Sunday 29 January 2017
Tuesday 24 January 2017
Monday 23 January 2017
Unit 4: Feminism 15 mark questions
15
Markers on Feminism
What is patriarchy, and why is it important in feminist
analysis? (Jan 10)
How and why have feminists emphasised the difference
between sex and gender? (Jan 11)
In what sense have radical feminists sought to redefine
the nature of politics? (Jan 12)
Explain the link between feminism and liberalism. (Jan 12)
Define patriarchy, and explain its importance to feminist
analysis. (Jan 13)
Explain the key ideas of eco-feminism. (Jan 13)
How and why have feminists been critical of the
‘public/private’ divide? (Jun 10)
Why have some feminists criticised the idea of gender
equality? (Jun 11)
Explain the key features of socialist
feminism? (Jun 12)
Why is the distinction between sex and gender crucial to
feminist analysis? (Jun 13)
On what grounds have radical feminists claimed that the ‘Personal
is the political’? (Jun 14)
What is patriarchy and why
is it important in feminist analysis? (Jun 15)
On what grounds has feminism been criticised? (Jun 16)
Sunday 22 January 2017
Wednesday 18 January 2017
Unit 4: Nationalism - Long Answer Essays
Nationalism
Essays (45 Markers)
‘Nationalism looks to the past, not the future.’ Discuss.
(Jan 10)
To what extent is nationalism a backward-looking ideology?
(Jan 11)
‘Nationalism is inherently expansionist and aggressive.’
Discuss. (Jan 12)
To what extent is nationalism a forward-looking doctrine?
(Jan 13)
‘Nationalism is a recipe for peace and international
order.’ Discuss. (Jun 10)
To what extent is Nationalism a single doctrine? (Jun 12)
Nationalism inevitable breeds conflict and war. Discuss
(Jun 14)
Monday 16 January 2017
Unit 1 & 2: Devolution - Nortehrn Ireland Assembly in disaray
Click here to access article on Northern Ireland Assembly. Seems they are close to collapse....again!
Sunday 15 January 2017
Unit 4: Nationalism, the UK and BREXIT
Click here at access an article discussing the UK as a nation state.
Unit 4: Nationalism - Another 15 Mark scheme
On what grounds have nationislts defended the nation states? (15 Marks - Jun 10)
The nation-state is a form of political organisation and a political ideal. As a political
organisation it is characterised by the overlapping bonds of citizenship and nationality,
meaning that the borders of the state coincide with the boundaries of the nation. Every
nation should therefore have a state, and one state should embrace the entire nation. As
a political ideal, the nation-state embodies the principle of national self-determination.
Nationalists believe that the nation-state has two main advantages. In the first place, it
offers the prospect of both cultural cohesion and political unity, making the nation-state
a uniquely stable political entity. Nationalists thus tend to view the nation-state as the
only viable unit of political rule. The virtues of stability and unity are particularly
stressed by conservative nationalists who are particularly concerned about the promise of
social cohesion and political order that is embodied in the sentiment of national
patriotism.
Second, the nation-state extends political freedom. It does this because
national statehood ensures self-government and democratic rule. Nation-states are
therefore independent entities, in which citizens can decide their own destiny regardless
of external factors and interference from beyond their borders. Nationalists have tended
to argue that the nation is the highest level at which meaningful democracy can operate,
suggesting that supranationalism must always be a threat to democracy and self government.
The nation-state is a form of political organisation and a political ideal. As a political
organisation it is characterised by the overlapping bonds of citizenship and nationality,
meaning that the borders of the state coincide with the boundaries of the nation. Every
nation should therefore have a state, and one state should embrace the entire nation. As
a political ideal, the nation-state embodies the principle of national self-determination.
Nationalists believe that the nation-state has two main advantages. In the first place, it
offers the prospect of both cultural cohesion and political unity, making the nation-state
a uniquely stable political entity. Nationalists thus tend to view the nation-state as the
only viable unit of political rule. The virtues of stability and unity are particularly
stressed by conservative nationalists who are particularly concerned about the promise of
social cohesion and political order that is embodied in the sentiment of national
patriotism.
Second, the nation-state extends political freedom. It does this because
national statehood ensures self-government and democratic rule. Nation-states are
therefore independent entities, in which citizens can decide their own destiny regardless
of external factors and interference from beyond their borders. Nationalists have tended
to argue that the nation is the highest level at which meaningful democracy can operate,
suggesting that supranationalism must always be a threat to democracy and self government.
Thursday 12 January 2017
Theme 4: Terms of Trade - chain of reasoning
A timely clip from tutor2u on terms of trade. We will discuss on Sunday.
Unit 4: Nationalism - 2 short answer mark schemes
Why have liberals argued that nationalism promotes peace and international order?
Liberals have argued that nationalism promotes peace and international order in a number of ways, including the following:
For liberals, the primary threat to peace and international order comes from multinational, autocratic empires. This is because they have traditionally been militaristic and expansionist, having been formed through conquest and routinely use military force to further their internal and external ends.
After WWI, liberals such as Woodrow Wilson thus sought to re-draw the map of Europe on the basis of the principle of national self-determination. Liberal nationalists believed that nation-state are naturally peaceful political formations.
This has been explained in a number of ways, including the following:
nation-states enjoy sovereign independence and so are unwilling to threaten the sovereign independence of other nations expansion and conquest would undermine the political and cultural cohesion that makes nation-states so successful o democratic nation-states share a common culture and so are unwilling to fight one another, and are also accountable to the people who will have to fight, kill and die in the event of war.
Distinguish between nationalism and racialism.
Nationalism, broadly, is the belief that the nation is the central principle of political organisation. The nation is a collection of people bound together by shared values and traditions, common language, religion and history, and usually occupying the same geographical area. Nationalism is therefore based upon two core assumptions.
First, humankind is naturally divided into discrete nations and, second, the nation is the most appropriate, and perhaps the only legitimate, unit of political rule. Classical political nationalism set out to bring the borders of the state into line with the boundaries of the nation, creating nation-states within which nationality and citizenship would coincide. Nationalism, in this sense, is associated with a principled belief in national self-determination.
However, nationalism is a complex and highly diverse ideological phenomenon, encompassing a range of political manifestations as well as cultural and ethnic forms.
Racism, broadly, is the belief that political or social conclusions can be drawn from the idea that humankind is divided into biologically distinct ‘races’ whereas nations are cultural entities, races are genetic or biological entities.
Strictly speaking, racial origin is irrelevant to national identity, at least for inclusive forms of nationalism. Racialist theories are based on two assumptions.
First, there are fundamental genetic or species type, differences amongst the peoples of the world and, second, these divisions are reflected in cultural, intellectual and moral differences. Politically, it either implies racial segregation (for instance, apartheid) or doctrines of racial superiority or inferiority. The idea of a racial hierarchy leads to the systematic subordination of peoples on the basis of their ethnic origin, sometimes also providing the justification for conquest and expansionism.
Liberals have argued that nationalism promotes peace and international order in a number of ways, including the following:
For liberals, the primary threat to peace and international order comes from multinational, autocratic empires. This is because they have traditionally been militaristic and expansionist, having been formed through conquest and routinely use military force to further their internal and external ends.
After WWI, liberals such as Woodrow Wilson thus sought to re-draw the map of Europe on the basis of the principle of national self-determination. Liberal nationalists believed that nation-state are naturally peaceful political formations.
This has been explained in a number of ways, including the following:
nation-states enjoy sovereign independence and so are unwilling to threaten the sovereign independence of other nations expansion and conquest would undermine the political and cultural cohesion that makes nation-states so successful o democratic nation-states share a common culture and so are unwilling to fight one another, and are also accountable to the people who will have to fight, kill and die in the event of war.
Distinguish between nationalism and racialism.
Nationalism, broadly, is the belief that the nation is the central principle of political organisation. The nation is a collection of people bound together by shared values and traditions, common language, religion and history, and usually occupying the same geographical area. Nationalism is therefore based upon two core assumptions.
First, humankind is naturally divided into discrete nations and, second, the nation is the most appropriate, and perhaps the only legitimate, unit of political rule. Classical political nationalism set out to bring the borders of the state into line with the boundaries of the nation, creating nation-states within which nationality and citizenship would coincide. Nationalism, in this sense, is associated with a principled belief in national self-determination.
However, nationalism is a complex and highly diverse ideological phenomenon, encompassing a range of political manifestations as well as cultural and ethnic forms.
Racism, broadly, is the belief that political or social conclusions can be drawn from the idea that humankind is divided into biologically distinct ‘races’ whereas nations are cultural entities, races are genetic or biological entities.
Strictly speaking, racial origin is irrelevant to national identity, at least for inclusive forms of nationalism. Racialist theories are based on two assumptions.
First, there are fundamental genetic or species type, differences amongst the peoples of the world and, second, these divisions are reflected in cultural, intellectual and moral differences. Politically, it either implies racial segregation (for instance, apartheid) or doctrines of racial superiority or inferiority. The idea of a racial hierarchy leads to the systematic subordination of peoples on the basis of their ethnic origin, sometimes also providing the justification for conquest and expansionism.
Tuesday 10 January 2017
Unit 4: Past questions on Nationalism - 15 Markers
Questions
on Nationalism - 15 Markers
- · Distinguish between nationalism and racialism. (Jan 10)
- · On what grounds have nationalists defended the nation-state? (June 10)
- · Distinguish between the nation and the state, and explain why the two are often confused. (Jan 11)
- · Distinguish between political nationalism and cultural nationalism (June 11)
- · Distinguish between a nation and a race, and explain why the two are commonly
- · confused. (Jan 12)
- · Why have liberals argued nationalism promotes peace and international order? (June 12)
- · Why and how have nationalists viewed the nation-state as a political ideal? (Jan 13)
- · Distinguish between Nationalism and race (June 14)
- · Explain the main features of cultural nationalism (June 15)
Sunday 8 January 2017
Nationalism - Theory: Core Values
Nationalism
Theory
Origins and development
· Born
during the French Revolution – revolutionary creed – reflects the idea that
‘subjects of the crown’ should become ‘citizens of France’ – Jean Jacques
Rousseau.
· Nationalism
is at heart the simple belief that the nation is the natural and proper unit of
government.
Core values
· The
nation – the nation should be the central
principle of political organisation. Most basic level – nations are cultural
entities, collections of people bound together by shared values and traditions
(common language, religion and history), and usually occupying same geographic
area. Nation can thus be defined by objective factors: people who satisfy a
requisite set of cultural criteria belong to a nation; those who do not are
non-nationals. However, there is neither a blueprint nor any objective criteria
that can establish where and when a nation exists.
· Language
often taken to be clearest symbol of nationhood – German nationalism – founded
on sense of cultural unity, reflected in the purity and survival of German
language. However there are shared languages in countries without any sense of
common identity (America, New Zealand and England).
· Religion
is another component – expresses common moral values and spiritual beliefs.
· Ethnic
or racial unity – usually has a cultural rather than biological basis. Often
share common history and traditions usually preserved by recalling past
glories, national independence etc. Some nationalist feelings based more on
future expectations than shared memories – applies in the case of immigrants who
have been ‘naturalised’ – USA – ‘land of immigrants’.
· Organic
community – humankind is naturally divided into
a collection of nations, each possessing a distinctive character and separate
identity. National ties and loyalties are found in all societies – they endure
over time and operate at an instinctual, even primordial, level.
‘Primordialist’ approach – national identity is historically embedded: Anthony
Smith highlighted the continuity between modern nations and pre-modern ethnic
communities – implies there is little difference between ethnicity and
nationality, modern nations essentially being updated versions of immemorial
ethnic communities. ‘Situtationalist’ approach – national identity is forged in
response to changing situations – Ernest Gellner – degree to which nationalism
is linked to modernisation.
· National
community is a particular kind of community – Ferdinand Tonnies
– gemeinschaft – typically found in traditional societies and is characterised
by natural affection and mutual respect. Emphasis on community – notion of
creating unity – everyone has a role and common goal.
· Self-determination
– Rousseau’s stress on popular sovereignty (‘general will’).
Government should be based on the indivisible collective will of the entire
community. Nationhood and statehood are intrinsically linked – maintaining
political independence, usually expressed in the principle of national
self-determination: the goal is the founding of a ‘nation-state’ (one nation
within a single state). This can be achieved through unification and
independence. Most desirable form of political organisation – when a people who
share a common identity gain the right to self-government, nationality and
citizenship coincide. Nationalism also legitimises the authority of the
government – popular self-government. Not always associated with this concept
of separatism, however – may instead by expressed through federalism.
· Identity
– nationalism tells people who they are: gives people history,
forges social bonds and collective spirit, creates a sense of destiny larger
than individual existence. However, cultural nationalism emphasises the
strengthening or defence of cultural identity over overt political demands –
political nationalism is ‘rational’, cultural is ‘mystical’.
· Importance
of a distinctive national consciousness – Herder – each nation possesses a
volksgeist (national spirit) – role of nationalism is to develop an awareness
of nation’s culture and traditions.
Thursday 5 January 2017
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