The heritage of the Soviet Union

Two decades ago many people thought the number of democratic countries would increase significantly in Europe. The dissolution of the Soviet Union was regarded as a potent impetus for countries of Central and Eastern Europe to develop into democratic Western-like states. People in Western Europe and North America as well as people of Central and Eastern Europe strived for democratic societies in the post-Soviet regions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The heritage of the Soviet Union specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, now it is evident that Europe has hardly been ‘enriched’ by truly democratic states as countries of Central and Eastern Europe developed in semi-democratic or even authoritarian states. Researchers single out different political, economic, cultural and historical reasons for such trends. The future of these countries is also seen differently. Clearly, apart from political, cultur al, historical and socio-economic factors, geopolitical situation will play an important role in the development of these countries. It is necessary to note that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have much in common. Roberts (2006) notes that Communist heritage affected the countries in quite a specific way making the states more centralized and people less politically active. At that, cultural peculiarities of the countries and economic factors resulted in different types of democracies which have been developed in this or that country of Central and Eastern Europe. Researchers suggest different classifications of the democracies in the region. However, it is possible to note that all of these classifications are based on the level of authoritarian rule in a country. It is possible to exploit the classification used in in the study implemented by Freedom House (Freedom House 2012). According to this study, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe can be divided into th e following groups: consolidated democracies (Estonia, Slovenia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary), semi-consolidated democracies (Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro), hybrid regimes (Albania, Bosnia, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova), semi-consolidated authoritarian regimes (Kosovo and Armenia) and consolidated authoritarian regimes (Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). Thus, to understand the future of these countries, it is important to consider political systems within the countries and define factors which resulted in the development of such regimes. Roberts (2006) analyses the democracies in terms of the variables suggested by Lijphart. One of the variables is centralization of power within democratic powers. Roberts (2006) points out that in the majority of cases democratic states do not have a very strict centralized power. However, when it comes to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, they are all unitary and centralized.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the one hand, centralization cannot be regarded as a negative feature as it is often associated with well-organised structures which cooperate and contribute to the development of countries. Furthermore, post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe are rather small. They are characterised by ethnical homogeneity. Therefore, centralization is but natural for these countries. Nonetheless, centralization which is a characteristic feature of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe leads to negative outcomes. This centralization prevents proper cooperation between different bodies within the state. In federal states, local authorities interact with federal bodies which, in their turn, cooperate with each other. Thus, needs of all stakeholders are addressed to the fullest. Centr alization is deprived of such a comprehensive cooperation which leads to a gap between the power and people. It is important to note that centralization is not only caused by ethnical homogeneity. The Soviet Union was a highly centralised state and the Communist rule can still be traced in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Roberts 2006). Roberts (2006) claims that the countries employ the pattern used in the Soviet Union where centralization was characterised by a variety of negative features. First, there was almost no cooperation among different bodies of the state. Likewise, the countries of the post-Soviet region show lack of cooperation between their institutions. The centre often imposes requirements that should be strictly followed by regions, though the centre often does not have comprehensive information on the matter. Thus, it is possible to note that centralization has become one of distinctive features of democracy in the countries in question. Apart from cent ralization, Roberts (2006) singles out another peculiarity of these democracies. The researcher notes that the countries are highly consensus, i.e. their governments are characterised by: [A] multiparty system, the predominance of minority or surplus majority cabinets, a rough balance between the executive and legislature, a low level of disproportionality in electoral results, and strong corporatism. (Roberts 2006, p. 39)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The heritage of the Soviet Union specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Notably, the number of parties in these countries significantly exceeds the number of parties in established democracies. Again, there are two sides of this plurality. On the one hand, a lot of different groups can be represented in legislative bodies of the countries. This can be regarded as a positive sign of democracy as needs of larger numbers of people can be met. Therefore, it is possible to state that former Communist republics managed to evolve into democratic states (Rupnik 1999). However, the Communist heritage affected the development of democracies which differ from established democracies of Western Europe. The rule of a single party made people unprepared to the availability of a number of political forces. Thus, this kind of plurality is very negative in nature. The electoral systems of the countries in question are characterised by wasted votes. There are many parties and people often give their votes to countries which have no chances to enter the parliament. These wasted votes are often used by elite groups which obtain more seats in legislative bodies. Furthermore, the abundance of political parties is also associated with people’s unawareness of political agendas of this or that party. This unawareness makes people alienate from politics. It makes them less politically active. It is also necessary to point out that people are somewhat alienated as they still feel distrust towards their governments. Bideleux (2007) claims that the autocratic rule of the Communist Party in the USSR made people see the power as something alienated from people and real issues. People of Central and Eastern Europe did not rely on the support of the political forces and never participated in the political life of their countries as the Communist Party was a single ruling force which did not take into account people’s will and needs. After the dissolution of the USSR, the countries had a very difficult period when political forces were unable to take control over the country’s development. Non-state agents (criminals) had a significant influence which spread to almost all spheres of people’s life. All these factors contributed greatly to development of people’s distrust towards political forces in the country as people have been witnesses of these forces’ inability to cooperate and lead the country. Apart from peop le’s alienation, this kind of plurality is proved to be ineffective as political parties have too different agendas and can hardly cooperate with each other (Way Levitskiy 2007).Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The lack of cooperation and the abundance of political parties as well as people’s alienation can be explained. In the first place, the Soviet Union was a state ruled by a single Communist Party. It is quite natural that after the dissolution of the USSR the former Soviet republics were striving for plurality. The rule of a single force proved to be authoritarian and ineffective. Therefore, numerous political parties focusing on specific groups of people or particular issues have appeared in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Vejvoda Kaldor 2002). People of the countries in question tried to exploit patterns used in Western Europe, but they deemed a greater number of parties would positively affect the development of democracy in their countries. At this point, it is important to pay attention to political struggle in the countries. It is very suggestive. In the countries with consolidated authoritarian regimes (e.g. Belarus or Kazakhstan) there is almost no strong opposition. Interestingly, Levitsky and Way (2010, pp. 183-184) note that â€Å"authoritarian breakdown in Serbia (2000), Georgia (2003), and Ukraine (2004)† can be regarded as a sign of the rise of opposition and development of new â€Å"opposition tactics† and formation of movements which â€Å"toppled non-democratic governments (the so-called color [sic] revolutions)†. Admittedly, these colour revolutions did bring some changes, though they should be seen as a sign of unpreparedness of people of Central and Eastern Europe to exploit effective protest tactics which could have positive results. Clearly, political forces of the new states were unprepared to cooperate and even protest properly as the Soviet rule presupposed strict obedience rather than cooperation (Berg-Schlosser 2007). The years of the Soviet rule show that protests were always suppressed by the Party. People even failed to develop proper protest tactics as all attempts were always suppressed. Roberts (2006) also notes that people are now very hostile to Communist Party especially in the Balkans or in such countries as the Czech Republic or Poland. This contributes to the lack of cooperation among the parties as some political forces in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are still associated with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Roberts (2006) states that even effective policies are often ignored if they were initiated by parties associated with the Communist Party of the USSR. Besides, Roberts (2006, p. 51) stresses that â€Å"communism had eliminated almost all traces of civil and economic society, the source of the bargaining partners for corporatism†. This leads to the short-lived governments which are unable to follow a particular political trajectory. Another distinctive feature of democracies in Central and Eastern Europe is corruption. The corruption is a result of the unstable political situation in the countries. Clearly, corruption also contributes to the development of distrust to the political forces. Again, the corruption is not only a product of the difficult times of the 1990s, but it is a product of the Soviet system which was also rather corrupted (Levitsky Way 2010). There were some interest groups and certain political elite which made major (or rather all) decisions. Therefore, it is clear that countries of Central and Eastern Europe have developed quite specific democracies due to the Soviet heritage. There are lots of features which are common for the countries. However, there are also many differences. These differences are not based on cultural peculiarities only. Geopolitical factors significantly affected development of the countries of the region. Thus, some countries managed to develop more established democracies whereas some countries made almost no progress since the early 1990s. As far as the most democratic states are concerned, they were established in Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Cze ch Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary (Freedom House 2012). There are several reasons for these nations’ success. In the first place, these countries managed to break connections with Russia quite quickly. These countries managed to choose a particular West-oriented trajectory. It is necessary to note that the connections were not very close historically. Therefore, the countries had no difficulties with this process. The choice of these countries was appreciated by such established democracies as the USA, the UK, France, Germany, etc. These countries provided financial aid and other types of support to the new post-Soviet countries which had made the choice. The financial aid enabled countries to develop economically which, in its turn, led to political stability. Admittedly, not all post-Soviet countries enjoyed stability and economic growth. Such states as Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro were not that successful (Freedom House 2012). How ever, these countries failed to develop consolidated democracies due to ethnical strife. Military conflicts led to unstable political and economic situation in the region. Nonetheless, these countries managed to overcome the difficulties and political forces managed to start cooperating. Now these countries are developing quite rapidly. Though, there are various issues to address, it is possible to trace positive trends in the countries’ development. Besides, these countries also obtain support of Western democracies which leads to development of economic and political stability in the region. Hybrid regimes in Albania, Bosnia, Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova as well as semi-consolidated authoritarian regimes in Kosovo and Armenia developed due to a number of reasons (Freedom House 2012). For instance, Albania, Bosnia and Kosovo suffered from a number of ethnical conflicts. These conflicts led to the lack of stability which, in its turn, resulted in a slow development. As for Uk raine, Georgia and Moldova, these countries still have quite close connections with Russia, i.e. with the old Soviet model of centralized power where Russia still dictates certain requirements. Notably, Moldova and Georgia are more successful in their attempts to become free from the influence of the former central power. These countries are trying to change the trajectory of their development. These countries also obtain assistance from Western democracies. As for Ukraine, the country is still under a significant influence as Russia still interferes in the home and foreign policy of Ukraine. The country has not still chosen the trajectory and the elements of Western democratic models are intermingled with elements of Soviet-Russian authoritarian regime. Finally, consolidated authoritarian regimes developed in Belarus (as well as in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) due to the fact that these countries still have close connections with Russ ia and still exploit old Soviet models. In these countries a specific elite group is in power. For instance, Belarusian President Lukashenko has been in office since 1994. Lukashenko employs authoritarian ways to rule the country. The country is characterised by the absence of significant protest movements. There were several attempts to overthrow the existing regime, but all attempts failed. The centralization is especially vivid in this state. Notably, economic situation in the country is relatively stable. However, judicial power is a manifestation of the will of the groups in power (Roberts 2006). There are also lots of cases of violation of people’s civil rights. It is also important to note that there are no significant political changes in the state. All these historical facts and contemporary trends can help predict future trajectory change in the post-Soviet countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Clearly, consolidated democracies of the region will continue their c ooperation with Western states. Such countries as Poland can be regarded as a very good example of a country which is developing rapidly. Thus, judicial system of this country is considered to be the best in the world (Roberts 2006). Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary are characterised by a significant change. These countries show traits of democratisation in all spheres. People of these countries have already become politically active. They participate in elections and they take part in the process of decision making. What is more, people of these countries have trust in their government and other political forces. The people of these countries feel they do influence the development of their country (Berg-Schlosser 2007). Of course, this is one of the signs of the democratic state. Notably, development of democratic state will also lead to stability in the country. Furthermore, economic support of the Western countries will help the f ormer Soviet republics become in a row with established democracies of Western Europe. It is possible to state that the future trajectory of these countries is unlikely to change, which will positively affect the development of these countries. As for such countries as Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova and Georgia; the situation in these countries is not that stable and the trajectory of their development can change (Berg-Schlosser 2007). However, this change is also unlikely. These countries show quite definite Western orientation. They employ Western models of development. There are signs of democratisation in all spheres. Remarkably, the power has restored people’s trust which is very important. People start actively participating in the political life of the state. One of the possible hazards to the democratic development of the countries (especially Croatia and Serbia) is still ethnic strife. Economic crises can also cause a change of the trajectory. At that, assistance of Western democracies can prevent both economic constraints and change of trajectory. Even when an economic crisis breaks out in one of these countries, the countries will still remain focused on Western models of development which proved to be effective. Finally, the countries which can change trajectories are Belarus and Ukraine. As far as the former is concerned, there are signs of growing discontent with the present regime. The rising number of protests in the country can be regarded as a sign of an upcoming change. Though there is still lack of such democratic features as free media, people still get to know about the protest movements which can eventually lead to a change. At that, the protest movements are also West-oriented, i.e. protestors require democratic development of the country. Furthermore, tension between Belarus and Russia can also become an impetus to change the political trajectory. Finally, economic decline can lead to the grow th of people’s discontent, which, in its turn, will lead to changes. As far as Ukraine is concerned, the political situation in the country is quite unstable (Berg-Schlosser 2007). The power cannot gain people’s trust. Corruption is another hazard to the democratic development of the country. There is still no cooperation between political forces within the country. The major political forces of the country have quite opposite agendas and orientations. Thus, it is quite difficult to predict which force will gain more power. Upcoming elections can provide some insights into possible scenarios of the country’s development. However, existing trends show that the country is likely to choose the Western model of development and will continue democratic development. In conclusion, it is necessary to point out that the heritage of the Soviet Union is still manifested in the political systems of the post-Soviet countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Many countries of this region still exploit Soviet models of governance. Thus, the countries are highly centralised which is not only a result of quite small size of the states, but is also a product of extremely centralized power in the Soviet Union. Corruption which is a significant issue to be addressed in the region is also a product of the former Soviet rule. The abundance of political parties is another distinctive feature of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. At that, people and political forces of the countries are hostile to the Communist party and parties associated with it. This often negatively affects the process of decision making. The tension between parties within the countries leads to the lack of cooperation which, in its turn, prevents countries from proper democratic development. It is also important to note that the countries of the region in question have certain peculiarities. Thus, some countries are rapidly developing employing Western models. These countries obtain assistance from Western democracies. At the same time, they have almost no connections with Russia which still exploits authoritarian models. However, some countries are developing at a slower pace due to cultural peculiarities. Ethnical strife and economic constraints have prevented these countries from democratization. Finally, there is still the country (Belarus) which employs authoritarian models. However, irrespective of certain factors, it is possible to trace definite trends which show gradual democratisation of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe. More so, it is possible to trace the trajectory chosen by the countries. The vast majority of the countries have chosen democratization and Western models of development. These countries are highly unlikely to change the trajectory of their development. However, such countries as Belarus and Ukraine can change the trajectories. Though, it is also necessary to note that these countries are likely to continue democratization exploiting patterns of established democracies. Therefore, it is possible to state that Central and Eastern Europe can soon (within several decades) consist of democratic countries only. Admittedly, the Soviet rule had a great impact on each country and it still influences the development of these countries. Nonetheless, the countries start exploiting patterns used by established democracies of Western Europe. The former Soviet states of Central and Eastern Europe are gradually becoming well-established democratic countries, therefore, reshaping the geopolitical situation in Europe. Reference List Berg-Schlosser, D 2007, ‘The quality of post-communist democracy’, in S White, J Batt PG Lewis (ed.), Developments in Central and East European Politics, Duke University Press, Hampshire. Bideleux, R 2007, ‘Making democracy work’ in the Eastern half of Europe: explaining and conceptualizing divergent trajectories of post-communist democratization’, Perspe ctives on European Politics and Society 8.2, pp. 109-130. Freedom House 2003, Nations in Transit 2012, https://freedomhouse.org/report/nations-transit/nations-transit-2012. Levitsky, S Way, LA 2010, Competitive authoritarianism: hybrid regimes after the Cold War, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Roberts, A 2006, ‘What kind of democracy is emerging in Eastern Europe?’, Post-Soviet Affairs 22.1, pp. 37-64. Rupnik, J 1999, ‘The postcommunist divide’, Journal of Democracy 10.1, pp. 57-62. Vejvoda, I Kaldor, M 2002, Democratization in Central and Eastern Europe, Continuum International Publishing Group, London. Way, LA Levitsky, S 2007, ‘Linkage, leverage, and the post-Communist Divide’, East European Politics and Societies 21.1, pp. 48-66. This essay on The heritage of the Soviet Union was written and submitted by user Eva Ross to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Baking and Inch Cake Pans Essay Example

Baking and Inch Cake Pans Essay Example Baking and Inch Cake Pans Essay Baking and Inch Cake Pans Essay People like to try many new desserts everyday, which enables them to explore new tastes. Cakes are one of the most intriguing desserts in the world, because they come in various flavors and tastes. Many people do not know how to bake a cake from scratch this will take them through a step-by-step process on how to bake a bubble gum cake. Before I start the baking process I must first pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Next focus on the materials needed, and put those out first.Start by gathering the basics such as milk, eggs, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, shortening, vanilla, and a packet of gumballs. Then get the measuring utensils, measuring cup, mixing bowl, measuring spoons, and the baking pan. The size of the baking pan depends on the amount of cakes I want to make, two-88 inch cake pans or one-913 inch pan. The pans should be deep and round, so the cake can rise while baking. Now I start the process that will lead to baking our cake. Start by measuring the ingredients this way things will move along more quickly.Once I cake is baked both inside and out, remove it from the oven. Cool in pan for ten minutes and turn out onto a cake rack, or serve from the pan. The next step is optional, but I can put icing on the cake, or just leave it be. If I decide to ice I cake, the process to making white icing is very simple. act and precise, or the cake will not taste the same. I will need to measure out 2 ? cup white flour,1 ? cup sugar, 3 teasppons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ? cup shortening, ? cup milk, 1 ? teaspoons vanilla, and ? cup milk.Then I will need two eggs, and a packet of small size gum balls. I are now getting closer to the last step. Pour the mixture into the pan or pans. Then carefully move the mixture around in the pan to evenly cover the pan. Next get the gumballs and start dropping them one by one into the mixture. The gumballs should be approximately ? inch apart from one another. Make sure they are deep enough in the cake so they are baked into the cake and not smeared into one another. Finally,the bubble gum cake is very simple and very nice with wonderfull colour I desire.

Charlie Gordon

Charlie Gordon is the hero of a flower for Algernon. Charlie is a 33-year-old adult with mental retardation. Especially in a family who struggled to adapt to his illness and experienced a very difficult childhood, he wants to be very smart. Charlie has a good attitude towards changing his life and will make every effort to complete his clever job. Charlie underwent surgery to improve his intelligence. It was done only with the mouse, especially the mouse named Algernon. In the book by Daniel Keys' Flower for Algernon there is a chance to become a genius through surgery for the mentally disabled person Charlie Gordon. Charlie Gordon is the subject of the experiment to increase intelligence. The experiment was successful, Charlie Gordon became a genius. However, he has many emotional problems and understands how serious he is receiving. Finally, as he got dull again, could Charlie Gordon get a better surgery? It is not well understood. When Charlie was stupid, he was very happy. He thi nks he has friends, everyone likes him. But when he got better, he noticed his so-called friends were not his friends. He said: When I am late, I have a lot of friends, now I do not have anyone.Oh, I know a lot of people.It is a lot of people.This is my friend I do not mean anything to me, what it means (p.174) Charlie Gordon's brave Charlie Gordon is a hero, regardless of wisdom, for his bravery. Charlie's intelligence is slow, but his courage depends on what he intellects. I said that I was taken care of because I did not have anything, I am very strong and always fine, my rabbit's leg is next to me 11) Author Daniel Case, Charlie's obstacles are shown using misspelled words and highlights

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT - Essay Example This usually happens when the organization is not in a position to manage the human resources or due to the worse business condition or depression in the economy. The termination of the employees from the organization is an emotional event for all the employees who are thrown out of the organization and who are still working in the organization. This is a major problem faced by the people in the economy as due to the worse economic recession. Many reputed firms were forced to put their talent employees due to this reason. This made the employees to lose their trust on the organization and this lead to low productivity in the organization. This also led to the decrease in employee morale. The important measure that has to be taken for this is to make employees aware about the reason for what they are being moved out from the organization. The â€Å"guidelines will help companies handle layoffs in a way that affords dignity to those let go and reassures survivors that the downsizing decision wasnt made arbitrarily† (Robbins, 2009, para.2). This will help in creating a positive attitude among the employees towards the organization. This will create an optimistic approach among the employees and will increase the overall productivity if the employees. Special care has to be given on those employees who still have a fear in their mind that they might lose their job. This fear will decrease the productivity of the employees. It is the responsibility of the organization to remove the fear and make the employees to be productive at his best. Manager should often communicate with the employees regarding the work performance and necessary instructions have to be given for increasing their productivity. â€Å"Discussing and acknowledging the companys position is the first step to keeping people involved — and co mmitted to solving problems they understand† (Robbins, 2009, para.3). When the company realizes that the layoff is important then prior

Imperialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Imperialism - Essay Example Indeed, a critical analysis of available facts indicates that imperial expansion was initially motivated by economic considerations but soon assumed a political rationale. Imperialism was initiated by economic imperatives. By the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, a number of British and European companies had begun to expand abroad, chief amongst which was the East India Company (Penrose, 1975). These companies, all of whom represented the economic interest of the British and European elite and ruling classes, were eventually confronted by local and national resistance to their interests. In order to secure the interests of these companies and, in turn, that of the governing elite, Britain initiated the phenomenon of colonialism (Penrose, 1975). Through the economic, political and military domination of foreign territories, Britain position itself to secure and promote the interests of the companies in question. Just as imperialism was instigated by economic imperatives, expansion into Africa was motivated by the bid for economic growth and the accumulation of wealth.

Functionalist Views Essay Example for Free

Functionalist Views Essay Functionalism is a predominant perspective.The functionalists see education as a miniature society, where the individual develops a sense of commitment to the social group; it is a place to learn rules where the individual learns to conform to societies cultural norms and values. The functionalist perspectives of Emile Durkheim are, he believed that the major function of education was the transmission of societies norms and values. This would allow an advanced division of labour, which contributes to the economy. He believed in the process known as socialisation, where cultural norms condition an individual, allowing entry to modern society. The economy greatly relies on educational conditioning, and it is essential that educational achievement is well balanced in the meritoractic society, for role allocation to occur. The individual must be suitably-fitted for his or her post. From a functionalist perspective schools sieve individuals in accordance to their ability for example by tiered examinations. This process in which educational failure is seen positively, aids role allocation. Parsons backed Durkheim s theory. He believed that education fulfils the function of secondary socialisation, thus allowing role allocation to occur. He firmly believed that role allocation was necessary for the functioning of society and the economy. His perspectives encouraged meritocracy, where the individual is rewarded on the basis of merit or ability and not thier background. There are various conflict theories, which give different views regarding the role of education. For example the Marxist perspectives of education argue that the education system imposes values of a higher class origin. In addition, achievement is based merely on social background and therefore makes failure inevitable. They belive that the education system serves capitalism and say that functionalists only look at the positives of the education system. Bowles and Gintis believed that the hidden curriculum benefits only the employer in a capitalist society, whereas a functionalist perspective would argue that without socialisation in educa tion, the individual would not recognise the norms and values of modern society. They believed that there is a strong relationship between capitalism and the educational system. The correspondence theory of Bowles and Gintis illustrates school as entry into a world of exploitive work, where the individual learns to believe in meritocracy. In contrast to a functionalist perspective, Giroux believed that the educational system is a site of ideological struggle, where the enforcement of class differences by aiding the middle class and neglecting the working class from achieving are obvious. Marxists believed that functionalism was to blame for the failure of the educational system, and because individuals are made to conform, they mostly oppose values emposed by schools. The enforcement therefore encourages a counter school culture. A functionalist would argue that bad behaviour, is exactly why individuals need to reform to the cultural norms of a modern day society if they are to succeed at all. Marxist and Functionalist perspectives of the role of education in modern Britain are evidently very different. Functionalism seems to be the main consensus perspective. Analysis of Functionalist views conveys the positive contribution made by education to the social system. Whereas the Marxist theories argue that the education system imposes dominant values of the middle class and neglects the working class. Marxists perspectives also believe that a disproportional amount of lower class individuals will continue to higher education as a result of ideological factors such as class and race. Marxists believed that the myth of meritocracy made the individual feel responsible for his or her own failure in education as opposed to the functionalist factors such as role allocation and the hidden curriculum which are clearly to blame for the inevitable failure of the individual. A Marxists perspective is probably more relevant to my own experience. I have experienced pressure from peer groups from higher social backgrounds of my own, and feel that without dress sense and money we are all able to achieve to similar standards, despite allowances sometimes made for richer more fortunate individuals.

Struggles of African Americans in Langston Hughes’ Poems, Mother to Son

Struggles of African Americans in Langston Hughes’ Poems, Mother to Son and Lenox Avenue: Midnight The experiences, lessons, and conditions of one’s life provide a wellspring of inspiration for one’s creative expressions and ideas. Throughout life people encounter situations and circumstances that consequently help to mold them into individualized spirits. An individual’s personality is a reflection of his or her life. Langston Hughes, a world-renowned African American poet and self-professed defender of African American heritage, boldly defies the stereotypical and accepted form of poetry at his own discretion. Although Langston Hughes is a successful African American poet, he, like many other Harlemites, faces obstacles and opposition along his journey through life; however, Hughes embraces his hardships and infuses his life experiences into poetical works that his fellow African Americans can relate to on some level. In both his poems â€Å"Mother to Son† and â€Å"Lenox Avenue: Midnight† Hughes reveals the constant struggle of a ty pical African American living during the 1920’s. In â€Å"Mother to Son† Hughes expresses the desperation of a mother who is anxious for her son to succeed. In the poem the mother hopes to offer her son encouraging words and impart to him the wisdom and knowledge she gains through persevering. While in the latter poem, â€Å"Lenox Avenue: Midnight,† Hughes reveals the cultural aspects of a city during the Harlem Renaissance and conveys the emotions of a quintessential African American Harlemite based on his own his experiences as an African American poet living in Harlem, NY. Hughes exposes in both poems the true nature, as he perceives it, of life as an African American in 1920’s white America. ... ...g hidden within the words of his poem. Works Cited Harper, Donna. Thomson Gale. 12, March 2003. Hughes, Langston. â€Å"The Harlem Renaissance.† Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd Compact ed. New York: Longman, 2003. 767-769. Hughes, Langston. â€Å"Lenox Avenue: Midnight.† Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd Compact ed. New York: Longman 2003. 760. Hughes, Langston. â€Å"Mother to Son.† Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd Compact ed. New York: Longman 2003. 759. Pinckney, Darryl. â€Å"Black Identity in Langston Hughes.† Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, And Drama. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 3rd Compact ed. New York: Longman 2003. 772-773.

Fashion during the Elizabethan Era

Keeping Up With the Fashion Field â€Å"Clothing and fashion during the Elizabethan Era was complex, complicated, and too dramatic† (Bloom). The Elizabethan Era, was a time period from 1558-1603 when Queen Elizabeth I reigned, and was a period when people expressed who they were through creativity and originality (Black and Garland 16). Some may say that the Era was important, as it was the Golden Age in English history. Fashion during the Elizabethan Era was very extravagant and â€Å"over the top†. Fashion and style were competitive, varied by gender, and also depended on one's social class.Keep up† is a phrase to describe the attitudes toward fashion during the Elizabethan Era. There was always pressure to be up to date. People's attempts to stay in fashion cost them a lot of money (Lace). Land owners felt obligated to entertain the rulers such as the king and queen when they traveled, so they would arrange big parties, and they and their families wore the most expensive clothes. Even the royal court wanted to show off and out-dress everyone. When the royal court traveled, they often made the nobles go broke trying to keep up with their standard of display (Lace).All types of people from land owners to the royal court felt the pressure to keep up. Fashion and style were different for men and women who were not rich. It varied by gender. Women and men both had fashion rules to follow. Men had to wear cheap materials which included sheepskin and wool (Elizabethan Era). They had to wear dull colors such as brown, dull blue and beige. Men wore low, flat hats. They also wore cheap breeches made out of rough materials. Women wore material from sheepskin and wool like men. They also had to wear dull colors. Women wore aprons and bodices. The bodice fronts were often laced up.They did not wear Jewelry or any other accessory. Men and women of working class both had restrictions on clothes, however, the clothes varied by gender. No matter how rich a man or woman was, no one could wear what they pleased. Clothing during the Elizabethan Era was controlled by sumptuous laws. These laws were put in place to keep the class structure strict (Renaissance Clothing for Kids). Clothes defined who a person was and what class they belonged to. Upper classes wore bright colors. Their clothes were made from expensive materials such as velvet, satin, silk, taffeta and lace.They also wore costly Jewelry such as pearls. The upper class women would wear clothes that included several different layers of material, while others women wore thin materials. Typical people such as the working class wore simple clothes as described above. During the Elizabethan Era clothing was associated with rank. There were a variety of colors and choices one could pick from if they were in a high class or had a high rank (Sixteenth- Century Clothing). No one could wear whatever they chose because people's clothing was controlled by laws.In conclusion, the Elizabet han Era as a time period when Queen Elizabeth I reigned, between 1558 and 1603. During the Era, many fields such as poetry and literature grew and flourished. An area that flowered included style and fashion. Some may say that the era was a time when people had the opportunity to express themselves. Others feel that fashion and style during this time was restricted. In today's world, fashion is not as restricted as it was during the Elizabethan Era and both men and women are free to wear whatever they want. Works Cited Black, Anderson J. , and Mange, Garland.

Celebrity Endorsement in India Essay

In India, celebrities are idolized as Gods and marketers have been trying their best to tap on this emotional connect of the people with the celebrities. Today, most of the popular brands are being endorsed by a famous personality either from entertainment industry or sports arena. Strategic brand positioning and effective communication are the keys to success in today’s market where many brands compete in the same category for the market share. Companies are employing their maximum might to promote their brands and occupy a long lasting image in the minds of the consumers. In India, television is the most popular and effective means of the mass communication. There are over three million television commercials being aired every year. However, 80 percent of them are forgotten by the people in a day or two. So, it is imperative for the marketers to ensure that their ad campaign stands out amongst the crowd (Suhalka, n.d.). Since advertising is a highly critical tool for luring customers to make purchases, Indian firms are investing millions of rupees on celebrity advertising (Khatri, 2006). Celebrity endorsements are also an easy option for Indian marketers because of the disparities of the Indian consumer base in terms of religion, ethinicity, value system and most importantly economic variations. Therefore, advertisers in India emphasis a lot on brand recall and customer persuasion for differentiating their ad campaigns from those of the counterparts. It is here that celebrity endorsement provides a tremendous boost (Surana, 2008). For instance, one of the strongest celebrity endorser is cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who is a youth icon and endorses many successful brands like, Pepsi, Boost, Aviva Life Insurance, TVS, Britannia Biscuits, Visa, Airtel etc. Like, Shahrukh Khan, Amitabh Bac hchan, Kareena Kapoor also have many brands in their kitties. Indians love their celebrities and blindly follow their suit. This has proved to be a boon for the marketers and celebrity endorsement is just getting better by the day. It has now become an indispensible part of the marketing communication strategy. It is a win ?win situation for both the celebrities and the brands. However, the consumers are ones who are least benefitted as they end up paying more for the products and services. References: †¢ Khatri, P., 2006. Celebrity Endorsement: A Strategic Promotion Perspective. Indian Media Studies Journal, 1(1).Pp. 25-37 †¢ Suhalka,G.n.d. Celebrity Endorsers and Endorsements in India- The Rise and the Impact [pdf] Available at: http://www.ndtvmi.com/b4/dopesheets/garima.pdf [Accessed 18 February 2012] †¢ Surana,R., 2008. The Effectiveness of Celebrity Endorsement in India [pdf] Available at: http://edissertations.nottingham.ac.uk/2069/1/08MAlixrs13.pdf [Accessed 18 February 2012] Commentary | Theses | Dissertations | Journals & Articles | Proposals & Synopsis | Essays | Promotional Writing | Press Release Copyright  © 2005 – 2012 Project Guru India. All rights reserved. www.ProjectGuru.in

Free Essays on Democracy For Education

In order to create our own â€Å"dream school†, not only do we need to find out what kind of curriculum to organize, and how we should put it into action, but we must also need to situate what kind of setting the education should take place in. It is essential for any type of school to be comforting and welcoming to a diversity of students in the community. The hallways will be decorated with various signs of the programs of the school and work done by the students themselves. There will be adult supervision among the halls to keep order and maintain a safe environment. The classroom, however, is where the education is specifically taken place in. This is why the classroom arrangement is very crucial for having a comfortable and successful learning atmosphere. The classrooms are required to be adorned with many colorful themes on the walls, such as calendars, seasonal decorations, maps, borders and other bright colorful decorations that will be welcoming for the students. This will bring life to the room and stimulate the minds of the students. Bare walls and a dreary classroom are not motivating for the students. The desks arrangements are critical in the students’ thinking process. Teachers will be required to arrange the desks in different ways such as in groups or in a U shape. This will cause interaction among the classmates, which will help them learn more from each other. They will be able to here other ideas of their classmates and enhance their critical thinking ability. Also, by working with each other and receiving other ideas, their problem solving skill will develop further with the help of each other. Teachers will be allowed to bring the students outdoors for certain lessons. If the students are struggling with a particular lesson, then a change of atmosphere can encourage the students to think more critically.... Free Essays on Democracy For Education Free Essays on Democracy For Education In order to create our own â€Å"dream school†, not only do we need to find out what kind of curriculum to organize, and how we should put it into action, but we must also need to situate what kind of setting the education should take place in. It is essential for any type of school to be comforting and welcoming to a diversity of students in the community. The hallways will be decorated with various signs of the programs of the school and work done by the students themselves. There will be adult supervision among the halls to keep order and maintain a safe environment. The classroom, however, is where the education is specifically taken place in. This is why the classroom arrangement is very crucial for having a comfortable and successful learning atmosphere. The classrooms are required to be adorned with many colorful themes on the walls, such as calendars, seasonal decorations, maps, borders and other bright colorful decorations that will be welcoming for the students. This will bring life to the room and stimulate the minds of the students. Bare walls and a dreary classroom are not motivating for the students. The desks arrangements are critical in the students’ thinking process. Teachers will be required to arrange the desks in different ways such as in groups or in a U shape. This will cause interaction among the classmates, which will help them learn more from each other. They will be able to here other ideas of their classmates and enhance their critical thinking ability. Also, by working with each other and receiving other ideas, their problem solving skill will develop further with the help of each other. Teachers will be allowed to bring the students outdoors for certain lessons. If the students are struggling with a particular lesson, then a change of atmosphere can encourage the students to think more critically....

Chronic deseases of Aborigens of Australia Essay

Chronic deseases of Aborigens of Australia - Essay Example The table below shows disparities between the two populations: The implication of these disparities is that the population has a significant shortage of healthcare services. As such, the Aboriginal society has a number of serious health problems such as obesity, substance abuse, renal diseases, high infant mortality, pulmonary diseases and cardiovascular conditions. In spite of the developments in mainstream Australia, the Aboriginal people are still strongly bound to their traditional societal structures. Their society still holds strong family values and highly values family bonds and ties. The Aborigines still hold strong beliefs in their traditions and spiritual life. As such, the provision of healthcare to such a group should take into consideration various factors including their economically disadvantaged position in society and their strong cultural background (Margereson, 2009). This paper critically evaluates the health condition of Peggy Moloney-an elderly Aboriginal lady from New South Wales aged 62. Though primarily admitted for peritonitis, the evaluation will take a critical review of her medical history and experience as well as these elements to her current health, which plagued by multiple conditions. Therefore, cultural, economic, social, psychological and biological elements will be factored in during the evaluation. The mind map on Peggy’s condition starts by reviewing her medical status in relation to her biological and physiological conditions. The major elements of consideration include her medical history and general status of biological/physiological health. Mrs. Peggy’s medical history shows that she developed renal failure seven years ago after a bout of nephritis. This occurred after a treatment of streptococcus infection on her left leg. After an antibiotic treatment, the legs infection was treated, but her nephritis persisted, and finally caused the damage of both kidneys. Her history presents the following condition s 1) Renal failure (2); peritoneal dialysis (3); diabetes mellitus (4); peripheral neuropathy on both feet (5); intermittent claudication; and a cataract on the left eye. Currently, she presents the following symptoms: fever, a general unwell feeling, clouding of central vision, loss of peripheral vision, shortness of breath, swollen lower legs and ankles as well as cellulitis around her catheter insertion site. In Mrs. Moloney’s case the most probable risk to her immediate admission condition-peritonitis-is peritoneal dialysis. This can be inferred from the occurrence of cellulitis on the area around her catheter (Treves, 2008). However, considering her multiple conditions, old age can be cited as a possible biological contributing factor. Notably, old age is characterized by a general decrease in immunity, muscle mass and strength. The decline in immunity on skin cells in the affected area may be a contributing factor to the infection cited on the dialysis catheter point (L ye, MacLennan & Hall 1993). However, primarily the infection may be a result of handling dialysis insertions. The decline in immunity as a result of aging was shown by the multiple conditions that included nephritis and a streptococcal infection on her leg. The persistence of nephritis coupled with weak immune finally led to renal failure, which could have been a result of general decline in

Alcoholism is a Disease Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Alcoholism is a Disease - Research Proposal Example This paper will attempt to provide a comprehensive alternative account of the hesitance of the alcoholism therapeutic circles to abandon the disease framework through applying Kuhn’s (1996) approach of scientific development in an historical investigation of the disease framework. To substantiate this standpoint, evidence of the surfacing of the disease framework as a model, assumptions about the causes of alcoholism, the elaborate definition of alcoholism by Jellinek in his book entitled ‘The Disease Concept of Alcoholism, and lastly the surfacing of inconsistency followed by difficulty in the alcoholism study and treatment community are included. The disease framework of alcoholism can be traced back more than two centuries ago, and is regarded by many to be the prevailing framework governing scientific investigation and therapeutic models for the greater part of the 20th century. Nevertheless, in the sixties, the disease framework came under assault because of the surfacing of inconsistent scientific and therapeutic findings. Aside from the United States, the disease framework is regarded by countless to have been questioned, and has traditionally been left out in support of alternative frameworks, such as social-learning assumption. However, in the United States, the disease framework and its main treatment objective of self-discipline persist to tremendously prevail over the treatment of alcoholism. Between other accounts, the financial and political interests of the treatment of alcoholism society in the U.S. have been presented to elaborate the reason why U.S. persists to be left out by other nations in moving further t he disease framework. Nevertheless, an alternative justification for the unwillingness of the alcoholism treatment society to give up the disease framework is exposed by applying Kuhn’s approach of scientific development in an historical investigation of the