Assignment #3

Due: Nov 19th

1/ Does Tilly's argument about war being necessary for state formation pertain today? Explain your answer with detailed analysis of at least two cases.

2/ "The balance of power between the state and other elements of society has been shifting for the past quarter-century. The rise of fluid capital markets, information technology, global media, the end of communism, the inefficiencies of government regulation all point in the same direction against the autonomy and power of the state." (The Economist, Special Issue 1999) A number of political economists have argued that globalization has undermined the strength, autonomy, and capacity of the state. What developmental role, if any, can or should the state play in the current context of globalization and financial liberalization?

3/ Is seeking further trade and financial liberalization abroad in the interests of the United States, the Third World, or the whole world? Be clear about whose interests you are discussing.

4/ How would a realist, a liberal and a Marxist explain US policy up to and during the Asian financial crisis of 1997? Which interpretation do you find the most compelling?