Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Final Exam Review

Name:
POL 200 final exams—covers ch. 1-8 and lecture material
Part 1: Essay
Please answer all of the following in one word document and send to me at Khofheimer@ecpi.edu.
Please select one question and answer all parts of each in essay form. Your essay should be about two pages long and well-organized, with a descriptive title, engaging introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and a satisfying conclusion.
1. Compare and contrast two individuals’ views on power that we covered in class.
2. Discuss some of the factors that constitute state power, using real world examples if possible.
3. Discuss some of the roles international organizations play in today’s world, citing specific examples.
4. Do you think America is exercising its global leadership role in a responsible manner? Explain.
Part 2: Short Answer
Please answer each of the following, using complete sentences.
5. What is meant by the term “legitimacy” in relation to a state’s leadership?
6. How can democratic standards be measured?
7. Why are democracy and a nation’s wealth closely correlated?
8. What is the World Trade Organization? The World Bank? The International Monetary Fund?
9. What is the United Nations and what does it do?
10. Does the European Union have a promising future? Why or why not? (This is opinion, but briefly support your position).
Part 3: True/False
Please write the word “True” or “False” in the left margin next to each statement.
11. In politics, issues are rarely linked.
12. Anarchy refers to a nation that is completely dependent on other countries.
13. Constructivists believe that states are the key actor in international politics.
14. In a bipolar state system, a single state always sets the rules of the game.
15. Proponents of globalization generally endorse high transnational taxes and tariffs.
16. The democratic peace thesis contends that democracies rarely fight one another.
17. The EU has a commission and a General Assembly.
18. The Bush doctrine endorses preemptive strikes.
19. The power of terrorists to mobilize is constantly increasing.
20. Public diplomacy often relies heavily on propaganda.
Part 4: Multiple Choice
Please select the correct answer to the following questions.
21. All of the following are characteristics of the Bush doctrine except
endorses America’s right to lead
supports preemptive strikes
believes in deterrence at all costs
was used to justify recent strikes in Afghanistan and Iraq
22. The United States is known globally for its
unwillingness to endure death of its own
lack of respect for United Nations’ decisions
popular celebrity culture
all of the above





23. The modern nation-state was established under which of the following:
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Westphalia
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Rome

24. The U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union during the Cold War, as laid out by NSC 68, was:
Retribution
Containment
Appeasement
Democratization

25. Which of the following best describes the concept of power?
using one’s assets to affect events
purely tangible concept
purely intangible concept
communicating with the enemy

Part V: Short answer: in a paragraph or two, please answer each of the following:
26. When and how do you think the United States’ hegemony will end? Is there any way the United States can preserve its unipolar moment?
27. What are the three levels of analysis used to study global politics and who are the actors at each level?
28. What are some problems aggravated by or brought on by globalization?
29. What are some opportunities that globalization opens up?
30. What is realism and is it a viable theory?
31. Which individual level theory best explains world politics, in your opinion? Why?
32. Does globalization weaken or strengthen state power? How so?
33. What should be done about the immigration issue in the United States? Why?
34. What quality or qualities does our next president need, in your opinion?
35. What should the United States do about the current problems in the Middle East?
36. Are you a Democrat or a Republican and why?
37. Do you think it helps or harms the Americans more overall when American companies outsource jobs? Why?
38. What can be done about the rising price of gas?
39. What three world religious denominations do you find most viable and why?
40. Who do you think is the most admirable politician living today? Why?

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Day 10 post

No post required today!

Day 9 post

Post away!

Day 8 post

Post away!

Day 7 blog

Please post! You may want to discuss the primaries going on right now!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Take-Home Midterm

Pol 200 Take Home Midterm: Please do not copy and paste. This should be completed in your own words!!! You can complete this alone or with one partner.
Part I
Please answer the following using complete sentences.
1. How do international relations affect your life, specifically?
2. Who are the main actors on the global political landscape (per our text and class lecture)?
3. What is the key difference between realism and liberalism?
4. What is the key difference between realism and neorealism?
5. What is the key difference between a hobbessian, lockean, and kantian world view?
6. What are some of the notable contributions to IP (International Politics) from Ancient Greece and Rome?
7. Why and how were the Dark and Middle Ages marked by determinism?
8. Why and how was the Renaissance marked by existentialism, in a very general sense?
9. When and what were the multipolar eras following the Middle Ages?
10. Why was the Treaty of Westphalia significant?
11. How did the Treaty of Versailles potentially make a Second World War likely or at least feasible?
12. Discuss how proxy wars reflected the bipolar Cold War international system.
13. How and why did the Cold War end?
14. Some say mercantilism was defeated with the ending of the Cold War. What is meant by this? Do you agree?
15. What are some the prominent scholarly prognostications for the future? (Be sure to name the prognosticators).
16. Which of these prognostications (per number 15), or combination thereof, is the most viable, in your opinion? Why?
17. Explain the difference between autarky and interdependence.
18. What is NAFTA and why was the United States’ signing of it controversial in the presidential race of 1991?
19. Define globalization from a holistic standpoint, using YOUR own words.
20. Do you think democracy has “triumphed,” as some contend? Explain.
21. Differentiate between hard and soft power.
22. How do hard and soft power affect one another? Cite a specific example or examples.
23. What are the Bretton Woods Institutions and what does each do?
24. What is nationalism?
25. What are some of the positive, or potentially positive, characteristics of nationalism?
26. What are some of the negative, or potentially negative, characteristics of nationalism?
27. Is the nation-state likely to remain relevant and viable into this new millennium, in your opinion? Why or why not?
28. In the movie Untraceable, how does the fictional killwithme.com manage to become relatively untraceable? What are this villain’s tricks for covering his identity and keeping the site active?
29. Is any online activity, site, or portal potentially untraceable in real life? Defend your response.
30. How does the field of IP affect your field (ECPI major)?
31. And how does IP affect one other ECPI major?
32. What makes transnational corporations so potentially powerful?
33. Please put the following quote in layman’s terms and then tell whether or not you agree and why.

“The internationally supervised independence of Kosovo from Serbia has received a mixed reaction from the international community. The controversy over Kosovo’s independence includes not only the legality of the declaration itself but also a possible partition of Kosovo and inflammation of irredentism…[the controversy also is focused on the] impact on the international rule of law, and whether it [Kosovo’s independence] sets a legal precedent for other separatist conflicts throughout the world.”

Extra credit: (no set length, up to 5 points)
Discuss the evolution of the political process through the primary season, who you think the frontrunners is or frontrunner are for each party (Democrats and Republicans), how the media is playing a role in the process, and what issues you think are most important right now. Basically, tell me what you know about this year’s lead up to the presidential race that will impress, inspire, and open up new ideas….

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Day 6 blog

Post away!

Day 5 blog

Today no posting is required (you have a day off!).

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

journal 4

journal 3

Day 2 journal entry

Please discuss the role you think the federal U.S. government should take in regulating what is shown/posted on the internet. What are the key issue at stake in this debate? Please delineate them. What was the movie Untraceable's obvious stance on this issue? Please explain. Also, do you think live televised or video-taped executions will ever be reality in the U.S.? Why or why not?

Day 1 journal entry

Post away!

Day 1 presidential candidate selector

Please take the 26-question American presidential selector quiz at the link below.
www.selectsmart.com/president/2008.html
Then, post your top three candidates (not the ideal *1). Finally, provide your opinion aboout these results. Do they surprise you, or not? Did you learn anything? If so, what, specifically? Are any of your candidates still in the running?

Day 1 pre-test

Please email me your answers at khofheimer@ecpi.edu. Due by next Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 6 pm. You may use your notes and/or books. You may use search engines or other internet or intranet resources, but please DO NOT COPY AND PASTE OR PLAGIARIZE!

POL 200 pre-test:

Part 1: Essay
Please select one question and answer all parts of each in essay form. Each essay should be about one to one and a half pages long and well-organized, with a descriptive title, engaging introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and satisfying conclusion.
1. Compare two of the following thinkers and discuss either how they are alike in surprising ways or how they differ in important ways: Thucydides, Clausewitz, Kant, Grotius, Machiavelli, Wilson, Morgenthau.
2. In your opinion, what is the most important IGO today? Explain.
3. Do you think globalization weakens or strengthens the state (country)? Discuss
4. Why is the United Nations seen as increasingly irrelevant by EDCs such as the U.S.? Explain.
5. Is`history cyclical in your opinion. Describe.
Part 2: Short Answer
Please answer each of the following, using complete sentences.
6. What is meant by the term “domestic support” in relation to a state’s leadership?
7. What is the difference between a cosmetic and a substantive democracy?
8. How and why are democracy and a nation’s wealth correlated?
9. What is the World Trade Organization? The World Bank? The International Monetary Fund?
10. What is the United Nations and what does it do?
11. Does the European Union have a promising future? Why or why not? (This is opinion, but briefly support your position).
12. Four statesman will be gathering for dinner at the Whitehouse, including guests from China, Russia, and India,. As the event planner, how would you handle this affair? What food would you serve and why?
Short Answer
Please answer each of the following, using complete sentences.
13. Explain some of the causes of war from the structural or system level.
14. What are some individual level causes of war?
15. What five or six attributes constitute a state? Which two aside from the obvious are most important in your opinion?
16. Why is international law sometimes politically contentious? How does this relate to the issue of sovereignty?
17. What challenges does the European Union face today? 18. From a political science perspective, what constitutes power in today’s world? Why does the United States have so much, relatively speaking? In your answer, mention the concepts of hard and soft power as they relate.
Part 3: True/False
Please write the word “True” or “False” for each of the following.
19. After World War I, LDCs formally established the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund.
20. Mercantilism was inspired by Frederick Hayek.
21. Laissez-faire advocates do not favor subsidies, tariffs, and quotas to free trade,
generally speaking.
22. The post-Soviet Union “new world order” advocated by former President George
Herbert Walker Bush did not prescribe a bipolar state system similar to the one in
place during the Cold War.
23. Francis Fukuyam wrote of the “clash of civilizations” that would characterize the post-Cold War era.
24. The democratic peace thesis contends that democracies often fight one another.
25. Making international laws that states abide by is a very simple task.
26. The Bush doctrine refutes the viability of preemptive strikes.
27. Amartaya Sen prescribes a bottoms-up approach to solving global poverty.
28. The signing of NAFTA was not motivated by mercantilist goals.
Part 4: Multiple Choice
Please select the correct answer to the following questions.
29. All of the following are characteristics of the Bush doctrine except
endorses America’s right to lead
supports preemptive strikes
believes in deterrence at all costs
was used to justify recent strikes in Afghanistan and Iraq
30. The United States is known globally for its
unwillingness to endure death of its own
lack of respect for United Nations’ decisions
popular celebrity culture
all of the above

31. The modern nation-state was established under which of the following:
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Westphalia
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Rome
32. The U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union during the Cold War, as laid out by NSC 68, was:
Retribution
Containment
Appeasement
Democratization

33. Which of the following best describes international law?

it is in its primitive stages
it is very evolved
it is uniformly applied
most countries agree to its system and procedures

Part V: Short answer: in a paragraph or two, please answer the following:
1. How does globalization affect (or potentially affect) the technology idustry in positive ways?
2. How does globalization affect (or potentially affect) the technology industry in negative ways?

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Final Exam Review Sheet

POL 200 final exam Name:
Part 1: Essay
Please select two questions and answer all parts of each in essay form. Each essay should be about one to one and a half pages long and well-organized, with a descriptive title, engaging introduction, well-developed body paragraphs, and satisfying conclusion..
1. Compare two of the following thinkers and discuss either how they are alike in surprising ways or how they differ in important ways: Thucydides, Clausewitz, Kant, Grotius, Machiavelli, Wilson, Morgenthau.
2. In your opinion, what is the most important IGO today? Explain.
3. Do you think globalization weakens or strengthens the state (country)? Discuss
4. Why is the United Nations seen as increasingly irrelevant by EDCs such as the U.S.? Explain.
5. Is`history cyclical in your opinion. Describe..
Part 2: Short Answer
Please answer each of the following, using complete sentences.
6. What is meant by the term “legitimacy” in relation to a state’s leadership?
7. What is the difference between liberal and illiberal democracy?
8. Why are democracy and a nation’s wealth closely correlated?
9. What is the World Trade Organization? The World Bank? The International Monetary Fund?
10. What is the United Nations and what does it do?
11. Does the European Union have a promising future? Why or why not? (This is opinion, but briefly support your position.
12. For statesman will be gathering for dinner at the Whitehouse, including guests from China,Russia,and India,. As the event planner, how would you handle this affar?
Short Answer
Please answer each of the following, using complete sentences.
13. Explain some of the causes of war from the system level.
14. What are some individual level causes of war?
15. What five or six attributes constitute a state?
16. Why is international law sometimes politically contentious? How does this relate to the issue of sovereignty?
17. What challenges des the European Union face today?, 18From a polilitical science perspective, what constitutes power in today’s world?
Part 3: True/False
Please write the word “True” or “False” in the left margin next to each statement.
11. After World War I, rich countries formally established the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund.
12. Mercantilism was inspired by John Maynard Keynes.
13. Laissez-faire advocates favor subsidies, tariffs, and quotas to free trade, generally
speaking.
14. The post-Soviet Union “new world order” advocated by former President George
Herbert Walker Bush prescribed a bipolar state system similar to the one in place
during the Cold War.
15. Samuel Huntington wrote of the “clash of civilizations” that would characterize the post-Cold War era.
16. The democratic peace thesis contends that democracies rarely fight one another.
17. Making international laws that states abide by is a very difficult task.
18. The Bush doctrine endorses preemptive strikes.
19. Amartaya Sen prescribes a top-down approach to solving global poverty.
20.The signing of NASFTA was motivated by mercantilist goals.
Part 4: Multiple Choice
Please select the correct answer to the following questions.
21. All of the following are characteristics of the Bush doctrine except
endorses America’s right to lead
supports preemptive strikes
believes in deterrence at all costs
was used to justify recent strikes in Afghanistan and Iraq
22. The United States is known globally for its
unwillingness to endure death of its own
lack of respect for United Nations’ decisions
popular celebrity culture
all of the above

23. The modern nation-state was established under which of the following:
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Westphalia
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Rome

24. The U.S. policy towards the Soviet Union during the Cold War, as laid out by NSC 68, was:
Retribution
Containment
Appeasement
Democratization

25. Which of the following best describes international law?

it is in its primitive stages
it is very evolved
it is uniformly applied
most countries agree to its system and procedures

Part V: Short answer: in a paragraph or two, please answer the following:
1. How does globalization affect (or potentially affect) the culinary industry in positive ways?
2. How does globalization affect (or potentially affect) the culinary industry in negative ways?

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Paper 2--Final Research Paper

Final (Second) Research Papers (a WIC paper): Due at the beginning of class 10
You should take a position on an international political topic and support this position. Essays should be focused and well-organized. Use several sources: books, journals/magazines, newspapers, the internet, and cite them in APA format. Please avoid using all first- and second-person pronouns. Here is a possible way of organizing your paper.
I. Introduction with thesis, i.e. your main argument
II. Historical Background/Context
III. Your argument, with examples/cases and/or logical reasoning to back up your points
IV. Counter-arguments: write as if critiquing your own argument to locate flaws and opposing points
V. Synthesis/Conclusion: Answer potential criticism. Explain the final points of your argument. What have you learned? What has your paper explained?

This paper should be 3-4 pages long and you should cite 4-5 different sources. Be sure to include in-text citations, or 10 points will be deducted.

Paper 1--midterm research paper

Midterm Research Paper: Due at the beginning of class 5
This is your opportunity to research how a foreign country relates to the world. You are to explain what drives the international relations policies of your selected country. How does your selected country view its position (for example: pro-Western, socialist, Islamist, neutral) in the world? How does your country understand the theories of and participate in international relations? What are the political, cultural, economic and historical values that have contributed to its current international relations position? Your purpose is not to determine whose “side” your country is on but to understand and explain why your country has its particular international relations position. More specifically: you are building a case to explain why your selected country takes the position in international relations it does on particular issues. You are not just stating what those positions are.
Begin by selecting a country that interests you. Perhaps it is one that you have traveled to or would like to travel to. Since not all countries are concerned about all international issues, you will need to determine what world issues your country cares about. You will be providing these positions later in your paper. It is your job to present the motive of your selected country for taking those positions from its perspective. You are presenting the “why” of the case such that if you present your case well, it will seem obvious, given the characteristics of your selected country, that it would take the positions it has. You may find yourself disagreeing with the actions and positions of the country you are studying, but this is not a critique of what is right or wrong from your perspective, so you want to be careful to keep such commentary out of your paper. You are only interested in providing the reasons your selected country has for doing what it
does, whether you agree with these reasons or not.
This paper takes planning, and it will be well worth taking the time to outline your arguments before writing. I suggest that you consider many academic sources before writing. Be careful with your sources: Wikipedia, newspaper stories, and country websites, while helpful for introductory purposes, don’t provide the substantive analytical content that your paper requires.
The paper should be 3-4 pages long, 12-point font, typewritten, and double-spaced, and must include citations to all references used. Please use APA format and cite 4-5 sources. Failure to include in-text citations will result in the deduction of ten points from your grade on this paper. Also, please use only third person pronouns.