Lord of the Flies as an Allegory Essay

The Lord of the Flies if read at face value can be interpreted as short book about the struggle to survive on a deserted island and its physical and psychological impacts on its inhabitants. But when the reader looks deeper, they see a novel that is an allegory that is filled with rich and detailed symbolism in almost all aspects of the book. An allegory is defined a type of writing that presents abstract ideas or moral principals in the form of symbolic characters, events, or objects. â€Å"The theme is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature† (Golding 204). The novel begins as our protagonist wanders along the beach. Ralph represents leadership, order, and civilization for the island. He uses his power for the good of the people, especially to protect the â€Å"littluns.† The littluns represent the people ruled by a government. In their case, the â€Å"bigguns† (the older boys), take advantage of the little boys and soon neglect them entirely. As the conch was blown â€Å"A deep harsh note boomed under the palms, spread through the intricacies of the forest and echoed back from the pink granite of the mountain† (Golding 17). Giving off a mighty sound, the conch also possessed the qualities of authority, unity, and power. When the society is formed, the boy who holds the conch is the only one allowed to speak. Jack first instituted this when he said â€Å"I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak† (Golding 33). As the story progresses, the conch looses its power and influence over the children and is eventually crushed when Piggy is trampled by a boulder. This marks the end of any democratic and civilized society on the island. Piggy represents intelligence and mortality. He acts with reason like a grownup would in his situation. Besides acting like a parent figure, Piggy also provides leadership before and after the tribe is split in half. â€Å"But nobody else understands that about the fire. If someone threw you a rope when you were drowning. If a doctor said take this because if you don’t take  it you’ll die- you would, wouldn’t you? Can’t they understand? Without the smoke signal we’ll die here?† (Golding 139). The signal fire is another symbol that changes to reflect the downward spiral of the children. The fire was instituted by Ralph and Piggy as an attempt to draw attention in hopes of rescue. The fire can be seen as a connection to civilization and as civilization itself. When the fire burns well at a normal pace, the island is at peace. â€Å"We’ve got no fire. That thing just sits up thereÆ’{ we’ll have to stay here† (Golding 129). But when the fire is out, the boys seen to loose interest in civilization and revert to primitive, savage beings, which cause problems for the fragile island society. Oddly the fire that brings about the boy’s rescue is not the signal fire, but a forest fire started by Jack to drive Ralph out into the open. The fire symbolizes power and the leadership of the tribe, as it provides warmth and heat for cooking. When Jack gains the ability to make fire, he seizes control of the tribe. Piggy’s glasses allow for the creation of all fire on the island. The glasses symbolize science and intelligence and their impacts on society. The glasses also play a pivotal role in the foreshadowing of the chaos that will eventually ensue on the island. â€Å"Jack smacked Piggy’s head. Piggy’s glasses flew off and tinkled on the rocks. Piggy cried out in terror: ‘My specs'† (Golding 71). The breaking of Piggy’s glasses can be considered the start of the events that will cause the island to descend into complete and inescapable chaos led by Jack’s anarchy. Jack Merridew represents a thirst for power and savagery comparable to primal instincts. Jack uses his power for pleasure only, slowly evolving into a total dictator by the time the tribe splits. â€Å"There isn’t a tribe for you anymore! I’m chief† (Golding 181). Jack cannot accept compromises in his authority and systematically takes part in, if not responsible for, the deaths of those who oppose him in his path to power. Jack uses the beast as a means to hunt more often and later gain power. The beast is nothing but the evil and primal instincts imbedded deep within all of us. Everyone on the island is afraid of it, while in reality it is simply does not exist. It appears that the more the boys act savagely, the more real the beast becomes. Soon the boys start to worship the beast and leave offerings to the beast. This head is for the beast. It’s a gift† (Golding 137). The lord of the flies is the gift left for the beast. It’s a bloody pig’s head on a stick. The lord of the flies is a physical manifestation of evil who invokes the inner beast within us all. When Simon speaks to the lord of the flies, its true nature is revealed. â€Å"You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you† (Golding 143). Throughout the story Golding uses his characters, objects and events as symbols to get a deeper meaning across. The book weaves a compelling tale of optimism against the darkest side of human evil. Even though the novel shows that evil in every person exists, the basic human goodness still appears to prevail when all is said and done. The Lord of the Flies is truly a modern classic with a message for everyone.

Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 Essay

The law allowed an increased cost exemption, which stated that employers that can demonstrate a one percent or more rise in costs due to parity implementation will be allowed to exempt themselves from the law. The Mental Health Parity Act did not include rules for service charges, designations for the number of inpatient hospital days or outpatient visits that must be covered, coverage in connection with Medicare or Medicaid, restrictions on a health insurance plan’s ability to manage care, and coverage for treatment of substance abuse or chemical dependency. I do not think that the Mental Health Parity Act was successful, because there are many people still in this world who don’t have insurance have to pay more than what people with insurance do. Even some people with insurance have to pay a lot out of pocket for services. Even when it was still in act, it only took effect to people with major disabilities. This left most of the population having to pay for many of the services themselves.

Understanding text as it is meant to be Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Understanding text as it is meant to be - Essay Example When trying to maneuver through such information, an important issue that arises comes down to a fundamental idea. That is, the question of where exactly the meaning of the subject matter lies within.The written word is one of the most beautiful things ever to be created.Beauty that can differ.In terms of biblical interpretation, a common term to come about in research is that of Hermeneutics. "It is more broadly used contemporary philosophy to denote the study of theories and methods of the interpretation of all texts and systems of meaning.Is it with the author, within the text body, or is it something that actually lies within the reader themselves through their individual understanding and interpretation of what it is they are trying to read and learn about in the first place. The concept of "text" is here extended beyond written documents to any number of objects subject to interpretation, such as experiences. A hermeneutic is also defined as a specific system or method for inte rpretation, or a specific theory of interpretation. However, the contemporary philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer has said that has said that hermeneutics is an approach rather than a method and, further, that the Hermeneutic circle is the central problem of interpretation," Going on to say that, "Essentially, hermeneutics involves cultivating the ability to understand things from somebody else's point of view, and to appreciate the cultural and social forces that may have influenced their outlook. Hermeneutics is the process of applying this understanding to interpreting the meaning of written texts and symbolic artifacts (such as art or sculpture or architecture), which may be either historic or contemporary," ("Hermeneutics" p.1). Throughout the course of time, history has played an important role in the creation of some of the greatest works of literary art that have survived the ages. "In the last two millennia, the scope of hermeneutics has expanded to include the investigation and interpretation not only of oral, textual and artistic works, but of human behaviour generally, including language and patterns of speech, social institutions, and ritual behaviours (such as religious ceremonies, political rallies, football matches, rock concerts, etc.). Hermeneutics interprets or inquires into the meaning and import of these phenomena, through understanding the point of view and 'inner life' (Dilthey) of an insider, or the first-person perspective of an engaged participant in these phenomena," ("Hermeneutics" p.1). As they set out to create their work, the author uses their understanding of the material to set forth a creation of literary discovery that seeks to aid in furthering greater study on a wide variety of subject matter, whatever the subject may be. In the case of the bible, "In the history of interpretation the rise of the historical-critical method opened a new era. With it, new possibilities for understanding the biblical word in its originality opened up. Just as with all human endeavor, though, so also this method contained hidden dangers along with its positive possibilities. The search for the original can lead to putting the word back into the past completely so that it is no longer taken in its actuality. It can result that only the human dimension of the word appears as real, while the genuine author, God, is removed from the reach of a method which was established for understanding human reality," ("Interpretation" p.1). The source goes on to discuss that, "Accordingly, the text of the document inquires into how the meaning of Scripture might become known-this meaning in which the human word and God's word work together in the singularity of historical events and the eternity of the everlasting Word, which is contemporary in every age. The biblical word comes from a real past. It comes not only from the past, however, but at the same time from the eternity of God and it leads us into God's eternity, but again along the way through time, to which the past,

Apple vs. Samsung Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Apple vs. Samsung - Research Paper Example Samsung has been able to create different versions of one product to meet various types of consumers needs. Apple on the other hand has specialized in the creation of various products for a wide range of varying needs. Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple Inc. in 1976. The company’s headquarters are in Cupertino in South Korea. The company is a dealer of designer software, electronics, and provision of computer services (OGrady, 2012). Samsung, a company in the same field, began its journey in 1938 under the foundation of Lee Byung- chul in Daegu, which is located in South Korea (Lee, 2006). This paper aims to evaluate the two companies in terms of product, place, promotion, and price. Product refers something tangible or intangible available for purchase from an organization. Samsung produces many products of a fairly similar nature to suit various consumers. Apple produces technologically varying products to meet varying needs. Samsung has been leading product provider since its inception. Scholars and economists have noted that since the creation of Apple, Samsung has been forced to revamp and re-strategize itself every so often to keep up with the threat. Samsung has been able to compete due to the advantage that it has created a tough image for decades on end and has established goodwill with the globe (Thamhain, 2014). This was the most important part of the data collection process. This is because participants were allowed to take their questionnaires with them for a period spanning 5 days. Questionnaires were handed out to 20 persons randomly. In this section, the results of the survey about respondents’ preferences will be reported. The report is structured by each of the five questions in the survey beginning with question 1.Percentages were used to ensure that an overall perspective on Reponses was acquired. The first point illustrates the percentage of participants that had a

Family Systems Theory Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Family Systems Theory - Research Paper Example Miller’s living systems theory also is considered for its structural elements, as it implements largely scale life systems than Bronfenbrenner’s model. Finally, Bowen’s theory is considered as it further incorporates interlocking elements into the analysis of family systems. Abstract – Depth Depth is examined in relation in relation to Bertalanffy, Bronfenbrenner, Bowen and Miller’s family systems theories. Bertalanffy’s system perspective is considered as it advances notions of family systems as necessarily embodying concerns related to interactivity. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological system is considered as it implements specific life systems, notably the microsystem, mesosystem, and exosystem. Miller’s living systems model implements both specific elements, but also expands to include all living things. This is notable as it implements more foundational considerations than Bronfenbrenner’s approach, allowing for increased re cognition of the family system. Bowen’s approach expands depth considerations through the implementation of a variety of family system investigative tools, including investigations into differentiation of self, the nuclear family emotional system, and triangles. Abstract -- Application Bertalanffy, Bronfenbrenner, Bowen and Miller’s family systems theories are considered in terms of specific applications. ... Through the foundational elements this model incorporates this perspective is applied in establishing the base elements of the system. Bowen’s approach is similarly applied in terms of its emphasis on interlocking concepts. While all of the aforementioned system components implements differing perspectives, it’s recognized that their comprehensive application will reveal different results. The interstices of these results then can be considered as revealing more thorough insights than a singular approach could provide. Family Systems Theory While childhood development and human psychology have long been prominent scholarly considerations, the 20th century witnessed a decided shift in investigative emphasis. Within this spectrum of understanding, an increasing emphasis on the nature of environment or systems as contributing to psychological and developmental concerns emerged. Past theories were largely been rooted in mechanistic or atomistic accounts of psychology; these were largely abandoned for the more holistic perspectives inherent in systems models. This research considers four prominent perspectives on systems theory. Specifically, notions proposed by Bertalanffy, Bronfenbrenner, Bowen and Miller are examined within the context of family systems theory. Ludwig Von Bertalanffy was one of the original theorists to consider the importance of systems within science. While his perspectives would later be adopted in terms of psychology and families, his perspectives spanned throughout science. Referred to as General Systems Theory, this perspective shifted scientific analysis of organisms from a mechanistic model, to one that emphasizes more holistic environmental concerns. While the mechanistic approach greatly situated investigation in-terms of

Animal Accommodation in the UK Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Animal Accommodation in the UK - Assignment Example The significance of the freedoms led to their adaptation by international representation groups. They included the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the World Organization for Animal Health. Apart from animal owners, professional groups such as veterinary are required to adhere to the provisions of the five freedoms.  Ã‚   The five freedoms stated are : †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Freedom from hunger and thirst: Owners of animal are required to ensure their animals are on the proper diet. It includes access to quality and enough food as well as clean drinking water. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Freedom from discomfort: Owners are required to provide their animal with appropriate shelter, as well as an environment with a proper resting place. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Freedom from injury, disease or pain:   an owner should ensure their animals are free from diseases as well react quickly with a provision of veterinary care when affected by diseases. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Freedom to express normal behavior: an animal should be provided with sufficient space, proper facilities and the comfort from animals of the same kind.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Freedom from fear and distress:   an animal should be exposed to conditions and treatment that hinder mental suffering.   Ã‚  

Evolution from vintage to contemporary haute couture based on a social Essay

Evolution from vintage to contemporary haute couture based on a social and cultural context - Essay Example ... 5 2.2. Christian Dior: ‘The New Look’ and Working Class Women †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 2.3. Social and Cultural Basis of Transformations in Fashion Trends †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 2.3.1. Other Social Impacts on Fashion Trends and Haute Couture †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 11 2.3.2. The Contribution of Japanese Designers to Haute Couture in Paris †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.17 2.4. Haute Couture in the Production of Culture and its Similarity to Art †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦19 3. Contemporary Haute Couture: Body Concepts, Lifestyle and Media †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 23 4. Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 33 5. Bibliography †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 35 EVOLUTION FROM VINTAGE TO CONTEMPORARY HAUTE COUTURE BASED ON A SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT 1. Introduction Haute couture refers essentially to fashion created through the artistic expression of the designer, instead of by the dictates of commonly held beliefs and norms related to clothing. By the late 17th century, the origins of the haute couture approach emerged in France, the European centre for innovative and richly produced luxury silk textiles. The opulent fabrics formed the basis for developing the system of haute couture. From the mid-19th century, Paris based haute couture validated the fashion designer as a creative artist, and not merely a skilled artisan, and established the designer’s name as â€Å"an international authority for the design of luxurious, original clothing† (Batty, 2008, p.4). The history of modern fashion is traced from haute couture in the late nineteenth century with the formation of the House of Worth, to the present day high fashion apparel created by contemporary designers (Martin and Koda, 1997). The changing fashion trends include the rise of haute couture, demi-couture, pret a porter or read-to-wear, mass production, and the prevalence of street fashion. These changes were accompanied by several complexities and contradictions caused by the social, cultural and art environment of the changing times (Martin and Koda, 1997). Thus, in studying the evolution of haute couture during the twentieth century, it is essential to understand the dynamics between commerce and culture, technology and aesthetics, popular culture and pastische, and fashion and anti-fashion at different stages. Later developments in high fashion integrated elite class and taste with street style, derived from tribalism, popular culture and rebellion against formal modes. According to English (2007), fashion is found to imitate art, which in turn is regarded as reflecting the different para digms of life. Thus, the social and cultural contexts of the times play an essential role in the development of fashion. â€Å"Fashion was not only an indicator of cultural change; it was influenced by many social changes† (Batty, 2008, p.11), particularly transformations in gender and class differentiation. Fashion also served to create several social changes. The distinction between high fashion apparel and clothing became hazy, and people’s perspectives altered over time die to technological advancements, ideological transformations and changes in consumerism. From a social history perspective, fashion has contributed considerably but gradually to the liberation of women. It has also played a role in their achieving â€Å"increased power both as consumers and as producers of goods† (Batty, 2008, p.8). Thus, women’s willing acceptance of being targeted by fashion trends

Dilemmas of Leadership Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Dilemmas of Leadership - Term Paper Example The process of influencing others to attain a goal and also direct an organization in such a way that it becomes more cohesive and coherent is leadership. According to Kotter, leadership is how to deal with change. â€Å"Leadership focuses on change and innovation; it focuses on the big picture; it focuses on strategies that take calculated risks, and it focuses on people’s values†. (Gardner 1996) The path and goal model of leadership by Robert House expects the leader to encourage and motivate the followers in order to attain the desired objective. According to this model, the leader plays a big role in influencing the performance, satisfaction, and motivation of a group. According to Ashim Gupta (2009), when in a dilemma most leaders demonstrate a mix of leadership styles. There are four most commonly used leadership styles namely autocratic, bureaucratic, participative and the laissez - faire style of leadership. In an autocratic leadership style, the leader acts as the supreme commander and the followers have to obey him. This kind of leadership is required in factories when the work demands one to adhere to a series of systematic rules to attain the end product. For example; working in a sugar factory requires one to follow a series of methodical process to obtain sugar from sugarcane. One single mistake will result in one to repeat the process again. Hence, the best-suit ed leadership style for this case is autocratic. In bureaucratic leadership style, the leader acts as per the rules and regulations laid down by the company.

Hamlet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 15

Hamlet - Essay Example Hamlet dresses badly and Queen Gertrude is displeased by his behaviour and more so because of the demise of his dad and her remarrying. Claudius orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to investigate the reasons for his son in law’s unusual behaviour (Shakespeare 41). Hamlet organizes a play The Murder of Gonzalo in which he reveals the ghost’s words to King Claudius of killing his father. The king behaves in a manner to suggest the words are true. Gertrude tries to stop Hamlet, but he reprimands her for remarrying. Hamlet bashes Polonius while listening to the scolding in arrears of the curtains (Shakespeare 86). The flicker resurfaces to Hamlet and instructs him to be gentle to Gertrude. Eventually, the queen ditches King Claudius. Later King Claudius is stunned by the news of Polonius’ demise (Shakespeare 92). The queen, however, defends Hamlet insinuating he is mad. Now scared, the king sends him to England and reveals his plans to kill him while in England (Shakespeare 95). Ophelia goes angry and later on pass away. The King informs Laertes that Hamlet was responsible for the death of his father, and they plan to kill him at a fencing match. During Ophelia’s funeral, Hamlet communicates to Horatio on how he escaped his planned death in England and in its place Rosencrantz as well as Guildenstern died (Shakespeare). Hamlet also says that he wanted to devour King Claudius Killed. The Queen perishes from drinking festering cup predestined for Hamlet (Shakespeare 140). Laertes poisoned sword cuts Hamlet hurdles against Laertes but, while about to die, Hamlet stabs Claudius with Laertes’ sword; instructs Horatio to reveal the story, and recommends Young Fortinbras as Denmark’s next King (Shakespeare line 142). This scene is vital in the play as helps in the establishment of not only the tone of the play but also the background situation of the play setting. This is essential as normally the there

Vulnerability on Internet Essay Example for Free

Vulnerability on Internet Essay

Role of Self Control in Juvenile Delinquency

Role of Self Control in Juvenile Delinquency Introduction A common issue in the behavioral science field is attempting to determine who is in need of services, determining where best to spend resources, and in general trying to determine a model of prediction to determine juvenile delinquency in order to apply prevention techniques. It is the goal of this proposal to show that the General Theory of Crimes concept of self-control and the influence it has on determining juvenile delinquency is the better method than other more common models. Research has shown that self-control moderates some (if not all) of the relationships other theories have with delinquency. One of the more recent theories, the general theory of crime (Gottfredson, Hirschi. 1990), suggests that the concept of self-control is the single best forecaster of crime. Self-control refers to a person’s ability to think of the long-term consequences of antisocial behavior, (Hirschi, 2004). Substantial attention to this theory has resulted in remarkable empirical support for its direct effects on delinquency, yet various external factors (i.e. friends) still appear to have significant additional effects as well, (Pratt, Cullen, 2000). In contrast to relying upon a particular viewpoint, for example those used in the general theory of crime; others suggest using multiple theories at the same time, (Messner, Krohn, Liska, 1989). Researchers have been investigating the extent to which self-control moderates the association between a variety of outside factors and criminal behaviors; however it is only recently that researchers have started to look at how much self-control influences criminal behavior. Some studies have found that outside factors, such as the area they live in, will have a more significant influence for those with a greater level of self-control, (Wikstrà ¶m, Loeber, 2000). In other words, some have suggested that outside influences are simply insignificant for those with low self-control, (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). As a result, those with some level of self-control will have an influence by outside factors. On the contrary, others have found that social influences (i.e. delinquent peers) have definite effects for those most at risk. For example, Wright and colleagues (2001) suggest that those with little self-control have a greater tendency towards deviant behavior and therefore harmful social influences serve only to worsen that tendency. In contrast, those with high self-control are able to defy the temptation of these negative social influences. However, it has been suggested that certain individual characteristics could possibly moderate the effects of factors such as those found in social learning theory, (Agnew, 2006). Social learning theory has achieved a rather large amount of empirical support. Current theories may need to look at their concepts, and policies aimed at criminals who don’t have self-control may need to refocus their efforts on social issues that may not be as important for those criminals that show signs of superior levels of self-control. As mentioned above, it remains uncertain how strong the connections are, and in what way their effects present, however it is believed that the General Theory of Crime presents a more defensible viewpoint to be the best predictor of juvenile delinquency, since it includes self-control. Moreover, the purpose of this proposal is to attempt to provide a greater insight into which of these theories best predict juvenile delinquency, in order to provide better treatment/prevention for this population (i.e. better management with impulses). Literature Review The behavioral science field has for a long time searched to find the best way to explain the broad ranges of criminal behavior. Numerous theories have developed due to this most often with distinct and more often than not incompatible suppositions to explain criminal behavior. These explanations vary from sociological factors and individual characteristics, to the more recent interaction between the two effects. Before describing these potential interactive relationships, a few theories will be discussed to show the important contribution each has made on its own. Social Learning Theory: Akers presented one of the best known social learning theories, and over the years has been given substantial support. Akers re-examined the theory of differential association put forth by Sutherland, in an attempt to explain criminal behavior that looked at the idea of differential reinforcements, imitation, definitions, and differential associations. The conforming or nonconforming of these factors will be determined by whether or not the behavior is balanced, (Akers, 1998). Differential associations are perhaps one of the most important parts of the social learning theory. The concept of differential association refers to the interaction with different groups, and how antisocial people associate more with each other than they do with those that would be considered pro-social, (Akers, 1985). Differential associations happen first and provide the context for the conceptualization of definitions, introduction to reinforcements, and models to copy, (Akers et al., 1979). The rewards and punishments of recognized associations will influence the capability to create new associations and uphold the old ones, (Akers, 1998). The common groups with whom one differentially associates include, family, peers, church, neighbors, schools, and teachers, however they are not limited to just these, (Akers, 1985). The priority, duration, frequency, and intensity of each relationship establish its strength, (Akers, 1998). Specifically, those relationships that happen most often, begin earlier, last the longest, and involve those with whom one is closest will have the greatest sway on the behavior. The number of delinquent friends that one associates with is the best forecaster of criminal behavior, (Akers et al., 1979). In the end, it is this balance of these reinforcements (either as rewar ds or punishments) that provide to increase or decrease delinquent behavior. The General Theory of Crime: The General Theory of Crime unlike the previous theories seeks to explain delinquent behavior as the result of a single individual trait, (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). This single trait, i.e. self-control, refers to a person’s ability to think about the long-term, negative consequences of antisocial behavior, and all of the possible consequences of a individual’s actions, (Hirschi, 2004). With the understanding that pain is experienced differentially and that pleasure is equally enjoyed by everyone, a person’s level of self-control will have an effect on how much a person works out consequences. Therefore, the less a person ponders prospective consequences, the greater the chance they will commit delinquent acts when the opportunities to do so arises, (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). Hirschi and Gottfredson (1994) felt that their theory explains not only delinquent acts, but also a number of behaviors concerning instant gratification at the risk of long-term pain. M oreover, if one lacks self-control they are often described as impulsive, short-tempered, having risky behaviors, insensitive, and selfish, (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). Delinquent acts are committed in order to satisfy ones self-interest, and their immediate satisfaction. For those lacking self-control, these delinquent acts tend to satisfy their impulsive desires, and are often harmful to others, (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). Additionally, because those low in self-control are more inclined to look for acts that offer instant satisfaction at the risk of long-term pain, one can assume that they will engage in delinquent behaviors (i.e. drinking and drug use. Furthermore, those committing one type of delinquent behavior are more likely to commit another type of delinquent behavior, which means ones past delinquent behavior is the best forecaster of future crime, (Hirschi, 2004). On top of variety, delinquent behaviors will be committed more often by those lacking self-control, (Gottfredson, Hirschi, 1990). According to Hirschi and Gottfredson, everyone is prone to deviate in the beginning; however it is through good parenting that self-control is acq uired, and will remain somewhat stable throughout a person’s life (Hirschi, Gottfredson, 1994). Though, Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) felt that opportunity was necessary along with self-control they did admit that there were numerous opportunities to commit delinquent acts, and therefore diminished the part they play. Summary Research has shown that important concepts resulting from social learning theory (i.e. associations, definitions, and reinforcements), and the general theory of crime (i.e. self-control) are linked to antisocial behavior. Concepts from each of these theories have shown to have an effect on delinquent behavior; however there is also evidence that shows that there are interactive effects as well, though they have failed to agree on the exact way this interaction takes place. The theories discussed earlier attempt to show why people commits deviant acts through direct and independent measures, and can be considered as either a social causation or social selection model. Social causation proposes delinquent acts are the result of deviant social relationships, which social learning would fall under since it suggestions factors outside the person lead to antisocial behavior. On the contrary, social selection suggests delinquent acts are the result of individual characteristics, which the general theory of crime is a good example of since it proposes that self-control predicts a person’s involvement with deviant peers or having attachments that are weak to other people that are more generally open. Looking at only social causation or social selection model has led to a partial description of delinquent behaviors, and has been shown that the effects of outside factors remained considerable when individual measures (i.e. self-control) were included, (Wright, Caspi, Moffitt, Silva, 1999). For that reason, a model that includes both processes would present a more defensible viewpoint, (Wright et al., 1999). Methodology The aim of this research project is to target adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years in both middle school and high school in the Lexington, KY area. Two surveys, one based on social learning theory and another based on the general theory of crime, will be designed to examine crime and delinquency in both middle and high school students. Two weeks before the surveys will be distributed to the students and an informed consent form will be passed out detailing information about the researcher, that the surveys are voluntary and not required by the school to be taken, their purpose, and explaining how the surveys and their collections will be confidential. Both parents and students will need to sign the consent form indicating that they have acknowledged the above and give consent for the student to participate in the survey, which the student would be required to turn in at the time of the surveys. Multiple (4+) team members will be required to be on hand in order to assist th e students with any questions, and to insure that the survey sheet is placed in a sealable envelope and that there are no identifiable markings on the survey. All surveys once completed would then be gone over and any with identifiable marking would then be destroyed and the rest would be shuffled to insure that someone could not tie a particular survey to a particular student. Delinquency, the dependent variable, would then be measured by asking the students how many different crimes they have ever committed; spread over multiple different types of delinquent behavior questions, i.e. have you ever used alcohol, have you ever stolen something worth $50 or less, and as such. The independent variable social learning theory would then be comprised of three items, which are reinforcements, peer associations, and definitions. Definitions are defined as the student’s attitude towards a behavior that they recognize as positive, negative, or neutral. Peer associations, would then be measured by asking the number of their friends that had committed any of the acts of delinquency previously mentioned. Finally, reinforcements would then be measured by asking whether or not their friends would respect the student getting away with any of the acts of delinquency previously mentioned. The independent variable general theory of crime would then be broken down into two measures of self- control, which are behavioral and attitude; with self-control being defined as being impulsive, insensitive, physical, risk-taking, short-sighted, and nonverbal (Gottfredson Hirschi, 1990). Behavioral would then be measured by behaviors similar to crime (i.e. I’m more likely to hit vs. talk when mad), and attitude would then be measured by the students character traits (i.e. I often act on the spur of the moment without stopping to think). After all of the data has been completed I would then compare the two results to each other and see which of the variables showed the greater correlation. Works Cited Agnew, R. (2006). General strain theory: Current status and directions for further research. In F. Cullen, J. Wright, and K. Blevins (Eds), Taking Stock: The Status of Criminological Theory (pp. 101-123). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. Akers, R. (1985). Deviant behavior: A social learning approach, 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Akers, R. (1998). Social learning and social structure: A general theory of crime and deviance. Boston: Northeastern University Press. Akers, R., Krohn, M., Lanza-Kaduce, L., Radosevich, M. (1979). Social learning and deviant behavior: A specific test of a general theory. American Sociological Review, 44, 4, 636-655. Gottfredson, M., Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. Hirschi, T. (2004). Self-Control and Crime. In R. Baumeister and K.Vohs (Eds.), Handbook of Self-Regulation: Research, Theory, and Applications (pp. 537-552). New York: The Guilford Press. Hirschi, T., Gottfredson, M. (1994). The generality of deviance. The Generality of Deviance (pp. 1-22). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction. Magnusson, D. (1988). Individual development from an interactional perspective: A longitudinal study. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Messner, S., Krohn, M., Liska, A. (Eds). (1989).Theoretical integration in the study of deviance and crime: Problems and prospects. Albany: State University of New York Press. Pratt, T. Cullen, F. (2000). The Empirical Status of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s General Theory of Crime: A Meta-Analysis. Criminology, 38, 3, 931-964. Wikstrà ¶m, P., Loeber, R. (2000). Do disadvantaged neighborhoods cause well-adjusted children to become adolescent delinquents? A study of male juvenile serious offending, individual risk and protective factors, and neighborhood context. Criminology, 38, 4, 1109-1142. Wright, B., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T., Silva, P. (1999). Low self-control, social bonds, and crime: Social causation, social selection, or both? Criminology, 37, 3, 479-514. Wright, B., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T., Silva, P. (2001). The effects of social ties on crime vary by criminal propensity: A Life-course model of interdependence. Criminology, 39, 2, 321-351.

College Sororities: Rebuttal of Evan Wright’s Article, Sister Act Essa

College Sororities: Rebuttal of Evan Wright’s Article, Sister Act Walking around a university’s campus any day of the week, one sees an array of Greek letters worn proudly by young men and women in the Greek system. Fraternities and sororities play a big part in a university. The Greek system can also be an easy target to direct criticism. There are those who oppose the Greek system and those who embrace it. Evan Wright opposes the Greek system in his article â€Å"Sister Act† that was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. He uses examples from students at Ohio State University in Columbus to show his disapproval of the way sororities are now days. He portrays sorority girls as catty conformists who are obsessed with partying with fraternity guys. Evan Wright’s insubstantial claim is full of half-truths in reference to alcohol consumption, conformity, and the purpose of sororities; therefore, his critical position that sororities are corrupt is not credible. Wright’s assumption that sororities are corrupt because of alcohol consumption is flawed since he fails to look at college students as a whole. Wright ends his article with a glimpse of Reggaefest hosted by Sigma Kappa which is considering â€Å"the last big blowout of the year before exams and the farewell of another graduating class† (557). In displaying the intoxicating students at the party, Wright entices the reader to look down on the chaotic drinking, but he fails to realize that other students outside of the Greek organization are probably partying and drinking for the same reason. Anyone is college has access to alcohol in some way or another. If students really want to drink, they will find a way. He points his finger at the Greek system, probably the largest groups on ca... ...contributions to the college and community instead of being single out because they are an easy target. Works Cited â€Å"Delta Sigma Theta and DREF Implement SEE.† National Science Foundation. 2004. 6 October 2004. . â€Å"Greek Affairs.† Student Affairs – University of Buffalo. 21 June 2002. 6 October 2004. . â€Å"Philanthropy.† University of Florida Chi Omega Sorority. 6 October 2004. . Shalala, Donna E. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Alert No.29. July 1995. 6 October 2004. . â€Å"The Greek System.† University of Massachusetts. 2000. 6 October 2004. . â€Å"What’s the Rush? Greek System 101.† The Princeton Review. 6 October 2004. . Wright, Evan. â€Å"Sister Act.† Good Reasons with Contemporary Arguments. Ed. Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer. New York: Pearson Education, 2004. 550-559.

Movie: Stand And Deliver - Mr. Escalante Should Be An Inspiration To E

Movie: Stand and Deliver - Mr. Escalante Should Be An Inspiration to Everyone In the movie Stand and Deliver, double entendre ran rampant. During an Algebra lesson one day at the beginning of the school year, Mr. Escalante told Angel, a gang member, to "fill the hole". Not only was he referring to the hole as an illustration, but also to the hole in the students lives as a result of lack of education, the gangs, and in many cases, a poor upbringing. Mr. Escalante must have seen some potential in Angel and was trying desperately to fill the hole caused by a lack of education in his life. However, Angel, tied very deeply to his gang "family", would have none of it. Jaime wants Angel to pull a complete attitude reversal by learning and self...

Import Substitution Industries Essay

â€Å"There is a belief among some economists that a country should focus more on export sector explanation and diversification than promoting the import substitution Industries (ISI).† Critically comment on this taking Sri Lankan economy as an example. You are expected to refer relevant articles from recognized sources on the said areas and provide your own views and analysis with proper reasoning. Export means shipping the goods and services out of the port of a country. An import is a good brought into a jurisdiction, especially across a national border, from an external source. Import Substitution Industries (ISI) means an economic theory employed by developing or emerging market nations that wish to increase their self-sufficiency and decrease their dependency on developed countries. Implementation of the theory focuses on protection and incubation of domestic infant industries so they may emerge to compete with imported goods and make the local economy more self-sufficie nt. Normally importing is not bad. Importing raw materials and goods is one of the paths of increasing the profit margins. There are number of benefits in importing the goods, such as high quality, low prices, and benefits related to the international trade. But I think there are more disadvantages for country. Importing of goods could lead the erosion of the domestic markets and national economies specifically when there is trade deficit occurrence the import is higher than the export. And can also be increased due to import of goods such as conflict in the domestic values due to the acceptance of social values. The domestic industries can also be crippled due to the import of the countries where the wages are low and the domestic industries are unable to compete since they cannot lower down their prices of goods than the cost of goods. The exporting of goods is specifically difficult and disadvantageous for the small and medium size firms. The sale of services and goods into the foreign market is difficult for them rather serving the domestic market. A lack of knowledge of different languages, difference in culture, exchange regulations and trade regulations having the major impact on exporting the goods. But normally there are have more advantages than importing. One of the major advantages of export is the ownership advantage which is specific to the firms international experience, asset and ability of the exporter to  either develop the differentiated product or low cost product with in the values chain. A combination of investment risk and market potential is known as the location benefit of the particular market combination. In order to retain the core competencies within the organization and stitching it throughout the country without retaining the license, selling or outsourcing is the international advantage in export. Some of the organizations having lower level of ownership advantage may do not enter into the foreign markets. In case a company’s products and company’s ownership equipped with the international advantage and ownership advantage, the entry can be made through low risk model known as exporting under the eclectic paradigm. There is low investment requires in exporting of goods than the other modes of inter national trade and expansion such foreign direct investment. Somehow it is recognized that the lower level of risk result in ,lower level of rate of return than possibly the other modes of international trade. On the other hand the usual return on international trade in export sales might not have greater potential but also there will be no risk. In export of goods the managers are allowed to exercise the various operational control however it does not have the option over the control of marketing activities of the company. The end consumer of exported goods is far away from the exporter though the various intermediaries can manage the risk. Export performance is one of the strongest areas of Sri Lanka’s economy at the present time. It can be best described as a growth area. If you were to take exports as a whole, there has been an improvement of around 14% across the board, in terms of the foreign exchange that was realized by Sri Lankan exports. However, in some sectors, the growth has been very much more. For example, in the electronic sector, it is as high as 80%, with rubber performing at 45%, wooden products at 57%, and so on. And also emphasis that the government’s policy is not restricted to enhancing the quantum of foreign exchange that we earn from exports. Earning more foreign exchange is important as the country requires it, but we do not intend to stop there. This is a necessary condition but we do not see it as being sufficient. One of the main policy objectives is to ensure that all benefits percolate down to the grassroots level. In other words, there has to be an equitable distribution of wealth and income right throughout the country. So Sri Lanka is today referred to as a ‘middle income country’ with a per capita income  of US$ 1,370. However, one of our problems is that the distribution of income within the country is far from equitable. A good example of this is the fact that the per capita income in the district of Colombo is seven times what it is in districts such as Monaragela, Pollonnaruwa and Hambantota. Thus we need to address the inequities that are inherent in that situation. This is why the putting a particular emphasis on the concept of ‘export promotion villages’ that are being developed around the country. However in this year Imports in Sri Lanka increased to 1845.30 USD Million in July of 2014 from 1439.40 USD Million in June of 2014. Imports in Sri Lanka averaged 1035.70 USD Million from 2001 until 2014, reaching an all time high of 1986.40 USD Million in November of 2011 and a record low of 408 USD Million in February of 2002. (Reported by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka) Normally we export different type of goods like Apparel, tea, rubber coconut gems etc†¦ In those industries the tea industry is perhaps Sri Lanka’s most strategic economic sector and pure Ceylon tea our only internationally known brand. We are the world’s biggest tea exporter, manufacturing more than 300 million kilos of black tea annually, almost all of which is exported. Our orthodox teas usually sell at a premium over other orthodox teas from elsewhere. Therefore we can increase that industry and get more economical profit for our country. In importing we have to pay more money with huge taxes to other countries, and in that situation we waste our money more. But if we focus more on export sector explanation and diversification we can improve our productions, develop our manufactures, and finally we can export those productions for other countries, then we can earn more profit. Don’t want to pay unessential money for other countries if we’ll develo p our exporting industry. In that case we can increase jobs for our people also, and we can develop our economy. So, mainly Imports and exports may seem like general terms that have little bearing on everyday life, but they exert a profound influence on the consumer and the economy. In today’s interlinked global economy, consumers are used to seeing products and produce from every corner of the world in their local malls and stores. These overseas products or imports provide more choices to consumers and help them manage strained household budgets. But too many imports in relation to exports which are products shipped from a country to foreign destinations can distort a  nation’s balance of trade and devalue its currency. The value of a currency, in turn, is one of the biggest determinants of a nation’s economic performance. So finally studying about those cases I also think the country should focus more on export sector explanation and diversification than promoting the import substitution Industries (ISI).

Gatsby Essy

Gatsby is not of royal greatness but fulfills all the other criteria of a tragic hero. Like everything else, the typical tragic hero has evolved greatly since its beginning days and Fitzgerald has made a large contribution to its evolution with his tragedy, The Great Gatsby. Jay Gatsby is considered a modern day tragic hero because he fulfills all of the expectations a tragic hero in todays day and age has. The first expectation that Gatsby fulfills to be a modern day tragic hero is that he has a Hamartia. His Hamartia is his obsession over having Daisy to himself.He considers her as the last thing in life that he needs in order to have perfection. She is the only unrealistic dream that he chases and in the end, dies because of her, which is symbolic of her devastating impact on his life. Everything he does in life is geared towards his goal of having Daisy's love. A quote to show when Nick realizes Gatsbys Hamartia is, â€Å"Then it had merely the stars to which he had aspired on t hat June night. He came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor† (Fitzgerald 79).Nick realizes all of Gatsbys parties and everything Gatsby does is to reach his ideal, Daisy. This flaw of Gatsby's is what indirectly leads to his horrific death. Something else that happens to Gatsby which makes him a tragic hero is Hubris. Ever since the beginning of his life, Gatsby has always envisioned himself as better than what he was given. He was born poor, but worked to be rich and successful, all for Daisy. He is too arrogant though, to realize he will never get Daisy. He thinks himself too powerful and cannot understand how Daisy cannot ossibly love him enough to leave Tom.A quote to prove this is, â€Å"Was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night. † (Fitzgerald 189). He is too conceited to realize that his illegal money isn't enough for Daisy to fully love him back. His arrogance is what leads to his destruction in the end by the Gods. Pathos is another requirement Gatsby fulfills in being a modern day tragic hero. Although Gatsby makes many mistakes that are indirectly the cause of his death, he Just didn't know better.He can't seem to get over his obsession of Daisy, as he is blind to the truth. Gatsby is a romantic dreamer who believes he will win the love of his life by gaining wealth. Daisy, however, is completely undeserving of his devotion. This is what causes the reader to feel empathy with Gatsby at the end. It's not his fault that he can't seem to notice how superficial and materialistic Daisy really is. A quote to prove Gatsby's absolute love for Daisy is, â€Å"He stretched his arms to warm water†(Fitzgerald 25). This reters to whenGatsby is seen looking at the green light leading to Daisy's house. W this, the reader can see the extreme desire Gatsby has for Daisy, but no matter how much he reaches for he r, he will never be able to have her. This however, is something Gatsby doesn't realize, making the reader feel compassion for his blindness to the truth. Catharsis is also something else seen in The Great Gatsby that makes Gatsby a tragic hero. Towards the end of the novel, the readers start to realize his complete carelessness and selfishness.He only cares about himself and oes what he feels is best for himself, not really taking into consideration how his decisions will affect anyone else. A example of his recklessness would be Myrtle Wilson's death. Although Daisy was the one who ran her over, Gatsby showed no remorse with killing Myrtle and even after he stepped on the emergency brake and Daisy fell into his lap, he drove on without regret of leaving her there. A quote to show this is, â€Å"So I pulled on the emergency brake. Then she fell over into my lap and I drove on† (Fitzgerald 137).Gatsby could've easily turned the car around and went ack to see if Myrtle was oka y but he decided to drive on, which shows how he only cares for himself. Even when he became friends with Nick, he only did so to get closer with Daisy. Daisy's materialistic outlook influences Jay enough to think that way too. So everything that Gatsby ever does, is all for his personal gain and his dream of getting Daisy. Gatsby's catastrophe death is the one of the things that happens to him which makes him a tragic hero. Gatsby is tragically murdered by Mr.

To what extent did Thatcher achieve her aims in foreign policy?

When Margaret Thatcher first came to power in 1979 she had little interest in foreign policy but focussing mainly on economic and domestic policy. However, it was an area where she left a huge impact on. One of Thatcher’s aims was to increase the defence for Britain as she believed the USSR was a massive threat militarily. This meant improving relations with the USA. Her views on Communism helped with this as her and Ronald Reagan both shared the same ideas. She also believed NATO was vital to British and European defence and so to strengthen this relationship was important. She supported NATO’s decision to deploy US nuclear cruise and Pershing missiles in Western Europe and permitted the US to station more than 160 cruise missiles at RAF Greenham Common, even though she knew it would trigger mass protests by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Relations improved with the US when Thatcher permitted US F-111s to use Royal Air Force bases for the bombing of Libya in retaliation for their apparent bombing of a Berlin nightclub; this decision wasn’t very popular with the British citizens. Another one of Margaret Thatcher’s aims was to reassert Britain’s position as a major power. Many people will say she achieved this because of the Falklands War. In April 1982, Argentina ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia which were under British control at the time. She successfully retook the islands back by setting up a War Cabinet and dispatching a naval task force against them which in June they surrendered. Even though 255 British soldiers died and the attack on an Argentinian cruiser which sunk and killed everyone on board, people were far more distracted by the victory which took place. This helped her win the 1983 elections. However, she was strongly criticised as to why she didn’t pay attention to the Falklands’ defence that led to the war, in which she could have stopped happening. This in turn would have saved the lives of the British soldiers and the people on the Argentinian cruiser. Some people may disagree that Thatcher achieved the aim to raise Britain’s status entirely because of the Grenada incident. On October 1983, the USA attacked Grenada; a member of the Commonwealth, without consulting Britain to take-over a Marxist organisation. This was an embarrassment for Thatcher because it showed her weakness to defend countries which were once members of the Commonwealth who felt they still needed to be defended. Thatcher also wanted to see the defeat of Communism, which some people argue was achieved and that her role played an important part. She was able to build a working relationship with Mikhail Gorbachev who came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985. This placed Britain in a good position to be the peace-maker between the US and the Soviet Union. They ended up meeting a couple of times which led to the agreement to scrap all intermediate-range missiles from Europe, the elimination of tactical and battlefield nuclear weapons and conventional forces. After that many countries in Eastern Europe experienced their own revolution which led to domestic changes and an end to the Soviet domination over them. This was a victory for Britain and all the other NATO countries. Although this aim was achieved, Thatcher feared that because many changes were happening across Eastern Europe, Germany would start to reunify and become strong again which would affect the European balance of power and Thatcher didn’t like this. After discussing the aims of Margaret Thatcher in Foreign Policy, I believe on the whole she achieved them. She managed to reassert Britain’s position as a superpower because of the Falklands war. It was a massive turning point for Thatcher and a defining moment in her premiership which helped her stay in power by winning the 1983 election. Even though many people died during the Falkland’s War, she was considered a highly talented and committed war leader by many people. She also helped defeat Communism by building a relationship with the Soviet leader and making discussions between the US and the Soviet Union easier. This led to nuclear disarmament which helped with Britain’s fear of Russia attacking them.

Yvain

Yvain or The Knight with the Lion: The Introduction of Literary Strengths There are few novels today that possess the adventure which takes place throughout Yvain (aka The Knight with the Lion). Chretien’s use of structure in this poem has surely influenced the modern day novel. Yvain was one of the first books to introduce the genre of Chivalric Romance, which many authors still mimic today. The genre capturing this tale clearly defined literature thereafter and was the beginning of a new era in story-telling. In Northrop Frye’s definition of modes, we can see that this poem is clearly in â€Å"Romance Mode†.In the concept of modes, Frye identifies literary works to be classified by the hero’s power of action. By distinction of any novels’ hero, the audience can discern whether the main character or hero has powers greater, less, or roughly the same as the audience’s. The romance mode is the second mode of Frye’s distinction. In this poem, the hero of the story is human, but is certainly superior to normal humans; it is a story in which the hero has marvelous strengths and powers of endurance. The setting of the story may also slightly suspend the laws of nature in a way that allows magical things to happen.As Frye says, this is the world of legends, folk tales, and fairy tales. In this novel, the main character Yvain portrays the essence of these qualities. Yvain has many instances throughout the poem, in which he miraculously overcomes obstacles. There was not one event in which he lost against another knight or creature. The fact that Yvain intruded on a fight between a lion and a snake, is in itself, marvelous. No human in real life, would risk their life for this situation. In this scene, as Yvain chose to slay the snake by chopping it into pieces, and the lion shows a sense of gratefulness. The Lion rose on his hind feet and joined his forepaws in complete submissiveness and then he spread his forepaws out and bowed his head in great humility (pg 95). † It was after this point that they became companions, and the lion would never leave his side. This scene illustrates the Romance mode as the basic laws of nature are slightly obstructed by the lion’s ability to express feelings. Taking a closer look, we can discern the subcategory of this romance mode to be chivalric and contain courtly love. The entire story is full of many events in which even Chretien noted as chivalric.These consist of the knightly values of courage and loyalty as well as extreme respectfulness to others, especially women. In these civilized times, the royalty- living in castles and employing warriors- created these rules of combat and courtly manners that knights should carry out. It was the main goal for every knight to perform the good deeds, because it was the honorable thing to do, not because its adventure was of interest. In the poem, Calogrenant went in search for a marvel to entertain himself with adventure.But when this lead to disaster, Yvain had to stand by his side because they were cousins, and blood relatives were not to be abandoned. Yvain went out in hopes to avenge his cousin Calogrenant, â€Å"The lord did not sit down or pause; he poured some water on the great green stone. The storm came, just as he had known (pg 23). † Here, Yvain committed the same act that got Calogrenant in trouble, yet Yvain did not commit this act in hopes of a marvel, but rather to hold honor because it was the right thing to do for his family.This act reinforced Yvain’s knightly duties, furthering his intent to be chivalrous. Instrumental for the configuration of any chivalric identity in a medieval romance, this genre entices the male audience with its tales of lone adventuring, jousting with common men, killing beasts, rescuing virgins, and fighting in fateful battles. It also introduces a new side (in the medieval time period) to male and female relations, fascinatin g the idea of courtly love. The behavior of courtly love was a social phase that society engaged during the time of the poem.It was the idea that love was a service that gentlemen carried out for their women. It also reflected the principle that men and women could have conversation, and â€Å"flirt†. One could even fall in love at first sight by a physical process: in through the eyes, and passing down to the heart, and from there taking over the entire body as though captured by love’s poison. In the poem, the audience sees Yvain express his feelings through courtly love. â€Å"A new Love sweetens him with sugar and honey. Love, at whim, has hunted in her lands today, and now she gathers in her prey.His enemy has his heart (pg 38). † By this quote, we see that the force of love is overpowering, and Yvain is the â€Å"prey† wounded by love, because this woman, whose husband he has killed, now has his heart. When Yvain was published, society had just rece ntly become civilized, as opposed to their previously barbaric state. People were becoming accustomed to mannerism and sense of ruling. In the poem, we see a little of both sides of this society. In most of the story, Yvain and his surroundings are civilized, he is a proper knight and he is carrying out duties of society in a refined way.But when Laudine brought shame upon him for breaking his promise to her, we see Yvain turn to the opposite of civilized society. Yvain became so ashamed of himself he turned to a barbaric state of society, â€Å"a whirlwind broke loose in his brain, so violent that he went insane, and clawed himself, tore off his clothes and fled across the fields and rows (pg 79). † By entering the forest in this manner, Yvain indicated his complete abandonment of everything his aristocratic culture stood for—he no longer takes the part of a husband, or even a knight, but merely a wild animal.The entire poem is composed with many individual stories. W hat made this poem such an inspiration for the future genre was its completeness. Like Aristotle mentioned, a good story must have a beginning, middle and an end. Yvain, is compiled with many intricate stories chronologically placed, perfect and large enough for one to remember them all. The uniqueness of the Chivalric Romance genre had great influence on subsequent literature, but presenting three definite parts in the story is why Yvain or The Knight with the Lion became so renowned.

The Power of Power by James March

He explored factors that Influenced decision making, such as risk orientation, leadership and the ambiguity of the present and the past. March Is also known for the concept of ‘The Power of power. † March wrote â€Å"The Power of Power back in 1966. I believe that the point March is trying to make is quoted at the end of his article stating that â€Å"Power is a disappointing concept. It gives us surprisingly little purchase In reasonable models of complex systems of social choice. † (Classics Text by Sheriffs 2011, pig 318). March requires and can make effective use of such a concept.What March is trying to say is that power is too broad a concept for our empirical understanding at this point and until we can define every variable involved in the exercise of power, power cannot be empirically defined. The Oxford dictionary defines ‘power' as: The ability to make people (or things) do what they would not otherwise have done. Power is often classified into fi ve principal forms: force, persuasion, authority, coercion, and manipulation. March focused on a specific concept of power; which are used in theories that have the following general assumptions: 1.The choice mechanism involves certain basic components (individuals, groups, roles, behaviors, labels, etc. ). 2. Some amount of power is associated with each of these components. . The responsiveness (as measured by some direct empirical observation) of the mechanism to each individual component is monotone increasing with the power associated with the individual component. In the article, March starts out with the question: To what extent is one specific concept of power useful in the empirical analysis of mechanisms for social choice?March proposes the reader to take note of three variations of power to give a better idea of the uses of power that are being focused on. March then goes on to examine six different classes of models of social choice that are generally linked with hat at l east one substantial group of students means by ‘social power. ‘ March begins talking about three approaches by discussing the advantages and limitations of each approach when compared to the study of power used in . Recent efforts.The recent efforts were sought to illustrate the range of possible uses of the concept of power and its empirical capabilities: The three approaches are: experimental studies, community studies, and institutional studies. Experimental Conceptual Basis: The experimental studies of power are generally Newtonian. The studies are ultimately concerned with the power of one individual over another. Generally speaking, the greater the power of the individual, the greater the changes are induced, and the more successful the resistance to change.Procedures: Determine power by some a priori measure or experimental manipulation, use a relatively simple force model to generate hypotheses concerning differences in outcomes from different treatments, and co mpare the observed results with predicted results. Results: 1) This permits us to reject certain kinds of social choice models for certain kinds of situations because it allows us to vary power systematically or arbitrarily in an experimental setting (within limits). ) The effectiveness of a priori measurement is highly variable in producing behavior change. Community Conceptual basis: Typical community studies. Newtonian, two laws that define community study: 1 . Social choice will be a predictable extension of past choices unless power is exerted on the choice†¦ And 2. When power is exerted, the assumes that decisions made by the community are a function of the power exerted on the community by various power holders. The studies are analytical by observing the net effects of decision making by the individual.It's meaningful to aggregate resource power, position power, and skill power into a single variable. Procedures: Ask individuals in the community to rate the power of oth ers in the community or define a model relating power to decisions, observe, and estimate the power of the individual compared to the model. 1) Most people in most communities are essentially powerless. Latent control is rarely exercised. 2) Different individuals are powerful with respect to different things, but there are also general leaders.Institutional Conceptual basis: Systematic attempts to derive quantitative indices of power from n analysis of the structure of the institution to determine the power structure within them. Procedures: Construct an empirical index of power, make assumptions about the relation between the empirical and a priori measures, and test the consistency of the empirical results with the priori measures. Results: Riskier attempted to apply the basic Shapely-Suburb measure to the French assembly but was unsuccessful.The data didn't support the thesis and the approach was abandoned almost entirely. As noted earlier, March moves on to the six types of mode ls to evaluate the insistence of the models with available data and to consider the problem of power associated with them. Chance Models: Choice is random and independent of power. It fails because it relies on stability of power over time and subject matter. It cannot account for power derived from personal attributes. Models can have power manipulated resulting in systematic variations.The models are naive yet hard to completely reject. Basic Force Models: Empirical knowledge is easier to find here but they also assume stability of power and that power exerted equals total power, leaving no room for stored or unused power. Force Activation Models: Assumes that power is a potential for determinative action and that the exercise of power involves some method of activation. Empirical results for these models take you in circles when trying to make predictions. Force Conditioning Models: Assumes that apparent power leads to actual power. Success improves reputation, reputation improve s success. † People have power because they have been observed to have power. Models can't empirically account for connections to power. Force Depletion Models: Assumes that power is a resource, and when exercised, it is depleted. These models are the least useful of the three models. Process Models: Class of social choice systems in which power measurement will be unstable and useless. These models are too simple and an empirical understanding requires more variables.These models are sets of statements about the way in which individual choices are transformed into social choices and are used in hopes of deriving some empirically meaningful predictions. March refers to power as being a major explanatory concept in the study of social choice. He then goes on to say that power is used in studies of relations among nations, community decision making, business behavior, and small roof discussion; partly because it conveys overtones of cynicism of â€Å"Realistic† Realistic is defined as political realism, which refers to politics based on power and practical and material factors.March concludes his article by saying that the power of power depends on the extent to which a predictive model requires and can make effective use of such a concept. This depends on the type of system that is being confronted. March adds that power is probably a useful concept for many short term situations and that power is probably not a useful concept for long run situations involving problems of component overload and under comprehension. In summary, the concept of power has not filled the central role in the study of politics which many pioneers hoped it would.It has proved much easier to believe generally that politics is about power. I read on how March worked with frequently collaborated with Johan P. Olsen. One question I would like to ask is how was the experience of working alongside Olsen? Did you two often bump heads or were you always able to see eye to eye? Was it difficult teaming up against the strong individualism that underlies much political ND sociological theory; especially the view that institutions merely embody existing patterns of interest or group power?Youthfulness:http://www. Youth. Com/watch? Youth Overview: Speech given on September 7, 2011 at Stanford University. Dry. March highlights one of the most dangerous areas of institutional/personal bias drawing only from â€Å"Western constructs† in information-gathering and problem- definition. In an increasingly global and strategically dynamic world, this is suicide for many businesses. Wisped (Classics of Organizational Theory Text by Sheriffs, Tot, Gang 2011). Youthfulness:http://www. Youth. Com/watch?

How significantly does a democratic political system impinge on the Essay

How significantly does a democratic political system impinge on the conduct of foreign policy Is such interference desirable - Essay Example However positive implications of the element of democracy in the US foreign policy have been demonstrated by its role in enhancing stability in regions of the world that are under political troubles and the use of democracy as a tool of promoting prosperity within the developing nations. This essay gives a critical analysis and argument on the significance and role of democratic ideas on foreign policy with a special focus on the US foreign policy. The essay aims at arguing that the interference of a democratic system on the foreign policy is desirable. Bouchet (2011, p. 572) says that the significance of a democratic political system in shaping the foreign policy is demonstrated by the US foreign policy whose key priority is to spread democracy to other parts of the world. However some schools of thought argue that democracy as defined within the US foreign policy is just one of the strategic objectives that the US designs to impart influence on other nations of the worlds especiall y within the Asian societies and the developing world (Berger, 2011, p. 38). The issue of democracy is important in the US foreign policy as illustrated by speeches of presidential candidates and the discussions of Members of the Congress who define democracy within the foreign policy of the US. Regardless of this, it is argued that what matters is the where, when and how in the application of foreign policy in regard to the principles of democracy which matters the most (Miller, 2005, p. 174). There are however notable difficulties which are faced by the democratization processes within the US foreign policy whose significance is illustrated by the fact that political leaders have employed costly measures of overcoming these challenges (Clarke, 2000, p. 103). Hassan and Ralph (2011, p. 513) point out that during the First World War; the participation of the US was aimed at making world regions and economies safe enough for exercising democratic political systems, values and princip les. Since this war, the US administration has focused energies at ensuring that democracy was promoted in the different political systems of the world. For example presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Obama have demonstrated that the most valuable component of the US foreign policy is the need to promote democracy (Guerlain, 2011, p. 372). The Bush administration demonstrated the impact of democracy on foreign policy by using it as a tool for the promotion of peace and curbing terrorism. In the speeches of Bush, war on terror and democratization was the central component in the description of the US foreign policy (Berger, 2011, p. 47). The significance of democratic political systems in designing foreign policy was demonstrated by the Secretary of State during the Bush Administration, Dr. Condoleezza Rice. The Secretary of State came up with a diplomacy plan in early January, 2006 which was aimed at bringing political transformation by working with political partners to build demo cratic states and sustain democratic political systems (Bouchet, 2011, p. 577). Emphatically, Rice’s plan was restated in October, 2006 within the State Department. In this sense, democratic political systems are viewed to have a significant impact on the design and implementation of foreign p

Paper converters Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 2

Paper converters Ltd - Essay Example an be certain organizational elements, such as culture, that can highly affect the performance of organizational plans, either in the short or the long term, no matter the capabilities of organizational leader. The review of the terms of the merger leads to the assumption that the specific strategic decision was quite necessary, in order for the position of the two firms in their industry to be secured. Still, the lack of appropriate planning of the relevant initiative has an important implication: the actual benefits of the merger have been less than initially estimated, a problem that has been related to cultural problems both at organizational and at national level. The problem has become clearer when the firm, Paper Converters, decided to expand to Zambia. A series of measures, especially in regard to training and motivation, across the organization should be taken so that the position of the firm in the international market to be secured. Current report aims to show the reasons that can lead mergers to fail. Particular emphasis is given on the post – merger effects on firms that are interested in expand internationally. In addition, the report provides a series of recommendations in regard to the effective control and management of post merger effects. Reference is made in particular to Paper Converters; however, the findings and the recommendations presented in the study can be used for facing similar challenges. As noted in the case study, Paper Converters has been created from the merger between Dyson Papers Ltd and Jones Sales Agents Ltd. The merger was completed in 1988. The first of these companies had been established in Corby in 1983 as a result of the incentives provided then by the government for the creation of businesses in the particular region (case study). The second firm, the Jones Sales Agents Ltd, was based in Stevenage, about 60 miles far from Dyson Papers (case study). The physical distance between the two firms was considered as an

How changes in technology and the emergence of a global economy might Essay

How changes in technology and the emergence of a global economy might affect college graduates seeking jobs , and what new skill - Essay Example First of all, communication across cultures is the most important skill one should possess in the global economy. It is essential in the present business world to communicate with people from various cultural backgrounds. Undoubtedly, today’s workplace is rapidly becoming vast as business spreads to new geographic locations. So, knowing how to communicate with various cultures will make business transactions and management easy. Thus, recognizing cultural differences can ensure that the business transactions are successful. In fact, people from dissimilar cultural backgrounds have different ways of communication. This may result in poor communication, and consequently in misunderstanding and frustration. In such a global business arena, it becomes necessary for management students to have good cross cultural communication skills. In fact, the consequences of poor cross-cultural communication are plenty. In the opinion of Don W. Prince et al, they are â€Å"lost confidence, lo st customers, lost business relationships, and lost opportunities† (Prince & Hoppe, 2007, p. 30). The second important skill is computer skills. One cannot think about a business in the modern day world that functions without the aid of a computer. Presently, computer is used by employees at all levels in a company.

Reflective Questions That Require to Think Critically Essay

Reflective Questions That Require to Think Critically - Essay Example The essay "Reflective Questions That Require to Think Critically" offers a comparison and contrast of provided articles with regard to their purpose, organization, data compilation, analysis, and conclusions. The paper also differentiates correlation research from other research types and offers a description of a study plan for studying. The following is an overview of a World Bank research titled ‘World Bank policy research on vocational education and training† the purpose of this article is to establish whether it is important for the World Bank to fund educational projects. The study focuses on vocational education and training with an aim to identify benefits of such projects to young people. Concurrently, the provided article equally focuses on deductive processes within the education process. The organization of the study is as follows; first, the article begins by citing the origins of different educational projects, which are funded by the World Bank. There is a highlight of the assumptions considered before undertaking of the research. The article offers an explication of different challenges, which arose during the conduction of the study. The provided article deduces the background, methodologies; furthermore, it focuses on literature prior to presenting the postulations. There is a further exp lication of how the scope of the study was limited and how the entire project was structured. There is a provision of the research literature and ground study results that are significant to the study.

Research Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Proposal - Assignment Example 4-5). This means that HR has broadened its function from the administrative work to the payroll processing, training and development and various others. This has led the managers and supervisors think about how to utilize maximally the employees with their competence that can significantly contribute to the accomplishment and flourishing of the overall enterprise (Mathis  & Jackson, 2011, pp. 1-3). Therefore, the hypothesis statement with respect to this research proposal is "The effect of HR management on the success of organization", since it is one of the most imperative aspects to measure. Brief Literature Review The human capital for any organization is the amalgamation of the skills set that they have attained from the duties and responsibilities, their attitudes, knowledge, training and experience (past and current) that sets the value of the employee within the marketplace. Therefore, the human management is not only a function, as the role of workforce has become vital in the contemporary times that add the competitive advantage for the enterprise. This has come under numerous research and investigations (Sims, 2002, pp. 2-5). According to one of the empirical studies, it has come to notice that those organizations have been more successful and thriving that value their employees (HR), in contrast to the enterprises, which have not given much importance to their employees and have considered them of negligible worth. This is because when the employees feel that their participation and involvement towards a particular task is being recognized, the level of motivation amongst the employees boost, thus they tend to be more productive and efficient in producing the outputs, which facilitates in accomplishment of the company goals and missions (Sims, 2002, pp. 2-5). In fact, few of the research studies have concluded that the organizations that are generating more profits practice various universal things that include providing job security to the employe es, having active participation from the workers, involving them in self-managed teams, training and educating the new and current staff. Creating a collective organizational culture, sharing of sufficient company information with the members are also few of the aspects that the successful organization practice as their routine procedures (Pynes, 2009, pp. 23-26). Studies also indicate that the traditional role that the HR personnel enlightened was the acquiescence and fulfillment of the rules set by the organizational executives, where they kept the tracking of the records of the employees through simple matrices such as number of hired workforce, number of training hours completed by the employees and so forth. However, this traditional role of HR transformed and now they have a broader vision and focus on outcomes and results of the employees and not just figures and compliance, which have come under evidence in the current researches. Indeed, investigations indicate that HR prof essionals also pursue the employees’ skills sets that they are using to the achievement of the company goals that can provide success and benefit to the overall organization and to their own personalities as well (Storey, 2008, pp. 153-156). To put it in nutshell, the organizations

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 37

Assignment - Essay Example The first one is receiving computer print outs and records. The next step is the collection of ship and money. This is achieved through two ways; one is by bidding auctioned ship. This is followed by buying and selling ship during the auctions. The other potion is placing orders for construction of new ships. After that, the company now uses the existing record to calculate the size of the fleet. The available ships are then allocated to the different fishing areas and placed on the game board. Finally, the decision sheet is submitted to the operator. In ensuring that a fishing company gets the best form each transaction, it has to make crucial decisions. This is the reason to whether it needs to keep its fleet at its current size or expand it. In cases of expanding the fleet, decision has to be made at to whether the new ship should be acquired through bidding in an auction or ordering new ships to be constructed. In this experiment, the focus as on selling the fish cash at $ 20 per fish. The main expenses incurred were form buying ship form auctions and ordering the construction of new ones. The company also operated ship fleet in different fishing area which required additional maintenance costs. The ship sent to the deep sea made considerable greater returns in terms of the size of the fish catch compared to the coastal bank. The company ensured that it made great profits by maintaining low initial bank balances. From the decision sheet provided, it can be observed that the number of ships that remained in the harbor were hig her than the number of ship sent into deep sea or the coastal harbor. This shows that the company was not able to utilize its resources fully in order to get the maximum assets. At one point, there was only one ship sent to the deep sea while the rest 18 were at the harbor. This ensured that it got a great fish catch by maximally utilizing the existing resources. The great catch was also as a result

Literature review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Literature review - Assignment Example Students that learn English as a foreign language naturally come from countries where English is not the native tongue that is spoken. These countries often speak other languages and therefore have cultures that are diverse and different from the basic English culture. But as students of the English language, can their understanding of it be complete without a proper cultural understanding? And if not, how much culture do they need to be functionally taught, and more so, in what manner? The conflict over the syllabus design used to teach English as a foreign language is divided over one basic difference. Some writers argue that the target language's culture should be incorporated into the syllabus, while others argue that culture may be incorporated into the learning process, but through additional activities, not necessarily as an integral part of the syllabus design itself. To investigate the debate, it is first necessary to explain what culture in terms of languages actually is. I n fact it is this definition, and thereby the methods of incorporating it, where the debate arises from. The four integral part of learning any foreign language, English naturally being no exception, are listening, speaking, reading and writing. Grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure and other such sub-clauses are divided across all four categories, with each category playing its part in teaching each sub-category. Culture is considered the fifth skill. But should this skill be taught independently of all other skills, or should all four incorporate culture into themselves? Those such as that support incorporating culture into English as foreign language curriculum support that culture is an integral part of any language: so much as to say that language is basically verbal depiction of a particular culture (Damen, 1997). To simply learn the vocabulary and grammar of a language does not necessarily enable one to be able to use that language (Vernier et all, 2005). Furthermore, accor ding to According to Brown (2000), the basic purpose behind learning a language is to be able to communicate effectively, and that arises not only from studying a language, but also from fluency and accuracy in a particular context, outside of a classroom setting. So much so, that it is not something that can be taught independently but rather it should be the core of all other lessons (Kramsch, 1993). The basic methodology adopted when teaching was that of Segregated-Skill Instruction (SSI) where each skill, reading, writing, speaking or listening, was independently taught, with specific emphasis on the clauses and specifics of each, in technical terms, rather than actually teach how the skills would be used in a practical situation (Brown, 2000). But over the decades, this is being seen as an obsolete system of teaching and instructors are looking to move towards Intergrated-Skill Instruction (ISI). ISI is further divided into two sub-schools of thought, Content-Based Language Ins truction (CBLI) and Task-Based Instruction (TBI). The former is when the lanugage itself is not the focus of interest, but rather just a medium through which other content is explained (Brinton, Snow & Wesche, 1989). Whether this is a successful approach is debated however, but Oxford (2001) states that if the content is at a level directly proportional to the skill of the learners, then it

Pre-Columbian History of the Caribbean Indigenous People Essay Example for Free

Pre-Columbian History of the Caribbean Indigenous People Essay Both indigenous groups, Tainos and Siboneys migrated to the Caribbean region. The first indigenous group to migrate to the Caribbean was the Siboneys. Although their origin has been debated, the common perception is that they came from either the southern top of modern day Florida or Mexico. It is estimated that around 500 B. C. they settled in the Greater Antilles region of the Caribbean. This region includes the Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica. The Taino migration occurred approximately around the same time as the Siboneys. Their migration started from the South American mainland, most notably the area between Venezuela and Colombia to the area known as the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. This area included islands such as Trinidad and the Virgin Islands. The Taino utilized canoes to travel between each island during their migration. The canoes were made out of tree trunks and measured approximately 25 meters in length. Each canoe had a travel capacity of approximately 50 people. The main reason for the Taino migration was increased agitation and threats from the Carib indigenous people from the same region in South America. The Caribs were fierce in the their pursuit of the Taino and followed them up into the Lesser Antilles. Culturally, both the Taino and Siboney differed greatly. The Siboneys communed in small societies. Some would argue that they were culturally unsophisticated. They did not make any complex tools, just wood, stone and shells. The Siboney’s also settled by the riverside since they did not practice any form of agriculture. Their diet consisted of easily attainable animals such as fish and reptiles. They also ate wild fruits that were native to the islands. Conversely, the Taino were more advanced than their northern neighbor the Siboneys. The Taino had a complex society that consisted of settlements of as much as 500 inhabitants. They also contained a social structure for each settlement that consisted of a chief known as a cacique, a tier of elders who represented various families of each settlement, women and children. The Taino designated tasks to its members according to their position. Men cleared uninhabited areas of land and fished. Women were in charge of crop cultivation and child rearing. Unlike the Siboneys, the Taino mastered the art of farming. They farmed various crops such as yucca, guava and sweet potatoes. They also hunted various small game around the islands. The Taino also mastered clay pottery. Lastly, the Taino exercised their religious beliefs regularly. They believed in Gods that they called Zemis. The Caicique’s job was to carry out religious ceremonies by nasally ingesting a hallucinogenic mixture of tobacco and crushed sea shells through a long pipe called a cohoba. This snuff allowed the caciques to communicate with their Gods. Unlike the Siboneys, the Taino were a highly advanced society. They played a sophisticated team game called â€Å"Batey†. This game can be considered as the precursor to modern day soccer. Specially designed ball courts were created for Batey. In addition, The Taino also created jewelry and ornaments in which both men and women wore to Festivals and other celebratory events. In conclusion, the Taino and Siboney indigenous people both migrated to the Caribbean region. They both make up the genealogical and cultural starting point for all individuals who hail from the Caribbean region.

What determinants affect remittance trends and patterns in Ethiopia

What determinants affect remittance trends and patterns in Ethiopia Migration by its nature has negative impacts to the emigrant countries through brain drain especially to the developing one. (HDR, 2009) states that mobility of skilled human power harms the economy of the origin country especially for small states and poor countries. Apart from the economic point, there are also other associated problems that cant be measured in terms monetary aspects. People move within their country or cross their borders with the hope of getting better opportunities benefiting the people migrating, their families as well as their areas of origin and destination (HDR, 2009). Though it is not an easy task to come through different challenges, there are many people who combine their efforts and talents to expand their opportunities by moving into other better areas. Successful immigrants keep connected with their home country and send what is usually expected from them. The benefits could be direct remittance sent to family or for other purposes and could also be in other multidimensional effects such as technology transfers, brain gain and help strengthen diplomatic efforts in their destination and international stages. (HDR, 2009) argued that moving generally brings benefits most directly in the form of remittance sent to immediate family members, thereby generating jobs for local workers as multiplier effect and behavioural changes in response to ideas from abroad. The benefits even go beyond this by increasing investment level of their origin. Further, the same report states that at the place of origin, impacts can be seen in income and consumption, education, health and broader cultural and social process. Moreover, the macro impact can be visibly seen in the countries foreign currency reserves. This is because foreign currency reserve is one of the most important components for economic growth of developing countries. Murinde, 1993 ac cited in Elsakka and Mcnabb (1999) argued that remittances are major sources of foreign exchange for man y developing countries where its limited availability acts as a major constraint on economic development programmes and stabilization policy. For countries like Ethiopia which witnessed shortage of foreign reserves for the last three years, it is so crucial to think about how national policy can be made favourable for remittance flow. The increase in remittance not only helps in solving the foreign reserve crunch but also contributes to poverty reduction programmes through the increase of consumption at household level, encouraging investment, creating additional savings to the economy and through other multiplier effects. However, too much remittance could make the economy dependent on it which will affect the diversification of the economy for export and production. McCormick and Wahba (2000) argued that one of the drawbacks of remittance for the receiving country could beDutch Diseaseas the economy of the home country can weaken as a result of receiving remittance. Further, the d ependency on remittance could make the economy susceptible to external shocks that could decline the flow of remittance as happened in 2009 global economic downturn. But still remittance has been less volatile to external shocks than other sources of capital such as export, FDI and foreign aid in the same period when there was decline in capital flows to developing countries in the global financial crises. Remittance could be more stable than private capital flows, and that they might even provide a stabilizing element during periods of financial instability (Buch and Kuckulenz, 2004). In anyway, for countries like Ethiopia which badly needs capital inflows, this shouldnt be a concern as the country is suffering from shortage of foreign currency reserve for importing basic and capital goods. Further, dependency on remittance wouldnt be a threat as the country is progressing economically by diversifying its exports and attracting more FDI ever. Recipients however should also consider the availability of these funds could develop a continuing trend of migration of working age population (ibid: 2004). Remittance therefore could be incentives for the working age population and for the educated ones to migrate which in turn affects the overall growth of the economy in the long run. The main focus of this study will be on matters associated with remittance and its determinants. International remittances refer to the money and goods that are transmitted to households by migrant workers outside their origin countries (World Bank). The Remittance industry is one of the multi-billion industries in the world which helps countries get foreign currency from different sources abroad. The volume of remittance flow is increasing in many folds from year to year especially starting from the 1990s. The amount has shown an increase of ____fold from __ in _____to 316 billion USD in 2009 (WB, 2009). Globalization, decreasing cost of transfers and the increase in technology usage in the business could contribute for the faster increase in the flow. Remittances have been identified as the third pillar of development as their volume is second to foreign direct investment and higher than overseas development assistance.  [1]  Remittance enables income redistribution between persons and across sectors, increases consumption in excess of locally generated income and is used as source of additional capital fund (Lucas and Stark, 1985). It is for this big reason that governments have been taking different initiatives for increasing the proportion of capital flows to their account and actually the business has increased tremendously for the last few years. Its importance is inevitable especially for those developing countries which often suffer due to short of hard currency. Since 2008, developing countries have experienced foreign currency crises which in some of them resulted in shutting down businesses, high inflation, increasing the poverty level which in turn led to clashes between government and ordinary people. The World Banks official data shows that remittance flows to developing countries reached $316 billion in 2009, down 6% from $336 billion in 2008 but is expected to increase by 6.2% to $335 billion in 2010 (World Bank, 2010). Unofficial remittances are believed to be large enough to underestimate the figure of the total remittance flow. Howe ver, Official Development Assistance was three times less than the above figure at the same period. This is not to underestimate the volume of ODA given to developing countries, but to show how much attention is given to ODA than to remittances as sources of capital flows. The same data sources (WB and ODA figures) reveal similar trends for Africa. Some studies on this issue show that remittances have direct implications for the development of developing countries both in household and national level. However, some countries are not giving that much emphasis for changing and increasing remittance flow to their country; if taken, the initiatives are not enough to bring change. Ethiopia like any other developing country needs remittance flow to its account so as to help the countrys overall development. It is one of the countries which passed critical times since 2008 due to hard currency crunch. Still there is no guarantee for this problem. For passing these hard times, the country has been dependent on foreign aid from the IMF to stabilize its economy.  [2]  Further the country has also been one of the main recipients of foreign aid from other sources. Ethiopia stands third next to Iraq and Afghanistan on the list of ODA recipient by taking 3% of the total Official Development Assistance given to developing countries in 2008 (ODA, 2010). This doesnt include the capital flow from China and India which they are becoming another source of capital for Ethiopia and other African countries. However, capital flows to Ethiopia through remittances is very low when compared with the ODA and other unofficial foreign assistance. Official data from the WB shows th at remittance flow was 387 and 383 million USD in 2008 and 2009 respectively. And this flow accounts 1.5% of the GDP as of 2008.  [3]  Even with simple comparison, the remittance flow is four times as low as the amount Kenya receives from the same business. The flow of remittance to Kenya was 1692 and 1572 billion USD in 2008 and 2009 respectively.  [4]  This comparison only shows the gross flow of remittance to Ethiopia and Kenya as my main intention is to look how low the flow to Ethiopia is. To the contrary, in 2005, Ethiopian stock of emigrants was 445,926 and that of Kenya was 427, 324 (WB factbook, 2008) which makes Ethiopia advantageous over the number of people living abroad. There can be other factors that determine remittance flow; however, Ethiopia at least should have benefited more from the gross remittance flow than Kenya depending on the stock of emigrants which the actual trend is the reverse. Even without comparison with any country, the remittance flow to E thiopia is very small. What triggered me to deal with this issue is that; first, the flow of remittance to Ethiopia is much lower than from what I expected. Second, as can be seen from the above comparison with Kenya which they lay in the same geographical, social, economical and political standard in many aspects, Kenya suppressed its East African competitor by four fold in the gross remittance flow and actually Ethiopia should have been benefited more. Third, what is the reason behind this? Where the difference does lays, from the Ethiopian Diaspora or from the national policy? My aim in this study is to look into what are the determinants that made remittance to Ethiopia so low by mainly focusing on the Ethiopian Diasporas patterns of remitting. Research questions: The research problem is already explained above. To deal with the research problem, this study will focuses on the following research questions: What are the determinants that affect remittance trends and patterns of the Ethiopian immigrants in Sweden? What are the factors that affect remittance flows to Ethiopia? What makes remittance flows to Ethiopia very small? Is it in the national policy related to remittance and capital flows or it is in Ethiopian immigrants? How can this business work better for Ethiopia as source of hard currency? Methodology: The study will apply qualitative method for investigating the research questions. This method is selected based on the appropriateness to the research issues considering the effectiveness of the method to investigate research questions in depth and suitability to the phenomenon. Controversies have raged over the appropriateness of research methods in the social science as whether to use qualitative or other methods (Mikkelsen, 2004:141). Flick, (2009:15) discussed that in scientific discipline; methods become the point of reference for checking the suitability of ideas and issues for empirical investigation and should be appropriately selected and applied. Moreover, the method helps in exploring the actual explanation of facts behind the research problem. However, making generalization based on the findings is difficult as the samples taken for the study are limited in proportion for the intended generalization. (Flick, 2009: 122) asserted that generalization is not in every case the goal of qualitative study. Qualitative study typically focuses on compiling a selection of micro-level case studies which are investigated using a combination of informal interviews, participant observation (Dessai and Potter, 2006:118). It could also include exploring policy documents and other material for complementary purposes. In order to facilitate these all, a case study will be used. This is because case study helps the study to be more specific on the key aspects and focus on the issue. Thus, the research will use Ethiopian immigrants in Stockholm, Sweden as a case study. The target group will be Ethiopians living in Sweden as the writer is also living in Sweden and at the same time Sweden is one of the top favorable destinations of Ethiopian immigrants (Sweden is within top 10 as a stock to Ethiopian immigrants). Interview with selected Ethiopian immigrants in Stockholm will be used for collecting data along with other secondary materials. Semi-structured and open ended q uestions will be prepared for the interviews so as to use the advantage of high degree of flexibility during the interview. Different themes will be created while preparing the interviews so as to structure the different issues and aspects on the remittance trends of the specific interviewee. Sampling Different sampling methods are combined depending on the particular dimension of the issue being considered: different purposive sampling techniques, identification of key informants who possess the particular knowledge sought and also random encounters to cross-check information or highlight yet more differing perspectives on the same problem (Dessai and Potter, 2006:118). By doing so, the researcher will select the appropriate people or target group which will enable the study in getting reliable information. The study will use purposive sampling and key informant selection for interview. The sample will include both male and female interviewees; it will also consider taking those who have investment in Ethiopia and those who dont have, this is because investment is one factor that could affect money flow. In addition to this, the sample will consist people of different backgrounds. Apart from these interviewees, one interview will be held with the head of the economic affairs of E thiopian embassy official if the embassy allows. This will give another perspective to the study. Theoretical framework Theory increases our awareness of interconnections and of the broader significance of data. Without making theory explicit, it is easy to fall into the trap of hazy thinking, faulty logic, and imprecise concepts (Mikkelsen, 2004:156). Indeed, theory helps us to have better understanding of the study prior to the start of the project and connect the findings of the research with the existing knowledge of the issue. It is also sound to link the theory with the empirics of the study throughout the research process. For this big reason the research will use a theoretical framework which suits with the study. The literature available on the subject, determinants of remittance flows from emigrants has almost developed into two thoughts viz. the micro-economic and the macro-economic factors which it meant that most studies have been made on micro-level and macro-level. (Lucas and Stark, 1985; Lucas and Stark, 1988 ; Agarwal and Horowitz, 2002; Adams, 2008; Dustmann and Mestres, 2008; Gupta and Hedge, 2009) could be studies that support the micro-economic thought and (El-sakka and Mcnabb, 1999; Buch and Kuckulenz 2004; Higgins et al, 2004 and Ratha, 2003 ) could be in support of the macro-economic factors. These two theories give their own explanations on what affects the migrants behavior in remitting. For instance, (Lucas and Stark, 1985) in giving the initial model for the micro-economic theory of remittance argued that emigrants are motivated for remitting due to many reasons ranging from pure altruism to self interest including mutual agreements between migrants and family. Moreover, th e models did show that migrants are said to be altruistic if the flow of remittance increased with a decline in family income back home; whilst, if remittance flows are directly related with the family income back home, then they are said to be self-motivated (ibid, 1985). Beyond these two pure factors of altruism and self-interest, (Lucas and Stark, 1985) have also discussed tempered altruism and enlightened self-interest to refer to the remittance motivated by a combination of altruism and self-interest. The combination is meant to show the possibility of remitting based on contractual agreements made between the migrant and the family back home so as to get mutual benefits. Independently after almost two decades of the above theory of Lucas and Stark, (Agarwal and Horowitz, 2002) pointed out that the two primary incentives explored in the remittance literature are altruism and risk sharing (some sort of self interest according to Lucas and Stark, 1985) which is similar concepts t o other literatures but slightly different. In the same theoretical explanation, however, (Quinn, 2005 as cited in Niimi et al, 2009) in contrast, suggested another model of remittance behavior whereby remittance are treated as both consumption transfer to households and as alternative saving mechanism for migrants. Many immigrants use the alternative saving mechanism when they think that they will be back to their country of origin some day in the future. Under such circumstances, immigrants want to own fixed assets that will help them live without any problem upon return. Though it is not usual to see immigrants returning to their country of origin; this increases the flow of remittance. (Dustmann and Mestres, 2008) contended that immigrants return policy increases the probability of remitting more motivated by holding assets and savings in home country for future purposes. Similarly, remittances are also attached with household consumption especially in the altruism concept so as to take care of family in origin country. Depending on these theoretical arguments, it can be said that income of both the household back home and the migrant determines how the remittance flow could be. Income of the migrants has many factors that could affect which otherwise would contribute the lion share in determining how to remit. Buch and Kuckulenz (2004) claimed that microeconomic factors such as education and income level of the migrant and his family are the main determinants of remittance. Briere et al (2002) and Agarwal, Buch and Kuckulenz (2004) also found that migrants destination, gender and household composition are the other factors that affect the flow of remittances. Adams, Guptaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. On the other hand, at the macro-level, factors operating in both the host and the country of origin will affect the flow of remittance (El-sakka and Mcnabb, 1999). However, for countries who would like to maximize the capital inflow it looks difficult to frame policies based on the different factors of the host country as it is out of their control. Indeed, the factors in the host country are important components behind the motivation of the remitter as these factors affect the remitters income status. These are related with economics nature of the host country which have direct impact upon wages earned by the migrants and this in turn will determine their won consumption and saving behavior and thus the potential amount to be remitted. This type of experience can be easily found from the 2009 global financial crises which affected the income of migrants and eventually decreased the capital inflow to developing countries. The decrease in remittance to developing countries in this per iod has bitterly affected those countries which depend on remittance for their national foreign currency reserve. This gave these countries a message to review their remittance related policies and diversify their source of capital funds. El-sakka and Mcnabb, (1999) suggested that macro-economic factors such as interest rates, exchange rates and political instability of the country of origin affects the behavior of remitters. Accordingly, they argue that macro-economic factors should be suitable enough so as to encourage remittance flows to the country of origin. For these reasons countries would like to make exchange rates competitive by depreciating their own currencies with the intention of attracting more capital inflows, but sometimes it is associated with risk of bringing high inflation rate for the country. El-sakka and Mcnabb, (1999) on their part argued that higher inflation could discourage the flow of remittance as higher inflation rate could be a sign of economic and pol itical instability. To curb such associated problems, therefore, different variables should be taken into consideration while framing remittance related policy. On the other hand, empirical analysis using data from Egypt shows that remittance flows are responsive to interest rate and exchange rate differentials (ibid, 1985). Attractive interest and exchange rates would eventually lead immigrants to think of investing their money in their home country. Ratha (2003) also suggested that macroeconomic policies of the country of origin matter a lot whether remittances are to be invested or not. If remittances are encouraged to be invested, there is better chance for the economy to get more than two benefits from the same source. Interest rate differential between country of origin and host country, government domestic policies, wages, political risk factors and the rate of inflation determines remittance flows (Buch and Kuckulenz 2004). Since the aim of the study is to find out the factors that determine the patterns and trends of remittance flow; the two approaches can contribute some from different perspectives in framing the better solution for the research question. Off course, both the micro and macro level factors focus on the individual behavior of the remitter from personal experience and from national policy perspective. The personal experiences are those factors that affect at the micro-level: whilst, the national policy factors are those at macro-level factors that contribute in determining the individuals behavior in remitting. However, in most literatures the advocates of each approach neither discussed nor ruled out the counter ideas. For instance, the micro-economic theorists didnt discuss the possibility of macro-economic factors and the same goes for the macro-level theorists. This makes difficult to uncover the exact relationship of each theory and what they actually think of each other. For instan ce, Buch and Kuckulenz (200) argued that the main problem of microeconomic case studies is that they tend to undervalue the macroeconomic impact of remittance by focusing on isolated communities. (reference for combined studies). Thus, this study will have the chance to investigate this problem by looking into both approaches at the same time and adding up other perspectives beyond the economic theorization. The two theories focuses on the economic determinants of remittance, however, this study will go beyond this and touches other aspects that affects the patterns and trends of remittance flow. The study will also add another perspective to the remittance literature by going deep using qualitative method of studies. This is because most studies on this business have been made using quantitative method. This means, this theoretical framework adds other variables such as cultural, social and political factors that affect the flow of remittance. In a different perspective, Elbadawi and Rocha (1992) discussed concerning motivations to remit as two broad approaches viz. the endogenous which is based on the social and human aspects that cause remittance and the exogenous which is based on only the economic aspects.