Abstract This paper examines the book "Lugbara of Uganda" by well-known ethnographer Middleton, which presents observations of the different African cultures and some unexplored areas. It includes a case study of the Lugbara people of Uganda with a description of the society and the complex sociopolitical system. The paper provides a summary of the history of Uganda and investigates the current conditions and issues of these cultures.
From the Paper "The book "Lugbara of Uganda" is written by one of the most famous and well-known ethnographers who have worked on different African cultures and have explored different untouched avenues of the African world. This book is a result of about 30 years of research and writing by the author as well as his colleagues and peers. In this book, Middleton has sketched the picture of the specific ethnic group of Uganda i.e. the Lubgara people. In this case study he has given a sensitive description of how this society, composed of a complex sociopolitical system and which was once dependent on such practices as dispute and warfare to gain control of the society and to keep the competition alive, has now become a civilization of refugees who are continuous victims of harassment."
Abstract This paper begins by presenting some basic demographic facts about Massachusetts. It then discusses the question why prices in the state continue to rise. It looks at statistics regarding population growth trends and migration which also influence the housing shortage crisis. The paper ends with a list of practical alternative solutions to this problem.
From the Paper "Officially named the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the state is 13th amongst the 50 United States. It has a population of a little more than 6 million people as of 1990 US census Bureau figures. Comprising of 302 town and 49 cities, with the capital at Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts covers a total area of some 8,000 square miles with a population density of 768 persons per square mile. (Galvin, 2002). The following paper will discuss some aspects on the shortage of housing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
Tags: population, growth, migration, demography, statistics, crisis, density, census
Abstract This paper examines the issue of poverty in cities following recent mass urbanization. It uses Panama City as an example and looks at the social ramifications of poverty, its effects on the wider population of the city and what the authorities are doing to prevent its spread. The issues of crime, drugs, prostitution and child abuse are discussed.
From the Paper "Just like other capitals and major cities in Latin America and other developing countries, Panama City is the destination for urbanization from the surrounding areas. Forming new communities and enlarging suburban areas, the urban people have added burden to the city sustainable area and deteriorate the whole condition with more social problems as the effect of the urbanization. The poverty level increases as indicated by the number of unemployment, low wages, job cuts, inability to adapt to the fare hike, increasing number of street children from time to time, and the rising social riots and demonstration fashion as well as the crime rate. There is an unbalanced condition caused by social gap, excessive urbanization, poor city planning, corruption, and deteriorating environmental support on the Panama Canal that possibly had caused the poverty."
Abstract Although Italy is known for its rich culture specifically in the field of art and architecture, this paper discusses the culture of the country in terms of the peoples? language (the Italian language) and values and beliefs. Two important sociological and communicative values are used in analyzing the culture of Italy. The language of Italy is discussed and analyzed using the value of implicit/explicit- rule culture, while the values and norms in the society will be analyzed according to the value of uncertainty acceptance/ rejection.
From the Paper 'One of the rules followed in the Italian language is that whenever a sentence is constructed and has subjects in the plural form, the noun or adjective that follows or precedes the subject becomes masculine in form, if the subject (the group of people being talked about) contains one male member in it. Thus, the sentence, "Marta, Carol, e Mario sonno belli" (Marta, Carol, and, Mario are good/kind)? shows that the adjective "good/kind" (bello-M/singular, bella-F/singular, belli-M/plural) was transformed into the masculine and plural form of ?belli,? despite the major presence of Marta and Carol in the sentence (outnumbering Mario, a male, in the sentence in numbers). Thus, the rules of Italian language imply and suggest the sexist Italian society, wherein greater dependency and value to the male gender is emphasized. In fact, Italian greatly expresses the patriarchal society in Italy, evidently implied from the rules of language of Italy."
Abstract This paper looks at the book "Ethiopia: A Country Study" from the point of view of its unique angle in which it examines the history and society of Ethiopia. It shows how the authors adopt a holistic approach to the analysis of Ethiopia, providing a detailed description and interpretation of the country's major historical events, in addition to its social, economic, political, and security systems.
From the Paper "Presented in a chronologically well structured manner, and in language that is acceptable to both academic experts and a general audience, the study conducts an in-depth analysis of Ethiopia's social, political and economic institutions, their development, efficiency and interrelationships. Ethiopia: A Country Study places great emphasis on the effects of cultural factors and, unlike many similar research projects, the authors of this book have closely examined and considered the results of political and economic development upon the different ethnic groups within Ethiopia, in addition to those of the population as a whole."
Tags: africa, society, economy, development, third, world, country, population
Abstract This paper describes two of the biggest problems facing Bombay (Mumbai) today. Massive population growth has led to high levels of overcrowding and poor health conditions as a result. There are also huge problems in providing adequate infrastructure as a result of this population growth, made worse by the unique geography of Bombay. The essay then describes the solution that is being implemented: the creation of a new 'growth pole': New Bombay a few miles away.
From the Paper "The City of Bombay is located on the west coast of India and is one of the largest cities in the world. It is a good example of the kind of dramatic growth that has affected many developing countries in the past 50 years. But this was not always so. Bombay in the mid 17th century consisted of 7 small islands off the west coast of India. The area was surrounded by marshy land, had almost no fertile soil and was inhabited mainly be fishermen. There was no important trade and no resources and thus very little economic activity. But by the end of the 20th Century Bombay had become one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the world with around 15 million inhabitants. Bombay is India's most important port, busiest airport, has the highest concentration of industry, and the most multinational corporations in South East Asia. Why did this dramatic change occur and what have been the resulting negative impacts? To answer these questions it is worth looking at the history of Bombay briefly to understand the background to Bombay's problems, before investigating further two urban problems that Bombay faces and the solutions put forward."
Tags: India, Portuguese, Mughal, Empire, Central, Business, District, CIDCO
Abstract This paper is a country profile on Italy that reflects the current adversities that Italy faces. Afflictions outlined include illegal immigration, corruption, and elections. The paper explains the problems Italy has faced in the past, and the problems they face now. It also emphasizes the difficulty in repairing these problems.
From the Paper "The Italian Republic, better known as Italy, became a nationwide state in 1861; they were united under King Victor Emmanuel. It originally had a parliamentary government; that came to an abrupt end in the early 1920s when the Fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, established a dictatorship. He formed an alliance with Nazi Germany that ultimately led to both Mussolini and Italy's defeat in World War II.(1) Italy's economy was finally revived in 1946 when a democratic republic replaced the monarchy. In 1999, Italy joined the European Monetary Union and now uses the "Euro Dollar" as their currency. This paper will show that Italy's most current affliction revolves around the influx of illegal immigration."
From the Paper "The islands of the Caribbean have had been part of the history of the New World since the time of their discovery by Columbus. The island of Haiti served as the central base for the exploration and conquest of much of the Western Hemisphere and was also key in the development of slavery in the western hemisphere. The island was first sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1492, and the island played a role in Spanish history for as long as Spain has had important political and commercial interests in this Hemisphere. Haiti would become the dominant force by the nineteenth century, and the Dominican Republic would not emerge from under Haiti's shadow until 1844. The history of this region has been such that the development of democratic institutions has been difficult..."
From the Paper "Bahrain is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia, a series of islands that are generally level expanses of sand and rock and with a causeway connecting the country to Saudi Arabia. The government is a traditional monarchy. Oil was discovered in Bahrain in the 1930s, but it was not a great deal of oil when compared to the other Gulf states. Sheik Isa ibn-Sulman al-Khalifa became emir in 1961 with a determination to diversify his country's economy. He set about establishing Bahrain as a major financial center. Since then, the country also provides the populace with free medical care, education, and old-age pensions ("Bahrain" Infoplease).
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
The political structure of Bahrain allows for a degree of participation in the political process on the part of the..."
From the Paper "Indonesia is a nation formed in 1949. The region was formerly under the control of the Netherlands. Indonesia is composed of the islands of Java and Madura, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi (Celebes), Bangka Belitung, the Riau Archipelago, the Moluccas, and the Nusa Tenggara Islands (including Bali and Timor). In 1963 Indonesia also assumed sovereignty over Irian Jaya, formerly Netherlands New Guinea. In 1976, East Timor joined Indonesia as the 27th province. Indonesia today has a well-diversified economy. Every sector of the Indonesian economy plays an important role. The country has a strong agricultural potential, and thus agriculture has historically been the dominant activity, both in terms of employment and output. The mining sector has also made important contributions..."
From the Paper "Hawaii today is the farthest west state in the Union. It is also the most unusual state in the United States, for it consists of 132 islands and atolls extended across some 1,600 miles of ocean. The origin of this place of beauty was extremely violent, for the islands were forced up from the ocean floor by mighty violent explosions. The molten rock from these explosions built up and then was worked on by the elements of the crashing surf, the sea winds, and powerful rivers, carving the lush mountains and valleys seen there today (Stone 2). Hawaii is the northernmost point of the huge triangle of Pacific Ocean islands of Polynesia. The Hawaiian islands extend from Kure Atoll in the northwest to the Big Island on the southeast, and Ka Lae on the Big Island is the southernmost point of the United States. The eight major islands are Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui, Oahu..."
From the Paper "This research paper compares and contrasts aspects of the histories, governments, international relations, politics and economies of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The principal legacy of Spanish colonial rule was economic exploitation and misrule. Costa Rica emerged with a social structure which was more conducive to future political and economic progress. Costa Rica developed into a solid democracy, whereas Nicaragua until 1990 was misgoverned by a series of dictatorships of the right and left. Both countries have been dominated by foreign economic interests for most of their histories and have occupied a peripheral role in the world economy. Nicaragua has been the subject of several American military interventions and suffered greatly from becoming a cockpit of international tension during..."
From the Paper "The city of Ephesus was a major seaport in the first century Roman empire, located on the Cayster River. The river brought down much silt, forming a fertile plain, which also contributed to the wealth of the city. (Ironically, this same silt eventually filled the harbor and the coast is now three miles west of the city.) However, at the time of Paul's arrival in Ephesus it was a thriving metropolis with a long (and checkered) history. That Paul found any converts in Ephesus is itself a miracle considering both the wealth and the pagan religion that Ephesus was steeped in.
Besides its position as a land and sea trading center (being the terminus of one land route and easily accessed by two others, in addition to its favorable port) Ephesus had a unique history with Rome. "Partial recovery came to the western edges of the..."
From the Paper "Spain is a country that is being watched closely by the rest of Europe to see how it develops politically in the post-Franco era. Franco was the dictatorial ruler of Spain for half a century, and in the post-Franco era efforts have been made to increase the democratic underpinnings of the government and to increase the participation of the people in the political process. An issue that has to be faced involves the legitimacy that the government of Spain can now achieve. Legitimacy in political terms means that the government has constitutional support for exercising its power. The previous dictatorship lacked legitimacy in the sense suggested by Locke and Rousseau in that it did not derive its power from the people but rather imposed that power from above. With the end of the dictatorship, Spain immediately began edging toward legitimacy by seeking the..."
Discusses the method used to unify human and physical geography and utilize space more effectively and humanistically. Examines technology, applications and how it compares to traditional geography.
1,575 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 6 sources, 1999, $ 55.95
From the Paper "Geographical Information Systems is probably the most important and influential methodological development to have occurred in geography in the past two decades, helping to unify human and physical geography and allowing geographers to map space in ways more sophisticated and more complex than dreamed of before. And yet GIS is not without its critics, who argue that it glorifies technology over theory, reducing geography to a "gee whiz" level of description that - while visually engaging -- provides no substantive analysis. This paper defines GIS, looks at its limitations as well as its strengths, and seeks to predict what the future of GIS may be.
While a definition of what constitutes GIS is central to discussing its role within geography, such a definition is in fact difficult to produce since the term is used so variably by ..."
