Category: Political Science

Please select one song and respond to the prompt attached below in paragraph form. You may use the prompt itself, insert your response, and reupload here, or you may write it in a separate document. Please be sure to upload your response as a word document in the space provided for the assignment and not as a “comment” to the assignment.
Consider one of the songs discussed in class this week. Listen to it, reflect on it, and consider the role that it played in its unique political moment. How is this song used in the service of Power (whether the state or some other locus of power)? Is it used instead to resist Power? Is it a song that began as a vehicle for protest and then was later coopted by the Power? How so? Which of our philosophers’ ideas about power and resistance (and violence) speaks most directly to that dynamic in the song you have chosen?

Songs for the week:

– Neil Young – “Rockin’ in the Free World” (1989)
– Bruce Springsteen – “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
– The Chieftains (feat. Sinéad O’Connor) – “The Foggy Dew” (1995)
– Nine Inch Nails – “Somewhat Damaged” (1999)
– Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – “Matador” (1993)
– The Clash – “Washington Bullets” (1980)
– Rubén Blades – “Desapariciones” (1984)
– The Clash – “Rock the Casbah” (1983)
– Sonic Youth – “Teenage Riot” (1988)

Philosophers (and their concepts) discussed:

– Antonio Gramsci: Cultural Hegemony
– Joseph Nye: Hard and Soft power
– Slavoj Žižek: Objective vs. Subjective Violence (and “Symbolic” Violence)
– Jacques Attali: Music as “Organized Chaos”, Noise as “Simulacrum of Murder”
– Bennett Capers: Pacifying Effect of Music
– T.V. Reed: Punk’s raison d’être
– Michel Foucault: Power and Resistance; the Panopticon
– Byung-Chul Han: Capitalism and “Smart Power”; Social Media as Digital Panoptica

Employment Division v. Smith, is a virtual mini-course about certain aspects of democratic theory that often arise in constitutional law and politics. Employment Division and other free exercise decisions illustrate some of the alternative tests the Supreme Court has developed for determining how to balance the rights of religious minorities against the interests of the government (and the majority) when restrictions are imposed on religious practices. For example, note the difference between the compelling state interest test used in Sherbert v. Verner and the test used in Scalia’s opinion of the court in Employment Division. Similarly, note how the Court justified the Sunday closing laws in the earlier decision in Braunfeld v. Brown, a case discussed in your text book.
Scalia’s opinion of the court in Employment Division raises several complex ideas about democracy and constitutional interpretation. He writes, for example, that to apply the compelling state interest test from Sherbert v. Verner in this context “…would be courting anarchy….” Consider what Scalia is suggesting by using the word “anarchy”. Scalia also argues that leaving the “accommodation” of interests at stake in this case to the “political process” will place certain religious groups at a “disadvantage” but this is a trade-off he’s willing to accept.
What’s the disadvantage he’s referring to and is he correct about this? Should we accept such disadvantages? Debates about these dilemmas inherent in democratic governance have a long history in constitutional law and go back at least to the concerns of some of the Founders who wrote the Constitution and and who were concerned about protecting minorities from the tyranny of the majority. Ideas relating to this problem are found in the Epstein, McGuire and Walker text book on pp. 93-94; 196, and 557 in their discussion about “Footnote 4” in the Supreme Court decision United States v. Carolene Products.
Use this discussion board forum to present your views on whether you think Justice Scalia’s opinion of the court or the dissent written by Justice Blackmun made the stronger argument in the case. Or, do you think that Justice O’Connor presented the stronger argument? Although a brief summary of the case should be included your emphasis should be on which justice you think addressed the issue in the Smith case the best. The central problem reduces to whether in this case a religious minority should be able to claim an exemption from otherwise valid law, as in Wisconsin v. Yoder and Sherbert v. Verner, among other cases.
what is “religion” in this context? How is it to be defined? In other words, what kinds of activities constitute the “religion” within the meaning of the First Amendment and thus trigger its protection? Likewise, the First Amendment prohibits the abridgement of freedom of speech. But again, what constitutes “speech”? And, can speech however we define it, be curtailed under any circumstances even though the prohibition in the First Amendment against “infringement” appears to be absolute when the words say “Congress can make no law….”?
Required book: Epstein, McGuire and Walker, Constitutional Law for a Changing America: Rights, Liberties and Justice. Eleventh Edition. 2022. Sage/CQ Press. ISBN: 978-1-5443-9125-0

Read, watch, or listen to each of the following ancillary materials (there are 5 items).
Write an abstract for each of the ancillary items. Put them all into a single Word or pdf document

Module 2 Discussion Prompts:
Again, these prompts are simply meant to get the discussion started; you may raise any issues relevant to the topic.
-1- Why do you think people join together to form governments?
-2- What is ‘Social Contract Theory’ and, absent government, do you think people would be basically hostile and competitive or benign and cooperative?
-3- When, if ever, is political revolution justified?
-4- Are there contemporary issues/debates in the U.S. where you can apply the ‘Harm Principle’?

Please select one song and respond to the prompt attached below in paragraph form. You may use the prompt itself, insert your response, and reupload here, or you may write it in a separate document. Please be sure to upload your response as a word document in the space provided for the assignment and not as a “comment” to the assignment.
Consider one of the songs discussed in class this week. Listen to it, reflect on it, and consider the role that it played in its unique political moment. How is this song used in the service of Power (whether the state or some other locus of power)? Is it used instead to resist Power? Is it a song that began as a vehicle for protest and then was later coopted by the Power? How so? Which of our philosophers’ ideas about power and resistance (and violence) speaks most directly to that dynamic in the song you have chosen?

Songs for the week:

– Neil Young – “Rockin’ in the Free World” (1989)
– Bruce Springsteen – “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)
– The Chieftains (feat. Sinéad O’Connor) – “The Foggy Dew” (1995)
– Nine Inch Nails – “Somewhat Damaged” (1999)
– Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – “Matador” (1993)
– The Clash – “Washington Bullets” (1980)
– Rubén Blades – “Desapariciones” (1984)
– The Clash – “Rock the Casbah” (1983)
– Sonic Youth – “Teenage Riot” (1988)

Philosophers (and their concepts) discussed:

– Antonio Gramsci: Cultural Hegemony
– Joseph Nye: Hard and Soft power
– Slavoj Žižek: Objective vs. Subjective Violence (and “Symbolic” Violence)
– Jacques Attali: Music as “Organized Chaos”, Noise as “Simulacrum of Murder”
– Bennett Capers: Pacifying Effect of Music
– T.V. Reed: Punk’s raison d’être
– Michel Foucault: Power and Resistance; the Panopticon
– Byung-Chul Han: Capitalism and “Smart Power”; Social Media as Digital Panoptica

Employment Division v. Smith, is a virtual mini-course about certain aspects of democratic theory that often arise in constitutional law and politics. Employment Division and other free exercise decisions illustrate some of the alternative tests the Supreme Court has developed for determining how to balance the rights of religious minorities against the interests of the government (and the majority) when restrictions are imposed on religious practices. For example, note the difference between the compelling state interest test used in Sherbert v. Verner and the test used in Scalia’s opinion of the court in Employment Division. Similarly, note how the Court justified the Sunday closing laws in the earlier decision in Braunfeld v. Brown, a case discussed in your text book.
Scalia’s opinion of the court in Employment Division raises several complex ideas about democracy and constitutional interpretation. He writes, for example, that to apply the compelling state interest test from Sherbert v. Verner in this context “…would be courting anarchy….” Consider what Scalia is suggesting by using the word “anarchy”. Scalia also argues that leaving the “accommodation” of interests at stake in this case to the “political process” will place certain religious groups at a “disadvantage” but this is a trade-off he’s willing to accept.
What’s the disadvantage he’s referring to and is he correct about this? Should we accept such disadvantages? Debates about these dilemmas inherent in democratic governance have a long history in constitutional law and go back at least to the concerns of some of the Founders who wrote the Constitution and and who were concerned about protecting minorities from the tyranny of the majority. Ideas relating to this problem are found in the Epstein, McGuire and Walker text book on pp. 93-94; 196, and 557 in their discussion about “Footnote 4” in the Supreme Court decision United States v. Carolene Products.
Use this discussion board forum to present your views on whether you think Justice Scalia’s opinion of the court or the dissent written by Justice Blackmun made the stronger argument in the case. Or, do you think that Justice O’Connor presented the stronger argument? Although a brief summary of the case should be included your emphasis should be on which justice you think addressed the issue in the Smith case the best. The central problem reduces to whether in this case a religious minority should be able to claim an exemption from otherwise valid law, as in Wisconsin v. Yoder and Sherbert v. Verner, among other cases.
what is “religion” in this context? How is it to be defined? In other words, what kinds of activities constitute the “religion” within the meaning of the First Amendment and thus trigger its protection? Likewise, the First Amendment prohibits the abridgement of freedom of speech. But again, what constitutes “speech”? And, can speech however we define it, be curtailed under any circumstances even though the prohibition in the First Amendment against “infringement” appears to be absolute when the words say “Congress can make no law….”?
Required book: Epstein, McGuire and Walker, Constitutional Law for a Changing America: Rights, Liberties and Justice. Eleventh Edition. 2022. Sage/CQ Press. ISBN: 978-1-5443-9125-0

Social Movements are only as important as the person leading them. The person(s) leading a social movement must have charisma and be able to captivate an audience. Political scientists and historians are taught to analyze body language, especially during debates and speeches.
For this assignment, you will watch Dr Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream
Links to an external site. speech and a speech by Alicia Garza of the Black Lives Matter movement
Links to an external site. and answer questions listed below. Pay special attention to the following aspects in the two speeches.
Importance of body language while delivering the speech.
Gestures, cadence and delivery style.
Answer the following:
Provide a summary of the two speeches.
Compare Dr. King’s leadership, charisma, power and passion to capture his audience to Alicia Garza’s speech. What are the similarities, if any? What are the differences, if any?
How does the location of the speeches support their messaging? Dr. King’s speech was held in a church and at the Lincoln Memorial, whereas today we have social networking and more avenues to relay messages. Does messaging make a difference?
Describe how the audience in Dr. King’s speeches relate to the Alicia Garza’s audience. Do you see a similarity or differences in the speeches and in the audience?
Requirements
Length: 2-3 pages of substantive content
12 pt font
Parenthetical in-text citations included and formatted in APA style  
References page (a minimum of 2 outside scholarly sources .
Title and introduction pages are present.

In Chapter 1 of International Conflict Management, the authors compare Conflict Management and Conflict Resolution. Discuss the main differences between the two approaches and how they interrelate.
Book: Greig, J. M., Owsiak, A. P., & Diehl, P. F. (2019). International conflict management. Polity.
300-500 words response

Using a systematic approach, search a range of appropriate databases to identify ONE original, peer reviewed PRIMARY research article. The research design of your chosen article will include either qualitative and/or quantitative data. Introduction: This section introduces and recognises the importance of evidence-based practice within pre-hospital care. Critically reflect upon your own and other stakeholders involvement in the research process. Provide a brief introduction of your chosen area of enquiry to signpost the assignment. Background: This section will include how you formulated the research question and introduces the title of the primary study chosen for critical appraisal. Evidence of your search will be included either within this section or attached as an appendix. (PRISMA flow chart) Main body: This section includes the design and methodology of the study chosen; the strengths and weaknesses of the study and a critique using an appropriate critical appraisal checklist. (CASP check list). Describe here the difference between primary and secondary research. Discuss here the validity of the research such as factors such as did the research take place in just a rural or urban environment? How long the study took place? Did the research take place in an affluent or poor environment? And how would these factors affect the results and validity of the findings. Discuss the difference here between quantitative (numeric values) and qualitative research (opinions)
Conclusion: This section summarises your interpretation of the findings, conclusions of the study and the impact on pre hospital healthcare.
Ensure that it
– Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of research methodologies and methods and the show ability to appraise them. Demonstrate the ability to formulate a research question and critically use search skills to undertake a literature search. Demonstrate competence in appraising research and evidence. Understand and apply the necessary ethical considerations required of research specific to practice.

Describe the overall purpose of the National Disaster Recovery Framework, including the Core Principles, Capabilities, and Processes essential for all communities to manage and improve recovery more effectively following an incident of any size or scale. Describe the whole community of stakeholders, including their roles and responsibilities during the recovery phase of the disaster. Describe the relevant Statutory and Executive orders and Authority primarily used during the disaster recovery phase.