Sociology 442 - Fall 2005
Drawing closely on Alford's and Friedland's Powers of Theory and recent news coverage, compare and contrast pluralist, managerial, and class perspectives on the modern state as they pertain to one of the topics listed below.* Conclude by presenting an argument on which perspective(s) is most useful for understanding dynamics of power/ politics for the topic selected.
· The best course of action for the USA to take now in Iraq
· National energy policy, oil dependency, or alternative energy strategies
· Disaster response efforts (or the awarding of clean-up contracts) for recent hurricanes on the Gulf Coast
· Funding of public education, healthcare, & other social needs in Washington state
· Charting a course for the future of higher education in the Tri-Cities
· Encouraging/ planning/ coping with rapid urban growth in the Tri-Cities
· Cleaning up Hanford's nuclear waste
* Or, with instructor's consent, another topic of your choosing.