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  Unwritten and unpublished they may be, these matters of the international system can confine political action, sometimes manifesting a force even stronger than law.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-

    

International Political Systems Grading System

Our class will be using the same syllabus as provided in the previous IPS class.

Pls note the following grading criteria and course output standards in preparing your course outputs.

Pts. Metric for all Graded Activities and Student Outputs

1-2 = Very unprepared, very flawed output

3-4 = Unprepared, flawed output

5-6 = Average output with minor flaws/errors

7-8 = Good output

9-10 = Exceptional output

Grading Criteria for the Prelim and Final Presentation

10 pts total  = Attire and room setting (appropriate costume, arrangement of room and tables to simulate the chosen international organization).

10 pts total  = Oral presentation of policies during simulated forum (less to no reading or glancing at position paper).

10 pts total  = Observation of protocol (proper simulated behavior as diplomats).

20 pts total  = Exhibited recall of technical jargon and application of lessons learned.

There will be written Prelim and Final Exams…

Both exams will be in objective essay format, which will measure recall of my power point lecture content along with the country profile presentations of your classmates.

Country Profile Presentations on December 1…

Will be graded based on

10 pts = Oral Discussion

10 pts = Powerpoint style

20 pts = Content (country data must be chosen based on your individual Position Paper and Role in the Simulation)

Grading Criteria for Position Papers

10 pts = Research skill

10 pts = Analysis

10 pts = Documentation

10 pts = Discussion of Data

10 pts = Organization of Thoughts and Paper Format

POL201 Final Exam Supplement 2012

GENERAL INSTRUCTION

Give a sensible short essay on the following questions/situations.  Research the actual situation if needed, then  discuss in your own analysis using your own words.  Use 1 paragraph for each, with 5-6 direct sentences.  Minimize using compound-complex sentences.

QUESTION ASSIGNMENT

Students with surname initial belonging to the letter range will answer the corresponding question/situation number:

1Pol1

Surname Initial Letter Range = Question/Situation Number
A-B = 1 and 2
C-D = 3 and 4
E-G = 5 and 6
H-O = 1 and 4
P-S = 3 and 6
T-Z = 2 and 5

1Pol2

Surname Initial Letter Range = Question/Situation Number
A-B = 3 and 4
C-D = 1 and 4
E-L = 3 and 6
M-O 5 and 6
P-S = 4 and 5
U-Y = 2 and 3

1Pol3

Surname Initial Letter Range = Question/Situation Number
A-C = 5 and 6
D-G = 3 and 4
H-L = 3 and 6
M = 2 and 5
O-P = 1 and 4
Q-R = 1 and 2
S = 1 and 6
T-V = 4 and 5


POINTS SYSTEM AND EVALUATION

Each answer will be graded as follows:

5 pts total for logical explanation (student's claims have factual support, and the main idea is easily comprehensible).

5 pts total for comprehension of political concept (student's answer show his/her comprehension of the subject matter and able to apply it expertly to the question/task).

5 pts total for grammar and composition (student uses appropriate university level language).

Grand Total of 15 pts per question.

Pts. Metric

To get the following pts: 

5 - impressive work (rigorously done = accurate and insightful)
4 - properly done (no errors)
3 - acceptable (with errors but good enough work)
2 - poorly made (full of errors) 
1 - failed to do the required task (simply writing a paragraph with political science words is not fulfilling the task)

* Copy pasted and read>typed materials will merit a failure for POL 201.
* I need an essay not, a report.

QUESTIONS/SITUATIONS

1. Provide a realist analysis of current Philippines-China Relationship.

2. If the Philippines is characterized with a subject political culture, is a Parliamentary system possible for implementation? Why?

3. Is the church an agent of political socialization? Does it have any claims for political interest articulation?

4. What type of political party is the Philippine Liberal Party (Mass, Personalistic, etc...).  Explain your answer.

5. Which among the various political ideologies support the Anti-cybercrime law in the Philippines? Give a reasonable argument in support of this law.

6. Among the elements of national power, which does the Philippines have as its best resource, and which is one is most lacking? Explain your answer.