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" »

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" »

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" »

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" »

The Basque Country and Its Educational Landscape

The Basque Country is located in the north of Spain, bordering France. It is composed of seven provinces: four are part of Spain (Alava, Biscay, Gipuzkoa, and Navarre) and the other three are on the French side (Labourd, Basse Navarre, and Soule). The population of the Basque Country is approximately 2,166,184 (2015) inhabitants. Regarding the educational sector, there are two types of schools: state and private schools. In the following sections, we will discuss these and more specific aspects of this educational system, including multiculturalism, multilingualism, and good practices.

State Schools and the Role of Ikastolas

On one hand, the primary difference between a state school and private... Continue reading "Basque Country Education System and Language Models" »

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals

Understanding Race and Human Diversity

Key Concepts of Race

• Race is a modern idea with no genetic basis.
• Human subspecies do not exist.
• Skin color is only skin deep.
• Variation exists within so-called races, not primarily between them.
• Slavery predates the concept of race.
• Race and freedom were born together, with

The Dawn of the Early Modern Age

The Early Modern Age began in 1453 with the Fall of Constantinople and ended with the French Revolution in 1789. From the 15th century, it noticed a recovery because of several key factors:

• The increase in agricultural products: Conserving the three-field system, which consisted of cultivating only two pieces of land while one was left fallow.
• Intensified commercial activity: Because there was a surplus of food, people started selling it in city markets. Merchants and traders established new trade routes.
• The expansion of craftsmanship: These were controlled by guilds (associations of craftsmen). The domestic system was created because people started making products at home.
• New explorations: Due to new explorations,

The Roots of American Mass Incarceration

The United States accounts for 5% of the world’s population but is responsible for 25% of the world’s incarcerations.

The 13th Amendment and the First Prison Boom

• The 13th Amendment granted freedom to all slaves, but if they were convicted of a crime, they were still subject to involuntary servitude. This led to the first major prison boom.

The Impact of "Birth of a Nation"

• Black men were labeled as rapacious and animalistic in the film Birth of a Nation:
  • It served as the first major blockbuster for political commentary.
  • It confirmed the narrative white society wanted to tell about the Civil War aftermath, portraying whites as martyrs.
  • Blacks were depicted as animals and a threat to white women.
  • Myths of

Industry Maturity and Corporate Models (1945–1970s)

The industries of the Second Industrial Revolution reached full maturity during the 30 years following the Second World War. Big business grew in size and number, especially in the three largest European economies (Britain, France, and Germany). As in earlier periods, American firms were the largest.

• Large corporations were vertically integrated. For example, the automobile company Ford used to own a tire company, a glass company, a metal company, and distribution centers. All of these were related to car production.

A large body of literature focuses on the difference between the American model of enterprise (shareholder) and the European model of corporation (stakeholder). As we have seen,... Continue reading "Post-War Industrial Transformation: Corporate Models and Policy (1945–1970s)" »