This week we’re focusing on states and the concepts of sovereignty, power and governance.

This week we’re focusing on states and the concepts of sovereignty, power and governance.

This week we’re focusing on states and the concepts of sovereignty, power and governance. There are vast differences between strong states like the US and weak states like Syria. This week, you have two options for your forum question. Answer just one of the questions below and be sure to address all the components for full credit.

Choice 1: After reviewing the following sites from the Council on Foreign Relations, explain why Syria is considered a weak or even failing state:

https://www.cfr.org/interactives/syrias-civil-war-…

https://www.cfr.org/interactive/womens-participati…

https://www.cfr.org/middle-east-and-north-africa/s…

Define the terms you use, such as weak and failed state (use our Lessons or the reading by Wilkinson). Please be sure to support your thoughts with references to the course materials and please be sure to use Turabian style citations (author date).

Choice 2: As explained in the Week 4 lesson notes, IGOs are supranational organizations that are heavily connected to regional or international security and international law. A prime example is the UN. Today, the UN is involved in a number of peacekeeping missions around the world. For this option, please visit the UN peacekeeping homepage and choose one current or past mission to focus on. For that mission, address these specific questions for full credit:

Why did the mission form?

What states have been the main contributors to the mission? Why do you think they are contributing?

Did the mission end? If so, why?

Is the mission still going? If so, do you foresee any end date on the horizon?

If there is one lesson to take from the UN mission, what is it?

Be sure to use more than one source and incorporate references to course material. Please be sure to paraphrase and credit the information rather than quoting it.

Instructions: Your initial post should be at least 350 words. Please respond to more than 2 other students. Responses should be a minimum of 150 words and include direct questions, evidence from the literature, alternative points of view or additional insight. For more information, please review the forum discussion rubric attached below. This is the rubric that will be used for all of the forums in this class.