Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Aristocracy, Soft Power, Collective Action
15 Apr 2016
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Jones" of ce hours: tues-thurs 3:00-4:00pm (or by appointment) Steven pinker"s thesis: our era is less violent, less cruel, more peaceful than any other time in the history of humanity (ex: violence with families, neighbourhoods, countries) People are less likely to die by violence than their ancestors. War is declining, since 1960 annual deaths in wars have decreased from 500k per year to 30k per year. Previously 15% chance of dying at the hands of another person, nowadays chances are about. Violence has declined partly because of: the creation of states, spread of commerce, enlightenment and the concept of reason, humanitarian revolution, cruelty made illegal (slavery, torture, violence against woman/children, etc. Examples: elections (provincial, municipal, etc. , demonstrations (protests, sit-ins, etc. , policy decisions (state laws - environmental, educational, health care, etc. , legislation/law making (tax rates, divvying of budget, takes place at different levels, etc. ) Laws assign rights and duties, those decisions are subsequently enforced.
