Last April, President Obama and Dmitry Medvedev of Russia signed the New START Treaty which, if ratified, will cut both nations' strategic (long-range) nuclear warheads by a third (to 1,150) and also decrease deployed missiles and bombers (to 700).
The Treaty will not be ratified easily, however, due to politics in the Senate. At least eight Republicans need to vote for the treaty for ratification, but the Republicans seem to be "stalling" on the issue due to Tea Party opposition. Besides looking for support on the right, Republicans may also be trying to decrease support for the left just in time for midterm elections: if they can deny President Obama a "win" over the treaty, they may fare better in November (or so one argument goes). A third impediment to ratification may simply be ignorance. Republicans and/or their supporters may not realize that the treaty would do nothing to prevent other weapons interests such as anti-ballistic missile defenses,strategic non-nuclear weapons, or the nuclear weapons infrastructure. In short, it would not drastically reduce U.S. strategic capabilities.
The author of the article writes that it is important for the U.S. to pass this treaty for several reasons. First, it would show our support for nuclear non-proliferation and open up the possibility for future agreements with Russia. It would also increase our cooperation with the Russians at a time when we need their support to deal with Iran. Finally, we must pass the treaty in order to continue inspections of Russian nuclear facilities; and the longer we wait to do that, the more that suspicions and lack of cooperation might arise. In other words, the longer we wait to ratify this treaty, the less likely it is that it will ever be ratified.
In the Classroom:
This current event issue would fit well with several Social Studies units/topics. First, it would be a great way to illustrate, in a Civics class, the structure of our government: the powers of the President v. the powers of Congress, the kind of vote needed in the Senate to ratify a treaty, and so on.
In a history class, this would fit well with a unit on the Cold War. A possible activity would be to have the students compare and contrast arms treaties of the detente era with the START treaty. They could then write a letter to a Republican senator arguing for or against ratification of this treaty, based on lessons from the Cold War and detente as well as current issues.
Of course, any topic that is politically divisive could be difficult to discuss in the classroom. Students with Republican parents or those with ties to the military could be offended by liberal opinions on this topic (and vice versa). However, if ground rules are set down in the classroom that discussion must be respectful--and if a teacher is careful to let both sides of the issue be expressed--this kind of discussion could make for an excellent learning experience for all students.
Anna, I totally agree that the New START treaty is a complex political issue with many domestic and global implications. I think that the author's contention that the Senate needs to put aside political strategy (i.e. not allowing Obama any sort of "victory" before the November elections) and ratify this treaty represents the best interests of the United States. The risk of losing the right to inspect nuclear sites in Russia could potentially be incredibly harmful in the not-so-distant future. With US-Russian relations in a positive state currently, we cannot risk losing the "momentum" towards total nuclear disarmament which the author cites. Russia would also be the United States' most powerful ally in checking Iran's growing nuclear program. Ratifying the New START Treaty would also represent a significant stride toward bipartisan cooperation in Congress to protect the United States on the international stage.
This issue would be great to discuss in any type of social studies classroom. In addition to the great ideas which Anna proposed above, a teacher could also conduct a mock Congressional hearing on the New START Treaty in which students act as Senators and cast votes for or against the treaty after debating its pros and cons.
Great points in terms of discussing in class...I do think that ground rules of respecting the opinion of others (liberal, conservative, etc.) will go a long way to having a better discussion about this topic. The notion of the 'Tolerant Classroom' works very well...
I think the author recognizes that, although the treaty seems “dull” it is a step in the right direction. He seems to really understand and believe that progress takes time. His point at the end of the article regarding our knowledge of Russian defenses erodes the longer we take to ratify the treaty. The author seems to really understand the complexity of diplomatic relations and sees the treaty as a step in the right direction.
In the classroom
I think the idea of a congressional debate could be a great way for students to engage with the material. Good preparation work by the teacher as well as by the class could make a debate go very well. I think this could be an excellent way for students to become more aware and knowledgeable about political parties and how governments discuss issues. It would also be interesting for a change of pace if a debate were staged in a mock representation of the Russian government. This would require students to really engage in learning about another type of government system. Although it might not be typical to have comparative politics in a civics class this could be interesting to use in a world history classroom. This type of issue could also be a final assessment project. A policy brief could be a great way to conclude a lesson on the cold war or another topic regarding diplomatic relations. Using this current issue would have students applying their content knowledge as precedent and then engaging in analytical writing. High school student would need a lot of scaffolding for such a project and it could be adapted in multiple ways such as making it a group project or a presentation instead of a paper. Either way, I think it is important to explore how and why political decision are made. Of course having a tolerant classroom is essential for the success of this project. Any kind of debate requires ground rules and expectations to function properly. Anna made a very good point identify the various populations of people that could really have an issue with exploring these topics. Sensitivity is important in any classroom interaction as well as openness and toleration. This perspective could be very helpful for students to understand the time that is takes for government policies to pass.
This treaty is only a small step in the attempt to ensure a multipolar world in which nations work together for a common goal-a safer and more cooperative global community. Republicans in the Senate need to understand that power dynamics are shifting internationally, and we need to ease tensions with any nation if possible. The US needs to model to the world that we our gearing our foreign policy towards greater political interdependence. As Russia was once our foe, the US should focus on policy that will strengthen foreign relations with this state as Russia could prove to be a powerful ally in the nuclear conflict with Iran.
This article easily ties in to the Civics and Economics course of study. The article could be incorporated in a class discussion of different political platforms in the US government, especially with the rise of a new party, the Tea Party. The teacher could discuss how third parties can effectively influence politics such as in the 1992 election. Also, students could use this article to write to their Senator and encourage them to vote for or against the ratification of the treaty.
In a classroom, a teacher must emphasize respect and encourage all students to participate. The classroom is a microcosm of our larger society, and the teacher must encourage a diversity of opinions so that students can build tolerance for beliefs that may differ from their own.
One particularly intriguing concern of the author of this work centers on the global conversation revolving around the new SALT Treaty. Concepts of maintaining channels of communication with Russia as well as correctly interpreting the hopes and opinions of the rest of Eastern Europe are crucial factors to consider in the debate over approval of the new SALT treaty.
Many great ideas about classroom application have already been listed, but I think that this reading could also be used in discussion of early political party challenges in an American History classroom. We always think about making history relevant to students' lives. When students are learning about the conflicts between early Federalists, Anti-Federalists, Democratic Republicans, and Whigs, there can be a disconnect, thinking that the founders of the United States weren't involved in any debates parallel to the contemporary ones. This article, however, shows that that idea is wrong. Political factions and polarization continue to challenge political progress to this day and understanding that can help students more closely identify with the early lessons of American political party history.
The aims of the new START treaty are to decrease the amount of the long range strategic nuclear warheads that both the United States and Russia possess by a third. The impediments stem from a lack of understanding of the new START treaty and simple political machinations by Republicans. The author advocates for the passage of the new START treaty because he believes there is little to no downside: nuclear arms are decreased, showing America's commitment to non-proliferation. Also, it would re-establish political ties with Russia.
This article could be used to show the ongoing effects of the Cold War and the effects of the Nuclear Arms Race that developed out of World War II. A timeline activity could be used so student's could see how events during the Cold War led to nuclear proliferation and how it continues to affect the world today. Some issues that might arise from this article could be ones that result from its anti-Republican stance. Another potential discussion that could take place could be differences in opinion between those who advocate military increase and those who believe in more diplomatic means. Having a tolerant classroom allows for peaceful and intelligent discussion and could help students look deeper into the issues and events instead of just focusing on their beliefs about issues that they had before. I think this would fit best with either a Civics or US History class. Incorporating current events into history is incredibly helpful because it allows students to see history unfolding before there eyes and the events are ones that will affect them, making it more meaningful to the students.
Article Title: "Nuclear Weapons: Just Do It" pg. 16 in the Leaders section
ReplyDeleteWhat are the aims of the new START treaty?
Why are the impediments to passing the new START treaty in the US Senate?
Why does the author of the article advocate for passing the treaty?
In the classroom...
How might you be able to incorporate this article into your classroom? What types of activities could you use to teach this topic?
Why issues might arise when discussing this topic? How does having a tolerant classroom help potential problems in discussion?
What history unit of study would this article fit well with? Why incorporating current events into a history unit helpful?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLast April, President Obama and Dmitry Medvedev of Russia signed the New START Treaty which, if ratified, will cut both nations' strategic (long-range) nuclear warheads by a third (to 1,150) and also decrease deployed missiles and bombers (to 700).
ReplyDeleteThe Treaty will not be ratified easily, however, due to politics in the Senate. At least eight Republicans need to vote for the treaty for ratification, but the Republicans seem to be "stalling" on the issue due to Tea Party opposition. Besides looking for support on the right, Republicans may also be trying to decrease support for the left just in time for midterm elections: if they can deny President Obama a "win" over the treaty, they may fare better in November (or so one argument goes). A third impediment to ratification may simply be ignorance. Republicans and/or their supporters may not realize that the treaty would do nothing to prevent other weapons interests such as anti-ballistic missile defenses,strategic non-nuclear weapons, or the nuclear weapons infrastructure. In short, it would not drastically reduce U.S. strategic capabilities.
The author of the article writes that it is important for the U.S. to pass this treaty for several reasons. First, it would show our support for nuclear non-proliferation and open up the possibility for future agreements with Russia. It would also increase our cooperation with the Russians at a time when we need their support to deal with Iran. Finally, we must pass the treaty in order to continue inspections of Russian nuclear facilities; and the longer we wait to do that, the more that suspicions and lack of cooperation might arise. In other words, the longer we wait to ratify this treaty, the less likely it is that it will ever be ratified.
In the Classroom:
This current event issue would fit well with several Social Studies units/topics. First, it would be a great way to illustrate, in a Civics class, the structure of our government: the powers of the President v. the powers of Congress, the kind of vote needed in the Senate to ratify a treaty, and so on.
In a history class, this would fit well with a unit on the Cold War. A possible activity would be to have the students compare and contrast arms treaties of the detente era with the START treaty. They could then write a letter to a Republican senator arguing for or against ratification of this treaty, based on lessons from the Cold War and detente as well as current issues.
Of course, any topic that is politically divisive could be difficult to discuss in the classroom. Students with Republican parents or those with ties to the military could be offended by liberal opinions on this topic (and vice versa). However, if ground rules are set down in the classroom that discussion must be respectful--and if a teacher is careful to let both sides of the issue be expressed--this kind of discussion could make for an excellent learning experience for all students.
Anna, I totally agree that the New START treaty is a complex political issue with many domestic and global implications. I think that the author's contention that the Senate needs to put aside political strategy (i.e. not allowing Obama any sort of "victory" before the November elections) and ratify this treaty represents the best interests of the United States. The risk of losing the right to inspect nuclear sites in Russia could potentially be incredibly harmful in the not-so-distant future. With US-Russian relations in a positive state currently, we cannot risk losing the "momentum" towards total nuclear disarmament which the author cites. Russia would also be the United States' most powerful ally in checking Iran's growing nuclear program. Ratifying the New START Treaty would also represent a significant stride toward bipartisan cooperation in Congress to protect the United States on the international stage.
ReplyDeleteThis issue would be great to discuss in any type of social studies classroom. In addition to the great ideas which Anna proposed above, a teacher could also conduct a mock Congressional hearing on the New START Treaty in which students act as Senators and cast votes for or against the treaty after debating its pros and cons.
Great points in terms of discussing in class...I do think that ground rules of respecting the opinion of others (liberal, conservative, etc.) will go a long way to having a better discussion about this topic. The notion of the 'Tolerant Classroom' works very well...
ReplyDeleteThe article
ReplyDeleteI think the author recognizes that, although the treaty seems “dull” it is a step in the right direction. He seems to really understand and believe that progress takes time. His point at the end of the article regarding our knowledge of Russian defenses erodes the longer we take to ratify the treaty. The author seems to really understand the complexity of diplomatic relations and sees the treaty as a step in the right direction.
In the classroom
I think the idea of a congressional debate could be a great way for students to engage with the material. Good preparation work by the teacher as well as by the class could make a debate go very well. I think this could be an excellent way for students to become more aware and knowledgeable about political parties and how governments discuss issues. It would also be interesting for a change of pace if a debate were staged in a mock representation of the Russian government. This would require students to really engage in learning about another type of government system. Although it might not be typical to have comparative politics in a civics class this could be interesting to use in a world history classroom.
This type of issue could also be a final assessment project. A policy brief could be a great way to conclude a lesson on the cold war or another topic regarding diplomatic relations. Using this current issue would have students applying their content knowledge as precedent and then engaging in analytical writing. High school student would need a lot of scaffolding for such a project and it could be adapted in multiple ways such as making it a group project or a presentation instead of a paper. Either way, I think it is important to explore how and why political decision are made.
Of course having a tolerant classroom is essential for the success of this project. Any kind of debate requires ground rules and expectations to function properly. Anna made a very good point identify the various populations of people that could really have an issue with exploring these topics. Sensitivity is important in any classroom interaction as well as openness and toleration.
This perspective could be very helpful for students to understand the time that is takes for government policies to pass.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis treaty is only a small step in the attempt to ensure a multipolar world in which nations work together for a common goal-a safer and more cooperative global community. Republicans in the Senate need to understand that power dynamics are shifting internationally, and we need to ease tensions with any nation if possible. The US needs to model to the world that we our gearing our foreign policy towards greater political interdependence. As Russia was once our foe, the US should focus on policy that will strengthen foreign relations with this state as Russia could prove to be a powerful ally in the nuclear conflict with Iran.
ReplyDeleteThis article easily ties in to the Civics and Economics course of study. The article could be incorporated in a class discussion of different political platforms in the US government, especially with the rise of a new party, the Tea Party. The teacher could discuss how third parties can effectively influence politics such as in the 1992 election. Also, students could use this article to write to their Senator and encourage them to vote for or against the ratification of the treaty.
In a classroom, a teacher must emphasize respect and encourage all students to participate. The classroom is a microcosm of our larger society, and the teacher must encourage a diversity of opinions so that students can build tolerance for beliefs that may differ from their own.
One particularly intriguing concern of the author of this work centers on the global conversation revolving around the new SALT Treaty. Concepts of maintaining channels of communication with Russia as well as correctly interpreting the hopes and opinions of the rest of Eastern Europe are crucial factors to consider in the debate over approval of the new SALT treaty.
ReplyDeleteMany great ideas about classroom application have already been listed, but I think that this reading could also be used in discussion of early political party challenges in an American History classroom. We always think about making history relevant to students' lives. When students are learning about the conflicts between early Federalists, Anti-Federalists, Democratic Republicans, and Whigs, there can be a disconnect, thinking that the founders of the United States weren't involved in any debates parallel to the contemporary ones. This article, however, shows that that idea is wrong. Political factions and polarization continue to challenge political progress to this day and understanding that can help students more closely identify with the early lessons of American political party history.
The aims of the new START treaty are to decrease the amount of the long range strategic nuclear warheads that both the United States and Russia possess by a third. The impediments stem from a lack of understanding of the new START treaty and simple political machinations by Republicans. The author advocates for the passage of the new START treaty because he believes there is little to no downside: nuclear arms are decreased, showing America's commitment to non-proliferation. Also, it would re-establish political ties with Russia.
ReplyDeleteThis article could be used to show the ongoing effects of the Cold War and the effects of the Nuclear Arms Race that developed out of World War II. A timeline activity could be used so student's could see how events during the Cold War led to nuclear proliferation and how it continues to affect the world today.
Some issues that might arise from this article could be ones that result from its anti-Republican stance. Another potential discussion that could take place could be differences in opinion between those who advocate military increase and those who believe in more diplomatic means. Having a tolerant classroom allows for peaceful and intelligent discussion and could help students look deeper into the issues and events instead of just focusing on their beliefs about issues that they had before. I think this would fit best with either a Civics or US History class. Incorporating current events into history is incredibly helpful because it allows students to see history unfolding before there eyes and the events are ones that will affect them, making it more meaningful to the students.