Poverty in India Essay - 2344 Words

Poverty has been a serious and a long-lasting issue in India. India is set to become a global economic power in decades to come. The hype of this booming economy causes great socio-economic concerns for this country and is being ignored by the government. This paper will argue the recent rapid increases in population, growth of cities, the burgeoning economy and government corruption in India. These factors all combine to create growing inequities in the provision of the basic needs of society; food, water, shelter, health care and education result in an increased gap between rich and poor in the country. Poverty is a condition in which a person fails to maintain a standard living adequate for a comfortable lifestyle. India has the†¦show more content†¦Inflation plays a major role towards the economy of the nation. These concerns raise problems within the Indian democracy that have always been challenged by market prices. In addition, it poses serious threats to welfare of t he population and for those living below the poverty line. The education sector of India has been atrociously affected by inflation rates as they play an important factor for ones’ financial educational plans. There are two expectations among the workforce state of education, the amount of workers in India unable to graduate with college degrees hence creating a decline in the number of workers with specialized and technical skills. Secondly, the ones graduated seek employment outside of the country. (Nesmith, K. 2005) India will overtake China for the most populated country title in a couple of decades. A boost in the nation’s population increases burden on natural resources like land and shelter. More people share wealth and land is becoming scarce, especially for one to either own or construct a property. This leads to poverty and is truly the case with India. Despite all the hype about fast growing economy and a phenomenal GDP, the government and the citizens will suffer from growing poverty. Around 350-400 million people in India remain below the poverty line. It is worth mentioning that poverty line will raise the percentage of poor people to greater numbers.Show MoreRelatedEffect Of Poverty On The Poverty Of India1948 Words   |  8 Pagesboth themselves and the world. The effects of poverty can be felt at every level of society — from the individual living in the poverty stricken environment to the political leader attempting to provide specific solutions. According to statistics, India has seen significant falls in poverty since the 1980s, rates that accelerated into the 1990s. This has been strongly related to India’s impressive growth record over this period. Poverty reduction in India has been tried before and has failed, but itRead MoreThe Microcredit Foundation of India and Poverty in India1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Microcredit Foundation of India is a non- profit organization, and effective tool for alleviating p overty. The Microcredit Foundation has its base located in southern rural India. Microcredit works with just about everyone who needs their help; however their focus is women. Microcredit presents the women of rural communities with the opportunity to start a business. The services of micro credit are dedicated to creating a better stable economy, opportunities in the establishment of medium sizedRead MorePoverty and Underdevelopment of India1911 Words   |  8 Pageseducation expenditure as consumption and as a burden on the state which reduces public savings. it is misleading to treat public expenditures of backward castes and women as welfare but must be treated as capital formation. Poverty and underdevelopment of India does not permit adequate investment in general, including education. From the private angle, weaker sections who should invest more in education have their present consumption needs focusing on survival where education is perceivedRead MorePoverty Analysis in India: Policies to Reduce Poverty3146 Words   |  13 Pagesinvolved in dispersing of funds in poverty alleviating programs, the Government, the World Bank and the U.S. are helping India eradicate poverty through dispersing funds to build the economy, battle disease and also improve infrastructure. Corruption can occur through bribes and red tape from low level government levels to high levels. Even though there is corruption detected by politicians and bureaucrats. The Government of India has presented strategies to alleviate poverty through subsidies and otherRead MoreIndia s Lack Of Poverty1634 Words   |  7 Pages According to the Human Index of Development, India is classified as a developing country. Unlike other less developed countries, India has a developed industrial sector that has boomed in the past 30 years. Yet India still remains a less developed nation and most Indians remain poor despite the country’s success in industry. Out of the 1.3 billion people in India, 29.8 percent of the population lives in poverty. Seventy-three percent of these individuals reside in rural areas. The livelihoodRead MoreEssay about Is India Really and Emerging Super Power?911 Words   |  4 PagesIndia: a land of high human capital, rich culture and a growing economy. Yet, is it, as the topic claims, a growing super power? It is this papers firm belief that India is a rising super power, and will, in a few short years, surpass the USA and China. In this essay, I will explore the relevance of the above statement and evaluate how valid it is. This essays main argument is centred on the society and economy of India. India’s economy is growing strong and at an extremely rapid pace. HoweverRead MoreThe first MDG states that the percentage of population below the poverty line should be halved700 Words   |  3 Pagespercentage of population below the poverty line should be halved between 1990 and 2015. In addition, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger should also be halved. To measure the progress of MDG 1 in India we viewed two indicators out of 9 indicators of MDG 1. The selected indicators are percentage of population living below poverty line and prevalence of underweight children. 3.3 Status and Trends of the Progress of MDG 1 in India and Its States 3.3.1 Poverty Head Count Ratio (PercentageRead MoreCauses And Solutions Of India s Poverty869 Words   |  4 PagesCauses and Solutions to India’s Poverty Introduction In India, the economic stability is challenged by the differentiating standards of poverty between the state and the citizen(s). The welfare policies implemented by the government programs have not and are not yet able to meet the standards that will be beneficial in producing a healthy society. The government of India and the citizens share different political ideologies concerning the economic infrastructure of their country. The state levelRead MoreThe Causes Of Poverty With Special Focus On India1242 Words   |  5 PagesRecently, a girl living in the Himalayas ended her life due to severe poverty. Poverty is one of the leading causes of death among people in developing countries. Poverty is defined by lack of the basic necessities to live such as food, water and shelter. Did you know over 3 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day, which is 43% of the world’s population i.e almost half (worldbank). Poverty is caused by a variety of things including overpopulation, lack of education, environmental degradationRead MoreThe Caste System: Effects on Poverty in India4175 Words   |  17 PagesGlobal Majority E-Journal, Vol. 1, No. 2 (December 2010), pp. 97-106 The Caste System: Effects on Poverty in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka Jasmine Rao Abstract Though mostly outlawed, the caste system continues to be one of the key drivers of poverty and inequality in South Asia. This article reviews the linkage between poverty and the caste system in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also discusses the situation of the so-called Dalits (untouchables), which are typically considered to fall

Media Propaganda Hides American Terrorism Essay - 1178 Words

Media Propaganda Hides American Terrorism An article in this months Stuff magazine for men, titled Die American Scum tells us that the world sucks. It sucks because while Americans have given other countries Mickey Mouse, burgers and gum, won wars for them, kept the peace and disposed of dictators, all we have gotten in return is terrorism. The article, by John Parrish, goes on to discourage Americans from traveling to 10 terrorist countries including Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Colombia and Mexico. While the article attempts to further the notion that evil terrorists in the rest of the world are out to get innocent Americans, like many other sources of contorted propaganda, it fails to look at why. Through the news,†¦show more content†¦Yet, we had full knowledge of Saddams use of chemical weapons in his war on Iran from 1980-1988. In fact, the United States fueled Saddams war because Iran, at the time, was itself hateful of America. This demonstrates two things. First, the United States labels countries as terrorist only when it is in our own best interests. The American government was promoting Saddam right up until the Gulf War. Second, people in other countries hate the United States for a reason. For Iraqis, it is the strangulation of their economy because of sanctions. For Iran in the 1980s, it was that the America backed a coup in 1953 to re-install Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, a repressive dictator with a record teeming with brutal suppression of political dissent. The United States support for the Iranian dictator is not an isolated incident. We live under the false impression that America fights dictatorships everywhere and aims to spread democracy. In fact, America has often promoted the harshest of dictators. According to David Lowe of The Progressive (September 1998), Emmanuel Toto Constant was the Haitian leader of a death squad that killed thousands during military rule from 1991-1994. While today, America refers to Constants group as terrorist, he was once on the Central Intelligence Agencys payroll. If we look beyondShow MoreRelatedElimination of the Fourth Ammendment: Freedom and Privacy Essay856 Words   |  4 Pages How dare the government completely disregard the constitution and eliminate the fourth amendment. It is not necessary to collect all of the US citizen’s data and invade their privacy in order to fight terrorism. The government tells the people it is necessary because they have a secret agenda. The burden of worrying about someone reading one’s emails, listening to one’s phone calls, and ultimately invading one’s privacy is called tyranny. The absence of those worries is called liberty. In recentRead MoreTaliban Terrorist Operative Mullah Muhammad Omar1274 Words   |  6 Pages$25 million dollars for his capture. Omar’s terrorist cell is based in Afghanistan. Omar is considered a mysterious terrorist amongst his people and a mythological hero in the terrorist world. In 2004, Omar stated that the Taliban were â€Å"hunting Americans like pigs.† Omar has been wanted by the FBI since 2001 for sheltering Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda members years prior to the September 11 attack. In Omar’s past, following the Soviet’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the country fell intoRead More Government and Politics - Americas Addiction to War Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pagesthe continent, or for hemispheric objectives. The notable exception was the Civil War, which was terribly destructive, and which took place entirely on American soil (the only one; the Indian wars were about the conquest of land belonging to others). More American combatants lost their lives in the Civil War than in any other involving Americans. The United States of America was founded by people with a distrust of a large standing army, a distrust that lingered into the twentieth century. AsRead MoreEssay about Supporting Israel: Recent Rise of Anti-Semitism1198 Words   |  5 Pagesthe important news? The media has a tendency of showing what they know will be popular eve, if it’s not true. Like the previous examples, the media only displays what will cause more controversy on the issue of Israel. They make false claims and only show parts of footage that set up Israel to look like the enemy. Since we are not living in the Middle East, we swallow the news up and believe our only source of information and begin to talk about it in the way that the media shows it to us. IsraelRead MoreThe Missing Plane, Malaysia Airlines Flight Mh3702863 Words   |  12 Pagesefficient campaign with favourly publicity. These communication professionals are known as the spin doctor or Public Relations (PR) expert in dealing with the ma ss media to mobilize and steer public opinion (Louw, 2010). This article addresses the role and the relationship of spin doctoring with other players take part in mass media, with two case studies demonstrated: one being successful and one being unsuccessful spin. The successful spin will be shown using the example of the Islamic State GroupRead MoreMedia Propaganda9887 Words   |  40 PagesMedia propaganda Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position. As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda, in its most basic sense, presents information primarily to influence an audience. Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presentedRead More Terrorism Essay2959 Words   |  12 Pages Terrorism 1)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It is very difficult to resolve the international problem of terrorism for several major reasons. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Terrorists usually dont claim responsibility for their actions until the fuse is lit, its not a case of Jack The Ripper sending an ear to the cops and warning them who his next victim will be. Terrorists usually do claim responsibility for their actions after the media is aware that something happened, this gains recognitionRead MoreThe Threat Of Suicide Attacks3552 Words   |  15 Pagesorganization. Suicide terrorism is not as outrageous, when thought of through the minds of the terrorist. Suicide attacks no matter, how harsh, are used as a tool in a larger campaign to coerce a government. Terrorist organizations will most likely announce their goals and demand and if they are not met suicide attacks as well as other attacks will be carried out, until the demands are met. Once the goals are moderately obtained, the attacks will systematically stop. C. Suicide terrorism has become increasinglyRead MoreThe Internet Is An Essential Tool Essay2078 Words   |  9 Pages and because the internet is such an easy tool to use, they use it as a tool to help with their plans. The internet is an essential tool to today s society; however, due to the past events, it needs more monitoring, security, and supervision Terrorism While the internet can be a useful tool for the everyday use, other people, such as terrorist, use it as a way to communicate and make plans. The government has the power to prevent these attacks by creating and continue using existing programsRead MoreA Brief Note On The United States And The Civil War2270 Words   |  10 Pagesrelated to former slaves following the American Civil War. 3. 15th amendment- Prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen s race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 4. Jim Crow Laws- Were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States. Enacted after the Reconstruction period. 5. Black Codes- These laws had the intent and the effect of restricting African Americans freedom, and of compelling them

Feminism in Macbeth Free Essays

â€Å"Does Lady Macbeth Act Against the Stereotypes? † Why Lady Macbeth should appear weak when Macbeth is the one to blame for being guilty? Feminism and the breaking of some stereotypes are the major themes in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, as shown primarily through the character of Lady Macbeth. At first she is shown as a brave woman who is against the stereotypes and tries to access some male characteristics by forcing Macbeth to kill King Duncan, yet she hesitates in killing him herself, which reveals her innate weakness as a woman. After the death of Duncan, she feels a strong guilt over the murder of her husband’s victims which makes her sick and she becomes psychotic. We will write a custom essay sample on Feminism in Macbeth or any similar topic only for you Order Now Lastly, she reveals her inferior nature as a woman by committing suicide which is a proof of her weakness and the failure of acting against her nature. Lady Macbeth’s effort to access male qualities fails right after she convinces her husband to commit murder and her feeling of guilt leads her to eventually commit suicide, which proves the stereotype and feminism in the play Macbeth. In this play, one of the major characters, Lady Macbeth, acts against her nature as a woman to assume male characteristics, in order to become the queen. When she receives a letter from Macbeth that says he is willing to kill King Duncan, she talks to the spirits in her mind and says: â€Å"Unsex me here/ and fill me from the crown to the toe/ top full of direst cruelty! † (1. 5. 46-49). In fact she wants the spirits to strip her of her feminine traits, make her strong, and let her commit a crime without regretting it in the future. With all of these dark thoughts that she has in her mind, she still tries to act nice and compassionate in the public, so that nobody can realize what plans they have. Macbeth also wants her to act this way and he thinks that â€Å"False face must hide what the false heart doth know. † (1. 7. 92). He tells Lady Macbeth that the face should hide what the â€Å"false heart† has inside, because he is aware of Lady Macbeth’s personality and he points it out by telling her: â€Å"Bring forth men-children only/ for thy undaunted mettle should compose† (1. 7. 0-81) which shows that he believes Lady Macbeth does not have a proper action as a woman and she only should have â€Å"men-children†, meaning boys. Her effort towards having the qualities of the opposite gender helps her to do what a woman would not usually do; it helps her to plan a murder and be the reason of it. After the stereotype’s been broken, the idea of women being weak and breakable comes up through the character of Lady Macbeth by showing her inability to kill King Duncan and the strong feeling of guilt over the murders which she helps to happen, and makes her mad afterward. The moment Macbeth goes to her after he kills Duncan, and seems regretful of what he did, Lady Macbeth tells him: â€Å"Had [Duncan] not resembled/ My father as he slept, I had done’t† (2. 2. 16-17). She says she was not able to kill Duncan herself because he reminded her of her father. Therefore her words express the strong emotions that are still within her, and are against what she wanted to become. Right from that point, she feels the regret. Even when she is telling Macbeth that â€Å"A little water clears us of this deed† (2. 2. 85), she feels guilty about the blood on her hands. She has â€Å"hand of Macbeth’s colors† but she feels â€Å"shame to wear a heart so white. † (2. 2. 82-83). After a while, the feeling of being guilty makes her mad and she starts to feel blood all over her hands, yet they were clean. Even when Gentlewoman brings a doctor to see her, she talks unconsciously about the death of Banquo and the fact that â€Å"banquo’s buried;/ he cannot come out on’s grave† (5. 1. 58-59) but she still feels â€Å"Yet [there] is a spot† (5. 1. 29) of blood. And she also feels there â€Å"is the smell of blood still/ All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten [her] little hand† (5. . 46-47). The effects of regression and shamefaced make her feel insecure and mad which show her weakness and unstable personality. If she could succeed to have men qualities, she wouldn’t be suffering once she was guilty over the crime. Lastly, the failure of a woman who tries to break the stereotype is shown by Lady Macbeth’s suicide. When the doctor absorbs the sickness and madness of Lady Macbeth, he warns Gentlewoman about her situation and tells her to â€Å"look after her/ remove from her the means of all annoyances/ and still keep eyes upon her† (5. . 70-72). This is a foreshadowing that explains the cause of Lady Macbeth’s death later in the play when Seyton goes to Macbeth and says â€Å"The queen, my lord, is dead. † (5. 5. 16). That is the moment when Macbeth realizes that her wife had committed suicide and soon he says: She should have died hereafter/ There would have been a time for such a word/ Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow/ Creeps in this petty pace from day to day/ To the last syllable of recorded time. And all our yesterdays have lighted fools/ The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle. / Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/ That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,  / And then is heard no more. It is a tale/ Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,/ Signifying nothing. (5. 5. 16-27) Macbeth’s speech is a reflection of his love for Lady Macbeth and he sees the life is nothing but a story told â€Å"by an idiot†, after Lady Macbeth’s gone. The death of Lady Macbeth makes his life meaningless and hopeless. After trying so hard for getting the power, suddenly it’s all gone. Choosing suicide for ending Lady Macbeth’s role shows the feminism very clearly, because suicide has always been considered as the action of somebody who is weak and unable to handle the problems that she/he has got. In this play, even though Macbeth commits the crime, it’s Lady Macbeth who commits suicide and it is a prove of the stereotype that women are weak, emotional and fragile, both physically and emotionally. Accordingly, In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, feminism and breaking the stereotypes can be considered as the major theme which is reflected by the character of Lady Macbeth through the play. First she is shown as a strong woman and somebody who doesn’t believe in stereotypes and the ideas that woman are weaker and fragile, and she tries to act against her inferior nature as a woman as she wants the spirits to â€Å"unsex† her. In the other hand, she shows her emotional soul by hesitating in killing Duncan and once she realizes that she is the major reasons of all the murders, she gets sick and goes mad. The feeling of being guilty and having hands immersed of blood makes her commit suicide and end the pain. Obviously Macbeth feels guilty as well but he does not committed suicide which makes him seem strong and powerful. Since suicide is always being known as a matter of weakness, giving Lady Macbeth’s character an end by a suicide is a strong proof of the stereotype and feminism in this play. Macbeth is the person who feels guilty from the first moment, so why is Lady Macbeth the one who should appear fragile and weak at the end? How to cite Feminism in Macbeth, Essay examples

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