The One-Family, One-Child policy in China

The One-Family, One-Child policy inChina launched in 1979 has turned reproduction into an area of direct state intervention. The new regime under Deng made the neo-Malthusian observation that the economic gains from reform were barely sufficient to accommodate a population of one billion, given the natural population growth rate of 1.26 percent, much less provide a base for advanced industrial development. The One-Family, One-Child campaigns have therefore targeted women to limit their childbearing as a "patriotic duty". The family planning policy is implemented by local units of the W.F., barefoot doctors and health workers who are mainly women. Each family is visited individually by members of the local family planning committee. After the first child, women are awarded a one-child certificate that entitles them to a number of privileges. Standard regulations concerning the type of birth control method employed require IUDs after one child, sterilization after the second one and abortion for unapproved pregnancies. The policy rests on a coercive system of sanctions and rewards. Economic sanctions include: payment of an "excess child levy" as compensation to the state for the cost of another child to the country; reduction in the family's grain ration (or higher prices) for producing a "surplus" child; limitations on additional land for private plots and the right to collective grain in times of flood and drought; and ineligibility for promotion for four years, demotion, or reduction in wages. Moreover, the offending couple has to bear all expenses for medical care and education of excess children, and "extra" children have the lowest priority in admission to kindergarten, school and medical institutions. In contrast, one-child families are entitled to many privileges including monthly or annual cash subsidies for health or welfare until the child reaches fourteen years of age; and additional private plots from the commune. Single children are entitled to free education, health services, and priority in admission to nurseries, schools and hospitals. Parents receive an additional subsidy to their old age pension.

SPEAKING AND DISCUSSING

Look for relevant information from internet, newspapers and magazines and use it in disputes and discussions with your classmates.

The world since 9/11

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 on the World Trade Centre have served to significantly influence world politics and international relations by bringing many countries closer together, whilst also pushing many others much further apart. Discuss a very influential topic.

• What is the most significant event in international relations since 9/11?
• In what ways could the events of 9/11 be said to have improved international relations?
• Why, on the basis of international relations prior to the event, could 9/11 be considered inevitable?
• How have international relations between the West and the Middle East been influenced by 9/11?
• What are the key lessons that have been learned politically since 9/11?
• How has trade between nations been influenced by the events of 9/11?
• Why did the events of 9/11 actually happen?
• Was enough done in the immediate wake of 9/11 to prevent further similar acts of terrorism?
• Were the actions of countries in the wake of 9/11 legitimate?
• Is the use of force a legitimate response to terrorist attacks?

US Foreign Policy

In the latter half of the last century in particular, US foreign policy developed at pace, with the US electing to involve itself in events far across the world as a means of maintaining its position as one of the key 'superpowers' in the world today. In its foreign policy, the US has often talked about 'policing the rest of the world' how could such terminology be merely construed as bullying?

• Are the actions of the US in its international relations with other nations always legitimate?
• How, through the developing relationships of other countries, could the US be said to have overstepped its powers?
• The United Nations is meant to regulate countries, but the US thinks it is the 'police' who are really in control?
• How do the development of nuclear power in China and other Asian countries serve to reflect the negative aspects of US foreign policy?
• Why does China's growth as an economic power serve to threaten the US?
• Who actually controls US foreign policy?
• In recent years, why has US foreign policy bordered on bullying?
• Why could US foreign policy be likened to the Crusades for the 'Holy Grail' during the time of the Richard the Lion Heart?
• What is the most significant potential threat to US foreign policy? How is this likely to change US foreign policy?

British Foreign Policy

How the government establishes its foreign policy goals and seeks to put them into play, is a significant marker for how the country is perceived in Europe and the rest of the world. Compare the policies of this Labour government with that of the last Conservative governments - which were better? Why?

• Why could current Labour policies be said to be detracting from Britain's once proud traditional position in Europe?
• What are Britain's current policies? How are they legitimate?
• Has Britain's moves to be closer to Europe caused most of its economic and social problems?
• Is the free movement of people within the EU a significant marker for the success of Britain's foreign policy?
• How does Britain's current foreign policy serve to illustrate its close ties with the US?
• On the basis of Britain's foreign policy, is Britain little more than the US' 'pet'?
• How influential is Britain's foreign policy on the rest of Europe?
• How has the formation of a 'Single European Entity' served to influence Britain's foreign policy goals?
• 'Britain's foreign policy goals have always been limited and never really changed or achieved anything'. Why?

Problems with Africa

Africa's relations with the rest of the world have often been problematic because of the fact that many in the West consider their policies and politics somewhat contradictory, as governments are rarely considered democratic. Why is Africa such a worry to the Western world?

• If Africa is such a disappointment, why has Western involvement only served to make matters worse?
• To what extent could the political problems in Africa today have been affected by colonial rule?
• How far could ancient tribal traditions and religious beliefs be held to blame for the problems between African nations?
• What is the key cause of problems between African nations and how do they affect their relationships with the West?
• What efforts have been made by the rest of the world to resolve the tensions between African nations? How successful have they been?
• How are relations between African nations likely to develop in the future?
• On the basis of the many problems with relations between African nations, how could these best be resolved?
• Can Western ideals in relation to politics ever really be utilised in an African setting?
• Why has the West not gone into Africa and taken all their weapons away?

Russia and Eastern Europe

Whilst Russia remains a 'superpower' in the modern world, the fall of the Soviet Union has seen some significant changes in Eastern Europe with much closer relationships now being forged between these countries and those of the West. How has the collapse of the Soviet Union served to influence international relations between Eastern Europe and the West?

• With the formation of a 'Single Europe', has the opening up of the EU to Eastern European countries served to hinder or help this ideal?
• How did international relations in Eastern Europe serve to cause the Soviet Union's collapse?
• Why were Eastern European countries so susceptible to Soviet rule? What changed?
• How successfully have Eastern European countries been integrated into the EU?
• What are the most significant problems for the EU caused by the entry of Eastern European States?
• Why is Russia still considered to be such a threat to Western ideals?
• Has the Cold War ever really stopped?
• On the basis of past relations, why does Russia still look to distance itself from any offer of help from the West?
• On the basis of relations between Russia and the US, why have they never actually declared war?

China

In the latter part of the 21st century, whilst the Chinese government still maintained its distinctly communist ideals, the country became increasingly open to Western views on economic growth and technology, blended together with a view to rapid growth.

• To what extent have Western politics and ideals influenced China?
• Why did China elect to 'open' what have previously been a distinctly closed economy?
• Why China is considered such a threat to Western ideals?
• How could China's rapid economic growth be considered a good thing for the West?
• Why have greater efforts not been made by the West to forge closer relations with the Chinese?
• How could Chinese political ideals be said to have influenced Western politics? Has this been for the better?
• Why, when the power of the Soviet Union was considered such a threat, were greater efforts not made to overthrow China's communist rule?
• How can China be viewed with such suspicion, when the West is largely responsible for its growth?
• To what extent is the West's relationship with China illustrative of their relationship with Asia as a whole?
• Why does China's human rights record make relations with the West so complex?

Israel and The Middle East

There have long been significant difficulties in the relationship between the Arabs and the Israelis, mainly centered upon the recognition of a Palestinian State, which has led to many armed conflicts and complications with relationships with other countries. Why did the recognition of a Palestinian State prove so complex?

• How have relations between the Arabs and the Israelis served to influence their relationships with Western States?
• Why has the Arab-Israeli conflict gone on for so long?
• What is the most significant event that most effectively symbolises the breakdown of relations between the Arabs and the Israelis?
• How successful have Western attempts proved to be in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict?
• What needs to be done to cement relations between the Arabs and the Israelis?
• Can a Palestinian State ever be recognised?
• Compare and contrast the recognition sought for a Palestinian State with that of Tibet - which is more likely?
• Why events were not resolved when the Arab-Israeli conflict descended into war?
• On the basis of past events, how could the UN be used to resolve this conflict?

European Union (EU)

The EU served to cement relations between the countries that were party to the Union with a view to establishing closer ties between the nations on all social, political and economic matters, for the good of the EU and its many member states. How successful have the ideals of the EU proved to be in structuring international relations?

• What is the most significant achievement of the EU?
• How could the EU be considered flawed in forming closer international relations between member states?
• Why could the EU be considered discriminatory to the formation of relations with nations beyond it? How could it be considered little more than a 'boys club'?
• How has allowing Eastern European countries into the EU served to detract from the ideals of the Union and the relations already forged?
• To what extent has the EU's formation been influenced by the understanding of the formation of the US?
• What aspect of the EU could be considered most detrimental to international relations? Why? What does this mean for the political standing of the Union?
• To what extent has a 'Single European Entity' been achieved? In the context of international relations, is this a good thing?
• Why was a 'Single European Entity' not possible sooner? Why were international relations not previously conductive to it?
• To what extent could the EU be said to be similar to the Soviet Union? Does this mean the Soviet Union was a good thing?