"The major parties of the Federal Republic of Germany provide better models of the 'catch-all party' (Kirchheimer) than do those of the French Fifth Republic and post-war Italy." Discuss - publié le 30/01/2007
Essay - 3 pages - Political science
The Post war period was characterized by move towards spreading secular and mass consumer-goods societies. This note is valid in the Federal Republic of Germany, the French Fifth Republic, and post-war Italy. This major turn in societies had to be understood by political parties and translated in...
France under the Fifth Republic
Essay - 7 pages - Political science
The French Fourth Republic collapsed following the rise of the civil war in Algeria. Its lack of stability, which was a consequence of its parliamentary structure and the weaknesses of its parties, did not manage to survive this major crisis, and pointed out the need for a stronger executive...
Extreme right in Belgium - publié le 22/01/2007
Essay - 8 pages - Political science
In September 2006, seventeen people have been arrested in Belgium for allegedly planning attacks aimed at "destabilising" the country's institutions, 10 of these 17 people where soldiers and the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement that they are people with an extreme-right...
New public management, which way?
Essay - 3 pages - Political science
Through a metaphorical use of language, this statement highlights the shift from the traditional model of public administration's model of bureaucracy (an organization typified by formal processes, standardization, and hierarchic procedures and written communication) to the New Public Management,...
What role does the media play in the political process?
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
Since its beginning, about five decades ago, the mass media have been intertwined with political processes of every type, ranging from coverage of major political events and institutions to effects on campaigns and elections. In our liberal democracies, the media are central for the public:...
Why has the development experience of sub-Saharan Africa diverged markedly from that of other developing regions?
Essay - 6 pages - Political science
The recent images of migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa dying on the border of the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla reminded the Northern opinion of the reality of life in the poorest region in the world . Migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa flee such horrible conditions of life, and such a...
Account for the failure of Clinton's health care reforms
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
In the United States in the early 1990s, both public opinion and political actors agreed that healthcare system did not work properly anymore. The American system is based on employment, i.e. those who work can benefit from a healthcare insurance, but unemployed people and half-time workers...
'Prime ministers are already 'presidential', and are becoming more presidential': examples of United Kingdom, Italy and France
Essay - 5 pages - Political science
In most European countries, Prime ministers are the major figure of the political game. They have a wide interface, with the media (both at a national and international level), and with their population, even if they are never called the “head of states”. Many political scientists have...
In spite of its record of failure the EU continues to try to develop a common foreign policy. Why?
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
The European Union is often described as an “economical giant but political pigmy” . The Union is indeed the first commercial power in the world, but its political representation on the global stage is weak. From many points of view, the former attempts to develop a common foreign...
Is there a distinct American political culture?
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
We often assess that some behaviours are “American” and some “European”. Doing this, we mean there is a distinct American culture. Does it match for political culture? Political culture could be defined as a set of behaviours and habits towards the political system of one's...
The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 have led to a complete change in American foreign policy
Essay - 6 pages - Political science
When George W. Bush arrived in office as President in 2000, he was determined to limit the role of the United States in foreign affairs, although there was in his electorate a hope for a strong foreign policy. The new administration saw in the failure in Yugoslavia, “Clinton's war” ,...
Mill's and Green's accounts of freedom
Essay - 6 pages - Political science
The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. (J.S. Mill) "It is the responsibility of the state ... to maintain the...
Mill's and Green's accounts of freedom - publié le 02/01/2007
Essay - 6 pages - Political science
“The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant.” (J.S. Mill) “It is the responsibility of the state ... to...
To what extend should contemporary Western governments be able to regulate journalists in times of conflict?
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
The 3rd of May is the day for the freedom of the press. It had been created by the UNESCO to defend the freedom of expression of journalists, but this fundamental right is being flouted everywhere. The freedom of the press is mentioned in every constitution of the western countries, with respect...
Eradication of poverty and sustainable development in developing countries: an oxymoron?
Essay - 7 pages - Political science
The Millennium Development Goals have quantified targets for addressing poverty in its several dimensions (United Nations, 2005). Adopted in 2000, it is stated to be followed by "all the world's governments as a blueprint for building a better world in the 21st century" (Kofi Annan, 2005)....
Eradication of poverty and sustainable development in developing countries: an oxymoron? - publié le 20/12/2006
Essay - 7 pages - Political science
Adopted in 2000 by “all the world's governments as a blueprint for building a better world in the 21st century” (Kofi Annan, 2005), the Millennium Development Goals are quantified targets for addressing poverty in its several dimensions (United Nations, 2005). The first Millennium...
How can the "crisis" of the Welfare States affect the policy of fight against poverty?
Essay - 3 pages - Political science
Since the end of the XVIIIth century, the disastrous consequences due to the Industrial Revolution and to “savage capitalism” on working conditions has been underlined through the rising resentment of the working class. That is why, in order to avoid social implosion and to control...
Can the European parliament ever break out of the cycle of failing public interests and legitimacy?
Essay - 5 pages - Political science
In one of his speeches, Pat Cox, the President of the European Parliament said ‘Turnout across Europe [in 1999] was higher than in the last US Presidential Elections, and I do not hear people questioning the legitimacy of the presidency of the United States.'. Since 1979, indeed, the...
Political instability: France, Germany and Italy - publié le 30/11/2006
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
The aim of this essay is to understand and analyze the features of political instability which occurred throughout the 20th century, in France, Germany, and Italy. This objective can be fulfilled by analyzing the works of Almond and Sartori. Almond's work tries to classify the different...
Political instability: France, Germany and Italy
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
Comparison and explanation of the political instability experienced by pre-Fifth Republic France, during the Third and Fourth Republics of Weimar, Germany and post-war Italy The aim of this essay is to understand and analyze the different features of the political instability which occurred...
Globalisation and nation-sates: « The logic of the world economy has in many ways transcended the scale of nation-states » (Knox and Agnew, 1998: 372)
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
Globalization is a complex phenomenon based on the economics of internationalization of trade and the emergence of a single world market which entails the significance of geographical, political and cultural repercussions. Indeed, the volume of international exchanges of goods has been multiplied...
Globalisation and nation-sates: « The logic of the world economy has in many ways transcended the scale of nation-states » (Knox and Agnew, 1998: 372) - publié le 29/11/2006
Essay - 4 pages - Political science
Globalisation is a complex phenomenon based on an economic dynamic of internationalisation of trade and the emergence of a single world market but that entails significant geographical, political and cultural repercussions. Indeed, the volume of international exchanges of goods has been...
The impact of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy on the nation's capital - publié le 29/11/2006
Essay - 9 pages - Political science
When John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected as the President in 1960, he was the youngest President in the history of the United States. Deciding to bring a new style, a new look and a new vitality to the White House, he had a major asset: his wife. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was only thirty-one,...
The impact of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy on the nation's capital
Essay - 9 pages - Political science
When John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected President in 1960, he was the youngest President in the history of the United States. Deciding to bring a new style, a new look and a new vitality to the White House, he had a major asset: his wife. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy was only thirty-one, but she...
"Adenauer's pursuit of Western integration consolidated democracy in the West at the cost of the East." Comment - publié le 29/11/2006
Essay - 7 pages - Political science
According to the newspaper die Frankfurte Allgemeine Zeitung, the number of the unemployed people in Germany has decreased by 25,000 in November increasing the number of unemployed people to 4,531,000. Adenauer's decision to anchor the Western Federal Republic in the capitalist block, rather...
"Adenauer's pursuit of Western integration consolidated democracy in the West at the cost of the East." Comment
Essay - 7 pages - Political science
According to the newspaper die Frankfurte Allgemeine Zeitung, the number of the unemployed people in Germany has decreased by 25.000 in November, reaching the stage of 4.531.000 jobless persons. The Federal Minister of the Economy, Michael Glos (CSU) spoke in the Bundestag „vom ersten...
The future of the state in a global context: Is the European Union a super state?
Essay - 13 pages - Political science
The organization of the world has been changing for the past few decades. Besides the nation sates, a lot of different forms of organization have been coming up. The development of international relations has brought about the need for organizations which enable cooperation between the national...
The hidden motivations behind the religious discourse of George W. Bush and his decision to go to war in Iraq
Essay - 91 pages - Political science
Today's American exeptionalism is not only related to the myth of the American dream and to the U.S. military and economic superiority, but also to the role of religion in the American domestic and foreign policy. The president, himself, a born again Christian, does not hesitate to use a...
To what extent is Blair's New Labour party the true heir to Thatcherism?
Essay - 3 pages - Political science
Thatcherism may be defined as the economic, social and political ideas and particular style of leadership associated with Margaret Thatcher. The British Prime Minister who served the nation from 1979 to 1990, believed in a mixture of neo-liberal beliefs in the free market and neo-conservative...
Why is decentralisation a reform of the State?
Essay - 5 pages - Political science
Globalization, Europeanization and Decentralization form the core of the pressures faced by nations. "A State without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation,? said Edmund Burke (quoted by Norton in Jones et al. 2004: 348). Thus, if the study of changes is interesting,...
