Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Awakening By Kate Chopin - 1816 Words

During the late eighteen hundreds, which was the time of Edna Pontellier who was a protagonist of her time, women were thought of as nothing but house wives whose only task was to take care of her husband and children. Kate Chopin’s book, The Awakening, expresses the failures and the successes in a woman s life as she tries to live with the harsh cultural demands placed on her life. Edna fights against the stereotype mother/woman and the pressures of 1899 that demand her to be a meek and loyal housewife. Although Edna ultimately commits suicide thus wasting her efforts against an oppressive society, The Awakening still supports and endorses feminism as a method for women to gain sexual liberation, financial independence, and a personal identity. Feminism is most often thought of as a method used for educating society on the rights of women. It teaches that men and women are equal in every way both civil and societal. Charlotte Bunch, realizing that this is not always the case , also defined feminism as a way of looking at the world a questioning of power and domination issues. A great deal of feminists attempt to ignore the ideas of a stereotypical women and move them away from people who don’t. They fight to find, study, and do away with biases in a world filled with ignorant men who see women only as objects and not equals. There are however, women who announce their immense intellect, wealth, and vibrant and free personalities to those who oppress them. A womanShow MoreRelatedThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1479 Words   |  6 PagesKate Chopin’s controversial novel, The Awakening, ignited turmoil because of her blatant disregard of the established 19th century perspective of women upholding strictly maternal and matrimonial responsibilities. Edna’s candid exploration of the restrictions on women through her liberal behavior in a conservative Victorian society makes her a literary symbol for feminist ideals. Despite denunciation from other people, Edna chooses individuality over conformity through her veering from traditionalRead MoreThe Awakening by Kate Chopin1102 Words   |  5 Pagesveracity of this quote as both find their independence by boldly exceeding the norm. Their stories were fashioned during a period of great change and both characters are hallmarks of the hope and power women were unearthing at the time. The Awakening by Kate Chopin and Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy are novels concerned with the transformation of women’s roles in society. Their protagonists, Tess and Edna, are not outright feminists, but they are acutely aware of the limitations imposed uponRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1919 Words   |  8 PagesIn the novel, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, we see how much of an importance the men in Edna’s life serve as a purpose to her awakening. Chopin is known to write stories about women who are unsatisfied with their lives while living in a life that is dominated by men. Other than Edna, the main men characters are typical men of the late 19th century era. Chopin shows how these three men are diverse from one another. The Creole men are Là ©once Pontellier, Edna’s husband, Robert, Edna’s mystery man numberRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin901 Words   |  4 Pagescandidly. Kate Chopin is honorably amongst this group of authors. Her works divinely portrayed the culture of New Orleans and the lives of Louisiana s Creole and Cajun residents. Chopin openly express her views on sex, marriage, and the injustices of women during the time. Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, best exemplifies the contextual achievement of realism through the rejection of conformity, the exploration of love, and the weight of social opinion on individual choices. The Awakening is publishedRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1222 Words   |  5 Pages The Awakening By: Kate Chopin Emely Maldonado AP LIT Period 3 Topic 3 Maldonado 1 Displacement The late 1800s and the 1900s was a prison for woman’s individuality. During this time period, stereotypical views of women were commenced by society and men. In the era that the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin was published, the gender roles were graved in stone, men would work to maintain their family and women would adhere to the house-hold duties. Dissatisfaction with theRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1193 Words   |  5 PagesDavian Hart The Awakening By: Kate Chopin AP Literature Topic 3 Hart 1 Over the course of time the male species has always been the gender to attain the more favorable conditions. Numerous cultures heed to the belief that the man is the provider and head of his family. This machismo nature can condition the mind to believe that a man should feel superior to a woman. The continuous cycle of male superiority flows down from father to son subconsciously. Do to this unceasingRead MoreThe Awakening, By Kate Chopin887 Words   |  4 Pages Feminism has been a term used by many authors and writers for centuries, symbolizing women being able to use freedom the way they want to, not the way others want them to use it. Edna Pontellier, the main character in Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening, experiences an â€Å"awakening† in her life, where she discovers her position in the universe and goes in this direction instead of what others like her husband Leonce tell her to take, similar to the style of feminism. â€Å"In short, Mrs. Pontellier was beg inningRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1427 Words   |  6 Pagessuffering an imposition (Moderata). Throughout history, the inherent inferiority of women to men has often been cited as a way to deter women from becoming an individual and pursuing more in life. This notion is a prevalent issue in The Awakening by Kate Chopin; in which Edna fights to live her own way and is ultimately unable to survive in the cage of society. Not only has this supposed inferiority effected women for generations, but it has created inequality in our society today; especially inRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1633 Words   |  7 Pages1. Title of text (underline novels/plays) author’s name The Awakening by Kate Chopin 2. Characterization Character Development (a) 1.Edna Pontellier- Edna is the main character of the novel who is married to a businessman. Edna is a dynamic character because at the beginning of the novel, she conforms to society by being the â€Å"perfect† mother and wife; however, Edna suddenly realizes that she is no longer happy with the way she was living her life and began to become independent only for herRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin915 Words   |  4 PagesMany of Kate Chopin’s writings are trademarked by her unique, deliberate word choices. Chopin uses phrases that do not make sense and seem to contradict themselves to get across a point. In two of her stories, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† and â€Å"The Awakening,† Chopin’s word usage highlights the idea of self-discovery. â€Å"The Awakening† and â€Å"The Story of an Hour† share similar themes. â€Å"The Awakening† is the story of a woman in the late 1800s discovering her apathy for her traditional female role as a wife

Monday, December 16, 2019

Barbados †Country’s Geographical Notes Free Essays

Barbados island nation in the Caribbean, is situated about 100 miles (160 kilometres) east of the Windward Islands. Roughly triangular in shape, it measures 21 miles from northwest to southeast and about 14 miles from east to west, with a total area of 166 square miles (430 square kilometres). Its capital is Bridgetown, the only seaport. We will write a custom essay sample on Barbados – Country’s Geographical Notes or any similar topic only for you Order Now Barbados is not part of the Lesser Antilles, although it is sometimes grouped with this archipelago. The island is of different geologic formation; it is less mountainous and has less variety in plant and animal life. The geographic position of Barbados has profoundly influenced the island’s history, culture, and aspects of its economic life. In the era of sailing ships, access to the island was difficult because of the prevailing winds from the northeast. Outward-bound ships from Europe had to gain the island while heading west, for it was difficult for them to turn and reach its shores by sailing eastward against the wind. The island remained a British possession without interruption from its settlement in the 17th century to 1966, when it attained independence. As the first Caribbean landfall from Europe, Barbados has functioned since the late 17th century as a major link between western Europe (mainly Britain), eastern Caribbean territories, and parts of the South American mainland. Because of its long association with Britain, the culture of Barbados is probably more British than that of any other Caribbean island. Since independence, however, cultural nationalism and regional awareness have tended to increase. The climate is generally pleasant. The temperature does not usually rise above 86 F (30 C) or fall below 72 F (22 C). There are two seasons: the dry season, from early December to May, and the wet season, which lasts for the rest of the year. Average rainfall is about 60 inches (1,525 millimeters) a year, but, despite the small size of the island, rainfall varies, rising from the low-lying coastal areas to the high central district. Barbados lies in the southern border of the Carribean hurricane zone, and hurricanes have caused great devastation. Barbados is densely populated. More than one-third of the population is concentrated in Bridgetown and the surrounding area. Most of the farmland is owned by large landowners or corporations. As a result, â€Å"tenantries† are as common as villages. Tenantries are clusters of wooden houses–locally known as chattel houses–located on the borders of the large estates; they are usually owned by the occupants but stand on rented ground from which they may easily be removed. Most of them have electricity and running water. The largest town is Bridgetown. In its commercial and administrative centre, multistorey buildings are altering the features of the 19th-century town. Apart from Bridgetown, Oistins, Holetown, and Speightstown are the largest towns. The population of Barbados was 257 082 in 1990. the average population density was 572 persons per sq. km (1482 per sq. mile) was notably high considering the predominantly rural agricultural character growth of population during 1970s and 1980s was kept below 1% by out-migration. The capital, largest city and only seaport is Bridgetown with a population of 6720 in 1990. About 90% of the total population black; the remaining portion is composed of whites and persons of mixed racial descent. English is the official language. More than 50% of the people are Anglicans; other important faiths include various protestant sects and Roman Catholic. Education is free to children between ages of 5 to 16yrs. Barbados has a small, market-oriented, developing economy. Services, manufacturing, and agriculture are the main productive sectors. Although Barbados had a relatively high per capita growth rate in the 1980s, unemployment, especially among the youth and women, has been a serious problem. Most of the employment is in services and distributive trades, the greater part of which has been unionized. The economy of Barbados has traditionally been dependent on the growing of sugarcane and the production of export of refined sugar, molasses and rum. Sugarcane is grown principally on large estates rather than on the small farms. The annual harvest is in the early 1990s totalled about 600000 metric tons. Local industries manufacturing clothing, furniture, electrical and electronic equipment and plastic items. Newly discovered reserves of petroleum and natural gas are being exploited. Fishing has also increased the importance. Tourists’ facilities have earned more foreign revenue than sugar products. The table below shows the origin of tourists to Barbados, the number of tourists visiting Barbados and the average GNP of tourists visiting Barbados ($US). The table below is refers to the question ‘why do fewer tourists travel shorter distances to Barbados from West Indies and South America? COUNTRY NO. OF TOURISTS TO BARBADOS AVERAGE GNO OF TOURISTS IN $US CANADA 65600 17936 SOUTH AMERICA 3500 3087 USA 170800 16664 UK 101200 11903 WEST EUROPE 33700 13333 WEST INDIES 64300 2798 Climate Figures For London The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Tourism To Barbados Barbados has many white sandy beaches and the beautiful sun, which often attracts holidaymakers. But the holidaymakers also bring many disadvantages to the country. The advantages and disadvantages are listed below in two categories. ADVANTAGES * When holidaymakers arrive the country often needs employees to work in hotels. E.G. waiters/waitresses, cleaners, bar attendants etc. * The country employs 15000 people. * Holidaymakers create other jobs such as in garages, factories, taxi drivers etc. * Tourism has encouraged the development of facilities which benefit the whole community. a) a deep water harbour b) an airport terminal c) a better road network d) an improvement in water supply, sewage, disposal, electricity. * Fisherman benefit as there is more fish needed to please tourist so the fisherman receive more money. DISADVANTAGES * Jobs have to shed labour at slack periods (Sep / Oct and May / June). * Cost was expensive to establish because of the need to import foreign manufactured goods such as vehicles and furniture. * Cost loses income for the country because a) food and manufactured goods still have to be imported, b) many hotels are foreign owned. The government is now trying to rectify by building hotels itself and encouraging local people tourists apartments. * Tourism has an effect upon agriculture by depressing it by draining it of workers. * The country loses money due to having the need to import goods such as Beef from New Zealand and Los Angeles. * Economy is dependent upon conditions elsewhere- recession in North America and Europe caused tourist numbers to fall by 5% in 1981. * Low moral standards in the tourists can have a bad effect on communities such as alcohol abuse and prostitution. * Tourist industries have affected land beach and sea resources. It is also responsible for increase in pollution on both land and sea. IS TOURISM HELPING BARBADOS? It’s very difficult question to answer whether tourism is helping Barbados or not. So to answer this question I had divided it into two categories â€Å"Positive† and â€Å"Negative. After considering all the points it will be easier to decide whether tourism is helping Barbados or not. â€Å"Positive† * because tourism brings money to island like Barbados through accommodation paid for by tourists, souvenirs sold to tourists e.g. clothes, steel drums, coral jewellery, tours organized by country’s community as they drive them around by giving toured rides etc. * because tourism supplies jobs for the country’s community e.g. in hotels as bar attendants, waiters/waitresses, cleaners etc., taxi drivers, fishermen/women etc. * because tourism stimulates the country’s market, even providing new markets. * because tourism has provided a better communication between races and cultures. * because tourism has provided the country with enough money to produce an airport, maintain better road links and conditions, and an improvement in water supply, sewage disposal and electricity. â€Å"Negative† * because tourism has also broken up communities by bringing so many tourists into the country that the communities are being denied access to the facilities provided. * because tourism has caused a loss in money by tourists expecting foreign manufactured goods e.g. food, furniture, vehicles etc instead of buying native products. * because tourism has caused a westernizing effect on culture and social standards, which can cause differences and may even cause the community to forget its background history. * because tourism has caused the environment to change by making buildings around the beach and buildings which do not fit in with the country’s environment. * because the agriculture workers have left the fields to work in hotels close to the tourists so there are not many people to work in the fields anymore. After considering this subject, I conclude that tourism has both positive and negative effects on Barbados. If tourism is not controlled, in future it will not have good effect on the country as the country will be changed i.e. there will not be clean beaches with beautiful white sand and crystal clear green sea water, beautiful palm trees or the green environment etc. this will changed by the community changing their environment to please the tourists by building more hotels and forgetting their culture. If you think carefully then you will realize that tourists are going to Barbados for its culture, its beautiful white sand and crystal green water, its green environment and of course the sun. On consideration, tourism can have benefits for Barbados- bringing employment, income and improved facilities. On the other hand it can bring pollution, destruction of the environment in order to build facilities, and can have a detrimental effect on the culture and community life. WHY DO FEWER TOURISTS TRAVEL SHORTER DISTANCES? In answering this question I have referred to table 1 on the previous page. The question asked is ‘why fewer tourists travels shorter distances to Barbados from South America and West Indies?’ My opinion on the question asked by many people is that GNP in both places is low and the vast majority cannot afford to travel abroad. If the country does not have a very high GNP they will not have much disposable income after all the main expenses are paid off e.g. mortgage, taxes bills, National Insurance (N.I), pensions, and road tax ( if car is involved). South America’s GNP is 3087. West Indies GNP is 2798 (the figures stated are calculated in $US). If you compare the GNP of countries like USA and the UK to that of the GNP of the countries like the West Indies and the South America you will notice that people in the USA and in the UK have much more disposable income. USA’s GNP is 16664. UK’s GNP is 11903 (the figures stated are calculated in $US). Another reason for answering this question is that in the West Indies and in South America the annual average climate is generally the same so the residents will not need to travel to find the sun and fine weather. WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE TRAVEL TO BARBADOS FROM NORTH AMERICA EUROPE? The question asked is why do so many people travel to Barbados from North America and Europe. My suggested opinion is firstly because in countries in North America and Europe usually have a higher GNP meaning after all the main expenses are paid off (stated in the question ‘why do fewer tourists travel shorter distances to Barbados?’)they end up with enough disposable income to spend on the trips to places like Barbados. Another reason is that in places like Europe and North America the climate is too hot but there is either too little hot weather or the climate is not hot enough. There are not that many beautiful beaches like in Barbados. ‘WHY DO TOURISTS FROM NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE TURN UP IN BARBADOS AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR?’ My suggested answer for this question is because of hot climate. At certain times in the year the sun is out and the weather is basically hot, hot and hot with a lot of sun. The months when the climate is hot and sunny is at the end of December to beginning of June. The remaining months are mainly rainy months so you wouldn’t actually find many tourists around in Barbados. How to cite Barbados – Country’s Geographical Notes, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Writing an Explanatory Paper free essay sample

Writing an explanatory paper What motivates some individuals to volunteer or perform community service? On my way to church one Saturday morning, I happen to noticed quite a few young people with card board signs in their hands as I drove through my community. They were standing on the sidewalks waving their signs left and right. As the traffic came to a stop at a traffic light, some of them rushed to my vehicle and asked for donations. While dropping a few dollars into one of their cups, I happen to notice their signs reading Support the relief of Haiti. As I continued on my Journey I pondered the question, what motivates individuals to volunteer or perform community service? Many people today perform community service because of various reasons such as; it saves resources, brings people together, and promotes personal growth and self esteem. However religious obligations and service hours requirement for programs are the top reasons that motivate individuals to perform community service. We will write a custom essay sample on Writing an Explanatory Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Throughout the world many people for instance Christian, are always seen performing various types of volunteer work. Christianity often encourages believers to partake in community service. In American culture money is one of the central ways we denominate value. However, a life of Christian service will include the giving away of a more valuable asset than money, and that is time. The giving away of time is often noted as being Christ like. Most people are motivated to volunteer because of sharing of love and the need to support. The gospels emphasize the importance of providing services to others. When asked how to inherit eternal life, Jesus Christ himself indicated that loving God nd loving your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27). The parable of The Good Samaritan is a good example of how the person who loves his neighbor is the one who provides service to him (Luke 10:25-37). According to the Bible, everyone is your neighbor and you love your neighbor by providing him service when he is in need. Throughout the gospels Jesus Christ was known for giving much of his time and services where he dwelled by helping the misfortunate, thus teaching his followers to be like him. Today, as a result, Christians are following in Christ footsteps. They are een volunteering their time and services in places like homeless shelters, hospitals and in less fortunate countries as missionaries. Christians are known throughout the world for performing community service as a religious obligation. Community service has now become beneficial to school systems. Its been implemented that volunteerism is now a graduation requirement for high school students in hundreds of school districts around the country. Many schools have done this most successfully through service-learning programs, which tie community- service projects to academic studies. For example, students at Martin County High construction. With their training the students then go into a low income community day care and construction sites and volunteer those services. Reports by, The Corporation for National and Community Service states that service learning increase students attendance, grade, and community involvement, among other benefits. Service hours requirement is also an advantage for students heading to the Job market. For instance, when creating resumes experience gained while performing community duties can be added and count toward experience within certain fields. Volunteering in the community for service hours is an advantage for students and their future. Love is kindness, sharing and giving. Volunteering usually promote those Jesters thus, bringing people together. Community service is not Just an obligation it is a life style. People who perform community service are merely following Christ example as mention throughout the gospels. Community service also serves as a condition that meets and fulfills program requirements. For instance, high school students benefit from community service a great deal as well. Overall community service satisfies a good cause.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Pestel Analysis Russian Federation free essay sample

This part of the dissertation will analyze main political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal issues within the Russian Federation. All of the Interviewees outlined the political aspect as the most important when investing into Russia, however the Author would like to acknowledge that the economical and legal factors have a critical weight in the issues of FDI, therefore their analysis will play a comprehensive role in the thesis, assuming that the initial reader has no background knowledge of the environment. Low awareness of ecological issues (global warming, recycling) ? Nuclear waste deposits in Siberia ?History of environmental accidents – Chernobyl ?Harsh climate conditions ?Vast territory is hard to manage Coastal access is vast but strategically more costlyLegal ?The legal system is new ?Bodies of conflicting and intertwining laws ?Federal government system makes the legal co-ordination complicated ? Poor human rights (e. g. freedom of speech) ?Corruption affects law enforcement Political Through historical analysis (please refer to Appendix A), it is evident that authoritative rule has played an important part in Russian political culture, irrespective of the government type. We will write a custom essay sample on Pestel Analysis Russian Federation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The democracy is relatively young, but the system has been stable for a long period of time to ensure economic progress (i. . there have not been any radical changes in government structure since 1991. The elections were conducted according to international standards and without any major complaints from the International Supervisors. There are internal problems with terrorism in the South Caucasus region and small military conflicts in the region (Chechnya, South Ossetia) have been unpopular with the EU and USA and are still causing tension in the geopolitical arena. Internally the corporatism does not ensure a fair business environment to everyone. Structurally speaking, ‘the decisions are not made on business; they are made on other things†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢it’s more about who’s got a bigger pistol. ’ (Question no. 12, Deputy CEO, 2010). Since most academics tend to associate Russian democracy with oligarchy, such favouritism can be seen to diminish the business environment within Russia, as there is no basis for fair competition. The Deputy CEO outlined that in Russia it is extremely important to know who is ‘boss’, this can be seen as a side effect from the historically prominent forms of leadership. Comparatively, fellow members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (former Soviet Republics such as Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan) that are also command economies where the hierarchy is clear, are progressing much faster in national and international stages (Question no. 12, Deputy CEO, 2010). The relationship with Europe is unclear. Europe is the largest destination of Russian exports. Despite the mutual dependence; there is still enough a lot of diplomatic conflict between both parties, predominately due to international balance of power (European Union is a close ally of the United States). According to the Deputy CEO (Question no. 20, 2010), there international opinion of Russia is that it uses energy as a ‘political instrument’. President Medvedev is seen to be keen on a much more open environment. Russia has currently been attempting to diversify its exports to Asia and has close links with China, which is recognized internationally as a potentially leading economy in the future (Anker Aronsen, 2010). Corruption index in Russia is one of the highest in the world. According to the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (2009) Russia ranks 147th out of 179 countries. Corruption levels are comparable to Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo, considering the economic power of the Russian Federation (7th in the world in terms of Purchasing Power Parity), the amount and size of bribes is soaring, despite government’s policies on anti-corruption (new legislation requires government officials to register their income) (Index of Economic Freedom, 2010). Risk Exposure: The political analysis leaves foreign investors subject to cultural and systematic legal risks as the corruption makes administration process longer. Economic When making a decision to make a Direct Investment into a country economic analysis is crucial as the economy of the country is a foundation for all aspects of the business environment. The analysis will focus the key areas of the Russian economy: the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Inflation, Exchange Rate and Debt. The factors will be compared internationally acceptable standards of the United States of America. Gross Domestic Product: Alan C. Shapiro (Multinational Financial Management, 2010) states that the lasting levels of FDI have a direct impact on GDP, the evaluation of the degree to which political factors (such as corruption) have had an inverse effect on the levels of FDI as clearly seen within the Russian economy. The Gross Domestic Product of the Russian Federation is split into the following sectors: Chart 2 Overall since Putin’s presidency has seen a stabilized trend in economic development through the increase in energy prices, nevertheless the dependence on energy exports is proving to have a negative impact on future economic progress. Majority of the revenues come from the export of natural resources, which according to Abelsky account for about 70% of the GDP (‘Russia Sees Oil’, Bloomberg, 2010). Table 4 GDP Growth Rate in % GDP Growth20052006200720082009 GDP growth USA3. 12. 71. 90-2. 6 GDP growth Russia6. 48. 28. 55. 6-7. 9 The issue of dependency on oil and gas exports questions the sustainability in the development of economic indicators overall (Havlik, 2010). The correlation between GDP and energy prices (Table 10) can be clearly verified through the years 2008-2009, when the global credit crisis lowered the demand for oil (and the price fell by $35. /barrel) and Russian GDP contracted by 7. 9%. Even though the government responded quite quickly to the crisis, by supporting the currency and the financial system, international ratings agencies remained sceptical and have recently down graded their outlook from ‘positive’ to ‘neutral’ (‘Russia Sees Oil’, Abe lsky, Bloomberg, 2010). Risk Exposure: The correlation between the oil price and GDP revenue gives rise to location risk as Russia is subject to spillover effects from other countries. Table 5 Inflation Rate in % Inflation Rate20052006200720082009 Inflation USA %3. 393. 242. 853. 85-0. 34 Inflation rate11. 512. 79. 8914. 1 Inflation Rate: Russia has been experiencing persistent double digit inflation. High inflation is known to decrease the Purchasing Power Parity of a country (Zhou, 1997), this is important to the Russian government as its geopolitical power is largely linked to the indicator. When investigating the source of this historically persistent problem, naturally the first aspect the Author analyzed was the increase in money supply (see Appendix E). However, despite the fact that there was relatively little (1. 7%) increase in 2007, inflation still remained close to 10%. Through further research, according to the Keynesian view (Trevithick, 1975), characteristics of the built-in inflation can be found in Russia, in which people have a consistent expectation that inflation will remain high and therefore increase the prices of their products and demand for higher wages. The problem is instigated by corruption, under which government is ineffective or reluctant to control fair estimation of prices, i. . prices continue to increase regardless of economic conditions. This can be easily illustrated by the recent financial crisis and the price of oil. According to The Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service, in respect to the decline in price by almost $36, the petrol prices in Russia rose by 30-60% (‘Russian Anti-Monopoly Probes’, RT, 2009). Exposure to Risk: The high inflation rate shows that the economy as a whole is slow ing down and that the investment climate might be unhealthy. This can be categorized as general economic risk. Exchange Rate: The Russian Rouble is a volatile currency (the coefficient of variation Russian Rouble standard deviation is 9. 8% compared to the standard deviation of 5. 8% for dollar as both were evaluated against the Euro); although it is termed as ‘free-floating’, in fact it is monitored and controlled by the Central Bank of Russia. In respect to the energy prices it is sometimes comically referred to by analysts as an ‘oil derivative’ (Clover, 2010). Table 6 Foreign Exchange Rates Average for Euro, Rouble and US Dollar FX Rate Mean20052006200720082009Standard Deviation RUB/EUR35. 2634. 1135. 0136. 4344. 143. 651 RUB/USD28. 327. 225. 624. 931. 75. 646 USD/EUR1. 3011. 2541. 3711. 4881. 3930. 080 Russia has the fourth highest number of Foreign Exchange reserves; this is largely needed for the currency manipulations in order to decrease the volatility of the Rouble. Given the strength of Russia’s balance of payments until the Credit Crisis (2008), taut management of the nominal exchange rate resulted in considerable interventions which were only partially sterilized (‘Towards a Flexible Exchange Rate Policy, OECD, 2009). As a result, inflation jumped from 9% to 14%. Large amounts of foreign reserves demonstrates that Russia has sufficient means of dealing with the imbalances in the economy and it can protect the Rouble against speculative attack and volatile energy prices; however it also exposes the weakness of its monetary system in the failure to sterilize the results of the interventions which intensify the incessant inflation predicament. Exposure to Risk: Internationally all investments are subject to exchange rate risk. As Rouble is considered to be a volatile currency, the exchange rate risk is also higher, however it can be managed easily through hedging. Public Debt: Since the credit crisis internationally the importance of public debt management has been acknowledged (‘Principles of Managing Public Debt’, IMF, 2010). Up to 2008, a decreasing trend could be seen in the level of Public Debt and even despite the small increase in 2009, Russia is ranked 122nd out of 126 countries in 2009 (‘Country Comparison: Public Debt’, CIA Factbook, 2009). Table 7 Total Public Debt as % of GDP Total public debt20052006200720082009 Russia16. 410. 18. 25. 69 USA37. 537. 136. 940. 854. 6 Despite these figures External Debt (total private and public debt owed to non-residents) is high due to high real exchange rate of the Rouble (Russia is ranked 20th out of 198 countries(‘Country Comparison: External Debt’, CIA Factbook, 2009). In comparison to the US, which has the highest debt levels of any country in the worlds, a relatively healthy approach to public debt can qualitatively be traced to Russian culture. The ‘credit lifestyle’ in Russia is not as popular as in Europe and the US. Debt in Russian culture is a very powerful negative connotation which is easily illustrated by a famous Russian proverb – â€Å"If you don’t have it, don’t spend it† (MacDonald Gastmann, p. 274, 2004). This is can be proven by the historical approach to the debt inherited from the U. S. S. R. , Putin’s government repaid the remainder of debt to the London Club in 2010 (‘Russia Pays off Creditor’, RIA Novosti, 2010). Summary: This kind of political restriction in uncommon, for example the US continues to increase its debts, both public and external (‘US Public Debt Hits Tipping Point’, Pozen, The Boston Globe, 2010), which through its recent ardent exposure in global media has been causing derision in the American society, manifested in the Barack Obama’s mid-term government elections in 2010 (‘Republican Tsunami’, Leonard Gardner, Daily Telegraph, 2010). Exposure to Risk: As Russia has comparatively low levels of Public Debt investors are not exposed to risk as such, however current economic regression brought on by the financial crisis may lead the public debt levels to rise. Social The society is very diverse which poses a lot of tribulations not only politically, but also economically. The society is very well educated (literacy rate is one of the highest in the world) and the size of the population is the largest in the geographic parameters of the European continent, however the conditions and the level of life is despicable if compared to countries in the European Economic Area. Around 16% of the population lives below the poverty line. The GINI index (measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country (‘Country Comparison’, CIA Factbook, 2010). The GINI Index value of 100 expresses maximal inequality (one person has all the income) and a value of 0 (expresses that everyone has the same income) (UN Legislative Council Secretariat, 2005). In the years 2004-2009 GINI index has been around 40%, which suggests that income distribution is uneven and although the situation is better than in America (see table 8 below), compared to European ountries like Sweden (GINI average of around 24) there are development benchmarks to adhere to. Table 8 GINI Index of Income Distribution GINI Index20052006200720082009 Russia40. 54141. 342. 341. 5 USA46. 94746. 346. 746. 8 In respect to the GDP per capita (just below 6000$) it is evident that the internal market is not as attractive as other economic figures say. Per se Russia is no thing more than a ‘rich country of poor people’ (Putin, Sakwa p. 76, 2008). In the interview conducted by the Author, Deputy CEO (Question 11, 2010) outlined sharp class divisions in Russia which although were not mentioned directly signified strong culture shock. In respect to the demographics poor health support, issues with alcohol, high abortion rate, emigration and etc, all contribute to the decrease in population and low life expectancy for men (who make up a larger proportion of the economically active population)(Political Risk Services, 2009). The oligarchic environment supported by corruption and oppression of minority groups (Chechens and so on) within the Federation, uneven income distribution and average GDP per capita increase the possibility of conflict (please refer to section (2. 1. 2) Social Aspects). Unstable conditions are easily illustrated by the re-birth of National Socialism and it’s slogans of ‘Russia for Russians! ’(Von Hoffmeister, 2005). Exposure to Risk: The turbulent social factors and uneven income distribution may potentially lead to conflict within the country. Such diversity in ‘social fabric’ also produces operational risks as culture between regions differs greatly and can be classified as political risk Technological In order to maintain military supremacy, the Soviet government invested heavily into the military, science and space. Due to the fact that education in Soviet Union and subsequently in Russia is free, the importance of using technological progress as a means of development and protection was and still is of great importance. Number of scientific and technological graduates in Russia has always been high. Currently Russia is producing 200,000 science and technology graduates per year (just as much as India and it has a considerably larger population) (‘From Russia with Technology? ’, Bloomberg, 2006). Military spending increased from 19. 7 bln USD to 50 bln USD by 2009, a large proportion of which is going to the research and development of new technology (Global Securities, 2010). With the dissolution of USSR, the low wages and poor societal conditions led for the ‘best minds’ to move abroad. This, as well as declining governmental investment into sciences, contributed to a decrease in technological competency, especially in the regions outside the federal cities. Recent attempts of the Russian government to attract back scientist that have once left Russia (‘Russia wants its brains back! ’, RBTH, 2009) signify that it is pursuing policies of scientific development and wants to support technology further. According to Alexander Allakhverdyan (2009), most talented individuals prefer to graduate with economics or business degrees, because the prospects for employment are better. Based on the PwC report (2. 5), Russia needs to become a ‘technology power house’ in order to ensure economic progress. Although the government has been addressing this issue the main problem that exists is the underdeveloped communications systems outside of federal cities, investment in which is costly due to the vast geographic span of the country. Exposure to Risk: The technological capacity of the country and academic aptitude of the Russian population towards technology could potentially make it easier for foreign investors who are engaged in highly technological businesses to transfer their operations to Russia. However, the issues of knowledge transfer arise as the legal system is not developed enough to ensure full protection of intellectual property rights. Environmental (For more information on Geographic conditions please refer to Appendix C). The abundance in natural resources has been more of a curse than a blessing for Russia. It is this abundance that is largely unappreciated by the population. Compare to Europe, there are no trends towards the development of environmentally friendly fuels or alternative energy sources. In the future gaps in development between Europe and Russia can lead to legal conflicts as the approach to the environment is different (Boldyrev, 2009). The vast geographical span of the country and harsh climate conditions have always been a feature of Russian life. The territory is also hard to manage, military wise. The coastal access is not favourable and transportation is costly. Despite that, the amount of arable land is only sufficient to satisfy domestic consumption (Dyomkin, 2009). Corruption has been a danger to the environment – large numbers of animals are hunted and fished illegally disturbing the ecosystem. In the future there is a chance that with climate change and deteriorating ecological environment will cause environmental catastrophes. The current ecological debates in the Russian Duma (parliament) may lead to a conflict between Medvedev and Putin; however they also signify a growing awareness for the ecological issues. According to the Deputy CEO (Question 12, 2010) the government closely monitors environmental issues that are industry related. Previously ecological factors have been used as a tool for political manipulation. Exposure to Risk: As the environment is a sensitive issue within can potentially give grounds for conflict. If the investor is operating in different parts of the Russian Federation, the operational and logistics costs can be high due to the geographic span and poor infrastructure. Legal It is understandable that the Russian judiciary system is not as developed compared to the European or American system because the democracy is young. The Deputy CEO (Question 8, 2010) outlined that most issues within Russia are manageable, apart from the quality of the legal system, as the Russian leadership style means that nobody takes into consideration documents that were signed by predecessors. Federative form of government makes the legal communication more complicated as different regions sometimes have conflicting laws. Effectively, between 84 different administrative units, the management and cooperation of the judiciary is principal and ineffective. An inherent problem seems to have socio-cultural roots as most of the judges have been employed during the Soviet era. Low GDP per capita and uneven income distribution affects government employees (teachers, doctors, military and judiciary) (Survey of the Employment of Population, ROSSTAT, 2009) the hardest and entices corruption through bribes. Corruption ensures that the legal instruments are not functioning properly and are unjust. Furthermore, Russia has a poor record of human rights (consult Appendix D for further details) and the Press is considerably monitored, compared to the Western Countries, yet it is still an improvement from the Soviet Era. The overall legal environment is weak, corrupted and ineffective (Index of Economic Freedom, 2010). Exposure to Risk: Due to the fact that the Russian government cannot provide a strong enough grounds for enforcement of law, the legal system can be risky for foreign investors as they do not have an opportunity to defend themselves within Russia and may be forced to act through international courts.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates

Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates Obama presidential debates are highly discussed in the United States because it is an important event for each U.S. citizen who has the right to vote and attend the elections. The debate between candidatures – Obama and Romney – underlines specific rhetorical and cultural approaches to engaging into discussion and introducing their viewpoints on specific issues related to politics, economics, and social organization.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In order to define cultural underpinnings and issues of the debate, I will focus on the analysis of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in which Barack Obama is invited as a guest. The program relies on both humorous and political issues, as well as unveils certain important cultural dimensions of the presidential elections. The critical examination will allow to d efine the modern attitudes to gender and sexuality, as well as how they are treated at the threshold of the presidential election campaign. In particular, although the program is dedicated a variety of issues, including social vision, cultural background, traditions and celebrations, and religious views, Barack Obama still manages to interpret all these topics in the light of the upcoming elections. Although the show does not cover fully the essence of political situation, as well as the content of presidential debates, it still focuses on the Obama’s attitude toward cultural, economic, and social issues. Specific attention requires his position concerning the gender roles distributed in American society. His religious and social beliefs, therefore, reflect his general opinion on the role of women and men. While tracing the interview, both Leno and Obama focus on very interesting issues that are beyond politics. This is of particular concern to their discussion of womenâ€⠄¢s capability of doing decisions, and Obama’s views on health care and military system that are directly associated with discussion of gender and social role. While discussing Obama’s attitude to rape, specific emphasis is placed on the role of male politicians in making decisions about women’s health care issues. I plan to discuss all these issues in much detail to define what cultural and national undercurrents are highlighted in Obama’s speech. The TV program is associated with discussing various issues that are not confined to any political and religious outlooks. Nevertheless, because Obama was invited to the show during the election campaign, the most of the topics covered strongly correlate with this situation.Advertising Looking for critical writing on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With regard to the above, the target audience is the U.S. citizens who are interested in voting and participating in presidential races. Regardless what topics have been discussed, should it be family issues, economic situation, Obama’s personal life, all these topics were centered on attracting more audience who is concerned with the election campaign. Within the context of gender stereotypes analysis, Ott and Mack state, â€Å"the competing interpretations of gender in contemporary society give rise to confusing, often contradictory message about various roles of men and women† (p. 193). However, despite the presence of patriarchal system of power ensuring restricted representation of women, Obama still emphasizes the right of women to decide on the type of treatment, as well as other decisions that concern their health. Judging from the President’s position, the equality between men and women is a serious problem for politicians. I have also noticed that most of the issues related to over discussion of gender are concealed by general political statements related to such urgent problems as tax rates, unemployment, and security welfare in the United States. Social interaction is closely associated with gender stereotypes, even though they are veiled with general discussions about social structures attributed to contemporary life. Making connection of the importance of women’s decision with the politics of the current government, Obama recognizes that most of politicians releasing reforms, acts, and other regulations are males. Therefore, in order to intrude into issues related to female health, the president strives to solve this problem at legislative and political levels. The availability of basic health is important and, therefore, the Supreme Court should have a direct impact on the analysis of the issue. While discussing the capability of women to make important choices about their health, Obama stresses that this aspect should also relate to family issues, which once again refers to the presidents conservative outlook on women’s place in society. The very recognition and emphasis already testifies to the president’s constantly changing patterns of considering women and their limited access to politics. Therefore, it is purposeful to judge that Obama has concealed views on gender that are confined to the conservative position of roles of women as housewives, but not as feminine activists taking part in various social, cultural and political measures.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The influence of media on representation of gender is tangible. I agree with Gill’s statement about media coverage: â€Å"rather than reflecting reality†¦the media are involved in producing or constructing particular versions of reality in order to make them ‘real’ and persuasive† (44). The focus on distortion and bias challenges the accuracy of comprehending the real state of affairs, as well as leads to a deviated form of political action that refers to ‘bad’ stereotypes. Finally, the media approach provides no distinction between degrees of meaning. In fact, it only addresses the content representation ignoring the fact that woman can symbolize a range of meanings, such as comfort, sexuality, stability, and conservatism. All these aspects could be highlighted in the television program episode. Specifically, Obama does recognize the existing distribution of gender role due to the actual emphasis on the male politicians and women’s capability to make decisions. The place of women’s in politics is heavily argued because there exist evidence stereotypic framework that is imposed on Obama’s speech in the show. Certainly, media has a potent impact on the President’s elaborations on this issue. Because he realizes that has great responsibili ty because he exposes his family as an example that other Americans should follow. For instance, when he talks about family related issues, Obama mentions his wife’s contributions constantly and refers to her role as a wife. Therefore, this is an additional media stereotypes affecting Obama’s ideology. Although the attitude to gender and sexuality in contemporary society is represented in various contexts, the Presidents still adheres to a heteronormative, objective perspective. I believe that Obama articulates ideas in a reserved, unemotional way, which allows him to maintain an image of an ordinary man that most voters believe he is. Such a position, therefore, is premised on standardized assessments of functions performed by males. Due to the fact that the contemporary society recognizes the masculinity and femininity are different aspects that should be considered as opposites, Obama takes the role of a heteronormative position as the one opposed to homosexual ster eotypes, which once again signifies Obama’s negative rather than neutral attitude to homosexuals.Advertising Looking for critical writing on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is also an assumption that male’s heterosexual orientation should be associated with unemotional, restrained, and objective evaluation of various issues (Fourie 306). In contrast, homosexuality is more connected with greater emotionality, which is attributed to a negative connotation. The connection between gender and sexuality is evident, but little consideration is done concerning its representation in political sphere. In fact, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno produces new perspectives which allow to uncover Obama’s actual view on sexuality and gender. Although the speech did not specifically relate to the discussion of gender issues, there are still contextual and rhetorical signs uncovering certain angles of the aspect. It should be stressed, however, that gender and sexuality are constructed through the prism of identities. The changing patterns also testify to the shifts in perceiving and evaluating the role of gender and sexuality. This is of particular con cern to role models, as well as to how they are covered in media. The media reflects on the relationships and situations from various social angles, specifically when it comes to the discussion of gender equality. In this respect, I agree with the point that â€Å"women have the formal right to most things that a man can do, and vice versa: situation where this is not the case become wellpublicised courtroom battles† (Gauntlett 4). Due to the fact hat even personal relationships has undergone democratic influence, marriage is analyzed beyond social, cultural, and political environments. In the television program under analysis, there is a kind of devaluation of such values because the anchor employs humorous approach to treating both marriage and politics. Therefore, discussing issues relating to gender seems to be as natural and as discussing such common aspects as tax payment and employment rates. Overall, because the television program episode does not overtly discuss gend er issues, its format allows to address the contemporary problems and introduce a handful of opinion on it (Ross n. p.). Although Obama is considered here as president whose view on gender should be neutral, its attitude to gender issues could be explained from the position of male gaze. This is of particular concern to his obligations with regard to the roles and responsibilities he takes in life. Although his position in political life is identified, Obama still recognizes the existence of opposition between masculinity and femininity. At the very beginning of the show, I have noticed that Obama talks about his family from the perspective of the American Dream stereotypes that restrict his view on society in general. Further considerations taken by the guest of the show are connected with the discussion of women’s capabilities and rights. From this viewpoint, Obama is more interested in representing the feminist view on the problem of women’s health and security. In conclusion, the analysis of the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno proves that media employs powerful rhetoric tools to influence public opinion. Media coverage also creates new stereotypes concerning the role of gender and its connection to sexuality. Although, the episode at issue does not address directly the issues of gender and sexuality, the speakers are concerned with the problem of gender equality. Their personal views on family issues and the place of women in society are also uncovered during the discussion. Fourie, Pieter J. Media Studies: Media History, Media and Society. US: Juta and Company Ltd, 2010. Print. Gill, Rosalind. Gender and the Media. US: Polity, 2006. Print. Guantlett, David. Media, Gender, and Identity: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2008. Print. Ott, Brian, and Robert Mack. Critical Media Studies: An Introduction. US: John Wiley Sons. 2009. Print. Ross, Karen. The Handbook of Gender, Sex, and Media. US: John Wiley Sons. 2011. Print.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Biography of Genghis Khan, Founder of the Mongol Empire

Biography of Genghis Khan, Founder of the Mongol Empire Genghis Khan (c. 1162–August 18, 1227) was the legendary founder and leader of the Mongol Empire. In a span of just 25 years, his horsemen conquered a larger area and greater population than the Romans did in four centuries. To the millions of people conquered by his hordes, Genghis Khan was evil incarnate; in Mongolia and Central Asia, however, he was widely revered. Fast Facts: Genghis Khan Known For: Khan was the founder and leader of the Mongol Empire.Also Known As: TemujinBorn: c. 1162 in Delun-Boldog, MongoliaDied: August 18, 1227, in Yinchuan,  Western XiaSpouse(s): Borje, Khulan, Yesugen, Yesulun (plus others)Children: Jochi, Chagatai, Ogedei, Tolui (plus others) Early Life Records of the Great Khans early life are sparse and contradictory. He was likely born in 1162, though some sources say 1155 or 1165. We know that the boy was given the name Temujin. His father Yesukhei was the chief of the minor Borijin clan of nomadic Mongols, who lived by hunting rather than herding or farming. Yesukhei had kidnapped Temujins young mother, Hoelun, as she and her first husband were riding home from their wedding. She became Yesukheis second wife; Temujin was his second son by just a few months. Mongol legend claims that the baby was born with a blood clot in his fist, a sign that he would be a great warrior. Hardship and Captivity When Temujin was nine, his father took him to a neighboring tribe to work for several years and earn a bride. His intended wife was a slightly older girl named Borje. On the way home, Yesukhei was poisoned by rivals and died. Temujin returned to his mother, but the clan expelled Yesukheis two widows and seven children, leaving them to die. The family survived by eating roots, rodents, and fish. Young Temujin and his full brother Khasar grew to resent their eldest half-brother Begter. They killed him and as punishment for the crime, Temujin was seized as a slave. His captivity may have lasted for more than five years. Youth Set free at age 16, Temujin went to find Borje again. She was still waiting for him and they soon married. The couple used her dowry, a fine sable-fur coat, to make an alliance with Ong Khan of the powerful Kereyid clan. Ong Khan accepted Temujin as a foster son. This alliance proved key, as Hoeluns Merkid clan decided to avenge her long-ago kidnapping by stealing Borje. With the Kereyid army, Temujin raided the Merkids, looting their camp and reclaiming Borje.  Temujin also had help in the raid from his childhood blood-brother Jamuka, who would later become a rival. Borjes first son Jochi was born nine months later. Consolidation of Power After rescuing Borje, Temujins small band stayed with Jamukas group for several years. Jamuka soon asserted his authority, rather than treating Temujin as a brother, which started a two-decade feud between the 19-year-olds. Temujin left the camp, along with many of Jamukas followers and livestock. At the age of 27, Temujin held a kurultai (tribal council) among the Mongols, who elected him khan. The Mongols were only a Kereyid sub-clan, however, and Ong Khan played Jamuka and Temujin off one another. As Khan, Temujin awarded high office not just to his relatives, but to those followers who were most loyal to him. Unification of the Mongols In 1190, Jamuka raided Temujins camp, cruelly horse-dragging and even boiling alive his captives, which turned many of his followers against him.  The united Mongols soon defeated the neighboring Tatars and Jurchens, and Temujin Khan assimilated their people rather than follow the steppe custom of looting them and leaving. Jamuka attacked Ong Khan and Temujin in 1201. Despite suffering an arrow shot to the neck, Temujin defeated and assimilated Jamukas remaining warriors. Ong Khan then treacherously tried to ambush Temujin at a wedding ceremony for Ongs daughter and Jochi, but the Mongols escaped and returned to conquer the Kereyids. Early Conquests The unification of Mongolia ended in 1204 when Temujin defeated the powerful Naiman clan. Two years later, another kurultai confirmed him as Genghis Khan or universal leader of all Mongolia.  Within five years, the Mongols had annexed much of Siberia and what is today the modern Chinese Xinjiang province. The Jurched Dynasty, ruling northern China from Zhongdu (Beijing), noticed the upstart Mongol khan and demanded that he kowtow to its Golden Khan. In reply, Genghis Khan spat on the ground.  He then defeated their tributaries, the Tangut, and in 1214 he conquered the Jurchens and their 50 million citizens. The Mongol army numbered just 100,000. Conquests of Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus Tribes as far away as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan heard about the Great Khan and overthrew their Buddhist rulers in order to join his growing empire. By 1219, Genghis Khan ruled from northern China to the Afghan border  and from Siberia to the border of Tibet. He sought a trade alliance with the powerful Khwarizm Empire, which controlled Central Asia from Afghanistan to the Black Sea. Sultan Muhammad II agreed, but then murdered the first Mongol trade convoy of 450 merchants, stealing their goods. Before the end of that year, the wrathful Khan had captured every Khwarizm city, adding lands from Turkey to Russia to his realm. Death In 1222, the 61-year-old Khan called a family kurultai to discuss the matter of succession. His four sons disagreed over which should become the Great Khan. Jochi, the eldest, was born soon after Borjes kidnapping and might not have been Genghis Khans son, so the second son Chagatai challenged his right to the title. As a compromise, the third son Ogodei became the successor. Jochi died in February 1227, six months before his father, who passed away on August 18, 1227. Ogodei took East Asia, which would become Yuan China. Chagatai claimed Central Asia. Tolui, the youngest, took Mongolia proper. Jochis sons controlled Russia and Eastern Europe. Legacy After Genghis Khans secret burial on the steppes of Mongolia, his sons and grandsons continued to expand the Mongol Empire. Ogodeis son Kublai Khan defeated the Song rulers of China in 1279 and established the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. The Yuan would rule all of China until 1368. Meanwhile, Chagatai pushed south from his Central Asian holdings, conquering Persia. Within Mongolia, Genghis Khan revolutionized the social structure and reformed traditional law. His was an egalitarian society, in which the humblest slave could rise to be an army commander if he showed skill or bravery. War booty was divided evenly among all warriors, regardless of social status. Unlike most rulers of the time, Genghis Khan trusted loyal followers above his own family members- which contributed to the difficult succession as he aged. The Great Khan forbade the kidnapping of women, probably due in part to his wifes experience, but also because it led to warfare among different Mongol groups. He outlawed livestock rustling for the same reason and established a winter-only hunting season to preserve game for the hardest of times. Contrary to his ruthless and barbaric reputation in the west, Genghis Khan promulgated several enlightened policies that would not become common practice in Europe until centuries later. He guaranteed freedom of religion, protecting the rights of Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, and Hindus alike. Genghis Khan himself worshiped the sky, but he forbade the killing of priests, monks, nuns, mullahs, and other holy people. A 2003 DNA study revealed that about 16 million men in the former Mongol Empire, about 8% of the male population, carry a genetic marker that developed in one family in Mongolia about 1,000 years ago. The most likely explanation is that they are descended from Genghis Khan or his brothers. Sources Craughwell, Thomas. The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khans Mongols Almost Conquered the World. Fair Winds Press, 2010.Djang, Sam. Genghis Khan: World Conqueror, Vols. I and II. New Horizon Books, 2011.Weatherford, Jack. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. Three Rivers Press, 2004.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Race and Your Community Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Race and Your Community - Research Paper Example The basic reason for this is that racial diversity in many parts of the world is becoming commonplace including my own neighborhood. Racial diversity and tolerance has become increasingly essential for ones growth in the society we live in. This paper looks into various influences of race in my community in Atlanta, GA. Discussion Living in America as an African American is not easy and the case is not any different in Atlanta. I am currently employed at South Fulton Medical Center where people of all races converge for their medical needs. I therefore have a deep understanding of all the aspects that surround people of different races. It is however important to appreciate that people of all races, African Americans, Caucasians, Hispanic etc seem to have similar values and beliefs (Sanjek & Gregory, 1994). My family values were that all people are equal in the eyes of God and we should see all as equal. Racism in my community is not a big problem but it is a cause for concern. When I was a small child I remember that all children played games together irrespective of ones race. We even played video games, went out together and even had sleepovers. I remember also with delight how we used to be punished by our friends’ parents who were of different race and my parents would take it as a normal act of instilling discipline in all of us. The basic discipline revolved around respecting elders, one another and oneself. The level of insecurity at our neighborhood was at par with some of the best of the affluent communities but there were still some racial differences. The media in Atlanta is one that tries to capture all issues as they are irrespective of characters involved. What matters to them is the story at the end of the day and to keep all people irrespective of race, glued to the various stations. College games are at the forefront in media coverage together with many other activities. The media has for a long time tried to identify with people of all races by capturing all that is in the offing without being biased (Hartmann & Cornell, 2007). The media in Atlanta therefore offers a good platform for Black Americans like me, Caucasians, Hispanic and others to be showcased in whatever they do. Leadership in Atlanta especially in my community represents the racial diversity in the city and its environs. People have come here from all parts of United States and abroad and it is surprising to see that even people who were immigrants are leading in various departments and areas in the city (Solomos & Goldberg, 2002). Examples are the department heads in my workplace; they are 20% Black Americans, 45% Caucasians and the rest take 35%. Many of these posts are not elected but appointed which indicates that the level of racial segregation is low in my neighborhood and workplace as compared to other states in the US. This was however not the case when my parents were young as almost all the posts of leadership, political or otherwise, wer e occupied by Caucasians. It is therefore the wishes of leaders to ensure that this outfit is abolished by treating all people as equals. Minority groups to a large extent are appreciated in my community. There has been a growing trend of Atlanta picking liberalism and becoming an all-rounded city. According to Bagby (May 2010), examples are the gay community in the city who are mostly found in Midtown, black Americans, Hispanic and Asians. For one to appreciate that these people’

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Karl Marx's Estranged Labor vs. Adam Smith's Division of Labor Research Paper

Karl Marx's Estranged Labor vs. Adam Smith's Division of Labor - Research Paper Example While Marx sought to minimalize the effects of capitalism, Smith sought to emphasize the brilliance of the free market economy. Naturally, these two individuals’ ideologies clash, but there is value in both perspectives, as one shall soon see. Karl Marx’s ideas about estranged labor, Smith’s ideas about the division of labor, and a comparison of the two ideologies will be herein attempted. II. Karl Marx’s Estranged Labor Karl Marx identifies estranged labor as labor alien to man. Marx explains the condition of estranged labor as the result of man participating in an alien to his nature. It my interpretation that man is alienated from his labor because he is not the reaper of what he sows. Because he is never the recipient of his efforts, the laborer lacks identity with what he creates. For Marx then labor is alien to the worker and does not belong to his essential being. Marx identifies two explanations of why man’s lack of identity with labor leads him to be estranged from labor. The explanation that the laborer does not develop freely his physical and mental energy, but instead mortifies his mind, may extol the virtue of communism. In other words, labor fails to nurture man’s physical and mental capacities, and instead, drains them. Because the worker is denied any nurturing in his work, no intimacy between the worker and his work develops. Although, it’s very hard to see how working in a sweat shop in Communist China, for example, is creating intimacy with one’s work to the point that one is able to develop one’s energy freely. Thus, this quote â€Å"lack† of an intimate relation with what he creates, man is summarily estranged from his labor. Furthermore, labor estranges man from himself. Marx argues that the labor the worker produces does not belong to him, but to someone else. Given this condition, the laborer belongs to someone else and is therefore enslaved. As a result of being ensla ved the worker is reduced to a â€Å"subsisting animal,† a condition alien to him. As an end result man is estranged from himself and is, in his words, mortified. Marx points to these situations as the reason man is essentially estranged from his labor. The incongruence between the world of things the worker creates and the world the worker lives in is the estrangement. As the worker gives up his or her contribution to the work, he or she begins to lose importance to the work and the work becomes more superior to the worker. As this happens, the owner of the company or organization accumulates more wealth and power and is able to overcome competition and have more power over the worker. ? I find this to be true based on my personal experience when I worked for a logistics company as a shipping lead. The harder I worked, the more powerful the department became, hence the more powerful the company became—and the less important I became to the company and its superiors. T he department improved a lot under my leadership whereby it generated more revenue. The result was that the company became more important than the person—as stated by Marx in the above paragraphs. ? The worker becomes all the poorer the more wealth he produces, the more his production increases in power and range. The worker becomes an ever-cheaper commodity the more commodities he creates. According to Marx in Calhoun and Gerteis (2007), â€Å"On the basis of political economy itself, in its own words, we have shown that the worker sinks to the level of a commodity and becomes indeed the most wretched of

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Dickens’ Victorian Critique of Church and State Essay Example for Free

Dickens’ Victorian Critique of Church and State Essay There is not much question in a look at his career’s work, that Charles Dickens was by his nature a harsh social critic. He would often make his characters morally objectionable in order to demonstrate the ills of society and would take an especially great interest in showing the iniquities of Church and State. In the deeply unequal England of the Victorian era, Dickens felt that he saw a lot of suffering, a great many people in need and a visible disgust of the rich toward the poor. The fact that these conditions had associated so closely with the premise of God and Crown had drawn out in critics such as Dickens as sharp distaste for the British institution girding both. That is why so many of his works centered on the relationship of the rich and poor, separated as such by the unwelcome permeation of authority of the former over the latter. The labor conditions Dickens explores in Hard Times through such figures as Stephen are contrasted sharply by the life of decadence and sanctimony denoting the figure of Josiah Bounderby. Clearly the figure through who Dickens channels the greatest pitch of protest, there is a clear hostility toward the hypocrisy and meanness which allows Bounderby to prevail over the poor of Coketown with a divinely entitled and self-declared superiority. It is here that Dickens captures the Victorian era’s undercurrent of resentment of the exploitation of God and Church for the interests of rendering selective such universal entitlements as faith and justice. In Bounderby, we are given the opportunity to view the justice system in Dickens’ time as something principally founded on inequality, determining a process which is governed by an aristocratic jurisdiction over that which deemed righteous, just and moral. All of these concepts emerge in Bounderby, and especially in a notable encounter with Stephen, suggest the most demonstrably inappropriate misuse of religious principles. In Hard Times, published in 1854, Dickens shows that he is specifically interested in dealing with a current problem of labor abuse. He draws a deeply negative picture of the rationalist political movement with which Bounderby may be identified. This was a powerful movement at the time in England. Rationality was focused on facts, which Dickens believed were used to give strict control over education, values and even creativity. This would impact the making of religion and justice too. The chief characterization of Bounderby captures this points exceedingly well, remarking that â€Å"there was a moral infection of claptrap in him. Strangers, modest enough elsewhere, started up at dinners in Coketown, and boasted in quite a rampant way, of Bounderby. They made him out to be the Royal arms, the Union-Jack, Magna Charta, John Bull, Habeas Corpus, the Bill of Rights, an Englishman’s house is his castle, Church and State, and God Save the Queen, all put together. † (52) The declaration, clearly satirical in its delivery, is nonetheless a premise upon which we will find Bounderby behaving in the most repugnant of ways. When the aforementioned Stephen, an honest laborer detained in a marriage with an abusive and alcoholic wife, goes to Bounderby, the wealthy mill owner and a public judge, he is denied a request for divorce. Bounderby denies him because poor laborers like him are not expected to have the money to have a divorce. In the scene between Stephen and Bounderby, we can see how the justice system is deeply imbalanced, as are the attitudes of the people in the justice system. When Stephen argues that the legal system wouldn’t let him get a divorce was a ‘muddle,’ Bounderby disciplines him, â€Å"Don’t you talk nonsense, my good fellow,. . . about things you don’t understand; and don’t you call the Institutions of your country a muddle , or you’ll get yourself into a real muddle one of these find mornings. The institutional of your country are not your piece-work, and the only thing you have got to do, is, to mind your piece-work. You didn’t take your wife for fast and for loose; but for better for worse. If she has turned out worse—why, all we have got to say is, she might have turned out better† (Hard Times, 84) The response, which only makes Stephen more angry, shows how Dickens’ really likes to use the writing device of irony. As Bounderby and Mrs. Sparsit, who is a rich, high-class woman with a divorce, together call Stephen guilty of ‘impiety,’ we know that the two are having some sort of inappropriate relationship with one another. This casts a blaring spotlight on the hypocrisy at the root of his cruel religiosity. Bounderby takes on the mantle of Dickens’ twinned reproach for the system and church which had conspired to make England so deeply unequal a place. That God had come to overwhelm the senses of justice and humanism seems a clear justification to Dickens that the core morality of religion had by the Victorian age been exposed for the bastard-child of human conceit which it had come to embody. Indeed, in the above claim by Bounderby against Stephen, was can see that Dickens is be very sarcastic when he uses the word ‘impiety. ’ Particularly, the statement is delivered at the expense of a poor man, demonstrating a perceived relationship between righteousness and social class. The cruel and empowered judge would characterize himself as the man of God, so noted for his chosen rank and certainly not, from the reader’s (or Dickens’) perspective, because of his admirable moral disposition.. The outcome of Stephen’s visit to Bounderby and Sparsit is that his poor, labor-class status renders him morally, and thus legally, forbidden from divorce. A clear symptom of the Victorian era, we can see Dickens taking particular pains demonstrate that manner in which religion and justice had come to falsely associate. The vitriol which Bounderby aims at Stephen is powerfully representative of the purpose in this association, allowing the wealthy to prevail over fundamental personal institutions such as the faith, family and welfare of the poor. Works Cited Dickens, C. (1870). Hard Times. Barnes Noble Classics.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Lure of Evil in Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- Literary Analysis

Everyone knows that evil can be devastating, especially to someone who foolishly embraces it. Most people would wonder why anyone would embrace evil. The answer is simple though; sometimes, evil does not appear as what it really is. Often, it actually appears enchanting, showing you the alluring side while hiding the darker side. The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), is an ideal example of people falling victim to evil. In fact, the entire downfall of the main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, is due to them being lured to evil by three witches. The play is a perfect illustration of how evil can lure someone in then lead to their downfall. In the play, Macbeth started out as an extremely brave and loyal solider. However, after the three witches told him he was to be king one day, he changed completely, being wholly consumed by his greed. He turned his back on his friends, betrayed them, and murdered innocent people. All of this can be linked back to the predictions made by the witches. The witches first come to Macbeth after a battle and call him thane of Glamis (which he already is), thane of Cawdor, and King (Macbeth 1.3. 48-50). Shortly after this, while Macbeth is still trying to understand what they were talking about, he is informed that he is now thane of Cawdor, just as the witches said. This is the beginning of his downward spiral into evil. The more Macbeth thinks about the witches calling him king, the more the idea interests him. Soon, all he can think about is becoming king. He is so tempted by their prophecy that he determines he must murder the king. Since the king is staying with him this is easily done. Lady Macbeth, eager to become queen, comes up with a plan to kill King Dun... ...973-1988. Boston: G. K. Hall & Company, 1990. Plath, Sylvia. The Collected Poems. Ed. Ted Hughes. New York: Harper & Row, 1981. Plath, Sylvia. The Journals of Sylvia Plath. Ed. Ted Hughes and Frances McCullough. New York: Ballantine Books, 1982. Pollitt, Katha. "A Note of Triumph [The Collected Poems]". Critical Essays on Sylvia Plath. Ed. Linda W. Wagner. Boston: G. K. Hall & Company, 1984. 67 - 72. Rosenthal, Lucy. Modern American Literature: A Library of Literary Criticism. Ed. Elaine Fialka Kramer, Maurice Kramer, and Dorothy Nyren. Rev. ed. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1976. Wagner, Linda W., ed. Critical Essays on Sylvia Plath. Boston: G. K. Hall & Company, 1984. Wagner-Martin, Linda. The Oxford Companion to Women's Writing in the United States. Ed. Cathy N. Davidson and Linda Wagner-Martin. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Divorce and Its Impact on the Family

Introduction A significant and often heated debate has been in progress for years regarding the effect of divorce on the family, and more specifically, on children of different ages. On the one side, there are writers, theorists and scholars who argue that divorce does not affect the children over the long term and on the other side are those who argue that divorce has a negative effect on the children for all their lives. It is indeed impossible to make a clear and definitive conclusion based on the research studies that have been conducted over the years. Each investigator argues strongly for their own conclusions, providing statistical evidence to support those conclusions. Does divorce have a negative impact on children, regardless of age when the divorce occurs? Does divorce have more impact on specific age ranges of children? If divorce has a negative impact on children, then, how long does that impact last? Do adult children of divorced parents find it easier to blame all their failures and pitfalls on their parents' divorce instead of taking responsibility for their own actions through the years? These are the only some of the questions that underlie the problem: What impact does divorce have on the children. Very few definitions are needed regarding this investigation: †¢Children means the children of the parents who get divorced, regardless of age. Thus, â€Å"children† refers to adolescents as well as younger children. When a specific age range is meant, that will be clarified in the text. †¢Divorce means that the couple has gone through the legal process of divorce and are, thus, no longer legally married. †¢Absent father refers to those fathers who do not keep in contact with their children subsequent to a divorce. Also, the absent father does not contribute to the children's support. †¢Custodial parent refers to the parent who has legal primary custody of the children. First a brief overview of what marriage and divorce was throughout history, and what would happen to those children after the divorce was finalized Marriage and Divorce in History The roots of marriage can be traced back to time of the Romans and Greeks. For the Greeks and Romans marriage wasn’t really something of a choice. It was more of a family obligation and a way to help the family gain higher status. Marriage in Roman times was often not at all romantic. Rather, it was an agreement between families. Men would usually marry in their mid-twenties, while women married while they were still in their early teens. As they reached these ages, their parents would consult with friends to find suitable partners that could improve the family’s wealth or class. †(PBS) Women really didn’t have a choice in who they married, they were chosen by their fathers. And even for the men, love wasn’t taken into account because it was up to the parents who they married. The actual marriage in Roman times was very simple. The couple would just have to declare their desire to live with each other in front of both families. Divorce in this time was just as easy as marriage. â€Å"Just as marriage was only a declaration of intent to live together, divorce was just a declaration of a couple’s intent not to live together. All that the law required was that they declare their wish to divorce before seven witnesses. † (PBS) Divorce was a very common thing for the Romans. The only condition was the woman would get her dowry back, and she would move back in with her father. If the wife was divorced because of adultery only half of her dowry was given back. The laws did not mention anything about husbands as they could not be divorced because of an adulterous they have committed. It is assumed that children were left with the father as men were the law in Roman times. Not much is known on what happened to the children after a divorce, whether they are allowed to see their mother or not, if the mothers were allowed to keep the children, or if the child’s best interests were ever a factor for who got to keep them after the divorce. Marriage in African countries was relatively similar to the Greeks and Romans, but with a few changes. Marriage signified a union between two families. â€Å"The death of a husband did not terminate the union of families. Upon a husband’s death a relative would assume his role. † (Simon and Altstein) Marriage was more of a binding contract than anything else. The woman being married didn’t really matter in the long run either as if she died or was unable to bare children, a younger sister would take over her role as the wife â€Å"But the wife wasn’t fully excepted until she gave birth to her first child. (Simon and Altstein) The actual marriage didn’t really require that much, just consent from both parties and their guardians, as well as some form of payment from the husband’s family to the wife’s. This would most likely be cattle. There wasn’t really any ceremony like today; it was more of a series of rituals. Divorce was a simple thing for Africans. Grounds for divorce were; adultery, desertion, insanity for at least seven years, and being imprisoned for more than five years. The children would normally have been given to the father, but in more recent times the child would go with whichever parent was more able to take care of them. If a child was old enough to make up their own mind the court would consider who they wished to live with, but that didn’t always mean the child’s pick would be the one he/she would be given to. In the 1500’s after the Reformation, a change in how marriages and divorces were performed occurred. The peasants were allowed to marry whomever they choose, but the nobles still kept with the arranged marriages to keep their line pure and to improve their power, this would go for royalty as well. Marriage then became a public affair, and it was considered part of the earthly kingdom instead of the heavenly kingdom. This meant that vows would be made in public before the church consummated the marriage. Prior to this the Church was in charge of marriage and divorce but they lost that power with the coming of the Reformation. â€Å"Marital disputes would be tried before a civil court, not a Church court. The Church did not have legal authority over marriage. †(Simon and Altstein) Also laws that prohibited the marriage of clerics, monks, and nuns were also rejected. Divorces were allowed as long as there was just cause. Cause included impotence, sexual incompatibility, abuse and acts of incest. † (Simon and Altstein) The average length of a marriage was only fifteen years at the time, but this was caused more by death, than by divorce. In more recent times a decision was made by the courts of the United Kingdom that they will not longer decide which parent the child should custody of. The parents were to make the decision together and stick with it, only if they can not agree will the court make one, this decision can not be argued. In the United States of America, arriage is â€Å"the legal union of a man and a woman as husband and wife, and a spouse is a husband or wife of the opposite sex. † (Simon and Altstein) Only men and women are allowed to be married to each other, in some states though same-sex civil unions are allowed. The church is where the marriage is held but the state must approve the marriage for it to be final. The laws of marriage vary from state to state. In the United States of America divorce rates are very close or over fifty percent. Divorce varies on the state as well but some form is permitted by every state. Thirty-four states have adopted no-fault divorce in addition to traditional grounds for divorce. † (Simon and Altstein) As for the children, their wishes are considered by all but four states. The effects in which those children concur will be explained later. Literature Review The literature regarding the impact of di vorce on children is voluminous. It is also highly contradictory and heated in terms of debate. Anyone investigating this topic can find research studies to support their own opinions no matter what that opinion is. We begin by offering some data regarding divorce. In the United States, one out of every two marriages will end in divorce (Marano, 2000). Despite this devastating statistic, 90 percent of Americans will marry (Marano, 2000). Of those individuals who divorce their first spouse, 75 percent will remarry, even though their first marriage ended (Marano, 2000). Given that so many divorced individuals simply live with other persons or combine the homes with others without the sanction of legal marriage, the figure for â€Å"remarriages† escalates significantly when these people are included (Marano, 2000). Out of all second marriages, 60 percent end in divorce (Marano, 2000). It is not just in the U. S. that a large proportion of marriages fail. The BBC reported that one in seven marriages (16. 4 percent) end in divorce in the United Kingdom (2000). The divorce rate differs dramatically by location in the UK, for example, in Biggleswade, only 6 percent of marriages end in divorce but in Skelmersdale in Lancashire, 32. 4 percent of marriages end in divorce (BBC, 2000). The divorce rates have risen in most European countries, as well (Bjornberg, nd). The highest rates are found in Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and the United Kingdom (Bjornberg, nd). In the year 2000, there were 45,500 divorces, a new high (Victorian State Conference of Teams, 2001). Anyone who has kept up with public mass media also knows that the divorce rate in China has escalated to as much as 25 percent in recent years. It has become such an issue that the government began debating about a new law that would make adultery a crime and that would put further restrictions on divorce in that country. Most of the research regarding the impact of divorce on children has been conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom. Two of the primary and most discussed studies contradict each other, which has come to be known as the â€Å"Hetherington-Wallerstein debate–a battle of superstars† (Corliss, 2002, p. 40). Hetherington argues that â€Å"75% to 80% of children of divorce function well, with little long-term harm to their adult lives† and Wallerstein argues that â€Å"the damaging effects of divorce on children are cumulative, and the major impact comes in adulthood† (Corliss, 2002, p. 0). Wallerstein first published her findings in a book in 1971; this was then updated in another book entitled The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce: A 25 Year Landmark Study in 2000 (Corliss, 2002). In the most recent book, Wallerstein concluded that divorce leads to depression, juvenile delinquency, poor grades, among other things and that the divorce affects people wel l into adulthood (Corliss, 2002). Hetherington published her findings in a co-authored book (with John Kelly) entitled For Better or For Worse: Divorce Reconsidered (Corliss, 2002). In this book, Hetherington and Kelly argue â€Å"that 75% to 80% of children of divorce are functioning well, with little long-term damage† (Corliss, 2002, p. 40). Hetherington and Kelly tracked nearly 1,400 families and more than 2,500 children, some for three decades and concluded: Within two years of their parents' divorce, the vast majority of children are beginning to function reasonably well again (Corliss, 2002, p. 40). 70 percent of divorced parents are living happier lives than they did before divorce (Corliss, 2002, p. 0). Some women and girls turned out to be more competent, able people than if they had stayed in unhappy family situations (Corliss, 2002, p. 40). In Hetherington's study, 25 percent of the children from divorced families had serious emotional, psychological or social problems (Corliss, 2002). This compares to 10 percent of children from families that remain intact (Corliss, 2002). Still, it is a much smaller proportion than many other studies, includi ng Wallerstein's. Cudina and Obradovic summarized a great deal of the research, most of which concludes that children from divorced families are â€Å"more aggressive and depressive†; â€Å"more prone to anxiety†; and â€Å"of a generally poorer adjustment than children living in intact families† (2001, p. 247). The instability of the marriage also affects boys and girls differently, for instance, â€Å"boys are more often found to be more vulnerable† and â€Å"more aggressive and displayed more behavioural problems than girls† (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001, p. 247). It should be pointed out, however, that the gender differences found have not been consistent. Another finding is that the reaction of children seem to differ according to age when the divorce occurs (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). For instance, the research suggests that â€Å"emotional response being more intense for children younger than 6, and for those in early adolescence at the time of parental divorce† (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001, p. 247). There is also a substantial amount of research that concludes that â€Å"prolonged parental marital distress could be even more damaging to the child's emotional and social development than parental divorce† (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001, p. 47). Fighting, conflict, violence all combine to make the child feel insecure and unstable as well as fearful (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). Mitigating factors that affect the impact of divorce on children have been identified as the availability of the noncustodial parent, the relationship between the parents after the divorce, the quality of the parent-child relationships with both par ents, and the degree of economic hardship and stress the child experiences after the divorce (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). Because the overwhelming majority of research has been conduced in English-speaking countries, Cudina and Obradovic studied the impact of divorce on children in Croatia, a society that is very different in many ways from the United States and other English-speaking nations (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). Croatia is smaller, has a relatively low GNP and in most ways can be considered a developing nation (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). The divorce rate in Croatia has increased over the last 30 years, rising from 13. 5 percent in 1962 to 17. percent in 1996 (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). The Croatian family reflects a myriad of both traditional and modern values (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). Nonetheless, there is still a stigma attached to divorced individuals in Croatia (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). Cudina and Obradovic found that Croatian children respond in much the same way as children in other countries – children of divorced parents are more emotionally unstable and more depress ive than children from intact families (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). The study did not support the premise that children suffer equally negative effects from living in a home where the parents are in conflict as do the children from divorced parents (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). They study also confirmed that the degree of impact is related to age – younger children showed more emotional distress than did older children (Cudina and Obradovic, 2001). Hyatt reported that the adjustment of the children is primarily dependent on the parents and how they behave after the divorce (1999). Hyatt was reporting a study conducted at Iowa State University and reported in the Journal of Marriage and the Family. Simons, who led the research investigation team, said that â€Å"Even though divorce more than doubles the risk for emotional and behavioral problems in both boys and girls, the good news is that the vast majority of children from divorced families do just fine. . . . What is essential for kids is that they be parented well. If mom and dad continue to persevere in their parenting, are warm and supportive, monitor the kids and are consistent in discipline, the risk for conduct problems is no greater than in two-parent families. This is a more optimistic scenario than is often assert† (Hyatt, 1999). This was also a longitudinal study that involves 600 families and is ongoing (Hyatt, 1999). Theoretical Foundations Attachment theory would seem to be the most appropriate theory to discuss in terms of the effects of divorce on children. Beginning in infancy, the child develops an attachment to the parent through interactions with the parent. According to Bowlby, an interruption or disruption of the attachment relationship can result in psychopathology (Garelli, 1997). Research indicates that the formation of attachments in infancy and childhood contribute to healthy adulthood (Galston, 1996; Fields, 1996). Research also indicates that when the attachment is disrupted, the child may well suffer both emotional and physical traumas affecting their ability to function today and in their future life (Galston, 1996; Fields, 1996). Divorce is an event that disrupts attachments. Attachment theory asserts that children do develop attachment feelings to people, places and objects. Research concludes that attachments are essential for good mental health. One study in Israel concluded that â€Å"Attachment between parent and child plays a crucial role in the healthy development of the child. Accordingly disturbances in parental bonding will be linked with the development of mental disorders later in life† (Canetti et al, 1997, p. 381). Note that the need for attachment is for all children. Divorce does not necessarily mean that the child's attachment to the noncustodial parent would be eliminated by the divorce. Discussion, Summary and Conclusions As can be seen from the few research studies presented, there is a heated debate and strong controversy regarding the effects of divorce on the family. There is equally strong evidence to support either side of the debate. That leaves the reader with a strong question as to how much divorce actually does affect the future development and adult life of the divorced family. There is no perfect study, which means that every study has its limitations. More studies suggest that children face significant effects when their parents divorce. It does seem, however, that the impact of a divorce on a child would be dependent upon the circumstances and the subsequent behaviors of the parents involved. More studies in recent years are pointing to this premise. If the parents both continue parenting and they parent well, a far smaller proportion of children will experience significant negative effects than what has been said in the past. If the parents continue their fighting and place the child in the middle of that fighting, then, common sense would tell us that the child will have any number of psychological and emotional problems as a result. It is important to note the studies that have compared children of divorced parents to children of parents who stayed married but whose relationship was so unstable. Certainly, living with verbal conflict and loud fighting between the parents has a devastating effect on the child. Living with parents where spousal abuse is prevalent would have tragic effects on the child, worse effects than would a divorce. Even the researchers who conclude that a small percentage of children experience serious problems after a divorce, clearly state that they are no promoting divorce and that children will develop more securely and more positively if the family is kept intact – except when violence and abuse is present. The conclusions, in other words, do not support divorce; they are simply saying the outlook for these children is not as bleak as has been publicized. There is another issue that one must also look at. These kinds of studies rely a great deal on interviews with the survivors of divorce. It is very convenient for many of these adults or older adolescents to blame all the problems in their lives on their parents' divorce. Scapegoating is very prevalent in today's society – people simply do not want to take responsibility for their own lives. The conclusion of this paper must be that: 1. Divorce will have an effect on children – to think otherwise is naive. 2. Children of divorced families do not automatically develop serious emotional and psychological problems. 3. The full effect of divorce on children will depend on how the parents behave after the divorce, the degree of attachment that was in existence prior to the divorce and the child's own mental state/stability at the time of the divorce. REFERENCES BBC. (2000, November 15). The capital of happy ever after. Retrieved April 05, 2007, BBC Web Site: http://news. bbc. co. uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1024000/1024963. stm Bjornberg, Dr. Ull. (nd). Children and their Families/Children and Society. 2002, Retrieved April 05, 2007, Council of EuropeConseil de l'Europe Web Site: http://eurochild. gla. ac. uk/Documents/CoE/Reports/estud/Estud_2. htm Canetti, Laura, Bachar, Eytan, Weisstub, Esti Galili, De-Nour, Atara Kaplan & Shalev, Arieh Y. (1997, Summer). Parental Bonding And Mental Health In Adolescence. Adolescence 32(126), 381 – 395. Corliss, Richard. (2002, January 28). Does Divorce Hurt Kids? Time 159(4), 40 Cudina, Mira & Obradovic, Josip. (2001, Spring). Child's Emotional Well-being and Parental Marriage Stability in Croatia. Journal of Comparative Family Studies 32(2), 247. Field, Tiffany. (1996, Annual). Attachment And Separation In Young Children. Annual Review of Psychology 47, 541-562. Galston, William A. (1996, June). Divorce American style. The Public Interest, 12 – 27. Garelli, Juan Carlos. (1997). Controversial Aspects Of Bowlby's Attachment Theory. Bowlby's Theory of Attachment. Retrieved April 03, 2007, Attachment Research Center at St. John's University Web Site: http://rdz. stjohns. edu/lists/bowlby-l/ Hyatt, Kay. (1999, November 19). Children's Adjustment to Divorce Largely in Hands of Parents. Retrieved April 03 2007, National Council on Family Relations Web Site: http://www. cfr. org/pdf/childr_1. pdf Marano, Hara Estroff. (2000, March). Divorced? Psychology Today 33(2), 56. Simon, R. J. , & Altstein, H. (2003). Marriage and Divorce (pp. 5-7, 29-34). New York: Lexington Books. Victorian State Conference of Teams. (2001, October). Looking forward in Confidence. A Married Couple's Movement: Conference Reports & Proceedings Web Site: http://www. tol-oceania. catholic. org. au/publications_vicconf. htm#Victorian%20State%20Conference Weddings, Marriage & Divorce. (n. d. ). Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://www. pbs. org/empires/romans/empire/weddings. html