International Politics in Twentieth Century Essay

International Politics in Twentieth Century - Essay Example I will begin by giving a liberal account f the relationship between the economy, the state and power. Liberal idealism in international politics did not re-emerge, after the devastation f the Second World War, until the 1970s. Rapid advances in technology, the growth f organisations like the European Community, and the impact f events like the 1973 oil crisis pointed towards evidence f growing interdependence between states. At the same time liberal literature made significant inroads into the rigid inside/outside, domestic/international distinctions characteristic f realism, with the emergence f trans-national relations and world society. Modern interdependency theory uses free trade and the removal f barriers to commerce as prof to their claims. "The rise f regional economic integration in Europe was inspired by the belief that the likelihood f conflict between states would be reduced by creating a common interest in trade and economic collaboration amongst members f the same geographical region." European powers, instead f resolving their differences militarily, would cooperate within a commonly agreed economic and political framework for their mutual benefit. Eventually cooperation between states would increase and broaden as mutual advantages could be gained. Membership f the European Union would entail compliance with its rules, which itself would discourage the absolute pursuit f national interests and weaken state sovereignty. Liberal institutionalists such as Rosecrance argued that the "growth f economic interdependency had been matched by a corresponding decline in the value and importance f territorial conquest for states." In the modern world the benefits f trade and cooperation among states greatly exceed that f military competition and territorial control. Traditionally nation states regarded the acquisition f territory and land as the means to increasing national wealth. The state has transformed from being a 'military state' to a 'trading state'. Statesmen increasingly became aware that the accumulation f national wealth and development relied more heavily on macro-economic policies that increased the competitiveness f their economy compared to other states. Higher levels f efficiency, technology intensive modes f production and valuable human capital all give incentives for multi-national corporations and businesses to invest in the country. Neo-liberals point out that commercial relations between businesses and individuals have diminished the influence and power f the state. Although there is suspicion the role oil has played in the ongoing war in Iraq one cannot doubt the repercussions the war has had internationally. Britain and America have to some extent isolated themselves diplomatically from Europe (their closet allies) and the wider world. Nowadays due to the complications f economic interdependence it makes states less able to act aggressively because otherwise they face risking economic penalties imposed by other members f the international community.

Slanket Case from Harvard Business Review by John Deighton Essay

Slanket Case from Harvard Business Review by John Deighton - Essay Example A slanket’s body length makes it convenient to use in the comfort of a sofa or even while studying. Some customers send slankets to their loved ones as gifts during feasts and festivals, such as Christmas and Halloween. It saves money that could otherwise be spent on thermostats during winter. Its use is further promoted by consumers when watching movies and during long car journeys. Distribution Situation Gary Clegg ensured the effective delivery of the product to customers’ doorsteps. Every time an online order was made, the details of the client were noted and responded to online. Gary accompanied these deliveries with a personal note, thanking the customer for purchasing the product. He also built a supply chain that helped source the product from China, in partnership with a North Carolina company. Competitive Situation The main competitor of the Slanket Organization came in October, 2008, by the name Allstar Marketing Group (AMG). Based in Hawthorne, New York, the firm was a Direct-Response Television (DRTV). This was a highly successful marketing firm that was previously credited with the production of Aqua Globe, a self-watering system for house plants, and Big City Sliders, a device that produced miniature hamburgers. As an infomercial marketer, the Allstar Marketing Group produced a cheaper version of the Slanket, dubbed â€Å"snuggie†. ... However, there is uncertainty in this industry as it is not known whether other consumer trends may occur or which other company may enter and invest in the industry. SWOT Analysis of the Slanket Business Strengths To begin with, the Slanket Business had quite a diligent and industrious pair of managers. Gary Clegg researched on patents, found a textiles supplier and oversaw production. Despite the discouragement from lawyers concerning the impossibility of obtaining a patent of their work, due to the difficulty in distinguishing the design from a bathrobe, hospital gown, stylized shawl or poncho, Gary persisted and would not let go of the business. Gary’s elder brother, Jeff Clegg, was also important in the success of the business in its earlier years. He set up the infrastructure for a web-based business. On day one of their business, he worked tirelessly for 14 hours on the screen, answering emails and filling orders. These two brothers further cooperated in effectively man aging the staff and the transaction operations of the Slanket Organization. The Slanket Business had an upper hand in ensuring product awareness. The on-line word of mouth promotion was also strength to the business. At Digg.com and the Daily Candy, an email newsletter and insider guide that appeared in one million subscribers’ inboxes daily, Gary and Jeff could reach over a vast proportion of potential clients each day. Exclusive contracts went as far as having Gary host live sales for the slanket on the QVC Channel, a televised home-shopping network. This was an added strength in getting more customers, ensuring more sales. For instance, by the end of 2007, QVC had sold over 30 000 units (Deighton & Kornfeld, 2010). Another contract was made with an airline

The gaze in art and popular culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The gaze in art and popular culture - Essay Example One of the pioneers in the study of gaze within the context of films is Laura Mulvey. She theorized that gaze was traditionally viewed in relation to gender oppression. In her work "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema† Laura Mulvey introduced the concept of gaze and its dynamics to be a manifestation of imbalance of power between the male and the female where the male dominates the female and thus the term – male gaze. Mulvey’s theory is Freudian in origin where she â€Å"breaks scopophilia down into an active part, which is always  male, and a passive part, which is always female. Women are the objects that are looked† (Finzsch, n. p.). In Mulvey’s male gaze, the male’s patriarchal role is extended to the film where the male imposes a hegemonic gaze to the women as mere objects of desire. Thus, it produces an imbalance relationship as women are reduced to an object of two distinct modes of male gaze where they became Madonna’s in ma le perspective (voyeuristic) or whores (fetishistic). In her work, viewers tend to identify with the protagonist of the film who is typically a male and thus, the perspective conveyed by the film is that of a man and it follows that women will be looked upon as an object of desire. Bell Hooks took a different perspective in defining the dynamics of gaze in film in relation to the viewer. ... e male gaze is punished by white oriented society and therefore, this suppressed desire to gaze in real life is unleashed in film gazing to the effect that it is more intense and radically different than the regular male gaze. In this type of male gaze, Hooks shared the perspective of Mulvey in reducing women to mere sex objects (albeit Hooks did not venture into voyeuristic type or viewing women as Madonna) where white women was always the archetype of beauty . In this regard, this relationship between the black viewers and their idolatry towards white women in films as the idealized beauty produces the oppression among black women as she is pushed further down in the totem pole of power. First, her race is already a subject of oppression that she share among the black men but her lot is more difficult because it is aggravated by the fact that she is a woman which by default is already a subject of imbalance of power between genders. Third, being a black woman subjected her to †Å"triple oppression because of the previous factors that already subjected her to oppression that she has to deny her own sense of beauty to give way to idea that the idea of beautiful and desirable will always be white. Bell Hooks argument may have been valid if this was pointed out decades ago where racial discrimination was still rampant and that the concept of beauty was limited to the female blond or Caucasian girl. The â€Å"triple oppression† that was vehemently argued by Hooks is already outdated today because black women are now also portrayed as desirable objects and no longer does the idea that a black woman has to deny herself of beauty because of the color of her skin. To cite several objects, we can cite several female group and artists who had been packaged as sexually desirable

Minutes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Minutes - Essay Example Next, COL Haselden talked about the Garrison Leadership off site Conference that was held in Washington, DC on March 26 and 27, 2009. It was a very productive off site conference, which had around 60 employees who participated. During the conference, a professional Strategic Planner assisted our leaders in identifying the current critical issues and the actions that needed to improve. COL Haselden also talked about the mission statement that was slightly modified to include a safe and secure environment on the installation. He discussed the good and successful work accomplished over the past couple of years. Every Directorate and office had been successful in meeting their mission. However, the infrastructure on the installation is the most visible proof of our hard work, according to him. COL Haselden indicated that some issues in the focus area were customer service, Processional Development, Team Work, and Public Relation He talked about obtaining business cards of customer service representatives because he is a staunch advocate of good customer service. According to COL Hasleden, team work is very important. COL Hasleden was very impressed by the amount of team work that we exhibited at the Offsite and throughout the Garrison. Ms. Weatherington reported that the Civilian Development army is relying more heavily on its Civilian workforce to generate force and sustain our commitments. We are in competition for talented civilians with other government agencies and the private industry. Furthermore, she stated that we need to sustain the Civilian Corps contribution and the future depends upon the investment we make today. Ms. Moorash stated that the established assessment recognized by the industry is a solid predictor of occupational interests of the employees. It is beneficial to those starting to explore their education and career interests, but it is likewise used for confirmation that individuals are in the most appropriate career

Before Philidelphia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Before Philidelphia - Essay Example The area was rich in biodiversity especially wildlife that gave them hunting grounds. The hunting was a responsibility of the men, and they were accountable for the hunting schedules. They also stayed around a fresh water body –the Delaware river- that promoted fishing. The area also provided them with shelter where their living quarters were bark and grass covered long houses. The topography of the area gave an added advantage especially with their enemies- it is a safe statement to say that the place was secure. Moreover, the general climate was that the humans could bear- their summers was not too hot neither were their winters too cold. On the discovery of this land by Christopher Columbus, the colonists thought it was wise to put up a colony here. With a great source of water, they had an idea that it would supply their industries with water for manufacturing. Being that they were settlers, farming must have been one of the interests and the fertile soil in the area was such a blessing. There was also ready labor; the Delaware Indians were many and helped them in their daily economic activities. When it all started, the settling of the Europeans in the Delaware Indian’s land under the table hands of William Penn it was very peaceful. It is because William was one pious man who trusted in his faith convicted in peace and equality. These are the same qualities that the Delaware Indians believed in. It made Penn’s rapport with the community very intense and probably led to the end of the malicious thought (Penn, 1970). Penn was very courteous and saw it wise to send a letter before his arrival notifying the Lenape of his intentions and asking them for their permission to employ their land and live among them. The Lenape approved of his arrival in their lands, looking forward to their new relationship with the coming settlers. Penn made it as the governor of Pennsylvania where people lived in peace until he passed on.

History of Europe in the 20th century. Were conservatives responsible Research Paper

History of Europe in the 20th century. Were conservatives responsible for the rise of Hitler - Research Paper Example There is no denying the fact that the life for the ordinary Germans got quite difficult and worrisome after the culmination of this treaty. Germany was pushed to borrow considerably from the United States of America, to compensate the UK and France (Gibbons, 1982, p. 72). The Great Depression in the late 20s made it almost utterly difficult for the Americans to lend more money to Germany. The fall of the imperial Germany gave way to the rise of parliamentary parties interested in running the political affairs in the defeated nation. It goes without saying that a fair number of political parties and mainstream leaders in the war ravaged Germany were affiliated to a conservative frame of mind and political thought. The nation was already suffering from the guilt of defeat and national humiliation. Above it, it was required to pay heavily in terms of compensation. The political parties and groups supporting the infant Weimar Republic were they Democrats, Socialists or Catholics, were st rongly denounced by the Conservative Nationalists. Hence, it was in the background of a nationwide social and political crisis, that the German Conservatives resorted to political machinations, which led to the rise of Hitler. Economic Situation in the Post War Germany In the period 1924-1928, the economic situation in Germany was somewhat stable. However, this stability was deceptive and stood on hollow economic foundations. The German investments and economic recovery in a post war scenario relied heavily on the loans extended by the US. With the crash of the Wall Street in 1929, the Americans were simply left unable to support the German recovery and economic growth. As the impact of the US economic depression was felt universally, so Germans were utterly not in a position to check its fallout on the German society and economy. The industrial production in Germany plummeted threateningly, the wages crashed and the workers were left jobless (Goemans, 2000, p. 173). Such circumstances left the German masses weary, anxious and scared. The Germans resorted to the crisis by opting for a reckless printing of currency, resulting in a devaluation of currency and rampant and unchecked inflation (Braun, 1990, p. 39; Eubank, 2004, p. 9)). Political Situat ion in the Post War Germany Just when the Weimar Republic was in its nascent stages, Germany witnessed the rise of radical political thoughts in the form of communists, throughout the length and breadth of the Republic (Bessel, 1993, p. 57). The communists gained hold in many German towns and villages. The political atmosphere in Berlin was strongly in favor of a USSR style of governance. Still the Weimar Republic accrued immense support in the form of democrats, Catholics and socialists (Mueller, 2000, p. 46). The Weimer Republic managed to restrain the communists with a strong hand. The post war Germany faced a twin pronged problem. Both the communists and hardcore nationalists were in the favor of a radical solution to the German problems and issues (Kolb, 2005, p. 39). It was such a political environment marred by economic

Critical thinking process Essay Example for Free

Critical thinking process Essay Critical thinking often involves the creation of alternative plans, solutions, approaches, etc. , then comparing original with the alternatives. Creative thinking requires some critical evaluation during and after the creative phase. Critical thinking depends upon that little known and seldom discussed characteristic of the human nervous system—self-reflexiveness. Usually it also depends upon that remarkable human creation and tool—self reflexive language. Humans not only know about their environment, they know that they know; they can think about how they think, evaluate their evaluations. Languages, too, have this self-reflexive characteristic. They enable us to talk about talk, to make statements about statements, to write books about writing books. The self-reflexiveness of language and the human nervous system provide us with an open minded system: we can make statements about statements, indefinitely; we can react to our reactions to our reactions indefinitely. At no point can we say, â€Å"That’s the last word on the subject† or, â€Å"No further reaction is possible† (since, in doing so, we have said more, reacted further). However, believing that we have said the last word may cut of the self-reflexive process. This open ended, self reflexive system makes it possible for us to conduct scientific research, write poetry, plan enterprises, spin out complex tales of fiction—or spread rumours, spin webs of delusion and talk ourselves into insanity or war. Which we will do depends in part upon our motivation, but also upon our understanding of the thinking process and some aspects of the working of the nervous system. General semantics provides a meta-linguistic or ‘second order’ approach to critical thinking. It enables us to use self-reflexiveness systematically to monitor on-going evaluations. The principles and devices it provides call attention to either-or and ‘allness’ statements, to inferences treated as facts, to overgeneralizations, to statements unrestricted in time, to overly-simple statements of causality, etc. The tools work, whatever the order of abstraction, whatever the source of the statement (Johnson, 1991). How language empowers or limits the expression of our thoughts. Along with most of his contemporaries, Blair defines language in terms of a relationship between signs and thoughts: â€Å"Language signifies the expression of our ideas by certain articulate sounds, which are used as the signs of those ideas† (cited 1:98). Elaborating on this interdependence, he asserts that â€Å"when we are employed in the study of composition, we are cultivating reason itself. True rhetoric and sound logic are very nearly allied. The study of arranging and expressing our thoughts with propriety, teaches to think, as well as to speak, accurately so close is the connection between thought and the words in which they are clothed† (Ulman, 1994). Language can empowers and limit the expression of our thoughts. Talking about something that reinforces it, therefore say what you want to be true. Language has power, and by knowing this, you can select words that allow others to hear and understand you. Certain words provide a way of maintaining the focus of what you want. They can assist you to be in the state of mind that you desire. Looking for positive language patterns, gives your brain the opportunity to find alternative ways expressing your experiences to yourself and others. These tools get you off automatic pilot and in control. Having choice means you can regulate how an experience will affect you. You can choose to use your old patterns of expression which produces certain results, or use empowering language to give you different results. Now it can be you who decides. Labels limit is another concept that we’re dealing with here. When we label something or someone, we put a meaning on it that can limit our awareness, experience, and understanding. Labels are a form of beliefs, and like all beliefs, they filter our perceptions. Our beliefs only allow us to be conscious of things that are in agreement with them, and we unconsciously filter everything else. It can be tremendous evidence of the opposite to penetrate the belief filters. But with negative labels, the effects can be very destructive (Kaufman, 1998). The role of critical thinking in persuasion. What is the value of critical thinking? When someone else writes or speaks a peace of reasoning, they are trying to persuade us of something. Persuasion is an attempt to get us to believe something. People want us to believe things so that we will act in certain ways. Action requires some effort. There are choices involved. We could be doing something else. Because of this, it is very useful to be able to evaluate reasoning, for some pieces of reasoning should be accepted while others should not be accepted. If persuasion occurs in advertising, we could be doing many other things with our money. Take buying a car, for example. A lot of money can be involved, so what kind of car to buy can be a pretty big decision. Whether to marry a certain person or which of a couple of job offers to take are still bigger decisions. Almost every reader will eventually get some serious illness. There may be several different treatments available. One’s comfort, health, even ones life may depend on the decision as to which treatment to undertake. To make these decisions well, we will need to gather our own reasons to support various alternative conclusions. At that time, we could make an irrational decision, or a sheep like decision to follow some other person’s advice. The values of critical thinking, specifically how to recognize and evaluate reasoning, are the following: †¢ It help us arrive at true conclusions and therefore †¢ it increases our knowledge. †¢ It should help us make better decisions. †¢ It should help us persuade others and †¢ explain truth to them. †¢ Contribute to a happier life (Cogan, 1998). References Johnson, K. G. (1991). Thinking creatically: a systematic, interdisciplinary approach to creative-critical thinking. Englewood: Institute of General Semantics. Kaufman, R. A. (1998). Anatomy of Success. New York: Ronald A Kaufman. Robert Cogan. (1998). Critical thinking: step by step. Boston: University Press of America. Ulman, H. L. (1994). Things, thoughts, words, and actions: the problem of language in late eighteenth-century British rhetorical theory. New York: SIU Press.