Description What is a collective action problem? Discuss a real example of a collective action problem in contemporary or historical U.S. politics. Be sure to explain why the example fits the definition you provided for a collective action problem. After discussing the example, discuss how the collective action problem could be overcome. In “Subconstituency Politics,” Ben Bishin advances a theory that he calls “sub-constituency politics” and a key to his theory is the importance of social identity in politics. What is social identity, and why does he argue that social identity matters for politics? In thinking about the responsiveness of legislators to public opinion, what does the sub-constituency politics approach suggest about who legislators will pay most attention to and why? What does this imply about the overall relationship between public opinion and legislator behavior? Provide an example of a social identity group and discuss either how it does or does not fit with Bishin’s argument. Not everyone votes in the United States and there are differences in the characteristics of who votes and who doesn’t vote. Briefly describe what is known about the differences in the descriptive characteristic of voters and non-voters. In the context of policy preferences, summarize the evidence regarding differences between voters and non-voters differ in their policy preferences? Why might these differences in descriptive characteristics and policy preferences matter for the policies adopted by the U.S. government? Characteristics of a good answers Answer ALL parts of the question You make a clear argument as part of your answer You provide good support for your argument (empirical or logical); you will need to use outside sources for some of the questions Use external sources as necessary and cite them (any standard citation style)
Description Why is regression a powerful tool for political science researchers? What is the benefit of R2 compared to PREs from earlier in the class (lambda, gamma, and tau-b)? How do you interpret B? Why do we not talk about epsilon?
Description Please make a post that outlines what caught your attention while reading (and comparing/contrasting) excerpts from Hobbes' Leviathan; Locke's Two Treatises of Government; and Rousseau's Social Contract. Possible questions to think about / respond to: What themes were highlighted in each and why? Which themes were found in all the work of all three writers? Does this change how you think about the idea of the Social Contract and/or Democracy? Why? Why not? Which quotes caught your attention and why - try to include at least one from each philosopher? Are there problematic aspects to these philosophical works, which deal with different aspects of social contract theory? Can you learn positive lessons anyway?
Description I do not have the books we will need to find it together. If needed I will pay for the book. I. The Athenian Polis: The Politics of Tragedy, Disintegration, and Philosophic Self- Discovery and Recovery. a. The Politics of Tragedy and Philosophy i. Sophocles, "Antigone" ii. Strauss, “What is Political Philosophy?” iii. Plato, "Euthyphro" in West and West. iv. Strauss, on “Irony” b. The Politics of Disintegration: Philosophy's challenge to Politics i. Plato, "The Apology of Socrates" in West and West. ii. Plato, "Crito" in West and West.
Description Prepare a policy brief (about 3,000 words) for the US Congress to reflect your views on the status and dynamics of international relations during the post-pandemic world and a period of new tensions. Policy briefs are produced upon a request from a government department, institution, or some other organization. Under most circumstances, a policy brief is a written report to justify a particular government policy chosen or recommended over other options. Every report also contains an assessment of the current situation and a comprehensive forecast of possible developments, the probability of which the brief has to address. In this brief, reflect on the following questions: Do you agree with the statement that “if you’re experiencing something that has never been seen before, you simply can’t say you know how it’ll turn out” (Marks, 2020 – see the link below)? What is your vision on how society (in the US and globally) and its leaders should make the trade-off between minimizing risks of a new pandemic and rebooting the global economy? How would these tradeoffs affect international relations? Will there be a new wave of international tensions? We use extrapolation from the past as the best way to deal with the future. What key lessons from the past global crises (2019-2024) are we learning today? What lessons is the world not learning? Do you agree or disagree that the new conflict will take place involving these three countries: the United States, China, and Russia? Do you anticipate a V-shape economic recovery, a flat recovery, or a worsening of the world economy within a 3-year period? Which countries will recover faster, and which will struggle? What role will China (manufacturing) and Russia (oil and gas) be playing in global politics and trade in the following 3 years? What role will the European Union be playing in global politics and finances in the following 3 years? Will we see a fundamental change in the world order in 3 years, or will it be a moderate correction, or will we see no major transformation? In conclusion, tell the Honorable members of Congress about your next international flight. Where will it be and why? Below are a few suggested sources to use (they are from April 2020. It is interesting today to see their views and the logic back then, as well as their predictions…were they generally correct?) Howard Marks Memo (April 13, 2020) a famous and reputable investor (click on the title or use : https://bit.ly/3mVSDIR) Murtaza Hussain, a journalist: https://theintercept.com/2020/04/12/coronavirus-response-geopolitics/ An LA Times Historical Review: https://news.yahoo.com/black-death-aids-pandemics-shaped-140047285.html Forbes Predictions: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2020/04/03/9-future-predictions-for-a-post-coronavirus-world/#5b2ea0115410
Description BE CLEAR, CONCISE, AND DO NOT SIMPLY JUST SUMMARIZE. ENGAGE WITH THE TEXT. NO USE OF OUTSIDE SOURCES ARE NECESSARY. I WILL PROVIDE TEXT UPON THE CHOOSING OF THE QUESTION THAT WILL BE ANSWERED IN THE PROMPT.
Description Write in full sentences and structure your essay clearly. Include a title, an introduction, and a conclusion (and of course body paragraphs). Don’t forget to put your name at the top of your essay. Use at least 4 highly relevant sources. If you use any source without citing it that would count as plagiarism. Please refer to the syllabus for clarity on our standards of academic integrity. Answer the prompt fully. This is an individual assessment, so please refrain from discussing the assignment with classmates before the submission deadline and of course use of large language models to write your essay is in violation of academic integrity (for a list of the elements needed for a successful essay see the elements listed below). Using a large language model to help outline your essay is not, in my interpretation, a violation of our academic integrity standards. From a systemic lens: Conduct some small research (beyond the course materials to date) to find a proposed reform or small step towards abolition of some aspect of the current carceral system (do not think that you can discuss replacing all of the carceral system! Pick one aspect and probably one aspect in a specific place.) Weigh the benefits (be they, physical health, psychological health, community self-determination etc.) and the limitations. Here are some questions to help guide your thinking. Do NOT exhaustively answer all of these questions, but let them guide you in the general direction of your analysis: How might this intervention advance equity, how might it just reproduce oppression in a new way? What is currently missing? What could be improved? (this can be from a reformist or abolitionist point of view). Using class material, assess the proposed replacement: What might work? What is the role of racial and socioeconomic disparities in the plan? Are they thoroughly addressed? How does this compare to ideologies we have discussed in class? You may also discuss implications not listed here as the guiding questions above are not exhaustive. We suggest that you choose one or two questions to address, articulate your thesis fully and clearly. Consider that the depth and clarity of your answer is a bit more important than its breadth. This assignment will require you to do some online research. You must demonstrate an ability to link outside evidence and course materials together. Citing two outside sources is required, and citing more than two is ok. Please be careful when choosing and citing your sources. Examples of sources to cite might include institutional websites, academic articles, blogs, news media articles, recorded lectures by reputable scientists or lawyers, and podcasts. Please use a consistent bibliographic format– include both in-text citations and a bibliography (I don’t care which format, just be consistent). In your bibliography include author, title, date, and web location. You will need to cite two course lectures or readings, and citing more than two is also permitted. Someone who hasn't read the texts or attended lectures should be able to follow your argument. Whenever you quote from course material, include in parentheses the lecture and slide number or the author and page number; for all other sources give the full reference.
Description You will create a memo for President Biden that summarizes one of the Case Studies in Module 4, 5 or 6. Review the major components of that particular Genocide or conflict. Address what should be done in terms of U.S. policy and programs to prevent and stop Genocide, mass atrocities, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity. Create a proposal for policy and programs to President Biden. Instructions Now that you have a deeper understand of Genocide and similar conflicts, the first half of your memo will be an analysis and background of the conflict. Building on your work in the Briefing Memo assignment in Module 4, use additional resources that you located on your own and to analyze the tragedy and talk about the roots and primary causes of the hatred, prejudice and persecution and the history. The second and most important part of the memo includes: recommendations for specific policy and programs to prevent and/or stop to violence, Is this Genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and/or war crimes? one policy prescription and explain and develop it with steps towards resolution of the conflict, or you can chose two courses of action for the President with pros and cons of each. Consider the diplomatic tools available such as economic sanctions, export controls of products from governments that are perpetrators, political and diplomatic pressure and criticism through U.S. Government annual reports to Congress and hearings, joint statements with our allies in the United Nations, NATO, the G-7, the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE). What creative ideas do you have for US policy to change behavior and the persecution of minorities? Should military options be considered to stop the persecution? Why or why not? Whatever you chose, be creative in coming up with new ideas to stop violence and to stop genocide and violations of human rights. Also use citations for the policy and program recommendations you make.
Description 1) Explain who the parties of the case are 2) What was the issue being resolved by the court? 3) What were the arguments being made by both sides? 4) Most importantly, what was the reasoning the court used to make its decision? 5) What was the conclusion of the case? Who won?
