POLI 330 Entire Course DQs Checkpoints & Critical Paper
POLI 330 ENTIRE COURSE Week 1 discussions
Politics in Our Daily Lives graded
As we read and discuss the definition of politics lets also consider the consequences of political decisions upon our daily routines
Can you think of a time when a political act impacted your daily life What made this experience political
As we begin our discussions lets not forget to comment on each others posts. Can you see any similarities in your situations
The Study of Political Science graded
Our text mentions that Political Science seeks to study human behavior through the use of a scientific method that, at times can prompt objections and debate
If this is true why do you think this is the case Please be sure to provide a specific example from the text to support your response
Week 2 discussion
Types of Power graded
If politics truly defines who gets what when where and how then those that succeed at this game must have some advantage in doing so This advantage comes from power
So what is the definition of power And what types of power are utilized in the political realm
Theories Regarding the State graded
Chapter 4 begins with a description of Platos allegory of the cave As we focus upon the ethical questions concerning the role of the state this week lets take a closer look at this parable
What is the setting of the story Who are the main characters And what major events transpire
Week 3 discussions
Ideologies Compared graded
This week your Critical Reflection Paper compares the concepts of liberalism and socialism To best prepare you for this assignment lets take a deeper look at the variations found within liberalism Classical liberalism is based upon the work of John Locke and Adam Smith whereas modern liberalism focuses upon the work of T H Green
So what are the differences between these two forms of liberalism And of the two which do you agree with most
Fascism Explored graded
Your text states that fascism is an ideology that introduces totalitarianism as the objective of political decision making Its practice stands in opposition to both liberal and socialist ideals So what does fascism have against individualism, family and pacifism
Week 4 discussions
The Supreme Court graded
The lecture this week suggests that the Supreme Court is the least democratic branch of government and yet it serves an important function in our democracy What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a branch of government that is not democratically elected Would you change the way the court is appointed
Democracies Compared graded
Over the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to explore the roots of political philosophy Lets take a moment to focus in upon the idea of democracy So what is the true definition of democracy
Week 5 discussion
Parliamentary versus Presidential Systems graded
As we turn our focus to the international realm, lets take a moment to compare the governmental systems of the UK and the US
Identify a few key differences between a parliamentary and a presidential system. How is the top leader selected differently How do you think this difference impacts the kind of people who are chosen
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THE ROLE OF THIRD PARTIES GRADED
Third parties in the US are notorious for their lack of success
So can anyone explain why this is
week 6 discussion
CHALLENGES TO WESTERN DEMOCRATIC IDEAS GRADED
People in democratic societies would like to think the process would could should work everywhere But sometimes when democracy is exported its rejected in the most emphatic and sometimes violent ways What is it about the idea that people in non Western societies dont like
ETHNIC VIOLENCE GRADED
In discussing the concept of violence this week lets take a moment to consider the following situation
Imagine a country where religious factions inside a nation want to have their own separate homeland The government refuses claiming the territory in question which commands the nations only source of clean water is vital to security Is violence inevitable
Week 7 Discussion
The European Union graded
In considering the international realm lets consider the concept of economic treaties. Specifically, let's think about an organization like the European Union EU Why was it formed? In addition, what are some of the objectives of the nations that are joining the EU?
Global Markets (graded)
Several countries around the world are transitioning to a market economy; the most significant of these are China and Russia What do you think the impact will be on other countries around the world as these two countries become even more significant in the global economy What are some examples of this impact
Match the correct vocabulary to the definition
Student Answer Behavioralism 1 Investigations in which the effect of a variable is studied by comparing different groups
Case study 2 Investigates a hypothesis by using a test group and a control group
Experiment 3 A statement proposing a specific relationship between phenomena
Hypothesis 4 Applies mathematical approaches to the examination of political phenomena
Post behavioralism 5 A set of procedures for gathering information that rests on certain epistemological assumptions
Quantitative analysis 6 Political scientists who describe how institutions operate by formal rules and publicly sanctioned procedures
Quasi experiments 7 Approach to political science that concentrates on the behavior of politically involved individuals and groups
Scientific method 8 An investigation of a specific phenomenon or entity
Survey research 9 Approach to political science that believes it should be relevant, as well as empirically reliable
Traditionalists 10 A method of gathering data with questionnaires and/or interviews
Match the correct vocabulary to the definition.
Student Answer Confederal 1 A group of people with a sense of unity based on the importance the group attributes to a shared trait attribute or custom
Exchange 2 A type of power involving incentives in which one agent gives another agent an item in return for another item
:Federal states 3 A type of organization with power decentralized and held primarily or exclusively by local offices
Force 4 The ability of a state to provide security extract and make rules
Legitimacy5 A physical exercise of power
Manipulation 6 States that create different divisions and levels of government and divide power among those divisions and levels
Nation 7 The attribute states possess when their citizens view their sovereignty as appropriate proper or acceptable
Persuasion 8 A nonphysical type of power in which the agent using power makes its intentions and desires known to the agent over whom power is exercised
Sovereignty 9 States that concentrate power at the central or national level
Unitary states 10 A nonphysical use of power in which the agent exercising power over a second agent conceals the aims and intentions
motivating
the exercise of power
Match the correct vocabulary to the definition.
Student Answer Classic liberals 1 A modified form of liberalism that emphasizes interventionist government and expansive liberty
Conservative 2 Ideology that argues that socialists should organize their struggle against capitalism by creating a vanguard party to lead the revolution against capitalism
Interventionist government 3 Those who favor traditional morality over individual liberty
Libertarians 4 An ideology that believes government is at its best when government is totalitarian
Marxist Leninist 5 A mix of classical liberalism and traditional conservatism that favors small government and thriving capitalism
Modern liberalism 6 Government that takes a role in regulating economic and social interactions
Social democrats 7 Those who support peaceful, legal efforts to work toward socialism, and believe in multiparty competition and civil liberties
Socialism 8 An ideology arguing that citizens are best served by policies focused on meeting the basic needs of the entire society rather than on serving the needs of individuals as individuals
Traditional conservatives 9 Those who favor strict limits on state action.
Fascism 10 Those who ideologies are based on the works of John Locke and Adam Smith
Match the correct vocabulary to the definition
Student Answer Electorate 1 A system in which executive-legislative relations operate as follows 1 executives and legislatures are elected in distinct separate elections for fixed terms of office 2 executives cannot be removed by votes of no confidence; and 3 executive power is separated from legislative power
Interest groups 2 Under this rule parties receive a percentage of offices based on the percentage of votes received in an election
Political parties 3 A system in which 1 legislatures select executive leadership 2 executives can be removed by votes of no confidence, and new elections may be necessitated and 3 executive and legislative powers are combined in order to forge a working partnership between the two branches of government
Proportional representation 4 The pool of eligible voters
Single-member plurality SMP 5 Political parties other than the two major Republican and Democrat parties
Single-transferable vote STV 6 Groups of individuals and or institutions united by shared opinions or interests and organized together in an effort to influence political outcomes
Third parties 7 Under this rule, voters can rank candidates on the ballot as first secon third and so on choices and when all votes are counted second third and so on choices are taken into account to reward candidates other than first-place winners
Constructive vote of no confidence 8 A vote of no confidence from a countrys legislature that must also be accompanied by agreement on a replacement for the head of state.
Parliamentary system 9 Under these rules the winner of an election is the candidate who receives more votes than anyone else
Presidential system 10 Organizations that put forward proposed leaders whom they support for official positions in government
Comments
Match the correct vocabulary to the definition
Student Answer Anarchy 1 The absence of any overarching world government that enforces rules of peace on existing governments
Bipolar system 2 The name given to US foreign policy objectives in the years immediately after World War II
Containment 3 Stated that the United States would aid countries in resisting what Truman called the totalitarian threat posed by the USSR and opened up the possibly of aid to a number of countries.
Liberalism 4 An approach to international relations that emphasizes power consideration and their own interests in policy making
Marshall Plan 5 A system in which two superpower governments the United States and the USSR emerged
Models of analysis 6 Provided US economic aid to Europe consistent with the containment philosophy
North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO 7 The multiplicity diversity or plurality of opinions and groups free to express themselves within a political system
Realism 8 An organization, founded in 1949 to provide for the common defense of the member countries
Truman Doctrine 9 Influence the processes by which governments make international decisions and the means by which those decisions are analyzed by political scientists and citizens
Pluralism 10 An approach to international relations that emphasizes morality in policy making and the importance of international interdependence
Comments
Match the correct vocabulary to the definition.
Student Answer Structural adjustment programs SAPs 1 Economies that remain most closely tied to the free market
The European Union 2 The World Trade Organization
International Treaties 3 An economic and political treaty between many Western and Eastern European countries
NATO 4 Governments in which the people and the government are connected in terms of both the input and output of government
NAFTA 5 The European Union, another example of an economic trade agreement.
WTO 6 Policies enacted by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund IMF for loaning money to developing countries
EU 7 North Atlantic Treaty Organization a security agreement that unites member states for the purpose of mutual security
Laissez Faire Economy 8 Economies where the government owns many social services and heavily regulates private industry
Corporatist Economy 9 North American Free Trade Agreement which united Canada the US and Mexico for economic security
Social democratic Economy 10 Economies that have strong centralized governments attempting to balance income distribution and market concerns between the democratic population and the private sector
In a one to two page double spaced paper describe the difference between liberalism and socialism. Your paper should address the following questions
What are the basic components and goals of a liberalist government
What are the basic components and goals of a socialist government
How do these two ideologies differ from one another
During your discussion be sure to provide an example of a government that has utilized each form of these political ideologies. In doing so please also address the question
Were they effective at meeting the goals of the ideology
The primary purpose of this assignment is for you to respond to the questions You may use secondary sources properly cited but your grade will depend on your ability to respond to the questions in your own words
Complete the Critical Response Paper
In a one-to-two page double spaced paper, propose a system for organizing a new government in a country with several religious factions In your paper be sure to address the following questions
How should the institutions be set up
What will be the role of parties
Would it utilize federalism, or some other type of structure
Will the people be allowed to vote
The primary purpose of this assignment is for you to respond to the questions. You may use secondary sources properly cited but your grade will depend on your ability to respond to the questions in your own words
Submit your assignment to the Dropbox located on the silver tab at the top of this page
See Syllabus Due Dates for Assignments & Exams for due date information
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