Abstract This paper looks at the harrowing effects of chemical warfare and how it changed the face of war during WWI. It gives examples of the types of weaponry used, their side effects and how these have developed to become the destructive arms of today.
From the Paper "According to many of the period's experts, WWI was supposed to be fought by large numbers of men, in a heroic fashion, with the other technologically advanced weapons such as planes, machine-guns and tanks. Instead of the 'normal' war of the attacker winning and the defender put on the run, this war was interrupted by trench warfare and battles of attrition. Trenches were the norm, and to help get battles back to 'natural' means, gas was put into practice to help each side get back into (in their eyes at the time) a more modern conflict. So what were these chemical weapons? How and when were they used? What role did they play in the soldier's day-to-day life both physically and psychologically? "
Tags: bombs, chemicals, france, gas, germany, hague, history, military, trench, war, warfare, wwi
Abstract This essay explores the results of globalization on the food industry in regards to an increasing global population. It reviews issues such as GM foods, biotechnology, and over/under consumption in analyzing how a growing global community might sustain itself in the future. Also, it discusses the cutting out of small time farmers in light of biotechnology.
The essay concludes that a reassessment of globalization needs to be done in order to sustain civilization.
From the Paper "In a rapidly developing community such as ours, where economic growth and higher standards of living are replacing the worries of daily existence with goals of material success, our continuation in the direction of bigger and better things has never been doubted. Technology has been a major player in this trend, touching on our lives in nearly every way possible. When one reflects upon technology, one immediately thinks of cellular phones, the internet, automobiles, and various other non-essential aspects of life. While our technological evolution has been a topic of great debate, over whether such advances have led to a push towards laziness and social isolation, one must remember that technology reaches far beyond the spheres of social culture and into the realm of our basic needs as human beings. The infringement of technology on today's food production has, of late, been a rather moot subject, but is nonetheless one that must be addressed as an issue of major concern. Although globalization has often been seen as an advance for the bettering of the quality of life, this is one instance that might prove to be quite the opposite."
Abstract This paper discusses the political and social climate in which Sir Thomas More lived, and how it influenced him to pen his idea on how a perfect society should be in his novel "Utopia". The author also provides a brief biography on More.
From the Paper "More than anything else, the author used Utopia to criticize the society he lived in, and to offer up hope of what could be if everyone lived up to the true Christian ideals. Knowing that communal living was not a true possibility, he nevertheless continued to mention it as an ideal way to live. The More character continued to criticize the idea, but just that fact that it is brought up in such detail gave the reader a hint at Thomas More's influential monastic experience."
Abstract This paper examines the constitution against the decisions of the Supreme Court and evaluates how the meaning of the U.S. Constitution has been shaped by the personalities, philosophies and composition of the members of the U.S. Supreme Court. The writer compares and contrasts two U.S. Supreme Court Justices with different philosophies of law and interpretation. The paper covers the theory and cites specific case examples and their impact on the United States.
From the Paper "We live in what is supposed to be the best nation on earth. We have freedoms that many do not have and we have opportunity that many never see. This country is one that embraces diversity and personal rights. While we have all of these things we have also reached a point in our existence where there are so many people and so many diverse ideas that its difficult to sort out what is and isn"t a constitutional right sometimes. The Supreme Court is often charged with making those decisions, which outs the Supreme Court in the position of not only interpreting the constitution but also shaping it as well by its decisions and rulings.?
Tags: government, run, structure, parliament, president, judge, court, decide, law
Abstract This paper contends that the ultimate conflict resolution in the Middle East, will only come about when both sides accept the pragmatism of partition. The author claims that as long as Israeli or Palestinian groups continue to claim the whole of the territory, undivided, there will be no end to the violence.
From the Paper ?John Mearsheimer in his essay The Impossible Partition, argues that partition as a solution to the Israeli-Palestine conflict has no chance "because Israel cannot be secure alongside a securely independent Palestine state" and Palestine cannot be expected to accept a sort of limited statehood that would satisfy Israeli security concerns. While in Compromising Palestine, Kliemans? guarded but nevertheless more hopeful belief is that "Partition Plus" is the only realistic solution because it enables both sides to: achieve distinct political identities, reach moderate security guarantees while it recognizes that absolute security is chimera, and continue to cooperate in some areas.?
Abstract The paper looks at how nations identify with others that are similar to them and whose enemies value a society they oppose. The paper describes how terrorism is used to achieve a political agenda. Also discussed is the recent move by President Bush away from isolationist foreign policy as a result of the terrorism of 9/11.
From the Paper "At one level, this question is unanswerable in the same way child abuse and rape are incomprehensible. For people who do not believe that violence is ever acceptable except to defend oneself or other innocent people, it is impossible to fathom what would motivate people to harm innocent bystanders, an element in so much of terrorism. But, clearly ? given the number of terrorist acts that occur in the world ? to other people terrorism is something that simply makes good political sense: Realpolitik carried to logical extremes."
Abstract This in-depth paper looks at way in which the Internet can be used for terrorist activities. It produces evidence that the FBI has of such attacks that have already been perpetrated and lists examples. The paper also looks at different types of attacks such as worms, viruses, unauthorized attacks, falling sites, 'pingings' and more. It reveals who are the main players in this "game", both groups and individuals.
From the Paper "It has been called "information war? or "cyber terrorism" -- the capability to let loose terror and destruction with a few well-aimed clicks on a computer keyboard. Although it is an unusual and a potentially lethal subject, the public does not know very much about it. However, experts in and around the country, to the top level of the federal government, are taking it seriously.
The FBI defines terrorism as the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. Cyber-terrorism can be the use of computing assets to threaten or force others. An example of cyber-terrorism could be hacking into a hospital computer system and changing someone's medicine prescription to a lethal dosage as an act of revenge. It sounds far fetched, but these things can and do happen. Cyber terrorism has also been defined as ?the use of computing resources against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.?1."
Abstract The writer's opinion is that the Russian Revolution was neither planned nor led by any political faction. He finds that it was the result of the collapse of the monarchy's ability to govern. The paper explores the historical, political and social events which lead to the revolution and whether these would have happened with or without Lenin's involvement.
From the Paper "In February, 1917, civil unrest in Russia escalated into worker strikes and finally exploded into armed rebellion. Longtime Marxist and revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was ecstatic when the news reached Switzerland, where he lived in exile. He had devoted his life to orchestrating a worker's rebellion that would tear the tsar from power. In 1905, after Bloody Sunday when Tsar Nicholas II had ordered his army to fire on a peaceful labor demonstration, Lenin had come within touching distance of his goal, but the workers, fearing the strength of the military, had backed down. Now, fifteen years later, with the workers revolting and the military in mutiny, Lenin had finally achieved his lifelong dream (Lenin)."
Tags: russian, czar, revolution, lenin, communism, rasputin, nicholas
Abstract This paper discusses elections from a Political Science perspective. The paper includes an introduction of the topic, a brief overview of its history and functions, different systems of vote counting, types of election, electoral abuses and a look at the system of Electoral College.
From the Paper "Election is the formal process of selection of a person or people to office(s) of authority through voting. It could also constitute the choice between alternate courses of action (such as in a referendum or a plebiscite) and may be conducted by balloting, a show of hands or by oral voting. The voters are known collectively as the electorate."
Abstract The paper talks about the history of the electoral college and the negative impact it has had on Presidential elections. The paper shows how the Electoral College originally performed indirect election with the electors from each state based on the states; representation in Congress; and how this was changed with the 12th Amendment. The paper shows several election results as an example. It questions whether the US truly needs this system and discusses key points on methods to change the electoral college.
From the Paper "The Electoral College was formed during the Constitutional Convention back in 1787. Article 2, Section 1 states: "Each state was allocated a number of electors equal to the number of its U.S. Senators plus the number of its U.S. Representatives (Federal Election Commission 1). At the convention most delegates believed that the people of the United States were not;matured; enough to directly elect the President. Since the delegates didn;t truly trust the people they proposed three different methods of an Electoral College."
Abstract A discussion of George Orwell's vision of war from his experience as a soldier in the Spanish Civil War in the Marxist Unity Worker's Party. It details the political conflicts at the time and the idealism of the Marxist Worker's Party. Orwell discusses the meaning of the war to him as well as his profound feelings for the Spanish people, and the political agenda that counteracted any real progress made against Franco. Orwell could not have written about what he had just been through without writing about the political reasoning behind those he was fighting with, fighting against, and struggling against on the same side of the war.
From the Paper "George Orwell wrote "Homage to Catalonia" about his time spent as a soldier for POUM, the Worker's Party of Marxist Unity, during the Spanish Civil War. His vision of war was certainly different going in than it ended up being after he had spent several months on the front line. Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of the war (besides the cold) for him was the political conflicts that were undermining the overall efforts of those who were against Franco. Suppose Orwell wrote about his experiences without bringing in the very confusing different political agendas ? would the message of "Homage to Catalonia" still be the same? Hardly - even Orwell himself said that it would ?be impossible to write about the Spanish war from a purely military angle. It was above all things a political war.? (46) Yet in spite of Orwell's disgust at the conflict among those who were supposedly fighting for the same things, Orwell found it necessary to write his memoirs of his time in Spain. Clearly the war meant so many different things to him, and it is through "Homage to Catalonia" that he tries to convey these meanings ? his profound feelings for the Spanish people, and the political agenda that counteracted any real progress made against Franco. To Orwell, his interactions with the P.O.U.M. Catalans, as well as those from other socialist "groups" fighting on the same side were the people who affected him most profoundly. It was these relationships that shaped his experience, which is the sole purpose of his "Homage to Catalonia"."
Tags: POUM, Marxism, unity, workers, Spanish, Civil, War
Abstract An essay which examines the problem of unjust world politics in relation to Hedley Bull's concept of international society in his book "The Anarchical Society" - in order to answer the question whether international society exists or not. The paper discusses that reality shows that contemporary world politics, in many aspects, is characterized by inequality and a gap between developed and developing countries.
From the Paper "In his book "The Anarchical Society", Hedley Bull mentions three elements of world politics and one of those is the element of cooperation and regulated intercourse among states. According to Bull, this element is the basis of the assumption that within the international system an international society does exist. To prove the existence of international society in modern world politics, Bull notes the existence of institutions that foster the cooperation among states: international law, diplomacy, international organizations, and balance of power. The existence of international society is still being debated in world politics based on the reality that there are many problems related to global international society. One of the problems questioning the presence of international society is the fact that contemporary world politics is so manifestly unjust while, according to Emmerich de Vattel, justice is the basis of all society including the society of states."
Tags: english, idealist, politics, realist, relations, school, society, system, world
Abstract This paper discusses political socialization, the process of developing political opinions, biases and even political apathy. It discusses the influences of family, schooling, peers, mass media, political parties and religion on one's beliefs. Four methods of indoctrination into the political society are also discussed-- latent, manifest, affective, and instrumental socialization.
From the Paper "Political socialization begins early on in life and is an ongoing process affecting individuals throughout. It is how people eventually identify personal beliefs and expectations in American politics. These political views can include our level of patriotism, faith in the democratic system, standards by which we hold governing bodies, and opinions regarding public policies. From the playground to the classroom, the office to the dinner table, much of our lives affect our political opinions. The most easily identified agents of this are family, schooling, peers, mass media, political parties and religious influences. Further more, these means indoctrinate us in the political society through four basic methods: latent, manifest, affective, and instrumental socialization."
Tags: development, beliefs, religions, America, environment, democracy, government
Abstract The following paper examines the distinction between interest groups and social movements which are sometimes hard to distinguish. This paper argues that interest groups are usually more narrowly focused and depend on organized supporters of otherwise loosely mobilized citizens within a larger social movement.
From the Paper "Elections are formal procedures for choosing officers or making binding decisions concerning current and future policies. Elections are widely held in private organizations, such as corporations, church groups, or labor unions. Public institutions hold elections to select officers, to choose representatives, and to settle specific policy questions. Elections also may take place within specific governmental bodies or institutions as, in the United States, when members of a state legislature elect a speaker of the house. The discussion that follows, however, will focus on public elections for officers of governmental units or to decide public policy issues. Such elections commonly have a larger number of persons entitled to participate and are part of the total political process within the governmental system."
Tags: contest, policy, preferences, competing, candidates, government
Abstract A paper which presents a detailed discussion about the war on terrorism and the media's manipulation of the war. The writer outlines the societal views of the US attacks on Middle Eastern soil. The writer also describes the way the media has manipulated society members regarding the attacks by refusing to cover certain issues and cooperating with the US government.
From the Paper "One of the earliest ways that the media began to manipulate the world opinion about the United States attack in the Middle East was its coverage of Bin Laden's reaction to the attacks on 9-11. The media on an almost world wide basis began to claim in November that Bin Laden had proclaimed credit was his for the attacks(Truth pg 10). Media in the United States, Britain, New Zealand and other nations insisted that he had admitted, "we did it" (Truth pg 10). It was reported that he confessed on a news network in England. This would have a very heavy impact on the way society would view Bin Laden and the war against the Middle East. Until this occurred, America as well as other nations were outraged at the attacks on America which killed thousands of civilians but there was a hesitation about who to attack. "
