What are some causes of the widening income gap? Which two factors do you consid

What are some causes of the widening income gap? Which two factors do you consider the most crucial, and why?
— (1) Formulate your argument and (2) provide supporting ideas/details based on the course readings and external sources.
[Guidelines]
– Choose two factors that are most important to you and elaborate why you think the two are more important compared to other factors.
– Cite at least 2 academic articles assigned in class and 1 external source of your choice (e.g., news articles, policy reports) that effectively support your ideas. Briefly discuss their main arguments and connect them to your perspective.
– Avoid merely summarizing the articles. Strive to strike a balance between presenting your understanding and expressing your opinions.
– When citing external sources, ensure proper referencing (any citation style is acceptable as long as it is consistent).
– Please follow the formatting guideline in the syllabus and do not include your name anywhere in the content
based on criteria of clarity, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and organization. When writing
a paper, refrain from simply summarizing the readings. Detailed explanations for each criterion
will be posted on Carmen. Mini papers must adhere to specific formatting requirements: 12-
point Times New Roman font, single-spaced, with 1-inch margins all around. The expected
length for mini papers is between ½ and 1 page. Papers that are too short or too long will have
a negative impact on one’s grade.

Fukuyama’s The End of History is often cited as an admiration for American democ

Fukuyama’s The End of History is often cited as an admiration for American democracy and a triumphant expression of America’s victories in the Cold War. But isn’t that a big misunderstanding? Isn’t the book rather a criticism of American democracy and an admiration for Hegel, Kojève and Europe’s development towards a peaceful EU? Discuss.
Here are some requirements that are expected:
The term paper should have an argument or a central point, and it should discuss an issue, not just describe facts or reproduce what others have written. The structure of a good term paper can be: Actualisation and specification of the research question, statement and explanation of the theory that will be used in the assignment, presentation of empirical data, discussion and conclusion. There is no standard recipe for a really good term paper – because one of the things that makes a paper outstanding is often that it challenges conventions in the field. However, there are some simple, general criteria for good academic form. The most important cornerstones of a good term paper are that it is logically organised, empirically substantiated (e.g. by using examples to verify something), theoretically informed and written in good, clear language. Tip: read political science articles and look at the structure, language and argumentation, and the use of sources and references. The most important criteria on which the term paper will be assessed are (1) clarity of the problem, argumentation and presentation, (2) grounding in research literature, (3) logical presentation of the link between argument and premise conclusion, (4) substantiation of the arguments with sources or examples.
In the term paper, the student is required to document claims about empirical conditions (“facts”) and references to existing research literature (“theory” and “method”) with
reference to sources. These sources may be scientific articles, textbooks including methodological literature and “classics”, public documents, reference works, and to a lesser extent newspapers and websites, etc. The term paper must refer to at least 3 scientific sources (peer-reviewed articles and/or book chapters)

The proposal must include a research question/thesis, an outline of the envision

The proposal must include a research question/thesis, an outline of the envisioned paper, and a preliminary list of scholarly sources. The topic must be discussed with and approved by me. Select a specific research topic that interests you and is relevant to your course. Ensure it is not too broad and can be explored within the scope of your paper.
Your research question or thesis statement should be clear and concise. It should outline the main goal of your paper.
Create a rough outline of the paper to give an overview of how you plan to structure your research. This can include sections, sub-sections, and a brief descriiption of what each section will cover. Include a list of academic sources you plan to consult for your paper. Ensure they are relevant to your research topic. You can provide the titles, authors, publication dates, and a brief summary of their relevance to your research.
Use Chicago reference style. Chicago Style Quick Guide: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

Compare and contrast the views of liberals and conservatives on a variety of iss

Compare and contrast the views of liberals and conservatives on a variety of issues.
Be sure to address:
Basic beliefs of modern liberals and modern conservatives
Economic issues, Crime, Civil Rights, Abortion, Immigration
Any other issues you find relevant
DONT USE AI!!

Midterm Essay Exam Instructions  THIS IS FOR MIDTERM ESSAY 1- ONLY DO ESSAY 1 In

Midterm Essay Exam Instructions 
THIS IS FOR MIDTERM ESSAY 1- ONLY DO ESSAY 1
Instructions: You may have noticed that there are two Midterm sections–Midterm 1 and Midterm 2. The first essay is to be submitted as Midterm Essay 1, and the second is submitted as Midterm Essay 2. Simcheck will be used to guarantee that you are the author of each essay.  All scores over over 60% will recieve, automatically, zero points.  Always write your own essay using your own syntax and without using outside sources. No late papers are accepted. No extensions are allowed for the midterm.
For the essays: Answer all parts of each Essay question(s).  It should be a Word doc or .docx.  All other types–Zip files, pdf, Google docs, and Google pages–are NOT accepted.  All assignments must be typed, double-spaced, using either Courier, Times New Roman or similar type. Font size must be between 11 and 14. Anything other will NOT be accepted.  Instructor is not responsible for any electronic malfunctions.
Each essay is worth 50 points–so put in your best energy into this exam. Only use the course materials (textbooks, lectures, etc.).  Do NOT use outside sources. Each essay should be at least 4-5 pages in length. 
1. This essay is to be submitted as Midterm Essay #1.
– Define and explain the concept of federalism. Include in your discussion the different types of federalism, with examples. Discuss the constitutional logic of federalism.  Identify the powers and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of federalism? Identify and explain those advantages and disadvantages. 
Sources: (can only use these 3 sources)
– This is the link to one of the textbooks:
– https://assets.openstax.org/oscms-prodcms/media/documents/AmericanGovernment3e-WEB.pdf?_gl=1*x5v7im*_ga*NTgyODg2NjQ1LjE3MDkzMzc3MzU.*_ga_T746F8B0QC*MTcxMDgyMDY1Mi40LjAuMTcxMDgyMDY1OS41My4wLjA.
– Chapter 3 talks about Federalism
– Here is a link to the second textbook:
– https://madoc4.homestead.com/california_government_and_poli.pdf
– If you use the search function, you can search the term “federalism”. This word only appears 6 times in the entire textbook, all in chapter 1. It also has a glossary that defines federalism.
– I have attached a transcript of the Federalism lecture, it comes from a 9 minute lecture video so the transcript is not that long
Make sure to Cite the sources in MLA format

Midterm Essay Exam Instructions  THIS IS FOR MIDTERM ESSAY 2- ONLY DO ESSAY 2 I

Midterm Essay Exam Instructions 
THIS IS FOR MIDTERM ESSAY 2- ONLY DO ESSAY 2
Instructions: You may have noticed that there are two Midterm sections–Midterm 1 and Midterm 2. The first essay is to be submitted as Midterm Essay 1, and the second is submitted as Midterm Essay 2. Simcheck will be used to guarantee that you are the author of each essay.  All scores over over 60% will recieve, automatically, zero points.  Always write your own essay using your own syntax and without using outside sources. No late papers are accepted. No extensions are allowed for the midterm.
For the essays: Answer all parts of each Essay question(s).  It should be a Word doc or .docx.  All other types–Zip files, pdf, Google docs, and Google pages–are NOT accepted.  All assignments must be typed, double-spaced, using either Courier, Times New Roman or similar type. Font size must be between 11 and 14. Anything other will NOT be accepted.  Instructor is not responsible for any electronic malfunctions.
Each essay is worth 50 points–so put in your best energy into this exam. Only use the course materials (textbooks, lectures, etc.).  Do NOT use outside sources. Each essay should be at least 4-5 pages in length. 
This essay is to be submitted as Midterm Essay #2.
– Discuss the role of the Electoral College in our democratic system.  Why do we have to use the Electoral College (think Constitution!!) How has it changed from the original language in the US Constitution?  Discuss thoroughly how the Electoral College functions today.  Include in your essay the following: how are Electors chosen? How many are chosen (both at the national and state level)? Where and when do they cast their votes? How many Electoral votes are needed to obtain the presidency? What happens if no one candidate gets the necessary number of votes to win the presidency (what’s the back-up plan?)??  In your opinion, should the US keep the Electoral College? Why or why not?
Sources: (can only use these 3 sources)
– This is the link to one of the textbooks:
– https://assets.openstax.org/oscms-prodcms/media/documents/AmericanGovernment3e-WEB.pdf?_gl=1*x5v7im*_ga*NTgyODg2NjQ1LjE3MDkzMzc3MzU.*_ga_T746F8B0QC*MTcxMDgyMDY1Mi40LjAuMTcxMDgyMDY1OS41My4wLjA.
– Starting at page 20, it talks about the electoral college
– Here is a link to the second textbook:
– https://madoc4.homestead.com/california_government_and_poli.pdf
– If you use the search function, you can search the term “electoral”. It also has a glossary that defines “electoral votes”.
– I have attached a slideshow of the Electoral College lecture
Make sure to Cite the sources in MLA format

Please remember on a discussion board your intitial post is due on Thursday 11:5

Please remember on a discussion board your intitial post is due on Thursday 11:59pm and your peer comments are due on Sunday 11:59pm
For this discussion board assignment, you will need to have watched the web links on campaign ads and candidate television appearances. There are two sets of questions. You are to answer both questions in your initial discussion board thread. Make sure you thoroughly address all prompts below in order to receive full credit. Reflect on the clips of famous campaign ads. Which ad is most effective and why? Do any ads cross the line? Can negative ads hurt a candidate they are supposed to help?
How effective are late night T.V. appearances by candidates? What do they really tell us about the candidates? How important is it for voters to like the candidate? Does it get issues out to people who may not read political news or watch debates?
Your response to the above prompts will be your initial discussion board thread. Once you have completed your initial thread you are to comment on a peer’s discussion post. Do you agree with their assessment of the campaign ads and television appearances? Do you see areas of similarity between your response and theirs? Remember to include specific references to their response and use complete sentences.
CAMPAIGN ADD LINK:

TV CANDIDATE APPEARENCES LINK:

What the topic is about: In the context of the Qatar blockade, the concept of “C

What the topic is about: In the context of the Qatar blockade, the concept of “Communities of Feeling” elucidates how shared emotions, initially fueled by anxiety, were harnessed to bolster patriotism and loyalty to the leadership. Examining the “Directionality of Emotions,” it becomes apparent how these emotions were strategically mobilized to strengthen national unity and support for the government amidst the crisis, while also considering the potential demobilizing effects of fear and uncertainty. Furthermore, the notion of “Moral Shocks” highlights how the sudden imposition of the blockade disrupted existing moral frameworks, prompting emotional responses that reshaped political attitudes and allegiance within Qatari society.
The proposal should include clearly marked sections:
-Statement of topic
-Thesis paragraph
-Literature Review
On the difference between a lit review and an annotated bibliography–a lit review is a narrative that interprets, combines, and relates a set of texts together, putting them in conversation with one another to characterize the literature on a particular topic and to set up your own contribution to it, while an annotated bibliography is simply a set of discrete summaries. A lit review should be written in essay form, and should not treat each text separately, but rather identify commonalities and differences in concepts, theory, methodology, etc.
-Case Background
The proposal should be 4-6 pages (not including title page or bibliography, 12-point font and one-inch margins, with page numbers) and may be on any topic that relates to the themes of the course. Papers must substantively engage at least 4 sources from the syllabus, though you are encouraged to use supplemental literature.
Use all 4 readings attached with additional sources (Chapter 4 of the Hutchinson reading in relevant to this research topic)

answer the questions from the reading here is The reading : Authoritarian Regim

answer the questions from the reading here is The reading :
Authoritarian Regimes •Types of Authoritarian Regimes & The Logic of Authoritarianism
o Milan W. Svolik, The Politics of Authoritarian Rule (New York: Cambridge University Press,
2012), Chapters 1 and 2, pgs. 1-45.
o Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way, “Elections Without Democracy: The Rise of
Competitive Authoritarianism,” Journal of Democracy. 2002, Vol. 13, No. 2, pgs. 51-65.
o Barbara Geddes, Erica Frantz, & Joseph G. Wright, “Military Rule,” Annual Review of
Political Science. 2014, Vol. 17, pgs. 147-62.
• Studying Authoritarian Regimes
o Yuhua Wang, “Institutions and Bribery in an Authoritarian State,” Studies in Comparative
International Development. 2014, Vol. 49, No. 2, pgs. 217-241.
o Sebastian Hellmeier and Nils B. Weidmann, “Pulling the Strings? The Strategic Use of Pro-
Government Mobilization in Authoritarian Regimes,” Comparative Political Studies. 2020,
Vol. 53, No. 1, pgs. 71-108.
and here is the questions that you should answer 1. What is an authoritarian regime? What are the different types of authoritarian regimes we have read this week?
2. Is an authoritarian regime different from a competitive authoritarian regime? If yes, how does it differ?
3. What are the two entrenched problems of authoritarian rule regarding the regime stability discussed by Svolik (2012) in his book?
4. How do the inherent dilemmas make a regime crisis in a competitive authoritarian rule?
5. How will you define military rule as one of the forms of authoritarian governance? Do military dictatorships act differently than civilian-led dictatorships?
6. Do the military strongmen behave differently than the military regimes to tackle the crisis in governing the states?
7. Please explain which institutional factors we have read in Wang’s (2013) article influence bribery between firms and public officials in an authoritarian state? Can we generalize the findings of Wang’s (2013) study to other parts of the world?
8. How do the pro-government rallies in authoritarian rule maintain the regime stability? What are the costs and risks of pro-government mobilization faced by the authoritarian rulers?