Addition to Layered Assessment

If you are interested in another option for the Layered Assessment (Minor Category), please visit the site below. This is an international competition (cash prizes available), and your task would be to design and submit a logo which symbolizes human rights.

http://humanrightslogo.net/

PBL Challenge

Up for a challenge? The following case studies demonstrate nation building success stories: Rwanda, Germany, and Japan. As noted in your PBL Prompt, the Middle East a unique region, and the formula for rebuilding these three countries cannot be simply copied in the Middle East. These resources, however, should give you a stronger understanding of the necessary facets of a stable democracy.
http://www.idea.int/publications/wip2/upload/Rwanda.pdf

http://www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/rebuildingrwanda.pdf

http://www.crf-usa.org/election-central/nation-building.html

Iraq Group: Helpful Links

The Problem of Phase IV: A Case Study Analysis of Building a Society in Northern Iraq
Jack D. Kem
Public Performance & Management Review
Vol. 29, No. 2 (Dec., 2005), pp. 217-242
Published by: M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2044758
*This is available through BU's online library. See me for login.

http://www.obleek.com/iraq/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/baghdad_navigator/

http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Centers/Saban/Iraq%20Index/index20110331.pdf
*See pages 28-33 for pretty amazing infrastructure data. Be sure that your analysis explains the significance of this data in terms of the possibility of a stable democracy flourishing in Iraq.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17722026
*This interactive should be your new bff. Watch it, love it, analyze it.

Libya Group: Helpful Links

Libya in US Foreign Policy: From Rogue State to Good Fellow?
Yahia H. Zoubir
Third World Quarterly
Vol. 23, No. 1 (Feb., 2002), pp. 31-53
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd.
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3993575
*This is available on BU's online library. See me for login.

Agricultural Prospects and Water Resources in Libya
Rajab M. El Asswad
Ambio
Vol. 24, No. 6 (Sep., 1995), pp. 324-327
Published by: Springer on behalf of Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4314361
*This is available on BU's online library. See me for login.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/02/25/world/middleeast/map-of-how-the-protests-unfolded-in-libya.html

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/02/17/world/middleeast/0217-mideast-region-graphic.html#libya
*Click "more information" on the bottom right hand corner for additional graphics.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/world/africa/2011-libya-slide-show.html#4

http://techland.time.com/2011/04/13/how-libyan-rebels-built-their-own-cellphone-network/
*This article shows an interesting perspective of Libya's rebellion, but is most valuable for its discussion of technology, infrastructure, and free speech.

Layered Assessment: Documentary List

If you are interested in watching a documentary for your Layered Assessment, choose from one of the following films. You may not watch a film that you already viewed for April Break’s homework. If you are interested in a different film, please check with me.

- Iranium
- Restrepo
- Beneath the Veil
- Baghdad High

Additionally, the following website has a list of very short documentaries (some as short as 7 minutes). If you would prefer to watch these, please select three. Your 2-3 paragraph response should include information from all three.
- http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/r4.html

Egypt Group: Helpful Links

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/12/133687326/democracy-still-an-uncertainty-analysts-fear

http://washingtonexaminer.com/politics/2011/01/egypts-conflicting-views-democracy-and-religion

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12327995

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=50641

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5309.htm

Layered Assessment

Iran Group: Helpful Links

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL34021.pdf

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/world/middleeast/11tehran.html

http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/publications/2008/Mapping_Irans_Online_Public/interactive_blogosphere_map
- For this site, it is particularly interesting to jump between the blocked and unblocked sites; the “Iran Background” tab also has some helpful info

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/01/AR2011010101345.html

Afghanistan Group: Helpful Links

http://www.ctv.ca/special/sept11/interactive/muslim/timeline_afghanistan.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,,616624,00.html

http://earthpulse.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/earthpulse-map

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/663b649e-b7e6-11de-8ca9-00144feab49a.html#axzz1LiOBTLiF

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/afghanistan-pakistan/timeline.html?hpid=artslot

http://pashtoonkhwa.com/files/articles/Miakhel%20-%20Importance%20of%20Tribal%20Structures%20in%20Afghanistan.pdf

Bribery

The following is an excerpt from Fareed Zakaria's recent article on fighting corruption, "How to beat bribery." Check out his article for a map that would be helpful for your PBL.
"Another innovative idea came out of Africa. The Sudanese-born billionaire Mo Ibrahim often wondered why his continent had the richest resources, the richest natural resources, and yet the poorest people. Identifying corrupt leaders is the problem. Ibrahim tried to change those leaders' incentives. He instituted the annual Ibrahim Prize. It awards $5 million to an African leader who is not corrupt and leads office peacefully. The winner then goes on to get an additional $200,000 annually for life.
A great incentive, right? The problem is they couldn't find a winner for 2009 or 2010."
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/16/fareed-zakaria-how-to-beat-bribery/?hpt=T2

Ahmadinejad's cleric charged with sorcery

See the link below for interesting article highlighting the most recent conflict between Iranian President Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/05/09/Ahmadinejads-cleric-charged-with-sorcery/UPI-59751304964618/

Layer 3: Iranian Revolution Questions

If you choose to complete the Iranian Revolution questions for one Layer 3 assignment, respond to the following questions 2-3 paragraphs. You should post your response, and unless you are the first to reply, you must respond to at least one of your classmate's answers.

1. How is the Iranian Revolution similar to the Arab Spring? In what key ways is it different?

2. How did both WWII and the Cold War contribute to the Iranian Revolution?

3. How did the Iranian hostage crises alter Iran's relationship with the West?

4. As a consequence of the Iranian Revolution, Iran became less modernized and progressive than it had been under the Shah. Women in particular felt this shift, as conservative mullahs encouraged a government-sponsored dress code requiring women to cover their hair and much of their bodies. Does part of you sympathize with this desire to curb overt sexuality and retain a society separate from Western influences? Or, is the Western perception of femininity and sexuality best for all cultures? Explain.

Adams Scholarship

See link below for more info on the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/adams.html