An analysis of how Arnold, in "Dover Beach," illustrates not only his loss of personal faith, but also offers a vicarious vision of spiritual helplessness with which a great number of people during the 1800's could identify.
921 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 0 sources, 2000, $ 32.95
From the Paper "When looking into the poem ?Dover Beach,? by Matthew Arnold, one can choose not to see the great, white cliffs standing eerily silent in the moonlight, the ancient, icy waves approaching and retreating on the pebbled shore, and even the two figures gazing out the window at the boundless beauty of the scene. However, it is difficult to ignore the human theme of being swept about in the undertow of social change."
From the Paper "Karl Marx, born in Germany in 1818, had tremendous influence throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The communist and socialist ideologies, the communist revolution in Russia, and the spread of communism throughout the world were all a result of Marx's social and economic theories. These theories were developed as a result of the situation of the working class in Europe during Marx's lifetime. .."
Tags: 19th, century, conditions, engels, european, history, labor, marxism, russia, soviet, union, unions, working
Abstract This paper reviews "Out of This Furnace" by Thomas Bell, which depicts the process by which a small group of Slovak immigrants are gradually transformed into active participants in a stable American society. The paper uses the social history technique to examine Slovak immigrants in a Pennsylvania mining town.
From the Paper "In the dirty, dangerous cauldron of western Pennsylvania, the uneducated muscle of the eastern Slovak mountains would be transformed into the confident skill of an organizer of men. Through the trials and tribulations of work in and transition to American life overcome by these immigrants, one can observe the forging of a new and more powerful American nation that would be ready to save the entire world from the challenges shortly to come."
Abstract Eugenia Ginzburg experienced the heart of the Stalinist Terror as few have who lived to tell about it. A staunch Communist supporter, Ginzburg found herself wrongfully accused of being an enemy of the people and subsequently thrown into jail. This paper examines her account of her years and months in prison camps in her book, "Journey into the Whirlwind". It also looks at how her story impacts the study of the Stalinist Terror.
From the Paper "Thrown into jail, Ginzburg found herself transferred from jail to labor camp across the country for years. What she found, to her surprise and intrigue, was that her supposed crime seemed to change with every facility to which she was transferred. She started out as an "enemy of the people", and by the time she was released, she found herself being referred to as an "international terrorist." This demonstrates just what a propaganda machine Stalin's regime was. It appears that Ginzburg's supposed crime was adjusted and changed whenever it suited the regime, probably depending upon whatever propaganda the regime was trying to propagate at the time."
Abstract This paper discusses the pros and cons of a market economy. The paper claims that in East and Central European societies corruption is widespread, social disciplines and ethics are low, and demand for social justice is weak, therefore social disciplines and ethics should be restored for rolling back de facto briberies and corruption effecting government and semi-privatized institutions. Suggestions are made as to what the government should do to motivate people to play a more active role in business and social life.
From the Paper "In a standard neoclassical model of the economy, there are markets for everything, now and for the future; everybody knows everything, and they know the same things; and there are no public goods, no externalities, no transaction costs, and no increasing returns. Since under these assumptions the market generates the first best allocation of resources, state intervention, in any form or fashion, is but a transfer of income; in turn, transfers of income, by causing rates of return to diverge from the competitive allocation, reduce incentives and misinform about opportunities. So, in this case, the market wins round 1."
Abstract A look at the formation of the 'Mighty Five', five Russian composers, Korsakov, Balakirev, Borodin, Mussorgsky and Glinka who changed Russian music and stance impacting recognition from the Western world. A look at their contributions and impact on the world of music.
From the Paper "The culmination of five ingenious, dedicated composers and one highly skilled evangelist led to the recognition of Russian music. This would be the recognition of a distinct, nationalist approach to music. Involving traditional melodies, and folk songs, and composed in a uniquely Russian manner. They would forever change Russian classical music, and made a large impact upon the rest of the Western world. It is important to recognize two key individuals; one Rimsky-Korsakov for his incredibly sophisticated works, and two the work of Stasov as propagandist. Finally the Mighty Five as a whole should be recognized for their achievements, contributions, and enduring impact on music.'
The paper compares and contrasts two versions of Mary with Child mosaics styles. The author pays special attention to historical and cultural influences on their artistic styles.
1,280 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 43.95
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts two mosaics depicting Mary and Jesus-one medieval, the other Byzantine. The author discusses their stylistic differences, the severity and stoicism versus warmness and emotion, and examines Christianity as seen through religious art in both societies.
From the Paper "The Medieval era produced many important art pieces ? many of which contained reference to religious figures. Because religion did, in fact, play such an important role in everyday life, religious art abounded throughout Europe . However, depending upon the area of the continent and which religion its inhabitants believed in, artists portrayed similar religious scenes in varying ways. In particular, Byzantine and Medieval pieces contained identical figures or scenes portrayed in very different ways due to the respective religion's influence on the artist. Comparison of two mosaics depicting Virgin and Child will show fundamental stylistic differences between Byzantine and Medieval art."
From the Paper "Author Sheila Fitzpatrick examines in her book, The Russian Revolution: 1917-1932, the most basic aspects of the revolution--causes, the aims, social support, the impact on the Russian society, the political outcome, and the time span of the revolution itself. Her essential theme is that the Russian Revolution differed from other revolutions in that it peculiarly has been described by various historians as ending at different times. Fitzpatrick treats the February and October Revolutions of 1917, the Civil War, the interlude of the New Economic Policy and Stalin's initial Five Year plan as successive stages in the overall revolution (p. 3).
Fitzpatrick compares her view to that of Crane Brinton in Anatomy of Revolution, suggesting that revolutions have a form of their own, passing through the stages of enthusiasm for radical..."
Abstract This paper will cover the book "Balkan Ghosts" by Robert Kaplan and will discuss the topic of Balkan history that it reveals in this story. The story is a travel guide of sorts to understanding the complex nature of Balkan politics in the region and to see how racial hatred has been accumulating over the years in this region.
Analyses the Reagan foreign policy, and how it consistently confronted the Soviet Union in ways that forced it to spend huge amounts of money on defense. Makes the argument that this is the main reason that the Soviet Union collapsed.
Abstract This paper highlights the portions of Ronald Reagan's foreign policy that confronted the Soviet Union in ways that forced the United States to spend large amounts of money. The foreign policy issues that are examined include Afghanistan, The Iran-Contra Affair, Reagan's support of Eastern-European Dissidents and Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, (also known as "Star Wars"). Afghanistan is heavily analyzed, with a breakdown of significant historical points, such as the introduction of the US-made Stinger missile, which stripped the USSR of air superiority. The Iran-Contra affair is included as a way to demonstrate Reagan's willingness to confront communism everywhere. This was a marked policy shift from Jimmy Carter and caught the USSR off guard. The Strategic Defense Initiative is analyzed and is linked to an increased amount of money being spent by the USSR on research and development. The support of dissidents by Reagan is looked at as well, with the conclusion that with relatively little amounts of effort, Reagan's foreign policy fomented large amounts of political opposition to the Soviet Union in Eastern European satellite countries. This caused the Soviet Union to spend money combating this problem as well, with their spy apparatus. Definitive numbers are given that explain just how much the Soviet Union spending increased while Reagan was in office.
From the Paper "In the 1980's, a swirling of events converged to form a perfect storm that met the conditions for bringing down what Ronald Reagan termed the "evil empire." The first incident was that Old School communists in the Politburo sought to make an impression in Central Asia, but found stalwart resistance in The Gipper. Second, Reagan's abrupt shift from Carter's lax foreign policy took the Soviets by surprise, with the new administration's desire to challenge communism on every front possible; out of this desire came the ill-fated support of the contras, along with the hugely successful backing of Eastern European dissidents, namely the Solidarity movement in Eastern Europe. The third event in Reagan's foreign policy shift that took the world by surprise was the administration's renunciation of the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction; Reagan took the steps of beginning a Ballistic Missile Defense program, which he coined the Strategic Defense Initiative. The Soviets, with few options of recourse, were forced to make concessions that led to the implosion of the "evil empire" shortly afterward. Thus, by applying a policy of confrontation of spreading Communism, bleeding the Soviets in Afghanistan by supporting the mujahideen, and abruptly announcing a paradigm shift in American foreign policy with the Strategic Defense Initiative, Ronald Reagan certainly hastened, if not caused the downfall of the USSR."
Abstract This paper examines the current social, economic and cultural state of a United Germany. It looks at how the previously ultra nationalistic country has been used as an example by the EU to show that a country can maintain its own identity and still be part of a Greater Europe. Contemporary history of Germany is examined, since the collapse of the Berlin Wall until present.
From the Paper "After the fall of Berlin Wall and the Unification of West Germany and East Germany, the United Germany due to its size and strength has often been perceived as the leader of the European Union. This situation and perception worries and annoys the other European Union members because of the German reputation in the past, in the World War. This problem which is often called the "German Problem" and as European members try not to hold past against Germany to such degree that it damages integration. The problem of European Security was the major concern and an essential determinant in all proposals and considerations on Germany's European integration. The image of Germany in the past was also a major consideration and its neighbors knew that a united Germany would emerge at some stage in the postwar developments, despite the fact that they would have prefer the partition to remain in post war Europe."
Contends 1989 was a watershed year in international relations with the end of Cold War. Offers cultural & political theories incl. Postmodernism, liberalism & realism to help understand new (post Cold War) international acts.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 5 sources, 2001, $ 47.95
From the Paper "International Crises
Many theorists in the field of international relations maintain that 1989 was a watershed year. In fact, they argue that 1989 stands out as "a dramatic divide in contemporary history, in some respects comparable to the French Revolution two hundred years earlier" (Simensen, 1999, p. 391). Thus, Jarle Simensen asserts that the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, the end of the Cold War, and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union inaugurated a new era in international relations (Simensen, 1999, p. p. 3). The significance of the Cold War to the development of international relations cannot be overstated. In fact, Simensen notes that international relations as a subdiscipline of political science developed during the Cold War (1999, p. 395). On the other hand, the Persian Gulf War demonstrates that no .."
Examines reasons for the 1991 Soviet collapse, communist ideology, global, economic, political and social challenges for successor states, nationalistic and ethnic ferment.
2,700 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 18 sources, 1999, $ 95.95
Abstract This research paper discusses various aspects of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, including the reasons why the communist system and ideology in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) failed, the legacy bequeathed by communism to the successor states which emerged, the political, economic and social challenges that arose in those states and how those states responded to those challenges.
A number of inter-related factors led to the disintegration of the Soviet system and empire, including the woeful inadequacy of the totalitarian police state, dogmatic communist ideology and centralized planned economy which evolved after the Russian Revolution of 1917
From the Paper "SOVIET SUCCESSOR STATES
This research paper discusses various aspects of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, including the reasons why the communist system and ideology in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) failed, the legacy bequeathed by communism to the successor states which emerged, the political, economic and social challenges that arose in those states and how those states responded to those challenges.
A number of inter-related factors led to the disintegration of the Soviet system and empire, including the woeful inadequacy of the totalitarian police state, dogmatic communist ideology and centralized planned economy which evolved after the Russian Revolution of 1917 in preparing the Soviet Union to meet the requirements of the late 20th century, international developments ..."
From the Paper "Thomas Bell, in his novel Out of This Furnace, deals with three generations of Slovaks and their experience in the United States, and Jacob A. Riis, in his photojournalistic How the Other Half Lives, covers the experiences of immigrants of a number of different nationalities and ethnicities at the turn of the century. This study will focus on the experiences of Jewish immigrants as depicted in Riis, comparing those to the experiences of the Slovaks in Bell's novel. Despite some important differences among the experiences of the Jews and the Slovaks, and the specific years examined, the studies are far more alike than different in their overall portraits of the suffering and exploitation of those immigrant groups in the era in which the industrial revolution exploded. The study will also briefly consider Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle, in which..."
The Bridge on the Drina is arguably the greatest work of the Nobel Prize-winning author Ivo Andric. This Yugoslavian writer (a Serbo-Croat) won that coveted award in 1961, and his masterpiece was published in 1945, translated in 1959.
In this novel, the bridge of Drina is on many levels the main character of the book. Andric organizes his narrative into a series of stories that deal with the bridge, which is near the Bosnian town of Visegrad. This is a historical tale, and the time span for all the events is over three and a half centuries.
What Andric wants to evoke in his story is the way that the people lived under the rule of the Turkish overlords. The Bridge on the Drina will be considered here by itself, but it is part of a trilogy, with the other volumes also being about the author's ..."
