National Security Council Essay Example for Free

National Security Council Essay The recent trend characterizing the US security policy is the gradual strengthening of the National Security Council. Under G. Bush administration this body gained significant power and influence. In this paper I’m going to investigate the reasons for this trend as well its advantages and disadvantages. In the international practice, National Security Council is generally defined as an executive body coordinating national security issues. National Security Council consists of the heads of departments involved in diplomacy and defense with a relatively small number of staff members. The US National Security Council was established in 1947 and substantially amended in 1949; the same year it was placed in the Executive Office of the President. The powers and influence of the US NSC has been gradually increasing during the second half of the 20th centuries; this trend is evident presently, too. As for the structure of the council, it is chaired by the President and encompasses Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the statutory military advisor to the Council, the Director of Central Intelligence as the intelligence advisor. The Chief of Staff to the President, Counsel to the President, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy have a right to be present at any meeting of the Council; others can be invited to attend NSC meeting if appropriate. The functions of the NSC are â€Å"considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials. † (National Security Council official website, http://www. whitehouse. gov/nsc/) Every President made major or minor change in the powers and functions of the NSC in order to adjust it to his own management style. The ultimate goal of the NSC under Bush administration is to ensure collegiality among different departments coordinating military and diplomatic issues. But the functions of the NSC nowadays are much wider. The expert report that â€Å"the NSC today conducts ongoing relations with the media, Congress, the American public, and foreign governments. † (Daalder Destler, 2000, A New NSC for a New Administration, http://www. brookings. edu/comm/policybriefs/pb68. htm) Even the official sources define the Council as â€Å"as a means of controlling and managing competing departments† and it’s functioning â€Å"depended in no small degree upon the interpersonal chemistry between the President and his principal advisers and department heads. † (Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, History of the National Security Council, http://www. fas. org/irp/offdocs/NSChistory. htm) The NSC is refered to as the â€Å"key foreign policy player in every administration since John F. Kennedys. † (Daalder Destler†¦) I strongly deem that the trend of NSC becoming more influential reflects the general trend of Presidential power becoming more authoritative. The fact that Condoleeza Rice rivals Colin Powell in influence is to a certain extent causes to the relations between Condoleeza Rice and the President. Another reason is that she had been an influential public figure in academic and political circles before joining the NSC. Karl Inderfurth and Loch Johnson (2004, p. 180) in their book Fateful Decisions: Inside the National Security Council states that â€Å"Rice perhaps most closely resembles McGeorge Bundy, of the Kennedy Administration, who was the first non-invisible national-security adviser†¦Ã¢â‚¬  George Bush in the first National Security Presidential Directive stated that â€Å"The NSC shall meet at my direction. † (National Security Presidential Directive, 2001, http://www. fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-1. htm) The positive side of it is that the President can quickly obtain a qualified advice when needed. The negative side is that the NSC is an easy tool for controlling and redefining diplomatic and military policy of the county without consulting other major defense bodies. The same Directive states: â€Å"Except for those established by statute, other existing NSC interagency groups, ad hoc bodies, and executive committees are also abolished as of March 1, 2001, unless they are specifically reestablished as subordinate working groups within the new NSC system as of that date. † George Bush adjusted the Council to his own needs approximately after a year in the office. This is one more important reason why the President relies more on the NSC than on traditional bureaucracy. The structure of the NSC is relatively transparent and clear; it includes a limited number of members, although it has grown in size recently and resembles a governmental agency rather than an advisory committee. I would like to elaborate on another factor that contributes to the situation with the NSC. After the tragic events of 9/11 George Bush established the Office of Homeland Security under the governance of Tom Ridge, the President’s close friend. The functions of the NSC and the OHS often overlap; the possibility of the NSC becoming hegemonic in the sphere of homeland security decreased. Still, its role in the national security is hard to overestimate. Daalder Destler (2000) propose a clear list of reasons why the NSC evolved in the key agent in defence and foreign policy. They state that it was caused by â€Å"the half-century development and legitimization of the NSC as presidential coordinator for mainstream national security issues†¦[and]†¦the post-cold war expansion of the foreign policy agenda, with more issues that require coordination across more agencies†¦[and]†¦the deepening of partisanship in Washington, particularly over the last decade. † It’s hard to give a solely positive or negative evaluation of this trend. From one angle, the NSC is flexible and is able to react rapidly to any security threat. It may seem rational to grant excessive powers to the NSC. There would be no need to employ the bureaucratic machine of numerous agencies dealing with diplomacy, military aspects and homeland security. The NSC should be organized in such a way so that â€Å"the president can make clear foreign policy choices in a timely manner. † (Daalder Destler ) Daalder Destler study emphasises that the NSC major task is integrating the US foreign and defence policy, and it’s of high importance in the era of global terrorism. From another angle, the NSC is powered by the President, and there exists much space for manipulation. Recently, the NSC doesn’t manage efficiently with coordinating the national security bodies. For instance, some tension exists in relations between the NSC and the agencies like CIA. Now let me proceed with drawing the final conclusion of the paper. There exists a clear trend of the National Security Council becoming more influential and powerful under the George Bush administration; this happens for compelling reasons. The positive or negative evaluation of his trend largely depends on the degree of efficiency of the NSC organization and functioning. References 1. The White House, National Security Council http://www. whitehouse. gov/nsc/ Last accessed: 15 Oct 2004 2. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State, History of the National Security Council, 1947-1997 http://www. fas. org/irp/offdocs/NSChistory. htm Last accessed: 15 Oct 2004 3.National Security Presidential Directive, February 13, 2001 http://www. fas. org/irp/offdocs/nspd/nspd-1. htm Last accessed: 15 Oct 2004 4. The Brookings Institution, Foreign Policy Studies, Daalder, I. H. , Destler, I. M. , A New NSC for a New Administration, Nov 2000 http://www. brookings. edu/comm/policybriefs/pb68. htm Last accessed: 15 Oct 2004 5. Inderfurth, K. F. , Johnson, L. K. 2004. Fateful Decisions: Inside the National Security Council. Oxford University Press.

The influence of modern technology on Society

The influence of modern technology on Society 1. Introduction While technology is often described as the most important influence upon society (ref), it remains a subject which deserves further study. This situation is generally accepted, with politicians, sociologists, industrialists and educationalists alike recognising that technology lies at the very heart of society (Chandler, 1996). The critical role that technology plays in the development of society, stimulating not only the economy but society’s socio-cultural values, rather than being merely a tool of society, however, is referred to as ‘technological determinism’ (Underwood, 2009). It is this aspect of how technology drives modern society that this essay addresses. Social progress has come to be equated with technical progress, particularly since the Industrial Revolution (Beniger, 1989). This progress has not always been acknowledged at the time it was occurring; indeed, as Beniger further notes, ‘human society seems rather to evolve largely through changes so gradual as to be all but imperceptible, at least compared to the generational cycles of the individuals through whose lives they unfold’ (1989, p. 2). Perhaps because of this ‘historical myopia’, the value of the change may not be evaluated until the changes has already passed (Beniger, 1989, p. 2). Critics such as Henry David Thoreau, for instance, suggested that improvements in society’s technical means are no guarantee of improved ends, and that they may instead lead to a mechanistic and fatalistic outlook, positing that we do not ride upon the railroad; it rides upon us (1845, p. 308). Thus, technology itself becomes an overriding preoccupation, for it never stops still. Technological advancement seems important at the time to different ages in different societies, psychologically if not practically; in a variety of modern societies, for example, young people presently feel a heightened empathy with the digital age (Bennett and Maton, 2010). However, not all sectors of the community will be directly involved with, share an understanding, or even see the relevance, of the latest technological inventions. Nevertheless, as de Tocqueville (1990, p. xxii) noted in 1840, ‘this social revolution, which I believe to be irresistible†¦ is already accomplished or about to be so’, and thus recognition of it is recognition of the past as much as the present. The current revolution in technology, known variously as the ‘Information Age’ or ‘Age of Technology’, similarly is unrelenting: the older person who is reluctant to use a computer has a life shaped by others’ use of computers and may even accept a basic mobile telephone, once considered a glamourous accessory (Coeckelbergh, 2012). As globalisation becomes an increasingly significant factor in countries’ economic success, technological competence is becoming an essential tool for surviving and thriving not only in society, but in its constituent parts, such as employment, education, agriculture, and industry. 2. Advantages and disadvantages of modern technological progress The younger generation today, like many previous generations, seeks to change the world and make it a better and more comfortable place in which to live (Griswold, 2012). They want to be contributors to peace, economic reforms, the improvement of public services and many other aspects of the society. For them, the best way to contribute to these changes is through modern technology. (Weiser and Brown, 1997). This does not necessarily mean that youth wants to make a huge change on the view of the world where they grew up, or that they just want to split away from the norms of society. Instead, they believe that the advances in communication, through technological means, will facilitate social change as no previous generation has had the opportunity to learn so much, so authentically, from one another (Griswold, 2012). The ability for real-time conversations, forums, information exchange, visualisation of other cultures, and greater social equality across the world has developed more in the last 20-25 years than at any other time in history. This has allowed commentary on situations as they develop, rather than purely through the perspective of written media. For example, the role of social media during the ‘Arab Spring’, not only through Twitter but Facebook and other social media platforms, provided contextualisation for the media reports at a time when media bias is increasingly critically examined (Khondker, 2011). Thus, this generation is able to confirm journalists’ interpretation of an event, even in film, with those who are participating on both sides of the event, as well as casual observers. This is unique in history. The degree to which unfettered access to opinion, counter-opinion, reportage, and propaganda will truly reshape the world is yet to be determined. The Habermasian interpretation of the development of the public sphere holds some analogies, as the democratisation of critical analysis unfolded in fin-de-sià ¨cle Viennese coffee houses (Habermas, 1989). According to di Maggio et al. (2001) extensive social effects, both optimistic and pessimistic, have been claimed for many communications technologies before our current computer-based age of information technology. The so-called I.T. revolution (which tends to be presented as the ‘final’ communications revolution) can be seen as having been preceded by the ‘writing revolution’ and ‘the print revolution’, and only the latest phase of an ‘electronics revolution’ which began with telegraphy and telephony. Winston (1998) criticises technological determinism and instead develops his theory of cultural determinism. In this theory, Winston considers not how technology shapes society, but rather that the evolution of technology, which is not static, is mediated and manipulated by society. Thus, as a result of these manoeuvres, the ‘radical potential’ of a specific technology is stifled; society therefore only accepts that which it believes itself to be in a position to accept (Winston, 1998). Systems and machines like computers, mobile phones and operating systems, which just involve one click on the computer, replace the things which used to takes hours or even days. Almost every home has a computer and telephone, and individuals within those homes often each have a mobile phone (Bennett and Maton, 2010). For some people, the application of technology is the only technique for them to develop patience, as even the tedious business of waiting can be ameliorated by keeping busy with a mobile phone, especially for youth. One of the most important advantages of modern technology is globalisation, which has allowed the world to feel ‘closer’, and permitted the worlds economy to become a single, interdependent system (Barrell and Fic, 2014). This means that people can not only share information quickly and efficiently, but can also bring down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries. Zhong (2007) observes that, in todays stock markets, financial infrastructure, global news organisations, powerful militaries, strong governments and big corporations, instantaneous communication is an asset society cannot afford to lose. The internet allows interconnection and promotes globalisation and information sharing. The reduction in the cost of instantaneous communication over the last 20 years have considerably expanded its potential, by making it accessible to developing as well as developed economies. However, modern technology does not bring advantages but some disadvantages as well. The similarity of lifestyles, whereby communication channels homogeneity, can have deleterious effects (Griswold, 2012). Before the rise of film, television, and the internet, people had different cultures and traditions that were reflected in the way they wear clothes or design buildings. Now, in a form of creeping conformity, people tend to build the same models of house and wear the same fashions. The new, modern technology is excellent in many ways, but its philosophical, physiological, and psychological effects remain unknown in a period when technological interaction and live communication through computer use, internet chat, mobile phones, and SMS texts are part of the everyday life of -teenagers and the youth of today. This not only includes issues such as the debate on whether mobile telephones increase the likelihood of brain tumours, but the behavioural responses of children to ‘instant’ gratification, or whether mobile phone addiction will become a significant disability (di Maggio et al., 2001). These are issues which remain unresolved; their resolution will not be immediate. 3. The vision of teenagers in this day and age With the growth of technologies as the internet and computers, teenagers and young people are becoming more dislocated from society (Griswold, 2012). Isolation is one form of this problem. The Japanese phenomenon of hikikomori, whereby young people (commonly, males, and more increasingly, adults) sequester themselves, using only technology to keep in touch with society, is believed to affect almost two million people worldwide (Longo, 2010). Social interaction results in levels of stress and distress to the degree that individuals cannot cope, and seek refuge instead in an environment which they feel is fully within their control. Additionally, education is being transformed by technology. Stimulating students is not a matter of making a great speech or a dominant lesson anymore; educators need to be brought down to a teenagers level of understanding (Weiser and Brown, 1997). The need and wishes of modern youth are very different from those of their parents, as can be seen in hikikomori (Longo, 2010). The most inspiring tool for teens and their lifestyle is the internet, mobile technologies, and computers (Griswold, 2012. Teenagers and young people also have changed in comparison with teens in the past, taking into account eating habits, an active way of life, spending free time, and the importance of music and fashion. The affordability of many of these factors has changed considerably since, for example, the post-war generation (Bennett and Maton, 2010). The most important change, however, is that they are a technology generation. For teens in todays world, mobile phones, internet, music, movies, television and video games are very important. Most teenagers prefer watching television and playing computer games to reading books. They dislike reading because watching television or playing online role-playing games is easier and they do not have to use their own imagination (Davies and Eynon, 2013). Computer games have the capacity to provide teaching opportunities but they are also harmful to health (Longo, 2010). Teenagers prefer to spend free time in front of a computer rather than to walk, play football, go to a swimming pool, or just simply meet a friend in the park and have a chat. The long term effects of these changes are not likely to be evident for at least three more generations. According to di Maggio et al. (2001), the internet expands daily and reaches more and more people globally. As a society, improvements in literacy may rise due to the growth of the internet. The young generation cannot imagine their day’s homework without the support of the one of most important modern technological developments, the internet. The internet is very useful and an important tool for studies, as there they are able to see the latest reports and articles, find and practise exercises which are relevant to their studies, as well as submit assignments and other work. Further, a teenagers social life becomes inextricably linked to social networking, especially through live chat and Facebook. They would rather say that this is the easiest way to communicate with each other, as well as learning new things and having fun (Davies and Eynon, 2013). Many things can be done through the internet. Young people can download music and other files and play online games with their real or virtual friends. In this way, therefore, the internet influences the teen view to the world and its future. It also gives them an opportunity to interact with other teens and discuss relevant issues. One important aspect of teens using internet is their freedom to post criticism of government leaders. Youths have limited abilities to communicate meaningfully with government as they cannot vote; the internet permits them to give their beliefs about what is wrong and what is right from their point of view, (Davies and Eynon, 2013). On social websites youths can have relations and communication with their friends or just someone who is far away from their homes and around the world, chatting on the worldwide web, emailing or just playing games. This has been extended considerably with the advent of smart phones (Bennett and Maton, 2010). Using the internet teenagers can go shopping with their friends using the same website, use microphones or cameras to film themselves, nearly in the same way as they would go out together for real shopping. Thus, the public sphere – through recreational chat as well as more complex interactions – is extended in the manner akin to that described by Habermas (1989). Nevertheless, this change to ‘life online’ means that, inevitably, many real world problems manifest themselves in the internet, and then have a further real world consequence. This can be seen in the phenomenon of cyber bullying. Cyber bullying targets the sexuality, physical attractiveness and friendships of children and teenagers (Davies and Eynon, 2013). Victims do not know what to do or where to turn. Cyber bullies harass victims anonymously. The psychological damage is horrific because the victims own peers have turned on them and there is nowhere for them to go, with teenage suicides and attempted suicides reported in the past (Griswold, 2013). A ‘dis-connect’ from human reactions could contribute to cyber bullying. People learn to communicate mostly through text messages or online, and do not learn important aspects of human interaction, such as noticing and accepting non-verbal signals (Griswold, 2013). Without these signals and characteristics it is easy to be misunderstood and for the victim to be dehumanised (di Maggio et al., 2001). This is also true of online dating (Winston, 1998). People are normally aware of what someone is saying or not saying, through gesticulations and voice tones. Without these cues, it is difficult to appreciate how the other person is feeling and whether there is truly a connection. Youth can start to feel as if who they are is not recognised, that they are reviled or that nobody wants them, when for example the text message or email was simply not received. Young people have created and developed a communication culture that incorporates many special features, such as a rise in the use of text-based communication channels (Davies and Eynon, 2013). Teenagers intersecting and selective use of communication channels has been shaped by multimedia communication (Weiser and Brown, 1997). Thus, their public sphere utilises a wider range of platforms than previously; nevertheless, it is still merely an extension of the public sphere, just as television and newspapers were (Habermas, 1989). Regardless of their form, the media landscapes created by teenagers serve to articulate their personal space, as well as enabling their presentation of self and defining their relationships to others). This can be seen in young peoples relationship to the mobile phone and other forms of interactive technology, which is consistent with their general consumption styles. An addictive use of the phone has been related to trendy and impulsive consumption styles prevalent among females (Davies and Eynon, 2013). Technology enthusiasm and trend-consciousness was linked to impulsive consumption and hard values more prevalent among males (di Maggio et al., 2001). In contrast, a frugal mobile phone use was not related to gender but to environmentalism and thrifty consumption in general. The traditional gender division in mobile phone use styles that could be observed is interesting in the light of conjectures that genders are becoming more alike in their use of new technology. The increasing trend towards ‘instant gratification’ that has been fed by high rates of credit over the last 30 years is exacerbated by an impatience facilitated by devices such as smart phones (Griswold, 2012). The net result of several of several generations for whom this is true has not yet been realised. 4. Conclusion Technology is one of a number of mediating factors in human behaviour and social change, which both acts on and is acted upon by other phenomena. Being critical of technological determinism is not to discount the importance of the fact that the technical features of different communication technologies facilitate different kinds of use, though the potential applications of technologies are not necessarily realised. Enthusiasm for technological progress typically involves technological determinism. As Potter and Sarre (1974, p. 485), caution that, in reaction to the changes taking places amongst today’s youth, there is evidently an unmistakable tone of moral disapproval directed against cultural interval – that is, resistances to structural and normative adaptations occasioned by innovation. This is not new. Every generation expresses concern for the pace and nature of change, and questions whether change is driving society or society desires the changes wrought. In the meantime, the technological revolution will enable people’s lives to be easier, in ways such as social interaction, education, manufacturing, and so on. Withdrawing from the degree to which technology has shaped society will be very difficult, and likely to lead to large-scale economic chaos (Barrell and Fic, 2013). The rise in costs, for example, through slower communications or manual manufacturing methods, would result in an overwhelming, if temporary drain on the economy; nevertheless, given the decrease in fossil fuel availability, this may be a future that society needs to consider. Humans are highly adaptable, as the integration of change previously has demonstrated. There may be a social cost in this, as Thoreau (1854) speculated, but this flexibility has permitted societies of many different forms to flourish for millennia. The liberty for people discuss change, as Habermas (1989) has described, has expanded in the last three hundred years. Nevertheless, thinkers such as Thoreau and Habermas are prepared to question not only technological progress but change in its most elementary form. This is what will preserve humanity from self-destructive change. Many people may feel that teenagers are unwittingly ‘walking into’ self-destructive change through their eager acceptance of technology in every aspect of their lives (di Maggio et al., 2001). Whilst this may be a legitimate concern, it should also be borne in mind that teenagers are not merely being controlled by devices but are using devices to facilitate change – through social media. This was apparent during the ‘Arab Spring’ (Khondker, 2011), and was widely welcomed. Enthusiasm for technological progress typically involves technological determinism. As Potter and Sarre (1974, p. 485), caution that, in reaction to the changes taking places amongst today’s youth, ‘there is evidently an unmistakable tone of moral disapproval directed against cultural interval – that is, resistances to structural and normative adaptations occasioned by innovation. This is not new. Every generation expresses concern for the pace and nature of change, and questions whether change is driving society or society desires the changes wrought. The human willingness to use change meaningfully and self-reflect, it is hoped, will protect society from itself. 5. References Barrell, R. and Fic, T. (2013). Integration, globalisation, technology and trade patterns in the EU8. Research in Economics and Business: Central and Eastern Europe, 2(1), pp. 1-13. Beniger, J. (1989). The control revolution: Technological and economic origins of the information society. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Bennett, S. and Maton, K. (2010), Beyond the ‘digital natives’ debate: Towards a more nuanced understanding of students technology experiences. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 26(5), pp. 321-331. Coeckelbergh, M. (2012). â€Å"How I learned to love the robot†: Capabilities, information technologies, and elderly care. In Oosterlaken, I. and van der Hoven, J. (eds), The capability approach, technology and design. Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 77-86. Davies, C. and Eynon, R. (2013). Teenagers and technology. Hove: Routledge. De Tocqueville, A. (1835). Democracy in America: Volume I. [1990] New York: Vintage Books. Denning, P.J. and Metcalfe, RM. (eds) (1997). Beyond calculation: The next fifty years of computing. New York: Springer. DiMaggio, P., Hargittai, E., Neuman, W.R. and Robinson, J.P. (2001). Social implications of the internet. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, pp. 307-336. Griswold, W. (2012). Cultures and societies in a changing world (4th edn). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Habermas, J. (1989). The structural transformation of the public sphere. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Khondker, H.H. (2011). Role of the new media in the Arab Spring. Globalizations, 8(5), pp. 675-679. Longo, G.O. (2010). Communication, technology, and the planetary creature. Communication, Capitalism Critique, 8(1), pp. 18-27. Oosterlaken, I. and van der Hoven, J. (eds) (2012). The capability approach, technology and design. Dordrecht: Springer. Potter, D. and Sarre, P. (eds) (1974). Dimensions of society: A reader. London: University of London Press/Open University Press. Thoreau, H.D. (1854). Walden; Or life in the woods. Boston: Ticknor and Fields. Weiser, M. and Brown, J.S. (1997). The coming age of calm technology. In Denning, P.J. and Metcalfe, R.M. (eds), Beyond calculation: The next fifty years of computing. New York: Springer, pp. 75-85. Winston, B. (1998). Media technology and society: a history: From the telegraph to the Internet. Abingdon: Psychology Press.

Economic, Cultural and Political Impact of Globalisation

Economic, Cultural and Political Impact of Globalisation In this rapid changing world, globalisation affected people and states around the world largely. A British Labour Party politician, Clare Short, once said: People have accused me of being in favour of globalisation. This is equivalent to accusing me of being in favour of the sun rising in the morning. (Ridgers, 2012) This quote shows quite well that globalisation is the new ages of human history, which is inevitable. Most of the people think that globalisation is the process of interconnection between the people, companies, governments of different nations, in which driven by massively increased trade and cultural exchange (Navar, 2003). However, it may be too simplistic. Globalisation, in fact, has many underlying meanings and brings some unforeseeable consequences. Therefore, this essay will attempt to analyse globalisation and find out its true definition. In order to demonstrate this, this essay will discuss the meaning of globalisation in three dimensions: economy, culture and p olitics along with three waves of globalisation, namely hyperglobalist, sceptics, and transformationalists. Globalisation in economy dimension refers to the worldwide movement of the global economy, resulting in the increased interconnectedness of national economies with free transfer of goods, capital, and services across national borders (Guttal, 2007). Financial markets, such as credit markets, commodity markets and capital markets are the apparent examples. Base on the hyperglobalists perspectives, there are four main factors that lead to the process of globalisation in the economy (Martell, 2007). Firstly, transportation advances. With the improvements in transport, a large number of people and goods are able to move more quickly (Guttal, 2007). As a result, the cost of transporting goods becomes relatively cheaper where there are many larger cargo ships available (Guttal, 2007). Also, it means that the cost per item can be reduced since the cost of transporting is the key reason which influences it (Guttal, 2007). Secondly, the freedom of trade. The typical example of it goes to the Europe Unions (EU) free movement and trade, which includes goods, workers, and services (Nayar, 2003). This promotes people in different European countries to open or do business in each others countries (Nayar, 2003). Thirdly, technology revolution. It offers a more accessible and convenient communication between people around the world with the birth of electronic communication devices, such as smartphones, email, faxes, and social networking websites or apps (Nayar, 2003). Lastly, labour availability and skills (Guttals,2007). It could tackle the problems of jobs and skills shortage in More Economically Developed Countries (MEDs) and reduce the unemployment risk in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDs) in the meantime (Guttals, 2007). Moreover, it can take advantage of cheaper labour costs (Guttals, 2007). For example, Indian people whose country with the high unemployment rate are employed in Germany with lesser wages to fill the IT vacancies there (Campe, 2008). Since it seems that the process of globalisation is not inevitable due to the reasons above, then it may be appropriate to look at what impact will it make. Hyperglobalists say that capitalism is one of the many manifestations of globalisation (Guttal, 2007). As we know it today, capitalism is an economic system in which a countrys industry and trade are owned privately by people with minimal interference from the government (Campe, 2008). In this case, hyperglobalists claim that the growth of capitalism results from the rising interconnectivity between countries (Martell, 2007). They think that when the world becomes more integrated, the economies are becoming denationalised in which the relevance and authority of nation-state are declining (Martell, 2007). Also, they view the transnational corporation (TNCs); the companies that operate in different countries, becoming the biggest global influence and not nations, for example, Coca-Cola and MacDonald (Campe, 2008). Consequently, the global economy is considered to have integrated, accepted and included different parts of the world (Guttal, 2007). Hyperglobalists claim that global econom y brings some advantages. Firstly, global economy promotes the increasing international trade and the rise of the number of TNCs in which helps countries, especially LEDs by training the local people with new skills and jobs (Manu, 2000). Secondly, improvement in the standard of living that provide a better living condition for people living in countries that are globalising (Manu, 2000). For example, countries who welcome those foreign investments could earn more revenue as globalisation has brought about more opportunities for trade (Manu, 2000). The Singaporean government used this revenue to develop sectors, including welfare, transportation, and education. In contrast, sceptics perspectives consider global capitalism as a myth (Martell, 2007). They believe that the nation-states still have the responsibilities to control the flows of economic benefits even though the number of TNCs is increasing (Martell, 2007). For example, foreign investment flows into the control of several advanced economics (Martell, 2007). This shows that TNCs are still relevant to their original nation-states and gain profits for these states (Martell, 2007). They also look global economy negatively. They state that global economy is essentially not globally inclusive for two reasons; rising protectionism and increasing international inequality (Liedekerke, 2000). In economics, protectionism represents a method to restrain trade in goods and services (Liedekerke, 2000). Sceptics claim that the increased competition among nations is the main reason of causing protectionism (Teichmann, 2002). For example, the lower costs of labour in China and India make many comp anies have located their production facilities there (Teichmann, 2002). Benefiting from the increased revenue, these countries can rapidly develop their infrastructure like road networks and industrial parks, which further improve their attractiveness to foreign investors (Teichmann, 2002). Consequently, this strongly threatens developed economies such as Thailand and Singapore and more so for LEDs with poor political stability and infrastructure like Cambodia and East Timor (Manu, 2000). According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Economists predict that increased competition from low-wage countries will destroy jobs in richer nations and there will be a race to the bottom as countries reduce wages, taxes, welfare and environmental controls so as to be more competitive, at enormous social cost. Pressure to compete will erode the ability of governments to set their own economic policies and the move towards deregulation will reduce their power to protect and promote the interests of their people. (Liedekerke, 2000) When the protectionism leads to the higher international inequality, the income gap between countries is widening (Nayar, 2003). For instance, business owners in developed countries are able to outsource their operations to other countries in lower costs of production due to the improved communications and transportation (Nayar, 2003). As a result, higher retrenchment rates become higher, and income among the average workers reduce, turning into a phenomenon that the rich getting rich and the poor becoming poorer (Nayar, 2003). During 2012, the 29 richest states on earth generated 48 percent of the world output, whereas the 51 poorest nations contribute only 2 percent of the worlds total output (Manu, 2000). While the globalisation makes a huge change to business dealings, it also has cultural implications. Culturally globalisation refers to an interconnection of ideas, customs and values around the world (Guttal, 2007). In hyperglobalist perspectives, globalisation leads to the homogenisation of the world under American popular culture or Western consumerism (Martell, 2007). It states that globally people are enjoying the homogenised global cultures as the culture consumed is no longer exclusively from their own nation (Guttal, 2007). The national culture is declining significantly as people are interconnected with a universal culture (Guttal, 2007). For example, globalised culture shown in different areas, such as music, television, and sport. Firstly, music from certain countries has spread and sold across the world, notably the Beatles in the 1950s (Campe, 2008). People could learn the English language, English love stories, and ultimately culture through their lyrics (Campe, 2008). Secondly, Hollywood shows on television which originally produced for local audiences has been widely known in the world through globalisation. Consequently, the American culture, customs, performance, folk tales which appear in the Hollywood shows dominate global culture (Campe, 2008). Lastly, footballs popularity shows the globalised culture in sport. People with different nationalities would royally support the football teams. Also, it is common that there are many football players in a team are of different nationalities. Moreover, football is included in Olympic Games. In this case, hyperglobalists say that the emergence of the new technologies is the key role in promoting the global culture, particularly Internet and Satellite communication (Campe, 2008). People all over the world could receive the news, messages or information instantly from these corporations. However, sceptics view the global culture differently that it is, in fact, Western Imperialism (Teichmann, 2002). They criticise that globalisation poses a threat to classical nationalism where Western cultures dominate over all others (Teichmann, 2002). They also condemn that globalisation inevitably leads to the clashes of culture as the speed of globalisation has been accelerated significantly by the improvement of technology (Guttal, 2007). The noteworthy example can be found in migration. In the United States, the melting pot, which refers to the assimilation of migrants into one single culture, has been happening (Campe, 2008). Another example can be found in Hollywood films, in which poses a powerful influence in the global film industry (Campe, 2008). It is found that 95 percent of the global movies are produced by the USA whereas, on the African continent, only 42 films are produced each year. On the other hand, transformationalists argue that globalisation refers to the int ermingling of cultures and people (Guttal, 2007). It is said that cultures are hybridised and transformed into new forms (Teichmann, 2002). Politically globalisation means the expansion of the worldwide political system (Koshy, 2001). In the hyperglobalist opinion, political globalisation challenges the nationalism, which leads to the decline of national-state and the loss of national sovereignty (Koshy, 2001). International organisations including the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the European Union (EU) superseded the nation-states to take the lead in decision-making (Haynes, 2003). Many states sovereignty is weakened when the membership in intergovernmental organisation asks them to hand over (Agnew, 2009). For example, German students in Scotland unexpectedly are allowed to vote in elections to the Scottish Parliament. However, sceptics propose political globalisation in various ways, again. They say that states retain autonomy and sovereignty unevenly (Agnew, 2009). Some states have gained, and some have lost political power, for example, many states become stronger with more social democratic policies. They al so suggest that there is a great power inequality between the states (Liedekerke, 2000). The most powerful nations would use those international political body as a tool to impose their will for their own benefit and to exempt themselves from restrictions when it is disadvantageous to them (Koshy, 2001). Oppositely, some weak nations, perhaps, have no freedom to speak their will in front of these most powerful nations. In contrast to another two views, transformationalists see political globalisation in a relatively positive way (Haynes, 2003). They think there is a shared sovereignty between nation states and international organisations (Haynes, 2003). Nation states still have the power to make important decisions. States and international political body cooperate with each other to solve the global problems, such as demands for human right, environmental pollution, developments in international transport and communication (Haynes, 2003). In conclusion, this essay has attempted to demonstrate the meaning of globalisation in economic, cultural, and political dimensions. In these dimensions, it is not hard to see that technology revolution in recent years has played a vital role in the growth of globalisation. Moreover, with three perspectives on globalisation, it is likely to conclude that there are various meanings of globalisation in different dimensions and it is neither the totally positive nor negative. Globalisation helps as well as harms the world relations. Therefore, it is better to raise public awareness of globalisation, so that people could take it carefully to avoid the worst consequences. Bibliography Agnew, J A. (2009) Globalization and sovereignty.ÂÂ   Lanham: Rowman Littlefield Publishers. Campe, C.V (2008) Atlantic Community. Available at: http://www.atlantic-community.org/app/webroot/files/articlepdf/Globalisation%20and%20Nationalism.pdf (Accessed 12 March 2017) Guttal, S. (2007) Globalisation, Development in Practice, 17(4/5): 523-531. Haynes, J. (2003) Tracing Connections between Comparative Politics and Globalisation, Third World Quarterly, 24(6): 1029-1047. Koshy, N. (2001) Political Dimensions of Globalisation, Economic and Political Weekly, 36(18): 1513-1517. Liedekerke, L. V. (2000) Economic Globalization: The Political Challenge, Ethical Perspectives, 7(1): 37:52. Manu R. Shroff. (2000) Globalisation, Economic and Political Weekly, 35(7): 498-584. Martell, L. (2007) The Third Wave in Globalisation Theory, International Studies Review, 9(2): 173-196. Nayar, B. (2003) Economic Globalisation and Its Advance: From Shallow to Deep Integration, Economic and Political Weekly, 38(45): 4776-4782. Ridgers, B. (2012) The Economist. Available at: http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2012/08/z-business-quotations (Accessed 12 March 2017). Teichmann, I. (2002) Globalisation. London: Watts

Free Great Gatsby Essays: Reflection of an Era :: Great Gatsby Essays

The Great Gatsby - Reflection of an Era During the 1920's America was a country of great ambition, despair and disappointment. The novel The Great Gatsby is a reflection of this decade, it illustrates the burning passion one man has toward his "American Dream" and the different aspects of the dream. Fitzgerald's work is a reflection of America during his lifetime. The Great Gatsby shows the ambition of one man's reach for his "American Dream," the disappointment of losing this dream and the despair of his loss. In the 1920's the spirit and ambition of the American people soared.   Unlike their European counterparts who were trapped in the social class to which they were born, the American people knew that if they worked hard then they could rise to a higher social class. The flappers and the women's liberation movement were just two examples of how Americans expressed their newly discovered social freedom.   It seemed that nothing was impossible to achieve. James Gatz, shared the spirit and ambition on the American people and fought long and hard to earn his place in the world. He had dreamed of transforming himself from the poor, young man that he was into the wealthy celebrity that he would soon become. Gatsby, as a child, had a daily schedule that he followed. He knew from childhood that he had to work for his fame. "Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something" (175). Gatsby's ambition lay not only in his future, but as he grew older it would be found in his love. He had an obsession with Daisy Buchanan and tried everything in his power to bring things back to they way they used to be when they first met. He thought he could relive the past. He threw lavish parties to get her attention. He did everything in his power to be near her. " ‘Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay' " (79) He earned his wealth so that they could finally be together. Like Gatsby, the American people of the 1920's followed their hearts, and their ambition. Through World War One, American men fought to save their country and woman fought to win the right to vote. Even in fashion women were liberated, as the hemline on an average skirt was raised.

Each Mans Son Essay -- essays Papers

Each Mans Son This story is about a young women named Molly Macneil and her young son Alan. They live in a town called Broughton which is located in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Broughton is a small town where most of its male inhabitants work at the colliery. Molly is a very lonely women who has been taking on the role of a single mother for the last four years because her husband has been away. Her husband, Archie Macneil, is in the United States following his boxing career. Molly also feels she has to keep this a secret from Alan because she wants him to grow up to be a doctor not a boxer. She will only tell Alan that her father has gone to make money for them and will return when he is finished. She also tells him that his father is a very strong man. Molly has two other men in her life. One is Daniel Ainslie, the town doctor, and Louis Camire, a Frenchman who has just moved to Broughton. Dr Ainslie is a married man who is simply her companion. He is more interested in Alan and his future. But Louis loves Molly ans she has feelings for him even though she denies them. Throughout the book Molly tries her best to make a good life for her and Alan, even though they are both very lonely. Molly misses her husband and Alan misses his father. The two main characters in this book are Molly Macneil and Daniel Ainslie. Molly Macneil is a young women in her early twenties. She is very lonely because she longs for her husband. She is also very troubled. She is fig...

Secrets of Spanish Cuisine Essay -- essays research papers

Two of my favorite foods are Spanish rice and homemade flour tortillas. Unfortunately, I have only prepared the Rice-a-Roni version of Spanish rice and used store-bought tortillas because it less time consuming. My feelings changed yesterday when my teacher, Mrs. Hernandez, taught me how to make the rice from scratch. In order to make Spanish rice, you need the following ingredients: 2 cups of regular white rice, 1 small onion,  ¼ cup of oil, 1 small green bell pepper, 1 small tomato, 4 oz of tomato sauce, 2 cloves of garlic, 4 to 5 cups of water, 1 tbsp of salt, and a touch of black pepper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To begin, chop the bell pepper, tomato, and onion into very small dices. Next, turn the stove burner on high and place your pan with the cooking oil added on top to pre-h...

An “Essay” On Child Labour

Human trafficking is described as the â€Å"trade in humans†. Common trade purposes include sexual slavery, surrogacy, forced labour and extraction of organs or tissues. Child labour is described as a form of work that can be hazardous towards their development and education, and could damage their physical and mental health. Some examples include the illegal drug trade, prostitution and forced recruitment for armed conflict. Trafficking represents an estimated $32 billion a year in international trade.In 2008, the United Nations estimated that almost 2.5 million from 127 different countries are being trafficked into 137 other countries all over the world. Another report also estimated that 12. 3 million people were working as forced labourers or were sex slaves, and that 98% of them were women. Along the Ivory Coast in Africa, many children are working in cocoa fields or plants. Most of them were told that they would be paid if they would work for their company and that the m oney earned would go back to their family, which convinced many to through with the process.They were brought out of their village, and thought they were going on an adventure and that it would be a fun and exciting experience. But when they arrived, they realised that they were far away from home, and that it wouldn't be as fun as they had imagined. According to the BBC, approximately 1. 8 million children in West Africa are working in the cocoa industry. The chocolate industry is worth more than ?56. 5 billion a year and 40% of the people working on the Ivory Coast live below the poverty line.Children have been seen at risk while holding various weapons and pesticides and are forced to work from early in the morning to late at night non-stop. The standards of living for the workers are horrible. They sleep in a small, crowded area with other workers where the floor is often damp with urine, making it hard for them to breathe. They get fed just enough to keep them alive and it is i mpossible to escape. They do not earn money and will be lucky if they ever see their parents or family members again.Experiences like these leave a victim with man bad memories that they will never be able to forget. Many could end up suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, and will get unwanted flashbacks. Human trafficking and child labour affects victims both physically and mentally, and needs to be abolished as soon as possible. The way they are treated is not how they should be and this needs to be dealt with immediately.