Lesson Report:
### Lesson Report
—
#### Title: Understanding Political Violence and Theories in Political Science
**Synopsis:** This class focused on the concept of political violence, types of political violence, and how political science theories can help explain these phenomena. By analyzing case studies like the Arab Spring and exploring theories such as Relative Deprivation Theory and Rational Choice Theory, the session emphasized identifying factors and variables that influence political violence. The objective was to bridge theoretical frameworks with real-world examples, preparing students to apply these insights in future research or analysis.
—
#### Attendance:
– **Absent students identified:** 7
– Aslan
– Eldar
– Rodion
– Kana-Key
– Aynazik
– Erasil
– Aidae Nurghazieva
—
#### Topics Covered:
##### 1. **Administrative Announcements**
– Reminder: No class on Thursday due to Thanksgiving holiday.
– Next week’s objective: Seminar and lecture materials will be merged.
##### 2. **Review of Previous Class: Processes of Democratization**
– **Key Concepts Reviewed:**
– The difference between factors and variables.
– Democratization processes require measurable variables to observe change.
##### 3. **Introduction to Today’s Topic: Political Violence**
– **Discussion Prompt:** Factors influencing groups’ choice between peaceful and violent means for achieving change.
– Examples shared by students:
– Government’s willingness to negotiate.
– Lack of mechanisms for peaceful change.
– Radicalization.
– Poor governance, repression, and brutality.
– Poverty, inequality, and availability of weapons.
##### 4. **Defining Political Violence**
– **Working Definition:**
– Intentional use of force by individuals, groups, or states to achieve a political goal.
– Features include being intentional, organized, and politically motivated.
##### 5. **Types of Political Violence**
– **Explored Types:**
– **Terrorism:**
– Violence used to instill fear and achieve political goals.
– Example: 9/11 attacks by al-Qaeda—objective was U.S. military withdrawal from the Middle East.
– **Revolution:**
– Overthrowing a government for ideological or policy changes (e.g., Russian Revolution).
– **Civil War:**
– Groups vying for political power within a country (e.g., U.S. Civil War, Russian Civil War).
– **Other forms discussed briefly:** Genocide, repression.
##### 6. **Relationship Between Political Science and Theories**
– **Role of Theories:**
– Help explain why political violence occurs.
– Predict future instances of violence.
– Identify conditions that precede violence.
##### 7. **Introduction to Political Science Theories**
– **Four Types of Theories Discussed:**
1. **Relative Deprivation Theory (by Ted Gurr):**
– Violence arises when there’s a mismatch between expectations and reality (perception of unjust treatment).
– Focuses on perceived inequality rather than absolute poverty as a trigger.
2. **Rational Choice Theory (by Manker Olson):**
– Violence as a calculated choice; groups weigh benefits against risks/rewards before action.
– **Two Additional Theories (Psychological and Structural):** Deferred to next session due to time constraints.
##### 8. **Case Study: Arab Spring**
– **Timeline of Events (Overview):**
– December 2010: Tunisian man commits self-immolation, sparking protests.
– January 2011: Tunisian President resigns.
– Protests spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and beyond.
– June 2011: Syrian Civil War begins.
– Outcomes: Mixed results—some regimes replaced by democracies, others with new authoritarian leaders (e.g., Egypt).
– **Application of Theories:**
– **Relative Deprivation Theory Applied to Arab Spring:**
– Factors identified:
– High unemployment.
– Economic inequality.
– Excessive government repression/brutality.
– Lack of mechanisms for change.
– Common thread: **Perceived unfair treatment.**
##### 9. **Using Theories for Research**
– **Steps for Applying a Theory to Research:**
– Identify factors (e.g., high unemployment, corruption).
– Define variables (e.g., unemployment rate, corruption index).
– Formulate hypotheses (e.g., “Economic inequality and corruption increase frustration, leading to violent protests.â€�).
– Test and evaluate hypotheses through research.
##### 10. **Wrap-Up Discussion**
– Key takeaway: Political theories simplify complex situations and allow us to focus on specific contributing factors to political events.
– Reinforced principles of intentionality, organization, and political goals in political violence.
– Students were reminded to revisit the theoretical frameworks for the next class discussion.
—
#### Actionable Items:
##### **Organizational Tasks:**
– Upload reading materials on political theories to e-course for next week.
– Prepare case study session on political science theories and practical applications.
##### **Students’ Preparations:**
– Complete e-course reading on political theories before next week.
– Review definitions and factors of political violence for upcoming discussions.
##### **Instructor Follow-Up:**
– Monitor clarity of theoretical concepts during upcoming sessions for student comprehension.
– Revisit Psychological and Structural Theories in future sessions.
—
This lesson report provides a detailed account of the session and sets the groundwork for continued engagement with political science theories and their real-world application.
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK
No homework was assigned during this lesson. This conclusion is based on the transcript, where the professor explicitly ended the class without giving any assignment or specific task, stating only that “there will be a reading on e-course about the theoretical elements that we should be looking at” for the next session.