Trident POL201 full course (all case and SLPS)Trident POL201 full course (all case and SLPS)Module
1 – Case
GERMAN
REUNIFICATION
Case
Assignment
Answer the following question
in a three to five page paper:
What are the main
challenges Germany has faced during the reunification process?
In particular, think in terms
of problems that can be found in any attempt to unify a country or region. At
the end, tell me why these problems can be generalized.
Remember, we will be revisiting
this in the next module. So be clear about your generalizations.
Refer closely to the material
in the background information. Cite your sources carefully.
Please hand this in by the end
of this module.
Assignment
Expectations
The cases in POL 201 generally
call for a detailed analysis of a particular situation. In addressing case
questions, such an analysis requires some historical perspective and a balanced
and thorough consideration of challenges facing efforts at unification or, at
least, the peaceful resolution of disputes between peoples in the nation being
studied.
Module
1 – SLP
GERMAN
REUNIFICATION
The TUI Session Long Project is
not a term paper due at the end of the course. Rather, the SLP acts as a
vehicle to give the topics of each module a personal, concrete expression.
These modular session long project assignments are due at the end of each
module.
Throughout this term you will
be looking at how the United States affects the situation in the region
discussed in each module.
So, to begin,
How was the United States
affected by the changes in Eastern Europe that led to the reunification of
Germany?
Does a reunified Germany
present any particular advantages or challenges to the United States?
Please answer these questions
in two or three pages and hand in your report by the end of this module.
Upload your papers for grading.
SLP
Assignment Expectations
The SLP assignments in POL 201 generally
call for a detailed analysis of the involvement of US interests in the nation
being studied. In addressing SLP questions, such an analysis requires some
historical perspective and a balanced and thorough consideration of that
involvement.
threaded discussion
While this
module is focused on German reunification, are there any other countries that
these lessons about reunification could be applied to? Taiwan reunifying with
China in the future? Or the reunification of Hong Kong with China? Egypt, Yemen,
and Syria briefly tried unifying. Will they try to unite again in the
future?
These are just some examples of other
countries that may unify some day. Pick one country that seems applicable to
this module, and explain how the lessons learned from Germany may apply to its
unification.
Module
2 – Case
KOREAN
REUNIFICATION
Assignment
Overview
How can a culture that produces
exquisite art still be at war? Well, I suppose that the two have little to do
with each other.
Of course, one has to question
whether or not war is really a matter of the Korean Peninsula per se. Rather,
Korea seems to have been caught in the global cold war. Right on the front
lines of the conflict between the United States and China and the Soviet Union,
Korea was pulled apart more by global forces than by internal politics.
After the fall of the Soviet
Union, after the money used to support North Korea is gone, we are left with a
tense situation on the Korean Peninsula itself.
So what can be done?
Can Korea reunify?
Case
Assignment
Please answer the following
question:
Given the lessons you learned
about German reunification in the last module, what are the most important
issues facing efforts towards Korean peninsula reunification?
Please answer this question in three
to five pages and turn it in by the end of this module. Do not forget to refer
closely to the background information.
Upload your papers for grading.
Assignment
Expectations
The cases in POL 201 generally
call for a detailed analysis of a particular situation. In addressing case
questions, such an analysis requires some historical perspective and a balanced
and thorough consideration of challenges facing efforts at unification or, at
least, the peaceful resolution of disputes between peoples in the nation being
studied.
Module
2 – SLP
KOREAN
REUNIFICATION
What role does the United
States play in the current Korean conflict?
Review the material in the
background information page.
Then write a two to three page
paper answering this question:
Why is the United States such
an important player in the potential reunification of Korea?
Upload your papers for grading.
SLP
Assignment Expectations
The SLP assignments in POL 201
generally call for a detailed analysis of the involvement of US interests in
the nation being studied. In addressing SLP questions, such an analysis
requires some historical perspective and a balanced and thorough consideration
of that involvement.
threaded discussion
The great problem
standing in the way of Korean reunification is the enormous disparity , in the
North, between the ruling class and the ruled. Millions live on the edge of
starvation, while Communist Party cadre enjoy a comfortable, middle-class
lives. Some families designated “enemies of the people” have been
suffering in forced labor camps for three generations. It’s safe to assume that
if the North Korean dictatorship ever disappears, the “have-nots”
will have scores to settle with the “haves.”
How can freedom come to the North, without
triggering a civil war? Support your conclusions with references and current
events.
Module
3 – Case
SOUTH
AFRICA AND THE END OF APARTHEID
Assignment
Overview
South Africa is still a country
divided. To be sure, ending apartheid, being done with overt racial
discrimination, is a major step towards reconciliation and unification of the
people. But there is a long way to go.
You now know a lot about
unification. You’ve discussed it in the context of Germany and Korea, two very
different countries facing strikingly similar situations.
Case
Assignment
What lessons have you learned
in the last two modules that apply to the situation in South Africa? How is it
different?
Pick one or two of your most
important thoughts about German and Korean unification and apply them to the
situation in South Africa. Do this in three to five pages and hand it in by the
end of this module.
Upload your papers for grading.
Assignment
Expectations
The cases in POL 201 generally
call for a detailed analysis of a particular situation. In addressing case
questions, such an analysis requires some historical perspective and a balanced
and thorough consideration of challenges facing efforts at unification or, at
least, the peaceful resolution of disputes between peoples in the nation being
studied.
Module
3 – SLP
SOUTH
AFRICA AND THE END OF APARTHEID
The United States played a key
role in the end of apartheid. Social movements throughout the U.S.,
particularly on college campuses, had a dramatic effect.
Corporations and the
government, on all levels, were pressured to divest assets held in companies
that do business in South Africa. It was a successful boycott.
What and why was the U.S.
involvement in Apartheid?
How did it get to be such a big
issue?
Use the TUI library, the
journals section, and do a bit of research. You may need to search against deep
back files.
This is a fairly open ended
assignment. I want you to write two to three pages of discussion on these
questions. Focus your analysis on one or two aspects of the issue as you find
some more of interest than others, but be sure to at identify all the major
forces at work in the development, maintenance, and eventual demise of official
apartheid.
Upload your papers for grading.
SLP
Assignment Expectations
The SLP assignments in POL 201
generally call for a detailed analysis of the involvement of U.S. interests in
the nation being studied. In addressing SLP questions, such an analysis
requires some historical perspective and a balanced and thorough consideration
of that involvement.
threaded discusion
Can you
think of any other country where the lessons learned from South Africa might
apply? Bahrain is a country at strife with King who is a Sunni Muslim but faces
revolt from a population that is majority Shiite Muslim. There is also conflict
between Muslims and Hindis in India, which is also connected to the dispute
over Kashmir which is a Muslim region split with Pakistan. These are just some
examples, many other countries face ethnic conflict as well. Take one country,
and explain how the lessons learned from this module’s discussion on South
Africa apply to this country.
Module
4 – Case
ISRAEL
AND THE PALESTINIANS
Assignment
Overview
A few years ago, Israel and the
Palestinian Authority appeared to be very close to a final peace agreement.
That never happened and now the two sides appear to be in a permanent state of
war. In fact, a wall has been built by the Israelis to divide the two peoples.
Try to understand the relationship
between Israel and the Palestinians. Any Palestinian state will be deeply
dependent on Israel as the Palestinian people are very much a part of the
Israeli economy. On the other hand, they would be two separate states. So, to
what extent does a resolved
situation, that is, peace,
make a separate state part of a unified situation?
Case
Assignment
Address the following questions
in a 2-3 page report:
What is the history (ancient
and modern) of this land that explains the current dispute between the
Palestinians and Israelis?
What are the challenges facing
its resolution?
What recommendations would you
offer to advance that outcome?
What do you think will be the
outcome of the next peace talks? Why?
Please hand this assignment in
by the end of this module.
Upload your papers for grading.
Assignment
Expectations
The cases in POL 201 generally
call for a detailed analysis of a particular situation. In addressing case
questions, such an analysis requires some historical perspective and a balanced
and thorough consideration of challenges facing efforts at unification or, at
least, the peaceful resolution of disputes between peoples in the nation being
studied.
Module
4 – SLP
ISRAEL
AND THE PALESTINIANS
The Middle East is important to
the United States. We get most of our oil from the region and investment from
the Arab states is of growing importance in our economy. The United States
strongly supports Israel, but also has had dealings with Palestinian political
groups. US leadership in conflicts with and in Iraq and tense relations with
Iran and Syria add to the muddled situation. Further complicating matters is
the changing role of Russia in the region and our relationship with that
nation. Finally, relations with the European Union and NATO necessarily influence
how we deal with the Israel-Palestine question and other issues rising in the
Middle East.
How should the U.S. approach
its relations with Israel in light of developments in the Middle East?
Write a 2-3 page overview of
this issue and hand it in before the end of this term.
Upload your papers for grading.
SLP
Assignment Expectations
The SLP assignments in POL 201
generally call for a detailed analysis of the involvement of U.S. interests in the
nation being studied. In addressing SLP questions, such an analysis requires
some historical perspective and a balanced and thorough consideration of that
involvement
threaded discussion
The two
Palestinian territories — the West Bank and the Gaza Strip — are ruled by
competing political movements. Do a quick web search to learn what you can
about those organizations. What do their differences mean, in light of a
possible detente with Israel? Be sure to support your answers with references.
Module
5 – Case
NAFTA
Case
Assignment
I am trying to push the concept
of “unification” in this course (in case you could not tell!). NAFTA
clearly unifies North America in a profound way.
What is being
“unified” with the adoption of NAFTA?
What are the positive and
negative aspects of NAFTA? (Be sure and consider the perspectives of people in
different economic sectors and participant nations)
Please answer this question in
the context of the background information provided, and any information you can
find in our library and on the web.
I am interested in two things
here.
First, I want to see what you
think about the concept of “unification”. Be creative.
Second, I want you to research
the issue carefully. Use the research to make your point about unification and
cite your sources carefully.
Write two to three pages and
hand it in by the end of this module.
Upload your papers for grading.
Assignment
Expectations
The cases in POL 201 generally
call for a detailed analysis of a particular situation. In addressing case questions,
such an analysis requires some historical perspective and a balanced and
thorough consideration of challenges facing efforts at unification or, at
least, the peaceful resolution of disputes between peoples in the nation being
studied.
Module
5 – SLP
NAFTA
Pat Buchanan is an arch-right
political commentator and three-time presidential candidate who is considered
well to the right of the Republican Party. He opposes NAFTA. Ralph Nader is a
political activist and perennial presidential candidate who is considered well
to the left of the Democratic Party. He also opposes NAFTA.
These guys don’t like each
other much, at least politically.
Why, then, do they agree on so
important an issue? Is it for the same, or for different, reasons?
Write two pages on this issue.
There is plenty of information on the background information page.
Upload your papers for grading.
SLP
Assignment Expectations
The SLP assignments in POL 201
generally call for a detailed analysis of the involvement of US interests in
the nation being studied. In addressing SLP questions, such an analysis
requires some historical perspective and a balanced and thorough consideration
of that involvement.
threaded discussion
Compare the European Union and NAFTA. What are the similarities
and differences? Discuss some advantages and disadvantages of each.