What explains the growth of mass incarceration in liberal states?

I am looking for a 4,500 – 4,800(ish) word essay. There is no minimum word count and the maximum word count is 5500 words. The bibliography does not count towards the word limit. Also if you have any familiarity with British spelling that would be great as I am studying in a country that uses British spelling (though I tend to write using American spelling myself). I can send you any readings or course materials that you might desire. I will also send the syllabus. You will need to include a few of the readings that the course has used in the essay. There is technically no minimum amount of sources that you can use for this essay so please use your best judgement. You can choose ONE of the following questions: 1. Do the laws of war constrain how wars are fought? 2. Should secession be prevented? 3. Does extremism threaten democracy? 4. ‘Exceptional times need exceptional powers.’ Discuss. 5. Which is more important for ‘international peace’ – state sovereignty or preventing mass atrocities? 6. Should states privilege citizens’ rights over non-citizens’? 7. What explains the growth of mass incarceration in liberal states? 8. Should the increased international attention to sexual violence in armed conflict be welcomed? 9. Can there be peace without justice? 10.‘Sanctions are more humane than military force.’ Discuss. 11.What, if any, are the implications of drone warfare for the laws of war? 12.Should states negotiate with terrorists? 13.How useful is the concept of ‘cyberwar’? 14.Should children be allowed to participate in popular uprisings? 15.Design your own essay question, in discussion with the module convenor. Criteria for Assessing Essays In preparing your essays, it is important to bear in mind the grounds on which they will be assessed. 1. Your essay should make an argument in answer to the question set, drawing on lectures, required readings, and supplementary readings (which may extend beyond the materials listed here. In preparing the essay you should read widely on the relevant issues and debates – demonstrating you have read and understood a broad set of relevant material will make your argument stronger and your analysis more persuasive. You may not reference everything you read, but you must reference the scholarship you rely or draw on for your essay. The bibliography does not count towards the word limit. 2. In making your argument, you will be expected to draw on and engage critically with the relevant conceptual and theoretical frameworks, as well as empirical materials 2 as appropriate. It is not sufficient to draw on only one concept or theory; you will also be expected to show why other competing concepts or theories are not relevant or are inadequate as frameworks for answering your question. 3. Assigned marks will reflect the overall clarity and cogency of the argument advanced and its appropriateness as an answer to your research question/focus, with particular reference to: a. the thesis statement – this is your argument/answer to the question. The introduction to your essay must contain a thesis statement, as well as an outline of the organisation of (‘roadmap’ to) your essay b. understanding of the concepts/theories discussed and ability critically to apply them. Depending on your research question, it may not be necessary or to lay out the assumptions of the concepts or theories you are discussing in all their details. However, when using concepts and theories you must use them correctly, i.e., in a manner that demonstrates you understand what they mean and how they work. The case study/ies serve to support this, and should not stand in for conceptual analysis. c. ability to draw on appropriate empirical materials and integrate them coherently into the overall argument. Again, while it will depend on your research focus, you may or may not need to spend a large part of the essay laying out an empirical case/s. However, if you need to make reference to empirical materials, it is necessary to use them appropriately – i.e. always demonstrating where and how they relate to (are relevant to) your overall argument. d. ability to draw appropriate implications from positions advanced. This means showing where and how your argument relates to the question posed – i.e., how the points you have made individually or together lead to a conclusion that supports your overall argument/thesis. Think of this as a kind of sign-posting: telling the reader where you are in the argument and how the point just made relates to your overall thesis. e. the coherence of the conclusion with the overall argument. Your essay must contain a conclusion. The conclusion should follow logically from your argument – put another way, in your introduction you should state your thesis/argument; in the body of your essay you should develop your argument – i.e., show to the reader the reasoning process you have gone through that leads you to the position you hold, i.e., your thesis; and in the conclusion re-state your position and, if appropriate, draw out any wider implications it might have. 4. Ensure you use proper citations or references, and include a bibliography, organized alphabetically. You can use any standard citation format (e.g. Harvard), but should do so consistently. The bibliography is not included in the word limit. The above criteria will serve as the basis for grading your essays.