4.14: Assignments
- Page ID
- 307739
This page is a draft and is under active development.
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Assignment 1: Democracy Stress Test (Comparative Analysis Project)
Objective:
Evaluate the health of democracy in a selected country using theoretical frameworks from the chapter.
Task:
Choose one country and conduct a “democratic stress test” analyzing:
- Institutional integrity (elections, judiciary, media)
- Inclusion and participation
- Presence of backsliding indicators
- Role of technology in political processes
Frameworks to Apply:
- Dahl’s polyarchy
- Democratic backsliding (Bermeo, Levitsky & Ziblatt)
- Intersectionality (Crenshaw)
Deliverable Options (student choice):
- Policy brief (1,500–2,000 words)
- Interactive slide deck
- Recorded 8-minute analysis
Assignment 2: Peace and Justice Mapping Lab
Objective:
Analyze how peace, justice, and democracy interact in a real-world conflict.
Task:
Select a conflict-affected region and map:
- Forms of violence (direct vs structural, Galtung)
- Peacebuilding efforts
- Justice mechanisms (formal and informal)
- Democratic participation pathways
Creative Component:
Students must include a visual system map showing relationships between peace, justice, and governance.
Deliverable:
- Analytical report (1,200–1,800 words) + visual map
Assignment 3: Algorithmic Democracy Audit (AI & Ethics Applied Project)
Objective:
Critically evaluate how a specific technology shapes democratic processes.
Task:
Choose one:
- Social media platform
- AI system (e.g., predictive policing, hiring algorithms)
- Digital governance tool (e-voting, civic platforms)
Analyze:
- Bias and inequality
- Impact on participation and deliberation
- Risks (disinformation, surveillance)
- Policy or design solutions
Frameworks:
- Surveillance capitalism (Zuboff)
- Algorithmic bias (Noble, Eubanks)
- Democratic theory (Habermas, participatory models)
Deliverable Options:
- Policy memo
- Tech ethics report
- “Audit dossier” (structured evaluation)
Assignment 4: Constitutional Imagination Project (Signature Assignment)
Objective:
Synthesize democracy, peace, and justice into a normative vision.
Task:
Write a preamble for a hypothetical “Global Constitution” that:
- Defines democracy beyond elections
- Embeds justice (social, economic, environmental)
- Addresses global inequality and digital governance
- Reflects intersectional inclusion
Extension Option:
Add 3–5 guiding principles or articles.
Deliverable:
- 800–1,200 word preamble + reflection
Assignment 5: Case Study Remix (Narrative + Analysis Hybrid)
Objective:
Deepen understanding of real-world democratic dynamics.
Task:
Select one case from Section 4.9 and:
- Expand it with additional research
- Reanalyze it through two theoretical frameworks
- Propose an alternative outcome or policy intervention
Deliverable:
- Analytical essay (1,500 words) OR
- Narrative-policy hybrid piece
Bonus
- Peace-Process Mapping: Select a conflict region and trace peacebuilding initiatives through Galtung’s positive/negative peace framework.
- Digital Ethics Audit: Evaluate one technology’s democratic impact (e.g., AI policing, blockchain voting). Propose safeguards grounded in human-rights standards.
- Constitutional Imagination Project: Draft a one-page preamble for a hypothetical “Global Constitution” integrating democracy, peace, and justice principles.
- Film or Literature Analysis: Analyze a cultural work that portrays democracy or authoritarianism. Discuss how art shapes civic empathy.
- Policy Brief: Recommend one reform to democratize a global institution (UN, IMF, WTO, ICC) and justify it with comparative evidence.