Requirements for Reflection Papers:

· You are to include 7 class concepts you see in the given documentary or movie, and tie them in to what we have discussed in lecture. (If you aren’t sure that your example is strong enough, include a 6th one and it will potentially make up for a weaker example)

· Each concept should be its own paragraph header, followed by a paragraph (or two) explaining the connection to course content. 

· Do not add filler; ie, don’t write an entire paragraph about who wrote, directed and starred in the movie and how many awards they’ve won, what other movies they’ve starred in, what their favorite color is, etc.

· Size 12 font

· Times New Roman or Arial

· 1 inch margins

· Start at the top of the first page – don’t take up half of the first page with your name, date, class, my name, etc.

· Don’t worry about a references page

· All plagiarized papers will receive a zero  

General Instructions:  Answer the following questions in full sentences (either handwritten or typed is fine). Your answers should be 2-6 sentences, depending on the question. Include page numbers in your responses so that you can refer back to the reading during the discussion or when asking questions. 

Questions for Miliband (1969), The State in Capitalist Society, pp. 49-73, 75-83 and 146-171:

1. According to Miliband (1969), what is the state? What is the state elite?

2. According to Miliband (1969), what are the social classes that occupy the majority of positions within the state elite? In contrast, what social classes hold relatively few of the elite positions in the state?

3. Miliband (1969, p. 69) argued that “What is really striking about these political leaders and political office-holders, in relation to each other, is not their many differences, but the extent of their agreement on truly fundamental issues”. What are the “fundamental issues” that political leaders agree on?

4. How does state intervention in the economy benefit capitalists and help to maintain capitalism?

5. What are some of the reasons that capitalists/businesses are able to put more pressure on the state, and get it to act in their interests, than the working class/labor unions?

6. Summarize Miliband’s (1969) overall argument. Go into more detail that what was said in lecture.

7. Based on your own knowledge, do you think Miliband’s (1969) theory of the capitalist state applies to American society today? What is an example that might support or challenge his argument? (If you cannot think of any examples, look at the “politics” section of major newspapers or news magazines.)