Monday, September 30, 2019
Domestic Violence and the Police Essay
In this essay I have chosen to study and discuss an article about domestic violence in Britain. The aspects I have chosen to concentrate on are the police response to domestic abuse, recent government initiatives and the financial and logistical problems faced by women who are trying to escape from violent domestic situations. The statistics relating to domestic violence are very disturbing. According to the Womenââ¬â¢s Aid website, one incident of domestic violence per minute is reported, with an alarming two deaths a week perpetrated by a current or former partner. In addition to this, they report that one in four women have suffered some kind of violence in the home. The statistics, from the British Crime Survey 2012, only represent reported violence, and associations who support women that have suffered violence, suspect that many more incidents go unreported(Walby & Allen, 2004). So what the definition of domestic violence? The government definition of domestic violence is â â¬Å"Any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional), between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexualityâ⬠. Domestic violence is not a new phenomenon. Before the 1970ââ¬â¢s it was something that happened, but was kept firmly behind closed doors and treated as a private matter. The rise of feminism in the 1970ââ¬â¢s and the work done with battered women in refuges at that time, led to a heightened awareness of the problem. Studies completed by feminists at the time claimed to have found a link between the dominance of men in society and the way that incidences of domestic violence were ignored or denied. Conservatives at that time debated the findings and claimed that violence towards women had more to do with the fragmentation of family life and ââ¬Å"dysfunctional familiesâ⬠. They also claimed that the statistics were flawed and that actually men were also victims of domestic violence. Straus and Gelles 1986(cited in Giddens), suggested in their report that men were less likely to report domestic attacks, so it was not possible to make a fair comparison. Feminists retaliated b y pointing out that attacks on women were being regularly beaten by their husbands, whereas men were usually only attacked as a ââ¬Å"one offâ⬠incident, and that often the woman was defending herself or responding to repeated attacks. (Rawthorne 2002,cited in Gibbens). Feminists could also argue that the police forceà itself is a patriarchal. The fact that the police force is still male dominated with only 36,443 female officers out of a total of 137,139, indicates that it is still a male dominated profession, which may make it difficult for the majority of officers to empathise with the plight of women in an abusive situation. So why does domestic violence occur? Dobash and Dobash (1980) found that one of the major factors that cause domestic violence was the husbandââ¬â¢s belief that the woman was failing to keep the house properly. With an increase in the number of women working it would not be unreasonable to expect men to do their share of housework, but a study by Arlie Horschchild(1989)(cited in Giddens), found that in reality, working women still do most of the daily chores and it is considered to be their responsibility. Feminists argue that violence against women is symptomatic of a patriarchal societyââ¬â¢s attitude to women. Mackinnon (1989) claimed that the subordination of women is the central reason for menââ¬â¢s violence to women and children. Functionalist theorists such as Talcott Parsons (1956) (cited in Giddens) stated that one partner in the family should stay at home to assume the ââ¬Å"effectiveâ⬠emotional role. In the vast majority of households, that person is usually the woman. Feminists argue that this disadvantages women as they then do not have an income of their own to enable them leave if they need to. In recent years reported domestic violence figures have decreased but unfortunately they have started to increase again. Professor Sylvia Walby (UNESCO Chair in Gender Research at Lancaster University), published a report in February 2012 that stated a rise in the number of cases of domestic violence, and voiced concerns about funding cuts to womenââ¬â¢sââ¬â¢ refuges and services. She fears that the recession, combined with local government cuts to services that keep wome n safe, may be leading to the current increase. Evidence in the past has indicated that spousal abuse is more prevalent between low-income couples (Cherlin 1999 cited in Giddens). William Goode (1971) felt that whilst men on higher incomes can control women by holding the purse strings, men who are unable to exert this financial control use violence instead. If this is the case, the recession may well lead to many more incidents of domestic violence as couples struggle financially and men face redundancy. The article I have chosen features a lady who was being abused by her husband and how she tried to get away from her situation. It is disturbing to read that that the policeà completely failed to assess the situation adequately and left the women unsupported and vulnerable to further attack. Logic would suggest that as this lady had two small children, the man should have been the one made to leave. Instead the policeman involved implied that by staying, she was inviting further violence! The police also did not offer to remove the lady and children to a place of safety, or arrange any sort of support for her. In response to this kind of incident, the Association of Chief Police Officers has worked with the CPS to produce a ââ¬Å"charging checklistâ⬠(appendix 1) to enable police officers to get a clearer picture on how to obtain a watertight conviction in cases of domestic violence, and to ensure that the officer has thought about the safety of the complainant. Importantly, the form also records previous incidents of a similar kind. This would have helped Sabina Akhtar (also mentioned in the article) who was murdered by a former partner, despite several appeals to the police to help and protect her. The British Crime Survey found that, while for the majority of women leaving the violent partner stopped the violence, 37% said it did not. 18% of those that had left their partner were further victimised by other forms of harassment. 7% who left said that the worst incident of domestic violence took place after they had stopped living with their partner. Worldwide figures show that 44% of female homicides are perpetrated by a current or former partner, compared to only 6% of men.(Human rights website). Unfortunately, the current system of allowing bail to the perpetrators, gives them the opportunity to re-offend. The current government has acknowledged that domestic violence is still a big problem in this country. The Home Secretary has allocated more than à £28 million for specialist services to tackle violence against women and girls until 2015. Problems caused by cultural beliefs such as forced marriage and female genital mutilation, have been given a higher profile with specific units being set up to help the victims of such crimes. They have chosen several key areas to focus on, the first being early intervention This is aimed at young people to ensure that they understand the importance of healthy relationships and understand that they have the right to say ââ¬Å"noâ⬠. This campaign has been heavily advertised on the television and in schools. Professionals are being trained to spot early signs and risk factors of domestic and sexual violence, child sexual abuse, and h armful practices. The system itself disadvantages women experiencing abuse. There are problems with the way domestic violence is recorded and dealt with by the police. According to the article there are currently eleven cases that being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. The police are accused of failing to take womenââ¬â¢s fears seriously and of failing to provide protection for women who are being abused on a regular basis. The government and the police have acknowledged that attitudes to women and domestic violence are still in need of change. Under the new government initiative, the police have been given new powers to help domestic violence victims break the cycle of abuse including piloting Domestic Violence Protection Orders which allow police to ban alleged abusers from returning to the victimââ¬â¢s home for several weeks. In conclusion, it appears that the problem of domestic violence is starting to be brought out into the open. The sad fact is that even if a woman leaves her abusive partner she still is not safe. She often has to give up her home and sometimes even her family to get away. There also the question of financial support. Very often, abusive men control the finances as they use this as another way of keeping control of their partner. According to the Refuge website, men have been known to force women to give up their jobs, take out loans in their name, and generally run up debt. This makes it harder for her to leave because not only has the woman got no money to support herself and her children, but she also has debts against her name. Although the government has made dealing with domestic violence a priority, they are also cutting funding to councils and other associations. It remains to be seen how effective their new policies are and whether they continue to provide funding to enable the services to function.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Defining Beauty Essay
The word ââ¬Å"beautyâ⬠can mean an unlimited amount of things to so many people. Some people see beauty as a woman with a small figure, with her hair and makeup done like that of a model in a magazine. Others may see beauty as more of an internal asset, such as a woman giving more to this world than she knows sheââ¬â¢ll ever get back. Still, many others may see beauty as something that is unattainable because the definition of it is so ironically undefined and ambiguous, that it may even be seen as non-existent. Beauty is extremely versatile and its definition is often debated because beauty has unlimited definitions. No oneââ¬â¢s definition of beauty is wrong. However, it does exist and can be seen with the eyes and felt with the heart. The first and most commonly referred to definition of beauty is external beauty, or superficial beauty. ââ¬Å"Beauty is only skin-deepâ⬠, as some people may say. The general public typically views beauty as something that often must be seen to be believed; a girl is not pretty unless she can prove it with appearance. ââ¬Å"In the perpetual ââ¬Å"body image debateâ⬠on Xanga and in the world, there are frequently posts that say, basically: ââ¬Å"All sizes can be beautiful! Itââ¬â¢s whatââ¬â¢s inside that counts anyways!â⬠Multiple commenters will agree with them, and everyone descends into gooey e-group-hugs. What theyââ¬â¢re trying to doâ⬠¦ is nice. I wonââ¬â¢t argue with ââ¬Å"all sizes can be beautifulâ⬠ââ¬â I have my preferences and you have yours, and ideally we wonââ¬â¢t bash one group or the other despite those preferences. I also wonââ¬â¢t argue with ââ¬Å"whatââ¬â¢s inside counts,â⬠because itââ¬â¢s obvious that oneââ¬â¢s personality directly affects the way one is able to bond with people over time. But, to those who try to proclaim ââ¬Å"looks donââ¬â¢t matter,â⬠I say: Bullshit.â⬠(Walker 2010). Whether this mentality is seen as ethically wrong or not, it IS a mentality and it IS acknowledged. If a person believes beauty is solely defined by physical appearance, then that is their individual opinion, and cannot be taken away from them, or marked as ââ¬Å"wrongâ⬠. The second form of beauty, most naturally comes to mind as whatââ¬â¢s known as ââ¬Å"internal beautyâ⬠. Youââ¬â¢ll most often hear things like ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s what on theà inside that matters!â⬠ââ¬Å"Happy girls are the prettiest!â⬠and the infamous ââ¬Å"You have a great personality and thatââ¬â¢s what matters!â⬠Internal beauty IS whatââ¬â¢s on the inside, obviously. Internal beauty is personality, charisma, lovingness, generosity; all the characteristics that typically make a person ââ¬Å"beautifulâ⬠on the inside. ââ¬Å"As I grew up, I began to realize outer beauty was not so important to make someone good. I remember a friend of mine who was so beautiful that every classmate wanted to talk with her, but she was very arrogant. She believed that she could do everything she wanted because she was so beautiful, but she lost friends one by one. My poor friend! But she learned a good lesson: inner beauty is more important than outer beau ty. After she learned that, she changed her attitude and made friends again.â⬠(Ji 2010). Many people still believe that inner beauty is as important as outer beauty, while still some believe it is more important. This mentality is not wrong because it makes sense to the people that believe it. It must be acknowledged whether people think personality is more important than makeup, or not. And still, some people believe and feel that beauty can only be defined by the person who feels it. In other words, my internal and external beauty is examined and defined by the rest of the world, without me having anything to say about it. This particular definition says that that individual person, in this example being me; that I get to say whether Iââ¬â¢m beautiful or not based off of how I feel, not the rest of the world, based off of one or both of the previous definitions. It is simply, what you define yourself as. ââ¬Å"I know I looked beautiful that morning. Perhaps not to the young man holding his toddler in his arms who rode the elevator with me; perhaps not to the friend I met for lunch, a true believer in Botox; perhaps not to passersby on the street; but I knew it for a certainty. I was beautiful. I donââ¬â¢t believe that inner beauty is sufficient in this cruel world. Thatââ¬â¢s the pap one tells a child. I donââ¬â¢t believe that positive thinking improves your skin tone or that loving or being loved changes the shape of your nose or restores the thickness and color of hair, but I do know that there is a way of being beautiful, even as age takes its toll, that has something to do with the spirit filling with joy, something to do with the union with another human being, with the sense of having done well at somethingà enormously important, like making happy a man who has made you happy often enough.â⬠(Roiphe 2012). Beauty cannot be defined as a single thing. It has no bounds; no limits as to say how beautiful something or someone can be, or if itââ¬â¢s beautiful or not. Beauty canââ¬â¢t be erased because it is forever living. No person sees it the exact same way. No oneââ¬â¢s definition of it is incorrect because it has many definitions. Beauty exists, and can be felt more and more ways every day of our lives. Works Cited Ji, EunSuk. ââ¬Å"Inner Beauty Is the Real Beauty ââ¬â TOPICS Online Magazine | ESl/EFL | Sandy and Thomas Peters.â⬠Inner Beauty Is the Real Beauty ââ¬â TOPICS Online Magazine | ESl/EFL | Sandy and Thomas Peters. N.p., 07 Dec. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. . Roiphe, Anne. ââ¬Å"What Makes Me Feel Beautiful.â⬠Real Simple. N.p., 13 Aug. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. . Walker, Alexia. ââ¬Å"Outer Beauty Totally Matters (Donââ¬â¢t Try to Deny It).â⬠lovelyish.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov 2013. .
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Corrections and Rehabilitation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Corrections and Rehabilitation - Research Paper Example In the early days these were the unwritten rules of those particular societies but all of them had a few characteristics in common like stealing, cheating, murder, embezzlement etc. were considered bad in all the societies. Today, almost all the nations have their own sets of rules that are termed as ââ¬Ëlawsââ¬â¢. Not abiding by the written or given laws is considered a deviance and termed as crime. Looking through history, we find that imprisoning was not a punishment in itself but it is a relatively new idea. Prisons were first used to keep criminals until the time of their execution. It was also used to detain debtors until they made their payments. The modern prison system was born in London in the 1860`s that prisons as known today become commonplace. Imprisoning the criminals is not the ultimate solution. They will eventually be released from prisons and will have to rehabilitate in the society. The important factor is how to re-establish them into the normal stream of t he society. It is not in the nature of humans to commit crimes but they due to different circumstances are forced to commit crimes. There is no unlimited resource of confining the criminals in penitentiaries for an unlimited period and it is against the basic human rights. Therefore, correcting and rehabilitating the criminals is of the same, if not more, importance than imprisoning them. (History, 2012) This concept is evolving to make our society a better and safe place. It is of extreme importance to the government as running prisons has a great cost. If the prisoners can be managed and rehabilitated in the society smoothly, the tax payer`s money can be put to better use. Realizing the significance of this issue the government has established many state run rehabilitation and correction centers like the Florida Department of Corrections (Florida Department of Corrections, 2012). Reducing recidivism also has a direct impact on society as a whole as the criminals are a part of the society. According to a research, religious activities, religious talks, vocational talks and strong family bondages have a positive effect on reducing recidivism (Che Din). LITERARTURE RIVIEW Since the evolution of the modern criminal justice system, there has been a debate as to how to convert the law breakers into law abiding citizens. That is in effect a discussion as to how to rehabilitate them into the society. It has been argued that there is a cost of ignoring rehabilitation to the effect that there is no concrete evidence that correctional programs either decrease recidivism or generate any other optimistic gains for offenders. However, in contrast to this an argument has been raised that rehabilitation programs have remedial effect on the criminals and has helped many in settling back into the society. A survey carried out has demonstrated that the public supports a correctional system that is both punitive and rehabilitating. To conclude rehabilitation in a wider perspect ive is a better course to follow (Cullen, 2000). The Florida Department of Corrections (Florida DC) is the third largest state prison system in the USA. In its mission statement, it is stated that Florida DC exists to protect public safety and to provide proper care and supervision of all the offenders under its jurisdiction providing them with all the assistance to help them re-enter into the society.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Articls Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Articls - Essay Example The expectancy levels have also been questioned on their validity on assessing the quality of healthcare. The piece wraps up by arguing that it is not warranted to argue that the US healthcare system is not quality (Docteur & Berenson, 10). Dicksonââ¬â¢s article indicates that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commissionââ¬â¢s move to ensure that the congress narrows the variations in the payments made to the service providers in relation to the services provided (Dickson 1). MedPAC also advocated that the cover also caters for hospice services for its clients. If these recommendations were to be adhered to Dickson argues that the expenses incurred by Medicare would indeed reduce, and the services offered to the clients would improve to a great extent (1). Dentââ¬â¢s article indicates that cultural competency has been defined in various contexts (1). The article emphasizes that quality healthcare cannot be alienated from cultural competency. When the heath service providers are able to relate to the cultural background of their patients, quality service can be achieved (Dent 1). The policies made in regard to healthcare must relate to cross-cultural contexts. Dent, Lowanda. ââ¬Å"The Role of Cultural Competency in Eliminating Health Disparitiesâ⬠. Minority Nurse, MN 2005 Winter. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. http://www.minoritynurse.com/article/role-cultural-competency-eliminating-health-disparities Docteur, Elizabeth & Berenson, Robert A. How Does the Quality of U.S. Health Care Compare Internationally? Timely Analysis of Immediate Health Policy Issues August 2009. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
State policy intervention on sports economy Term Paper
State policy intervention on sports economy - Term Paper Example The study is inclined towards analyzing the concept of state policy intervention in the sports economy. This topic can be explained with justification whether the state government should or should not intervene in the sports economy. The positive and the negative impact of the state policy intervention have been discussed in this paper. The government provides the fund to the sports sector of the economy. For example in England, the government is engaged in offering facilities and training program to the people which will assist them in developing their talent. The sporting events can be organized without much intervention of the government. But in order to organize mega-events such as Olympics or World Athletics Championships can succeed only with the involvement of the government from the early stage. The growth and popularity of sports have influenced the changes in consumption and production of sports. The management of the sports events has started in the twentieth century which involves implementing the strategies and techniques that are mostly adopted by the nonprofit organizations. It has been observed that the European Union supports the intervention of the state policy in the sports economy. The market fails to consider the externalities; therefore the state policy will assist in providing subsidies with positive externalities. The author Abeysinghe, in his paper, has explained the concept of sports which can be defined as all forms of physical activity through the organized or casual participation which aims at improving the mental and physical fitness required for developing the social relationships and achieving competition at all levels. The author has also emphasized on the definition of sports with examples that sports can be classified as the activity such as the individual sports, professional team sports where the individuals decide to participate in this activities.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
How does FTAs(Free Trade Agreements) affect between U.S and South Essay
How does FTAs(Free Trade Agreements) affect between U.S and South Korea - Essay Example And now they are finally reached an agreement for free trade between two countries. And South Koreans are quiet happy over it, because South Koreans economic analysts felt that as a unilateral threat. It was announced on 2nd February, 2007 and was finalized on 2nd April 2007. It is believed to be the second biggest Free Trade agreement by United States. South Korea is one of the largest exporters in auto market and also electronics market, so there is a lot of scope for Korean goods in United States. Now the ninety percent tariff would be eliminated on goods being imported from these countries. After Free Trade agreement they can easily export their goods in United States, which was a major concern of Koreans. They used to think that United States is taking more benefits from their country, as Korea is one of the biggest markets for US goods, so it was the reason that they consider economic ties between United States and Korea as unilateral instead of bilateral. The Free Trade Agreement or Treaty between United States and South Korea is beneficial and profitable for not only the governments who will definitely gain a lot of profit but mainly for the people of two countries, who will likely to be the major winners in this situation. They will have access to the new products on a reasonable price and also they will get new jobs, which is a result of new industries and investments. The trade relations between United States of America ... US helped in Korean independence and also played a major role in dividing two Koreas after World War II and like this two Koreas were formed, North Korea and South Korea. The relations between United States and South Korea are widespread from the beginning, since its independence in 1948. They shared great ties in political, economical and military grounds. US troops have been deployed in South Korea, as accordingly South Korea faces a serious military threat by its not-so-friendly neighbor, North Korea, but there comes a tragic incident of death of two girls by US troops in an accident during their training. The rage of nationalism hits South Korean at that point and now US is withdrawing its troops. Although they got internal pressure from their own country regarding this, as there are voices heard for that how economically expensive it is to deploy their troops in South Korea and that is also just for the threat by some other country. Although President Bush accused North Korea, along with Iran and Iraq as the "Axis of Evil", in his early days of president ship but now with the recent peace developments between North and South Korea, there is litt le need for US troops. The first reason for this is the insecurity felt by South Koreans regarding their trade relations with United States. South Korea is included in ten biggest markets of United States goods, which means that United States is earning a lot of revenue from South Korean market. But it is not the same with South Korea. They were not earning much from United States and this was what makes South Koreans insecure about this relationship. The analysts used to call it "unilateral relation"1. I think that with the background of this reason, it is the best that United States did.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Why is global distribution more difficult than domestic distribution Essay
Why is global distribution more difficult than domestic distribution - Essay Example Distribution is one of the main parts of marketing. There are actually many kinds of distribution channels. This could include wholesalers, retailers, agents, direct sales, and the overseas and Internet distributors. When products are manufactured, they are normally shipped to the distributor. The distributor then puts them in the market in some ways for the customers or retailers to buy. According to Philip Kotler, another distinguished professor of International Marketing said that the distribution channels can have several levels (www.wikipedia.org). He stated that the simplest level, otherwise known as the "zero-level" channel, has no intermediaries engaged. The next level, called the "one-level" channel, presents one intermediary such as; for manufacturing goods a distributor and in consumer goods a retailer. It would be practical if these two levels are applied in small markets. However, in larger markets, the "second-level" is more appropriate to use. A wholesaler, for instance is largely used to expand the distribution to the great number of a few, neighborhood retailers. Global distribution is a type of distribution wherein products manufactured by a company are delivered to all the markets worldwide. Although there are some difficulties with which how products are distributed, the good thing is that a manufacturer has a bigger chance of getting more income. With global distribution, one must make sure of so many things such as what to use as mode of transportation, how to distribute them properly to all the distributors from around the world, what are the ways of communicating with the distributors, and how to make sure that the products are best kept safe until they are bought by customers. When a company decides to do a global distribution, its main priority is to successfully deliver its products to the consumers so that they win the confidence of their customers and even gain more prospective buyers in the process. If by no means, this becomes a success, the company would surely gain more profit thus, it shall also be good news to its customers. Not only are the customers going to get high-quality products, they may also be able to buy these products at lower prices in the future. What is domestic distribution While global distribution is concerned with the distribution of products in most parts of the world, domestic distribution is only concerned with the distribution of products within a certain range. For instance, if a company is based in one country, then with domestic distribution, the products are only distributed in that country. Moreover, if there are companies in some parts of the world, then those countries where these companies are located are only the ones being distributed by the products. One might say that this is a selfish thing to do, however, with domestic distribution, manufacturers are ensured immediately that their products are transported successfully and quickly. There are many reasons why most companies are into domestic distribution. For one thing, it requires fewer expenses. Another thing is that manufacturers can immediately know how their products are doing on the specific places they have distributed their products. Communication is very important when it co mes to business. if one's distributors are fewer
Monday, September 23, 2019
The complexity of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1
The complexity of Management - Essay Example In this paper, the proponent clearly illustrates situations that identify existing complexities within an organisation. Marketing versus accounting department In most instances, there is always an ongoing clash between the accounting and marketing department. This is because of the meaning of accounting in an organisation seems to be broad (McSweeney, 1995). In order to understand this in detail, there is always a good reason to believe that each department has essential role or function to play in an organisation. In line with this, it is necessary that these specific functions have to be elaborately discussed in detail in order to find out why there is an ongoing complexity that exists within an organisation. A salesperson was having a hated argument with an accounting staff. The problem was actually within the bound of how they tried to handle customer service. The salesperson was so aggressive about creating a sale with the customer and he was always ready to shortcut the process just to be able to close the deal. However, the accounting staff understood her function clearly well. In other words, she was so aggressive about the implementation of what has been agreed within their department. As a result, there was a strong clash of personal interests of each department that went on between the accounting staff and salesperson. ... In other words, some rules employed by the company may be altered just to be able to prioritise what is deemed important for the achievement of the ultimate goal of the company. The ultimate goal is to have excellent financial performance that will enable the company to continue operation. However, there may be always a compromise in the process. The accounting department is such a complex component of an organisation because it primarily involves finances in general. It involves the general role of an organisation to handle every necessary aspect in financial activities that will make the entire flow of the organisation run smoothly. For instance, cash flow is important and even return of investment is necessary in order that the operation will continue to have healthy performance. These activities are necessary and they are handled by the accounting department in general. However, their tasks have specific goals and objectives that in the process will run against the objectives of other departments. For instance, the sales department is there to help the accounting department reach the objective in obtaining healthy cash flow. The sales department is there in order to help the company reach its full potential in obtaining high return of investment that the bottom line is to have a positive healthy cash flow. However, this does not run smoothly as always as it might be expected. There are some specific concerns. For instance, the company may declare terms and conditions of payments. Some customers may ask about longer terms especially when they are trying to place high orders that are far from what is expected. Some companies may not have looked on this in advance but the accounting department may be strict about its
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Midterm Essay Essay Example for Free
Midterm Essay Essay As a ruler in the Warring States period, my kingdomââ¬â¢s survival has the utmost importance. Therefore, choosing a philosophy to base my government upon is a crucial decision. Legalism, Confucianism, Mohism, and Daoism are all great philosophies but for my state, I choose to implement Legalism. Legalism supports a rigid system based on publicized laws that deals out punishments and rewards accordingly. Legalism also emphasis an adherence to laws and customs, obedience to the ruler and receiving influential positions based on merit. Legalism as a national strategy of governance is crucial in times of chaos and constant fighting. For myà kingdom I demand absolute obedience from my subjects. I want officials who are qualified by my side to help me make important decisions. I do not want a government full of family members and friends who do not have the credentials for the position. Also I believe everyone should be punished according to the law and there should be no special treatments for the nobles. Everyone is equal under the law in my state. I want to conquer neighboring lands and become the ruler of a unified China. Legalist ideas support my goals for conquest, wealth and a well- functioning government and that is why I choose to implement Legalism in my state. The main ideas of Legalism are to lengthen the rule of the ruler. To further the interest of the ruler, a rulerââ¬â¢s adoption of the Legalism was associated with a tight control of society. Secondly, Legalism emphasized the usage of incentives to govern. Thirdly, Legalism emphasized the usage of institutions in inducing desired behavior because the Legalists believed human nature was inherently bad. As an individual could not be trusted, Legalists paid much attention to the design of institutions to prevent undesirable things from happening. Fourth, in terms of foreign relations, the Legalism school encouraged the building of a strong army. For rulers trying to survive the competition among states, Legalism is more practical and can be implemented more easily than other schools of thought during the Warring State period. 1 For my state, I would employ Han FeiZiââ¬â¢s form of Legalism. His ideas are centered on a COMBINATION OF ââ¬Å"FA â⬠? (LAW), ââ¬Å"SHU ? â⬠(METHOD) AND ââ¬Å"SHI ? â⬠(POWER). BEFORE HAN FEIZI, LEGALIST PHILOSOPHERS SUCH AS SHANG YANG ONLY STRESSED ON FA ? , SHEN BUHAI ONLY STRESSED ON ââ¬Å"SHU ? â⬠, WHILE SHEN DAOQIANG ONLY STRESSED ON ââ¬Å"SHI ? â⬠. 2 HAN FEIZI BELIEVED THAT ââ¬Å"FA â⬠? , ââ¬Å"SHU ?â⬠and ââ¬Å"Shi ? â⬠should all be implemented together. If only ââ¬Å"Shu ? â⬠is taken into practice and ââ¬Å"FA â⬠? IS NEGLECTED, PEOPLE HAVE NO REASON TO FOLLOW THE LAW. IF ââ¬Å"FA â⬠? IS BEING IMPLEMENTED then this can bring the state wealth and power but without ââ¬Å"Shu ? â⬠the regime will not be able to maintain its ruling and without ââ¬Å"Shi ? â⬠, a ruler will not be able to exercise order or rule efficiently. Therefore it is important to implement all three ideas together to bring peace and stability to the kingdom. ââ¬Å"FA â⬠? (LAW) In Legalism, law is used as a standard for judgment on whether a certain behavior is appropriate, inappropriate, right or wrong. Thus, all human behavior has to be confined within the boundaries set forth by the law. A Legalist type of law does not recognize the peopleââ¬â¢s needs but instead, everyoneââ¬â¢s needs and interests will be based according to the standard of law. Legalism also stresses the importance publicizing laws so people can know and follow them. This will bring order and justice to the state. In a Legalist state everyone is equal before the law and the system 1 Ivanhoe, P. J. , and Van Norden Bryan W. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. New York: Seven Bridges, 2001. Print 2 Ivanhoe, P. J. , and Van Norden Bryan W. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. New York: Seven Bridges, 2001. Print of ââ¬Å"rewards and punishmentsâ⬠does not care about social status, family background but instead deals out punishments and rewards accordingly. Those who contribute to the state will be rewarded, while those who violate the law will be punished. 3 ââ¬Å"Shu ? â⬠(Method) Shu is a bureaucratic model of administration to aid the ruler and help prevent corruption and incompetence. It is also a political method or tactic used by a ruler to effectively control officials and subjects. Han FeiZi believed that a ruler must utilize ââ¬Å"Shu ? â⬠in order to identify loyal officials from disloyal subjects. This will help the ruler consolidate power and strength in order to control his subjects effectively Han FeiZi urged rulers to control officials and subjects by the two ââ¬Å"handlesâ⬠of punishment and favor. 4 An officialââ¬â¢s accomplishments must neither be greater than nor less than their assigned duties. A minster is always held accountable for his and his subordinateââ¬â¢s actions. Also the ruler must not allow people to know his thoughts and should be suspicious of everyone. In doing so, the ruler can prevent takeovers and rebellions for hisà position. 5 ââ¬Å"Shi ? â⬠(Power) 3 Mo, Di, Xunzi, Fei Han, and Burton Watson. Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hs? n Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu. New York: Columbia UP, 1967. Print. 4 Ivanhoe, P. J. , and Van Norden Bryan W. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. New York: Seven Bridges, 2001. 323. Print 5 Mo, Di, Xunzi, Fei Han, and Burton Watson. Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hs? n Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu. New York: Columbia UP, 1967. Print. In Legalism, power is an important part of governance. If a ruler does not wield any power then the law becomes a superficial notion and method will be useless. In order to ruler over a kingdom, the leader has to possess power. In Legalism, power should be employed within the confines of law in order to maximize its usage. If the law is ignored in order to exercise power, then this kind of power can easily lead to chaos and turmoil. Power is not inherently good or evil but the person who wields it can be a moral or immoral person. It is important to employ ââ¬Å"FA â⬠? AND ââ¬Å"SHI ? â⬠TOGETHER BECAUSE IF A RULER HAS NO POWER THEN THE LAW CANNOT BE ENFORCED which makes a superficial ruler but if one has power but is not constrained by law, this can lead to an abuse of power that can bring harm to society. 6 BY EMPLOYING ALL THREE TENANTS OF ââ¬Å"FA â⬠? , ââ¬Å"SHU ? â⬠AND ââ¬Å"SHI ? â⬠, LEGALISM CAN BRING STABILITY AND peace to my state. I would employ Legalism in my state because it can help expand the population of my kingdom by uniting the warring factions and states under my control. According to Legalist ideals hereditary titles must be abolished and only those who have merit should hold government positions. This means I should not employ family members and friends because they can influence my decisions on a personal level. This can eliminate corruption andà cronyism from my kingdom. 7 Next by creating strict laws for the citizens to follow will foster obedience through punishments and favors. 8 According to Legalist scholars, to expand my stateââ¬â¢s population I should also focus on agriculture and the military which will to a surplus of food and 6 Mo, Di, Xunzi, Fei Han, and Burton Watson. Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hs? n Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu. New York: Columbia UP, 1967. Print. 7 De Bary, William Theodore, Irene Bloom, and Joseph Adler. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. Print. 197. 8 De Bary, William Theodore, Irene Bloom, and Joseph Adler. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. Print. 196 help create stronger warriors. This will allow for more conquests and military campaigns. By investing state resources into agriculture, famines can be prevented and populations will grow. 9 Also a mandatory military service for a short time will help my kingdom fight against the barbarians from the west. 10. Finally, increasing the military can also prevent invasions and help my state conquer lands, thus leading to an increase in population as well. Another reason I would employ Legalism because it can also help increase the wealth in my state. The increase in food will help increase trade of agricultural products like millet and wheat as well as other products like plums, apricots, dates, melons, persimmons, beef and pork. Through military conquests an increase of natural resources, tax revenue and workers will help strength the state economy. Lastly, the creation of strict laws with emphasis on collective responsibility will help prevent people from violating the laws. Other philosophies have merits that could help me govern my state. The main ideas of Confucianism are to establish a harmonic society, rather than to promote the interests of the ruler. Second, the Confucianism school does not encourage the usage of material incentives and opposed the usage of severe punishments to rule. To motivate individual behavior, moral obligations were emphasized. 11 Third, the Confucianism school did not value institutions in inducing desirable behavior and that human nature is inherently good. Fourth, in terms of foreign relations, Confucianism discouraged a stateââ¬â¢s invasion of other states. Confucianism argued that 9 Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print. 52. 10 Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print. 40. 11 Ivanhoe, P. J. , and Van Norden Bryan W. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. New York: Seven Bridges, 2001. 323. Print by following the guidance of li, a humane ruler would induce residents in other states to accept the rule of the humane ruler voluntarily. Relying on military force as a defense would be inferiorà and would be unnecessary for a state. 12 To expand the population of my state, Confucianism recommends cultivating goodness (ren) as well as maintaining ritual propriety (li) so I become the most righteous ruler in the land. When a ruler is righteous, his subjects perform righteous tasks down to the common man and people from other lands shall visit my state. 13 This would increase my kingdomââ¬â¢s population. To increase the wealth of my state, Confucian scholars would recommend returning to the traditional Zhou tax system of the 10% tithe. 14 This will allow farmers to have enough grain toà reduce famines and allow more trade to be conducted when there is an excess of products. Confucians would not endorse a state that seeks profit over goodness because goodness (ren) is more desirable for a Confucian gentleman (junzi). When a ruler decides that profit is worth more than virtues, his subjects begin to look for profits as well and ignore virtues, thus leading to gradual corruption within the state. 15 I would not employ Confucianism in my state because while cultivating goodness and being a gentleman is an honorable task, I am only interested in 12 Slingerland, Edward Gilman. ââ¬Å"Kongzi (Confucius) ââ¬ËThe Analects. ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ In Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy, 1-58. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. , 2005. Print. 13 Slingerland, Edward Gilman. ââ¬Å"Kongzi (Confucius) ââ¬ËThe Analects. ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ In Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy, 1-58. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 2005. Print. 14 Slingerland, Edward Gilman,â⬠Kongzi (Confucius) ââ¬ËThe Analects. â⬠In Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. 1-58. Indianapolis, IH: Hackett Publishing Company Inc. 2005. Print 15 De Bary, William Theodore, Irene Bloom, and Joseph Adler. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. 115. Print. increasing my kingdomââ¬â¢s wealth, population and status. Legalist scholars say it would be hard to reduce the tax to 10% and should be kept at a 20% tithe in order to have enough currency and supplies to supply a growing army. Also the selection of government officials through recommendations valued by Confucianism led to high level of corruption. High positions of the government were monopolized by individuals with strong family backgrounds and capable individuals with weak family backgrounds could not get high rank positions. 16 To reduceà corruption in my kingdom, I should abolish hereditary titles and promote through merit so there would be fairness in my government and less bribery and dishonesty. 17 Another philosophy that has gained momentum and fame is Daoism. Daoism is centered on the ideas of wu (emptiness) and wuwei (non-doing). It also places importance on Yin and Yang. Daoism promotes the idea that material items will not satisfy a personââ¬â¢s soul, leading to lifelong emptiness and competition. 18 Daoism also endorses the idea of non-doing but this does not mean to do nothing at all. It simply means that we must not interfere with the natural course of things. The practice of non-action will lead to spiritual harmony with the Tao. Daoism explains the true path to happiness is to throw away all desires so people will not become selfish or corrupt, throw away concepts of justice and morality so people will do the right thing and throw away profit so people will not become thieves. 19 16 17 De Bary, William Theodore, Irene Bloom, and Joseph Adler. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. 197. Print. 18 Ivanhoe, P. J. , and Van Norden Bryan W. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. New York: Seven Bridges, 2001. 323. Print 19 Laozi, and Jonathan Star. Tao Te Ching: The New Translation from Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2008. Print. Daoist ideas would not help me achieve my goals of increases in population, wealth or uniting the warring states under my control. Daoist scholars would argue that the population does not need to be bigger than it already is. The sage Laozi has said that a state should be small and the people few so that they will have fewer ambitions and acquire less wealth, keeping them happy without the excess of material possessions. 20 Daoistââ¬â¢s would also be against increasing state wealth because in doing so, it will tempt people with desires of wealth and that will lead to corruption in the state. 21 Daoist scholars would encourage me to do nothing and allow things to go their way naturally which is the concept of wuwei. Daoism would be against war and trying to unify the states under my rule. I would not employ Daoism because it does not help me achieve my goals of a great kingdom. I want to go on war campaigns to conquer lands and have control over my kingdom. Allowing people freedom to do whatever they want will lead of instability andà I cannot have that in my state. In times of turmoil, it is a foolish thing to try and bring peace by doing nothing. Other states will invade my kingdom if any signs of weakness show. It is better to strengthen the people with military training and values so that they can protect their homes and the state from barbarians, and invading armies. 22 This is why I would not employ the use of Daoism in my kingdom. The last school of thought I considered employing in my kingdom is Mohism. Mohists are the main rivals to Confucians in promoting a way of life centered on moral teachings. 20 De Bary, William Theodore, Irene Bloom, and Joseph Adler. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. 94 Print. 21 De Bary, William Theodore, Irene Bloom, and Joseph Adler. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. 80 Print. 22 Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 52. Print. Mohists rejected rituals and music that is central to Confucian beliefs, seeing them as wasteful and pointless. Mohists endorsed moral practices that promote the welfare of all. Mohists sought a way to restore order (zhi) to human society. 23 The Mohists saw people as naturally good, and thus concerned about their family and community, and generally ? committed to doing what they take to be morally right. But if people fail to distinguish right from wrong properly because of a lack of proper education and political leadership, conflicts will arise, leading to disorder. 24 To prevent disorder Mohists want everyone to follow a unified moral code. Ideally, this project would be carried out through a government administered by wise, virtuous leaders, who at each level ofà the state hierarchy would teach everyone to draw moral distinctions in the same way. This way everyone would have the same moral standards and conduct themselves in similar ways by knowing what is right or wrong. 25 To accomplish my goals in attaining wealth and population increases, Mohists scholars would want to promote officials by merit as well and would want to eliminate the rites that Confucians endorse. If I employ the able and worthy, my kingdom will attract virtuous people. 26 Mohists would not want to engage in wars, but would extend the concept of universal love (jian 23 Mo, Di, Xunzi, Fei Han, and Burton Watson. Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hs? n Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu. New York: Columbia UP, 1967. Print. 24 Ivanhoe, P. J. , and Van Norden Bryan W. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. New York: Seven Bridges, 2001. 323. Print 25 Mo, Di, Xunzi, Fei Han, and Burton Watson. Basic Writings of Mo Tzu, Hs? n Tzu, and Han Fei Tzu. New York: Columbia UP, 1967. Print. 26 De Bary, WilliamTheodore, Irene Bloom, and Joseph Adler. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. 67. Print. ai). 27 Mohists believe if a noble king rules by partiality and is malevolent towards his neighboring states; other states will want to destroy his kingdom. If however, he rules by universality and is benevolent towards the other states, then other states will hold him in high regard. I would not employ Mohism in my state because I do not care about universal love or benevolence or morality. My goals for the kingdom are purely political and economic based. I want to be remembered in history for being the ruler of the strongest, largest and most wealthy state. During times of turmoil a strong military and cunningness is needed in order overcome the other states. 28à Legalism is the best choice for my state because it promotes a highly structured society. This can prevent instability and internal conflicts. Also by promoting a system of government based on merit, it eliminates corruption and unqualified people from participating in government. Confucianism allows for too much corruption because mostly nobles dominate the government. Daoism advocates non-doing and peace but that is exactly the opposite of what I want for my kingdom. Doing nothing can lead to instability because there is no structure and everyone can do whatever they please. Lastly Mohism places too much emphasis on morals and peace. To maintain a kingdom, the ruler has to make the state ready to invade other states and for invasions as well. To survive in this period of chaos and wars, only the strong survive. Legalism provides the structure I need to rule my kingdom ruthlessly and effectively. 27 De Bary, William Theodore, Irene Bloom, and Joseph Adler. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Vol. 1. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. 70. Print. 28 Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 52. Print.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Socrates Stand on Democracy Essay Example for Free
Socrates Stand on Democracy Essay Having emphasized upon me the advantages of democracy, I have always believed that it is the best system to implement in a country. Ignoring the flaws and weaknesses of this type of system, I thought that the benefits outweigh all costs. I assume that giving the power to the people is better than having one person rule the state. However, in Platoââ¬â¢s account on the life of his mentor Socrates, we are able to see both sides of the spectrum: the pros and cons of democracy which are accounted in Platoââ¬â¢s dialogues, the Apology and the Crito. Socrates, having been accused of impiety, is brought to trial in front of the jury of Athens. In his defense, he points out the flaws of a democratic system, but he has an underlying intention to improve it. Thus, despite his criticisms on the use of rhetoric, involvement in politics, and the opinions of the majority, Socrates generally takes a pro-democracy approach on his purpose of being in Athens, the importance of examining truth and life, and the significance of respecting the law. Socrates is known in Athens for his dialectic approach of questioning and examining the ideas of the people. He has unintentionally annoyed many Athenian citizens which has made him infamous. This has led other people, such as Meletus, to press charges against him. In his defense, Socrates sets himself apart from others who bring their family and friends as a kind of an appeal to the jurymen. Through tears and emotional plea, they beg to be acquitted. However, Socrates does not intend to present such acts as he places greater significance to his, the juryââ¬â¢s, and the cityââ¬â¢s reputations. He considers it shameful to try to win approval through emotional appeal rather than the truth as it brings dishonor to the city (37). Socrates points out then that it is the role of a juryman not to acquit someone who seems favorable, but ââ¬Å"to judge according to Reusi 2 lawâ⬠¦ [which] he has sworn to doâ⬠(37). It is the juryââ¬â¢s responsibility to give verdict based on truth and logic. Through the oath that they have taken, the jurymen have pledged to accept this duty; therefore, to favor someone is against the law. Socrates criticizes how the public has taken advantage of the use of rhetoric to win arguments in any way possible; such as appealing to emotions which has dominated and influenced the community and its decisions. These statements highlight the nti-democratic notion of Socrates; he reproaches the majority of the citizens who have based their judgments on faulty premises. Moreover, he connotes that it is more important to listen to the persuasive arguments of ââ¬Å"the oneâ⬠that uses truth and logic, rather than the pathetic acts of ââ¬Å"the manyâ⬠. However, beneath the criticisms, Socrates tries to enlighten the members of the jury, who have a stake at public decisions, of their purposes as jurymen of the state. He reminds them of their sworn duties, and encourages them not to give in to emotional appeal, as this per se is an attack to democracy and to the law that makes the city. Additionally, Socrates explains to the jury why despite his continuous efforts to meddle on personal matters, he has never pursued on occupying political positions. This, he says, is due to the ââ¬Å"spiritualâ⬠(34) voice that speaks to him only when he is about to do something he is not supposed to do. He believes that if he had taken part in politics, he would not have survived through the years, because he would debate against the authority or the public, and stop the unlawful actions in the state (34). Socrates upholds that ââ¬Å"a man who really fights for justice must lead a private, not a public, life if he is to survive for even a short timeâ⬠(34). He points out that in order to live a just and peaceful life, it is better for a man to stay away from ââ¬Å"publicâ⬠activities where unlawful events usually take place. It is more important to live a ââ¬Å"privateâ⬠life, ââ¬Å"fight[ing] for justiceâ⬠at its core by dealing in ââ¬Å"private affairsâ⬠(34). Reusi 3 Socrates is considered as taking an anti-democratic stand when he has chosen not to get involved with the government, considering that the government is the people. Yet, he implies that the people would not favor anyone that opposes injustice which seems to be the common dealings in politics. He believes that he would ââ¬Å"have died long agoâ⬠(34), although this is not his ultimate concern. What he truly cares about is ââ¬Å"not to do anything unjust or impiousâ⬠(32). Despite his criticisms on politics, Socrates is essentially reminding the people, especially those in authority, to serve a just and virtuous life. Outwardly stating the current situation of the government, he aims to provide the people a portrait of the shallow kind of democracy that they have come to maintain. Socrates seeks to prompt the majority to uphold the true sense of democracy, of fighting for justice and living life accordingly. Furthermore, Socrates uses his dialectical approach with his friend Crito in examining the contrast between the knowledge of ââ¬Å"the oneâ⬠and the pseudo-knowledge of ââ¬Å"the manyâ⬠. He uses an analogy of a man involved in physical activities, whom must listen to the advice of the true expert in his training, rather than the opinions thrown by other people who barely know anything about these activities. Anyone who places a higher regard to the thoughts of the majority, rather than to the knowledge of the one who possess it, puts himself on greater ââ¬Å"harmâ⬠(47). Socrates adds that if we disobey the one who seeks to improve us, ââ¬Å"we shall harm and corrupt that part of ourselves that is improved by just actions and destroyed by unjust actionsâ⬠(48). This is antidemocratic in a way that it explicitly denotes the greater relevance of ââ¬Å"the oneâ⬠as opposed to the false opinions of ââ¬Å"the manyâ⬠. Democracy is based upon the judgment of the majority; however, if they collectively agree on faulty decisions, it brings destruction to the state and corruption to its citizens. As Socrates puts it, ââ¬Å"we should not then think so much of what the majority will say about us, but what he will say who understands justice and injustice, the one, that is, and the truth Reusi 4 itselfâ⬠(48). Despite his arguments, he suggests that the majority learns to listen to the one who possess true wisdom, so as to strengthen the grounds of democracy. The united opinions of the many can be given greater significance when it is based on the wisdom of the one who seeks ââ¬Å"to improveâ⬠the city. In spite of the anti-democracy view of Socrates regarding rhetoric, politics, and the majority, he presents a pro-democratic stand on his true purpose of being in Athens. He addresses the jury that it would be a mistake to condemn him since he has been brought to the city of Athens according to the godââ¬â¢s will. He compares himself to a ââ¬Å"gadflyâ⬠that tries to wake the ââ¬Å"great and noble horseâ⬠that has become inactive and lazy (33). This, Socrates believes, is his purpose for being placed in the city by the god. He ââ¬Å"never [ceases] to rouse each and every oneâ⬠of the citizens, to convince and to criticize them all the time (33). In this passage, Socrates shows how much he cares for the city as he, a ââ¬Å"gadflyâ⬠, tries to motivate the ââ¬Å"nobleâ⬠city of Athens to reach its full potential. By this, Socrates expresses a pro-democratic attitude as he believes that by his consistent approach to its citizens, he hopes to keep the city active, knowing that it has many capabilities that have not been fully developed. Moreover, Socrates states that he will continue to follow the god rather than the demands of the public for him to cease his quest of constant dialectic. He adds that with every Athenian he meets, Socrates would cross-examine him. He would denote that by being a citizen of the ââ¬Å"noblestâ⬠city with high regards for both ââ¬Å"wisdom and powerâ⬠, it is a shameful thing to put such high importance on material possessions and status while disregarding ââ¬Å"wisdom or truth, or the best possible state of [the] soulâ⬠(32). He would reprimand those who were proven to value superficial things instead of the more important ones. Socrates maintains that ââ¬Å"the unexamined life is not worth living for menâ⬠(39). He motivates the citizens to examine the truth and virtue Reusi 5 as he affirms that ââ¬Å"the most important thing is not life, but the good lifeâ⬠(48). This is very prodemocratic in a sense that the city aims to accomplish this highest form of living, which can be achieved only if each citizen is able to reflect upon himself, and realize his own way of living. He stresses the importance of not indulging oneself with material desires, but focusing only on the ââ¬Å"best possible state of [the] soulâ⬠(32). Once every citizen is able to live a life worthy of the ââ¬Å"nobleâ⬠city of Athens can the city fully establish a strong democracy that highlights ââ¬Å"wisdomâ⬠, justice, and ââ¬Å"truthâ⬠(32). Lastly, in Critoââ¬â¢s attempt to persuade Socrates to escape the city and his death, Socrates has emphasized the significance of respecting the law. He imagines being faced by the law, ordering him that he must either convince his city according to what is just, or submit himself in any given circumstance in accord to the position assigned to him by his country (51). Therefore, it is wicked to bring harm to oneââ¬â¢s own country even ââ¬Å"after being wronged not byâ⬠¦ the law, but by menâ⬠(54). Socrates is sentenced to death because of the decision of the majority, but not of the law. He uses the law to represent the entire city, for the law makes and embodies the ideals of the state. His notion is pro-democratic as he expresses his respect for the decrees that ultimately establishes the democratic system of Athens. Despite being persecuted by men, he still considers the law as just and equitable. When we divert from the true purpose of a system, the costs are as significant as the benefits. Platoââ¬â¢s account of Socrates enables us to have a two-way view on democracy in considering both its advantages and disadvantages. Underlying his criticisms to certain aspects of this system is Socratesââ¬â¢ greater pursuit to improve and develop the state.
Friday, September 20, 2019
British Language And Culture Changing Customs In India History Essay
British Language And Culture Changing Customs In India History Essay This essay provides investigation of British colonization on India over time with a research question; To what extent British language and culture contributed in change of customs in India? In order to answer this question I have narrowed down my research into few subtopics in order to easily represent facts which were source of change of India and its results. The extent of British influence to India has been dealt with. The British influenced and changed the structure of India before the colonization and still affect it even if it is not always evident. This theme studied and researched in study branches as linguistics, history and law with the main sources for this investigation being anthropological and history books and study cases. Various articles and study cases from British media have been examined as well. Throughout the research, the influence of British colonization to India has generally been displayed more clearly from diachronic research, where in order to understand situation of India and Indians nowadays we have to go back in past and search the reason, source of situation which caused result, India as it is today. Manipulative skills of British were well known as their strategy to control colonised country not only their land but also their minds, the way of their thinking even after they had left. This British strategy/skill affected India most and it may not be seen at first when present India is being watched. However it may be seen and understood when India is studied through diachronically. This is why it may be said that there are no solid evidences of methods how the British influenced India. Seeing them depends on the angle we take. Table of Contents Bibliography 24 Introduction British colonization of India has attracted me since my childhood. Great Britain is a country which has always been taken as an example of a country with a great cultural heritage. On the other side there is India, a country with a great history, lot of religions, colours, music, food- a cradle of civilization. My research question has developed by reading about the books Gardens of Baldapur, Beneath a Marble Sky: A Love Story, India Passion, Diaries of Ana Delgado where the influence of theà [1]à British Raj on the India castes system and the behaviour of maharajahs are described. This essay will investigate how the British colonization influenced various aspects in India with. The follows research question; To what extent British language and culture contributed in change of customs in India? To answer it I have concentrated on a few sub topics. Firstly, I have the historical background has been explored to get a clear image of Britain and India of that time and present India. Secondly, subtopics which are evidences of British influence have been analyzed in depth. Historical background has been used to prove how British did influence India. Case studies with themes from sub topics have been examined. Books Colonialism and its forms of knowledge: the British in India!; Cultural Anthropology A Problem-Based Approach; Cultural Anthropology; History and culture of India; and Five Key Concepts in Anthropological Thinking. Study cases of Somini Sengupta, Indian women careers and British Colonialism and its influence on Indian society were examined. In order to answer my research question I have used encyclopaedias and essays from the internet, books and already done study cases. In essays and books critical overview of this issue is given. All above mentioned literature helped me to better know India as a country, then to examine the period of British colonization and finally to gather enough data to present influences of Britain to India. Historical background: The colonization of Asia by European countries carried diffusion, migration, and colonialism, which created European cultural influence. 2Britain colonized India after defeating Gurkha (1816.), Sindha (1843.) and Sikha (1849.). India is specific by its complicity and mixes of different religions, customs rituals, and languages, which were product of active history, revitalization movements and cultural ecology that were present on the Indian subcontinent. Presence of colonization, Britain (British East India Company) or later British Raj wanted revitalization movements where each religious and ethnic group had to change its rituals while cultural ecology wanted respect towards cultures. India was also attractive to Britain because of its resources and good geostrategic position. The industrial resources abundant of India are cotton, wool, tea, sugar, rice, silks, saltpetre, indigo, opium and metal. Geostrategic ally it was close to many thriving countries of that period and Europeans did not have a good trade with China where opium was illegal India had good relations with China. English language and Britain itself had a major influence in India where changing culture, customs, language, educational and society systems transformed. India may shortly be described by next two quotations; Mark Twain once said: India is the cradle of human race, the birth of speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grandmother of tradition.à [3]à à ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã
¾The culture of India has been shaped by the long history of India, its unique geography and the absorption of customs, traditions and ideas from some of its neighbours as well as by preserving its ancient heritages, which were formed during the Indus Valley Civilization and evolved further during the Vedic age, rise and decline of Buddhism, Golden age, Muslim conquests and European colonization. Indias great diversity of cultural practices, languages, customs, and traditions are examples of this unique co-mingling over the past five millennia. India is also the birth place of several religious systems such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, some of which have had a large influence in other parts of the world. à [4]à British culture and Indian cultures have a great contrast between each other. British culture is simpler if compared to Indian culture. Hinduism is polytheistic religion of majority of the Indian population believe in. Indian lifestyle system is formed around castes abolished in 1949. but strongly encoded in the structure of society and the thoughts of people. The wordà casteà is derived from theà Portugueseà wordà casta, meaningà lineage,à breedà orà race. It is the agency which controls the structure of Hindu society. How did this change when the British colonized-came to India? Law System: The law system in India under the British colonial rule and after would be explained in this paragraph. Firstly, Britain affected the previous structure of the society of India, consisted of maharajas ones who had power over states which they owned composed of Muslims, Sikhs and Hinduists and their presence changed from region to region and maharajas were the ones who were controlling religion masses and deciding about peace. They were making structure of their states so it may function best for each religious group. Maharajas were kings which were core of society if the majority of population of one state were affiliated to one religious group for example Hinduisam then structure of state is going to be organized according to rules of that religion in this case caste system but the minority is also going to live according to their religion rules but also try to adapt to rules of majority. After being under the rule of British Empire since 1858. until 1947.structure of Indian society changed a lot. British are well known by their diplomacy and when they came to India they changed structure society in order to get benefits. Firstly, the maharajas were not kings anymore, they got lower position in the society and they became princes. The highest position had Queen Victoria and by this they were showing their power over Indians. Maharajas did not only lose their position but they also lost their power of ruling over their states and citizens, their each action had to be consulted and permitted by the British government. British allowed Indians to live their lives as they did before only to the extent that it did not violate British customs and law. British did not encourage close relationships between British and Indians. Maharajas were not allowed to visit foreign countries especially European countries without permission of British Raj. British not only controlled their lives as princes but also their personal lives example is whenà [5]à Maharaja Sirà Jagatjit Singh Bahadurà ofà Kapurthalaà wanted to marry his fifth wife Anita Delgado which was Spanish had to take permission from British to be accepted as legal wife even if she was already his legal wife according to Sikhs laws and this marriage did not have permission of British and she never was allowed to participate in gatherings with core of British government. Another example with same maharaja is when he was going on his trip to Europe he had to ask permission for taking his second wife with him and he was not allowed to.à [6]à Indians have been following the British Legal system which made their business relations with British and other International industries easier. This is because Britain colonized more countries than other European countries did and by that structure of their society, governing system, language became used by most of colonized countries. This is reason why British Law System was used. Language and Education: India is country reach in languages the number of individual languages listed for India is 452, of those, 438 are living languages and 14 have no known speakersà [7]à . English has become one of the main languages in India, taught in schools and used widely in business transactions. In order to have easier communication between all parts of India, English and Hindu were chosen as two official languages. English was now a language of India as the whole country and it had broken the language barriers which were present before and also being one of the business languages of the world made and still makes trading much easier. The British knew psychology well; therefore they used it to influence mind and the way of thinking of children rather than trying to influence their parents who had already been mature. The first British schools in India- run by missionaries- were established around 1820, the number of British-education was growing. Indians had set up Hindu Colleges providing English education as well as mathematics, natural sciences and Western philosophy.à [8]à The aim of attending a British school was often the admission to the Indian civil service. The British education was financed by the EIC and later the government and they were neither touching nor supporting the institutions teaching Indian education. As mentioned above, education was the easiest way to get Indians think like the British, because if children of five spend the whole day in atmosphere and surrounding where English is spoken and through the books, then they start behaving as British people and they are becoming British in mind. This example easily may be seen in case of maharajas and their children who were educated in British schools in India or sent to Britain to improve their knowledge. After child grows up and returns to his homeland it does not know much about identity and tradition of India. They only think as they are thought and that is the only way as it is. Maharaja Sirà Jagatjit Singh Bahadurà ofà Kapurthalaà was one of the maharajas who sent their children to Britain for search of better education but later there arose a big conflict when his children grow up and get back to India, they questioned where they belong because they did not understand tradition of India and its complicity in comparison to Britain were they grew but again they were not accepted there also because they are the Indians. As soon as possible they would become princes they would change the laws which they thought are unimportant to everyone. But society could not function without those laws because maharaja was seeing his state as Britain and he never felt and tried to understand Indian multiculturalism and as society could not function without those laws and were reason of upcoming conflicts. An Indian would first go to a vernacular primary school then to Anglo- vernacular high schools and then after to colleges and few universities which were available in Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. British education produced class of intellectuals who were ready to change subcontinent India. Most of the students were Hindus and many of them Brahmins because Muslims rejected the British educational programs because of injustice which was done to them because of changing Muslim law system Sharia to British law system and before official Mughal emperors Persian language to English. But at the end they were those who lost chance for improving their education this was one of the reasons why conflicts could not be solved. The British rulers found the Muslims generally more suspicious also because considering them more responsible for theà [9]à Sepoy Mutiny in 1857- , led to an unbalanced distribution of British education. Because of higher degree of their education Indians had more power in politics than Muslims did. From this fact it may be seen that politicians were mostly Hindus actually Brahmins highest cast and know it was controlling the political circle and that is how language affected religion and then nationalism. Brahmins encouraged religious reforms as well as political ones. From this fact it may be said that Muslims actually had no relevant class which would represent their ideas and protect their interests so they had no chance for understanding the situation in which they were and this affected much them in periods of struggle for independence. Previously education was seen as boundary between all people on Indian subcontinent but later when they understood the meaning of freedom a nd democracy as well as other Western ideas and values their knowledge become as the basis for later struggle for independence and human rights. Today Indians are one of the best grammatically correct English speakers and they are owners of schools with high degrees and they today have a high percentage of people finished higher educational system. Religion: During their colonial presence the Protestant British had much religious influence on Indian society. Christianity firstly was introduced in 50 A.D. by coming of the Apostle Thomas in order to establish the Christian church.à [10]à Lately came also with Portuguese and British. One of the aims of British was to convert Indians to Christianity it may be seen from condition of independence which was made: Till India is leavened with Christianity she will be unfit for freedom.à [11]à They knew that converting of Indians to Christianity would not be easy because of influence and presence of Muslims. Hindus were very attractive to missionaries in sense that they have already inequality in their religion and imbalance which may be used as argument why they should convert to Christianity. This fact of cast system and untouchables worked because British would give everything what they need to untouchables as equality, education, freedom which they never had before. Missionaries were very successful in their converting and this was one of the reasons ofà [12]à Sepoy Munity in 1857. Because soldiers had to fear that the Christian missionaries wanted them to be forced to touch polluted weaponryà [13]à in order to have them expelled from their caste and to convert them to Christianity.à [14]à Missionaries demanded that the government destroy the caste system because it is barrier in between Indian Christians and rest of society. But for British government is w as more important to get profit and then if it is possible convert Indians. Some of Hindus were acting that they converted in order to get benefits there are many examples how they were discovered while they children were going to school and talking about Hindu legends. So at the end there actually made Indian mosaic of cultures more complicated than before and base for nationalism in future. Sports: Cricket was introduced to Indians via British and firstly was played by higher classes and casts. It is now in India as traditional sport and their national team is being arguably the best in the world. Architecture and Transport: British also influenced Indian architecture and transport which was constructed mostly by maharajas which were raised in Britain. Firstly Britain made railways in India because of easier transport of cotton and other textiles. Railways not only were transport lines but they also brought fortune and misfortune to places and states where it was opened. Railways were passing through the land of maharajas so permission was asked and if there would be a railway in one state it would also mean that they are going to have strangers in their state mostly and that they are going to have to care about them. It was also issue while British representatives were coming or even passing special ceremony had to be made but that led to high costs and loses of state budget. As state is available to visitors it was also available to robbers and led to expand of infectious diseases. British introduced secular buildings in neo- classical and neo gothic styles. Their famous creations are Victoria Stationà [15]à which was made in honour of the British Empress of India. Edwin Lutyens architect planned cityscape in New Delhi.à [16]à Caste System: In the Indian social structure there are four varna or colours which are class categories in the Indian society. Castes are groups in which membership is given at birth and which is lifelong. They are divided in five major categories (varna). Each varna has sub- castes jati. People that belong in one caste, can only marry someone in their castes and this practice is called endogamy. If person form higher castes get in touch with lower castes he becomes impure and has to go and bath in scared river Gang. Also there is Sudras a caste which is the lowest class and they are untouchable because they are considered as nothing, just sand. They are not allowed to be educated and work in anyway except remove dead bodies of animals or repair water sinks which cannot be done by the higher castes. Higher castes were the Brahmins, priests whose life purpose is teaching, and under them were the Kshattriya castes whose members could work as soldiers, politicians, and administrators. There is sometimes a fifth varna untouchables called pariahs or dalit they are at the bottom of the class system. They work as low servants, doing jobs a Hindu is usually forbidden to do, e.g. burying bodies of animals and unclaimed dead humans. They are considered polluted by caste Hindus and these may not have contact with them and they are also called unseen because they work at night. Concept of purity is very important in Hinduism because amount of purity decides in which caste someone belongs. Hindu belief is when one of the higher four varna gets in touch with polluted thing or dalit is temporarily impure and impurity brings bed luck. The main difference between the British and the Indian social values and a central point of influence creating social structure was opposite of British individualism and Indian group behaviour and hierarchy. Structure of these two societies is completely different. In Hindu Society core of society is group and individuals around are struggling to fit in that group were bigger groups are consisting of smaller ones. In period of colonialism Indian side did not have individual identity they had a group identity. Western Society core is person as individual which may be part of group or not and their individualism was always placed above a social group. It is hard to say how strong the British individualistic influence actually was, through it seems to be very likely that it came indirectly to the people of India through the British education. Today is becoming more individualistic society and examples are going to be mentioned in further reading. Hierarchy Hierarchy is very important in Indian society and their hierarchical composition is not common and same as is other societies is. There are three main criteria: first is belonging to one religion group, second status according wealth and profession (materialistic), and then cast system further division also may be done with gender and race. Mostly their social hierarchy over history is formed around religion it may be seen from Moghul Empire and British colonization. There is a group hierarchy then hierarchy within a family age and gender. All these hierarchies are core of their society even today when cast system is forbidden it may be said that it transformed to rigid class system. While India was hierarchical society Britain and Europe were in process of Enlightenment. Queen Victoria announced a declaration of non- interference, constituting that Indian religions and customs would be left alone.à [17]à This statement had fundamental flaw: the British knowledge concerning Indian religion and customs was very limited. Educational programs, the British influenced the Indian society possibly the best way there is without force. The Indians had the chance to experience a more equal treatment and learned in British schools theoretically about it. Lower casts tried to act the behaviour of higher caste people. This act is called Sanskrititazion in order to get upward in class and caste. Sanskrititazion means that people of low status adopt the behaviours and attributes of castes of Brahminical status mentioned in religious texts in Sanskrit.à [18]à By coming of British this act is replaced by westernization were Indians imitate the prestigious Englishmen in order to more upward in the social hierarchy. The census officials were recording a statistical data about Indians they were doing questionnaires which include gender, living condition, nationality, race, tribe, religion and caste. By results of this research they could get whole picture of Indian society. Human rights: India is one of the countries in which this theme is spoken mostly. India has problems with nationalism, racism, gender inequality, death punishment. British rose awareness about human rights by educating Indians. Before and in nowadays still sati ritual is preformed in rural areas that is a ritual were a husband dies his family is allowed to bury his alive wife with him. Hindus are scarifying people for getting a grace of gods. Performance of these rituals is punishable for years but it is still present. Gender inequality also was present but in nowadays women have her freedom and right to chose what she wants and they allowed to work. In some cases permission of parents and husband is needed. Nationalism is present since British colonized India and took maharajas their power of ruling. These problems arose because of setting laws which are not applicable for this complex society and they are given by British. Conclusion To conclude this essay I will repeat the research question and try to answer it from here; To what extent British language and culture contributed in change of customs in India? The British are known for their skillful and strategical ways of fighting. During colonization, many powers invested a lot of money in building memorials and other architecture that resembled their style and culture and in this way they celebrated their accomplishements and made sure everyone knew that they were the ones that are ruling that region. The British, however, did not have that kind of an approach. They invested in colonizing the country (India) when they knew that they would have benefits from that. The British had more strategies and plans for the occupation of the colonized land. For example, the first phase was sending out missionaries that would convert the population of that region into Christians. This strategy was only possible for Sudan but not for India in which religion was the core of society and their attempts at converting were unsuccessful. Their next phase was investing money in building railways where they would be able to export the resources from India to Europe. In addition, they have also invested in education where they would attempt at influencing the Indians minds and their thinking. Because of all these reasons, it was very hard to say and find physical evidence that the British had an impact on India. If we research India today, it is difficult to say if the way India is today is because of the impact of globalization or because of British influence. 19Franz Boas researched movements of people from Europe to America and he said that parents who came from Europe differ from their children who were born in America by the way they act because they did not grow in the same environment, circumstances and family background. From anthropological ideology there have to be something changed through the years in India and even if it is not seen clearly. Also, we cannot find physical evidence of their psyhcological influence if we study and research the present. However, by studying India diachronically and holistically, we would be able to find evidences of British influence. After East India Company, Britsh Raj and all movements for independence final outcome was division of country according to their religion belonging to India Hindu believers and Pakistan Muslim believers. India chose to be a secular country. British made a base for nationalism which arose and made huge conflict between two major religious groups in India. British Raj fall affected India economically and still is affecting. It took a long time for the Indians to come out of poverty. The British looted many natural resources including cotton and wool. Poverty is also present because of huge changes in country their core of society is no more religion and their rules are made according to democracy and human rights. At end I may conclude that British had positive and negative influences on Indian subcontinent but without those influences India would not be what it is today.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Kydââ¬â¢s The Spanish Tragedy - The Humanist Chronotope Essay -- Spanish T
Kydââ¬â¢s The Spanish Tragedy - The Humanist Chronotope In "Forms of Time and of the Chronotope in the Novel," Mikhail Bakhtin defines the chronotope as "the intrinsic connectedness of temporal and spatial relationships that are artistically expressed in literature" (84). That is what the chronotope is; Bakhtin continues with what the chrontope does: "It can even be said that it is precisely the chronotope that defines genre and generic distinctions" (85). In The Spanish Tragedy, Kyd layers three chronotopic zones to create a new chronotope, the "humanist chronotope," which in turn creates a unique dramatic genre, one we might call "humanist drama." According to Bakhtin, two seminal chronotopes from classical literature form the basis of most later chronotopes. The first of these seminal chronotopes is the adventure chronotope, found in romance narratives such as Longusââ¬â¢s Daphnis and Chloe. Time in this chronotope is a random and non-causal chain of events characterized by "suddenly" and "at just that moment" that ends at the same point in biographical time at which it began. Time is thus infinite, reversible, and extratemporal; it is also governed by chance, and therefore, Bakhtin writes, "The initiative in this time does not belong to human beings" (95). Extratemporal time requires "extraspatial" space that is abstract rather than concrete, as a concrete space, argues Bakhtin, would limit the power of chance. Adventure space is also alien space: a familiar world would also leave traces that would limit the chance that drives time in the romance. Apuleiusââ¬â¢s The Golden Ass exemplifies the second seminal chronotope: the adventure-everyday chronotope, a hybrid, as the name suggests, of the abstract adventure chronotope and a ... ...er a dumb show, so too will the audience understand the idea after the performance of The Spanish Tragedy. Kydââ¬â¢s "humanist chronotope" thus places drama at the center of humanist learning: yet it is as a spectator, not as an actor or playwright, that one becomes a humanist. WORKS CITED Bakhtin, M.M. "Forms of Time and of the Chronotope in the Novel: Notes toward a Historical Poetics." Michael Holquist, ed. The Dialogic Imagination: Four Essays by M.M. Bakhtin. Trans. Caryl Emerson and Michael Holquist. Austin: U of Texas P, 1981. 84-258. Freeman, Arthur. Thomas Kyd: Facts and Problems. Oxford: Clarendon, 1967. Kyd, Thomas. The Spanish Tragedy. J.R. Mulryne, ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 1989. Mann, Nicholas. "The Origins of Humanism." Jill Kraye, ed. The Cambridhe Companion to Renaissance Humanism. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1996. 1-19.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
A Child Called It By Dave Pelzer :: essays research papers
A Child Called ââ¬Å"Itâ⬠1. In the book, the father tries to help the son in the beginning but then throughout the book he stops trying to help and listens to the mother. If I had been in this same situation, I would have helped get the child away from his mother because nobody should have to live like that. The father was tired of having to watch his son get abused so eventually he just left and didnââ¬â¢t do anything. David thought that his father would help him but he did not. 2. When David, was stabbed he went to his father for help. His father just told him to go back and to do the dishwasher. Father said that he would not tell Davidââ¬â¢s mother that he told but he should get back to work. 3. The abuse that I thought was the most difficult was the gas chamber. He had to sit in the bathroom with the ammonia and it was really hard for him to breathe. The only reason he survived was because there was a vent in the bathroom. I think that I could have also survived this because I am good at getting myself out of bad situations. I can think quickly. 4. I think I probably would have given up when the mother stabbed me. I think it would have been too painful for me to care anymore. I would have suffered too much. 5. I think that the difference between 30 years ago and now is that it could be stopped now. David could have been taken from his mother to live somewhere else because she was not a fit parent. He could have lived with his father. 6. I think that his mother just randomly decided to abuse David. Since she was an alcoholic she did not always realize what she was doing to him. She also probably didnââ¬â¢t want to do all the things around the house and thought it was too much to do so she had David do all the chores. She punished him by doing dreadful things. 7. When the mother wanted David to lye on the stove and burn, David decided to see if he could trick her. He watched the clock and decided to see how long he could keep her from making him get on the stove until his brothers got home. He succeeded and from then on he decided that he would not give up and he would always try to outsmart his mother.
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Problems of Conducting Research Into the Causes of Stress Essay
One problem when conducting research into the causes of stress is the generalisation of the sample, if the sample is restricted; this has limitations in terms of generalising the results to the total population. In the study by Johansson, a sample of only 24 workers was used and from a specific job type. This sample is unreflective of all job types and is too small to be applicable to the general population. Conclusions made may only be relevant to this sample. However it could be argued that the factors that cause stress in jobs such as deadlines and the dependence of others on you are common in all types of jobs and therefore using a sample of the specific job type becomes less restricted and applicable to other people in jobs with common stressors. A second problem when conducting research into causes of stress is the validity of measurements. Validity refers to whether the results measure what they are supposed to measure and this is often affected by the research method. The self report method is often questioned in terms of validity as participants have the ability to give socially desirable answers and steer away from the truth. In the study by Kanner, questionnaires were posted out to participants and a Hassles and uplifts scale was asked to be completed every month for 9 months and the Berkman life events scale after 10 months. This study, due to the use of self report lacks in validity, as researches are unsure as to whether data obtained reflects the true opinions of participants, which is an issue when trying to apply to everyday life. However the self report method is useful, despite it lacking in validity. It gives participants the freedom to write about their own subjective feelings and due to stress being individually perceived differently, it is useful in tailoring treatment to individuals to meet their needs. A third problem is reductionism, studies often reduce many factors that cause an individual stress to one factor, such as in the case of Johansson study, it was concluded work was the source of stress. However individual factors such as personality could play a role, researchers do not know that stress prone individuals are more likely to be in a high risk job. By failing to take into account other factors, resources and time may be used in the wrong area. However reductionism is useful as it does pinpoint an area that causes stress and allows in-depth research to be carried out to help participants.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Hofstede Comparison of Germany and China Essay
Hofstedeââ¬â¢s five dimensions are a useful tool to give someone an insight of different cultures. These elements give a countryââ¬â¢s behaviour tendencies rather than an exact prescription. There are weaknesses to Hofstedeââ¬â¢s Five Dimension theory as it may too easily encourage stereotyping. Even in countries as small as the UK, not all citizens are alike ââ¬â e.g. it is argued that the culture in the North of England is quite different to the South. Hofstede has also been criticized for being too simplistic; however Hofstedeââ¬â¢s theory does give us a general base to work from. 74 countries are listed on Hofstedeââ¬â¢s website from which information can be drawn to make comparisons not only between countries but against the world average to give a broader picture. The following graph gives a comparison between Germany and China. It also allows for assessment against the Asian average and World average and our own British culture as benchmarks. Hofstede Comparison: UK, Germany, China Asian Average and World Average Comparison of Germany and China Power Distance Index à à à Germany 35 LOW à à à à China 80 HIGH Individualism à à à à à à à à à à Germany 67 HIGH à à à à China 66 LOW Masculinity à à à à à à à à à à à à Germany 66 HIGH à à à à China 66 HIGH Uncertainty Avoidance à à Germany 65 HIGH à à à à China 30 LOW Long Term Orientation à à Germany 31LOW à à à à à à China 118 HIGH Power Distance Index ââ¬â PDI Power Distance measures equality of power in society and how much people are willing to allow or give in to superiority. Countries with high scores tend to operate with power being given to the top few, with little room for lower rank intervention. Low scoring countries either spread power through delegation or encourage input from more levels of society. Germany 35 à à à China 80 à à à World Average 55 LOW POWER DISTANCE CULTURES HIGH POWER DISTANCE CULTURES Democratic management Autocratic management Management and subordinates treat one another as equals. Mutual respect is given. Managers expect subordinates to obey them. Subordinates automatic respect with expecting it to be earned. Power is de-centralised Power is centralised Subordinates expect to offer their ideas and take initiative Managers take the initiative and subordinates obey given instructions. Subordinates expect to be consulted Subordinates expect to be told what to do. Status is disapproved Status and privileges for managers is expected and respected Social interactions are informal Social interactions are formal Narrow range of salaries Wider range of salaries Despite a large difference in PDI scores, Germany and China share some similarities with how workers accept authority and power. The above table shows typical examples of low power distance cultures however, Germany does not necessarily follow these traits despite having a low PDI score. Germans like order and regulations and in a both business and society people tend to know what is allowed and what is forbidden. Power Distance is a low 35 in Germany. It is the same as in the UK yet significantly below the World average of 55. This score suggests German society, work and families treat people with equality, encouraging collaboration and a fair cultural environment. German managers and employees are often close, (reflected in the medium to low power distance (PD) in German culture) because they believe that they are working together to create a good product. Germany hasà a democratic political system and is de-centralised. Business organisations tend to have flat structures with relatively small numbers of supervisors, however it also is known to be departmentalised and centralised (Dereksy, 2011). In business, Germans are known to be assertive, though not aggressive. Decisions are centralised although on occasion consensus is sometimes sought if the situation warrants it. Employees do not question the authority of their managers and are very loyal to their companies. Before most business deals are done, there has been considerable detailed analysis before commitment. Once a project or deal is committed to, staff have high trust in the order and China has a high ranking of 80 than both Germany and the World Average which means that the power distance remains high in business and in society in general. This means that people are less willing to challenge authority which is likely due to old communism beliefs which still have a strong influence on peopleââ¬â¢s behaviour. China continues to receive cri ticism for not taking human rights seriously. When doing business in China one must be aware of this large hierarchy gap. It is often hard to move up on their corporate ladder compared to other cultures. PDI Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China In China, greetings are always done in age order, so ensure the eldest in the room is greeted first. Status is very important in China so do not call someone by their Christian name until they invite you to do so. Instead, always address them by using their full title, eg Dr or Professor. Ensure your business cards have your full qualifications on. If any large announcements to general staff are needed, request a senior member of management do it. Do not expect senior management to accept your ideas. Whilst they most likely will have no intention of accepting any ideas you may offer, they may politely say they will consider them to save ââ¬Å"faceâ⬠. ââ¬Å"Let us think about itâ⬠is the Chinese way of saying ââ¬Å"noâ⬠Use power to exercise authority Tell subordinates what to do ââ¬â do not expect them to work it out themselves. Individualism Individualism refers to how independent people are. Countries with high scores indicate people are self- motivated, more self-reliant and self-concerned whereas countries with lower scores suggest citizens conform to societyââ¬â¢s norms and consider group needs as more important than their own. Germany 67China 20World Average 43 Germany scored 67 points on individualism, the tendency of people to look after themselves and their immediate family only. That score is 56% higher than the world average score for individualism. Therefore, Germany has a highly individualistic society. In such cultures individuality, independence, and self-determination are valued. Trompenaar agrees that Germans place high priority on looking after themselves and their immediate family. At work, however, Germans jointly assume responsibilities and achieve goals in groups. Negotiating decisions is often referred to committees. Hofstede found that wealthier countries tended to have higher scores in Individualism (Hodgetts et al, 2006) however, given that China is now the second largest economy in the World and their IND score is only 20 Hofstedeââ¬â¢s theory can be disputed. The Chinese rank lower than any other Asian country in the Individualism (IDV) ranking, at 20 compared to an average of 25. This may be attributed, in part, to the high level of emphasis on a Collectivist society by the Communist rule, as compared to one of Individualism. Confucianism also plays a large part as Chinese place value on long term satisfaction than short-term greed. Harmony is achieved by giving ââ¬Å"faceâ⬠to others and avoiding losing your own ââ¬Å"face.â⬠In collectivist cultures such as China, people work together in groups and often put the needs of that group ahead of their own personal wants. They embrace shared responsibility. Chinese business habits tend to stay with the same partners or suppliers to keep loyalty and not deteriorate relationships. So when doing business with others it is a good idea to select a good strong partnership that has potential to last a long time. It is looked down upon if you frequently change business partners. IDV Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China Focus on how change is good for the group (appeal to the common interest). Allow the group to formulate and ask questions. Allow the group to consult with each other and spend time working out their responses, questions, and concerns Aim to build lasting relationships Try working through an individual or an organization who introduces you formallyââ¬âChinese like to work with people they know Avoid asking pointed questions Do not expect decisions made at meetings as meetings are merely forums for exchange of information Allow time in meetings for team members to consent and consult Standing out from the crowd can be viewed as very negative and result in personal difficulties, therefore try to blend in with the group and put their needs first. Masculinity Masculinity looks at how people react to one another. Countries with high masculine scores tend to have a society which respects stereotypical male behaviour: hedonistic, materialistic, dominant, aggressive and competitive, viewing feminine behaviour as weak. Countries with low masculinity scores tend to have strong welfare support and more equality between the sexes. Germany à 66 à à à China 66 à à à World Average 50 Germany scored 66 points on masculinity, a cultural characteristic in which success, money and material possessions form the dominant values in society. That score is 32% higher than the world average score for masculinity yet equal to that of the UK and China. According to Hofstedeââ¬â¢s model, Germans place greater importance on earnings, recognition, advancement and challenge. Germany is a male-dominated society; few married women work outside the home However, this is slowly changing in the younger generations of Germany. Women are becoming more accepted in higher positions. Officially, women in China have the same rights as men in the workplace and the party has promoted this sense of equality over the past thirty years or so. However, traditional Confucian thinking does not sit easily with this notion of gender equality and it is somewhat ironic that the liberalisation policies of the last decade might have reversed many of the advances made by women in Chinese society under the previous hard-line regimes. In China, the strong preference of boys is due to the traditional values. Men hold most of the responsibility and power positions although there is a high level ofà consensus between genders in China. However, the responsibility for finding childcare still tends to fall with women which may be a contributor to the low numbers of women in senior management positions. The value placed on work is similar in Germany and China, according to Hofstede, yet both countries have few women in senior management. MAS Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China Foreign businesswomen will be treated with great respect and courtesy. They may find that, within a delegation, the Chinese defer to male colleagues regardless of the actual seniority of the western party ââ¬â the Chinese assumption being that the male will naturally be the decision-maker. Therefore a German woman manager must anticipate this and not be offended by this reaction so she ââ¬Å"saves faceâ⬠Gradually over time, this apparent sexism will fade if she takes the time and gentle grace to build relationships slowly. Uncertainty Avoidance Index Uncertainty avoidance, as the name suggests, focuses on how and by whom risk is managed. Countries with low levels of uncertainty indicate strong governmental control to maintain as much stability and order as possible for risk elimination. Countries with lower scores tend to allow individuals to manage their own risks, which provide environments with more innovation. Germany 65 à à China 30 à à World average 64 Germany scored 65 points on Hofstedeââ¬â¢s uncertainty avoidance index. That score is only 1% above the world average score for uncertainty avoidance. Thanks to their need for security, Germans insist on written rules and detailed codes of conduct. Germans are not keen on uncertainty, by planning everything carefully they try to avoid the uncertainty. In Germany there is a society that relies on rules, laws and regulations. Germany wants to reduce its risks to the minimum and proceed with changes step by step. China presents a high degree of acceptance of uncertainty, which is a characteristic of a society that does not try to take control of the future, and that is not afraid of unforeseen situations. Contrary to Germany, Chinese society does not feel such an urge to establish strict rules toà overcome uncertainty or ambiguity. It is also characteristic of a society that is more tolerant towards opinions, behaviours that are different from its own, and changes. And it is a more meditative society which does not feel the need of controlling its environment. UAI Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China Present a bottom line and an objective, then build your case around questions Expect frequent rescheduling of meetings. It is a good idea to set up appointments a few weeks in advance and reconfirm 1-2 days before the scheduled meeting Long-term Orientation Long-term Orientation concerns how cultures view time and perseverance, whether business and relationships are nurtured over a period of time or if more emphasis is placed on short-term reward. Long-Term Orientation is the fifth dimension of Hofstede which was added after the original four to try to distinguish the difference in thinking between the East and West. From the original IBM studies, this difference was something that could not be deduced. Therefore, Hofstede created a Chinese value survey which was distributed across 23 countries Germany 31 à à China 118 à à World Average 45 . Short-term Orientation Long-term Orientation Immediate gratification required Deferred gratification Traditions are sacred and upheld Traditions adapt to change Consumption values are taught Frugality and perseverance is taught Spend Save or invest Quick profits Building a lasting business income Analytical thinking Synthetic thinking Germany is typical of Westernised cultures with regards to having short-term orientation. Germany is renowned for its appreciation of efficiency. People from cultures where managers are expected to develop a closer, more intimate ambience can see the German manager-subordinate relationship as distant and cold. Germans put truth and directness before diplomacy, believing that the fact is the important issue and that personal emotions should not deflect the truth from being spoken. This directness can be interpreted by certain cultures such as China, as rude. China slow and steady wins the race for business deals. Building strong, reliable, lasting relationships is key for the Chinese. A certain amount of trust must be gained before any decision is met. It may take three to four times the length of time to finish the business deal compared to your cultural standards. So if you do not come to a fast agreement, donââ¬â¢t be discouraged, make the client feel comfortable and show your p atience. The Chinese never like to rush into things. Geert Hofstede analysis for China has Long-term Orientation (LTO) the highest-ranking factor of all countries. China has such a high LTO score, it is even 30% higher than the Asian average score which is already nearly twice the World average. This shows how much emphasis China places on this dimension, indicating a societyââ¬â¢s time perspective and an attitude of persevering; that is, overcoming obstacles with time, if not with will and strength. This means that perseverance and economy are the basic values in China, these values being taught by Confucianism, which is widely established in China. Also, Chinese culture is neutral, contrary to the French culture which is affective. Which means that in China feelings are not readily expressed and physical contact avoided, while in France like in all other Mediterranean cultures the behaviour is expressive and gestured, and people like to express their feelings and physical contact. Chines e culture is marked by respect and loyalty, which makes them reliable partners. They favour the interest of the group and in particular are extremely perseverant and formidable business people. LTO Suggestions for manager coming from Germany to China This is arguably the area requiring the most attention from a German manager. Meetings are about building relationships and exchanging information ââ¬â it is rare for a decision to be made within the meeting. Therefore a German manager must not show impatience. Use less direct language Hold back on the truth, to help others save ââ¬Å"faceâ⬠Build relationships slowly. Try ââ¬Å"gift givingâ⬠, as a thank you is often not considered enough, and at worst rude. Allow the group to consult with each other and spend time working out their responses, questions, and concerns Bing., J.,W., 2011. Hofstedeââ¬â¢s consequences: The impact of his work on consulting and business practices, An Executive Summary. ITAP International Inc . Available from: http://www.itapintl.com/facultyandresources/articlelibrarymain/hofstedes-consequences-the-impact-of-his-work-on-consulting-and-business-practices.html [Accessed 17 March 2011]. Burke, R., J., Cultural Values and Womenââ¬â¢s Work and Career Experiences. Deresky, H., 2011. International Management Managing Across Borders and Cultures. 7th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall Hodgetts, R., M., and Luthans, F., and Doh, J. P., 2006. International Management. 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill WorldBusinessCulture.com, 2011. For both China and Germanyhttp://www.worldbusinessculture.com/Women-in-Business-in-China.html
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