Midterm Revisited

You may revise the essay section of your midterm as an open-book take-home exam. Submit your exam by Friday, 3/14, at noon, at turnitin.com (class id 7804367, password icg14). Please cite textbook page numbers in your answers. Ignore the original rubric, and answer the questions as completely and clearly as possible. You may not work with others on this.

1.     Do revolutions against tyranny always lead to democracy? Always? Give a recent example.

2.     Does stable democracy need a certain level of economic development? Specifically, what degree of economic development is required to sustain democracy? Are there any exceptions to this?

3.     How has geography influenced British development? Cite specific examples in your answer.

4.     What are two differences between Presidential and Parliamentary systems? Use the United States and Britain for tangible examples.

5.     Describe the French semi-presidential system. Specifically, address the roles of the executive and legislative branches in this system.

6.     Why is European unemployment so high?

7.     How does the German electoral system work?  If you were designing a country’s electoral system, would you adopt this system? Why or why not?

8.     Is German democracy as solid as any? How can you tell?

9.     How does Japan’s long and deep feudalism influence its current politics? Specifically, how has it helped shape its current institutions and distribution of power?

10.  What explains Japan’s economic success? And its current stagnation?