Superpower Relations and the Thaw in the Cold War Essay Example

Superpower Relations and the Thaw in the Cold War Essay The Post-Stalin Thaw and the bid for PeacefulCo-Existence?1953-1961In the 1950s the Cold War, although in many ways the same, was changing in character* Globalization of the Cold War* Nuclear Arms Race* Stalin’s death in ’53 and the ThawHowever, a more thorough relation of tensions – dà ©tente – was not to emerge until after the shocks of the Berlin crisis ’61 and more particularly the Cuban Missile Crisis ‘62Timeline of coexistence and confrontation characterising 1953 – 611951 – Churchill elected PM, and in a surprise move from his reputation as a ‘Cold War warrior’ pressed for a summit with the Soviet Union to end the Cold War.November 1952 – Election of Eisenhower, reflecting a ‘hardening of US attitudes’March 1953 – Death of Stalin, the politburo avoided one person consolidating power and confirmed the collective leadership of Malenkov, Molotov, Beria, Bulganin and Khrushchev. Policy of destalinisation introducedJuly 1953 – End of the Korean War. It had a traumatising effect on the US population with 32,629 US killed, 103,284 injured and the deaths of 3m aprox. Korean civies.* American anger was reflected in the policies of Dulles – rollback and massive retaliation* Limitations of these policies demonstrated by the lack of a US response to Soviet suppression of protest in East Germany (1953) and more significantly Hungary (1956)August 1953 – PM Malenkov recommended a policy of ‘peaceful coexistence’ with the West1954 – Eisenhower’s Domino theory announcedJuly 1955 – First summit since Potsdam held in Geneva. No agreements made but the friendly atmosphere was dubbed ‘the spirit of Geneva’, raising the possibility of future concord.February 1956 – Khrushchev’s ‘secret speech’ dramatically extended destalinisation by condemning Stalin’s rule in a closed meeting of the Communist Party.1957 – Eisenhower Doctrine. In conjunction with Domino Theory, ‘Roll Back’ and ‘Massive Retaliation’ extended US military alliances world-wide in an attempt to firmly contain communism.1958 – Khrushchev emerges as head of Soviet StateSeptember 1959 – Hopes for the possibility of peaceful coexistence raised by the success of a second summit held at Camp David.May 1960 – U2 Spy Plane Incident. Soviet walkout at the third summit in Paris ended both the summit and hopes for ‘peaceful coexistence’1961 – Berlin Crisis. Marked the return of the Cold WarWhat changes took place in superpower relations between1948-1955Prior to 1950 the Cold War had developed due to the circumstances arising from the post-war world and had been focused on Europe.The Development of Globalism* Communist takeover of China in 1949 turned attention to the far-east* Korean War (1950-1953) and events in Vietnam in 1954* Euro pean decolonisation resulted in newly independent states appearing in the ‘third world’: needing financial assistance coupled with the fear that other superpowers would take the opportunity to extend their influence if they did not the Cold War developed into conflict on a global scale.The Nuclear Arms Race* In 1949 the USSR developed its own atomic bomb, shaking US confidence in the process at the speed at which the Soviets had developed a nuclear capability.* The US not only considerably increased its conventional weaponry during the Korean War* But developed the thermonuclear bomb in 1952 and the hydrogen bomb in 1954* The USSR developed its own hydrogen bomb less than a year later* The development of harnessing nuclear weaponry to missiles gave the arms race on an increasingly destructive and dangerous dimensionThe ‘Thaw’* After 1953 (Stalin’s death) there was a collective awareness of the need for East-West dialogue* Leadership of both USA and U SSR recognised the importance of avoiding/limiting conflict where possible* Diplomatic attempts to establish a dialogue between the superpowers led to the ‘thaw’ in the Cold War.The ‘thaw’ took on a paradoxical nature. Alongside the spread of conflict and the development of the arms race, superpower relations experienced a diplomatic ‘softening’ of relations; in comparison to the bitter antagonism of the early Cold War.What issues caused tension between the Superpowers in the period 1948-1955?Tensions between East and West remained strong during the time period, issues that had caused division in the early years were still present and continued to have the potential to provoke a crisis, yet the situation was also changing.The ‘German Problem’* Berlin blockade a failed attempt by Stalin to solve the ‘problem’* Ended hopes of German reunification, both sides were unhappy with the outcome and disputes continued over the s tatus of a reunited Germany.Rise of Communism in the Far East* Communist takeover of China in ’49 raised US fears of spread of Communism to far-east* Korean War ’50-’53 reinforced US perceptions of the aggressive and expansionist tendencies of the Soviet Union as Stalin was considered to behind Communist North Korea’s attack on the Capitalist south.* Rise of communism in Vietnam seemingly confirmed US suspicions.European Decolonisation* European no longer possessed the will nor the resources to retain their vast overseas empires.* The power vacuum left by the defeat of Nazi Germany had been filled by 1948* However, the process of decolonisation brought about another power vacuum in large parts of the ‘Third World’* Middle East – Area of particular strategic importance because of its oil supplies.* Had previously been in the control of France and Britain whom relinquished their control over the region after WW2* Both superpowers were ke en to not allow the other to exert its influence over the region* Israel was established as an independent country in 1948 with the British withdraw from Palestine* British troops were withdrawn from Egypt in 1955 despite continued Ango-French ownership of the Suez Canal* The developing hostility between Israel and the Arab states threatened to draw the Superpowers into conflict as they both sought to exert their influence over the region.* Indochina* French control was broken by the bloody defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.* As the French withdrew, the USA became concerned about the spread of communism in the region.Soviet Actions in limiting Destalinisation* After Stalin’s death in ’53 Malenkov (the new Soviet PM) introduced the ‘New Course’* This policy allowed a limited degree of liberalism within the USSR* Terror and repression were partially relaxed* Khrushchev developed the policy of destalinisation further after 1956* Seeing the ‘New Courseâ₠¬â„¢ and relaxation of terror and repression occur in the Soviet Union, the communist states of Eastern Europe called for a similar liberalisation within their own regime.* Demonstrations broke out in Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Poland against governments that refused to move away from strict Stalinist policies.* The unrest was crushed by government troops, this appalled the West and condemned their actions but did not intervene directly. Raising tension* The use of Soviet troops to crush an uprising in Hungary brought about a similar response by the West and once again raised tension.The Arms Race* Both States took action to ensure they did not fall behind in their capacity to wage war.* The Arms Race was a cause and consequence of the tension of the Cold War* By the end of 1955 the USA had 560 strategic bombers to the USSR’s 60* So started the seemingly limitless and ironical arms race, whereby the Soviet’s attempt to catch up with the USA led to the US increasi ng arms output in fear of being overtaken by the Soviet Union.What factors promoted a ‘thaw’ in Superpower relations between 1948-1955After 1953 there were attempts to establish some dialogue between the superpowers, helped in part by the change in leadership of both the Soviet Union and the USA. However, the ‘thaw’ was the result of factors within the wider context of international relations that pushed both sides towards seeking some degree of accommodation with the other.The Consolidation of Positions* By 1949 the Iron Curtain marked a defined line between the two superpowers spheres of influence in Europe. Marking a border between the two different spheres of influence* The insecurity of the second half of the 1940’s had been caused by both sides attempting to mark out their areas of dominance.* By 1949, the division of Europe had become entrenched, the US military commitment to NATO was a strong indication to their commitment towards defending E urope from Communism. Whilst, the Warsaw Pact of 1955 symbolised Soviet commitment to protecting Eastern Europe from US imperialism.* The USA and USSR were forced to accept the resulting division of Europe and thus with their positions more secure the superpowers were more willing to attempt negotiation.Death of Stalin* Stalin was perceived in the West as the dominant factor in the development of the Cold War* Liberal Historians who have emphasised the role of personality have seen Stalin’s death as the determining factor in the development of the ‘thaw’.* During 1948-49 the initiative appeared to be getting away from the Soviet’s, failure of the Berlin blockade, the formation of NATO and the defection of Yugoslavia from COMINFORM were all failures for Stalin’s foreign policy. His death in 1953 provided the opportunity for a new soviet leadership to change its approach to the west.Beria* In the immediate aftermath of Stalin’s death it was unc lear to the West who was in charge of Soviet foreign policy, Beria, the long-serving head of the secret police took the initiative and offered the West a proposal for a reunified, neutral Germany.* Beria – ‘all we want is a peaceful Germany and it makes no difference to us whether or not it is socialist’* Beria’s motives may have been to distance himself from Stalin’s policies, or an attempt to impress his colleagues in the Politburo.* However his association with the terror of Stalin’s rule was too much for the other members of the Politburo and he was arrested within months: accused of being a British spy.* With the execution of Beria an opportunity to end the division of Germany was lost.Malenkov’s New Course* With the removal of Beria, Soviet foreign policy fell into the control of Malenkov who with Khrushchev and Bulganin formed a collective leadership.* Malenkov recognised the limitations of a hard-line approach of confrontation with the West and decided to embark on a ‘New Course’* Malenkov did not believe the war between capitalism and communism remained inevitable and that therefore resources could be directed away from arms and heavy industry and towards consumer goods and raising living standards within the USSR* There was still the belief that the collapse of capitalism was inevitable, but war was not needed to ensure its demise.* War was now a risky strategy with the advent of the nuclear age, and there were other safer methods that could be used to defend communism while waiting out the inevitable collapse of the capitalist system.* Khrushchev criticised Malenkov’s ‘New Course’ during his struggle for power, but when he achieved his objective he was to adopt and develop the ‘New Course’.Khrushchev and Peaceful Coexistence* Building on the ‘New Course’ Khrushchev articulated a new approach towards the West which became known as Peaceful Coexi stence* Khrushchev believed that the collapse of Capitalism was inevitable and therefore he saw Peaceful Coexistence was the best way of conducting relations in the meantime. Nuclear war was not worth the risk.* Khrushchev – ‘There are only two ways – either Peaceful Coexistence or the most destructive war in History. There is no third way’* He developed this theory between 1955-57 and by June 1957 he was firmly established as the leader of the Soviet Union and able to pursue this policy relatively unhindered.Eisenhower and Dulles* Eisenhower became president in 1952* His war record and his post as head of NATO allowed him more protection against McCarthyism and ‘being soft on communism’* Had the self-confidence from his military career to pursue his own policies and was a firm believer in face to face diplomacy.* ‘New Look’ was hard-line approach to foreign policy and won much support in the US* Dulles (secretary of state) talked of ‘rolling back’ communism and the ‘liberation’ of Eastern Europe. Based on ‘massive retaliation’ and the policy of brinkmanship* Dulles – ‘the ability to get to the verge without getting into war is the necessary art. If you cannot master it, you inevitably get into war. If you try to run away from it, if you are scared to go to the brink, you are lost’* In private however, Eisenhower and Dulles were cautious and understood the destructive nature of nuclear weapons. Their policy was based on a reasoned approach to the situation they faced.* Eisenhower was conscious of the power and influence exerted by the military-industrial complex and was aware that economic resources that could improve living standards were being diverted into arms production.* The US military, which had undergone massive expansion during the Korean War was in danger of distorting and unbalancing the US economy. With the growth of expensive nuclear mi ssiles, an agreement with the USSR appeared necessary.Therefore, from the early 1950s, the Governments of both the USA and USSR were facing the same pressures. Pushing them towards reaching an accommodation.Economic Pressures* The desire to reduce military spending to free resources for other sectors of the economy.* Domestic reforms and living standards were held back by pouring money into an unproductive military sector.* In the USSR aprox 1/3 of the economy was geared to the military sector* In the USA over 12% of GNP was spent on armaments – Eisenhower’s ‘New Look’ was designed in part to save money of conventional arms by relying on fewer but more powerful nuclear weapons* Neither country could sustain huge military costs without long-term damage to its economyAvoiding Nuclear War* Both Superpowers had the A bomb (1949) and H Bomb (1955)* Destructive power of the H-Bomb (x1000 more powerful than A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima) posed a very real danger to the existence of life on earth.* Moral dilemma for leaders whom the responsibility of using the weaponry fellWhat, if anything were the achievements of the ‘Thaw’?* The ‘Thaw’ in relations that developed after 1953 resulted in a series of summits between Eisenhower and Khrushchev – the ‘Geneva Spirit’* The achievements of these summits was certainly limited, but meaningful dialogue between the powers was a significant step forward.* Election of Eisenhower and death of Stalin enabled an armistice to be concluded in 1953 to end the Korean War.* New Soviet leadership put pressure on North Korea’s Kim Il Sung to agree to a ceasefire. There had been stalemate since ‘51* January 1954 – Berlin Foreign Ministers conference. Soviet representative Molotov, called for the creation of an all-German government out of those in West and East Germany to begin the move towards reunification.* Although the West opposed this idea †“ calling for free elections before the creation of a German Government, it was seen as rather more constructive than previous provocative Soviet proposals.July 1954: Geneva Conference – discuss problems in Asia/S.E Asia* Korean armistice confirmed* Settlement reached to allow French to withdraw from Indochina* Despite Dulles reservations over the wisdom of the settlement (communism in N. Vietnam) the agreement was endorsed by all involved.* The Communists had not been as obstructive as the West feared.New Soviet Approach – early 1955, USSR agreed to the reunification of Austria as long as it remained neutral.July 1955: Geneva Summit Meeting – leaders of USA/USSR/GB/FRANCE* Issue of German reunification raised – Khrushchev prepared to allow if Germany remained neutral* However, was made more complicated by the admission of West Germany into NATO in May 1955* For USA, West Germany of vital strategic importance.* Khrushchev suggested the dismantling of NA TO and Warsaw Pact and a new system of collective security in its place.* West weren’t prepared to agree to this, but were willing to look at arms limitations* Eisenhower suggested ‘open skies’ to verify arms agreements, Khrushchev refused this offer.* Conclusion: Both sides went in with high hopes, however the only agreement to come out of the summit was the cultural exchange of scientists, musicians and artists.* Eisenhower – blamed ‘Soviet duplicity’ for the summits failure. Yet recognised the potential for a future agreement. Hope was ‘badly blurred by the Soviets, (but) at least the outlines of the picture remained’* Khrushchev – Geneva had seen his policy of ‘Peaceful Coexistence’ fail to secure any concessions from the West.* Peaceful Coexistence however, did have an effect on relations within the Soviet Bloc.* Success – Improvement in relations with Communist Yugoslavia* Failure – Split wi th China – Mao had not been consulted about destalinisation, who was practicing Stalinist policies within China. His resentment led to a breach in relations with the USSR.The ‘Thaw’ was a cautious and limited move towards establishing a meaningful dialogue between the USA and USSR. Yet by 1955 the level of trust and understanding between the Superpowers had not substantially improved: the essential dynamics of the Cold War remained unchanged.What do the Crises between 1956 and 1962 tell us about the nature of the Cold War conflict?Reveal the superficial nature of the Cold War ‘Thaw’. Highlighted the need for some form of rules by which conflict should take place and therefore be limited. This conclusion is exemplified by the examination of 4 Cold War crises during this period.The Hungarian Rising 1956* Challenge to the post-war settlement* Evidence of Soviet vulnerability in Eastern Europe, undermining the image of a confident and powerful Soviet reg ime.* Although showed the willingness of the Soviet Union to maintain a tight hold over its sphere of influence.* Importance of the Warsaw Pact that helped Soviet dominance and organisation, ensuring other eastern bloc states contributed to the Soviet control* Soviets internally confused how to deal with the uprising, yet during 1950s USSR enjoyed parity with USA and the West was less unware of internal confusion and was less than confident in its ability to deal with the Soviet threat.* Important in establishing the rules of the Cold War – USA empty rhetoric over ‘rolling back’ and ‘liberalisation’ in the east.* The uprising complicated Western attempts to consolidate the prevailing balance of power and peace with USSR was principal foreign policy.* Eisenhower regime regarded the revolution as inconsistent with the pursuit of American national interests and taught Eastern Europe they could not rely on West to rid it of its unpopular regimes.* Howeve r, revolution served to discredit the USSR and the international Communist movement – USSR had crushed a popular workers’ uprising.* Until the rising, the official Communist movement had enjoyed considerable cultural authority amongst the western intelligentsia. After ’56 significant sections of this progressive opinion became estranged from the movement.* Accelerated the dismantling of Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe –* Depth of popular hatred for the regime was revealed and undermined the confidence of the Soviet leadership.* Ruling elite realised the application of 1950’s style coercion would no longer work in E.Europe. After the revolution was crushed, new Hungarian PM Janos Kadar set about introducing ‘gloulash communism’ – slowly the regime of coercion was relaxed and life was liberalised* Similar methods were introduced in other E.European countries, principally Czechoslovakia.* By 1970s economic reforms and the gradua l decline of state repression indicated that the days of the Soviet imposed regime were numbered. October 1956 helped to consolidate a trend that would lead eventually to the fall of the Berlin Wall.Berlin 1958-62* West Germany (NATO 1954), East Germany (WARSAW PACT 1955)* West Germany had undergone a ‘economic miracle’ since WW2, whilst East Germany struggled to present itself as a meaningful independent state.* The East German failure to win over its people was exemplified by the growing exodus across the ‘Iron Curtain’* 1  ½ million between 1950-55* The influx of East German citizens into the West, many of them young and skilled was a threat to Soviet power and prestige* In 1958 Khrushchev issue an ultimatum calling for the removal of all occupying forces from Berlin. Berlin would become a free city with the existence of East Germany formerly recognised by the West.* However, the unique position of West Berlin as an island of capitalism within communis t Germany was a powerful propaganda tool for the West in undermining the Socialist bloc.* It was only after Eisenhower invited Khrushchev to the US that he dropped the ultimatum. SUCCESS OF EISENHOWER’S PERSONAL DIPLOMACY* The ultimatum was renewed in June 1961 when Khrushchev met Kennedy at the Vienna Summit. The ultimatum was rejected, the West firmly believed in the concept of four-power administration* Both sides called up reservists in 1961 as the flood of refugees became a torrent, by June 1961 over 2.6m had left the GDR since ’49, 300,000 since January 1961 (6months). Partly caused by GDR’s 1960 decision to collectivise the remaining farms* Khrushchev gave the approval for the East German Government to build the Berlin wall: preventing the loss of young and skilled workers, stabilising East Germany and successfully contained the threat posed to the Soviet sphere of influence by Berlin.* 13th August 1961 – Soviet’s closed the East-West border except for specified crossing points* 17th August 1961 – Erected the Berlin Wall* 11,000 Western troops confronted the vastly superior Soviet conventional forces* The USA as in Hungary issued statements of condemnation but did nothing to intervene directly* The USSR had been careful to avoid interfering with the rights of the West within the cityThe Berlin Wall became a symbol of the economic and political bankruptcy of the eastern bloc: yet despite the rhetoric and tension generated, the wall illustrated the growing entrenchment and stability of the superpowers spheres of influence in Europe.The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962* Illustrated the impact of individual leaders – Khrushchev: tendency to push limits and test his opponents* Kennedy: relative youth and experience* Cuba, which the USA perceived to be in its ‘backyard’ had turned Communist in 1959 after a civil war. Took the cold war into Latin America, which had been considered part of the USA’s spheres of influence since the Monroe Doctrine 1863* Khrushchev, under pressure from the USA in the arms race which had by 1962 had developed a sizeable lead in the Arms Race* Khrushchev installed nuclear bases in Cuba in response to US bases in Turkey* The development of an increasingly large number of nuclear missiles gave the crisis the potential to be devastating* Personalities, Geography (threat to US sphere of influence) resulted in an especially hard-line US policy when the Soviet leadership was acting in an increasingly unpredictable manner.* Kennedy threatened to use nuclear weapons if Soviet ships carrying missiles did not return to Russia and the bases dismantled. BRINKMANSHIP in action* However, Kennedy was keen to ensure opportunities for a peaceful compromise were pursued – the difference between hard-line public rhetoric and caution and negotiation in private was vital in Kennedy’s approachThe impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis on superpower relations* Khrushchev was widely perceived to have ‘backed down’, at home and abroad, however the USSR did gain concessions on the removal of US bases in Turkey* Dangers of nuclear annihilation exposed by the crisis led to a recognition on both sides that relations had to be improved* If ideological tensions were too deep to relieve tension then some rules at least were needed to establish the conduct of conflict.* Hot line telephone link and Nuclear Test ban treaty of 1963 were the first steps in cooperation that developed in the 1970s into Dà ©tente.Taiwan Crisis 1954-58* August 1954, Shek authorized the movement of troops to the Nationalist stronghold islands of Quemoy and Matsu.* Mao saw an opportunity to â€Å"liberate Taiwan†, ordering the bombing of the occupied offshore islands beginning in September 1954.* The USA considered nuclear weapons, although Eisenhower followed a diplomatic path by enacting the Formosa Resolution in January 1955. Pledging the American def ence of Taiwan in the case of a communist invasion, but left vague whether the United States would intervene to protect the islands off China’s mainland.* Passage of the resolution produced a series of indirect negotiations between the US and China (in which the Chinese agreed to cease bombing Quemoy and Matsu), and the First Taiwan Straits Crisis ended in May 1955.* The United States and Taiwan entered into a mutual security pact, strengthening the connection between the two nations and making Mao’s â€Å"liberation† efforts more difficult to achieve.* By 1958, however, tension in the Taiwan Straits resumed. Concerned with increased American involvement in Taiwan and frustrated with the failure of his more moderate policy, Mao assumed a hard-line approach.* Ordering the bombing of Quemoy in August 1958, grounded in the belief that an international crisis could benefit the Chinese. Paint the US as imperialist aggressors, and demonstrating China’s independ ence from the dominant communist power of the era the Soviet Union.* Eisenhower reiterated America’s resolve to defend Taiwan (and the offshore islands even though they weren’t explicitly listed in the Formosa Resolution), both in rhetoric and by his decision to send a large naval contingent to the Taiwan Straits. Eisenhower’s forceful stance and Soviet pressure convinced the Chinese to end the bombing and seek a peaceful settlement with the Nationalist government in October 1958.* US had made a comprehensive commitment to Taiwan. PRC was angered at the timidity of the USSR. Strained superpower relations between USA, USSR and ChinaAssessment* Between 1956 and 1962 events in Hungary, Berlin, (Taiwan) and Cuba revealed both the potential dangers of crisis and confrontation, the superficial nature of the ‘thaw’ and laid done rules each side was prepared to adopt in order to stabilise relations.Khrushchev* Due to the political structure of the Soviet U nion left after Stalin, a large degree of power was invested in Khrushchev and thus changes in foreign policy were strongly influenced by the personal preferences of individual leaders.* Destalinisation – had a marked impact on superpower relations as well as the Soviet’s control over their satellite states* His changing temperament could either promote a ‘thaw’ in superpower relations (peaceful coexistence) or push the world towards nuclear annihilation (Cuban missile crisis).* He was removed from power in 1964, the Politburo accused him of ‘hare-brained scheming’, he had become increasingly unpredictable.Eisenhower* Eisenhower was very much in command of his administration and had great experience in foreign affairs. He was the first US President to define a successful national security policy and strategy in the nuclear age.* His greatest successes came in foreign policy and the related area of national defence spending. Ending war in Korea and refusing to get drawn into subsequent conflict. He made peace and kept the peace, saving untold billions and lives.* He understood the risks of erring on the side of activism and wisely accepted a minor setback rather than hazard a major disaster* His greatest failures were his lack of vision. His Cold War attitudes became increasingly outmoded in a world where nationalism was an ever more powerful force – (e.g. unappreciative of Mao’s nationalism)ConclusionThe context of superpower conflict was changing after 1948.* Growing stability of entrenched positions in Europe gave both sides some security in which to operate.* Pressures arising from the nuclear arms race and economic concerns meant different approaches to the conduct of Cold War relations were needed.* Change of leadership in both USA and USSR promoted a different approach to their foreign policies, attempts to establish the framework for improved relations were made possible.* Although tension was reduce d, there was little in the way of tangible achievements for either side by 1955.* Periodic crises from 1956-62 illustrated how the ‘thaw’ could easily give way to more dangerous conflict and how much the direction of superpower relations could depend on individual superpower leaders.

Free Essays on A Whole New Point of View on Volpone

A Whole New Point of View The lights dim, the audience goes silent, spotlight up, out steps the producer to introduce his play, Coca-Cola’s Craig Kevorkian Presents Volpone. The curtains open up to a completely unfamiliar setting. I, Craig Kevorkian, the Producer, have made a few minor adaptations to the play in order that it might hold the interest of the audience; you see, Jonson’s version was just too boring. The year is 2642 AD; the place is the futuristic city of Venice situated on a space platform orbiting high above the planet of Italy. The characters all have their own little quirks with names to match. Volponex is the man-cyborg as clever as a fox. Moscax is a robot who feeds off of the same energy source as Volponex but assists him in all things. Nanox is a genetically engineered midget alien. Ballsy is a eunuch whose testicles were removed as punishment for his poor rhyming scheme. Pat is an um†¦. uh†¦. well†¦. it’s Pat; there’s not much to say about umm him? Her? Voltorex is a lawyer whose pocketbook is too thick for his own good. Corbacciox X is an older model cyborg and mentor to the newer cyborg Bonariox 3000. Corvinox is a space merchant from the planet Ghoti; and of course there is President and First Beyatch Politicex Oughtn’tex-Beex, visiting from the planet England. As the curtains open upon the play the great cyborg, Volponex, stands in his docking station and beckons his little rolly robot helper (you know the kind, the small kind of pyramidy thing with wheels on the bottom and arms that extend from inside to sweep things up, pull back curtains, pull out chairs and the like, not particularly elegant, but functional. It has a big face painted on the front, with a smiley face.), commands him to display a holographic image showing his stock quotes, savings, and checking accounts. Feeling disatisified with a mere 996 billion denarri credits, he decides to go on a hunt for more money. He a... Free Essays on A Whole New Point of View on Volpone Free Essays on A Whole New Point of View on Volpone A Whole New Point of View The lights dim, the audience goes silent, spotlight up, out steps the producer to introduce his play, Coca-Cola’s Craig Kevorkian Presents Volpone. The curtains open up to a completely unfamiliar setting. I, Craig Kevorkian, the Producer, have made a few minor adaptations to the play in order that it might hold the interest of the audience; you see, Jonson’s version was just too boring. The year is 2642 AD; the place is the futuristic city of Venice situated on a space platform orbiting high above the planet of Italy. The characters all have their own little quirks with names to match. Volponex is the man-cyborg as clever as a fox. Moscax is a robot who feeds off of the same energy source as Volponex but assists him in all things. Nanox is a genetically engineered midget alien. Ballsy is a eunuch whose testicles were removed as punishment for his poor rhyming scheme. Pat is an um†¦. uh†¦. well†¦. it’s Pat; there’s not much to say about umm him? Her? Voltorex is a lawyer whose pocketbook is too thick for his own good. Corbacciox X is an older model cyborg and mentor to the newer cyborg Bonariox 3000. Corvinox is a space merchant from the planet Ghoti; and of course there is President and First Beyatch Politicex Oughtn’tex-Beex, visiting from the planet England. As the curtains open upon the play the great cyborg, Volponex, stands in his docking station and beckons his little rolly robot helper (you know the kind, the small kind of pyramidy thing with wheels on the bottom and arms that extend from inside to sweep things up, pull back curtains, pull out chairs and the like, not particularly elegant, but functional. It has a big face painted on the front, with a smiley face.), commands him to display a holographic image showing his stock quotes, savings, and checking accounts. Feeling disatisified with a mere 996 billion denarri credits, he decides to go on a hunt for more money. He a...

Customer Relationship Management Bachelor Essay

Customer Relationship Management Bachelor - Essay Example This paper seeks to highlight the conditions when a comprehensive CRM program becomes useful even necessary for an organization, what processes and operational aspects should be the focus of this program, its possible risks and benefits, and what is the best CRM model a company experiencing a particular customer relationship problem can adopt. For this purpose, the essay sets a scenario involving a manufacturing firm, which we shall call Company A, whose interaction with customers can stand improvement. With this in mind, one of the company executives presented a blueprint for a CRM program for the consideration of top management. Management was duly impressed and appointed the executive as consultant to study and handle the program's implementation. Two weeks after the consultant's appointment, the Managing Director calls his attention to complaints over the way company operations and employees' behavior fail to promote good customer relations. In effect, the problem is laid at the door of the Operations Manager, who has direct responsibility for company processes and people that affect its dealings with customers. Thus, operations become the main target of the consultant's study to determine how the company can adopt and benefit from CRM. This paper assumes the role of the consultant as it evaluates the problem and proposes a specific CRM plan based on a study of how the company's people, processes and operations can be realigned and managed for them to interact better with customers. 2. The Problem in Perspective CRM is all about systematic gathering and retrieval of customer-related data and is thus associated with the Internet and computers, which skill is not among the criteria used in hiring managers, especially operations managers. Operations managers are usually hired more for their decision-making and people handling abilities than for their computer skills, such that insufficient knowledge of information management restricts their control of overall operations (Boughman, 2003). They may be knowledgeable about the company's processes and people but this does not make for good customer relations if the operations manager has no access to the wealth of information about customers offered by a CRM system. The problem is worse at Company A, where the study found that the operations manager lacks control even over the attitudes of the staff, which as a rule has been described as flippant and rude to customers. There is no open line of communication between the front office and the backroom office. This lack of coordination often results in the gathering of customer records that are either inaccurate or incomplete, while purchase orders often get lost in the shuffle. Missing in customer records are such vital data as names, addresses, purchase histories, service and support contacts. Readily available knowledge about customers and their buying patterns is considered one of the most valuable assets of a business organization. A company without any geographic and demographic

Becoming an Informed Voter-Researching your congressional Delegation Essay

Becoming an Informed Voter-Researching your congressional Delegation - Essay Example Such as the state of Michigan and its 9th congressional district. Presently, the representatives of this district, who also work for the state as a whole, include Senator Carl Levin and Congressman Gary Peters. With Senator Levin being an elected official for the previous three decades, it would affirm the role having been played by both the Senator, as well as his political party. The Democratic Party would further cement that hold, with the election in 2008 of Congressman Peters. Both men in their respective elections, would face Republican candidates as their opponents and win. Thus, showing that the citizens of Michigan seek to find reliable change and are open, at least when they feel the time is right, to find it where and with whomever they are able to. Historically speaking, the citizenry of the 9th congressional district, have been represented by both the Republican Party, as well as the Democratic Party. With the different roles to be played by Senators and Congressman, the fact that Senator Levin will have been in officer for as long as he has, would lead many to decipher that either the electorate of Michigan feel more comfortable with a Democrat as their Senator for an extended period of time. Otherwise, there hadnt been a strong Democratic contender for the congressional seat in the 9th district until Congressman Peters decided to run on the Democratic platform. After observing the general rank and file of most of Michigans elected representatives, those of whom influence what occurs in the 9th district and by extension the state as a whole, it would appear presently that the Democrats would in fact hold an edge as of late. From a standpoint of advantage, the Democrats would have their own advantage presently. Not only having Senators in power from their political fold, along with Congressman Peters, the Governors mansion and the Lt. Governors positions are both presently held by confirmed Democrats. Whether its been recent change,

Case analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Case analysis - Essay Example It is amongst the top fifteen companies in the United Kingdom. It’s past financial performance has been quiet commendable and its spread of operations world over. The biggest strength of the organization laid in its successful acquisitions through which it derived internal development. Sound financial control of the organization ever since its inception has been one of its hallmarks. More and more hotels were acquired as time passed. Despite having innumerable complex intricate operations, the structure of the organization was unbureaucratic. Their chief financial manager Joseph believed in trading purchase assets; a strategy that proved to be very effective for them.The main premise behind this was to use cash flow generated from the acquisition to cover debts. This meant good management would increase cash flow for the company while covering debts. John acquired those assets he believed would rise in cost owing to inflation and would help generate significant cash flow in future. Most of the acquisitions barring that with Express had been on good friendly terms. Even after acquisitions, the business was allowed to run in their own styles without a lot of interference from the top management. Joseph never intervened deeply into the running affairs of the business. There were lots of opportunities all the way from the beginning. Acquisitions kept taking place as went the chance to do so turn in. The opportunities were executed none bureaucratically. Joseph’s only focus was on the fact that the existing cash flow would be able to cover any debts while operations were feasible. If everything fit the bill for him, he would then go ahead. It was with this idea in his mind that he acquired brewer Truman, Han bury, Buxton (THB). Joseph realized that the breweries were attractive in-city spots. He further cashed in on the curativeness of this offer when he saw an opportunity in â€Å"Winey Mann† as a follow up on THB. This was a huge step for

Effects of Quotas on Importing and Exporting Countrys Trade

Effects of Quotas on Importing and Exporting Countrys Trade LITERATURE REVIEW This chapter starts with a theoretical framework. It discusses what quotas are followed by the models showing the effects of quotas on importing and exporting countrys trade. A large body of literature attempts to predict the likely impact of removal of quotas on textiles and clothing. The results of these studies are included in this chapter. 3.1 Theoretical Framework There are many forms of protection in world trade. They include tariffs and non-tariff barriers. Tariffs, which are taxes on imports of products into a country or region, are amongst the oldest form of government intervention in economic activity. They are implemented because they provide revenue for the government and protect the domestic industry from foreign competition. Non-tariff barriers include voluntary export restraints, technical barriers to trade, and import quotas. The effects of all these tariff and non-tariff barriers on importing and exporting countries are almost identical. Quotas restrict the imports of specified products by setting a maximum quantity or value of goods authorized for import. Different types of quotas exist, such as global quotas, bilateral quotas, seasonal quotas, quotas linked to export performance, quotas linked to the purchase of local goods, quotas for sensitive product categories, and quotas for political reasons. In this context, quotas refer to the limits placed on the quantity of different categories of clothing (e.g. knitted T-shirts, sweaters, gloves) and textiles (e.g. knitted fabric, acrylic yarn, cotton fabric) that can be exported to the US, Canada and the European Union (EU). Under the ATC system, garment and textile-producing countries were assigned a maximum quantity that they could legally export to the US, Canada and the EU during a particular time frame. The quotas set by the ATC differed by country and per product. The allocation of quotas was generally based on historical export levels (Appelbaum, 2004). The quotas operated under the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing were originally introduced under the MFA. The main purpose of these quotas was that they were imposed only by specific countries, on exports from specific countries. Another purpose was that the importing countries allowed exporting countries to allocate the quotas. Quotas effects are not easy to understand since they are very complex and require a global perspective to be taken. To a better understanding of the effects of quotas on both importing and exporting countries can be gained from the use of, diagrammatic models. The first diagram model used here shows the effects of quotas on importing countries. Importing countries imposed quotas as a device for restricting imports than tariffs. This is because they are more predictable. They ensure that imports cannot exceed a certain amount, whereas, with a tariff, the precise effect on the volume of imports is uncertain, depending on the slope of the demand and supply curves. When the quota imposed the price of the product became OP* from OP. Sd + quota is the domestic supply curve with the quota added. Demand of the product falls to OQ3 because of the high price and domestic supply increases to OQ2. Imports, also falls, because of the quota constrained at Q2Q3 = WV. In case of importing country profit goes to the person who imported the product at the price OP and sell it on OP*, not to the government (area C in Diagram). If government auctions the quotas than importers have to buy a licence of the quotas to import the products, than the profit will go to the government. The main advantage of the quota is that domestic production increases because the imports decrease, however, consumption of the product also decreases. However, in some respects quotas are more damaging than tariffs for the importing country. Like quotas allocated on the basis of share of the importer in the market and once allocated, it is difficult for more efficient importers to import more if their quota has been already used up. To understand their effects on exporting countries it is important to distinguish between the prices of restricted and unrestricted markets. A simple diagram model can be used to present the basic economic implications of the MFA quotas for exporters (Figure 3.2). As in Kathuria, Martin and Bhardwaj (2001), the diagram is kept simple by basing it on the Armington Assumption, which states that the products produced by this group of exporters are not the same as the products of other countries. This assumption allows well-defined import demand curves to be drawn for quota-restricted products in the restricted country (DR) and in the unrestricted country (DU). The point where these two demand curves meet horizontally gives the global demand (DT) for the products of the restricted countries. In the absence of any quotas, as in figure 3.2, the price will be the same in restricted and unrestricted countries. In the unrestricted equilibrium represented in figure 3.2 the same price applies in both the restricted and unrestricted countries, because the restriction comes in figure 3.3. When quotas are introduced in restricted markets the quantity exported to those markets declines as shown in figure 3.3. The price received for exports to restricted markets increases from (PW) to (PR), because of the restrictions and the price received for exports to unrestricted markets declines from (PW) to (PU). The overall demand curve of country (DT) becomes steeper and less elastic. Because the original price of the output falls, the volume of output automatically declines. Whether static welfare increases or decreases depends on whether the net gain from quota rents in restricted export markets compared with the situation in figure 3.2, represented by the crosshatched area in figure 3.3 outweighs the losses in the vertically shaded area in figure 3.3. However, the overall effect of the ATC quotas on a countrys economy cannot be determined simply by the economic effects shown in figure 3.3, although it does provide a basis for evaluating the partial effects of quotas on all restricted markets. This model is thus inadequate for evaluating the overall impact of the quotas on a country because it does not take into account the effect of restrictions on other exporting countries. When restrictions applied to competing countries clearly increase the demand for exports from the country of interest, whether these restrictions are beneficial or not for any given country depends upon the importing countries, and on the relative magnitude of exports from each country. To predict the reallocation of textile and clothing production among developing countries, a simple Ricardian analysis suggests that a country will produce and export goods in which it has a comparative advantage. A country has a comparative advantage in producing a good if the opportunity cost of producing that good relative to other goods is lower in that country than in other countries. This depends on the factor endowments of each country and factor requirement characteristics of the produced good. The textile and clothing industries are labour intensive, and the basic input is cotton. Thus, according to the Ricardian model, it is expected that countries with larger labour forces and higher production of cotton will benefit most from ATC expiration, as it will facilitate an increase in their production and exports of textiles and clothing. The abolition of quotas in January 2005 eliminated some, but not all of the distortions affecting global trade in textiles and clothing. While the quotas have been abolished, tariffs on textiles and clothing remain, frequently at very high levels. Furthermore, some of Pakistans competitors now benefit from preferential access to industrial country markets, either under preference schemes such as the EUs Everything But Arms (EBA), or through preferences provided under regional arrangements. Unlike tariffs or export taxes, export quotas are nontransparent in their effects on trade. An analysis of the trade competitiveness situation shows that the phasing out of quotas implies significant changes in the worldwide trade structure, leading to strong output and employment shifts in and between countries. 3.2 Impact of quota elimination on textiles Textile and clothing trade among World Trade Organization (WTO) members is governed by the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), which came into force with the WTO Agreement on 1 January 1995. This agreement means that alongside the progressive application of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) rules, there will be progressive phasing out of quotas in the EU, US and Canada. These quotas were inherited from the Multi-fibre Arrangements (MFA). On 1 January 2005, the ATC expired and all quotas were abolished. This means that all WTO members now have unrestricted access to the European, American and Canadian markets. This has obviously had an impact on major countries/regions concerned. This research addresses the possible impact of quota abolition on Pakistans textile industry. A considerable number of studies have aimed to quantify the economic and trade effects of the ATC phase-out as well as complete textiles and clothing market liberalisation. The majority of studies reviewed were undertaken by universities, economists and international organisations like the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB), and in the case of Pakistan, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), government organizations, and some institutions. Most of them foresee increases in global welfare as a result of gradual liberalization of the sector with the implementation of the 10-year transitional programme of the WTOs ATC, at the end of which the system of import quotas that has dominated the trade since the early 1960s disappeared. Most of the research covers the global textile industry and the South Asian countries post ATC regime. There is not much research available specifically about Pakistans textile industry in the quota free-regime, the opportunities and challenges Pakistan will face, and whether Pakistan will benefit from this regime or not. This literature review summarises briefly some of the available studies on the impact of the ATC phase-out on the textile and clothing industry. A large body of literature attempts to predict or quantify the likely impact of the removal of quantitative restrictions. Different approaches have been used to address the issue; summary of these studies is given in table 3.1. Diao and Somwaru (2001) estimate that over the 25-year period following the ATC implementation, the annual growth of world textile and clothing trade will be more than 5 per cent than it would be in the absence of the ATC. According to their simulations, this acceleration translates into about $20 billion more trade in the short run (upon implementation) and as much as $200 billion in the long run (25 years). They also predict that, consistent with the trend in the historical data, the world clothing trade will increase twice as fast as the textile trade in the post-quota world. Similar results are reported by Avisse and Fouquin (2001), who found that, as a result of the ATC, the global trade in textiles and clothing will be about 10 per cent and 14 per cent h igher, respectively. Table 3.1 Results of Selected Analytical Studies related to ATC Authors Database Model Characteristics Policy Simulations General Results World Bank (2004) Data collected by authors General equilibrium analyses Quota Removal focus (Pakistan) Overall, the short-run impact of MFA abolition will be positive on the textile sector, negative on clothing. The analysis suggests that Pakistan will benefit substantially from abolition of its own quotas, with the benefits resulting from improved efficiency of resource allocation outweighing the loss of quota rents. Francois and Spinanger (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Quota prices for Hong Kong for 1998/99 Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal plus Uruguay Round trade liberalization in the context of Chinas WTO accession. (Focus: Hong Kong) Textile and clothing exports from Asia (especially south Asia) increase substantially. Preferential access to the United States and the EU would be reduced and there would be a shift in demand away from countries like Mexico and Turkey. Terra (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Standard Static GTAP model (i) Quota removal and (ii) Quota removal plus tariff reductions (Focus: Latin America) Developing countries subject to the biggest quantitative restrictions would expand their exports at the expense of the importing developed countries, but also of other developing countries which are less restricted (i.e., Latin American countries). Avisse and Fouquin (2001) GTAP 4 (Base year 1995) Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal Output share of Asia increases from 12 percent to 18 percent. Chinas exports would increase by 87 percent, South and Southeast Asias would increase by 36 percent. Latin America and NAFTA would lose 39 percent and 27 percent, respectively. Authors Database Model Characteristics Policy Simulations General Results Diao and Somwaru (2001) GTAP 5 (Base year 1997); Counterfactual analysis using an intertemporal version of GTAP MFA phase-out simulated by improving the efficiency of textile and apparel exports from constrained Countries. Other trade barriers on textile and apparel imports are reduced by 30 to 40 percent in all countries. The annual growth of world textile and apparel trade would be more than 5 percent higher. Market share of developing countries as a whole would increase by 4 percentage points following the ATC. China would gain almost 3 percentage points of the world Textile and apparel market, while other Asian countries would capture more than 2 percent. Non-quota developing countries are predicted to lose about 20 percent of their markets. Matoo, Roy, and Subramanian (2002) Data collected by the authors. Partial Equilibrium. ETEs derived from Kathuria and Bharadwaj (2000). Leontief production. Export elasticities from 1 to 5. Interaction between the ATC and the AGOA rules of origin for Mauritius and Madagascar Under the current AGOA system, the apparel exports of Mauritius and Madagascar would be about 26 percent and 19 percent lower, respectively, following 2005. If AGOAs rules of origin requirement is eliminated, the decline in Mauritiuss exports would be only 18 percent, and Madagascars exports could increase. Lankes (2002) GTAP 5 (Base Year 1997) Standard Static GTAP model Quota removal Total export revenue loss attributed to the MFA quotas estimated to be $22 billion for developing countries and $33 billion for the world as a whole. Source: Commission of the European Communities, 2004 Although the elimination of ATC quotas is predicted to result in an increase in global trade, the impact is likely to differ among countries and regions. For each country, quota elimination represents both an opportunity and a threat. It is an opportunity because markets will no longer be restricted but it will also represent a threat as other suppliers will no longer be restrained and major markets will be open to intense competition. For instance, Lankes (2002) argues that the ATC may lead to a reallocation of production to the detriment of developing-country exporters that have been â€Å"effectively protected† from more competitive suppliers by the quota system. A World Bank (2004) study provides an analysis of potential gains and losses for Pakistan from abolishing the quota system. The study shows that whether Pakistan will be better or worse off depends on the extent to which exports from Pakistan are restricted relative to exports from other suppliers; the strength of the competitive relationship between suppliers; and the extent of complementarities associated with global production sharing, particularly the benefits from increased demand for textiles and clothing as inputs. The general results of the study are, overall, that the short-run impact of ATC abolition will be positive on the textile sector, and negative on clothing. The analysis suggests that Pakistan will benefit substantially from the abolition of its own quotas, with the benefits resulting from improved efficiency of resource allocation outweighing the loss of quota rents. The implications for the clothing sector could be serious, however if no action is taken to improve productivity, output could decline by over 15 per cent, and exports by a quarter. Overall, Pakistans real income may decline by perhaps 0.4 per cent, and real wages could decline slightly if no action is taken to improve productivity. The degree of a quotas restrictiveness can thus serve as a useful, if imprecise means of broadly predicting the likely impact of its removal. Being able to determine which countries are quota constrained and which are not is useful in understanding how particular countries will fare following quota elimination. In the existing literature, the degree of restrictiveness of an MFA quota is often measured in terms of its â€Å"export tax equivalent† (ETE). ATC quotas are administered by exporting countries and impose a cost on exporting firms that is exactly analogous to an export tax. In order to export, a firm in a quota-constrained country has to obtain or purchase a quota (or an export licence). The more restrictive a quotas is, the higher the tax will be. ETEs are obviously zero for non-restrained products or countries. Flanagan (2003) points out that although as many as 73 countries are included in the quota system, some do not fully utilize their quotas. Elimination of an unfilled or non-binding quota has little effect on a countrys ability to export because it could have continued to export to the quota limit in any case. Many estimates of ETEs exist, and they vary for different countries and time frames. Francois and Spinanger (1999) estimate that Hong Kong clothing exporters face an implicit export tax of up to 10 per cent for goods intended for the U.S. market and 5 per cent for the European Union (EU) market. Kathuria and Bhradwaj (1998) report that in 1996, Indian exporters to the United States paid an ETE of 39 per cent (cotton based) and 16 per cent (synthetics), versus 17 per cent (cotton based) and 23 per cent (synthetics) in the EU market. In USITC, the import-weighted ETEs for US imports were estimated to be about 21 per cent for clothing, and those for non-clothing, textile categories were around 1 per cent. In general, the literature reveals that Asian countries are relatively more constrained than other regions. Flanagan (2003) categorizes countries into groups depending on how â€Å"quota constrained† they are in terms of the number of product categories where quotas seriously limit demand. In the group of â€Å"Countries seriously held back, almost across the board, by quotas† were Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand. At the other end of the spectrum, countries such as Nepal, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are categorized as â€Å"Countries whose quotas have been a valuable tool, now threatened†. According to Flanagan, China, India and Indonesia have shown the most consistent and widespread near-saturation of quotas for yarn, fabric and garments. Many analysts predict that the market shares of quota-constrained suppliers will increase markedly following 2005. Terra (2001) predicts that clothing production of the restrained exporters, as a whole, will increase by almost 20 per cent, and their textile production will increase by almost 6 per cent. Meanwhile, Terra estimates that the market shares of non-quota constrained suppliers (e.g. Mexico and African countries) will shrink. She predicts a fall in the exports of Latin American countries, which will be displaced by the big exporters subject to restrictions. Mercosur and Chile are predicted to reduce their exports of clothing significantly and their exports of textiles moderately. Avisse and Fouquin (2001) estimate that Asian clothing exports will rise by 54 per cent and their share of the world market will increase to 60 per cent, from 40 percent in 1995. Chinese clothing exports, in particular, will rise by 87 per cent, and their share of world clothing exports will rise by more than 10 percentage points. Both South Asias and Southeast Asias clothing exports will also experience substantial gains, increasing by 36 per cent, combined. On the other hand, Latin American clothing exports are predicted to decrease by 39 per cent. Avisse and Fouquin estimate that Chinese production will rise by 70 per cent, and that of other Asian countries, by 26 per cent. Within a broadly unchanged level of global output, Asias share will rise from 12 per cent to 18 per cent. North American production of clothing 14 will decline by 19 per cent and European production will drop by 11 per cent according to estimates. Diao and Somwaru (2001) provide similar estimates. According to their dynamic model, world market share of developing countries as a whole will increase by 4 percentage points following the ATC. China is predicted to gain almost 3 percentage points of the world textile and clothing market, and other Asian countries to capture more than 2 percentage points. Current non-quota holding developing countries are predicted to lose about 20 per cent of their markets (equivalent to 2.3 percentage points of total world textile and clothing markets) to the restrained ones. In addition to the costs of quotas themselves, the nature or quality of the quota administration system can also restrict an individual countrys exports, and lead to quota â€Å"underfill†. Whalley (1999) points out that many developing countries have built costly domestic administrative structures around the internal allocation of quotas. Krishna and Tan (1998) present empirical evidence that the costs of the export licence system within the restrained countries are significant and that both the licence cost and hidden administrative costs are added to the price of the product prior to entering the foreign market.

World Literature Essay Number Two: -- English Literature

World Literature Essay Number Two: The symbolism of Blood and Water in the play â€Å"Blood Wedding† The two word title of the play â€Å"Blood Wedding† by Frederico Garcia Lorca presents both a contradiction and a concurrence. These themes continue throughout the play, and the two words of the title are used to capture the essence of the contrasting movements of its action. The wedding symbolises the harmony of man and woman, and the continuation of life. Blood too symbolises these things, however it also evokes contrasting feelings of violence, death and destruction. Blood represents the strength of the blood ties in families, and promotes the sense of repeating history which is evident throughout the play, as well as fertility and the cyclical nature of life. Used in another way, the literary references to blood create a sense of destiny, the blood choosing the path of the characters. Blood also represents and is used to express extreme passion in the characters. It also reinforces the violence to which the characters in the play are exposed and take part in. The strongest symbolic use of blood, which is carried throughout the play, is the link it creates between the characters and their ancestors, and the sense of history being repeated. This is evident from the very beginning of the play, when the mother speaks about the death of her husband and her son. She asks herself why a man would be killed just because he â€Å"goes out to his vines or his olives †¦ because they are his passed down to him from his fathers†[1]. The mother is talking to her son, the bridegroom, and so from the beginning we know that his father and brother were both murdered, and thus he is immediately linked by his blood to violence and k... ... It is also introduced in order to provide the light by which the bridegroom and the townspeople may hunt for the bride and Leonardo. The light of the moon is cold, and this light is the mechanism by which the blood is able to be spilled. The moon brings in a surreal aspect to the play in that it is represented by a woodcutter, and has its own purpose and desires. Blood represents three recurring themes in the play â€Å"Blood Wedding†. It creates a strong sense of inevitability of events by symbolising links to the past by family and blood line. It also enforces the idea of the inescapability of fate and the cyclical nature of life and recurring events across generations. It is also used to represent the extreme emotions felt by the characters, and to show the depth of their passion. The final theme is that of violence, which is present throughout the play.

Sigmund Freud and Phobias

Are phobias caused by sexual needs, or Is there something else that causes people to have phobias? Sigmund Freud was born May 6, 1 856, in Beriberi, Moravia (now the Czech Republic). Freud grew up a very confused child. His father married a woman 20 years younger than himself. His father had sons that were as old as his new bride. Freud thought his half-brothers were more compatible as a mate with his mother. Freud himself questioned If his new little sister was produced from his father or half- brother.HIS childhood confusion led him to Investigate his own thoughts and the Houghton of other people. (Gay, P.. 1988) Freud used psychoanalysis in patients, which allowed them to openly speak about their memories in a relaxed environment. Fraud's psychoanalyst approach is still used today. Summers (2006) states, â€Å"Freud found that as the patient grew closer to the traumatic material, repression increased, and the analyst's intervention was required. As each resistance was overcome, a new zone was reached In which the patient could associate freely. UT as that process approached painful material, the resistance intensified, and the analyst was needed to break through the new airier. † (p. 328) But Freud was not satisfied with just analyzing people's thoughts. He wanted to know what motivated the repression of feelings. Freud thought the three psychic structures: the [d, the ego, and the superego, could be used to describe the conflicting forces of personality. The old begins at birth and continues until the child Is 1 year old. The old Is entirely unconscious, and has no regard for rules of society.The ego Is the second stage of psychic structures. The child is beginning to see that needs cannot be met immediately. The third stage of psychic structure development is the superego. This stage takes over in early childhood as the child begins to learn the rules of society. The child also begins to be more like his or her parent. (Rather, 2008) Freud was very controversial In his time. He believed children's basic feelings were related to sexual feelings. He defined five stages of psychosocial development as oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.The stages of psychosocial development translate into adulthood as well. If needs are not met, or overestimated during any of the stages, the child will have issues as an adult. Rather, 2008) The first stage of psychosocial development is the oral stage. This begins at birth. Freud argued that breastfeeding satisfied sexual need in an infant as well as nourished the child. By weaning the child early, he or she may have an oral fixation infant is able to begin to control bowel movements. Freud believed anal fixations translated into adulthood by being overly self-controlling or careless.The third stage is the phallic stage, which begins around the third year of life. During this stage children may have strong sexual attachments too parent. The latency stage begins after a child has had sexual attachment too parent for several years. During this stage the sexual feelings remain unconscious. The fifth and final stage is the genital stage, which takes over at puberty. It is at this time that young adults begin to find mates that resemble their father or mother. (Rather, 2008) Freud also thought that phobias originated from sexual urges.Freud used the case of â€Å"Little Hans,† a boy who was afraid of horses to explain how phobias are related to sexual urges. Little Hans was five years old, his father wrote to Freud to help explain why Hans was afraid of horses. Freud theorized that Hans had an Oedipus complex and was in love with his mother, and was a sexual rival of his father. Freud believed phobias do no occur when sexual development is normal. Fraud's explanation does not take into account that the young boy had witnessed a terrible accident between a bus and a horse weeks earlier.Freud suggested to Hans' parents to allow Hans to openly speak his feelings, which they did. When Hans' parents talked to him, they found out he was Jealous of his new baby sister getting more attention than he. Years later when Freud spoke with Hans, Hans could not member his phobia of horses. Although most mental health experts have now discarded Fraud's theory of phobias originating from sexual development, Freud did advance the study of mental illness by having patients openly discuss their phobias. Margarita, 2009) People unable to cope well with stress may develop an anxiety disorder. Margarita (2009) defines anxiety disorder as â€Å"an extreme and chronic reaction to an irrational fear, affecting a person's mood, thoughts, behavior, and activities. † (p. 19) The six types of anxiety disorder include social phobias, specific phobias, panic crosier, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Panic disorder symptoms include a sudden attack of terror including pounding heart, sweating, weakness, fai ntness, or dizziness.Obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms consist of becoming obsessed with a certain fear, and creating strange rituals to overcome the fear. Post-traumatic stress disorder affects people who have suffered through a traumatic event. Many veterans suffer from this disorder. General anxiety disorder is marked by a constant worry for no reason. (Margarita, 2009) According to Margarita (2009) â€Å"Phobias are irrational and persistent fears that can be triggered by all manner of sources, including objects, situations, people, or activities. † (p. 8) The two general types of phobias are social and specific phobias.Social phobias are triggered by everyday social situations. Specific phobias include fears about heights, spiders, water, snakes, or elevators. About 15 million Americans experience social phobias, and 19 million suffer from specific phobias. Phobias may come from a frightening experience in childhood, chemical imbalances of the brain, r fears learned from ancestors. (Margarita, 2009) Many people may experience nervousness from different social situations, such as People with social phobias are crippled by their fear of social situations to the point that it interferes with their daily lives. Margarita, 2009) There are two types of social phobias: circumscribed social phobia and generalized social phobia. Margarita (2009) defines circumscribed social phobia as, â€Å"the fear of a specific situation. † (p. 22) Examples of circumscribed social phobia includes being uncomfortable eating in a restaurant or being unable to use public staterooms. People suffering from circumscribed social phobia are usually able to lead relatively normal lives. They simply avoid the situation that makes them uneasy. Individuals that have generalized social phobia are much more likely to have difficulty with life.Margarita (2009) states, â€Å"Generalized social phobia involves fear of all social situations, such as parties, school dances, or similar events. † (p. 23) Specific phobias are an intense, irrational fear of something specific, such as flying, elevators, or insects. Specific phobias usually do not dominate a person's life. There are four types of specific phobias, including: fear of insects and animals, fear of natural environments, fear of blood or injury and fear of dangerous situations. A 2001 poll revealed 51 percent of people with phobias are afraid of snakes.Other top ranking phobias include public speaking, heights, being in a small space, and spiders and insects. (Margarita, 2009) Of all the specific phobia suffers, 9 out of 10 are women. Parents may partially be to blame because they are more protective of daughters rather than sons. Boys are taught to be independent, whereas daughters are cautioned to stay close to home. Phobias often start in childhood and are carried into adult life. Another theory is that women are the more vulnerable sex, and are more likely to be the victim of sexual assau lt. Margarita, 2009) The physical reactions to phobias are numerous: Breathing increases to take in more oxygen; the heart beats faster; blood pressure rises; stomach vessels constrict to force blood elsewhere; arms and legs receive extra blood for energy; and perspiration increases to regulate body temperature. This reaction of the body prepares it to fight the stress or run away from it. This is known as the â€Å"flight or fight† action. (Margarita, 2009) What causes phobias? Phobias can be a result of trauma in early life. Scientists are also studying brain function in regards to phobias.The amygdaloidal are located in the center of the brain. Amygdaloidal control emotions. Scientists continue to research the amygdaloidal to see if they malfunction, causing the body to overreact to fears. Neurotransmitters enable messages to circulate through the brain, and scientists wonder if an imbalance of neurotransmitters could cause phobias. (Margarita, 2009) Phobias affect people in more ways than Just the anxiety felt. People suffering from phobias spend an average of $700 more per year on healthcare than other patients. People with phobias take 60 percent more sick days than other employees.People with phobias are not as likely to advance in their careers because the affect the phobia has on their Job performance. People with phobias earn on average 10 percent less, and have a 10 percent chance of not graduating college. Not only is employment and schooling disturbed, family life is as well. Sixteen percent of social phobia patients abuse alcohol, three times as many as the regular population. Recent of phobia suffers have attempted suicide at one point in their lives. This is the same rate as people suffering with depression. Margarita, 2009) Treatment options for phobias include psychiatric therapy or Joining a support group. Some people overcome phobias by learning how to relax. The first step to overcoming fears is to realize they are irrational. It ma y also help to think about things that are not fearful. Some psychologists recommend yoga or exercise to reduce anxiety. They also urge patients not to isolate themselves but rather keep in close contact with family and friends and discuss their fears with them. Others who suffer from phobias turn to cognitive-behavioral therapy.Cognitive-behavioral therapy gradually exposes the person to their fear. Cognitive-behavioral therapy was first used by New York psychotherapist Albert Ellis in 1953. Cognitive-behavioral therapy May take eight to twenty treatments, with homework assignments assigned between visits. During treatment patients are gradually exposed to their phobias and they work through the anxiety that is felt. The anxiety is greatly reduced and patients learn skills to work through any anxiety. Other suffering from phobias may cake antidepressants.These drugs help regulate the flow of neurotransmitters. Antidepressants have high success rates, but medication alone won't cure phobias. People affected by phobias may be treated by a professional for months or years before getting over their fears. (Margarita, 2009) Do most experts today feel the same as Freud that phobias originate from sexual dysfunction? Most experts agree that trauma or change in life environments are the causes of most phobias. Although some phobias are quite debilitating, treatment options do exist for people willing to work through their phobia.

How to Know If Teaching Is the Right Profession for You

How to Know If Teaching Is the Right Profession for You Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers that one can embark on. It is also one of the most stressful as demands and expectations are always changing. It takes a special person to handle everything that is thrown at teachers. Before making a life-changing decision, you need to be sure that teaching is the right profession for you. If the following five reasons ring true, then you are likely headed in the right direction. You Are Passionate About Young People If you are thinking about going into teaching for any other reason than this, you need to find another career. Teaching is difficult. Students can be difficult. Parents can be difficult. If you do not have an absolute passion for the young people that you teach, you will burn out quickly. Having a passion for the young people that you teach is what keeps a terrific teacher going. It is what drives them to spend long hours trying to figure out how to help those students who are struggling â€Å"get it.† That passion is the driving force behind doing your job year after year. If you do not have a total passion for your students, you might last a year or two, but you will not make it to year twenty-five. It is a must have quality for every good teacher. You Want to Make a Difference Teaching can be immensely rewarding, but you shouldn’t expect that reward to come easily. To make a real difference in a student’s life you have to be adept at reading people and figuring out their own unique preferences. Children of all ages can spot a phony quicker than any adult. If you are not there for the right reasons, they will certainly figure it out quickly. Teachers who are real with their students are the ones who make the most difference in their students’ lives because the students buy into what they are doing. Making the students believe that you are there to make a difference is something you have to show them over time. You Are Skilled at Instructing People in a Variety of Ways Students come from such diverse backgrounds that it is difficult to approach any two students in the same way. You have to be willing and able to teach the same concept through many different approaches, or you may not reach all your students. You will unquestionably not be an effective teacher if you only teach one way. A fantastic teacher is an evolving teacher. Teachers who search out better and new methods are the ones who will make it. Being flexible and adaptable are two key characteristics of a good teacher. It allows you to provide instruction in a variety of method that will meet all your students’ needs. You Are a Team Player If you are someone who does not work well with others, teaching is not the career for you. Teaching is all about relationships and not just the relationships with your students. You can be the greatest instructor in the world, and you limit yourself if you cannot effectively communicate with the parents of your students as well as your peers. Your peers can offer you so much information and advice that it is an absolute necessity be a team player who is willing to not only listen to advice but then to try to apply it to your teaching. If you cannot communicate well with parents, then you will not last long. Parents expect to know what is going on in their child’s life. You provide a large chunk of that information for parents of school-age children. A good teacher needs to be able to work with everyone involved in the school community. You Can Handle Stress Factors All teachers cope with stress. It is essential that you be able to handle everything thrown at you. There will be days when you are dealing with personal issues, and you have to overcome those once you walk through your classroom doors. You cannot let a difficult student get to you. You cannot allow a parent to dictate how you handle your class or a particular student. There are so many opportunities for stress within a classroom that an excellent teacher has to be able to handle it, or they will be burned out tremendously quick. If you cannot manage stress extremely well, then education may not be the right profession for you.

Free Essays on Genetics

Genetic counselors are health professionals with specialized graduate degrees and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling. Most enter the field from a variety of disciplines, including biology, genetics, nursing, psychology, public health and social work. Genetic counselors work as members of a healthcare team, providing information and support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders and to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions. They identify families at risk, investigate the problem present in the family, interpret information about the disorder, analyze inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence, and review available options with the family. Genetic counselors also provide supportive counseling to families, serve as patient advocates, and refer individuals and families to community or state support services. They serve as educators and resource people for other healthcare professionals and for the general public. Some counselors also work in administrative capacities. Many engage in research activities related to the field of medical genetics and genetic counseling.... Free Essays on Genetics Free Essays on Genetics Genetic counselors are health professionals with specialized graduate degrees and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling. Most enter the field from a variety of disciplines, including biology, genetics, nursing, psychology, public health and social work. Genetic counselors work as members of a healthcare team, providing information and support to families who have members with birth defects or genetic disorders and to families who may be at risk for a variety of inherited conditions. They identify families at risk, investigate the problem present in the family, interpret information about the disorder, analyze inheritance patterns and risks of recurrence, and review available options with the family. Genetic counselors also provide supportive counseling to families, serve as patient advocates, and refer individuals and families to community or state support services. They serve as educators and resource people for other healthcare professionals and for the general public. Some counselors also work in administrative capacities. Many engage in research activities related to the field of medical genetics and genetic counseling....

Concrete perfomance in fire compared to other building materials Essay

Concrete perfomance in fire compared to other building materials - Essay Example al. 2006) The reason why concrete is the prime choice with regards to fire safety standards is because of its resistance and low conduction of heat. There have been numerous works performed that display this behavior of concrete to high temperatures (Kodur et. al 1997) and this paper aims to add to the pool of knowledge by comparing the performance of concrete with other building materials such as wood, aluminum and steel. This will be achieved by subjecting the four building materials in different setups and evaluating the performance of each material. The following characteristics will be measured: fire resistance, combustibility, fire load contribution, temperature, restorability and integrity after fire. Rating will be given for each of the construction material after the collation of the said parameters. That concrete leads in the said properties will be given evidence in this project. Timber or wood is known as one of the oldest construction materials known to man. It comes from felled trees and processed before utilization by cutting, strengthening and polishing to name a few steps. The most common trees that are used as timber are pine, cedar and hemlock. Fir and spruce also serve the same purpose as several hardwoods. The advantages of using wood include: flexibility, warmth, provides good insulation, safe, lightweight but strong and durable (Roadmap 2008). Disadvantages include: prone to rotting, termite and fire damage (Redmond 1971). Aluminum is a metal alloy in the form of iron, tin or copper and can be found abundantly in nature (Lauritzen 2008). It provides high strength to weight ratio. It also has good stress or fatigue resistance. The advantages of using aluminum in construction include flexibility, lightweight, formability, durability, low maintenance, good insulation and fire resistance (AFSA 2006). Steel is commonly made up of iron and

Duty of Partner to Give Accounts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Duty of Partner to Give Accounts - Essay Example In the context of the partnership agreement, the roles, responsibilities, and liabilities of partners need to be discussed. According to Sec 9 of the Partnership Act of 1963, it states that except for an incorporated limited partnership, a partner of a particular firm is considered as the agent of the firm along with the other partners present in the firm, for the reason of the business of the firm1. It also, declares that apart from an, incorporated limited partnership, an act carried out by a partner of a firm, for the reason of cont,inning in the customary method business of the type continued by the firm, connects that particular firm and remaining of the partners in the particular firm unless the partner who conducts the act has no right to act in any way for the particular firm in the specific matter and the person involved in the dealings with that particular partner either is well aware that the person is not authorized or is unknown about the factor does not consider the par ticular partner to be the firm’s partner4. According to Sec 10 of the Partnership Act of 1963 it states that a certain act or any particular instrument in relation to the nature of business of the firm apart from an incorporated limited partnership is obligatory on all the existing partners of the particular firm and also on the firm too if it is carried out by any person who has the authorization to conduct such an actor perform the instrument irrespective of the fact that whether the person is a partner of the firm or not, in firm’s name or in any such way or intention where it involves the firm4. The liability of a partner according to Sec 13 of the Partnership Act of 1963 declares that every individual partner of any particular firm except for an incorporated limited supported partnership is equally accountable along with the other partners for the duties and legal responsibilities of that particular firm which was obtained when the particular person was still an e xisting partner as per the partnership agreement which proves it to be legal and also in case of the partner is an individual, after the demise of that partner the assets of the deceased partner would be liable in the course of management for the liabilities and obligations of that firm which was acquired while the already dead partner was still a partner that stays discontented, but subject to the previous payment of the individual debts of the deceased partner4. The most important duty of a partner that needs to be mentioned in relation to this case is according to Sec 33 (1) A particular partner of a firm apart from an incorporated limited partnership is responsible for giving accurate accounts and complete information regarding all the things that might affect the firm to the other partners or partner or to the legal personal spokesperson of the other partner4.