When are electoral boycotts successful in inducing regime change

Introduction Conventionally, election is an official process where residents from a given area, country, or region decide on an individual to represent them or hold a public office.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on When are electoral boycotts successful in inducing regime change? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Precisely, to elect means ‘to choose or make a decision’. It is the standard mechanism through which contemporary democracy has been exercised since 17th century. This paper discerns situations where electoral boycotts can successfully induce regime change. It focuses on specific time period (1990-2002) with particular countries serving as critical examples. Usually, elections have been used to choose representatives in the legislative assembly, executive committee, judiciary, and the local government. Elections are perceived as democratic way of selecting preferred leaders. Evidently , leaders and electoral systems have undergone various reforms to improve fairness. However, elections in various countries and democracies have experienced difficulties. Interference in the electoral process by the incumbent governments has been a major reason for elections not meeting the international standards fostering free and fair elections (Lindberg 77). Dictatorial leaders have the tendency of engaging state machinery such as the police and judiciary to retain power when their terms are supposed to end.Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The majority rule has been used frequently to prevent shift in the poise of power from one group to another in the legislative assembly. Additionally, non-governmental groups like human right groups possess a considerable influence in elections. This occurs either through violence, intimidations, or corruption. These actions can easily result in inappropriate casting or counting of votes. Concurrently, difficulties in the election process can stem from the electorate being poorly informed about the candidates or about issues that affect them. This is likely to occur where there is inadequate press freedom due to tight state control. The rules can also at times be unfair to opposition candidates as they may be excluded from eligibility for an office. These conditions have promoted the mentioned electoral boycotts by the opposition groups. The individuals in power may also interfere in the election process by assassinating opposition candidates, making campaigns illegal. They can also intimidate the electorate with violence. Precisely, these difficulties, together with political, social, legislative, and economic factors have (in many cases) led to election boycotts. Electoral Boycotts An election boycott occurs when a section of the voters refuse to vote during an electoral process. Electoral boycott is normally u sed as a way to show disapproval where the electorate feels that the system is biased or there is no legitimacy in the election process (Huntington 53). Political parties and individuals are more likely to boycott elections so as to protest government’s electoral policies hoping that the elections will be declared illegitimate when the voters do not participate in voting. However, this method of electoral protest can be unsuccessful.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on When are electoral boycotts successful in inducing regime change? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper seeks to understand the cases when electoral boycotts are successful in inducing regime change. As indicated earlier, it mainly focuses on the role that opposition parties play in elections in a country under authoritarian rule. It also looks into the possibilities of legitimization and institutionalization of democratic electi ons. Additionally, it looks into the factors that enable some boycotts to succeed while others fail in attaining their desired objectives thus fail to induce regime change. While providing examples of countries, it further includes the types of boycotts and the consequences of boycotting elections. The use of violence during a major electoral boycott is one of the ways through which regime change can be successfully induced. This is usually done in cases where the opposition has the resources to stage rebellion against the incumbent and wish to make it impossible for the incumbent to continue staying in power. For example, this type of boycott took place in Ivory Coast in 1995 and in Indonesia in 1997 general elections. Background Information Generally, electoral boycotts have been seen and experienced in both democratic and non-democratic countries. However, historical evidence shows that electoral boycotts are more prevalent in authoritarian regimes mainly because of the intrinsic proposition of the voter or political party dissatisfaction with the electoral process.Advertising Looking for research paper on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The protest through boycotts can take the form of individual voters protesting or political parties or party coalition protesting with the aim of influencing some regime change (Levitsky Way 138). Electoral boycotting is more often than not a response to a broad belief that some kind of illegitimate or deceitful action might happen or will happen during the electoral process. This might follow perceptions of irregularity within the political or public system. The irregularity may be ethnic, social, economic, or even religious biasness against some contenders for a political post or parties or due to a belief that the electoral body lacks legitimacy. Electoral boycotting is usually considered to be undemocratic as it involves bypass of a democratic process. However, it is usually acceptable in situations where the election is not expected to be fair. The fact that electoral boycotting is justified in certain situation does not mean that they usually succeed to achieve their goals. T he strategies used to boycott elections have at times proved to be disastrous to the individuals who or parties that boycott the elections and more often than not leads to further movement away from democracy. The strategies used by parties to boycott elections are important in determining their possibility of succeeding in transformation of the current electoral process that is unfair or biased so that it becomes more competitive (Schedler 193). The results of electoral boycotts are also influenced by the intentions of the opposition parties, their boycott strategies, and the existing political and electoral structures. The feeling of the opposition group that they lack the ability to attain their desired political goal through legitimate means may push them to boycott the election. There is also the possibility that the opposition candidates may not want to bring a political change that is democratic but actually they may boycott so as to change the electoral rules to enable them make good upcoming opportunities for themselves. Therefore, the possibilities and results of electoral boycotts depends highly on the intentions that the opposition parties, the strategies adopted to boycott and the already existing political and electoral structures within the electoral autocracy that sections of the public must defeat so as to induce regime change. Common Causes of Electoral Boycotts Generally, electoral boycotts usually occur due to the opposition’s dissatisfaction with the ruling regime, dissatisfaction with the electoral system, and (to some extent) opposition’s intention to discredit the legitimacy of the current regime. Boycotting elections might thus induce changes in the regime by unbalancing the electoral system. Elections usually enforce democracy by giving the citizens opportunity choose their leaders. Thus, it gives the citizens an opportunity to rebel if the leader fails to rule appropriately and looses the trust that had been placed upon him or her. The idea of coordination of election also provides a framework to understand why the opposition may undertake electoral boycott. The information that the public normally receive about the performance of individual in power might be limited. Normally, this leads to the problem of enforcing accountability of the ruler. This usually leads to weak threats of rebellion and thus reduces the possibility of the leader acting in the interest of the public. Elections, however, solves this problem by bringing ways through which the public can change the ruler. The first method is when the ruler calls for an election. The votes that the ruler receives show his or her performance. The other way is to overthrow the ruler if he or she fails to call for an election and be replaced by another person. On the other hand, the people may decide to accept that there will not be an election and accept to be under a dictator. If the ruler calls for an election and fails to win, he or she is ex pected to hand over power. However, if the ruler fails to win and refuses to hand over, the people have an opportunity to forcefully remove the leader (Ellis, Stephen Kessel 98). The ruler can commit electoral fraud and go undetected and this distorts the results. If this goes undetected and the ruler is declared the winner, then it will be difficult to remove him or her from power except through boycott. The electorate usually benefit whenever the elections are not biased and are free. If the elections are biased, the voters can benefit if the opposition decide to rebel and seek restoration of accountability. The need of the opposition to restore accountability in the political and electoral system may take the form of boycotts. Boycotts are also due to elevated levels of unfairness in the electoral process. An example is in Azerbaijan in the 1998 and 2000 elections where legislations that ensured the incumbent being advantaged during the electoral process were made. The governmen t in Azerbaijan tried to get control of the body that managed the electoral process. Strategies Used By Authoritarian Regimes to Maintain Power Authoritarian regimes at times depend on the electoral structures to survive and continue their rule. This usually depends on the social, political, economic, and ethnic factors of the country. These features of a country create a variety of opportunities for subversion rules that ensures democracy. Institutional arrangements are usually used to get support from the economic elites in efforts to persuade the masses to participate and give support to the authoritarian regime (Bunce Sharon 137). A single party system where there are many candidates who compete for an office is usually effective in achieving this objective. It usually pleases the masses by creation of a pretense of democracy through the offer of possibility of regime change through elections. The ruling elite often offer concessions to the business people or the economic elite s so that they participate in the political platform created by the authoritarian regime. Such concessions entice cooperation of the economic elites and allow flexibility in the political and electoral structure. The authoritarian regimes usually have to put certain checks so as to maintain power for example making defection from the party a criminal offense and punishable through restraints by the constitution (Ezrow Frantz 174). This shows that the authoritarian regimes are also usually involved in the manipulation of the constitution to suit their desired goals. The other strategy that an authoritarian regime can put in place to ensure survival is putting in place mechanisms that ensure that the economic elites do not acquire too much wealth. These methods enable the creation of a consolidated and strong regime with a weak and easily manipulated opposition, a good public support, and participation by the masses in the electoral process. This can help the authoritarian regime sur vive. The leaders in an authoritarian regime also use the electoral process to solve problems that allow them stay in power. Electoral boycotts and processes allow opposition parties usually to defeat a repressive regime through noble and peaceful means. Election functions as good way through which an authoritarian regime can exercise its power and avoid political and administrative competition. It provides a reason to align the elites with the regime and provides an opportunity to allow candidates run for elective posts as they are provided with winning opportunities (Ezrow Frantz 174). The regime organizes the electoral designs in ways that enables them achieve their desired goals, the main one being survival of the regime. A good example of how a regime ensured survival through the electoral process is in China. The Chinese government used a decentralization technique in order to stimulate economic growth. This technique began by separating the local and national election. Corru ption was monitored and the participation of the youth was stimulated by delegation of power to the local officials. However, the people at village level could not elect national leaders. This was because the regime feared that elections in the large cities could not be easily monitored and controlled as it wished. The elections were therefore a way for the government to enact its policies and also survive. The election enabled the government to monitor corruption, ensure youth participation and also maintain much control and authority (Lucas 56). The election at village level was organized in a way that competition was possible, involvement was also possible, and regime ideology was promoted. Anybody could vote or vie for a position and the candidates could be of other parties other than the Communist Party. This electoral structure allowed for independent candidates to vie and the villagers had a feeling that they had more choice. However, once the independent candidates reached h igher positions, they were recruited to the Communist Party so as to consolidate ideologies. In the end, election was merely a faà §ade of democracy, appealing the masses and politicians. Some people boycotted the elections due to varying reasons. Similarly, it enabled the regime to maintain power. This indicates how electoral boycott can actually induce regime change. This Chinese method can be contrasted with the nationalist systems of elections in which elites invest in the regime to ensure its survival. This method usually gives election winners a sense of accomplishment. Candidates usually invest in the regime by using their own resources to achieve popularity. This benefits the regime as it does not use its resources to back candidates. The candidates on the other hand can use and benefit from the states machinery and the legislative seat they win benefits them later. The high costs used in the campaigns are outweighed by the gains of being in the legislative assembly. This m ethod also ensures authoritarian regimes survival by provision of incentives for the economic elite. Another method that authoritarian regimes ensure survival is through repression. Opposition parties at times form coalitions so as to defeat the incumbent regime. Concurrently, they can organize to boycott elections in order to attain some regime change if the incumbent government cannot handover power despite losing elections. The opposition parties, however, usually experience difficulties in their quest to form coalitions due to ideology. However, at times it is the ruling party that makes it difficult for the opposition to form coalition. The electoral system under a repressive regime can restrict opposition’s ability to form coalition through institutions (Bunce Sharon 137). This technique is effective in enabling regime survival through repression and electoral fraud but it is likely to lead to regime’s resentment and may lead to protests and revolutions. Finally , the use of international monitors as overseers of elections is another strategy used to ensure survival of authoritarian regime. Conversely, it can enhance electoral boycott in case it realizes some mischief in the election processes assumed in the concerned country. International monitoring of the election can legitimize an authoritarian regime even though it serves as a way of promoting democracy. Presence of international monitors is seen as increased confidence in the processes of election and reduction in electoral fraud. This assists the repressive regime receive endorsement domestically and internationally. This ensures the continuity in the authoritarian rule and also support. However, such strategies usually lead to boycotts at times and the boycotters can be either individuals or political parties not participating in the election process. Election Boycotts and Opposition’s Participation in Election There are instances when the opposition parties decide to partici pate in the electoral processes even when the chances of the election being free and fair are to the very minimum. Boycotts too may take place even when the election is relatively fair with the purpose of discrediting the ruling regime if the opposition feels it is likely to lose the race (Sharp 93). The opposition’s participation in an election is calculated or checked through either total boycotts, partial boycotts and all contest. Total boycotts is when one of the actual opposing parties participate in the elections while partial boycotts refer to when some of the opposition parties, but not all, participate in the elections. The term all contest is used when all the political parties participate in the elections. Boycotts in various countries have also suggested that opposition parties are likely to unite in a boycott than to unite and face the incumbent in an election. However, the opposition parties usually have disunity even when they decide to boycott and that is why partial boycotts are more prevalent than total boycotts. In most cases, some of the opposition parties unite in boycott, but not all of them. The behavior of the opposition parties during the elections brings about the issue of the significance of their participation in an election. The participation of opposition parties in an election is a matter that should be studied so as to know the benefits and to understand the underlying factors that may force boycotts. There are two interrelated reasons why the study of the importance of the opposition’s participation is important. The first reason concerns the importance of participation from democracy’s point of view while the second deals with the opposition party’s behavior under authoritarian electoral system and the role they play in directing such regimes in the direction of democracy (Sharp 47). Autonomy is democracy’s real value and thus the independence of a people to rule the country. There must be so me form of governance for any form of political grouping to make inclusive decisions for the members. In a democratic system, that simply means people’s representation to the legislative, executive and local government. Participation in elections and competitive nature of elections are organized ways to enable the existence of democracy in the most contemporary form. Therefore, the primary importance of self-government relates directly to the idea of equal opportunity of participating in politics and elections and also to the idea that political competition is a way of promoting democracy. For the people of a particular nation to participate in an election that ensures that they exercise their sovereignty there has to be a choice. Political opposition provides that choice that ensures that the people exercise their right to rule indirectly via representation. Consequently, the participation of opposition parties in electoral process is a requirement for political competition which is vital to the attainment of self-governance and democracy. The Major Types of Election Boycotts Election boycotts can be conceptualized in two ways. The difference between the major and minor elections boycotts relates to the magnitude and actions of the boycotting political groups. The second difference in boycotts involves the ways in which the boycotters aim at attaining their desired goals. The first method of differentiating major and minor elections boycotts is all about numbers. If an election boycott involves all the major or majority of the opposition parties then it is considered to be a major election boycott (Lindberg 235). However, it is possible for one main political party to boycott an election and in effect constitute a major political boycott. There are cases in which a political group may team up with minor parties and boycott together. The major electoral boycotts that are successful are those in which the opposition political parties join forces and beco me a single unified group (Lewis 146). However, these are usually rare since most opposition parties find it difficult to come together to form a unified front due to various factors such as ideological differences. In some cases, even when the main opposition party boycotts the election, smaller parties are likely to participate in the election and in most cases, they support the incumbent regime. Additionally, opposition parties that boycott elections usually tend to be heterogeneous and are always ready to accommodate other parties. Minor electoral boycotts on the other hand are usually pushed by the smaller political parties which in most cases do not represent majority of the opposition. The political parties in minor boycotts are usually homogenous and do have strong ties to some form of orientation and share common ideologies. Additionally, in most cases they represent the minority in the country. Therefore, major electoral boycotts are mainly initiated by large opposition po litical parties while the minor boycotts are launched by smaller opposition parties. Major election boycotters can pursue objectives that are for the general public since they are large. Their sizes enable them to rationalize the benefit. This is in contrast to the minor political boycotts which in most cases go after more specific and private goals due to their small sizes and their homogenous composition (Lindberg 235). The other way in which election boycotts vary has to do with the intention of the boycotters attempts to delegitimize the regime that is currently in power often hoping that if the incumbent losses legitimacy, then they will get more support for their cause. This type of boycott is usually non-violent in nature since the boycotting group usually attempt to appeal to the sympathy of the masses and the international community. The Consequences of Boycotts The differences between the major and minor political and electoral boycotts took in to consideration the magnitu de of the boycott and the capacity of the boycotting group to engage in violence. It is therefore important to know the short-term and long-term consequences of such boycotts. The major boycotts are usually protests against the regime’s electoral fraudulent activities and biasness in elections. These issues also affect the entities that promote democracy in the third world countries and emphasize the electoral process as a vital activity in the process of building democracy. These, therefore, show coincidence in the interests of the two groups. However, there is the question of how boycotts fit in the process of democratization. In the short term, major boycotts do not show any positive results for democracy. Actually, they challenge democracy as there is no opposition to the ruler. Additionally, major boycotts usually lead to fewer voters casting the ballot meaning that democracy is not attained. The major boycotts also increase the possibility of some kind of violence that is related to the election. Election boycott to some extent is usually used as an indicator that the election has actually failed. Some of the effects of boycotts are violence and rebellions, loss of confidence in the political structures and pressures from the international community. Boycotts can also lead to changes in the regimes and rise to democracy. Situations in Which Electoral Boycott Are Successful In Inducing Regime Change As discussed earlier, boycotts (in most cases) occur when opposition parties and masses are dissatisfied with the electoral system that a regime has put in place. Concurrently, they can disagree with the policies established and embraced by the regime. The regimes also have mechanisms that ensure their stay in power is enabled. They have the states resources to for survival. Therefore, there are certain conditions that must exist to ensure successful electoral boycotts by the opposition parties. One of the factors that can enable the success of an elect ion boycott is the magnitude or size of the boycotting group. A large opposition is able to initiate a major boycott and this can help the opposition to achieve its goals. For example, in Bangladesh, the two major parties involved in political competition presently were established as opposition parties and participated in the general election. The Awami League was established when Bangladesh was a section of the Pakistan. One of the major reasons for the formation of The Awami League was to oppose Pakistani rule of Bangladesh. The Awami League boycotted the Bangladesh general elections in the year 1996 as an opposition group. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which was in power in 1996 had participated in a 1988 election boycott (Taylor 188). The BNP was formed in the 1970s to oppose a previous Awami League regime that had become repressive and authoritarian in nature. The successes that these two parties had had in inducing regime change through electoral boycotts stem from the fact that the boycotts were major and involved a large number of people. The other way through which electoral boycotts can induce regime change is by the boycotters appealing to the masses and trying to appear sympathetic to the masses and the international community. This method is usually used when the boycotters aim at delegitimizing the regime in power. The opposition using this strategy usually hopes that the regime in power will lose legitimacy and will attract people to support their goals. This type of boycott is usually non-violent as it is supposed to be one that makes the boycotters appear sympathetic. In India, Gandhi used this boycott method to oppose the British colonial rule and succeeded (Taylor 112). The implementers of this boycott method usually do not want to use violence or do not have the capacity to employ violence in their actions. The other way through which electoral boycotts can lead to regime change successfully is through the accompaniment of a majo r boycott with violence to the extent that the incumbent regime finds it impossible to continue staying in power. Combination of major boycott with violence usually aims at threatening the ruling party with the possibility of rebellions in the future. Boycotts launched by various paramilitary groupings usually take this form and have often led to fall of many regimes (Sawer 11). The electoral boycotts that take this form are usually viewed to be launched by groups that have resources and in most cases are able to fight with the regime’s military and the police. A major political boycott took place in Cote d’ Ivory in 1995 and it was accompanied with lots of violence. During the boycotts, clashes took place between the supporters of the opposition leader and government forces. Another example where a major election boycott is accompanied with violence to induce regime change is in the Indonesian election of 1997. The supporters of the opposition rioted and stormed vario us offices and houses of the economic elites and were also involved in murder, looting and arson. Boycotts can be absolute or partial depending on the situation. Concurrently, elections can also be major or minor depending on their magnitude. Participation in elections is important as it is a way of promoting democracy. Participation is also important even in an authoritative regime as it directs such a regime towards democracy. The magnitude or the size of an electoral boycott is one of the factors that enable successful inducement of regime change through the concerned boycott. Such trends can be achieved if the electoral boycott is major. Usually, it is important to agree that major political parties opposing incumbent regimes can easily induce electoral boycott. This is what happened in Bangladesh where the present leading political parties began as opposition parties and were able to change regimes through boycotts. Conclusion A boycott occurs when voters refuse to vote in an e lection. They are normally used to show dissatisfaction in the current regime. The opposition political parties and individuals are likely to boycott elections as a way of protesting the ruling regime’s policies with the hope that the elections will be declared illegitimate and a regime change might be induced. Evidently, this has occurred in numerous countries with an ultimate change in regimes. At times, electoral boycotts can be successful in enforcing regime change and there are conditions that must be in place to enable this take place. This considers the tactics that authoritarian regimes use to retain power. There are different causes of electoral boycotts and the importance of the opposition’s participation in the electoral process. Additionally, this paper discerned the consequences of electoral boycotts and more importantly, circumstances under which electoral boycotts can lead to successful inducement of regime changes. The methods that authoritarian regimes use to ensure their continued stay in power include the manipulation of the electoral process, provision of incentives to the economic elites, and repression of the opposition parties. Additionally, they can create a faà §ade of democracy to please the masses and make opposition and defection illegal. These might cause electoral boycotts with an ultimate change in regime as evident in numerous countries mentioned earlier. Political parties that oppose the ruling party can also try and appeal to the masses so as to appear sympathetic and gain support domestically and internationally. Usually, this is done so that in case they succeed; they can get more political support from the domestic and international audiences who are likely to put pressure on the incumbent party. In this way, the party can get a platform to the leadership position of the country. This is the method that Gandhi of India used to oppose the British rule during the colonial period even though it is not common. Th is method is usually non-violent. Usually, it targets the audience. The use of violence during a major electoral boycott is another way through which regime change can be successfully induced. As indicated earlier, this situation is exemplified by Ivory Coast and Indonesia in 1995 and 1997 respectively. Works Cited Bunce, Valerie and Sharon Wolchik. Defeating Authoritarian Leaders in Postcommunist Countries. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print. Ellis, Stephen and Ineke Kessel. Movers and Shakers: Social Movements in Africa. Leiden: Brill, 2009. Print. Ezrow, Natasha, and Erica Frantz. Dictators and Dictatorships: Understanding Authoritarian Regimes and Their Leaders. New York, NY: Continuum, 2011. Print. Huntington, Samuel. The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century. Norman, OK: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, 1993. Print. Levitsky, Steven, and Lucan Way. Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes After the Cold War. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print. Lewis, Paul. Authoritarian Regimes in Latin America: Dictators, Despots, and Tyrants. Lanham, MD: Rowman Littlefield, 2006. Print. Lindberg, Staffan. Democracy and Elections in Africa. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006. Print. Lucas, Russell. Institutions and the Politics of Survival in Jordan: Domestic Responses to External Challenges, 1988-2001. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2005. Print. Sawer, Marian. Elections: Full, Free Fair. Annandale: Federation Press, 2001. Print. Schedler, Andreas. Electoral Authoritarianism: The Dynamics of Unfree Competition. Boulder: Rienner, 2006. Print. Sharp, Gene. The Politics of Nonviolent Action. Boston, MA: Sargent Publisher, 1973. Print. Taylor, Robert. The Politics of Elections in Southeast Asia. Cambridge: Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 1996. Print. This research paper on When are electoral boycotts successful in inducing regime change? was written and submitted by user Finley Norton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sickle cell and Anemia

Sickle cell and Anemia Introduction The essay is an in depth critical examination-a quantitative critique of two article based on sickle cell and anemia titled â€Å"Development and Evaluation of a Sickle Cell Disease Assessment Instrument† and â€Å"Iron Deficiency Anemia: Following Prenatal Nutrition Interventions† written by Day Sara and Leblanc Caroline et al published in 2004 and 2007 respectively. It has been noted with concern that it is important for researchers and scholars to be capable to critically analyze studies done by others (Beth, 2010). This is one way of learning regarding research works for them to be able to better their knowledge on the same.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sickle cell and Anemia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Development and Evaluation of a Sickle Cell Disease Assessment Instrument It is worth to note that although the research question for the article written by Day S. is not stated under a subheading, it is evident that there are two research question that guided the study; regarding developing a sickle cell disease assessment instrument and evaluation of the instrument’s reliability and validity. Similarly another question is what the characteristic or critical attributes of sickle cell are. The study employs a qualitative study approach Day, S. (2004). The reason being that the information generated is on a particular case under study, Assessment Instrument for sickle cell anemia. It is a requirement that a research study have both independent and dependent variable. For the article, independent variables are all those critical attributes being studied and include mean hemoglobin, mean leukocyte count, incident of pain requiring emergency room visit and hospitalization and date of occurrence, incident of dactylitis and date of occurrence and incidence of acute chest syndrome and date of occurrence. The dependent variable in this study was sickle cell anemia. Similarly, the article clearly indicates conceptual definition of independent variables and these variables include; dactylitis, acute chest syndrome, date of occurrence, pain events, leukocyte count and hemoglobin. Additionally, Day Sara manages to provide the readers with a conceptual definition of the dependent variable which is the succinct definition of sickle cell. Readers are made aware of the possible courses of action to be taken and similarly the approach used by the researcher to arrive at the problem of the study. It is worth noting that the conceptual definition has made it possible for the author to easily link the variables under study (Day, 2004). All the conceptual definition of both independent and dependent variables has made the author to easily communicate to the varied audiences concerning the results obtained in the research. It is also possible for other scholars to replicate what has been done in the article. Research ethics demand that authors shoul d clearly indicate operational definition of both independent and dependent variable they are studying to avoid confusion in communication. The author has gone an extra mile by not only defining the variables in her study but also explaining them in details. This helps address the issue of confusion in communication as well as making it possible for other scholars to replicate the procedure. This is attributed to the fact that the article has a clear explanation of how the independent variables were arrived at and the measurement of validity and reliability (Burns Grove, 2003).Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A close examination of the article clearly indicates that there are a number of relationships studied. For instance, having an accurate assessment instrument to detect early high-risks signs of sickle cell anemia and reduction in the rates of mortality and morbi dity is evident. Another relationship is high-risk of attributes and severe cases of sickle cell. The relationship makes the reader appreciate the importance of the study. Similarly, as pointed out by Beth, 2010 such knowledge make the relevant stakeholders especially nurses, parents and medics to take necessary steps in saving the lives of children suffering from the disorder. It also gives room to other scholars to carry out research on the same line of reasoning. The three extraneous variables that the author could examine and impact on the outcome are the following; education level and experience of nurses, gender of the children under study and reticulocyte count. Carrying out reticulocyte count would have influence the author in documenting whether anemia is cause by fewer red blood cell or greater loss the red blood cell (Day, 2004). Similarly, it could help establish whether anemia treatment is really working. The education level and experience of nurses could impact on the values attained when testing validity and reliability. It has been noted that SS/SÃŽ ²0 individuals had a decrease in steady-state SpO2 and influenced among other factors gender of the victims. The author concluded that although the efforts to predict children/infants suffering from sickle cell help in initiating a timely medication of the disorder, there is dire need to have in place an assessment instrument that will accurately assess the infants before referring them to therapies that do not have risks. This is vital in reducing the rates of children succumbing to the disorder later in life (Polit Beck, 2007). Iron Deficiency Anemia: Following Prenatal Nutrition Interventions Article two is a research conducted to study iron deficiency anemia prevalence by following prenatal nutritional interventions. Despite the fact that the authors did not in a succinct manner states the research questions and hypotheses, a close examination of the research make the reader easily come up with two major research questions; these revolves around how prevalent is iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women and infant from a low-income background and what are the major/common factors for development of iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women (Leblanc, et al. 2007). In my view, the research question suits the problem and readers can be able to with ease establish them. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative approach. This is attributed to the fact that the study generated both numeric and non-numeric data that help in arriving at the conclusion. The use of this study approach has made the authors come up with comprehensive and authentic conclusion as well as recommendations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sickle cell and Anemia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The authors of the article did come up with a number of independent variables. These include; iron deficiency anemia and major common ris ks factors for development of iron deficiency anemia, women education, family status, ethnicity and social economic status. Similarly there are a set of dependent variables that the authors have brought out clearly and include hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity and transferring saturation (Leblanc, et al. 2007) Dependent variable are those attributes in research that are affected by independent variable during a study while independent variables are attributes or factors that can be varied or manipulated during a study. From a close examination of the whole study, there is no indication of conceptual definition of dependent variables. However, the authors did manage to list them iron deficiency anemia and major common risks factors for development of iron deficiency anemia, women education, family status, ethnicity and social economic status. Similarly there are a set of dependent variables that the authors have brought out c learly and include hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity and transferring saturation (Leblanc, et al. 2007). On the same note, there is some evidence of conceptual definition of dependent variables. This has made it possible for readers to be aware of the possible courses of action to be taken and similarly the approach used by the researcher from developing research problem to conclusion. Strictly speaking, the authors did mention the various dependent and independent variables but have not fully defined the variables in a succinct manner. It is worth to bear in mind that studies that depict a clear operational definition of both independent and dependent variable are easy to be replicated by others and there is no or minimal confusion during communication (Polit Beck, 2007). For this reason, the study lack adequate operational definition leaving some audiences with difficulties in trying to gasp the content of the study. Howe ver, the slight operational definition especially in terms of methodology can make the study procedures to be replicated with ease. Throughout the research, there is clear evidence that a number of relationships were studied. For example, the relationships between IDA prevalence and breastfeeding, social-economic status of women and age to mention but a few were discussed (Leblanc, et al. 2007). The relationships findings are what guided the authors in arriving to the conclusions.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although it is true that a research need to set its delimitations by defining the variables to be studied, this research did have the potential of including the following extraneous variables; previous participation of the women in Early Childhood Initiative program, family history of the women concerning IDA and education level and experience of the nutritionists. It is evident that mother who did participate in previous ECI program if incorporated in the study will impact on the results and eventually the conclusion (Burns Grove, 2003). On the same note, women who had IDA history in their family tree would also give insight on the results obtained. With regards to level of education and experience of nutritionist, those with higher level of education and longer years of experience would help generate more accurate information as compared to those with lower or same level of education but with minimal years of experience. According to Leblanc, et al. 2007 it is established that an emia prevalence in women and infant from a lower low income background was similar with that of the same women and infant from a higher income background. Similarly, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in infant is analogous to what has been found in the groups of high risks. They contend that there is need to have in place effective mechanisms in place to curb the problem especially in the groups deemed susceptible. References Beth, L. (2010). â€Å"Guidelines for Critique of Research Reports†. Web. Burns, N. Grove, S. (2003). Understanding Nursing Research. New York: Blackwell Publishing. Day, S. (2004). â€Å"Development and Evaluation of a Sickle Cell Disease Assessment Instrument† Pediatric Nursing. 30(6): 1-9. Leblanc, et al. (2007). â€Å"Iron Deficiency Anemia: Following Prenatal Nutrition Interventions† Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. 68(4):222-225. Polit, F. Beck, C. (2007). Essentials of Nursing Research. Baltimore: Lippinco tt.

The Meaning of Social Order in Sociology

The Meaning of Social Order in Sociology Social order is a fundamental concept in sociology that refers to the way in which the various components of society- social structures and institutions, social relations, social interactions and behavior, and cultural features such as norms, beliefs, and values- work together to maintain the status quo. Outside the field of sociology, people often use the term social order to refer to a state of stability and consensus that exists in the absence of chaos and upheaval. Sociologists, however, have a more complex understanding of the term. Within the field, it refers to the organization of many interrelated parts of a society. Social order is present when individuals agree to a shared social contract that states that certain rules and laws must be abided and certain standards, values, and norms maintained. Social order can be observed within national societies, geographical regions, institutions and organizations, communities, formal and informal  groups, and even at the scale of global society. Within all of these, social order is most often hierarchical in nature; some people hold more power than others in order to enforce the laws, rules, and norms necessary for the preservation of social order. Practices, behaviors, values, and beliefs that are counter to those of the social order are typically framed as deviant and/or dangerous  and are curtailed through the enforcement of laws, rules, norms, and taboos. Social Order Follows a Social Contract The question of how social order is achieved and maintained is the question that gave birth to the field of sociology. In his book  Leviathan, English philosopher Thomas Hobbes laid the groundwork for the exploration of this question within the social sciences. Hobbes recognized that without some form of social contract, there could be no society, and chaos and disorder would reign. According to Hobbes, modern states were created in order to provide social order. People agree to empower the state to enforce the rule of law, and in exchange, they give up some individual power. This is the essence of the social contract that lies at the foundation of Hobbess theory of social order. As sociology became an established field of study, early thinkers became keenly interested in the question of social order. Founding figures like Karl Marx and Émile Durkheim focused their attention on the significant transitions that occurred before and during their lifetimes, including industrialization, urbanization, and the waning of religion as a significant force in social life. These two theorists, though, had polar opposite views on how social order is achieved and maintained, and to what ends. Durkheims Cultural Theory of Social Order Through his study of the role of religion in primitive and traditional societies, French sociologist Émile Durkheim came to believe that social order arose out the shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a given group of people. His view locates the origins of social order in the practices and interactions of daily life as well as those associated with rituals and important events. In other words, it is a theory of social order that puts culture at the forefront. Durkheim theorized that it was through the culture shared by a group, community, or society that a sense of social connection- what he called solidarity- emerged between and among people and that worked to bind them together into a collective. Durkheim referred to a groups shared collection of beliefs, values, attitudes, and knowledge as the collective conscience. In primitive and traditional societies Durkheim observed that sharing these things was enough to create a mechanical solidarity that bound the group together. In the larger, more diverse, and urbanized societies of modern times, Durkheim observed that it was the recognition of the need to rely on each other to fulfill different roles and functions that bound society together. He called this organic solidarity. Durkheim also observed that social institutions- such as the state, media, education, and law enforcement- play formative roles in fostering a collective conscience in both traditional and modern societies. According to Durkheim, it is through our interactions with these institutions and with the people around us that we participate in the maintenance of rules and norms and behavior that enable the smooth functioning of society. In other words, we work together to maintain social order. Durkheims view became the foundation for the functionalist perspective,  which views society as the sum of interlocking and interdependent parts that evolve together to maintain social order. Marxs Critical Theory of Social Order German philosopher Karl Marx took a different view of social order. Focusing on the transition from pre-capitalist to capitalist economies and their effects on society, he developed a theory of social order centered on the economic structure of society and the social relations involved in the production of goods. Marx believed that these aspects of society were responsible for producing the social order, while others- including social institutions and the state- were responsible for maintaining it. He referred to these two different components of society as the base and the superstructure. In his writings on capitalism, Marx argued that the superstructure grows out of the base and reflects the interests of the ruling class that controls it. The superstructure justifies how the base operates, and in doing so, justifies the power of the ruling class. Together, the base and the superstructure create and maintain social order. From his observations of history and politics, Marx concluded that the shift to a capitalist industrial economy throughout Europe created a class of workers who were exploited by company owners and their financiers. The result was a hierarchical class-based society in which a small minority held power over the majority, whose labor they used for their own financial gain. Marx believed that social institutions did the work of spreading the values and beliefs of the ruling class in order to maintain a social order that would serve their interests and protect their power. Marxs critical view of social order is the basis of the conflict theory perspective in sociology, which views social order as a precarious state shaped by ongoing conflicts between groups that are competing for access to resources and power. Putting Both Theories to Work While some sociologists align themselves with either Durkheims or Marxs view of social order, most recognize that both theories have merit. A nuanced understanding of social order must acknowledge that it is the product of multiple and sometimes contradictory processes. Social order is a necessary feature of any society and it is deeply important for building a sense of belonging and connection with others. At the same time, social order is also responsible for producing and maintaining oppression. A true understanding of how social order is constructed must take all of these contradictory aspects into account.

Developing Professional Practice in HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Developing Professional Practice in HR - Essay Example This essay analyses and discusses the process of developing professional practice in HR. The first part presents the analysis and findings of a small-scale piece of research. The second part is a reflective review on the competencies and contribution of HR professionals. The third part discusses the contribution of CPD to the performance of HR professionals. And the last part presents a concise personal development plan. Small-Scale Piece of Research Human resource (HR) professionals have to work in a strategic manner. They should acquire the essential competencies, and this is only possible through familiarity with HR theories, practices, and knowledge. Moreover, acquisition of these essential competencies arises from having the capacity to use information within particular business contexts. At present, developing HR professionals is very crucial in numerous aspects of human resource management (HRM): recruitment, strategic planning, and performance management, amongst many others (Porter, Smith, & Fagg, 2012). HR competencies are the qualities that facilitate successful performance of HR professionals and that give an organisation the ability to compete effectively in a highly competitive business world. The objective of this small-scale piece of research is to find out the specific HR competencies that actual service organisations, specifically those in the hospitality industry, value most. The researcher interviewed several HR personnel from three service organisations: a hotel, a restaurant, and transportation. Majority of the HR personnel interviewed believe that HR professionals should have personal integrity. Most of them named good interpersonal skills and personal communication as the most important HR competencies. HR professionals have to learn the skill of building a relationship that is based on trust. Trust consequently builds motivation and personal integrity. HR professionals have a good chance of taking part in their organisations’ str ategic planning activity if they are able to build trust. Nevertheless, most of the HR personnel interviewed ranked competency in strategic performance the lowest. This possibly implies that HR professionals in these service organisations are incapable in terms of strategic decision-making and management of organisational culture. This finding is very important because HR professionals must be capable of determining, building, and integrating organisational cultures that contribute to the successful implementation of business strategies and competitive strategies. Moreover, according to Yeung and colleagues (1996), if HR professionals do not have the ability to effectively manage or cope with change, they would have difficulties dealing or communicating with important people to guarantee prompt decision-making and appropriate resource allocation. HR professionals should acquire the necessary qualities of an effective strategic business expert. Most scholars believe that HR professio nals should first aspire to become a strategic business expert then eventually progress to key contributors (Labedz & Lee, 2011). Because a great deal of the literature on the subject matter has demonstrated a positive correlation between organisational performance and strategic human resource management, this small-scale piece of research tried to determine the HR competencies valued most by HR personnel in service organisat

Investegating business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Investegating business - Essay Example Along with much other industry airline industry is also expanding its business in Qatar. Airlines are one of the fast expanding industries in the world. British airways are the largest airline company based on its international flights, fleet size, destinations. The company is based in London. This Airline Company gets a strong backing of UK Govt. It was established in 1972 by UK Government. From that time it has became a strong player in this industry. It gets a huge support from the government for maintaining its efficient and effective service. British Airlines has a strong presence in UK. It is doing its business for a long time. Therefore nationally and internationally its presence is strongly felt. The company has a strong brand presence. It deals with many international flights and gives a memorable experience to its customers by providing excellent services. It is counted as a leading brand in the airlines industry. The company has an excellent global presence as it provide flights to almost every country of the world. It covers nearly 150 international destinations of six continents of the world. The fleet size of British Airways is over 260 aircrafts. The company is having a strong and prosperous partnership with United Airlines. British Airways forms one world airline. It is the third largest airline company. The company is facing a strong competition from Cash Rich Middle Eastern Airlines. This airline company is becoming very popular day by day by offering equivalent services and facilities like British Airways. This intense competition limits the market share of British Airways. It is losing its customers of its competitor. The company is also facing the problem of poor employee relation which is not properly handled by the company. In British Airways change and innovation in the service offered is slightly slow. The important marketing

Coal industry of pakistan Essay Example for Free

Coal industry of pakistan Essay Pakistan has a very large coal reserve base only Thar coal can be used to make 40,000 MW of Electricity for the next 100 years. Regional powers like China are very much interested in the project and are willing to pour billions of dollars in these projects if the Govt. of Pakistan issues sovereign guarantee. Sector will essentially contribute to the wiping out of the difference in the electricity shortage. It would stabilise the economy as oil imports are going to decrease which contribute to $8 Billion of our imports. Coal can be exported to countries around the world. Many countries are shifting to coal as means of energy and this raises export opportunity for the coal exports too. The labour cost in the mining industry is very low as compared to other parts of the world and essentially have higher profit margins. The Tax rate is nil during exploration, mine construction and extraction phase. WEAKNESSES Serious lack of infrastructure facilities Many government restrictive policies and not much help provided by the government. Government not fulfilling there contracts. There is no consistency in Government policy. Low quality coal available mostly Too much capital required to extract the coal. Thermal energy would mean more pollution OPPORTUNITIES Expansion of energy base of Pakistan Expansion of export base and reduction of oil imports. Opportunity to boost lagging industries. Growing demand of Coal THREATS Foreign involvement which might restrict local development Restrictive policies and red tapism by government Control of reserves by only a few major players Oil Lobby being a very strong force in Pakistan. Problem faced by this Industry Lack of safety and security Pakistan’s image and political situation is a deterrent to investment Pakistan’s image and political situation is a deterrent to investment The industry sustained a stab back in the recent years. Lack of knowledge of the mineral potential. Lack of Labour Safety. Lack of Government vision. Development expenditure being used for crisis management purposes. The industry relies on the findings of the PCSIR laboratories.PCSIR labs do not possess the necessary tools and equipments for refinement of minerals. Not a convenient supply of coal and at times they have to revert to oil and gas for there production mostly the cement companies. Recommendation for the industry There has to be innovation in the sort of mining techniques being adopted in Pakistan. Adoption of modern exploration techniques like photo geology, satellite imaging, Underground Gasification can be useful for the industry. Information regarding coal reserves, grades and annual production must be maintained for the information of investors that may guide their future programme and work. And it must be easily available on Government portal. Mineral development fund to be created spent by outsourcing the infrastructure programmes to private organizations. Allocation of funds from World Bank for mineral sector programmes. Due representation to be given to all the stakeholders from mineral sector i.e. laborers, Investors e.t.c. In order to for people to be interested in the mining sector, government has to provide facilities for the workers and management near to the mining facilities. Improve the efficiency of the emergency rescuers in case of an accident in a mine. Participate in international minerals exhibitions and fairs for creating awareness of Pakistan’s mineral potential to foreign investor. This would also built the Image of Pakistan. In most of the mining camps basic facilities of roads and other basic infrastructure facilities have not been provided. As a result the mine to market accessibility is very low and also increases the cost of mining. More degrees relating to the mining industry should be started as there are only 3 till date in Pakistan A separate board for mining be made involving technocrats. Train improve capacity of all persons in minerals managements. Establish mini power plants on coal in the mining areas. Provide in service training to technical staff i.e. laborers. Establish machinery-pool to extend services on cost effective basis Provide soft loans in the mining Industry.

Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin In The Sun - Society and Family Essay

Society and Family in A Raisin in the Sun      Ã‚   We can learn a great deal by observing a given moment in history. The politics, fashion, and religion of a given society reveal the inner workings of the individuals that combine to make the society functional. While every society is different and unique, there are universal themes that apply to every society; the need to eat and sleep as well as the concept of "family" exist in all societies. In Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," we are witness to the common drama that occurs within a family set in a specific historical period.    Much of the political action that occurred during the time described within this play is specific to the era which it portrays. In Chicago and elsewhere, the economic affliction of minority families was in sharp contrast to the affluence of the middle and upper middle class families. The first black American civil rights activist Harry T. Moore and his wife were killed by a bomb planted under their home on December 25, 1951   (AfroAmerican ). W.E.B. DuBois, a prominent black writ... ...e 12].    Carlisle, David K. 1998. Black Combat Units In Korean War Action. [Online]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Available:   http://members.aol.com/warlib/dkc2.htm [2000, June 12].    Hansberry, Lorraine. "A Raisin in the Sun". Beatty, J., Hunter, J. P. (Eds.)(1998) Norton Introduction to Literature (7th Ed.). New York: Norton 1381-1485).       MSN Microsoft Network. Encarta. W.E.B. DuBois. [Online] Available:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Available: http://encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/2E/02E91000.htm?z=1&pg=2&br=1 [2000, June 11].       Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun - Society and Family Essay Society and Family in A Raisin in the Sun      Ã‚   We can learn a great deal by observing a given moment in history. The politics, fashion, and religion of a given society reveal the inner workings of the individuals that combine to make the society functional. While every society is different and unique, there are universal themes that apply to every society; the need to eat and sleep as well as the concept of "family" exist in all societies. In Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun," we are witness to the common drama that occurs within a family set in a specific historical period.    Much of the political action that occurred during the time described within this play is specific to the era which it portrays. In Chicago and elsewhere, the economic affliction of minority families was in sharp contrast to the affluence of the middle and upper middle class families. The first black American civil rights activist Harry T. Moore and his wife were killed by a bomb planted under their home on December 25, 1951   (AfroAmerican ). W.E.B. DuBois, a prominent black writ... ...e 12].    Carlisle, David K. 1998. Black Combat Units In Korean War Action. [Online]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Available:   http://members.aol.com/warlib/dkc2.htm [2000, June 12].    Hansberry, Lorraine. "A Raisin in the Sun". Beatty, J., Hunter, J. P. (Eds.)(1998) Norton Introduction to Literature (7th Ed.). New York: Norton 1381-1485).       MSN Microsoft Network. Encarta. W.E.B. DuBois. [Online] Available:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Available: http://encarta.msn.com/index/conciseindex/2E/02E91000.htm?z=1&pg=2&br=1 [2000, June 11].      

Jesus the Son of God: Gospel of Luke Essay

According to the book of Luke, Jesus is presented as the savior of both Israel and the whole human race. The birth of Jesus was foretold by Angel Gabriel when he appeared to Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26 – 38). He announced that Mary would give birth to a child whose name would be â€Å"the Son of the Most High†. Since Mary was a virgin she wondered how this would be but the angel told her â€Å"the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you† (Luke 1: 35). Indeed this would be a special birth. Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph who was in the linage of King David. This had to be, in the fulfillment of the Old Testament prediction that Jesus was to be born in the lineage of David. Jesus’ birth happened in Bethlehem, in manger and a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God (Luke 1: 13) Shepherds came to see the baby at Bethlehem. At a very young age of 12 years Jesus already knew who he was and everyone was amazed at his â€Å"understanding and his answers†. Jesus knew he was the Son of God because after 3 days of search by his parents at Jerusalem they found him at the temple. Upon asking him where he had been, he wondered why they were searching for him yet he was in his Father’s house. (Luke 2:49) Jesus dramatic baptism also went further to prove that Jesus was not an ordinary person. As John the Baptist was baptizing Him, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove and a voice came from heaven declaring â€Å"You are my son whom I love, with you I am well pleased† (Luke 3: 22). Jesus’ lineage revealed that he was in the lineage of Adam who was the Son of God. Satan also was fully aware of the Sonship of Jesus while he was tempting him in the desert. He wanted Jesus if he was the Son of God to turn stones into bread. (Luke 4: 3) It is worth noting that while it took a long time for the people including his disciples to notice that Jesus was the Son of God, the demons or evil spirits could immediately recognize he was indeed the Son of God. (Luke 4: 34, Luke 8: 28). In such instances, the demons identified him as the â€Å"Son of the Holy one of God†. Being the Son of God, Jesus had the power and authority to give orders to evil spirits he was able to perform various miracles including raising some people upon the dead. Simon was the first person to come very close in identifying whom Jesus was, this could be seen when Jesus performed the miraculous catch of fish. Peter was so amazed that he became afraid, realizing who Jesus was. (Luke 5: 8). Jesus also had the authority to forgive sins. It is worth noting that this was very symbolic because no one else could forgive sin apart from the person sinned against, who was God. Throughout his teachings Jesus constantly used parables to teach, no other parable came close to describe him as the Son of God than the parable of the tenants. In this parable, Jesus describes how the owner of the vineyard (God) would send his Son (Jesus) because the people might respect him but they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. This was also a prediction of his death. While Jesus was passing through Jericho, we also see the blind beggar adding another tag to Jesus, Son of David (Luke 19: 38 – 39). This how the people then understood who Jesus was, the son of David. From this account, it seems people only knew him as the son of David. However, Jesus clarified further, who he was. Although he did not say directly, he cleared the air on the issue of whose son he was. He quoted Psalm 110: 11 to indicate that David called the Christ Lord thus Jesus could not be David’s son. During the last supper, Jesus continued to predict his betrayal and death. He intimidated to his disciples that he was conferring the Kingdom to them just as God; his Father had conferred it to him. At the Mount of Olives just before his arrest, Jesus was in anguish and beseeched God his father to take the cup (death on the cross) from him. The cup could not be taken away because his mission had not been accomplished yet. Jesus in most cases also identified himself as the â€Å"Son of Man† (Luke 5: 24, Luke 6: 5, Luke 7: 34). This was another way of saying the son of God. Peter later exactly defined who Jesus was. When Jesus asked his disciples who he was, Peter pointed out that he was â€Å"The Christ of God† to which Jesus retorted that this should strictly not be told to anyone. Jesus in this case perhaps did not want to receive undue attention especially from the establishment because he would turn out to be a threat to the authorities and his mission of seeking and saving those who were lost would not have succeeded. It was after Jesus had sent out the seventy-two who he sent out two by two and they came back full of joy because of their accomplishment, that Jesus for the first addresses God directly as his Father (Luke 10: 21 – 22). Jesus here acknowledges that his Father has committed everything to him, and he reiterates that no one else knows who the Son is except the Father. We learn from here that for anyone to know whom the Son is it has to be revealed to him by the father- God. This is the reason why despite how obvious it was, many people of Jesus’ time including his disciples could not understand who he was. While Jesus could not reveal himself to the people while he was running his ministry, this was to change when he was to come the second time. The ‘Son of Man’ after facing many sufferings will have ‘his day’ which will be ‘like the lightening’ (Luke 17: 22 – 37). After Jesus’ arrest, he was then taken before Pilate and Herod, but before that, the teachers of the law and the chief priests interrogated him to find something to accuse him with. When they asked Jesus who he was, he affirmed indeed he was the Son of god and they found grounds of Blasphemy to pin Jesus with (Luke 22: 66 – 70). By declaring, he was the son of God it meant he was equating himself with God, which was blasphemy. The solders also used this basis to mock him, challenging him if he was the Son of God the ‘Chosen one’ to save himself. After he resurrected a proof that indeed he was the Son of God he ascended to heaven but promised the Holy Spirit who the Father had promised. REFERENCE Scriptures have been taken from the Holy Bible (NIV). 1984 International Bible Society.

Research and Development of Anti-Retroviral Drugs Essay

‘Discuss the reasons why the research and development of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) has impacted differently on people suffering from HIV/AIDS in developed and developing world’ HIV/AIDS still does not have a know cure, but has a treatment that slows down the affects of HIV/AIDS which is called ARV (anti-retroviral drug) The ARV drug is a very â€Å"exclusive† drug because as it is very expensive, around $400 a month if not more depending on which stage you are in, and that is a huge dilemma because many people cannot afford to pay that amount of money so they are not able to receive the treatment. If people in the first world countries cannot receive the drug, how do people in the third world receive the drug? In third world countries the drugs are given to them for free, but on the 47% gets the full treatment. The drugs are given to them by of the drug company itself of other companies that buy the ARVs from the company and send it to the place where it is needed, for example Africa. Africa is the location where the most HIV/AIDS cases are, and is also the one getting the least amount of treatment. The reason for this is because the ARV drug company wants to get their money back for all the research they put in, so giving the ARVs for free would become a great loss economically for them. The first aspect of this issue is the social part. Infrastructure is a big problem because as buildings coast a lot to construct they are not able to put up many, and you must also have trained people able to work there, which are hard to find in Africa. There are very few amount of places where you can go get tested but they have a limited amount of treatments and supplies. This is a huge problem because if people go to get better they have to wait or not get better at all due to the lack of resources. I would solve this issue by having not many small structures but several big structures so the supplies have a greater chance to arrive and more money is used wiser and more efficiently. Another social aspect of this problem is the education. In Africa the education is something that not everyon e gets, so they are not aware about how they get the disease, how they can prevent it or what are  the affects. A reason for why in Africa they do not receive the education is because there are a very few amount of teachers, and the teachers that they have may also be contaminated and are not able to execute their job correctly. HIV/AIDS affects everyone in their community because the disease spreads fast in their case (the people in Africa). This is due to their sexual behavior. Their culture does not have monogamy or a custom of only one sexual partner, but they have many different sexual partners, and that is why HIV/AIDS spreads so quickly in Africa. They also do not use protection because it is not available to most people and so chances are higher to get HIV/AIDS. Another cultural aspect is that there is a lot of prejudice against testing. Many people do not want to get tested for HIV/AIDS because one, they are scared the test might come back positive, second if it does result positive how will they tell their family/friends and thirdly how will they get the treatment they need to get. If the people get tested and do want to not tell anyone, because of various reasons, and as a result the problem amplifies and does not get solved. Another problem for the cultural aspect is get the people to take responsibility and try to change. Of coarse it is easier to ignore the problem and pretend it is not there, but that would not be helping the matter, it would be making it worse. How to solve these problems would be, in my opinion, have protection available to them, encourage testing, reassure the people that there will be a treatment for them, make them understand the severity of this issue and that if we do not take action it may get a lot worse, have session/groups for them to talk about their worries, experience ect. However before doing this we must solve the bigger problem, how do we give them the treatment for free. Another aspect of the issue is the ethical/moral part. The richer countries to some extent have an obligation to help the poorer countries, but the third world countries should not relay or take advantage because also the richer countries have their own problems to solve. For insists America is going though a very tough crisis but at the same time they are helping the less fortunate get better. The poorer countries should also take action and do something to help themselves, because they should be putting the money where it really needs to go to, the people. This leads us to another aspect of the issue, the political portion. Politics have caused a lot of mayhems in the world because they sometimes do not have they  priorities sorted out. For example in Africa instead of investing their money in this issue of HIV/AIDS and the treatments, they have decided to invest their money on weapons and in their natural recourses such as oil. It is very hard to run a third world country but it should not be an excuse. To solve these concerns although it is a difficult task but one way to solve them, in my opinion, is to have people from the first world talk and discuss about what they can do together (with the people of the third world) instead of just have the first world do everything on their own. The last aspect of this issue is the economic part. Africa is already a poor continent, having a poor economy is not helping either. They do not have enough money to circulate and this stops Africa growing, having sick people also stops the economy from growing because it is another matter they have to face. Child labor increases due to the fact that the adults are sick and are unable to work and the poor people have no way in getting better because there aren’t enough doctors. In conclusion a way to resolve the problem in the distribution of the ARVs is to have several multi-national pharmaceutical companies sponsor the ARVs, so other independent companies do not have to buy the drug and then distribute them, but by sponsoring the drug, the ARV drug company directly gives the drug to the third world countries without loosing it’s money. The multi-national pharmaceutical companies get advertisement and so they also gaining not loosing their money. As you can see this is a win, win situation. The main issue here is that the ARV drug company does not want to loose the money that they put in research so they make the drug excessively high-priced because to produce the drug is a coast next to nothing. Once the people receive the treatment, they should help educate not only the affected people but also the people that haven’t been affected yet. I believe by doing this, the transmission of the HIV/AIDS with decrease significantly and things will start to get better. I do believe that this problem is solvable.

Free Essays on Affirmative Action Term Paper

Affirmative Action Term Paper â€Å"Progress was all right; only it went on too long.† -James Thurber When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed Affirmative Action was a necessary measure to promote equality in society. In those trying times minorities and women were legitimately discriminated against. A lot has changed since 1964. Women and minorities now hold positions of power in colleges and large corporations, have a voice at all levels of government, and are presented with every opportunity offered to â€Å"the majority†. Other states should follow in the footsteps of California, and remove affirmative action legislation in order to create a society that truly does not discriminate on the basis of sex, creed, color, or national origin. I firmly believe that skin color and sex should not be a factor in school admissions practices or hiring of employees. Unfortunately, minorities are still given preferential treatment on school admissions, employment, and scholarship opportunities. John Rawls and the Sophists philosophical ideas help shed light onto the issue of a ffirmative action. Their philosophies give much insight on an individuals claim to equality and liberty. Title Seven of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Executive Order of 1967 provided the initial basis for affirmative action in the United States. Title seven prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) was created to enforce Title Seven. Title Seven was given even greater strength by the Equal Opportunity Act of 1972, which increased the coverage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and increased the enforcement powers of the EEOC. The Civil Service Commission was established from The Equal Opportunity Act of 1972 to review and approve equal opportunity plans and to monitor the progress of federal agencies in achieving equal opp... Free Essays on Affirmative Action Term Paper Free Essays on Affirmative Action Term Paper Affirmative Action Term Paper â€Å"Progress was all right; only it went on too long.† -James Thurber When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed Affirmative Action was a necessary measure to promote equality in society. In those trying times minorities and women were legitimately discriminated against. A lot has changed since 1964. Women and minorities now hold positions of power in colleges and large corporations, have a voice at all levels of government, and are presented with every opportunity offered to â€Å"the majority†. Other states should follow in the footsteps of California, and remove affirmative action legislation in order to create a society that truly does not discriminate on the basis of sex, creed, color, or national origin. I firmly believe that skin color and sex should not be a factor in school admissions practices or hiring of employees. Unfortunately, minorities are still given preferential treatment on school admissions, employment, and scholarship opportunities. John Rawls and the Sophists philosophical ideas help shed light onto the issue of affirmative action. Their philosophies give much insight on an individuals claim to equality and liberty. Title Seven of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Executive Order of 1967 provided the initial basis for affirmative action in the United States. Title seven prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) was created to enforce Title Seven. Title Seven was given even greater strength by the Equal Opportunity Act of 1972, which increased the coverage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and increased the enforcement powers of the EEOC. The Civil Service Commission was established from The Equal Opportunity Act of 1972 to review and approve equal opportunity plans and to monitor the progress of federal agencies in achieving equal opp...

What Is A Flat Character †Definition and Definitive Examples

What Is A Flat Character s What is a Flat Character? (And How to Fix One) â€Å"Riddled with flat characters† is perhaps the most damning thing you can hear from an editor or reviewer. An accusation that your characters read like a cardboard cut-outs is like a knife in the heart of any fledgling writer. But having a flat character or two isn't the end of the world  - or even the end of your story! And if you can learn how to turn a two-dimensional character into a three-dimensional one, you'll have a real leg up on all future character creation. Sometimes the hardest part is simply identifying when you  do  have a flat character on your hands... especially if you're not exactly sure what constitutes one. Which is why we want to illustrate exactly what is a flat character: with a clear definition, examples, and instructions on how to fix any flat characters you may come across in your writing. First off, let's talk about what this term means.What is a flat character?A flat character  is a character with little to no complex emotions, motivat ions, or personality. They also don't undergo any kind of change  to make them more well-rounded. In other words, they're the opposite of a "round character," who has a fully fleshed out profile and changes throughout the story. A flat character will typically:Have no internal conflictConform to a stereotypeNever experience character developmentLack a multi-faceted personalityWhereas a three-dimensional or round character will typically:Have internal conflictUndergo significant character developmentExperience mental and emotional changesHave a multi-faceted personalityFlat characters are also sometimes referred to as â€Å"one-dimensional† or â€Å"two-dimensional." Both of these monikers point to the same thing: a character who has very minimal complexity, and often renders the story less believable as a result. Are you accidentally writing a flat character? Learn more in this post Not all static characters are flatDon't make the mistake of conflating a flat character with a static character. â€Å"Static† (or its inverse, â€Å"dynamic†) strictly describes the amount of change that a character undergoes throughout the story. â€Å"Flat† is a referendum on the character's complexity. That means that, generally speaking, all two-dimensional characters are static, but not all static characters are two-dimensional. To learn more about the flip side of the equation, we wrote extensively about what makes a dynamic character here.Are flat characters bad?Again, having two-dimensional characters never spells automatic death for your book. And the occasional flat character can even benefit your narrative! Charles Dickens, for instance, was a genius at writing casts that were packed with memorable caricatures. Are Miss Havisham, Mrs Micawber, and Mr Jaggers flat characters? Absolutely - they have few complex characteristics and exist mostly to inter act with the main character of their respective stories. But does their flatness make them inherently uninteresting or irrelevant to the story? Not necessarily. Flat characters can fulfill a number of roles: they populate the environs of the protagonist’s journey, and can move the story along in a plot-driven book. You really just don't want your  main  character(s) to be flat, otherwise your audience will lose interest in them. Her animal friends are the most interesting thing about her. (Image: Buena Vista Pictures)6. Mary Jane from Spider-ManSummed up in one sentence: The girl next door who’s the object of Peter Parker’s affection. Purpose in the story: To be the damsel in distress whom Peter rescues time and time again.7. Karen Smith from Mean GirlsSummed up in one sentence: A popular high school student who isn’t the brightest bulb in the box. Purpose in the story: To be the comic relief. (Though, to be fair, she would unquestionably make a great weather reporter!)8. Mr Collins from Pride and PrejudiceSummed up in one sentence: A silly, pompous, vain, obsequious clergyman with narcissistic tendencies. Purpose in the story: To represent the stereotype of the silly, servile parts of British society that Jane Austen ends up eviscerating.So why do authors write flat characters?As you can see, authors utilize flat characters in a number of ways. Writers generally bring them out when:The story in question is extremely plot-driven. Genres such as detective novels and thrillers will feature more two-dimensional protagonists for this reason (i.e. Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and The  Da Vinci Code’s Robert Langdon.)The story is simple enough that complex characters are unnecessary.  This is the case in many children's movies, such as the  Cinderella  example above.Minor characters are needed. These characters don’t need depth, as they exist in order to further a three-dimensional protagonist along on their journey.So a flat character isn't necessarily a  bad  character; it's all about how you use them. Some very popular stories make almost everyone into flat characters except the protagonist(s). However, when it comes to standard literature, it's usually best to steer clear when possible. As a general rule, the more complex and multi-dimensional you make your characters, the deeper you'll pull readers into the vivid world of you r story - and that goes for all  characters, not just the ones we see the most.Do you have any favorite flat characters? Have you included any two-dimensional characters in your own work? Let us know in the comments below.

Defending the Budget Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Defending the Budget - Essay Example As at September 2011, the department had 88 firefighters, 42 officers, 6 engines and 2 ladders (Fire-Rescue 2012). Recently, there has been a study stating that the department is inactive and slow at responding to emergency calls. This claim has driven the city manager to propose a reduction of the department’s budget due to the cited inactivity in this fire department. As the fire chief in this institution, I would like to express that this assumption is not true. This is because my department has carried out all its responsibilities and emergency responses with required efficiency. The department has not only attended to many calls in the time of my service to the station but also successfully managed to put out major fires and rescue many people, property and pets from burning houses and buildings. However, contrary to the viewpoint of the city manager, the Medford fire department does not involve itself with fire emergencies only. There are several other activities that we are actively involved in every other day. They include, examining buildings for hazards, evaluating new constructions, setting up car seats for children, offering fire prevention services, heavy rescue, and providing fire station tours. For instance, in the month of March this year, there were regular inspections carried out by officials of the department on fire and life safety division (FLSD) where 92 hazards were noted and immediate action was taken to rectify the situation (Fire-Rescue, 2012). The current amount in the budget is sufficient to cater for the emergency responses and other off-emergency activities the department is responsible for. Currently, my department receives and attends an average of two incidents every week. We have always ensured that the emergencies are attended to in the shortest time possible as saving lives is our first priority. These responses also include fire scares where our department always solves the crisis restoring confidence in people. The f irefighters are very co operative and will attend to their duties at any time of day or night. Their motivation and enthusiasm in their work has helped save lives. This kind of vigilance has been met with proper remuneration extended to all employees and supervisors of the department. In certain occasions, budgeted monetary rewards are also extended to firefighters who have performed best in their obligations. Therefore, in order to uphold the same levels of salaries and rewards, it is important to maintain the budget. Otherwise, a cut may demotivate the employees leading to underperformance. This would put many individuals and buildings in the danger of being consumed by fire. To successfully fight fire, collaboration between the general public and the fire fighters is essential. This collaboration can only be enabled by an effective communication process. The communication devices used by Medford fire fighters are up to date and are effective in accomplishing the objective of pass ing on information to its users. This has helped avoid many deaths that might have occurred during fire incidents. The firefighting team is always ready to take the emergency calls and attend to the fire rescues at any time of day. The maintenance of this efficient communication lines requires funds. Therefore,