POL101: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE DISCUSSION CLASS QUESTION
- Read the articles, "Institutional Characteristics and Regime Survival: Why are Semi-Democracies Less Durable than Autocracies and Democracies?" by Knutson and Nygard (2015), and "Legal Manoeuvres and Violence: Law Making, Protest and Semi-Authoritarianism in Uganda," by Goodfellow (2014), which are required reading for this week. Based on these articles, respond to the following:
- What do the authors mean by semi-authoritarian regimes?
- Identify one country that is currently in the news that fits the definition of a semi-authoritarian regime.
- Why do you identify this country as such?
2.Read the articles, "Conceptualising State Collapse: An Institutionalist Approach," by Lambach and Johais (2015), and "Globalization, Terrorism and the State" by Demir and Varlik (2015), which are required reading for this week. Respond to the following:
- What is the connection between failed (now referred to as fragile) states and terrorism and other forms of political violence?
- Provide an example of a failed/fragile state that is associated with terrorism.
- In addition to terrorism and other forms of political violence, what other problems are generally associated with failed/fragile states?
- What can, or should, the international community do to address this issue?
- Base your response to this topic in part on this week's reading in your textbook about the United Nations. The authors assert that multilateralism, such as the United Nations, is the most promising route to solving global issues. For purposes of this discussion, let us make an assumption that the primary goal of the international system is to preserve peace and security. This does not eliminate other goals, but without peace and security, we have trouble moving on to those goals.
Play the role of a foreign policy advisor to the President. Respond to the following:
- What are your recommendations concerning multilateralism?
- Specifically, how do you view the United Nations in this mix of international politics?
4.Refer in your response to perspectives about multilateralism from the Heritage Foundation found at: https://www.heritage.org/report/smart-multilateralism-and-the-united-nations, as well as the articles, "Re-balancing the G-20 from Efficiency to Legitimacy: The 3G Coalition and the Practice of Global Governance," by Cooper and Momani (2014), and "From National Interest to Global Reform: Patterns of Reasoning in British Foreign Policy Discourse" by Humphreys (2015), which are required reading for this week.
- Yes, there are political prisoners in the world. Unfortunate men and women, certain classes, and political dissidents are still suffering in some areas of the world. Read the articles, "A Call for Aggressive Media Campaign Regarding DPRK Prison Camps" by Lee (2014), and "China's Perception and Policy about North Korea" by Shulong (2015), which are required reading for this week.
Human rights advocates are aware of this situation. (See this Human Rights Watch World Report 2017 – North Korea.) The U.S. government is aware of this situation. The Chinese government continues to support the North Korean regime. Some cracks have opened in North Korea, including some market activity (i.e., smuggling, black markets) since the famines of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Knowledge of the abuse of political prisoners in North Korea and other dictatorial regimes is widespread.
For this discussion, respond to the following:
- What could or should major world powers such as the United States and China do to address the mistreatment and abuse of political prisoners in other countries?
- Specifically, how can the United States help to reform the political culture in those countries that arrest and abuse political prisoners?
Note: At the time of the latest revision of this course (December 2017), relations between the United States and North Korea have become incredibly tense due to North Korea's nuclear ambitions and threats against its neighbors. President Donald Trump has not taken a military response to the situation off the table. The situation is too fluid to continually update in the course materials, so it will be important for you to check credible news sources prior to posting to this discussion to make sure that your response takes into consideration the latest developments.
6.Review the articles, "Women and Financialization: Microcredit, Institutional Investors, and MFIs," by Girón (2015), and "Microcredit: From Hope to Scepticism to Modest Hope," by Berlage and Jasrotia (2015), which are required reading for this week. Respond to the following:
- Define microloans and determine how microloans can be utilized effectively to promote growth and development in a country?
- Specifically, what strategy would you propose to raise the effectiveness of microloans?
