What Have Been the Main Developments in Strike Activity in Britain over the Last 35 Years?

What have been the main developments in strike activity in Britain over the last 35 years? Strike activity is a form of industrial action that can occur in the workplace once conflict has risen. It is a complete stoppage of work by a group of employees and its aim is to express a grievance or to enforce a demand. (Dundon, Rowlinson, 2011) Employees will usually use a strike as a last resort to deal with issues in the workplace; workers are not able to perform a strike without a stringent process being adhered too with the help of their respective trade union. Employees can voluntarily become a member of a trade union in which they pay for a representative to aid in times of need. Trade unions are used to regulate pay and working conditions between the employer and employee therefore employees will have the support of their trade union during times of proposed strike activity. There have been numerous strikes within the private and public sector workforce since 1978 and this assignment is going to discuss the main developments in strike activity in Britain over the past 35 years. It goes without saying that pre 1978, strikes have occurred (Sapsford, 1982) and played a significant part into more current affairs that can have relevance to post 1978 therefore numerous references maybe made to pre 1978 due to the impact it has had on the present day. Thatcher The process by which strikes have to follow is currently regulated under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1992 (Legislation. Gov, 2013) This law outlines the rights of Trade Unions amongst other things. Notably, this law enforces that trade unions must use a process to perform a strike and this process entails the use of a postal vote called a ballot. Gov. UK,2013) Before this particular law was implemented the leader of the conservative party, Margaret Thatcher, had initiated the idea of making strike action harder to participate in. Margaret Thatcher was the prime minister from 1979 through until 1990 (Blundell,2008) and it was at this stage in history when trade unions were being reined in by seve ral of Thatcher's proposals. Thatcher seen the unions and their occurrence of strike activity to be disruptive and believed that the behaviour of the unions could be repressed by introducing a ballot system (Phillips,1979). This meant that employees would have to participate in a secret ballot to decide on whether to involve themselves in strike action. The introduction of this process was ruled by the Trade Union Act 1984 and meant that unions wouldn't be able to lawfully strike unless they had a majority vote (Carby-Hall,1984) therefore prolonging and hindering the prospect of employees and unions participating in strike activity. Winter of Discontent Thatcher's introduction of such law appeared not long after one of the most momentous episodes of strike activity in history. The winter of discontent' occurred between 1978 to 1979 and was recognised as the largest stoppage of labour since the 1926 General Strike (Winter of Discontent,2007). This period of work stoppages appeared as a result of high unemployment and impolitic incomes policy, therefore workers felt the desire to fight the labour government and with the increasing size and militancy of public sector unions, the ‘winter of discontent ' achieved a record status of days lost through strikes(Reitan,2003). Numerous amounts of unions and employees participated in strikes throughout the period of the ‘winter of discontent'; Britain journeyed through power cuts, rubbish pilled in the streets and school closures along with a reduction to a three day working week (Elliott, 2008) all in the representation of workers welfare. A total of 39 million days were lost throughout the period between 1978 and 1979 (Gall, 2011) Coal Miners Strike The most significant affair of strike activity after Thatcher's regulatory implementation to tackle trade union power was the coal miners' strike in 1984. This work stoppage arose after the recession in the early 1980's which cut the demand for coal exposing the less productive parts of the industry. The strike lasted a whole year and included the involvement of several thousand workers and was the most important defeat for trade union movement since the General Strike in 1926 according to Lyddon. (Lyddon, 2013) This particular strike was catastrophic in regards to the potential effects not just on the coal mining industry, but also other industries that could have been affected by the decisions that lay within Mrs Thatcher's power. Nick McGahey, the vice president on the NUM told a news conference that the strikers are not just fighting for their own jobs, but for the jobs other people from different industries (Miners Strike,2013). The steel, engineering and electrical industry will also experience knock on effects of numerous pit closures. As one can imagine being placed in Margaret Thatcher's position as this moment in time may have been pressured to say the least, due to the scale of the strike. In 1984 there were 187,000 people in total who were miners and over half of them were participating in strike activity (Miners Strike, 2013). Along with the implications of the political decisions being made, unemployment rates were at an all time high of over 3 million people unemployed. This figure was the highest since the period of the General strike in 1926 (ONS, 2013). For Mrs Thatcher, a strike of this measure must have been enough to have to tame, never mind having to battle with such high unemployment figures. This situation alone could have been enough for the general public to view Mrs Thatcher in a negative light but she was re-elected as prime minister for the third time in 1987 (Margaret Thatcher, 2013).

The Importance of Protected Sex

Can you imagine having to urge to go pee 24 7, or what about gaining anywhere from 30 to 60 pounds, or even worse, contracting one of those nasty STD's we've all heard about? Well neither can I. Therefore, when abstinence is not an option, protected sex is a must. In todays world, the image of sex is portrayed everywhere. On TV, the radio, social networking sites, even school and public settings. Teenagers are constantly surrounded by sexual intensions, it’s a part of culture that is truly unavoidable. The media, portrays sex as fun and glamorous in plenty of ways, whether its movies, reality shows, or magazine ads, they never portray sex as something awful that can completely ruin your life, and give you no option but to take a turn for the worst. Teen sex in todays world, is nothing but false advertising. Most teens are not informed and educated on the risks of sex, and that is not entirely their fault. Parents tend to assume that children learn everything they need to know in school, and if they're not asking questions, that they're not even thinking about. That’s where their wrong. Most teens are timid about discussing this subject with their parents and are embarrassed to even bring it up. Studies show that teenager who can talk to their parents about uncomfortable subjects, including sex, are less likely to become sexually active at an early age. When teens turn to their peers about sex, they get sugar coated information that they have developed from the media, which leads them into thinking incredibly false things. Simply talking to your parents, discussing methods of protection, and how to obtain them could save teens lives, not to mention their reputations. Although teen pregnancy rates in Canada have declined greatly, the problem is far from solved. Pregnancy and being a mother is something much too large for any teenager to even grasp. The stress, anxiety, and toll it takes on your mind and body, is something no teen is ready for in high school. Pregnancy is an overall uncomfortable situation, consisting of sickness, weight gain, mood swings, swollen feet, constant urination, increased appetite, and much more. Not to mention, pregnant teens will most likely not want to attend school, with all the stress and sickness, school is just not where they want to be, which will eventually result in poor grades and likely failure. Raising a child, requires money, money requires a job, which most always will require education. Acquiring an education can be near impossible when you have a baby at home, your focus would be all over the place and if you didn't have a good family support system, it would be difficult to complete homework and assignments. Okay, so we have all sat through those nasty sex ed presentations, disgusted at the images of unheard of STD's. Passing up the knowledge from those presentations as something gross that would never happen to you, could be the worst mistake of your life. Teens contract STD's daily, never expecting it.. With Chlamydia becoming a pandemic in our province, it is very important to trust nobody, and use protection every single time you partake in sexual activities. Believe it or not, you can contract an STD from something so simple as kissing, gross right? Before you trust your partner, make sure you are well aware of their sexual history, and make them aware you are not willing to do anything without protection. The price teens could pay for begin sexually active far outweigh and advantages. Contracting an STD, becoming pregnant, and jeopardizing the rest of your life are only a few of the horrifying results of unprotected teen sex. Teens need to become educated and aware of all the risks, from parents or health professionals. Although the media might portray sex as something as simple and brushing your teeth, it’s a terrible trail to take. | ?

The Glass Menagerie

A persons life isn’t always what it’s expected to be. Every ones lives tell a completely different story, whether it’s sad or it’s joyful. Tennessee Williams shows a great example of three peoples lives in his play â€Å"The Glass Menagerie†. In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses several different themes throughout the play, including control in Amanda, Laura and Tom’s lives. Laura is one of the characters that gets a lot of control in her life, by her mother Amanda. â€Å"We have to be making some plans and previsions for her. She’s older than you. † (Williams 763) Amanda is the one speaking in the quote above, she is speaking to Tom. Amanda is saying that they need to be making plans and changes in Laura’s life. She technically wants to control Laura’s life. Amanda is the mother of Tom and Laura but she tries to control everything they do. Amanda is the controller of her son and daughter, Tom and Laura. She either controls what they do or tries to control their future. â€Å"†¦ it would be nice for your sister if you brought home some nice young man from the warehouse†¦ (756) Amanda says that to Tom. â€Å"Laura, are you going to do what I asked you to , or do i have to get dressed and go out myself? † Amanda says this to Laura. As you can tell Amanda is very bossy, she wants Tom to get Laura a nice young man from the warehouse and commands Laura to go somewhere for her. Laura usually does what her mother says but Tom sometimes yells back her and makes a big ar gument start. On the other hand Tom gets controlled by his mother, Amanda, but he tries to defend himself. Whenever Tom and Amanda argue Tom tries to defend himself by talking back to her, for example, â€Å"House, house! Who pays the rent on it, who makes himself a slave to-† (759) Tom is complaining to Amanda how he is the one who pays the rent when she is trying to accuse him for doing nothing. In every argument that they have, Tom doesn’t let it go, he keeps it going. Williams had several different themes in The glass Menagerie. Control was one that stood out to me. Obviously Amanda was the overall controller. She tried to control Laura and Toms lives. â€Å"You smoke too much. A pack a day at fifteen cents a pack, how much would that amount add up to in a month? † (764) Amanda tries to control Toms smoking habits, but he’s a grown man and he decided to smoke and she has to deal with it now. She is not always going to have control over him or even Laura’s life. When i read this play, i could kind of relater to Laura’s life. Control is also in my life, from my parent. They simply want me to have a better life, sort of like Laura in the play. â€Å"I want you to be someone in life and want you to have a career that you enjoy doing. (My parents) My parents don’t want me to end up working at a fast food restaurant for the rest of my life, they want me to continue my education so i can end up with a career that will pay me the big bucks. I’m pretty sure anyone has some kind of control in their lives. Control was one of the themes that Tennessee Williams used in The Glass Menagerie. Control in this play is important becau se it is one of the main themes, and shows how peoples lives can be when we might think it’s the total opposite. The Glass Menagerie A persons life isn’t always what it’s expected to be. Every ones lives tell a completely different story, whether it’s sad or it’s joyful. Tennessee Williams shows a great example of three peoples lives in his play â€Å"The Glass Menagerie†. In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams uses several different themes throughout the play, including control in Amanda, Laura and Tom’s lives. Laura is one of the characters that gets a lot of control in her life, by her mother Amanda. â€Å"We have to be making some plans and previsions for her. She’s older than you. † (Williams 763) Amanda is the one speaking in the quote above, she is speaking to Tom. Amanda is saying that they need to be making plans and changes in Laura’s life. She technically wants to control Laura’s life. Amanda is the mother of Tom and Laura but she tries to control everything they do. Amanda is the controller of her son and daughter, Tom and Laura. She either controls what they do or tries to control their future. â€Å"†¦ it would be nice for your sister if you brought home some nice young man from the warehouse†¦ (756) Amanda says that to Tom. â€Å"Laura, are you going to do what I asked you to , or do i have to get dressed and go out myself? † Amanda says this to Laura. As you can tell Amanda is very bossy, she wants Tom to get Laura a nice young man from the warehouse and commands Laura to go somewhere for her. Laura usually does what her mother says but Tom sometimes yells back her and makes a big ar gument start. On the other hand Tom gets controlled by his mother, Amanda, but he tries to defend himself. Whenever Tom and Amanda argue Tom tries to defend himself by talking back to her, for example, â€Å"House, house! Who pays the rent on it, who makes himself a slave to-† (759) Tom is complaining to Amanda how he is the one who pays the rent when she is trying to accuse him for doing nothing. In every argument that they have, Tom doesn’t let it go, he keeps it going. Williams had several different themes in The glass Menagerie. Control was one that stood out to me. Obviously Amanda was the overall controller. She tried to control Laura and Toms lives. â€Å"You smoke too much. A pack a day at fifteen cents a pack, how much would that amount add up to in a month? † (764) Amanda tries to control Toms smoking habits, but he’s a grown man and he decided to smoke and she has to deal with it now. She is not always going to have control over him or even Laura’s life. When i read this play, i could kind of relater to Laura’s life. Control is also in my life, from my parent. They simply want me to have a better life, sort of like Laura in the play. â€Å"I want you to be someone in life and want you to have a career that you enjoy doing. (My parents) My parents don’t want me to end up working at a fast food restaurant for the rest of my life, they want me to continue my education so i can end up with a career that will pay me the big bucks. I’m pretty sure anyone has some kind of control in their lives. Control was one of the themes that Tennessee Williams used in The Glass Menagerie. Control in this play is important becau se it is one of the main themes, and shows how peoples lives can be when we might think it’s the total opposite.

History 101 Constitution Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History 101 Constitution Assignment - Essay Example Before the approval and implementation of the new US Constitution, the existing 13 member colonies used the Articles of Confederation established and ratified in 1787, by Second Continental Congress as a guide in governing the union (Bederman 89). The national government that operated under the Articles of Confederation proved too weak and therefore could not effectively handle and regulate the numerous conflicts emerging between the states. Therefore, some of the leaders proposed for a new instrument of government to replace the weak one. Due to the emergent weaknesses, the purpose of the Philadelphia Convention was to rectify the weaknesses witnessed in the Articles that had existed even before the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War. Even though the aim of the Convention was to rectify the Articles, some of the leaders in attendance, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, coming from New York and Virginia respectively, intended to create a new government rather than rectify the existing one (Whittington 119). The two leaders came together and vigorously campaigned for the new Constitution. According to them, improved stability of the Union government was necessary in order to protect commerce and property. Being federalist, they vigorously campaigned for a very powerful central government with a large republic to control factions. According to Hamilton, the common people are ignorant and thus, incapable of rul ing themselves (Education Portal 1). Therefore, he asserted that the only people to rule should be the elites. Consequently, since the common people cannot rule, Hamilton proposed of unequal voting qualifications between the elites and common people. Thus, elites need to be accorded higher voting qualifications compared to the common people. However, Thomason Jefferson championed for states? rights as well as the trueness of democratic principles. Unlike Hamilton and his group, Jefferson believed in the capacity of the common man to rule or self-govern (Education Portal 1). Due to this, he supported lowering of voting qualifications of the elite in order to march those of the elite in society. It is therefore true that some leaders wanted a new system of government in order to address several issues related to governing. 2.Using citations from the Constitution, identify and explain the structure and function of the three Branches of government. Is this more in line with â€Å"Hamil tonian† or â€Å"Jeffersonian† political philosophy? The American Constitution is considered the oldest constitution in the world, and which exists in the contemporary world. Since its adoption and inception on September 17, 1787, it has guided and created governmental institutions within America as well as contributed to the political stability, economic freedom, social progress, and individual freedom in USA for over 200 years (Amar 70). It forms the main instrument of the U.S government as well as the supreme law within America. Its simplicity and flexibility has made it a model for other constitutions in the world. Constitution was established in the 18 century to guide 4 million people. However, after undergoing 27 amendments, the constitution currently serves over 260 million people in 50 different states within the U.S. Since the U.S Constitution forms the central instrument of the government, it provides direction on how the country is governed. It outlines the structure and functions of the three branches of the U.S Government; The Executive Branch; The Judicial

Pacifism and violence Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pacifism and violence - Assignment Example Alice Hertz’s sacrifice, like many others who did as she did, was meant for a noble cause. This noble cause was to save more lives from being wasted in the Vietnam war. Whether, that worked or not is a different issue altogether. In this reading, Gould (2010) is evaluating the question of pacifists who believe that disputes can be settled peacefully. The reading suggests that pacifists’ virtues occur in their rejection of war and their affirmation of nonviolent communication and conflict resolution. That pacifists seek lifelong nonviolent moral commitment is a proactive moral commitment. To their opposites, they are cowards because they necessitate no moral commitment. Pacifists may not be heroes per se, but they embody no cowardice. Where cowardice saves life and brings about peaceful coexistence, pacifism becomes a virtue. Pacifists emphasize their value for life by endeavoring to end violent ways of seeking peace. This effort works to support a moral commitment to preserve life. Therefore, the question of whether pacifists are cowards or brave lies in ones moral

Qualitative Market Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Qualitative Market Research - Essay Example The researcher aims to develop primary research and gain first hand information from the customers for the launch of Kit Kat chocolate slab. Hence, employed in this research are two techniques of primary research to update perception of Kit Kat among chocolate eaters. Findings of the primary data have been presented. In addition the researcher has discussed in detail the various aspects of the research techniques employed. Researcher has also shed light on other techniques (that have not been employed due to resource constraint) identifying aspects that could have been explored based on employment of other techniques. Research Method 1- PRIMARY RESEACH Among two broad categorization of research is primary and secondary research. Primary research refers to research methodology with analysis and fact finding from data that has been collected for the first time and has not been through application of any techniques before (Glass, 1976). Among many techniques designed for primary researc h, two that have employed in this research are individual interview and focus group interviews. Both techniques have been employed face to face. Interview method of data collection refers to oral and verbal response to oral and verbal queries. ... The other method of unstructured interview provides interviewee with freedom to response but increases deviations resulting difficulty in comparing responses (Sekaran, 2006). 1.1.1- EFFECTIVENESS Effectiveness of personal interviews is dependent on the level of contribution from both sides; i.e. interviewee and interviewer. Interviewer shall provide comfortable environment providing ease to interviewee to openly and comfortably present his/ her views. Moreover, interviewer possessing dominant attitude affect the effectiveness of overall methods. Interviewee is usually asked for prior consent and hence, shall be true in information provision. 1.2- FOCUS GROUP SESSION Focused group discussion is conducted to explore responses of individuals' to any existing products, concept or ideas. It is based with degree of formal discussion usually among group of 6 to 8 participants. Participants are directed by moderator towards point of discussion acting as a psycho-therapist. During discussion moderator avoids reflecting any of personal views and encourages participants to provide increased response. This format also is generally initiated by moderator; however, rigidness of the order of question is somewhat relaxed in this format. 1.2.1- EFFECTIVENESS Effective focused discussion can be achieved with moderator playing role in true spirit, avoiding taking side of either participants and encouraging entire group to participate almost equally. Moreover, participants must also maintain to present their view than dominating the group. Effectiveness of the focused discussion can also be achieved with carrying discussion in well defined flow: initially warming up participants with thoughts; exploring important

Strategic Marketing Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Strategic Marketing Assignment - Essay Example It has same responsibilities as in any large corporations that could be found. 3.2.2 Senior management is comprised of talented and experienced people in the industry, and was given specific responsibilities in the company’s operation. Giving responsibilities is an act of recognition of talents which according to Deutsch, Barry n.d. is one way of keeping best employees. An example is Neil Montefiere, the current CEO and Executive Director of StarHub who brought with him his 36 years of telecom experience. Neil was chosen as Asia’s Best Executive and one of the 100 most powerful people in the industry in 2010. (See Annex 1 ) Corporate culture is defined as an organization’s shared values, symbols, behaviors and assumptions or simply put, ‘it is the way things are done†. (Jason, Martin. M. 2006) StarHub has a vision â€Å"to be Singapore’s first choice for information, communication, and entertainment services† and a mission â€Å"To provide every person, home and business in Singapore with world-class multimedia services and content. (Starhub 2012) StarHub considers people as their as their most important assets in the communication industry. Management fosters a work culture that values teamwork, customer responsiveness and reliability. Its core values are Excellence, Integrity and Teamwork. In setting up, Pophal, Linda.( 2009)said goals for business should be realistic, measurable and achievable. For this purpose, goal is to increase customer base by 10% in 2013. But how could this be done? These could be done by wrapping up the 4Ps of business – the product, price, place and promotion. Although Starhub Mobile is the last entrant to the Singapore’s mobile market, operating nation-wide, it is now the nation’s second largest mobile service provider. It is recognized by customers due to its innovative and pioneering services and pricing plans offered to users. For

Samsung Singapore Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Samsung Singapore - Essay Example The strategies, projections, and future scenarios of the company are significantly reliant on the tastes, decisions, views, and preferences of the customers. A close attention to the changes in customers’ preferences and opinions is important for the survival of the business. In order to have a competitive advantage Samsung must invest in continuous research practices and maintain feedback mechanisms through social media. This would help the company to carry out necessary changes in line with the market realities. Companies in the telecommunication industry in Singapore have developed strategies for retaining both high-level and low-level clientele through promotions and improved customer care services. Suppliers In the past Samsung has had to contend with the bargaining power of suppliers. Few suppliers operate on the level of standards that meet Samsung thresholds of value. There have been tendencies of these suppliers to use their privileged positions to make arbitrary chan ges in prices, which affect the operations of Samsung precisely because there are no suitable substitutes for the products. In order to survive such eventualities, Samsung would have to cultivate positive working relations with the suppliers or enter into long-term contracts that have the element of stability. This would impact positively on the growth of the company. Economics and Geography Economic and geographical factors have had some significant impact on the performance of Samsung Singapore in the previous financial periods. The growth of the country’s economy has had significant impacts on Samsung Singapore. For instance, the tourism industry and the information and technology sectors have experienced significant growth in the past decade. One of the...56). However, new market realities have emerged demanding some changes in the way, which companies operate their businesses in. Samsung Singapore will have to carry out strategic changes in its operations in order to kee p up with the pressure of competition from emerging competitors and other macro-economic forces that affect the status of the industry. In the recent past global Samsung has taken advantage of the synergies of globalization and liberalization to spur growth and positive performance (Niewwenhuizen, 2009 p. 58). The need for strategic reorganization is based on the necessity of total quality management policies within the company. Competitors The past two decades have witnessed a consistent growth of stiff competition on the mobile telephone sub-sector in Singapore. Favourable government regulation policies and the policies of liberalization are some of the external factors that contribute to the competitive factor on the market. In order to survive, many companies have engaged in promotions, expensive advertisements, and value addition services that are aimed at increasing their influence in the vast mobile telephone market. Samsung utilizes its strong revenue base and modern market practices to maintain its profile on the competitive market environment (Adekola & Sergi, 2007). Multiple strategies ranging from strategic marketing to price modulations have also ensured the growth of the company. The process of planning cuts across the various levels of the organization.

Dictatorships in the World Today Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dictatorships in the World Today - Term Paper Example This has resulted in a global demand for capitalism, democracy, and individual rights. The 2010 and 2011 protests in the Middle East and North Africa corroborate this observation to the extent that those uprisings were motivated by, and carried out on behalf of, an opposition to dictatorial rule. Even one of the last few true dictatorships in the world, which is the reign of Muammar Al-Gaddafi, is under attack right now from American-supported rebels in the Libyan Civil War. This wave of change means that while dictatorships remain in the world in a few particular places, it seems that in only a decade the world may not have the problems associated with dictatorial rule. A poignant example of dictatorship in today’s world is the hereditary succession of Kim Il-Sung (â€Å"the Great Leader†) and Kim Jong-Il of North Korea (â€Å"the Dear Leader†). Kim Jong-Il represents dictatorship because of the cult of personality that he attracts from the citizens of North Kor ea. As opposed to modern democracies, which tend to rely on notions of politicians as pragmatic champions of the people, a cult of personality attracts an idealized or heroic public imagery to an individual. That is, instead of merely arguing for policies conducive to a better life for average citizens, a leader like Kim Il-Sung or Kim Jong-Il is thought to be directly responsible for a country’s success and he does this through absolute authority. Kim Jong-Il in particular is thought of having god-like powers, control of magic, and the ability to perform feats that no other men can (Kang & Rigoulot, 2005). In addition, nationwide celebrations are held for his birthdays. The motivations behind these celebrations are partly that the citizens of North Korean truly respect him, or that they fear punishment for not partaking (Mansourov, 2007). In this manner, the regime of North Korea truly represents a modern dictatorship. Like North Korea, the country of Libya is led by a dicta tor who commands instant respect from his people. Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi, who is the unofficial leader of the Libyan government, operates under the title of â€Å"Brotherly Leader and Guide of the Revolution†, which refers to the late 1960s Socialist coup d’etat that Al-Gaddafi led. In many ways, Al-Gaddafi fits the mold of a 20th century dictator. Today, his regime is defined by condemnable acts, including the outlawing of dissent, removal of foreign languages from schools, censoring of the press, central planning of the economy, assassinations of foreign leaders abroad, the creation of weapons of mass destruction program, and sponsorship of the Lockerbie bombing incident (BBC, 2009). Unlike the North Korean regime, the Libyan government led by Al-Gaddafi has been challenged in the Libyan Civil War and as of 2011, the government controls only half of the country due to resistance from the uprising. Despite Al-Gaddafi’s explicitly and well-known dictatorial style, he has forged connections with a broad base of European and Asian powers to boost the status of Libya in the world. For instance, he brokered deals with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 and met with Russian leaders in 2008 to discuss the supply of weapons to Libya (Reuters, 2008). In addition, the Chinese government has extensive economic interest tied with Libya with regard to the growing demand for oil in East Asia (Ford,

The History of Valentines Day Essay Example for Free

The History of Valentines Day Essay The story goes that when the Roman Empire wars broke out married men did not want to leave their families, younger men did not want to leave their sweethearts. As a result of the low enrolment of men to fight the wars, Claudius the Cruel ordered that no more marriages or engagments should be celebrated. A priest, named Valentine, defied the order and married young couples in secrtcy. When Claudius discovered what had happened, he had Valentine dragged off and imprisoned, where he died. What he did for young lovers was remenbered and is still celebrated on St. Valentines Day. Steps: 1. Italic, center and increase the font size of the title to 18 points. 2. Make the paragraph 12 points Courier New (not the title) 3. Indent the first line of the paragraph 4. Underline the words â€Å"men† in the paragraph 5. Bold any form of the word â€Å"Valentine† in the paragraph 6. Spell check the document (there should be 2 spelling errors, but Claudius is spelled correctly) 7. Highlight the answer to the following question: Who married young couples when it was ordered that no more marriages should be celebrated? 8. Use the cut and past options to put the following steps in order: Valentine was imprisoned for not following orders Claudius the Cruel ordered not more marriages. Married and young men didn’t want to leave their loved ones for war. 9. Include a header in the right upper corner. 10. Insert and center below the corrected story a clip art of a valentine or other mentioned item of the story.

Thucydides and international relations

Thucydides and international relations Thucydides is seen by some scholars as the first writer in the realist tradition as well as the founding father of International Relations.[1] There are contrasting interpretations of the History of the Peloponnesian War as Thucydides rarely gives his opinion about the events described and the characters actions. This essay will adopt the realist interpretation of Thucydides and argue that he is still relevant today due to the prevalence of fear, self interest and power politics in todays world. It will use competing interpretations of his work to show that, even though there are important differences between his world and todays world, his insights into human nature are relevant and are one of the best sources to learn from history.[2] Thucydides work is valuable as it investigates the causes and dynamics of war. He states: What made war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta. [3] According to Lebow, power transition theories are based on the premise that hegemons are unwilling to relinquish their status to upcoming powers.[4] Power transition theories investigate how a shift in an actors power in the system affects other actors. Theorists stress the critical importance of changes in the relative power of states as these changes produce fear and result in the security dilemma. Thus the system becomes increasingly unstable and small events can precipitate a major conflict. [5] Sparta was afraid that a shift in the balance of power would be to the detriment of its national security and thus according to power transition theory it felt aggression was necessary to address the imbalance. A theme that dominates Thucydides narrative is how fear in conjunction with honour and i nterest result in a state taking action in the hope of safeguarding its national security and independence.[6] The Peloponnesian war was the product of two developments. The first was the uneven and unprecedented growth of Athens. The issuance of the Megarian Decree was another provocative action. Athens believed that the integrity of their empire was at stake due to their fear of a revolt of their colonies. Athenss use of economic sanctions aimed to dislodge Megara from its alliance with Sparta posing a direct threat to Spartan and Corinthian security.[7] The Corinthians warned their Spartan allies that unless they asserted themselves against the Athenians, they (the Corinthians) would form a new alliance thus harming Spartan security. Thus Sparta delivered the ultimatum calling for the revocation of the Megarian decree. Rejection of the ultimatum was the immediate cause of the war. Thus the security dilemma can be said to have drove the hegemons into a war that neither desired.[8] A modern example of this theory is the change in American perception of Soviet power after the first Soviet ICBM launch. The so called missile gap resulted in US insecurity as the Kennedy administration believed Khruschchev was behaving aggressively in Berlin because he felt the power balance was shifting in his favour. Concern to maintain US power led Kennedy to increase the US strategic buildup.[9] However Kauppi states that there are intervening variables preventing the shifting balance of power leading to war in the cold war world. He cites modern examples of the restraining effect of nuclear weapons, and the existence of neutrals as having a stabilizing influence by not entrapping the superpowers in a zero sum game. He also cites the role of ideology as convincing both superpowers that they could win without war. [10] Thus while power transition theory and the resultant fear explain the pressure imposed on states, other factors can prevent fear from resulting in war. Lebow con tests the basis of power transition theory by pointing out that Athens reached the zenith of its power 20 years before the outbreak of war, he adds that it is the perception of power that is vital to power transition theory and war. The effect of middle powers like Corinth is another factor to consider. [11] While there was no direct conflict between the superpowers in the cold war, the massive defence budgets and development of weapons of mass destruction shows that both superpowers were using fear to deter their enemy and acting on fear by arming themselves. Another central feature of Thucydides thought is that of self interest. According to Gilpin, Thucydides believed that human nature was unchanging and since human beings were driven by interest, pride and fear, they always seek to increase their wealth until others driven by like passions, try to stop them.[12] In the Melian dialogue the Athenians say: Our opinion of the gods and our knowledge of men lead us to conclude that it is a general and necessary law of nature to rule wherever one can. [13] The Athenians state that maintaining their empire is their only concern and they try to convince the Melians that it is in their interest to surrender. They ask the Melians to ignore the matter of justice and claim that it is not in Spartas interest to intervene on their behalf.[14] The Melian dialogue shows the primacy of self interest not only as a practical course of action but as a law of nature. A modern example of self interest is the statist concept the national interest- seen in th e Mytilenian debate. Even though Cleon and Diodotus have different thoughts of the way forward they both seek to deal with the situation to Athenss benefit. For Diodotus, considerations of justice are inapplicable to interstate relations. [15] A modern example of the national interest at work is the October, 2006 United States doctrine on space. The United States will preserve its rights, capabilities, and freedom of action in space and deny, if necessary, adversaries the use of space capabilities hostile to US national interests. [16] In todays world while the national interest is seen as a guiding principle it need not always be action by a sole state. States may cooperate to ensure the common good. In an increasingly globalised world states must consider and temper their exercise of national interest. The development of international law, particularly humanitarian law, shows that there are norms of non intervention and human rights that states are obliged to follow. Condemnation from the international community in case of their violation would not be in a states national interest. Thus while the national interest is a key component of state decision making, today, the experience of two world wars and the prevalence of liberal ideas mean that the national interest is still important but not the sole reason for state behaviour. Self interest and fear result in power politics. The Athenians say ones ability to engage in power politics depends on strength. The standard of justice, depends on the equality of power to compel and that, in fact, the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.[17] Thus ones ability to enforce ones demands depends on relative power. The quote above from the Melian dialogue shows Athens warning Melos to submit as they are too weak to resist. Since there is anarchy in relations among states, the order that exists is created and sustained by the powerful that impose their power within their sphere of influence. States, like individuals, are motivated by fear and self interest and appeal to justice only when their interest is served. The natural right of the stronger to rule over the weaker is a rather simplistic explanation and justification of imperialism. [18] A modern example of this is the ultimatum given by the US warning countries that they were either with us or against us. This can be seen as a threat to compel unity in the war on terror. Thucydides adds that an actors power determines his treatment thus showing the essential nature of the balance of power in international relations. This is the safe rule to stand up to ones equals, to behave with deference towards ones superiors and to treat ones inferiors with moderation. [19] A quote from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about nations that didnt support the war on Iraq illustrates this: Punish France, ignore Germany and forgive Russia.[20] For Thucydides it is a law of nature that the weak become subject to the strong and when the opportunity of aggrandisement is offered by superior strength considerations of right and wrong are sacrificed to self interest. [21] Welch adds that while Thucydides does not deny the notion of universal justice; he simply acknowledges that for better or worse it has no constraining force in a system composed of states unequ al in power.[22] However Bagby argues that not all states choose to maximise power. He cites the example of Sparta and how the Corinthians call them timid and weak in contrast to Athens. King Archidamus of Sparta confirms these national differences when he asks fellow Spartans to be not ashamed of the slowness and dilatoriness for which they censure us most.[23] According to Doyle, the political ideologies of both Athens and Sparta, and the different sectors of society they appealed to, were an important component of their conflict. He picks up on Thucydides emphasis on the national character of Athens, both in its restless culture and its democratic institutions, as well as the character of Sparta, with its slow and cautious character and the conservation of its oligarchic institutions.[24] Thus the goal to maximize power can be seen as a powerful motivator but domestic influences and domestic character are also important. In conclusion, Thucydides was among the first to set out three basic assumption of classical political realism: states are the key units of action, they seek power either as an end in itself or as a means to other ends and they behave in ways that are by and large rational. [25] While Thucydides has been interpreted in various ways, his ideas about human nature fear, self interest and power maximisation are enduring. They explain the pressures acting on states in todays world pushing them to make decisions. While there are many differences between today and his time, Thucydides effectively explains the psychological and social tendencies in strategy and is thus still relevant today. Bibliography International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002. The Use and Abuse of Thucydides, Bagby, L, International Organization, 48, 1, Winter. Political Theories of International Relations, Boucher, D, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Ways of War and Peace, Doyle, M, New York, Norton, 1997. Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991. Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Welch, D, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003. www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0525-09.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6063926.stm Paul Viotti and Mark Kauppi as cited in Bagby, L, The Use and Abuse of Thucydides, International Organization, 48, 1, Winter, Page 131 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 1 Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Page 36 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 135 Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, page 301 Kauppi, M, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 103-104 Gilpin, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 34-35 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 127 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 142 Gilpin, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 47-48 Lebow, R, Hegemonic Rivalry, R N Lebow, B Strauss (eds), Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1991, Page 128 As cited by Welch, Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, Page 304 Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Page 57 Ibid Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, Page 76 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6063926.stm Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Page 52 Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, Page 75 Brown, C, Nardin, T and Rengger N, International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the ancient Greeks to the First World War, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002, Page 58 www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0525-09.htm Welch, D, Why International Relations theorists should stop reading Thucydides, Review of International Studies, 29, 3, 2003, Page 75 Ibid Bagby, L, The Use and Abuse of Thucydides, International Organization, 48, 1, Winter, Page 138 Doyle, M, Ways of War and Peace, New York, Norton, 1997, Page 150-152 Keohane as cited in Bagby, L, The Use and Abuse of Thucydides, International Organization, 48, 1, Winter, Page 132