Government
Prompts:
1. Imagine the European Union (made up entirely of democracies) and China (an authoritarian regime) negotiated and signed a free trade agreement 10 years ago. The term of the agreement runs for 10 more years. But now, E.U. policy experts have demonstrated conclusively that, while this free trade agreement benefits the E.U.’s economy every year, it benefits the Chinese economy more. Compose an essay that provides advice to the E.U. from a Liberal perspective and the advice from a Realist perspective. In your judgment, which perspective provides better advice? Explain your answer and include direct reference to appropriate assigned reading from class.
2. Is “Sources of Soviet Conduct” by George Kennan mostly a Realist essay or mostly a Liberal essay? Explain your answer and include direct reference to appropriate assigned reading from class.
(Special note: I am not asking you to do research about George Kennan. I am asking you to closely scrutinize this reading only using what we have learned and read about Realism and Liberalism. Anything else, including historical research into Kennan, falls outside the scope of this prompt. )
3. Liberal theory emphasizes the benefits of international “exchanges” (diplomacy, education, trade, etc.) and neoliberalism goes even further by emphasizing the benefits of building long term international “linkages” (free trade
, FDI, and institutions like the IMF and WTO, etc.). Radicalism views the last several centuries of international “linkages” much more critically. Which side of this debate is more correct? In other words, are international “exchanges” and “linkages” mostly helpful or mostly harmful? Explain your answer and include direct reference to appropriate assigned reading (SEE ATTACHED) When your essay uses a key concept from from the attached readings, (Snyder and Kennen) you should describe it in 1-2 sentences. Don’t merely name concepts.
For example: If you discuss “anarchy,” describe what that term means in 1-2 sentences.
