Blog Discussion Group Seven
Please answer one question from the following list. Blog "post" due at 11:55pm on November 12 and "comment" due at 11:55pm on November 15.
Ethnicity, Divided Societies, & Violence
1. What are the sources of political conflicts and violence for both authoritarian regimes and democratic regimes?
2. How does nationalism play a role in a democratic country?
Political Economy & Economic Globalization
3. How has Kenesianism played an important role in a democratic country?
Ethnicity, Divided Societies, & Violence
1. What are the sources of political conflicts and violence for both authoritarian regimes and democratic regimes?
2. How does nationalism play a role in a democratic country?
Political Economy & Economic Globalization
3. How has Kenesianism played an important role in a democratic country?
2. How does nationalism play a role in a democratic country?
ReplyDeleteThis question is a mouthful especially when trying to combine two terms that are usually not synonymous (overall) and implying that type of country has that role. One can see “nationalism” combined with “democracy”. So, it is basically mixing extreme support with “for the people by the people”. Nationalism is more of an extreme ideology and democracy is more organized and subtle. Our text defines that nationalism is a pride in one’s belief that they have a unique political destiny. The term unique is vague since in 1933 Germany went from a democracy to a dictatorship with an extreme belief. So, yes nationalism does play a role, but the consequences can be positive or negative depending on the country.
How does nationalism play a role in a democratic country?
ReplyDeleteNationalism and a democratic country's have a huge role. Nationalism is the political or social philosophy in which the welfare of the nation-state as an entity is considered paramount. In other words, nationalism help create the ideology for a nation. For example, in the U.S. when a huge nation wide event happens the nation usually comes together.
What are the sources of political conflicts and violence for both authoritarian regimes and democratic regimes?
ReplyDeleteThe sources of political conflicts and violence for authoritarian regimes at the state level is an attempt to promote nationalism as a means to legitimize authoritarian rule per the reading from O'Neil. Political leaders in China and Russia stress the unique nature of their societies, which are under threat by outside forces which in turn contributes to ethnic and national conflict both within the countries as well as their neighbors according to chapter 9. The source of political conflict and violence for democratic regimes by creating a separation of powers between branches of government, choosing between different kinds of executive and legislative institutions, establishing electoral laws and regulating political parties with the collapse of communism. If I understood the question.
Keely Crawford
Hello Keely,
DeleteI agree with the comment you made on the political leaders from other countries. This reference relates to waging war on outside counties and causing controversy between the two countries. This is a good point made on the separation of powers also as far as the branches of government go on the beliefs of democratic regimes.
2. How does nationalism play a role in a democratic country?
ReplyDeleteI believe that it can be argues that nationalism plays an important role that benefits a democratic country. Often times nationalism has a negative connotation because it has been associated with social movements and leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini, however nationalism more recently can be associated with anti - oppressive social movements such as the communist movement. Nationalism can also be beneficial in a democratic state that is ethnically diverse, a national identity can be a way that people relate to one another. Nationalism can also unite a country that is politically diverse. By this, I mean that it can be argues that nationalism does not have a political identity, leftists, and conservatives can be united under nationalism to achieve a common goal. I believe that this question can be interpreted in different ways, depending on how one views nationalism. Although nationalism can get a bad reputation I think that it does play a beneficial role in democratic states.
I agree that nationalism does have it's uses. I am wondering where we draw the line between good and bad nationalism. When does nationalism stop being an effective tactic for liberation?
DeleteThis is a interesting point to make in regards to using nationalism as a tool for social movements. It makes me think of the 1960's when, during the civil rights movement, the American war in Vietnam was being fought. In that specific instance, instead of the Civil Rights movement getting full national attention and having the potential to unite after events such as the march on Washington and Selma, Al, our opinions were as diverse as the places the news was taking people (on television) throughout Vietnam. The absence of national support and unification was perhaps a reason for the length of time in which the civil rights movement took place. The lack of national support for the war also hindered unity on the home-front socially and politically. Food for thought.
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ReplyDelete2. “Nationalist elites commonly argue that ethnic minorities, the working classes, rival elites, or other political opponents should be excluded from political participation, often alleging these groups lack the proper national credentials” (Snyder, 37). Nationalism in a democratic country could lead to ethnic tensions or conflicts due to the strong beliefs held by groups on how or who should run the country. When talking about nationalism in Nepal, I think of the division amongst the ethnic groups that control the parliament. In fact, the Nepali government is extremely unstable mainly due to the lack of cooperation amongst the ethnic Madhesis. In fact, there is always a lot of ethnic tension and anticipation during Nepal’s elections regarding who has the most credibility to rule the Nepali government.
ReplyDeleteI can agree with you that ethnic tension and anticipation can lead to issues within a country and within the democracy. When a government official is elected and they don't represent who it is that voted for them or one group feels their representation has been left out this can lead to rebellion and lack of respect for the new government officials.
Delete2. How does nationalism play a role in a democratic country?
ReplyDeleteThroughout Eastern Europe nationalism has had a positive role in bringing down communism and creating a space for democracy to take root. Still, tension exists between nationalism and the democracy it spawned. To understand this paradox requires an extensive sociological and historical study of the particular conditions within which a particular community defines the goals of nationalism and the specific content of its main undergirding concepts like nation and state. Identifying the circumstances within which nationalism begins to act as an obstacle to the establishment of full-fledge democracy is key to understanding the political reality of today's Croatia and of many other East European "new democracies". Nationalism works differently in different socio-political conditions--differently in countries that recently achieved independence from countries with a long tradition of sovereign statehood, differently in countries with an underdeveloped or non-existent civil society from those with a strong civil society, differently in countries that are economically prosperous from those that are experiencing economic hardship. All these factors, not including nationalism determine the overall prospects for liberal democracy in Eastern Europe.
1. What are the sources of political conflicts and violence for both authoritarian regimes and democratic regimes?
ReplyDeleteAuthoritarian regimes get their power through force and coercion of their citizens. Political conflicts can come when the citizens of the state become tired of the conditions that they are being held in. The nationalism of the state can also be another cause of conflict and violence where strict laws for the citizens may lead to violence.
1. What are the sources of political conflicts and violence for both authoritarian regimes and democratic regimes?
ReplyDeletePotential sources of conflict for both regimes are derived primarily out of ethnic clashes in our modern world. An example of ethnic conflict in the United States, a democratic regime, might be seen in police shootings of African-American citizens. This can be narrowed down further to the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. The monopoly on violence possessed by the state gives police the right to use lethal force to maintain law and order. In the United States today, African-Americans are under represented by the state and are thus considered a marginalized group. The liberal democratic regime in the U.S. also does not have equitable participation in government by all ethnic groups. This is therefore an example of political conflict over representation and violence that a democratic regime experiences currently.
China is an example of an authoritarian regime in today's world. The monopoly on violence they retain is similarly questioned and challenged in regards to ethnic conflict in a place such as Hong Kong. The violence in Hong Kong is a perfect example of how the suppression of the voices of the people of Hong Kong by the government has led to violence and thus political conflict.
2. How does nationalism play a role in a democratic country?
There are perhaps two sides to nationalism. There is a political side and an ethnic side. As I just previously discussed, ethnic issues create conflict and violence in many cases. The capability of nationalism to create ethnic friction between groups or cleavages, suggests that nationalism has a negative effect on democracy and is therefore counterproductive to the democratic ideal; more specifically the liberal democratic ideal, I should say. However, nationalism has a very powerful ability within politics to elect a leader such as our current president that used ethnic-based, white-centric-nationalism as a marketing tool to gain political support. This again is perhaps viewed as a negative example. But the same potential worked in the favor of our previous president's election to office in which president Obama made an ethnic-statement in being elected that motivated a strong sense of nationalism by presenting the impression that marginalized ethnic groups might finally have a voice in national government. In summary, nationalism can be used as a tool for to enhance or reduce democracy and democratic ideals.
Source:
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/225508/pdf
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ReplyDeleteKenesianism has played a very important role in democratic countries. As opposed to Austrian economic models- it has been more effective in warding off economic recession. It does this through stimulus packages and other forms of government intervention. Without this economic approach it is likely many large nations would have resorted to revolt and political violence. For example, the United States was close to a revolution as a result of the Great Depression- but the New Deal ( a prime example of Kenesian economics) helped give the working class stability and placated the growing radical movement.
ReplyDeleteDue to the consistency of economic recessions (in the US) in the last century, do stimulus packages really prevent economic recession? Or are they a fix used by the federal government when a recession hits?
ReplyDelete