The Agora: Political Science Undergraduate Journal
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Mexico’s Political Militarization Returns
No full textThis paper discusses the unprecedented militarization of the Mexican government under the current presidency of Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. This paper presents an overview of the military infringement upon civil control that has existed since 2006 in Mexico and continues to exist due to various factors that will be discussed in this essay, such as: The United States’ strong military influence over the Mexican Armed Forces, the use of the military as a substitute for a failing presidential legitimacy, the use of ‘fuero militar’ to abuse civilians’ human rights and lastly, the Mexican government’s decision to use the military as the only possible solution to intervene and eliminate the drug cartels
Methodological Shortcomings in Hannah Arendt’s Conceptualization of Totalitarianism
No full textThe political philosopher Hannah Arendt was partly responsible for popularizing the term \u27totalitarianism\u27. In doing so, Arendt followed a historically-grounded, analytical approach, methodically deriving the concept from the cases of Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. This essay will argue that Arendt’s conceptualization of totalitarianism is imperfect, because of some crucial methodological shortcomings in her analysis. In demonstrating this, I will briefly explicate Arendt\u27s methodology and argument, and critique her concept in so far as it is: grounded in too few cases, the cases are dubiously linked, and the analysis is heedless of a functionalist understanding of ideology
Examining Race Privilege in America: The Preservation of Whiteness through the Systematic Oppression of African-Americans
No full textThe prevailing assumption that race-relations have equalized in America is largely based on an incorrect and misinformed understanding of current socio-economic policies and public behaviors. The continued racialization and discrimination towards African-Americans may be linked to strategic efforts that seek to preserve the dominance and authority of whiteness. This paper examines such claims within the context of the post civil rights movement, with specific attention given to the media, education system, and implementations of social justice
Respecting Human Rights: Does Treaty Ratification Lead to Compliance?
No full textSince the nonbinding Universal Declaration of Human Rights, states have created treaties and conventions to outline what is or is not acceptable regarding the treatment of human beings, with the understanding that if a state signs and ratifies these documents then that state will comply with the principles outlined within it. Time and again however, compliance, or the lack thereof, has presented as a concern amongst many states, as well as non-state actors. The issue of compliance is a serious one because it speaks to credibility. If states do not anticipate compliance from one another it undermines the entire international system and any structure that has been created to address the anarchic nature of international relations will dissolve. In order to make analysis of this massive issue area manageable, I focus on state compliance with human rights law and more specifically, compliance with the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention 1989, or C169. Both Brazil and Argentina have signed and ratified C169 and both are democratic with indigenous populations. Comparing these two states it allows us to better ascertain the circumstances under which states may comply with or defect from international human rights law. I provide an overview on what rationalist theories suggest about compliance, followed by constructivist views. I then outline my position before examining the results of the case study and assessing its’ impact as related to both theory and my arguments. Ultimately, I find that notwithstanding ratification and well-developed democratic institutions that allow for a strong civil society to participate in politics, there are still circumstances wherein a state will defect from a human rights treaty because the gain of doing so outweighs the cost of non-compliance
Plato’s Case Against the Philosopher King
No full textLiberal democracies afford their citizens the opportunity to reflect seriously upon the perennial questions of politics and the fundamental alternatives. However, an unfortunate trend, indeed observable in both practical politics and the social sciences, has seen political philosophy largely supplanted by ideology, the co-opting of philosophic thought for partisan ends. Political philosophy is the serious reflection upon and inquiry into the core theme of political thought and practice: the best way to live and the regime that conduces to it. This paper seeks to demonstrate by example the possibility of preserving the serious study of political questions by challenging the dominant scholarly interpretation of Plato’s political philosophy as presenting the philosopher king as the solution to the political problem. By offering some cursory remarks on Plato’s Apology and Republic in order to suggest that philosophic rule is not a serious prescription for political action, this paper argues that Plato’s aim is not to propose a doctrine but to compel us to reflect on the nature of politics, the permanent political questions, and the fundamental alternatives available to the human condition
On the Passing of North Korea’s ‘Dear Leader:’ Kim Jong-il (1941-2011)
No full textFew events have the potential to change the political landscape as dramatically as the death of an authoritarian leader, as their passing frequently leaves a power vacuum in their wake. This was certainly true of the death of Kim Jong-il, the former leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, who passed away on December 17, 2011. At this time, it is unclear as to exactly how events will unfold in Korea, as little is known about the reclusive nation. However, the collection of essays found below represent four initial perspectives on the passing of Kim Jong-il and its effect on the world
Why Ukraine Surrendered Security: A Methodological Individualist Approach to Nuclear Disarmament
No full textAfter the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukraine found itself in possession of the world’s third largest nuclear arsenal. By 1994, Ukraine had surrendered its entire nuclear arsenal to its historical enemy, Russia. This phenomenon has largely escaped scrutiny. At a time in world history when the question of nuclear proliferation and disarmament has again come to the forefront of international politics, it is important to reexamine the case of Ukrainian disarmament in which standard paradigms of international relations fail to satisfactorily explain historical events. Only by applying the underutilized individual level of analysis can Ukrainian disarmament be clearly understood
In Pursuit of Women’s Representation: A Pragmatic Approach to Improving Women’s Representation in Canadian Politics
No full textThis essay addresses the democratic deficit in women\u27s representation in Canadian politics that hinders the access of all citizens in Canada to free, equal, and meaningful opportunities to engage in all levels of political affairs. In doing so, a number of socio-cultural and structural barriers to women\u27s participation in federal politics are identified. In turn, strategies to overcome these barriers are presented while making effort to tackle the conditions underlying women’s misrepresentation, as opposed to promoting explicitly compulsory solutions such as affirmative action legislation. The purpose of my research is to guide Canadian policy structures and social standards toward a new paradigm in Canadian politics where women are liberated from having to face the tension between the implications of their status as the \u27other\u27 and their desire to meaningfully contribute to the political affairs of the Canadian state
