Essay about Beauty Pageant Problems - 967 Words

Have you ever watched the reality television show Toddlers Tiaras? Toddlers Tiaras is a show about the glitz of the pageant world that little girls are more than likely forced, by their parents, to participate in. It is mandatory for them to have fake tans, fake eye lashes, fake teeth, and a ridiculous amount of make-up. Not to mention the unsuitable outfits these girls’ parents vow that they wear. Beauty pageants exploit little girls and attract sexual predators. Beauty pageants, such as, Toddlers Tiaras have ludicrous rules that the little girls must follow to even be considered the level of an Ultimate Grand Supreme. In the â€Å"Pro Am Pageants†, it is mandatory for the child to have a glittery outfit, a fake tan, and a flipper†¦show more content†¦Having an innocent young girl wear the short glittery dresses is bad enough, but it becomes worse when the section of the show entitled â€Å"Outfit of Choice† is presented. â€Å"Outfit of Choice† refers to exactly what it says. The parents determine what their little girl should wear to â€Å"win† the Ultimate Grand Supreme title. At this point of the show is when the bikinis, sexy cowgirls and cops, and all kinds of outlandish outfits appear. Four year old, Maddy Jackson was publicly humiliated and was referred to by harsh names by the media, due to the fake breasts and buttocks her mother forced her wear. Isabella Barnnett was also publicly chastened by the media when they referred that the little girl was dressed like a â€Å"hooker†. It is absolutely unacceptable for the media to characterize these little girls as they do, but the question remains as to why parents find it necessary to portray these precious little girls as they do, considering she is going to remember these actions for the remainder of her life? Isabella’s mother sued the media for thirty-million dollars for the remarks they made, but that still does not provide justice for Isabella. Not only does this prove that parents of these girls are ruining their childhood by making them appear and act considerably older than they actually are, but these fake body parts are a pedophile’s dream. What type of parentShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Children Beauty Contest On Its Contestants1625 Words   |  7 PagesThe purpose of this paper is to assess the negative effects of children beauty contest on its contestants. Although many people argue that there are some benefits of this contest such as build up the confidence, self-esteem, public speaking skills, tact, and poised it is also true that it can result to negative psychological effects and interferes in child development worldwide. The Toddlers and Tiaras, and Little Miss Perfect are popular reality TV shows that features young girls the real hardshipRead MoreBeauty Pageants Are Not Healthy For Children1663 Words   |  7 Pages Every little girl dreams of becoming a princess. 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This research paper is to inform Annette Hill, the directorRead MoreChildren and Beauty Pageants: Just Say No Essay1121 Words   |  5 Pages Young girls should not be exposed to beauty pageants. Beauty pageants became part of the American society in the 1920s. Child beauty pageants began in the 1960s. Child beauty pageants consist of modeling sportswear, evening attire, dance and talent. The children are judged based on individuality in looks, capability, poise, perfection and confidence. (â€Å"Kareen Nussbaum†) Putting your child in a situation as to being Judged by others is terrible. Young girls should not be judged by how they lookRead MoreBeauty Pageants Be A Controlling Part Of Our Society1253 Words   |  6 PagesBeauty pageants have become a controlling part of our society, based on statistics, around 5,000 child beauty pageants are held every year and 250,000 child contestants are participating. 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Most people watch the movies and tv shows about it and even attend these pageants and do not seeRead MoreChild Beauty Pageants Should Be Banned1714 Words   |  7 Pageslittle Lolitas, to be portrayed as older, to almost become mini adults – these are all trends that give legitimacy to that kind of thinking. In the end, children’s beauty pageants are essentially harmful to both young girls safety and minds. It may not happen to some, but most of the young girls that compete in beauty pageants seem to have a bit of an attitude towards their parents and other people who will not cooperate with them. Beyond that, they tend to show up as selfish, short-temperedRead MoreThe Ugly Truth Of Beauty Pageants1649 Words   |  7 PagesTiffany Foster Professor Dunn Comp 102 26 April 2015 The Ugly Truth of Beauty Pageants Lipstick, big hairdos, and sparkly crowns†¦ the world of beauty pageants is perceived as glamorous and prestigious. In the 1920’s, beauty pageants became part of American society. Forty years later, the first ever children’s beauty pageant took place. Young children in these competitions are judged based on individuality in looks, capability, poise, perfection, and confidence, or as the judges callRead MoreDo Beauty Pageants Serve a Purpose in Todays Sociey?1661 Words   |  7 PagesDo Beauty Pageants Serve a Purpose in Today’s Sociey? Saundra Dugger Com 220 Mr. Atkins May 22,2010 Do beauty contests really serve a purpose in today’s society? There are many different kinds of beauty contests these days. They are for both men and women and range from infants to adults in age. Beauty contests do not serve a purpose in today’s society. The only thing that it is doing is putting in young girls’ minds and a woman’s that they have to be beautiful. We need to teach the younger generationsRead MoreWhat Is Wrong with Beauty Children Pageants? Essay example778 Words   |  4 Pagestheir beauty. Society has set such high standards of what is considered beautiful and girls are being the victims of those standards. Girls now feel that they are not beautiful enough because they do not meet those standards such as height, weight, body, skin color, and many more characteristics. There are so many repercussions in participating in Beauty Pageants because girls are being judged in how they look that it makes them be more conscious of what society thi nks of them. Beauty Pageants cause

How Roosevelt And His New Deal Prolonged The Great Depression

How Roosevelt And His New Deal Prolonged The Great Depression The traditional view of Franklin D. Roosevelt is that he motivated and helped the United States during the â€Å"Great Depression† and was a great president, however, as time has passed, economist historians have begun analyzing Roosevelt’s presidency. Many have concluded that he did not help America during the Great Depression but instead amplified and prolonged the depression. Jim Powell wrote about FDR economic policies and did an excellent job explaining Roosevelt’s incompetent initiatives. Roosevelt did not know anything about economics and his advisors made everything worse by admiring the Soviet Union. Franklin D. Roosevelt attended Harvard University and then Columbia†¦show more content†¦One policy would create jobs and another one would increase taxes. Franklin D. Roosevelt hired advisors called the â€Å"Brain Trust.† Many of his advisors were graduates from top universities in the United States, such as Harvard, Yale, University of Chicago, and Columbia. All of his advisors were successful in their careers as business people or lawyers, leaving one to wonder why they could not solve the problems of the Great Depression. The National Recovery Administration was created by Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of the New Deal policies. The National Recovery Administration increased the prices of manufactured goods. It hurt the farmers that needed to buy tools and equipment. As they did not have the money to buy the taxed equipment, they could not do their job. It was a detriment both the consumers and the companies. â€Å"New Deal spending was supposed to stimulate the economy, but New Deal taxing depressed the economy.† The National Recovery Administration was a monopoly controlled by big business. The United States Supreme Court killed the NRA because it was un-constitutional, but it was replaced by other agencies â€Å"The U.S. Supreme court struck down the NRA and a number of other early New Deal measures for violating the Constitution.† The agency that replaced the National Recovery Administration was the Public Work Agency. It was supposed to fix the mistakes from the National Recovery Administration, but it did not. The Public Work Agency was financed by theShow MoreRelatedFdr s Folly : How Roosevelt And His New Deal Prolonged The Great Depression1366 Words   |  6 PagesIn FDR’s Folly: How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression, Jim Powell discusses how Roosevelt’s New Deal actually prolonged the Great Depression and made it significantly worse economically for the people in the 1930s United States. 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Now the American government and its citizens were faced with a failing economyRead MorePresident Franklin Delano Roosevelt s New Deal1364 Words   |  6 PagesWhen people think of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, they see a President that inherited a horrible economy and turned it around through his popular New Deal. He also led us through a World War. However, when different perspectives are taken into account, Roosevelt’s New Deal wasn’t the economic restorer that it is thought to be. The New Deal actually hindered the United States’ recovery. The New Deal prolonged the Great Depression because the New Deal inhibited the private sector, it drove up pricesRead MoreImpact Of The New Deal And Programs On The Great Depression1274 Words   |  6 Pages Impact of the New Deal and programs on the Great Depression Preceding the Great Depression, the United States went through a glorious age of prosperity, with a booming market, social changes,and urbanization..America was changing. At the end of the 1920’s well through the 1930’s, America was faced with it’s greatest challenge yet. The 1929 stock market crash was the end to the prosperity of the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†. Now the people and government were faced with a huge problem,a failing economy. PresidentRead MoreWorld War II And The Great Depression1658 Words   |  7 Pagescrisis, the Great Depression. Although, some economists argue that by creating more jobs during World War II, put America into even more debt than the country was already in. Standards of living lessened during the end of the Depression and the start of the war, but people understood the changed lifestyle was for a good cause. During World War II, The Great Depression and the United Nations helped create peace of mind in the United States. The dawning of World War II began with Hitler and his ideasRead MoreThe Great Depression And The Beginning Of World War II1663 Words   |  7 Pagescrisis, the Great Depression. 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Ayn Rand discussed her critics and how her audience did not appreciate her message and felt it was more fictional than not. Her book plummetedRead MoreFrances Perkins and the Great Depression1724 Words   |  7 Pagespolicies during The Great Depression? Frances Perkins role in government through pre and post great depression is not as widely recognized as some her fellow cabinet members who also pushed the New Deal. The details of who was the driving force behind the New Deal have been skewed over the years. How did Frances Perkins influence the economic and social policies of the Great Depression? Do people only remember Perkins for being the first female cabinet member under Franklin D. Roosevelt or was she actuallyRead MoreThe Economy Collapsed And The Great Depression1207 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Great Depression began. The value of stocks fell, and some even lost all their value, this was called Black Tuesday. During the Great Depression, many banks failed and went out of business, lots of people lost their jobs. The depression spread which caused other economies to collapse, and so the government s debt began again since it wasn t collecting any money in taxes. How did the Great DepressionRead MoreWere Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Programs Effective? Essay823 Words   |  4 Pages New Deal Essay The effectiveness of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs remains a contentious topic among historians, with critics on both the right and left attacking the size of the program; the right calling it too large, and the left saying it didn’t go far enough. Though most of the criticism of the program at the time was from the right, from figures like 1928 Democratic nominee Al Smith and his American Liberty League, as well as influential Senator Robert Taft of Ohio, it is

Project Governance Report - Click Here to Get Instant Solution

Question: Discussabout the Project Governance Report. Answer: The stakeholder engagement arrangements for this project are that all the stakeholders be it the internal as well as external stakeholder are properly allotted their role and responsibility toward the project as well as their share of the project profits. The undertaken construction project all the stakeholder such as the project managers, the higher level managers, the lower level managers the staffs, the project team, the shareholder and investors as well as the customers all are involved with the project (A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide), 2004). PRINCE2 affirms that project stakeholders ought to be engaged at a level that is proportionate with their significance to the organization, and in a mode that promotes trust. Overall Project Responsibility The responsibility for this project lays with role and responsibilities of the involved the company which has undertaken the construction project, the stakeholders of the construction projects, the users of the construction project, the suppliers who are appointed for the supply for the construction project and the interest of the stakeholders (A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide), 2004). The PRINCE2 project methodology defines the responsibilities of the project in term of the role of the project activities rather than the individuals. PRINCE2 states that the board should have overall responsibility for governance of project management The role of the individuals for the specific activities is the sole decision of the project manger according to the activities of the project. A specific individual may be assigned with more than a single role as well as an individual can be assigned distinct role in different phase of the project (Bentley, 2002). The orga nization which undertaken the construction project, and the project manager should use the human resources in most efficient way in order to manage the project requirement which is deemed from the perception of their expertise skill as well as the peoples individual personalities. The role and responsibilities should be appropriately defined within the project team and the organizational structure of the project team for securing that the management is effective as well as responsive both (Collins, 2011). As per the PMBOK methodology the responsibilities are assigned within the team members of the project, however, it is the responsibility of the management to deliver the required resources for the project to ensure the success of the project. At the time of the planning the role and responsibilities within the team use to be assigned. Utilizing the role and responsibilities as well as the reporting relationship between the people who associated with the project can help to accelerate the procedures of the organizational planning (Construction extension to the PMBOK guide, 2007). The PMBOK requires information about the success of the project and deliverable approval criteria. Roles, Responsibilities and Performance Criteria The roles, responsibilities and performance criteria for this project consist of systematic and disciplined governance aided by accurate methods as well as control, which must be implemented throughout the lifecycle of the project (Heerkens, 2002). The PRINCE2 define the roles, responsibilities and performance norm and criterion in order to governance of the project management must be clearly stated. The PMBOK project methodology requires identifying the procedures for the stage gate as well as the phase reviews along with the procedures for the communicating information. The performance of the project depends on the efficiency of the project manager (Hughes and Cotterell, 2006). How the project manager handle the project as well as how the project manager manages the team of the project is most important for the effective accomplishment of the project. The project manager has to recognise the potential risk of the project. Moreover, the project manager has to know the risk managemen t and should be capable to manage the risk. The performance of the project use to be improved by the whole teams performance, the performance of the project depends on the efficient procurement of the required resources for the project (Kerzner, 2001). Thus, the role of the procurement manager is vital for a project as the efficient procurement help in delivering quality project within the predefined budget of the project. The PMBOK project methodology needs to detect the connection among the team of the project, the organizational groups as well as the external stakeholders. In the PMBOK methodology there is organizational chart of the project that recognises roles of the project (Lawson, 2009). The project responsibilities use to be assigned prior to the initiation of the project as well as if all the role and responsibilities are fulfilled by the project team then the performance of the project use to be improved and the project will be successfully completed. Governance Arrangements The governance arrangements for this project consist of the structural elements such as commitment, governance policy, wide responsibility for on the whole governance of the project as well as company, consistent improvement (Lawson, 2009). Besides this, the project should consist of the operational elements such as recognition of the issues of the governance, operating processes for governance, it also dealing with the governance violation as well as complaints, record keeping along with internal reporting. Besides the maintenance elements such as education as well as training, visibility along with communication, monitoring as well as assessment, review and liaison are also included for the undertaken construction project. Apart from this, the roles and responsibilities of ethical principles are also defined for the undertaken construction project (Lock, 2004). The ethical principles like accountability, transparency, fairness and balance, honesty, dignity legal goodwill, is also i ncluded for the undertake construction project. According to the PRINCE2 project methodology the disciplined governance aided by apt methods as well as controls, ought to be applied all the way through the project lifecycle. The project must be governed with effective governing rules as well as proper process along with the management, which must be implemented during the whole life cycle of the project (Maylor, 2010). The PMBOK methodology needs to know about the procedures in order to review as well as acceptance for the budget, scope, quality as well as schedule that are beyond the authority of the project management (Mehta, 2007). Useful arrangement of the project governance needs help the project to accomplish its aim and an objective as well as it helps to carry out the project management activities. Relationship to the Portfolio The Relationship to the Portfolio for this project is vital as the project has significant relationship with business strategies of the company. The successful, accomplishment of the project puts the project management company much ahead (O  Conchu ir, 2010). The reputation of the company will be improved significantly by the successful accomplishment of the project. PRINCE 2 project methodology states that there ought to be a rational as well as accommodating liaison demonstrated between the on the whole business strategy along with the project portfolio (Saladis and Kerzner, 2011). The supportive as well as accommodating relationship between the business strategies along with the project portfolio help the project to carry out to the right direction of the completion as well as it helps to accomplish the organizational aims and objectives most appropriately. According to the PMBOK methodology needs the guideline in order to aligning the project governance as well as organizational strategy. Therefore, the project governance has significant link with the organizational strategies and business policies (Snyder, 2013). The project should be useful for the company, which improve the reputation as well performance of the company. It helps in growth and development of the company. Authorisation Points The authorisation points for this project are that the entire project ought to be an approved plan means it must have an appropriate plan which help to carry out the activities of the project most effectively and which help to accomplish the aims and objectives of the project (Snyder, 2013). The PRINCE 2 states that the entire project ought to have an accepted plan, which contained authorization points at which the business case is assessed as well as approved. The decision which made at authorization point ought to be recorded as well as communicated. The project should be authorized as well as the project manager must be obtain the authority of carry out the project effectively so that the project can be accomplished within the required criteria, within the predetermined time schedules and predefined budget of the project (Tuttle, 2012). The effective authorization assigned for the project helps in making the decisions more efficiently so that the project can be accomplished in mor e effect way. Delegation The delegation arrangements for this project are very helpful for the project as with this arrangement the project can be accomplished more efficiently. The authorization should be properly delegated among the project team members as per the qualification, efficiency and the requisite skill for the required tasks. The project managers of the construction project has the supreme authority about the undertake construction project as the project manager has the more knowledge and acumen about the project (Mehta, 2007). The project is the responsibility of the project manager. The project manager then delegates the power to the subordinates, who are basically the other management staffs. Afterwards the management staffs who directly under the project manager delegate the authorities to their subordinates, who are junior level management staffs. Moreover the junior level of the management staffs also delegate the authority to the supervisor of the construction project (Maylor, 2010). In t his way, the effective decision making can be possible for the authorities on the progress of the project. Information Validity The manner in which information validity for this project is assured is by the cross check. There must be multi layered verification for the information so that the information can be checked. The PRINCE 2 project methodology affirm that the undertaken project of the construction business case ought to be supported by the pertinent as well as realistic data and information, which deliver a reliable base in order to make decision for authorization (Lawson, 2009). The realistic data and information help the project to carry out to the right direction as well as it help to minimize the risk and issue of the project as well as help in improving the performance of the project thus, the project can be carried out to the predefined goal of the objectives. The PMBOK methodology needs information about the approaches to the life cycle of the project. The information helps to recognise the progress of the project as well as it helps to measure the direction of the construction project (Lock, 2004). Scrutiny The scrutiny arrangements for this project are mainly the day to day report of the project activities; there are weekly reports as well as monthly report, which help in assessing the progress of the project. PRINCE 2 affirms that the board or its delegated agent will decide the time for independent scrutiny of projects or auditing of the project that help in recognising the progress of the project, the threats and issues of the project can be identified by the scrutiny process, thus project management systems is required effective scrutiny process, and the undertaken construction project implement such scrutiny as per the need of the project (Heerkens, 2002). Apart from the reports there are supervisors report, managers report, and financial accounts report which provide adequate information about the development of the project thus, the project manger can implement required strategies, which help in minimizing the time and cost of the project as well s help in completing the project within the predefined budget and time schedule. Status Reporting The status reporting arrangements for this project are helpful to recognise the current status of the construction project. The PRINCE 2 project methodology affirm that there ought to be undoubtedly as well as clear defined criteria in order to report project status, as well as for the escalation of risks and issues to the levels required by the organization. The status reporting is most important as it help to detect the progress of the construction project as well as the project manager can make and implement the strategies accordingly, which help in accomplishing the project within the timeframe and budget of the construction project (Construction extension to the PMBOK guide, 2007). The PMBOK project methodology needs to know the procedures for stage gate as well as phase appraisals along with the procedures for the effective communication of the important information. Improvement The improvement arrangements for this project are most essential for the construction project as the improvement arrangement help the project to deliver required project. The PRINCE 2 affirms that the organization ought to foster a culture of improvement as well as of honest internal disclosure of project information (Collins, 2011). The project manager along with the project team must foster cultures that initiate to improve the project so that the quality of the project can be maintained. References A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide). (2004). Newtown Square, Pa.: Project Management Institute. Bentley, C. (2002).PRINCE 2. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Collins, R. (2011).Project management. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Construction extension to the PMBOK guide. (2007). Newtown Square, Pa.: Project Management Institute. Heerkens, G. (2002).Project management. New York: McGraw-Hill. Hughes, B. and Cotterell, M. (2006).Software project management. London: McGraw-Hill. Kerzner, H. (2001).Project management. New York: John Wiley. Lawson, D. (2009).PMBOK quick implementation guide. [Australia]: [Emereo]. Lock, D. (2004).Project management in construction. Aldershot: Gower. Maylor, H. (2010).Project management. Harlow, England: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Mehta, R. (2007).Project management. Jaipur: Aavishkar Publishers. O  Conchu ir, D. (2010).Overview of the PMBOK guide. Berlin: Springer. Saladis, F. and Kerzner, H. (2011).Bringing the PMBOK Guide to Life. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons. Snyder, C. (2013).A project manager's book of forms. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Snyder, C. (2013).A user's manual to the PMBOK guide--fifth edition. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Tuttle, S. (2012).Illustrating PRINCE2. Ely, Cambridgeshire, U.K.: IT Governance Pub.

The Stranger and the Myth of Sisyphus Why That’s Absurd! Essay Example

The Stranger and the Myth of Sisyphus? Why That’s Absurd! Paper The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus? Why That’s Absurd! Before the mid-twentieth century, â€Å"tragedy† was a special word reserved, as Aristotle wrote, only for those in power. Modernist literature (spearheaded by Arthur Miller’s Tragedy and the Common Man), however, muddied the waters — depicting many different types of people as tragic heroes. Among the first of these so-called commoner tragic heroes was Albert Camus’ Meursault. Like the classically tragic Sisyphus in ancient Greek mythology, Meursault goes through a crisis, is punished in an absurd manner (he is sentenced to death not for killing a man, but for being insufficiently gloomy after his mother’s death) and yet eventually accepts his fate. The Myth of Sisyphus, a philosophical essay written in 1942 by Albert Camus describes the absurd and existentialist elements of the classic Greek legend. In the myth, Sisyphus is punished by the Gods; he is condemned to roll a rock up a hill (until the weight overwhelms him and the rock rolls back down the hill) for all of eternity. We will write a custom essay sample on The Stranger and the Myth of Sisyphus? Why That’s Absurd! specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Stranger and the Myth of Sisyphus? Why That’s Absurd! specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Stranger and the Myth of Sisyphus? Why That’s Absurd! specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Within his 120-page essay, Camus compares Sisyphus’ amaranthine task to the jobs many modern men and women have in factories and offices. â€Å"The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd,† Camus writes. â€Å"But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious† (Camus 77). This interesting view of Camus has been duplicated time and again by other writers, and with good reason. He accurately pinpoints the absurdity of the repetitive modern life and elaborates further on the concept of absurdity in existentialism (in the quoted essay as well as numerous other works). Indeed, Camus believes Sisyphus is absurd (and tragic) because of his apparent indifference — his acknowledgement of the futility of his task and the acceptance of his fate. Camus ponders over what Sisyphus must be thinking on his way down the hill (for the billionth or so time), and concludes that his absurd resignation has rendered him content. â€Å"Happiness and absurd are two sons of the same earth,† Camus writes. â€Å"They are inseparable† (77). â€Å"One must imagine Sisyphus happy,† Camus later elaborates (78). Similarly, Camus depicts Meursault as reasonably happy after he receives his sentence. Indeed, Meursault is at ease sitting in his jail cell. As he mentally prepares himself for execution, Meursault thinks, â€Å"As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt happy and that I was happy again† (Camus 122/123). He not only accepts his fate, but greets it as a brother — sickly; or rather, absurdly. Throughout the whole book, in fact, Meursault seems frighteningly indifferent. Even after his girlfriend Marie proposes to him, Meursault appears detached and apathetic. These facets of The Stranger (which befuddle many readers) certainly contribute to the tragedy of the story. In accordance with the rules of tragedy in existentialism, both Sisyphus and Meursault encounter absurd crises. Consequently, both receive horrific punishments — punishments that would cause the average person significant stress. Even with their crises and punishment, however, both Sisyphus and Meursault accept the low-number and off-suit cards they were dealt, perhaps even taking them willingly. Both of their stories are, accordingly, tragedies (in the modern sense if not as defined by Aristotle). The Cabot Literary Glossary defines a tragic hero as â€Å"a character who experiences an inner struggle because of a character flaw; that struggle ends in the defeat of the hero† (â€Å"Cabot Literary Glossary†). Sisyphus and Meursault both have very obvious flaws — Sisyphus disrespects the Gods and Meursault kills the Arab — and both become conscious of their punishments. They are surely tragic heroes as defined both by Camus and existentialism in general. Existentialism in general is a principle based on the fact that people have free will and are ultimately responsible for their own choices. Existentialism also examines emotions and one’s essence versus one’s existence. It is further evident that tragedy not only fits into but is an integral part of existentialism. Tragedy deals entirely with the flaws one possesses and the choices one makes with regard to the flaws. Both Meursault and Sisyphus are brought down by their flaws, and both make the very apparent (and perhaps unusual) choice to disregard the obvious feelings of despair and, as they say, put on a happy face. This is central to both their essence and their existence. Even today, some seventy or so years after its completion, Camus is widely considered to be one of the leading existential writers with regard to absurdity. This branch of existential writing holds, basically, that anything can happen to anyone; in essence, bad things can befall good people. Rather, the absurd world in which we live can plummet anyone into tragedy. Camus’ signature character, Meursault is one of the all-time greatest examples of an absurd and tragic hero for his indifference and personality in general. Sisyphus too experienced a catastrophe and suffered a similarly absurd fate. Most significant of all, both react in a similar manner: with contentment. Works Cited â€Å"Cabot Literary Glossary. † cpsia. k12. ar. us. Web. Accessed 21 Dec. 2010. cpscia. k12. ar. us/Curriculum/Parent%20Guides/Hyperlinked%20%20Cabot%20Parent% 20Guides/Glossary. doc. Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus, and Other Essays. New York: Vintage, 1955. Online, PDF. Camus, Albert. The Stranger. New York: A. A. Knopf, 1988. Print.

help me of you essays

help me of you essays The issue of gender inequality is one which has been publicly reverberating through society for decades. The society in which we live has been shaped historically by males. The policy-makers have consistently been male and therefore it is not surprising that our society reflects those biases which exist as a result of A perfect example of society's male-dominance interfering in education unintentionally is when teachers assign projects to their students. The teachers may hand out lists of acceptable topics ranging, in a history class for example, from fashion to transportation. The teachers then give the students a choice as to which topic they would like to do the project on. The underlying problem with this is that girls tend to choose what could be considered more "feminine" topics while the boys will choose the more "masculine" ones. The workplace is another place where men and women are not equal. The most obvious sign starts at the top. Look at CEOs of corporation; the majority of which are men. Women serving as CEOs are a rare sight. Another sign of the unfairness can also be found in the lower ranks. Men are often applauded for being assertive and giving orders. By giving orders, men are taking a leadership role. Demonstrating leadership ability is a quality that employers often look for. On the other hand, women who are assertive and give orders are not well liked in the work place. For women to be well liked in the work place, they have to be subordinate to the men Society has lived with this inequality for many years. It's impossible for society to change overnight. The problem will not and cannot disappear overnight. A lot of progress has been made over time but, more time is needed to finish what was started. ta jhuio fhkivm dfv df vdfdfv df vdf vdf vdf v dfv df vfv df vdf v df vf v dfdf vdf vdf v f vfv f f v df vdfv df v ...

When to See a Doctor for Bursitis

When to See a Doctor for Bursitis Bursitis is defined as the irritation or inflammation of a bursa (fluid-filled sacs attached to joints). You can often effectively treat bursitis at home. However, in some cases, you may want or need to treat bursitis with some techniques not available at home and require a visit to a doctor. If you have bursitis and you experience a warm swelling, a fever or become sick you may have septic bursitis and should seek medical attention. Septic bursitis needs antibiotic medication to treat it. In the case of non-septic bursitis you should consider seeing a doctor: If the pain becomes severe or is getting progressively worseIf your range of motion is being hampered and the swelling and stiffness is getting worseIf your strength is affectedIf the injury is becoming chronic and never fully alleviates, or commonly reoccursIf methods for preventing bursitis have not proven sufficientIf home treatments are not effectiveIf you can not change your habits or the repetitive stress causing your bursitis is unavoidable What to Expect From Your Doctor If you are seeking medical help for your bursitis then your general practitioner is probably your first stop. Your doctor will need a history of your condition including the symptoms and activities that trigger or worsen the symptoms. Additionally, you should provide your doctor with information about any treatments, over the counter medication or home remedies you have tried and how effective they have been. Your doctor will perform a basic physical examination of the affected area to check for a swollen bursa. Diagnostic imagery is usually not required  but is some difficult cases it may be requested. Imagery, such as an X-ray or MRI, can help fill out a comprehensive diagnosis. Once diagnosed your doctor may prescribe treatment or refer you to a specialist. In some cases, your doctor may suggest draining the bursa to reduce the swelling. This can usually be done during the same visit. Your doctor will simply insert a syringe into the bursa and remove some of the fluid. This can provide immediate relief but does not treat the cause of bursitis.​ When referring you to a specialist your general practitioner will often suggest a physical therapist or occupational therapist. These therapists will develop a treatment regimen of exercise and/or behavioral therapy that should change or remove the repetitive stress that is causing bursitis as well as strengthening the area so it is more robust. What to Bring to Your Doctor Being prepared with a thorough history of your symptoms can help your doctor diagnose your bursitis. Organize your information to help your doctor get through all the pertinent parts in the time usually allotted for an appointment. The information you should have on hand includes: What your symptoms areWhen your symptoms first presented or startedHow severe your symptoms areIf your symptoms come and go or are persistentWhat activities trigger or worsen your symptomsWhat kind of repetitive stress concerning the area of your bursitis you regularly encounterAny candidate causes of bursitis you have identifiedAny injuries within the past 6 months to the area of your bursitisOther medical conditions you currently suffer from or have had in the past, including surgeries When gathering your information, it is beneficial to journal your symptoms. Write down all your symptoms with notes about duration and severity. Use a Visual Analog Pain Scale to track the pain. Make notes of the activities that may contribute to bursitis and what effect they seem to have. Furthermore, write down any treatments and if they have a positive or negative effect. Last, but not least, write down any questions you have for your doctor before your appointment. Patients often get nervous or forget their questions when face to face with their doctor. Write down your questions and make sure you get satisfactory answers before you leave. Dont forget, your doctor is there to help you and you are paying them for that help, so make sure to get your moneys worth.

May one lend money to co-workers who need it to commit sins Personal Statement

May one lend money to co-workers who need it to commit sins - Personal Statement Example In the case of his friend for instance, who wanted the money to ‘commit sin’ with a call girl, he denied him on moral grounds. He argued that by doing that, he would be hurting the wife of this co-worker. However, his morality position can be questioned where he provides his boss with money to purchase a gift. This present was supposed to be given to a woman that the boss was having an affair with, though he was married. Though the individual in question knew about this, he went ahead and paid for the gift for his boss. The two similar scenarios have elicited two contrasting responses. This therefore begs the question of where he stands as far as morality is concerned. The lack of consistence despite the situation is enough to support the fact that most people would appear moral only when they gain more pleasure in the event. However, if there is any loss perceived, one would rather compromise to safe their status quo. My point of view and premises for that position Cons istency in terms of how one responds to issues of morality within the society is imperative. This is especially on how one conducts him/herself towards the colleagues in the working environment. For one to be defined as morally upright, it would be necessary for them to appear predictable in all situations, in terms of their position on various social issues. Fear of losing certain favors because of one’s action or position should not arise. In the case of the of the individual in question, the fact that he agreed to do his boss a favor opens a door to further compromises in future. Through one would understand his reason for taking that compromising act, he failed to take initiative of rejecting. For instance, he did not offer his stand on the issue of unfaithfulness on the part of his boss. The fact that he assisted him in paying for the gift could be explained as ‘supporting such an act.’ Secondly, one would also say that his moral position is not grounded str ongly. He is swayed by circumstances which should not be the case provided one does what they think is right. For instance, why did he not fear losing friendship by not lending money to his friend? Secondly, why did he not choose to reciprocate the same act to his boss? The whole issue of morality lacks meaning if how one behaves is determined by pain and pleasure one may incur. One would be in a position to draw a line and say ‘this is right’ and ‘this is wrong’ despite the repercussions. The notion that he would be discharged of his duty by denying the favor to his boss is just a perception that is not based on reality. For instance, there are laws which protect employees from any unfair treatment. One can seek redress if they feel they are being harassed by their seniors. According to my position therefore, morality should have a specific definition and remain consistent in all scenarios regardless of the consequences. Support by other philosopher such a s John Stuart Mill, Jeremy Bentham, John F. Cosby and Veatch. John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham seem to share similar sentiments as far as issues of morality are concerned. They raise two important social phenomena of pain and pleasure as the main determinants of how individuals behave in certain circumstances (Bentham 58). They indicate that what manners are the final result and not the means taken. Both of them agree on matters of personal happiness as what is imperative in deciding moral

Critically evaluate the claim that adolescents and young people both Essay

Critically evaluate the claim that adolescents and young people both today and in earlier time periods have always been demonise - Essay Example When an understanding of an adolescent/young people has been established, examples will be shown of how and why they have been/ are seen by adults in ways that demonise them and represent them negatively. The writer will then explore the ramifications of the adults' perception and the impact they have on young people. As a conclusion this perception leads to how and why adults might perceive young people and adolescents to be unruly and/or a threat to social stability. The need to analyse the different stages of age is contributed to society's concept of age. Some societies in history considered the transition from childhood to adulthood without passing through adolescence. Childhood is defined as the stage in life from birth to 12 years of age. Childhood is not considered as having a natural transition point but it is a continual process of development. Aries (1960:128) â€Å"In medieval society the idea of childhood did not exist; this is not to suggest that children were neglecte d, forsaken or despised. The idea of childhood is not to be confused with affection for children: it corresponds to an awareness of the particular nature of childhood, which distinguishes the child from the young adult. In medieval society there was a lack of awareness. Emile Durkheim (as cited in Jenks, 1982:147) goes on to describe the child as â€Å"the purist of beings, a small body that the merest blow can break, that the slightest illness imperils, a collection of muscles, nerves and organs which are, so to speak, made of milk and which only form, develop and increase in strength by their beings placed in a wonderful environment of careful attention, of consideration, of favourable circumstances and protective influences†. ... rest blow can break, that the slightest illness imperils, a collection of muscles, nerves and organs which are, so to speak, made of milk and which only form, develop and increase in strength by their beings placed in a wonderful environment of careful attention, of consideration, of favourable circumstances and protective influences†. In Romeo and Juliet, a maiden was a young woman who was ready for marriage, having obviously reached puberty implicitly implying "menses" but still having her nurse. Shakespeare portrays young people/children as wilily or in need of protection because of the adults perception of having a family grudge. Biologically speaking , a child is defined not having sexual hormones in other words not having reached puberty. He/she is not an adolescent, no having reached Erikson's stage of identity and role confusion. (Erikson, 1959) Saraga (1998 and Macionis & Plummer, 2005) points out that historically children have been seen either as innocent (Montgomery , 2003) , vulnerable and in need of protection; or they have been seen as asocial, inherently evil and in need of firm control and discipline. In early Christianity both concepts are present suggesting that the child is innocent (Pollock, 1983) or that the child is born in a state of original sin (Powell , 1917; Schucking, 1969). The child, who was born wicked and full of sin, needed to have the wickedness removed through punishment or strong discipline. (Pollock, 1983) Rituals such as Baptism or Christening continue today to symbolize the purification of babies and small children. Demonising or representing children or young people negatively in a religious context, was used as a form of control and a reasoning for punishment. In art work, representing adolescents and young people in a less

A Great Way to Care Essay Example for Free

A Great Way to Care Essay In chapter fifteen 2b or Not 2b? of They Say / I Say, David Crystal provides arguments in favour of text messaging. Crystal tries to prove his point that text messaging is not destroying the English language with great research, a lot of examples and a clear organization. As the author himself puts it, Texting has added a new dimension to language use, but its long-term impact is negligible. Its not a disaster. . Although some people believe text messaging is pillaging our punctuation, savaging our sentences and raping our vocabulary, Crystal insist that. In sum, then, his view is that the abbreviations were used as a natural, intuitive response to a technological problem, but that they are also more than just time and energy saving act. He considers some texts also as linguistically quite complex. Im two minds about how texting effects the english language. On the one hand, I gree that texting can be very creative and that the abbreviations we use in text massaging are nothing new, he gives use countless examples like IOU (I owe you), which is known from the year 1618 . On the other hand Im not sure if these arguments can stand against the accusations that texting is destroying the english language. For me his arguments are not convincing enough. From my own experiences (english as a foreign language) it seemed pretty hard to understand and nonsense when I heard my friends actually talking the way they text usually, like saying cos instead of because or lol. Text messaging is in this case no more just about texting, it actually effects also the way we talk. Overall I believe text messaging is a great way to communicate and motivates people to be creative and create new words or abbreviations, but it also does form its own language separating itselfs more and more from the traditional English. If its good or worse is out of my ability to judge at this time.

Russia Essay -- European Politics, Bilateral Relations

The change witnessed in modern day society can be traced back to the period of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is in this period that Western Europe achieved rapid economic growth and development. This was through the Agrarian and Industrial revolutions that swept across Europe, mostly Western Europe, causing in its wake rapid development and changing gender roles and lifestyles in general (Collins, 2006). It is also in Western Europe that events such as the French revolution brought about massive changes in society, completely altering the lifestyles of its citizens. However, the change did not end in Western Europe, but spread to other countries of the Eastern bloc, such as Russia. This was mostly through the influence brought about by bilateral relations. The changes thus brought forth cut across all spheres of peoples lifestyles including legal rights, access to education and positions of power, family size, fashion and ways of socialization. The society during this time was male dominated. Men enjoyed positions of power and responsibility and made all the decisions regarding the family. Access to education was also a preserve of the male child. Rights such as those of inheritance and land were allocation bestowed on the male offspring because of the continuity of the family. However, with the changes in the Western society, women started enjoying some of these rights, though initially in minimal ways. In France, the French revolution caused changes in the French educational system (Tuminez, 2000). The French government was committed to creating an educational system that would produce engineers, medical doctors and economists that would help the country achieve economic power. In changing the educational system, the Fren... ...ovell, 2010). Finally, the world continually celebrates women. In western countries, the Valentines Day, which is observed on the 14th day of February, celebrates lovers in a union but places emphasis on the woman as men traditionally buy flowers and gifts to please their women. This day was special even before the 19th century. This must have inspired the International women’s day in Russia, which is marked on the 8th day of March every year. The society values the role of women together with their contributions, in the community. Men buy their women flowers or even send cards to female colleagues and friends to appreciate them. The changes that took place in the West in the 18th and 19th centuries played a key role in influencing women in Russia and their roles in society with regard to fashion, education, religion, family and occupation have greatly changed.

School Age Observation

I observed Mark in his fourth grade classroom during a science lesson. Mark is an intelligent ten year old child, but he has a difficult time paying attention to his teacher. He likes to get a lot of attention and when he gets bored he turns his focus to other destructive matters, such as, throwing pencils up into the ceiling. Throwing pencils in the ceiling has gotten him in trouble many times, and once he was kicked out of the classroom for it. When he becomes uninterested he stops paying attention to instruction completely. When he is bored, he needs to find another activity to fill the void, and that activity will be something that distracts the teacher and his classmates; two characteristics that make it interesting and entertaining to him. From my observations, I believe Mark’s behavior problems are the result of a lack of attention and disinterest from the people in his life, and a general sense of laziness and intimidation for tasks that seem difficult. Mark comes to school with an unclean appearance (dirty clothes, messy hair, looking like he has not bathed) and without the proper tools to actively complete his assignments. For example, he comes to school without any pencils or paper and his backpack is a mess of old crumpled papers. Mark’s behavior problems decreased as his teacher had time to give him one on one attention and break down his tasks into smaller assignments while giving him encouragement and the sense of working hard and having accomplished something. Mark read well, but at a slow pace that would become frustrating to him. He stumbled over words and his classmates had annoyed looks on their faces as he took so long to read a paragraph aloud. His teacher also realized this and later took the time to explain the textbook pictures and figures to him so he could visualize the content he was reading about. His teacher told him that if he becomes bored of the assigned work of looking up vocabulary words then he should switch tasks for a few minutes so he can take a break. When he would start to lose interest he would start trying to talk and get the others’ attention. He would stop his work, look around, and then call out, â€Å"This is boring! to the kids around him. There was a boy sitting next to him at his table that he would poke with a pencil and laugh at when the boy would get mad. He also spent a lot of time staring out the window and digging a groove into his pink erasure with his pencil. When his teacher was able to come and give him one on one attention he was attentive and looked at the teacher as she talked. Mark’s teacher creates a â€Å"to do† list for him so that he can check things off as they are completed. At the end of the section Mark was able to check off several things from his list, and he was proud that he was able to complete so many things. He bragged to his classmates at his table by showing them his list so they could see everything that he had finished. Mark is not a mean child, nor does he want to hurt others, but he needs more positive attention in his life. With the absence of positive interest from those around him, he seeks out anything he can get, which naturally ends up being the negative attention. His teacher does not always have the time during a lesson to cater to Mark, but she tries to check on him frequently because of the results it brings. After he was given extra help and saw what he was able to accomplish when he set his mind to a task the effects began to show in the classroom. Of his own initiative, Mark took out a piece of paper and started taking notes once his math lesson began. He teacher commented to me that that does not happen very often.

The concept of challenging authority Essay

The construct of disputing authorization is one that is popularly portrayed in modern-day literature. Challenging authorization defines a person’s rebelliousness against the set regulations and commands of a certain power. Ambitious authorization can impact an single adversely by devolving them. or positively by helping them in happening their topographic point in the universe. Challenging authorization itself is filled with determination devising and important alterations. The construct of disputing authorization is explored in the two texts: Dead Poets Society ( 1898 ) a movie directed by Peter Weir and Raw ( 1998 ) . a fresh written by Scott Monk. Both texts affect an person or group who challenge the authorization of a certain power. The composers of these texts utilise movie and literary techniques to broaden the audience’s apprehension of disputing authorization. Challenging authorization Teachs of import lessons. Following an individual’s challenge to authorization. he/she may larn from their errors. This subject is reflected through the concluding chapter of the fresh Raw. when Brett Dalton walks off from the battle with Caitlyn’s male parent. This indicates that Dalton. by his initial challenge of authorization. has assimilated that force is non the reply: â€Å"He’d lost one battle but won another. † Monk’s usage of third-person omniscient develops the reader’s apprehension of how ambitious authorization can educate an individual’s polar lessons by leting them to see how others feels. In the epilogue of the novel. Dalton admits that to many past wrongs. turn outing that disputing authorization does so educate persons. Challenging authorization frequently opens the possibility of the devolution of the individual/group. An single found conflicting the regulations of a higher power is punished. in bend physically and/or mentally harming the person. In Dead Poets Society. this is apparent in the scene of Neil’s decease. Neil challenged the authorization of his male parent by prosecuting his dream of moving. and because of this. had his freedom stripped. climaxing in his self-destruction. In the concluding minutes of Neil’s life. Weir uses many utilizations dark illuming and non-diegetic sound to raise a cliff-hanging and eerie atmosphere. This creates an emotional connexion between the movie and the spectator. further developing their apprehension of the construct of disputing authorization. Challenging authorization can nevertheless positively impact an person by assisting them detect their topographic point in the universe. This is seen in the concluding scene of Dead Poets Society. where Todd Anderson backs up Keating. By disputing the authorization of Welton and going a member of the Dead Poets Society. Anderson displays his true colors. being the first to toast Keating. In this scene. Weir utilises low-angle shootings on Anderson. stand foring him as a important and powerful being. a apposition to his weakness in the beginning of the movie. Furthermore. a collage of the student’s determined faces was included to show how ambitious authorization has besides helped them turn as persons. These techniques further emphasised the passages of the characters through ambitious authorization. Ultimately. disputing authorization affects an person in both positive and negative facets. These impacts have been demonstrated through the Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society. and Scott Monk’s Raw. The composer’s usage of movie and literary techniques assist in conveying their thoughts by puting the temper and adding context. The protagonist’s challenges and alterations reflect the importance and necessity of disputing authorization.

Attributes Of Leaders in Government essays

Attributes Of Leaders in Government essays To hold office in any branch of the federal government, you must be someone special. However, there are differences between the types of people that are right for each different branch of the government. For example, someone who is passionate about their political party and about bettering it, might be successful in Congress, but would not be a good fit for the U.S. Supreme Court. The Executive Branch is arguably the most prestigious branch of the Federal government. The main member of this branch of government is the president. A president must have the strongest leadership skills out of any member in the government. I believe that he must be the strongest member because he makes decisions on his own. Even though he has a cabinet to advise him, when it comes down to it making the decision is all his. He also has to be rational in the decisions he makes. If he is not rational in his decisions, it is easy to make many people angry quickly. I believe that the president also has to be very confident in his work. If he does not show confidence in everything that he does, I believe he will appear weak. The president does not have to be a great compromiser, but the Legislative members do. The Legislative branch consists of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. This branch of government is very different from the other two, in the fact that 435 members in the U.S. House of Representatives and the 100 members of the U.S. Senate all have to be able to compromise to get things done. Therefore, one significant attribute of a U.S. Congressman is the ability to compromise. If a Congressman is known as one willing to compromise, then other Congressmen will be willing to work with him. I believe that morality is also an important attribute of Congressmen. Because there are so many Congressmen, it is much easier to persuade them with things such as cash benefits. Therefore, I believe a Congressman that had morals...

An Overview and History of the Compass

An Overview and History of the Compass The compass is an instrument used for navigation; it generally has a magnetic needle that points toward the earths magnetic North Pole. The magnetic compass has been in existence for nearly a thousand years and is the most common type of compass. The gyroscopic compass is far less common than a magnetic compass. The Magnetic Compass In order to adjust a magnetic compass to due or true north and toward the geographic North Pole, one must know the amount of magnetic declination or variation that exists in a specific region. There are online maps and calculators available that provide the difference in declination between true north and magnetic north for every point on the globe. By adjusting ones magnetic compass based on the local magnetic declination, it is possible to ensure that ones directions are accurate. The Gyroscopic Compass The History of the Compass Compasses were originally developed when lodestones, a mineral that has naturally magnetized iron ore, were suspended above a board with the ability to pivot and turn. It was discovered that the stones would always point in the same direction, and align themselves with the north/south axis of the earth. The Compass Rose The 32 points were originally drawn to indicate winds and were used by sailors in navigation. The 32 points represented the eight major winds, the eight half-winds, and the 16 quarter-winds. All 32 points, their degrees, and their names can be found online. On early compass roses, the eight major winds can be seen with a letter initial above the line marking its name, as we do with N (north), E (east), S (south), and W (west) today. Later compass roses, around the time of Portuguese exploration and Christopher Columbus, show a fleur-de-lys replacing the initial letter T (for tramontana, the name of the north wind) that marked north, and a cross replacing the initial letter L (for levante) that marked east, showing the direction of the Holy Land. We still commonly see the fleur-de-lys and cross symbols on compass roses today, if not just the simple letter initials for the cardinal directions. Every cartographer designs a compass rose a little differently, using different colors, graphics, and even symbols. Multiple colors are often used simply as a means of easily distinguishing the many points and lines on a compass rose. 360 Degrees Uses of the Compass Most people use a compass casually, for instance with hiking or camping. In those situations, basic compasses like the thumb compass or other orienteering compasses that are clear and can be read over a map are suitable. Many casual uses where travel is over a short distance require basic markings for cardinal directions and a basic level of understanding compasses. For more advanced navigation, where large distances are covered and a slight variation of degrees would offset your course, a deeper understanding of compass reading is required. Understanding declination, the angle between true north and magnetic north, the 360 degree markings on the compass face, and your course-of-direction arrow combined with individual compass instructions requires more advanced study. For simple, easy-to-understand, beginners instructions on how to read a compass, visit compassdude.com.

Research questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Research questions - Assignment Example That is when I thought social media could actually be an opposite of social and does not make people sociable. Information on this will be easily gathered from my peers and other internet resources. After watching the movie â€Å"John Doe Vigilante,† I was left with too many unanswered questions after I got some enlightening from the movie. The vigilante at some point, in police custody and awaiting court’s verdict, asks where we draw a line between a vigilante and soldiers. They all work for a noble course, but a vigilante will be prosecuted for fighting for the justice of those that the system cannot do justice. In war, many innocent people suffer, including women and children. When do we justify the work of our soldiers as a noble course, where do we draw the line? War journals and articles discussing aftermath of war will be a good place to start while looking for information on this topic. Whenever we do a module that deals with Gender equity and gender equality, I cannot help but think that these two terms are contradictory. In our definition, Gender equity implies to efforts of allocating resources, decision-making, and programs fairly to both females and males and addressing any imbalances on sex basis. Gender equality means all sexes are equal. There is, therefore, contradiction in that we give some sexes what seems to be a free pass to address the imbalances and at the same time, assert that all sexes are equal. Shouldn’t all sexes be treated by order of merit? Should there be posts such as Women Representative in some governments? The internet will be an ideal place to gather information on this

Cuban Missile Crisis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cuban Missile Crisis - Research Paper Example The Soviet Union plus the United States entered into an agreement through back channels of communication to withdraw the missiles. The United States withdrew it missiles from Turkey while the Soviet Union withdrew its missiles from Cuba (Chayes, 1974). After the communication between the two states, Cuba was not happy about it and considered it a betrayal by the soviet government. The relationship between Cuba and the Soviet Union deteriorated. This meant that mass destruction by nuclear weapons became abolished entirely (Cuban missile crisis, 2011). It ensured that there was diplomacy and bargaining power between the two super powers. The communication between the two made it clear that they could come to a compromise without necessarily going to war. They found a way of peaceful coexistence. The relationship between America and the Soviet Union did not remain cordial for a long time (Cuban missile crisis, 2011). The use of spy cameras and airplanes became predominant since the United States was following up the missiles on the bases of Cuba via satellite. The first telephone â€Å"hotline† became installed in order to offer direct communication between the two presidents. The negotiations were underway, and a compromise reached at (Chayes, 1974). Because of the great relationship, Kennedy got the public confidence after coming to an agreement with the Soviet Union since he became seen as a weak’ leader (Cuban missile crisis, 2011). After Kennedy, Reagan came to power and was able to overwhelm the USSR which brought about the downfall of this Soviet Bloc and also an end to the cold war (Cuban missile crisis, 2011). ... The experts informed Kennedy that he has only 10 days before the missiles are operational (Allison, 1969). Kennedy sets up a committee of National Security Council members to give him advice. The President soon announces that he was putting up a number of naval blockades on Cuba (Chayes, 1974). A number of B52 nuclear bombs became deployed, ensuring an eighth of all of them was airborne every time. On the same night, a Western spy working in Russia got arrested. His last message was that the Soviet attack was imminent (Allison, 1969) On the 23rd of October, Khrushchev provided an explanation that these missile sites were purposefully meant for defending Cuba against external attack (Chayes, 1974). 20 Russian ships became spotted heading to Cuba (Pfiffner, n.d). He accused the United States of piracy, and warned that Russia was preparing a fitting reply to the oncoming aggressor. The first Russian ship docked on the naval blockade on the 25th of October 1962 (Allison, 1969). This was an oil ship, and it was allowed to pass. The other Russian ships carrying dangerous missiles turned back. The US government had secretly offered to remove its missiles located in Turkey. They were to exchange them for the ones in Cuba (Chayes, 1974). On 26th October Russia was still going ahead with building the missile bases (Chayes, 1974). Kennedy began planning a military strike on Cuba. Khrushev sent Kennedy a telegram offering to destroy all the nuclear sites if he would lift the blockade he had placed and to agree not to invade Cuba (Clearly, 2009). The Kennedys’ met with the Russian ambassador and mentioned removing all the missiles located in Turkey (Pfiffner, n.d). Before Kennedy could reply to his letter,

Same-Sex Marriage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Same-Sex Marriage - Essay Example It is a social ordinal issue for what family life is being strongly affected through these transformations. The changing trends of family life are hazardous for long term family and social issue. The most emerging trend in most of the western countries is gay or lesbian marriage (Moats and David 32). The psychological disorder is basically reported behind the phenomenon. It is not natural hence it must not be permissible by law. However, the organizations supporting for human rights believe that everyone has the right to spend his or her life according to their own wishes and aspirations. There are many medical issues related with this case. It although is not taken as a good sign whether if it is permissible by law. The countries in which it is permissible are Brazil, Argentine, Spain, Sweden, Canada, South Africa and Mexico (West and Robin 45). The religious aspect of same sex marriage is divergent to the permission. Almost every religious teaching is against these sorts of marriages. It is backed by a complete campaign. The supporters are in support as a collective cohesion in the society. However it is psychologically, medically and socially ill proven phenomenon since long. The premiers of these marriages were not even aware of adverse consequences of this issue (Dryden and Caroline). The social disorders and family structure mismatch issues are associated with same sex marriage exclusively. A number of organizations are working to make these marriages banned across because of increasing damages being reported in the last decade. It is very dangerous for social systems and values. It is sign of anxiety in the people’s minds that makes them forced to do this (Olsen and Allene 11). According to Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Lesbian Gay Bisexual (LGB) persons usually suffer from adverse psychiatry disorders of disparity. These inferiority complexes further are transmitted to the children they adopt.

CBN and FDI Outflows to China

CBN and FDI Outflows to China Introduction and Research Problem Since its economic opening in 1979, China has become one of the worlds largest recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI). In 2007, inflows to China totalled over US$82 billion, bringing Chinas cumulative FDI to almost US$700 billion for the period 1979 to 2007 (CSB 2007). But what has particularly captured both academic and popular attention is the extent to which Chinas massive levels of FDI may be attributable to diasporic ethnic Chinese capital, what Harvard academic John Kao famously termed the Chinese commonwealth (Kao 1993: 24). It has often been asserted that some two-thirds of all the foreign investment that has poured into China originated from ethnic Chinese living outside of China (e.g., Wolf 2002: 134). This unprecedented level of intra-ethnic investment presents something of a headache to mainstream FDI theories, which, at the level of the firm, tend to explain internationalisation as an incremental process resulting from, variously, the pursuit of market power, an internalising of technological improvements, and the accumulation of foreign market knowledge and experience. Protesting against this type of theorizing as under-socialised and Western-centric, many Asia scholars (who are frequently also Asian) developed an alternative account drawn upon insights from network theory and some sociological studies of Chinese firms done in the 1990s. Their account—which in this dissertation is referred to as the Chinese Capitalism corpus—spans a variety of disciplinary frameworks including anthropology, economic geography and sociology, development economics, management, and Southeast Asia Regional studies, but has at its heart the premise that ethnic Chinese enterprises domin ate the economic activity of East Asia and FDI flows into China in large part because of their ability to draw upon dense, interlinked networks of social/family/political relationships that span national boundaries. These linkages are commonly known as Chinese business networks (CBN). The assertion that ethnic Chinese engage in pervasive networking on an international scale has become so ubiquitous in popular and academic literature that it is usually considered a stylized fact. But is it true that—despite citizenship in countries with differing social structures, political economies, and histories—the Chinese diaspora is linked by transnational webs of strong personalistic ties? And have these webs actuated and facilitated massive flows of FDI to China? If so, this would suggest that ethnic Chinese business operates in a distinctive manner, that it is proper to speak of a Chinese Capitalism in which flexibly linked Chinese enterprises might even form a competitive substitute for formally structured Western and Japanese multinational enterprises (MNEs). Alternatively, it has been suggested that the concept of CBN might simply be a cultural myth which obscures, possibly exaggerates and distorts, the internationalisation of ethnic Chinese enterprises (Mackie 2000). If so—if intra-ethnic networking is ill-defined, over-stated and under-researched—what should we make of the prevalence of the CBN discourse in economics-based discipline s? And, if they are not advantaged by networks, how should mainstream FDI theories be amended to account for the fact that at the turn of the 21st century we find so many Singaporean enterprises in China? The main purpose of my research was to move this debate forward. I did so by investigating claims of extensive intra-ethnic networking among the ethnic Chinese with an eye toward enhancing mainstream internationalisation theorising. More specifically, I tested whether evidence of CBN could be found in the transnational expansion into China of randomly-selected Chinese-Singaporean small-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This chapter has two main objectives. The first is to present my dissertations research question and to explain why it is important. The second is to provide an overview of how and why I investigated it as I did. To this end, the following section discusses the general context of my research problem and reviews the conventional theoretical frameworks that address the phenomenon of internationalisation. Section 1.1.2 explains why it is important that claims of extensive intra-ethnic networking be investigated. Next, the focus is narrowed to the specific research question that was tested. The concept of CBN is carefully defined in Section 1.1.3, and it is conceptually operationalised into testable sub-hypotheses in Section 1.1.4. Background of CBN Claims With some US$30 billion cumulative FDI invested in China between 1979 and 2006, Singapore ranked as Chinas seventh largest source of foreign investment, after Hong Kong, Japan, the Virgin Islands, the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea (CSB, 2007). In 2006, about 70% of the Association for East Asian Nations (ASEAN) FDI originated in Singapore, and between 1990 and 2006, over 15,000 Singaporean projects were set up in China. These figures are all the more remarkable given Singapores small size. Furthermore, as significant as Singapore now is as an investor to China, it is likewise true that China has become important to Singapore as an investment market. Since 1997, China—a vacuum cleaner for foreign direct investment, as Lee Kuan Yew has frequently called it—has each year received the largest share of FDI by Singaporean entities, replacing Malaysia as Singapores top investment destination (Hamlin 2002). In 2002, FDI to China accounted for over 17% of total Singaporean investment abroad (Department of Statistics 2002). It is clear from these figures that not only are Singaporean transnational enterprises (TNEs) a significant force in the rearticulation of China into the global economy, but that China has become an important factor in the regionalisation of Singaporean firms. How can we account for this tremendous and unprecedented diasporic transnational investment? Two corpuses of literature that purportedly shed light on this phenomenon are critically examined in this dissertation: the mainstream internationalisation construct and what I refer to as the Chinese Capitalism perspective. Three strands within the mainstream internationalisation literature are highlighted in this dissertation. The first is theories of the MNE, which grew out of Stephen Hymers seminal work on post-war multinational investment in Europe and has its roots in the utilitarian tradition of classical and neo-classical economics. This corpus of literature has expanded over the decades to encompass a range of views, but at its core is some version of the argument that MNEs are enterprises which, in response to market imperfection and a desire to exploit proprietary advantages, have internalised activities by investing abroad. A distinctive sub-group of these theories has arisen in response to the spectacular increase in developing-country MNEs since the 1970s. Within Developing-Country MNE theories, the leading argument is that emerging MNEs from developing countries follow an incremental internationalisation process driven by gradual internal technological accumulation. Internationalisation Process Models is the second important strand within the mainstream approach. With its roots in behavioural theories of the firm, it offers a more explicitly dynamic approach to understanding the process by which firms engage in FDI. Though there is some variation in the explanation employed in the models—for instance, some stress learning and others focus on technological accumulation—and though the process is variously described as cyclic, stage-based, or evolutionary, a key premise is that internationalisation is incremental by nature, as the firm acquires knowledge necessary for further internationalisation. A third major strand within the mainstream approach has explicitly incorporated the concept of network into internationalisation theorisations. It is important to note the schism in the network literature between viewing networks as a form of governance structure versus focusing on networks as social relationships. This has caused a number of definitional problems and contributed to a seemingly irreconcilable divergence between mainstream economics/business theories and an approach that has grown out of the sociology discipline. Of the former, perhaps the most important for this thesis is the Late Industrialisation framework, which treats the concept of networks as a distinctive mode of organisation through which learning and the adaptation of borrowed technology were combined to promote economic development in a number of late industrialising countries in the 20th century. These three strands within the mainstream internationalisation construct dominate much of the research on MNEs and FDI but they have their shortcomings. In particularly, many Asia scholars (who were frequently Chinese-speaking Asians) have objected that mainstream internationalisation theories, with their under-socialised and Western roots, cannot adequately explain the phenomenon of ethnic Chinese investment in the motherland (Yeung 2000: 10). These scholars have instead drawn upon the insights of network theory and several sociological studies of ethnic Chinese enterprises (that were done in the 1990s) to develop an alternative account—the Chinese Capitalism perspective—to elucidate the specific case of ethnic Chinese transnational expansion. As its name suggests, this large corpus of literature is exclusively concerned with ethnic Chinese enterprises because it is argued that they differ in important respects not only from Japanese and Western firms, but from other d eveloping-country enterprises (Kao 1993). Central to the Chinese Capitalism perspective is the premise that ethnic Chinese firms dominate FDI flows into China, and indeed much of the economic activity of East Asia, because of their ability to form and draw upon dense, interlinked webs of social/family/political relationships that span national boundaries and rest on trust and reciprocation (Hamilton 1996a: 17). These relationships—Chinese business networks (CBN)—are variously ascribed to cultural and/or institutional factors and ostensibly give ethnic Chinese TNEs a strong advantage, especially when entering culturally Chinese markets such as China, while non-ethnic Chinese businesses meet with less success (EAAU 1995). As Hamilton-Hart wrote: Investment and trade flows linking Southeast and Northeast Asia have been promoted by network-like relationships among firms and individuals. These relationships have fostered regionalization by reducing the costs and risks of transnational investment (Hamilton-Hart 2002: 1). Describing this advantage in an especially enthusiastic manner, Redding wrote that ethnic Chinese capitalism is essentially an economic culture characterized by a unique capacity to co-operate (emphasis added: Redding 1990: 79). And Hamilton, concluding that the Chinese diaspora will elbow out non-Chinese entrants in the China market, wrote: Many Westerners honestly believe that they have a real chance to sell to the one billion plus Chinese consumers, but I do not believe it will work out this way (Hamilton 1996a: 19). Journalists and management gurus have similarly embraced the concept of Chinese business networks (e.g., Seagrave 1996; Backman 1999; and Drucker 1994). The concept of CBN has historical roots in the centuries of mass migration that have fostered transnational ethnic Chinese communities which span the world. Many historians have argued that commercial and financial networks based on fictive and agnatic familism, pang or speech-group solidarities, and regionalism, were historically important social channels in some settings, such as for those emigrating to Southeast Asia from southern China. But the Chinese Capitalism literature, taking new life from the treatment of networks within the sociology discipline, extended this historical observation further. It not only asserted that CBN remained important at the turn of the 21st century, but it emphasized CBN as a distinctive characteristic or skill of the ethnic Chinese. Research Significance The skill or special ability to combine a firms resources with the complementary resources of its partners can no doubt be an important organisational capability. Among the benefits, networks lower business transaction costs, provide for better risk assessment, and lead to prompt decision-making. But is there evidence that networking has been a primary factor in ethnic Chinese transnational expansion? Does it explain why Singaporean FDI has flowed so far afield to China? My research contributes to academic understanding in a number of ways. It adds to the scarce academic research that has been published to date on Southeast Asian SMEs, and it contributes to a more rigorous definition of CBN and some of the terms associated with it, such as guanxi. But its most significant contributions are to the following three areas: 1) theorizing on internationalisation and FDI in general, and ethnic Chinese businesses in particular; 2) assessments of whether Singaporean FDI outflows to China represent actual or faux economic development, and what that implies for evaluations of Singaporean state developmentalism; and 3) the use of CBN as a small state strategy to facilitate economic development and to accommodate an ascendant China. Chinese Capitalism and Internationalisation Theorising Further research into CBN is necessary to enhance theorising in both the Chinese Capitalism and mainstream internationalisation corpuses. As discussed in detail in Chapter 3, the Chinese Capitalism literature has to date suffered from a serious lack of empirical evidence. Articles that discuss CBN do often reference prior academic works, but when checked these references typically are revealed to be rather insubstantial. There is also a marked tendency to repeat, mantra-like, the same three or four original works on the subject, but because these studies were largely descriptive and based on a tiny sample size, they do not provide an adequate buttressing for the claim of extensive intra-ethnic business networking. Moreover, there have been virtually no rigorous cross-cultural comparative studies, and little consideration has been given to the drawbacks and costs of operating through networks. My investigation into CBN also speaks to the appropriateness of the academic niche that has developed for Chinese Business. A virtual phalanx of Chinese business experts has popped up since the late 1990s, and it is common to find universities that have dedicated a Chair—or even a department—to the business practices of this specific ethnic group. In contrast, one is less likely to find similar attention to Russian or Indian business studies. Of course, this is due in part to the staggering market potential represented by Chinas 1.3 billion population, but it can also be traced to the essentially culturalist assumption that ethnic Chinese have unique business practices such as CBN. In fact, CBN has become so widely accepted that much of the academic discussion has shifted away from directly considering ethnic Chinese ties towards as pseudo cross-comparative approach that is problematic because it contrasts the fact of CBN with the lack of networking in other cultures. Research into how, for example, Nordic or Indian networks are not as strong as CBN have become common. In short, though some of the details of CBN may be contested, the general premise of the Chinese Capitalism literature has largely been accepted and is influential. This has been especially true in the international business rubric, but references to CBN abound in economics-based disciplines as well. For example, in an Institute for International Economics special report describing the lessons South Korea should learn from CBN, Young argued: In the 1990s, they [the Chinese diaspora] formulated an international strategy to form a global network of overseas ChineseThe experiences of overseas Chines e networks would be good models for Korea (Young 2003: 50). And how did Young define CBN? They are led by the unique Chinese personal network, guanxi, which links individuals, hometown associations, business associations in the same industry, and associations of people with the same family name (Young 2003: 53). Mainstream internationalisation theories also have significant shortcomings. The economics discipline has a long history of neglecting—often completely omitting—the social, political, and historical context in which firms are embedded. A large gulf between mainstream economics and other social sciences has developed, making each seem increasingly irrelevant to the other. Economics many insights and strengths are too often viewed as inapplicable to other disciplines, and disciplinary cross-fertilisation has been hampered. Sloppy theorisations arise and thrive in such an environment. One of the most significant ways that evidence for CBN affects mainstream theorising lies in its suggestion that informally-linked enterprises might serve as functional substitutes for Western and Japanese MNEs. Large firms, especially multinationals, enjoy significant benefits of scale and scope as well as learning and productivity advantages that are unavailable to smaller, isolated firms (Nolan 2001). In contrast, the relatively small size of ethnic Chinese firms, which tend to be family-owned and -controlled, is considered by mainstream theorists to limit their competitiveness in international business. But perhaps the 21st century will indeed be a network age in which the economies of scale that dominated in the previous period seem to have given way to network economies (Young 2003: 33). If so, then the concept of CBN suggests that ethnic Chinese firms are informally bound together in such a way that they can duplicate, and maybe exceed, the benefits derived from the larger sco pe of MNEs (Borrus 1997). This intriguing possibility—that the limitations on competitiveness inherent in a family-controlled firm may be overcome by networking—provides a further reason for why my research into claims of extensive CBN is significant. Moreover, as my results demonstrate in Chapter 5, irrespective of whether extensive intra-ethnic networking is taking the place, the effects of the CBN discourse are profound and have affected FDI decision-making. Mainstream economic theory would be improved if economists took a more open-minded and sophisticated approach to appreciating, understanding, and incorporating such social dimensions. Singaporean Development(alism): Actual or Faux? My research contributes in another key way. Empirical evidence (or its absence) of CBN should factor into evaluations of Singapores level of economic development and, hence, assessments of the states developmental policies. FDI from Singapore to China has not only been large but it continues to grow. Though this transnational expansion has been actively promoted by the ruling Peoples Action Party (PAP) through various policies, programmes, and an official discourse on creating an external economic wing, the state would have us interpret Singaporean investment in China as growing economic maturation, a sign that Singapore is moving away from MNE-led development to a stage in which home-grown capitalists diversify into new areas. Outward direct investments are beneficial to both firms and the home country as they provide access to strategic assets, technology, skills, natural resources, and markets. It is especially important for a small state with limited market size and resources to be able to access international markets and connect with global production/knowledge systems. The degree to which Singapore has experienced the social and technological progress associated with economic development has been a contentious subject for the PAP-state (e.g., Krugman 1994), and it is perennially anxious to demonstrate its effectiveness. As discussed in Chapter 8, signs of declining popular support for the PAP in election results since 1988, in conjunction with a series of accumulation crises over the past two decades, have the state very worried. Though recognized as highly intrusive, the state has largely been given credit for developing Singapore from a sleepy entrepà ´t into a major communications hub with a population that enjoys one of the worlds highest per capita incomes. Since the 1990s, the Singaporean state has to a striking degree officially embraced and propagated a (selectively Confucian) culturalist discourse alongside calls for the development of an external sector to help insulate the country from downturns in the world economy. Is this yet another sign of an enduring comprehensive developmental state (Pereira 2007) cheerleading the march towards the next stage in Singapores economic development, this time, in part, by encouraging latent networking capabilities in its ethnic Chinese population? This might imply that after years of neglect, the PAP-developmental state has reached a stage where it is prioritising the engagement of local capitalists in its economic strategies (Haggard and Cheng 1987). For while the developmental state is expected to be the most powerful political and economic player during much of development, at some point state strategies should pay off and produce a vigorous and competitive domestic capitalist class (Periera 2007: 3). But what should we make of Singaporean FDI to China, and the states insistence that these flows are rooted in Chinese exceptionalism, if evidence suggests that CBN claims are over-stated? Justifications for Singapores domineering one-party state have always pointed to the Republics strong economic performance. If public proclamations about Chinese business networking turn out to be rather more wishful thinking than actual practice, then the government may be judged to have taken a serious mis-step, especially considering its own massive investments in China and the problems associated with some of them (, The New Frontier, Far Eastern Economic Review, December 6, 2001, BY Ben Dolven e.g., the Suzhou Industrial Park). The implication would be that Singaporean investment in China represents, at least in part, something other than the cool, independent economic rationalism upon which PAP political legitimacy rests; concerns might be raised about the optimum use of resources and the degr ee to which political considerations have lead the state to invest heavily in China itself, push its GLC sector to do so as well, and create a discourse in which local capitalists are encouraged to make the risky move to China. More importantly, high levels of Singaporean FDI to China might not represent maturation out of the MNE-dependency that is widely recognized to now seriously limit economic growth and make the island-state exceptionally vulnerable to fluctuations in a world economy beyond its control. And it may hint that the hither-to developmental PAP-state is losing some of the political insulation, technocratic skills, and discipline it needs to continue to lead Singapore. In summary, my research contributes to assessments of the PAP-developmental state. Should Singaporean FDI to China be interpreted as a sign of economic development, with all the benefits this implies for a small state that has to date been extremely exposed to world economic conditions? Or, alternatively, is it at heart a sort of faux development that does not bring the social and technological progress that accompanies actual development? This important topic—the role of the PAP-states CBN discourse in FDI decision-making—is discussed at length in conjunction with the results of my research in Chapter 8. CBN as a Small State Strategy My research also contributes to an understanding of how CBN and the discourse surrounding can be used by a small state wishing to punch above its weight in its engagement with the international environment, especially an ascendant China. By this I am referring to Singapores strategic use of culture and ethnicity to further its economic and national security/foreign policy goals. Chinas growing economic and military strength is increasingly presenting a dramatic challenge to world, particularly East Asian, power relations. Tapping into (or manufacturing) the Chinese-ness of a states population or subgroup may be an excellent strategy for accommodating a rising China, especially for small states such as Singapore which are looking for ways to compensate for their power deficit. A small state faces an integration dilemma when it considers Chinas growing markets and reach (Goetschel 1998: 28). It can insist on economic and security independence but risk being abandoned or isolated, with the disadvantages this would like cause. Or it can accept a constraint on its freedom to act in ways that are contrary to Chinas economic and security goals and instead try to accommodate, identify with, even in some sense integrate with, China. Stressing as it does not just civilisational fluency but actual networks with China, the CBN discourse functions as a novel way of enabl ing Singapore to do the latter. Whether Singapores strategy might successfully be imitated by other small states remains to be seen. It is interesting to speculate how, for example, Africas over 7 million ethnic Chinese and Perus 1.3 million, might factor into their states strategic possibilities for engaging China (e.g., Mung 2008). Singapore has tried to modify the international environment through its cultural discourse in another sense. As discussed in Chapter 8, this former British colony has for the two decades heavily marketed itself as the Gateway to the East. Its stated goal since Singapores regionalisation drive was announced in 1993 has been to be the regional hub, a place where MNEs locate their headquarters and higher value-added operations (such as research and development), while situating lower value-added parts in China and other areas of East Asia where labour is cheaper. The clear implication of the self-orientalising discourse of CBN is that Western firms are unlikely to be successful if they invest directly in China. They need instead to engage a mediating force, such as Singaporean firms, in order to become part of the transnational networks in which Chinese business is accomplished, or so the story goes. As a Singaporean government minister put it: Those who have knowledge of the culture and cultural nuances are able to lower business risks [for foreigners]. The Chinese overseas understand Chinese culture because they are ethnically Chinese themselves, but they also understand the world outsideThey are like modems. They modulate and demodulate and add value in the process. (George Yeo, quoted in Crovitz 1993: 18). With its middleman familiarity with both East and West and its purportedly dense transnational networks with China, the CBN discourse therefore places Singapore in the enviable niche position of knowledge arbitrageur (Tan, K.B. Eugene 2006). It is a striking example of the claiming of territoriality over knowledge (Brown and Menkhoff 2006), in both a conceptual and quite literal sense. Defining the Concept of CBN Unfortunately, a clear-cut definition of the concept of Chinese business networking does not currently exist. Much of the Chinese Capitalism literature is largely descriptive rather than theoretically precise, and to the degree that a definition is specified it varies significantly from author to author. Some scholars discussing networks have stressed their origin in qiaoxiang (usually defined as ancestral homeland ties), kinship, religious, and/or school ties (Hamilton 1996; Liu 1998, 1999; Yeung 2000d). Other scholars have used a broader definition that characterises Chinese business networks as long-term, but extensible, personalized networks, based on trust and upheld by the indispensability of reputation within such a system (Tracy et al. 2001: 262). These are contrasted with what are characterised as the generally weak, situational, and non-enduring ties of the West (Zahra et al. 1999: 45). A particular problem with the fuzziness surrounding CBN is that this concept is often—and unhelpfully—confused with guanxi. Like CBN, the latter term suffers from a lack of definitional rigor. Guanxi has commonly been translated as both connections and relationships, but neither of these terms adequately gives a sense of how this multi-faceted concept is commonly understood by Chinese. A more sophisticated definition is, the concept of drawing on connections in order to secure favors in personal relations (Luo 2007: 2). There are obvious similarities between the concepts of CBN and guanxi, but closer scrutiny of the academic literature as well as the results of my fieldwork led me to a conclusion, shared with a few researchers (e.g., Fan 2002), that guanxi is not identical to CBN. For example, it is not generally considered to be something that is exchanged between family members or childhood friends, nor is it usually described as having any sense of qiaoxiang or ancestral homeland sentiment. Also, unlike CBN, guanxi has on occasion been described quite negatively by a few researchers. Fan, for example, argued that guanxi and corruption are inextricably intertwined in 21st century China (2002). This assessment was supported by my fieldwork, as most of the SME owners I interviewed ascribed negative qualities to the practice of guanxi. Some of them described guanxi as a payment—on occasion they used the term bribe—that must be paid to local government officials as a cost of doing busine ss in China. Others equated it with an obligation to pay for lavish dinners and parties for customers or suppliers in the (frequently forlorn) hope of receiving enough business in return to justify these outlays. When one of my interviewees was asked to define guanxi, he summed it up as, If you want to do business in China, you must pay to play (Interviewee #6). In summary, though any attempt to definitively delineate these two unwieldy and messy terms (Luo 2007) is beyond the scope of this dissertation, the results of my research, combined with a close scrutiny of the academic literature, led me to the conclusion that they are not identical. While creating guanxi with someone may lead to a close networking relationship, it should not be confused with the networking relationship itself. So, though these concepts overlap, it is important to carefully define and distinguish between them. Yet in many accounts of Chinese business practices these two terms—guanxi and CBN—are used as though they were interchangeable. As discussed further in Chapter 5, the frequent conflation of what are actually two separate concepts adds to the confusion surrounding intra-ethnic networking and has important ramifications for my research conclusions. In light of the definitional jumble surrounding CBN, it was important in this thesis that the concept be defined in such as way as to convey the general intent of the Chinese Capitalism literature, yet be specific enough to be rigorously tested. To this end, I chose to draw upon the definition of Chinese business networking suggested by Gomez and Hsiao (2001). They argued that the Chinese Capitalism literature is characterised by an emphasis on Chinese exclusivity, a special conception of trust, and an explicit challenge to existing theories of transnational expansion. Thus, contrary to the very broad definitions typically put forth or assumed, the concept of CBN must necessarily imply a precise, strong connection among businessmen that goes beyond the common, and casual, use in the West of the term business networking (Gomez and Hsiao 2001). More specifically, Gomez and Hsiao claimed that the concept should be reserved for: The e