Homework+11-4-10


 * Example of a Country with a Communist Government:**

CCQs:
How does the United States feel about Laos? Is/Was it perceived to be a threat, much like China and Vietnam? How much French influence remains in Laos today? Laos has a lot of similarities to Vietnam, except it isn't as well-known or controversial, from an American point of view.

Is/Was it Successful?
Yes, I believe that Laos has been pretty successful in running under a communist regime. There is a lot of controversy surrounding human rights in the country, but the government has somehow managed to keep negative press low-key. Part of the reason why Laos is still communist is because of how low-key it is. Many people forget it exists as a country, and it manages to avoid large-scale conflict this way. The country has a reputation for tourism, which helps improve its world view. Economically, it still has a long way to go. Most of the population is composed of poor rural families. The life expectancy is under 70 years, and most of general population is under 40.

Sources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/la.html http://countrystudies.us/laos/84.htm http://www.suite101.com/content/the-government-of-laos-a58902


 * Example of a Country with a Socialist Government:**

CCQs:
How did the surrounding Communist/Socialist nations feel about the fact that a peaceful democratic revolution occurred? Were they threatened? Even though plans were made for Mongolia to become an industrialized society, it still has yet to happen. It is probably due to many different factors, mainly the climate and low population. It must have been difficult to organize a successful government when there was no "central" location, since many people lived in isolation.

Is/Was it Successful?
I don't think the Mongolian People's Republic was too successful as a socialist government. There were too many factors against it. Mongolia was landlocked in the middle of Asia, and next to powerful neighbors. The Gobi desert and sparse population prevented the people from relying on themselves. In addition, many Mongolians live in the same ways previous generations did, creating a society based more on culture than change.

Sources:
http://countrystudies.us/mongolia/60.htm https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mg.html http://www.suite101.com/content/mongolia-in-transition-a33566


 * Example of a Country with a Capitalist Society:**

CCQs:
Does Capitalism affect the indigenous population in the same ways as it affects everyone else in New Zealand? Do labor unions work the same way in New Zealand? I suppose that their economy is like a smaller version of the US. We have many things in common, yet the relationship between the United States and New Zealand is rarely mentioned stateside.

Is/Was it Successful?
Capitalism hasn't really been as successful in New Zealand as it had been in larger nations. New Zealand is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, and relies on other nations for resources unavailable on the island. This generally means that New Zealand has to rely a lot more on imports than exports, leading to the economy being dependent on larger economies. New Zealand went through the recent global recession pretty well (compared to Europe and the United States), and is currently performing better than expected.

Sources:
http://www.hbs.edu/research/pdf/07-037.pdf http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1008/S00454/world-recession-how-is-new-zealand-faring.htm http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/publications/journals/nzjs/2006/011/

Summary :
To be completely honest, part of the reason I chose to use New Zealand as an example of a capitalist society is because I am interested in going there. I would like to live there for many reasons, and the economy/government structure is one of them. I am used to living in places where there is an open economy. 99% of the population is literate, and most New Zealanders have finished secondary education. The overall quality of life is better than that of most Asian nations. In addition, New Zealand has many close ties to Australia, The United Kingdom, and the United States. The nation is also a lot less polluted that newly industrialized nations, which is important for sustaining life and jobs.