Abstract This paper discusses how the Republic of Georgia is a nation with its own history and now like so many other republics freed after the fall of the Soviet Empire, Georgia is reinventing its past and rediscovering what has been lost, forgotten, or distorted during the years of Soviet rule. It examines the factors that led up to its declaration of independence, the leaders involved, its economy then and now and the direction in which the country is headed.
From the Paper "In 1999, Pope John Paul visited the predominantly Orthodox Georgia. However, despite his pleas for closer ties between the two churches, "no Orthodox clergy attended his mass" (Sheets pg). His visit was seen by Georgians as more political than religious, helping to shine the international spotlight on Georgia. In his homily, the Pope expressed, "With its culture, history and faith, Georgia has always looked towards the West and has made its own contribution to Christian Europe" (Sheets pg). He went on to describe Georgia as a "model of respect and tolerance towards other religions and noted that places of worship for Christians, Jews and Moslems stood close together in Tbilisi" (Sheets pg)."
This paper explores the idea of Russian democracy at the end of the 20th century. The writer discusses the history of democratic movement in Russia as well as the unique characteristics and problems modern Russia faced at the end of the century.
Abstract The paper attempts to explain why the idea of democracy was new to the Russian people and the implications this had on its attempts at reform. The writer shows that at the end of the twentieth century, there were several reasons why Russia was approaching its second democratic crisis: Yeltsin's presidency, economic failure, military upheaval and organized crime.
From the Paper "For the past seventy years Russia was the heart of the Soviet Union. The fall of the "Evil Empire" in 1991 shocked the world. Many democratic nations were happy to see its enemy turning into a new democratic country based on capitalistic economy and Western ideologies. But not that many people asked if Democracy would work in Russia. In the long run, Russia had a democratic experience in 1917, for half a year and it failed (Daniels, 1972). Will the history repeat itself or will Russia eventually become democratic? It is still hard to tell. Our democratic experience from February to October 1917 and today's situation are very similar. As in 1917, modern Russia experiences political, economic, and cultural crisis."
Abstract This paper deals with the essentially paranoid nature of Soviet espionage. It shows how the mentality of the Soviet state was paranoid and conspiratorial even before its inception. Therefore, the Soviet security and intelligence agency was necessarily paranoid and conspiratorial as well. The paranoia that consumed the Soviet leadership undoubtedly paved the way for the creation of the most successful intelligence gathering agency in modern history. This paper shows how the same paranoid mentality inevitably doomed the Soviet security and intelligence agency as an effective intelligence apparatus capable of providing accurate information about foreign operations.
From the Paper "From Lenin and Stalin, to those who came afterwards, the domestic and foreign policy of the Soviet Union was based on a steady diet of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories and fanatical paranoia. Thus, it was these two qualities which became the bread and butter of Soviet espionage from its very inception. Throughout the paranoid existence of the Soviet Union, the Soviet security and intelligence agency was used to perform clandestine activities against real and imagined opposition, on a size and scale previously unprecedented in the world of espionage. The agency's efforts were largely successful in recruiting spies and gathering valuable intelligence information, especially against the Western imperialist powers. However, the Soviet leadership was often so consumed by paranoia that they were unable correctly analyze much of the intelligence information; causing the security and intelligence agency to be largely ineffective, and eventually almost crippling the Soviet espionage apparatus altogether."
Abstract This paper discusses the roles and missions of the United States armed forces in peacetime and presents examples of MOOTW operations in Bosnia. The author concludes that the national strategy for engagement and enlargement is flawed from a foreign policy perspective. The author believes that policies should be developed and implemented that restrict the use of United States armed forces to deployments in conjunction with their primary missions unless all other options have failed.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Background
Issues Analysis
United States National Security
The Role of International Organizations
Human Rights
Regional Stability
Unilateral Versus Coalition
Policy Evaluation
National Interests
Costs
Risks
Military Readiness
Public Support in the United States
Conclusions
Recommendations
From the Paper "There is little doubt that the international political order is changing, and that in the late summer of 1999 it is significantly different from what it was in the fall of 1989. It remains difficult, however, to predict with any degree of accuracy who the major players in the developing multipolar or unipolar environment will and will not be, and which, if any, of these players will be first among equals. Although as the only current superpower, the United States frequently behaves as if it is the first among equals. In spite of the difficulties being experienced by the national government in Russia, a great leap of faith is required to assume that a major international political role will be denied to a country with an armed force as formidable as Russia's army. While morale is low within the Russian military establishment and funding is short, it remains a force that cannot be ignored."
Abstract The paper reviews and analyzes Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 historical film, "The Battleship Potemkin" which tells the story of a revolution in 1905 which began with the revolt of the sailors on the Battleship Potemkin, in the Odessa harbour. The paper discusses the historical accuracy of the film and Eisenstein's filming techniques.
From the Paper "The film also suggests that the soldiers of the tsar were especially brutal and that there was a long-standing conflict between the people and their rulers. This is most evident as the soldiers march down the Odessa steps, firing indiscriminately into the crowd of citizens, showing that the citizenry is thought of as completely subservient to the power structure and that the power structure in no way sees it necessary to respond to the desires of the people. This sequence is especially affecting as Eisenstein selects certain specific figures from the crowd and makes the viewer identify with them as they are shot by the almost faceless troops. Notable as well is the baby carriage drifting down the steps out of control, a symbol of the way the people are left to themselves in the danger zone that is their life in Russia. The mother is killed so that she can no longer protect her child, representing the future of Russia."
Abstract The ultimate authority to rule on the interpretation of European Union law resides with the Court of Justice of the European Union. This paper discusses the ECJ in detail, with particular attention paid to its history. Also discussed are its relations to Great Britain and France, as well as relevant problems the ECJ faces today.
From the Paper "Historically, Britain's Parliament held the position of supremacy in the country but this is currently challenged by the right the ECJ to rule on whether British law is compatible with European Union law (Curtis 110). The notion that a body of laws supercedes British Law and that Britain is bound somewhat to the written constitution of the European Union creates a problem in the minds of many British people, both those within the government and common citizens (Curtis 110).
The European Union (at this time the European Community) challenged British Parliamentary sovereignty in 1991 when the EC threatened to take legal action to stop British Rail construction projects for environmental reasons (Curtis 110)."
Abstract A brief essay on the country of Bosnia. The paper includes a look at the history, geography and politics of the former Yugoslavian state. The paper explains that due to the long history of invasions and conquerors, the Bosnian people is made of a wide mix of ethnic and religious groups. This is the cause of the many conflicts that exist even to this day.
From the Paper "The area has a long history, and during the years of Ottoman rule, many Christians became Muslim, and moved into the ruling class working for the Turks. Other residents of the areas viewed this as collaboration, especially when the pattern was repeated during World War II and the same group of people collaborated with the Nazis. This has caused tremendous resentment against Bosnian Muslims by Catholics and Orthodox."
Abstract This paper examines how the past ten years have seen great changes in the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe and how bound together for years under the Soviet yoke, these nations have now embarked upon their own individual paths as sovereign states. In particular it looks at Russia, Poland, and Hungary and how all three once shared a common form of government and a single social system. It analyzes how these three distinct nations were put together into the crucible of the Communist State and how each have emerged re-cast in a different manner. Russia, Poland and Hungary seek their own futures in the contemporary world.
From the Paper "The Communist state as it came to exist in the Soviet Bloc was first developed in Russia. In many ways, many of its principles were deeply ingrained in Russian History. The autocracy of the tsars was reflected in the authoritarian nature of the communist party and state apparatus. Just as the Tsar of All the Russia had once demanded absolute and unquestioning obedience from his many subject peoples, so too did the Russian Communist State demand unblinking loyalty from its citizens. And as no power was beyond the tsar, so was no aspect of political, social, or cultural control outside the scope of the ruling Communist party. The Communist Party as first led by Vladimir Illyich Lenin, and further developed by Joseph Stalin, controlled every aspect of its people's lives."
Tags: capitalism, stalin, lenin, marxism, government
Abstract Between 1963 and 1990, the world saw unprecedented advances in technology, as well as upheavals both in the United States and abroad. Never in our nation's history did change come at such a sweeping pace. The Vietnam War galvanized protesters in numbers never before witnessed; drugs became a major problem across America and for a time our nation's leaders - both local and national - were seen as the enemy. President Richard Nixon resigned in a move unprecedented in American history. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union was undergoing massive social changes that were to culminate in the late 1980s and result in the end of Communist rule.
Abstract During the nineteenth century and the early part of the twentieth century, we find that significant change occurred in countries such as Germany and Russia. This, of course, focuses attention on the nature of this change as well as the extent to which the national state in each country contributed to economic development. With this in mind, the purpose of this paper will be to compare the role of the national state in the economic development of Germany and Russia between the years 1815 and 1914.
Abstract The post-Socialist economies are struggling to pattern themselves on the features of free market economy. This nine-page paper discusses two such transitional economies, that of Poland and Russia. It also lists features of the western economies and compares them with the former.
Abstract This essay is an analysis of the conflicts in Yugoslavia, and an assessment of the potential for peace in Yugoslavia. The essay considers the history of Yugoslavia, and the role of ethnic complexity, as well as the influences of Yugoslavian leadership in complicating the potential for developing any peaceful context for this region.
Abstract This paper discusses the transitional phase of Ukraine that has been going through all sorts of problems commonly associated with a transitional economy. Ukraine is now an independent state for last 10 years but unfortunately it has failed to gain much from its independence both in terms of economy and politics. The country is currently facing a painful economic situation where inflation rate is very high, corruption is prevailing in all state departments, institutions are not properly managed and in short the prospects for Ukraine's future are gloomy.
