Violence in Mexico, an Iranian gas-pipeline and discrimination in Nigeria

Consider the following questions:

How does the seemingly endless violence in Mexico illustrate problems of governance for this newly industrialized country (NIC)?  Does the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline create problems for the US?  Should the US block their development with sanctions?  Why or why not?  What does legalized discrimination against homosexuals say about Nigerian democracy?

In your responses, always keep in mind how these articles can be used to help illustrate important COGOPO concepts.

Russia and China FRQ

For the FRQ tomorrow you should focus on economic and political changes in China and Russia over the past 20 years (focus on the Chinese legal system and Putin's impact).  See you tomorrow!

And a link to a really interesting article about the internet allowing more (anonymous) freedom of expression in China for political cartoonists.  Here is a sample:


Pretty cool right?!?

Listen to this NPR story about the National People's Congress opening and preparing for a leadership change and this story about thugs descending on a farming village and being beaten back by the villagers.

Assignment 2/28

Read through the BBC country profile of Russia and China.  Answer the following questions (first Russia then China):

1. What are the major policymaking institutions?
2. Who are the current leaders, what positions do they hold and what powers do they have?
3. What are the most important events in their past that shaped some of the traditions and attitudes their people have about the government?
4. Find one article that we have not yet gone over in class on a recent policy issue (one for each country), make a link to it and discuss how it illustrates a major concept (e.g. legitimacy, political culture, role of media/interest groups, capacity etc.) in comparative politics.
5. Respond to at least one of the #4 posts of another classmate.

Mexican reforms, Chinese uniforms, and Irani...forms....

The Mexican President is set to announce major educational reforms that will check the power of teacher's unions, Chinese watchdogs catch a company making toxic uniforms and Iran is set to meet with the international community to negotiate nuclear proliferation.  Commence commenting!!

A British PM, Russian gun smugglers and a Chinese government hacker walk into a bar...

David Cameron travels to India for an historic visit to acknowledge and pay respects to victims of a 1919 massacre.  A two-for-one COGOPO story about Nigerian trials of alleged Russian arms dealers in an intriguing diplomatic conflict between the two countries.  Also, the United States accuses China of hacking US targets and China responds "Who? Us? Cyberwhat?? Naaaww."

Respect my authoritaaaaaayy!! (and watch out for meteors)

Today we are going to examine nondemocratic regimes, specifically authoritarianism and totalitarianism.  The recent events of the Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East help to illustrate techniques of authoritarian regimes in maintaining control over the population.  In Bahrain, violence surrounds protests celebrating the second anniversary of failed pro-democracy protests that an estimated 10,000 Bahrainis participated in.  The ongoing uprising in Syria against the Assad regime is attracting rebels of all kinds in a bid to gain power in a time of violence and uncertainty.

Also, Chinese state-sponsored media responds to the public outcry over the North Korean nuclear tests in an attempt to allay fears about the effects of radiation from their neighbor.

On an entirely unrelated, apocalyptic note, 950 people are injured by a meteor crashing into Russia's Ural Mountains.  Seriously.  

Tea time! (with a side of the IRA, Scottish independence and the elderly)

Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein asks the IRA to end violence (again), some UK ministers outline what Scottish independence would truly mean, and the government proposes to cap the amount of money any elderly person should spend on healthcare in a given year.  Comments appreciated below!