Discussion Questions: Again choose one to answer – be sure to meet the minimum requirements MUST BE AT LEAST 500 WORDS, APA FORMAT, AT LEAST 2 REFERENCES
Are authoritarian methods morally compatible with democratic principles and institutions?
Under what circumstances are authoritarian policies justifiable and necessary, even in democracies with strong constitutional traditions?
The postwar Red Scare investigations in the United States have been labeled by many as “witch hunts.” Were these investigations nevertheless justifiable, considering the external threat from the Soviet Union?
The British security services detained hundreds of innocent people and searched the homes of many thousands of non-IRA members. Considering the threat from the IRA, were these inconveniences nevertheless justifiable?
Assume for a moment that some security environments justify the use of authoritarian measures by democracies. What kind of “watchdog” checks and balances are needed to ensure that democracies do not move toward permanent authoritarianism?
READINGS
The 9/11 Commission Report, Chpts. 2, 4, 5
Article on ISIS: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/03/world/middleeast/syria-iraq-isis-rogue-state-along-two-rivers.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&modref=HPInteractiveRefer&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news
The following article on religious fundamentalism and modernity should also be read:
http://nationalinterest.org/article/the-fundamentalists-4891
Read the following article on two key players in the history of the Muslim Brotherhood: https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~orr20l/classweb/worldpolitics116/pages/leaders.html