Abstract This paper explores the premise of Chafe's book that the Vietnam War interrupted what could have been a very successful program for alleviating the poverty and racial divide that existed during the Kennedy and Johnson presidencies. The paper discusses the claim put forth by Chafe that opposition to the Vietnam War prematurely ended a series of social and economic reforms, begun by Kennedy and Johnson, which aimed at eliminating various social and economic problems and to which society was receptive because of changes achieved by the Civil Rights Movement.
From the Paper "At the same point in time, the State Department's longstanding policy of containing the encroachment of communism had used the incident on the Gulf of Tonkin to commit America to an unpopular war, which Chafe claims reflected conservative beliefs, and that the same conservatives wished to preserve traditional institutions and morality. The assassinations of MLK and RFK, according to Chafe, demoralized their followers. Chafe's claim is that 1968 was the last point in the post-war era in which positive social reform appeared possible through political action."
This paper discusses that globalization has become one of the most strongly debated topics in the modern world, debated largely over the very technologies that have made its exponential growth possible.
Abstract This paper explains that globalization is the most fundamental of all forces of cultural change and is debated in much the same way that it has always been debated, isolationism vs. internationalism. The author points out that, regardless of whether globalization is more positive or more negative for any given population, its extreme growth will have cultural effects of which most people would never even dream. The paper stresses that one fundamental change in the world scene has been the foundational nature of law, which more closely reflects international ideals and not necessarily those of the nation introducing them.
From the Paper "Another interesting historical example of cultural change associated with globalization is the Orientalism movement resulting from European travel and return from the Islamic world. Orientalism, largely a homogenized, romanticized and poorly interpreted version of the cultural reality within a very diverse region, was so pervasive that entire regions changed their production output to meet the demands of the Western countries for Oriental goods. It also can be said that, often times, the authentic and fundamental arts, crafts and trades changed their output not to meet actual demand for profit but to meet the stereotyped European ideals of the cultural foundation."
Abstract This paper introduces the topic of racial profiling in airports. Specifically, it discusses how terrorist attacks in America call for increasing racial profiling in airports, similar to Israel's El Al Airlines racial profiling tactics. It looks at how racial profiling is a highly controversial topic and how some countries have found racial profiling helps keep people safer, while many political groups feel it is a clear violation of rights and should never be used. It evaluates how, although racial profiling may be controversial, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it may be one of the only reliable ways available to keep the country safe from further attacks.
From the Paper "The ACLU feels that people "of color" are searched and detained more often in airports, and one African-American, Aquil Abdullah, agrees, as he is routinely stopped almost every time he travels by air. "He knows what the problem is. It's not hard to figure out ? once he introduces himself. His name is Aquil Abdullah. Aquil Abdullah thinks his name is on a list somewhere of suspect people" (Schlesinger). Abdullah is an American athlete, who is the first to win the prestigious Henley Regatta in Britain, and ironically, he is not even Muslim, he is a Catholic. His story is not unusual, and groups such as the ACLU cite his experience as one of the reasons racial profiling is a violation of rights. Abdullah is stopped simply because of his name."
Abstract This paper examines both sides of the welfare reform system to attempt to arrive at a factual decision as to whether the reform of the welfare system was good or bad. It is hypothesized that welfare reform was good overall, although it had some areas that have been found to be detrimental to the very people that it was designed to help. In order to study whether this hypothesis is valid, a literature review is conducted to analyze the data that has been collected by others.
From the Paper "According to one recently written welfare reform book, there are many things that the country could have done over the years to reform the welfare system. They only did a few of these things, and many of them were not done properly. However, the authors deal with the current welfare reform ideas as well, and their thoughts seem to revolve around one central issue. The current welfare reform limits benefits for a certain period of time. Most of the benefits are for two years or less, which isn?t really very long for someone trying to straighten out their life. Other benefits have a five-year lifetime limit, so people who get themselves off of welfare and then need to go back on it may not get the help that they need, depending on the amount of time they were on it the first time (Goldberg & Collins, 2001)."
Abstract This paper explores the development of the American economy from the end of the 19th century until the present. It examines the connection between this development and U.S. foreign policy goals and looks at American business attempts to expand overseas. The U.S. policy of economic expansion in Latin America and the benefits to the American economy it entailed are discussed, as well as the American foreign policy that helped foster America's economic growth. The paper goes on to discuss present-day protectionist policies and the arguments cited in favor of and in opposition to these policies.
From the Paper "International trade serves several purposes, but one of the most important is the expansion of markets. Internal markets have a finite size, and at some point international trade is necessary if markets are to grow any further. In addition, there are often foreign policy implications to international trade in both directions, importing and exporting, and international trade thus serves an important function for security and national interests. Often, though, trade is restricted for the same reasons, either to protect a domestic industry or, in some cases, to bring pressure to bear on foreign governments."
Abstract The thesis of the paper is that the U.S. must continue to aid Israel financially. Relying on empirical data and relevant communiques and news articles, the writer supports this thesis by providing the following arguments: Israel is a democracy under terrorist threat; Israel's security is fundamental to the region's stability; aid to Israel maintains a military balance that reduces the likelihood that nuclear weapons will be employed. Major objections are addressed.
From the Paper "In these difficult times, it is critical that the United States government does everything in its power to disrupt terrorist activity worldwide, while maintaining or improving global stability. It is therefore vital that other countries with similar concerns and interests have adequate military capability. Israel is also a state that is currently engaged in an anti-terrorist war, fighting against guerrillas whose ideology makes them enemies with all who do not share their views, but particularly with Westerners. Notwithstanding the budding democracies of Iraq and Afghanistan, Israel is the only democratic state in the Middle East as well as America's only reliable ally in the region. A secure Israel is essential to stability in the Middle East. Israel's protection can be insured only if it has sufficient military power to defend itself from terrorism and offer a counterweight to the hostile states in region Considering these factors, the United States must continue to provide financial and political aid to Israel."
Tags: arab, east, foreign, hamas, idf, israeli, middle, terrorism
Abstract This paper puts forward the premise that terrorism is not an exclusive act, isolated to those of the September 11 bombers, but rather an act employed by many different people, for many different reasons, throughout the centuries. It looks at how the terrorist attacks against Americans and Israelis, in particular, are done to change the policies of those nations, just as those nations use violence to change the policies of others. It shows how the aggression by the Islamic groups involving attacks on innocent civilians is directly correlated to their abilities to coerce.
From the Paper "This analysis of terrorism is not limited to the attacks on the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon, but it is also applicable to the majority of the acts carried out in the Middle East, presently. One of the most popular methods of Islamic terrorism (particularly carried out against Israelis) is the use of suicide bombers. Young Palestinians strap makeshift bombs around their body and detonate them in concentrations of people. Again, the ultimate goal is coercion of the government or group of people being attacked, using the only effective means available."
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to introduce and analyze the topic of the Iran-Contra Affair. Specifically, the paper discusses what the Iran-Contra Affair was, how it developed, how it was discovered, the Congressional hearings, and the aftermath. The Iran-Contra Affair was really a series of covert operations initiated by the Reagan Administration and carried out, first, by the CIA and then the NSC. These affairs were investigated by Congressional committees after they became public and were as detrimental to the government as the Watergate affair because they subverted the Congress and the Constitution.
From the Paper "The Iran-contra affair is certainly one of the most notorious acts in United States governmental history. Many critics have likened it to the Watergate Scandal of the 1970s Nixon administration in terms of importance and sheer ignorance. One writer noted, "The Iran-contra affair raised serious questions about the nature and scope of congressional oversight of foreign affairs and the limits of the executive branch" (Editors 23448). After the Congressional hearings ended, numerous reports and recounting of testimony were published, including a 690-page report from the Tower and other committees who investigated the affairs. Caspar Weinberger (Secretary of the Defense) and several other participants were pardoned by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, and North and Poindexter's criminal convictions were eventually overturned, so very little actually happened legally to the main participants in the affairs."
Abstract This paper introduces the topic of the Federal Reserve Board. It looks at how the Federal Reserve Board is an integral part of the Federal Reserve System of the United States and how it creates and maintains much of the monitorial policy of the nation. The board members are responsible for the monetary health and security of the country and, therefore, shoulder a huge responsibility to the country and to the people.
Outline
Introduction
The Early Fed
The Banking Act of 1935
The Fed's Power
Alan Greenspan's Influence
What's Ahead For the Fed
From the Paper "The Fed controls finances in the United States and abroad in a number of complex ways from interest rates to the global banking industry. In fact, its name stems from the fact that member banks must keep some of their deposits in "reserve" to ensure fiscal health, and this reserve is often held by the Federal Reserve Banks across the nation. Banks who do not keep enough reserves face stiff penalties from the System (Martin 159). This is just one area where the Fed exerts its vast powers over the nation's banks, and ultimately the nation's economic health and well being."
Abstract This essay is an excellent introduction to the basic social theories underpinning Marxist and Weberian thought. Discussion of economic production, surplus value, infrastructure, class, stratification, verstehen, class consciousness, and basic communism is included.
From the Paper "Karl Marx believed that all societies are based on the organisation of economic activity and that each society is determined by its individual mode of production (Jones, 1985: 43). Marx theorised that in capitalist-based modes of production, economic activity centers around two distinct groups of people ? those who own the means of production and those who do not (Jones, 1985: 44). Those who own and control the means of production, the bourgeoisie, pay those who do not own the means of production, the proletariat, only a percentage of the market-value of their productive effort and therefore profit more than the workers from the workers? own labor (Jones, 1985: 47). This "surplus value" (in the form of property/ money/ time) generated by the proletariat but appropriated by the bourgeoisie is what Marx believed created a dialectically exploitative relationship between the two groups and thus established economic classes within society (Jones, 1985: 44, 47)."
Abstract One basic tenet of Karl Marx?s, defined in his famous "Manifesto of the Communist Party", is the distinguishing characteristics of two opposing social classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. This paper explains how these classes can easily be defined; the working class, or proletariat, and those that gain wealth from it, the bourgeoisie. While the bourgeoisie class continues to gain wealth and power, the proletariat falls in a downward spiral of social and economic crisis. This paper examines how each class differs according to Marx's definitions.
From the Paper "Marx's theory illustrates a good versus evil society. In his manifesto, he says, "Society as a whole is more and more splitting into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat" (Marx). He predicts that a "haunting specter of Communism" (Marx) is looming ahead in the future, unleashing a revolution that will overthrow economic forces, and governments as well as social and cultural forces that exist in capitalist countries. Marx urges this overthrow by the proletariat class, asking them to liberate themselves and unify under the Communist Party. Communism will lead them in a revolutionary action that will overthrow the bourgeoisie and thus win them the world, which the bourgeoisie has created. (Lavine 306)"
Abstract This paper examines how the book, "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville, considers the phenomenon of democracy as it manifests itself in the United States. It looks at how, apart from legislative authority, democracy carries with it certain dangers that, if not properly dealt with, will result in despotism by the majority.
Outline
The Love for Equality
Individualism
Materialism
The Preservation of Liberty in the Face of Democracy
Association and Press
Religion
De Tocqueville's Relevance
From the Paper "The main premise for this argument include the sovereignty of the people and the power of public opinion. De Tocqueville sensibly argues that equality precludes the importance of any one person's rule over another, since nobody can claim to be more important than any other. However, to establish order in society, a certain rulership has to be established. The only way to achieve this is by the rulership of the majority, which then can lead to despotism. This happens by means of tyranny of the majority. Because everybody is seen as equal, no opinion is more important than any other. Thus, the opinion of the majority is in effect adhered to, in order to satisfy the majority. A further implication of equality is that the minority, being equal to the majority, has not right to disagree with the majority, as this implies that such an opinion is more important than that of the majority. This is the basis of despotism; that the minority is helpless to resist the general opinion, and thus liberty is undermined."
Abstract This paper discusses the minimum wage and, in particular, why it does not work in America today. It looks at how the federal minimum wage was created to ensure American workers received adequate and fair wages during the Great Depression, when jobs were scarce and wages were abysmally low and how, today, the federal minimum wage stirs controversy and ire in many areas of American politics and business. It evaluates how the federal minimum wage has served its usefulness and how many believe there are now better ways to ensure workers receive adequate wages.
From the Paper "Along with job loss, raising the minimum wage can also have severe affects in many other areas of the American economy. A rising minimum wage can make it more difficult for people to return to the workforce from welfare, and it can encourage high-school students to drop out, as many studies have shown, including this one: "Minimum wage jobs are often thought of as 'entry-level' jobs. The evidence in our data supports this view. Among the workers earning the minimum wage in the second year of our panels, 39.4% were not employed in the prior year" (Even & Macpherson, 2003, 676). This seems to support the theory that many high school and college-aged young people are leaving school for jobs."
Provides an overview of United Nations policy formulation and policy implementation in the context of international public administration organizations.
Abstract This paper examines, through a literature review, instances of policies that were developed and not effectively carried out, as well as recent requirements for the formulation of policies put into place at the UN. It looks at how a sustained public information campaign is extremely important for the success of the UN's attempt to reinvent its system of policy formulation and policy implementation due to all the "bad news", including terrorism and war and AIDS, etc., dominating the TV and print news agencies.
From the Paper "There are myriad examples of the UN's good work ? in many and diverse areas where there are desperate human needs throughout the world ? and also, on the other hand, there is no shortage of evidence that some policies, although they were drawn up with the best of intentions, failed in their mission, or were thwarted either through no direct fault of the UN, or because the UN's policy implementation could not match the promises in the policy formulation. One example of the apparent failure of a policy which was to be implemented was recently reported by the British Medical Journal (Tayal, 2003). The journal claimed that a UN policy designed to tackle the health and human rights needs of "indigenous people" ? a policy which was formulated in 1995 ? has not been very effective in its implementation."
Abstract This paper briefly discusses how, despite the fact that they work, many Americans live below the poverty line. It examines the social implications of such a phenomenon and discusses the measures the government needs to take to reverse this trend.
From the Paper "There are many reasons to be concerned about the working poor. First of all, the majority of the working poor live in families with children, so their poverty is affecting others, as well (Marlene, 1999). Also, studies show that working poverty is probably much more widespread than the official count of nine million Americans cited (Boushey, 2001). The label "poor" describes anyone whose family income falls below the government's official poverty level, which in 1999 was $16,700 for a family of four and $13,880 for a family of three. However, many experts believe that the official poverty level is too low. Thus, it is believed that more than 30 million Americans reside in families that fall below self-sufficiency, even though at least one family member is employed full time."
