Understanding International Relations Essay Example

Understanding International Relations Essay Additionally, globalisation has not been experienced everywhere to the same extent. In fact, it is probably only applicable to a small percentage of humankind. For instance, only a small minority of the worlds population can connect to the WWW and most people probably never even made a telephone phone call in their lives. Phenomenon such as electronic mail has been mainly concentrated in the so-called North of the world. It could even be argued that globalisation only applies to the developed world. It is very easy to overestimate the scope of globalisation.In the famous book World On Fire by Amy Chua, she notes that in several countries, there are market-dominant minorities- small ethnic groups which control the wealth and the economy. These include the Chinese in the Philippines, the Indians in east Africa, or whites in South Africa. Too often, free market reforms in these countries simply allow the market-dominant minorities to accumulate even more wealth, widening the poverty gap. Anti-globalisation movement claims that integration leads to growing inequality within countries, with no benefits going to the poor.Some see it as the latest manifestation of Western imperialism and capitalism. We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding International Relations specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding International Relations specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding International Relations specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The forces that are being globalised are conveniently those found in the Western world. Thus, globalisation creates losers, allowing the more efficient exploitation of less well-off nations, all in the name of openness. Contemporary capitalism, driven by Western countries in Europe and North America, has established rules of trade and business relations that do not serve the interests of the poorer people in the world.Ecologically, globalisation has caused phenomena such as global warming, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion and a decline in Earths biological diversity. Rises in carbon dioxide emissions caused mainly by industry is expected to rise ten per cent every twenty years. This owes largely to globalisation. If it indeed does make lives better, how can one explain for the widespread poverty that still exist today? The per-capita income in the richest twenty countries is 37 times greater than that in the 20 poorest7. Accordingly, globalisation cannot, and does not, serve interests of all countries in the world.To conclude, globalization refers to a process in which the world is in many respects becoming a single place. It has in one way or another encompassed every sphere of social life. It brings people together as well as promoting higher economic growth and lower cost goods and provides much wider opportunities and choices at the same time. The advocates say globalization brings the first real chance of prosperity to the impoverished corners of the world whilst the opponents say globalization is the cause of growing poverty and inequality on the planet.However, globalization definitely is not a panacea. It does not hold the answer to universal equality, prosperity, peace and freedom as some had presumed. Poverty is still rampant in the contemporary globalizing world. Human-induced ecological degradation has never been worse. Numerous major armed conflicts were underway and globalization has not provided a formula for increased democracy either. Yet, it lowers costs, broadens choices, delivers more capital and opens more markets, giving the individual more power to control his or her destiny.As the Asian economies demonstrate, globalization can build economies through trade and investment and spur development in even the worlds poorest nations, but it can also bring economies down overnight. Namely, used properly it can be used to massively reduce poverty worldwide and to reduce global inequality. In this light, it seems that globalization itself is neither good nor bad. However, used properly it can bring about many benefits; used hastily it can seriously damage an economy. It must be seen as something to mold, shape and manage. The reality is that globalization is here to stay whether we like it or not.With 1. 2 billion people still living below the poverty line, the foremost challenge is to encourage greater global cooperation in order to provide g collaboration and coalitions to handle the risks emerging from this connected world. There is a need to balance local forces with international forces. A country must carefully choose a combination of policies that best enables it to take the opportunity while avoiding the pitfalls.BIBLIOGRAPHYBaylis, J. and Smith, S. , (2001) The Globalization of World Politics (3rd edn), Oxford University Press Brown, C. (2001) Understanding International Relations (2nd edn), Palgrave.

A Useful Reminder About An

A Useful Reminder About An A Useful Reminder About An A Useful Reminder About An By Maeve Maddox English has two forms of the indefinite article: a and an. In modern usage, the form a is used in front of words that begin with a consonant sound; an is used in front of words that begin with a vowel sound. The following uses of an are nonstandard in modern English: OK, I admit it, I dont see why the iPad would be an useful device. Plot is an unique feature that indicates the address of the place. Found an useful paper on grid generation Fastest way to find an unique element out of given numbers We are an uniform based school and the design of our uniforms has been a careful and consultative process with executive, staff, student and community. It may be that writers who put an in front of unique or useful have misunderstood the rule; perhaps they think that an goes in front of any word that begins with u, regardless of how the u is pronounced. Although the letter u usually represents a vowel sound, it does not always do so. Such words as umbrella, undertaker, and ugly do begin with a vowel sound, [uh]. These words should be preceded by an: an umbrella an undertaker an ugly dog Sometimes, u represents a consonant sound that incorporates the y sound heard at the beginning of yellow: unique [yoo-neek] useful [yoos-ful] usual [yoo-zyoo-l] I’ve never heard anyone pronounce the word an in front of one of these words, although I suppose that somewhere in the world someone may talk that way. For a speaker who pronounces the word unique as [uh-neek] or [oo-neek], there would be some justification for writing â€Å"an unique feature.† What I think is that some speakers say â€Å"a useful paper† but go to write it and think it â€Å"looks funny† with a instead of an. In the case of an before a word that begins with u, let your ear guide you: a useful device, but an unusual device a unique feature, but an ultra-interesting feature a useful paper, but an undervalued paper a unique element, but an unknown element a uniform-based school, but an unconventional school Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:5 Uses of InfinitivesWhen to Form a Plural with an Apostrophe12 Misunderstood and Misquoted Shakespearean Expressions

Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Uprising Explained

Saudi Arabia and the Syrian Uprising Explained It’s difficult to think of a more unlikely champion of democratic change in Syria than Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is one of the Arab world’s most conservative societies, where power resides in the narrow circle of octogenarian elders of the royal family backed by a powerful hierarchy of Wahhabi Muslim clergy. At home and abroad, Saudis cherish stability over all. So what is the link between Saudi Arabia and the Syrian uprising? Saudi Foreign Policy: Breaking Syria’s Alliance with Iran Saudi support for the Syrian opposition is motivated by a decades-long desire to break the alliance between Syria and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia’s chief rival for dominance in the Persian Gulf and the wider Middle East. Saudi reaction to the Arab Spring has been two-fold: containing the unrest before it reaches Saudi territory, and ensuring that Iran does not benefit from any changes to the regional balance of power. In this context, the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in Spring 2011 came as a golden opportunity for the Saudis to strike at Iran’s key Arab ally. While Saudi Arabia lacks the military capacity to intervene directly, it will use its oil wealth to arm Syrian rebels and, in the event that Assad falls, ensure his regime is replaced by a friendly government. Growing Saudi-Syrian Tension Traditionally cordial relations between Damascus and Riyadh began to unravel rapidly under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, particularly after the 2003 US-led intervention in Iraq. The coming to power of a Shiite government in Baghdad with close links to Iran unnerved the Saudis. Faced with Iran’s growing regional clout, Saudi Arabia found it increasingly difficult to accommodate the interests of Tehran’s chief Arab ally in Damascus. Two major flashpoints have drawn Assad into an inevitable clash with the oil-rich kingdom: Lebanon: Syria is the main conduit for the flow of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah, a Shiite political party that commands the most powerful militia in Lebanon. To contain Iranian influence in the country, Saudis have backed those Lebanese groups opposed to Hezbollah, particularly the Sunni Hariri family. The fall or substantial weakening of the pro-Iranian regime in Damascus would curtail Hezbollah’s access to weapons and greatly bolster Saudi allies in Lebanon.Palestine: Syria has traditionally supported radical Palestinian groups such as Hamas who reject dialogue with Israel, while Saudi Arabia backs the rival Fatah of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who advocates peace talks. Hamas’ violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2008 and lack of progress in Fatah-Israeli negotiations have caused much embarrassment to Saudi diplomats. Weaning Hamas off its sponsors in Syria and Iran would be another major coup for Saudi foreign policy. What Role for Saudi Arabia in Syria? Other than wresting Syria away from Iran, the Saudis dont seem to hold any particular interest in fostering a more democratic Syria. It is still too early to imagine what kind of role Saudi Arabia could play in the post-Assad Syria, although the conservative kingdom is expected to throw its weight behind Islamist groups within the disparate Syrian opposition. It is notable how the royal family is consciously positioning itself as the protector of Sunnis against what it sees is Iranian interference in Arab affairs. Syria is a majority Sunni country but the security forces are dominated by Alawites, members of a Shiite minority to which Assad’s family belongs. And therein lies the gravest danger for Syria’s multi-religious society: becoming a proxy battleground for the Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia with both sides deliberately playing on the Sunni-Shiite (or Sunni-Alawi) divide, which would greatly inflame sectarian tensions in the country and beyond.

Race and class in New York Conspiracy Trials of 1741 Essay

Race and class in New York Conspiracy Trials of 1741 - Essay Example This further has led a presumption that the blacks are revolting against the whites. The main reason for this conclusion appears to be the threat perception of whites due to the fact that Black population steadily increased to make up for â€Å"one sixth of the population† by 1741 (Parrillo 45). The people allegedly involved in this purported conspiracy have mainly been blacks and poor whites. The court that heard the trials bas been biased against the black race and poor class, due to which it interpreted a case involving â€Å"common theft and arson† as an â€Å"enormous conspiracy† (Zabin 3). Thus, it transpires that racial and class supremacy of the dominant white people of higher social echelon has resulted in poor judgment and prejudice in the New York Conspiracy, due to which many blacks and some lower class white men have been executed in the aftermath of the trial. All the men involved in the alleged theft and subsequent developments have either been bla cks or white people of poor social standing. Another major member of the accused party has been a â€Å"papist priest and Spanish spy† which attributed a conspiracy angle to the episode (3). It can be evidenced from relevant sources that when the city of New York expanded, the affluent have moved away from the docks leaving it open for soldiers, sailors and the blacks to mingle and Hughson’s tavern, by virtue of its location within the close proximity of Hudson River has been ideal for catering the needs of the â€Å"transient residents as well as to the slaves† (7). During this time, the â€Å"religious revival movement† of the 1740s also becomes relevant, which has also caused bitterness among different segments of people (Parrillo 53). The 1741 winter had been very harsh and many witnesses have testified acute shortage of food and fuel but Burton as well as some other witnesses deposed that Hughson hosted â€Å"great feasts† (Zabin 9). Some stat ements even went to the extent that after the coup Hughson aspired to become â€Å"king† and John Gwin the â€Å"governor† while others pointed to the resentment about the disparity between the rich and the poor (10). Thus, the court, despite the absence of solid evidence, concluded that there indeed had been a conspiracy and executed the blacks and poor whites on racial and class prejudice. Evidence also suggests that during the trials, a â€Å"carefully calibrated† social rank system has been apparent, which determined the â€Å"authority and credibility of speeches and interactions† (11). The prevailing system in the early eighteenth century decided the social rank in terms of â€Å"gender, race and economic status† (11). Thus, it becomes obvious that the black people on the basis of race and some white men on the basis of lower economic status have been discriminated in the trials due to which the judges have awarded them the punishment of exec ution. Therefore, many believe that Horsmanden’s account, as one of the city’s elite, can only be seen as a version of the prosecution rather than a record of the actual events. Similarly, religion also has had an upper hand in Colonial America and the religious leaders also favored the higher echelons of the society rather than the poor man. In addition, a designated â€Å"civil government of its own† was absent and thus religion assumed additional power, which it could be used for favoring the elite white people (Godbeer 19). Thus, it

Art history - compare and contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art history - compare and contrast - Essay Example and Khafre’s Pyramid bear much similarity in terms of form and construction, they are actually quite different in terms of the function and context in which they were constructed. A major similarity between the Nanna Ziggurat and Khafre’s Pyramid lies in the fact that they are basically large pyramid structures. The Nanna Ziggurat has a stepped pyramid form with a rectangular base of 205 feet by 141 feet and rising an imposing 70 feet high. It was constructed of mud bricks and bore three staircases that all led to an entrance at the top. Its platform walls sloped outwards and it is thought that the Sumerian architects behind the idea designed it this way to prevent erosion of the pavement that was also constructed of mud bricks (Stokstad and Cothren 36). Khafre’s Pyramid was a large construction, with a square base of about 704 feet and rising to about 471 feet. It had a slant height of about 568 feet at an angle of 53Â °. This is of particular note since the architects had to get each angle and length measurement correctly for each stone to fit properly. The building blocks themselves were cut out of stone and weighed about 2.5 tons each. Whil e it would have been quite difficult to raise the stones to the pyramid’s height, the Egyptians adeptly used roller logs to place each piece in its place (Stokstad and Cothren 57). The other similarity between the two monuments is that they were both constructed during periods of great influence and civilization among the peoples of each kingdom. The people of the Old Egyptian Kingdom had developed systems of writing and schools, architecture, farming, labor practice and law and Khafre’s Pyramid was built during a period of social and political stability and prosperity. The kingdom’s Kings at the time were deemed half-gods who were mummified in the pyramids after death. In a similar fashion, the Sumerians had developed farming practice, writing, medicine, sailing, governance and religion. Although the

Essay --

â€Å" Many risks come along with big bonuses† The burst of the housing bubble in the US caused the collapse of financial institutions and the bailed out of banks by governmental institutions resulting in the 2008 financial crisis. One of these banks was the Royal Bank of Scotland who ran out of money. Bankers were blamed for acting out of self-interest and making risky decisions. These failures will be analysed in this essay by giving answer to the following question: â€Å"How did agency theory contributed to the 2007 financial crisis?† Introductory, agency theory discusses the relationship in which one party, the principal, delegates work to another, the agent (Eisenhardt, 1989). The core idea behind agency theory is to through contracting align the interest of shareholders (principal) with that of the managers (agents) in order to maximize shareholders value. Thus, the decision-making is being separated from the party who bears the risk; therefore, problems can arise. Firstly, the principal cannot verify whether the agent has behaved appropriately (the agent and principal have partly di...

Losing Love (Bookshop Memories)

Ryan Borg Mr. Parsons English 101 9/13/2012 Losing Love In the short essay Bookshop Memories by George Orwell, he tells the readers about the life of working at a second hand bookstore. Orwell goes into brief detail about certain remarks, actions or pestering bluebottles that seem to rest and die in the most important and obvious places. Some of the remarks that Orwell made throughout the essay would be like this example, â€Å"many of the people who came to us were of the kind who would be a nuisance anywhere but have special opportunities in a bookshop.For example, the dear old lady who ‘wants a book for an invalid’ (a very common demand, that). †(Page 1) Follow that quote the other nuisance is the random special ordered book Orwell encountered was, â€Å"the other dear old lady who read such a nice book in 1897 and wonders whether you can find her a copy. Unfortunately she doesn’t remember the title or the author’s name or what the book was about , but she does remember that it had a red cover. (Page 1) These encounters aggravated Orwell with no doubt but the real reason he lost his love for books was, â€Å"a bookseller has to tell lies about books, and that gives him a distaste for them; still worse is the fact that he is constantly dusting them and hauling them to and fro. †(page 5) As one book lover to another the fact that Orwell had to lie about certain books to customers would be near impossible just because it’s not how Orwell wanted to explain the book but it was what the customers wanted to hear about the book to make the sale.Satisfying the customer rather than being able to speak what you actually are thinking about the book I could see this would cause Orwell to lose his love for the actual books that he enjoys reading. The other reason that Orwell states in that quote is that he has to constantly dusting them off and moving them to and fro. Analyzing this quote it is noticeable that Orwell was ref erring to constantly moving the books around for customers, the change of seasons, and new inventory that the bookstore got in. Along with shuttling them back and forth, us; as a reader, should take in consideration that the books need to be cleaned off nd this is where the dead bluebottles and dust start to affect his real love for books. After Orwell states the real reason he loses his love for books he does include another quote which is, â€Å"nowadays I do buy one occasionally, but only if it is a book that I want to read and can’t borrow, and I never buy junk. The sweet smell of decaying paper appeals to me no longer. † (page 5) To me, as the reader, I take this sentence that Orwell does not like to read books that are 50 years old or older because it brings back the memories of shuttling and dusting off the dead bluebottles from the books.It also suggests that he still will read a quality book, news article, or other type of publication but he will not purchase it since there were so many customers that went into the second hand bookstore to buy books so they could use them as a showing piece for people to make assumptions of who they actually were. In this essay this Orwell gave complex hints to the reasons why he lost his love for books in ways throughout the whole essay but he gave his real reason in the last paragraph of the essay as it was pointed out previously.