World Politics

The 20th century witnessed the outcome of two world wars and not only the rise and fall of the Third Reich but also the rise and fall of communism. The development of the atomic bomb gave the United States the victory in World War II. Later, the development of the Hydrogen bomb became the ultimate weapon of mass destruction. The United Nations has served as a forum for peace in a world threatened by nuclear war. The invention of nuclear and space weapons has made war unacceptable as an instrument for achieving political ends. Although an all-out final nuclear holocaust is out of the question for man, "nuclear blackmail" comes into question not only on the issue of world peace but also on the issue of national sovereignty. On a Sunday in 1962, the world stood still at the brink of nuclear war during the October Cuban missile crisis from the implementation of U.S. vs U.S.S.R. nuclear blackmail policy.

Former President Ronald Reagan was horrified by nuclear weapons and believed in the probable existence of life on other planets. For the President, the fantasy of an invasion from outer space that would force the nations of the world to unite against a common enemy was strong enough to convince anyone that mankind could unite in a common interest such as world peace. At their first meeting in Geneva in 1985, president Reagan brought up the subject of an invasion from outer space to Gorbachev. General Powell was convinced Reagan peace proposal to Gorbachev was inspired by the 1951 science-fiction film, The Day the Earth Stood Still. On September 21, 1987, Reagan told the General Assembly of the United Nations: "...I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world."

3.  Make up sentences discovering the concept and content of politics starting from the words below:

1) Politics is strife of …

2) The patriarchal state of society …

3) A sovereign state …

4) The king rules his kingdom …

5) Most political scientists agree …

6) Short-term factors …

7) The election issues …

8) Extremism is usually…

LISTENING / WATCHING

1. Watch a short video and listen to the speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963 in front of thousands of supporters “I have a dream…”. In the process of watching and listening to the speech try to identify the main points of it, and put them down.

2. After watching and listening again, you should be able to answer the following questions:

1) When did the Proclamation of the Emancipation of the Negroes was signed?

2) Did the Declaration of Independence give the blacks equal liberty and prosperity with the white population?

3) What did Luther King mean by saying “to end the long night of captivity of the Negroes”?

4) What problems did the Negros face?

5) Why did “the Negro find himself in exile in his own land”?

6) What is the meaning of the words “Let freedom reign …”?

7) How do you understand the phrase “I have a dream…”?

3. Arrange a discussion in groups about the importance of Dr. Luther King’s speech in fighting racism, discrimination, segregation of the blacks, and uniting the American nation.

4. Discuss the issue:

Is racism, discrimination based on the colour of skin and nationality still a burning problem in the world?

Ground your approaches.

TALK POINTS

● Discuss the concept of politics.

● In groups of two-three identify the main distinctions between a democratic society and a dictatorship; progressive and radical, far left and far right organizations and views.

WRITING

Express your personal opinion in respect of the point that Politics can’t be “a fair game”.