This paper discusses the Republic of Zimbabwe, a country in South Africa formerly called Rhodesia or Southern Rhodesia, before it achieved independence from Great Britain.
Abstract This paper discusses that Zimbabwe's financial problems are tied to a serious and controversial internal problem regarding ownership of land that has had a significant negative impact on the country's major industry, agriculture. The author relates that South Africa, which provides Zimbabwe with most of its power and water, has threatened to cut off supplies of those resources if President Mugabe does not work with others within his country to stabilize it. The paper states that President Robert Mugabe, whose political roots lie in the liberation efforts of the 1960s, is described as having a strong and even ruthless style of leadership, being anti-Western and distrustful of Western-style capitalism, and dealing harshly with any opposition.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Major Domestic Issues
Land Issues
Election Fraud
Conclusion
From the Paper "Zimbabwe has had an interesting history with regard to establishing a democracy. When the country of Rhodesia unilaterally declared its independence from Great Britain, much as the United States did in the 18th century, the country drew up a Constitution. That Constitution gave preference to Whites in a variety of areas, including land ownership. While it was more understandable for this to happen in the late 18th century, when slavery was common in the New World, it's a little harder to understand in the second half of the 20th Century."
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 The paper focuses on the book "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi that recounts the chaos and bloodshed that resulted from the western world's "westernization" of Iran. The paper also refers to "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order", by Samuel P. Huntington and then discusses the horrific number of Iraqis who have been killed since Bush launched the invasion. The paper concludes that this is clearly part of the negative impact of "westernization".
From the Paper "What was life really like for Marjane Satrapi as she was growing up? A brief look at the history of her times is appropriate here, as the discussion of western influences into the Middle East is reviewed. Many Americans remember that the U.S.-backed Shah was pushed out of Iran in 1979, and the Ayatollah Khomeini took over the government, which set off the Islamic revolution that Marjane Satrapi writes about. She was swept up in it and many of the injustices that she witnessed and her family endured resulted from the Islamic backlash (led by Khomeini's regime) following the demise of the Shah. In fact, the fall of the Shah also set off a hostage crisis; pro-Khomeini militants in Teheran held U.S. embassy staff members for 444 days."
Abstract A literary analysis of "All Quiet on the Western Front". The author discusses the writer's examination of the horrors of World War I through the eyes of the soldiers involved in the war, as well as the effects of war on society at large.
From the paper:
"All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, is a book that explores the true horrors of World War I through the eyes of a German solider. The author uses the character of Paul to tell a realistic story of what the average WWI solider had to endure. This book raises the issue of how destructive war can be not only to a country, but also to a generation of a nation. One of the major themes in the story is that of the lost generation. An entire generation of men fighting for their country was lost in World War I."
Tags: all, analysis, english, erich, front, literary, maria, novel, quiet, remarque, western
The paper examines the possible causes of the Great Western Schism - the major crisis experienced by the Catholic Church at the end of the 14th century.
Abstract An examination of several ideas which have been suggested as the possible causes of the Great Western Schism. The paper suggests one popular argument which blames the people of Rome, the hasty appointment of Urban VI was made to dispel an angry Roman mob. Another theory analyzed is that the King of France was attempting to seize control back of the papacy and persuaded the cardinals to elect a second pope. The actions of Urban VI and the Cardinals have also been blamed. This paper examines these theories and attempts to pinpoint the proximate cause of the Great Western Schism.
From the Paper "During the middle and end of the 14th century, the Catholic Church went through a major crisis that came to be known as the Great Western Schism. Bartholomew Prignano, the Archbishop of Bari, was elected Pope and took the name Urban VI. After just a few months of Urban's rule, the Cardinal College left Rome and elected one of their own, Robert of Geneva, who became Pope Clement VII. In 1409 a church council in Pisa attempted to elect a new pope that could unite the sides. The Pisian council did, but neither pope was willing to give up his power. Thus, three popes were vying for authority over the church. "
Abstract This paper is on the emergence of early western civilization and focuses primarily on the condition of the western world before and after the coming of the Renaissance followed by the Reformation. Both the eras mark the beginning of a society based on humanism and education. This paper also reviews the political, religious, economic and social transformation undergone by these societies to completely eradicate the reminiscence of the Middle Age.
Abstract This paper demonstrates some of the ways inventions and ways of thinking in the non-Western world have significantly contributed to what has become known today as "Western civilization."
From the Paper "Today the term globalization refers to the increasing interconnectedness of the world's economic, social and other systems. For example a consumer in California orders a computer from Dell Computers which has its headquarters in Texas, but the computer itself is built in Malaysia and when the consumer calls the technical support responder answers the phone in India. For many people this increasing interconnectedness of the world seems to be a new phenomenon different from when Europeans drew maps of Europe, Asia and Africa ..."
Abstract The paper compares and contrasts Western Europe and the North American core (the United States and Canada) in terms of politics, population, culture, government and history. The paper looks at the common history and culture shared by the American Core and Western Europe. The paper also touches upon the issue of diversity.
From the Paper "Western Europe and the North American core i.e. the United States and Canada, are two regions of the world that share a great deal. Like Anglo-America, Western Europe ranks as among the most economically developed regions of the world. The level of development is comparable to Anglo-America in the region's core area which includes the western part of the Federal Republic of Germany, north eastern France, Switzerland, southern Scandinavia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg."
Tags:Western Europe, North America, cultural geography
Abstract The paper discusses how the noir style of film and the western genre film share some similarities which unify the films in these categories more than they divide them. The paper describes how the styles of cinematography would seem to suggest that there could be no overlap in these genres; the settings of the western and the film noir are not simply disparate, they are opposite. The paper explains that they are, however, used to a similar effect in that they manipulate the sense of security experienced by the viewer.
From the Paper "It could be argued that stylistically there are not too many genres more diametrically opposed than those of the western and the film noir. The first genre takes place in a rural setting, the second in an urban one. The western genre takes place in an arid climate, while the film noir is characterized by rain and wetness. Both genres, however, have "man's men" as heroes and, generally, strong women as heroines. The style of storytelling is often the same, with characters often reaching conclusions that are not ultimately satisfying. It is true, in fact, that film scholars have already linked the two genres together in naming the western films that were made in the 1940s "Cold War Westerns" or "noir Westerns" (Tyler 178)."
Abstract This paper reviews the book "Inventing Western Civilization", in which author Thomas Patterson views civilization as an elitist concept that has been used politically, culturally and socially to manipulate the masses. The author explains Patterson's thesis that the West differs from all other civilizations due to its overwhelming impact on virtually all other cultures, including its role in introducing modernization and industrialization. This paper also discusses how Patterson explores the development of social classes and the alienation of the "other". Throughout the paper, Patterson's ideas are compared to numerous scholars and philosophers including John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Sigmund Freud. The author concludes by concurring with Patterson that an international order based on civilizations is the surest safeguard against world war, but noting that this idealistic concept is not borne out in reality.
From the Paper "Patterson demonstrates how classism, sexism, and racism were as integral to the appearance of "civilized" society in Western Europe as inequality and alienation. He further explores the issue of how civilization, and the process of "being civilized" has been frequently linked to the rise of capitalism in Western Europe, the development of social classes, and the creation of "others" who are distinguished by their socially constructed appearances, behaviors, or essences.
Patterson accordingly believes that every civilization or group at one time or another has considered itself to be God's "chosen" people. For example, The Incas, who Patterson studied for most of his career as an anthropologist, believed that they were the only true humans. This is the type of elitist thought he attributes to all civilizations, both past and present. Thus in Patterson's view, the greatest threat to society is a global clash between Civilization and barbarism."
