Political Systems around the World
Nation state governments often are broadly categorized: democracy, autocracy, communist. However, no two political systems are exactly alike. They may differ in distribution of power and electoral processes, and there are a variety of cultural factors that determine how constituents view freedom and participate in the political process. As students explore cultures, read current events, and investigate global issues, it is important they understand varieties of governance. This month's Global Update provides links to maps and data sets, country specific information, lesson plans, and resources for teaching about political systems around the world. Special thanks to World View's summer intern, Alex Holmgren, for her contributions to this issue of Global Updates!
MAP OF SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT
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Types of Governance
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Definitions provided by Encyclopedia Britannica online and CIA World Factbook. Click on the link above to complete the crossword puzzle online or for a printable PDF version and answer sheet.
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a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament. (2 Words)
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A cluster of doctrines and attitudes centred on the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary.
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a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them. (2 Words)
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a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).
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a form of government in which sovereign power is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon individuals as well as upon the regional units.
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a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.
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a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.
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a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution (2 Words)
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a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority.
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a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution. (2 Words)
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a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam. (2 Words)
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a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).
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a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.
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denotes any political system that concentrates power in the hands of a leader or a small elite that is not constitutionally responsible to the body of the people.
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a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives. (2 Words)
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a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation; true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament). (2 Words)
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a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government.
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a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
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a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.
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a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.
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similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
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Interactive Resources and Data Sets
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Elections by Country
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_by_country
Elections by Country gives information and results from elections. A simplified table shows the way the head of state and the parliament or legislature is elected.
Gapminder and Gapminder Teacher
www.gapminder.org
Gapminder uses information visualization software to display various animated statistics about the world's countries. Gapminder is valuable for making sense of concepts like democracy, development, inequality, and change. Clickhere to see an interactive graph of democracy and life expectancy.
Freedom House
www.freedomhouse.org
Freedom House is a non-governmental organization that promotes free political and social institutions worldwide. Each year freedom house reports on the state of civil liberties, political rights, and other freedoms around the world. You can scroll across different countries to see their freedom ranking and learn more about their political systems.
Political Database of the Americas
pdba.georgetown.edu
The political database of the Americas provides contemporary political and institutional information about 35 countries in the Western Hemisphere. The information is divided into areas such as electoral systems and data, political parties, democracy, security, and conflict prevention. The links directory includes embassies and consulates, international organizations, libraries, and hundreds of newspapers.
Research Resources for the Social Sciences
www.socsciresearch.com
This site, operated by McGraw-Hill-Ryerson, offers information on a number of different topics from women's studies to data archives to political science. Click on a topic for links to numerous organizations and resources.
Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC)
sedac.ciesin.org
SEDAC supports the integration of socioeconomic and Earth science data and to serve as an "Information Gateway" between the Earth and social sciences.
On SEDAC's website you can view maps related to population, food supply, and environmental performance, data sets on national boundaries, or search by theme and topic, such as governance and urbanization to find information and resources.
Transparency International
www.transparency.org
Transparency International is a global civil society organization that fights against corruption. Transparency International compiles data on perceptions of public sector governance corruption in countries and territories around the world in their Corruption Perceptions Index. Click here to see how the U.S. ranks.
World Political Leaders 1945-2010 www.terra.es/personal2/monolith/00index2.htm
This website offers information on world political leaders searchable by country and by international organizations. From this collection you can also find information on women world leaders, European governments, African rulers, and biographies of political leaders.
Additional Data Sets
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Country Information
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Afghanistan - Islamic Republic
The current government of Afghanistan, created in 2004, replaced the interim government put in place by the Bonn Conference, which itself replaced the Taliban Emirate which previously ruled Afghanistan. Afghanistan now has a three-branch government, with a President at the head of the executive branch, a bicameral parliament called the National Assembly, and a Supreme Court.
- Afghanistan: People, Places, andPolitics - Grades 9-12 Lesson Plan includes materials, additional resources, and extension activities for current events, social studies, geography, or journalism classrooms.
Canada - A Constitutional Monarchy (also a Parliamentary Democracy and a Federation)
As a Commonwealth country, the formal head of state of Canada is Queen Elizabeth II of England, who is represented by the Governor General. The head of the three-branch parliamentary government is the Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.
- Teacher Developed Curricula for Canada - includes general, subject-specific, and current affairs resources for all grade levels.
 China - Communist state
China is governed by the Communist Party of China. The main institutions that make up Chinese government are the National People's Congress which acts as the country's legislative body, the President, and the State Council, which is its chief administrative authority. There are many levels of local government, from a "village", which represents about a hundred families, to provinces, which are led by a local party member.
Chile -Republic
Chile's constitution is fairly new, dating from 1980, and has been undergoing many reforms since the end of military dictator Pinochet's rule in 1988. It has a President who serves as head of state and of government, an independent judiciary, and normally a two-party legislature.
Cuba - Communist State
Cuba is a communist state currently led by Raul Castro, the brother of Fidel Castro. Although there is a democratically elected legislature, only official Communist Party candidates are permitted to run for election.
Egypt - Republic
 Since the Arab Spring and subsequent Egyptian Revolution that ousted former dictator Hosni Mubarak, the country has been under a transitional military government and is currently holding elections for the Presidency and Parliament.
- This lesson plan on the Egyptian Uprising helps students probe into the Arab Spring, the role of social media, and US-Egyptian relationship using news articles and videos.
Finland - Democratic Republic
Finland is governed through a parliament who elects a Prime Minister. Finland is also a member of the European Union and is a member of the Euro-zone currency union. Finland also is noted for its excellent education system.
- The European Union Centers of Excellence (of which UNC at Chapel Hill is a member) offer lesson plans for many different subjects and grade levels, aligned with NC standards and grade levels.
Greece - Parliamentary Republic
The Greek Parliament is multi-party, and headed by a Prime Minister. Due to recent economic and political turmoil, Greece is holding elections on June 17th to establish its new parliament.
Iran - Theocratic Republic
Iran is a theocracy, where religious laws serve as the basis for the government. Iran has a supreme leader, who oversees the military and judiciary and appoints members of the Guardian Council and the Expediency Discernment Council. The president, who is popularly elected for a four-year term, serves as the head of government. Iran also has a unicameral legislature, whose members are elected by popular vote for four-year terms.
- PBS offers a lesson plan for the Frontline documentary Showdown with Iran on U.S.-Iranian relations since 9/11. The video can be streamed in its entirety on the website.
Japan - Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary Government
The power of the Emperor of Japan is very limited, and he acts essentially as a ceremonial figurehead. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is elected by the Diet (the bicameral, elected body representing the Japanese people).
- This government sponsored website helps younger students explore Japanese government and culture through games, manga, and Japanese fads. Students can pack a Japanese lunchbox, experience a Japanese house, or learn basic words and phrases.
Nigeria's government is modeled after the United States, except for their legislature, which is multi-party. The U.S. has recently criticized the Nigerian government for rampant corruption.
Russia - Federation
The President of Russia is head of state and head of the multi-party system. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President with the parliament's approval. Although technically still a democracy, many consider Russia to be a defect or illiberal democracy.
Senegal - Republic
Senegal recently elected President Macky Sall amidst a storm of controversy over whether the incumbent president, Abdoulaye Wade, could run for a third term.
- Students can read this article about Senegalese wrestling and then answer math questions about it on the New York Time's learning blog.
- World View will be taking a group of teachers to Senegal June 18-30. To find out more about World View study visits, click here!
Singapore - Republic
Singapore has both a President, who serves ceremonially as head of state, and a Prime Minister, who is appointed by the President as the person best suited to have the confidence of the most members of parliament. Singapore has one of the most vibrant and innovative economies in the world, and its government is consistently voted as one of the least corrupt on the Corruption Perceptions Index.
- Learning from Singapore is an NC Public School Forum publication that explores the success behind Singapore's world class education system.
Syria - Republic (under an authoritarian military regime)
Syria is currently experiencing a violent uprising against its military regime. For additional teaching resources, see our "Spotlight on Syria."
United Arab Emirates - Federation
The United Arab Emirates is a federation with specific powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates. There are seven constitutional monarchies that make up the UAE, but the ruler of Abu Dhabi typically acts as President and head of state, and the ruler of Dubai as the Prime Minister and head of government.
United Kingdom - Constitutional Monarchy 
The U.K. is made up of four nations: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Although these nations have a queen, almost all governing is done by the Parliament. Queen Elizabeth II of England, who just celebrated her diamond jubilee, and the royal family serve a mostly ceremonial role.
United States - Constitution-based Federal Republic
The United States is a constitution-based federal republic with a strong democratic tradition. The U.S. government is a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature.
- One democracy actually older than the U.S. is the Iroquois Confederacy, uniting seven nations, which students can learn about here.
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Lesson Plans and Educator Resources
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American Experience - Eyes on the Prize: Ordinary People Can Change the World
www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/tguide/high.html
Students can role play activists of the 1960s trying to convince southern African Americans to register to vote. They can research people power movements that have toppled governments globally in recent years and consider voting as both a right and responsibility.
By the People, For the People: Examining Key Elements of Democracy as the System Is Introduced in Iraq
learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2003/06/23/by-the-people-for-the-people/
In this lesson, students define what they consider to be key elements of democracy, particularly relating those elements to the cancellation of Iraq's first general election for mayor and related issues of censorship. They participate in a round-table discussion and then develop collages that reflect general themes arising from the discussion.
Bully Business: Examining Military Coups around the World
learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2004/08/18/bully-business/
In this lesson, students will consider military coups and their aftermaths, research famous coups in Venezuela and other nations to create historical skits illustrating those events, and write letters from the perspectives of ousted leaders examined during class.
Caucusing in the Middle School Classroom
www.learnnc.org/articles/persuade-caucus-0702
Caucusing enables students to practice the elements of responsible citizenship, including persuasive writing and speaking. This series from LEARN NC offers strategies for teaching middle school students to think critically, analyze persuasive arguments, and use speaking and writing to persuade others.
Community Classroom: Vote Democracy
www.itvs.org/educators/collections/vote-democracy
Introduce thought-provoking perspectives on the changing nature of democracy with four documentaries: An Unreasonable Man, Chicago 10, Iron Ladies of Liberia, and Please Vote for Me. From a class election among eight year olds in China, to Africa's first female president tasked with reviving Liberia, the Vote Democracy! Collection provides modules, lesson plans, and activities to explore democracy, elections, gender, and media literacy.
Model UN
www.unausa.org/modelun
In Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the organization's agenda. Students make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the conference rules of procedure to resolve problems that affect countries all over the world. From the Model UN website you can also find curriculum guides and lesson plans from UNA-USA's Global Classrooms Curriculum.
NationStates
nationstates.net
On this site, students can create their own nations and determine their own set of laws and governing procedures. Want to try out being a dictator? Want to create a utopia? Students (or adults) answer questions about type of country they want to have and what type of leader they want to be to create a nation state. They then have to troubleshoot through issues that arise.
Propaganda Techniques in Literature and Online Political Ads, from Read ●Write ●Think
www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=405
In this lesson students explore the use of propaganda in popular culture by looking at examples in the media. Students will identify examples of propaganda techniques in clips of online political advertisements and explain how the techniques are used to persuade voters.
Who Rules?
www.icivics.org/teachers/lesson-plans/who-rules
Through a PowerPoint presentation or reading, students explore several different forms of government ranging from democracy, to oligarchy, to anarchy. Students use a semantic features analysis chart to analyze the key features of each form of government. Using information from the chart, they then complete, compare, and contrast sentences. As a vocabulary review, students match vocabulary terms with their definitions using a self-assessing magic square activity. Finally, students reflect on and share their own opinions about forms of government.
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World View's Global Education Fall Symposium
World View's October 24-25, 2012 global education symposium will explore global issues and global solutions of the 21st century. There will be keynote addresses, break out sessions looking at issues more in depth, and break out sessions to provide strategies to integrate global themes in teaching. School and district teams will also given an opportunity to develop an action plan with an adviser. This program is designed for K-12 administrators and teachers of all disciplines. 1.5 CEU credits are offered.
Location: The Friday Center, UNC at Chapel Hill
Cost (NC educator):
$175 per person. A team of 4 is $600. A team is comprised of 4 or more individuals from a school or district. Only $150 for each additional team member.
For more information or to register today please call 919/962-9264 or visit worldview.unc.edu
| WORLD VIEW'S ONLINE COURSE OFFERED:
OCT 1 - NOV 11, 2012
Globalization: An Introduction for K-12 Teachers & Administrators
 This online course immerses teachers and school administrators from all disciplines and grade levels in an intensive exploration of the rapid global changes in government, economics, environment and health, culture, and technology impacting our schools, communities, country, and the planet. The goal of the course is to help K-12 educators become aware of the effects of globalization. Registration for the Online Globalization Course is $275 per NC educator, but only $225 for World View Partners. $200 for a World View Partner team of 4 or more teachers.
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We've Moved! | |
World View has moved to a new location on the UNC at Chapel Hill campus!
World View
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Campus Box 8011
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Please continue to send U.S. Postal Service mail to
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SNEAK PEEK:
WORLD VIEW TO YOU! 2012-2013 | |
Don't forget to use World View for professional development in the upcoming school year!
World View offers Partners one to two hour mini sessions, half or full day workshops, and a series of short on-site sessions to help educators from all grade levels and content areas bring global perspective to the classroom. Click here to see a preview of our fall session offerings.
To request a World View session for your school or district please complete a request form or contact:
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Spotlight on Syria
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Syria - Republic under an authoritarian military regime- Syria is currently experiencing a violent uprising against its military regime. Click the link for an overview of Syria by BBC news, which includes links to recent events and an historical timeline.
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Anwar Amro/Agence France-Presse - Getty Imag
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The NY Times Syria topic page includes a summary of recent events and current political situation, links to recent news articles, audio clips, and images.
This 6 Qs about the News lesson plan lets students use NY Times news articles to decipher what the uprising is all about.
How to teach ... the crisis in Syria from The Guardian This article focuses on the recent conflicts in Syria and offers suggestions on how educators can use The Guardian (a British newspaper) and materials from other non-profit organizations to help students research and understand recent events in Syria and Syria's role in the Middle East.
Carolina Center for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations/ Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies. The Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies encourages collaboration and cooperation in all aspects of Middle Eastern studies across our two campuses and across disciplines. We study the Middle East as the region extending from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, and focus on interdisciplinary work.
Click here to read about the Center's outreach activities and additional resources, or you can subscribe to the NCTeachMideast listserv for regular updates on resources, professional development, and grants. To be added to the listserv, contact Outreach Director Regina Higgins at [email protected].
- Omar Offendum performs at the FedEx Global Education Center at UNC at Chapel Hill. On April 19, 2012, Syrian-American Hip-Hop artist and activist Omar Offendum visited UNC at Chapel Hill. Mr. Offendum participated in a panel that afternoon on "Transnational Muslim Youth, Politics, and Art" with local faculty, students, and activists. Later that evening, Mr. Offendum performed in front of more than 300 people at the Nelson Mandela Auditorium at the FedEx Global Education Center, along with local artists Pierce Freelon, Poetic Portraits of a Revolution, Kimberly McRae, DJ AppleJuice Kid, and others. To view photos from the concert, visit the Facebook page. [From the Carolina Center for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations]
Middle East Desk. Middle East Desk is a gateway to informed, engaged analysis and commentary on the most important stories from the Middle East and North Africa. Each country page features datebooks of newsworthy events; contact information for country specialists; a brief synopsis of the country's recent history and pressing issues in its current affairs; almanac-style data; and links to background articles from the Middle East Report.
MERIP and Middle East Report. The Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP) and Middle East Report . MERIP is a non-governmental organization producing the Middle East Report. This magazine provides news and perspectives about the Middle East not available from mainstream news sources. The magazine has developed a reputation for independent analysis of events and developments in the Middle East.
UNC University Library Resources. The UNC and Duke University libraries are jointly developing their Middle East collections through support from the Robertson Foundation, as well as support for Iranian and other South Asian materials from the North Carolina Center for South Asia Studies. Click here to learn more about Middle East resources offered by UNC University Libraries or visit UNC University Library's Middle East Studies subject page.
World View Resources. Visit the World View website for resources on teaching about all regions of the world, follow this link for Middle East resources or an archived Global Updates focusing on Middle East teaching Resources.
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SAVE THE DATE!
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The 27th International Festival of Raleigh
September 28-30, 2012
Raleigh Convention Center
Bring the whole family for a 3-day celebration of music, food, and culture from around the globe. Watch authentic ethnic dances from over 30 different cultures performed on the Main Stage. Stroll through the many Cultural Exhibits to learn about the rich history and traditions of different cultures. Shop the World Bazaars for crafts and taste your way around the globe with delicious food from the Sidewalk Cafes. Learn about traditional arts, crafts, and cooking from international teachers at the Demonstration Booth. Bring the kids to Sophia's Corner for face-painting, storytelling, games, and other fun activities.
International Folk Festival
September 28-30, 2012
Fayetteville
The International Folk Festival was created to celebrate the richness of the diverse cultural roots of the Fayetteville community. By showcasing historic artistic customs and traditions of a culture, the festival strives to foster an appreciation of our diversity while preserving the historical and traditional art forms that infuse a culture with its specific identity.
theartscouncil.com
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GOING GLOBAL IN
NORTH CAROLINA:
Share your story on our website!
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In a growing effort to highlight the important work of World View's partner school districts, schools, and colleges, Going Global in North Carolina will regularly feature global education initiatives from partners across the state.
We Want to Hear From You!
If you are a World View Partner school district, school, or college and have an important global initiative you would like to make public, please contact Leslie Hodges at [email protected] or 919/962-9264.
CLICK HERE
For more information on World View partnership.
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| | | Do you have information to share?
Do you have information that you would like to share with other faculty across the state? You are welcome to submit interesting global education programs that are going on at your school or in your district, announcements about global education seminars, new resources that others might find interesting, etc. Please email Julie at [email protected] with your "update-worthy" items!
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Disclaimer
World View at UNC-Chapel Hill provides information, resources, and announcements for educational purposes only. It does not represent an endorsement of organizations or point of view by World View or The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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