Political Science Reading Question Prompt

Student’s Name Instructor’s Name Course Date Reading Question Prompt Reading Question 1 Diplomacy continues to be used in promoting institutionalized multiculturalism that seeks to achieve stronger international order. According to Paul Sharp, this can be achieved through improving the relations and cooperation between countries and displaying the prowess and skills of the diplomats. Sharp argues that diplomats get their powers from the countries they represent and not from the concept of an international community. Sharp argues that the best diplomats are defined by their experience and can be depended upon when it comes to global governance (623). Most diplomats spend their professional life in the service of their nations, giving them a great wealth of knowledge and experience in representing their countries in global governance. Sharp also notes that some diplomats may be drawn to such positions merely to get power or be associated with power, without bearing any responsibility (623). Rising to power in such terms can help explain why some diplomats would push for certain agendas that seek to display how powerful they are in global governance. The role of diplomats, in most cases, is to execute the agendas of their nations, and more importantly, that of the heads of states they represent. Sharp argues that diplomats, in their professional capacity, implement the duties assigned to them by their employers, sometimes without questioning (624). Nonetheless, Sharp notes that, while it is unclear on their role in policy formulation, diplomats play a critical role in advocating for peace internationally by creating an international order subscribed by all nations (624). Another vital angle on the role of diplomacy in global governance is the collective responsibility that diplomats hold. Besides providing views of the country they represent in global governance matters, diplomats are also obligated to seek collective views from the countries they represent in matters of global governance. In varying extent, diplomats can also press their countries to provide their views on critical issues involving global governance, especially when the issues in question require a wider consultation (Sharp 624-5). Finally, diplomacy directs the use of reason, as opposed to emotions, in making decisions whose actions have a significant impact globally. Reading Question 2 Gordon highlights various issues that affect the effectiveness, implementation, and legality of different types of targeted sanctions. She offers various counter arguments against each of the sanctions citing various challenges that have remained unresolved in regards to various sanctions. The four types of sanctions discussed by Gordon include arms embargoes, travel sanctions, financial sanctions, and targeted trade sanctions. Arms embargoes, for instance, target the flow of arms into a country, blocking their access by specific individuals or groups within a country. While it seems like a noble cause to disrupt the flow of arms, thus preventing possible deadly clashes and other human rights violations, there remain numerous implementation flaws and loopholes that ensure the sales of arms continue. Gordon observes that arms embargoes actually have an insignificant influence on the flow ...