In the past, Americans used to think of the United States as a "melting pot" of immigrants.
Today, Americans realize that the simple "melting pot" theory is less true. Instead, different groups of people keep many of their old customs. Often groups of Americans from the same culture band together. They live together in distinctive communities, such as "Chinatowns" or "Little Italys" - areas populated almost exclusively by Americans of a single ethnic group - which can be found in many large American cities. Living in ethnic neighborhoods gives new Americans the security of sharing a common language and common traditions with people who understand them.
In time, however, people from different backgrounds mix together. They also mix with native-born Americans. Old traditions give way to new customs. The children of immigrants are often eager to adopt new, American ways. They often want to dress in American fashions, to speak English and to follow American social customs. By one estimate, about 80 percent of European immigrants marry outside their own ethnic groups by the time they reach the third generation. Third generation means that their great-grandparents were immigrants. Yet as successive generations become more "Americanized," they often retain significant elements of their ethnic heritage.
Future success in raising the economic level of blacks and other minorities depends largely on the growth of the economy. When economic life falters, group conflict and prejudice increase. This is because people see themselves as competing for the same scarce resources, such as jobs.
The American economy is undergoing an historic transformation. Traditional industrial jobs are being lost to other countries. The recent enormous growth of jobs has been concentrated in service sectors. Many of these jobs require skills beyond the level of many ethnic minority members.
Many people are also trapped by poverty in the central areas of large cities, where few new jobs are being created. The social demoralization of some ethnic minorities is also a barrier that keeps them from taking advantage of actual opportunities that are available to them.
The social drama of the struggle for equality and acceptance will continue as it has for over 300 years. As always, the leading roles in this drama will be played by ethnic groups, old and new.
Although there is sometimes friction and ill-feeling between new immigrants and people whose families have been Americans for generations, most Americans welcome newcomers. There is a popular feeling that immigrants have made America great and that each group has something to contribute. When President Bush signed the 1990 Immigration Act into law, he declared that its liberalized provisions would be "good for America."
LIST OF BOOKS USED
1. Advanced Language Practice, M. Vince Heinemsnn ELT
2. An A to Z of the British Life, Dictionary of Britain, Adrian Room, Oxford University Press, 1990
3. Background to Britain, Munro Mackenzie
4. Bottoms Up! Nix-Riederer, Verlag Gehlen
5. Britain Explored, Paul Harvey
6. Britain Today, Richard Musman
7. Britain. The Country and Its Peope, James O’Driscol, Oxford University Press,1996
8. British Customs and Traditions, brochure London, Commercial Color Press, London, 1996
9. Customs and Traditions (booklet)
10.Customs, traditions and festivals of Great Britain, Khimunina T. Leningrad, Prosveshcheniye, 1977
40. History of the American Nation, John Patrick, Carol Berkin, Macmillan Publishing Company, USA, 1984
41. Legacy of freedom, Glenn M. Linden, Laidlaw Brothers, Publishers, River Forest, Illinois, 1986
42. Portraits in Words, Thomas Kral, USIA, Washington, USA, 1992
43. Readings in Geography of the USA, M.Borovik, Moscow, Higher School Publishing House, 1971
44. The 1960s, Time of Change, City High Time Magazine, May, 1995
45. The Constitution of the United States of America, Peltason, USIA, USA, 1987
46. The Drama of Democracy, George McKenna (American Government and Politics), The Dushkin Publishing Group; Guilford, Connecticut, 1994
47. The United States Constitution, Charles W. Seifert, USIA, Washington, USA, 1987
48. The USA and the Americans, Nesterchuk, V.M. Ivanova, Minsk, Vysheyshaya Shkola, 1998
49. This is America USIA
50. Twelve Famous Americans, Thomsa Kral, USIA, Washington, USA, 1994
51. Two Centuries of Progress, Carlton L.Jackson, Vito Perrone, GLENCOE MacmillanlMcGraw-Hill, USA, 1995
52. USA A reader, Книга для чтения по страноведению, США, Агеева. З.Д., Высшая школа, 1976 (42 А23)
53. World Book, CD
54. Познакомьтесь - Великобритания и США, Парахина..., М, Высшая школа, 1988
55. Пособие по географии, экономике США, Канады, Наука, 1969 (42 К78)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
Educational program on specialty “International Relations “B020200””
Approved at the Scientific Council meeting of International Relations Department
Protocol №___from « ____»_______ 2013 г.
Dean of the Department _____K. N. Shakirov
Syllabus
Module № 1 «Political System of Great Britain»
Third Year, English Brunch, Spring Semester, 3 credits
Lecturer (practical, seminars):
Leila Delovarova, Lecturer
Tel/ (2438927),
e-mail: delovarova@mail.ru
Room.: 208.
The aim and tasks of the course:
The aim of the course is to develop the necessary knowledge on Great Britain political system and skills on its features. The course aimed at formation of students' scientific conception of the laws and customs of creation and functioning of the political system of the UK at different stages of its historical development.
Competences (course results):
As a result of the course, the students should:
· Know the of development process of British political system(UK) and specific features of its functioning;
· Be able independently analyze the reasons on which its infancy and evolving political system of Great Britain;
· Own methods of studying the evolution of UK political system.
Prerequisites: the study of the discipline is based on already acquired knowledge in the study of courses such as the History of Europe and America in New / Modern times the History of Great Britain, Culture, Science and Education of Great Britain.
Post-requisites: the knowledge getting during the course will be useful in the study of the following subjects: Consular Service of Foreign countries, the Diplomatic Documentation, UK Foreign Policy.
STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF DISCIPLINE
Week
Topic
Hours
Points
Module 1. the formation of the UK political system and its key features
Lecture 1. Introduction.
Seminar 1. Key Features of British history and political system
Lecture 2. British Constitution as the basis of the political system
Seminar 2. The role of British Constitution
· sources of the Constitution
· key functions
Lecture 3. British Parliament. Legislative branch of Britain. The structure of the parliament.
Seminar 3. Modern British parliament (House of Lords and House of Representatives).
IWS 1. Should Britain have the written Constitution (3 page Essay)
Lecture 4. Queen as a Head of Executive brunch
Seminar 4. The Queen and the Cabinet
IWS 2. The Queen as a symbol of Monarchy
Lecture 5. The role of the Prime Minister in the formation and management of the Cabinet
Seminar 5. Prime Minister as a executive brunch of UK
IWS 3. Famous Prime Ministers of Great Britain, ppt.
Lecture 6. Development and formation of the Conservative and Liberal parties. Conservative party.
4 (2)
Seminar 6. Parliamentary fractions and the role of the leader of the parliamentary fraction. The growing influence of the Cabinet
Lecture 7. Development and formation of the Conservative and Liberal parties. Liberal party.
(2)
Seminar 7. British political parties (key functions and features).
Midterm 1 British Constitution as a key element of political system (individual cons.)
Module. 2 The functioning of British political system
Lecture 8. Parliamentary elections in Great Britain
Seminar 8. Formation of election system in GB
Lecture 9. Voting systems in UK and US.
Seminar 9. Main requirements for candidates
IWS. 4. Voting in the regions of GB
Lecture. 10. New trends in British political system
Seminar 10. Moral requirements for Government officials in GB.
IWS 5. Capacity and responsibility of British officials
Lecture 11. The impact of changes in the context of globalization on government service on moral and etiquette of officials in GB.
Seminar 11. Linkages of diplomacy, etiquette and Government service in GB
Lecture 12. Responsibility, corruption and effectiveness of government service in GB
Seminar 12. Corruption cases in GB (ppt)
Lecture13. The role of public opinion in the GB political system
Seminar13. Political parties and lobby groups and public opinion
WIS 6. Globalization and political system of GB
Lecture 14. Political system and Mass Media and Internet technologies in GB
Seminar 14. The role of Mass Media and Internet technologies in GB political system.
Lecture 15. The image of BG political system and Policy makers in the modern IR
Seminar 15. The most popular British politicians’ and their role in crisis manement
Midterm 2 Power Point presentation “The British political system model as one of the successful one”.
Examination
Total
Midterms:
Midterm 1 British Constitution as a key element of political system (individual cons.)
Midterm 2 Power Point presentation “The British political system model as one of the successful one”.
List of literature
Main:
"List of all parties standing at the 2005 election". Archived from the original on 9 March 2006.
"List of parties that stood candidates in the 2001 general elections". Archived from the original on 25 September 2006.
Electoral Commission: Database of Registers, includes Register of Political Parties
Links to UK political websites from the BBC
NSD: European Election Database - UK
И. А. Сенченко «Государство и право, история и культура Великобритании и США.»Издательство: Приор-издат, 2005 г.
БарановскийЛ.С., КозикисД.Д. «How Do You Do, Britain!»
АннаПавловская «England and the English», «Издательство Московского университета» 2005г.
Энтони Майол, Дэвид Милстед «Эти странные Англичане», Издательство: «Эгмонт Россия ЛТД» 1999 г.
Давид Юм «Англия под властью дома Стюартов»,Издательство: «Алетейя» Санкт-Петербург 2001.
В.В. Штокмар «История Англии в средние века», Издательство: «Алетейя» Санкт-Петербург 2000.
15. BRAHAM, HENRY J. justices and Presidents: A Political History of Appointments to the Supreme Court, 2nd ed., Oxford Universiti Press, 1985
16. BOIVEN, CATHERINE D. Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Comention, May to September 1787, Little, Brown and Co., 1986
17. BUSH, ROD, ed. The New Black Vote: Politics and Power in Four American Cities, Synthesis Publications, 1984
18. VRIEDMAN, LAWRENCE M American Law: An Introduction, W.W. Norton and Co., Inc., 1985
Additional:
1. FRISCH, MORION J., American political Thought: The Philosophic Dimension of American Statesmanship, 2nd., ed., F.E.Peacock Publishers, Inc., 1983 GALAMBOS, LOUIS, ed.
2. Britain 2004. An Official Handbook.- London, 2004
3. Britain: Aspects of Political and Social Life / Ed. Dorothea Siegmund Schultze.- Leipzig, 1985
4. Bromhead P. Life in Modern Britain/ - London. 1993
5. ELAZAR, DANIEL J. American Federalism: A View from the States, 3rd ed., Harper and Rev, 1984
6. EPSTEIN, DAVID F. The Political Theory of ‘The Federalist’, University of Chicago Press, 1984
7. EPSTEIN, LEON Political Parties in the American history, University of Wisconsin Press, 1989
8. Les constitutions de la France de 1789a 1870.- Documents d’etudes. 1-18.-P.: La Documentation francaise, 1988