Saturday, August 31, 2019

Chicano Movement Essay

The Chicano Movement of the 1960s, also called the Chicano Civil Rights Movement, is an extension of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement which began in the 1940s with the stated goal of achieving Mexican American empowerment.The Chicano Movement emerged during the Civil Rights era with three main goals: restoral of land, rights for farm workers and to education reforms.The Chicano Movement also addressed discrimination in public and private institutions among many things. The Chicano Movement has created our future in which we have the right to speak any language we want and we wont be punished. There have been incredible outcomes of the Chicano Movement we have had great leaders which is the main focus of my project.hrought the Chicano Movement there were many people involved, below there are some of the leaders that made a big impact on the main goals that the chicano movement had like the demand for farmers rights and an education reform. Dolores Huerta to this day has been one of the most influential women in Chicano History. She is an activist, labor leader. Born Dolores Fernà ¡ndez on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico. Huerta grew up in Stockton, California, which was in the San Joaquin Valley, an area filled with farms. She went to college, then worked as an elementary school teacher. Huerta saw that many of her students where childen farm workers, that lived in poverty without being able to have the simple nessecities. to help, she became the founder of the Stockton Chapter of the Commuunity Services Organization. This organization has worked to improve socian and economic conditions for farm workers and also to fight descrimination. Throught the 1960s huerta created the Agriculture Worker Association, this organization dealt with many issues. Then she became co-founder with Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Worker the two became a good team when fighting for farmers rights. Huerta continues to be a great role model attending highschools and colleges inspiring many students chanting one of Cesar Chavez famous chant † Si Se Pu ede†. Huerta had been an inspirational women, she has been honored for being an activist. she has received the Ellis Island Medal of Freedom award in 1993, the Eleanor Roosevelt Award in 1999 and was inducted to the National Women Hall of Fame in 1993.

Metaphysical Poetry Essay

The metaphysical poets is a term coined by the poet and critic John Dryden to describe a loose group of British lyric poets of the 17th century, whose work was characterized by the inventive use of conceits, and by speculation about topics such as love or religion. These poets were not formally affiliated; most of them did not even know or read each other. Their style was characterized by wit and metaphysical conceits—far-fetched or unusual similes or metaphors, such as in Andrew Marvell’s comparison of the soul with a drop of dew; in an expanded epigram format, with the use of simple verse forms, octosyllabic couplets, quatrains or stanzas in which length of line and rhyme scheme enforce the sense. The specific definition of wit which Johnson applied to the school was: â€Å"†¦ a kind of discordia concors; a combination of dissimilar images, or discovery of occult resemblances in things apparently unlike. † Their poetry diverged from the style of their times, containing neither images of nature nor allusions to classical mythology, as were common. Several metaphysical poets, especially John Donne, were influenced by Neo-Platonism. One of the primary Platonic concepts found in metaphysical poetry is the idea that the perfection of beauty in the beloved acted as a remembrance of perfect beauty in the eternal realm. Though secular topics such as scientific or geographical discoveries interested them, there was also a religious or casuistic element to some of their work, by which they attempted to define their relationship with God. John Donne (between 24 January and 19 June 1572 – 31 March 1631) was an English poet, satirist, lawyer and a cleric in the Church of England. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are noted for their strong, sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs, satires and sermons. His poetry is noted for its vibrancy of language and inventiveness of metaphor, especially compared to that of his contemporaries. Donne’s style is characterised by abrupt openings and various paradoxes, ironies and dislocations. These features, along with his frequent dramatic or everyday speech rhythms, his tense syntax and his tough eloquence, were both a reaction against the smoothness of conventional Elizabethan poetry and an adaptation into English of European baroque and mannerist techniques. His early career was marked by poetry that bore immense knowledge of British society and he met that knowledge with sharp criticism. Another important theme in Donne’s poetry is the idea of true religion, something that he spent much time considering and theorising about. He wrote secular poems as well as erotic and love poems. He is particularly famous for his mastery of metaphysical conceits. A Burnt ShipOut of a fired ship, which by no wayBut drowning could be rescued from the flame,Some men leap’d forth, and ever as they cameNear the foes’ ships, did by their shot decay;So all were lost, which in the ship were found,They in the sea being burnt, they in the burnt ship drown’d. John Donne A Lame BeggarI am unable, yonder beggar cries,To stand, or move; if he say true, he lies. John Donne.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Katherine and Bianca Essay

Kate and Bianca clearly do not get on with each other, when Bianca comes onto the scene she is harsh straight away, the third thing that she says is commenting on Bianca’s behavior. â€Å"A pretty peat! It is best put finger in the eye and she knew why†. Kate calls Bianca a spoilt child and then goes on to say that the best thing that Bianca could do if she could not think of an excuse would be to make herself cry so that Kate got the blame. Bianca mocks Kate by using words that have a hidden depth â€Å"sister, content you in my discontent† After the comment from Katherine â€Å"A pretty peat† Bianca tells Kate not to feel bad, and then goes on to talk sweetly to Baptista. This leads me on to talking about Bianca’s speech. She says what she thinks is right in front of her father, even if she does not really mean it. â€Å"What you command me to do I will do†, in this she is talking to Baptista, she is pleasant and obedient. She also says later on â€Å"so well I know my duty to my elders†. At the start of the play people would have thought that this remark was of her politeness but when it gets into the play some people think that it is suggesting something, as she is saying it to Kate, it may be a sarcastic hint that she is older than Bianca and not as fair as she is. Bianca always comes across as if she is saying sweet and kind things but underneath the original meaning it is almost as if there is a hidden depth to her speech and it goes back to the original meaning behind the play of deception and disguise. After Bianca’s’ wooing scene she says â€Å"farewell, sweet masters both, I must be gone† she comes across to be flirting with them, but she is not interested in either of them and is confusing them. Shakespeare gets the point across about the two sisters by using how others react to them and also what others say about them, either to them or about them. Kate does not have a very good reputation and so people are used to what she is like. They are horrified at some of the things that she says but not at all surprised because everyone knows Kate as the Shrew. When Petruchio first meets Kate he thinks that he can tame her; â€Å"For I am he am born to tame you, Kate†, he thinks that underneath the ill-tempered behaviour and the bad mannered speech that there is something else there that no one can see, he thinks that it needs bringing out. He wants to have a wife so he thinks that she will be a perfect challenge. Baptista gives up hope on Kate because he thinks that she will never calm down and be like Bianca, he asks her â€Å"Why, how now, daughter Katherine in your dumps? † This is because she has been shouting so much that she is left feeling low spirited and out of temper. Petruchio woos Kate and she tries to fight back, he says â€Å"Twas told me you were a rough cay and sullen, and now I find report a very liar† he tells her that she is beautiful and how she is perfect and all she does is fight back.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Business Cycles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Cycles - Essay Example Most observers find that the length of a business cycle from peak to peak, or from bottom to bottom vary, so that cycles are not systematic in their regularity. In fact, economic history shows that no two cycles are alike. Some economists dispute the existence of real "cycles" and use the term "fluctuations" instead. Others see enough similarities between shifts in economy and claim that studying business cycles in detail is a powerful tool which can serve us to determine the current state of the economy. The key question concerning business cycles is whether or not similar mechanisms that generate recessions and booms in capitalist economies exist. Periods of stagnation are a great burden for society. Being painful for large majorities of workers who lose their jobs, they produce pressure on policy makers to try to smooth out the oscillations. A very important goal of Western civilization since the Great Depression has been to limit the dips. However, government intervention in the economy can be a risky business. For example, some of Herbert Hoover's reforms (including tax increases) are widely believed to have deepened the depression. Managing economic policy in order to reduce the negative side effects of business cycle bottoms is not an easy job in a society with a complex economy, even when the theory of Keynes is applied. According to some nineteenth-century advocates of communism, this is an insurmountable difficulty. For instance, Karl Marx claimed that the business cycle crises of the capitalistic economy were inevitable results of its operations. From this point of view, all that governments can do is to delay the inevitable economic crises and to hope that they will not appear during their stay in power. Even then, crisis could emerge in a different form, for example as severe, unexpected inflation or an increasing government deficit. Worse, by delaying a crisis, western governments are seen as making it more painful for their successors and more dramatic for the whole society. In addition to the wide-spread left-wing criticism, Neoclassical economists question the ability of Keynesian policies to manage an economy. Challenging the Phillips Curve Nobel Laureates such as Milton Friedman and Edmund Phelps argue that inflationary expectations negate the Phillips Curve in the long run. Their theory was supported by the stagflation of the 70's. Friedman claimed that all the Fed can do is to avoid large mistakes. He believes that the rapid contracting of the money supply in the face of the Stock Market Crash of 1929 was such a big mistake. It turned what would have been a recession into a great depression (Rothbard, 1975). That is why, good forecasts of the cyclical movements of the economy and especially of the turning points of a business cycle are critical to improve policy decisions. The means of monetary and fiscal policy can also help to smooth the cycle out. The Austrian School of economics does not accept the suggestion that business cycles are inherent features of an unregulated economy and seeks for their origins in governmental intervention in the money supply. Austrian School economists underline the role of interest rates as the price of investment capital, which stays in the base

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Same sex marriage shoul be allowed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Same sex marriage shoul be allowed - Essay Example There are no parts in the article that are vague or ambiguous. The writer clearly states her opinion and anchors it by using examples and evidence given by the Supreme Court, regional courts and rulings in specific states, as well as writings from the US Constitution. The source is most credible since it gives abundant proof and evidence regarding previous trials and rulings regarding to same-sex marriages and unions, as well as ones of opposite-sex marriages and conception of children, and the state of children it opposite-sex marriages as proof that they are not necessarily happy or even safe in that type of family. The article doesnt use any rhetorical devices. It is written to the point, in an interesting and fluent way. It is also very straightforward and relevant, presenting the reader with all necessary facts and opinions. The fallacies mentioned by the author are those of those who oppose same-sex marriage. She states that marriage and sex between gay people were once very prevalent and acceptable, and it wasnt until the Jewish Torah that they were banned. She also states that it is incorrect to suggest that children will not grow to be happy, healthy and safe in homes with same-sex parents, and illustrated that a staggering percentage of children who are not well taken care of come from opposite-sex homes when both parents are present (not a single parent family). Furthermore, she protests the right of religion to interfere with the institution of marriage, which is a civil right and matter. One argument made by the writer is that marriage is a civil and most basic right which should be given to anyone who so pleases. It is a declaration of a couple who wants to be together, spend their lives together in a close and intimate relationship. Seeing as how it is a basic human right, there shouldnt be a ban on it for a segment of the society. It even predates the constitution of the US as a basic right for all

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Sustainability In Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sustainability In Business - Essay Example As a result, the question arises as to how organizations as well as societies which are capable of sustaining exceedingly productive performance can be developed. Moreover, it has become increasingly comprehensible that â€Å"sustained economic success and quality of community life depends on developing a different relationship with the natural environment† (Dunphy, 2000, p.5), and hence, it is necessary to realize the fact that much of the economic affluence has been attained at the cost of global resources that have been exploited at an unsustainable rate. In the light of these facts, the current research will aim at evaluating the corporate sustainability of three global majors, viz. Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell), Fluor Corporation (Fluor), and The Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) in terms of the sustainable profiles of different countries wherein they operate. The report will address a range of corporate sustainability issues that organizations commonly face, in order to substanti ate the fundamental premise of this research. The major strengths of the Shell include its internal factors that have lead to rapid growth of the company. It is one of the largest oil companies and it has acquired very strong market position in global oil industry. It enjoys an upper hand position in the market. The company has taken vertical integration for its operations that allows it to enter downstream and upstream activities like oil and gas exploration and refining, business-to-business sales etc (Shell-b, 2009). The company internal strategies and management team are efficient in maintaining the global operational business operations. The company has acquired high technical advancements for their business operational projects. Since last five years, the weaknesses of Shell have become more prominent due to certain negative factors. Firstly, the decreasing profit and sales margins are the major weakness of the company.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder College Research Paper

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder College - Research Paper Example This methodology is adopted to conduct the study and to collect relevant data from the field work. Both the literature sources and the personal sources mostly out of the literature that is existing is made use of in the field report presented below. ADHD has been found to afflict approximately 5 per cent of the population in most of the countries and is positioned at about 1.7% in UK (Helen Likierman & Valerie Muter 2007). This is largely neurological in nature and is considered as a development disorder. ADHD is lack of growth almost amounting to a deficiency of 40% when compared to their peers. ADHD is a compound term indicating that there is a neurological deficit in paying attention to details as well as there is a hyperactivity disorder. Either or both of them might be present for a person. There is no age limit observed for these illnesses. Study of ADHD starts with simple symptoms that is indicative of the disease the person is experiencing. The Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1994), commonly known as DSM IV, has a definition for ADHD as follows: "A persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity - impulsivity that is more frequent and severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that cause impairment must have been present before age 7 years, although many individuals are diagnosed after the symptoms have been present for a number of years. Some impairment from the symptoms must be present in at least two settings and there must be clear evidence of interference with developmentally appropriate social, academic, or occupational functioning." (p.78) If a person is afflicted by attention deficit, then the symptoms would be as indicated below (Eli Lilly 2006): 1. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) could occur alone or with the hyperactivity disorder. People who are afflicted by ADD display a lack of attentiveness to what is being told to them often. When some one is talking to them, they are found not paying attention to the topic of the discussion. Attention test is normally carried out with the help of the Connor's Continuous Performance Test (CPT). This is carried out on people to identify the extent of attention that is being paid by the individuals (Walker et al. 2000). Continuous Performance Test is also used to measure executive function, psychomotor analysis and arithmetic skills in addition to the attention measures that is commonly done using this test. People who are having ADD generally display a lower attention level as well as most of the other measured parameters. Paying attention is one of the foremost issues faced by the people with ADHD. This results in changed behavioural tendencies of the child. 2. They might find it difficult to pay attention on play things and tasks that they are on. Some of the most commonly found problems

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Growth Process of the Eastern and Western Religions Term Paper

Growth Process of the Eastern and Western Religions - Term Paper Example These groups would then migrate to other lands, thereby influencing the people living there. As recorded in history, many a times the religions also became the apple of discord between two or more different groups and the winner would eventually enforce the religion on the people living in the conquered territory. There is however one subtle difference between the growth processes of the Eastern and western religion, that is, influence of liberty and freedom on religious movements on the western religions. The Western religions are more influenced by different religious movements, which could take place because of a more liberal outlook as compared to the east. Movements like ‘Great Awakening’ and ‘Protestant Reformation’ created new sects of the same religion and helped gather more followers. Similarly different political event like the ‘Age of Enlightenment’, ‘American Revolution’ and ‘French Revolution’ played a greater role in the west because such events had far-reaching consequences regarding the moral and belief system of the existing

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Mobile phone uses & gratification Literature review

Mobile phone uses & gratification - Literature review Example Exploring how to manage the distractions by creating an application for the mobile that moderately controls the media. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) reported in 2002 that there were already about one billion mobile phone users around the world.The popularity of mobile phones, however, was attributed to wireless technology as telephone applications empower peoples from all walks of lives to use it anywhere and anytime (Bates et al., 2002). Aside from mobility and accessibility, mobile phones are preferred by many due to enlarged scope of information content via the Personal Communication Systems or PCS. Services include delivery of weather updates, news headlines, traffic, locations, internet access, among many others that consumers require. It has rapidly changed the way people live, work, and interacts with one another more than the landlines before them (Wei & Lo, 2006). Socio-Psychological Impact Wei & Lo (2006) explored the role of the mobile phone in individua l’s family ties and social connectedness and suggested that phones which were considered a commodity of the past has come a long way. The wireless phones today have several purposes aside from instant verbal communication between users – the caller and the receiver. Designers provided many components and collaborations in order to produce the finished product with various features. The Qualcomm noted that â€Å"†¦enormous strides have been made in the delivery of data to mobile devices. In particular, cellular telephony networks have matured into robust delivery mechanisms for Internet data, and a rich variety of services are being offered around the world,† (Qualcomm, 2006, P) Wireless phone hardware and software evolved in parallel with internet capabilities and graphic art media so that it has become inevitable for many groups of businesses, engineers, artists and even the consumers cooperating with one another (Kaye, 2006). The Smartphone from IBM has b een cited as an â€Å"information appliance† that has a phone and a personal digital assistant or PDA. The features include a calendar, an address book, world clock, calculator, note-pad, e-mail, and games. This should not be surprising because such features were in mobile phones for more than a decade now as progression continues towards maximizing capabilities. The Operating Systems used are Symbian, Palm OS, Windows, BREW, Linux, and other new generations of programs that are capable of integration with current systems. Similar applications are developed with variations of games; access of internet and memory capabilities for various media downloads and uploads. Kaye (2006) has noted that mobile phone entertainment has been used by gaming companies to demonstrate new games to attract users in purchasing the full software. Games together with ringtones, and wallpapers were seen to generate more revenue. â€Å"In Europe and other regions, ringtones are a billion-dollar busi ness, yet sales were only in the low millions in the United States during 2003,† (Kaye, 2006). Recent developments in mobile phones include cameras and MP3 players as companies collaborate on the product â€Å"to deliver a worthy product to consumers.† Apple company with subsidiary iTunes were cited to cooperate with Motorola the phone hardware and Cingular, a U.S. wireless phone carrier, to deliver quality downloads on phone music player. Clutter is reduced on the part of the consumer as MP3 player and mobile phone become one (Kaye, 2006). Likewise, images can now be sent, downloaded, captured or uploaded on the internet and elsewhere through the mobile phone (Kaye, 2006). Mobile phones have a basic photographic quality of up to 2 mega pixels per image and even video capture and sharing fit for tiny screens of mobile phones. Nokia released the mobile phone with camcorder capabilities for amateur film-maker or for those who can and will afford it, and others soon follow ed suit (Kaye, 2006). More

Friday, August 23, 2019

Western architecture before 1100 AD Research Paper

Western architecture before 1100 AD - Research Paper Example It is given that there are compelling reasons which inform my choice of the Bent Pyramid. One of the qualities that make the pyramid strikingly unique is the pyramid’s very structure. Unlike other pyramids, the structure of the Bent Pyramid is divided into portions. The lower part of the Bent Pyramid is raised from the surrounding desert or physical landscape at an inclination of 45 degrees. However, the upper part of the Bent Pyramid has a shallower angle. The shallower angle is 43 degrees and thereby lending the pyramid a palpably bent appearance. As if the immediately foregoing is not enough, it is strikingly important that the Bent Pyramid has two entrances. Both of the two entrances lead to chambers with high and corbelled ceilings. One of the entrances has a low down on its northern side. This side has a substantial wooden staircase which had been built for the sake of tourists. Specifically, the northern entrance give way to a chamber that is situated below ground level. Needless to say, presently, the Bent Pyramid is not accessible for tourists. Facing the west side of the pyramid is the second entrance which is located higher above the ground, than the first entrance. The second entrance (the western one) leads to a chamber which is in the body of the very pyramid. According to Broughton (1998, p. 469), the corbelled ceiling which is to the left is also to be visible from the first chamber. This corbelling is to be rougher, to ward off the danger of termites or rot. When one turns around by 180 degrees, he is able to take the first peek into the lower chamber. Again, the corbelled ceiling is to be covered with modern scaffolding. There is to be a ladder, nearly 50 foot long leading up to a connecting passageway which is between the passageways and chambers that are accessible from the western entrance, one the one hand, and the set of chambers, on the other. As if the positive and aesthetic attributes of the Bent Pyramids are not

A strategic map of different drinks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

A strategic map of different drinks - Essay Example Multi-brand Dominate brand Single brand Regional National International A strategic map provides a visual evaluation of how a brand dominates the market concerning its presence in the market. from the case study, the strategic map would be represented by the above graph. The products have been evaluated by comparing the brands and their presence in the market. other products available in a specific region have the lowest position in the strategic map, this is because they are a local product and the management has not focused on marketing. Comparing products available internationally, single brand products like Red bull and Rockstar are positioned lower compared to dominate and multi-brands. A brand with many products attracts a larger market share compared to a product with a single product. In the case study, Coca-Cola and Pepsi are better positioned compared to other brands under evaluation. For other brands to compete effectively with the best-positioned brands, the management ne eds to market the products to the international market. the management needs to strategize to ensure product diversity in a brand. Geographic distribution will increase product scope and diversity in a product will allow customers to have choice. Products like 5-hour energy are moderately positioned in the strategic map in terms of distribution, the single brand is distributed nationally placing it above regional brands (Gamble, 2010). 5. What key factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers?   The beverage industry is competitive due to the many players that have invested in it. The success of each player is dependent on various factors. One of the main factors is a strong brand name. some of the older and established brands have a larger market share compared to the newer brand. Companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi have a larger market share. Market penetration is another factor influencing the success of products. Brands that have penetrated the market and have a global distribution system have more sales compared to local brands. The companies are able to advertise their products through developed distribution channels. Big companies like Pepsi and Coca-Cola have established productions and distribution outlets in many parts of the world to ensure that the customer has access to the product. The taste of the beverage is also a key factor, the beverage should have a unique taste that attracts clients to the brand. Coca-Cola has a secret formula that is passed down from generation to generation, giving Coca-Cola a unique global brand. The beverage companies invest heavily in the marketing of its products, marketing creates market awareness thus increasing the popularity of the products. Marketing also informs the customers of the variations in the products a brand has and their availability. Beverage companies have to invest in innovation. The management should ensure that the company competes not only in its primary competition group but also against other beverages in the market. 6. What recommendations would you make to Coca-Cola to improve its competitiveness in the global alternative beverage industry? to PepsiCo? to Red Bull GmbH? Coca-Cola has a good position in the market. To maintain this position, the company has to carry out extensive research to evaluate the customers’ needs in the global market. Through research, the company will be able to produce new products that will appeal to the dynamic beverage market. Through market research, the company will be able to evaluate the products being produced and discontinue production of non-profitable products. The resources can be reassigned to profitable product and the production of new products in the market (Gamble, 2010). Pepsi is also a strong brand in the market, the main

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Intercultural aspect of culture Essay Example for Free

Intercultural aspect of culture Essay During the first day of the workshop, I did not completely understand the real meaning of culture. I did not even have a single definition for the term culture. Many questions came into my mind such as, â€Å"What is culture? What are the factors that create culture? What is the scope of culture? Does culture improve itself or not? Although, I started the inquiry on the concept of culture without certain answers for these questions, I had figured them out step by step during that day. I started to find answers for most of the questions that I faced. I finally understood what culture was and why different people with different cultures had different behaviors. By understanding the factors that influenced culture, I started to learn its importance to the parties who got involved in particular conflicts. Throughout that day, I comprehended why people with different cultures got involved in particular conflicts and what were their objectives. I started to give answers for these queries. They might need someone whom they can air their grievances or opinions with. Moreover, they might only wish that others would respect their culture as it was. In the role play, I learned that listening skill was very helpful in making the parties who were involved in the conflict feel better. Also, they should be given the chance to continue telling their stories without any interruption. I had also learned that I could be able to interact with them simply through body language such as moving my head up and down which tells, â€Å"I understand you. Keep going. † Furthermore, these skills would give me the chance to get as much information as possible and understand the parties’ cultures. Personally, I think that having much understanding of other cultures using the skills mentioned earlier would help me adapt with their behaviors and become more flexible when dealing with them. Culture’s factors such as religion, climate and geography play very significant roles in parties’ behavior. These explain why different countries have different cultures. Finally, all ideas and skills that I had learned during the first day of the workshop let me pay a close attention on understanding other cultures, respecting their beliefs and values as I want other people do the same thing when they cross my culture. I would try to use these ideas and skills in my daily life – simply by listening to other people and respecting them. Before evolving an intercultural model of conflict resolution it is important to understand and identify aspects of culture that lead to creation of the framework of conflict. The cultural spectrum holds different shades for a person, a society and a nation, accordingly helping each of them to assimilate and adapt to a common identity that is defined and shaped by culture (Holliday, Hyde and Kullman, 2004). In the process of evolving this collective identity, culture transcends its traditional role of providing an aggregate set of beliefs, customs, norms, values, ethics, traditions, moral, social and legal codes, perceptions, and philosophy, to become the overall physical framework for the society to function. Culture attains a real form, rendering a three dimensional living space for people to experience its living force ((Holliday, Hyde and Kullman, 2004)). Culture is strongly related with geographical setting of a place, religion, ethnicity, and race, explaining why different countries have different cultures, and also why places on seashore share common elements of culture that is quite different from culture of mountainous places. The imprinting of culture on ways a person thinks, acts, perceives the environment and models his/her reaction is very strong and virtually indelible, determining every aspect of human behavior and giving rise to cultural identity in addition to individual and national identity. Although the classic rational choice framework says that people are independent in choice of their behavior and approach towards events, its seen that at subtle levels the structural model provided by culture acts as final determinant in predicting a person, a society and a nation. Although culture is dynamic, evolving and continuously upgrading itself, in essence, these changes occur within the context of culture’s own timeframe. One of the most important contribution of culture to human civilization is the orientation provided towards other cultures, making the culture in question receptive, tolerant, indifferent or outright hostile towards different cultures. Societies are seldom mono-cultural, displaying a range of cultural traits, achieved through generations of trades, contact, and cross cultural mixing (Holliday, Hyde and Kullman, 2004). However, although for people belonging to a particular culture, their culture would hardly seem complex, the cultural realities are hidden beneath the surface, difficult to observe and discern from outside. These improper understanding and imperfect perceptions of culture often give rise to conflict when different cultures are required to meet or come across.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Is it necessary to have VAT/GST in Hong Kong?

Is it necessary to have VAT/GST in Hong Kong? Limitations of Research: the researcher could not use all the internet sources because some of them are written in Chinese, the researcher followed the structure that is provided by you but I have noticed that there is repetition in the points that are mentioned in the objectives and the points that are mentioned in the chapter plan, also there is a repetition in the resources that are mentioned in the data and information needs and the points in relevant literature consulted. The researcher shall bear no responsibility for any confusion caused by the un-clarity of the attached document. Introduction: More than 120 countries have imposed Goods and Services Tax, the only developed country that has not imposed this tax is Hong Kong. VAT or GST has been introduced by France in 1954(Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry). All the developed countries (except Hong Kong) and most of the developing countries have followed France in imposing VAT/GST because this tax is considered: Fair: VAT/GST is considered a fair tax because it relates the amount of collected tax to the amount of consumption; the more you consume, the more you pay VAT. Simplicity: unlike any other taxes, VAT/GST is considered a straightforward tax; it is imposed according to a known percentage on the value of the products and services Efficiency: this tax is very efficient, it is very easy to collect it and it is very difficult to avoid it. Chapter2: Objectives: The purpose of this research is to find out whether VAT/GST is a suitable tax for Hong Kong or not. The research has covered very large material and literature about Hong Kong and similar economies to Hong Kong such as Singapore. The research also aimed to show that most of the governments of the world are broadening their budgets by imposing VAT/GST on customers while they are trying to reduce income and corporate taxes. Chapter3: Literature consulted: The research has covered a large part of literature published by global accredited organizations such as Price Waterhouse coopers, Ernest Young and the government of Hong Kong. The major text books have been used to give us a broad idea about the issue in research while the specialized working papers, Internet articles and government websites have been used in order to give us a clear idea about the issue in research. The research consulted working papers published by several universities and bodies in order to explain the theoretical principles behind imposing VAT/GST (Hubbard,G,R(1997)and the impact of VAT/GST on the informal sector in developed countries. Chapter4: Proposed Methodology: we can see from the above chart the deficit that have faced Hong Kong from 1997 until 2003, the revenue was very low compared to the spending which proved to be steady. †During the same year, about 70% of the total revenue collected by the Inland Revenue Department came from profits tax and salaries tax. Nevertheless, the profits and salaries tax nets are very narrow and shrinking. Less than 40% of our workforce of 3.2 million people pay any salaries tax, and only 10,000 people pay the maximum salaries tax rate of 15%. About 5% of the payers of profits tax contribute to 80% of the profits tax revenue. Further loss of profits could occur as a result of globalisation. Besides, the spread of e-commerce will have implications on all governments abilities to assess and collect business-related taxes. In this regard, both the Financial Secretary and the Secretary for the Treasury expressed their concerns on the impact of the exponential growth of e-commerce on Hong Kongs territorial-based tax system. The Government will set up a Task Force to review public finances and an independent committee on new broad-based taxes†, Wong, J(no date given) The research has depended on major questionnaire that have been distributed to citizens and companies in Hong Kong in order to get their opinion about VAT/GST tax. The response that I have got from this questionnaire has been used in predicting the change in consumption behavior by the citizens of Hong Kong. The research has also depended on comparative analysis in order to see how Hong Kong economy will be affected and how the whole tax system will be redesigned. The research depended on some graphs to illustrate the topic further. Chapter5: Data and Information needs and sources: This research needs theortical as well as practical data and comparative analysis. This research is different because it assesses the potential of something that might happen in the future. The researcher has conducted a questionnaire in order to measure the acceptance of the people to VAT and their views about the fiscal position of their country. The researcher tried to make sure that the sample is random, so the results are random too and not biased. The research required me to use some theoretical concepts in order to assess the impact of VAT. The research also depended on comparative analysis in order to see what happened to similar economies that have implemented VAT/GST. Chapter6: Chapter Plan: Understanding the principles behind using an expenditure tax like GST/VAT: Definition of GST: Goods and Services tax is imposed on: Goods and Services tax is broad-based and equitable and is capable of yielding sizeable and steady revenues. VAT or GST is a consumption tax, it is paid by the consumer of the product or the service as a percentage of the final price. It is related to all commercial activities involving the production and distribution of services; it is not charged on companies which mean that companies can deduct from their VAT liabilities the amount of tax they have paid to other taxable persons on purchases for their business activities. Hong Kong government is considering introducing VAT/GST tax in 2009(Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue). Difference between VAT and Sales Tax: VAT is imposed on every stage of production while Sales tax is actually collected in the form of extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. VAT and the Theory of Economics: There have been a long debate between different economic schools of thought around the world about tax reform. Some economists prefer income tax to VAT/GST because it provides fair treatment to the citizens of the country while others prefer VAT/GST. According to Hubbard,G,R(1997), some economists support VAT for the following reasons: Imposing VAT instead of income tax will encourage capital accumulation and savings. Removing income and profit taxes will remove distortions in the allocation of capital among different economic sectors. A broad based consumption tax would avoid potential costly distortions of firm’s financial structures. Importance of VAT: Today it is a key source of government revenue in over 120 countries. About 4 billion people, 70 percent of the worlds population, now live in countries with a VAT, and it raises about $18 trillion in tax revenue, Liam E., Michael K., Jean-Paul B. and Victoria S(1991) VAT has advantages and disadvantages: Disadvantages of imposing VAT: VAT discourages specialist economic activity and fragmentation in the production because VAT will be fragmented; VAT encourages integration in order to avoid compounded VAT. VAT encourages financing big governments: in the 1960s, the size of governments in the US and the UK were approximately equal, in the year 2002, the size of the government in Europe have exceeded the size of the US government, many analysts attribute the difference between the sizes of the two governments to VAT, The expansion of the government will lead to higher prices and inefficient production, the thing that will lead to more taxes in the future. VAT will reduce the available capital to private businesses and raise interest rates, increasing interest rates will stifle economic growth and reduce the potential growth. Advantages of imposing VAT: VAT could finance the debt of the government because it provides stable and steady stream of income that is capable of financing development projects. VAT could reduce consumption and make the citizens of any country save and invest more money. By encouraging integration, VAT could push the economy towards mergers that will reduce the stages of production; VAT simply tends to encourage big businesses to get bigger by buying other companies, this could yield economies of scale and generate synergies.. Selectivity: the government can select the products and services that it needs to impose VAT on, for example, most government exclude food from VAT, by using VAT governments could take into its consideration the difficult economic situation of the poor and decide the exclusions that apply to them. VAT is a secure way to finance the government’s structural deficit, VAT covers most of the economic segments in the economy and it is very difficult to evade it. Introduce a historical background, economy and tax system in Hong Kong: The Modern History of Hong Kong: Hong Kong was a British dependency from the 1840s until July 1, 1997, when it passed to Chinese sovereignty as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Pannell,C(1998). The British control of Hong Kong began in 1842, when China was forced to cede Hong Kong Island to Great Britain after the First Opium War. In 1984 Great Britain and China signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which stipulated that Hong Kong return to Chinese rule in 1997 as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. The Joint Declaration and a Chinese law called the Basic Law, which followed in 1990, provide for the SAR to operate with a high degree of economic autonomy for 50 years beyond 1997, Reference: China Connection. In the Fifties of the last century, the threat of the cold world was looming over the world. Investors were looking for a safe heaven to locate their businesses and investments in a neutral place away from the eastern and the western camps, investors found in Hong Kong a promising country that is able to deliver good business environment that could foster growth and political stability at the same time. Growth in Hong Kong depends on several other economies such as the growth in the US economy and the growth in China and Southeast Asia in general. Growth in Hong Kong is related to oil prices and world wide prices; Hong Kong is a small island with very little raw resources, it depends on exporting raw materials from abroad in order to manufacture them on its land and re-export them again to other parts of the world. Manufacturing: In 1950s, Hong Kong attracted manufacturing jobs and the vast majority of its work force where working in factories. In 1980s, Hong Kong had about 905,000 manufacturing workers and manufacturing was the most important economic sector, Economist Intelligence Unit (2003). Until 1990s, Factories were manufacturing products that depended on labour intensive work force, after that manufacturing jobs started dropping because of the climbing costs of labour and land. In 1990s, the number of manufacturing jobs was about 575,000 jobs. In 2001, the manufacturing sector contributed to less than 5% of the GDP, Economist Intelligence Unit (2003). Like most of the developed nations, Manufacturing in Hong Kong is becoming concentrated on manufacturing hi-tech products and services. The manufacturing sector has been replaced by rapidly expanding service sector, in 1991; the service sector has generated 72.3% of the GDP in Hong Kong and in 2002, the service sector has generated about 83.9% of the GDP, Economist Intelligence Unit (2003). Services: A- Banking: The banking sector is now the most important economic sector in Hong Kong, Hong Kong is currently the fifth largest banking centre in the world. Hong Kong offered investors a very good opportunity to invest in a growing emerging economy. Investors benefited from tax free capital gains and high dividends. B- Tourism: Tourism is a significant source of economic growth in Hong Kong; nearly 9 million people visit Hong Kong every year, Tourists spend around $7 billion every year. Tourism is the third source of foreign exchange reserves in Hong Kong. The banking and the tourism sectors have delivered a very good growth to the Hong Kong economy. In 1996, Hong Kongs per capita gross domestic product (GDP) was second to Japan and Singapore in Asia and exceeded that of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, Reference: internet article: Marimari (no date given). . Sources of Success: Hong Kong offered investors business-friendly laws and gave complete freedom to the movement of capital in order to encourage investments and promote growth. Hong Kong is duty free zone and there are few barriers to trade goods and services; this has made the country an important link ring between the east and the west. Hong Kong left market forces decide wages and prices; the government did not legislate any minimum wage requirement or anti-trust laws. Competition in Hong Kong: The decline of the manufacturing sector has caused the decline of competition in Hong Kong. Competition is considered an essential part of the market system. Competition benefits consumers and businesses, it benefits consumer by lowering prices and it benefits businesses by allocating resources in a more efficient ways. Competition is very important to the health of Hong Kong economy, competition gives world economies the flexibility to adjust its prices in the case of external shock (macro-economic shock) Sturm,P, Jahangir,A, Breuer,P, Nishigaki,Y (2000). Emerging economies that depend on fixed exchange rates usually suffer from real exchange rate appreciation. The real exchange rate appreciation could be treated by either: Switching to a flexible exchange rate: according to the â€Å"law of one price† flexible exchange rate will adjust exchange rates in order to make tradable products have the same price everywhere in the world. Lowering prices: lowering prices of products is an important toll in avoiding international competition, lowering prices could only happen if the structure of the market is competitive. Having a competitive market structure in lowering prices and keeping international capital flows coming to Hong Kong. Tax Regime in Hong Kong: Hong Kong tax regime is based on a territorial-based tax regime; the tax is imposed on incomes that arise from Hong Kong, Hong Kong’ Inland Revenue. The economy of Hong Kong has gained a competitive advantage because it imposes no taxes on capital gains and dividends; this has encouraged many investors to invest in that country and established an important financial centre in Asia. Hong Kong has the following simple tax structure: Property Tax: Property tax is levied on rental income from land and buildings situated in Hong Kong. Salaries Tax: Salaries tax is imposed on incomes derived from working in Hong Kong or if incomes derived from services rendered from Hong Kong. Profits Tax: profits that are generated in Hong Kong are subject to taxes, profits of unincorporated business stands at a rate of 15% and corporations at 16.5%. The relationship between Hong Kong and the foreign exchange rate: The currency in Hong Kong is Hong Kong dollar which is pegged to the US dollar, if Hong Kong government wanted that peg to continue, it should tighten its fiscal deficit. The currency of Hong Kong is an investment asset, many investors diversify their currency allocations, this diversified allocation to the funds of the global investors results in an important cash inflow to Hong Kong. For the Hong Kong dollar to get part of the allocation, Hong Kong should stabilize its budget in order to attract more foreign investment. Analyze why the government considers launching a broad-based tax; Narrow tax base: Hong Kong has very narrow tax base, narrow tax base means that the collected revenues do not provide enough revenue to cover the expenditure of the country. If we compare TAX/GDP ratio in Hong Kong compared to other Asia Pacific and OECD countries we find out that Hong Kong has the lowest ratio of TAX/GDP. Hong Kong has a narrow tax base because the tax base is shrinking since 1998; sound tax systems are based on growing and stable (not volatile) tax base. Hong Kong has the lowest corporate tax rate among the OECD countries, the current corporate tax stands at 16%. Erosion of Tax Base: The erosion of tax base is actually a result of several factors, such as: sliding house prices, illegal betting, e-commerce and online stock trading. In the following section I will explain each of these factors separately: sliding house prices: For a long time, Hong Kong depended on land and property transactions to contribute to government revenue of Hong Kong. Collected tax from property in Hong Kong(stamp duty, rates and shares and estate duties) is well above the international benchmarks as a percentage of GDP, Property from taxes/GDP=24% for Hong Kong against 5% for the OECD and 10% for the Asia Pacific countries), Reference: Hong Kong Government, Tax Base Study. Hong Kong depends on Land sales revenues in financing its budget, this has made Hong Kong increasingly dependent on non-tax revenues. In the tax base study that has been conducted by the government of Hong Kong and KPMG consultancy, the study reports the fact that Hong Kong’s non-tax revenue is about 80% of its tax revenues against 16% for OECD benchmark. Because Hong Kong has enjoyed a buoyant business environment for years, banks started granting credit very easily to businesses, the expansion of credit was accompanied by rising house prices, land prices started going up sharply from 1984 to 1997, Gerlach, S Peng, W(2002). Many companies found working in the construction sector very profitable because they can make profit from two sources: Net profits from building new houses and buildings. Profits from capital gains resulting from continuous increase in house prices. The construction sector was one the most attractive economic sectors in the country. Foreign and national banks expanded credit to companies which operate in the construction sector; the banking sector played an â€Å"accelerator† role in the run-up of the property prices. The government in Hong Kong has constructed its tax system around the fact that land prices are going up all the time because they are in demand. Because of the financial crises of August 1997 that hit south east Asia and also because of the government policy on housing, Revenues from land sales and land utilization(lease, rent) dropped dramatically, suddenly the government found its huge revenues from land dwindling. On the 16th of January 2000, the secretary for the treasury stated that: â€Å"The other significant factor supporting our finances, in recent years, has been the high levels of revenue from land and property transactions. But as property prices stabilize, the huge windfalls are unlikely to recur in the future† illegal betting: Hong Kong’s treasury depended on revenues from betting activities in the country. Hefty taxes has made too many people start thinking about illegal betting, Schuman,M(2004). On the 16th of January 2000, the secretary for the treasury stated that: â€Å"The impact of illegal gambling and the rise of gambling through the Internet threaten to erode our income from betting tax† Hong Kong’s Home Affairs bureau said handle plunged 30% from 1996-97 to 65 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$8.3 billion; euro6.5 billion) in 2003-04, while government revenue from betting dropped from HK$12.3 billion (US$1.6 billion; euro1.24 billion) to HK$8.78 billion (US$1.13 billion; euro882 million). Meanwhile, the amount of cash and betting slips seized from illegal soccer and horse gambling operators jumped from HK$9.38 million (US$1.20 million; euro942,000) in 2001 to HK$19.7 million (US$2.53 million; euro1.98 million) in 2004, according to the government. The government said handle is projected to drop another 30% by 2007-08 if no action is taken, Reference: the associated press (2005). e-commerce: Hong Kong tax system is based upon territorial system, which means that profits and incomes that are derived from Hong Kong should be taxed according to Hong Kong tax laws, the development of e-commerce and the expansion in on-line selling to customers who are not based in Hong Kong through websites that belong to the global network makes hard for the government of Hong Kong to draw a clear line between the income that is derived from the internet and the income that is derived from Hong Kong. On the 16th of January 2000, the secretary for the treasury stated that: â€Å"The spread of e-commerce will have implications on all governments abilities to assess and collect business-related taxes. For us, the impact will be further accentuated by the territorial-base of our taxation regime† online stock market trading: the development of modern communications and the development of the financial markets made trading on-line possible from all over the world, trading has been made very easy by websites that are based on the web, the development of futures, options and spread betting markets have made possible to trade 24 hours a day. It is very hard to impose taxes on online trading because the companies who established these websites do not have a physical place in Hong Kong. On the 16th of January 2000, the secretary for the treasury stated that: â€Å"The acceleration in global stock market trading through the Internet will require us to consider whether the stamp duty we charge on stock transactions can be maintained at its present level, or whether by doing so we would impede the further development of the Hong Kong stock market† Hong Kong has a prolonged problem in tax revenues resulting from low income tax on working population and the constant decrease in the number of working individuals because of aging. The secretary of treasury addressed this problem by saying: â€Å"For we all take for granted the low level of taxation which we enjoy in Hong Kong. For example, less than 40% of the workforce pay any salaries tax, and only 10,000 people pay the maximum salaries tax rate of 15%. Companies pay profits tax at 16%, and only profits arising in Hong Kong are subject to tax. Also we have no taxes on other income or capital gains, no sales or value-added taxes on what we buy, and duty is payable on very few commodities. So much for revenue, on the expenditure side, the community expects more and better public services. An ageing population will place increasing demands on our health and welfare services. The need to tackle pollution will bring substantial costs. We need to reconcile this need for additional spending with a contracting revenue base. Based on the above reasons the treasury of Hong Kong is considering widening the tax base a strategic option. Expanding the tax base is a constitutional obligation as well as an economical obligation. Hong Kong has to reduce its deficit if it wants to keep the value of its dollar strong and able to attract investors. †¦. These sound practices are now enshrined in the Basic Law. So we are under a constitutional obligation to keep our finances in a healthy state. With a fiscal deficit last year, and a projected deficit this year and next year, the law and prudent financial management demand that we bring our finances back into the black in the near term. This would also have the added advantage of maintaining our fiscal reserves at the level necessary to help support the Hong Kong Dollar, an indisputable requirement given the events of 1998. 5- Aging population: Hong Kong has an aging population; this has put an increasing pressure on the social security system and the infrastructure. This has made the secretary of the treasury to state: The directions indicate that the continuation of current revenue and expenditure policy is not an option Considered that introducing general consumption tax is the most suitable for Hong Kong? In order to see if the general consumption tax is the most suitable tax or not we have to evaluate all Hong Kong tax options. Tax Options for Hong Kong: 1- Reduce Personal Allowance: Hong Kong tax systems is one of the most generous tax systems in the world, as we have said earlier fewer than 40% of the work force pay taxes, some tax experts are suggesting the government reducing its tax free income allowance in order to increase tax collection revenues, experts say that a reduction in the basic allowance of 10% will raise about $2bn revenue, even if Hong Kong decided to reduce the personal allowance by 50% this will raise 90% of its traditional revenue from the existing tax base is simply contributing more revenue, this options will not be suitable to Hong Kong because it does not broaden the tax base, this option will increase the weight of salaries tax in the overall tax collection, KPMG Tax base study. 2- Expand the Existing Tax Base via imposing capital gains tax: this option is not considered the best option because it will affect investment decisions negatively and lead to capital outflow from the country and make the country lose its competitive advantage. Imposing capital gains tax may cause job losses and that will make the tax collection from salaries substantially less, so the gains from imposing capital gains tax will be offset by loss of tax from loss of income and salaries taxes. Imposing taxes on dividends may not lead to desirable results. 3- Increase corporate taxes: Increasing corporate taxes is one of the main issues that the government of Hong Kong is discussing, most of the analyst believe that this is not an option because increasing the corporate tax will simply cause damage to the position of Hong Kong in the global market, analysts think that there is a global trend to reduce corporate tax in all over the world. Analysts think that countries are in competition with each other to provide facilities and tax concessions to corporations. If Hong Kong increased its corporate tax, it would be very easy for corporations to shift their headquarters to somewhere else in the world. According to Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants the government of Hong Kong is suggesting giving more corporate tax concessions to corporations in the following three areas: A- Full profits tax exemption to regional headquarters/offices in Hong Kong in respect of management consultancy income Derived by the Hong Kong entity from associated entities Overseas. B- Exemption of interest income received by regional offices from Loans made in Hong Kong to their overseas associates. C- Group relief. D- Loss incurred in the current year of assessment should be permitted to be offset against the assessable profits of one previous year. 3- Introduce New Taxes: introducing new taxes (apart from VAT/GST) could an innovative solution to Hong Kong’s structural fiscal deficit. In fact, there is no limit to the number of taxes that a government could impose in order to provide suitable macroeconomic environment for development. For example, Hong Kong could introduce environmental taxes in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars and factories, we all know that developed countries contribute significantly to the increasing stock of greenhouse gas emissions that causes global warming. Because Hong Kong has very busy airports and sea ports, Hong Kong could impose new taxes on land and sea departures. Experts advise the government to outsource the activities that it does not usually do efficiently, outsourcing will help the government reduce the deficit that is caused by inefficient use of resources. Experts did not only advise the government to introduce new taxes but also to abolish some taxes. For example, abolishing taxes on alcohol beverages in order to encourage wine tourism Experts think that applying this option will not solve Hong Kong’s structural deficit problem completely for the simple fact that Hong Kong has a reputation that it is a low tax country and if the government imposed taxes on several economic activities, Hong Kong reputation will be affected and this may have a damaging effect on the position of Hong Kong in the financial and business world. What experts are trying to say that Hong Kong government should introduce new taxes and abolish old taxes in order to keep the current balance of taxes and respond to the modern needs of the society (such as environmental taxes). 4- Broad-Based tax on general consumption: this could be VAT (Value Added Tax), GST (Goods and Services Tax) or Sales Tax. Kong’s structural deficit problems. Government says that a 3% GST will yield about $18bn which stands for 1.5% of GDP. Analysts recognize that GST is a powerful solution to Hong Kong’s Problem, 3% GST is capable of solving the problem, and in addition to that, 3% GST is in line with international standards. This tax is not only capable of covering the government expenditures but also capable of broadening the tax base since it is imposed on nearly all kinds of consumption. There are few points that the government needs to take in to its account when constructing the VAT/GST: It is recommended that the VAT/GST should be simple; simplicity is the common feature of Hong Kong tax system and keeping the proposed VAT/GST simple is consistent with the rest of the tax system. It is recommended that the VAT/GST should be comprehensive; in other words, it should include most goods and services in the economy, making the VAT/GST comprehensive will guarantee stable revenue to the government and will prevent further increases in the rate of VAT/GST. Stability: it is advised that the rate of the VAT should stay constant for 5-10 years to come, stability in the tax rate is very important in creating stable consumption and investment decisions, consumers will base their consumption decisions upon the prices of products and s

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Invention Of Mass Media Media Essay

Invention Of Mass Media Media Essay Introduction Since the invention of mass media, mass media has always view as a big influence to the society and threat for certain group of people. This can be trace back to the 18th century, when the first theory about media- mass media theory was created and talks about how strong media is in directly influence people perception and action. Over the years, there are lots of mass media theories that talk about the power of media and how media is use to manipulate and influence people especially the folk culture or so call ordinary people. When talk about mass media theory, a big point that shouldnt be misses out is the rise of media theory in the age of propaganda. Propagandists rely on mass media very much as media reached mass audience. It is the best way for propagandist to change people action according to their own belief and expectation. One of the successful propaganda that has been widely practice was Nazis propaganda during world war one in 1933 to 1939. There are also others famous mass media theory like magic bullet theory, behaviorism, Freudianism and a lot more. Most of the time media often view as a negative influence especially for the elite group, and they claim that media should be control. There are also some theories that talk about the positive of mass media theory. For example, libertarianism theory says that people are good and rational. So media should have 100% freedom to report on everything and people can able to judge and differentiate what is right and wrong by themselves. Although there are a lots of theory argue about the pros and cons of mass media. However, one thing that everyone cannot denial is that mass media are one of the important things in human history especially the digital era like nowadays. The invention of mass media has brought human life to the whole new era and it has become an essential in human life. It helps human to convenient the process of communication between each other and also government nowadays to spread news and new policy to the people. According to Wang Lay Kim (2001), the first media in Malaysia was the English language Government Gazette call as the Prince of Whales Island Gazette (PWIG) in 1st of March 1806 in Penang Island. The last publication was on 21st of July 1827 total duration of 21 years. The first TV station in Malaysia are RTM1 and RTM 2 and then follow by the first privatization TV station which is TV3 in 1984. As mass media act as an important agent between a country and its people or government with the people, there is no exception for Malaysia to use mass media as the change agent for government policies. The mainstream media in Malaysia has always been perceived as an important agent of change for most of the governments policies. The mainstream media include TV stations, radio stations and also newspapers. As a developing country, Malaysias 4th prime minister Tun Dr.Mahathir Bin Mohammad have come out with the policy of vision 2020 which aim to further develop Malaysia into a fully develop country in the year 2020. In the year 2010, Malaysias current prime minister Dato Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak introduced the concept of one Malaysia which mainly focus on unite multi races of Malaysian to view themselves as Malaysian without looking at skin, races and language. It is also focus on economic of Malaysia and development of Malaysia to help Malaysia to achieve the g oal of vision 2020. Since the introduction of 1 Malaysia concept, this concept has been widely promote by the government to the citizen using the mainstream media. As the government realizes that peoples reliability towards media is getting more nowadays, people receive most of their information through different type of media. So media is view as the most suitable way to promote the new 1 Malaysia concept. The messages that promote through mass media are not as simple as audience view. Those ideas and concepts have been carefully defined and structure before reach the target audience. Government has used several type of mass media theory to promote the concept of 1 Malaysia. With the help of the theory, it encourages Malaysian to accept the concept of 1 Malaysia mentally and physically. Political economy theory Political economy theory is mainly focus on the study of how the elite control the economics of a country based on the link between politics and base to maintain the hegemonic culture. In this context, the elite will be the government of Malaysia. Political economy theory also says that to understand the media, ones must look at the whole picture which includes the ownership of media and the control group of media. In Malaysia, although most of the mainstream media are privatization but all the media are closely related to the government and political party. For example, according to Wang Lay Kim (2001), Fleet holding, a company that arm by UMNO which have 80% share of the News straits Times Press (NSTP) and majority share in Utusan Melayu Press sin year 1973. Both of these presses have majority readership and circulation in Malaysias newspaper.Fleet holding also have the share of 40% in Malaysia TV station, TV3. Besides, the other Malaysia main English paper, 58% of theStar newspaper is also own by Huaren holding Sdn.Bhd which link to MCA, one of the political party under the government. Cleary, we can see that there is a tight relationship between mainstream media with the political parties. With this point, it is not hard for the government to promote the idea of 1 Malaysia and gain acceptance by the people. The messages first come out by the elite or government through allocative control. Then the media under government in charge of the operational control which manipulate the word and idea before promote to the public to achieve the goal. It is not a surprise that thestar newspaper report atleast one article about the 1 Malaysia concepts per week. For example, 13 September 2012 thestar report about another 1 Malaysia clinic open. 15 September 2012 is about 175 1 Malaysia clinics by year end.16 September 2012, A truly 1 Malaysia day for both side of S.china sea. 19 September 2012, PM launches books of 1 Malaysia. 29 September 2012, Lots of goodies under 1 Malaysia schemes. As we know that, newspaper has always acted as a medium for people to receive information and people tend to believe newspaper as it is more accurate and professional. Government take control on the production of media by reporting the positive news about the 1 Malaysia concepts can surely gain support from the citizen. Hegemony Hegemony talks about elite stay their status quo through coercion and consent. Besides, it also states that force cannot maintain the power of the elite. Persuasion, explanation and understanding make people act willing and happily towards order. The best way for government to spread consent was using the mass media, especially the mainstream media that closely related to the government. Through hegemony and media, media act as a way to educate people how to behave and what to do in their life that consistent with the government goal. We can see how hegemony is use by government to promote the concept of 1 Malaysia in mainstream media like TV and newspaper in Malaysia. First of all, the slogan itself for 1 Malaysia concept Rakyat didahulukan, pencapaian diutamankan in English it means people first, performance now. This is obviously telling people that the government care about the citizen and the future of the country through the promotion of mainstream media every day. In order to achieve the part of consent that stated in hegemony, one of the main focuses of 1 Malaysia concept is to help Malaysia to achieve the goal of vision 2020 which is a fully develop country. Since the introduce of 1 Malaysia concept, Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is introduce by the current prime minister to improve the effectiveness of Malaysian government department for satisfaction of the citizen towards the service and try to shape the positive image of citizen towards the government. Under KPI, a mechanism is provided to evaluate the effectiveness of government agency towards crime prevention, reducing government corruption, increased to quality education, improvement of public transportation, improve the living of low income citizen and rural are infrastructure. Since the election of 2008, electors have lost confident on the government which means Barisan Nasional. It is very important for government to fulfill the need and satisfaction of the citizen which is the part of consent in hegemony. The result of KPI is keep highlight by the mainstream media. In long term effect, people will start to believe that the government did do some changes on the transparency of politic. These help the government to gain confident of the citizen. Besides, mainstream media often cover other news about 1 Malaysia. For example, thestar report an article about the new open 1 Malaysia clinic and grocery shop. This is also a long term effect of persuasion to told the citizen about 1 Malaysia concept are always for the benefit of the citizen, in the other hand, it also means that everyone should support the concept as it only bring benefit to the public. Moreover, the song and slogan of 1 Malaysia are often playing in TV station and radio station. It acts to reinforce people about 1 Malaysia concept are always for the public. Just like the lyrics of 1 Malaysia song. Im 4 U. The use of coercion in hegemony which is law state to control over the content of media towards government report like the printing press and publication act, broadcasting act and official secret act. Combine with the use of consent like ownership of media and control over the content of media. Surely the government can maintain their status quo and spread their ideology to the citizen without the consciousness of the people. People will also accept the concept willing without any force. Marxist Theory Marxist theory talks about that hierarchical class system are the roots of social problem. How base, superstructure and capitalism are closely related to each other. The main premises of Marxism said if the idea of production can be control, people can be control. The ideology of the elite are widely use to dominant public thinking and to maintain the inequality of social class. In human history, social class problem have been discuss generation over generation. However, the inequalities between social classes are still appearing in todays world. For example, riots happened in Malaysia on 13 May 1969 was happen due to the imbalance of economy and social classes between races. It makes Malaysia government realize about the important of economy balance between races. Although the large economy gaps between races in Malaysia are solve through New Economic Policy (NEP), but the problem of social classes are still remain. The government member and royal family of Malaysia are defining as the elite group or aristocrat in Marxist theory. In order for the government to maintain their status quo, the elite own the capitalism with their base. However, for their ideology to spread and accept by people, media are use as a tool by government. According to Wang Lay Kim (2001), Malaysias second privatize TV station Metrovision, the four share holder company was closely related to UMNO. The companies are City television Sdn.Bhd, Melewar Corporation, Utusan Melayu and Medanmas Sdn. Bhd. This can explain how government act as capitalism, own the base which are the media and message production and spread of 1 Malaysia concept which is government ideology to maintain their status quo. In literal, 1Malaysia concept is use to help Malaysian to improve their living condition and upgrade the overall citizen social classes to eliminate poverty. But in the other hand, it is also an ideology to maintain their power. Government realize that to maintain their status quo while achieve peaceful among the bourgeoisie and proletariat or so call Malaysian, 1 Malaysia concept are one of the best way to achieve goal for mutual benefit of the country and the elite. By own the mainstream media and control of the message production, people can be control. Conclusion In conclusion, with the support of political economy, hegemony theory and Marxist theory, I strongly agree that 1 Malaysia concept can be accept by Malaysian with the use of mainstream media. Most of the media theories agree that media have the long term effect on people but not direct effect. When people expose to something for a long term, they tend to believe it. Mainstream media keep reporting the positive news of 1 Malaysian; time by time people will accept it without conscious about it. Besides, mainstream media in Malaysia are directly control by legislative law and indirectly own by the government. With the support of Marxist theory, which says control of the media production, people can be control. It strengthens my opinion towards Malaysian acceptance of 1 Malaysia concept.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Communication and Social Behavior in the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolph Essa

Introduction Social behavior in mammals other than humans has always been something that has fascinated not only scientists, but the general population as well. Large mammals known to exhibit similar behaviors to humans have always been popular favorites at zoos and aquariums. One particular favorite is an animal known for its social behavior and intelligence: Tursiops truncates, the bottlenose dolphin (Prevost, 1995). This cetacean has global distribution that spans all tropical and temperate marine waters with bays, sounds, estuaries, and open shorelines being the habitats most frequently inhabited, and sea grass beds being the preferred nursery locations (Prevost, 1995). These mammals are some of the most admired sea creatures and have shown great capacity for intelligence. They are often trained and used in shows at aquariums. Most frequently studied are their communication types and their complex social behavior, with things like verbal and nonverbal communication, communities and social hi erarchies, and common social behaviors receiving a particular emphasis. Physical Attributes and Relevant Zoological Information Tursiops truncates, with its Atlantic sub-species named T .t. truncates, has some very distinct physical features. The size is a range of six to thirteen feet or two to four meters (Prevost, 1995) (Reynolds & Wells, 2003). The average dolphin is about 9 feet long and usually weighs about 600 pounds, although males are typically 25% larger than females (CITATION). The rostrum extends for several inches, but is relatively short compared to the rest of the torpedo shaped body. (Felhammer, et al. 2003). The rostrum is also the basic for the T. t. truncates common name of â€Å"bottlenose† (Felhammer, et al. 2003). ... ...d Social Organization of the Bottlenose Dolphin: A Review. Marine Mammmal Science,( 2 ed, pp. 34–63). Prevost, J. F. (1995). Bottlenose dolphins. (pp. 18-19). Minneapolis, MN: Abdo Consulting Group, Inc. Janik, V. M. (2009). Vocal communication in birds and mammals. (1 ed., Vol. 40, pp. 123-148). San Diego, CA: Elsevier Inc. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=5v63gz04YVgC&printsec=frontcover Feldhammer, G. A., Thomspon, B. C., & Chapman, J. A. (2003). Wild mammals of north america: biology, management, and conservation. (2 ed., pp. 397-425). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=-xQalfqP7BcC&printsec=frontcover Reynolds, J. E., & Wells, R. S. (2003). Dolphins, whales, and manatees of florida: A guide to sharing their world. (1 ed., pp. 28-45). Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Abortion in context: What was the fate of an unwanted or orphaned child in the nineteenth century? :: Essays Papers

Abortion in context: What was the fate of an unwanted or orphaned child in the nineteenth century? For as much as has been written about the crime of abortion and infanticide, equally much as been said against forced maternity, marital rape, and woman’s lack of control over her own body, all circumstances resulting in unwanted pregnancy and unwanted children. Such circumstances all stemmed from unique family, social, or health issues, with no one cause resulting in the abandonment of a child. A lack of knowledge about both sanitation and about women’s health resulted in the deaths of mothers during birth. General poverty and migration from farms to city centers made large families more difficult to support financially. Giving up a child because it could not be economically supported by its family was a common occurrence. As abortion became more stigmatized and criminalized, children who were the product of rape or wedlock were also abandoned. Deaths related to the Civil War also dramatically increased the numbers of orphaned children. Within the pages of The Revoluti on, it is asked: â€Å"Women who are in the last stages of consumption, who know that their offspring must be puny, suffering, neglected orphans, are still compelled to submit to maternity, and dying in childbirth, are their husbands ever condemned? Oh, no!† (2) Stemming from models developed in Rome under Marcus Aurelius and Florence’s Innocenti, orphans were first nursed by peasant women, then adopted or apprenticed by the time they were seven or eight years old (Simpson 136). Care of the orphans (and also the sick, the poor, the elderly, and the mentally ill) was first the responsibility of the church, but with increased legislation, the responsibility gradually fell under the state (Simpson 137). Pennsylvania passed such a â€Å"poor law† in 1705, establishing an â€Å"Overseer of the Poor† for each township. Each overseer was responsible for finding funds for children and more commonly, for finding positions of servitude or apprenticeship (7). Such a model of short-term care followed by adoption, apprenticeship, or indentured servitude became the standard for dealing with orphaned children. The development of specific orphanages or child asylums, however, did not come until later in the nineteenth century. Orphaned children were first treated in almshouses, first established in Philadelphia in 1731 (7). Poorhouses, workhouses, and almshouses, all essentially the same institution, housed both adults and children without homes. Residents were seen as nearly free sources of labor, working in sweatshops or nearby mines in the case of several British poorhouses (5).

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Differences and Similarities between 1984 and Brazil Stories Essay

The 1984 novel by Orwell portrays a perfect totalitarian society considered the most extreme realization imaginable modern government with absolute power. The Brazil story, Sam as the central, character is inspired by George Orwell’s novel 1984. Both the novels portray a state in which the government monitors and controls all human life aspects to the extent of having a disloyal thought against the law. The presence of bureaucratic governments in both stories reveals that everything is under control, and everyone is watched. Likewise, the main characters in both stories are protagonists of their governments and exhibits similar thoughts, actions, and personalities. The similarities between Winston Orwell (1984) and Sam Lowry (Brazil) mentions their lives as both live in pathetic little flats. Also, they both work for the government that controls news and records and finds their jobs monotonous but they don’t want promotion but the both love their jobs. Another similarit y between the two characters mentions that they both try to destroy the government that employs them. Sam develops a negative attitude of destroying his government after meeting Jill. Likewise, Winston secretly wants to corrupt his government beginning of 1984. Also, the protagonists rebel against their governments because they are entangled in love with women. They are both caught with women in similar circumstances. They were both lying on the bed after lovemaking session and they are alerted by a sound of people rushing in their rooms. As such, both couples are caught in bed under similar circumstances by their authorities and end up being tormented. Likewise, the reason for destroying their governments is because of love for the two women. There is also similarity in the way these two heroes dealt with their government. Sam is caught by betrayal by his two best acquaintances, similar to Winston who is caught by betrayal and deceit. The major differences between the protagonists are that the love Sam as for Jill is genuine while Winston is driven by lust. The main reason why he wants to sleep with Julia is because he loves the corrupt nature of the relationship. As such, Winston betrays Julia while Sam never betrays Jill. During the torture in their respective ministries, Winston is mostly worried by his torture, and he begs for stop and asks the authorities to torture anybody else, Julia included. However, Sam is concerned about Jill during his torture, and when he learns of her death, he still dreams of her. After learning of the death of Jill during his arrest, he dreams of being rescured by Tuttle and moving towards the countryside with Jill (Gilliam, 1996). As such, Sam doesn’t lust for Jill or because he wants to break the law. Jill is the girl of his dreams and he has no ill intentions for his government. Also, Winston, through his thoughts, had begun to deviate that would lead to his torture and d eath. However, Sam had not intentions of betraying the government, yet it turned out that way. In terms of government, the two stories criticize two forms of government. Gilliam tries to satirize capitalism while Orwell satirizes fascism and socialism (Radford, 1984). References Gilliam, T. (1996). Brazil: The Criterion Collection Director’s Cut, The Voyager Company 1985, Irvington, New York. Radford, M. (1984). Nineteen Eighty- Four (1984), Polygram Home Video, Chatsworth, California. Source document

Nationalism and the origins of The first world war Essay

When global war broke out in 1914 dreams of world peace and prosperity were shattered. Accordingly, the First World War was arguably one of the most traumatic episodes in the history of international affairs. Geopolitically speaking, the First World War (also described as WWI in this essay) was unprecedented in both scale and sheer loss of human life. Never before had the world witnessed such carnage and violence perpetuated through the use of modern technology. The First World War touched much of the world and the implications of this conflict reverberated across the globe. Seeking to understand the historical explanations as well as the role that nationalism played in the outbreak of the First World War, this essay will explore the multiple causes of the development of global hostilities in 1914. Using a three pronged analytical model, the causes of the WWI will be discusses with reference to the pre-conditions and precipitants for conflict and the triggers which sparked the war. Understanding that WWI was an international event with global repercussions, we will analyze the various antecedents for the emergence of armed conflict through a multi-causal approach. This essay will argue that a variety of factors led to the outbreak of the First World War and while there is not one single causal explanation for the emergence of global conflict in 1914, a proper explanation of the origins of this conflict takes into account the amalgamation of each of these factors. While nationalism was an important factor leading to the outbreak of international conflict between the warring parties, this essay will argue that in fact, nationalism was an important precursors to the emergence of conflict but the sole and deciding force in the violence which erupted on the shores of Europe and reverberated across the planet. Although the First World War has recently been overshadowed in the aftermath of the WWII, this conflict was the first in terms of scale and sheer destruction and thus continues to be worthy of scholarly analysis. Nationalism in International Affairs Nationalism is an important force in international relations and has been so for centuries. As a basic principle of the international order, concepts of state sovereignty are intrinsic to our understanding of the world system. Accordingly, the international system is predicated upon the existence of nation-states and nationalism is a belief or sense of identity within the nation. The Treaty of Westphalia established the principle of state sovereignty, another fundamental principle of the international order which established the nation-state as an autonomous political entity. Similar to tribalism or a sense of social kinship, nationalism as a potent political force began in Europe in the late eightieth century and was connected with a decline in overall religiosity, the development of industrialization, Enlightenment thoughts and a concerted effort by political elites to â€Å"build states†. By inculcating a sense of nationalist fervor in the citizens of their respective countries, elites have been able to manipulate nationalism for political purposes. Mass mobilization towards a variety of specific causes through an appeal to nationalist sentiment has been used as a political tool for centuries. Although not exclusively a negative force, nationalism remains an important ordering principle of the international system and a force to be reckoned with (Anderson 2006). Preconditions to the Outbreak of Conflict There were a variety of preconditions to the emergence of the conflict, which up until that date, had been the largest that the world had ever seen. The First World War represented the dueling alliances of the Triple Entente – composed of Britain, France and Russia – and the Triple Alliance – comprised of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. Pre-conditions are best described as the precursors to conflict and there were many underlying long-term causes for the belligerent behaviour of the states of Europe in 1914. An arms race, underway for years, and growing at a rapid pace just prior to the emergence of the First World War set the stage for violent conflict between the major states of the region. Accordingly, the arms race occurring at the time exacerbated the global balance of power and led to an increased likelihood of aggressive behavior between the armies of Europe. As the European armies grew and competed with one another for size, manpower and prestige, the naval race between German and Britain contributed to a partition of the major states of the continent into two opposing camps. Competition was surely facilitated by nationalist tendencies and a desire to counterbalance the political, diplomatic and military ambitions of one’s rival. In addition to international arms races, domestic pressures and a willingness of the part of the citizens of some countries to engage in war helped precipitate the conflict. Accordingly, the diplomatic isolation of Germany, Austro-Hungary was another important contributor to the outbreak of global war in 1914. German nationalism, largely ignored in the settlement of the Congress of Vienna almost one hundred years before, did experience a resurgence particularly after the imposition of what was then conceived by many to be an unfair Treaty in Vienna and gained prominence in the middle to late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Accordingly, a German nationalism movement led a revolution to unify the country in 1871 – a similar movement in Italy served to unite that country in 1861 – and remained an important, although not solely important, force in attempting to explain the preconditions of conflict in 1914 (Joll and Martel 1992). In addition to the pre-conditions above, a series of crises from 1904-1914 also helped pave the way for the emergence of the First World War and were important pre-cursors to this conflict. The First Moroccan Crisis from 1905-1906 resulted in a German offensive which created the Entente. This was followed by the Bosnia-Herzegovina Crisis of 1908/1909 in which Austria-Hungary formally annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina. This important precursor to future conflict forced Russia to reevaluate its geopolitical situation and in turn view Germany and Austro-Hungary as a potential threat. The Second Moroccan Crisis (1911-1912) united Russia, Britain and France against Germany and was an important stabilizer for the Triple Entente informal alliance. The final conflicts which were important pre-conditions to the outbreak of violence in 1914 were the Balkan Wars 1912-13. These series of wars removed the Ottoman Empire from the equation and led to an impressive German arms build-up (Strachan 2001; Joll and Martel 1992). On the Cusp of War: Precipitants to Conflict Precipitants are short-term crises that made the war seem inevitable and a series of crises, beginning with the assassination in Sarajevo of Franz-Ferdinand, Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, made large-scale war in Europe seem like an inevitability. In fact, the months of late June/early July were replete with crises beginning with the violent assassination in Serbia of the Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Assassinated on Serbia’s national day by a violent terrorist organization, the Black Hand, this event alone is described by many observers of the First World War as perhaps the most monumental precipitant to the outbreak of hostilities between the major powers of Europe. Following his violent death at the hands of a Serbian nationalist, Germany unilaterally supported the right of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to respond as it saw fit. This led to successive increases in belligerence on both sides and an ultimatum by Austria-Hungary to Serbia (Strachan 2001; Joll and Martel 1992). Triggers and the Outbreak of War There are a variety of direct antecedents to the War of 1914 and the following will describe the important triggers for the world’s largest military mobilization to-date in the aftermath of the assassination of Franz-Ferdinand, Archduke of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. While there is not one single event which explains the emergence of large-scale conflict, the following will chart the important triggers which led to the internationalization of conflict and the explosion of a truly global war. Serbia’s rejection of the ultimatum put forth by the Austro-Hungarian represented a desire on its part to safeguard its independence. By rejecting the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum and seeking Russian support, the Serbian republic unwittingly set the stage for the bloodiest war the world had ever known. Serbian intransigence and refusal to acquiesce to the demands of Austria-Hungary set the stage for Russian involvement which internationalized the conflict and significantly increased its scope. At the time, the Russian army was the largest army on the planet and the inclusion of Russia into the dispute significantly increased its scope and explosive potential. Following the introduction of Russia into the equation, the first four days of August 1914 proved to significantly expand the horizons of the conflict. During those first few days of the month, Germany declared war on Russia and its ally France, leading to the mobilization of Britain and the further internationalization of belligerence. Germany’s decision to declare war on Russia and the Entente powers represented an important expansion of the conflict on the side of the Triple Alliance and set the stage for the mobilization and later involvement of Britain in the brewing hostilities (Strachan 2001; Joll and Martel 1992). Origins of the â€Å"Mass War† and Nationalism At the outbreak of World War One, states mobilized what scholars have described as â€Å"mass wars†: the uniquely modern phenomenon of warfare developed in the twentieth century which required the wholesale diversion of economies, labour and national productivity towards the war effort (44). Accordingly, â€Å"from 1914 on, wars were unmistakably mass wars†¦such a level of mass mobilization cannot be maintained except by a modern high-productivity industrialized economy. † (Hobsbawm 1994). State apparatuses grew and â€Å"mass wars† required governments to mobilize people, resources, and armaments to serve the war effort. Citizens were conscripted to fight, industry was instructed to produce arms, and the government became intimately involved in the establishment of monopolistic war economies. Although nationalism did play a role in the establishment of war economies and the growth of military-industrial complexes built up to support the war effort, many factors account for call to arms and the descent into extreme bloodshed and violence during the First World War. Mass mobilization towards the war effort was certainly helped by nationalist fervor as the belligerent parties prepared for conflict which until then would have been on an unimaginable scale, but as has been shown above, nationalism is just one part of the equation in attempting to explain the origins of the First World War (Hobsbawm 1994). Concluding Remarks As one of the most traumatic episodes in the history of the world, the First World War represented geopolitical conflict on an unprecedented scale. Never before had the world witnessed such carnage, bloodshed and violence. Seeking to understand the historical explanations and discuss the role that nationalism has played in the outbreak of the First World War, this essay has explored the antecedents for conflict in 1914. Important preconditions, precipitants and triggers have accounted for the emergence of this conflict. Nationalism, although an important factor which can help explain the emergence of World War One, is actually only one aspect of the overall conditions which lay the groundwork for World War One. Nationalism may be a guiding principle of the international order but a focus which exclusively explores the role of nationalism in the causes of war gives an incomplete picture of this global conflict. While nationalism may have been a force in the establishment of alliances in Europe, there were a handful of other preconditions, precipitants and triggers which led to this conflict. As this essay has shown, many factors led to the violent episode now known as the Second World War and while each factor differed in substance, each contributed to the emergence of the â€Å"War to End All Wars†. REFERENCES Anderson, B. 2006. Imagined Communities. New York: Verso. Hobsbawm, E. 1994. Age of Extremes: The Short History of the Twentieth Century: 1914-1991. London: Abacus. James Joll, J. and G. Martel. 1992. The Origins of the First World War. New York: Longman. McEvedy, C. 2003. The New Penguin Atlas of History. New York: Penguin. Strachan, H. 2001. The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War. London: Oxford University Press.