Economic Development and Culture Essay

According to Easterly (2001), attempted remedies to underdevelopment (like loans, FDI, population control) are generally determined by non-economic factors such as demographic variables, cultural characteristics, and political systems. In the following paragraph, Easterly demonstrated the devastating implication of a single path to economic development in many Third World countries. Now, the assumptions of both classical economists and political economists are under attack. There is one element that both these theories ignored: culture. Sociologists and cultural anthropologists often argued that there is no single path to economic development when culture is taken into consideration. Market institutions and free trade instruments have usually low adoption rates in many underdeveloped countries (Easterly, 2001). The reason is not obvious. Traditional methods of production and exchange often obscure economic principles. These traditional methods of production and exchange constituted a significant part of culture. For example, in the 1950s, the so-called ‘trickle down approach’ became popular in the West. The idea is simple. The adoption of technology flows smoothly from the capitalist class to low income agricultural families (Easterly, 2001). Translated into income, the rate by which the capitalist class accumulates wealth is correlated with the rate by which low income agricultural families accumulates capital. In short, the approach benefits all individuals who adopt prescribed technologies (since these technologies increase production and improve efficiency). Such approach was enthusiastically received by Third World countries in the 1950s and 1960s (Easterly, 2001). However, after two decades of trial, it was clear that it failed to produce the desired results. Farmers did not adopt the prescribed technologies, as what the proponents of the approach expected. Several studies were conducted to determine cause of the failure. Culture was seen as the ‘culprit’ variable in those studies. Third World farmers failed to adopt prescribed technologies because: 1) such technologies were antithetical to traditional beliefs and farming practices, and 2) culture did not permit them to use such technologies. These results generally struck down the traditional economic approach to development. Economic principles are not the sole determinants of economic development. Easterly (2001) summarized the role of culture in economic development. His main propositions are as follows: 1) Many economic policies failed because it never incorporated elements of cultural life. Such can be said of the ‘trickle-down approach’ used by many Third World countries in the 1950s and 1960s; 2) Culture decides which and how economic policies should be undertaken. For example, an economic policy that fosters information liberalization in an Islamic country is doomed to failure. An economic policy should be socially accepted; 3) Culture provides an avenue for feedback for implemented economic policies. Culture is itself a collective entity that dictates which economic policies are sustainable in the long-run. Acceptance is not the issue, rather the long-term utility to the society; 4) Culture provides individuals, groups, and institutions the necessary moral information of specific policies. When viewed from the social exchange theory, it is these moral information that enable individuals and groups to rationally weigh the benefits and costs of particular economic policies. In the book Culture Matters, Patterson’s essay successfully showed that economic models failed to explain the persistent social and behavioral chaos that defines inner urban life (Culture Matters, 494). Patterson argued that economic models only explained the tangible elements of economic life; that is, economic models only touched issues like income, consumption, savings, and investment (Culture Matters, 495-98). When those economic models were used to explain behavioral differences across individuals, groups, and classes, they ended in self-insufficiency. However, Patterson’s essay revealed another striking fact. Cultural differences, behavioral outlook on wealth, and socio-religious beliefs were seen as determinants of income, investment, and savings. Groups that have a positive outlook on wealth and investment have tendencies to adopt capitalist principles. Groups which adhere to conservative religious beliefs tend to view capitalist principles as ‘unChristian. ’ In short, cultural differences determine economic development. To restrict economic development to the twin principles of free trade and non-government intervention is misleading. If a country wanted to experience economic development, it must take into consideration non-economic variables. Political culture, ideology, socio-religious beliefs, and systems of exchange are some of the non-economic variables that influence economic decision-making patterns. Works Cited Culture Matters. Ed. By Lawrence Harrison and Samuel Huntington. New York: New York Basic Books, 2000. Easterly, William. The Elusive Quest for Growth : Economists’ Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics. MIT: The MIT Press, 2001.

The Failure of the Road Map to Peace

Abstract The failure of the Roadmap to Peace has become an object of substantial debate. This essay examines the conflict utilizing the concept of ripeness and third party intervention in order to determine the impact. The evidence presented illustrates the lack of details produced a lack of direction which led to strategy failure. This study will be of value to any person studying conflict resolution. 1 Introduction The Roadmap to peace was created to bring quiet and balance to the Middle East. This essay examines the failure of the Roadmap process through the perspective of ripeness and third party intervention. With each process, this essay identifies the strengths and weaknesses associated with the method in order to create better understanding. Beginning with a base overview of the Roadmap to peace this essay sets out a fundamental building point. Following this with an assessment of the ripeness of the peace process will allows for an illustration of potential, adding to the narrative. Next, will be an examination of third party intervention and the opportunities that this created in the Roadmap process. A combination of these sections will enable the creation of reasonable conclusions based on evidence. In the end this essay considers initial policy, modern practice and future potential with the clear and stated goal of demonstrating the strengths and weaknesses of international conflict resolution. 2 Roadmap to Peace2.1 OverviewWith the failure of the American President Bill Clinton to forge a lasting peace in the Middle East before leaving office, the second intifada broke out hampering peace efforts and increasing regional violence between Palestine and Israel. This sudden onslaught rapidly deteriorated any building goodwill between the states and made any form of resolution very hard to create. The Roadmap was an effort constructed by the major powers Russia, the United Nations, the United States and the European Union in an effort to create peace between Palestine and Israel. With a real need to implement a form of resolution and partnership in order to promote international concerns, the Middle East plan was built to resolve many long standing issues. Citing the rising tensions in the region, the world powers, led by the United States President George W. Bush, adopted the Roadmap, a concept taken from a 2002 speech created the foundation for the Road Map to Peace. With a c lear political impact to be felt by the failure or success of the program, the Western Powers and Russia felt that the time had come to answer the violence with a bold initiative directly aimed at changing the status quo. The strategy itself was enacted with three distinct segments in mind, which in turn would provide markers illustrating the progress . The first phase envisioned a form of acceptance between the antagonists which would lead to an end to the on-going violence in the region . As part and parcel of the reform needed, the Palestinian state would undergo elections and fundamental development, thus enabling a better informed and therefore less violent population. Israel in turn would pull their military assets back as well as allowing normalization of operations in Eastern Jerusalem. This process would allow for a general rising of health conditions alongside the improvement in the aid situation that was being experienced by the general population. A final component of the first phase of the Roadmap dictated a total freeze on expansion settlements, and the further exploration of alternatives . Each of these first steps was designed with a broad intent, but few details. However, the intent w as to deescalate the tension and creates a perception of partnership that would allow for both Israel and Palestine to find common ground, thereby inherently reducing the underlying violence and hardship. The second segment of the Roadmap was to take place over the course of the 2003 year. Building on the projections of the first portion, the second phase begins the real work of creating an independent state. This process of development for Palestine required a substantial economic recovery as well as a considerable increase in the quality of social services available . With increased funding, and environmental assistance this segment encompassed the physical rehabilitation of the Palestinian state in order to establish a viable national presence. Once again, the critics of this segment cite the lack of detail compared to the overarching goals. Yet, with the accomplishment of these goals, Israel would restore communication and cooperation with the Palestinians, thereby increasing the communication and opportunity for partnership in the region. The third and final section of the Roadmap consisted of a second international conference that would herald the passage of the Palestinian state into international recognition. As a consequence of the success of the first and second sections, it was judged that the Palestinians would have a permanent status as an independent state which would in turn effectively end the conflict . During this third segment many of the most vexing issues surrounding the conflict including the borders of the city Jerusalem would be addressed in order to cement a lasting peace. Further, this final effort would encompass the refugee and settlement issues with a final decree thereby settling each of the commonly held elements of the conflict. Described as a performance driven strategy, there was no real method of enforcement, compelling the states involved to meet the standards of the Roadmap. With a great deal of mistrust resting between the Palestinians and the Israeli’a the expectation of trust and good faith on the part of every player was a significant assumption. With an initial directive of immediate ceasefire on the part of Palestine alongside the immediate cessation of building by Israel was meant to convey in a very direct manner, that the peace process was moving forward and would impact the most sensitive elements of the conflict. This fundamental endorsement of the two state solutions to the regional conflict by world powers signalled the beginning of a political push to solve the long running crises. Both players did not agree to abide by the agreement, Israel nor did Palestine truly meet the guidelines, making the effort to keep the Roadmap on track both frustrating and pointless.2.1 Failure of the Roadmap2.1.1 RipenessMany elements are at the core of the failure of the Roadmap policy, including clarity, ripeness of goals and the overall intervention efforts by the larger world powers. With spiralling rates of violence taking their toll on each side, it was deemed time for intervention by the world powers prior to the creation of the Roadmap. However, not each party involved in the conflict agreed with that assessment. Wallensteen (2002) identifies the concept of ripeness as the moment of defining readiness for change. With the onset of dialogue and the uptick in desire for a regional solution to the confli ct, both the Palestinians and the Israeli’s seemed ripe for a compromise. With very little ahead of either party without a form of conflict resolution, the long term outlook was dim and growing dimmer. The ripeness of the opportunity led the four major world powers to create and implement the Roadmap to peace even with the lack of clarity . With a clear moment for seizing the reins and changing the narrative, the players in the negotiations sought to accomplish a long held goal in a relatively short period. Further, the foundation goals of the endeavour coordinated with the needs of the population in the moment, yet, the overall lack of clarity and details only led to confusion and skewing of purpose throughout the implementation process. This same concept of timing was conceived as an integral component of the conciliation resolution effort envisioned in the end goal. However, the lack of any real method of compelling motivation on the part of either Palestine or Israel both states quickly reneged on the agreement and failed to live up to the expected standards. Another central element of the motivation behind the peace plan was the coveted alliance of the moderate states in region that the American president sought. In a very real way, every step of the peace process in the Middle East was conceived as a result of the need to ensure adequate oil supply from the region. This added many layers of complexity to the already complicated regional environment. As Tristan (2014) notes in his detailed evaluation, despite the lofty goals of the Roadmap, there was not a noticeable advance in the agenda between the beginning of the peace process in 2002 and the scheduled cessation of the conflict in 2005. This wasted opportunity led to a disengagement that resulted in a re-emergence of violence that soon destroyed any good the preceding efforts had achieved. Taking away an opportune moment and drastically stoking the anti-Western resentment in the region was the invasion of Iraq only a year after the creation of the Roadmap. This contradiction in goals only served to further divide the local area as well as weaken any real oversight that the agreement on. Central to this argument is the need for continual communication and commitment in order to progress, which with the lack of monitoring failed to serve the intended purpose of driving the process forward. With the timing of the American invasion coinciding with the peace effort there was a clear opportunity to view the real views that the West espoused. As the war deteriorated and became a perceived vendetta pursued by the American President any lasting credibility that the Roadmap had was soon lost. Despite the need for resolution and the continuing commitment for solutions from the neighbours, Israel initially declined the offer of the Roadmap, instead supplying a long list of conditions that would serve to offset any initial losses a compromise may entail. No matter the funding and benefits offered, the elements of the situation allowed Israel the leverage to institute a series of demands. This recognition of ripeness allowed the Israeli’s to accomplish much of the dismantling of the Palestinian infrastructure immediately, making these elements critical to any lasting accord. Lacking any clear detail or direction, the Roadmap was unable to address many of the issues at the regional level, making any form of progress hard. There was a real perception of rudderless direction with no real commitment by the creating powers. Tocci (2013) argues that the outbreak of the second intifada was the signal of the ripeness of moment in the Israeli and Palestine peace process. With a clear indication by the United States that it would accept the assistance of others to promote peace in the region, the international components all seemed ripe for working and finding a long term solution . Yet, the complex nature of the conflict negated any possible progress, frustrating every party involved. In summation: There was a clear perception of opportune timing to be had in the intifada and the desire to de-escalate the conflict by every party involved. This benefit was bolstered by the American Presidents wish to provide a path to a moderate alliance in the region that would ensure oil production in the West . Taking away momentum from the proffered Roadmap, thus letting the moment slip past, was the lack of clarity in the fundamental plan, which was large on goals and slight on how to accomplish them. This was further complicated by a lack of understanding of the outside parties that only resulted in creating or exasperating current conditions. Coupled with the outbreak of the American and Iraqi conflict that illustrated a negative aspect of the Western power, the moment for change was soon lost among the need to serve one owns interest . With the outside powers having to concrete on the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan there was scant time or funding to provide any meaningful support for the Roadmap, which in turn consistently diminished the efforts of each person involved.2.1.2 Third Party InterventionThere are three reasons for outside parties to become involved in an international conflict. With elements including traditional alliance compulsions, ethnic or population ties or the presence of humanitarian emergencies are at the centre of these interventions. Many studies contend that the multi-faceted partnership is more effective than the United Nations at implementing an effective assistance effort. Others argue that these situations often present outside entities with opportunities for profit that have nothing to do with the local region. This particular factor makes it very hard for nations such as Palestine and Israel to view the assistance offered by the third party nations with trust. As with any infrastructure built on apprehension, there will be a wide margin of error that will work towards the failure of the overall goal. Most third party ef forts are centred on finding a method of compromise that each side can appreciate. By finding factors that appeal to each of the local concerns there is a real opportunity for find common ground that can lead the way to compromise. However, in some cases both sides refuse to yield, making any form of progress slight. Others favour the contingency method of third party intervention which entails the identification, initiation and seq8uencing of the primary elements in order to create a workable solution. In each case, it is necessary for the third parties to find common ground in order to formulate beneficial policy. Third Party intervention in the Middle East was deemed a plausible conflict resolution process by the outside powers that were concerned about the region and its resources . In a very real way, the Roadmap was a product of the need of the larger nations to ensure their line of oil supply and production, which in turn dictated that an alliance of the moderate states in the region come together to accomplish this goal. The four nations outside of the region that were intimately involved with the Roadmap were the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United nations. Each of these entities had their own priorities when dealing with the Middle East, yet, the need for them to come together was made evident the continuing violence and unrest in the region. This conciliatory approach to resolution in the region was obstructed from the outset by the Israeli demands that shifted the tone of the negotiations from the beginning. President Bush involved the very prestige of his office in the attempt to reconcile the nations and this initial balking on the part of Israel immediately dampened the prospects for progress in the region. In this case, the American regime was forced to reverse course and allow these changes before even the first step of the Roadmap could be realized. This created a very clear perception of Israel holding the upper hand in the negotiations. A similar reaction to the third party solution was experienced in Palestine with a dramatic upswing in violence. With no real details in the initial offering each side of the conflict felt oppressed the outside powers played a direct role in the population’s discontent. From the very beginning there was the perception by those involved in the process that the parties were going to do what they would despite any opinion held by the outside powers. This realization of this fact fuelled the growing frustration that surrounded the entire Roadmap implementation method. The quartet of powers deemed the primary obstacle of peace to be the inability of both Israel and Palestine to reign in their most extreme components. This perception of lawlessness on the part of the extremists made the cessation of violence only attainable after both sides agreed to tone down the violence. This initial step was agreed upon by the quartet yet; both Israel and Palestine were hard pressed to truly diminish the rate of violence espoused by their population. The only real point of agreement to be found between the states of Israel and Palestine is that another protracted war will very likely destroy both entities. With this element serving to bring the parties back to the table despite the setbacks, there has been a consistent, if not weak, effort to find peace in the region for generations. Turner (2011) argues that the very attempt at building statehood in this manner has first polarized and then paralysed the effort, making the goal unattainable. This fact is enhance d by the lack of regional understanding that the third parties had in regards to local matters. The third party resolution efforts recognized that the areas of settlements and refugees were delicate topics for both the Israeli’s and the Palestinians. Utilizing summits to attempt to coordinate efforts between the powers, the very direct intervention of the United States President, actively working through Russian and the European Union to build support for the Roadmap, there was an initial sense of accomplishment. This first cessation of hostilities brokered by the outside parties resumed quickly after President Bush left the region, making much of the efforts of the previous months negligible. With facets including the release of political prisoners directed at directly building trust between the states, the third party negotiators found a common goal in the realized reduction in violence. Van Der Maat (2011) contends that the difficulty in the realization of conflict resolution by third parties is the lack of true economic or military vulnerability. With nothing to lose , there is the perception by the local population that the world powers are there only to suit their own ends, which in turn undermines the entire process. Levine, Taylor and Best (2011) illustrate the concept that the third party negotiators during any form of conflict resolution are more likely to take the consolatory approach. While this approach can serve to bring disparate groups to the table, a base lack of understanding will only serve to drive the factors further apart. This very train of events seems to have occurred in the Middle East with the fundamental failure and abandonment of the Roadmap. However, this same study highlights the factor the coming together of multiple third parties was likely to increase the rate of success by dividing the load. In summation There was a real perception that the third parties involved in the Roadmap process had their own agendas, which in turn diminished their integrity. With each outside nation offering incentives for compliance, it was in the best interest for both Palestine and Israel to agree to the broad outline proposed. Yet, despite the points agreed upon during various summits there was real lack of progress as the situation would soon devolved to the prior state. Even though there were some economic repercussions, the lack of any direct military or economic damage in the Middle East created the perception of continued arrogance on the part of the Western powers by the local populations. This continued to increase the tension no matter the financial or economic incentive that the third parties were able to offer. Despite the studies attributing higher rates of success to partnership in third party conflict resolution efforts, the combined lack of details, time and resources contributed to the fina l failure of the concept. 3 Conclusion This essay has focused on the failure of the Roadmap to peace in the Middle East utilizing the concepts of ripeness and third-party intervention. The evidence provided has created a compelling narrative that illustrates many of the shortcomings of the peace strategy as well as many of the mistakes made by the outside players in the conflict. Driving the lack progress on nearly every level was a base lack of understanding and detail. Despite the American effort to lay out a broad outline that could in turn become a detailed plan, there was no real motivation for Palestine or Israel to comply. Not only was there a perception of political and economic motivation on the part of the outside entities there was continued perception of poor planning and lack of details. The elements for resolution were in place at the beginning of the process making the initial portion of the Roadmap seem ripe for implementation. Yet, allowing for only a broad design diminished the effectiveness of the program as well as reducing the faith in the third party negotiators. With the onset of the Afghanistan and Iraq affair, the perception of the outside powers continued to deteriorate, making the Roadmap ever more difficult to achieve. Despite the conciliatory approach taken by the third parties during the peace process, the refusal by the Palestinians and Israeli’s to abide by the basic agreements fuelled further dissent. No matter the timing and the desire to find common ground, the complex nature of the disputes between the populations were not be remedied with the shallow solutions provided by the American and Western nations. Further, the self-interest of the outside nations only built on the distrust that the local population continued to evince. Not even the public relations efforts that the President Bush attempted, there was not a method of appeal that lasted for any length of time. This basic fact kept the Roadmap from every truly developing, making each progressive goal nearly impossible to achieve. In the end, despite the timely intervention and the multiple partnerships provided by the third parties, the deeply complex nature of the regional disputes found in the Middle East demanded details in the Roadmap that were not present. This lack of direction was the true failure of the strategy, as there was no means to build or produce meaningful change. 3 Bibliography Amstutz, M. R. 1999. International conflict and cooperation. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Babbitt, E. and Hampson, F. O. 2011. Conflict resolution as a field of inquiry: practice informing theory. International Studies Review, 13 (1), pp. 46–57. Barak, O. 2005. The failure of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, 1993–2000. Journal of Peace Research, 42 (6), pp. 719–736. Ben-Ami, S. 2007. A roadmap to failure. [online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/feb/15/bushsroadmaptofailureint [Accessed: 13 Mar 2014]. Carpenter, T. G. 2012. Roadmap to Nowhere. Cato Institute. Chandler, D. 2006. Peace without politics?. London. Einarsen, S. 2011. Bullying and harassment in the workplace. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Fisher, R. J. 2007. Assessing the contingency model of third-party intervention in successful cases of prenegotiation. Journal of Peace Research, 44 (3), pp. 311–329. Forum, J. 2014. The Road Map. [online] Available at: http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/189/38357.html [Accessed: 13 Mar 2014]. Golan, G. and Salem, W. 2013. Non-State Actors in the Middle East. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Levine, M., Taylor, P. J. and Best, R. 2011. Third Parties, Violence, and Conflict Resolution The Role of Group Size and Collective Action in the Microregulation of Violence.Psychological Science, 22 (3), pp. 406–412. Levy, M. P. 2012. The Palestinian-Israeli Conflcit: The Way Forward. Mason, R. 2013. The Price of Peace: A Reevaluation of the Economic Dimension in the Middle East Peace Process. The Middle East Journal, 67 (3), pp. 405–425. Miall, H., Ramsbotham, O. and Woodhouse, T. 1999. Contemporary conflict resolution. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press. Migdalovitz, C. 2004. The Middle East Peace Talks. Milton-Edwards, B. 2004. Elusive ingredient: Hamas and the peace process. JSTOR. Rioux, J. 2003. Third Party Interventions in International Conflicts: Theory and Evidence. Said, E. W. 2004. From Oslo to Iraq and the road map. New York: Pantheon Books. Schanzer, J. 2012. State of failure. Shiqa?qi?, K. 2006. Willing to compromise. Washington, DC: U.S. Institute of Peace. Tocci, N. 2013. The Middle East Quartet and (In) effective Multilateralism. The Middle East Journal, 67 (1), pp. 29–44. Tristam, P. 2014. Bush’s Road Map for Peace in the Middle East, Five Years Later: What’s Been Achieved?. [online] Available at: http://middleeast.about.com/od/israelandpalestine/p/me070911.htm [Accessed: 13 Mar 2014]. Turner, M. and Y. 2011. Creating ‘Partners for Peace’: The Palestinian Authority and the International Statebuilding Agenda. Journal of intervention and statebuilding, 5 (1), pp. 1–21. Van Der Maat, E. 2011. Sleeping hegemons Third-party intervention following territorial integrity transgressions. Journal of Peace Research, 48 (2), pp. 201–215. Wallensteen, P. 2002. Understanding conflict resolution. London: SAGE Publications. Williams, P. and Jannotti Pecci, F. 2012. Earned sovereignty: bridging the gap between sovereignty and self-determination. Wohl and Er, S. B. 2001. A theory of third-party intervention in disputes in international politics.

Managing Business Marketing Channels & E-Commerce Assignment

Managing Business Marketing Channels & E-Commerce - Assignment Example ver, they need to solve any conflict that may arise during the process of delivering goods to the customer as well as evaluate their performance and reward those who meet the set goals. The two types of channels are the direct where the manufacturer performs all the marketing functions and the indirect channel where the intermediaries are involved to handle the products (Dent, 2011). Today, technology has changed the world, especially when communicating. Information is passed from person to another instantly. To beat the competition, most organizations use the internet to market and advertise their products. They are also able to pass information to customers through email. In addition, customers are able to go online to purchase and pay for goods. In addition, organizations that use the internet to process information and deliver capabilities, both internally and externally are in a better position to compete in the market. Today, most organizations use e-commerce to speed up and automate a company’s internal processes, provide useful information to customers about the products as well as provide timely and efficient solutions to customers. Some of the advantages of using the internet include the reduction of transaction costs, the integration of the distribution of goods, and a wider accessibility to the global

America and the Second World War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

America and the Second World War - Essay Example They also honor the people who leave legacies through being good at doing something or achieving a great feat in their lifetimes. This kind of lifestyle has largely remained unchanged especially for the German people hence views about them will always remain same (Burgan, 55). The real surprise is the fact that an individual in this society who has done so much and achieved great things ends up living his sunset years in a manner that does not befit a person of his caliber which is directly influenced by the leadership in place. I would pursue the following themes: Education, Politics, Inter-cultural relations, and Family Unit and Socio-cultural activities. The most important thing I have learned from this course is that if anyone obliges him or herself to work hard, then definitely they will end up successful. Anyone who is illustrious is bound to succeed. It does not matter what a personal background or start point is, if they work hard then surely they will succeed in anything they set their minds. The context here is about an American president by the name Mr. Woodraw Wilsons. During campaigns for the presidency of the United States of America, he had used the aspect of not getting America involved in world wars as his main bait for winning re-election, which he did narrowly. Then after that, he changes his policy. He felt that if America wanted to have a greater say in world matters, then it had to involve itself in war and through this get as many allies as possible. And as such President Wilsons, in an effort to make America not to remain neutral in a world war, made a proclamation of May 1917 before Congress and for a declaration of war to be made on the Germans (Burgan, 45). In my opinion, the Zimmermann telegram was not a valid reason for getting into war but was simply a pretext.

Community development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Community development - Research Paper Example Data collection methods will include questionnaires and interviews. It is hypothesized that there are visible community development projects in Bangladesh that can be credited to the efforts of Grameen Bank. Additionally, it is hypothesized that there are women who have improved their lives due to empowerment by Grameen Bank. The outcome of this study will have implications on community development workers and agencies (Osmani 695). Since its inception in 1983, Grameen Bank has used an unconventional mode of lending different from other banks by eliminating the need for collateral. The bank has replaced the need for collateral with accountability, mutual trust, supervision, creativity, and participation. The emphasis of the bank is on education and economic empowerment of the poor people who live in the rural areas of Bangladesh. The objective of this study is to document the experience of Grameen Bank in community development and women empowerment in Bangladesh (Mahmud 49). The problems of poverty and women oppression are concerns shared worldwide and different groups and institutions address them in unique ways. Grameen Bank approaches community development and women empowerment from the rural parts of Bangladesh using collateral-free lending. Studies have expressed their admiration for Grameen Bank’s approach to these two concerns. However, prior studies do not provide alternatives to how the bank can ensure that all women remain empowered and that they are not overshadowed by patriarchy and male domination and this is a gap that this study will seek to fill (Mahmud 48). Grammeen Bank started in 1983 from Professor Muhammad Yunus’ idea of providing capital to the poor in Jobra village in Bangladesh. The sight of the poor population of Bangladesh suffering triggered the idea especially in the incidence of the adverse weather conditions of the country (Osmani 696). Famine and poor housing were some

Nursing theory in practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nursing theory in practice - Essay Example The purpose of Orem’s theory relates to the holistic approach to nursing. According to Orem, a human being is someone who â€Å"is an integrated whole composed of an internal physical, psychologic, and social nature with varying degree of self-care ability† (Bridge, Cabell & Herring, 2007). The essence of the theory is that all patients are able to take care of themselves. The role of nursing is this regard is that nursing serves as an art, which allows nurses to provide specialized care to people with disabilities of such a nature that more than usual care is required for fulfilling the daily needs of self-care and to intelligently take part in the delivery of care from the physician to the patient. In Orem’s perspectives the environment can be considered as a collection of various dimensions, which include physical, chemical and biologic features and socioeconomic features. The socioeconomic aspect of the environment primarily encompasses the family and the com munity and includes elements such as gender and age roles, norms, and cultural values. On the other hand, the physical, chemical and biologic features would entail the atmosphere, pollutants, weather conditions and pets amongst other factors (Bridge, Cabell & Herring, 2007). ... However, critics have come to common grounds with respect to the world view of the theory. It is common consensus that Orem’s perspective on the interaction between the person and the world is representative of the reciprocal interaction world view. Orem further regards her world view as an illustration of moderate realism (Bridge, Cabell & Herring, 2007). This entails that human beings are actively involved in an ongoing process of development and are struggling for their self-ideal, along with the owner of absolutely human traits like free will (Banfield, 2008). The theory presents the notion that people are able to maintain their life and well-being by caring for themselves (O’Connell, 2009). Orem classified the needs and requirements of the patients into three groups. These include the universal self-care deficits, developmental self-care deficits and health deviation requisites. The critique of SCDNT ranges from it being explicit and simple to generality. According to Marriner-Tomey and Alligood (2006) the terms that Orem has used in the description of the theory are very precise. The language that has been utilized is in compliance with the language deployed in action theory and philosophy. Moreover, the entire length of the theory conforms to a congruency in the usage of the terminologies. This can be exemplified from the fact that the term self-care has an array of meanings in different contexts. However Orem’s dexterity lies in her ability to precisely put forth a definition of self-care which is not only uniquely presented, but does not conflict with other interpretations of the concept. Critics have also

Briefing Note Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Briefing Note - Essay Example The international legal tenets of self-determination loom large over the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. One of the questions that have long been without a clear answer is whether Palestine is entitled to independence and self determination in an area it deems to be its ancestral homeland. International law does not allow nations to disregard peremptory norms, which are the international embodiment of the principles of justice and fairness (Caplan 12). The democratic principle of self-determination is one of the peremptory norms guarded under international law. In 1918 the British occupied the Palestinian territory and the following year, Palestine came under Class A Mandate. Until that mandate was terminated, it was agreed that the country’s independence would be provisionally recognized. A White Paper was issued in 1939 which formally stated the British Government approval of the formation of an independent Palestinian State in which both Arabs and Jews would â€Å"share in g overnment in such a way as to ensure that the essential interests of each community were safeguarded† (Scobbie, Hibbin and Siegman 4). In 1948, Palestine’s population was made up of 74% Arabs and 26% Jews. It was therefore expected that Palestine would have become an independent state at the end of the Mandate, but this expectation did not materialize. Rather, the State of Israel was proclaimed in 1948. Arab states rejected the formation of Israel and the partition of Palestine, but the rest of the world welcomed the newest nation into the world (Tessler 33). The establishment of an independent Israel nation saw the beginning of an Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has never been resolved to this day. In 1993, the Oslo Peace Accord was signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Antonius 10). The Peace Accord grated Palestinians an interim period of five years of self rule. The main issues covered in the signing of the accord included transfer of power to Palestinians. This transfer of power and responsibilities from Israel to Palestine included control over the West Bank and Gaza (Lubell 3). This was meant to enable Palestinians to control their own affairs. The Accord granted Israel full control of its borders and Jerusalem, which had been one of the areas under contention in the conflicts between the two countries. In the same accord, the PLO formally recognized the right of Israel as a state to exist in peace (Caplan 20). Both countries formally agreed to conduct peace talks so as to end many years of conflict between them. Since 2000, Israeli occupation of the west Bank and Gaza flamed several armed conflicts between the two countries (Antonius 17). In 2008, Israeli troops carried out an offensive against Hamas on the Gaza strip. The offensive finally came to an end after three weeks on January 17, 2009 after Israel and Hamas both announced a ceasefire. During the 3 week offensive 1,300 Palestinians, mostly civilian s lost their lives. 400 of these were children. Another 5000 received injuries. Of these 1800 were children and 800 were women. The Israelis lost 13 people, 3 of whom were civilians. Human lives were not the only ones destroyed in this offensive. Much of the Gaza strip was left in ruins. Thousands were left homeless and without food and water (Scobbie, Hibbin and Siegman 14). The west, and in particular were in full support of Israel’

Organizational Change Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organizational Change - Annotated Bibliography Example Organizations are difficult to change because they are complex systems that are made-up of many different actors. If the organization is going to change from one based on individual effort to one that operates on principles of teamwork and cooperation, some very basic assumptions on the part of each actor must change. Individual team members must stay focused on the goal the entire team is trying to achieve, not just their role in accomplishing the goal. Teams also need to have new types of leadership that is capable of communicating and reiterating the team goals to individuals and the team as a whole. Finally, all the members of a team need to recognize that staying in the same routines and same modes of work makes employees very comfortable, but also results in the same unsatisfactory results. Change is not something to fear, even though it may be uncomfortable for a while. Working as a team is not something that can be treated as a fad or as an objective of senior management that isn’t really workable. Complex work requires the teaming of disparate employees in collaborative and cooperative roles in order to achieve a high degree of success. This change from individual effort to team effort is one of the greatest challenges facing organizations today. Establishing malleable and dynamic teams is only possible is sound principles of organizational change are implemented. The authors of this article are Amy Thurlow PhD and Jean Helms Mills PhD. In this article they argue that controlling organizational language during a period of change is a key tactic used by leadership to bring about desired results. The problem with this control is that it may inhibit the sensemaking ability of those most affected by the change. The focus of this article is actually on professionals that come in from the outside to help organizations change. This is a decidedly different approach from implementing change in-house because much

Why do Juveniles Runaway Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Why do Juveniles Runaway - Essay Example Juveniles are the persons not so old; simply they are the minor person included in crimes. The reason for their runway might be different but mainly these are due to lack of attention, abused, abandoned and most of all they are neglected by the family. Some authors stated the cause of runaway is integration problems holding many factor. The runaway of such youth causes great affect on the social and national environment. The family of such youth specially faces mantel torture, rude behavior and tough life a head in their social circle. The causes for such juveniles runaway might be as: Doctor Siegel1 in his books state that usually the youth belongs to broken family involve themselves in such act. The philosophers usually includes in the review that such youth are neglected and thus lack ethics, norms and values that can help in making their life successful. The reason for lacking in ethics is the attention they need while their grooming. The parents remain no more with each other and this cause more on their babies. The youth belongs to broken family fails to get enough training from their elders. Some time it is noticed that though they hold norms but usually these activities are taken by these youth in order to show their elders that they want attention. Have you ever noticed small child behaving differently in front of his/her parents You must noticed that the child want that every one should notice him/her. The same is the reason for such youth. Such teenagers use to behave differently in order to get enough attention, what they really want. Doctor Robert L. Buckwalter2 wrote that usually the community of such young child didn't hold nice friends and locality, simply the term is "peer pressure". The eastern countries usually hold such problems. In South East Asian countries the under ground crimes has many helpers, these are trying to spreading such crimes in the country, the only reason is to make the economy weak. These social circle matters a lot. When the youth use to move with such negative conduct people this causes great affect on the youth. Usually this may be due to the college or university gang. Such gangs attract many youth and trying to produce violence. Therefore, the legal issues of the university and of other community must be so strong that it should help in controlling such violence. Within other causes, the drug use is the major reason of this crime. The drug makes the person unconscious and causes many problems. Have you ever noticed many youth gangs producing violence at world cup game of football The only reason is that these youth gangs are drugged. Due to this the person becomes unconscious and become aggressive if the outcomes didn't come according to him/her. They are drugged due to many reason, either they took it as adventurous or get in habit due to bad community. Whatever the reason is, the drug is the major cause of juvenile's runaway especially in the western countries where most of the youth drugged due to their habit or took it mostly as an adventurous hobby. Juvenile's runaway is