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Body POLITICS 111
FIRST MIDTERM EXAM FULL CREDIT ANSWERS
What features in Coulter's definition of a nation-state require amendment
and clarification by the emergence of market states? Two features
essential to a nation-state are sovereignty and territorial boundaries.
Market states lessen the importance of both. A market state, as the term
has been developed by Bobbitt, is shaped by the global interdepence resulting
from world-wide exchange of such goods as communication, commerce, information,
and technology in a process known as globalization. National borders seem
to melt before the massive and speedy movement of 21st century goods (see
for example the absence of border controls within the European Union)
and the importance of sovereignty fades as nation-states give up to international
agreements their right to restrict the exchange of these goods.
What prerequisite of political democracy is most opposed to the equation
of money and political power? The equation of money and power, as
explained by Dr. Sutherland, results in a concentration of power in order
to have the impact that money concentrated in large amounts has. Big money
is never ignored, nor is might. To distribute power among many, and thus
insist that power differs fundamentally from money, requires much faith
in the ability of people to manage their own affairs. Such faith seems
warranted where individual initiative is unleashed and the result is to
increase the total amount of power for pursuit of national ends. (Note:
There is no definitive answer, since "the right to participate
is as broad as possible" [p. 143] is a prerequisite that could be
the basis of an equally outstanding answer).
Contrast the term "social democrat" and "liberal democrat"
as the latter is applied to a candidate like Gov. Dean? Social democrat
is a term that grows out of 19th century socialist ideology while liberal
democrat refers to the left wing of the American Democratic Party, which
originated in 18th century liberalism. Liberalism and socialism differ
fundamentally on supplying such social goods as health, education, housing,
etc. Liberalism places primary responsibility on the individual. Socialism
makes the state responsible for supplying these goods and the state taxes
individuals to pay for what it supplies. In the U.S. during the 1930's,
the Great Depression drove people who regarded themselves as liberals
into increasing the role of the national government in providing social
services. Such people were called neo-liberals, but today they are more
commonly known in the media as liberal democrats. The Democratic Party
leaders of the 1960's and 1970's, including George McGovern, Teddy Kennedy,
Barney Frank, etc. continue to be recognized as active liberal democrats,
but among Democratic contenders for the Party nomination, Gov. Dean is
most often cited as a liberal democrat.
What are two of the three reasons Eland gives for explaining why an
American empire will result in a loss of U. S. global prominence?
An American empire is vulnerable on three counts: 1) the free rider effect,
2) the emergence of balance-prone powers to rival the superpower, 3) the
danger of overextension. First, weaker powers are spared the expense of
providing for their own security, since the imperial power insists on
maintaining an overwhelmingly dominant position in military might. The
result is that weaker powers usually grow faster than the dominant power,
which must continually chase terrorists and keep choas in check, activities
that consume much wealth but generate none. Second, a dominant power,
like the U.S., provokes rivals to try to become an equal in power and
might. At first, the dominant power may be so superior that rivals fail,
but as the burden of providing security becomes heavier and heavier, rivals
stand a better chance and eventually they bring down the dominant power.
Third, providing peace and security is an open-ended task. There are no
obvious lines that can be drawn to limit the responsibility of a dominant
power. As a result, the dominant power inevitably becomes overextended.
Exhaustion results and the dominant power ceases eventually to be able
to respond fast enough and with enough might to far-flung outbreaks of
violence. Rivals are always on the alert for any weakness and are quick
to take advantage. Eland insists that the U.S. can remain strong only
so long as it refuses to shoulder many of the world-wide, security responsibilities
that seem now to be directed to it.
Which two of the five methods of 3rd party diplomacy does P. M. Blair
have in mind? The least likely methods are the ones that depend most
on an international court or other legal structures, since the U.S. has
no confidence in these methods. Among the three remaining, "good
offices," "mediation," and "conciliation" a good
case could be made for any one, depending on how sharp the dispute and
how much the U. S. trusts Britain. In mild disputes in which Britain is
highly trusted, conciliation may be effective. Britain could then lead
a diplomatic team that investigates the dispute and recommends a solution
that the U.S. is likely to accept. More commonly, however, good offices
are the method of first choice. As a neutral party outside the dispute,
Britain provides a calm setting in which the two opposing sides can get
a fair hearing and begin to engage each other in the search for common
ground on which to resolve differences. Mediation makes Britain more active
in seeking a resolution. It would investigate the differences independently
of what each party contends and it would develop a proposed solution that
is fair to both.
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