POL353: Comparative Politics

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length for each question. Support your claims with examples from required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references.

Due Friday, May 22 @ 12pm.

1. Britain and the United States are at different times world powers with no peer competitor. 1) Discuss what reasons the global power of Britain declined and 2) identify any similarities or differences between the British experience and the current situation of the U.S. and 3) if you believe the U.S. will follow a similar path to that of Britain in the years to come.

2. Today, Japan supports a successful democracy. The first of its kind in East Asia. It has seen rapid economic growth into the 1980s before stalling in the 1990s. However, Japan is ethnically homogeneous and highly nationalistic. 1) Discuss why Japan was able to build a successful democracy, 2) identify key differences between Japanese democracy and British & US democracy and 3) discuss whether you believe Japan's economic success led to increased democracy or whether an increase in democratic capacity led to increased economic performance.