Which statement best describes the relationship between isolation and the island in the Cyprus experiment?

Which statement best describes the relationship between isolation and the island in the Cyprus experiment?

• A. Isolation has no impact on social order
• B. Isolating a homogeneous group tends to produce dysfunctional rules and casualties
• C. Isolation leads to flourishing governance
• D. Isolation fosters democracy

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that isolating a group that is homogeneous tends to remove the checks and balances that come from diverse perspectives and external oversight. When a population is cut off and governed by insiders who share the same background or beliefs, rules can become rigid, extreme, or poorly thought out because there’s no outside input to challenge them. Without accountability or feedback, governance can deteriorate, leading to ineffective policies and harm to people. That pattern fits the Cyprus experiment, where isolation of a uniform group led to dysfunctional rules and casualties. The other outcomes—no impact, or governance that flourishes or becomes democratic—don’t match what the observed isolation produced, which is negative consequences from insular decision-making.

The main idea here is that isolating a group that is homogeneous tends to remove the checks and balances that come from diverse perspectives and external oversight. When a population is cut off and governed by insiders who share the same background or beliefs, rules can become rigid, extreme, or poorly thought out because there’s no outside input to challenge them. Without accountability or feedback, governance can deteriorate, leading to ineffective policies and harm to people. That pattern fits the Cyprus experiment, where isolation of a uniform group led to dysfunctional rules and casualties. The other outcomes—no impact, or governance that flourishes or becomes democratic—don’t match what the observed isolation produced, which is negative consequences from insular decision-making.