I don't intend to write a review about "The Prince" right now, and will leave that to the blog post for next week. Today I just want to share my experience while reading the book. The first time I read it I had too much caffeine and too little sleep in my system to fully comprehend it. The second time around left me with the desire to go through it again. I'm still trying to finish the third round, but other pending assignments have made it hard to finish.
The copy of "The Prince" which I obtained is in horrible conditions (if anyone doesn't want theirs anymore and it is in favorable conditions I'll buy it for a reasonable price) and has "annotations" all over it. These annotations from the previous owner, who circled almost every instance where the word "men" was employed, were very distracting, annoying and sometimes triggering. At first I just ignored the previous annotations, crossing them off and writing my own instead. Later I started reading some of them, and my initial reaction was a dislike towards the previous owner's thoughts. Where I agreed, there was a note from him disagreeing. Where I came up to a certain conclusion, he wrote something completely opposite from me. In short, his way of thinking is the opposite of mine and at first it bothered me not being able to read the book without some notes, which I didn't agree with, distracting me. Now I'm grateful for the annotations on my copy of "The Prince" because they are a reminder that the "truth" has many perspectives. Points of view differ, and ideas crash, especially around topics such as the ones mentioned by Machiavelli. I like to think of my copy of "The Prince" as a representation of what AU means to me. An opportunity, not just to learn what a Professor or expert has to say on a topic, but to form my own point of view, listen to others who might not agree and challenge my own ideas.
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What is the most unrealistic element of the game?
While this game has many elements that could be considered unrealistic, I want to focus on the cultural aspect. In the classroom we all speak the same language and come from similar backgrounds (considering our geographical location). In real life, languages and culture around the world are extremely different, and some clash with others and make relations more complicated. Communication during the game, wether it is between state leaders or diplomats, its simplified and very direct. The resolutions and agreements can be reached in a surprisingly short time and without translation or clash of world views. These does not reflect real life conversations between states. I do not think this is a problem that we should worry about because there is no way of "fixing it". Yet, it is important to notice it and keep it in mind. World Politics and International Relations are topics deeply tied with culture. The more we understand other cultures, through language and other forms of immersion, the better chance of reaching agreements and solving international conflicts. Immersion can be between states, regions, countries, continents. It is necessary for us, who focus on the international stage, to understand cultural differences and learn from them and about them. Personally, I love immersing myself in foreign cultures and trying to understand them with an open mind. By doing these, many aspects of their traditions, history and current political inclinations become more clear. |
AlonsoI'm from Mexico City. I love cooking and eating Mexican food. Archives
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