The University of Hong Kong Department of Politics and Public Administration

POLI 1003 Making Sense of Politics

Date: December 21, 1999 Time: 2:30-4:3Opm

Answer any THREE of the following. Make sure you use examples to illustrate your answers.

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Choose a case of conflict arising f?-om ethnic self-determination, and discuss the involvement of the United Nations or other international bodies in resolving the conflict.

“. . .I do not see.. .how you can have a real market economy without liberal democracy, because a market economy requires checks and balances, an infrastructure of generally applicable laws, and the transparency that authoritarianism always denies.” - Chris Patten, East and FVe.st, pp.91-2

In the light of the current developments in the People’s Republic of China, would you agree with Chris Patten? Why or why not?

“A cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature is important for efficiency and stability.” How would you evaluate this statement in the context of Hong Kong?

Why is the political accountability of the public service considered crucial to democratic governance ? In Hong Kong, how effective are the existing means of holding the public service accountable? What more could be done?

EITHER What functions do political parties perform in a liberal democracy? In Hong Kong, do you see party competition as unnecessarily politicizing our society?

OR What functions do elections serve in a liberal democracy? To what extent are these functions fulfilled in either the 1998 Legislative Council elections x the District Council elections in November 1999?

“States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country.. .” - Article 7, United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women [CEDAW]

Why is it important not to discriminate against women in political and public life? Is there anything more the HKSAR government could do in this respect?

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The University of Hong Kong Department of Politics and Public Administration

POL11003 MAKING SENSE OF POLITICS

December 23,2002 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Answer any three questions. All questions carry equal marks. Be sure to use examples, where appropriate, to illustrate your answer.

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How would you distinguish the concepts of “state” and “nation”? Could you use examples to illustrate how this distinction has helped you make sense of current political events?

What is political culture? In your view, how usefid is it in helping you understand Hong Kong politics?

EITHER (a) In what ways could we tell from the 1982 State Constitution of the People’s Republic of China that the PRC is a socialist state? From your own observations, how well are the tenets of socialism practiced in present-day PRC?

- OR (b) Do you agree with the contention that economic development is a prerequisite to democratization? Could you cite some examples to illustrate your views?

The ‘‘Principal Officials Accountability System” was introduced in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from July 2002. Discuss how this system might, if at all, enhance the accountability of the Tung Che-hwa Administration to the people of Hong Kong.

In what ways, if at all, does the method of electing legislative councillors affect the ability of the current Hong Kong Legislative Council to fulfill its role in (a) representation and (b) supervising the administration?

It has been recognized that in order to solve the problems facing the world today, governments sometimes need to take collective action. In this regard, could you use examples to illustrate some of the work and limitations of the United Nations?

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Department of Politics and Public Administration University of Hong Kong

POL11003 MAKING SENSE OF POLITICS

2:30-4:30 p.m. May 21,2002

Answer any three questions. All questions carry equal marks.

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What is globalization? Is globalization a beneficial or a destructive force? Illustrate your views with examples.

EITHER (a) Explain the difference between ‘‘proportional representation” and ‘‘first past the post”. How would each affect the party system?

OR (b) Explain the difference between ‘‘proportional representation” and “first s t the post”. Suppose all sixty seats in the Hong Kong Legislative Council were directly elected on a one-person-one-vote basis, -which system should Hong Kong adopt and why?

EITHER (a) Discuss, with examples, the contributions political parties could make in promoting democracy.

- OR (b) Discuss, with exampIes, the contributions the mass media could make in promoting democracy.

The Hong Kong government recently announced a new system of appointment of heads of selected bureaux. How might this new arrangement benefit the public, if at all?

Discuss the executive-legislative relationship of either (a) a parliamentary system - or (b) a presidential system. In what ways could the concept of ‘‘popular sovereignty” be realized?

Consider the role and functions performed by the current Hong Kong Legislative Council. Would you consider it ‘’weak”? Use concrete examples to illustrate your answer.

‘‘Nationalism divides rather than unites.” Using post-World War I1 examples, discuss the extent to which you would agree with this statement.

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The University of Hong Kong Department of Politics and Public Administration

POL11003 MAKING SENSE OF POLITICS First Semester Examination 2003-04

Date: December 15,2003 Time: 9:30-lk30 a.m.

Please answer TWO questions from Section A and ONE from Section B.

SECTION A

Choose any two of the following: (25% each) ,

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I . Distinguish civil disobedience from ordinary law violation.

2. Explain how the Prime Minister could be made accountable to the people in a parliamentary system.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the proportional representation (PR) system in the geographical constituencies in post-97 Hong Kong Legislative Council elections?

SECTION B

Choose only - one of the following: (50% each)

1. Why are political parties “underdeveloped” in Hong Kong? What consequence, if any, does this underdevelopment have on citizens’ participation in politics?

2. “Democracy is only suitable for societies with a solid economic foundation.” Do you agree, and why?

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The University of Hong Kong Department of Politics and Public Administration

POL11003 MAKING SENSE OF POLITICS Second Semester 2002-2003

Date: May 26, 2003 Time: 2:OOpm - 4:OOpm

Answer any three questions. All questions cany equal marks. Please be reminded to use examples or evidence to illustrate your answer.

1. Under what circumstances, if any, would you consider it moral for a citizen not to obey the laws of the state?

2. What relationship, if any, is there between political culture and government legitimacy? In your view, has the HKSAR government been appealing to Hong Kong people’s political culture in its governing strategy?

3. ‘‘In times of economic downturn, we should focus our attention on economics and not on politics.” Do you agree with the statement? What implication would your answer have for democratization?

4. What does ‘‘socialism with Chinese characteristics” mean to you? How would you compare it with your understanding of Marxism-Leninism?

5. What role, if any, does the Hong Kong Legislative Council have in holding the Principal Officials (officials appointed in July 2002 under the Principal Officials Accountability System) accountable? In this regard, what additional power, if any, would you like the Legislative Council to have?

6. Discuss the extent to which you think elections play an important role in the attainment of political power in Hong Kong.

7. “Without the teeth ofsovereignty, the United Nations ... becomes a debating society, useful as a place for d@lomatic contact but little more.” (Roskin et.& 2002:386)

Do you agree with the statement?

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THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

POLl 1003: MAKING SENSE OF POLITICS

DECEMBER 16, 2010 TIME: 9:30 - 11:30AM

Please choose two questions from below and answer in essay. Each question carries 25 marks.

I. What are the differences between a state and a nation? What are the different tasks of state-building and nation-building? How do they relate to each other? Analyze with the illustration of examples.

2. Define the concept of civil society. "Civil society can be uncivil." Discuss this statement with examples.

3. What are the purposes of election in democracies? How far do you agree that the proportional representation electoral system is better than the majoritarian electoral system in facilitating democratic governance? Explain why.

4. What are the different views of "development"? According to Amartya Sen, freedom is central to the process of development. What are his arguments? How would you evaluate the arguments?

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