Description
Pick ONE question to answer from the following four options:How important are formal political institutions (for example, the electoral system, presidentialism versus parliamentarism, quotas, and federalism) for democratic stability and social cohesion?What are the best policy tools we have available for alleviating extreme poverty and ensuring that historically marginalized population groups can prosper economically?“Life under autocracy is nasty, brutish, and short.” Do you agree with this statement? Does life under autocracy differ fundamentally from life under democracy? If so, in what ways? Be sure to consider political life (and not only social life) when answering this question.Are voting and violence complements or substitutes?Essays should be 6-8 double spaced pages in length using 12-point font (not including any bibliography). Please cite uses of readings and lectures appropriately – you can pick any citation style you prefer but make sure it is clearly used throughout the entire essay.Grading is based on the clarity of the thesis statement, reasoned support of the argument, and inclusion of material from the course (readings, lectures, sections). The final essay is open-book. You may use your notes, course readings, and lecture slides. The final essay is an individual assignment. You may not work with other students. To receive top grades, you should engage with class readings in detail and support your arguments with detailed evidence from lecture and/or readings.
