Political Science 263, European Political Economy Spring Term 2004

Comparative Observations of Institutional Adjustment in the U.K. and Sweden (April 26, Monday)

British Group:

Assess the main problems of the Swedish Rehn-Meidner/"Third Road” experience and how Great Britain avoided these pitfalls in its own post-WWII development.

Compare the SAP’s “Third Road” and Thatcherism and compose arguments that suggest why Thatcher's government was more successful.

Sweden Group:

Assess the main problems of British liberalism and limited Keynesianism. Compose arguments suggesting how the Swedish system in the post-WWII period was a superior development model.

Compare SAP’s “Third Road” and Thatcherism and compose arguments that suggest why Sweden’s government was more successful than Thatcher's.

Format:

Eight students will prepare constructive and rebuttal materials for a four versus four debate advocating the superiority of the British/Swedish systems.

For the U.K.: Dave Lyons (lyonsd), Karol Knowa (knowak), Andrew Little (littlea), Charles Sweitzer (sweitzec)

For Sweden: Paul S-C (sandersp), Frank Brodie (brodief), Ben Au (aub), Cody Ward (wardc)

Judges: Three students to be randomly selected from those not listed above. Random selection will occur just after the debate.

The Constructive Phase: Two students on each side will deliver constructive arguments. After the first U.K. speaker's arguments, we will hear from the first Sweden speaker, followed by the second U.K. speaker, and the second Sweden speaker. Each speech after the first U.K. speaker's address must either rebut or reestablish new arguments presented in the debate.

Each constructive speaker (the first two speakers per country) will present for four minutes, for a total of 16 minutes for the constructive phase of the debate.

The Rebuttal Phase: Two students on each side will deliver rebuttal arguments. The prime directive of the rebuttal phase is that no new arguments (that is, arguments that have not been previously established in constructives) will be allowed. Debaters must rebut claims made by the opposition and reestablish their main points from the constructive period. This is the final opportunity debaters have to clarify the key points that they believe will win them the debate.

Each rebuttal speaker will present for three minutes, for a total of 12 minutes for the rebuttal phase of the debate.

Cross Examination: Between each constructive and rebuttal speech, the next speaker will have 3 minutes of preparation time. During this time, the last speaker will be cross-examined by the audience.

Debaters should attempt to use documentation, examples, and other types of evidence to support their claims.