Watch the films The Corporation/Ethos, Inside Job, The Putin System and This is What Democracy Looks Like. You should also incorporate any other videos from class.
Please read Chapters 1, 11,12, 17 and 18 very carefully, you will be asked to discuss the concepts from these chapters in your paper. YOU MUST CITE PAGE NUMBERS FROM THE TEXT IN YOUR PAPER.
This paper will ask you to discuss the concept of power (per the reading AND FILMS) and explain the nature of power in politics. As we have learned thus far in the semester,international organizations, states, non-governmental organizations, leaders and large corporations exercise political power. Think about how these various actors influence politics, policy and more specifically the lives of everyday citizens. THINK ABOUT HOW ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN RESPOND TO THE ABUSE OF POWER IN POLITICS AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE IT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THINK ABOUT HOW \”THE RULE OF LAW\” FUNCTIONS TO LIMIT POWER (AND THE ABUSE OF POWER).
Please answer all of the questions below in a well organized essay. You must answer all of the questions below to receive full credit. You should start be defining key terms and the reading (ALWAYS CITE PAGE NUMBERS FROM THE BOOK) and then explain how the films demonstrate power citing specific examples from the films.
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PLEASE ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS (answer all of them):
(1) What is \”power\”?
What is \”politics\”? (define these terms per the reading).
How does \”power\” relate to the concept of politics? What is political participation and how does it relate to power? Why is it important? THIS SHOULD BE YOUR INTRODUCTION. CITE YOUR THESIS–IT SHOULD EXPLAIN THE WAYS IN WHICH LEADERS AND CORPORATIONS WIELD POLITICAL POWER. ALSO WRITE YOUR INTRODUCTION LAST (OR AT LEAST REWRITE IT AFTER YOU FINISH YOUR PAPER).
(2) What types of power does the textbook discuss? WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF POWER ACCORDING TO THE READING AND CLASS DISCUSSIONS. Be sure to define these terms before you discuss them).
(3) What other qualities allow for leaders, government AND non-state actors to exercise power over the people? CITE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES FROM THE FILMS AND TEXTBOOK. IS IT THROUGH CORRUPT PRACTICES? MANIPULATION? PROPAGANDA?
Think about the influence that leaders, states, MNCS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND TRANSNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS have over politics and policy.
Why are multinational corporations, transnational organizations dangerous?What impact do they have on the financial and personal lives of average citizens? Do they infringe on individual rights? How? How do they influence democracy? In what ways do you see government and corporations working together to promote the interests of the few?(film, readings–think about the the Corporation, and any of the films shown in class). The films should serve as examples of how power is exercised
(5) How might these powerful influences be brought under control? How are citizens responding to this unequal distribution of power? YOU SHOULD DISCUSS THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE IN THIS SECTION AND ANY OTHER VIDEOS SHOWN IN CLASS.
(6) WHAT CAN YOU CONCLUDE ABOUT THE NATURE OF POWER IN POLITICS? YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK IN THE CONCLUSION BUT PLEASE DO NOT REVIEW THE FILMS. I WANT YOUR PAPER TO BE OBJECTIVE. REMEMBER WHAT YOU DISCUSSED IN YOUR POSTS! Why is this important to understanding politics? Why should we care? Can you think of any current examples of how power is influencing politics? (maybe think about the policies of the Trump Administration?).
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You should make sure that you put forth a thesis in your first paragraph and conclusion and clearly refer to the films and the readings.
