A) Using the Easton Model of the political system to assist you in illustrating and clarifying the approaches that you discuss. Compare the domestic political environment and how it differs from the international political system. Use as many real life examples to illustrate your descriptions/discussions, explaining how foreign policy relates to the realm of politics.

B) Given Easton's description of the system, provide a clear and concise definition of politics-that not only distinguishes politics from all other areas of society, but that fully reflective of all activities in the political system.

C) Describe, compare, contrast and discuss the five primary schools of thought for understanding the international political system: Realism, Neo-liberal Institutionalism, Dependency Theory/World Systems analysis and Feminist Theory. Using information from your text books, class notes, class discussions, the videos and reputable news sources - what supporting arguments, with evidence can you generate for each of these points of view? What are the weaknesses of each, if there are any?

D) Why do we require the use of two sets of theories: international systemic theories and theories of foreign policy decision-making? Aren't theories of the international systems sufficient to explain international behavior?

E) Briefly describe, the 5 models/theories for understanding political decision-making: the Rational Actor Model, Organizational Process Model, Bureaucratic Politics Model, Group think and Pluralist Model. After viewing the The Dark Side videos, which of the two sets of theories is best able to give us an understanding of the US decided to enter Iraq. Provide a minimum of three (5) facts from the video that will explain your choice.

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A Political scientist David Easton is generally familiar with the estimation of the political dynamics in a connected action of interaction Easton the political arrangement is a set of activities role... View the full answer