Reference no: EM133280728

1. What is Mary Robinson's thesis?  What does she mean by "climate justice?"  How has her experience as the former President of Ireland informed her global work on climate change?  What does she mean by "hope" and "resilience?"  Explain your answers.
2. What is Robinson's vision for achieving climate justice?  What are the concrete barriers that she identifies in achieving climate justice?  What is the strategy she outlines to overcome these barriers?
3. Diamond, Plattner and Walker describe the "Authoritarian Big Five."  Explain this concept in detail.  To which nation-states are they referring? What are their common traits? What argument are they making about these authoritarian regimes?
4. In O'Neil, you have learned about the distinction between a "nation" and a "state" and how these concepts are combined to create what we now call a "nation-state" (i.e., a "country"). What are the elements in this video of the "nation" and the "state" in both India and Pakistan?
5. The history of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is explored in this video.  In your post, describe the elements of the "nation" and the "state" that have contributed to this conflict.
6. Iran's political system is unique in the world.  What are the elements of Iran's political system and in what ways does Iran fit (or not fit) in O'Neil's description of political systems?
7. The so-called "Cold War" in the Middle East can be partially explained by a comparison of political systems (both in terms of similarities and differences) in Iran and Saudi Arabia.  Using O'Neil's description of political systems, what explains the ongoing cold war in the Middle East?
8. This video explores how developed democracies impose their power on developing democracies.  What key concepts from O'Neil are explored in this video showing the presence of a regional border (of Europe) outside the region (in Africa)?
9. The story of how Vladimir Putin rose to power is an extraordinary one.  It is also emblematic of what happened to post-communist regimes, according to O'Brien. What specific, common aspects of post-communism did Putin exploit to rise to power?
10. Haiti is the most impoverished nation-state in the world. How Haiti and the DR, which share the island of Hispaniola, have developed in opposite directions is an important way to understand the challenges of developing democracies.  Using several of O'Neil's key concepts, what best explains the divergent development of Haiti and the DR?
11. The story of Venezuela's economic boom, and its subsequent collapse is another example of the challenges that developing democracies face.  Using several concepts from O'Neil, what best explains Venezuela's economic growth and more recent collapse?
12. The poignant and disturbing film Pray the Devil Back to Hell, depicts Liberia's collapse and recovery. Many of the concepts O'Neil described about political systems and developing democracies are clearly described in the film.  What do you think are the most important factors that led to Liberia's collapse, and later recovery?
13. How has globalization affected the U.S. border with Mexico?  What forces described in O'Neil are visible at the U.S. border?
14. How has globalization affected the Kashmir region?  Using concepts from O'Neil's discussion of globalization, what is the best way to understand the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan?
15. Colombia, a nation-state in South America, has been very generous towards Venezuelans during the economic and political turmoil in Venezuela.  Using O'Neil's analysis of globalization, what are the causes and consequences of the Colombian response?  What, if any, are the lessons to the rest of the world about how to treat human beings in crisis?
16. The Turkish decision to invade Syria reflects a combination of the ambitions of the Turkish government, the civil war in Syria, and the decisions among many nation-states (including the United States and Russia) to change their military approach to Syria.  In short, Syria is a microcosm of politics during globalization.  Using some of the key concepts from O'Neil, describe the Turkish decision to invade Syria and how that is a reflection of the politics of globalization.  What do you think is the best approach to end the conflict in Syria?
17. The Island President is a film about the democracy movement in the Maldives (an island nation in the Indian Ocean) and their President's fight to save the nation from the ravages of climate change.  What are the strengths and weaknesses of a democratic regime in addressing climate change?  Was regime change a benefit or a cost in the global conditions of climate change?  How did climate change affect the internal politics of the Maldives?  What lessons for other nation-states does this story offer in terms of climate change and democratic regimes?
18. The destruction of the Amazon rain forest is one of the major causes of global climate change.  What would Robinson recommend to overcome the  barriers to mitigating climate change? Do you think she is persuasive? Would you advocate different global responses to protect the Amazon rain forest?
19. China has constructed secret internment camps.  Using insights from Diamond, Plattner and Walker, describe the purpose of these camps, and how they are a reflection of China's authoritarian regime. Be sure to explain how the camps demonstrate China's role as one of the "Big Five."
20. The rise of the Saudi Prince is further evidence of Saudi Arabia's authoritarian regime. Using Diamond, Plattner and Walker's discussion of Saudi Arabia and this film, explain how the rise of the Saudi Prince demonstrates Saudi Arabia's place as one of the "Authoritarian Big Five."  What does Saudi Arabia have in common with the other four leading authoritarian regimes?
21. Based on your research the COVID-19 crisis in your nation-state, please describe the following: 1. what are the most salient facts about the crisis (e.g., number of cases, number of deaths)?; 2. what are the most important facts about the political context of your nation-state that have shaped the COVID-19 crisis response (e.g., current government, dominant regime, national institutions)?; 3. how has globalization, and the response to globalization, shaped the experience of the COVID-19 crisis in your chosen nation-state?
22. In this discussion, take your notes from reading your classmates' summaries of the COVID-19 crisis in their nation-states and develop a comprehensive analysis.  What are the common experiences?  Do you notice differences?  What are the sources of differences? e.g., type of regime, level of economic development, population density, etc.  What are the patterns you can discern?