1. FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT

2. Six Forms of Government
Absolute Monarchy (1600s-1700s)
Constitutional Monarchy (Saudi Arabia)
Parliamentary Democracy (UK, Japan, Canada)
Presidential Democracy (US, Mexico, Brazil)
Dictatorship (Cuba, Vietnam, N. Korea)
Theocracy (Iran, Vatican)

3. Functions of Government
Allocate resources
Enhance security
Protect the environment
Provide public service (education, transportation, cultural amenities)
Build community and nation
Promote economic efficiency and growth
Protect Human rights

4. Building Community
Common identity and sense of community among citizens important
Without a unifying factor cleavage can dominate
Japan: example of a population that is ethnically homogeneous with shared language, little religious diversity and strong political history; in addition, enjoys relative geographic isolation from neighbors
Nigeria: extremely large and diverse population; no common pre-colonial history; sharp religious divisions; 250 ethnic groups; language diversity

5. Human Rights Negative Rights/Political & Civil Rights
Freedom from interference; an entitlement to be left alone (e.g., freedom of expression, privacy rights);
Focus on individual liberty and freedom
Positive Rights/Welfare Rights
Freedom to do or attain something; an entitlement or claim that somebody else do something for you (e.g., the right to an education, the right to medical care)