Marriage Equality

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Marriage Equality

Marriage equality has been a politically salient issue in the United States for at least the last half century, and was only finally addressed, in the context of gay couples, by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015. Although the ideal of equality is central to the debate over gay marriage, much of the periphery rhetoric includes sentiments such as “gay marriage doesn’t hurt anyone” and “you should be able to marry the person you love.” If you support gay marriage for these reasons, would you also support polygamy for similar reasons? The argument has been made that the United States already supports a form of polygamy, which would be multiple marriages at different times rather than at once. Most of us know individuals who have been married two and three times; some of us know people who have been married four and five times. Although this practice isn’t celebrated in our society, it is nonetheless legal and to a certain extent socially acceptable. Recently, the Utah state legislature passed an expanded anti-bigamy law (check out link below for more information). Applying the same rationale to polygamist as gays, should polygamy be legalized? For the sake of discussion, we will assume polygamy would be regulated in a similar manner as today’s marriages, which means if a divorce isn’t amicable, a judge intervenes and determines child custody arrangements, monetary issues, property distribution, etc. Therefore, if an adult is in love with two individuals at once, both of who are at least 18, aware of and in agreement with the nature of the relationship, should they be allowed to get married? What is your stance on the issue and why? Be sure to keep it consistent with your position on gay marriage.

What are the most important political, economic, environmental and human rights issues facing your country?

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FRAGILE STATE ANALYSIS   COUNTRY MUST BE BELGIUM AND MUST REFERENCE VIDEO:

For your portfolio project, you will evaluate a fragile (formerly called failed) state and develop a plan to help it recover and get back on the right track. This will involve a survey of the country’s history, the source of its problems, information about its people, economy, and culture, and its potential to succeed if given a chance.

The Global Policy Forum website provides information on fragile/failed states in general, as well as specific states.

ForeignPolicy.com provides the 2014 list of most fragile/failed states. You may choose your country for this study from the countries in dark red on the map at the bottom of the opening page.

General information:

  • Population of the country (see 1 below for more information)
  • Important ethnic or racial groups and divisions
  • Per capita gross domestic product (see 2 below for more information)
  • UN Human Development Index rankings (see 2 below for more information)
  • Freedom House scores for political rights and civil liberties (see 3 below for more information)
  • The economic position of your country compared to other countries (wealthy, poor, middle income).

History:

  • Provide an overview of the country’s history, focusing on when and why it began to have problems leading to its fragile/failed status.

Classification and structure of government:

  • Although fragile/failed states lack an effective government, this does not mean that no one is trying to run the country or at least parts of the country. Who is trying to govern your chosen country? How are they attempting to do this?
  • Are there attempts to hold elections? If so, how are these elections conducted, and what is voter turnout (See 4 below for more information)? When was the most recent election held, and what were the results?

Competition, stability and civil society:

  • Do political parties exist? If so, what are they, and what role do they play in the country’s problems and/or efforts to provide structure?
  • Are there any recent political changes?
  • Major social movements?
  • Are their divisions or conflicts based on race/religion/culture, etc? Has genocide taken place?
  • Who provides basic services such as utilities, education, medical care, etc?
  • What is daily life like for the people?

Economic environment:

  • Major industries
  • Natural resources
  • Other sources of revenue
  • Reliance on foreign aid.

Other questions:

  • What are the most important political, economic, environmental and human rights issues facing your country?
  • Is your country in conflict with its neighbors or other countries?
  • What are its relations with major global powers ‑- the U.S., Europe, China, etc?

Conclude the paper with your assessment of the country’s future. What could be done to help the country become stable and develop an effective government? Include what the people can do to help themselves, as well as the role that other countries and humanitarian aid groups could play.

Required Resources:

  1. Data can be accessed through theWorld Bank
  2. Data can be found on the website of theUN Human Development Report
  3. Data available atorg
  4. Data on election turnout available on the website of theInstitute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

Additional Requirements:

  • Write a formal eight to ten page essay complete with discussion and citation from at least ten credible academic sources other than required course readings to support your findings.
  • In addition, provide a reference list, in alphabetical order by last name of author, in APA format, and include a title page at the beginning.

What is Research: Briefly define “scientific research.” Include in your explanation what scientific research includes and what it avoids.

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In a Microsoft Word document, write the following three sections:
1-What is Research: Briefly define “scientific research.” Include in your explanation what scientific research includes and what it avoids.
2-Paradigms and Methodologies of Scientific Research: Create your own graphic–do not find one that already exists–that illustrates the main paradigms and methodologies of scientific research. Your graphic can be simple (it must fit on a single page), but should still illustrate the parts and relationships of the main paradigms and methodologies of scientific research. You may use some words, but only as necessary. In addition, compare and contrast the natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology) with the behavioral and social sciences (psychology, anthropology, economics, political science).
3-Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Briefly describe what is involved with both qualitative and quantitative research along with the strengths and limitations of each.

Environmental Decision Making and an Ecosystems Approach: Some Challenges From the Perspective of Social

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Unit I Article Critique

Review “Environmental Decision Making and an Ecosystems Approach: Some Challenges From the Perspective of Social

Science” by Rob D. Fish

from

the Unit I Reading Assignment.

After reading the article and briefly summarizing the purpose for

his

writing, answer the following questions

.

What is the author

’s

main point?

Who is the author

’s

intended audience?

Do the author

’s

arguments support the main point?

What evidence supports the main point?

What is your opinion of the article? Do you agree wi

th the author

’s

findings?

What evidence, either from the textbook or additional sources, supports your opinion?

Your response must be at least 400 words in length. All sources used, including the article, must be referenced.

Paraphrased and/or quoted mat

erials must have accompanying in

–

text citations and references in APA format.