One of the documentary films that I watched was called “The Burdened” directed by Amr Gamal. It is based on a true story. This movie revolves around Ahmed and his wife Israa, who are parents to three kids. The parents have lost their jobs and everything due to the economic crisis that happened in Yemen. The mother Israa is also pregnant with their fourth child, but they don’t have enough money to provide for all of their kids due to the war that happened. This film mostly is based on Aden, Yemen where there was a conflict going on and the struggles, the main conflict was the economic struggles. The couples were facing financial problems due to the war because it made the country’s economy bad. The war had destroyed the couple’s life and everyone living in Yemen, because they had no money or shelter to provide for their family and the government had taken away the civilians freedom of speech and not helping them out due to the economy struggling as well. Another documentary film that I watched was “Hunger Ward” directed by Skye Fitzgerald. This film talks about the miserable impact of the Yemeni children living there and talks about how the children are struggling with their food and have no place to live after the war. It talks about how the children in Yemen became orphans because of the war that happened. Even though there were nurses to help them with the kids everyday they still struggled to have food in their plates and had no place that was a home to them. In this documentary it talked about the loss of the kids home and their health has gotten worse and it affected their immune system since they were starving. This film also discussed how not only the children  but the Nurses and the adults were also struggling because they have lost their family and their loved ones.   These two documentaries that I have watched “The burderend” and “Hunger Ward” they both are somehow similar to one another. Both documentaries talk about how in the end of the day when there is a War everyone they struggle, not only the people but also the economy and the government get affected. In those two documentaries the problem they were facing was the same, which was A war that happened in Yemen and how it affected the lives of many innocent people. One of the big Political issues they had was with the economy and the health system becoming so bad that it was a struggle for everyone living there. The war had made a huge change in their government and leadership that the people had their right taken away from them and the will of being freed to do anything they wanted. After watching these films it has deepened my understanding of why democracy is very important. Democracy makes sure that every civilians living in that country has there free will to decide their own leadership and freedom of speech.  I give my self a 9/10 because I made sure that I have compared both of my documentary film that i watched and made sure to provide political conflict.

The place that I have found to work on the comparative politics scholar is a restaurant. I chose this place which is an Arab restaurant, one of my country i chose that i wrote about was Yemen which is an Arab country in the Middle east. This restaurant it had many food that are mostly the Arabs eat and is known to be famous for cooking. This place that I found is located at 57 Clinton St, New York. When I went to this place it was a very crowded and amazing place everyone were so nice enough to help me find more amazing things about Middle eastern country Yemen. I spoke to a person who was kind enough to help me and gave permission for asking them questions and helping me with my mini field work, and she told me political facts about Yemen the country i’m working on. One thing that the person I interviewed she said that her country which is Yemen, ever since the Civil war Yemen had a big impact on the human rights. She said that not much people have freedom of speech and it restricted to stand up for there right. There government they have full control our country and don’t let the people of Yemen speak up for the laws. The recent people in Yemen they mostly talk about a leadership which will make a new law and let the people living there have freedom of speech. Another fact that she told me about Yemen was that it has many different groups that control Yemen in different parts. The experience I had in that restaurant that I went to was a such a good place. I have learned so much about Yemen and the culture and everything that a person should know about it. The workers were so nice enough to give us a free Tea that mostly the arabs drink and it was so tasty. I have learned that no matter what struggle a country is the people make sure that they live a happy life and make sure the country is a safest place for the visitors. The menu were all halal food since Yemen is mostly a Muslim country. This experience had deepen my level of understanding Yemen much better after talking to someone which is from that country.

The meme that I created for the comparative politic concept we learned in class was about Democracy. I chose to create this meme because it shows about the eagle that is a symbol of United States and it is looking deeply to see if you actually believe if this is a democratic country you live in. This meme represents how every American feel about the politics lately, because now days everyone is confused if there votes do count or not. People are started to believe the voting system has been corrupted and it’s actually the government that is buying the votes and playing with people votes. As everyone know America is known for the land of freedom but ever since the pandemic people have started to think the freedom has been gone a long with the laws. People think the government just to gain more votes they pay the propaganda so the people can make up there mind about who to vote or not. I think democracy plays a big role in the Unites States. If it wasn’t for democracy then everyone will be lost without it and not trust in there president or the government. The democracy was created so that the people living in the country also have the right to speak up for the rights for this country and who should be there leader. A leader always needs people to lead so that’s why democracy was created so the people have the right to choose there leader. The reason why democracy also plays a big role is so that everyone has equal rights and no one feels lesser or more power than one another. There’s so many laws that has been protected is all because of democracy. In the reading it has stated ” This is in exchange for protection of their “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. This shows how the government they have made rules and democracy just to protect the people and the leaders from everything. They wanna make sure every life matters and that no one is disobeying the law. I would grade my work as 9/10 because I have provided a meme that shows about the concept we have covered in class which is democracy.

The topic that I found very important from our class was about picking two different countries and doing the similarities and differences about it politicly or economically. I picked my friends to give them a long 10 minutes lecture about my Finland and Yemen, how they are different from one another. How i first started was that I gave them the important facts about those two countries and tell them where they were located and in what regions. After that I gave them some few questions about what they think might be different about those two. After they told me the difference about those countries which they said it was the region they were located at and the rate of people and the religion. After the differences about those countries i brought up how they might be similar even though they aren’t near one another. After them answering the question I went in depth of how they somewhat might be similar. Later when I had few minutes left I started bringing up the convo about the economic system in those two different. My friends they were really interested in how those two countries have different laws and each of those counties have there own struggles but yet despite everything they are trying to make the country a better place for everyone and make the safety of citizens there number 1 priority. I was happy how my friends they reacted to my presentation about my topic because they actually seemed to enjoy how those two different countries could have the differences or the similarities. After having this whole discussion it made me learn about how its so amazing learning about new countries and comparing them to know it in a deeper level of other countries in different regions.

The countries i have chosen was Finland and Yemen. My one country which is Finland the region located it is in Northern Europe, a part of Scandinavia. Finland the language they mostly speak is Finnish and some of them also speak Swedish but the most 90% spoken language is Finnish. The population of Finland in the recent year 2025 based on the chart it is estimated to be 5.584 million people at mid-year. Based on the research I did about Finland the income rate it is very high, and the GDP capita of Finland it is average, and the life expectancy it is high, the lifespan of Finland it is known to be healthy and good. The primary education of Finland it is free but it has a very high standards everyone should get above the average grade. What I found interesting about the life in Finland it is that it is a very expensive place to live in and it the safety of the country it’s very safe, and the people they mostly focus on the nature. The second country i have chosen was Yemen, this country it is located in the Middle Eastern it is bordering the Arabia Sea. The languages in Yemen that is mostly spoken is Arabic, and they have many different dialects as well that people speak. The population of Yemen in the recent year 2025 based on the chart it is estimated to be 41,773,878 million. Based on what I found about Yemen income rate it is very low because of the conflicts going on there. Yemen’s GDP per capita is an average income and was estimated to be $623 based on 2024. The rate in Yemen it has grown higher finically which is affecting the country to. Yemen’s education system it is also free and going to university for them it is not enforced. With the conflict going on in Yemen the education system and everything has been affected and the economy has gotten messed up. My countries the similar things they have is the income, the income of both of them they are very high and have gotten expensive. Yemen and Finland the other similarities they have not very much high population, it is very low compared to every other countries. Yemen and Finland they are very different from one another because the education system is taken very serious in Finland while in Yemen it is not that much important and isn’t enforced on students. My countries they both are very different also because they are located in the different region and aren’t near one another at all. Yemen is located in Middle east while Finland is located at in Northern Europe.

This semester, I learned a lot about how different countries’ economies work and how factors like resources, history, and politics shape them. The case study comparisons between Armenia and Iran helped me understand how countries with different industries and challenges approach economic growth. I did not complete all blog posts on time, but I posted all the missing ones recently. I had also done the meme assignment, though it wasn’t graded, and it was a fun way to creatively show what I had learned. Self-Assessment and Grading Overall, I think I earned at least a B grade, as I kept up with almost everything and showed a solid understanding of the topics. 🙂

Both Armenia and Iran have mixed economies, but they differ in resources, challenges, and economic focus. Economic Structure Challenges Industrialization Trade Key Differences

Similarities: Differences:

Armenia Armenia’s main conflict is the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute with Azerbaijan, leading to wars in 1988-1994 and 2020. These caused many deaths and displacement. Armenia has not had coups or major terrorism. Iran Iran has faced: Comparison Armenia’s violence is tied to territorial issues, while Iran’s includes wars, protests, and terrorism. Both have faced serious challenges but in different ways.

Armenia Armenia is mostly Armenian and follows the Armenian Apostolic Church. Minority groups like Yazidis and Russians exist, but conflicts are rare. The Yazidis face some challenges with representation. Iran Iran is very diverse, with Persians, Azeris, Kurds, and others. Shia Islam is the main religion, but there are Sunnis, Christians, and Jews. Ethnic and religious minorities often face discrimination, leading to occasional protests. Comparison Armenia is more homogeneous, so there’s less conflict, while Iran’s diversity brings more tensions. Both countries struggle with fully including minorities.

Since my first post, I’ve grown a lot in understanding politics. Back then, I only described systems, but now I can compare and analyze them better, like Armenia’s democracy versus Iran’s theocracy. I’ve also improved at using evidence to back up my points and writing more clearly. I still need to work on using more sources and making stronger connections between theory and examples. Overall, I’m proud of my progress and excited to keep learning!

Armenia and Iran have very different electoral and party systems, showing how their politics work. Armenia Armenia uses proportional representation in elections, allowing multiple parties to compete. This promotes diversity and coalition governments. Since the 2018 Velvet Revolution, elections have improved in fairness, though issues like corruption remain. The party system is diverse, with no single dominant party, reflecting democratic progress. Iran In Iran, elections are tightly controlled by the Guardian Council, which approves candidates. This limits voter choice and competition. Instead of traditional parties, political factions align with religious or revolutionary values. While elections are held, they lack true fairness and openness. Comparison Armenia’s system is more democratic, focusing on reforms and inclusivity. Iran’s system, however, prioritizes regime control over democratic principles. These differences highlight each country’s political challenges and goals.

Armenia and Iran have very different systems of executive power and bureaucracies. Armenia Armenia is a parliamentary republic where the Prime Minister has most of the executive power, while the President’s role is mostly ceremonial. The government works closely with parliament, but the bureaucracy often struggles with corruption and inefficiency. Reforms are ongoing to improve public administration. Iran Iran’s system is a mix of democracy and theocracy. The President manages the government, but the Supreme Leader has the most power, overseeing the military and judiciary. Iran’s large bureaucracy is influenced by religion and politics, which can make reforms difficult. Key Differences Armenia’s system emphasizes democratic collaboration, while Iran’s is shaped by religious authority. Both face challenges with bureaucracy and corruption, but their solutions differ based on their political systems.

This meme claims that American presidents usually show themselves “looking at” the issues that their constituents are concerned about, such as equality, opportunity, freedom, and women’s rights.They pretend during the elections that they “want” to fix everything or give Americans their fully rights but they don’t act on it.As this picture shows, leaders are expected to address these significant issues for the benefit of the people. For instance, the continuous struggle for women’s rights has centered on reproductive rights, equal pay, and fair treatment. Freedom is another big one in the meme. In the US, freedom means basic rights like free speech, religion and not living in fear of oppression. When presidents support laws and policies that protect these freedoms it strengthens democracy. Citizens rely on their leaders to uphold these rights so everyone can live with dignity and safety. Equality is also part of what citizens demand. It means treating everyone fairly regardless of race, gender or background. Throughout history some presidents have worked to close the gaps in equality through civil rights laws and anti discrimination measures. Progress in this area shows leaders are listening to their people and trying to create a more just society. And finally opportunity is the need that ties it all together. People want to be able to succeed in life whether through education, jobs or equal access to resources. When leaders create opportunities citizens can improve their lives and contribute to society. The meme sums it up in a nutshell, leaders should always put their people first.

I talked to my family for about 10 minutes long about democratic and non democratic countries.And I pretty much could tell that there would be some arguments in this conversation,I began by talking about what are democratic and non democratic countries. People have the power to choose who leads the government in democracies. Consider the US, where we elect mayors, senators, presidents, and even school board members every few years. Giving people a voice is the main goal. Another excellent example is India, the largest democracy in the world. It’s incredible that over a billion people cast ballots there. In addition to being a democracy, Germany prioritizes human rights and sound economic principles. Democracies frequently collaborate to address global challenges like climate change or human rights concerns because they place a high value on freedom, equality, and cooperation. Let’s now discuss non-democratic nations. In these settings, a single individual, a political party, or a family holds all the authority, and the general public has little influence over how things are conducted. One notable example is China. Although it has one of the strongest economies in the world and is governed by the Communist Party, its citizens are not allowed to freely express themselves or vote for their leaders like we do here. North Korea goes one step further, with the Kim family ruling and the government controlling nearly every element of citizens’ life. So why is this important to us? Global politics, trade, and even our everyday lives are impacted by these systems. For instance, although both China and the United States are superpowers, their divergent political systems lead to competition and occasionally conflict, particularly in the areas of trade and technology. Then there is Saudi Arabia, which affects oil prices around the world, or India, a democracy that encourages collaboration on matters such as climate change. From how much we pay for gas to how nations engage with one another on the international scene, these nations’ systems influence everything. In the end, Even though some countries appear they’re democratic but they’re not.i would say that being a democratic country is having a voice and a choice,You have a freedom of choice in deciding what you want best for your country.however, non democratic countries focus more on having power and control and obviously each one of them have there advantages and disadvantages.

Hello class, my name is Cristian Diaz Cortes and for my meme, I focused on federalism. Federalism is a political system where power is shared between a central government and regional governments, such as states or provinces. This system allows for the accommodation of diverse interests, enabling regions to govern themselves while maintaining a unified national framework. The balance of power between central and regional governments is often a contentious issue, as both sides can have conflicting interest regarding the extent of authority each should hold. Federalism is crucial for countries that have significant regional diversity, like the United States, where States and the federal government continually navigate the division of powers. The “car veering off the highway” meme perfectly captures this struggle. In the meme, the main highway represents the desire to keep power centralized, while the exit ramp represents the push to give states more autonomy. The car swerving toward the exit ramp humorously shows how governments operating under federalism often have to decide which decision to make between maintaining control or letting the states have more say. The meme brings attention to how difficult it can be to find the right balance between these two forces, making the concept of federalism both complicated and amusing. Federalism has its benefits, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. On the one hand, it allows local governments to make decisions on things that directly affect their regions, like education or health care. On the other hand, it can lead to conflicts when national and state governments don’t agree. As one of our readings explains, federal systems provide opportunities for local autonomy but may also lead to inefficiency or conflict between the central and regional governments. This struggle between local autonomy and centralized control is exactly what the meme illustrates. When I reflect on my work, I would give myself a 9/10. I would say that the meme does a good job of illustrating the challenges of federalism, and I think the essay explains the concept in a clear, understandable way while also explaining the meaning of federalism. The quote from the course reading strengthens the argument and ties it back to the material we’ve covered. If I were to improve this, I could add more real-world examples from other countries to give the discussion even more depth and understanding.

I gave my coworkers a pretty long, about 10 minute presentation about unitary and federal government systems, and how they are so much different with almost no similarities. I compared these two systems by using France as an example of a unitary system and the United States as an example of a federal system. France has centralized power, laws and policies are generally covering the entire country not just some specific part of it. There are benefits to this system, such as decisions on something big could be faster prompting faster response time to some major event and etc. Where the United States has a federal government where power is divided between different branches of the government. So unlike France with the laws that apply to everybody at the same time in the whole country, we in the US can have different laws and regulations based on what state we are in because each state has its own legislature. The benefit of this is that local government (each state) can manage policies to meet the specific needs of their population. My coworkers already knew this topic since all of them are a lot older than me. So we just had a great time talking about it for the rest of the work day. This class taught me on how to speak in front of a large audience and how to have a discussion afterward. I gave myself 10 points for this assignment.

My name is Zara. It’s finally time for my last blog of this class; I have improved a lot in all this time. In these 13 weeks, I have learned about blogging, analyzing, and much more about Syria and Pakistan. Pakistan is a country I lived in for 10 years, and I thought I knew a lot about it, however, that wasn’t the case. I am now confident to say that I know these countries. I learned how democracy isn’t simply a type of government; it is a whole category. The only government types I was aware of were democratic and authoritarian, I knew nothing beyond this. This class taught me the diversity of regimes and their impacts and how one single type of government can’t be suitable for all countries. When I chose to write about Syria I didn’t know much about it, and to be honest, I was going to choose Lebanon, but before I could, someone sitting behind me said “Lebanon” and next was my turn to choose. And I had searched Lebanon when I was looking for countries, and by chance, I saw Syria, so I went with it. But as I started it felt easier to do it after every blog. I learned something new while researching about Syria. I didn’t know that Syria had an authoritarian rule or an ongoing conflict. But thanks to that I know that Bashar al-Assad has stepped down after years 24 years of ruling as a dictator, he was finally overthrown on December 8. And that’s big news for me. When I started blogging, I was unsure of many things and found blogging hard. I even got stuck at some point and couldn’t blog for three weeks. I submitted many of my pending blogs in one week because I didn’t do those on time. But I think have done a pretty good job of blogging, as the saying goes “Better late than never”(by Titus Livius). I did three assignments other than the blogs. I think that I deserve an A.

I gave my twin brother and mother, a short ten-minute class on how previous coups could impact a democracy. I told them that military intervention in politics is a sign of a hybrid democracy and Pakistan is an excellent example of it. Military in Pakistan has a lot of influence and power, and many people don’t see the army in a negative light. My mom is one of the people, who see the military positively and my mom’s family have been army officials, so her opinions were hard to change. But with a lot of debate and showing her the bigger picture, I succeeded in my mission. It was easier to convince my brother. My brother had a lot of questions like, how could we tell if a country is democratic or not or which politician is better? After the lecture, I asked my mom, if she had any questions. I answered her questions and ended the session. This class taught me how to share my knowledge and explain it clearly for the audience to understand. My mom and brother were quite surprised, after knowing the impact of military rule. I grade myself 10 points for this assignment

Belarus Native Belarusians make up about 83-85% of the population and are the majority ethnic group in Belarus, they have a common cultural, linguistic, and historical background. The largest minority group in Belarus is Russians, making up around 8-9% of the population. Russian speaking Belarusians have cultural and historical ties to Russia, which is reflected in the country’s political and economic relations with Russia. This is why Russia supports Belarus so much and is expecting that much support back, due to the large population of Russians that reside in Belarus. The next minority group is about 3% of the population and is Polish people. They mostly live in the western parts of Belarus. Many ethnic Poles have strong ties to Polish culture and language. The last group is Ukrainians, another small ethnic group that found their new home in the southwestern parts of Belarus. There were no official records of any conflicts between these groups of people. Religious groups are as follows. Eastern Orthodox Christians are the dominant religious group, with about 80% of Belarusians identifying as members of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Next is Roman Catholics, a significant minority, mostly among the ethnic Polish population, especially in the western regions. There are also smaller religious groups such as protestants, catholic, and jewish, but their population is very low. Ukraine The dominant ethnic group is Ukrainians, making up approximately 77% of the population. Ukrainian identity is deeply tied to the country’s language, culture, and history, particularly in contrast to Russia.The largest minority group in Ukraine is Russians, comprising about 17-18% of the population, with a higher concentration in the eastern and southern regions of the country. Russian culture and language have been especially strong in the region, even though the situation has been complicated by recent geopolitical events. Crimean Tatars is the next minority group with its own ethnic, cultural, and linguistic identity, who primarily reside in the Crimean Peninsula. They have faced serious political and social challenges, especially after the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. Poles, Hungarians, Romanians are smaller ethnic minorities, mainly in border regions, with historical ties to Poland, Hungary, and Romania. Eastern Orthodox Christians are the single largest religious group in Ukraine, and they have two major divisions: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The division between the two has been influenced by the desire of Ukraine for greater independence from Russia. The Greek Catholics come next, predominantly in the western part of Ukraine, especially in the Carpathian Mountains. They are an important group, with close historical and cultural ties to Catholicism and Western Europe. Jews in Ukraine also make up a historically large group. However, nowadays they form a much smaller population compared with the previous century. Communities of Jews are mainly present in cities such as Kyiv and Odesa. Both of these countries share a great number of Russians that live on their land. That is the reason the Russian government would like to control the whole entire region. Also, these two Countries have mostly Eastern Orthodox Christians that live within them, but they also have some diversity by other ethic and religious groups.

I gave a quick 10-minute class on the difference between democracy and authoritarianism to my friends. I created a quick slide show to highlight the key points: in democracies, the people vote and enjoy greater freedoms, while in an authoritarian country, power is vested on one or just a few people and the freedoms are limited. Examples included “Switzerland” and “the United States” as democracies and “China” and Russia as authoritarian countries. I wrote a worksheet with questions on it to help the group think through the material. Teaching this lesson taught me how to explain ideas clearly and how to keep people engaged in discussion. Q&A was handy since it cleared several points and made the examples effective because they made the lesson much more interesting.

As I look back upon this body of work over the course of the learning journey, I am very grateful that I studied deeply in comparing political systems, economies, and cultures for countries very varied from each other. When it comes to Switzerland and the UAE case studies, the findings clearly showed how two countries, though quite equal regarding wealth and development, often managed their governance, economic performance in wholly different ways. Collecting data, tracking their history, and comparing their political systems and economic activities certainly opened my eyes to how global systems work and enabled me to think critically about what makes a nation succeed or fail. When I take a look back on the assignments I did complete, I have built up the necessary skills and knowledge on comparative politics and economics. Observing countries through comparisons of topics like political systems, economic structures, trade, and so forth was engrossing because it pushed me to synthesize a broad topic and come to conclusions about the diverging roads countries take toward their common goals of prosperity. Particularly, I take pride in my economic comparison of the diversified Swiss economy and oil-dependent UAE economy, which pointed out both points of specific similarities between them and other concerns. Besides, there was a graph to demonstrate these differences, which rendered me eminent in understanding the economic data I had put together. In a summation, I would argue that I deserve an A in this course! There were times when I found it difficult to synthesize data across different sources. Other than that, I have occasionally developed an impressive understanding of the countries that I have studied. The assignments involved outstanding engagement into some complex concepts, thinking analytical thoughts, and polishing my writing. I believe that the knowledge I garnered from this arena would pass on to me useful insights regarding understanding global dynamics, and therefore promote my learning in courses to follow.

Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are wealthy, developed nations, but their political, economic, and social systems differ in great measure given their differing historical and cultural contexts. Whereas Switzerland operates as a democratic, federal state, emphasizing direct democracy and neutrality in its decentralized political authority, its economy is well-diversified in its sectors, including finance, pharmaceuticals, and technology, and it faces problems that include the high cost of living and an aging population. National social cohesiveness is based on such cultural diversity that is supported by robust local autonomy schemes and participatory decision-making. In contrast, the UAE is a federation of monarchies with an extremely centralized political power structure. Initially, its economy had great oil reserves; however, later economic diversification began from sectors such as tourism, aviation, and real estate, whereas it still finds dependencies on the export of energy resources. Socially, the UAE is characterized by social hierarchy with a significant foreign labor force and whereby local citizenry have less political freedom. While the two countries are highly productively engaged in international trade, both are reflections of diversified roads to prosperity driven by their different governance models and socio-economic priorities: Switzerland’s long-term diversification and stability versus the UAE’s rapid modernization and economic diversification owing to oil wealth.

Both Switzerland and the UAE differ with regard to their economic systems, shaped in large part by their resources. Switzerland possesses a developed and highly diversified economy, with most emphasis on financial services, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and a large welfare state. The UAE, although having a mixed economy dominated by oil and gas, has managed to diversify into tourism, aviation, and real estate sectors in recent decades in an effort to reduce its dependence on oil. Both countries face different economic challenges. Switzerland faces the high cost of living and the problem of an aging population, which may impact the provision of public services. The UAE’s key challenge remains the economy’s dependency on oil revenues, which makes it subject to price fluctuations, and the problems it faces, firstly due to the large foreign labor force and secondly because of the labor rights of this overseas workforce. Switzerland is a leading partner in international trade, focusing on high-value exports in luxury and financial services, whereas the UAE has become an international hub for trade, tourism, and finance from cities like Dubai. Both these countries are member states of key international organizations such as the UN, WTO, and other trade-related bodies while enjoying good economic ties worldwide.

Switzerland and the UAE have experienced very different phases of violence and conflict over the last 50 years. Switzerland, with its policy of armed neutrality, has escaped international wars, civil wars, or any notable incidences of terrorism. It has maintained its neutrality in international conflicts as a way to escape violence. Despite some protests and civil disturbances, such as the anti-nuclear demonstrations of the 1980s, it is to be noted that generally meetings have been peaceful, violence notwithstanding. The government’s internal security measures and their neutral stance have helped undeniable as being impacted during any international conflict or terrorism. In contrast, the UAE engaged itself in several conflicts, both national and regional. Perhaps the most remarkable was its participation in the Gulf War from 1990 to 1991 when the UAE threw in its lot with the U.S.-led coalition to liberate Kuwait from the Iraq invasion. Since 2015, it has indeed been more directly entangled in the Yemen Civil War, supporting Saudi Arabia’s coalition against the Houthi rebels. This entanglement has brought with it notable violence and severe humanitarian issues. Besides, it has been imperiled by the likes of the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist groups, especially regarding its military involvements in the region. While the UAE did not encounter civil war or serious internal conflict, it engaged in political repression against oppositionist groups. The government represses dissidents, especially those put forward by the Muslim Brotherhood, besides using security forces to keep the regime stable. Besides inviting violence with military activities abroad, particularly in Yemen, the UAE does not face broad-based instability at home. In summary, Switzerland, generally peaceful and neutral, has managed to steer clear of direct involvement in military conflicts, while the UAE has been involved in and continues to face threats of terror from such regional military actions. The two experiences cater to the existential characteristics of contrasting histories contributing to different contexts.

SwitzerlandSwitzerland consists of four major linguistic groups: in German, French, Italian, and Romansh, and their respective culture is unique. The majority of the country today is Christian (Protestant and Roman Catholic), but they are also witnessing the growth of Muslims, Jews, and Hindus. This is a country that is known to have had tensions between such groupings of any kind, but there has been no outright conflict, especially between the French and German-speaking areas. Solutions to these tensions are by decentralization, through direct democracy, and power-sharing to ensure that regions enjoy a degree of autonomy in peaceful cohabitation. United Arab Emirates (UAE)In the UAE, the majority of the local population belong to Arab descent, while the expatriates come mainly from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Islam is the predominant religion, where mainly Sunni Muslims are in the majority, while Shia Muslims, Christians, and Hindus are in minority. Between all of them, there is less open conflict in that general government tends to maintain firm control over socioeconomic policies and political issues. However, such tensions arise out of competition between local Emiratis over the rights for nationals and other expatriate workers, which are sometimes heated but largely subdued through strict rule and regulations focused on socioeconomic empowerment. ComparisonTwo countries with cultural diversity. Switzerland practices democratic participation and regional autonomy, while the UAE is more centralized under the monarchs, ruling through intervention. Switzerland has long been a country of accommodation for its cultural groups. In the UAE, cultural diversity is largely a result of extensive expatriate communities not enjoying equivalent political clout as locals.

A democracy is a political system that empowers all citizens to rule either in their own capacity or through their representatives. It has been thought as the most just and egalitarian form of government since it meets the will of most people yet protects their minority rights. This meme I made is called “Condescending Wonka.” The picture is Willy Wonka with the caption, “Oh, you think voting is pointless? Tell me more about how you enjoy being ruled without consent.” It humorously captures the value of voting and the need for citizen participation in the democratic process by indicating that when a person doesn’t have a voice in government decisions, he probably will pay for it. Democracy has free and fair elections, protection for human rights, and the rule of law. Thus, by a majority of case, it will give a citizen freedom to influence his government policies and decisions through his ballot. Hence this would mean tangible participation to be ensured that government would continue to be answerable and accountable to the needs of the people. In our readings, it stated that “democracy is not just the right to vote, but also the right to be represented, to have a say in how one is governed” (Author, Year). Broadly speaking, that means democratic governance is more than just voting. “Democracy is that government which, through a voice, empowers the citizens to participate in making decisions affecting governmental matters.” In the same vein, this meme reflects this argument by emphasizing the significance of voting and the consequences of being apathetic about public life. Understanding democracy would help appreciate the freedoms and equality it stands for. I would score myself a 10. The meme explains the concept of democracy clearly and the essay elucidates the concept thoroughly with scriptural quotations cited accurately from the readings.

At the beginning of the course I had a general idea of political systems. At the same time most of the specific terms and slangs were unknown to me. I knew what democracy and authoritarianism were, but didn’t fully understand the nuances that separate the different regimes and systems.Now, I have gotten a lot of knowledge about comparative politics, analysis of political systems, tell apart various electoral systems, party structures, and complex is a governance in different countries. I also understand more about state formation and how different political systems interact in the world.

Belarus’ electoral and party system cannot be described as democratic because it lacks free and fair elections. Countries political parties are controlled, and there is a lot of oppression against opposition. In Belarus, the political party system is weak since President Lukashenko and the kind of government built by him happen to be authoritarian in nature. Belarus uses an electoral system that combines majoritarian and proportional representation, but highly controlled by the very corrupt and scary authoritarian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko. Ukraine is being called a democracy state, even though it faces numerous challenges in a lot of aspects. Elections are free and fair, but corruption, the political division of the country, and elites influences on politics all remain problematic. Civil liberties and political rights are generally respected, even though judicial independence and public confidence in government authority are still problematic. Ukraine is a multi-party system, with a huge number of political parties, although there are alliances and coalitions between the parties. Ukraine applies the mixed-member proportional system, a method combining elements of proportional representation with majoritarian voting.

Belarus:The executive power in Belarus is extremely centralized, even authoritarian. The president is dominating over the political system and is the only one that is really running the country.The position of the President, who is Alexander Lukashenko, consists of a wide range of executive powers. He serves as both the head of state and the head of the government.The president appoints the main governmental officials, including the prime minister, who is primarily not holding any power and is being put in the position just in case something will happen to the Lukashenko himself. The president can directly influence the legislative process, that is another power he has.An order issued by the president carries the force of law without any legislation.The president has control over the judiciary. The judiciary is highly dependent on the president. The bureaucracy in Belarus operates under the authority of the president. All of the bureaucratic positions are typically filled by individuals loyal to the president, making the authoritarian nature of the government even stronger. Ukraine:At the same time, Ukraine has a semi-presidential system where executive power is more divided, at the same time the president remains an important figure in Ukrainian politics. The country has been thru several political reforms in order to achieve decentralization of power, especially during the 2014 Euromaidan Revolution.The President of Ukraine is the head of state and the head of government. The president is directly elected by the people for a five-year term.The president has a wide range of powers including appointing the prime minister, the cabinet, and key decision maker on military and foreign policy decisions.The president can veto legislation, even though this can be overridden by the Verkhovna Rada.The prime minister has a more substantial role in the daily practice of government, especially in domestic policy and administration, than in Belarus.Prime Minister is appointed by the president but has to be confirmed by Verkhovna Rada. The head of government and the prime minister are responsible for coordinating activities of the government and the supervision of public administration.

I think from where I started, initially, I was interested in understanding the basic ideas of political systems, methods of voting, and party structure. Over time, I started to understand these ideas as they applied to real-life examples, such as Switzerland and the UAE. Most major gains are actually in the ability to break down the various systems in front of me into understandable, comparable segments. At first, I couldn’t seem to line up my thoughts or say in a few words what I meant to say. Now, I have lots of confidence in being able to write shorter pieces but still capture the main ideas. I have become much better at simplifying a rather complex subject but retaining the important information and presenting it to a reader. It took me further with more interest in how different governments work. Such involvement made me make more substantial opinions, above all, when comparing countries with different political systems. I am proud with what I learn true this class by doing my reading, full of confidence to share my ideas. I’m excited to visit the counties I am writing about.

Voting SystemsSwitzerland: Proportional system of representation wherein the political parties, through votes, receive seats in the Federal Assembly, thus giving the smallest of parties the remotest chance to stand along with bigger ones. In addition, the citizens can vote on critical issues through referendums. UAE – There is a provision for election to the Federal National Council, FNC; however, only half of its membership is elected by the small number of selected citizens. The rest are appointed by the rulers of the emirates. FNC advises and does not have the right to legislate. Democracy Assessment Switzerland: is considered one of the robust democracies. It has free elections and numerous political parties. Citizens have the right to vote on important issues. Its government is responsible to the people. UAE: The UAE is not a democracy. While there are elections, they are highly limited in their scope, and the lion’s share of power remains with the rulers. The people have little say in politics, and political freedoms are limited. While Switzerland is a real democracy with free elections and numerous political parties, in the UAE, there is only a very restricted voting system and political parties are lacking, hence it is taken as an authoritarian country where power lies within the hands of the ruling families.

The government and administrative systems in Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates are very different because of their political setups. Executive AuthoritySwitzerland: The executive power is shared by a seven-member Federal Council with no single leader; the council makes collective decisions and annually rotates its presidency. That encourages teamwork and shared power among all political parties. UAE: The president, who’s the ruler of Abu Dhabi, has most of the power. The prime minister, who’s the ruler of Dubai, also has important responsibilities. The president manages foreign policy and military matters, while the prime minister deals with local issues. The ruling families hold a lot of power.Bureaucracies Switzerland: Its bureaucracy is independent, efficient, and focused on public service. Its civil servants are well-trained and work within tight procedures to guarantee maximum transparency and professionalism.UAE: The UAE has a central government run by the ruling families. It works fine, but it does tend to focus on what the rulers want with less input or opposition from the public.Compare The government of Switzerland is decentralized and collaborative, whereas UAE’s is centralized with a single authority. Both systems work effectively, but the Swiss system is more based on serving the public and being independent, whereas the UAE’s system is about control and ensuring stability and economic growth under their rulers.

Federal vs. Unitary SystemsSwitzerland: Switzerland has a federal system in which the power is divided between the national government and 26 cantons. Each canton has its constitution and enjoys a large degree of autonomy in areas such as education, health, and local law. This is more decentralized, where local governance exists within the framework of unified national policy. UAE: The UAE, too, is a federal system, but it has much stronger centralization. It has seven emirates under monarchical rule. There exists a federal government, although the individual emirates still retain much control, notably over exploiting natural resources and making local laws. The federal government is powerful but not in a dominating position over individual emirates. Legislative Systems of Switzerland: The Swiss Federal Assembly is a bicameral legislature, composed of two chambers—the National Council, representing the people and the Council of States, representing the cantons. While the former applies proportional representation to its membership, the latter has equal representation for each. That is to say, there is a balance between a system that recognizes the population size and one that acknowledges regional interests. The Swiss legislature indeed holds real legislative powers in the form of passing legislation, reviewing policies, and exercising oversight over the executive. The system is participatory in that it includes referendums and allows initiatives to be introduced; it is one of the most participatory legislative systems in the world. UAE: UAE has a Federal National Council (FNC) that is advisory on a bicameral basis.The FNC has a total of 40 members, half of whom are elected by a small appointed electoral body, and the rest are appointed by the emirates’ rulers. Although it can discuss and give recommendations regarding laws, it cannot grant legislation nor go against a decision taken by the ruling families. In fact, the UAE’s legislative body is quite symbolic and doesn’t have much power when compared to Switzerland. Comparative Analysis The apparent difference between the Swiss and UAE legislatures is in terms of power and representation. The bicameral legislature of Switzerland, with its popular and regional representations, is pretty strong. This institution actually lies at the center of governance and holds legislative powers that come along with establishing laws and restraining the executive. In fact, the UAE legislature is for the most part advisory. It has a bicameral nature but holds exceedingly limited powers in comparison with the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. It hence underlines that, in as much as both are federations, the way tht the two countries conduct their governance is rather fundamentally different from one another: Switzerland ensures democratic participation and power-sharing, whilst the UAE has a central government led by monarchs were very little originates from the grassroots.

Belarus and Ukraine both have a unitary system of government. Which means that most of the power is held by the central government. Regions don’t have much self-control. The main idea behind a unitary government is to maintain unity within the people and different branches of government throughout a whole country. When a small group controls the power, it’s easier to create fair and consistent laws that apply to everyone in the country, making sure there’s no discrimination to any part of the government or the people. Belarus: Bicameral Legislative SystemBelarus has a bicameral legislative system, which means it has two parties in the legislature.Party number one: The House of Representatives. Consists of 110 members. Members of this chamber are elected for four-year terms by popular vote. Despite elections, this chamber’s role is largely symbolic, with significant influence from the president. Patry number two: The Council of the Republic. Consists of 64 members. 34 members are elected by local councils, while the rest which is 30 members, are appointed by the president.The Belarusian National Assembly, with its two parties, operates in a unitary system where the president holds significant power over legislative processes. The legislature, as it passes laws, much of the time has little independence from the president. Ukraine: Unicameral Legislative SystemUkraine has a unicameral legislative system, meaning it has only one party.The Verkhovna Rada is the name for the legislative system and it consists of 450 members.Members are elected for five-year terms using a mixed electoral system.The Verkhovna Rada plays a major role in making laws, approving the budget for governmental agencies, as well as overseeing different branches of the government. What I find pretty cool to know is that it also has the power to impeach the president or prime minister.The Ukrainian legislative system is more independent than the one Belarus has. The Verkhovna Rada holds real legislative power and plays a very important role in the country’s politics, although it faces challenges such as corruption and many more.

Belarus: Non-Democracy (Authoritarian Regime) Elections: Belarus holds elections, but they are widely considered to be neither free nor fair. The country’s forever leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has been in power since 1994, he is one and only President this country ever had. In the most recent elections that happened in 2020, he was heavily criticized for the election that were clearly rigged, and handling of the protests that sparked all over the country after these “ fake” elections. Political freedoms: There is no such thing as political freedom in this country. Opposition to the current government is being punished by imprisonment or execution, as well as unofficially being taken away from your family in the middle of the night and no one will ever see you again. Criminal Justice System: The judiciary is not independent whatsoever, and decisions are often politically motivated. Lukashenko’s government controls the legal system and the outcome of every case. Belarus has the government that it has due to the Lukashenko’s way of handling opposition. With his actions, he is putting people in constant fear of paying the ultimate price for something that they might do to overthrow the government or express their feelings about the current state of the country. Ukraine: Hybrid System (Democratic with Authoritarian Tendencies) Elections: Ukraine has regular elections, and while they are free and competitive, they have faced some allegations related to corruption and fraud.The country has seen transition of power back in 2014 Euromaidan Revolution, which were protests against the elections that were rigged by the government officials and against its pro-Russian politics. Political freedoms: Ukraine has political opposition, free speech, and media being generally allowed to voice news freely without governments control. However, the country still faces issues with corruption, and wealthy elites influence on the government. Criminal Justice System: Ukraine struggles with the rule of law and corruption, the judicial system is still being viewed as weak and influenced by political interests. Ukraine has the government is has due to the people’s choice and 2014 revolution. Both of these countries are similar in a way. Both of them are being influenced by their neighboring countries. Belarus is being influenced by Russia, and Ukraine is being influenced by the EU. They are also different in a regimes that they have.

An authoritarian/dictatorship regime is a type of government where power is being held by one leader, a small group, or one political party. In this system, there are strong limitations on political opposition. The government controls many parts of everyday life, which leads to limited to none freedoms and almost zero political rights. While elections may happen, they are usually not free or fair. This allows the party in control or a leader who is already in charge to stay in control of the government. One example of a country with an authoritarian/dictatorship regime is Belarus. Belarus is considered an authoritarian regime country because of the President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. Belarus is often referred to as “Europe’s last dictatorship” due to its dictatorship like control, suppression of political opposition, and lack of any type of political freedoms. Alexander Lukashenko has been in power for over 25 years, winning all the elections that are widely considered to be unfair and not free. He controls all aspects of government, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Another example of a country with an authoritarian/dictatorship regime is North Korea. North Korea is one of the best examples of an authoritarian/dictatorship regime. Officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, North Korea is one-party state that is being governed by the Kim family since its founding in 1948. The regime is characterized by full control over people’s everyday lives, including political views, and the economy. There are no forms of any type of opposition since it’s illegal. Any challenge to the party’s power is considered treason and is met with execution, long prison sentences, or labor camps. This meme shows elections in authoritarian/dictatorship countries. Showing frustration of people who feel stuck in their country and its regime. It is also usually hard to leave these countries because of their bad political relationships with other nations. A lot of people get wrongfully incarcerated or incarcerated for long periods of time for something like protesting and simply voicing their opinions. Self-grading assessment: I would rate this as 9/10 due to the lack of the quote of the reading but including everything else such as an explanation of the concept of comparative politics and it does contain 4-5 paragraphs that are well written.

As I wrap up this series of blog posts, I’ve been reflecting on how much I’ve learned and grown over the past several weeks. This journey has not only been about comparing and contrasting Poland and Spain but also about challenging myself to think critically, improve my writing, and explore topics I had never considered before. It’s been a rewarding experience that has helped me develop skills and learn many new things on my own time. When I first started, I wasn’t sure how I would approach comparing two countries I had never visited. Finding reliable sources and organizing my thoughts had me nervous at first. But as the weeks went by, I began to understand the importance of research and how to frame my ideas clearly. I learned a lot about Poland’s unitary system and how different it is from Spain’s decentralized government. I also explored how their cultures, influenced by Catholicism, shaped their societies in unique ways. One of the biggest lessons I took away is how historical and culture of context shape political systems., Spain’s transition to democracy after Franco’s dictatorship explains its emphasis on decentralization and representation, while Poland’s more recent struggles with democracy highlight the challenges of maintaining balance in a polarized society. These insights not only taught me about these two countries but also helped me see connections to global issues. At first, I struggle to find reliable sources and put my thoughts into clear sentences. And I wasn’t very confident with my blog posts. But over time, with practice and feedback, I learned how to make my points more concise and impactful. Looking back at the assignments and points I earned, I feel proud of how far I’ve come. My earlier blogs helped me prepare for later blogs. By the time I reached the final comparison of Poland and Spain, I felt more confident in my ability to analyze and connect ideas. These blogs taught me more than just facts about Poland and Spain, it showed me how to approach complex topics, break them down, and present them in a way that makes sense to others. These skills will be valuable in future classes and projects. Overall, this was a challenging but rewarding experience. That I pushed myself to grow, and I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned along the way.

I am Zara. On November 29, I visited a Pakistani restaurant in Brooklyn with my dad. It was a small restaurant with walls filled with paintings and pictures highlighting Pakistan’s rich heritage and culture. Those pictures were of famous mosques, truck art, and tourist destinations in Pakistan. The restaurant also served traditional desi food, fast food, and street food from Pakistan. When I first went inside, it felt more like a bakery than a restaurant because of all the sweets on display. I had some sweets and kebab, which was made in front of me and was delectable. The restaurant’s owner was my dad’s friend, so I asked that person what he thought about Pakistan’s government. He had a neutral opinion and said he didn’t see even one party in a positive light. His view of Pakistan’s government made me realize that some people could have neutral opinions too. Whoever I have met so far at least named one political party, but this person said that he did not support any party. I then asked if he were to vote who would he vote for, and he said, “Whoever I feel would be better than the other two”. On December 2nd, I visited a restaurant called Al-Sham which was supposed to be a Syrian restaurant according to Google. I couldn’t find many Syrian restaurants near my house, so I decided to go to the nearest one. When I went inside it didn’t have any pictures or decorations, but the food there was Middle Eastern. They served mainly shawarma, falafel, and hummus with bread. I had shawarma and it was really good. They had mostly decorated the place with Palestinian flags and gave the impression of being a Palestinian restaurant, but the name was al-Sham, another name for Syria. It was quite busy at the time and people were going in and out continuously. Overall, I had a great experience visiting these two restaurants. After exploring both restaurants, I observed a huge difference in both their cuisines and cultures. Food is the easiest way of expressing culture and traditions. When I was taking pictures inside the restaurant, I felt a bit hesitant at first, but since the staff was okay with it, I clicked some pictures. I am giving myself 10 points for this assignment.

Elizabeth ikpaha I went with my mom to The Wangechi Mutu exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. I wanted to go with my friends but they weren’t into that kind of stuff, but it was such an eye-opening experience that totally changed how I see art, culture, and storytelling in a really personal way. When I walked into the museum, I was super excited to finally see Mutu’s work since I had heard so much about it on tik tok. I couldn’t wait to check it out! The exhibit was in a big, well-organized gallery that made each piece pop while keeping a cool story going through it all. I noticed right away how detailed and complex Mutu’s art is. Her sculptures, collages, and installations mixed materials like metal, wood, and natural stuff, often paired with digital and found objects. The mix of traditional African designs with modern global ideas was really cool and showed a lot about how history, identity, and the environment are all connected. For instance, her work “The NewOnes, will free Us” showed these cool futuristic shapes that felt super natural and timeless, making people think twice about what progress and tradition really means.  Every piece of art really pulled you in like, whether it was super big, had awesome colors, or made you think a lot. Mutu’s take on femininity and power really hit home. Her work totally takes back stories about the female body and puts them in a context of strength, beauty, and change. You could really see it in her collages, where all these broken images fit together to make these cool, almost legendary figures. The layering technique really showed the complicated identities and stories that Mutu wanted to express. What really helped me learn more was seeing how Mutu’s work linked up with the themes I’ve been looking into in my case studies. She totally mixed in stuff about the environment, identity after colonialism, and gender equality into her art in a really cool way. Seeing her work up close really hit different compared to what you read online . The different textures and how the materials feel, along with the way everything is arranged in space, really helped me get a deeper understanding that goes along with all the theories I’ve been learning about. After checking out the exhibit, I felt super inspired and totally energized. It made me realize how important it is to actually get out there and do fieldwork. It’s not just about thinking and learning stuff, but also about feeling and experiencing things firsthand. It showed how important it is to break away from regular school stuff and find new and exciting ways to connect with ideas. Wangechi Mutu’s exhibit was more than just an art show; it was a chance to rethink and reimagine the stories we share about ourselves and the world around us.