Langston Hughes “Theme for English B”

Langston Hughes â€Å"Theme for English B,† was written in part of an assignment given to Hughes from his college instructor. The instructor said, â€Å"Go home and write a page tonight. And let that page come out of you-Then, it will be true† (Hughes lines 2-5). Hughes viewed his assignment as expressing how he felted in the moment. He starts his paper by describing his journey from Durham, then to Harlem, where he is the only African American in his college class. At the same time, he outlines his walk from Harlem to his room. Later, Hughes expressed that at age twenty-two, his likes and interest was not much different from other races. Hughes then expresses his feelings toward connection. He says, â€Å"Yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. That’s American. Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me. Nor do I often want to be a part of you† (32-35). This expresses how he views different races in America. He views other races as being a part of one another because of the connection to the American life style. Basically, he is saying that because he and whites is American, they are connected through the way of American living, but at the same time, he expresses how the connection is not wanted or favored. Hughes ends his paper saying, â€Å"I guess you learn from me-although you’re older-and white-and somewhat more free† (37-39). Expressing that, even though the whites have more rights then him, they still influence him and vice versa.

Leisure Industry Competition Essay

1. Discuss using examples from a leisure industry of your choice, the extent to which competition creates efficiency. There are many ways in which a firm or leisure industry can be considered to be efficient. First of all they may be productively efficient. This is where they would be operating at their lowest average cost, meaning they are benefiting from all economies of scales and experience no diseconomies of scale. They particularly must avoid any waste of factors of production. Allocative efficiency exists when the firm is operating where Price is equal to Marginal Cost. When a firm or industry is allocatively efficient this means they are producing what society wants and allocating resources to increase both output and quality. This may be in the form of specialisation. If dynamic efficiency exists this means that the firm or industry is experiencing abnormal profit. Their aim must always be to increase output in the future often by investing in research and development, such firms are often benefitting from monopoly power. Pareto efficiency is where production of one good can increase without the production of another decreasing. I believe that increased competition will create productive efficiency. This is because if there is increased competition through an increase in the supply of for example entertainment channels entering the TV broadcasting industry this will result in firms having the reduce their prices of advertising slots due to the potential fall in the number of viewers. This will mean that they are now price takers in the market and as a result their revenue will decrease. As the firms are profit maximisers they will be unsatisfied with their revenue falling and as a result they will need to reduce their average cost in an attempt to maintain their previous profit level. They will reduce their average cost by avoiding any waste of factors of production in the production of the good/service and in order to do so they will often reduce their output of any new television programmes as there is a potential that they may be unsuccessful and as a result viewers will often see an increase in the numbe r of repeats of television programmes. They will also decrease their output of new programmes in order to stop any potential diseconomies of scale and improve communication in the production of their good/service. Therefore at this point I believe that in  the leisure industry firms such as ITV have become more productively efficient as a result of increased competition. Some firms also have the ability to attain economies of scale. An example would be SKY who obtained technical economies of scale by the introduction of 3D and HD boxes, and purchasing economies of scale by the purchase of previously unavailable channels and programmes such as HBI and the FA cup. Attaining these economies of scale reduced SKYs average cost leading to them being more productively efficient. This further backs up my point that increased competition does result in greater efficiency. However, it could be argued that this is dependent upon the scale of competition. For example, when Channel 4 and Channel 5 first entered the market this was not the case, meaning efficiency did not increase. However, as these channels have become more well established this is now the case. One could also argue that this is also not the case for the BBC due to the fact that they are funded by the Government and do not compete on price. The BBC is a public monopoly but they are certainly not efficient. The BBC is not cutting costs in order to become more productively efficient; the Government is reducing their funding therefore this has created the need for the company to be more productively efficient. They are doing this in a number of ways such as moving production from London to Manchester as it is cheaper and therefore will reduce their costs. Therefore increased competition is not the factor that is causing the BBC to become more productively efficient – Government intervention is. This leads me to the conclusion that the greater the number of firms the more likely they are to increase productive efficiency. But increased competition is not the only factor; government intervention must also be considered. In the leisure industry there is always a need for Travel Agents to be allocatively efficient, this is because it is vital that they produce what society wants. If it was the case that certain Travel agents were not providing the holidays that consumers wanted this would simply result in holiday makers going elsewhere. This is especially the case at present because barriers to entry/exit have decreased meaning new firms are entering the market all of the time due to improved communication. This has increased competition mainly due to the internet as many travel agents and comparison websites have set up online to compare the best deals, which increases the  power to the consumer as they are no longer required to visit the main four travel agents. This has resulted in a greater need for travel agents to avoid mis-allocation of their resources by decreasing the number of planes and destinations. This is because if they do not allocate their holidays to societies needs their Marginal Cost will increase above their price. Therefore increased competition leads to an increase in the need for firms to allocate resources to what society needs and ensure that they are increasing their quality and output to become allocatively efficient. We have established that increased competition will inevitably result in increased output; however it will also increase external costs. For example in eco tourism, if output increases in visits to the rainforest this will cause a major increase in the number of negative externalities. Therefore in this case it would be beneficial to decrease the output of such visits in order to reduce negative externalities. In fact I would argue that a monopoly provider of eco tourism holidays would be the most beneficial for the environment as they might produce holidays at the social optimum level. Taking these factors into consideration I strongly believe that increased competition will force firms to think about how they can allocate resources efficiently but sometimes at a social cost. With SKY benefiting from technical economies of scale it could also be argued that by investing in HD and 3D boxes this has also allowed them to become dynamically efficient as their abnormal profits allow them to invest in research and development which allows them to increase output in the future with the same factors of production inevitably leading to monopoly power. This benefits consumers as they are able to consume greater output in the form of 3D and HD programmes or a wider range of channels in the future without the needed for greater factors of production. However, I could argue that this is not in fact them demonstrating greater efficiency as a result of increased competition but rather creating even more barriers to entry for other firms wishing to compete with them in the broadcasting market. It also could be questioned as to how much of their abnormal profits are actually being invested into research and development as I am aware that the majority of their profits goes to shareholders. Therefore I am led to believe that although theoretically SKYs monopoly power and the lack of competition they  face gives them the opportunity to be dynamically efficient; in reality it is questionable as to what will drive competition in the future. Although it could in fact be more competition that will drive future efficiency and not the abnormal profits of just a few firms. I strongly believe that increased competition is most likely to result in efficiency in the travel market as there are little barriers to entry that current travel agents are able to put up in order to stop competition affecting their profits. This is mostly due to the fact that the internet has allowed many new companies to set up online giving consumers the opportunity to compare prices directly; therefore increasing the need for travel agents to be allocatively efficient making the statement true. However I accept some may argue that if a firm is being allocatively efficient at a social cost they should not be considered to be allocatively efficient and therefore my judgment could be questioned. On the other hand when firms are not competing on price, like for example the BBC, an increase in competition is not likely to result in them becoming more efficient as decreasing their average cost is not likely to be a priority but instead they are more likely to need to increase the quality of their good or service. In theory I believe that the best way to ensure efficiency in the future is to invest in R+D (creating new barriers to entry like SKY) and the way to get firms to do this is increased competition. In reality this may result in negative externalities or potentially abuse of monopoly power and monopolies may often end up being inefficient in the long run.

Marketing Communication Activities Research Paper

Marketing Communication Activities - Research Paper Example Marketing communication activities are primarily aimed at building awareness of the existence of a business, its products, its services and its position. Such activities are done through advertising, trade show presentations, web sites, press releases, brochures and other public relations activities. This report will discuss the marketing communications activities for pre and post-launch aimed at optimizing food and beverage income for investors who are establishing a hotel. The report will also highlight the tools and approaches required for measuring the effectiveness of these marketing communication activities. Introduction The property at 45 Avenue de la Gare in Lausanne has been bought by the investment team that wishes to establish a hotel at the site. This report is a consultancy support paper that provides professional advice to the investment team on the marketing communication activities that it can be involved in so as to effectively deal with competition and market condit ions within the Lausanne area. The new hotel that is being set up is aimed at providing affordable luxury which appeals to mobile warriors and is attractive to a local hip crowd. The hotel is intended to have comfortable beds, social spaces and a business pop-up space to be used for short term retail meetings and small seminars. The new hotel is finally meant to have a welcome area, dining space, functional work-out space with basic gym equipment and space as well as being technologically relevant. The marketing communications activities are intended to pass across messages that the hotel is accessible, affordable, ambient, kid-friendly and functional. This report will highlight the marketing communication activities that the hotel can be engaged in so as to send messages to the potential customers that the hotel that the hotel is accessible, affordable, ambient, kid-friendly and functional. Marketing communication planning It is imperative that all marketing activities should be gu ided by a marketing communications plan which is strategically thought out so as to guide all marketing and promotion activities (Clow and Baack, p. 9). Marketing communications activities are all the programs that are designed by the marketing team to sell products, services or ideas of a business. These activities need to be planned for so that they can succeed. Market communication planning is usually made up of four major steps which are: 1. Research Research involves the systematic and objective gathering of pertinent information that will be used in determine what will messages will be communicated and to whom they will be communicated (Clow and Baack, p. 10). Research is necessary before planning is done and it can be done through browsing libraries, web sites and asking opinions of authoritative and reputable people. Research on marketing communication activities is necessary because it helps to find out the basic attitudes of customers so that we can know construct effectiv e messages. Research is also useful because it measures the true opinions of the various groups that will need to be communicated to. The hotel investment team should conduct research on market communication activities so as to identify opinion leaders who have influence over the target market. The hotel investment team will be able to minimize on costs since it will only concentrate on key audiences and valid objectives during the market

Qualitative social research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Qualitative social research - Essay Example Observations techniques, an example of a qualitative data gathering tool, can yield more candid results which can be more reliable than survey questionnaires in this kind of study. Creswell (2003) lists a number of qualitative procedures and also presents a number of characteristics of the said method. He describes qualitative research as taking place in the natural setting, in the home, office, community etc. of the participant. In such manner, the participant or the subject is more comfortable and is acting more naturally than when he is kept in a holding room for observation. The methods used to determine the conditions and situations of the participant or subject being researched is multiple. An observation method is usually coupled with an interview such that the observations of the researcher will be validated to remove researcher bias. It is also more flexible in as much as human nature is also flexible. And to top it all, the view rendered by a qualitative research is holistic, taking to consideration not only the individual or subject being researched but also the other things and factors that affect it. The March 2009 issue of the Tamara Journal of Critical Organisation Inquiry contains several articles discussing new and emerging issues in qualitative research. Among the issues discussed are reflexivity, role of the researcher, flexibility of the qualitative research process, voyeurism and ethical considerations. The transformational leader as pedagogue, physician, architect, commander, and saint: Five root metaphors in Jack Welchs letters to stockholders of General Electric. By: Amernic, Craig and Tourish Dec 2007 This article discusses how the letters of Welch has contributed to the understanding of his type of leadership. This is an example of a content analysis with the goal of determining the behavior of a

Social Networks Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Social Networks - Research Paper Example It has by and large bridged the gap between willing buyers and sellers hence distance has proved to be no longer a challenge in transaction because it has enhanced communication between parties involved. Besides, the internet has proved to be man’s greatest innovative achievement and a popular instrument used in the performance of numeric functions and to enhance communication in the banking sector. Far from this, the internet which is synonymous to cyberspace has even dominated the health sector. It facilitates the distribution of power, enforcement of law and even delivers or retains very confidential information. However, since it is a public utility, the internet has caused much havoc to mankind because sometimes it has not been used for purposes for which it was intended. Some cyberspace users have abused the internet and have thus rendered it a vulnerable social, political and economic tool. Cyber threat has remained a top concern in most nations because of security conc erns. Research and study have found out that cyber security has continued to increase in intensity and sophistication with time. Its gravity has been witnessed everywhere hence this calls for great security concern in the entire world. As we can see, the ever-growing need to use internet services in our everyday life places individual users and even the government and organizations into a task of combating risk factors associated with fraud and sabotage of important information and sometimes the security threat to a person (Yar, 2006). Cyber space hackers have more than often hacked and tampered with confidential government and corporate information, which they use to cause security threats targeting not only government officials but also the common man. Cases of terrorism have continued to increase with time. This is alarming since massive loss of people and properties have been witnessed. The terrorists have routinely targeted business hubs and top government institutions. Victims of cyber attacks have reported that they have also lost massive investments in the process of cyber attacks. This is a matter of concern since no measures placed have proved reliable to curb this scam. According to a report by the National Academy of Sciences (2010), it has been noted that not even the renowned tech-savvy individuals and organizations have managed to stay immune to cyber attacks. Victims of cyber attacks have included important service providers like telecommunication companies, Google, travelling industries, defense and even the banking sectors. This shows that nobody is immune to threats caused by cyber attacks. However, some of the experts causing cyber threats have tried to justify their actions as not being in any way related to threat in the cyber. Some of the terms used to refer to these techs savvy that have sometimes used the internet for purposes other than what is intended have tried to create a distinction between themselves and real criminals. For inst ance, terms which have always confused computer users are hackers and crackers. As far as computer security is concerned, programmers have tried to bring out their argument that someone who tries to break into other computers is better termed as cracker because they use it for ill intentions. According to such experts, computer crackers are like criminals because they use the internet to cause security concerns to other internet users hence are sometimes called black hats. They cause security

Positioning and Differentiation Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Positioning and Differentiation - Research Paper Example They also need to differentiate themselves from the competitors in order to be attractive to the customers. Failure to position and differentiate from competitors will make it highly difficult for business to survive and sustain growth in today’s highly competitive business world. This paper analyses and compares the positioning and differentiation strategy adopted by two health insurance companies in the US. The two companies chosen are: UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint, Inc. Positioning Positioning is a marketing process used to position a product or a service in the mind of the customer in the best way that the company believes that the product or service must be perceived by the customer. There is very little change that is made to the product unlike the name product positioning suggests. Positioning is all about changing how the product is perceived by the customer (Ries & Trout, 2001). Therefore, positioning is the essence of a marketing mix. It throws light on how the c ompany defines its market segments, its competition and target markets (Schiffman & Kanuk, 2007). It does not induce any new features into a product or service but uses the existing features in order to project the product or service in an effective way to the target market. ... By highlighting the differences between its competitors, businesses try to make its products and services more attractive to the target customer group (Hoskisson et al., 2008). Differentiation is vital for any product or service as it will create a niche for the product or service within a well defined closed target market group. Therefore, a well differentiated product or service will have a competitive advantage over its competitors. Successful differentiation will also give a business the freedom in pricing the products and services as the differentiating features will make for the extra cost from a customer’s perspective (Hoskisson et al., 2009). UnitedHealth Group With headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota UnitedHealth Group is one of the leading health care companies in the world. Across the globe, the company serves more than 75 million people. It offers a range of products and services to its customers. UnitedHealth Group was created in 1977 but its origin can be dated back to 1974 when a group of physicians and healthcare professionals founded the Charter Med Incorporated. The company was incorporated with the main purpose of increasing or expanding consumer’s health coverage options (UnitedHealth Group, 2012). Today the company has grown on to become the biggest health carrier in the United States. Positioning UnitedHealth Group which primarily started as an insurance company has diversified its products and services to cater to the needs of the entire health care industry. The company positions itself as leading health care companies which not only address the needs of consumers with heal benefit products and services but also the service sector of the health care industry. It

The Development of Christology and Its Relevance for Contemporary Essay

The Development of Christology and Its Relevance for Contemporary Christianity - Essay Example It is through this interrogation that Christological doctrine developed. This paper examines the development of Christology up to Chalcedon and its importance to the modern Christianity. Christology is a branch of Christian theology concerned with the study of Jesus Christ (Meier 2001, 51). The discipline examines the nature, identity and personality of Jesus Christ in relation to the Christianity faith. Christianity has been in existence for about 2000 years. According to Stephen (2008, 70), the belief that Jesus Christ is man, God, and the Son of God are the foundations of the faith. The Holy Bible asserts that Jesus Christ is the savior whom all Christians should worship. However, the emergence of different and unconventional Christian doctrines in the recent past about Jesus Christ has presented a significant challenge to the mainstream Christian teachings. The earliest interrogation of the personality and identity of Jesus Christ dates back to AD 90-140 (O’ Collins 1995, 107). During this time, Christian spiritual leaders indentified and emphasized on both the divinity and humanity of Jesus. Some of the earliest teachings by established apostolic fathers at the time such as Clement and Ignatius addressed and considered the dual nature of Christ as both divine and human at the same time (Philip, 1893: 52). According to Philip (1893: 59), Ignatius approved the dual nature of Jesus by referring Him as â€Å"Jesus Christ our Lord†. Similarly, Philip (1893, 83) notes that Clement challenged early Christians to consider â€Å"Christ as both God and the adjudicator of both the dead and the living.† The emphasis of both the deity and humanity of Christ in early church are demonstrated by Melito of Sardis (AD 165-175). According to Berkhof (1969, 19), Melito categorically stated Christ was both man and God. He argued that Jesus’ burial after crucifixion demonstrates He is man while his resurrection three days later showed He is God. Howe ver, other apostolic teachers such as Justin Martyr, though acknowledging Jesus as both man and God believed that Christ was lesser than the highest God (Bauckham 1991, 86). Although early teachings acknowledged both the humanity and divinity of Christ, the interrogation was largely superficial and lacked clarity and adequate conviction from early theological critics. Docetism and adoptionism are some of the earliest theological ideologies that questioned both the humanity and divinity nature of Jesus Christ. Adoptionism rejected the divinity of Christ and some theological critics argued that He was not born by a virgin woman (Dunn 2003, 63). According to Ferguson and Wright (1988, 58), adoptionism acknowledged that Jesus was man, who was adopted by God to fulfill a particular or specific role. Hence, the ideology attested that Jesus became the savior only by his strict adherence of God’s commands and his good deeds toward humanity. In the process, Jesus became aware of his d ivine character that was confirmed when he received the Holy Spirit at his baptism (Davidson 2001) Docetism on the other hand affirmed that Jesus was not human at all but divine (Bray 1983, 44). According to Bray (1983, 49), Docetists argued that Jesus did not have physical body, but he just appeared to have flesh and blood. Some of the proponents of Docetism in the 2nd century included Gnosticism but Ignatius, an early apostolic leader vehemently denied that Jesus Christ was not human as proclaimed by

Cross Culture Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Cross Culture Management - Essay Example Hofstede’s culture model entails four dimensions that are critical in differentiating the national and organization culture. The dimensions include the masculinity versus femininity index (MAS), the individualism versus collectivism index (IDV), power distance index (PDI) and uncertainty avoidance index (UAI) (Cullen and Parboteeah 51).The masculinity refers to the degree to which the society maintains the distinction of traditional male and female roles. The individualism versus collectivism dimension refers to how the cultural values promote ties between the people and processes of decision-making (Cullen and Parboteeah 51). The power distance index (PDI) refers to the degree inequality is evident in the society especially in the distribution of power while the uncertainty avoidance index (UAI) refers to ability of the members of the society to anticipate uncertainty such as taking risk, engaging in conflicts and stability of laws and governance (Cullen and Parboteeah 51). The power distance index refers to the power distribution in the society and degree of inequality that exists (Cullen and Parboteeah 52). Chinese culture has a high power distance index unlike American culture that has low power distance index. This means that inequalities are high in Chinese culture as there are well-defined social classes and status in the society (Cullen and Parboteeah 52). On the other hand, the low power distance in American culture means that power is dispersed and shared. In China, the organizations have a centralized control, high hierarchies, and long chain of command. The members of Chinese companies acknowledge and show high respect to the leaders’ power and decision-making takes place at close-door meetings at the top management level. In American culture, the organizations advocate for decentralization of power and authority

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research - Essay Example ............8 6 Methodology....................................................9 7 Analysis...........................................................10 8 References.......................................................12 1. Introduction The main aim of this research is to provide important marketing data to the client which is a company seeking to introduce a new range of ready to eat nutritious meals for fixed budget customers. The client company is planning to launch nutritious food products in United Kingdom market with the students as the main target customer of the product. This nutritious food product features a variety of read to serve meals at an affordable price. Beaver’s Corn Flakes are targeted towards the student population of UK and it is a substituent for the junk food preferred because of low cost. The client is planning to conduct a research for understanding the eating habits of the specific target consumers of their product. On behalf of the client, a resea rch agency is employed to carry out all the necessary research. There are various approaches followed by the marketing company to test the launch methods that have to be adopted for launching the product in UK market. This research will help the client company in understanding the real market conditions and help them in designing an effective strategy for the launch of product. This report is prepared with the purpose of highlighting the methods that are used in research process and the importance of every single method with relevant output for the client. There will be detailed explanation for the research methods used and reason behind using those particular methods for the research. 2. Research Objectives This main purpose of this research is to understand the UK market and the food habits of the potential customers. The research is divided into different stages including consumer research, expert advice from nutrition and diet experts in UK and conducting online research campaig n for the product. The research agency will focus in finding the right methods for promoting Beaver’s Corn Flakes and getting the feedback from the targeted audience. The main objective of conducting this research is to provide important insights of the research and useful data to the client that will guide in marketing and production strategies of the company. One of the most important parts of the research is consumer participation and the inputs from direct targeted customers. The feedback from customers will be taken in form of short surveys and the satisfaction level of the customer from Beaver’s corn flakes and other range of products. It will allow the client to understand the customer’s perspective towards the product and estimate of number of customers that are willing to use this product. Some of the important results obtained from research are: a) Customer awareness of Beaver’s corn flakes product (Including data like age, socio-economic status , sex and location of customer) b) What are the possible challenges in introducing Beaver’s corn flakes and food products in UK market? c) What is the customer satisfaction level and feedback for Beaver’s Corn Flakes? d) What percentage of UK customers are willing to try this new range of nutritious food products from Kellogg’s? 3. Terms of Reference The main aim of the research is to provide information to the client that will help the company in developing a consumer base in UK market for their upcoming nutritious range of food products served as

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 8

Globalization - Essay Example It is due to those encounters found on the pages of world history that several phenomena like exchange of ideas, thoughts, ambition, trade and technology have evolved giving rise to globalization. Phenomena of different centuries that have played the most important roles in globalization Several phenomena of different centuries have played the most important roles in globalization. These phenomena are the ideas, ambition and plan of accession to the thrown in order to gain complete control of the bureaucracy, military and thereafter to play a national role in the overall development of their nations through exchange with the international community. The regimes of President Assad in Syria and Saddam Hussein in Iraq since the 1960s indicate that these phenomena have led the path of establishment of self-identity for the nations, like Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Persian Gulf, etc., and created a platform of equality with the international community where exchange of trade and technology could take place. The fourth largest city in Syria is Hama, where Assad followed the Hama rule, which states, â€Å"Rule or Die† (Hureau 105). ... The phenomena of women’s empowerment over the centuries have also fostered the spread of globalization. The position of women in the oldest civilizations of China and India depicts the inferior status of women in the previous 600 hundred years of history. The societies were majorly patriarchal societies with power and influence of decision making in the hands of the men. The physical and psychological inferiority of women hindered the output of potential of the women. The women in China were influenced by the Confucian culture whereas in India, the women were dominated by the religious and cultural aspects of moral duties and obedience. With the growing dominance of men over women, the liberalization efforts on the part of women were observed in their struggle for equality. The willingness of attainment of equal status with the men opened the doors of the world, which led to their access to rights and legislative powers. Thus, the participation in the world platform and the fr eedom to be a part of the interaction between the communities led to the process of globalization. The phenomena of taxation in trade from the 16th century has played significant role in the spread of globalization. This could be observed in the Iranian history. Influenced by the bribes offered by the British colonial rule, the then ruler Nassir Ed-Din Shah sold monopoly rights to the imperial power. The Iranians received a considerable fixed amount on a monthly basis plus a quarter of the net profits. A sabotage act by the imperial rule stopped the payments to the Iranian empire in order to increase own profits of the trade. This led to a rise of national sentiments, and the farmers, peasants, and the trade agents revolted against the ruler. Ultimately, Nassir Ed-Din Shah was assassinated.

The Wife of Bath from the Canterbury Tales Essay Example for Free

The Wife of Bath from the Canterbury Tales Essay Powerful Women What would you think of someone who has been married five times, and uses their body as a bargaining tool to get what they want from their husbands? Would you consider that to be trashy and of low morals or smart and powerful? Or would you compare them to the modern day celebrity? The Wife of Bath from â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† is an older woman who lived sometime in the middle ages, who loves to argue and be right. Elizabeth Taylor is a stunningly beautiful 1950’s actress who was the type of person that †got around a lot† and was sexually scandalous. The Wife of Bath and Elizabeth Taylor relate to each other very closely. The Wife of Bath and Elizabeth Taylor are both women of high class and sophistication. They are also very experienced in the field of love. The Wife of Bath and Elizabeth Taylor were both considered to be very classy women from their time period. In â€Å"The Canterbury Tales†, The Wife of Bath is described to be someone of high fashion, wore expensive clothing, and was materialistic. â€Å"Her hose were of the finest scarlet red and gartered tight; her shoes were soft and new. Bold was her face, handsome, and red in hue. A worthy woman all her life† (Chaucer 466 – 469). Even though the Wife of Bath is not seen as being very attractive, the clothing she wore and her attitude towards people makes her seem like a woman of high class. In comparison, Elizabeth Taylor was famous and known for being astonishingly beautiful. â€Å"Early on, scouts were riveted by the astonishingly lovely child with violet eyes and a sultry, almost adult, beauty. † (Rosen). Taylor, being a famous actress, could afford to wear name brand clothing. Taylor was also very well mannered and the carried herself with high class. Furthermore, the Wife of Bath is known to be the â€Å"experienced† expert on love and sex. During her prologue, she insists on arguing with the pardoner and proves her point until she wins. She â€Å"knew the remedies for love’s mischances, an art in which she knew the oldest dances. † (Chaucer 485 -486). The Wife of Bath, being married five different times, asserts herself to be the know-it-all expert on love. Elizabeth Taylor was also very experienced in the field of love. Taylor was married eight times to seven people. â€Å"The melodrama of Taylors life includes 8 marriages to 7 different men, 4 children, widowhood, affairs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Rosen). During the course of her life, Taylor had numerous affairs and scandals. Constantly being watched by the public, nothing she did was kept private. In conclusion, The Wife of Bath from â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† and the actress, Elizabeth Taylor are very closely related. They both are experienced in the field of love. The Wife has been married five times and believes that she is the expert when it comes to love and marriage. She loves to argue with the other travelers and prove that she is right. Elizabeth Taylor has been married eight different times, has been involved with multiple affairs and scandals over the course of her life, and has been in the view of the public eye. They also are considered women of high class. The Wife wears only the finest clothing made of the finest materials. The way she carries herself, she almost thinks she is more worthy and more educated than everyone else. Elizabeth Taylor was famous for and known for being one of the most beautiful women in the country. Since she was an actress, she obviously could afford to wear the most expensive clothing she could find. Overall, the Wife of Bath and Elizabeth Taylor were very similar in a few ways Works Cited Chaucer, Geoffrey. â€Å"The Canterbury Tales.

Criminal Profiling: Pros and Cons

Criminal Profiling: Pros and Cons Many people who hear someone say they are a criminal profiler they are inclined to think of T.V. depicted shows such as Profilers, Criminal Minds and movies like Silence of the Lambs. Unfortunately, these examples portray a glamorous classification of capturing criminals (Fulero and Wrightsman, pg.79). Criminal profiling is considered to be the process of analyzing a crime scene and using the information found to determine the identity or features of a perpetrator. Although this does not give you the perpetrators name, it can be helpful in narrowing down suspects. For example, a profiling based on a crime scene provides information that may include personality, sex, age, ethnic background, and possible physical features such as scars, tattoos, birthmarks, or height and weight of the perpetrator. This type of information can be used to identify possible suspects, but it also depends on who fits the profile (www.mtholyoke.edu). The process of psychological profiling was first used as a method in America during the 1950s. Investigators found fascinating patterns and similarities between serial killers behaviors. Selected patterns found consist of the killers having suffered from abuse at a young age. Whether it was sexual or physical this kind of abuse led to abnormal behaviors later on. During a range of young ages through teenage years, they would start fires and they were cruel to animals or other children. Then in the late teenage years to early twenties, were engaging in petty crime and defying authority (www.library.thinkquest.org). According to some, committing serious criminal acts usually starts at about or around the persons mid to late 20s. Particularly at this older age range being able to manipulate victims and show a significance of power or domination is a main motivation for criminals, as well sexual intentions. Murdering someone gives the perpetrator sense of control in which they have never had before. Some criminals feel that they need to relive the events that occurred during the murder or crime, so they take something of personal value from the victim. Such as, jewelry, clothing and they go as far as body parts (www.library.thinkquest.org). Personality is considered by many to be one of the most important parts of criminal profiling. The personality profiles of criminals are the way in which a crime is committed, also known as the method of operations or M.O. The M.O. includes the identity of the victim, what the victim or victims have in common, the weapons that were used, the lack of sympathy, and the sign of any torture and/or sexual molestation. Analyzing these aspects of the crime scene, an investigator can determine the motives of the perpetrator. This can lead to the description of the perpetrators personality, or a personality profile (www.mtholyoke.edu). Appropriately, criminal profilers have methods in which they operate by. According to www.criminalprofiling .ch, there are seven profiling methods and six scientific approaches to profiling of criminal suspects. In the profiling methods, the first is the evaluation of the criminal act itself. Included in the act would be the M.O. and the signature. The signature is in disregards to why he does the acts he does, or the thing that fulfills him emotionally. Then an evaluation of the precision of the crime scene or scenes would be taken. An analysis of the victim or victims is conduced, this is also known as victimology. Subsequently, an evaluation of the preliminary police reports is seized, as well as the medical examiners autopsy protocol. As a result, the set up of a profile with critical offender characteristics is constructed. Lastly, an investigative suggestion to a prediction on the construct of the profile is constructed. The next level is to check with local investigators and propose practical strategies to get the unidentified subject or UNSUB to make a move. Then there are the scientific approaches to profiling criminal suspects. Initially there is profiling inputs. Inside this first stage an accumulation of all information about the crime is pulled together. Information that includes physical evidence from the crime scene, photographs of the crime scene, any autopsy reports and photos, witness testimonies, background information about the victim or victims and police reports. At this stage the criminal profiler does not want to know about suspects because it could cause a prejudice direction to their profile. Second are the decision process models. Within the decision processing model the profiler organizes all information into questions and patterns through many dimensions of criminal activities. Questions such as, what type of homicide has been committed, what is the primary motive of the crime and so on. Third is the crime assessment. Based on the findings of the other stages, the profiler tries to recreate the behavior of the offend er and the victim. For example, as general profiling rules say: vile facial injuries are directed to killers who know their victims, murders committed with any weapon that happens to be available display greater impulsivity than murders committed with a gun and may reveal a killer who lives rather closely to the victim and murders performed early in the morning rarely involve alcohol or drug use (www.criminalprofiling.ch). Fourth is the initial criminal profile. This is where the profiler formulates the scetch of the most likely suspects. The majority of usual profiles include such items as the perpetrators race, marital status, sex, age, where they live, employment history, past criminal records, psychological characteristics and beliefs and values. Fifth is the investigation stage. The investigation stage involves a written report that is given to the investigators that concentrate on suspects matching the profile. Most likely the police have already talked to the suspected but ha d no reason to doubt the suspects testimony. Still, if evidence is introduced at this stage the profile would need to be revised. Preceding the investigation stage is the apprehension stage. Ultimately, the main objective of the stages was to capture the right suspect which in turn leads to the interview technique. With the purpose of getting the perpetrator to confess or talk about the crimes he has committed, this technique can lead to helping in assessing he influences of background and psychological variables (www.criminalprofiling.ch). Investigators putting together a profile use another two approaches inductive and deductive. Inductive profiling imply believing that when a criminal commits a crime they have relate motive or experience of someone who has committed the same type of crime . An example of this is re-offending rapists whose target is white women, more often than not are most likely not to be black. Based on the fact that crimes in the past that have been similar have rarely crossed racial lines. However, these statements have been inquired and have encountered a lot of publicized negative aspects. Deductive profiling involves a process that avoids generalizations and averages. This method involves carefully studying suspects in great detail and changing findings in when new evidence emerges. A deductive profile is established on the offenders actions prior to, in the course of and after committing the crime. For example, if the murderer used a provisional weapon, the investigators are then able to assume that the crime was most likely random. Another example entails serial murderers. At this juncture, investigators are able to find out if the murder was organized. Which means that the killer carried out a planned attack on the victim, or if the attack was disorganized the murder was unplanned and the killer conducted themselves in an inexact way. Organized killers tend to carry a tool kit that has a mask, gloves, duct tape and rope. With these tools they can bind their victims while hiding their identity and not leave finger prints. Criminal profiling is used not only to find possible offenders, but it also helps narrow down a list of offenders that the police have already compiled. Although it doesnt work in every case, criminal profiling has helped investigators to catch many criminals. Through assessing the patterns and motives of previous criminals, criminal profiling allows investigators to accurately predict the characteristics of future and current offenders, which allows killers and other perpetrators to be caught before they can continue on to other crimes (www.wisegeek.com). Predictable, criminal profiling does have disadvantages, or cons. Some cons to criminal profiling involve not being able to identify a specific suspect nor reveal a certain individual, let alone an address or phone number. There are even instances when perpetrators purposely staging crime scenes to throw police and investigators off the right track. In many instances, the profiler will not know that area making more room for erroneous conclusions. Furthermore, profilers tend to have more background knowledge in psychopathology than the little background they have in forensic or criminal knowledge. Hence if the investigators and profilers do not work together it can cause the investigation to go unsolved because the information collected from both parties has not been collaborated. While there are cons or disadvantages to criminal profiling not surprisingly there are the pros to criminal profiling. PC World: Environmental Analysis PC World: Environmental Analysis Environmental Analysis PC World Shop PC WORLD Dublin branch / Electronics Department 2. Terms of Reference On October 2009 Business Management teacher Ms Keran Abberton Requested 2000-2500 words report on the organisation where the students doing their work experience or only other company or organization of their choice. This report was to be submitted by 16th December 2009 in partial completion of Business Management module. I got the opportunity to do my work experience in (PC WORLD) shop, and my assignment will be based on this organisation. 3. Method of Procedure In order to obtain relevant information, the following procedures where adopted: Class notes from Karen Abberton observation in the target workplace, Blanchardstown ‘PC World 2 days a week spent in the â€Å"PC WORLD Blanchardstown branch shop in order to complete 300 hours work experience for my advanced certificate in business course in Ballsbridge College of Further Educations I obtained the information of working procedure from Ken Flynn, the manager of the department. He trained me how to price the products, how to put security tags on the computers and all other products in the store, how to fill out the list of the different product to bring down from the warehouse. He told me the code for the wear house door. He explained to me how to print out the tickets for all products. He taught me to deal with customers and how to organise the stock for the next day. Bassically Ken Flynn introduced me to all working procedures in the shop. I obtained information about† PC WORLD† from the staff and my managers. 4 Findings4.1 Description of organization PC World was founded in November 1991, when a company called the Vision Technology Group Ltd, founded by Jan Murray, opened the first PCW Superstore in Croydon. The 24,000 square foot store specialised in the sale of PCs and computer related products. With PC ownership just beginning to take off, the concept soon proved popular and a second 23,000 square foot store was opened the following year at the Lakeside Retail Park in West Thurrock. Two further stores followed, at Brentford and Staples Corner in north London. At that point, in 1993, Vision Technology Group struck a deal to sell its four PC World Superstores to the Dixons Group plc (DSG). Throughout the 1990s DSG continued to expand the PC World portfolio of stores rapidly. In 1996 it acquired DN Computer Services plc, a direct computer reseller business, operating out of Heywood in Lancashire. This gave DSG the infrastructure it needed to launch PC World Business Direct in September 1997 a new business-to-business IT mail order service incorporating the brand strength of PCW and the sector expertise of DSG. A fully functional transactional website www.pcwb.com followed in 1999. In March 2001, as PC World Business, the company moved into a brand new  £13 million headquarters building and Operations Centre in Bury, Lancashire to meet the growth in demand from the business market. Recent achievements In October 2001 PC World Business was accepted to become an accredited GCat (Government Catalogue for IT supply) Prime Contractor to the Public Sector. In May 2002 PC World Business won two major multi-million pound contracts as a lead supplier and enabler of the Scottish Parliaments (The Scottish Executive) new ‘Digital Inclusion Programme aimed at giving every individual in Scotland better access to online services. Also in 2002 the group acquired Genesis Communications a specialist Business Telecoms reseller to strengthen its business-to-business offering. PC World Business also strengthened its product offering in 2003, with the introduction of a new finance package called SmartPlan. This product, a unique offering in the UK, allows businesses to spread the cost of their larger IT purchases in the form of a lease agreement. In June 2004 Micro Warehouse UK became a division of PC World Business, following the acquisition of the UK Operations of WHSU Inc. and WHSU International Inc. (formerly known as Micro Warehouse Inc. and Micro Warehouse International Inc. respectively) by PC World Business parent company. Micro Warehouse is one of the UKs largest and longest established direct resellers of branded IT products and services to business. Commenting on the acquisition, Simon Turner, Managing Director of PC World Group said This is an important deal that will further consolidate our position in the B2B technology market in the UK. The Micro Warehouse business will add scale to our unique combination of direct selling, national network of Business Centres and cutting edge value added services. (Ref: www.pcworld.com accessed 15th of December 2009) Ken Flynn managing director of Blanchardstown PC World branch. Responsible for inbound and outbound procedures which profit the shop. John OConnor is assistant manager which responsible for all staff workers. Pallav floor manager has pretty much same responsibilities as assistant manager of the floor. Kryzstof he is stock controller in the warehouse responsible for inbound products. Making sure no products arrive damaged. Correct distribution of this stuck. Staff is responsible in the first place correct they provide. I myself am responsible for making sure that no customers a left an attendant. I have to introduce customers to the products benefits and fetchers. To let them know the prices I also help Krzystof in the warehouse from time to time . 4.2 Internal influence on organization The value chain analysis is a very important tool for an organization. It helps to see the companys structure and who is responsible for what. The value chain analysis includes the detailed description of each department of the company. 1. Inbound Logistics: It is the first step of the PC Worlds business. All the goods received by the company are inbound logistics, the stationary. The stock arriving in the warehouse. 2. Operations are the value creating activities that transform the inputs into the final product. 3. Outbound logistics are the activities required to get the finished product to the customers, including warehousing, order fulfillment, etc. 4. Marketing Sales Are those activities associated with getting buyers to purchase the product, including channel selection, advertising pricing, etc. 4. Service activities are those that maintain and enhance the products value including customers support, repair services, etc. (www.valubasedmanagement accessed 10th of December) Any or all of those primary activities may be vital in developing a competitive advantage. For example, logistics activities are critical for a provider of distribution services, and service activities may be the key focus for a firm offering on-site maintenance contract for office equipment. These five categories are generic and portrayed here in a general manner. Each generic activity includes specific activities that vary by industry. (www.valubasedmanagement accessed 10th of December) 4.3 External influence on organisation PEST analysis It is very important that an organization considers its environment before beginning the marketing process. In fact, environmental analysis should be continuous and feed all aspects of planning. The organizations marketing environment is made up of: PEST Political Factors. The political factor has a huge influence on any businesses in the country it runs in, and also on the spending ability of consumers. The following issues should be considered. Law of employment Will government policy influence laws that regulate or tax your business? Impact of environmental regulations. Recycling charges. The employment law in PC World shop is followed according to the rules and regulations of the employment Act. I was trained for safety and fire situations. I got paperwork with the detailed explanation of my duties and entitlements. If the government changes the tax law to higher rate it means that the shop has to rise the prises on the goods and it means less sales which is a loss for the shop. Economic Factors. Marketers need to consider the state of a trading economy in the short and long-terms. This is especially true when planning for international marketing. You need to look at: If interest rates go up it will influence the income of the company. If level of inflation is low than the consumers confidence is low. VAT rates it is being discussed that VAT rate will be increased on tomorrows budget; if it happens than potential customers will be provoked to do their shopping across the border. Socio-cultural Factors. The social and cultural influences on business vary from country to country. It is very important that such factors are considered. Factors include: An Irish website, www.cso.ie gives information about the population of the country. Marriages, deaths, births and so on. It is important that population grows because in 10-15 years a generation will be old enough to use most new technology. There always will be a huge demand in newer versions of computers, IPods, TV-sets and so on. This is what people want and the higher the population is the better it is for the technology selling shops. Nearly all the goods in the shop are imported from different countries. The main country of import is China, customers are aware of the fact that most of the goods in the country are imported and it never was a concern. A bigger concern for the customers is which country were the goods released by. Career attitude Younger people are more educated in regards to the new technologies and of course it is easier for a younger generation to find a job rather than someone older, because they will need to be trained. Younger people know exactly what they want, what type of computer, TV, DVD-player and so on. Kids digital games, play station, Nintendo games and so on. Business owners can get all the information from the website mentioned above and use it as a guide of purchasing certain goods during different years for sale. Technological Factors. Technology is vital for competitive advantage, and is a major driver of globalization. Consider the following points: Does technology allow for products and services to be made more cheaply and to a better standard of quality?Do the technologies offer consumers and businesses more innovative products and services?How is distribution changed by new technologies?Does technology offer companies a new way to communicate with overseas agents? Technology has a huge impact on selling performance in any business. PC World Dublin is now looking into introducing online shopping. It makes the goods to be purchased cheaper and more convenient for the customers. England PC World has already implemented this procedure and it has a great success. PC World shops always offer its customers more innovative products for sale. More up to date and newer goods as they are in huge demand as I said before. Distribution can ease customers life as already said online shopping. Telephone sales. PC World can easily get in touch with its agents in England order an item and let the customer know the day it will be available for collection. As you can see the PEST analysis is a very important tool for an organisation. It lets the management of the company see the weak sides of the business they run and predict the sales for the nearer future.Porter Five Forces A porter Five Forces Analysis is an important marketing planning tool for looking at the competitive environment that affects a business. Understanding the competitive ability of the industry is critical to the companys potential success. The model is illustrated here: Threat of New Entrants In the first of the five forces, new competitors in industry can raise the level of competition, reducing its attractiveness to current members. The threat of new entrants depends on how strong is the barriers to entry. Business like restaurants, hotels, local shops have very low barriers to entry of the new competitors. At present the threat of new entrants into the industry of PC World shop is very low. Even when the economy was growing not too many new entrants appeared in the market of Technology selling industry, I doubt there will be any now. So we can say that PC Worlds barriers to new entrants are quite high. Threat of Substitutes The substitute of the product is not very high because as we know in the first place PC World is part of the Currys stores, which also include Dixons, so even if a customer cannot find the product he needs the choice of the technology selling stores is one of the three mentioned ones or Power City. Customers may switch to buy a good in a shop which has the product they need regardless their wonderful, previous experience with PC World shop. So we can see that PC Worlds weak point is lack of variety of the products and if Curys and Dixons werent part of the shops co-working with PC World than PC World would have very low barriers of Product substitute, it would be easy for customers to switch to a different shop, but it would be painful for the store. Power of Suppliers Suppliers are defined as the businesses that supply materials other products to the businesses within an industry. I am not sure who exactly supplies the products for PC World I presume it is China but would say for sure which company or producer. I wouldnt take the responsibility to judge on this topic because of my lack of knowledge in this area. Power of Buyers Buyers are the people and/or organizations who create the demand in an industry. They are the target of any business. They are the reason of the business existence. In the present economical time it is definitely the buyers time. And PC World as a buyer has it power upon its suppliers at present, unless the supplier is the only one in the industry market than he can dictate the rules and have complete power upon its customers. Anyway PC World has to lower its prices at the moment to meet the customers financial needs. Intensity of Rivalry The fifth of the five forces, the intensity of rivalry between competitors in an industry, depends chiefly on: The structure of competition a rivalry is more intense where there are many small or closely-sized competitors; a rivalry is less intense when an industry has a clear market leaderan alternative supplier Strategic objectives when competitors are pursuing aggressive growth strategies, rivalry becomes more intense; when competitors are milking the profits in a mature industry, the degree of rivalry is lowerExit barriers when the barriers (such as the cost to close down factories) to leaving an industry are high, then competitors tend to show a greater degree of rivalry www.marketingteacher.com ( accessed on the 5th of December 2009) As mentioned already there are not too many competitors in the computer selling industry which means the intensity of rivalry is not that high. The competitors which exist are not taking any extra actions which may dramatically and negatively influence the store strategies and selling abilities. All the shops have pretty much the same prices, products, offers which makes all competitors be stable in the market. 4.4 Internal/external influence on organisation Swot Analysis Strength: Staff a well trained and qualified staff with many years of experience. Profitable The business itself is very profitable. Technology is civilisation. And this type of product will always be in big demand. Shop location is very handy. Most of the shops are located in easy to reach areas. In big and busy visited shopping centres. Growing the business is growing fast as the products of the company are in very big demand. Weaknesses: Lack of new products New products could be introduced in some of the branches. PC World does not sell domestic technology. (EX: washing machines, dishwashers, fridges etc.) Price Sometimes prices on some of the products are higher than in the other shops. Staff some staff representatives have lack of knowledge about technology and about the products of the shop. Macro Analysis External analysis. Opportunities: New products- the introduction of new products can increase sales. Funding Investment in staff training, well trained staff means increase of sales. Service A good high quality service will make the customers come back again and again. Threats: New competitors Power City is a competitor. If they open more stores around the city it will interfere with the selling procedure of PC World. Redundancy in the present recession times people are losing jobs which reduce their ability as a buyer. Economy Present economical situation influences sales in a negative way. 5 Conclusions Blanchardstown PC WORLDs goal is to sell quality product and satisfy fully its customers needs. Company policy is designed to ensure that the company can attract, recruit, develop and retain people of the type and calibre it requires to achieve this aim Blanchardstown PC WORLD policy is to recognise and reward the potential of each individual employee and to encourage personal development and career progression. Therefore promote internally wherever possible. Blanchardstown PC WORLDs aim to exceed customer expectations. The vision of PC WORLD is to be the best and most exciting Department Store in Ireland. It is their mission to ensure that PC WORLD in the Department Store of first choice for discerning Electronics middle market customer 6 Recommendations I have to say that I was extremely happy with my experience in PC WORLD shop. The customer service staff which seem to be the same people working every weekend I dealt with seem to be pleasant and helpful every time. I found high value goods for little money. I would recommend other student if they can use the opportunity to work in this shop as this is a rich experience in business field.

Confidence Building Measures India And Pakistan

Confidence Building Measures India And Pakistan Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) are those steps or agreements on which states agree with mutual benefits in mind, and have faith that all concerned shall obey such agreements. These steps or agreements ultimately develop trust between the signatory states and help in achieving peace and stability in the region.  [1]  Limiting or reducing the level of fear among parties in conflict is essential for building confidence. CBMs aim to lessen anxiety and suspicion by making the parties behaviour more predictable. While a single CBM is unlikely to prevent conflict or contribute to peace building, a series of such agreements can allow for an increased sense of security. In time, such measures may even lead to changed understanding of a countrys security needs.  [2]   Confidence-building has been in vogue and practice for several decades. Its origin can be traced back to the years prior to World War I, to the European practice of inviting observers from different states to witness military exercises and manoeuvres. This practice continued and later emerged as part of the Versailles Treaty for Demilitarisation of the Rhineland.  [3]   CBMs are a worldwide phenomena and their development is more advanced in some regions as compared to others. CBMs are extremely important in the context of the countries, which are suspicious of each other. The United Nations Comprehensive Study on CBMs states that the final objective of CBMs is to strengthen international peace and security and to contribute to the development of confidence, better understanding and more stable relations between nations, thereby creating and improving the conditions for fruitful international cooperation.  [4]   Confidence-building is not a new phenomenon between India and Pakistan. Since the hurried departure of the British from South Asia and the partition, both India and Pakistan have signed many agreements aiming to generate confidence and reduce tensions. Perhaps the most notable among them are, Liaquat-Nehru Pact (1951), Indus Water Treaty (1960), Tashkent Agreement (1966), Rann of Kutch Agreement (1969), Shimla Accord (1972), Salal Dam Agreement (1978), and the establishment of the Joint Commission. With the exception of the Joint Commission, all the others were the products of either a crisis or a war that necessitated a logical end to the preceding developments.  [5]   AIM The aim of this paper is to analyse the performance of CBMs between India and Pakistan and suggest some workable and plausible CBMs that could be experimented by the two countries. CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES: CONCEPT AND GENESIS Traditional Concept. The traditional concept of CBMs is reflected in the oft-cited definition by Holst and Melander, which states, confidence-building involves the communication of credible evidence of the absence of feared threats by reducing uncertainties and by constraining opportunities for exerting pressure through military activities.  [6]  In a subsequent refinement, Holst described CBMs as arrangements designed to enhance such assurance of mind and belief in the trust worthiness of states and the fact they create.  [7]  Whilst the first definition emphasised only on the need for clarifications of intentions and avoidance of misperceptions, the latter ventures into the realm of the larger appreciation of the constituent of CBMs and envisages them not merely as damage containment measures, but also as principles of healthy relations between states. Genesis. CBMs are essentially a western construct, which entered the realm of international relations in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), at Helsinki. The Helsinki Final Act, 1975 ascribed three basics objectives to the CBMs  [8]  :- To eliminate the causes of tensions. To promote confidence and contribute to stability and security. To reduce the danger of armed conflict arising from misunderstanding or miscalculation. Dictionary of CBMs. Browsing through literature on the development of the concept of CBM, one comes across numerous other related concepts. It is important to understand the meaning of several terms that have come to be used in the diplomatic lexicon, all loosely referred to as CBMs. Their definition and comparative analysis are beyond the scope of this paper. Some of these  [9]  are enumerated below:- Confidence-Building Measures. Conflict-Avoidance Measures. Trust-Building Measures. Conflict-Resolution Measures Confidence and Security Building Measures and Confidence-Building and Security Measures. (f) Tension-Reduction Measures. Steps to Confidence-Building. Despite the upsurge in interest in these terms, there is a considerable confusion about the confidence-building regime, as also, the steps required to achieve it. Each region has its unique peculiarities and, therefore, distinct CBMs. The borrowed experience of other regions is of only a limited value. The steps to military confidence-building are based on two parameters; level of confidence and probability of conflict.  [10]  Diagrammatic representation of the same is placed at Appendix P. CBM Tools. These are modes and means, which help in better communication arrangements and transparency to the action of others or provide ways of giving satisfaction about the action of other states. Communication, constraint, transparency, and verification measures are the primary CBM tools. Few effective CBM tools  [11]  , used the world over, are listed in Appendix A. INDO-PAK CBMs Paradoxes in Pursuing the CBM Modality. Certain unresolved paradoxes, concerning the applicability and viability of CBMs, identified in South Asian region  [12]  are listed below:- CBMs provide the atmospherics for improving inter-state relations. They can establish trust between adversarial states; but the paradox remains that trust is required before CBMs can be negotiated. The need for some limited confidence between adversarial states is, therefore, essential before CBMs can be negotiated. CBMs are difficult to establish, but easy to disrupt and abandon. Continued adherence to them requires adversarial states to perceive the balance of advantage to lie in not abrogating them, particularly during periods of deep crises. CBMs can only be relevant in crises if trust is evident on both sides. They are known to work satisfactorily in times of peace. Hence, the paradox that states may abide by CBMs in normal times, but ignore them in emergency situations. Public declarations can serve as useful CBMs to alleviate tensions and promote stability. The historical record shows that national leaders in India and Pakistan routinely make conciliatory statements, but they are meant either for domestic consumption or to impress international audiences or to lower the others guard. The paradox then emerges, rather than promote security and confidence-building, such declarations have often exacerbated existing regional tensions. Origin of CBMs in Indo-Pak Relations. Meaningful military CBMs in Indo-Pak relations came three decades ago with the establishment of a hotline between the Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both the countries. Subsequently, there have been many military CBMs between both the countries. However, the strategic community and the military were quite often skeptical of both the substance and the process of CBMs and did not support these initially. It was only when Operation Brasstacks in 1986-87 led to serious misunderstandings, and a likely possibility of possible conflict again in 1990, that matters changed somewhat.  [13]   Despite events precipitating increased tensions between the two countries, the effort on the part of both governments has been to ensure that the CBMs continue to remain in place. However, the impressive range of CBMs, both of a military and non-military nature, have been overtaken by events such as the Kargil conflict, the mobilisation of troops in 2002 and the repeated terrorist attacks in India, especially the 26/11 attacks. Major Achievements The CBMs enumerated in the succeeding paragraphs, may be considered as major achievements in the Indo-Pak relations over the last two decades.  [14]   Military CBMs. Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, signed in 1998, and eventually ratified in 1992. This particular exchange has continued for 18 consecutive years. Agreement on Advance Notification on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements, brought into effect in 1991 and has had an important role to play in the reduction of tensions on both sides of the Line of Control. Agreement on Prevention of Airspace Violations and for Permitting Overflights and Landings by Military Aircrafts, signed in 1991, has significantly reduced costs for both nations, and also brought into being, a structure of redress in case of violations and mutual trust in matters of requirement. Formal ceasefire along the International Border as also the Actual Ground Position Line, brought into effect at midnight of 25 Nov 03, has remained in effect since. Biannual meetings between Indian Border Security Forces and Pakistani Rangers, has been in effect since 2004. Agreement on Advance Notification of Ballistic Missile Tests, in effect since 2005. Establishment of a communication link between Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and Indian Coast Guard in 2005, primarily to facilitate early exchange of information regarding fishermen apprehended for straying into each others waters. The agreement also brought into discussion the possibility of holding joint search and rescue operations and collaborating in marine pollution control. A hotline between DGMOs of both countries had been in effect since 1965, and was most recently used in an unscheduled exchange to discuss troop movements and allay tensions, in the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Non-Military CBMs. The predominant CBMs in the non-military domain have been travel measures to increase people-to-people interaction. A few of the important ones, which have more or less withstood the test of times, are enumerated below:- Delhi-Lahore bus service, started in 1999, but ceased in light of the Kargil conflict, was resumed in 2003. Passenger and freight rail services between Attari and Lahore and air linkages were resumed in 2004. The Samjhauta Express was resumed in 2005, and despite the 2007 blasts, has continued to run. Bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarbad was started in 2005. Bus services from Lahore to Amritsar, Amritsar to Nankana Sahib and train links between Munnabao and Khokhrapar were started in 2006. Night bus service between Ferozepur and Fazikla to Ludhiana-Chandigarh was also resumed the same year. The first overland truck route between the two countries was opened at the Wagah border crossing in 2007. In 2008, triple-entry permit for cross-LoC travel was introduced and the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service was increased from fortnightly to weekly. Humanitarian aid was extended by India, in the aftermath of the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005, and again during the floods in Aug 10. A Joint Anti-Terrorism Institutional Mechanism to identify and implement counter-terrorism initiatives and investigations in both countries was brought into effect in 2006. An agreement facilitating regular contact between state-run think tanks, Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (New Delhi), and Institute of Strategic Studies (Islamabad) was brought into being in 2008, primarily to contribute towards building channels of communication at the level of scholars. The first meeting of a Joint Judicial Committee of judges belonging to both countries, meant to look into the welfare and release of prisoners, was conducted in 2008. More than 500 prisoners have been released by both sides since then. Joint Economic Commissions and Joint Business Councils were reactivated in 2004. Foreign Ministers of both countries agreed to a series of Kashmir-specific CBMs to facilitate crossing the LoC in 2008. Both countries agreed to host festivals displaying each others movies in 2006. The Pakistani Government allowed for the legal release of Indian films in Pakistan in 2008. Major Failures The CBM process has seen its fair share of failures as well. A few notable one are enumerated below  [15]  :- Although there are hotlines connecting both military and political leaders in both countries, they have been scarcely used when required most. The absence of communication has led to suspicions, followed by accusations of the spread of misinformation. While over 70 Kashmir related CBMs have been agreed to in principle, only an inconsiderable percentage of them have actually seen implementation. There is a disproportionate emphasis on military CBMs and an inadequate recognition of several momentous non-military CBMs. Many CBMs, which were originally crafted to address the stabilisation of relations, post the nuclear tests of 1998, have been agreed to in principle, yet have never seen implementation because of the belief that dominant issues need to be resolved before the CBM process can move ahead. In the current scenario, when political will in both states is waxing and waning intermittently, CBMs, which are difficult to establish, but easy to disrupt, have not been fully effective. There is a lack of verifiability in many CBMs, which leads both countries to fall victim to mistrust, suspicion and misinformation, on a variety of issues. Governments on both sides often use CBMs as political tools to win over specific constituencies, which can be very damaging in the long run. Public conciliatory statements, which are meant to be CBMs, can have the opposite effect, if they turn out to be insincere, and worse, if they have been inexpertly drafted, as one saw in the aftermath of the statement issued after the Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting. CBMs have been particularly ineffective, if not absent, during times of conflict, because despite declarations to the effect, neither country has moved beyond the point of conflict-avoidance, towards actual CBMs, and finally, towards strengthening peace. While many hundreds of thousands visit India and Pakistan from across the border, the visa formalities and reporting procedures for them are far from conducive to confidence-building. Prioritising the CBMs General. The existing record of CBMs, world over, is ambiguous. CBMs in some contexts have proved feasible and beneficial, whereas in South Asia, there is a certain disaffection with the very notion of CBMs. The expectation of quick results should be avoided (in Europe, it took over twenty years for the CBM process to become effective). A clear general rule is that once in place, CBMs must be abided by. CBMs, if disregarded and abused, can be worse than none at all. The building of trust requires reliability.  [16]  Certain concerns that need to be addressed by the Indian and Pakistani Governments, in order to maximise the effects of CBMs  [17]  , are listed below:- While CBMs, which focus on improved communication links and people-to-people interaction could create the necessary environment for deeper issues to be tackled, the impact of the CBMs still hinges on political will for their implementation. The hostilities distinguishing Indo-Pak relations are systemic, and further hampered by newer security threats, socio-politico-economic strife and Indias preponderance in the larger South Asian region. Therefore, there is no viable alternative to a gradual and incremental peace process through military and non-military CBMs. There is no need to prefer military over non-military CBMs. Both have their place in the peace process and are needed. Policymakers on both sides need to bear in mind that war, whether of a conventional or proxy nature, will not advance their national interests. Both sides stand to gain both, economically and politically from a stable peace. Future measures catering to conflict-prevention and confidence-building, must provide for more explicit means of arbitrating implementation problems. To this intent, it is imperative that all CBMs be made verifiable and the possible roles that could be played by non-state actors such as the private sector, professional and business organisations etc be examined. It is commonly understood that the term stakeholders would include Indians and Pakistanis in general, and the people of Jammu Kashmir in particular. However, there is a need for more emphasis on the importance of Kashmiris in the CBM process. It is their participation, which would make the process more meaningful. Suggested Workable and Plausible CBMs The escalating situation in Kashmir, the bone of contention between India and Pakistan since 1947, may yet provide a flash point and may induce both countries to come to a negotiating table and opt for quick implementation of enforceable and verifiable CBMs. Few possible, workable and enforceable CBMs, which the two governments could consider, are enumerated in the succeeding paragraphs. Short Term Measures. The composite dialogue process should be restarted and the CBM process must continue unabated. Both the sides should formally recognise that there is no military solution to the Kashmir dispute. Additional CBMs, in consultation with Kashmiri stakeholders, need to be identified to ensure their active participation. The Kashmir specific CBMs could include the following:- Encouraging and initiating intra-Kashmir dialogue on both sides of the LoC on the final status of Kashmir. The resolution of the Kashmir conflict and restoration and development of mutual trust should be treated as interdependent processes. The process of de-escalation of hostilities needs to be initiated and efforts should be made to de-link Kashmir from point-scoring domestic agendas. The hostile domestic propaganda around Kashmir in both electronic and print media needs to be stopped. Relocation of heavy weapons, which are considered a major cause of tension escalation across the LoC. Continuous scheduled and unscheduled visits to forward areas by journalists, representatives of various national and international human rights organisations, diplomats, defence and UN military observers. Visa formalities/registration should provide a more conducive environment in cross-border travel. Rules of engagement along the LOC should be clarified, made public, and adhered to. Measures in the border areas to facilitate the unification of families and access for NGOs. Medium Term Measures. The agreement proscribing attacks on each others nuclear facilities could be extended to identified populations and economic targets. The agreement requiring notification on military exercises et al could be extended to associating military observers with major field exercises. Pakistan should end support of any kind for militancy in the region and address Indias concerns regarding infiltration. Civil society and track II initiatives should be encouraged. This will assist the official level talks between the two countries and move towards a comprehensive resolution of the crisis in the region. Utilising the economic and technological CBMs such as:- Sharing of electrical power. Increasing the trade flows. Promoting railway freight traffic across the border. Improving telecommunication links. Making newspapers from both sides available across the border. Long Term Measures. The redeployment of troops from the Kashmir region has been debated by both governments and should be examined in full practicality. India should begin to engage Pakistani citizens towards sensitising them to the conflict situation and build domestic pressure on Pakistan to strengthen its relations with India. The dichotomy between the maintenance of Jammu Kashmirs independence via Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and the requirement to include the state in the mainstream of Indian politics and society needs to be addressed comprehensively. Utilise South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for building confidence across the region on the lines of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). CONCLUSION CBMs are the most used and abused term in the 21st century international relations. They are an expression of respect, goodwill and a measure of transparency signifying at the least, no ill will and no immediate threat. It may lead to a pleasant parlay or, it may merely be an empty gesture meaning nothing at all of substance. They need to be nurtured and incremented from small steps to covering issues of various divergences. The effect of the CBMs between India and Pakistan has been inconsistent and spotty. They are useful instruments in preventing wars and facilitating conflict resolutions. They are a means to an end and that end cannot be achieved if the leaders do not wish to do so. The first step to a conflict resolution is removal of mistrust and suspicion. Only then, can the process of dialogue be unleashed. It is a hard task to popularise the concept of CBMs between the two countries and remove misunderstanding among people about its objectives and application. In order to institutionalise the process of CBMs, it is necessary to create basic awareness among people about the effectiveness and relevance of this concept. The role of institutions in promoting the concept of CBMs is very significant. In a situation when the state, has to a large extent played a role in conflict formations and is responsible for promoting confrontation, non-governmental institutions can play an important role and be of immense use in creating basic trust and confidence between the people of two countries and encourage track II and track III efforts in normalising the relations. We need to follow a proactive approach towards implementation of CBMs. A strong civil society with vibrant political and social institutions can help develop a proactive approach. SAARC can draw some inspiration from ASEANs constructively low-key approach to contentious issues. Balance between military and non-military CBMs is essential for creating conditions of peace. Non-military CBMs such as water, environment, trade, culture, media and technology can certainly make things easier for sustaining the dialogue process between the antagonistic parties. It would be foolish to expect miracles from CBMs overnight. It took a considerable amount of time for the CBMs to be effective in Europe. However, the need for India and Pakistan to negotiate CBMs is both immediate and vital. Structural factors are important and have undoubtedly retarded the establishment of CBMs in South Asia. Nevertheless, CBMs can become the harbingers of peace and stability in the region. History reveals they have usually been negotiated following serious bilateral crises and/or mounting of external pressures. However, not until the communal stronghold is attacked and reduced, and the two countries, therefore, start behaving as two established and responsible entities, would CBMs have much of a chance to succeed. Wellington (Hitesh Goel) Sep 10 Cdr Total number of words: 3723 Appendix A (Refers to Para 10) CONFIDENCE-BUILDING TOOLS Hotlines. Hotlines, such as those that exist between the United States and Russia, and between Indian and Pakistani sector commanders along the line-of-control in Kashmir, can provide reliable direct channels of communication at moments of crisis. Regional Communication Centres. These centres can assist area states in conflict and crisis management. The European model of a communications and security centre, established by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), is being adapted to suit the Middle Eastern security environment. Consultations. Regularly scheduled consultations, like the annual meetings established between US and Soviet/Russian navies by the 1972 Incidents at Sea Agreement (INCSEA), or those between Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, can provide rare opportunity for direct military-to-military contact. Such forums allow parties to voice concerns and air any grievances they may have. Constraint Measures. These measures are designed to keep certain types and levels of states military forces at a distance from one another, especially along borders. Thin-Out Zones. Thin-out zones, or limited force deployment zones, restrict the type and number of military equipment or troops permitted in or near a certain territory or boundary. Detailed provisions of the 1975 Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel established a demilitarised zone (DMZ) as well as an area extending 20 kilometres on each side of the DMZ in which forces and weapons were limited. Pre-Notification. Pre-notification requirements included in the Stockholm Accord of 1986 placed constraints on military exercises by imposing longer lead times, 42 days for major military exercises and 1-2 years in the case of larger scale exercises, before activities subject to prior notification could occur. Pre-notification requirements of a certain time-period for planned military exercises or troop movements of an agreed upon level also help make a states military intent more transparent. Notification mechanisms can also be applied to missile tests. Near contentious borders, this type of transparency measure can help eliminate fears that an exercise may be part of preparations for war. Transparency Measures. They are measures that states engage in to foster greater openness of their military capabilities and activities. Transparency measures merit a special focus as important first steps in the confidence-building process. Exchange of Data. Data exchanges detailing existing military holdings, planned purchases, military personnel and budgets can clarify a states current and projected military capabilities and provide advance notice of destabilising arms build-ups. Data exchanges can take place bilaterally or multilaterally. Military Observers. Voluntary observations of another states military exercises provide first-hand access to that partys equipment and operating procedures. Verification. Verification measures are designed to collect data or provide first hand access in order to confirm or verify a states compliance with a particular treaty or agreement. Aerial Inspections. These enable parties to an agreement to monitor compliance with force deployment limitations in restricted zones, to confirm data exchanges on the disposition of military forces, and to provide early warning of potentially destabilising activities. Electronic Sensors. Ground-based electronic sensor systems, manned or unmanned, can also verify states compliance to agreed restrictions on equipment deployment or troop movements. On-site Inspections. On-site inspections, challenge and routine, can help verify that states are complying with agreements. Inspections may be carried out by third parties, opposing parties, or jointly. Appendix P (Refers to Para 9) STEPS TO CONFIDENCE BUILDING HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE CONFIDENCE SECURITY BUILDING MEASURES CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES LOW LOW HIGH PROBABILITY OF CONFLICT TRUST BUILDING MEASURES CONFLICT AVOIDANCE MEASURES CONFLICT RESOLUTION MEASURES

The History of England’s Masquerade Essays -- European History

The History of England’s Masquerade The masquerade played a large part in the ideas and themes of England during the eighteenth century. Its popularity spanned most of the century, bringing together people of all classes, from the highest nobleman to the lowest commoner. Masquerades were a firmly established part of city life in England by the 1720's. Most masquerades were held in buildings especially designed for them, such as the Haymarket, the Soho, or the Pantheon. During the early part of the century, masquerades held at the Haymarket, the most popular location for these events, drew in up to a thousand masqueraders weekly. Later in the century, public masquerades in celebration of special events drew in thousands of people. The popularity of the masquerade is clearly apparent from the appearance of newspaper columns devoted to describing particularly elegant masquerades. Other masquerade literature that circulated through the cities included pamphlets denouncing the masquerade as scenes of promiscuity and impropriety" (3). Such civil and religious censure caused the popularity of the masquerade to fluctuate during the century, but the phenomenon did not wane until the l 780's. The origin of the masquerade in England is a subject that many scholars have speculated on. When masquerades first appeared, they were called signs of"diabolical foreign influence, imported corruption" (5) The idea for the masquerade may indeed have come from foreign parts. The eighteenth century was a time when many young people traveled abroad as part of their education. Undoubtedly, the excitement of masquerades held in Italy, Spain and France were something these traveling youths wanted to recreate once they came home. Foreign ambassado... ...iction writers exploited the masquerade's association with sexual license. Examples of this can be found in Defoe's Roxana and Fielding's Tom Jones. The masquerade became a setting in literature where the most outrageous things could happen, as often was the case in real life. Regardless of the origins, regardless of the propriety? the existence of the masquerade as a part of popular urban culture in the eighteenth century cannot be denied. The masquerade was a much needed outlet for the people of this time who constantly had to keep their behavior within the strict confines of what was socially acceptable. By putting one mask on, the masqueraders were able to take a more fundamental mask off. Work Cited Castle, Terry. Masquerade and Civilization:.The Carnivalesque in Eighteenth-Century English Culture and Fiction. Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1996.

Affirmative Action and Collective Responsibility Essay -- Argumentativ

Affirmative Action and Collective Responsibility      It is not surprising that affirmative action is under attack: along with welfare, it benefits a section of society with very little political clout. It is a convenient place for the displaced anger of working-class white men who have seen their real wages decrease for the past thirty years. It stirs up feelings of racism that politicians are quick to publicly denounce but even quicker to exploit. There is, however, very little serious discussion about affirmative action underway; more often it is supplanted by buzzwords such as "quotas," "set-asides," and "reverse discrimination." A serious discussion of affirmative action must begin by addressing the question of collective responsibility. Affirmative action opponents firmly reject the notion of collective responsibility, claiming that it is unfair to punish those alive today for crimes committed by their parents. One letter to the editor received by The Progressive Review reads: "I never owned slaves, and have never discriminated against anyone. Why should I have to pay for someone else's sins? Slavery ended over a hundred years before I was born, and over seventy years before the first of my ancestors arrived in the United States." Unfortunately, responsibility for the effects of slavery and discrimination cannot be so easily shirked. Even if our direct ancestors did not participate in the slave trade, we are nevertheless members of a society that did; part of the "individual responsibility" so fervently worshipped by neo-conservatives must include taking responsibility for things done by our society. When a person becomes an American, he or she must accept not only the glory and honor of our history, but also the sh ... ... condemned to exist as a perpetual underclass, trapped in poverty by the racism to which their poverty gives rise. Racism will not eradicate itself; in a society ruled by the almighty dollar, one cannot separate legal equality from economic equality. That is the most fundamental flaw of conservative opposition to affirmative action: the belief that those who live under bridges have the same rights as those who do not. Unless we make an active attempt to undo the effects of three hundred years of oppression, there will never be a color-blind society. The complaints of a few white men who miss their traditional ascendancy seem insignificant in comparison to the alternative: an unbroken cycle of misery for everyone else. True peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice. -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" Affirmative Action and Collective Responsibility Essay -- Argumentativ Affirmative Action and Collective Responsibility      It is not surprising that affirmative action is under attack: along with welfare, it benefits a section of society with very little political clout. It is a convenient place for the displaced anger of working-class white men who have seen their real wages decrease for the past thirty years. It stirs up feelings of racism that politicians are quick to publicly denounce but even quicker to exploit. There is, however, very little serious discussion about affirmative action underway; more often it is supplanted by buzzwords such as "quotas," "set-asides," and "reverse discrimination." A serious discussion of affirmative action must begin by addressing the question of collective responsibility. Affirmative action opponents firmly reject the notion of collective responsibility, claiming that it is unfair to punish those alive today for crimes committed by their parents. One letter to the editor received by The Progressive Review reads: "I never owned slaves, and have never discriminated against anyone. Why should I have to pay for someone else's sins? Slavery ended over a hundred years before I was born, and over seventy years before the first of my ancestors arrived in the United States." Unfortunately, responsibility for the effects of slavery and discrimination cannot be so easily shirked. Even if our direct ancestors did not participate in the slave trade, we are nevertheless members of a society that did; part of the "individual responsibility" so fervently worshipped by neo-conservatives must include taking responsibility for things done by our society. When a person becomes an American, he or she must accept not only the glory and honor of our history, but also the sh ... ... condemned to exist as a perpetual underclass, trapped in poverty by the racism to which their poverty gives rise. Racism will not eradicate itself; in a society ruled by the almighty dollar, one cannot separate legal equality from economic equality. That is the most fundamental flaw of conservative opposition to affirmative action: the belief that those who live under bridges have the same rights as those who do not. Unless we make an active attempt to undo the effects of three hundred years of oppression, there will never be a color-blind society. The complaints of a few white men who miss their traditional ascendancy seem insignificant in comparison to the alternative: an unbroken cycle of misery for everyone else. True peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice. -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter From a Birmingham Jail"