...little ignorant when it came to knowledge about the government or political issues, but have always wished that I knew more, especially with the economic problems we are facing today. I never really did form many political opinions, one way or the other. I vote every election, but never really understand the bigger picture at hand. Such as, all the issues that a candidate stands for or the impact of proposals on the government. When people around me have conversations about American politics, I am embarrassed that I either do not understand what they are saying, or cannot add to the conversation because I don’t know what to say. I guess you could say that I have always been a little cynical when it came to politics. Part of this reason is because I have always felt that the political game played in American politics was just a bunch of people talking baloney, making empty promises, trash talking their opponents, and trying to persuade people to think their way. And whoever does this the best wins, end of story. I’ve always known that there was more to American politics that this, but never really tried to find out more. So, when I signed up for this class, I wanted to shed my ignorance and learn more about my government and how it operated. I am proud to say that my knowledge of our government has been expanded to the point where I am fully capable of understanding the full context of our government its political system and understand why our government operates the way it does...
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...1. Campaign Against Arms Trade, http://www.caat.org.uk/ 2. Lanka Business Online, http://www.lankabusinessonline.com, Question: Does arms trading help the world or hurt it? Give examples. As recently as The Iraq War, the ability to prosecute war depended on developing the industrial capacity to produce these "small arms." During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union provided conventional weapons for their respective client states fighting "proxy" wars. “The high-geared military-industrial economies of the two leviathans have stimulated France, China, Germany, the UK, Italy, Ukraine, and Israel to compete in the lucrative worldwide business of weapons export. In 2012 these nine weapons-selling countries exported $14.8 billion in conventional weapons to the rest of the world. Forty percent of this staggering volume of weapons flows from Russia; 27% is shipped from the USA” (1) “The USA, UK, and France earned more in small arms sales to developing countries in 1998-2001 than they gave in aid.”(2) The gigantism of this industry renders it a force in national economic policies. It is in the national interest of these nations, to some degree, to promote violent conflict and war around the world. As is apparent in the case of Sudan, the economic leverage of the weapons industry, including the small arms industry. Small arms trade plays a prominent role in the economies of nations at war, and particularly in intrastate conflicts. The availability of small arms...
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...work refers to the cited publication in the bibliography. In cases where applicable (eg. New Organon, Advancement), I have also indicated the place in the text by markers common to all editions -- book number, chapter, section, aphorism, essay number. The page number in the cited edition follows a comma where such information is helpful. AL The Advancement of Learning DA de Dignitate et Augmentis Scientarum Essays Essays or Counsels Civil and Moral (1625) GI The Great Instauration ;NA New Atlantis NO Novum Organum PFB Philosophy of Francis Bacon Preface Preface to the Great Instauration PW Plan of the Work (in Weinberger 1989) WA Of the Wisdom of the Ancients INTRODUCTION Understanding political judgment in Baconian terms necessitates an investigation of the question of who rules in Bensalem, Bacon’s island “utopia” presented in his New Atlantis. Only by answering this question might one know where to look for one who either possesses or is in a position to exercise such judgment. By locating the individual(s) who exercise political power, one might begin to come to an understanding of the qualities, disposition, and capacity – both moral and intellectual – of one who exercises judgment as well as, perhaps, the political framework within which the ruler operates. Even if a particular ruler is unable to be located, the investigation may prove fruitful for seeing what a ruler must be – the principles behind any rule as such, regardless of personage. The...
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...battles were unfold in the international arena and within countries. Overnight concepts collapsed that before seemed unshakable. In this case, not only the political picture of the world changed . At large numbers of people in different countries sense of global community, solidarity, public interest, human intimacy has been strengthened . Not surprisingly, that the rapid evolution of the global situation, the collapse of the bipolar system and fade into the background of ideological aspects confused scientists specializing in political predictions. Now, it is necessary not only to explain the reasons which led to the formation of new political realities after the "cold war", but also suggest new approaches and concepts on the basis of which it was possible to trace the dynamics of international relations in a changing world. Francis Fukuyama, his works and intepretations. Francis Fukuyama - known American political scientist and geopolitician. He received a bachelor's degree from Cornell University (New York), then - PhD in political science from Harvard University. "The End of History and the Last Man" is the first book of the American philosopher and political scientist Francis Fukuyama, was released in 1992 by publisher Free Press. It preceded the appearance of the book's publication in the journal The National Interest essay "The End of History?" (1989), which has received considerable attention in the press and scientific press....
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...Essay on the Scope of Political Science by Suhana Dhawan There is no general agreement on the nature and scope of Political Science, “the master science” as Aristotle described it, since there is no generally accepted definition of the discipline, and its organising concept the State. The definitions of both Political Science and the State, the latter in particular, reveal the bias of the thinkers, for example, the metaphysical (Hegel), the juridical (Austin), the sociological (Maclver), the descriptive (Garner) and many others with their own distinctive labels. In fact, there are as many definitions as there are writers on the subject and all these definitions give to the entity — the State — different meanings and conflicting roles. This tendency continues even now though in a slightly different form. “The recent definitions of politics (as a study),” writes Frank Thakurdas, “are not so much cast in the discipline of the thinker (easily detectable) but in the conceptual framework that he has worked out in advance (as it were) the basic presupposition of his personal manner of interpreting the complete phenomenon of politics. But also including the ‘purpose’ that the studies involve in terms of the practical ends they sub serve.” Some writers restrict the scope of Political Science to the study of the State alone, for example, Bluntschli. All such writers exclude the study of government from the scope of Political Science, for the State for them obviously includes the study...
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...The writings of Mary Wollstonecraft directly and indirectly explore the irony of the woman’s position in Wollstonecraft’s culture: the female figure is at once central and alienated. The following annotated bibliography features articles about the writings of Mary Wollstonecraft by Steven Blakemore, Maria J. Falco, Cindy L. Griffin, and Vivian Jones. Three of the four authors take a feminist approach: Falco provides a collection of feminist critiques of Wollstonecraft’s work; Griffin asserts that Wollstonecraft is the first author to write about an alienation from the perspective of women’s issues and rights; and Jones’s essay comments on the sexualizing of the historical narrative by Helen Maria Williams and Mary Wollstonecraft. Blakemore provides a different approach, examining Miltonic references in Vindications of the rights of woman. References (Blakemore S 1992 Rebellious reading: the doubleness of Wollstonecraft's subversion of Paradise Lost)Blakemore, S. (1992). Rebellious reading: the doubleness of Wollstonecraft's subversion of Paradise lost. Texas Studies in Literature and Language, 34, 451-80. Blakemore’s article is a close reading of the Miltonic references in Wollstonecraft’s Vindication of the rights of woman. His argument centers on the proposition that during the revolutionary period writers attempted to subvert texts which “stressed the satanic dangers of epistemological curiosity” (p. 451). However, he feels that Wollstonecraft’s use of Milton rebounds...
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...English Department. "Hmmm. . . fine--I'mnot surprised to hear they tell you something different,” I told him. “The English profs teach you to write in a generic way, say, fiction, or generically expository stuff. I want you to write a social science paper.” With some ”Hmmm-ing” of his own, Benny shuffled off, wearing a mildly annoyed and not altogether convinced frown. How dare they teach different ways to write in different departments at the same college! Benny did make an effort to heed my suggestions, but it took persistence. For example, the introduction to his first draft, included a vague Writing Across the Curriculum, Vol. 11, August 1990 35 36 Writing Across The Curriculum (August 1990) statement like: ”Conflict between Arabs and Black Africans in the Sudan is a serious problem and should be examined in greater detail. . . including its history, causes, and future.” The purpose statement I eventually settled for read more like this: ”This paper will examine social, economic, and political aspects of the Sudanese civil war. The geography and history of the conflict will be briefly reviewed,followed by discussion of population characteristics, agriculturaland commercial organization of the country. Political outcomes of these circumstances will be analyzed, with special attention to the impact of Marxist ideology and the Islamic faith.” Such experiences have taught that many...
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...Agenda-setting Weaver D H, Graber D, McCombs M, Eyal C 1981 Media Agenda Setting in a Presidential Election: Issues, Images and Interest. Praeger, New York M. McCombs Agendas: Political The political agenda is the set of issues that are the subject of decision making and debate within a given political system at any one time. Significant research specifically on the topic of agenda setting, as opposed to decision making, dates mostly from the 1960s. Early studies of agenda setting were quite controversial because they were often presented as critiques of the pluralist studies of the 1950s and 1960s. Truman (1951) mostly ignored the issue of who set the agenda of political debate. Dahl (1956) discusses the matter in mentioning that ensuring that no group have control over the range of alternatives discussed within the political system is a requisite for democracy. In his study of New Haven he explicitly raises the question of agenda setting, noting that with a permeable political system virtually all significant issues would likely come to the attention of the elites. ‘Because of the ease with which the political stratum can be penetrated, whenever dissatisfaction builds up in some segment of the electorate party politicians will probably learn of the discontent and calculate whether it might be converted into a political issue with an electoral pay-off’ (Dahl 1961, p. 93). In Dahl’s view, then, any issue with a significant potential following in the public would likely find an elite-level...
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...POLITICAL SCIENCE 1 Spring 2013 The Government of the United States Syllabus El Camino College Section 2620: M/W, 9:30am – 10:55am Room: Social Science 212 Instructor: Van P. Chaney, MPA E-mail: vchaney@elcamino.edu Phone: 310-660-3593 Website: http://profspace.com/vchaney Required Texts: AM Gov 2012, Losco/Baker ISBN: 978-0073526379 Taking Sides, 18th ed, Mckenna ISBN: 978-0078050329 Course Objectives: 1. Identify the theoretical foundations and the applications of the American political system. 2. Analyze major political institutions: the presidency, bureaucracy, Congress, Judiciary, elections, political parties, and interest groups. 3. Examine and assess the implementation of democracy, including the different perspectives of elitism, pluralism, and majoritarianism. 4. Evaluate the role of the mass media in the political process. 5. Identify and discuss political culture and the function of political socialization. 6. Compare and contrast the relationship of federal and state governmental systems and processes with emphasis on California. 7. Evaluate and analyze the interdependence of economics and politics. 8. Distinguish between civil rights and civil liberties and their evolution in American society. 9. Assess the federal and state judicial systems and their impact on public policy. 10. Examine and discuss the process of public policy making in relation to international and domestic...
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...An essay on IT platforms Issues surrounding IT platforms can never be over analysed. The constantly changing fashionable take on IT platforms demonstrates the depth of the subject. While much has been written on its influence on contemporary living, spasmodically it returns to create a new passion amongst those who study its history. Inevitably feelings run deep amongst socialists, trapped by their infamous history. Here begins my indepth analysis of the glourious subject of IT platforms. Social Factors There is cultural and institutional interdependence between members of any community. The immortal and indispensable phrase ‘honesty is the best policy’ [1] created a monster which society has been attempting to tame ever since. Both tyranny and democracy are tried and questioned. Yet IT platforms demonstrates a coherent approach, something so lacking in our culture, that it is not recognised by all. Our post-literate society, more than ever before, relies upon IT platforms. Clearly it promotes higher individualism and obeyence of instinct. As soon as a child meets IT platforms they are changed. Economic Factors The dictionary defines economics as 'the social science concerned with the production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods and services'. Of course, IT platforms fits perfectly into the Watkis-Teeth-Pulling model. For those of you unfamiliar with this model it is derived from the Three-Amigos model but with greater emphasis on the outlying gross...
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...Syllabus INTA 3301: International Political Economy Spring 2013 Class meets MWF 1:05-1:55, Instructional Center 109 Instructor: Michael Murphree Sam Nunn School of International Affairs 137 Habersham Building Email: michael.murphree@gatech.edu Office Hours: Monday 2:00-3:00, 137 Habersham, or by appointment TA: Kathleen Thompson Email: kthompson136@gatech.edu Political economy is the study of the role of government, politics and collective human behavior in shaping economic outcomes. This exciting field is both old and new. Political economy predates both political science and economics but only reemerged as a distinct field in the 1960s and 70s. It is concerned with understanding how political forces (broadly defined) shape and are shaped by economic ones (broadly defined). There are many research and policy-relevant questions addressed in this field: 1. What is globalization and is it really good for everyone? 2. Is free trade really the only “appropriate” means for international exchange? 3. Why are some countries or regions rich while others struggle? 4. How did the global casino of high finance emerge and what is its purpose? 5. Is economic performance the root of power or power the root of economic performance? 6. What should be the role of government in the economy? 7. Is there a best practice for government economic policy or are there many workable practices? 8. Why has Asia seemed to perform so well over the last...
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...Question: How does international political economy impact on your life in Belgium? Introduction International political economy also known as global political economy is an academic discipline within the social sciences that analyzes international relations in combination with political economy. As an interdisciplinary field it draws on many distinct academic schools, most notably political science and economics, but also sociology, history, and cultural studies. International political economy is concerned with the ways in which political forces (states, institutions, individuals, etc.) shape the systems through which economic interactions are expressed, and equally the effect that economic interactions have on political structures and outcomes. International political economy has various categories that help to describe and explain the different political and economic policies that various states, institutions and individuals may choose to be interested in. These categories are liberal, realist and Marxist. In this essay I will be exploring the different categories and the impact they would have on the international political economy of Belgium. History & Summary of Belgium Belgium is a constitutional, popular monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. It is a small, highly developed and densely populated country with approximately 10 million inhabitants at the cross-roads of Western Europe. Belgium is one of the founding members of the European Community, and its capital...
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...Festival promoting his latest flick Zulu, he flew to New Zealand to finish filming The Hobbit ahead of a six-month stint on starring in Romeo and Juliet on Broadway. The Pirates of the Caribbean star juggles his hectic professional life with a young family. He is married to Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr and they have an adorable two-year-old son Flynn. "I would love to take Flynn to see the pandas in Chengdu," revealed the 36-year-old. In an interview with the airline, he talks his and Miranda's favourite foodie cities, tips for combating jet lag and his love for London. Paper Edition | Page: 2 I have borrowed some words from Romeo and Juliet’s theme song and Harold Laswell’s phrase on politics for the title of this essay. In my view, these terms fit the issue well as the need mounts to embark on a different stage of reform in Indonesia. And yet, given the nature of the problems that appear to have hit all spheres of public life and mutated to all state agencies and officers, this nation seems to be confronted with a vicious circle in terms of where the reform movement should head. The recent survey results released by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) suggested that the vast majority of Indonesians did not approve of the direction the country was heading in. Almost 60 percent of respondents took this stance, while around 30 percent said otherwise. These figures only serve...
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...CSS 105 COURSE GUIDE COURSE GUIDE CSS105 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE Course Developer Dr. Derin K. Ologbenla University Of Lagos Akoka – Lagos. Dr. Derin K. Ologbenla Course Writer University Of Lagos Akoka – Lagos. Course Co-ordinator Dr. Godwin Ifidon Oyakhiromen National Open University of Nigeria Lagos. NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA ii CSS 105 COURSE GUIDE National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island Lagos Abuja Annex 245 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street Central Business District Opposite Arewa Suites Abuja e-mail: centralinfo@nou.edu.ng URL: www.nou.edu.ng National Open University of Nigeria 2006 First Printed 2006 ISBN: 978-058-434-X All Rights Reserved Printed by Goshen Print Media Ltd For National Open University of Nigeria iii CSS 105 COURSE GUIDE Contents Introduction......................................................................... Aims................................................................................... Objectives........................................................................... Working through the Course.............................................. Course Materials................................................................ Study Units........................................................................ Textbooks and References.................................................. Assessment.......................................
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... and Private Sector Comparisons Joseph LaPalombara Wolfers Professor of Political Science and Management School of Management Yale University A chapter for the “Process of Organizational Learning” section of the Handbook of Organizational Learning, ed. Meinolf Dierkes, A. Berthoin Antal, J. Child & I. Nonaka. Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming. DRAFT: Please do not cite without author’s permission. Power and Politics in Organizations: Public and Private Sector Comparisons Joseph LaPalombara Yale University Political Organizations and Their Milieu Organizational learning derives most of its knowledge from research on organizations in the private sector, particularly from the study of the firm. Its rich interdisciplinary quality is reflected in the range of social sciences that have contributed to the field’s robust development. The contribution from political science, however, has been minimal (reasons are suggested in the chapter on ‘politics’ by LaPalombara in this volume). The mutual failure of political scientists to pay more systematic attention to organizational learning and of organizational learning specialists to extend their inquiries into the public/political sphere is unfortunate in at least three senses. First, a general theory of organizational learning is unlikely to emerge unless...
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