Thompson Rivers University

International Business
Political Spectrum Worksheets
May 7, 2020

1. Why do governments need revenue? Where do governments spend money?

2. What does the term Infrastructure mean?

3. Of the countries listed below, how many University’s in each are publicly owned vs privately owned?
What does information tell us about the historical political orientations of the countries listed?

University’s Publicly owned Privately owned

US
Canada
India
China

4. On the left column, examples of ways governments may spend money are listed.
Referencing the two orientations across the top, use an arrow (up or down arrows) to predict whether more
or less government spending is spent on each activity.

More centralist or moderate More extreme orientations

orientations (Likely spend more or less on the
(Likely spend more or less on the activity)
activity)
Healthcare
Education
Military
Social Services
Government Bureaucracy
International Trade

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 5. Generalized examples of current Federal Canadian Political voting issues.
Put an ‘a’ or ‘b’ in the appropriate column on the right side of this paper.
Topic Support or Oppose the following examples Central Right
Taxes a. Tax base is mainly businesses and wealthy individuals.
b. Tax base is mainly the middle class
Social Laws a. Legalize abortion and same sex marriage.
b. Maintain a “traditional family”, same sex marriage and all abortions are illegal
Solutions to a. Increase the size of the police force
crime b. Improve social support programs (welfare, social security)
Commercial a. Impose regulations for business (protect environment, workplace safety)
regulations b. De-regulate the economy. Allow industry to self-govern (free enterprise)
Social a. Offer unemployment insurance (seasonality), offer “universal” healthcare
programs b. Support private and pay per use healthcare,
Environment a. Attitude toward causes of global warming - It is happening, humans are at least partially
responsible, introduce “green laws”
b. Our climate is constantly changing. We are not the problem. Climate change is not a threat.
Science is faulty.
Foreign a. Decisiveness and speed are often necessary to resolve international conflicts. Unilateral use
policy of military is sometimes necessary. Military power and size is essential to peace.
b. Defer to UN, multilateral decisions are the best decisions. Peace keeping activities are
necessary.
University a. Students pays all. No state support.
Education b. Government subsidises student education
Demand a. Supports supply side and “trickle-down theory” economics
side / supply b. Supports demand side economics
side
Guaranteed a. Will benefit all / most of society
Income b. Is demotivating and will contribute to laziness and abuses
Unions a. Corporations need to be able to access labour available at market rates, so unions are
unnecessary. Employees can leave corporations.
b. Support Unions as a way to off-set power of corporations
Firearms a. Decrease their availability, make access difficult. They are unnecessary
b. Ensure personal freedom. Make access easy for all. Have minimal
licensing requirements for ownership of firearms.

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6. Your opinion: of the social services listed, identify with an ‘X” which you feel should be:

Subject to the “free

100% State Regulated market” (privatized) with
owned minimal regulations
Availability and quality of clean drinking water
Availability and quality of health care ((hospitals, ambulances,
doctors, nurses)
Availability and quality of food supply
Availability and quality of news and public information
Availability and quality of power for heating houses

7. Your opinion: what else should be regulated in order to ensure a healthy society?

8. Explain the term “hegemon.” Provide two examples of where/how this term could be applied. What are some of the characteristics of a
hegemon?