Essay on The Tragic Hero of Antigone - 871 Words

Everyone agrees that Oedipus is the quintessential Greek tragic hero. In fact, Aristotle had Oedipus specifically in mind when he first set down the requirements for tragedy in his Poetics. However, in other Greek tragedies, the tragic hero isn’t always so easy to identify. For example, in the play Antigone, the reader may have some difficulty deciding who the tragic hero is. Nevertheless, a careful examination of the facts reveals that Antigone is the true tragic heroine because she’s brave, flawed, and noble. Antigone is a tragic hero because she is brave. One instance where Antigone shows bravery is when she is talking to Antigone about attempting to give her brother, Polynices, a proper burial, â€Å"When I have tried and failed, I†¦show more content†¦Antigone proves that she is a tragic hero because she is flawed in the fact that she has too much pride. One moment that displays that Antigone possesses too much pride, is when Ismene reminds her about the severe punishments that could result from giving Polynices a proper burial, â€Å"He has no right to keep me from my own†(128). This quote shows that Antigone is willing to disobey the king, Creon in order to please herself by giving Polynices a proper burial. Consisting of too much pride is eventually the cause of her death. A second instant where Antigone is shown to have an exceeding amount of pride is when she is determined to give Polynices a proper burial is when Ismene has been consistently telling her that she will not succeed, â€Å"Go your own way; I will bury my brother!†(128). Antigone is telling her sister, Ismene, that she will bury her brother no matter what, and there is nothing that will stop her from doing it. A third example of Antigone having too much pride is when she tells Ismene why she wants to persevere in giving her brother a proper burial, â€Å"convicted of reverence – I shall be content/ to live beside a brother whom I love†(128). Antigone loves Polynices so much that she wants to die for him, so that she can be buried next to him. This will give her pride if she accomplishes it. Antigone thinks that the only way this will happen is if she buries him herself, and then gets killed for burying him. In addition to having a flaw, another that provesShow MoreRelatedTragic Hero In Antigone948 Words   |  4 Pagesmakes them a hero. Heroes can help save the day, be strong against others, help people in tough situations. In Sophocles Antigone, the tragi c hero proves to be worthy of these traits as she presents herself to be stronger than the rest. She shows several characteristics that help her achieve this title. Although it is a high honor she had persevere in order to get to this point and it wasnt an easy task. For these accomplishments, Antigone has earned the title of a Tragic Hero. Antigone seems to beRead MoreThe Tragic Hero in Antigone1018 Words   |  5 Pagesfirst established during the fourth century in the Poetics, where he defines what makes a tragic hero. Aristotle suggests that a tragic hero is a character who has a high social standing and embodies great nobility in his/her personality. They are neither a villain nor are they entirely good, but a person somewhat like us, raised to a higher position in society. In addition, the downfall of a tragic hero is caused by fault of their own, often through arrogance or pride, as the result of freeRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Antigone1118 Words   |  5 PagesThe tragic hero according to Aristotle is a man who is neither a paragon of virtue and justice nor undergoes the change of misfortune or leads to his or her own downfall or destruction through their journey as the characters analyze their â€Å"judgment error†. In the play Antigone, Antigone is a tragic heroine who stands up and fights for her moral duties to do what is morally right instead of being loyal to the state even if cost her her life. The plot of Antigone is quite predictable. But, it showsRead MoreAntigone: not the tragic hero2077 Words   |  9 PagesAntigone: Not the Tragic Hero Sophocles, a great tragedian, was the one who gave Greek tragedies their traditional form. An important part of traditional Greek tragedies is the presence of a tragic hero. All tragic heroes should have the characteristics of rank, a tragic flaw, a downfall, and a recognition of mistakes. The seemingly tragic hero is Antigone. She wants to bury her brother Polyneices even though this would be going against Creon, who is her uncle and the king. When Antigone buriesRead More Antigone the Tragic Hero Essay929 Words   |  4 PagesA Tragic Hero A tragic hero is a character who makes an error of judgment or has a fatal flaw, which combined with fate, results into a tragedy. The tragic hero must fall from good luck and well being to misery and misfortune. The tragic hero causes a sense of pity through the tragic downfall that weakens the character. In Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone follows her own beliefs by giving her brother a proper burial, even if she has to break the law of King Creon. Because of her innocentRead MoreEssay on The Tragic Hero of Antigone568 Words   |  3 PagesGreece, Sophocles wrote the greatly admired tragedy, Antigone. Antigone includes many themes such as Freedom, Protection of Personal Dignity, Obedience to Civil Law, Protection of Community/Nation, Loyalty/Obligation to Family, and Observance of Religious Law. Many of the Greek tragedies that have been written include a tragic hero that has his/her tragic flaw. In Antigone there are two main characters; Creon, the tyrant king of Thebes, and Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. One of theseRead MoreEssay on Antigone is a Tragic Hero823 Words   |  4 PagesAntigone is a Tragic Hero A subject of debate in Sophocles’ play Antigone is which character complies with the characteristics of a tragic hero. The qualities that constitute a tragic hero are, in no particular order, having a high social position, not being overly good or bad, isolation, being tenacious in their actions, arousing pity in the audience, a revelatory manifestation, and having a single flaw that brings about their own demise and the demise of others around them. Creon possessesRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Antigone By Sophocles1075 Words   |  5 Pagesof the Greek philosopher Aristotle, â€Å"A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.† Thus, according to Aristotle, the tragic hero must be able to discern how his actions caused his demise. The tragic hero has a tragic flaw, known as hamartia, recognizes that this flaw contributes to his misfortune because of an error in judgment, but is nonetheless deserving of sympathy. Creon, the hero of the dra ma Antigone by Sophocles, fulfills this definition. He exhibits hubrisRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Sophocles Antigone Essay1357 Words   |  6 Pagesdraws on the emotions of the audience is to get them to relate to the tragic hero, and that is why it was so important for a tragedy to have a proper one. Antigone features the perfect example of a hero in a tragedy. In Antigone, King Creon is the tragic hero since he is adherent to a moral mean, he is life-like, he exhibits a tragic quality which results in a plot reversal, and ends in a moment of lament. Creon is the ideal tragic hero, since he’s morally upstanding but not blameless at the same timeRead More Antigone as a Tragic Hero Essay499 Words   |  2 PagesAntigone as a tragic hero The debate over who is the tragic hero in Antigone is unanswered. The belief that Antigone is the hero is a tough one. Antigone is widely thought of as the tragic hero of the play bearing her name. She would seem to fit the part in light of the fact that she dies for doing what she believes is right. She buries her brother without worrying what might happen to her. Unlike Antigone, Ismene says â€Å"And break the law, our death will be more shameful even then theirs† (pg.5

Macbeth Blood Essay - 2596 Words

What bloody man is that? in these, the opening words of the plays second scene, King Duncan asks about a sergeant. The sergeant then tells the story of Macbeths heroic victories over Macdonwald and the King of Norway. The sergeants telling of the story is in itself heroic, because his loss of blood has made him weak. Thus his blood and his heroism seem to enhance the picture of Macbeth as a hero. As Lady Macbeth plans to kill King Duncan, she calls upon the spirits of murder to make thick my blood; stop up the access and passage to remorse. Thin blood was considered wholesome, and it was thought that poison made blood thick. Lady Macbeth wants to poison her own soul, so that she can kill without remorse. Macbeth says this is a†¦show more content†¦Then he calls upon night to come and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale! The great bond is Banquos lease on life. A man becomes pale with fear or worry because the blood drains away from his face. Macbeth believes that if Banquos blood is shed, his own blood will return, and he wont be pale anymore. After he has become king, Macbeth gives a banquet for his noblemen. The banquet has barely begun when Macbeth has to go to the door to speak with first murderer. Theres blood on thy face, he says and the murderer proudly tells him its Banquos blood, and that he left Banquo in a ditch with twenty trenched gashes on his head, all deadly. A little later, just as Macbeth is talking about how much he wishes that Banquo were at the banquet, Banquos Ghost appears. Macbeth says to the ghost, thou canst not say I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me. The ghosts gory locks are the locks of his hair, covered with clotted blood. After the ghost has gone, Macbeth tells himself that its not his fault that the ghost showed up. He says that men have been killing men for a long time, since before there were even laws against it; blood hath been shed ere now, I the o lden time, ere human statute purged the gentle weal. Its a natural thing to shed blood; whats not natural is that now the dead rise again, with twenty mortal murders on their crowns, and push usShow MoreRelatedBlood Imagery in Macbeth Essay1451 Words   |  6 PagesMacbeth is the ultimate story of a fight between the forces of good and evil. It tells the tale of a tragic hero whose quest for power leads to his ultimate downfall. Macbeth starts out as an honorable warrior but changes when his ambition becomes uncontrollable. As he becomes increasingly paranoid, Macbeth uses violent means to eliminate threats to his Scottish throne. As the play progresses, blood continuously plays a part in the events as the murders become more frequent. William ShakespeareRead More Blood In Macbeth Essay1293 Words   |  6 Pages William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is about a struggle for power in Scotland. Macbeth, the main character, gets prophecies from three witches about his future a ccomplishments that will come to him. One of his prophecies is that Macbeth will become king, Macbeth hearing this he becomes ambitious and later kills the current King Duncan, making himself the new king. A tragic ending comes to Macbeth when the people leave him and his world collapses around him. Blood is a recurring theme in this play;Read MoreMacbeth - Blood Imagery in Macbeth Essay990 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare wrote the Tragedy of Macbeth in approximately 1606 AD. He loosely based it on a historical event occurring around 1050 AD. Macbeth is the story of a nobleman, who, while trying to fulfill a prophecy told to him by three witches, murders his King to cause his ascension to the throne of Scotland. After the Kings murder, Macbeth reigns as a cruel and ruthless tyrant, who is forced to kill more people to keep control of the throne. Finally, Scottish rebels combined with English forcesRead MoreEssay about Macbeth Blood1177 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth Blood Blood is essential to every human beings survival. It is a fluid circulating throughout the body that carries nutrients and oxygen to the tissues in exchange for life and if this was somehow lost then the life would also be lost. It represents life, death, and injury. It is an essential part of life. Without it, we would not live. As a symbol and major theme in Macbeth, Blood is used most often to represent injury and death, but also life. In Macbeth, he uses blood to representsRead More Blood Motif in Macbeth Essay623 Words   |  3 Pages Blood nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The longest running tradition in medicine, bloodletting, was a widely accepted practice with a three-thousand year-old history from the ancient Egyptians to the late 19th century. At that time, physicians thought that disease was a curse caused by the supernatural. It was a common idea that blood carried the vital force of the body and was the seat of the soul. Anything from body weaknesses to insanity were attributed to a defect in this vital fluid. BloodlettingRead More Blood As An Image In Macbeth Essay549 Words   |  3 Pages Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood in MacBeth to represent treason, guilt, murder and death. These ideas are constant throughout the book. There are many examples of blood representing these three ideas in the book. Blood is mentioned throughout the play and mainly in reference to murder or treason. The first reference to blood is in MacBeths soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 33-61, when Macbeth sees the bloody dagger floating in the air before him. Also in this soliloquy on line 46 he seesRead More Blood Imagery In Macbeth Essay590 Words   |  3 Pages In Shakespeares Macbeth a play, a man named Macbeth goes through a great transformation; Macbeth goes from being a heroic general in the kings army to an assassin and a tyrant. The theme of the play is never give into evil because it destroys no matter what the benefits are. Blood Imagery is very important in the play; it shows Macbeths evil ambition in the beginning, middle, and end of the play. In the beginning of the play, blood imagery is very important. quot;Till he unseamed him from theRead More Image of Blood in Macbeth Essay710 Words   |  3 PagesMacbeth was one of Shakespeares most popular tragedies, but was also considered to be the most violent of them all. There were over 100 instances during which blood was spilled, spoken of, or implied throughout the play. Many people wonder why there was so much bloodshed in Macbeth. Was there truly a purpose, or did the writer just want to use bloody images to invoke fear and suspense? Blood did in fact invoke fear and suspense but it also meant much more than that. The symbol of blood is significantRead More Blood Imagery in Macbeth Essay1916 Words   |  8 PagesShakespeare’s Macbeth is a story taken from Scottish history and presented to the Scottish king James I. Shakespeare took this gory tale of murderous ambition, however, and transformed it into an imaginative tale of good and evil. Shakespeare brought abou t this transformation by relying upon â€Å"imaginative verbal vigor† that imbeds itself in the brilliantly concentrated phrases of this literary work. Critics have dubbed it his darkest work, along with King Lear. In his critique of Shakespeare’s worksRead MoreMacbeth Blood Imagery Essay1924 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"HUGH, YOU ARE GUSHING BLOOD!!!† Our heads spin around to see bright, red blood all over his shoes, feet, and the boat. The sight of blood immediately made my stomach drop and put everyone into an instant frenzy. Blood causes people to react because of the stir of emotion it causes, and the same can be said for imagery. Authors of all types of literature use imagery as a tool to engross their readers and make their senses come alive, specifically Shakespeare. In all of Shakespeare’s work a key instrument

Discrimination at workplace based on gender and ethnicity Free Essays

Imagine being stuck in the same job without proper compensations, or being thrown out of the job one fine day and being replaced by someone, you know hardly measures up to the fine standards you maintain, just because you do not look good, or you have physical ailments, or the other person is a pretty looking female, and you are a male, or simply because you are being replaced by a younger, ‘energetic’ person, whose age replaces your experience and competence. This is a thought that scares millions of workers and professionals as they set out for to earn their daily bread and feed their dependants. The thought that this day may be their last day at work and not due to their own fault can be a thought very scaring indeed. We will write a custom essay sample on Discrimination at workplace based on gender and ethnicity or any similar topic only for you Order Now The ‘big boss’ literally rules your life and these are things that must change for the better. Is it fair to judge a person and his professionalism solely on the basis of his colour, age, sex, ethnicity, and sexual tendencies? How does it matter whether I was born in Africa, India or New York; why should it matter if my skin is black, brown or white; is being 45 years old a crime; why should one be prejudiced against if he/she has feelings for the same sex. In the end it should be the professional competence and the attitude to success that should replace these trivial feelings. Work place discrimination encompasses a spectrum of situations. It may range from sexual discrimination to sexual harassment, even work place bullying. It is pertinent here to define three commonly misinterpreted terms, ‘unlawful discrimination’, ‘unlawful harassment’ and ‘workplace bullying’. As detailed on the Human Rights and Equal Rights Commission (HREOC) website, unlawful discriminations implies a deliberate attempt to sideline a person in favour of others solely because of his age, sex, religion, ethnicity or pregnancy status, and other factors outlined above. Similarly ‘unlawful harassment’ has been defined in the same website as â€Å"Under federal and state legislation unlawful harassment occurs when someone is made to feel intimidated, insulted or humiliated because of their race, colour, national or ethnic origin; sex; disability; sexual preference; or some other characteristic specified under anti-discrimination or human rights legislation†. Work place bullying relates to â€Å"the repeated less favourable treatment of a person by another or others in the workplace, which may be considered unreasonable and inappropriate workplace practice. It includes behaviour that intimidates, offends, degrades or humiliates a worker†. In the text a more detailed analysis with suitable situations will be mentioned. There should not a ‘wrongful termination’, which is the dismissal of an employee, when he did not deserve it. Workplace discrimination on the basis of gender When a deliberate attempt is made to downgrade a person solely on the basis of gender, and this goes against the contractual agreement, it constitutes a ground for appeal (Allison Taylor, Inc). It may be intended directly or indirectly as unintended rules. It may be ‘Disparate Treatment Gender Discrimination’, where a person is treated differently simply because of his gender. An example of this could be a situation where a male employee gets a better pay package than his female counterpart on the unfounded premise that he works more than her. It may be the other way round, that a female secretary gets more leaves from the boss, while her male counterpart is denied any leave. A slightly more complex situation is that of ‘Disparate Impact Gender Discrimination’, where there is has been an unintentional process involved. This can be understood in the context of employment in the armed forces, where though the rules of entry may be the same for both the sexes, yet, for some particular situations, like war, special rules may have been set, such that it becomes difficult for female soldiers to qualify. There may be a frank situation of sexual harassment, where promotions are linked to gaining special favors, usually sexual in nature, from the person of opposite sex. As shown in the cine-film,† Disclosure†, where the female boss deliberately denies opportunity to the male professional, because he refused sexual favors. There may be harassment from the same sex, where in the female boss, feeling threatened sexually by the entry of a petite secretary or a colleague, deliberately insults her in front of others, in effect creating a ‘hostile environment’. There is an interesting entity known as ‘Quid Pro Quo Harassment (district attorney . com). This refers quiet simply to trade in terms of sexual favors. In this situation the availability of sex is the prime requisite to continue work. It may also mean, that the job is denied to a suitable candidate, if sexual favors are denied. A hostile environment is one where the employee is challenged mentally and emotionally due to repeated exposure to offensive materials such as crude jokes, pornographic material (HREOC website). This does not allow the employee to settle down to the best of his/ her abilities. Of course, just because offensive language is used, or sexual advances are made, does not qualify simply as workplace discrimination. If such activities are carried out in concert with the said employee, there is no ground for case against the office. A female employee may readily consent to go out on a date with her colleague, but later if she alleges sexual harassment, this does not constitute ground for appeal. These are some situation of unlawful discrimination. There are other situations like prejudice in selecting a particular employee for promotion, or training, or dismissal. A female employee, doing the same work, may be receiving lesser pay. Under the Equal Pay for Equal Act (Safety. com) every person doing similar work should be paid paid equally. An interesting aspect is that strictly speaking sex and gender are considered different by pure semantics (workplacefairness. org). Sex is anatomical identity of the person, while gender refers to how the person perceived himself/ herself. Other spectra of workplace discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of age – in the AARP website, a reference to the Age Discrimination in Employee’s Act (ADEA) is mentioned. According to the law, if discrimination has been done to a person above 40 years of age on the basis of his age, it is illegal. It may be in the form of not being selected for the job inspite of being qualified in favor of a younger person, or it may be denial of promotions on the basis of age. Such a situation may also arise if the older employee is dismissed by the company in favor of a younger person, so that the new employee is paid less. A larger number of Racial discrimination – The colour of the skin of the person, or the company a person keeps, should never constitute grounds for prejudice. Action against someone for dating a person of different culture, constitutes grounds for appeal (www.districtattorney. com). Pregnancy and marriage discrimination- pregnancy is a temporary disability and is considered so (workplacefairness. org). Any discrimination on the above is wrong and punishable by law. If a female employee is treated differently because of her marriage than one who is married, the affected employee is right in taking action against the employer. Discrimination on basis of nation of origin. In the United Stated, only federal reserved jobs can be advertised as â€Å"for US Nationals Only†. Any other job is open for any individual who has gone through the mandatory requirements of the US Government (districtattorney. com) The opposing view Till now we have considered numerous points against the policy if discrimination, but to better understand the complex situation, a point in favour may also be taken, and indeed valid arguments may be put up. For example, any firm, be it government or private, has the right to employ the best professionals in order to further its interests. Thus if the company feels, that a person is getting old, and does not enthuse the same enthusiasm as he used to, it may be argued that it is within its rights to employ someone it feels is young and dynamic and ready to face challenges. It thus breeds a feeling of intense competition that brings out the best in the professional, forcing him to work better. This ‘on the edge’ feeling will foster a will to perform better. Hazardous jobs like army, fire fighting service and the police, need tough physical labour and often there is a real threat to the personnel. It is a fact that men are physically better equipped to face these situations. Thus these institutions may feel that by getting only the best for the job, will help important services like the army and police perform the tasks of fighting and security better. Again the company may feel, that a lady who is pregnant, or who has delivered recently, will not be able to give the commitment that is required. Long hours that a company demands, may not be possible fort the lady. Thus this situation can be argued both ways Summary. It is inhuman to deny a human being the opportunity to succeed in life, and prove himself. Thus why it should make a difference that he is black, or white, or he is above forty, especially when the person is qualified for his position, is incomprehensible. No argument is possible to defend someone who denies a job to a woman, just because she is married, or has delivered. Pregnancy is a universal truth, how can society be so cruel. All said and done, work place discrimination is a blot on the very existence of society, and all measures, be it legal, or legislative must be taken to ensure that this does not take place. How to cite Discrimination at workplace based on gender and ethnicity, Papers

Differences of CPM from Article and Text

Question: Discuss about theDifferences of CPM from Article and Text. Answer: Introduction The CPM denotes Credit Portfolio Management in both article and text. It describes an essential function for banks as well as other financial institutions such as institutional investors besides insurers. These institution have large multifaceted credit portfolios usually incorporating illiquid loans. The historical role of CPM has been to comprehend the aggregate credit of an institution and enhance returns on such risks through trading in loans in the secondary market as well as hedging. It also meant to identify and manage risk concentrations.[1] The current CPM covers the entire credit book unlike the traditional origination as well as credit risk management roles that only confined to individual deals and borrowers.[2] CPM has changed greatly following the financial crisis of 2007 which has widened its historical roles. The present regulatory requirement regarding capital and liquidity, increasing cost as well as margin pressure and altered market scenarios have worked to push CPM into a wider role to align with all areas including treasury, business-origination, and finance functions. The article treats CPM is something that has been evolving for a quite long time. The article gives three primary reasons for CPMs evolution.[3] These factors include capital and liquidity constrains, increasing cost and margin pressure, and changing market conditions. The article has also explained the process of evolution of CPMs role dictated by these three factors. Unlike the text, the article views CPMs role as having evolved based on its mandate, tools it requires to undertake such a mandate, the mechanism by which it operates with the entire organization as well as the requirement for data. The article also holds that CPM has to restore its offering for changed circumstances of the banks unlike the text that oppose this view. The article gives CPM a wider role in the management of balance-sheet. In the article, CPM is presently managing the whole array of credit exposures alongside their impact on the balance sheet. The article also holds that CPM is undertaking new activities such as augmented emphasis on the origination of loan, enlarged analytics, utilization of extra metrics, increased explicit alignment with appetite as well as extra legal entity reporting. Unlike the text, the article hold that CPM require enhanced management framework as well as tool set to undertake its new mandate through a superior analytics as well as a new management framework.[4] The article recognizes tools for measuring regulatory capital alongside capital allocation as the most significant for the function of CPM. The article also holds that users of CPM prefer the utilization of regulatory capital-allocation framework to achieve the new CPMs mandate. Unlike the article, there is a growing use of wholesale loan purchases as well as sales as the significant tool for CPM in the secondary market. Unlike the text, the CPM is required to utilize the granular and rigorous limit framework as well as evolution of optimizing tool.[5] The new CPMs limit system requires an alignment with the entire targets as well as confines for the balance sheet. The text on the other hand, hold that CPM units usually utilized transfer pricing to generate effective internal markets but the article hold that this is currently losing its significance. Bibliography De Servigny, Arnaud, and Olivier Renault. Measuring and managing credit risk. McGraw Hill Professional, 2004. Estrella, Arturo, and Frederic S. Mishkin. "Predicting US recessions: Financial variables as leading indicators." Review of Economics and Statistics 80, no. 1 (1998): 45-61. Lang, William W., and Julapa A. Jagtiani. "The mortgage and financial crises: The role of credit risk management and corporate governance." Atlantic Economic Journal 38, no. 2 (2010): 123-144. Nario et al. The Evolving Role of Credit Portfolio Management. McKinsey Company. 2016.

Ethical Movie Review Blood Diamond Essay Essay Example

Ethical Movie Review: Blood Diamond Essay Paper 0. 1 Introduction The undermentioned essay will analyze ethical issues addressed through the film â€Å"Blood Diamond† . The two chief issues identified and discussed are ; child soldiers and struggle diamonds. My chief lens of ethical theories will dwell of the four western theories. this includes. egoism. utilitarianism. moralss of responsibilities and moralss of rights. Even though these theories are based on ethical tyranny. I will still seek to use a pluralistic position. Additionally. some of these theories will be expanded and other theories that do non be given so much towards ethical tyranny will be added. The undermentioned subdivision will concentrate more on how these issues occurred and seek to give some possible reply to the jobs. In order to make so descriptive ethical theories will be tools in the scrutiny. Finally the decision will be presented by a combination of a movie reappraisal and a short sum-up of the findings in the text. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical Movie Review: Blood Diamond Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical Movie Review: Blood Diamond Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical Movie Review: Blood Diamond Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer 1. 1 Children with guns The first of the two ethical issues that will be examined is the usage of childs as soldiers. In order to make so I believe I have to take a subjective function on the topic. looking from a Rebel soldier. The grounds for this is because I believe nonsubjective or western positions on this subject will in the terminal province that this is neither moral or ethical. In order to acquire a more interesting position on the affair. I will utilize an alternate attack and seek to look out of the eyes of a soldier taking the usage of child soldiers. The inquiry is ; how can the usage of childs as soldiers be justified? The state of affairs described in the film tells us about the Revolutionary United Front ( RUF ) . which is a rebel group contending the authorities in Sierra Leone 1999. To set the state of affairs in a soldiers head. one could reason that his or hers ideas were. â€Å"I am being invaded by the West. they are stealing my diamonds. the authorities is corrupt. how can I win this battle? † This position is based on RUF as one minded soldiers. of class they are non. but in order to do this statement the premise is so. The first ethical theory that can be linked to the response of kid soldiers is egoism. The chief construct of this theory is justified with one holding to concentrate on one ego ; to command all other things is to hard ( Crane and Matten 2010 ) . It is of import to separate from selfishness. and one can reason that this action can be justified as an egocentric mentality. non a selfish point of position. They do non contend merely for their ain winning ; they fight for what they believe is best for the state and RUF. The remainder of the universe would likely differ to the usage of childs. but how can they judge a state of affairs that for most of them is so far off that they can merely be prejudice non knowing about the state of affairs? One can even travel so far to state that both the consequentialist theories supports the actions performed by this Rebel group. they are contending for their ain desires and what they believe is the greater good. In order to make so they have to use the resources available. ergo utilizing kids as soldiers and life in utilitarianism. Consequentialist theories focus on the result. and one can province that is what has to be the focal point in order to really utilize so immature people for agencies in war. The differences between the theories are that egoism focuses on the decision-maker while utilitarianism casts an oculus on the wider community. which RUF seems to make every bit good when contending against the authorities ( Crane and Matten 2010 ) . For the staying theories on this issue. there is no 1 that can be associated with the usage of kids for these actions. Both non-consequentialist theories have clear moral counsel that will non back up the class of actions taken by the RUF. Ethical responsibilities have three chief axioms. and I believe no RUF soldier would desire the usage of kid soldiers to go a cosmopolitan jurisprudence. Maxim two analyses will state us that all the kids have non freely decided to go soldiers. and can be said to be used as agencies by the RUF to accomplish their ends. non to educate the kids in the right manner. The 3rd axiom asks if the actions are universally accepted. there is no demand for account here. it is non accepted by the universe. Ethical motives of rights and justness has a big focal point on human self-respect and humanity ; one can reasonably province that there is neither in the usage of kids as soldiers. So we can now do a short sum-up to state that with a pluralistic ( possibly a spot more relativistic ) position on the two consequentialist ethical theories the usage of childs to bear weaponries can be justified. We will discourse this issue further in the following subdivision of the essay. but first the issue of blood diamonds will be addressed. 1. 2 â€Å"Bling-Bang† Conflict diamonds or blood diamonds as the rubric of the film confirms is an of import ethical issue enlightened by manager Edward Zwick. Before traveling into treatment around moralss sing this subject. a short definition of struggle diamonds is appropriate: â€Å"Conflict Diamonds – besides known as blood diamonds – are diamonds that are used to fuel struggle and human rights maltreatments. They have founded barbarous conflicts†¦ that have resulted in the decease and supplanting of 1000000s of people. † ( Global Witness 2011 ) . In Sierra Leone 1999 the diamonds are traded for largely arms by the RUF. the purchasers are large diamond companies utilizing cleansing methods around the universe in order to â€Å"wash† the rocks. As the film shows us. the diamond industry is powerful and unethical. Working from a position of pluralism which is an ethical in-between manner between tyranny and relativism. one which I believe should and is being used the most. the actions of the diamonds corporations are extremely immoral and unethical. Pluralism is based on the impression that morality is a societal phenomenon harmonizing to Kaler ( Crane and Matten 2010 ) . If one would reason that morality is a societal phenomenon. the morality of taking usage of Rebel groups as RUF and their utmost methods of operations can in no manner be justified. Helping condemnable and atrocious actions like these should neer be done. The chilling portion is that this is nil new. corporations do believe of people as agencies merely which is opposite of what the 2nd axiom of ethical responsibilities suggest ( Crane and Matten 2010 ) . A quotation mark from the film which describes this state of affairs. and implies that the companies fool consumers into believing that every diamond comes without blood is said by Danny Archer when speaking to an American journalist. â€Å"In America it’s bling bling. but out here it’s bling knock. † ( Imdb. com 2011 ) . What Mr. Archer here says is really on the topographic point on how unethical the operations of diamond companies deceive the universe. And they do so wittingly. after all the presentation of the film shows a G8 conference where diamond CEO’s are precent and applauded for go toing the battle against blood diamonds. When they at the terminal so still purchase blood diamonds. their actions can be nil else than both immoral and unethical. For every ethical theory that include morality. honor. or even the greater good. these people do non look to care. and it is difficult to happen any manner to warrant their agencies except for fiscal profitss. which is sad. unethical and immoral. Their actions can be found as unethical by three of the four ethical theories mentioned ; the lone 1 that once more can come to make peace of head for the CEO’s is the line of egoism. Again the fiscal desires of diamond companies seems to be all they care about. and if they believe that everything else is non their job. so egoism will accept the actions of these people. There is a but here. and as the last paragraph stated. they wittingly deceive and wittingly cognize what the history of their rocks are. They make that history affair to them every bit shortly as they attend the diamond meeting. And when they make that blood covering those diamonds matter. stepping out of line of the egocentric theory is something they do. and as ethical theories are regulations and principals that determines right and incorrect. these actions can clearly be stated as incorrect ( Crane and Matten 2010 ) . I will non pass much clip on covering the three staying theories on this subject because I do non see room for much deformation when mensurating the determinations up to the staying three theories. Put merely. utilitarianism is non supported because their actions are non for the greater good. There is no â€Å"greater good† in purchasing struggle diamonds unwittingly for consumers ; neither is at that place for working a barbarous civil war for economical intents. There are to important impacts on world’s society for this to be disregarded. Over to the non-consequentialist theories they are as described antecedently in the essay based much on morality. self-respect and humanity. and there are room for small of these constructs in the actions of Van de Kaap. Van de Kaap is the character of the diamond CEO in this film. And as mentioned earlier back uping such atrocious military actions defies what the 2nd axiom of ethical responsibilities suggests. Now that the four chief ethical theories have been discussed with this issue the undermentioned subdivision of this essay will seek significance in the actions performed by RUF and diamond corporations. 2. 1 Finding the grounds Normative theories tend to concentrate more on the jobs after actions and determinations have been made. this subdivision will utilize tools from descriptive ethical theory. which are used as tools on how the determinations are made and why ( Crane and Matten 2010 ) . There are two chief classs to turn to. single factors and situational factors. I believe that single factors do non play an of import function compared to situational factors. I do admit Ford and Richardson’s ( 1994 ) statement that socialization affairs. but I do non recognize this as an single factor ; this goes over to the situational factor. One can reason that grownups have single factors when showing different childhood environments. and this is true. but to find how a individual will move when Born is non possible. The lone factor recognised with persons to truly count is mental unwellness. and so I mean birth illness non sickness developed during the life. The other factors all depends on environment. As a scene in the film show. Mr. Archer is found in a conversation with a local adult male taking attention of kids and is asked the inquiry if he believes people by and large good or bad and responds ; â€Å"No. I’d say their merely people. † ( Imdb. com 2011 ) . This is true. there are none born immorality or good. it is our actions that show us what we become. So the tool that will be used to construe the actions of RUF and Van de Kaap are largely situational factors. Premises are stating us that 10 000 kids were contending for the RUF ( Murphy 2003 ) . As we can except most single factors. one can get down by faulting environment for actions performed by human existences. Get downing this will be with researching the relevant situational factors. The state of affairs described in the film is a rebel group contending the authorities in which they believe are corrupt and see no other solution than to take the battle in their ain custodies. As the film provides us merely with one manner the kids end up as soldiers. there are other grounds for kids to bear the RUF uniform. Murphy ( 2003 ) negotiations of four theoretical accounts of kid soldiers. the first 1 is called â€Å"coerced youth† which is the theoretical account of barbarous coercion of kids into the ground forces. merely as the one we see in the film. The staying three theoretical accounts are non traveling to be described in item here. but tell us a spot different narrative. Children life in poorness and with a unsmooth childhood. bad parenting in a helter-skelter state can easy be given to fault the authorities. The hunt for authorization and some kind of topographic point for them in society can do them fall in what they feel is the right battle. or possibly merely to acquire some significance in their lives. The society has non provided the safety that a kid needs so it seeks it. the cognitive moral phase these childs live in is named preconvention. Their cognitive moral development is shaped by the environment. and it â€Å"refers to the different degrees of concluding that an person can use to ethical issues and jobs. † ( Crane and Matten 2010:153 ) . The preconventional phase says that to find what is right and incorrect out from penalty or wagess from their subsidiaries. and in this instance RUF wagess unethical behavior. The mentality of kids are found in the scheme of denial ( Anand. Ashforth and Joshi 2004 ) they remove duty from themselves ; hereby their actions can be accepted by themselves and so implemented. In add-on their venue of control is likely low in a childs head. and seeking control in authorization figures. Now to the RUF. one can see grounds for why child soldiers were used. if one is to believe that a combination of snatch and kids fall ining volitionally were the start up. The manner from there can be that kids were seen to be utile and thereby merely accommodating more kids as they felt the demand. This may really good be one of the grounds for the usage of kid soldiers. The following point will prosecute concluding for which diamonds create unethical behavior. To happen the significance of working Sierra Leone for their diamonds we can pull similarities with the concluding above. More accurately the scheme used to rationalize unethical behavior. Van de Kaap will be once more the individual of involvement in this. and in this film this individual represents the scheme denial of duty ( Anand. Ashforth and Joshi 2004 ) . Not in the same manner as the kids described above. but in the sense that they believe that if they do non take advantage of these diamonds. person else will. By holding that attitude the other scheme. denial of hurt ( Anand. Ashforth and Joshi 2004 ) besides fits. They may admit that people are acquiring harmed. but it is non their duty since person else would take their topographic point if they were non at that place. The wages is what gives the administration significance. people tend to make what they are rewarded for. and in that procedure it is easy to bury the moralss sing their actions ( Crane and Matten 2010 ) . We can besides fault the world’s ignorance of the issue. Crane and Matten ( 2010 ) writes that â€Å"Quite merely. ethical misdemeanors that go unpunished are likely to be repeated. † And this is the world’s duty. in the film we find a journalist to take this occupation. contending against a universe that seems unmindful to the issue. So what possible solution can be proposed to it all? 2. 2 Possible solutions The first proposed solution to be addressed will be blood diamonds. Already the Kimberly procedure has been formed in 2003. This is a response on struggle diamonds and mentioned in the beginning of the film ( Global Witness 2010 ) . The imitative is a non-government. non-corporate and hence independent imitative which sertify struggle diamonds. It is said to be an sole nine as lone members can merchandise with members and hence something states long to take a portion in. Global Witness province on their home page â€Å"†¦ efforts at industry self-regulation have been deplorably deficient ; intending that it still isn’t possible to vouch to consumers that the diamonds they purchase are free from the contamination of struggle and human rights maltreatment. † And this tells us that it is difficult. but at least person is seting in an attempt. So when the ordinance is difficult. we should take attention of some roots of the job. Diamonds is a good defined as a privation. it is non a demand. One can therefore fault the consumers on doing it possible for companies to gain so much of diamond trade. and by making so I want to set some of this duty back in their custodies. The consumer has to do certain that what they are purchasing does non back up struggles in other states. If a system would be demanded by the people. one could reason that the power which lies with the people is strong plenty to do the corporations act. The 2nd solution is in some manner already shown in the film. a rehabilitation â€Å"centre† in the jungle for childs. It is of import to make this properly and non disregard the childs one time they have become soldiers. In add-on I believe that by contending poorness is a manner of contending kids turning to slayers. To execute these two undertakings that here is proposed is something that the western universe should be obligated to make when thought of all the hurting it have caused for Africa in the past centuries. One possibility would be for the G8 to take usage of discourse moralss and organize a panel with parties from Rebel groups. ex-child soldiers. local authorities and nonsubjective heads. That concludes this subdivision of the essay ; the following 1 will be a short sum-up and reappraisal of the film. 3. 1 Short reappraisal of film and text The concluding subdivision of this essay will be a short film reappraisal combined with some decisions from this essay. The manager Edward Zwick has in my eyes done a antic occupation. the film is stuffed with existent life issues. and two are presented in this text by kid soldiers and blood diamonds. Zwick presents ethical issues in an action packed thriller filled with good playing and effects. I view this film as a perfect combination of Hollywood and the existent universe. there are a few cliches. but that has to be expected ; the remainder is a head opening truth that surely was a end for the production when the release day of the month was set 18th of December. right before the year’s biggest diamond sale period. The three chief characters each present separate ethical morality. the â€Å"soldier of fortune† gives us an egocentric mentality. but gets softer as the film closes to the terminal. The manner the film presents both the apprehension for the desire in egoism every bit good as demoing that it is possible to alter and besides show compassion a moral turn. The 2nd character is a fisherman showing a more feminist ethical theory. demoing much love for household and attention for people. even a adult male that is likely to steal from him. The last character is a female journalist contending for equity and justness. And Maddy Bowen can easy be linked to several ethical theories. but closest to theories of justness. Her battle for equity and acquiring the West to open their eyes gives another moral angel to the state of affairs in Sierra Leone. All in all Zwick with good aid from his histrions presents the issues of kid soldiers and blood diamonds in a really good manner. one can see that the diamond corporations of the universe did non like it. they fought the film for a long clip and ended up with a 15 $ US million PR run ( PRWatch 2006 ) that resulted in a web site called diamondfacts. org. This is interpreted as a mark that he is forcing on the right buttons and may be something that forces alteration. I do non believe I would alter anything with his film. in order to make the mark market a combination of fiction and facts are needed. This essay has proved that the usage of kid soldiers every bit good as trading struggle diamonds is unethical and has asked the universe to move as a solution ; there is power within the people that should be used to coerce alterations to these issues.

Analysis of short stories by Thomas Hardy Essay Example

Analysis of short stories by Thomas Hardy Essay Example Analysis of short stories by Thomas Hardy Paper Analysis of short stories by Thomas Hardy Paper Essay Topic: Literature Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 and died in his late eighties. As a child Thomas Hardy spent most of his time in a small village near the edge of a wild moor land, which he called Egdon Heath in his stories. Hardys early years were spent at home in front of a warm fire with his grandmother and parents telling him stories about the neighbourhood that they had lived in for generations. Hardys Wessex tales and many other stories were all based on what he had seen through out his life and named his surroundings with what he wanted such as the nearest town, Dorchester, was changed to Casterbridge. Thomas Hardy created Wessex, and his short stories, like Wessex Tales. Wessex is based on a real worldly environment, an area in the South West of England that in real life includes counties such as Dorset, Somerset, Oxfordshire and Devon. In the days before televisions and films and in countries where many could not read, people still loved stories. Instead of seeing or reading them they heard them. People told each other stories and gossiped about what is happening around the neighbourhood, which was very small at the time. Since The Superstitious mans story is written in an anecdotal style it connects with how people used to gossip. At the beginning of The Superstitious mans story the words, as you may know are used giving readers an instant clue that this story is anecdotal. By using this anecdotal style Hardy immediately captures the readers attention by making them feel part the story. Hardy takes particular care to establish this style and uses dialect words to add authenticity such as, he came near ee; and who told me ot,. The text is written in the 3rd person, which gives the sense of a speaking voice with the narrator telling a past event to someone else about William Privett. The Superstitious mans story is set around l891, which was when it was written. Hardy creates suspense by the description of William Privett as a person who gave you the chills if he stood behind you, anywhere behind your back. close by tour elbow. The general structure of The Superstitious mans story is episodical, and each one begrudges a totally different storyline than the next. The point of writing the story in episodes is to hold back certain information and, in turn increase tension and drama and keep us wondering what is going to happen next. In all of his stories the writer puts little hints forward to make us vary of what is going to happen next and try and make us understand the true horror of the story. He uses them to suggest that something rather conspicuous is going to happen. Such hints as William was in good health, to al in appearance. The writer could have just said William is in good health but by adding to all appearance it makes us think more of what is going to happen. The Ending of The Superstitious mans story is predictable as you instantly expect that William Privett goes into the church on midsummers eve and does not come out again, he is going to die. According to superstitions anyone who goes to church on midsummers eve and not come out again is alleged to die in the near future. However what is not predictable is the anti-climax that the writer adds on to the story for effect. He states that William Privett is seen again, after he is dead at the spring where his son had died. This was rather unusual or strange in the context of the story because we did not know about his son dying and also did not expect William Privett to be seen again. Another of Thomas Hardys stories titled The Withered Arm is great in description as he uses this innate gift to express someone or something in the deepest form which could actually help the reader picture the person or object clearly. First of all, we can see clearly that marriages could only happen between people of the same class and that it could only be between social equals and this is one of the aspects of that the society judged a person on. Farmer Lodge was of a high class so married Gertrude, a beautiful young lady, also of high class. By doing this Farmer Lodge left Rhoda, who is of lower class. The reason why Rhoda sends her son to spy on Farmer Lodges new wife is to see if she is of equal society and is more beautiful, which was also looked on by society the appearance of a person. Rhoda presumes Farmer Lodge married Gertrude because she is beautiful and well off. This can be proven by the quote, And if she seems like a woman who has ever worked for a living, or one that has been well off, and never done anything, and shows marks of a lady on her, as I expect she do. Another major point of society was their superstitions, and the effects they had on peoples character. Superstition is first introduces in The Withered Arm, is through the dream Rhoda Brook has, and how society made certain people victims of their superstitions making them victims of societies beliefs. This is proven by the quote, she knew that she had slyly called a witch since her fall. This is written when Rhoda Brook wonders if she did have powers after she had a dream of Gertrude where she hurts her and she finds out that she really is and begins to question. The impact of society can be seen when Gertrude finds out that her husband likes her less because of her withered arm and because of that, she longs and craves for a solution and tries many cures, which turns her into a superstitious person as she is willing to believe in any cure just to get her husbands attention and love back once more. In this story we see Farmer Lodges clothes as, big great golden seals hung like a lord while Gertrude wore a, White bonnet and a silver coloured gown showing Hardys descriptive talents, which makes one understand that the way they dressed, was with so much sophistication and this clearly showed their position in the neighbourhood. The Withered Arm tends to be based on unfairness in society as people are said to be hung for minor things such as, horse stealing, arson and burglary, and sometimes not for the genuine reason of committing a crime, but so that an example would be set for other people so as to not to make the same mistake. This is shown when Thomas Hardy writes, they are obliged to make an example of him, there have been so much destruction of property lately. Nevertheless, The Distracted Preacher, another of Thomas Hardys collection is tragic as it based on how pious people were in Victorian times about religion. The Distracted Preacher is set in a town called Nether-Moynton, which was recreated by Hardy from a place near Dorchester called Owre Moyne (Owermoigne). Again society shows how people reacted towards appearance. The minister was good looking so it caused people to say, Why didnt we know of this before he came, that might have gived him a warmer welcome! With To Please His Wife Being bases on how a class in society and being well dressed can give you some powers over women and marriage. Overall I think that Thomas Hardy recreated his life time by using multiple storylines as The Superstitious Mans Story is based on superstition, and The Withered Arm based on how beauty and appearance affects status in society. The Distracted Preacher is based on, to some extent, religion and To Please His Wife is about authority and jealousy affecting true love. All of these life-like events are events that take place in someones life, and some how these collections of stories are like a deeply evolved and highly detailed diary of Thomas Hardys life.

A play written by J. B. Priestly Essay Example for Free

A play written by J. B. Priestly Essay ? An Inspector Calls, a play written by J. B. Priestly in 1945. He set his play in 1912 just before the First World War. It is a story of the visit by an Inspector to an apparently normal family, the Birlings. The Birlings are celebrating their daughter Shelia’s engagement to Gerald Croft. Mr. Birling a successful factory owner gets the ball rolling with a speech, which he gives to his son Eric, and Gerald Croft. J. B Priestly makes good use of dramatic irony in this speech because many events took place after 1912, which we the modern audience, know about but Mr. Mr. Birling mentioned that the miners came out on a strike and there would be possible labour trouble in the near future. He said that there wouldn’t be any more worries about the strikes. But in 1926 we know that there was a General Strike in Britain. He talks about the Titanic being a spectacular ship with every luxury and it is absolutely unsinkable. But as we know in 1912 the Titanic sunk on maiden voyage and 1,513 lives were lost. He also mentioned about the wars not happening. He said that the Germans don’t want war. But in 1914 the First World War broke out. He said that there would peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere but in 1917 there was revolution in Russia. In 1939 the Second World War broke out and in 1945 the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. This makes the audience doubt Mr Birling early on in the play. When Mr. Birling finishes his speech the Inspector enters into the scene. The Inspector is at the Birling’s because there was a death of a woman Eva Smith and he had come to ask questions about her. Mr. Birling was the first person that we were led to believe started off the train of events that ultimately led to the death of Eva Smith. Mr. Birling had sacked Eva Smith from his factory after she started to cause trouble demanding higher wages. Mr Birling says that any man in his position would have done the same. She was making trouble as Mr. Birling said, ‘She had a lot to say – far too much so she had to goi. But the only thing that Mr. Birling cared about was his family and the progress of his business. He didn’t care about his workers and he didn’t know them. As he says in Act 1 â€Å"I have a couple of hundred workers under me, who keep changing†. So there wasn’t a personal relationship between these two until after the workers came back from their holidays that they were asking for a pay rise. As Mr. Birling wouldn’t, he sacked the ringleaders and one of them was Eva Smith. Now that Eva was sacked she was out of work for two months. She had no money and she was half starved. She had no one to help her. Her parents had died so they couldn’t offer any help and her friends had nothing to offer her. But then again it wasn’t the end of the world and she was capable of getting another job as we find out. A play written by J. B. Priestly. (2017, Nov 02).

The Relationship between Poverty, Governance and Development and an Essay

The Relationship between Poverty, Governance and Development and an Analysis of the Strategies used by Key Actors in Dealing with these Three Variables - Essay Example Globalisation has taken the centre-stage in national affairs around the world in the past twenty years.This has been characterised by the fast growth in cross-border communication and travels, harmonisation of standards, stronger international treaties and the growth in the number of multinational organisations and entities.Globalisation has been supported by global partnerships and improved systems of cooperation amongst nations. It is obvious that governance in nations have changed and there are communities affected by global governance and standardisation now than ever. In spite of this, there are huge disparities between nations in different parts of the world. The aim of the research is to identify the relationship between poverty, governance and development and an analysis of the efficiency of methods used to deal with these three variables by governments and other key actors. In attaining this end, the following objectives would be explored by the researcher in order to draw a conclusion on the dominant trends in the relationship under review: 1. A critical examination of the key concepts: poverty, governance and development. 2. An evaluation of the key stakeholders and approaches used to deal with poverty and the metrics in examining them. 3. An assessment of the results of the strategies and approaches used to deal with poverty and its effectiveness. 2.0 Critical Examination of Key Concepts: Poverty, Governance and Development This section of the research would examine the key concepts under discussion in the paper. It would involve the definition of the three main concepts of poverty, governance and development. This review of literature will assess important trends that describe these three ideas in the international and global context. The popular definition of global poverty was set by the United Nations in 1995 (Segal-Horn and Faulkner, 2009). The definition include the people who live on â€Å"less than one dollar a day† (Segal-Horn and Fa ulkner, 2009). This classification provides a standardised view of who are poor and cannot afford the basic necessities of life. Generally, the world is divided into nations where there are few people who live below the poverty line and those who have most of their citizens living above it (Held and McGrew, 2007). The classification on the basis of the majority of nations provides a categorisation of richer nations and poorer nations. The classification provides an idea of the quality of life of nations and how much is available to people and how wealth is distributed in each of the nations. Another approach of viewing poverty on the global scale is to view the infrastructural development of the nation (McNeill and StClair, 2009). To this end, McNeill and StClair identify that some nations have better developed infrastructure whilst others have less developed systems and structures (2009). The classification on the basis of infrastructure puts nations into classes of developed, emer ging and underdeveloped nations (Thomas, 2000). Developed nations are those that have the best and most advanced structures and amenities which provides a good life for their citizens. Underdeveloped nations are those that have limited infrastructure whilst emerging nations are those in the transition between developing and developed nations. Most developed nations are in the northern continents like Europe and North America whilst the underdeveloped states are in the southern hemisphere. The criticism of the model of classifying nations according to their infrastructural base is that, they do not give a clear picture of how well wealth is distributed in these nations. A typical example is the case of large federal nations in the developing world like India, Mexico and Brazil who have huge national funds which can afford to fund the largest projects. Yet, these

Viral Marketing and Social Networking Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Viral Marketing and Social Networking - Thesis Example , the observation of covering ones nose or mouth when sneezing becomes critical for the major prevention of mucus fluid getting to others because they can be infected by the influenza virus. In our discussion here, no infection is being passed on through marketing, but we are trying to gather more knowledge through expounding on the term to get a better understanding of its meaning. Marketing on the other hand, is passing of information about products available for sale to customers at a time with the aim of creating value. Thus, viral marketing can be described as the passing of information in a large quantity through the media, about the available product and its value to the mass. This can be done through communicating in online social network. Social networking is the coming together of likeminded individuals in an online portal to share their thoughts to advance to better solutions of life. On increasing brand awareness, aids product or brand or service outreach to the targeted customer segment, and achieve related aims to the product or service promotion and or selling the technique encourages all this. So targeting the social networks by word of mouth, the users can convey the information through their sites to, many within a period of time and create a massive awareness for many if it is a targeted part of the customers to the product. The advertisement on the internet is the important aspect in the moment now because of globalization. Today all products are marketed worldwide with technology making a global village what has been a large globe. Take for instance the social media which has become an important part of advertising, it has two components (Bryce 34).The first can be traced through social channels like tweeter or a blog, where your voice gains credibility, in earning a following when you provide regular and useful information through them. The second one is that a word of mouth over the internet about your product through the social media

The Indian Culture Essay Example for Free

The Indian Culture Essay Cultural patterns define the people of a country and help in understanding their behavior, mind-set and mode of living. In India, the diverse population of the country shows some singular similarities in communication, inter-personal relations, and views about marriage and family which together constitute the unique structure of the Indian culture. Man-woman equations in the family set-up as well as the position of elders in the house are significant pointers to the culture of India. The Indian Culture Every culture has its unique characteristics which define its identity and amplify the behavioral pattern of its people. In the Indian context, the diverse languages, religions and regions of the vast country play a major part in the multifarious communication and relation markers within the same cultural texture. However, certain qualities remain uniformly similar within the assorted hues of the Indian culture. As Nirad C Chaudhuri writes: â€Å"modern Indian culture was based on a fusion of two independent and unconnected cultures, the European and the ancient Indian† ( The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian 474). The effect of long-term British colonization and the rich heritage of the Sanskrit past combine to give the Indian culture its distinctive color and identity. By nature, Indians are usually verbose and like sharing/discussing ideas with each other, at times personal problems, even communicating thoughts on public issues from politics to sports. Greetings are usually with folded hands (and the accompaniment of ‘Namaste’ in Hindi, the national language), but significantly, respect to elders is shown by touching the feet of the seniors. Greetings normally go hand in hand with queries about health and life in general. However, unlike the Western concept of a strict adherence to one’s privacy, Indians by and large want to know what’s going on in their fellow men’s lives, and the questions are expected to be answered with detailed explanation about the current situation in one’s life. Emotions run high in the horizon of the ordinary Indians’ existence, from the annoyance at the over-crowded bus to the jubilation at the Indian cricket team’s victory. The western concept of direct eye-contact while talking with colleagues or superior suggesting a honest rapport is deemed an act of shamelessness especially with someone senior in age or status. Downcast eyes are a symbol of good values and respect for the other person. The American idea of private space is difficult to follow in the Indian family set-up, especially in the joint-family structure. Time is a relative term of understanding in India, as punctuality and discipline are often dependent on the irregular schedule of public transportation, people’s habit of taking things at their own pace, and long queues everywhere. Marriage is generally a family matter rather than a personal choice in India. Men and women meet in social and professional gatherings and may emotionally bond with each other. While marriage by choice or ‘love marriage’ as commonly referred to, is on the rise in modern Indian culture, most Indians still resort to an ‘arranged marriage’ to the prospective bride or groom selected by family members on the basis of status, education, and often caste, region and religion. As Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni portrays in her Indian characters in Arranged Marriage, it does not matter what the origins of the marriage, the ultimate consideration is the compatibility of the partners engaging in it. ( Transcultural Women of Late Twentieth-century U. S. American Literature 210) Unlike the liberated parlors of Western life, sex or topics about sexuality are considered taboo and it is socially unacceptable to discuss or question one’s sexual preferences openly. The cultural texture of India bars the liberal thoughts and voices on this subject. Premarital sex is discouraged by the unwritten rules of the conservative society. Modesty, virginity are praised in unmarried men and women, especially in the latter. The role of family is of paramount interest to the average Indian. The joint-family set up is an umbrella structure sheltering extended branches of the family grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins beyond the usual parent-child family of the Western world. Though nuclear families in the lines of the western model are increasingly popular, the common Indian is rooted in the traditions and customs of his family life, especially the joint family-structure. Indian society is predominantly patriarchal in nature, and the head of the family is usually the eldest son of the family. The equation of the genders in family and society is not evenly balanced, as the women normally are submissive to the decisions of the males in the Indian culture. However, the aged play a positive role in the family context, as grand-parents and seniors are treated with respect and love, and cared for in most households. Though old people are at times sent to old-age homes by their family members for reasons of economy or scarcity of care-givers at home, usually the aged are taken care of at home, and they in turn, help with the children, spending time with them and instilling in them values and good morals. The women are expected to be the primary care-givers in the family, performing the duties of the kitchen as well as taking care of children and elders. Even if the woman is a career- person, her family obligations are her first priority in the Indian culture. The man of the house on the other hand is the financial provider, and is responsible for the standard of living. However, in the changing dynamics of modern lifestyle, men and women have become flexible about their roles and responsibilities and the distinct line of difference between their gender expectations is blurred today. References Chaudhuri, N. (2001). The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian. New York: The New York Review of Books. Newton, P. (2005). Transcultural Women of Late Twentieth-century U. S. American Literature: First-generation Migrants from Islands and Peninsulas. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing.

Augustines Confessions Paper -- Literacy Analysis

When one reads the word "confessions," one would not necessarily associate it with the word "narrative." Confessions seem to be more of something stated directly without any story-like element. They are also a more personal thing- one does not simply put them in a story form unless purposely intending to do so, because usually it is something that expresses guilt for something personal or is between the author and their conscience (or perhaps to themselves). However, there can always be an exception, like Augustine's Confessions. It is written as a form of a narrative, even though the original the main audience for whom it was written is God, yet it is also intended to be read by anyone, almost as a didactic piece that sets an example through the portrayal of his life and his decisions. Augustine takes what he has experienced during his life and with details such as parallels to the bible turns it into a narrative that he writes with an intention of educating or perhaps setting an ex ample for any reader. ​Augustine writes his confessions not as a list, but as one event that flows to another- like a narrative. At first glance, it appears to be as the title says- a book of confessions. However, it cannot solely be approached "as a penitential work, concerned with the confession of sins, which indeed it is, in some degree; but this is not Augustine's primary concern. (Bonner 164)." He means that it is not just a confession to God, that indeed God is the main audience, but not the only audience. Augustine even states this in the actual text: "I too, O Lord, also so confess unto Thee that men may hear, to whom I cannot prove whether I confess the truth, yet do they believe me whose ears charity openeth unto me (10.3.3)" and again wi... ...no means starting on the morally correct path but still was able to turn that all around, and almost like an inspiration to all that it is never too late to make a difference or change in one's self. Works Cited Merriman, C.D. "Http://www.online-literature.com/saint-augustine/." Saint Augustine. Jalic, 2005. Web. 30 Mar. 2012. ​ O'Donnell, James J. "Augustine." : Confessions. Web. 30 Mar. 2012. . Bonner, G. Starting With Oneself; Spiritual Confessions: Augustine's Confessions. ExpTim 101, 1990. 163-64. Print. Troxel, A. Craig. ""What Did Augustine 'Confess' in His Confessions?" by A. Craig Troxel."Trinity Journal 15.2 (1994): 163-79. EarlyChurch.org.uk: 10 Years of Resourcing the Study of Early Church History. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. . ​

Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Niterói Essay

The Niterà ³i Contemporary Art Museum (Museu de Arte Contemporà ¢nea de Niterà ³i — MAC) is situated in the city of Niterà ³i, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is one of the city’s main landmarks. It was completed in 1996. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer with the assistance of structural engineer Bruno Contarini, who had worked with Niemeyer on earlier projects, the MAC-Niterà ³i is 16 meters high; its cupola has a diameter of 50 metres with three floors. The museum projects itself over Boa Viagem (â€Å"Bon Voyage,† â€Å"Good Journey†), the 817 square metres (8,790 sq ft) reflecting pool that surrounds the cylindrical base â€Å"like a flower,† in the words of Niemeyer. A wide access slope leads to a Hall of Expositions, which has a capacity for sixty people. Two doors lead to the viewing gallery, through which can be seen theGuanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, and Sugarloaf Mountain. The saucer-shaped modernist structure, which has been likened to a UFO, is set on a cliffside, at the bottom of which is a beach. In the film Oscar Niemeyer, an architect committed to his century,[1] Niemeyer is seen flying over Rio de Janeiro in a UFO which then lands on the site, suggesting this to be the origin of the museum. The MAC Scandal was a political scandal that occurred when the mayor Joà £o Sampaio inaugurated the Niterà ³i Contemporary Art Museum. The MAC is located on a hill slope that had locked construction rights set by the city council. Therefore in December 1996, the new mayor, Jorge Roberto Silveira sent a project to the city council to obtain the rights to construction in that area. The project was accepted in only two days, giving permission to build buildings up to 40 metres (130 ft). The city council did not know that days before, Zeca Mocarzel, sub-mayor of the Niterà ³i’s Oceanic Region (of Jorge Roberto Silveira’s government) bought the lands at a very low price, claiming to the old owner that the region was locked and nothing could be done there. So he bought the area and, after the inauguration of the MAC which substantially increased the property values of the nearby areas, later sold the land for more than 5 million reals, approximately 1,250,000 US dollars at the time (2,720,000 dollars today). Because the scandal occurred just before Christmas, the people of Niterà ³i said that it was Jorge Roberto Silveira, Zeca Mocarzel and Joà £o Sampaio’s (long-time Niterà ³i’s politicians) â€Å"Christmas present†.

Lester B. Pearson Essay

Over the years, there have been many Great Canadians. Whether they have had numerous amazing accomplishments, or only one very grave one, they are defined as a huge role in the country. Many Great Canadians have changed Canada in a good way, or have done things for the citizens. Lester B. Pearson’s efforts and accomplishments as Prime Minister helped improve Canada. He helped create Canada’s reputation as peacekeepers. When he felt Canadians needed it, he brought Universal Health Care into Canada. Lester B. Pearson also decided to get American car dealerships in Canada. â€Å"Canadians are the world’s best-known peacekeepers.†1 When a country is in need of support, Canada is there to save them. Canada has had a leading role when it comes to lending a helping hand. Not always, has Canada been the country to count on. Lester B. Pearson helped create Canada’s reputation as peacekeepers. â€Å"Canada has contributed soldiers, and sometimes civilians to every major United Nation’s peacekeeping operation.†2 Canada is very dedicated when it comes to helping other countries. Everyday citizens are willing to help out with a country in need. Canadians are not known for being peacekeepers because their government has told them to go support a country, they do it because they want too. They respect and help others who need it by volunteering their time and providing support. Sometimes without even leaving the country. Programs have been created not just by the government, but everyday citizens, where people can donate food, clothing, or money to other countries who need it most. â€Å"Lester B. Pearson was given the Nobel Peace Prize for his part in the UN’s dramatic sending of a peacekeeping force to the Middle East at the time of the Suez Crisis.†3 Even though Canada had no connections or fears for their country because of the Suez Crisis, they knew that many people and countries would have been badly effected by it. Canada wanted to stop a war from breaking out. Lester B. Pearson had a huge role during this time, working at a fast pass to try to stop it as well as supporting the countries in need. In the end, Canada’s hard work and devotion payed off. Lester B. Pearson as well as Canadian’s, strongly supported peacekeeping, which helped create and improve Canada’s reputation. There are many things Canada has that other countries do not, which makes Canada unique. One thing Canada has is Universal Health Care. Some countries do not think they need it, or they just prefer the way things are already. Lester B. Pearson brought Health Care into Canada when he felt  Canadians needed it. â€Å"Until the 1950s, Canadians got medical treatment with cold cash, private insurance, or charity.†4 Some countries still have to pay for their Health Care and other medical care. Some things regarding health can be very expensive. Before Universal Health Care in Canada, some citizens would not be able to afford medical care. Introducing Health Care in Canada helped many people out who needed it, as well as saved some people from anything seriously terrible they were not able to afford it fixed. â€Å"Lester B. Pearson’s government negotiated federal-provincial agreements and saw the legislation pass, leading to Canada-wide Medicare in 1966.†5 Lester B. Pearson worked hard to try to get Universal Health Care in Canada. He did it to help the citizens and create a better Canada as well. Being healthy is always a good thing for everyone. Some people did not approve of the idea at first, but it benefitted many citizens. When thinking about ways to help the citizens of Canada live better, healthier lives, Universal Health Care was a great way to make sure Canadians were all right and had support where they need it most. Every country wants a strong, stable economy. More new products being built expands businesses and creates new jobs, which means more money for the country and citizens. Prosperit y is the goal. To obtain that goal, countries and leaders have to think of new ways to reach it. When Canada wanted to create a better economy, Lester B. Pearson decided to get American Car dealerships into Canada, creating the Automotive Agreement (Auto Pact). â€Å"The agreement helped secure the foundations for Canadian manufacturing and industry.†6 Creating a strong foundation for the economy of Canada improved many things. It protected the country if anything bad were to happen and made it easier to repair the country back to normal. A countries look, or reputation also depends on its economy. When a country has prosperity, people from other countries will want to visit, earning more money from foreigners as well. â€Å"The Auto Pact helped strengthen the relationship between Canada and the US.†7 At the time, Canada and the US were not very close because of Cold War tensions between the two. The Auto Pact helped settled those tensions and made Canada and the US a lot closer, which strengthened their countries as well. Canada could now rely on the US, and the US could do them same with them. Lester B. Pearson’s action in creating the Auto Pact helped to build prosperity in Canada, which created a stronger, more wealthy economy. Lester B. Pearson’s efforts and  accomplishments as Prime Minister helped improve Canada. Pearson had helped create Canada’s reputation as peacekeepers. He brought Health Care to Canada. Lester B. Pearson also got American car dealerships to come to Canada. There have been many Great Canadians over the years, but Lester B. Pearson has proven to be one of the best. Bibliography CBoC. â€Å"End of an Era? International Challenges to the Auto Pact.† The Conference board of Canada. http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=150 (accessed January 16, 2013). Crane, David. â€Å"Canada-US Automotive Product Agreement.† eLibrary. http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/ (accessed January 16, 2013). Junior Canadian Encyclopedia. â€Å"United Nations.† eLibrary. http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/ (accessed January 12, 2013). The Historian-Dominion Institute. â€Å"Health Care.† 101 Things Canadians Should Know About Canada. http://www.101things.ca/topten.php?item=9 (accessed January 15, 2013).

Free Essays on Abraham

In the Old Testament, Abraham and Moses were two very prominent leaders chosen by God to do his will. Throughout Genesis and Exodus, both men play important roles in fulfilling God’s will. They are put to many tests, given covenants, and communicate constantly with God. Although they have many similarities such as being leaders and men of God, there are also many differences between the two. In terms of leadership, Abraham was a noble leader. Although he grew up in a camp where the notion of one God was not accepted, he eventually manages to become the leader of a tribe and make the people believe in his faith. He leads them around endlessly from Ur to Canaan, to Egypt, then back to Canaan. His tribe followed him around without much questions. They just followed his leadership. Moses was also a great leader. When he led the Hebrews out of Egypt to the Red Sea, some people questioned Moses saying, â€Å"It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert† (Exodus14:12). Moses being a calm leader replied, â€Å"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still† (Exodus 14:13-14). In the mist of his people doubting him and the Egyptians on the chase, Moses reassures his people to put their faith in God. This shows Moses courageous leadership in a time of eminent danger. After they cross the Red Sea, with the help of the Lord parting it, the Red Sea closes on the Egyptians and Moses and his people are safe. After all this, Moses and his people encounter many struggles such as thirst, hunger, attacks from enemies, however Moses always manages somehow to renew the faith of his people and lead them to the promise land. Just like Abraham, Moses was a worthy leader. They both managed to keep the faith of their people in God and they lead the peopl... Free Essays on Abraham Free Essays on Abraham In the Old Testament, Abraham and Moses were two very prominent leaders chosen by God to do his will. Throughout Genesis and Exodus, both men play important roles in fulfilling God’s will. They are put to many tests, given covenants, and communicate constantly with God. Although they have many similarities such as being leaders and men of God, there are also many differences between the two. In terms of leadership, Abraham was a noble leader. Although he grew up in a camp where the notion of one God was not accepted, he eventually manages to become the leader of a tribe and make the people believe in his faith. He leads them around endlessly from Ur to Canaan, to Egypt, then back to Canaan. His tribe followed him around without much questions. They just followed his leadership. Moses was also a great leader. When he led the Hebrews out of Egypt to the Red Sea, some people questioned Moses saying, â€Å"It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert† (Exodus14:12). Moses being a calm leader replied, â€Å"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still† (Exodus 14:13-14). In the mist of his people doubting him and the Egyptians on the chase, Moses reassures his people to put their faith in God. This shows Moses courageous leadership in a time of eminent danger. After they cross the Red Sea, with the help of the Lord parting it, the Red Sea closes on the Egyptians and Moses and his people are safe. After all this, Moses and his people encounter many struggles such as thirst, hunger, attacks from enemies, however Moses always manages somehow to renew the faith of his people and lead them to the promise land. Just like Abraham, Moses was a worthy leader. They both managed to keep the faith of their people in God and they lead the peopl...

Design and produce an educational workbook and justify the design Essay

Design and produce an educational workbook and justify the design decisions - Essay Example The clinical skills of family physicians mainly involve greater understanding about the perspectives of the patients and providing the guidelines towards solving their respective problems. Family physicians are attached with their patients through emotions and thus play a decisive part in forming greater association with them. The relationship prevailing between the family physicians and the patients is central, as family physicians are observed to play roles as a communicator, collaborator and also as a professional (CFPC, 2013). In order to determine the nature of the learners with regard to the workbook deigned, it is worth mentioning that family physicians work as the resource to a particular practice such as health advocate. The roles and responsibilities of family physicians are to provide the guidelines regarding the treatment of their patients. The in-depth knowledge and skills required to be attained in order to solve any health problem for ensuring effective as well as efficient health practice. Observably, family physicians apply the knowledge of medical science and also possess certain professional attitudes that eventually result in providing better treatments to those patients who suffer from high knee pain. It will be vital to mention that family physicians always maintain a healthy relationship with their patients and also their family members in order to provide them with proper treatments and effective care related to the problem of knee pain or any other similar health issue (CFPC, 2009). The learning context based on which, the workbook has been produced, is knee pain. Knee pain is one of the major conditions, which face every people exceeding the age of 50 years. One of the major causes of knee pain is osteoarthritis. In response, acupuncture is one of the popular medicines to get relief from knee pain. Along with this medicine, exercise is also important from getting relief of the knee pain and also improving the strength

Explaining the reasons for income inequality in the US Research Paper

Explaining the reasons for income inequality in the US - Research Paper Example The causes of the increasing levels of income gaps and inequalities in the United States of America, which is one of the largest and most developed nations in the world has been a topic which is subject to a number of extensive researches, political interests and media attentions because this aspect involves how the income of the nation is divided among the people of the country and thus, is a primary factor involved in the development of economic consistency and stability of a country. Therefore, the topic of identifying and analyzing the main reasons which are driving the exponential growth of the inequalities in the financial and economic positions of the rich and the poor classes of the society has become an interesting area of study and research. This research is aimed at identifying and analyzing the primary and secondary reasons that have caused the high level of income inequalities in the United States of America. For this purpose, the macro economic backgrounds of the company as well as the different sources of income among the rich and the poor classes of the American society are studied in depth. Additionally, the main drivers of the income inequalities in the society and economy of the United States are identified so as to understand how these income gaps can be reduced in the future by the government of the United States of America and the various other governing authorities and institutions functioning in the country. Thus, the main research question formulated for the study is given as follows As per the work of Galbraith and Hale (2008), income inequality refers to the degree to which income within a population is distributed in a disproportionate and uneven manner. Income inequality can also be described as the gap between the income of the rich and the poor classes of people within a society or a nation (Galbraith and Hale, 2008, p.344). Duncan and Murnane

Project annual report Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Project annual report - Research Paper Example The most common skin disease treated here is acne. People of every age, especially the teenagers are very prone to this disease (Cohen, 2011). Oncology Our department of oncology delivers comprehensive treatment for cancer for both the adults and children with hematologic malignancies or solid tumours. Our aim is to provide the best possible care to patients,  build a world recognized environment for clinical research and laboratory. Biological, novel drug and immunologic targeted therapies and gene therapies are being intensively studied within the department to determine if these therapies can be used for cancer treatment. Members of the department collaborate with allied health professionals and physicians in related medical specialties for example: the Pain Clinic, Radiology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Infectious Diseases and also all the surgical subspecialties in order to ensure that cancer patients with their families have access to total care for their psychological, physic al, spiritual and emotional needs. The department of oncology diagnosis and treatment of every kind of cancer, including: head and neck tumors, brain tumors, kidney cancer, ovarian cancer, sarcomas melanoma, gynaecological and pancreatic cancer, biliary cancer, neuroendocrine and hepatoma. A few days back, our specialists successfully grafted patient’s brother’s bone marrow into hers. The patient was only a few months old and the doctors were really happy with the outcome as the cancer was in its last stages (Oncology in Minnesota, 2011). Gastroenterology Gastroenterology department provides medical treatment and expert diagnosis for patients with disorders of the liver, gallbladder, oesophagus, pancreas, stomach, small intestine and colon.  Our Gastroenterologists use the most recent endoscopic advances to carry out hundreds of minimally invasive procedures every month. These include sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy  and state-of-the-art procedures such as endoscopic ul trasound (EUS) capsule endoscopy and  endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Apart from these services, other innovative procedures and treatments options include: Endoscopic Pancreatic Function Test, Cryoablation for Barrett’s Oesophagus, Endoscopy Therapy for IBD and Extracorporeal and intraductal Lithotripsy. The most common diseases we see in this department are Constipation in children and adults, diverticulitis, diarrhea, helicobacter pylori, gall bladder diseases, iron deficiency anemia, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, nausea and vomiting, sigmoidoscopy and inflammatory bowel disease. A few days back, the department treated a patient who was unable to swallow food and liquid. Initially we could not find the cause but then it came out to be achalasia. In achalasia the oesophageal sphincter muscle does not relax normally. As medications are not an effective we performed a surgery, which fortunately was successful (Department of Gastroenterology & Hep atology, 2011). Pulmonary: We use the radiology department and the path lab for various tests, and X-rays. Radiological tests such as echocardiogram, ventilation perfusion scans, electrocardiogram, and CT scans are performed on these patients for their quick and efficient diagnosis. Several of the blood tests that we carry out are the LFTs

Public participation Essay Example for Free

Public participation Essay The end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the new millennium have seen the rapid growth of two undeniably related phenomena. They are the rise of international democracy and the explosion in the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). â€Å"E-democracy† is the concept widely used and even sometimes misused. Crick (2002:93) defines democracy as the, â€Å"polity or political rule [that] strives to balance individual freedom, individual rights, and the common good. † In this paper I’m going to examine the impact of ICTs on the concept of democracy as presented by Crick. Conditions of modern democracy are the role of individuals, official doctrines, typical social structure, nature of the elite, typical institutions of government, type of economy, theories of property, attitudes to law, diffusion of information, and attitudes to politics. No doubt that ICTs have potential to expand democratic participation. Still the question whether ICTs facilitate and enhance democracy is surrounded by much controversy. Areas such as e-voting and e-consultation attract great attention of political scientists from over the globe. ICTs provide an excellent opportunity for governments to become more transparent, efficient and accountable. ICTs mean that people are provided greater services and opportunities online, and as a result become more informed, articulate and active in public affairs. Thus, ICTs have a significant potential to widen civic engagement. Much hype surrounds the newly created term â€Å"global civil society†. Norris (2001:6) poses an inevitable and burning question, â€Å"Will the Internet have the capacity to revitalize public participation in conventional politics, such as levels of party membership, electoral turnout, or activism in civic and voluntary organizations? † ICTs may create the possibility of reaching out to publicize political parties, solicit feedback, new ideas, and new members, energize party activists and build leadership cadres. Thus, ICTs may help to promote political pluralism and activism. Individualism becomes a core value in the ICT-driven society, and the role of an individual is the condition of modern democracy. Also we should keep in mind that e-commerce empowers previously economically disadvantaged strata, and type of economy is one of the conditions of modern democracy. Norris (2001:97) stresses the following fact, â€Å"The Internet may broaden involvement in public life by eroding some of the barriers to political participation and civic engagement, especially for many groups currently marginalized from mainstream politics. † So ICTs provide a perfect opportunity to increase youth participation, enhance women on the political arena, and include marginalized and disadvantaged groups. As Crick (2002:98) argues, â€Å"Participation is critical, for moral education and for the implementation of democratic government. † Still, Leslie David Simon (2002:36) argues that, â€Å"Participation fortifies democracies, but it is also a favourite tool of many totalitarian states. † But Norris (2001:101) states that, â€Å"the new opportunities for civic engagement and political participation on the Internet will serve primarily to benefit those elites with the resources and motivation to take advantage of [them]. † The nature of the elite is the essential condition of modern democracy, and today we can speak of â€Å"information elite† as well as of â€Å"information society. † Transparency of the government, both federal and local, is another possible consequence of democracy. Crick (2002:103) states that, â€Å"Democracies work better (can only work) in an atmosphere of trust. † Norris (2001:107) states that, â€Å"new technologies allow greater transparency in the policy-making process, wider public participation in decision making, and new opportunities for interaction and mobilization in election campaigns, but, critics argue, whether these potentialities are realized. † Attention to the protection of human rights through the use of new communication technologies is an area of growing interest. On the other hand, the implementation of more â€Å"technological democracy† will exacerbate the existing digital divide present within and between developed and developing countries. The explosive growth of the Internet is exacerbating existing inequalities between the information rich and poor. Also, as Norris argues, a so-called democratic divide is developing between the citizens who do and do not use ICT’s to engage, mobilize and participate in public life. Instead of promoting democracy, ICTs could be manipulated by political parties as tools of propaganda. With no Internet censorship it is becoming a widespread political phenomenon. Crick (2002:21) defines anarchy as â€Å"a central danger of democracy†, and cyber-pessimist perceive Internet as a totally anarchical environment. Leslie David Simon (2002:Front Matter) reminds the reader that, â€Å"Today we know that there is another side to the story. Those who hate democratic values and human rights have also learned to use the Internet. In the United States and abroad, neo-Nazis and other hate groups maintain Web-sites † Also e-democracy should be seen as enhancing, not replacing traditional forms of government-citizen interaction. Norris (2001:104) reminds us that ICTs should be used, â€Å"to promote and strengthen the core representative institutions connecting citizens and the state. In this regard, opportunities for public participation and civic engagement generated via new technology are important. † Analysing all the abovementioned, I came to the conclusion that the views expressed by cyber-optimist are more realistic. Personally I believe that ICTs are able and will promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law, and attitude to law is one of the important conditions of modern democracy. ICT’s bring more opportunity and freedom, and these two factors will gradually cause wider adoption and improvement of democratic governance. Certainly, I admit the existence of numerous dangers related to the spread of ICTs, but I believe that the growing political consciousness will prevent further misuse of this powerful tool. Open and transparent government as well as availability and circulation of information can guarantee democracy and participation, and diffusion of information is one of the crucial conditions of modern democracy. Making a final conclusion I would life to state once more that the rational use of the whole potential of ICTs can facilitate democracies worldwide. Sources: 1. Leslie David Simon, Javier Corrales, Donald R. Wolfensberger, Democracy and the Internet: Allies or Adversaries?, Woodrow Wilson Centre Press, 2002 2. Pippa Norris, Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide, Cambridge University Press, 2001 3. Bernard Crick, Democracy: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2002