How Shakespeare Explores the Theme of Deception and...

How Shakespeare Explores the Theme of Deception and Self-Deception in Twelfth Night Deception is the use of deceit that deceives everyone around you including yourself. It is the fact or state of being deceived. It can be a ruse or a trick in disguise, which deludes, giving a sense of indirection. It’s a misleading falsehood. One can deceive by running away from even their true self either physically or mentally. Self-deception on the other hand is the act of deluding oneself by creating illusionary ideas. It is a misconception that is favourable to the person who holds it. On the whole, self-deception basically is when a character is lying to his or herself. William Shakespeare shows us these two†¦show more content†¦We can see this from the quote, â€Å"Would thou’dst be ruled by me!†. That’s an example of confusion resulting from Viola’s disguise. Mayhem is caused when the jealous Sir Andrew Aguecheek attacks the tough and skilled Sebastian, assuming he was the soft and timid ‘Cesario’. As a result of th is attack, Sebastian beats down Sir Andrew Aguecheek and causes mayhem and tension between characters like Olivia and Sir Toby Belch. We can see the tension displayed by Sir Toby and Olivia from the quote, â€Å"Where manners ne’er were preach’d, out of my sight!†. These are just two examples of confusion and mayhem instigated by Viola’s disguise. Other examples include the conversation between Sebastian and Feste, when the latter thought Sebastian was ‘Cesario’. From the quote, â€Å"†¦ungrid thy strangeness† we can see that Feste adopts what he regards as ‘Caesario’s artificial speech. Another example of mayhem and confusion in the play is when Antonio thought he was backstabbed by Sebastian, but was in reality talking to a clueless Viola. We can see that from the quote, â€Å"†¦Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.†. The many outcomes of Viola’s disguise bring entertainment and humor to the audience to add comedy to the romance. In disguising herself as ‘Cesario’, Viola falls in love with Orsino to bring the romance aspect to the play. We can see this from the quote, â€Å"WhoShow MoreRelated Misperception and Deception in William Shakespeares Twelfth Night2160 Words   |  9 PagesMisperception and Deception in Twelfth Night  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Twelfth Night is likely one of Shakespeare’s most entertaining and complete comedy. This romance explores a generous wealth of themes and issues. The most recurrent theme is the relationship between misperception and deception. As a result of their environment and immediate circumstances, men are forced into misperceptions. Paradoxically, they are completely trapped by these illusions. Between the bad fortune they encounter andRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Volpone And Twelfth Night2004 Words   |  9 PagesIn Volpone and Twelfth Night both Shakespeare and Jonson use disguise to make the audience laugh, but also to explore more serious themes. Such as gender issues within Shakespeare and Jonson with exploring greed and how it can destroy you. The playwrights make the audience laugh by using a range of different methods such as interaction with the audience throughout the plays. The writers’ purposes right at the beginning are to explore the the me of greed through humour, and explore the roles peopleRead MoreThe Impervious Perception of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night1631 Words   |  7 PagesIn the kingdom of Illyria (fantasy world), Twelfth Night was supposedly originally written for the entertainment of Queen Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare’s comedy associates with the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th) and was means for entertainment in the seventeenth century. 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These characteristics include light-hearted and slapstick humor, disguises and deception, and a happy ending in which most of the characters come out satisfied. The light-heartedness of these romantic comedies contrasts sharply with the darker humor and deeper characterization of Shakespeare’s later plays, both comic and tragic. TheRead MoreA Picatrix Miscellany5201 9 Words   |  209 Pagesof his book. Chapter 5 enlarges the discussion of the lunar mansions, by giving thirty-one examples of constellations of a different kind, favorable to the manufacture of talismans. Some of the talismans are described, but no indication is given of how to make them effective, a subject which later occupies a large part of the book (pp.2434). Inserted in the middle of the discussion is an account of the different effects of the various aspects (p.29). There follow remarks on the dependence of the talismans

Hunting Rifle Ammunition Based on Game Size Essay - 516 Words

Every type of hunting ammunition is designed for different sizes of game. In fact there are several different types to choose from, but which one is the right choice? For instance there are many different ways to decide what ammo to use. Specifically the best way to decide is to choose by the size of the animal that is to be hunted. For instance there are three different size groups that all hunters can use to help them choose the best ammunition for their hunt. First of all we have the class known as small game. In example, small game includes animals such as squirrels, rabbits, birds, snakes, varmints, coyotes, ETC... While any rifle will work for taking out small game, some larger caliber rounds provide unnecessary overkill.†¦show more content†¦Secondly we have the mid-sized game. Which is bigger than most varmints, but still smaller than most deer; this is what makes antelope, mountain goats and sheep a unique challenge compared to hunting a deer or a similar large animal. Thus using a round that ranges from a .25/06 to a .270, is preferred with this size game. Hence it is recommended to use bullets that weigh somewhere around 100 grains. Since they have a lower weighing lead, it causes the bullet to travel faster which would be ideal for longer shots. Generally shots of 200 – 300 feet are needed when hunting antelope and mountain goats, because of their habitat being in areas with open terrain and usually having cl iffs. Next we have the third and final class of game sizes, which would be the big game. While hunting smaller animals may be fun, most hunters choose to step it up a bit and to hunt big game. For instance, big game includes animals such as deer, bears, elk, boar, and more. For this type of hunting, the best rounds to use are those ranging from a .243 Winchester up to a .338 win magnum. For instance, a good example would be a .30 caliber which is probably one of the best choices for this area. For instance, the heavier bullet generates more momentum that gives it a â€Å"brush breaker† type of effect, which allows the bullet to continue on its path through dense woodland areas. After all, hunting is a great sportShow MoreRelatedClassification Essay: Types Of Hunting1647 Words   |  7 Pages 11/3/13 Types Of Hunting The many great things about hunting is not only the calmness of the wilderness and the rush of being so close to many wild animals. There are many different ways to hunt. I am going to classify the four types of hunting: shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, and bow and arrow. The reason I am classifying this is because most people just think of hunting as a verb and don’t know that there are so many different ways to go about hunting. Hunting with a shotgun First of all I am goingRead MoreU.s. 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He knows that the story of the Afrikaner farmer - a regional Party leader and CommandantRead MoreInstructor Manual37126 Words   |  149 PagesInternet Exercise: Playing the Beer Distribution Game Over the Internet – Overview and Instructions Chapter 9 – Location, Logistics and Distribution Case: Applichem – The Transportation Problem – Teaching Note Chapter 10 – Lean and Sustainable Supply Chains Case: Quality Parts Company – Teaching Note Case: Value Stream Mapping – Teaching Note Case: Pro Fishing Boats – A Value Stream Mapping Exercise – Teaching Note Internet Exercise: The E-Ops Game – Instruction (Extra Case) Chapte r 11 – Demand ManagementRead MoreEssay on Fall of Asclepius95354 Words   |  382 Pagescourse. They just assisted each other in every assignment. Most wouldnt think of this as cheating, but their clueless teacher saw it as such. Duncan closed his assignment window and immediately went to a flash game site. The big risk taker. 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Examine the ways in which the relationship between the public and the police is presented in this extract and elsewhere in the play Free Essays

In Murmuring Judges, the second play in Hare’s trilogy which examines institutions, Hare presents the relationship between the police and the public as one of mutual dislike. Interestingly, Hare never openly shows the public to dislike the lawyers, who act as the antagonist throughout the play due to their uncaring attitude towards client, but it is omnipresent towards the police, who are shown to be more in touch with people. Here, Hare is perhaps consciously suggesting that the people dislike the police as they are the ‘face of justice’ and thus perceived by the public to be the ‘enemy’. We will write a custom essay sample on Examine the ways in which the relationship between the public and the police is presented in this extract and elsewhere in the play or any similar topic only for you Order Now Although Hare does present the police to hold some racist and prejudiced views, showing they clearly aren’t perfect, he does largely present the police in both Murmuring Judges and his research book Asking Around as trying to do a hard job in difficult times. From our first introduction to the police, we see they are instantly disliked by the public. In Act 1 Scene 3, the first to involve the police, Keith states â€Å"you’re all bloody bastards† which immediately creates sympathy from the audience for the police. This sympathy is increased throughout the novel, where Hare generally presents the police as good people, an example of which is Sandra, who is shown as trying to enforce justice fairly in a corrupt system. The public dislike for the police is shown to be mutual though, â€Å"I’m not sure I care for the public that much†, which highlights the police frustration at the difficulty of their job, which is shown to be exacerbated by non-cooperative suspects, as shown through Keith’s repetition of â€Å"I’m not saying anything†. This furthers sympathy towards the police, as the public perception and the audience’s perception seem to be very different, as at this point in the play the police are presented as entirely honest. Dislike for the police is also shown later in the play, â€Å"I bloody hate the sodding police†, but here the police are shown to have grown more tired of the public and are more irritated, â€Å"do you have any idea, you stupid arsehole, how bloody boring it is for us? However, the public only further underlying frustration, as the Criminal Evidence Act of 1981 made policing more about paperwork, which created frustration amongst the police as for them it lowered their ability to do their jobs. In Asking Around, Hare states â€Å"[the police] are used to doing a great deal of good for the community and they’re used to having it thrown back in their face†. This could explain the police’s frustration at the public and also their seeming lack of interest in their jobs, as they no longer have the incentive to help those who hate them. Read also Intro to Public Relations Notes The police are shown to become more frustrated as the play progress, although the time period is unknown, could suggest that more and more acts were continually introduced. However, Hare continues to present the police as ‘the good guys’, as he shows Lester to be â€Å"only interested in protecting the public†, which reinforces the idea that police frustration largely stems from the public. Despite the public perception of the police as â€Å"tossers†, the police are wholly presented as the most in touch with people and the most realistic, â€Å"what we’re talking about here is reality†. This is best shown in the juxtaposition of the lawyers and the police’s view of public interest. Whereas Sir Peter believes â€Å"everyone listens to Desert Island Disks†, which the is obviously untrue, as this is a largely middle class radio station and shows the lawyers to be completely out of touch with the public, Lester states â€Å"I’d rather be in bed with Michelle Pfeiffer. † This is a much more relatable statement for the public, as it is likely that there is a larger proportion of people who would rather be in bed with Michelle than there is who listen to Desert Island Disks. Through this direct contrast, Hare shows the lawyers to be dated whereas the police are presented as realistic, and with the same manner and feelings as the public, which can be exemplified by the sarcastic tone from Lester towards the clients, â€Å"go and stand up there next to him, it makes no difference to me†. The extent of the police’s involvement with the public is shown starkly when Barry confronts Irina and asks â€Å"when was the last time anyone was sick on your wig? The mocking tone suggests is frustration at the public and the image of the public vomiting on the police shows them to be obviously more in touch with the public than the lawyers. Contextually, however, the public distrust of the police is understandable, as cases like the Guilford four and the Birmingham Six highlighted police corruption and showed the police to be immoral, as Barry is shown to be here. Perhaps the worst relationships presented between the police and the public are those which highlight the racist and generally prejudiced attitudes of the police at the time. Barry suggests that Gerard is more likely to be guilty as â€Å"he was kind of Irish†, which shows an innate prejudice, as he assumes that his nationality makes him more likely to commit crime. Significantly, Hare presents the public as aware of this racism through Jason, who is black, as he states â€Å"if you go through with this†¦I’m going to get a bobble hat and grow bloody dreadlocks. † Here, it is suggested that the police are inherently racist, as Jason implies that he was arrested simply because he was black, showing he too believes the police are racist. Although here it is a matter of justice, rather than racism, in the focus scene Hare does present the police as prejudiced. Through Lester’s statement, â€Å"I hate immigration†¦and bloody women†, Hare presents the police as prejudiced, which could arguably suggest why they are so disliked by the public as this shows them to be unjust. Just as the public are shown to be aware of racism within the police, sexism is also obvious as Sandra says â€Å"just ask the boys, all women are naggers†. However, I believe this may have been inherent and gone unnoticed by the police, as perfectly summed up in the line â€Å"they don’t know they’re prejudiced†, as the play was written in 1991, when racism and sexism were seen as everyday occurrences. Hare describes the police as â€Å"the people trying to keep their sense of humour in the face of massive contradictions†. This is evident in the relationship between the police and the public, as the police generally use a light tone and humorous phrases, which suggests the police would like to get along with the public, but they make this impossible. This is strengthened by Hare’s presentation of the public, as they are shown to be non-cooperative or â€Å"grovelling†. In contrast, Hare occasionally presents the police as prejudiced and disinterested in their jobs, which undermines the police-public relationship, but it is largely obvious that Hare blames the public for the poor public relations as the police are largely just attempting to do their job in difficult circumstances, which is only worsened by the public perception of them as unjust and prejudiced. How to cite Examine the ways in which the relationship between the public and the police is presented in this extract and elsewhere in the play, Papers

Ethics on Outsourcing free essay sample

Outsourcing is a very controversial topic with both positive and negative aspects. Before approaching to an answer of â€Å"Yes† or â€Å"No† to the above statement, I would like to keep an open mind and be able to see both sides of the situation in order to have an accurate view of the issue. According to wikipedia. com, outsourcing is subcontracting a process, such as product design or manufacturing, to a third-party company. In his book, â€Å"Crafting Executing Strategy†, Arthur and his co-authors outlines that outsourcing involves a conscious decision to abandon or forgo attempts to perform certain value chain activities internally and instead to farm them out to outside specialists and strategic allies. Outsourcing has become one of the fastest growing trends in the business world. There are many reasons that a company would elect to use outsourcing. Among them is the fact that it provides an almost immediate opportunity for savings resulted from outsides that can often perform certain activities better or cheaper. Outsourcing allows a company to focus its entire energies on those activities at the center of its core competencies and that are the most critical to its competitive and financial success. In order to achieve deemed advantageous of outsourcing, following criterion have been discussed in the chapter 6 – Supplementing the Chosen Competitive Strategy of the book â€Å"Crafting Executing Strategy†: 1. An activity can be performed better or more cheaply by outside specialists 2. The activity is not crucial to the company’s ability to achieve sustainable competitive advantage and won’t hollow out its core competencies capabilities, or technical know-how 3. It reduce the company’s risk exposure to changing technology and/or changing buyer preference 4. It improves a company’s ability to innovate 5. It streamlines company operations in ways that improve organizational flexibility and cuts the time it takes to get new products into the marketplace 6. It allows a company to assemble diverse kinds of expertise speedily and efficiently 7. It allows a company to concentrate on its core business, leverage its key resource, and do even better what it already does best While its possible for a company to outsource virtually any kind of service, several were especially common in the e-commerce arena where positive impacts have been demonstrated. Among them were IT management; logistics and order fulfillment; Internet video production, management, and distribution; customer relationship management; and Web site development and hosting. The ease and cost efficiency of handling different aspects of e-commerce in-house was easier and more cost-effective for some companies than it was for others, so companies outsourced services differently. Many companies looked to outside parties to handle online order fulfillment (filling and shipping orders they received via the Internet) instead of building or renting their own warehouse operations, which required special expertise for e-commerce. This freed them to focus on core competencies like creating new products and services, and marketing. When companies rely on third-party fulfillment providers, they normally manage the front end of e-commerce (the content and appearance of their Web site) and leave the rest to the third party. In other words, the third party receives orders from customers, manages the inventory of available products in its warehouse, and coordinates shipping. Some also provide value-added extras like customer service. Another example of outsourcing involves application service providers (ASPs), third parties who manage business applications for companies so they can focus more on their core business. These applications often involve things like payroll, billing, and customer service. The software systems offered by the ASP are sometimes Web-based, so that client companies do not have to host the software and devote resources to maintaining and updating them. Although ASPs held the potential to simplify things for client companies, they also moved long-held control over internal systems and data to outside parties, which made some organizations uncomfortable. The hierarchal structure of business is another area that has the potential to be impacted by outsourcing. If an aspect of a business, such as Human Resources, is controlled by an outside group, human resources are thus removed from an organization and its formal structure. An advantage to this would be the prospect of expanding into locations that have not yet been outsourced. At the same time, the departmentalization of the structure would most likely need to be altered to meet with the changes resulting from the outsourcing. Above mentioned outsourcing activities are considered as the best practice of one core concept introduced in the book â€Å"Crafting Executing Strategy†: A company should generally not perform any value chain activity internally that can be performed more efficiently or effectively by outsiders – the chief exception is when a particular activity is strategically crucial and internal control over that activity is deemed essential. Hence, above all seems to show the strong support to â€Å"view outsourcing as a means whereby a company can enhance its competitiveness and thereby better protect the jobs of the remaining employees. † However, before we come to a conclusion let’s take a step further to have a look at some statistics and what some economists say about outsourcing.

Native Literature Written By Natives Essays - English Words

Native Literature Written By Natives It is unfairly noted that Native Literature written by Natives offends many readers with its discussion of the first-hand social ills affecting fellow Natives. However, the typical stories of Euro-Canadian relations constructed outside the Aboriginal thought imprisons all Aboriginals into stereotypes which obscure and distort their very real experiences. The obligation of the Native artist is to remain grounded in cultural soil and ideals, which is determined by Euro-Canadian standards, while at the same time establishing a foundation of justice and truth within the context of their work. Ian Ross has addressed many of these social ills in his play fareWel. Using humor, characterization and personal experience Ross depicts reserve life from outside the Euro-Canadian perspective, as being hopeful despite the blatant despair and antagonism reserve life contains. The Partridge Crop Reserve in Manitoba is a fictional place where the fictional characters Melvin MacKay, Sheldon Traverse, R achel Traverse, Phyllis Bruce, Teddy Sinclair, and Robert Traverse, become muses through which Ross uses to convey poignant information about the need for social reform for social ills. The representation of the treatment of Native women throughout history has been from a one-sided view. Either they were seen as unequal or as royalty, resulting in being branded as squaws or Indian Princess by the people who adhere to the Christian point of view. Ross seems to understand this falsehood and attempts to rectify it with the creation of the characters Phyllis Bruce and Rachel Traverse. They are both reserved based Native Women, who lived a hard and fast life, but respect the church, however they are neither squaws nor Indian Princesses. Phyllis is a single-parent who was beaten by her husband but attempts to use this experience to strengthen Rachel by saying, You can hide in the roof here OK? That's where I used to hide so I didn't get beat up (pg.66). There are few options for Native, u neducated, and single-parent women and Phyllis chooses to use her mind to fight the struggle which emphasizes the significant role woman as mothers and providers are forced to play. Also throughout the play Phyllis is constantly looking for a way to feed her kids while in the same thought explores how to feed a church full of people with sardines and moldy bread (pg.66). This highly illustrates that despite the obvious misfortune that Phyllis is entwined in she stills feels compelled to do her duty to her church, her friends, and herself. Phyllis is the symbol of strength for her enduring and overcoming. Rachel was created to emphasize the insurmountable difficulties that Native women face, first as being the Native woman, and second, for being unable to achieve economic or social value. She relays this message to the reader when she states, ?and when I left here I realized what I was?A woman. A Native woman. With no education. No money. No future. (pg. 68) In order to gain economic value she had to prostitute herself due to the lack of adequate means to legitimate opportunities. It is a horror that is greatly misinterpreted by her fellow Natives for instance, Teddy constantly refers to her as a hooker (pg. 58) or a slut (pg.59), which only proves that the spirit of a native woman can never be broken. In her desperate attempts to gain economic freedom she was unfairly judged and subsequently lost social status. Although Rachel yearns to leave the reserve it is her deep sense of hope that the reserve will overcome the turmoil that keeps her there. Her welfare check also keeps her in a constant reality check because without it she is forced to resort to being the whore(pg.59) It is Rachel and Phyllis that truly define the meaning of hope with their conquests for self betterment. The essence of this play is captured by its ability to add comic relief in its context through each characters unique disposition. But, it is Nigger with his abnormal actions, thoughts a nd appearance, which brings humor to the play the most efficiently. Our first experience with Nigger is when Animush (pg.22) attacks him leaving him with an open scar and torn jeans. The humor lies in the image of Nigger who

buy custom Free Case Study Sample about Logistics and Supply Chain Management

buy custom Free Case Study Sample about Logistics and Supply Chain Management Assessment and Briefings of Logistics and Supply Chain Management Introduction to Logistics and Supply Chain Management If a company produces a product or offers a service that consists of several parts that are sold to the customer, then supply chain is one of the main aspects of the business. By managing this supply chain, it is possible to illustrate logistics as well as management practice that directs the flow of services and/or goods to the customer by means of delivering the best quality. Every company that either produces products or offers services on the market has to ensure thorough logistics and supply chain management. Heads of the companies all over the world should evaluate the quality this procedure and constantly improve it to remain afloat in the industry. Analysis of the company that the research is going to use as an example will allow to illustrate aspects of both logistics and supply chain management.

The Performance Management System Of Colbran Medical Institute Essay - 1

The Performance Management System Of Colbran Medical Institute - Essay Example They tend to contribute towards their organization staunchly and scrupulously only when they are motivated, and their contributions are valued and appreciated by their organization. Valuing one's contribution and supporting their initiatives is possible only when an organization realizes its employees’ contribution in a way it should be realized. This is possible with the proper implementation of an objective performance management system. Using objective measures of performance evaluation makes employees clear that organization follows procedural justice and rewards them according to their contribution. The end result of objective performance evaluation is motivation, commitment, encouragement, job satisfaction, and greater employee retention that contribute towards organization’s profitability in the long run. Moreover, with objective performance appraisal followed by good reward administration makes employees loyal and more committed towards their respective organiza tions. Thus, we can say that objective performance evaluation followed by performance appraisal accompanied by proper reward administration makes employees motivated and committed towards the organization. This paper focuses on the performance management system that will be suggested for Colbran medical institute in pursuit of removing its flaws in its current performance appraisal. Why organizations need performance management system is an important question. Most of the researchers argued that for unbiased performance evaluation, implementation of performance appraisal system is compulsory because it works by taking into account key performance indicators (KPI) and key performance results (KPR). When organizations communicate their employees the performance standards and key performance indicators clearly, that helps businesses in achieving competitive advantage because employees with a clear goal of what is expected of them.

Correlation analysis, linear regression (Quantitative Methods in Essay

Correlation analysis, linear regression (Quantitative Methods in Political Science) - Essay Example The value of Pearson correlation coefficient equal to 0.838 (near +1) indicates that there is a strong positive Relationship between variables Total Conflict Management Efforts and Number Mediation Efforts. The p-value equal to 0.000 indicates that correlation is significant at the 0.01 significance level. Assuming Total Conflict Management Efforts as dependent variable and Number Mediation Efforts as independent variable, a hypothesis can be formulated. If variable Total Conflict Management Efforts predicated using variable Number Mediation Efforts than the slope of the regression model will be different from zero (Doane & Seward, 2007). The null and alternate hypothesis can be written as: The high t-statistic (87.085) for Number Mediation Efforts indicates that the slope of the regression model is different from zero. This is also confirmed by p-value (0.000) of slope. Therefore, the decision is to reject the null hypothesis and accept alternate hypothesis. The high value of F-statistic (7583.83) indicates that the overall regression model is significant. It is also indicated by the p-value (0.000) of regression model. The value of coefficient of determination is equal to 0.703; this indicates that variable Number Mediation Efforts explains 70.30 percent of the variation in variable Total Conflict Management Efforts. On the other hand, Number Mediation Efforts do not explain 29.70 percent of the variation in Total Conflict Management Efforts. Total Conflict Management Efforts can be predicted using predictors (independent variables) Arbitrations in Dispute, Negotiations in Dispute, Mediators in Dispute, and Number Mediation Efforts. This can be seen by scatter plot and trend line of response variable and predictor variables (figure 2, 3, 4, and 5). The scatter plot and trend line shows that all predictor variables have positive effect on response variable, so a right-tailed test might be used. However, the default choice is a two-tailed

Implementing & Managing Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Implementing & Managing Change - Essay Example The problem with any planned change will always be that it has been planned and therefore managers who have initiated the change largely define the expected outcomes beforehand. Lewin model will help to construct a framework for successful implementation of change. A phase I will occur where staff senses the need to do work in a different way. The second stage begins while changes are being made in the behavior of employees or in the organizational process. During this stage, training will be the main goal. Phase 3, 're-freezing', occurs when the changes are accepted as the new position by the employees most affected by the change (Genus, 1998). The main groups affected by the change involve employees, training staff, managers and the computer support department. Consultants will be engaged to facilitate change and such change, again, will have preset objectives, often focusing not just on long-term objectives but the short-term behaviors as well. Leaders support will be crucial because leaders must be able to cope with complex technological change in their organizations. Leaders should give a personal example which inspires employees and sparkles their interest in training.

Impact Of Globalization On Sustainable Development Politics Essay

Impact Of Globalization On Sustainable Development Politics Essay Globalization as a much analyzed process seems to have become increasingly more attention to political and economic specialists every currently giving them different meanings. According to some analysts  [1]  , globalization is merely an illusion that merely sniffing the existence of nation states and the importance of minimizing them. For others, especially the means by which strategy and policy to follow is to obtain and annihilation of new markets, globalization reflect any reduction of existing barriers in the way of their expansion. Presenting and analyzing the expression of a transnational phenomenon is perpetuated see how globalization occurs. Corporations have come to power even a state, some significant performance far exceeding their GDP. Resources of developing states are swallowed by these corporations, nations are impoverished every day whether its own resources, human, material, energy or otherwise. Arise in strategic geographical areas, where there is significant potential advantageous in terms of available resources and activities, not least to use as a cheap labor and it can be as close as the performance they hold in the country of origin. For example, environmental protection regulations are more stringent in the country of origin than in countries where they have implanted the new subsidiaries, and their policies in this area are designed to change the situation. Globalization is perceived as the less developed not represent no advantage but rather a loss for them. There are differences in the societies of such countries, where the polarity is looming gap that exists between people very rich and very poor people, middle class is nonexistent. An objective examination of the globalization process, confirms that the economic benefits tend more towards developed countries and the major economic powers, transnational corporations which find their origin. As world financial mechanism operates through its institutions IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organization favors dominated by major economic powers in the overwhelming proportion of the developed countries involved in granting loans, the implementation of foreign direct investment, institutions, transnational companies and state lending obtain higher profits. Globalization is an irreversible reality and any country that thoroughly prepares its future is urged to interfere with it. JE Stiglitz says as globalization as it unfolds today is beneficial for many of the poor world. It is beneficial to the environment. It is beneficial to the stability of world economy. The transition from communism to a market economy was so bad that, excluding China, Vietnam and several Eastern European countries, poverty has grown and incomes have declined drastically.  [2]   Perspective on global society Globalization appears to be the structuring of the global society, several characteristics of: a) as a form of modernity is likely post-national global company, b) processes aimed at developments over after failure of international processes, the Internationals of all colors to institutional arrangements for intergovernmental cooperation; c) has the consistency of a constructivist process, institutional architecture, based on the rules of the game no conflict (nonviolent), and calculated risk post yielding criteria, human and ecological systems and post-industrial creative post corporatist d) is capitalist process (in the classical sense and historical), innovative in terms of resources (knowledge added value mainly), with non-market wealth gain (solve the problem 20 versus 80 percent, including by means ethicist) is Diversity matching process unit. These characteristics are the result of realizing an effective principle of competition, the essential aspect of all is contestable, there is not definitive, hierarchies are dynamic, entrances and exits are truly liberated. Based on the principle of open competition and always repeated, globalization comes with a new order in which it is trying to not be possible in the history of old neuroses. From this standpoint, globalization is a second modernity the world  [3]  , triggered by the industrial revolutions and national cleavages that have brought the relationship inter (national) and intra (office), or international enmity and conflict as class struggle including social conflicts of post-industrial era.  [4]   As Professor Dinu Marin said globalization is perceived as inadequate in two ways: a) as a new concept that boost continuity of control of variables of general and b) as a solution to congestion expected understanding of the limitations of access to power in the international system. In the first version of globalization is accredited as a formula that preserves the world configuration, while the second version is designed to perpetuate top-down functions of the international system. If there were statistically consistent cover an area of preference, the two ways of loading the concept of globalization should be simple speculation. Academia alignments are also connected to these visions  [5]  . Before the national economy was determined by the interplay of processes that were taking place especially in the member nations, the global economy today is specific to the period in which national economies are decomposed and then rearticulate within a system of transactions and processes that operate directly internationally. It emphasizes qualitative leap compared with the previous stages: nation states, governments also lose their ability to influence developments in national economies, instead of succumbing to regional entities, which are points of support in multinational network. Globalization of economic activity proposed benefits arising from differences between the countries of the world, differences that forms the source of profits. To exploit these advantages, the geographic mobility of firms has increased, representing an aspect of production relocation contemporary realities. Economic globalization will be formally completed when the goods, services, capital and labor will flow freely, and governments and local authorities in any country will treat firms equally, irrespective of nationality or origin. The process will end when the differences between the countries of the world will not be generating sufficient benefits to allow for some profit. In the process of globalization, they play a secondary role and the other dimensions such as culture, environment, society and politics that are seen in their likeness can be seen that they can not be clearly demarcated from each other. Global environmental problems can not be studied in isolation nor the size of economy size or political. The global network among the actors and at the thematic areas is one of the features of globalization. There are issues related to other areas such as atmospheric warming, ozone hole, or cutting of tropical forests to illustrate the most impressive phenomenon of globalization, it is certainly about the global problem requiring a global approach. In the field of environment are regional and local issues, even if they sometimes have a character beyond the boundaries such as river pollution. The social dimension is underlined by the fact that the world has become a global village, innovative networks of long distance communication (chat, e-mail, forums) by adding traditional communities such as family or neighborhood. The political dimension is encountered major problems. Globalization and competition locally restricted area of national policy action; many problems can not be adequately addressed until the international and global level. Therefore European integration is seen as a successful response to globalization challenges. Regional and national policy level and has had to suffer from bounded and dematerialized economy practiced increasingly more international and global level. Capitalism, integrating factor of the welfare state is threatened by fundamental imbalance. I can point out that globalization is a phenomenon or a complex, sometimes contradictory, which was viewed and analyzed in different ways by different specialists. Beyond these assumptions, globalization remains a fact, that we must face, our fault or choice. The greatest danger that it may involve some of the dehumanizing globalization is that the wave simply swallows them. Globalized world live in a general crisis of the meaning of life and a cultural and educational disaster, worrying symptom of future wilderness society. The traditional culture of the company disappears or is transformed into the show or freight. Humanistic culture is eliminated more invasive than techno-science and turned into a pseudo-science. Universal and globalized man, the man focused only money, it risk become atomized man who lives only for the production and consumption, empty of culture, politics, purpose, conscience, religion, etc. and any transcendence. This is the last stage in the evolution of humanity or the last man. Commercial and economic factors that influenced the deepening globalization of the world economy are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Liberalization trade in services in particular in telecommunications, insurance and banking, the prevailing trend of the 70s made in the USA, being continued in the 80s in Britain and later the European Union and Japan. The trend continues today, including Central and Eastern European countries, including Romania. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Liberalization of capital markets following the phasing out of barriers imposed currency controls and capital, is a positive step for the formation of global financial markets. This mobility of capital reduces the return risk capital especially for transnational companies and recorded a reduction in costs in normal conditions. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Liberalization of foreign direct investment. Since the 70s, the common interest of humanity to defend the environment has materialized through the emergence of concepts, global vocation: the common good of humanity, sustainable development and ecological security, which represented new factors which stimulate the process of globalization of economy world. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Common property of humanity are areas such as oceans, marine funds, which for various reasons can not be divided and not covered by state sovereignty. Out of the oceans, none of these common goods have not been polished as it is reported that people possess the technical capabilities and operational deterioration. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sustainable development is explained as development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable development is designed for reconciliation between economy and environment, as a new development path to support human progress not only in a few places and for some years, but over the planet and for the foreseeable future. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Environmental security is one of the key dimensions of global security (see Fig. 1.). Fig. 1. Determinants of globalization economy Source: Authors proposal Being under the limit and dictate the uncertainties, the economy develops its own mechanism to increase the role of markets in which national, regional and global equilibrium conditions ensure advancement. Can support growth and fulfillment of individual welfare, but also reflects the globalization of serious mutation phenomena: poverty amidst plenty, environmental degradation, loss of confidence in institutions, inflation and unemployment.  [6]   Growth focuses on the quantitative aspect of economic development, the production of goods and services: which squanders scarce resources becoming a growth that impoverishes, polarizing irrational in terms of production possibilities frontier. Wrestling with the uncertainties of life creates a bridge to the complexity of the concept of globalization which transmits a message to mankind, a new movement of life and divided their externalities, positive and negative, transnational territorial perimeters  [7]  . Globalization of life and human spirit derives from the need to explain the uncertainty that is the sum of all potential hazards around us, seen or not  [8]  . Certainty in turn, would be a sign of fulfillment, a sign of distinction, a sign of growth to move toward equilibrium mirage advance, thereby constituting a planetary scale factor of progress. Wealth supreme and absolute misery brings us into a world of certainties positive or negative, brings the human wealth of us to want an unreal world, a world dominated by an unfulfilled wish of Hyperion, a world in which we have certainty about life, when dirt thrown into chaos, the human species, of which some come out winners, and some bends in the uncertainties of life. Increasing significance of international trade, value added network and the scope and intensity of development, make globalization a subordinate of the World Cup, but also an innovative success by changing mindsets and adapt to the demands imposed by the global village. Sustainable global development Making progress using scientific knowledge and experience of living life in full health service jointly comprised of people, environment, families and institutions shows a forward-looking company that is based on mobility, disciplinary action and a creative individual who goes beyond the human. A healthy development seen from the perspective of time and space harmonious coexistence and succession of generations leads to an improvement value of paradigm on the one hand, rational and emotional valence and another value of the solution, the rethinking of human development.  [9]   As a process, sustainable development has the opportunity to refresh and rush to the global economic balance this with the future without forgetting the past. Now, sustainable development is viewed from three different angles, complex, which united, form an equilateral triangle that viewed from the perspective of the entire global economic, environmental and socio-political. (See Fig. 2.) Fig. 2. Sustainable global development Source: Authors proposal Sustainable development is aimed at the needs of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainability is based on the idea that human activities are dependent on environment and resources. Health, social security and economic stability of society are essential to define quality of life. Sustainable development would not be possible without the contribution of each individual. Here is the social responsibility of each of us, national and global responsibility seen as a final goal towards which humanity is heading. Globalization based on a new reality feeling Sustainability, a new mode of action and thought, a process exacerbated by global economic integration. Different vision of globalization landscape meets the location and functions of the market, but also a place in the economy. Moreover, the image associated with globalization era expected global convergence, a transition of mankind towards a way to organize economic and social history unknown until now.  [10]   Globalization is in fact an extension towards sustainable development, to economic integration, a time-space compression, which means short processing complex, which is in full swing, the parameters of the human condition.  [11]   Time and space is so different, and mankind reaches the threshold phenomenon of absolute development, where sustainability is a paradigm. Humanity is heading towards a kind type of powerful transnational or internationalized. If globalization economy towards which we move in the transnational patterns means that national and international lines are replaced by interacting with a something vague, nebulous and vaguely defined  [12]   Now globalization is weak, internationalization rising from shadow of the state mechanisms are altered and raised to new conditions. The phenomenon of globalization is based on a form of existence that comes from the universe, which the infinity of the inscrutable without borders, where people and economy are the default. The forces of globalization are influencing each other. (See Fig. 3.) Fig. 3. Globalization forces Source: Authors proposal Worldwide observe the phenomenon of oligopoly, a phenomenon that is globalization to be seen as a marginalized development. Globalization runs its intentions increasingly evident, it became the expression of a system that integrates the highest level and always remains open to integration  [13]  . Exclusion of the system is an exceptional opportunity, and entry is liberalized, as the whole is designed to absorb the extreme variations, including failures, even if it is a part. Globalization looks like a new world order, one that is multidimensional and corollary. As a strategy, globalization is the direct expression, verifiable and demonstrable of rationality and reason. Globalization has forecast whether it operates with significant proportions of conjecture in addition to true classic of science, even a forecast of the walk is at stake. Globalization is, in short, a perfect place to meet the truth of freedom and justice, prosperity amid general production undertaken individually. This is not the best of worlds, is only one possible world ready for a long time human reason. It is the mediation between the normative and positive human experience of self that makes sense beyond adversity. Globalization is not built Manichean, is intended to minimize failure and to distribute widely what effect resulting from the management. (See Fig. 4.) Fig. 4. What is globalization Source: Authors proposal Today, knowledge of conceptualizing globalization has long gone, but the cast deserves a retrospective look at creating a landscape that comprises the entire G (See Fig. 5.). Fig. 5. Whole à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾G Source: Authors proposal Economic thinking that supports the phenomenon of whole G emphasizes the benefits of globalization. (See Fig. 6. and 7.) Fig. 6. Globalization advantages Source: Authors proposal Fig. 7. Globalization results Source: Authors proposal Theorem which creates the nucleus of the general good of the planet as is that intensification and diversification of trade, especially internationally, is converted into factor absolute welfare. Wave of globalization is a means of communication between states, between economies and between different types of behavioral knowledge, represents a transition to a new model of economic growth and development, sustainable development. Globalization creates and develops a competition, domestically and internationally, thereby enhancing competition competitive market size and resulting in global firms. Regarded as the immediate sensory perception, globalization is identified with the rapid evolution of the world towards a common economic space, so that developments in one area of the world can have profound consequences on individuals and communities in other parts of the world is done widening, deepening and accelerating global interconnection in all aspects of social life, from economics to pollution, from finance to the spiritual sphere.  [14]   Deprivations of the future imagined by excess of knowledge are often invented to satisfy the passions of apocalyptic. Conclusions Harmony balance rationality with the hope of ensuring economic organism takes you from the win-lose in the win-win in public and private business. The period in which we appear as a transition process was the responsibility to use scientific knowledge, experience and faith in the certainty of hope from a health perspective all live together. The transition period that we live in assumes that we transform the progress which threatens us into a human, social and environmental progress as the foundation of our common survival. Sustainable development and healthy should be designed as a comprehensive process in space and time, both the North and the South East and West, so the win-win will benefit the entire world. Globalization of public and private world of human affairs, expression of the revolution means, can lead to human benefit if global scale is based on universal values and institutions arising from responsibility, human solidarity and social communities.

Women in Art Essay -- Arts Females Gender Artistic Painting Essays

Women in Art Throughout history many artistic works have been deemed "great" and many individuals have been labeled "masters" of the discipline. The question of who creates art and how is it to be classified as great or greater than another has commonly been addressed by scholars and historians. The last quarter of the 20th century has reexamined these questions based on the assertions that no women artists have ever created or been appreciated to the level of "greatness" that perpetually befalls their male counterparts. The position that society has institutionalized on women as unable to be anything but subordinate and unexpressive is a major contributor to this claim. Giving a brief history of gender discrimination in the art field, examining different theories in regard to why women have been excluded from art history throughout the ages, and finally, discussing the contributions and progress that women artists and historians have achieved in the past two decades, will help to better under stand the complexity and significance of women artists. The early years of the 1990's mark the 20th anniversary of the women's movement in art. The exact date of the movement can not be ascertained due to the fact that there was such an immense number of things happening for the Women's Liberation movement at that time. Nevertheless, the achievements of the 1970's women's art movement were enormous and it is one of the most influential movements of that decade. Twenty years later, the struggle for representation in the arts continues. In 1990, a U.S. study was conducted on Gender Discrimination in the Artfield. The results are as follows: 50.7% of all visual artists are female and women hold 53.1% of the degrees in art,... ...Feminist Art. Harry N. Abrams, Inc, 1994. Chadwick, Whitney. Women, Art, and Society (revised edition). Thames and Hudson Inc., 1996. Freud, Sigmund. "Femininity." Feminist Frameworks. Ed. Jaggar and Rothenberd. McGraw-Hill, 1978. 91-98. Morse, Marcia. "Feminist Aesthetics and the Spectrum of Gender." Philosophy East & West 42(April 1992) 287-289. Nochlin, Linda. "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?" (1971). In Women, Art, and Power, and Other Essays. Harper & Row, 1988. Portwood, Pamela. "Feminist Views; Schapiro helps female artists shed their cloaks of anonymity." The Arizona Daily Star. 19 Feb, 1999. Starlight 6E. Strawter, Lisa Marie. "Facts About Women in the Arts: Women Artists Archive" [Online] Available. http://libweb.sonoma.edu/special/waa/, (accessed April 19, 1999).

Bullying Speech Essay

Hello I’m Maddi Beeson as many of you know and I wanted to talk to you about a very important issue at our school. There is the problem of bullying and I would like to say something about it which will hopefully change things. Starting off with this poem I had found on the internet which is a very inspiring poem about bullying. It is called: To This Day- for the bullied and the beautiful by Shane Koyczan. When I was a kid I used to think that pork chops and karate chops Were the same thing I thought they were both pork chops And because my grandmother thought it was cute And because they were my favorite She let me keep doing it Not really a big deal One day Before I realized fat kids are not designed to climb trees I fell out of a tree And bruised the right side of my body I didn’t want to tell my grandmother about it Because I was afraid I’d get in trouble For playing somewhere that I shouldn’t have been A few days later the gym teacher noticed the bruise And I got sent to the principal’s office From there I was sent to another small room With a really nice lady Who asked me all kinds of questions About my life at home I saw no reason to lie As far as I was concerned. Life was pretty good I told her, â€Å"Whenever I’m sad My grandmother gives me karate chops† This led to a full scale investigation And I was removed from the house for three days Until they finally decided to ask how I got the bruises News of this silly little story quickly spread through the school And I earned my first nickname Pork Chop To this day I hate pork chops I’m not the only kid Who grew up this way Surrounded by people who used to say That rhyme about sticks and stones As if broken bones Hurt more than the names we got called And we got called them all So we grew up believing no one Would ever fall in love with us That we’d be lonely forever That we’d never meet someone To make us feel like the sun Was something they built for us In their tool shed So broken heart strings bled the blues As we tried to empty ourselves. So we would feel nothing Don’t tell me that hurts less than a broken bone That an ingrown life Is something surgeons can cut away That there’s no way for it to metastasize It does She was eight years old Our first day of grade three When she got called ugly We both got moved to the back of the class So we would stop get bombarded by spit balls But the school halls were a battleground Where we found ourselves outnumbered day after wretched day We used to stay inside for recess Because outside was worse Outside we’d have to rehearse running away Or learn to stay still like statues giving no clues that we were there In grade five they taped a sign to her desk That read beware of dog To this day Despite a loving husband She doesn’t think she’s beautiful Because of a birthmark That takes up a little less than half of her face Kids used to say she looks like a wrong answer That someone tried to erase But couldn’t quite get the job done And they’ll never understand That she’s raising two kids Whose definition of beauty Begins with the word mom Because they see her heart Before they see her skin Because she’s only ever always been amazing He Was a broken branch Grafted onto a different family tree Adopted Not because his parents opted for a different destiny He was three when he became a mixed drink Of one part left alone And two parts tragedy Started therapy in 8th grade Had a personality made up of tests and pills Lived like the up hills were mountains And the down hills were cliffs Four fifths suicidal A tidal wave of anti depressants And an adolescence of being called popper One part because of the pills Ninety nine parts because of the cruelty He tried to kill himself in grade ten When a kid who could still go home to mom and dad Had the audacity to tell him â€Å"get over it† as if depression Is something that can be remedied By any of the contents found in a first aid kit To this day He is a stick of TNT lit from both ends Could describe to you in detail the way the sky bends In the moments before it’s about to fall And despite an army of friends Who all call him an inspiration He remains a conversation piece between pe ople Who can’t understand Sometimes becoming drug free Has less to do with addiction And more to do with sanity We weren’t the only kids who grew up this way To this day Kids are still being called names The classics were Hey stupid Hey spaz Seems like each school has an arsenal of names Getting updated every year And if a kid breaks in a school And no one around chooses to hear Do they make a sound? Are they just the background noise Of a soundtrack stuck on repeat When people say things like Kids can be cruel? Every school was a big top circus tent And the pecking order went From acrobats to lion tamers From clowns to carnies All of these were miles ahead of who we were We were freaks Lobster claw boys and bearded ladies Oddities Juggling depression and loneliness playing solitaire spin the bottle Trying to kiss the wounded parts of ourselves and heal But at night While the others slept We kept

Cost Club Human Resources Department

Scenario Two: Cost Club Human Resources Department University of Phoenix Carlos Flores HRM/546 Human Resource Law Instructor: Christopher Fletcher February 26, 2010 Abstract The new assistant manager (AM) receives an e-mail from his the HR manager Pat Fletcher requesting downsizing the HR department from eight employees to five. He wants recommendations of the three selected employees to be terminated. An explanation of what principles of employment laws that might apply to the three employees. What action should management take in preparation if any of the three employee file discrimination case and chances of the company win. Recommended Employees Indentified for termination I have identified the employee for termination based on their work experience and job function that could be assimilated by the rest of the five remaining employees in the Human resource (HR) department. The following are: †¢Diane/Ten years of service- records specialist handling the health care issues and compensation matters for the company. Greg/Five years of service- have learned to do complex work however, not trained in real HR work. He has helped in the tech hiring process for the company. †¢Horatio/Six months of service- has been place in the HR department and has learned the basic of health and insurance however, not a full experienced employee in this area. The three employees identified are 2 male and one female. The principle employment law that are relevant to all three employee s is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964- which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Possible Discrimination case against Cost Club The possible three types of discrimination cases filed from any of the identified employees would be: †¢Race Discrimination-Horatio is Hispanic and the newest member of the HR department. He would have to prove because he is Hispanic and limited English language that the company is terminating him because of this factor. Another fact would be that he was hired based on a settlement with the EEO case and not following up with our commitment. I see this second part would not have any grounds because the company gave him an opportunity and hired him. The company in good faith placed him avoid any conflict among other company employees to place him in an office environment instead learning HR practices. He submitted an application to work in one of the stores. I view both facts non relevant because we did hire him and have placed him in a position which he did not apply for and he accepted the position and training we have given him on site†¦ †¢Gender Discrimination-Diane is female and has been with the company for some time. Diane would have to prove that we are terminating her because she is female. This would be very hard to prove because we have not discriminated based on gender and there are two other employees male and one of them is minority in the process of being terminated. Another fact is that the HR department has two other female employees. Diane is also aware that she had a minor attendance performance where we worked with her and still kept her with the company. The company also has other females working in the stores and this indicates that we do not discriminate against gender. Religious Discrimination-Greg cannot work on weekends due to his religious beliefs. He may try to file discrimination because he cannot work on weekends due to his religious beliefs. This would be difficult to prove because the company has respected and have made provisions to accommodate for him to be off on all weekends compared to the rest of the HR department that has to work on weekends when needed. The company would win in such case because we have provided attention to his needs. Management actions and Incorporating legal references Top management and the HR department should work together and be ready for any discrimination claims that any of the three recommended employee might file claims due to their termination. The HR department should meet with each of them in private in our office to explain the reasons why the company has decided to terminate them. We should explain to each employee the laws that the company follows and that the terminations is based on our economy, cost factors and reduction in workforce. Since each employee can file a different discrimination case by providing the reasons and the company projections they should understand fully of the current company situation. We should explain to them that their position will be eliminated and taken over by the more experience remaining employees in the HR department. The company should give all three each employee’s advance notice of termination so they can make necessary arrangements in seeking employment elsewhere. The HR department should provide all information as to their rights, benefits with documentation to the labor department so they can take advantage of unemployment benefits. Since this termination is beyond our control we should ensure that the process is done in a timely and professional positive manner. The HR department should have in our meeting with the employees documentation signed by all in acknowledgement of the company decision and their acceptance. In the case that one of the employee’s do not agree further explanation and any references of any government agency if needed. Discrimination charge response process The process we should follow in even the one of the employees file a discrimination case would be the following: †¢Listen to the employee and assure them the company understands their thoughts. †¢Prepare all documentation on the employee as to name, date for hire, performance reports etc. being ready in advance of such claim. †¢Consult with our legal team in the event the employee wants to fight the claim in legal battle. †¢We should cooperate fully with any claims from the federal agency on any investigation, documentation if we get notification on any discrimination case files by the employee being terminated. The HR department will retain five of the eight employees due to their years of experience with the company and some of them have already assumed a management role to support the department. The remaining employees can assume the new duties in a very short time with no negative impact toward the company mission and goals. The following employees will be recommended to stay in the HR department: Abigail, Brad, Charles, Edith and Frank. Comparison Table Employee Name Employment YearsCompany Human Resource ExperienceRecommendation to remain in HRRecommendation for termination Abigail – 7 HR Experience / Management roleRemain Brad – 35 HR Experience / Management roleRemain Charles – 20HR Experience / Recruitment roleRemain Edith – 25HR Experience / Employee RetentionRemain Frank – 15HR Experience / Multiple HR rolesRemain Diane – 10HR Experience / Insurance Compensation roleTerminate Employment Greg – 5 LimitedTerminate Employment Horatio – 6 monthsLimitedTerminate Employment References Bennett-Alexander, D. D. & Hartman, P. L. (2007). Employment law for business (5th Ed. ). New York: McGraw–Hill. Retrieved February 26, 2010

ANALISIS KUALITAS PELAYANAN, PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP IMAGE essays

ANALISIS KUALITAS PELAYANAN, PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP IMAGE essays ANALISIS KUALITAS PELAYANAN, PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP IMAGE (Studi Pada Penderita Rawat Inap Rumah Sakit) The study was undertaken with the rationale that service quality is an important aspect for organization leaders to consider, especially for service oriented organizations to satisfy their customer. Satisfying the customers provides the organization with a good corporate image. A good corporate image serves as an effective strategy in winning the competition with other businesses of the same type. Leading companies who wish to keep their status should always keep service quality mind. It has to be an absolute concern as the organization does not only have to face the competitors but also the customers who continuously change, vary, and are aware of their needs. Therefore, continuous enhancement of service quality has to be provided. This study is aimed at 1) determining the service quality level of public hospital, form the patient perspective; 2) determining influence of service quality on corporate image. Service quality is measured in five dimensions know as servqual technique. The five dimensions serve as tangibility (x1), reliability (x2), responsiveness (x3), assurance (x4), empathy (x5). The research was conducted at the regional public hospital, with the VIP, first class, and second class patients as the analysis units. Sampling was done by stratified random sampling technique obtain respondents. Gap analysis was used by comparing performance and expectation, while regression analysis was used by the intervariable relationship of the hypothesis. As many as 18 items were used as main instrument of the questionnaire which was distinguished into five quality variables used to collect the data, both through interview and questionnaires to be filled out by respondents. Verification of research instruments showed high reliability and validity. The result of this study showed that gap analysis technique used coul...

Compare & contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Compare & contrast - Essay Example Abstinence is advantageous because it ensures quick transformation from a bad habit to a good habit. For example, a person may decide that starting today; they will never smoke, and then stick to their decision. Secondly, a person may break a bad habit by tapering off, which highly bases on harm reduction. Bad habits result in harm, so one may choose to reduce the harm by reducing the number of times they engage in the bad habit. A person will start cutting back on the bad habit, like gradually rolling back the bad habit until it finally disappears completely. For example, a smoker used to five cigarettes daily may decide to smoke only two, then one, and finally quit smoking. The two ways present different conditions, so one may choose depending on how well they can cope. Comparing the two, abstinence may be harsh and hard considering that a habit, which has existed for many months or years, needs to be broken within a short period. This makes abstinence appropriate for habits such as gambling, but inappropriate for others, such as procrastination. With tapering, one risks prolonging their relationship with the old bad habit if they lose focus. However, tapering is effective as it enables gradual deviation from bad habit, which is less stressful than abstinence. In conclusion, bad habits bear adverse effects on lives, therefore should be abandoned. Before breaking a bad habit, first, it needs to be identified, and then one decides to break it. Different ways of breaking it may be chosen depending on effectiveness and nature of the habit. Abstinence may be useful in addictive behavior influenced by environment, while tapering may be used together with other methods due to its

Viewing the Globe in 2006 and 2056 Part2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Viewing the Globe in 2006 and 2056 Part2 - Essay Example Luckily, I am receiving a fair amount of salary. Software engineers in the company are highly paid. Since I am single, I always have enough money to satisfy my earthly desires. My company is located in Houghton, Michigan. Actually, I can just walk from our house to the workplace. Our family also lives in the City of Houghton. The city is named after Douglass Houghton, an American geologist (â€Å"Houghton,† n.d.). This particular city is among the â€Å"one hundred best small towns in America† (Crampton, 1993). I love my life in this town. It is a safe and quite place to live in. Houghton is far from the populous areas in the state of Michigan. Immigrants in this city are only few. Majority of the people are white. Winter or summer, one can enjoy the beauty of the place. It also offers a lot of outdoor sports like figure skating, ice hockey, hiking, camping, sailing and many others. When I don’t have a work, I go sailing in a nearby lake with my friends and workm ates. In a typical day, I only have two places to go, work and home. It has been my routine to eat boiled potatoes and drink fresh milk every morning. When I go to supermarkets, I always buy potatoes, fresh milk, carrots and bananas. These foods are rich in calcium and vitamin A for strong bones and good eyesight. Being a software engineer, I am always on my chair facing the computer.

Research protocol for Master's level 'Alzheimer disease ' Essay

Research protocol for Master's level 'Alzheimer disease ' - Essay Example la, T., Arai, H., Blennow, K., Andreasen, N., Hofmann-Kiefer, K., DeBernardis, J., Kerkman, D., McCulloch, C., Kohnken, R., Padberg, F., Pirttilà ¤, T., Schapiro, M.B., Rapoport, S.I., Mà ¶ller, H-J., Davies, P., Hampel, H., (2002). Differential Diagnosis Of Alzheimer Disease With Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels Of Tau Protein Phosphorylated At Threonine 231, Arch Neurol; 59: pp. 1267 – 1272. De La Monte, S.M. and Wands, J.R., (1994). Diagnostic Utility of Quantitating Neurofilament –immunoreactive Alzheimer’s Disease Lesions, The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol. 42. NO. 12, pp. 1627-1634. De La Monte, S.M. and Wands, J.R., (1994). Diagnostic Utility of Quantitating Neurofilament –immunoreactive Alzheimer’s Disease Lesions, The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, Vol. 42. NO. 12, pp. 1625-1634. Kohler, J., Riepe, M.W., Jendroska, K., Pilartz, H., Adler, G., Berger, F.M., Calabrese, P., Frolich, L., Gertz, H.J., Hampel, H., Haupt, M., Mielke, R ., Paulus, H.J., and Zedlick, D., (2002). Early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimers disease. Implementation in the doctors office, Fortschr Med Orig; 120(4): pp. 135-41. Lopez, O. L., Swihart, A. A., Becker, J. T., Reinmuth, O. M., Reynolds, C. F., III, Rezek, D. L. and Daly, F. L., III, (1990), Reliability Of NINCDS-ADRDA Clinical Criteria For The Diagnosis Of Alzheimers Disease, Neurology; 40: 1517. Tapiola, T., Lehtovirta, M., Ramberg, J., Helisalmi, S., Linnaranta, K., Riekkinen, P., and Soininen, H. (1998). CSF tau is related to apolipoprotein E genotype in early Alzheimers disease, Neurology; 50: pp. 169 -

North Coat Town- Robert Gray Analysis Essay Example for Free

North Coat Town- Robert Gray Analysis Essay The two utilities both represent the need to use the restroom and his hunger from not eating anything, as he could not afford anything. Just from stanza 1, readers can get the idea that this man is a hitchhiker. This demonstrates the life of these hitchhikers and how they would get through life day after day. In Stanza 2, the man washes himself up at a tap where he steps into mud, as there is always mud at taps. ‘Vandals Lavatory’, Grey uses the word ‘Vandal’ as he does not appreciate people vandalizing the streets to ruin the beauty of the Australian Coast Lines. The persona flushes the toilet and gets a chill whilst flushing, it’s the use of an actual toilet that gives him this chill as hitchhikers if not able to find a nearby toilet will often go in a bush. In Stanza 3, the man eats a floury apple, which he supposedly found in a supermarket bin where you find ruined goods. Grey uses personification ‘At this kerb sand crawls by’ to demonstrate that it was almost like the path was covered in sand moving slowly from the light wind about. Car after car now-its like a boxer warming up with the heavy bag, spitting air’ the cars on the street are busy going somewhere. The use of simile is comparing the cars to a boxing match, how dangerous and violent of each car passing is like a punch by a boxer. In Stanza 4, a car slows down and the man chases after it getting himself a ride. Two cars going shooting. Plastic pennants are everywhere, totally artificial and suggest high pressure selling by city petrol station. A dog is trotting down the road and someone else is hosing down their pavement, demonstrates the ordinary town life. Our image flaps in shop fronts’ Grey uses onomatopoeia. They ‘past the pink ’Tropicana’ motel (stucco with sea shells)’, recalling the Shell station in the first Stanza. As they drive outta town they pass bulldozed acres probably the site of new infrastructure being built. They’re changing the area to look more like ‘California’. ‘Pass an Abo, not attempting to hitch, outside town’, the aboriginal lives outside of town and feels no need to try and catch a ride as there is no point since no one would consider giving them a lift.

Impact of Private Military Companies on Security

Impact of Private Military Companies on Security What impact do Private Military Companies have on International Security? 1. Introduction 1.1. Scenes from Fallujah Towards the end of March 2004, the world bore witness to by now familiar scenes of blood-letting from Iraq. Pictures captured on this occasion by an Associate Press journalist (Mascolo, 2006) showed Iraqis celebrating the killing of two foreigners. Emaciated and hardly recognisable, their bodies hung over the bridge they had just a moment ago attempted to cross. Some 30 miles west of Baghdad, the notoriously restless town of Fallujah formed the backdrop to the ambush where, it emerged from later reports, two of those killed as well as the surviving men were all American nationals who had been tasked with escorting the transportation of foodstuff. When they fell into the trap, all four had been sitting in their car. Following gunfire they incurred the wrath of insurgents keen to seek revenge on whom they saw as unwelcome occupiers by torching their vehicle (Scahill, 2006). Two of them managed to escape in time but the other two, it seems, could not retreat, either because they were al ready heavily injured or were already dead. Even to this day the precise circumstances of what really had happened remain unclear, and it will probably remain so. What is clear, however, is that none of them – either the dead or the survivors – were bona fide soldiers operating in uniform. Belonging neither to the United States Army nor to any other army of the â€Å"coalition of the willing† stationed in Iraq, all four were, to all legal intents and purposes, â€Å"civilians†, who had, at least as it appeared initially, the gross misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. But on closer inspection one could discern that all four of them were employees of Blackwater, a private security company headquartered in Moyock, North Carolina (www.blackwaterusa.com). Founded only eleven years earlier to the incident, Blackwater symbolizes the growth of a new and booming sector of the military economy, which entrusts private companies with tasks that had previously been preserved for the state. Referring to the process of deregulation, which had made this possible, the founder of Blackwater, Erik Prince, explaine d by way of comparison that, â€Å"we are trying to do for national security what Fed Ex did for the postal service. Fed Ex†, he went on to say in an interview with the Weekly Standard, â€Å"did many of the same services the postal service did, better, cheaper, smarter, and faster by innovating [which] the private sector can do much more effectively† (quoted in Hemingway, 2006). What his company was doing, he claimed, was nothing dissimilar and, in fact, in the national interest too, since his employees would save the American ratepayers a substantial amount of tax. 1.2. The challenge of Private Military Companies For those who lived through the twentieth-century, where it was a given that state-instituted regular standing armies which recruited from its own people were entrusted with the nation’s security, this arrangement would strike an inconceivable note. Not even in the heyday of unbridled Victorian laissez-faire liberalism did the state feel the need to call upon publically-traded companies to look after its own geopolitical interests. Yet the self-confidence, expressed by Prince, in the capability of his private firm to provide a better service than the state cannot be pushed aside as mere marketing rhetoric. In 2003, for example, Blackwater, DynCorp and other private military companies (hereafter PMCs) turned over a more than impressive collective profit of 100 million dollars (Mlinarcik, 2006). If the prognosis of forecasters is any guide, this sum is set to double by 2010, making the military market a lucrative one and pointing to further deregulation. Limited to Iraq alone, w here the incident in Fallujah took place, there were at the last count some 60 private security firms operating in the country, with a total number of 20,000 personnel, or â€Å"contractors†, on their books. So ubiquitous have PMCs become that their size now even dwarf that of the British army, the second largest state-sanctioned contingent in the area. More importantly, PMCs have not limited their remit to support or mere logistics, situated far away from the field of combat, but ominously they now increasingly provide armed escorts, security in and around buildings and, if need be, take on roles which would normally be associated with soldiers in a regular army on fields of combat. Such a reliance on contractors moreover is set to escalate as states realise that outsourcing military responsibilities to these private firms, who typically hire experienced veterans of conflict, can be more effective as well as economical. Not least because of these attractions the United States government has taken out over 600 contracts in Iraq alone (Singer, 2003, 17). Such acts of outsourcing, it should be remembered, are not in themselves particularly unusual. Many states have had little qualms about taking on new spheres of responsibility while relinquishing others. Examples such as the postal service, transport and energy are recent industries that spring immediately to mind, and in which there have been notable, if at times controversial, successes. But the sanctioned use of force – the maintenance of security – has been an area that the state has traditionally monopolised. No modern political ideology, either left or right, has questioned the centrality of the state as unrivalled arbiters of peace, and herein lies the reason why the emergence of PMCs strikes the alarming cord it does. 1.3. State, security and PMCs Traditionally, it has only been the state which could, according to the classic definition provided by Max Weber, legitimise the use of power. Through its organs – in the shape of the police and army – the state enjoyed the exclusive right to control, suppress, exert and maintain security within and without (Elias 1997). Only if the state can show off it supreme and legitimate control within its territorial borders, Weber went as far as to say, could the state be worthy of its name (Weber, 120). External interference in the monopoly of the use of force, such as civil wars and organised criminal activity, would cast doubt on the viability of the state as enforcers of security. Crucially, Weber presupposed that â€Å"the exercise of violence can be ascribed to other groups and individuals only to the extent that the state itself permits it† (Weber, 131), a statement which further underscores the tight relationship between the state and its own security. By taking o ver this monopoly on security, then, the concern is that PMCs are mounting a challenge to the centrality of the state as sole and supreme arbiters of power. The very modus operandi, in other words,of the state appears to be threatened. For all of Weber’s brilliance as a thinker, such a classic definition could only have emerged during nineteenth century Europe, for it was the nation-state which reigned supreme at the time; but ever since then advances in modern technology and the movement of both people and information have conspired to limit how much authority states are allowed to wield. Responding to situations when individual states cannot act separately to solve security issues that are international or transnational, Krasner has pointed to moves by the United Nations to intervene in cases of humanitarianism, which incidentally not only emboldens the power of collective states to exercise force in the sphere of international relations, but also serves to limit the powers of states which fall foul of certain international laws. As President Roosevelt put it as far back as 1904: ‘Chronic wrongdoing or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of civilized society, may †¦ ult imately requite intervention by some civilized nations’ (Krasner 1999, 181). While alarming, PMCs should therefore not be considered as complete replacements of the state. Compared to standing armies, which PMCs could not realistically or wholly replace, PMCs would only be entrusted on occasions where there is a demand for its services. They would be delegated select tasks which the state apparatus feels would be better performed when outsourced. Importantly, these firms merely temporarily receive a limited mandate to use violence which would otherwise revert back to the state once contract ends. Such an arrangement, however, can be a potential danger to security, and this is where the fault lines of debate lie. As the last sentences imply, private firms come to the business of war not to serve the national interest but the financial interest. Despite the example of certain companies working only for the US Army, and thus for the national interest, there is nothing that would stop them from serving other states if they thought they could maximize their own pr ofit. To that extent, it is almost exclusively the market that drives them. Such a difference worries some observers because, if PMCs were to choose to work for a rival country, for instance China, they would take knowledge and expertise that had previously resided with the United States for example. Since it is the market that guides them, it is far from out of the question that this will not happen. If not now then it could occur in the future. The question for some is not if – but when. More ominously, by contrast to standing armies, which receive regular supplies of weapons and training by the state, PMCs have as a rule their own cache of weapons that the state would not provide. Such a state of affairs have lead to legitimate concerns that they might fall into the wrong hands when companies are made bankrupt or when the PMCs themselves, having firmly established themselves as multi-national corporations with a global reach and ample resources, should chose to eat the hand that fed them. From a more operational point of view, the security dangers would be manifest on the ground. Employees of PMCs are not strictly-speaking soldiers who are organised hierarchically but are civilians who are only accountable for their actions through the contracts they have made with their clients. Communication problems between two culturally different entities on the field of combat could, it is feared, end up compromising security. Such worrying tendencies, described memorably by K ofi Annan as the â€Å"privatization of security†, if true, go to the heart of what the state is all about: its control over security (Holmqvist, 2005, 8). 2. Literature review 2.1. Popular representations of PMCs Private military companies today are keen to highlight the supportive and positive impact they have on international security. That they should do so is no surprise as corporations want to impress potential clients. To state that they help undermine security would be tantamount to business suicide. Such a reason explains why they are often vigorous in their denial of any criticism that they are in any way â€Å"mercenaries†. Even though firms such as the London-based Armor Group, have names to suggest otherwise, they do stress nonetheless they are in the business of delivering aid rather than unleashing threats to international security. Like most PMCs, the Armor Group is a listed company, headquartered in London, and trade shares in the city’s Stock Exchange as a bona fide business venture. More concretely, as one correspondent reported, it distributed between 2003 and 2007 a staggering â€Å"31,100 vehicles, 451,000 weapons and 410 million rounds of ammunition to the new Iraqi security forces, and items as varied as computers, baby incubators, school desks and mattresses for every Iraqi government ministry† (The Washington Post, 2007). As a publicly traded company, fully licensed by the Iraqi Interior Ministry, Armor Group even took casualties, partly because it decided to refrain from using particularly powerful weaponry for fear of collateral damage. Why? â€Å"[It] did not want to be perceived as a mercenary force† (The Washington Post, 2007). Such pains to present themselves as supporters of states in their bid to maintain security are often dismissed by commentators, fascinated in the phenomenon of PMCs, in favour of a narrative that spins secret plots and conspiracy theories that do little to contribute to the understanding of these companies as new and influential agents of international peace and security. In a recently published book, Blackwater: The Rise of the Worlds Most Powerful Mercenary Army, journalist Jeremy Scahill, for example, entirely commits his analysis to doing just this. Pointing to PMCs as mere mercenaries, he goes as far as to state they would be the tool of choice for an adventurous American President’s covert power schemes. Drawing from otherwise correct premises about the end of the Cold War and the increased need for military know-how, Scahill however slowly strays from this promising start by underestimating the historical developments and the complicated changes which have occurred in t he field of military services contracting. Ultimately, he ends up even ignoring the basic normative definition of â€Å"mercenary person† provided by Article 47 of the 1997 First Additional Protocol (FAP) to the Geneva Conventions. He also washes over numerous lawsuits initiated against Blackwater and other PMCs with reference to alleged safety violations leading to the death of several contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Enlisting the agenda-ridden and highly selective accounts of unnamed US soldiers who were â€Å"envious†, he pours scorn on the attitude of overpaid â€Å"private soldiers [who] whiz by in better vehicles, with better armor, better weapons, wearing the corporate logo instead of the American flag†(The Nation, 28 May 2007). In a similar vein, Publishers Weekly chose to portray private military contractors as â€Å"heir[s] to a long and honourable tradition of contract soldier[s],† providing â€Å"relatively low-cost alternatives in high- budget environments† (Publishers Weekly Editorial Reviews, 10 April 2007). Such portrayals of PMCs suggest contractors for these companies have an easy job. But this is far from the case. First, PMCs employees normally work in small teams which can neither count on close air support nor rely on artillery or mortar fire if backup were needed. The US government does not provide their ammunition, weapons systems or daily meals. Whatever they have or need to have (from their subsistence to the accomplishment of their mission) is privately shipped from the parent-country. Should anything happen, as it did in Fallujah, these personnel are on their own, and the odds during either a conventional fire fight or an ambush are far less in their favour. Second, one is not born a military contractor. Most of them have extensive military experience and/or law enforcement backgrounds, with years of training in special tactics and difficult environments. They worked hard to become the very marketable, final commodity that they represent today. It is not a â€Å"betrayal,â €  on their part, to honour their contract with the Armed Forces and then seek a more lucrative source of income. In addition, once these professionals have left their position (be it within the Armed Forces, a police department or other Federal or local government agency) all previous entitlements as far as life insurance (today in excess of $400,000), health benefits, family members coverage and combat zone tax exemption cease to exist. Although a one year-tour in the Middle East with Blackwater would earn a person with an experienced background between $80,000 and $110,000, this would not necessarily be an overriding incentive to go. Third, PMCs are a competitive work environment: good pay calls for knowledgeable, reliable individuals. The levels of professionalism are in general high, while open calls for concerted monitoring and a better regulatory system have further contributed to an effective screening of those applying for a position with all major military services prov iders (Burns, 2007). 2.2. Scholarly opinions of PMCs Such an excursion must undermine the promiscuous notion that PMCs are die-hards whose sole intention is to con their way into subverting international security. More serious students of international security by contrast have been more cautious and keen to acknowledge the complexity that is involved in assessing the nature of PMCs. From a strictly realist point of view, which assumes the principle of states as rational unitary actors, with their own security at their forefront of their hierarchy of needs, the delegation of power to contractors smacks of surrendering sovereignty per se, and in this sense political scientists of this school of thought would conclude that PMCs have a negative impact on international security. Most obviously this standpoint manifests itself in examples where weak states, â€Å"convulsed by internal violence†, have failed to â€Å"deliver positive political goods to their population† (Rotberg, 2003, 1), which is the reason why they may have to resort to the services of PMCs. Conventionally-speaking this would mean PMCs would compromise security. Yet the privatisation of defence and security, it has been argued, can actually play a positive role in countries which lack structures and technical expertise to achieve stability (Arnold, 1990, 170). By contrast to weak states’ traditional reliance on unpredictable warlords, it is pointed out, foreign military firms can, in fact, provide affordable and effective services to states on a low budget. Without the risk of further disrupting political and social equilibrium, PMCs would act as level-headed participants in conflict swayed less by emotional arguments than by the exclusive need to restore stability. Such an optimistic appraisal of PMCs is adopted by the foremost specialist on them, Peter Singer, who believes that weak states would benefit from their relationship with military companies. Responding to criticism that PMCs would be a drain on the host state’s resources, Singer claims that PMCs in this day and age do not need to secure a diamond mine or an oil fiel d to underwrite their operations – as mercenaries of old had perhaps done. In most instances, a more lucrative market is provided anyway by international emergencies where coalitions of states, large NGOs or international institutions would be willing to pay handsome rewards for their services (Singer, 2002, 190). Such a sentiment is echoed by Jonas Hagmann and Moncef Kartas who remark that â€Å"the shift from government to governance, the trend away from state-centric provision for public services such as security and towards network- and private sector-centric provision, allows international organisations to play a role in the regulation of security governance (Hagmann Kartas, 2007, 285-6). In this framework the calculated risk stemming from entrusting law enforcement activities to private contractors can have a positive outcome. International security is thus upheld. On the opposite front, scholars such as William Reno (2002) have argued that the increasing resort to military contractors would bring about two different but equally negative consequences. First, private firms run the risk of being seen as enforcers of a new order represented by a resurgence of neo-colonialism. That the attackers in Fallujah, described at the beginning of this investigation, did not discriminate between contractors and regular soldiers is perhaps a case in point. Second, the presence and operation of private security firms, which are given the monopoly to exercise violence, would only add to the corruption of local ruling elites. Such a danger would of course apply more to lowly developed countries than highly developed ones, but, it is pointed out, regimes would be keen to utilise foreign professionals in the furtherance of their own agendas, where PMCs would contribute to the worsening of domestic political stability and territorial integrity (Reno, 2002, 70). Such a gloomy assessment is also advanced by Paul Verkuil who warns that â€Å"reliance on the private military industry and the privatisation of public functions has left governments less able to govern effectively. When decisions that should have been taken by government officials are delegated (wholly or in part) to private contractors without appropriate oversight, the public interest is jeopardised† (Verkuil, 2007, 23). More and more government, Verkuil further observes, seem to favour recourse to outsiders, cashing in their own sovereignty as pawns in order to secure a solution to their more personal welfare. Similarly, Thomas Jà ¤ger and Gerhard Kà ¼mmel support the pessimistic view that sees the weakening of the state, especially in lowly developed countries. â€Å"The price for providing security for a beleaguered and cash-strapped government is exorbitant†, they announce, as those services cost â€Å"the contractual sum but also considerable parts of the st ate’s sovereignty† (Jà ¤ger and Kà ¼mmel, 2007, 120). Such pessimism has also been reflected in the work of Ronen Palan who bewails the commercialization of sovereignty. Pointing his finger at the expanding phenomenon of the offshore economy, which provides tax havens and financial facilities to large corporations and affluent individuals, Palan believes that a whole array of illegitimate activities are being staged today in those countries willing to give up on their security (Palan, 2003, 59). 2.3. Future development of PMCs More ominously, scholars such as Thomson see dangerous portents for the future. Even though it would be possible to see the state delegating power, he accepts, in practice â€Å"increasing numbers of African rulers are opting today for alternatives to bureaucratic, territorially bounded institutional arrangements† (Thomson, 1995, 217-218), and are finding in private contractors a critical tool in the furtherance of such design. In support of this thesis, William Reno highlights the â€Å"fragmented sovereignty of Liberian and Sierra Leonean ‘warlord’ political units, and the associated enclave cities of Freetown and Monrovia.† To support their authority these new units have hired foreign contractors—foreign firms and mercenaries—to perform services formerly allotted to state bureaucracies. Closely recalling Rotberg’s definition, Reno points out how these new political units assume the ambiguous status of â€Å"non-state organizations,à ¢â‚¬  profoundly divergent from the traditional norms of the bureaucratic state (Reno 1997, 493). Evidently, these non-states cannot produce societal advancement. They undermine economic development, lead to overlapping jurisdictions, promote conflicts among elites, and intentionally destroy bureaucracies† (Reno, 1997, 494), so as to allow the rulers to profit from the pervasive absence of government. Historically, mercenary groups have thrived in similar environments, but political ambiguity and ethnic-based conflicts are making the line between right and wrong almost impossible to draw between mercenaries and private contractors. More sophisticated, visible and publicly traded companies could, it is feared, one day be found working within these non-states, providing services that are legitimate per se, to far less legal entities. So far, no major private military or security contractor has lent its services to rogue states or actors not recognized by the international commu nity – but it remains a distinct possibility. From all this the implication is clear: does the emergence of PMCs present a real challenge to state security, even to the existence of the state itself? And what impact, if any, have PMCs had on international security? Do they help to undermine or bolster it? Such questions will be posed and answered in the course of this investigation. To do so it will be necessary to assess the extent to which PMCs present a challenge. First, the study will consider the theoretical arguments about sovereignty and security, placing discussion within the context of how the monopoly of violence came to be attached to the state. By doing so it should be possible to lay the foundations on which one can consider the extent of the threat posed by PMCs. Secondly, the study analyses the nature of PMCs themselves as a post-Cold War phenomenon. Taking care to differentiate between different types of organisations as well as discussing similarities ad divergences with armies, the investigation focuses on wher e PMCs should be situated, and considers the problem of where privatization begins and ends. Thirdly, the study looks more specifically at examples of PMCs in action from different parts of the world. All too often, theoretical discussion can be misleading. Dealing empirically with specific cases in the world’s hot spots in which PMCs have been deployed, it would be possible to ascertain the real effects of PMCs on the ground as well as on security in general. By incorporating all three elements – the theoretical/historical, analytical and empirical – it should be possible to reach in conclusion a more accurate understanding of PMCs and their real impact on international security. 3. History and theory of state sovereignty 3.1. State and security in historico-theoretical perspective Before discussion can turn to the extent to which PMCs pose a threat to international security, it would be useful to consider the actor they are supposedly challenging: the state. More specifically, one should reflect on the foundations on which the state monopolises power, question how it developed to do so, and discuss the recent changes to the relationship between the state and security. From a historical point of view, it would of course be possible to trace the existence of the state back as far as the ancient Greeks. Even so, it would be more common and appropriate to pinpoint the direct antecedents of the modern state to the Renaissance when Italy emerged having highly-organised city states. Most important characteristics of these fledging cities were their ability to possess standing armies, organise complicated bureaucracies and institute a rule of law to which the population would adhere. (Heller, 1934, 8). Such a process saw its completion during the eighteenth and nineteenth century, when control, helped by improvements in communications, extended over vast regions, at times spanning the globe. What was the key to this development was the amount of power the state could control. But for a long time power had been divided among different agents who would not necessarily obey the wishes of those in power. Even when Charlemagne, for instance, managed to conquer Europe during the medieval period, he could still not claim he was the most powerful man on the continent, since his Empire was ultimately subjected to recognition from Rome which could, in the figure of the Pope, refuse spiritual recognition. Power could also be left in the hands of the nobility, who for a long time kept peasants in perpetual servitude without the state being able to have a say in the kind of relationship that was forged between master and servant. Many city states, too, which boasted rich cultural and commercial pasts, could also resist the advances of larger states within their territory. Examples such as Florence, Venice, Hamburg and Bremen spring to mind as resistors of this trend, and it is hardly a coincidence that these proud cities for a long time evaded the dictates of administrative centres of Rome and Berlin, delaying the emergence of Italy and Germany respectively as modern nation states. What was crucially important in the eventual emergence of the state was the ability to control the income of the people it subjugated – or more simply: taxes. At the outset taxes were levied as a temporary measure to fight wars but they were eventually made permanent following the One Hundred Year War, which raged between 1337 and 1453. Such a protracted war made it evident that a constant supply of finance to survive and triumph. Such a need in turn meant the creation of a more sophisticated bureaucracy that could effectively collect tax and use it for war. During the early modern period, the contributions of trade and commerce added further to a bulging budget, and the process of urbanisation which made this possible meant that central administrative organs as well as ruling monarchs would reside in towns and cities as a result. More important for the purposes of this investigation was the treaty of Westphalia in 1648 which established the principle of sovereignty. From this time onwards the state gradually established itself as the exclusive form of rule. Most memorably under King Louis XIV, the â€Å"Sun King†, self-appointed monarchs consolidate the supremacy of the state over the Church, towns, people and economy to the extent that it could hardly be challenged. Even if the veracity of Louis’ famous quip – â€Å"L’etat, c’est moi!†- has been questioned, the statement succinctly conveys not only the self-righteousness of the King, but also the importance that was attached to the state itself. For without it the King could hardly cling onto power. Such moves naturally affected the nature of armies too. No longer would hired mercenaries do the job in prosecuting war – they had to be replaced by professional standing armies who would not, unlike mercenaries be fore them, switch sides depending on the way the wind was blowing. Much of the reason why PMCs are striking is because they seem to represent a throwback to a time when foreign nationals could join armies of other countries without this ever causing a stir or leading to doubt about their allegiance. Such a problem never really arose when absolute monarchs held sway. The crucial point was that soldiers should express their allegiance to the king or queen – to the individual head of the state – and that would be sufficient. But with the development of the nation-state, in which it was no longer necessarily to have monarchs for politics to function – circumstances changed so that citizens had to pledge allegiance to the state masquerading as the fatherland, to an abstract concept of the state no less. Such disinterest in the kind of ruler the state embraces has been the hallmark to why the state has successfully remained the central force that it is still today. Concretely it was the philosopher Thomas Hobbes who first realised the full extent of the powers of the state as well as the willingness of people to be subjugated to it. In his classic book Leviathan, written in 1651, he described the natural condition in which there is neither state nor law. Only natural law – or ius naturalis – is present where everybody is free to do what they want. Such a state of affairs leads to all pursuing their own narrow interests, so that it quickly descends into a â€Å"war against all† in which everybody would need to live in constant fear of attacks on their own property, family and life. It is to avoid this situation that people come together to give up some of their freedom in return for guarantees of stability under a contract with Leviathan. Strikingly the Leviathan that Hobbes envisaged had almost unlimited power. Even though Hobbes conceded that citizens had the right of protest, he believed the state had the absolute right to control without which the existence of the state would be compromised. 3.2. Delegation of state competencies Much of the reason why Hobbes invested in Leviathan such radicalism can be explained by the circumstances in which he found himself at the time he came to write his treatise. For it represented a time of the English Civil War, which raged between 1642 and 1649, during which time conflict took place between the King, Charles I and the Parliamentarians who challenged the right of the King to absolute power. Even though the Parliamentarians eventually triumphed, this did little to change the nature of the state, and the basic idea that under contract the state is given exclusive control over the use of violence, and thus the maintenance of security, is something that still lives on. For if the security of the people over whom the state rules is to be at