Investigating Iran and Navigating Nigeria

Go to the BBC country profile for Iran and Nigeria and answer the following questions:
1.  What is the most interesting analysis you came across in the "Overview" section?  Why?
2.  Choose a fact from the "Facts" section that you think helps to explain a general theme that is prevalent in each of the countries.  Why did you choose this fact and why is it particularly illuminating?
3.  Identify and explain one similarity and one difference between the media in Iran and Nigeria.  How can these comparisons help to better understand the dynamics of each country's political systems?
4.  Compare and contrast the influence of religion and oil in these two countries.
5.  Comment on at least one of your classmates responses.

Gastrodiplomacy

Read this NPR article about a new trend in teaching international relations, teaching through FOOD!  Would you want to take a class like this? Do you think it detracts from the academic rigor involved in the study of international conflict?  Let me know what you think below!

Post-Persepolis questions (Spring Break edition)

What was your favorite part of the movie?  Why? (funniest, most poignant, most educational, etc.)  What is one thing you learned about life in Iran that you did not know before?

Gapminder fun

Go to Gapminder and play around with the Gapminder World application.  Identify a trend that you think is worth exploring or interesting that relates to one of the three countries left in the course (Iran, Nigeria, Mexico).  This can be any two variables you think are worth exploring the relationship.  They have a lot of data and you can definitely find some interesting correlations. After you have found the variables, briefly explain the relationship you found and why you wanted to look at that relationship.
 

Pre-Persepolis reading

We will be watching Persepolis in class on Wednesday and Friday this week and it will serve to give you a history lesson on the Iranian Revolution as well as a look into the role of women in Iranian civil society.  Before we watch it though, I wanted to give you all a more recent (and academic) analysis of the increasing role of women in Iranian society.  Read this article and answer the following questions.

1. Does this give you a different perspective on the role of women in Iran?  Does it modify any preconceived notions about the opportunities afforded to Iranian women?
2.  Does the less conservative President Rouhani provide a temporary opening for women to achieve certain social and political goals, or is this just a first step in a more permanent, long-term change?  What are some obstacles that women in Iran still face in achieving their goals?  Explain your reasoning.

Hans Rosling and the "developing world"

Hans Rosling is a doctor that utilizes the quantitative approach to global health and development in an entirely new and interesting way.  He founded the non-profit Gapminder and his first TED talk "The best stats you've ever seen" in 2006 is a great introduction to the data service and shows some misconceptions people have about the so-called "developing world."  This is one of the most informative, enlightening and entertaining TED talks out there about global issues.  Watch his latest TED talk here before you answer the questions below.

After watching both Rosling talks and reading chapter 9 in Oneil on LDCs and NICs, do you agree more with Rosling or Oneil about the categorization of countries into developing and developed?  Or do you think that what they say is similar?  Explain the similarities and differences you find in their arguments and point anything you agree or disagree with.  Let me know of any other links or info you think might be helpful to this discussion.

The Cold War - 2014 edition

The increasing involvement of the Russian military in Crimea, a pro-Russian region of Ukraine with strategic importance because of it's location on the Black Sea, has caused many to fear the renewal of Cold War tensions, uncertainty and brinkmanship.  Obviously this situation is different in that Russia is no longer the superpower it once was (although Putin likes to think they are), but it still bears striking similarities.  Russia has, in the last few days been playing a difficult diplomatic and military chess game.  They have brought in troops for "self-defense" of ethnic Russians and have since withdrawn, stating that military action would be  a 'last resort.'  Meanwhile, the US and EU have been in talks to draw up sanctions if Russia continues to involve themselves in what the West views as a legitimate overthrow of a corrupt Ukrainian government.  Putin disagrees, calling it an "unconstitutional coup."

What are your thoughts?  Read up here or really anywhere, as it is an international headline, and post any insights or comments that relate to what we have been learning in class.