Abstract The paper discusses the nature of anti-racism and traces its roots as far back as literature will allow. The paper attempts to understand the nature of racism today and why the anti-racism movement seems to have had less influence than is believed on the historical standard of racism and exclusivity of power. The paper answers the question: Why was the influence of racism greater than that of anti-racism, and is racism still the dominant sociological thought or, is the culture finally seeking a more egalitarian standard and structure?
From the Paper "Though racist acts can also be derived from beliefs built in true racism, as many would argue, saying something is different is not the same as saying something is less than, even though the resulting laws and regulations give the distinct impression at varying times that this is true. To many, and especially to those who have been separated and subjugated, based on race the concepts are one in the same as many argue the idea that "separate is not necessarily equal." In many ways this is very true as the dominant culture will allocate resources and opportunities for its own race above another and the resulting situation, as is seen in early reformation and even reactionary "Jim Crow laws" the nature of separate creating a sense of inferiority and subsequent superiority as a result of the fact that most municipalities have a difficult time allocating resources to one infrastructure, let alone two separate ones. It can be argued that those in power when given a fixed set of resources will always allocate more for its own than for others."
Tags: racist, society, ancient, vintage, resources, opportunities, archaic, feudal, system
Abstract We tend to link the concept of feudalism with the image of rich lords using cheap labor to benefit themselves. This paper argues that this is not entirely true, as feudalism also bears symbols of justice. The paper explains that, in a feudal society, no man is so high that he does not have certain obligations to the lower class, and no one is so low that they are without certain rights. The system of feudalism defines the social roles of each member of society, while setting up political and economic standards.
From the Paper "There is much discrepancy if feudalism is the proper term to describe the period of the Middle Ages. The Europeans of this time did not define the system in which they lived as feudalism. The term feudalism was invented in the sixteenth century by royal lawyers to describe the decentralized social, political, and economic society from which their society had emerged(Rise of Feudalism 1)."
Abstract In this paper, the evolution of feudalism and the manorial system of serfdom takes on different perspectives in a changing medieval Europe. In many ways, both systems were used in a somewhat closely related land-bound slavery, which cost the nobles of Europe a great deal of productivity, limiting their growth potential. However, with the advent of money, the value of land and those that worked the land changed, as the laboring classes were able to become free to work for hire for money.
From the Paper "Economic Studies: Understanding the Economic Evolution of Feudalism, Manorialism and Serfdom in the Medieval Era This economic study will examine the economic apparatus that helped to forge the feudal and manorial systems among the ruling elites of Europe during the medieval period. Furthermore, the hierarchy of class structure in this evolution will be examined to show how serfdom worked from the early Carolingian times to the 15th century. In this manner, the economic changes after the fall of the Roman Empire in regards to feudalism, manorial and the ever-changing class structures that existed within the early to late medieval period will be examined."
Abstract This essay argues that Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" is anti-Semitic in terms of its treatment of the character Robert Cohn. Cohn is painted in a negative light and none of the characters like him. Cohn is the anti-hero, yet he has Jewishness intentionally imposed upon him. In this respect, "The Sun Also Rises" involves anti-Semitism.
Abstract The following assignment is for a third year sociology course. The topic discussed is collective social behaviour. The collective social behavior examined in this assignment is anti-war demonstrations. The writer uses social contagion theory and emergent norm theory in order to examine the nature of anti-war demonstrations.
From the Paper "Collective behavior is a very broad area of study. For example, in Collective Behavior Erich Goode states, 'Rumors and legends, fads, and collective protest- these and other social phenomena make up the subject matter of the field of collective Behavior'. Collective behavior is the relatively spontaneous, unstructured, extra institutional behavior of a fairly large number of individuals. The fact that collective behavior is such a diverse area of study means that many activities can be used to examine it. For this paper, demonstrations against the war in Iraq or anti-war demonstrations as they are commonly called will be used to examine many of the theories about collective behavior."
Abstract This paper summarizes the debate between the Federalists and Anti-federalists of the constitutional congress. It suggests some ongoing problems in American public life which demonstrate the main issues which drove that debate, far from being resolved during the constitution's ratification, continue to resonate in current events. This paper discusses the Ratification Debate and the major issues which drove the debate between the Federalists and the Anti-federalists: Distribution of power, protection of rights, limitations of institutions and the ongoing Relevance.
From the Paper "In the last few days of September in 1787, the Confederation Congress met to debate and construct a new Constitution of the United States. The document they wrote and sent for ratification to the thirteen states that made up the newly-formed country was intended to replace the Articles of Confederation that had ordered the nation since its inception. The nation was reaching a crisis point, as the experiment had been going poorly. Surprisingly, perhaps, the problem was not one of the many possible economic problems that new nations are likely to experience when reconstructing after a long and difficult war. As Gordon Wood (1969) argues, the general economy was running well and people felt comfortable and even prosperous (p. 395). Rather, the concerns that brought the nation's leading politicians together were primarily political. "
Abstract This paper discusses how in terms of ideologies, actions, and goals that exist, or should exist in order for the anti-globalization movement to develop into a successful global social movement, there is general agreement that there must be a greater emphasis on social and political issues such as gender equality, and economic issues such as product music and entertainment product copyright protection. The paper further discusses that these are only two of a multitude of important issues that need to be addressed, but they reflect the anti-globalization movement's fundamental goal of protecting the social, political, and economic rights of individuals, groups, and societies as globalization expands. For example, globalization has presented many challenges and opportunities for the transnational women's movement.
A discussion on the way that the punk subculture re-emerged in recent years in response to the rise of the far right in Switzerland and as part of the international anti-fascist and anti-globalization movements.
Abstract The paper focuses on the evolution of punk and its mutation into the more politically charged anarcho-punk movement and explores the violent side of the extreme left - both as an international force and in particular in Switzerland. The paper then discusses the Bern-based Antifa Switzerland group and explores the motivations of the Black Bloc anarchists. The paper highlights the use of violence in the anti-fascist movement and the connection between today's violent anarcho-punks with the ideals of the original punk movement. Several photographs are included with the paper.
Outline:
Introduction
Punk's First Wave
Punk Arrives in Switzerland
Switzerland, Anarcho-Punk, and Post-war Politics in the 21st Century
Conclusion
From the Paper "The media, however, interpreted the punks' image, music, and reckless behavior as a real threat to the status quo. This culminated in December of 1976 when the Sex Pistols and members of the Bromley Contingent appeared on the Bill Grundy television show in England. At the time of this momentous event, punk was still in its early stages. The public-at-large had little way of knowing about punk at the time. What they saw was a group of extravagantly dressed young people, visibly intoxicated, who took relish in using offensive words and insulting the host of the program in a manner that went way beyond the accepted morals of the time. The Bill Grundy episode would spiral the fledgling youth subculture into the wider cultural spotlight. At that point, punk was no longer a tiny subculture, but a mass media spectacle that would shock the conservative British public and inspire similar-minded youth all over the world."
Argues that over-prescribing anti-depressants world-wide could prevent rape survivors from seeking and receiving treatment for depression and other mental health diseases.
Abstract This paper contends that the skyrocketing number of prescriptions for anti-depressants recently has caused some to worry that patients, such as rape victims, who could benefit from the addition of medication in their recovery, might not be able to get the much-needed medicine.
From the Paper "The recent FDA decision regarding SSRI's (Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors) has caused the medical community to scale down anti-depressant prescriptions in recent months. This project in intended to shed light on the growing problem of over-prescribing anti-depressants and the effects that ultimately could prevent rape survivors from receiving the much needed medications they need for recovery."
Abstract This paper examines how, in August of 1789, the National Assembly, in response to peasant revolts, abolished the feudal system and created a declaration of rights. It looks at how the parish cahiers and the actions of the peasants suggest they were more concerned with subsistence than feudal issues, with anti-feudal riots being the result. It also looks at how the bourgeois class, in contrast, were more concerned with social mobility and the protection of property. It attempts to show how the decrees of August, 1789, while benefiting the peasants in some real ways, were essentially designed to promote the interests of the moneyed classes.
From the Paper "Less concerned with subsistence, the Third Estate was able to voice its grievances in the cahiers much more effectively than the peasantry. While the leaders of the Third Estate shared many demands with the peasants, particularly taxation, the frequency and emphasis of other specific concerns stands in contrast to the parish lists. It is often noted that the bourgeoisie of the Eighteenth Century generally aspired to join the nobility. This desire was fostered largely by a lack of social mobility available to the Third Estate16 and was a frequent issue in the cahiers. The Third Estate of Carcassonne, for example, suggested that "the general or particular regulations which exclude members of the Third Estate from certain positions, offices, and ranks which have hitherto been bestowed on nobles either for life or hereditarily [should be abolished]."17 Another major concern of the Third Estate was the payment of the franc-fief, a tax on land passing from a nobleman to a commoner. This tax, argued the bourgeoisie, interfered with the sale of property."
Tags: cahiers, citizen, declaration, feudalism, french, revolution, rights
This paper examines the history of feudalism while focusing on the three main facets that comprise this system of land management which became popular in the Middle Ages.
Abstract The writer of this paper ponders whether or not feudalism was an effective political system. This concise paper examines how the fall of the Roman Empire directly impacted feudalism and land management. This paper details the introduction of feudalism which began in the 9th century. This paper discusses the fact that feudalism still exists in certain parts of England. This paper also contains a graphic image depicting feudal life.
Table of Contents:
Feudalism Annotated Chronological Timeline
Art Image
Cause and Effect
References
From the Paper "The fall of the Roman Empire was a complex occurrence, however it can be attributed to one primary cause. Rome had become lazy. The Empire had turned to outsourcing their military duties to barbarian mercenaries, as opposed to taking care of their defenses themselves. These mercenaries eventually became so powerful and so numerous that they were able to take over the Empire, with little effort. The deterioration of the Roman Empire led directly to the development of feudalism. Society needed the structure that was immediately absent after the fall of Rome. Fiefdoms offered to fill this void. Interestingly, however, it led to a similar system of military outsourcing that directly caused the fall of Rome."
Abstract The paper analyzes the reign of Charlemagne, and shows how his enhancements to the existing Merovingian system of government laid down the foundations for feudalism. The paper explains the feudal relationship and its terms: fiefs, fealty, vassals, serfs etc. The paper also analyzes the position of the Church within the feudal system, and details how the system changed in the 11th centuries, and how a similar system spread to other areas like Byzantium, and the Near and Far East. The paper shows how scrutage led to the decline of feudalism. In conclusion, though, the writer asserts that modern democracy still contains a hidden feudalism within, and that it will continue to do so until the masses uncover the ruling elite within.
From the Paper "Of major interest, Charlemagne allowed the conquered people to continue with their customs and laws and he had their custom and laws written so that the counts and dukes would be well aware of them. Charlemagne sent scholars to interview shamans and tribal leaders that understood their laws and recorded their answers. The laws being published were to be enforced by the counts and dukes governing the lands. This was an interesting move on Charlemagne's part that upholds one side of his character as being a fair-handed ruler and this decision facilitated the transfer of power."
Abstract This paper discusses and analyzes the book, "Feudal Society" by Marc Bloch. Specifically, the paper evaluates the concept of medieval feudalism as defined in the book and compares it to a modern developing nation where the concept of feudalism was applied to describe the changes and challenges the country faces in modernizing. The paper presents Japan and its modernization after World War II as a good example of a country that came from a feudalistic tradition and turned into a very modern and viable nation.
From the Paper "Feudal society as described by Bloch is a frankly military society that revolves around military service and a lord who requires service from his vassals in return for land grants, called fiefs. The lord or liege was a hierarchical figure, and in late medieval times, he may have granted fiefs for other types of service rather than military. Basically, the principle, as Bloch defines it, is that of an obligation to be paid to the leader or ruler of the area, and it affected all areas of society. Most historians and experts agree that the feudal states of Europe and the rest of the world developed in modern nation-states. In fact, it has consistently been applied to the Asian nations of China and Japan, and for various reasons."
This paper is concerned with the problem of whether feudalism and manorialism helped make post-Carolingian western Europe a more stable and peaceful place than it otherwise would have been.
Abstract The following paper develops the argument that feudalism was not a constructive response to instability, but rather an oppressive and highly unstable system which developed opportunistically at a time of great instability. This paper contends that feudalism was the climate of insecurity created by the dramatic Viking invasions of the ninth century that allowed imperial officials and local leaders to convert themselves into petty rulers of small castellanies.
From the Paper " In the long run, feudalism probably contributed greatly to the overall amount of instability and violence in early medieval Europe. Emerging from within a society which was admittedly already extremely violent, it gave aggressive lords the opportunity to seize land and labor, institutionalizing a new mode of domination over the peasantry, manorialism. To the degree that peasants passively accepted the manorial system, rural society would have acquired a more stable character. However, because feudalism fostered a culture of violence between lords which was only finally overcome with the reconsolidation of royal power in the early modern centuries, European society probably became less stable than ever until feudalism was gone. In the meantime, the only institution which functioned as a force for stability was the Church."
Tags: society, disintegration, empire, warrior, class, distinct, armed, mounted, men
Abstract This paper explains that the system of feudalism took care of the nobility and was often not beneficial to the lower classes. It examines how this system dictated that land and property be governed and distributed and how each social class fit into the picture. It also discusses the importance of the manor in the feudal system.
From the Paper "During the Middle Ages, the feudal system flourished because of the economic benefits that it provides for both the lords and the vassals, the primary elements concerned in the said system. Under feudalism, citizens of a nation are governed by the lord, which is often the King belonging to the monarchial system of government. The history of feudalism is mainly rooted in the political situation of Western nations during the Middle Ages. During this period, nations are currently undergoing political turmoil because of colonization and invasion of non-Christian soldiers. In order to preserve their kingdom, the monarchy sought the help of the barons, who are next in line in the society's political hierarchy. The Kings guaranteed the barons? help by giving them lands in which they can gain economic profit and gain. The barons will be able to help by providing knights where the King can use for his fight against the invaders of his kingdom."
