International Political Systems Final Exam

To be graded as follows: Per item:
Discussion 10 pts.
Creativity and insight 10 pts.
Reasoning ability and subject matter content 10 pts.

1.  Compare a) preventive diplomacy from b) diplomacy and c) global monitoring system.  Draw a conceptual framework for each and give current event examples to explain which is most effective.

2.  Draw a timeline that highlights at least five events in Islamic development as it impacts on the international political system.  Provide a concise narrative detailing the significance of Islam as an element of international politics.

NATO and Cyber Security

For the class on IPS, our final simulation will focus on the growing threat on National Security.  Position papers must show:

1. Your country's technological reliance and capacity.
2. Your country's experience in terms of being the victim of cyber attack.
3. Your country's current policy/s on cyber security.
4. Your country's (you as a student of IPS) proposal to secure the world from cyber attacks.

The country assignment (along with speaker sequence for the simulation) is as follows.

Abelard - Greece (3)
Carlo - Czeck Republic (5)
Duane - Italy (2)
Irene - UK (1)
Jilian - Poland (4)

Pls. remember to consult the grading metric for the simulation so that you can prepare properly.  Do not make it a report.  It is a live interaction between representatives of countries.  Hence, make reactions, evaluations of your colleagues policies, and follow parliamentary procedure.

The simulation will use the following sequence:

1st round : proposals (follow speaker sequence above) 4-5 min.
2nd round : consolidation - members must choose to support one other member and oppose another.  Also 4-5 minutes.

To support requires similarity with the policy of the other member.  You must attempt to consolidate any differences in your proposal.
To oppose requires that you provide a rationale for not wanting the proposal of that member.

Below is a link to two basic parliamentary procedure guides: learn them, they will be part of the finals exam.

http://consulting.rootaction.org/documents/parliamentary.pdf


https://ga.berkeley.edu/files/delegates/2010-09-30/A-B-Cs%20of%20Parliamentary%20Procedure%202008.pdf


http://www.mncounties.org/Publications/FYIs/PDF/ParliamentaryProcedure08.pdf

International Political Systems: Within the Confines of an IO

International Organizations (IO's) are the manifest institutions within the international political system (IPS).  To think of IO's though as the end-all and be-all of of IPS study is a fatal mistake not just for research but also for the practical applications of political science and international relations.  The phenomenon of a political system be it internal/national or external/international is both composed of matter and form.  This way of viewing the political world can be attributed to Aristotle cf. Cohen (2002) and Miller (2011) who applied his medical metaphysics to politics.

These  matter and form of the international political system are 1) international principles, customs, and protocol, and 2) international institutions respectively.  As social power allows a persons to exert his or her will in any given environment even in the presence of an opposed will, then both matter and form help shape how this power is exercised.  Let's say for example a particular international actor wants higher income from their foreign trade by lessening the economic barriers such tariffs and quotas on their goods.  Such actor will have to resort to two possible institutions: one will be an IO with an economic mandate (whether it be global or regional), another institution can be an international legal instrument such a bilateral or multilateral treaty regulating trade.

To view the system only through this lens incapacitates international actors.  The second aspect must be considered to provide a holistic view if one means to come up with a truly practical foreign policy.  There exists possible international principles, customs and protocol that will have an impact on any international actor's agenda.  If institutions constitute the "form" (since they are structured), then principles, customs, and protocol compose the "matter" of the system.  "Formal" international laws, the codified treaties and charters are actual "forms", principles, customs, and protocol are non-codified, hence they are material rather than formal.  Unwritten and unpublished they may be, these matters of the international system can confine political action, sometimes manifesting a force even stronger than law.

The Principle of Par in parem non habet imperium (trans "an equal has no power over an equal) elucidates the idea of non-intervention and external sovereignty of states.  Human Rights, on the other hand, are values that IO's incorporate into practice by codifying them in order to promote a new set of principles in the relations among states.

For your class output, each student of IPS must post a comment providing 2-4 "matters" in the international political system, and provide a short application for each (e.g. how does such matter shape the exercise of power in the international political system?). Some of these can be found from your readings.  Incorporate research to supplement this task and enrich your post.  Do not forget to use appropriate source citations.

 
Sources:

Cohen, M. (2002). Aristotle on Substance, Matter and Form. Retrieved 2012, from Washington University: http://faculty.washington.edu/smcohen/320/zeta17.htm#text1

Miller, F. (2011). Aristotle's Political Theory. Retrieved 2012, from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-politics/

Photo Credit:

Rlineurope. (2012). Flying Buttress Ceiling in Mont. St. Michel. Retrieved 2012, from Travelpod: http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?start=281&num=10&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=4Ur&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=742&tbm=isch&tbnid=S1P1xFpnj7NqQM:&imgrefurl=http://tripwow.tripadvisor.com/slideshow-photo/flying-buttress-celing-in-mont-st-