1) “The military is the most important unelected component of government.” Evaluate this statement. In your answer, consider (a) the ways that militaries are involved in domestic politics around the world including their main tasks and (b) the other two main unelected components of government we discussed, including the main tasks of those components. Compared to these other unelected parts of government, is the military really the most important? Bring in examples from at least two of the nine Topic-in-Countries countries we are focusing on this semester (These include Brazil, Mexico, Iran, Nigeria, UK, Russia, Germany, China, and India)

2) Discuss how elites and the general public are “linked” in political systems around the world. In your answer, describe the two broad types of linkage and the positives and negatives of each of these linkage types. Also consider the different modes of linkage (interest groups, social movements, and political parties). How do these modes of linkage allow the general population of a country to have a voice in that country’s political system? In your answer, bring in examples from at least two of the nine Topic-in-Countries countries we are focusing on this semester (These include Brazil, Mexico, Iran, Nigeria, UK, Russia, Germany, China, and India)