Nigeria's Rigged Democracy

Happy Holiday's All!!
I hope that you are all having an enjoyable vacation. Throughout the semester we have investigated a number of different countries who are trying to make the transition to a legitimate democracy. We discussed early on in the semester how the world seems to be experiencing another wave of democratization whether it be Putin's Russia, Mexcio, Nigeria, and when we return from vacation Iran. We have also discussed, in great lengths, that not all transitions are smooth and easy and in addition that the western version of democracy is not always the best version. Clearly Nigeria has many hurdles to overcome if they are to ever become a legitimate democracy. After reading the Foreign Affairs article entitled Nigeria's Rigged Democracy and using any information you have absorbed from class, please indicate your feelings about Nigeria's future as a democracy.

FYI: In your blog I will be looking for at least one reference to the article.

The Last Great Revolution

In a short, but informative blogging fashion, provide the class with your thoughts about the book we are reading entitled The Last Great Revolution. Some things you might want to discuss could include:
- what you have learned so far
- whether or not you like the book
- has there been anything that has surprised you? If so what was it?
- has your opinion of the Iranian people changed?

I am really interested and looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Must post before the start of class on Thursday Nov 12th

Renewing American Leadership

The following article, written by then Illinois Senator & Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, was printed in the July/August 2007 edition of Foreign Affairs magazine. This article discusses President-Elect Obama's foreign policy and his vision for America's future as it applies to the world. Read this article and reflect on what President-elect Obama has to say. Do you agree? Disagree?? Do you like what he has to say or not? Explain.


http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20070701faessay86401/barack-obama/renewing-american-leadership.html

The Last Great Revolution

First off let me say how impressed I was at the in-depth discussion we had today in class. We will continue this on Tuesday. As a linking point from Friday to Tuesday what I would like you to do is BRIEFLY respond to the prompt below as well as to your classmates blog entries.

Discuss whether or not you think this book has done a decent job so far of clarifying any misinterpretations you may have had about Islam and/or Iran. Explain.

Is there any one specifc thing that you learned or that surprised you about Iran?

As a sidenote for Monday, I would like to continue the discussion of whether or not democracy and Islam can be work together.

Where Have All the Voters Gone?

According to Thomas Patterson, "Where have All the Voters Gone?"

Discuss

a) what has happened?

b) why this has happened?

c) what can be done to fix the problem.

d) Your thoughts on the article and this issue.

The Future of U.S. & Chinese Economics

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20080901faessay87504/henry-m-paulson-jr/a-strategic-economic-engagement.html

Discussion Question:
What path should the United States take in establishing a economic foreign policy in regards to the emerging and growing economic power of Communist China so as to peacefullyco-exist in this ever changing global economy?

Include your thoughts on what you believe the U.S. foreign policy should be towards China as it grows into a Communist economic super-power

Next U.S. President & Foreign Affairs

Read the following article and write a short 2-3 paragraph response about what lies ahead for the next American president and what your thoughts are about this issue and the points mentioned in this article.

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20080901faessay87501-p0/richard-holbrooke/the-next-president.html