Do the founding ideologies of your country contribute to democracy? Why or why not?

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Assigned country: China

In this essay, examine the major ideologies that played a role in the formation of your country. Discuss how they emerge and re-emerge over time. How are the ideologies politicized? Whose interests do they serve? Why do they persist?

Use the following outline:

Paragraph 1: Introduce the topic in an interesting way. Most importantly, make an argument for why you think the founding ideologies enable or constrain democracy.

Paragraph 2: Discuss the founding of the country. When did it emerge? Why and how? Discuss whether the founding institutions and ideologies put the country on a path toward democracy, or contributed to authoritarianism. Make sure to reference at least one reading from class.

Paragraph 3: Discuss one example in your country’s history when ideologies impeded stability. Discuss whose interests were served, and whose were undermined.

Paragraph 4: Discuss one example in your country’s history when ideologies enabled stability. Discuss the process through which ideologies shaped political action.

Paragraph 5: Assess the state of democracy in your country today. How “democratic” is it? How do the dominant ideologies in the country enable democracy, or threaten its existence? How do ordinary people “experience democracy” in your country? Make sure to reference at least 2 readings from class.

Paragraph 6: Conclude your essay. Do more than restate what you already said. Explain why your analysis matters for the study of politics in your country.