Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

Unit 1: Principle Theories

1. Realism

The international system is defined by the absence of a central authority (Anarchy).

• States are sovereign and autonomous of each other.
• There is no structure or society to order state relations.
• State power is the key variable of interest. It emphasizes the distribution of coercive material capacity as the determinant of international politics.

Realism Assumptions:

• Survival: The principal goal of every State.
• Rationality: States are rational actors.
• Military Capacity: States should possess military capacity.
• Great Powers: States with economic and military influence are decisive.

2. Institutionalism

It relies on the idea of cooperation between States.... Continue reading "Key Theories in International Relations: Realism & Institutionalism" »

What are the three pillars of the NPT?

a) No acquisition, No Transfer of nuclear weapons

b) Nuclear-weapon-states guarantee non-nuclear-weapon states’ peaceful use of nuclear energy as an inalienable right of all states (Art IV, V).

c) Nuclear-weapon-states undertake to pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament (Art. VI).

Briefly explain the “Safeguards Agreement”

The Safeguards Agreement serves to allow the IAEA the authority to verify the fulfilment of a concerned country’s obligation under the NPT with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons.

What is the criterion to distinguish between the legitimate nuclear-weapon states and the non-nuclear-weapon states under the NPT?

Non-... Continue reading "Key Aspects of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty" »

Theme 1: Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold was a famous literary critic, poet, and school inspector. His study of popular culture will focus mainly on culture and anarchy. Besides, he inaugurates a tradition, a particular way of seeing popular culture.

Popular culture is a culture that is widely favored or well-liked by many people. What is not high culture. It is seen as mass culture, an impoverished and devaluated form of culture. It is an “authentic” culture which originates from “the people” (folk culture) and finally, it is the practice of everyday.

His book Culture and Anarchy has had quite an influence on discussions about culture value. In the first chapter from his book, we can know what culture is. Firstly, culture can be related... Continue reading "Matthew Arnold and the Importance of Culture" »

Globalization is a fundamentally economic process of progressive global integration of markets and companies.

Characteristics of the Global Economy:

• Use of telecommunications, creating a global market
• Applying liberal economic policies: creation of free trade areas and common markets
• Internationalization of companies, transportation, and production: multinational

Globalization in Our Life:

• Technological advances
• Financial transactions
• Transport

Cultural Homogenization:

Diffusion of Western cultural customs and habits

Cultural Hybridization:

Process in which cultural practices that stay separately combine to form new objects and cultural practices, such as music

Problems:

• Socioeconomic inequalities
• Natural environment damage
• Fundamentalism and intolerance
• Organized

- Nostrils (n): the two external openings of the nasal cavity

- Cripple (n): a person who is unable to walk properly due to a disability or injury

- Blackthorn stick (n): a thin piece of wood from a shrub

- Nix (n): to put an end to, nothing

- Squabble (n): a noisy quarrel about something trivial

- Squander (v): to waste in a reckless way

- Elated (v): to make someone ecstatically happy

- Lass (n): a girl, young woman

- Laid up (v): to set down

- Strutting back (v): to walk with a stiff, erect, arrogant way

- Unused (adj/v): to be absorbed in thoughts

- Lingered (n): to spend a long time over something

- Motley (adj): incongruously varied in appearance or character; disparate

- Nod (n): to incline or sway from the vertical as though ready to fall

TRADITIONAL:

After 1945, European countries found social and political stability due to several factors. One of the factors include a program called the Marshall Plan. It all started with $13 billion donation from the United States government to Western European countries for food, equipment, and money. This money was meant to restore the regular life of the Western Europeans. Aside from economic assistance, the Marshall Plan was part of the U.S. government containment policy. The Marshall Plan aimed to stop the spread of communism. The idea of the U.S. government was to provide support for war-torn countries in order to make them realize that communism was not the best system to adopt. The Marshall Plan’s goals can be summarized into two points.

1. Increase

Explain why the Mars expedition is a huge risk travel.

The Mars expedition is very risky because the launching can go wrong.

What happens if the space suit rips?

All of our oxygen would escape and we wouldn't have breathing.

What happens if the rover breaks down?

We would have to find a way to build another ship.

What would happen if you lost contact with Earth?

Probably we never come back to the Earth because we don't have communication.

Reasons why people shouldn't go to Mars.

• Homesickness
• High risk

Would you volunteer to go to Mars?

No, because it is too dangerous and I have a lot of risk.

Write about a candidate that is willing to go to Mars.

Sabrina is 40 years old and she is Japanese.

Why do people want to go to Mars?

For looking for a new adventure... Continue reading "The Risks and Rewards of the Mars Expedition" »

It's good for us to laugh. That's why a yoga movement organized the fiesta World Laughter Day in India in 1998. Today, there are more than 6000 laughter clubs worldwide! Why don't you start your own laughter club with your friends?

The Eagle Huntress

This enchanting documentary is the story of Aisholpan, a 13-year-old girl in Mongolia. Aisholpan's family are nomads, and the men have been eagle hunters for seven generations. Aisholpan captures and trains her own golden eagle: she wants to be an eagle hunter too. But this is not traditional. Can she make her dream come true?

Equal Opportunities: Reality vs. Ideal?

Equality of opportunity is an ideal to which many societies aspire, but in practice, significant challenges remain in fully achieving it. While progress has been made in some areas, such as anti-discrimination legislation and efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, disparities persist in areas like access to education, employment, healthcare, and political representation.

Factors such as ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and socioeconomic status can significantly influence the opportunities a person has in life. Discrimination and prejudice can hinder equal access to resources and opportunities, undermining the principle of equal opportunity.

While measures have been... Continue reading "Equal Opportunity Challenges & Workforce Integration Impact" »