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1 American Political Culture
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3 Federalism
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6 Public Opinion
7 The Media
8 Political Participation and Voting
9 Political Parties
10 Campaigns and Elections
11 Groups and Interests
12 Congress
13 The Presidency
14 Bureaucracy In A Democracy
15 The Federal Courts
16 Government and Economy
17 Social Policy
18 Foreign Policy and Democracy
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19 The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas
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22 Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Lobbyists
23 The Texas Legislature
24 The Texas Executive Branch
25 The Texas Judiciary
26 Local Government in Texas
27 Public Policy in Texas

Chapter 18: Foreign Policy and Democracy

You Decide Exercise

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Multilateralism versus Unilateralism

This exercise continues the Multilateral versus Unilateral discussion in the text with a focus on the Iraq war and the war on terror. The first two articles debate the importance of working with international institutions in the decision to attack Iraq. The video clip with Benjamin Barber discusses how the problems associated with globalization affect the war on terror.
Read these two articles:

“John Brady Kiesling: A Diplomat Disagrees,” NOW with Bill Moyers

and “Thank God for the Death of the UN” by Richard Perle, The Guardian


  1. Kiesling argues that the international laws limit our foes far more than it constrained us. What does he mean?

  1. What are the benefits of multilateralism?

  1. "As we sift the debris… the better to understand, the intellectual wreckage of the liberal conceit of safety through international law administered by international institutions." What does Perle mean?

  1. Go to http://www.pbs.org/now/thisweek/index_073004.html#video and watch the interview with Benjamin Barber, starting at about 9½ minutes into the segment.

    What does Barber mean when he refers to terrorism’s strategic jujitsu (at 9:50 in the clip)?



  1. Explain Barber’s explanation of globalization and why he feels President Bush’s approach to foreign policy is the wrong one.

  1. Do you think the U.S. should act more multilaterally or unilaterally? Why?



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