Monday, April 28, 2014

Comparative Test Fortunes Found in these 'Cookies' posted by (thanks!) Ken Wedding

The New York Times account of the passage of a new environmental protection law in China offers a perception of a legislative process that is very similar to one practiced in the UK or Mexico or the USA.

China’s Legislature Votes to Toughen Environmental Protection Law

The Chinese legislature decided Thursday to revise the country’s environmental protection law…

The legal revisions were approved Thursday by the National People’s Congress [NPC], a legislative body that generally agrees to policies already made by Communist Party leaders. Li Keqiang, China’s prime minister, has said that China is ready to “declare war” on pollution…

You know what's misleading about that account.

The New York Times reporter makes it sound as if the NPC is meeting in Beijing like Parliament does in London, and on Thursday it passed important revisions to environmental protection legislation.

What's wrong with that impression? If you were asked that question on an exam, what would your answer be?

Here's the account by the Chinese news agency Xinhua:

China's NPC adopts revised Environmental Protection Law

The Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, has voted to adopt revisions to the Environmental Protection Law…

The bill was passed with a solid majority of votes…

And the difference between the two accounts?

You should recognize right away that the ±3000 delegates to the NPC are not in session at this time of year. They meet earlier in the spring (March 5-15 in 2014).

You should also know about how political bodies in China regularly have "executive" committees to do the work of larger groups and ask for approval for those actions later. The Communist Party has a Politburo and within that a Standing Committee.

In a system of democratic centralism, policy decisions are made at the very top of the system by very small groups of people. The Party politburo is a group of about 25; the Party Standing Committee has 7 members. Similarly, the 3000-member NPC (meeting yearly) has a standing committee of about 150 (meeting every other month) and the chairman and about 14 vice-chairmen (probably meet weekly or as needed) serve as the executive committee for the NPC Standing Committee.

So, as with the care you must take with Nigerian journalists who carelessly toss around terms like government and regime, we must take care, even with respected journalists like those who write for the New York Times, when they describe political processes in terms that sound familiar. Comparative politics is not easy to get right.
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Facial hair and subversion

The news about beards is probably only one bit in a long list of things the Chinese government wants to know about, but it makes a good headline.

China Offers Rewards for Beard Informants in Muslim-Majority Area

Authorities in western China’s restive, Muslim-majority Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region are offering rewards to locals who inform on their neighbors for “wearing beards,” government-controlled media reported this week. Islamic liturgy recommends that Muslim men wear beards.

In recent months, local officials have tightened religious restrictions on Xinjiang’s ethnic Uighurs, in response to a series of armed attacks that were allegedly perpetrated by Uighur separatists…

Informants in parts of Xinjiang’s Aksu prefecture, an epicenter of the region’s ethnic tensions, can earn anywhere from $8 to $8,000 for reporting their neighbors’ illegal religious or “separatist activity” — which can now include facial hair, according to Chinese newspaper The Global Times.

"That's a lot of money for Uighurs in the south [of the region]. There they are very poor. This is an incentive to betray their fellow Uighurs to get some financial gain," Alim Seytoff, spokesman for the Uighur rights advocacy group World Uyghur Congress (WUC), told Al Jazeera

Local authorities have attempted to suppress various ostensible signs of Muslim religiosity in the past. But Nicholas Bequelin, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, said this appeared to be first time officials are comfortable enough with such measures to allow them to be reported in an English-language publication geared toward foreigners…

Sunday, April 27, 2014

#HSGOVCHAT tonight at 8 pm an AP US GOPO review for YOUDIA on Twitter

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Chris Wolak @ChrisWolak1  ·  9h
: MRT Political Warriors, Mark your calendar for a way YOUDIA can prepare for the AP GOPO exam.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Nigeria at 54: Mixed messages


Watch Part I above and Part II linked below and comment on your prediction of Nigeria's future, and read the two articles and post in comment section by end of the day Tuesday:

Using the FRQ guide given to you on Monday, Describe with evidence from the texts here (and/or Hauss Ch. 15) what is going on in Nigeria today (remember, Economic, Political and Social lenses) and explain why you give the Nigerian State at age 54 a Pass or Fail grade.

Nigeria State of Independence Part 2 of 2

“Growing old is like being increasingly penalized for a crime you have not committed.”


~ Anthony Powell

Nigeria at 50: She's a bit too temperamental for me



Is Nigeria a Failed State?
(Thanks, Ken Wedding Teaching Comparative Blog)

It's a question that's been on the minds of many people. The editors of Leadership ("Nigeria's most influential newspaper") now make their case. Do they cover all the bases described in your textbook? (The editors are not political scientists, so forgive them if they use "state," "government," and "regime" in less than precise ways.)

Can you tell if this editorial is more than just a statement of political opposition to the government of President Jonathan? What resolution is suggested?



Our Stand: This State Has Failed

It’s about time we admitted it: Nigeria has become a failed state… About a third of the country’s land mass has been under emergency rule for the past one year… at least another third of the country including the Federal Capital Territory: mass murders, kidnapping for ransom, daylight armed robberies, breakdown of law and order, and unrestrained stealing of public funds.

Several authorities identify a failed state as one that can no longer perform its basic duties in such areas as security, power, eradication of poverty, education and job creation. Even the Nigerian constitution recognises that the reason for government’s existence is protection of life and property as well as maintenance of law and order. Events of the past few years indicate that Nigeria has since exceeded the minimum requirements for classification as a failed state.

Currently, the nation is still in grief following the massacre of over 100 people and injuring of more than 200 others by a bomb… On the night of the same Monday, Boko Haram, which has been working together with international terrorist groups al-Shabab and al-Qaeda, seized about 100 female students from a school in Chibok…

No day has passed in the past weeks without a tale of one horrendous atrocity or the other committed by the bloodthirsty hoodlums…

After each act of terror, the Nigerian president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has made promises that he has never fulfilled…

And so, we ask again: what is a failed state? In this same country, 6 million university graduates applied for 4, 000 job slots in the Immigration Service. Almost 800, 000 of them were invited for an interview during which 23 of them died as a result of stampedes at some centres…

Our country has, in recent years, always featured on the list of the world’s failed or failing states. In its Failed States Index 2013 released recently, for instance, The Fund for Peace (FFP) ranks the country 16th out of 178 countries. It is only a few points looking better than war-torn Somalia that is ranked first… No wonder the country performed poorly on all indicators used by the FFP: mounting demographic pressure, movement of refugees or internally displaced persons, vengeance-seeking group grievance, human flight, uneven economic development, poverty or severe economic decline, legitimacy of the state, progressive deterioration of services, violation of human rights, security apparatus, rise of factionalised elites and intervention of external actors.

As the State of Emergency imposed on the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa expires this Saturday, President Jonathan should not attempt to extend it, unless he wishes to extend it to a larger part of the country. The leaders of the three states have made it clear that they won’t welcome an extension. After all, the entire nation is in emergency already, as clearly shown in the war with terrorists in the north, and the failed amnesty programme in the Niger Delta leading to the militants’ resumption of hostilities; armed robbers and kidnappers rule the roost in the south-west and the south-east. No doubt, the theatre of war now covers the entire country.

The Jonathan regime has demonstrated a frightening incompetence in the handling of the state’s affairs. It is now beyond doubt that the regime is incapable of protecting the people. This government cannot even protect Nigerians from the next attack or even the following day’s attacks. Before the latest kidnap of school girls in Chibok, nobody seemed to have been looking for or even as much as discussing those kidnapped earlier. All Nigerians now live in extreme fear.

When a state has failed, it should not be left to be propped up by failed leaders and failed politicians. But nothing is unstoppable. This trajectory can still be reversed before it is too late. That is why statesmen must speak up now!

Or does money change (or an apparently surging economy) everything?


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Trending: The Economist explains how Nigeria's economy grew by 89% overnight

Friday, April 18, 2014

AP Comparative Study Aids

 
 

First student to post a quality inference using the chart above to compare the U.S (even though the US is NOT a CP 6 country) and the UK and EU area with the political culture of the welfare state will win a "major (not really) award," in class on Monday.

More importantly, here are some great AP Comparative Review sites (thanks, U.S. Gov't Teachers Blog):

  • Rebecca Small's "Conceptual Terms" which my students all have learned and will review
  • Scribd's AP Comparisons.  This is a great site if you want a quick review of major topics such as type of government, corruption, elections, ethnic conflict, social cleavages, and more.  If you look at the right side of the page you will see summaries for each country.  Russia, Iran, China (but not updated for Xi), Nigeria (Mexico and GB not there and EU is really weak)
  • Andrew Conneen's students' overview of each country (this is really good, but now two years old so Russia has some changes as does Iran). 
  • Ethel Woods' overview of each country (again be warned that this is a few years old)
  • Hauss's multiple choice questions from his previous edition
  • Quizlet also has some great flashcards.  The best way to search them is to write "AP Comparative Name of country" into the Quizlet search engine.  The top search items is usually quite good. 
  • Starting the Final Push: Links for all of U.S. to review

     

    This will be the first of several review posts collected by the Political Warrior:

    Dan Larsen and Andrew Conneen do a great C-SPAN AP US Government review each year a few days before the AP exam.  Larsen is a question leader at AP Government.  Above is their 2013 review and here are the other past ones

    You can watch this year's edition on Saturday May 10th from 9:15 to 10 AM EST on CSPAN.

    (From US Government Teachers Blog)
    Found this great AP Government review guide online (can't remember where and if you know, please tell me so I can give credit where it is due).  It is imposing as it is very lengthy.

    Posted on Wolak's Google Docs Page (under
    AP Gov. 2013-14)
    it is tailored down to 12 pages (minus courts, civil liberties and rights).  They are both done thematically and have boxes for easy answers.

    AP US GOPO Review Guide

    I would have been OK with it...

    Mr. Met is pictured. | AP Photo
     
     
     
    Go Cubs! Politico reports on the story of the Mets' mascot that Bill Clinton's Secret Service men scared his baseball's off.
     
    BTW, AP US TERM-ament South Region (the Presidency) No. 5 seed White House Office. Secret Service staff is among the 1,800 that work in the White House Office.
    

    Wednesday, April 16, 2014

    Sociology Flipped Assignment: The Poor in America

     
     
    For Sociology, by Monday, when we will also also test on Stratification read the linked article below:
     
     
    And answer in the comment section:
     
    3- Pick three direct quotes from the article and explain what they mean to you.
     
    2- With direct support from the text, compare/contrast two people, places or policies mentioned in the article.
     
    1- Summarize your one take-away from the article (what is the main idea, or significance?).
     
    Study Guide for Monday's Test:
     
    American Social Class System                                                
     
    n  Blue Collar
    n  White Collar
    n  Bright Collar
    n  New Collar
    Pink Collar
    (Characteristics of)
     
    Meritocracy
    Social Mobility
    Caste System v. Class System
    Achieved Status
    Ascribed Status
    Karl Marx views
    n  Bourgeoisie
    n  Proletariat
    n  Class Consciousness
    Communitarian/Individualist Capitalism (where is there less Stratification)
    Communism
    Socialism
    Poverty Threshold
    Cycle of Poverty
    Homelessness (in Suburbs)
    Roger & Me (reading on test)
    Welfare
     
     
    

    Wednesday, April 9, 2014

    The Rest of the Story...


    Dialectical Journal, "Who Speaks for Iran?" due Thursday.

    Tuesday, April 8, 2014

    Larger electorate (815m) than U.S., E.U. combined



    India used to be, but is no longer one of the AP comparative 6 countries. Still, several themes can be taken out of the breaking news where the world's most populous democracy goes to the polls this week.

    So with a chance to connect to some of your ethnic family and political culure, we're taking it.

    For Wednesday (posted here by the end of the day):

    Read The Economist's India's New Voters and:

    3 - Define the following three terms: Westminster-style system; seminal; "born-frees"

    2 - Explain a comparison and a contrasting fact or trend with India and one of the other CP 6 countries of case study. Use textual support.

    1 - What is your one take-away summary from the article.

    Monday, April 7, 2014

    Iran cleric warns of takeover attempt on Assembly of Experts




    Do they Tweet? I doubt it, but this made social media noise last week. Could Change becoming to the group that picks the Supreme Leader? And if so, why?

    Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati has alerted listeners to a planned takeover of the Assembly of Experts, the body that chooses and monitors the activities of the supreme leader.


     
     




    Learnerator - Review Site for US and Comparative Gov

    (Posted by AP Gov.org)

    Let me know your review (in the comment section) of Learnerator...hopefully the questions are better than the name.

    Sunday, April 6, 2014

    Time to E-Ran the Home Stretch


    A few years ago, CNN.com ran a hilarious TV marketing campaign, placing CNN's on-air talent in Spinal-Tappish situations. It's nice to see CNN let down their hair a little.

    Here’s hoping we all let our hair down a little as well, before we get down preparing for the AP Test (s), 31 days away (for U.S.), 34 for Comparative as of Sunday.

    We will start Amanpour’s birthplace – E-Ran ­­on Monday. Remember Breakfast Book Club Chats on Tuesday.

    As we hit the home stretch to the high stakes tests (could be worth more than $6000 at U of Illinois), the first one to answer in the comment section on this post the answer to the question: "What is Horse Race Journalism?" will win a prize to be presented on Monday.

    Both Iran and Nigeria (in Northern States) have a political culture based on Sharia (Muslim religious) Law. Most in Iran accept the authority of religious leaders and value a stable government that is involved in economic areas. Individual rights are, to most people, secondary to the needs of the country.

    Hierarchy of Power in Iran: One Man Above All Others -- NY Times infographic on the Supreme Leader.

     You should watch to the two posted flipped videos here. Above, Imam Khomeini - The Man Who Changed The World | Iran & The West. Also, extra credit available for watching ARGO and writting a summary that ties the film to our current study of Iran. Below,  Griding Poverty in Oil-Rich Niger Delta. Given the country's vast oil reserves, Nigerians should theoretically be among the wealthiest populations in the world. But for the people of the Niger Delta poverty, conflict and corruption are a daily reality.

    You will have a take-home exam on Iran, Nigeria and other second semester final given on 5/1, due on 5/6. You may want to check out the College Board Briefing papers on Nigeria and Iran.

    Briefing Paper - Iran PDF document

    Briefing Paper - Nigeria PDF document


    Practice Exams (10 EC points a piece) will be given on the following dates/times:
    US #1 -- Thursday, 5/1 -- 5:45 pm

    Comp #1 -- Monday, 5/5 -- 2:45 pm

    US #2 -- Wednesday, 5/7 -- 5:45 pm

    Comp #2 -- Thursday, 5/8 -- 2:45 pm

    AP Comparative Review Site (thank you Mr. Sergio Sanchez)


    Follow the blog regularly for other links and posts to review for both tests U.S. Government & Politics (Tuesday, 5/13); Comparative Government (Friday, 5/16).