PSCI 105 (Fall 2017) Blog Discussion

Blog post due at 11:55pm on October 3 and comment due at 11:55pm on October 6. Democracy and Democratization Discuss evidence for and against the proposition that “democracy promotes peace.” Would you favor national referendums to settle such issues as abortion, gun ownership, tax rates, or other controversies, or should we leave it to our elected representatives and the courts to make authoritative decisions on these issues? Would you define democracy  primarily  in political or economical terms, or both about equally?

Blog post due at 11:55pm on Sep. 26 and comment due at 11:55pm on Sep. 29. Political Parties and Party Systems Is the  United States  dominated by a “power elite”? If so, who constitutes it? If not, are there any groups or individuals who have exceptional influence? Do the masses matter at all? Are perhaps all democracies dominated by some power elite? Are political parties an adequate or inadequate vehicle for channeling political opinions and actions? Is it better to be an independent voter rather than one who identifies with a party? Are political parties important to the functioning of a democracy? Interest Groups Discuss evidence for and against the proposition: “All political conflicts—including ethnic, religions, gender, and generational conflicts—ultimately boil down to class conflicts. Rich people tend to be politically favored and poor people are not, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, or age.” Are interest groups good or bad for politics? Should...

Blog post due at 11:55pm on Sep. 19 and comment due at 11:55pm on Sep. 22. Nondemocratic Rule 1.  What are some of the essential differences between democracies and authoritarian regimes? 2. What are authoritarian leaders mainly concerned in their political rule? Political Culture 3.  Do you agree with Huntington that today’s world is increasingly characterized by a “clash of civilizations”? 4. How does political culture differ from political ideology?

Blog post due at 11:55pm on Sep. 12 and comment due at 11:55pm on Sep. 15. Political Ideology 1. In addition to being faiths, are all religions political ideologies? 2. Should religion and politics be kept strictly separate, or is that impossible? 3. Why is Marxist theory called utopia? 4. How were Marx’s ideas developed by succeeding generations? 5. What are the different approaches used by democratic socialism and communism to pursue for equality?

Blog Discussion Group One  Blog "post" due at 11:55pm on September 5 and "comment" due at 11:55pm on September 8. Politics, the State, and Nation. 1. Discuss some of the reasons why governments may exhibit inefficiency and ineffectiveness. Can anything be done to overcome these problems, or are they inherent in the nature of government? 2. Are some countries or world leaders more nationalistic than others? Too nationalistic? If so, what can be done about it? 3. What are some examples of states with more than one nation? Would it be better if such states broke up into separate states? Why? Presidentialism & Parliamentarism 4.  Which is more democratic: presidentialism or parliamentarism? 5. Should the Unites States change its single member district/plurality system for elections to the House of Representatives to a proportional representation system?