European Union Reading

You should not read too much into the EU. Despite its state-like attributes, it is far from being a state, since it lacks the monopoly over the legitimate use of force in its territory that most political scientists argue makes a state a state. What’s more, the shift toward a more united Europe is not occurring at an even or steady pace. It has evolved in a series of fits and starts in which bursts of growth have been followed by longer periods of doubt and criticism. That holds whether you focus on the EU’s broadening (adding new members) or deepening (adding new powers). Similarly, the organization is more “advanced” in some policy areas than others. Thus, the EU itself has the authority to make and enforce much economic policy over the wishes of the member states, including virtually everything involving international trade and, now, monetary matters. Such supranational powers are nowhere near as well developed in other policy areas, including the adoption of broad new policy initiatives, There, as we will see in more detail below, the member states continue to hold most of the power.

Read the article  here and please be prepared to discuss the reading in class. Taking notes and creating discussion questions would be appreciated. It’s your final assignment.

Why Do They Hate Us?

To dismiss the terrorists as insane is to delude ourselves. Bin Laden and his fellow fanatics are products of failed societies that breed their anger. America needs a plan that will not only defeat terror but reform the Arab world

To the question “Why do the terrorists hate us?” Americans could be pardoned for answering, “Why should we care?” The immediate reaction to the murder of 5,000 innocents is anger, not analysis. Yet anger will not be enough to get us through what is sure to be a long struggle. For that we will need answers. The ones we have heard so far have been comforting but familiar. We stand for freedom and they hate it. We are rich and they envy us. We are strong and they resent this. All of which is true. But there are billions of poor and weak and oppressed people around the world. They don’t turn planes into bombs. They don’t blow themselves up to kill thousands of civilians. If envy were the cause of terrorism, Beverly Hills, Fifth Avenue and Mayfair would have become morgues long ago. There is something stronger at work here than deprivation and jealousy. Something that can move men to kill but also to die.

Read the rest of the Zakaria piece here and respond to these questions

Israel-Palestine Assignment One

Your task is to use:

  1. The Timeline
  2. The Maps at the BBC website
  3. The Camp David Accords
  4. The Clinton Proposal
  5. The Mitchell Report
  6. The Performance Based Road Map for Peace

In order to:

  • Analyze the timeline and the maps. You need to understand the evolution of this crisis.
  • Use specific examples to fill in the grid . You may download the grid here
  • Respond to the “Questions for Discussion” sheet. You may download the sheet here

After which point you will:

Use specific evidence to construct a 1-2 page single spaced essay which describes how and why the Israeli-Palestinian border has been one of turmoil and conflict.

Performance and Legitimacy in Nigeria's New Democracy

Your task is to use specific evidence from Peter M. Lewis� briefing paper Performance and Legitimacy in Nigeria’s New Democracy as published in the 2006 issue of “Afrobarometer” to analyze how democracy is perceived in Nigeria.

In order to succeed you must use AND cite both the Lewis document and Mundt and your textbook. Your analysis should be 1-2 single-spaced pages and must be posted below (the comments link) by the time class commences.

I advise you to structure your essay as follows, though you may deviate from this outline as you see fit (I likewise envision a thematic approach):

I.The implications of history: evolution towards democracy

II.Analysis of the state of democracy in Nigeria 2000-2007

III. An explication of citizen perceptions towards Nigerian democracy

IV.The implications of performance on legitimacy: what needs to be done?

Read the Lewis piece:

Performance & Legitimacy in Nigeria’s New Democracy