Welcome to Spring 2014 AP Comparative Government and Politics! You will be using this blog as a launching point for many in class discussions about democracy, authoritarianism, political legitimacy, authority, political culture and many other topics. The first assignment we will do is to familiarize you with the countries of study and the main storylines of 2013. After you pick your country of expertise answer the following questions in your group for a brief presentation at the end of the class. Sort of a State of the (insert country here).
1. What are THE three major story lines of 2013 in your country?
2. Why do you think these three story lines are important? Why did you pick 'em?
3. What, if anything, does the nature of these stories have to do with the history of your country?
4. Do these story lines only have an impact on your country? Or do they have a more regional or international political impact? Why is that?
The top three headlines for China are: the election of the new president who wants to promote progressive ideals, the launching of the rover to the moon and the starting of regular patrols from a disputed south china island. These headlines suggest a China that's becoming more progressive and advancing in the modern world, a continuation of the trend that has been happening in the last decade.
ReplyDeleteCountry: Mexico
ReplyDelete1. Drugs. poverty, and corruption.
2. Drugs are important because they have an impact on government regulation, the economy, and crime. Poverty is important because it has an impact on immigration from Mexico, lowers living standards, and destabilizes the economy. Corruption is important in Mexico because it makes it hard for the political system to function.
3. Mexico has been struggling with these issues for the past 100 years or so, and despite attempts at regulation, these issues remain a prominent part of Mexican politics.
4. No, its economy affects the US and it's southern neighbors, and immigration puts a strain on international relations. With a corrupt political system, Mexico's image and ability to work with other nations suffers as well.
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1. A. Geneva II Talks in Switzerland- disputes about whether Iran should be invited. Iran blames it's exclusion from the Syrian peace talks on the U.S . This event displays Iran's international tensions. \
2. The IAEA's recent investigations of Iran have continued to reveal that uranium enrichment's purpose cannot solely be attributed to nuclear power. While this concern has been blatantly ignored by Iran in past years, there has been more progress in 2013 due to the election of a more moderate president. \
3. The elections of 2013 allowed for the presidency of proclaimed moderate, Rouhani, give the UN and U.S. hope for progress. He more strongly supports Iranian nationalism than the conservative religious aspects. While Iran is a theocracy, the new president appears more focused on international relations than religious domestic affairs.}
This is the response for Nigeria!
ReplyDelete1. Main issues: lack of effort to promote long term health care solutions; anti-gay laws, and economic instability (crime)
2. These ideas are important in that they form the basis of a country's stability. Countries cannot excel if their populations are stricken with disease, and destitution. A common argument is that this happens in all countries; there will always be rich and poor people. But when evaluating solutions, we must think of and act on plans that consider the majority of the population, and not a select few. Health care should not be reserved for the rich. Also, anti-gay laws and economic instability also go along with this idea, because they represent status. Anti-gay laws create fringe groups, and dissension, which adds to crime as people are discriminated against for their beliefs and seek outlets to get what they want. Thus, these issues are all interconnected, and important.
3. These issues are driven largely by differences in ethnicity, in various parts of the country. These differences weakened revolutionaries' attempts at establishing a coherent government that was strong enough to address the growing tensions/issues.
4. These story lines are pretty universal. Many countries continue to struggle in securing adequate health care for their citizens, and often humanitarian aid is not enough for long term relief. Also, with the issues of the anti-gay law and crime growth, the international community often condones the beliefs of the participants (drug cartels, gay marriage in America, crime webs, etc.)
RUSSIA - From Inam and William
ReplyDelete1. The top 3 storylines we decided to consider are the Sochi Olympics, the Syrian Peace Talks, and asylum provided to Edward Snowden.
2. These storylines played a pivotal role in the country's international affairs over the last year. The Sochi Winter Olympics is an international event that reflects Russia’s attempt to showcase itself to the world. As the international attention will begin to focus in on Russia as the event comes closer, the Olympics will also provide insight into other issues facing Russia including Anti-Gay Laws and vulnerability to terrorist attacks. The Syrian Peace Talks and the general civil war in Syria is a struggle with many international repercussions especially due to the massive amount of casualties, the use of brutal measures including chemical weapons, and the potential for terrorist group activity. Russia’s interests in Syria, as is often the case, conflict with most of the Western world’s goals. It is not only allied with Iran, one of the Syrian regime’s primary supporters but also has a long history of relations with Syria since the Soviet era. Thus, the conflict in Syria and Russia’s involvement has evolved into an issue of international tension as the parties attempt to find a way to end the conflict. Finally, the Snowden dilemma represents another issue of contention between Russia and the United States that is reminiscent of the Cold War. Russia’s decision to grant asylum to an individual who is viewed as a criminal by the U.S. government ignited further tensions between the two countries and is still an unsolved problem.
3. The Sochi Olympics are a method for the Russian Federation to reassert itself following the fall of the Soviet Union. Within History, this will be the first time Russia itself has been awarded an Olympic Games, though their 1984 Winter Olympics were held in Yugoslavia. This represents a strong move forward by the Federation, as this gives them a time in the spotlight to relive the ‘Glory Days’ of old.
The Syrian Peace talks are historically relevant because of the old relationship between the two nations during the Cold War. Syria was one of the Soviet Union’s strongest allies in the region against the US-backed Israel, and support for the regime currently headed by Assad stretches back to this time.
Lastly, Snowden is a clear reminder of the hostilities faced during the Cold War between the U.S. and Russia. Much like the Rosenbergs, Snowden is one way for Russia to undermine the efforts of the United States. In this regard, Snowden is comparable to the old spy games of the Cold War.
4. All three of these events have an international impact. The Sochi Games obviously are an International Olympic event, and bring many of Russia’s domestic issues to the forefront of the international stage for scrutiny. Any nation sending representatives to the games takes an interest in this event.
The Syrian Peace Talks held international repercussions, as many of the negotiations took place in the UN Security Council and many countries took an interest in the power struggle between the U.S. and Russia and the actions of this decision are still widely contentious both in the Middle East and the wider world.
Snowden’s actions have international effects also as the information he revealed are relevant to U.S. relations with multiple countries. In addition, by further damaging U.S.’s already tense relationship with Russia, the issue, as stated before brings back memories of the conflicts during the Cold War, which in the past were played out in the international arena with the involvement of many different countries.
For the United Kingdom
ReplyDelete1. The three major headlines for the UK included the birth of Prince George, the drop in unemployment rates to 7.1%, and the downgrading of UK’s government bond rating from AA1 to AA.
2. These headlines are significant in their social and economic implications. The birth of Prince George was a major headline due to significance attached to the royal family. He becomes the third in line to succeed to the throne after Prince Charles, and Prince Williams. The employment drop to 7.1%, is the biggest drop since 1997, and has further economic implications in that increases inflation rates to 2% This is indicative of a strengthening economy, although the full extent of economic recovery in the future is unknown. The downgraded of UK’s government bond rating is important, because it characterizes UK’s present economy and debt trajectory.
3. The worldwide recession harmed the economies of many countries worldwide, UK included. The headlines dealing with the present state of the economy are significant because they reveal the current difficulties faced by the English economy. The royal family is deeply important to the history of the United Kingdom, and the royal family has significant cultural influence, since they are an integral part of British identity.
4. These stories generally impact the UK locally rather than internationally, although there may be some indirect significance to other nations. Since the AAA rating deals with a government’s ability to pay back debt, the downgrading of UK’s government bond rating may influence their economic relations with other nations.
Nigeria
ReplyDelete1. Corruption: illegal oil trading and rigged ballots, Fighting/bombing between Christians and Muslims, infrastructure problems because of increasing population.
2. Because they contribute to problems and daily instability of the supposed liberal democracy. The have international implications because of the oil exports and human rights violations from all of the regional fighting.
3. Nigeria is as effed up as it is because of imperialism. The white man came into Africa tryin to take up all da land bc they wanted to be the most powerful. They imposed their culture and religion on the native peoples/civilization that already had their own. The league of nations also added Muslim territory in the north to Nigeria. they did not know what they were doing or understand the regionalism in Nigeria. So they clumped a group of people together that don't like each other and they must face the consequences.
4. The problems in Nigeria have international and regional consequences. Regional violence, international reaction. Sovereignty over certain Nigerian regions are disputed in international courts.