7.9.10
World Politics blog question #3 for section 081 (blue team)
Machiavelli paints a portrait of a ruler who must always be prepared to do whatever it takes to maintain his (and for Machiavelli, it's always "his") power. Is this an accurate portrayal of contemporary ruling elites? Should rulers follow Machiavelli's advice, even under contemporary conditions?
6.9.10
World Politics blog question #3 for section 080 (red team)
Near the end of The Prince, Machiavelli suggests that since fortune favors the bold, it is always better to take the initiative in political life and political struggle. Is this good advice? Does it cohere with Machiavelli's other pieces of advice throughout the book?
31.8.10
World Politics section 081 ("blue team") blog question #2
In the light of our discussion today about various aspects of sovereignty, and in the light of the fact that the history related by Opello and Rosow pretty clearly demonstrates that the connection between sovereignty and the modern state is more historically contingent than absolute or categorical, I would like you to wrestle with the following question:
Are there entities in the contemporary world that are not sovereign, but should be sovereign? Should sovereignty be the exclusive province of what Opello and Rosow call "nation-states"?
Are there entities in the contemporary world that are not sovereign, but should be sovereign? Should sovereignty be the exclusive province of what Opello and Rosow call "nation-states"?
30.8.10
World Politics section 080 ("red team") blog question #2
As I tossed out in class today, ably recorded by Günperi:
"Should the world be organized into sovereign territorial nation-states?"
In thinking about your answer to this question: a) use the definition of "nation-state" from the Opello and Rosow book; b) feel free to presume that the world is at present organized along these lines, even though this is an assumption that we will come to question later in the semester; and c) consider various issues in world politics and how the organizational principles of the international system impact the ability of various societies to deal with them. Also, feel free to move the argument into a more normative plane, and to deal less with practical consequences and more with categorical issues of morality, if you are so inclined.
"Should the world be organized into sovereign territorial nation-states?"
In thinking about your answer to this question: a) use the definition of "nation-state" from the Opello and Rosow book; b) feel free to presume that the world is at present organized along these lines, even though this is an assumption that we will come to question later in the semester; and c) consider various issues in world politics and how the organizational principles of the international system impact the ability of various societies to deal with them. Also, feel free to move the argument into a more normative plane, and to deal less with practical consequences and more with categorical issues of morality, if you are so inclined.
24.8.10
World Politics blog question #1
For both sections this week.
What is the most important issue in world politics? Why?
What is the most important issue in world politics? Why?
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