Morrisons Swot free essay sample

Richard Hammond, use of familiar face to advertise the company in a celebrity obsessive society. †¢Emphasis on procuring and distribution of quality British product at competitive price compared to competitors †¢Acquisition of new stores and expansion of the company, steady rise in company profits in recent years Weakness: †¢Company focus mostly on food products while the market share for daily goods, accessories and pharmaceutical are being over taken by competitors . i. e. Tesco, Asda †¢The economic crisis- means possible customers cannot afford to spend their income quickly and will prefer for a better value before making sale †¢The company as many other major supermarkets are essentially working in a negative working capital meaning its always in debt †¢Company lagging behind in implementing its digital services to its customers compared to the major competitors such as Tesco who’ve had their online service operation for several years now †¢Globalization means cheaper and equally quality product can and are being sold by the stores competitors at competitive price Opportunity: †¢Branching out into other business ventures like pharmaceuticals, opticians, electronics, entertainment goods, clothes and many more †¢Focusing more on customer satisfaction and ease of convenience in order to portray the company in a positive manner †¢Special deals and offers on common consumer goods as in food stuff hygiene, during such economic instability to present solidarity and understanding towards the customers Threats: Adverse weather conditions such as snow storms and heavy rain, etc over major sales season may result in poor profit margins †¢ Due to external geo-political pressure i. We will write a custom essay sample on Morrisons Swot or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page e. new rules and regulations brought in by the E. U may result in heavy loss of possible income †¢Recent economic crisis means the loss of hundreds of thousands of job and business loss, directly affecting the spending power of would be customers who may look for cheaper alternatives to a supermarket †¢Competitors from major European supermarket Losing valuable suppliers and fianancial aid from banks due to the economic crisis

A History of Telephone Companies essays

A History of Telephone Companies essays On July 9, 1877, a functional telephone was produced and the Bell Telephone Company became a reality. One year later, Western Union Telegraph Company entered the communications business. Bell then filed a lawsuit for patent infringement against Western Union and won the case in 1879. When the Bell patent expired in 1893 and 1894, there was a formation of more than 6,000 independent telephone companies. In 1900, American Telephone and Telegraph (AT By 1967, there were exactly 200 million telephones in operation around the world, half of which were in the United States alone. With the Carterfone (caused by the desire of Carter Electronics of Dallas to interconnect private mobile radio systems with the nationwide exchange and message toll telephone network) decision in 1968, the FCC finally permitted non-Bell equipment to be attached to the telephone network. This marked the beginning of the end of telephone networks and services provided by a single dominant supplier. Other companies besides AT ...

Human Service Integration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Service Integration - Essay Example To understand the actual sense of Service Integration, it is very important that a body of knowledge is developed on how delivering human services, informed by inter-organizational collaboration, impacts the lives of human service recipients. However, Longoria (2003) highlighted that inter-organizational collaboration has come into view as a statement of direction for social welfare policy and professional practice. Longoria in his studies has suggested that symbolism is often integral to social welfare policy development and central to an institutional theoretical framework of inter-organizational relations. Even though the nature of service integration is well established in speculation, making it an operational reality has remained elusive over the last few years, but not for lack of effort or creativity some agencies have made phenomenal progress toward service integration, despite complex and ever-changing political, economic, demographic, and technological conditions. As we know that, Morrison (1996) argued that "partnerships with families cannot be considered separately from partnership practice between and within agencies deficits in collaboration undermine the experience of partnership for families" (p.135). Research on the human service proposes that the notion and outcomes of inter-organizational collaboration are not understood in a better manner. One-stop shops have emerged, joint planning has been initiated, colocation of two or more service agency's staff has been implemented, standard initial screening tools and eligibility processes have been established, and the merging of data systems is ongoing in many jurisdictions. While there have been successful pilot programs over the years, there have been few broadly implemented system changes that have brought service integration pilot programs "to scale." In light of a blurred understanding of collaboration, this research recommends the perception has commanding symbolic qualities, which affects its continued use. Gottshall, (2002) saw traditionally associate "leadership" with the work of the chief executive, the missing component in successfully integrating services is leadership work performed throughout the organization (p.6). An organization with sufficient leadership capacity to integrate services is made up of employees who all perform components of leadership work, management work, task/technical work, and team skills. Policy makers, administrators, and the common citizens are energetically endorsing collaboration between human service organizations in the United States (Atkinson, 1999). Nevertheless, the concept and outcomes of collaboration are not well understood (Reitman, 2005). The encouragement of collaboration may have roots in its worth as a sign of sagacity, efficiency, authenticity, and social responsibility (Morrison, 1996). In light of an array of rising accountability potentials which link funding streams to an organization's attainment of explicit performance standards, an unconditional and overzealous embrace of inter-organizational collaboration may result in a marked reduction in the already limited resources for human service stakeholders and

Research a hospitality facility development or refurbishment of your Paper

A hospitality facility development or refurbishment of your choice - Research Paper Example The banner â€Å"The Character of London† was successfully upheld through the hotel’s various refurbishment efforts to exude the luxury for the 21st Century. Hotel Savoy’s legacy of being the first luxury hotel in London was preserved with the renovations and series of changes they made to make the establishment more pleasing to the customer’s taste and according to environmental trends. Hotel Savoy History It all started with a piece of land given by King Henry II to Count Peter II of Savoy. There, Peter II built the Savoy Palace. The structure underwent several destructions especially that it was built at the time when Britain was at serious political strife. After few centennials, a theater in the same place was built by Richard D'Oyly. D'Oyly, a constant traveler, was inspired with the hotel he had seen in the United States, and this inspired him to transform the theater into London's first luxury hotel, the Hotel Savoy (Peck, 2010). Ever since Hotel S avoy became more than just the owner’s concept, it has been enjoying a celebrity-like status, just like their guests. Being the first hotel in London to offer electricity services and lift (then called as ‘ascending rooms’), the success became sensational that the most famous people in various fields never fail to drop in Hotel Savoy whenever they visit London. Notable figures who became frequent visitors of Hotel Savoy include Katherine Hepburn, Oscar Wilde, Coco Chanel, Bob Dylan, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, The Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor, and many more (Savoy, n.d.). A-list customers such as the above mentioned made the hotel legendary. Through the fast-paced changes, a good thing about the hotel’s management system is that it prioritizes customer satisfaction. In doing this, hotel staff and hoteliers were trained extensively to meet the discriminating customers. From bartenders to administrative staff, competence can be observed. Last 2007, the hotel was closed temporarily for an extensive overhaul and was reopened last year, complete with new features and more luxurious services (Anon., 2010). The Hotel’s Refurbishment After more than a centennial of luxury hotel service, Savoy’s owners decided to close it temporarily for refurbishment to take the hotel to a new level of elegance. In a report by Stinson (2007), owners of the hotel revealed that they plan to auction few of the items owned by the hotel such as the grand piano which Frank Sinatra once played when he was invited by the hotel some years ago, and the tiles of the ballroom which Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe and Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II danced on when they visited the place. The starting prices of auctioned items began with more than 200 pounds to as high as 1000 pounds or more. However, hoteliers assured that the hotel’s trademarks such as the figure of Kaspar the Cat and everything found in the American bar will not be sold to preserve the antique feel of the establishment (Stinson, 2007). Customers who are frequent in the hotel are not quite sure about the changes the management had decided because there might be a lot missing in the hotel and they might lose nostalgia of their previous visits; however, the hotel heads were assuring the customers that Savoy will still be recognizable. The Edwardian features and Art Deco style of the hotel would be maintained and developed. Financial analysts did not believe that the hotel’s timing in refurbishing the property is good, considering

Edward Joseph Snowden and the National Security Agency (NSA) Assignment

Edward Joseph Snowden and the National Security Agency (NSA) - Assignment Example The amount of disclosure availed by Snowden has been termed as immeasurable. And has been in terms of files and email accounts of many key individuals. Moreover, the areas covered the range from uninformed surveillance, security details, and what the NSA terms as very sensitive for the operation of the security affairs of the state. Snowden’s actions instigated debates over government’s secrecy, the extent the government can go when it comes to surveillance and the rights of the public to the privacy of information (ONeill, 2013). It was clear that the government was snooping on civilians and would tap servers of major Internet companies for emails and documents without the public’s consent (Dickson, 2013). This would leave the public perplexed especially this being a government it had trusted for long and was aware of the laws and what the constitution deems as unalienable with the people, that is their right to privacy. The matter had some moral implications in general. Edward Snowden revealed a dozen of things that the government was doing behind our back. Taking our information without our involvement and in a secret way was a violation of rights considered inseparable from the people and deemed as so by the constitution (ONeill, 2013). The data collection is unconstitutional and happens to be an infringement of the right to privacy (Cohn, 2014). Every democratic society considers privacy as a human right that is fundamental to the liberty of the people. The government has no right to commit arbitrary interference with privacy, as that would constitute a constitutional attack. It insults people dignity and autonomy. The government has termed such encroachment on privacy as modest yet it felt the need to perform it undercover, an element that suggests that there could be more to hide (Dickson, 2013). Snooping calls with no intention to listen to the conversations would be

Indian Hegemony in South Asia

Indian Hegemony in South Asia India has been given a tag as the Regional Hegemon of South Asia. If not formally,then atleast the intentions are tagged as possessing hegemonic tendencies. This paper looks at the concept of Hegemony, Regional, the various reasons responsible for such a view and the various outlooks. I also throw light on the foreign policy of India to stress on the non-hegemonic tendencies of India. India believes in peaceful coexistence. The most important aspect which I wish to bring out is the change in the international scenario that makes Indias hegemonic status tough to survive. SOUTH ASIA A general outlook and evolution South Asia is the southern region of the Asian continent. South Asia typically consists of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Some definitions may also include Afghanistan, Burma, Tibet, and the British Indian Ocean Territories. Iran is also included in the UN subregion of Southern Asia,  [i]  although many sources consider Iran as being part of West Asia. South Asia is home to well over one fifth of the worlds population, making it both the most populous and most densely populated geographical region in the world. The region has often seen conflicts and political instability, including wars between the regions two nuclear-armed states, Pakistan and India. While the South Asia had never been a coherent geopolitical region, it has a distinct geographical identity. The boundaries of South Asia vary based on how  [ii]  South Asia is defined. South Asias north, east, and west boundaries vary based on definitions used. South Asias southern bord er is the Indian Ocean. The UN subregion of Southern Asias northern boundary would be the Himalayas, its western boundary would be made up of the Iraq-Iran border, Turkey-Iran border, Armenia-Iran border, and the Azerbaijan-Iran border. Its eastern boundary would be the India-Burma border and the Bangladesh-Burma border. Most of this region is a subcontinent resting on the Indian Plate (the northerly portion of the Indo-Australian Plate) separated from the rest of Eurasia. It was once a small continent before colliding with the Eurasian Plate about 50-55 million years ago and giving birth to the Himalayan range and the Tibetan plateau. It is the peninsular region south of the Himalayas and Kuen Lun mountain ranges and east of the Indus River and the Iranian Plateau, extending southward into the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Sea (to the southwest) and the Bay of Bengal (to the southeast).The region is home to an astounding variety of geographical features, such as glaciers, rainforests, valleys, deserts, and grasslands that are typical of much larger continents. It is surrounded by three water bodies the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Almost all South Asian countries were under direct or indirect European Colonial subjugation at some point. Much of modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar were gradually occupied by Great Britain starting from 1757, reaching their zenith in 1857 and ruling till 1947. Nepal and Bhutan were to some extent protectorates of Great Britain until after World War II. In the millennia long history of South Asia, this European occupation period is rather short, but its proximity to the present and its lasting impact on the region makes it prominent. The network of means of transportation and communication as well as banking and training of requisite workforce, and also the existing rail, post, telegraph, and education facilities have evolved out of the base established in the colonial era, often called the British Raj. As an aftermath of World War II, most of the region gained independence from Europe by the late 1940s.Tibet at times has governed itself as an independent state and at other times has had various levels of association with China. It came under Chinese control in the 18th century, in spite of British efforts to seize possession of this Chinese protectorate at the beginning of the 20th century. Since 1947, most South Asian countries have achieved tremendous progress in all spheres. Most notable achievements are in the fields of education; industry; health care; information technology and services based on its applications; research in the fields of cutting edge sciences and technologies; defence related self-relianc e projects; international/global trade and business enterprises and outsourcing of human resources. Areas of difficulty remain, however, including religious extremism, high levels of corruption, disagreements on political boundaries, and inequitable distribution of wealth. However,a combined effort by the nations has helped the nations in overcoming the various obstacles and settling the disputes peacefully. India has played a major role in the development of South Asia as a region of resources,technology and even as a power to some extent. However,at several occasions the actions of our nation have been seen as steps taken towards the goal of becoming the Regional Hegemon. HEGEMONY Hegemony is a term defined as the leadership(formal) especially of a state within a group of states. This is how any standard dictionary would define hegemony  [iii]  . In Hegemony and Socialist Strategy, political theorists Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe define hegemony as a type or form of political relation in which a given collectivity performs some kind of social task which is not natural to them  [iv]  .However, the term hegemon is generally used in a negative sense to signify dominance, coercion or influence in the vaious fields. India has often been accused of possessing hegemonic tendencies in its foreign affairs and policies by various writers and nations altogether. A countrys foreign policy, in general, aims to achieve three basic objectives-securities, stability, and status (George Liska ). George Modelski in his book A theory of Foreign Policy defined foreign policy as the system of activities evolved by communities for changing the behaviour of other states and adjusting their own activities to the international environment  [v]  . In this sense any country big or small, which endevours to further its policies to achieve its desired world order is hegemonistic. The word hegemony is pejoratively used when the great powers practice policies in seeking predominance over others. Literally hegemon means a leader who seeks predominance over others. This requires the existence of some subordinate states too, whose politics and policies hegemon would try to influence. In the Ancient World, Sparta was the hegemon (leader) city-state of the Peloponnesian League, in the 6th century BC, and King Philip II of Macedon was the hegemon of the League of Corinth, in 337 BC, (a kingship he willed to his son, Alexander the Great); in Eastern Asia, it occurred in China, during the Spring and Autumn Period ( 770-480 BC), when the weakened rule of the Zhou Dynasty lead to the relative autonomy of the Five Hegemons who were appointed, by feudal lord conferences, and were nominally obliged to uphold the Zhou dynastic imperium over the subordinate states. In late sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century-Japan, hegemon applies to its Three Unifiers   Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu   who exercised hegemony over most of the country. In the modern world hegemony has contours in imperialism. Imperialistic powers all over their empire had hegemony. After Second World War the beginning of cold war led to a grouping up of countries in t wo major camps. The groups had strong NATO countries as well as weak countries like Pakistan. Weak countries, which entered into such alliances to secure themselves from the hegemony of other countries, were subjected to veiled hegemony, and military bases of the stronger countries were often accommodated there. This has been an accusation for India too for several years. India has been accused of being influential in policies of different nations by making them dependent on it in terms of economy, military strength, resources and even in the political aspect. REGION AND REGIONAL What precisely is meant by the region which is specified in the term Regional Hegemony. We talk of South Asia as a region. Amitava Acharya in his Regional Worlds in a Post-hegemonic Era says Regional world subsumes regional order and regional institutions, as well as economic regionalization. Regional Worlds are not just material constructs.  [vi]  They offer sites for ideational and normative contestations, resistance and compromises, involving both states and civil societies which transcend regional boundaries and overlap into other regional and global spaces. Regional worlds are not autonomous entities, nor purely subsets of global dynamics. They create, absorb and repatriate ideational and material forces that make world politics and order. This definition brings out the important aspect of the term regional which are economic, ideational and so on. It is true that regional worlds are not autonomous entities since nations within a region are not only dependent on each other b ut are also affected by as small factors as the water problem which a any day take a bigger form. The policies of one nation affect the other in some way. Winston Churchill and Walter Lippmann were of the view that world order could best be attained by regional spheres of influence. Robert W.Cox in his Gramsci,Hegemony and International Relations: An essay in method, talks of the different phases in the world hegemony where he mentions the period of U.S hegemony from 1945-1965 and then mentions the phase which starts from 1965 which was characterized by the fall of the U.S hegemony with the rise of the third world and the fragmentation of the world economy  [vii]  . Amitava Acharya puts up a question asking whether the end of US hegemony might open the door to the rise of regional hegemonies such as East Asia under Chinese, South Asia under Indian, the Caucasus and Baltics under Russian, and southern Africa under South African, west Africa under Nigerian and south America under Brazilian, dominance. Would the end of American hegemony be replaced by such distinct or over-lapping regional hegemonies? Such questions have often come up and have forced the nations to think of any single nation progressing at a higher speed as a potential hegemon. In his Tragedy of Great Power Politics, John Mearshimer argues that great powers, including rising or aspiring great powers seek to achieve regional hegemony, a goal more necessary and attainable than global hegemony  [viii]  . It is true that in todays bigger than before world, global hegemony is a distant goal though some still vouch for the U.S hegemony. The point of concern comes to the fear of regio nal hegemons due to Hegemony often being understood as a first step towards imperialism. Regional imperialism of a kind in limited sense can not be avoided. If a country is bigger or stronger its foreign policy stakes would be higher and its objectives are to be set accordingly which may or may not be compatible with the interests of other regional states. South Asia as such did not have any real issues, however a psychological scare of big brother often posited smaller states in this region in defensive posture more as an over reaction. India is one such example of a state caught in a dilemna. INDIAS FOREIGN POLICY- non hegemonic When India got liberation from the imperialistic rule of British Empire in 1947, it was to adopt a policy, which should fulfill its aspirations of a changed world order and thereby confer a status, provide the country an economic stability and security to its borders. The ideological cover of non-alignment and panch sheel was best suited for this. One of the basic tenets of Panch sheel is peaceful co-existence, which implies non-interference in the internal matters of neighbors. In an effort to achieve its objective of word order where new nation states could progress together was to be the objective of Indias Foreign policy. Thus the hegemony over the neighboring states or in South Asia couldnot have been a part of Indias Foreign Policy. On the contrary it was against the policy of peaceful co-existence and Panch sheel. Indias efforts to allay the fears of its neighbors was one of the highlights in all these fora, be it NAM conferences or other international symposiums. Indias forei gn policy of non-alignment and its assumed role of third world leader however is one of its strength. But in a natural corollary to this surrounding countries felt weak and insecure due to natural fear lest India start acting as big brother in the region. Though Indias foreign policy of non alignment was more aimed at providing a new world order where the new states could survive without participating in the cold war between the super powers of post world war era, a big brother scare among the smaller countries is logical and could not have been avoided. There are various reasons that have led to these fears. WHY THE TAG? Countries that surround India, such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bagladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Burma are nowhere at par with India, be it in their size, population, economic development or skilled human resources. The natural resources available in theses countries also do not make these countries competitive. India dominates the whole area geographically. She is the only country that shares a large coast line with all the other six states while none of them have common borders with each other. China after the occupation on Tibet in 1950,reached the borders of the Asian subcontinent but faces problems of accessibility due to the difficulties of the northern terrain. K.M.Pannikar said Geography constitutes the permanent basis of every nations history. It is true since it is because of the rich geographical features that India possesses, landlocked nations like Nepal and Bhutan can hardly survive economically without Indias cooperation. Pakistan and Bangladesh too are dependent on India for water supply. Giantism as called by John.P.Lewis has its far reaching regional ramifications. The enmity with Pakistan continues since the partition days and is yet much behind India in all aspects other than nuclear status and that too is unclear. Three wars with Pakistan have almost established military supremacy of India in South Asia. In 1971 war India could successfully achieve its objective of dismembering Pakistan from various issues in spite of opposition of United States of America. Inspite of the various attempts of friendsihp including the recent cultural cross border efforts through Aman Ki Asha, Indo-Pak meetings always end up as what Nawaz Sharif had once described as zero meeting. Pakistan still doesnot grant India the status of MFN (most favoured nation) though SAFTA has been in force for some time now. Although Indias self-perception might be that it has acted with considerable restraint in prior crises with Pakistan, for example, in the 2002 standoff after the attacks on the Indian parliament, in the 1999 Kargil crisis and even in the1971 war, from the Pakis tani perspective the trauma of disintegration suffered in 1971-when India significantly assisted in the creation of Bangladesh-overshadows all Indian actions. China, though not a part of South Asia plays an important ole in the affairs of the region. China remains what Andrew Hurrell calls the best example of pragmatic accommodation  [ix]  and inspite of being a true friend and permanent member in the United Nations Security Council has often participated in discouraging Indias development in military, or as the permanent member of the United Nations Security Council or in the India-Pak wars or even the increasing friendly ties of India and U.S. India is a growing power and is a major market for Chinese goods as well as a major service provider at the global level. Hence, China has often displayed its displeasure at Indias hegemonic tendencies. Nepal is more or less dependent on India for its economic development. Nepals overtures with China in order to have an independence from the shadow of India could be an example of this over defensive posturing. India and Nepal have had a friend ship treaty since the days of King Tribhuvan. The treaty facilitated both countries to have trade across their borders without much of custom formalities. Nepals economic dependence on Indias economy and its geographical land locked position impelled Nepal to have this treaty. Nepal however never stopped searching for alternatives such as route to the sea through India and Bangladesh to increase its international trade. Invitation to China to build roads in Nepal was one such step to send a clear message that their country has other options too and as efforts to avoid dominance by one nation. Bangladesh came into being almost with the single handed initiative of India. Even their Mukti Bahini was trained by Indian Army. Soon after liberation from Pakistan, Bangla Desh started pursuing a policy to exert independence in its foreign policy. The fanatic elements in Bangla Desh however were not satisfied with this subtle and gradual posturing and assassinated their first President Sheikh Mujiburrahman for his being pro-Indian. Governments successively after his assassination had to pursue Controlled Anti Indian Stance in their Foreign policy in order to satisfy their domestic compulsion in expressing opposition to Indian hegemony. Sri Lankas foreign policy has been more independent in the region. However its domestic compulsion and gradual increase in the power of fanatic Buddhist elements in its politics and their pro-majority policies have complicated the domestic politics. This led to rise of Tamil resistant groups in Sri Lanka and then their establishment of a limited control over the Tamil majority areas in Northern and North eastern Sri Lanka. Indias limited role of sending IPKF to restore Sri Lankan control over these areas was also be seen as an effort to prove its hegemony in South Asia. Mohammed Ayoob wrote in India matters, that given its advantages in terms of both technically skilled manpower and command over the English language by a substantial section of the working population, India has the capacity to play an increasingly important role in the sphere of service industries. He also brought in another aspect which could have been responsible for the fear of Indias role as a regional hegemon  [x]  . It could be the strengthening ties between India and U.S. Ayoob brings in an interesting reason for the close bonds between India and U.S. He says Indian and U.S. concerns do not coincide merely on the issue of maintaining a stable and secure order in Asia in general and in South Asia in particular.A major threat to both regional and global stability and securitycomes from a particular variety of terrorism that has targeted both India and the United States. This is true that post the twin tower attacks in U.S,terrorism gained importance all over the world which owes it highlight to U.S because the 11 September attacks proved that terrorism could shake the super powers too. Hence,started the Indo-US friendship which continues and the signing of the nuclear deal was another step towards the friendship. That was another reason which made the neighbours uneasy about Indias increasing power. The question was whether India was trying its hand at friendship with the hegemon to follow it.  [xi]   Absence or weak democratic institutions in these countries, and Indias established democracy has further weakened the ties countries surrounding India. Nepal has had Monarchy for most of the part in last sixty years. The intervals of democratic governments there have so far not been able to establish a workable democracy. Pakistans army still calls the shots even if democratic governments come into power. Bangla Desh has had its own problems with democracy where the successive governments after being elected have tried to wipe out opposition, more of an inheritance from Pakistan. Sri Lanka has had democratic traditions which have weakened, off late, due to the rise of the fanatic elements in politics and government as well. Perhaps, Kants Perpetual Peace works here too in increasing the suspicions of other nations regarding India. The establishment of SAARC meant to have closer regional cooperation could not allay the fears of smaller states around India. It is more used as a forum for venting the feelings against India in a veiled manner. Before each SAARC meeting the diplomatic channels would have been working overtime to manage this in place of finding new avenues of regional cooperation. However the platform is often used to malign the Indian image by doing an all year roun survery of Indian intrevention in the affairs of other nations and that highlights the hegemonic tendencies of India. Indias role of being party to good offices and mediation in managing international crises could be another reason for the rising suspicions. Initially,oweing to the non-aligned status,India was accepted as a mediator by several belligerent states like in the Korean War,South African apartheid and so on. But the Bangladesh crisis was seen as an unnecessary intervention by Pakistan and even the Sri Lankan crisis which later led to the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Many such interventions were seen as a display of unwanted disciplinary acts by India just like U.S played the role of a police man in the world scenario post world war. Indias new nuclear status has been seen as a disapproving move by Pakistan , China and several other nations of the world. The world today is basically divided on the basis of nuclear haves and have-nots. India joined the club with its first peaceful nuclear tests in 1974. India refused to sign the discriminatory treaties like NPT and CTBT and went ahead and signed the much criticised nuclear agreement with USA. USA came forward to accept India as a major global player and made an attempt to delink Indo-US relationhship from its relaionship with Pakistan. It was held that Indo-US civil nuclear deal was designed to serve Indian security needs and provide a basis for the development of bi-lateral relations with the USA. Though India declared its intention to sign similar nuclear cooperation treaties with other countries too and that her decision was not against any other nation, Indias nuclear status was not taken in good spirits by te neighbours and even beyond the neighbourhood. Indias role in Afganistan has often been seen as a hegemonic tendency. In the GIGA working papers,Melanie Hanif discussed the Indian involvement in Afganistan and said that India as a rising regional power is the only country in the region that might possess the capabilities,the willingness, and the legitimacy for a long-term engagement in Afghan security.  [xii]  India provides scholarships for Afghan students and fosters its commercial ties with the country, something which has, however,been hindered by Pakistans denial of direct access. India has also offered training to the Afghan National Security Forces, but this has not been realized due to Pakistani opposition.India is committed to development and infrastructure projects in various sectors in Afghanistan, especially the reconstruction of overland roads. In terms of soft power, Indias asset is the high popularity of Indian music, movies and television shows in Afghanistan. With a view to military capabilities, India has en hanced its presence in Central Asia through the establishment of its first airbase outside India, in Farkhor/Aini, Tajikistan.All this points to Indias willingness and preparedness to become more involved in the attempt to reconstruct and stabilize Afghanistan. Although most of the external parties are likely to accept a prominent role of India in Afghanistan,two important veto players remain, one within and one outside South Asia: Pakistan and China. IS INDIA A REGIONAL HEGEMON? All these reasons together see India as a regional hegemon. The tag has resulted in both seeing India as a leader as well as a threat. More than a threat, it is the suspicion and anxiety of other nations, which has given India the tag. Power is seen as a zero sum quality. The power gained by one nation is the loss of the other. India with all the resources and power is hence seen as an expansionist maybe not in the earlier imperialist ways but by means of soft power and mediation. However, it is highly doubtful to call India as the hegemon because hegemony would mean supremacy in decision making and policy making for all the other nations of the region. Pakistan is a major example of Indias faulty hegemony. Andrew Hurrell talks of the potential great powers in the world and calls them BRICs, i.e. Brazil, Russia, India and China.  [xiii]  He says that countries like Brazil, India and China are acquiring enough power to change the face of global politics and economics. However, he also brings out another aspect. He says that though these nations have the capacity to become great powers, these nations share certain uncertainties especially regarding the behaviour of the leader, United States. A second characteristic that these nations share is a sense of vulnerability. It is true for India too. Though the size may increase options and like every other nation, India too may have a belief in its natural right to an influential international role yet it is aware of its vulnerability. When Hurrell talks of India as a great power, he questions what would happen if the developing country identity of India comes into conflict with the aspiring great power identity. This argument brings the as pect of Indias aspirations for being a great power, which would be the aspirations of any nation. Any nation has the goal of being counted among the influential ones. That does not necessarily imply hegemonic tendencies. The most important aspect is the recognition. For India to be a regional hegemon, it is a precondition that other nations acknowledge the position desired. To be a hegemon, India would need the support and recognition by the entire region. This is highly unattainable in todays times of globalization and freedom. All the nations are sovereign and are free to take their decisions on the basis of their national interests. There is interdependence but not domination. There is the whole process of settlement of disputes by mediation but the mediator remains only that and nothing more. The world today is anarchic where there is no overarching authority. There are sections that advocate for some authority but there is no such authority present. Even United States, which could be called once the leader or the hegemon, is met with opposition now by developing nations like India. The Gulf War met with a massive opposition and international pressure. India is nowhere near USA in any development al field. In his book The Production of Space, Henri Lefebvre posits that geographic space is not a passive locus of social relations, but that it is trialectical   constituted by mental space, social space, and physical space   hence, hegemony is a spatial process influenced by geopolitics.  [xiv]  This is true because inspite of being a huge nation India is still behind Japan in the technology aspect. If we look at Asia, we have China as a competitor. Infact, though China is not a part of South Asia, it is very much a part of the decision making process. Whether we talk of the Indo-Pak relations or the Kashmir issue which had affected almost all the nations of South Asia in some way, China ha always had a say. It is quite powerful and enjoys a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. It could always be called as the hegemon of Asia if we consider development and relations with U.S to be a criterion for the tag. China has for years maintained a balance in is re lation with the west in spite of it being a communist nation. In spite of being a communist nation, it enjoys a special place in the world. That is power. The benchmark for every Indian step is the Chinese strength. SOUTH ASIA: INDIAS RESPONSIBILITY? K.P.S.Gill in the article Freedom From Fear Regional Security India can redeem South Asia, called South Asia the most volatile area of the world, as the epicenter, the new locus of terrorism, as the venue of a resource-sapping and futile arms race and of a possible and devastating nuclear confrontation  [xv]  . Gill says India is the regional giant of South Asia and accepts that it has been thought of as an ambitious regional hegemon. India is the home to a resurgent economy, led by sections of the hi-tech manufacturing and information technologies sector, has attracted significant and growing international investments and multinational participation. Much of this globalization, though, is still within the category of speculation and predatory capitalism, rather than a deep structural reorientation or long-term commitment by international partners. India is also home to the largest pool of technical and skilled manpower in the world, though its quality may be somewhat uneven. Despite these drawbacks, the countrys potential to seize the opportunities of the new technological revolution is unquestionable. Gill says that India being on the way to the developed status has to take the responsibility of bringing up the entire region. To do this, it must accept the notion of its own centrality, not as hegemon or big brother, but in processes of genuine friendship and shared concerns with its neighbours. But, before doing that India would have to deal with the suspicions regarding Indias interventions and initiatives. This true because even the slightest initiatives taken by any nation for the progress of another nation, are looked at as expansionist and hegemonic tendencies. In the absence of direct imperialism and old forms of power, a new term has come up and that is Soft Power which has been discussed by Joseph Nye is what operates today. In todays times, power has changed its face. It is no more confined o traditional instruments like military and economic assistance, because they are rarely sufficient to deal with the new dilemmas of the world politics. Today multinationals are the ne w sources of the co-optive power. India has gained a lot from these multinationals. As India liberalized her economy, these multinational corporations entered t

Divorce and the Decline of Morality Essay -- Giving up on Marriage

As America's divorce rate continues to skyrocket, it seems that morality continues to plummet. Approximately sixty-five percent of all marriages in America end in divorce, and this number does not seem to be declining any time soon. Are we creating a new generation "Y" of single parents? Is a broken home the wave of the future? If Americans don't get a grip on morality, this will surely be the case. It is not possible to pinpoint exactly why America's divorce rate is so high, much higher than that of previous decades. There are so many issues today that contribute to divorce than had existed in the past. Take teen pregnancy, for instance. It is alarming that so many of our children are having children themselves. They feel they must get married at fifteen and sixteen because it is what's right for the baby. Needless to say, most teen marriages under these circumstances usually end in divorce. What kind of life is this for a child? What kind of values will they learn from their parents example? According to Stuart Shepard, staff writer for Focus on the Family, "divorce tears down our moral and social responsibility to our children. They see marriages as if things don't work out, you can just leave and not work it out" (Shepard np). Adult children of divorced families are three times more likely to get divorced than adult children raised with both parents in the home (Markman 128). This negative pattern of divorce is one that could go on for generations if Americans are not willing to slow down their rate of divorce. Another contributing factor is the fact that divorce is much more accepted by society as a whole. Even though a lot of American... ...hildren." 1997, November 20. 2000, June 25. Markman, H.J. and S. Stanley. Fighting for Your Marriage: Positive Steps For A Loving and Lasting Relationship. San Francisco: Josey Bass, Inc, 1994. Shepard, S. "Study Examined Effects of Divorce". Focus on Family 2000, June 5: np. Stanley, S. Marriage in the 90's: A Nationwide Random Phone Survey. Denver, Colorado: PREP, Inc. 1997. Treas, J. and D. Giesen "Sexual Infidelity Among Married and Cohabiting Americans". Journal of Marriage and the Family Vol 62 (2000) : 48-60. U.S. Bureau of the Census. "Marriage, divorce, and remarriage in the 1990's." Washington, D.C.: Us. Government Printing Office, 1998. Zachary, G.P. "America: Straight-Laced Public Yawns at Scandal". The Wall Street Journal 1998, Feb 9: section B, p.1

Praise Be To Tyrell: Religion in Blade Runner

â€Å"‘More human than human’ is our motto. † (Scotts, BR) This famous quote, said by the character Tyrell in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, sums up the overall theme of the movie, which is the nature of being human. Blade Runner is Scott’s depiction of what is to become of Earth and how civilization has come to a point where humanity can be questioned. Reality is blurred and the nature of what is human is changing. Replicants appear identical to humans and even have emotions while the real humans appear cold and unemotional. The characters in this film are staged perfectly to compliment their environment as well. Scott uses mise en scene to suggest a vision of the future that is not only a collapsed, technological metropolis, but also a sad, lonely, and overall soulless place. Scott also uses the typical film noir protagonist who is often alone and faces an inner struggle between being a hero and looking out only for himself. Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, is far from a knight in shining armor, in fact, some of his actions might suggest that he isn’t a hero at all. However, in order to understand Scott’s complex film, a closer look is in order. We must look past the basic actions of the characters and focus on rather why they do their actions. One way to do this is by focusing on the films subtle subtext element of its allegorical relationship to Christianity. Throughout the film, it appeared that the analogy between the Bible and events in the movie actually had a relative connection, for example, Tyrell could be seen as God, Roy Batty as Lucifer, and Rachel as â€Å"the biblical wife of Israel in the Old Testament; the mother of a culture that will rule the Earth. † (Romero, 114) Also known as Eve, and Deckard as Adam. Humanity itself is brought up for definition in this film, as the Replicants are in many ways more human than the â€Å"real humans† they are interacting with. These Replicants are artificial organic humanoids which only have five-year life spans, and are banned from Earth. Death is an obsession to the Replicants. This is because although they know that they will die in a few years, they do not know their incept dates, thus not knowing when the clock actually started, or when it will end. Death to the Replicants is represented by their own mortality and the outside personification of the Blade Runners. This could possibly be why they live much more passionately than the human characters. Also, the main Replicant Roy Batty, displays a greater importance to life. Roy, and his loyal followers Oris, Zora, and Leon, are representations of fallen angels. They can be represented by Lucifer in the way that they have been expelled from the earth (much like Lucifer being expelled from heaven), and is obsessed with the same questions of morality. Roy’s angelic side is displayed, however, at the end of the film when he spares Deckard his life. During the scene, Deckard is filmed from a high angle to suggest vulnerability and a lack of understanding, with his eye’s clenched shut as he clings to the building; a keep of blindness to the world around him. With the end near, Roy Batty goes through a change that manifests in the fact that he prevents Deckard from falling to his death and becomes his savior. In fact, as Roy grabs Deckard from the ledge he shouts, â€Å"Ah, kinship! † (Scott, BR) As the two face each other, their proximities become closer. So close in fact, that they fit the frame tightly together. Now the angle of the camera is level, almost like an understanding simply by the two characters sitting eye to eye. As they face each other, Roy seems to come to terms with his own morality and the inevitability of death. Though Roy is put at peace, this shocking and moving scene stirs up questions and thoughts within Deckard’s head. He states, â€Å"I don't know why he saved my life. Maybe in those last moments he loved life more than he ever had before. Not just his life – anybody's life; my life. All he'd wanted were the same answers the rest of us want. Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got? All I could do was sit there and watch him die. † (Scott, BR) Thus, Roy Batty has redeemed himself by following in the footsteps of Christ. This is where the nail in the hand begins to make sense, as Roy is in effect attempting to become Christ-like himself. He has also forgiven others as he would have God forgive him in that he saved the man who killed his beloved Pris. As he dies, the white dove he had been holding escapes from his hand and flies up into the sky. Roy’s newly purified soul is now free, and on the way upward to peace and salvation. With evil there must be virtue to counter balance it. In this case, to counter balance Batty’s symbolism of Lucifer, J. F. Sebastian symbolizes Christ in the film. He is the missing link between the Replicants and Tyrell. He is also human in the fact that he was born rather than created, but he has a disease which is quickly killing him, thus he is in a similar predicament that the Replicants face with morality. So the connection can be made that he is a composite of man and Replicant just as Christ was a composite of man and God, and also the fact that as Christ lived among men, J. F. ived among the Replicants. When asked by Pris if he ever gets lonely, J. F. responds, â€Å"Not really. I MAKE friends. They’re toys. My Friends are toys. I make them. It’s a hobby. I’m a genetic designer. † (Scott, BR) Another similarity between Christ and J. F is that Christ attempted to bring humanity to God, and was killed by the very people he attempted to help. J. F also attempted to bring man (Replicants) to their maker, Tyrell, and was murdered for attempting to help. Though J. F. Sebastian’s trust and faith leads him to a gruesome fate, it allows the Replicants to meet their creator. Even the way J.  F. and Roy ascend up the elevator to meet Tyrell is symbolical to the ascent into Heaven. The whole experience of meeting Tyrell is parallel to the Old Testament of the Bible. For example, the Replicants were created by Tyrell just as man was made by God and they were each separated from their maker and sent off the world. In Blade Runner the Replicants were sent off to a different planet whereas in the Bible man was banished from the Garden of Eden. Eventually the created begin to seek out the one who had made them, almost as a quest for God, and he does commits several sins in his search for the creator. Through the help of Sebastian, Roy is able to finally come into the presence of his maker, who welcomes him warmly and without reservation. â€Å"I’m surprised you didn’t come here sooner. † (Scott, BR) Tyrell comments as Batty enters his church-like quarters. Tyrell in this scene is a perfect symbol of the New Testament God — slow to anger and quick to forgive. He is happy to throw out the past, and look only at those things which are positive about his children. However, Roy is angered and upset by the presence of Tyrell, and he begins to make demands of the man who created him, much like Lucifer demanded to be in higher power in Heaven. In the end, Roy is like any other man. He is aware of his own mortality, and looks to Tyrell to give him a new lease on life. When he finds that his pleas to Tyrell are not answered he lashes out and rebukes the man who he had thought of as a savior in the past. This is akin to a man who prays faithfully to Heaven for a release from disaster or distress, and loses faith if his condition does not improve. Upon losing faith, Roy also kills the messenger, Sebastian, thereby paralleling the killing of Jesus. After these acts, he returns to the elevator and falls from heaven, returning to the material world as a fallen ngel. Lastly, Deckard and Rachel can be compared with the biblical characters of Adam and Eve. In the Bible, Genesis tells the story of two people, a man named Adam and a woman, who was made from his rib, named Eve. They were placed together in the Garden of Eden and given only one rule, to never eat from the tree of knowledge. Later, Satan, disguised as a serpent, coaxes the two perfect humans to eat an apple from the sacred tree. When Adam and Eve ate the apple, God grew angry and chased them out of the Garden and gave them sin, pain, and imperfections. There is an obvious parallel between the characters in Blade Runner and the biblical references of Eden. However, in Blade Runner the audience is able to see two couples portray Adam and Eve; Deckard and Rachel, and Pris and Roy. The two couples differ in the way that Deckard and Rachel find paradise, whereas Pris and Roy die. Pris and Roy do not find their Paradise at the end of the film because Roy rebelled against Tyrell, his God, in demanding to become immortal. In doing this questionable act, he destroyed any possibility of entering back into the Garden of Eden. Deckard and Rachel, on the other hand, are able to run away and stay alive together, thus â€Å"Deckard escapes ‘into a new Eden with a new Eve, hoping to regain at least a personal paradise. † (Romero, 115) Throughout Blade Runner, the idea of immortality and the desire to be like the creator is quite recurrent. The great strength of Blade Runner was that it successfully dealt with the tenuous nature of human life, and examined what really makes a person human. The film was meticulously crafted, and created a world which was decadent, dirty and yet strangely beautiful. The same can be said of its inhabitants, and maybe of all of us.

Heart of darkness 8

Heart of darkness 8 Heart of Darkness, written by Joseph Conrad is a landmark of modern fiction. It is onsidered to be one of the greatest works of literature of its time. In Heart of Darkness, a boat is anchored in the Thames River outside London. A sailor by the name of Marlow begins to reminisce of a certain incident in his past, when he commanded a steamboat on the Congo River. This reflection forms the plot of the novel. In his yarn, Marlow aspires to explore the uncharted African jungles. His aunt arranges for him to be captain of a Congo steamer. When Marlow reaches the Company's Outer Station in Africa, he is confronted with white greed and black slavery. He discovers disease ridden African workers awaiting their death. He also meets the Company's chief accountant. The accountant tells of Mr. Kurtz who is and agent who has sent more ivory back from the jungle than the other agents combined.Le vapeur â€Å"Roi des Belges† dans le Haut-Congo ...Marlow becomes obsessed with Kurtz throughout the remainder of the story. Marlow arrives at the Company's Central Station, following a difficult 200-mile tramp. Upon arrival, he learns that the steamer he was supposed to command has been wrecked. He meets the local manager, who has no moral sensibility, only business sensibility. He mentions that Mr. Kurtz may be ill at his station upriver and that it is fundamental to reach him as soon as possible. Marlow learns a great deal about Kurtz in the time spent waiting for his steamer to be repaired. At one point he talks to a brick maker, who feels that Kurtz is admirable, yet he is resentful towards him because of his many talents which make him a likely candidate for promotion. On another occasion, Marlow overhears a conversation between the manager and his uncle, an explorer. The...

National Intervention Week Proclamation Essays - Drug Rehabilitation

National Intervention Week Proclamation Essays - Drug Rehabilitation National Intervention Week Proclamation NATIONAL INTERVENTION WEEK PROCLAMATION In April 1997, Paul J. Peloquin, Sr. , a professional interventionist and trainer had a vision to make the American Public more aware of the intervention process which over the last 25 years has proven to help untold thousands break through the denial of their addictions. In the mid 1960s Dr. Vernon Johnson founded the Johnsons Institute and Intervention Process, which people would use for many decades to come. Betty Ford wrote a letter to Dr. Johnson thanking him for the intervention process, for it had helped her; as it has helped so many others. Intervention in itself will become the modality of the future in assisting people to realize the denial of the addiction before it totally destroys the individual and the families of the people affected by the disease. This in turn will save billions of tax dollars in medical expenses. As stated in the National Drug Control Strategy of 1998 (a ten year plan) Goal 3, Objective 1... Support and promote effective, efficient, and accessible drug treatment, ensuring the development of a system that is responsive to emerging trends in drug abuse. Furthermore, Objective 3... Promote national adoption of drug-free workplace programs that emphasize a comprehensive program that includes: drug testing, education, prevention, and INTERVENTION. The American Board of Certified Interventionists, Inc. Founded by Paul J. Peloquin, Sr. Ph.D. has gained the support of Governors and Congressmen. It is the belief that awareness and education will keep the American Public thinking and talking about addiction and the problems it causes. This in turn will convey to the individuals that truly need help, but are preoccupied with their addiction and cannot see their denial without the assistance of others, hence intervention . Moving into the next millennium with the knowledge to stop or interrupt the addiction process sends an important message to Americans and people around the world that, we as a people are not allowing life-threatening problems to conquer our loved ones without taking an educated stand on the issues. Governor Fob James, Jr. and Congressman Joe Scarborough have endorsed the National Intervention Week as a well-needed proclamation to bring attention to the process to make millions aware of what is available to them to help others. It is time for the President of this great Nation to support the proclamation by endorsing National Intervention Week (19 April through 23 April) as a time for healing and new beginnings for those in need. Paul J. Peloquin, Sr. Ph.D Founder and President American Board of Certified Interventionists, Inc Bibliography The American Board of Certified Interventionists,Inc. Vernon Johnsons; How to get someone help Florida Coalition on Drug Education, Prevention, Intervention, Inc.

Enemies of the cross and the qur'an the end of the soul Essay

Enemies of the cross and the qur'an the end of the soul - Essay Example Chapter 35 of the text specifically discusses the disproportionate level of impact that liberal ideology has had within Christianity as compared to Islam. One of the underlying reasons for this level of disproportionate impact has to do with the fact that a large portion of Christian ideology is predicated upon the ethos of miraculous occurrences. Whereas it is true that Islam is largely based upon an understanding of miraculous intervention as well, Christian dogma and doctrine loses a great deal of legitimacy when faced with a situation in which these miraculous occurrences might not in fact be true. Moreover, as a direct result of the liberal ideologies that came to pervade Christianity in the early 18th century, the overall extent to which learned individuals integrated with a belief in miracles began to decline rapidly; providing a situation in which the backbone and fundamentals of the Christian faith radically different from an interpretation of science or ideology of the early modern era. By means of contrast and comparison, Islam has fared rather well from the influences of liberalism. This has mainly to do with the fact that the tradition of Islam is not predicated upon the occurrences of miracles or the many different diverse approaches towards religious interpretation; that exist to such a wide degree under the umbrella of Christian denominations. The text further illustrates the fact that Islam has been able to incorporate key changes in technology, sociology, science, and other key fields without losing an inherent level of relevance to the lives of those who practice it. This can again by linked back to the fact that Islam is fundamentally different than Christianity in the fact that it is a more personal religious experience; as compared to the more group relevant dynamics that Christianity holds. Further,

Ch 5, 5, 7 (Questions and Answers) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ch 5, 5, 7 (Questions and Answers) - Essay Example Printed and electronic sources can be utilized for the research with electronic sources that are regularly updated giving accurate information. The internet has powerful search engines that can identify material to the specification of the researcher. A magazine that Specializes in flooring industry can be identified as long as the company’s information is on the internet. Public libraries can also be used to identify such companies. Q#5. Confronted by low sales, the president of Oaks International Inc. asks a research company to study the activities of the customer relation department in the corporation. What are some of the important reasons that this research project may fail to make an adequate contribution to the solution of management problems? A hotel has many divisions and the company should not limit the research agency to analysis of the customer relations department. All the departments in the hotel should be audited to give conclusive evidence. The problems may also be in various departments contributing to the general problem. Rectification of the sales department may solve part of the problem any may increase sales below the organizations potential. The research limitation to one department may yield biased results as the researchers are directed towards the problem. The company should hire the research company to evaluate the problem facing the company without pinpointing the source of the problem (Cooper & Schindler, 2010). To understand how hospitals prepare and train volunteers, the first step would be to identify some sample hospitals which to conduct research. After identifying these hospitals, the researcher should conduct a literature research by reading information from the internet and books on how the process of preparation and training of workers takes place. The researcher can then visit the sample hospitals and compare them with those from the literature