Compelling Questions:
Do citizens have rights that the state must respect, and if so what are they?
What is the role of civil dissent and when is it necessary?
Why have some revolutions been followed by purges of dissidents, mass arrests of political opponents, murder of “class enemies,” suppression of free speech, abolition of private property, and attacks on religious groups?
Why do authoritarian governments spy on their citizens and prevent them from emigrating? Why do they jail or harass critics of their government? Why is only one party allowed in an authoritarian state? Why do ordinary people risk their lives to flee authoritarian states?
How do individual countries combat terrorist organizations that don’t recognize international norms or boundaries? How can individual citizens or non-governmental organizations improve civil society? How can multi-national alliances work together to combat climate change?