Dr Sadek- Anglais licence Relations internationales S6 2023-2024
Kursthemen
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le cours d' Anglais sera chaque Mardi de 11:30 à 13:00
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Teacher : SADEK –Meriem Dalila mail :adel2004@live.fr
Teaching Unit: D
Coefficient :1 Credits:1
Global hourly volume in the first semester : 15 hours
Global weekly working hours 1h.30 mn
Evaluation method: written test
Course outline
The Course in English includes two parts, the first one is a political text dealing with a specific topic related to what the students are learning in “ Arabic”, and the second one is a number of activities to evaluate the learners’ understanding of the text and their different skills in matter of reading , listening, and writing.
The tasks given to the learners are about a variety of activities as follows:
1-An activity of comprehension asking the students to explain or give synonyms to different words that seem to be difficult to understand at first sight.
2-An activity of true or false to allows the teacher to check if the students have completely understood the text.
3- To give the students a number of statements or definitions and let them guess the expressions or terms corresponding to these statements.
4- Another activity that includes a paragraph with missing words and asking the learners to find the appropriate terms and to put them in the right place.
5-The course may also have an activity of written expression as asking the students to write an essay of few lines to discuss a topic linked to the studied text.
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The General objectives aspired in teaching (ESP) English for specific purpose as political English are as follows:
1-To help the students learn a second language.
1-To initiate the students to politics in English.
2-To develop basic language skills as reading, listening, and writing.
3-To develop their awareness of the importance of English as a means of international communication.
4-To develop positive attitude towards leaning English.
5-To develop language competence that enable the students to present the culture and civilization of their country to other nations.
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The prerequisites
The students who are initiated in learning political English must have the following prerequisites:
1-The students must have at least a medium level in English to learn political English.
2-The students must have read at least two or three books or magazines in English even if these books are for beginners.
3-The learners must have listened to audiobook and recording in English to learn the pronunciation and understand what is being said.
4-The students must know how to use political English dictionaries to look for the information needed.
5-The students must be motivated to learn English
6-The students must be aware that they might need English in their future career .
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Table of Contents
1-Public Opinion and Political Socialization
2-Keys to activity of " Public Opinion and Political Socialization
3-The Good Governance
4-Keys to activities to "the Good Governance"
5-The three Parts of Good Governance . The Private Sector -the Civil Society - the Government
6- Key to activities of the "three Parts of Good Governance"
7-News Media and Communicating Political images
8-Keys to activities of " News Media and Communicating Political Images
9-Political Participation and Voting
10-Keys to activities of " Political Participation and Voting"
11- A general revision
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All sudents are welcomed to discuss and ask questions about all what relates to our lessons
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Public Opinion and Political Socialization
Public opinion can be defined as those opinions held by ordinary citizens that they openly express. Public officials have many ways of assessing public opinion, such as the outcome of elections, but they have increasingly come to rely on public opinion polls. There are many possible sources of errors in polls, and surveys sometimes present a misleading portrayal of the public’s views. However, a properly conducted poll can be an accurate indication of what the public is thinking and can dissuade political leaders from thinking that the views of the most vocal citizens (such as demonstrator and letter writers) are also the views of the broader public.
The process by which individuals acquire their political opinions is called political socialization. During childhood, the family and the schools are important sources of basic political attitudes, such as beliefs about the parties and the nature of the U.S political and economic systems. Many of the basic orientations that the Americans acquire during childhood remain with them in adulthood. Major shift in opinion during adulthood are usually the consequence of changing political condition, for example, the great depression of the 1930s was the catalyst for wholesale changes in American’s opinions on the government’s role. Short-term fluctuations in opinion can result from new political issues and problems, individuals’ opinions in these cases are affected by prior belief, peers, political leaders, and the news media. Events themselves are also a significant short-term influence on opinions. The frame of reference that guides America’s opinions includes cultural beliefs, such as individualism which affect what people will find politically acceptable and desirable. Opinions can also stem from ideology, although most citizens do not have a strong and consistent ideological attachment . In addition, individuals develop opinions as a result of group orientations, notably region, income level, occupation, religion, race, ethnicity, gender, and age. Partnership is perhaps the major source of political opinions; Republican and Democrats differ in their voting behavior and views on many policy issues.
Public opinion has a significant influence on government, but seldom determines exactly what government will do in particular instance. Public opinion serves to constrain the policy choices of officials. Some policy actions are beyond the range of possibility because the public will not accept change in existing policy or will not seriously consider policy that seems at odd with basic American values. Evidence indicates that officials are somewhat attentive to public opinion on highly visible and controversial issues of public policy.
Activity one: Give terms or expression to the following definitions.
1-…………………:Basic ideas about race, gender, and political affiliation which are often acquired in childhood and help the American people to develop their public opinion.
2-……………………:A consistent pattern of political attitudes that stems from a core belief.
3-…………………..:What ordinary people think about politics.
4-……………………: A group of people chosen at random by the pollsters to view what the whole population think about a particular issue.
5-…………………..:The pollsters assume that their samples are drawn from a particular population which leads to inaccuracy due to some social factors.
Activity two: Explain or give synonyms to the following words
Poll- fluctuation- to stem- odd.
Activity three: put the appropriate word in the right place.
Jeremy Bentham, the first English philosopher to believe that ……………………..had to be taken into consideration if leaders were to govern properly. However; the measurement of this process is a difficult task ,therefore pollsters opted for estimating what………………thinks in order to consider what the whole population believe about a particular issue. As a result,……………………….due to the inaccurate assessment of the public opinion.
Activity four: Public Opinion is an indicator of democracy . Comment.
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Public Opinion. Correction of the activities.
Activity one: Give terms or expression to the following definitions.
1-Political socialization: Basic ideas about race, gender, and political affiliation which are often acquired in childhood and help the American people to develop their public opinion.
2-Ideology : A consistent pattern of political attitudes that stems from a core belief.
3-Public opinion: What ordinary people think about politics.
4-The sample : A group of people chosen at random by the pollsters to view what the whole population think about a particular issue.
5-Errors in polls::The pollsters assume that their samples are drawn from a particular population which leads to inaccuracy due to some social factors.
Activity two: Explain or give synonyms to the following words
Poll- fluctuation- to stem- odd.
Poll: a survey – to record the opinions or the votes..
Fluctuation: a change- a shift.
Odd: strange- peculiar
Activity three: put the appropriate word in the right place.
Jeremy Bentham, the first English philosopher to believe that public opinion had to be taken into consideration if leaders were to govern properly. However; the measurement of this process is a difficult task, therefore pollsters opted for estimating what the sample thinks in order to consider what the whole population believe about a particular issue. As a result, errors in poll .due to the inaccurate assessment of the public opinion.
Activity four: Public opinion is an indicator of democracy. In few lines, comment this idea.
Public opinion is one of the fundamental principles of democracy. It represents freedom of speech expressed by the voice of people who are the ultimate source of power, in a democratic system. The state is built by the consent of people, and similarly, the constitution is framed by the collective will of this people. In this context, the decision-makers must take into account public opinion when deciding about the Future policy of the nation. Moreover, public opinion can act as a check on leadership because it can accept or reject leaders' decisions, therefore any matter on which the executive or the legislative has to decide must be considered as a public issue.
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The good Governance
The good governance is an indeterminate term used in international development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources. Governance is the process of decision- making and the process by which decisions are implemented or not implemented. The term governance can apply to corporate, international, national, local governance or to the interaction between other sectors.
The concept of good governance often emerges as a model to compare ineffective economies or political bodies with viable economies and political bodies. The concept centers on the responsibility of governments and governing bodies to meet the need of the masses.
Good governance promotes equity, participation, pluralism, transparency, accountability, and the rule of law in a manner that is effective, efficient, and enduring. In translating these principles in practice, we see the holding of free, fair and frequent elections, and representative’s legislatures that make laws and provide oversight of an independent judiciary to interpret those laws.
In fact, well-governed countries are less likely to be violent and less likely to be poor. When the alienated are allowed to speak and their human rights protected, they are less likely to turn to violence as a solution. When the poor are given a voice, their governments are more likely to invest in national policies that reduce poverty. In so doing, good governance provides the setting or the equitable distribution of benefits from growth.
The Characteristics of Good Governance.
The characteristics of good governance are participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus orientation, equity, effectiveness, efficiency, accountability, and strategic vision. Some of these characteristics are defined as follows:
Rule of law: Legal frameworks should be fair and enforced particularly the laws on human rights.
Responsiveness: Institutions and processes try to serve stakeholders.
Consensus orientation.: good governance mediates different interests to reach a broad consensus on what is the best interests of the group and where possible on policies and procedures.
Strategic vision: Leaders and the public have a broad and long-term perspective on good governance and human development, along with a sense of what is needed for such development. There is also an understanding of the historical, cultural and social complexities in which that perspective is grounded.
Activity one: Find the right terms for the following definitions.
1-…………………:All men and women should have a voice in decisions-making either directly or through legitimate intermediate institutions that represent them. Such broad participation is built on freedom of speech, as well as capacities to participate constructively.
2-…………………Decisions-makers in government, the private sector and civil society organizations are accountable to the public, as well as to the institutional stakeholders.
3-………………….: All men and women have opportunities to improve and maintain their well being.
4-…………………….:is concerned with the free flow of information. Process, institutions and information are directly accessible to those concerned with them, and enough information to understand them and monitor them.
Activity two: Explain or give synonyms to the following words.
Accountability- transparency- alienated
Activity three: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words: the good governance -responsibility- needs - society - the most successful - measures - threat - oppose - the fundamental
The concept of …………………………centers on ………………..of the government and the governing bodies to meet the ………….of the masses as opposed to select groups in……………….. Because countries often described as……………………………are Western liberal democracies states, concentrated in Europe and the Americas, good governance standards often………………….other states institutions against these states.
The greatest………………to good governance comes from corruption, violence and poverty, all of which…………………..transparency, security, participation and………………….freedoms.
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The Good Governance. Correction of the activities.
Activity one: Find the right terms for the following definitions.
1-Participation : All men and women should have a voice in decisions-making either directly or through legitimate intermediate institutions that represent them. Such broad participation is built on freedom of speech, as well as capacities to participate constructively.
2-Accountability: Decisions-makers in government, the private sector and civil society organizations are accountable to the public, as well as to the institutional stakeholders.
3-Equity : All men and women have opportunities to improve and maintain their well being.
4-Transparency :is concerned with the free flow of information. Process, institutions and information are directly accessible to those concerned with them, and enough information to understand them and monitor them.
Activity two: Explain or give synonyms to the following words.
Accountability- transparency- alienated
Accountability: responsibility
Transparency: easily understood- clarity
Alienated: being rejected from society- strange
Activity three: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words.
The concept of good governance centers on the responsibility of the government and the governing bodies to meet the need of the masses as opposed to select groups in society. Because countries often described as most successful are Western liberal democracies states, concentrated in Europe and the Americas, good governance standards often measure other states institutions against these states. The greatest threat to good governance comes from corruption, violence and poverty, all of which oppose transparency, security, participation and the fundamental freedoms.
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The Three Parts of Good Governance: Civil Society, the Private
Sector, and the Government
Civil society
Civil society is a “space” whose function is to mediate between the individual and the sate while there may not be a clear definition of civil society, they more or less agree that it comprises institutions such as religious organizations, labor unions, charities, community groups, and the media. In advanced and virile democratic systems, these institutions supplement formal processes such as voting and help citizens shape the culture, politics, and economies of their nations.
CSOs are formed by people who have common needs, interests and values like tolerance, inclusion, cooperation, equality, and development through a fundamentally autonomous process which cannot easily be controlled from outside.
The private sector
The private sector is the part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state. The private sector which is one of the three parts of good governance can be considered as an engine of exclusive growth by generating decent jobs, contributing public revenue and providing affordable goods and services. If it invests in suitable innovation and business models, it can also improve poor people’s lives by boosting their productive activities.
Government
Government is a group of people who rule the administration of a country. In other words, it may be said that a government is the body of representatives that governs and controls the state at a given time. Government is the medium through which the power of the state is employed
Governance
Governance is the act of governing or ruling. It is the set of rules and laws framed by the government that are to be implemented through the representatives of states. Governance is a concept that can be followed in an organization of any size, it can be a single cell or an organism of all humanity. Governance may function variously for profit or non-profit, for people or for itself. The main purpose of governance is to assure good results following a set pattern of rules.
Activity one: Give terms or expressions to the following statements.
1-……………………..:organizations speaking on behalf the workers.
2-………………………:areas of the economy controlled by the state.
3-…………………….: a range of autonomous organisms which develop a dense, diverse, and pluralistic network.
4-……………………..:the transparent and accountable management of human, natural, economic, and financial resources.
Activity two: Explain the following words.
To afford- to boost- medium- a frame
Activity three: put the appropriate word in the right place.
Public officials- civic norms- agent – to participate- good governance- improve.
....................................is seen as an increasingly important…………………for promoting like transparency, effectiveness, openness, responsiveness and accountability. Civil society can further and ………………..good governance, first, by policy analysis and advocacy; second, by regulation and monitoring of state performance and the action and behavior of……………………;third by building social capitals and enabling citizens to identify and articulate their values, beliefs,……………..,and democratic practices; fourth, by mobilizing particular constituencies, particularly the vulnerable and marginalized sections of masses,……………., more fully in politics and public affairs; and fifth, by development work to improve the wellbeing of their own and other communities.
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The Three Parts of Good Governance: Correction of the activities
Activity one: Give terms or expressions to the following statements.
1-Labor unions : organizations speaking on behalf the workers.
2-Public sector: areas of the economy controlled by the state.
3-Civil society organizations (CSOs): a range of autonomous organisms which develop a dense, diverse, and pluralistic network.
4-The good governance: transparent and accountable management of human, natural, economic, and financial resources.
Activity two: Explain the following words.
To afford- to boost- medium- a frame
To afford : to allow someone to have or do something. Ex: affordable good means accessible goods.
To boost : help or encourage to increase or improve. Help to be more successful.
Medium: medium in the text means the means or the way. Ex: The government is the medium through which the power of the state is employed
a frame: a structure
Activity three: put the appropriate words in the right place.
Public officials- civic norms- agent – to participate- good governance- improve.
Good governance is seen as an increasingly important agent for promoting like transparency, effectiveness, openness, responsiveness and accountability. Civil society can further and improve good governance, first, by policy analysis and advocacy; second, by regulation and monitoring of state performance and the action and behavior of public officials ;third by building social capitals and enabling citizens to identify and articulate their values, beliefs, civic norms, and democratic practices; fourth, by mobilizing particular constituencies, particularly the vulnerable and marginalized sections of masses, to participate more fully in politics and public affairs; and fifth, by development work to improve the wellbeing of their own and other communities.
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The News Media : Communicating Political images
In the nation first, the press was allied closely with the political parties and helped the parties mobilize public opinion. Gradually, the press freed itself from this partisan relationship and developed a form of reporting known as objective journalism, that emphasizes the fair and reporting of newsworthy developments. The foundation of modern American news rests on the presentation and evaluation of significant events, not on the advocacy of partisan ideas. The nation’s news organizations do not differ greatly in their reporting; broadcast stations and newspaper throughout the country emphasize many of the same events, issues, and personalities, following the lead of the major broadcast networks, a few elites newspapers, and the wire services. This pattern, however, is not characteristic of bloggers or radio and television talk show. Many of them pursue partisan agendas and thus differ in what they emphasize and how they interpret events and political developments.
The press performs four basic roles in a free society. First, in their signaling role, journalists communicate information to the public about events and problems that they consider important, relevant, and therefore newsworthy. Second, the press serves as a common carrier role in that it provides political leaders with a channel for addressing the public. Third, the press acts as a public protector, or watchdog, by exposing deceitful, careless, or corrupt officials. The American media can and, to a significant degree do perform these roles adequately.
The press is less well suited, however, to the forth role it plays, that of public representative. This role acquires a consistent political viewpoint and public accountability, neither of which the press possesses. The media are not a substitute for effective political institutions. The press strength lies ultimately in its capacity to inform the public , not in its attempt to serve as a public representative.
Key expressions:
Partisan Press: Published news in a form of party propaganda and could not have survived without the party support.
Objective Journalism: based on reporting facts rather than opinions and was fair in that it presented both sides of partisan debate.
Common Carrier role: Citizens can not very well support or oppose a leader’s plans and actions if they do not know about them that’s why the press provides the political leader with a channel through which to communicate with the public.
Signaling role : The responsibility of the journalists includes a signaling role. They seek to alert the public to important development as soon as possible after happen. For instant ,a bill that has just passed by Congress, a change in the nation’s unemployment level, and a bombing in a foreign capital.
Watchdog role: The American press has accepted responsibility for protecting the public from deceitful, careless, incompetent, and corrupt officials who violate accepted legal , ethical or performance standard.
Activity one: Explain or give synonyms to the following words
Newsworthy- advocacy- careless.
Activity two: Give to each statement the right term or expression according to text above.
1-……………………..: When the United States prepared to attack Iraq in 2003, hundreds of US journalists descended on that part of the world. Many of them were embedded in US combat units.
2-………………………….:The press reported political illicit personal behavior as the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
3-…………………………..:Political leaders need news coverage if they are to get the public’s attention.
4-………………………….:Publishers openly backed one party or another.
Activity Three: Fill the gap with the right term or expression.
1-The US media is well equipped in their ……………………. They are poised to converge on any major news event anywhere in the nation and nearly anywhere in the world.
2-The press was acting in its ……………………..when they reported the Watergate scandal.
3-Alexander Hamilton persuaded John Fenno to start a newspaper, the Gazette of the United States, in order to publicize the policies of his political adversary, George Washington. In return, as a secretary of treasury, granted Treasury Department printing contract to Fenno’s newspaper. He is said to be using the ………………….to reach his political objectives.
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The News Media: Communicating Political Images. Correction of the activities.
Activity one: Explain or give synonyms to the following words
Newsworthy- advocacy- careless.
Newsworthy: news which are important enough to be reported.
Advocacy: support
Careless: negligent-inattentive
Activity two: Give to each statement the right term or expression according to the text above.
The signaling role : When the United States prepared to attack Iraq in 2003, hundreds of US journalists descended on that part of the world. Many of them were embedded in US combat units.
The watchdog role :The press reported political illicit personal behavior as the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
The common carrier role :Political leaders need news coverage if they are to get the public’s attention.
The partisan press : Publishers openly backed one party or another.
Activity Three: Fill in the gap with the right term or expression.
1-The US media is well equipped in their signaling role. They are poised to converge on any major news event anywhere in the nation and nearly anywhere in the world.
2-The press was acting in its watchdog role when they reported the Watergate scandal.
3-Alexander Hamilton persuaded John Fenno to start a newspaper, the Gazette of the United States, in order to publicize the policies of his political adversary, George Washington. In return, as a secretary of treasury, granted Treasury Department printing contract to Fenno’s newspaper. He is said to be using the partisan press to reach his political objectives.
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Political Participation and Voting
Political participation is involvement in activities designed to influence public policy and leadership. A main issue of democratic government is the question of who participates in politics and how fully they participate.
Voting is the most widespread form of active political participation among Americans. Yet voter turnout is significantly lower in the United States than in other democratic nation. The requirement that Americans must register in order to establish their eligibility to vote is one reason for lower turnout among Americans; Other democracies place the burden of registration on government officials rather thanon the individual citizen. The fact the United States holds frequent elections also discourages some citizens from voting regularly. Finally, the major American political parties, unlike :many of those in Europe, do not clearly represent the interest of opposing economic classes; thus, the policy states in American elections are very lower. Some Americans do not vote because they think that policy will not changes greatly regardless of which party holds powers.
Only a minority of citizens in the more demanding forms of political activity; such as work on community affairs or on behalf of a candidate during a political campaign. The proportion of who engage in these more demanding forms of activity exceeds the proportion of Europeans who do so. Nevertheless, only about one in every four Americans will take an active part in political organization at some points in their lives. Most political activists are individuals of higher income and educations; they have the skills and materiel resources to participate effectively and tend to take a greater interests in politics. More than in any other western democracy, political participation in the United States is related to economic status.
Social movements are broad to achieve change by citizens who feels that governments is not properly responsive to their interests. These efforts sometimes take place outside established channels; demonstrations, picket line, and marches are common mean of protests. Protesters are younger and more idealistic on average than are other citizens, but they are a very small proportion of the population In addition, protest activities do not have a high level of public support, despite the county’s tradition of free expression.
Over all, Americans are only moderately involved in politics. While they are concerned with political affairs, they are mostly immersed in their private pursuit, a reflection in part of a cultural believe in individualism. The lowerlevel of participation among low-income has particular significance in that it works to reduce their influence on public policy and leadership.
Apathy: is the term used to describe a general lack of concern with politics.
Civic duties: the believe that the Americans are obliged to participate in public affairs.
Suffrage:the right to vote in political election.
1-Activity of comprehension
Find a synonym or an expression closing in meaning to the following words:
Turnout- burden- picket- requirement
2- Fill in the gaps the right words from the text above.
Although Americans claim that……………………….is important, most citizens show little interest to it. However, Americans are not completely ……………,many millions of them contribute to political causes, and more than hundred millions……………….in presidential elections. Yet sustained political activism do not engage a large proportion of the public. Moreover, many of those who do…………….are drawn to politics by a habitual sense of ………………rather than by an intense concern with current issues.
3-Give the right terms to the following definition
1-............................:is the proportion of adults citizens who actually vote in a given election.
2-………………….: Before Americans are allowed to vote, their names must appear on an officials list of eligible voter.
………………..: is a hallmark of democratic government, which is based on the idea that ordinary citizens have a right and duty to involve themselves in public affairs.
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Correction of the Activities of the text " Political Participation and Voting"
Find a synonym or an expression closing in meaning to the following words:
Turnout: The number of people attending or taking part of an event, especially the number of people voting in an election.
A burden: a heavy load
A picket line: a strike
A requirement: a condition
2- Fill in the gaps the right words from the text above.
Although Americans claim that political participation is important, most citizens show little interest to it. However, Americans are not completely apathetic ,many millions of them contribute to political causes, and more than hundred millions participate in presidential elections. Yet sustained political activism do not engage a large proportion of the public. Moreover, many of those who do vote are drawn to politics by a habitual sense of civic duties rather than by an intense concern with current issues.
3-Give the right terms to the following definition
1-Turnout.:is the proportion of adults citizens who actually vote in a given election.
2-Registration: Before Americans are allowed to vote, their names must appear on an officials list of eligible voter.
3-Political participation: is a hallmark of democratic government, which is based on the idea that ordinary citizens have a right and duty to involve themselves in public affairs.
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