narco-state according to the “Daily Chatter” on April 1st, no joke. Hernández is President of THIS “Northern Triangle” nation.

A. Mexico
B. Ecuador
C. Colombia
D. Honduras

Correct Response: D. Honduras
“Daily Chatter” of April 1, 2021

5. THIS phenomenon results in the death of 1.2 million Indians and 128,000 Pakistanis annually according to USIP’s Jumaina Siddiqui. However, the Covid battle and a moment of détente may result in rare collaboration and the “only strategy that can work: a joint one.” [USIP Question of the Week]

A. Climate driven tidal rise
B. Air pollution and smog
C. Religious rivalries
D. Climate driven Monsoon floods

Correct Response: B. Air pollution and smog
https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/03/india-pakistan-choke-their-smog-can-they-clear-air

6. The Suez Canal as closed for almost a week when the container ship Ever Given was stock in a one-way passage. The case pointed out the vulnerability of global trading routes. Which of these is NOT a critical global chokepoint?

A. Tsushima Strait
B. Hormuz Strait
C. Panama Canal
D. Malacca Strait

Correct Response: A. Tsushima Strait
https://www.reuters.com/article/egypt-suezcanal-ship-int/hopes-of-reopening-suez-canal-boosted-by-partial-refloating-of-jammed-ship-idUSKBN2BL12O

7. A collision between a train emerging from a tunnel and a piece of construction equipment caused a derailment killing at least 51 people last week on THIS island.

A. Kyushu
B. Taiwan
C. Madagascar
D. Sardinia

Correct Response: B. Taiwan
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/02/983763089/nearly-50-dead-as-taiwan-train-derails-inside-tunnel

8. Adherents of THIS extremist group recently claimed responsibility for the terror attacks in Mozambique that have forced thousands to fleet. THIS group seeks to launch an Islamic Caliphate.

A. Al Qaeda
B. Taliban
C. Ansar al-Sharia
D. ISIS

Correct Response: D. ISIS
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/world/africa/isis-mozambique-attack.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&smtyp=cur

9. President Jair Bolsonaro is purging national security officials and others in THIS country’s government as pressure mounts, especially from the business community, over an out-of-control COVID-19 surge. Last week he sacked the Defense and Foreign Ministers and the chiefs of the armed forces.

A. Spain
B. Argentina
C. Brazil
D. Portugal

Correct Response: C. Brazil
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210329-brazil-foreign-defense-ministers-fall

10. The corruption trial of THIS world leader started March 29th just days after the country held its fourth election in two years for national leadership. He is charged with helping a business win profitable deals in exchange for favorable news coverage.

A. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel
B. President of France Nicolas Sarkozy
C. John Magufuli, President of Tanzania
D. El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele

Correct Response: A. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-netanyahu-trial/netanyahus-favours-were-currency-prosecutor-says-as-corruption-trial-starts-idUSKBN2BS0HI?il=0

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH

THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

THE VISION of the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.