ignore this its homework and argus is down
Fate of Melos Debate Instructions
This role-playing exercise reproduces a debate contained in Thucydides’ the Peloponnesian War. The debate illustrates competing worldviews about the nation-state system and international relations.
1. Go to the Fate of Melos website (see link on e-learning).
2. Read the historical background
3. Read EITHER
The Debate of the Athenian Assembly
OR
The Debate of the Melian Council
4. at the end of the debate, Vote for a course of action
5. Go back to the main page and click on the commentary on the debate you read; look over it to see how the debate relates to world views of international relations
Then, to prepare you for our in-class debate, jot down a few notes for your own use which answer the following questions:
1. Which side did you choose to read about (Athens or Melos), and which course of action did you choose for that country?
Melos- offer neutrality and if not work with them
2. Which arguments did you find most convincing in deciding on a course of action?
We will die; they’re fighting for a good cause
3. Which course of action did your country actually choose; do you think a similar outcome would occur today if similar circumstances arose?
The same one, no, the opposing country would offer aid swiftly in order to obtain an ally
5/22/2007
• Nation- group of people who share a common identity based on important social distinctions: religion, race, territory, language
• ethnic nation- born into, exclusive
• citizen nation- territory based, believe in ideals, pledge loyalty, inclusive
• lines between citizen and ethnic sometimes blurred
• nationalism- nation seeks to gain or keep control of its destiny
• goals of nationalism:
1. state seeking- nation has no state, want one
2. nation/government seeking- stir up feelings of nationalism to serve a political purpose and maintain unity
3. seek better treatment, more autonomy from the state
• 25 states (out of 193) have one nation making up more than 90% of their population
• 56 have a nation making up 50-89%
• 39 have a nation that makes up half their population
Ethnic conflict
• ethnic diversity alone rarely leads to conflict
• tied to politics
• most ethnic civil wars- Africa, Asia… all have week states
Nationalism- good or bad?
• moral principle (should/ shouldn’t be able to do)
• darker side- civil war, violence (state seeking), superiority complex
• us vs. them= natural, hierarchy (political) thought of as okay= bad
• security dilemma
• xenophobia (fear outsiders) racism
• good= self destiny, unify nation, provide legitimacy for state, work toward common good, national security, taxes
Issues
• Is there a moral argument for keeping people out of your country?
• who is the WE in WE THE PEOPLE
- WE will disappear?
- Diluting by additional cultures?
What forces pull against nationalist feeling?
• globalization
• Sub national loyalties= race etc…
• religion- Catholicism vs. liberal state, ideals, Islam
• cosmopolitanism/ multiculturalism
Global issues
• incongruence between nation states
• diasporas: people from homeland spread out and become politicized, clump together geographically
• irredentism- country believes fellow nationals are across border and want to annex them
• threats to national identity because of globalization- fear overrun by American culture ex
Terrorism
• violence: realized or threatened
• against civilians spreads fear uncertainty and terror
• to attain political ends
• nonstate actors usually
• state sponsored terrorism
• only US is proven to have used state sponsored terrorism by the UN
• state terror
• trends: more lethal per attack, Americans increasingly targeted
• goals: 1800-present-
1. empires
2. colonial powers
3. globalization and neocolonialism- spread of globalization leads to democratization, capitalism, individualism, secularism, cultural values, consumerism
4. religious goals
5. residual contingency- environmental, right wing
Nuclear terrorism-
• Is it likely?
• No: fuel hard to get, expensive, much expertise required. All gov’t want to prevent= no leakage. threat purposefully overblown by media
• Yes: motivation means and opportunity.
• yes but: keep risk in perspective, nuclear, radiation, ties into terrorist goal of spreading fear, uncertainty, panic, policies should be highly focused on detection and containment
Nonviolent prevention of terrorism-
• root causes of sympathy for terrorism
• separate terrorists from sympathizers
• political economic issues
• structural efforts to not allow, root out, suffocate terrorism: poverty reduction, democracy, create culture of peace, education
• stop unnecessary military, political intervention in other states: intervening to help ones own political ends is bad
Security, military
• state security- sovereignty, nonintervention vs. human security- we are all human beings
This role-playing exercise reproduces a debate contained in Thucydides’ the Peloponnesian War. The debate illustrates competing worldviews about the nation-state system and international relations.
1. Go to the Fate of Melos website (see link on e-learning).
2. Read the historical background
3. Read EITHER
The Debate of the Athenian Assembly
OR
The Debate of the Melian Council
4. at the end of the debate, Vote for a course of action
5. Go back to the main page and click on the commentary on the debate you read; look over it to see how the debate relates to world views of international relations
Then, to prepare you for our in-class debate, jot down a few notes for your own use which answer the following questions:
1. Which side did you choose to read about (Athens or Melos), and which course of action did you choose for that country?
Melos- offer neutrality and if not work with them
2. Which arguments did you find most convincing in deciding on a course of action?
We will die; they’re fighting for a good cause
3. Which course of action did your country actually choose; do you think a similar outcome would occur today if similar circumstances arose?
The same one, no, the opposing country would offer aid swiftly in order to obtain an ally
5/22/2007
• Nation- group of people who share a common identity based on important social distinctions: religion, race, territory, language
• ethnic nation- born into, exclusive
• citizen nation- territory based, believe in ideals, pledge loyalty, inclusive
• lines between citizen and ethnic sometimes blurred
• nationalism- nation seeks to gain or keep control of its destiny
• goals of nationalism:
1. state seeking- nation has no state, want one
2. nation/government seeking- stir up feelings of nationalism to serve a political purpose and maintain unity
3. seek better treatment, more autonomy from the state
• 25 states (out of 193) have one nation making up more than 90% of their population
• 56 have a nation making up 50-89%
• 39 have a nation that makes up half their population
Ethnic conflict
• ethnic diversity alone rarely leads to conflict
• tied to politics
• most ethnic civil wars- Africa, Asia… all have week states
Nationalism- good or bad?
• moral principle (should/ shouldn’t be able to do)
• darker side- civil war, violence (state seeking), superiority complex
• us vs. them= natural, hierarchy (political) thought of as okay= bad
• security dilemma
• xenophobia (fear outsiders) racism
• good= self destiny, unify nation, provide legitimacy for state, work toward common good, national security, taxes
Issues
• Is there a moral argument for keeping people out of your country?
• who is the WE in WE THE PEOPLE
- WE will disappear?
- Diluting by additional cultures?
What forces pull against nationalist feeling?
• globalization
• Sub national loyalties= race etc…
• religion- Catholicism vs. liberal state, ideals, Islam
• cosmopolitanism/ multiculturalism
Global issues
• incongruence between nation states
• diasporas: people from homeland spread out and become politicized, clump together geographically
• irredentism- country believes fellow nationals are across border and want to annex them
• threats to national identity because of globalization- fear overrun by American culture ex
Terrorism
• violence: realized or threatened
• against civilians spreads fear uncertainty and terror
• to attain political ends
• nonstate actors usually
• state sponsored terrorism
• only US is proven to have used state sponsored terrorism by the UN
• state terror
• trends: more lethal per attack, Americans increasingly targeted
• goals: 1800-present-
1. empires
2. colonial powers
3. globalization and neocolonialism- spread of globalization leads to democratization, capitalism, individualism, secularism, cultural values, consumerism
4. religious goals
5. residual contingency- environmental, right wing
Nuclear terrorism-
• Is it likely?
• No: fuel hard to get, expensive, much expertise required. All gov’t want to prevent= no leakage. threat purposefully overblown by media
• Yes: motivation means and opportunity.
• yes but: keep risk in perspective, nuclear, radiation, ties into terrorist goal of spreading fear, uncertainty, panic, policies should be highly focused on detection and containment
Nonviolent prevention of terrorism-
• root causes of sympathy for terrorism
• separate terrorists from sympathizers
• political economic issues
• structural efforts to not allow, root out, suffocate terrorism: poverty reduction, democracy, create culture of peace, education
• stop unnecessary military, political intervention in other states: intervening to help ones own political ends is bad
Security, military
• state security- sovereignty, nonintervention vs. human security- we are all human beings