Third final exam question

The third question on the final exam is:

The Quiet Revolution concludes by outlining a “new model” of government along six dimensions:

1. leadership
   
2. participation and a focus on “clients”
   
3. professionalism
   
4. fiscal bargain
   
5. competitiveness
   
6. innovation

Write a brief essay exploring these dimensions, citing examples, and explaining each of the dimensions and their relationship to new municipal politics. Finally, explain how this “new model” is related to decentralization and the state.

The benefit and disadvantage for National and State Police

At the end of last class, we have talked about the police system in United States.

In lecture instructer told us there are some countries which only has national police and some countries has State police at each state which operate independently.

I understand when the country is decentlized, there are many benefits, but I don't know the benefts for police to be decentlized. It sounds to me worse, because it seems police are hard to coorporate with each other, less communication and hard to manage at multi-states incident.

I want to know the advantages of State and local police compare to have branch of national police in local. Does anybody have any idea?

Final exam preview

The first question on the final exam will cover the bigger countries from the blue Skidmore text: Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Peru. I will pick TWO of these randomly on the day of the exam; you should be prepared to write a brief essay about any of them. The question is:

Some scholars argue that democracy requires the development of five independent, but mutually related, "arenas":

1. Civil society: associational groups, individuals, movements, etc.
   
2. Political society: the institutional structures (especially political parties) and the area for "public/political" contestation of power
   
3. Rule of law: which includes an independent judiciary that can enforce law on citizens & government
   
4. Bureaucracy: especially a modern bureaucracy capable of efficiently managing the day-to-day workings of the state
   
5. Economic society: the institutional structures of a free market, and the rights associated w/ them, as well as the groups, individuals, associations associated w/ these

Write an essay comparing both countries along these dimensions. Are they different or the same? What historical factors contributed to these differences/similarities? How does understanding these relationships (today and their historical development) help us understand current politics in those countries?

The second question covers the Politics in the Andes book. You're free to draw examples from any of the chapters, in order to answer the following question:

The dictum in political science — "no state, no democracy" — is a common thread through many of these chapters (either implicitly or explicitly). Why is a state important for democracy? What kind of state is necessary? How does the relative degree of a modern, institutionalized, and consolidated state affect the quality of democracy?

Of course, the more detailed your answers, the better your grade. So be prepared to spend some time writing (you'll have two hours). I'd spend no more than an hour on the first, and no more than 30 mins on each of the other two. The last question will be announced the week before the exam, after we finish reading The Quiet Revolution.

Extra credit options

Sort of short notice, but another chance for extra credit (2 points).

Risa Whitson, of Ohio University, will speak on 17 March at 4pm (right after our class) in 2734 Wood Hall:

"Working With Place and Gender: Informal Work in Urban Argentina"

It's a topic we've not much covered this semester (gender politics), as well as a topi we'll sort of talk about in the next weeks (urban politics). But should be interesting. If you go, you have to write a brief (one page) reflection about it.

If you didn't know, the other extra credit (also 2 points) is to watch a Latin American movie (ask if you've questions about that movies qualify) and write a page about that. Both are due next Thursday.

Extra Credit

For anyone that was planning of watching "City of God" for the extra credit movie if you have charter digital cable and the premium channel starz, the movie is offered free on starz in-demand. Its channel 999 to get to the indemand. This is a good way to save yourself some money instead of renting it at video hits plus. Enjoy

Extra Credit Movie

If you haven't decided which movie to watch for the extra credit assignment, I would suggest Behind the Sun. I went to the showing at Sangren last night; I thought it was amazing. Unfortunately, there weren't many people there, so I thought that I would promote the film.

Citation Question?

Quick question - I'm polishing up my paper and just realized one of my sources is a Draft Copy of a desertion and states not to be cited without author's consent... This just might be a problem. I have already referenced it within my paper. Any suggestions or does anyone know if this source can be properly cited? Any help would be appreciated - thanks.

Mexican Dirty War

Here is an article i found about a stolen child during the mexican dirty war recently found in DC. Interesting to see effects of that still occuring today.


http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/02/17/mexico.missing.ap/index.html