A position paper arguing that the Clinton Administration's refusal to recognize a 'right to food' is entirely inconsistent with its recognition of economic and social rights.
1,410 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 6 sources, 2000, $ 46.95
From the Paper "Among various scholars? enumerations of particular human rights, the fundamental rights listed may be classified as either political and civil rights or economic and social rights. Political and civil rights are negative rights, which are typically satisfied by the mere absence of constraint or harm. In contrast, economic and social rights are positive rights, which constitute an affirmative claim to certain goods and services in society. Human rights have traditionally been considered, by definition, those rights that are universal in nature. Justifying economic and social rights has been problematic because not all goods are attainable. The provision of many economic and social goods is dependent upon a society's production possibilities, which in many nations are too inadequate to provide for basic needs, and therefore deny the universal possibility of fulfilling such rights. However, consideration of the duties and obligations of actors in a global economy reveal that economic and social rights are, in fact, justified. Mr. Bush and Mr. Reagan's terming of such rights as mere "goals" or "objectives" should not be restored; the Clinton Administration's termination, by policy, of the distinction between economic and social rights and political and civil rights represents a moral movement forward. However, the Clinton Administration's refusal to recognize a "right to food" is entirely inconsistent with its recognition of economic and social rights. "
Tags: american, economic, hunger, right, social, states, united, world
An opinion piece as to why the War Powers Act is inane, empty and clearly an unconstitutional piece of legislation, the epitome of poorly constructed and inadequately thought out and executed legislation, and should be repealed.
945 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 3 sources, 2000, $ 33.95
From the Paper "The joint resolution "concerning the war powers of Congress and the President" was passed on November 7, 1973 above a Presidential veto; Congress made the decision to override the veto of President Nixon, a rare legislative occurrence. Such unified support among Congress indicates that the purpose of the act was primarily the self-aggrandizement of Congress, at the expense of the executive branch, compromising the balance of power. The War Powers Act is an inane, empty and clearly unconstitutional piece of legislation, the epitome of poorly constructed and inadequately thought out and executed legislation. It is frequently skirted and is most unclear. Further, it obfuscates responsibility and accountability of government officials. In the interest of the nation, the War Powers Act should be repealed."
A look at this interesting work, dealing with documents from the Stalin era which give the reader insight into the workings of the mind of the Soviet dictator.
1,314 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 1 source, 1999, $ 44.95
From the Paper "Joseph Stalin left behind a legacy in Russia, a duplicitous legacy of Russian development. Duplicitous because, although the nation of the Soviet Union advanced to an industrialized state under Stalin's command, the people of Russia suffered under his repressive economic policies and his political reign of terror. Appropriately termed The Glasnost Revelations, as details of Stalin's tyranny were not unearthed until the revelation of information under Gorbachev's policy of openness, termed Glasnost, Walter Laqueur's work provides an insight into the world of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. Laqueur first gives significant biographical information concerning Stalin to better help the reader understand his personal motivations. Laqueur then delves into Stalin's ruthless pursuit of economic goals, and his collectivization of agriculture, and further considers his notorious purges, the motivation behind this reign of terror, and the destruction and legacy imparted by this tyranny. "
A review of Margaret Weitz's book, "Sisters in the Resistance," about women serving in the French resistance during the Second World War, emphasizing their struggles and sacrifices in the face of wartime hardship.
980 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 1 source, 1999, $ 34.95
From the Paper "Margaret Collins Weitz very poignantly illustrates these desires and actions that women in France experienced in her book Sisters in the Resistance. Not only does Weitz substantiate these women's decisions and lifestyles, but also, through a combination of literary narration, she paints the lives of these women for the reader. She, together with these women, illustrates their victories as well as their losses, which lead to their eventual shaping of French history."
This paper shows how the Rational Choice Theory, especially the element of maximizing utility, best explains why Iraq decided to resort to war and invade Iran in 1981.
2,010 words (approx. 8 pages), 6 sources, 2001, $ 63.95
From the Paper "A territorial dispute concerning the Shatt-el-Arab waterway was a key issue foreshadowing a crisis between Iraq and Iran. The river was vital to economic prosperity to whoever controlled it, which was Iran at the time of the crisis. It is located at the northernmost area of the Persian Gulf, thus providing strategic access to oil rights and maritime activity (Tahir-Kheli and Ayubi 12). Disputes over the waterway even date back to the early 17th century. Briefly, however, Iraq wanted the entire river, while Iran demanded half of it ( Tahir-Kheli and Ayubi 20). The Algiers Treaty, made at the end of an OPEC summit conference on March 6, 1975, finally granted Iran's demand. Although in theory the treaty was an approach to a peaceful resolution between the two countries, it increased tensions even more. Saddam Hussein perceived the treaty to be humiliating for Iraq and was, therefore, determined to revise it. However, as long as Iran was capable of preponderant political and military forces, Iraq would have to adhere to the treaty."
Abstract This paper is an overview of what the World Trade Organization (WTO) is and what it does. The history of the WTO is discussed as well as its advantages and disadvantages to Canada.
From the Paper "The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization engaging in the rules of trade between countries. At its core are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world's trading nations and confirmed in their parliaments. The organization accounts for over 90% of world trade and consist of 135 member nations that range from the US-to-Cuba-to-The Kyrgyz Republic."
Abstract This paper reflects on 50 years of the United Nations, including its occasional failings, according to many, to provide global peace and security and to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief to those in need. It looks at how the United Nations was founded, how it is structured, its role and its failures.
From the Paper "Since 1945, the United Nations has been, directly or indirectly, part of the lives of virtually everyone on earth. It has been praised, ridiculed, condemned, and ignored. It has been used for both positive and negative goals (Woog 7). It has often fallen short of its main purposes, to provide global peace and security and to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief to those in need. It has also been accused of being out of date (Eichelberger 22). But this past year, the United Nations celebrated its 50th anniversary. It was an event to reflect on the lessons of the past and chart a course for the future. It was a time to examine new ways of using United Nation's potential to the greatest degree possible (Chesnoff 10)."
Abstract This essay addresses communism in the USSR, and why it was doomed to fail. Reasons behind the break-up of the USSR are discussed as well as Mikhail Gorbachev's structural overhaul, Glasnost and Perestroika and the effects of these policies. Lastly, the paper addresses why the USSR break-up occurred relatively peacefully.
From the Paper "The seeds of disintegration of the Soviet Union were sown even as it formally began in 1922. Even as the shift to communism was made through the barrel of a gun, numerous individuals, ethnic groups and organizations such as the mainstream churches resisted their new communist masters. And while their resistance was stifled by violent and brutal measures, such as occurred in 1956 in Hungary and in 1965 in Czechoslovakia, resistance to communism continued, albeit underground. Like a festering boil in which pressure builds up over time, resistance to the central communist authorities in Moscow, within Russia and ultimately throughout the Soviet Empire, increased steadily. "
Tags: communism, glasnost, gorbachev, perestroika, soviet, union
This paper examines some of the major NAFTA provisions and concentrates on specific U.S.-Mexico NAFTA obligations and the current debate about whether or not to allow Mexican trucks and drivers onto U.S. highways.
5,930 words (approx. 23.7 pages), 23 sources, 2001, $ 141.95
Abstract This paper examines the effects that The North American Free Trade Agreement has had on both the American and Mexican economies as a result of its inception. The author also examines how the U.S. has not abided by all provisions of the NAFTA and the resulting conflict. In doing so, the author addresses the following question: Is allowing Mexican trucks to operate on U.S. highways a safety risk, or an obligation under NAFTA?"
From the Paper "The North American Free Trade Agreement (hereafter referred to as NAFTA) was created to eliminate tariffs and many non-tariff barriers between its three members: the United States, Mexico and Canada. Many tariffs ended when NAFTA took effect on Jan. 1, 1994; others will be phased out over 15 years. Among NAFTA's principal objectives, the conflict lies in one of the most important objectives of all: to promote conditions of fair competition in the free trade area. The elimination of trade barriers and the unrestricted facilitation of cross-border movement of goods between the territories of the parties is a necessity if this objective is to be achieved. However, trade with Mexico since the inception of NAFTA has seemingly been one-sided."
Abstract This paper examines the legacy of Richard Nixon.In particular, Nixon's topsy-turvy relationship with China is examined with focus on the reason behind Nixon dramatically altering American relations with China. Another area that is analyzed is whether Nixon's pursuit to leave his mark as an elder statesmen rationalized his change of stance in regards to US-China relations.
From the Paper "Richard Nixon altered the nature of America's relationship with the People's Republic of China for political and personal reasons. Nixon wanted the Soviet Union to be more accommodating to American demands and he saw improving relations with China as the perfect bargaining chip. Nixon also wanted to put an end to the Vietnam War and he tried to use China to do so. Finally, Nixon wanted to show the American public and the world that he and his government could act on the world stage and he attempted to make his mark as an international statesman by improving relations with China."
Abstract This paper discusses the Battle of Midway and Coral Sea during WWII. The author discusses the causes for the attacks, the preparations for the attacks by the countries involved and the strategies used.
From the Paper "The Pacific situation is very grave." These words were spoken by President Roosevelt to Prime Minister Winston Churchill on March 9, 1942.1 He was correct in saying this, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had passed with disastrous results for the U.S. Pacific fleet. Of the ninety-four Naval vessels at Pearl Harbor eight battleships were lost to action; three sunk, one capsized and four more heavily damaged.2 In addition three light cruisers, three destroyers, and several other light vessels were badly damaged. One hundred eighty-eight aircraft were destroyed and sixty-three damaged.3 Luck did not smile entirely on the Japanese however, as the American aircraft carriers were all at sea at the time of the attack. Also, although it's significance was not realized at the time, an additional stroke of luck for the Americans was the failure of the Japanese to destroy the repair shops and the oil tanks located on the base. Within several hours of the initial attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked British Malaya, Singora, Thailand, Singapore, Guam, Hong Kong, Wake and the Philippines.4 "
Tags: world, war, two, admiral, america, coral, harbor, japan, pearl, sea, usa, yamamoto
Abstract This paper presents a brief examination of American foreign policy from the Vietnam War to the bombardment of Cambodia, the Gulf War and the economic sanctions on Iraq as well as the present war against bin-La din's al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
From the Paper "The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today is my own government," said Martin Luther King in 1967. King's premise is presently shared by many, in the United States and elsewhere, who believe that the US is the "evil empire" of the second half of the 20th century. While the current American offensive is justified by many throughout the political spectrum ? The Nation's Richard Falk maintains that "The war in Afghanistan against apocalyptic terrorism" is the first truly just war since World War II" ? others argue that the bombardment is merely another example of the violent, disdainful nature of America's foreign policy. The American intervention in WWII, of course, is widely regarded as a necessary contribution to the containment of the expansionist Nazi aggressors. Not too many people repudiate the legitimacy of that war ? the mere existence of various non-white ethnic groups throughout the world is enough to dispel any counter notions. In retrospect, most people agree that the US would have saved the life of millions had it recognized the nature of the enemy sooner, and thus joined the war earlier. "
Traces the economic integration in Europe from the years after WWII to the groundbreaking Maastricht Treaty and identifies some of the key challenges to this process.
2,469 words (approx. 9.9 pages), 10 sources, 2001, $ 75.95
Abstract The paper comments that at the dawn of this new millennium the project of European economic integration faces a number of challenges, each of which the EU is striving to address effectively. The paper goes on to describe these challenges and explore the pressing issues associated with them. Also examined, is the development of European economic integration from the years following World War Two to the rise of the European Union.
From the Paper "In 1995 the Madrid European Council asked for an examination of the likely effects of enlargement on the European Union. The report was to contain information pertaining to the consequences of enlargement in regard to agricultural and structural policies as well as a long-term budgetary outlook. Financial information was important because it was thought that enlargement would entail an extensive overhaul of EU economic policy in order to incorporate new member states."
An examination of the meaning and origin of "national security," the absence of geographical limits in defining national security, and a critical examination of the historical impact of American foreign policy during the Cold War (cites Chomsky extensivel
1,336 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 3 sources, 2001, $ 44.95
Abstract The paper argues that although the term national security, as a Cold War construct, is new, the application of power abroad, as needed by the state, is recorded even in Biblical times. The paper looks at US foreign policy throughout the 20th century, around the time of the world wars and during the Cold War. Some of the questions looked at are: How the state defines the goals that compose its national interest, the means the state selects to pursue those goals, and the state's identification of others as friend or foe determine how the promotion of the inherently ambiguous concept of "national security" parlays into actual policy. The paper proves that promotion of national security is the logical means by which the state's preferences are realized.
From the Paper "Instead, maintenance of a subservient client role for such states was sufficient; the United States would enjoy the benefits of its clients acceding to American preferences for their economic and foreign policies, without being burdened with the chore of actually administering British-style colonies. The international capitalist order, which allowed free mobility of capital, made control of large swaths of territory and people irrelevant to increasing wealth."
Tags: capitalism, chomsky, cold, foreign, government, policy, war
Abstract This paper considers constitutional and moral limits to the powers granted to the American President under executive privilege, especially as concerns President Kennedy's actions during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The author examines the impacts of the misuses of power with special reference to this example.
From the Paper "It is often said that the President of the United States is the most powerful person in the world. But is that true? What are the powers of the president, for example, in a crisis situation? And how far can he push his authority? In some cases, the Constitution is very vague about the powers of the president;Article II, section 1 states simply: "The executive Power shall be vested in the President of the United States." Article II, section 3 states that the president "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed." Whatever the intent of this vagueness, future generations would be left to argue the case for or against giving more power to the president, depending on the situation. These powers, as interpreted over time, are inherent powers."
