1. Democracy Days: Go to one
of the following and write a summary of the discussion. What did
you think of the presentation? (1-2 pages). You can only do
1 for extra credit. You may NOT get extra credit for attending a lecture during class time.
a) Tuesday, 9/16 : 4 - 5:20 'Silence Means Consent': Gun Violence, Human Rights and Democracy in
Jamaica [HUM 214]
Michael Kuelker (SCC English) speaks on the
interconnectedness of poverty, violence, democracy and human rights in Jamaica
in a presentation which draws from video interviews he conducted while on
assignment for Amnesty International in 2007.
Learn about advocacy from the outside and community-building work from
the inside as Jamaica faces vexing problems of crime and violence. Video
footage includes prominent Jamaican artist/activists Bunny Wailer and Queen
Ifrica as well as ordinary folks.
b) Thursday 9/18: 11:30 - 12:50
Assessing Women's Representation Cross-Nationally: Why are more women
elected to office in Rwanda than in the United States?
The United States falls below the world average of female
legislators and ranks 68th in women's representation worldwide. Diana O'Brien,
a graduate student at Washington University, examines the factors that
influence women's representation in legislatures cross-nationally and features
of the American electoral system that limit women's representation. She will also
take note of solutions implemented by other countries to increase the number of
women elected to office.
c) Thursday, 9/18: 1 - 2:20
Trials in Africa: America's Changing Post-Cold War Foreign Policy
Travis Thompson (SCC History) gives an overview of U.S.
foreign policy in Africa during the Clinton and Bush administrations, focusing
on such pivotal topics as the HIV/AIDS crisis, genocide and economic
development. How has Washington's approach to Africa changed since the fall of
the Soviet Union? How has the world's wealthiest democracy defined its role in
regard to a continent with some of the world's most defunct governments and
poorest peoples?
2. Website Tour:
Due by Midterm
Go to my website and find out the following information
and e-mail it to me.
- In what city on our 2009 tour will we see the "Blue Mosque"?
- On what island on our 2009 tour did St. John write the Book of Revelation?
- Click on "Careers in Political Science" and click on the NC
State link. Scroll down the page and list one example from the
"Sample Career Title."
- List the two people you would contact if you wanted to find out
about the Young Democrats and the Young Republicans?
- Who said "Politics is Who Gets What, When and How"?