Abstract This paper summarizes the book Jared Diamond"s "Collapse". The author explores some of the examples of social collapse presented. The paper argues that the book falls short by failing to consider other possible causes of social collapse besides environmental disaster.
From the Paper "As the keyword of its title suggests, this book deals with the catastrophic collapse of societies. Specifically, it deals with collapse ..."
Abstract There is a general consensus among historians that the collapse of the Soviet Union could not have been averted because of the inherent economic, political, and social flaws of the communist system. Ultimately, these flaws proved to be fatal, despite the efforts of Mikhail Gorbachev to reform communism through glasnost and perestroika between 1985 and 1991. More than seventy years of communist political oppression, CPSU corruption, mismanagement of the economy, and massive military spending had totally and irrevocably destroyed the legitimacy of communism in the USSR by 1991, and its collapse was inevitable. This paper looks at the historical, economic, political and sociological reasons that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Abstract This paper compares the process of the collapse of Communism in the three states of Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Poland and Hungary were most successful, but for entirely different reasons.
Abstract This paper takes a very detailed look at the events leading up to and the reasons behind the collapse of Soviet-brand Communism in Poland. The essay begins in post World War Two Poland and then follows the adherence of the Polish people to the Catholic Church throughout the years of socialist rule. The writer looks at the creation and influence of Solidarity, the workers' union, and finally sees how changes in the Soviet Union allowed all of these factors to lead to the end of Communism.
From the Paper "As the Holy Father of the international Catholic Church lies in a state of sickness, a tracheotomy in his throat and willing caretakers and hangers-on at his side, the worldwide media is all agog, cameras outside his window looking for a wave, wire-services and websites intent on the latest information and updates. Yet, these newshounds often forget who this man they know as Pope John Paul used to be and where he is from. Karol Wojtyla, the man who would become pope twenty-five years ago, is Polish."
Abstract This paper analyzes the main causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union, focusing on the role of the United States in its collapse. The paper looks at the final phase of collapse in the 1980s when Leonid Brezhnev died and the other factors that impacted the collapse at that time. The paper also discusses the efforts of Gorbachev to try to stem the collapse of the Soviet Union and how his efforts failed.
From the Paper "Gorbachev realized that perestroika was bold and risky and that only time would determine its ultimate success or failure. Like Lenin, Gorbachev believed that, "sometimes you have to retreat, and then advance." But he ran out of time, in part because the new openness in the Soviet press under glasnost revealed to the Soviet people for the first time that conditions across the entire Soviet Union were shockingly bad.
"Ever since the days of Lenin, the average Soviet citizen knew that economic conditions were bad in their own village, city, or region, but the communist-controlled media prevented them from knowing that conditions were just as bad everywhere else if not even worse. Glasnost confirmed this harsh reality beyond any doubt, and created a political environment across the Soviet Union in which people were not going to tolerate communism much longer."
Abstract When the Thai Baht was floated in July 1997, the Thai economy was overheated, along with extremely shaky balance sheets of many of its financial institutions. Inevitably, this led to currency devaluation and a run on the baht. This paper examines the reasons for the baht's collapse and the repercussions on domestic and regional economy.
Paper Outline
Factors that Led to the Collapse of the Thai Baht
The Purchasing Power Parity Theorem and the Collapse of the Thai Baht
Role of Speculators in the Baht Crisis
Steps the Government could have Taken to Preempt the Crisis
The Effect on Domestic Businesses
Similarities with the Collapse of the Korean Won
From the Paper "However, the Thai case was influenced by several factors beyond the logic of the purchasing power parity theorem: depletion of foreign exchange reserves by the government purchasing its own currency in an effort to prop up the exchange rate; raising of interest rates to make holding the baht more attractive; a high debt-equity ratio among Thai corporates which was further aggravated with the devaluation of the baht; and the degree of non-performing assets with financial institutions."
Abstract This paper examines the collapse of the Mexican peso in 1994-95, and the impact of related economic crises before and after this development. The author analyzes the failure of the risk assessment process, identifies economic variables that respectively did and did not accurately indicate the possibility of the peso's collapse and compares the views of a number of economic experts on these issues. The paper then explores what lessons can be learned from the collapse of the peso, and how future currency crises may be averted.
Abstract This paper explains why the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The explanations range from Russian history and faults in Marxist theory, to Stalin, Gorbachev, and others. It explains why the collapse was inevitable, stating that, from the beginning, Russia was isolated and backwards and that Marx never had Russia in mind for reformation. It also examines the role the U.S. played in the collapse and what the Soviet Union's leaders did wrong.
From the Paper "Even though the Soviet Union survived events such as a civil war, the Russo-Japanese war, and both world wars, it finally collapsed in 1991. This happened despite the benefits communism gave it. The failure of the USSR to remain a world superpower was attributed to many factors. Some factors include faults in Marxist theory and those of the Soviet Union's leaders. Others include Russia not being suited for communism, and external forces determined to bring down the Soviet Union."
Tags: communism, gorbachev, marx, russia, soviet, stalin, states, union, united
Abstract The paper explains that in order to identify the causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is necessary to examine the political and economic ideologies the Soviet Union represented and promoted, for the same political and economic factors that led to the collapse of communism had generated its rise. The paper relates that the origin, character and development of the Soviet Union had been primarily due to the fundamental ideological tenets of communism and its collapse was the historical product of these ideological tenets.
Abstract This research paper discusses the collapse of the Soviet Union and its empire in 1989-91 and the future of Eastern Europe after Soviet domination. The paper concludes that the events of 1989 marked the end of the communist revolution. For more than forty years, the West had contained the Soviet Union behind the Iron Curtain, while the inherent faults of Soviet communism, embodied in the flawed policies of its leadership, brought about the inevitable collapse of the Soviet empire. The author discusses the fall of communism which presented humanity with a historic chance to progress a few feet forward. The author argues that only when democracy and capitalism reach the roots of society, however, can these ideas blossom into true positive change in the post-communist world.
From the paper:
"What happened in 1989 was not a revolution itself, but actually the final nail in the coffin of a revolution. The fall of the Soviet Union represented the end of a forty-year challenge to democracy and market capitalism, both of which had already been established as the status quo (at least of Europe, the main "battlefield" of the Cold War). The revolution of western democracy and capitalism began in 1642 in England where the first popular rebellion against a monarchy brought about the execution of King Charles I. Less than a decade later, Thomas Hobbes, at least partially inspired by the upheaval in England, published his famous work Leviathan. Although he advocated submission to the absolute supremacy of the state, Hobbes was not concerned whether that state was ruled by a king or a parliament, and this non-commitment to monarchy laid the intellectual foundations for the development of democratic political theory. John Locke soon bridged the gap between Hobbes? realism and what would become liberalism with the ideas of majority rule, natural rights, property rights, and the responsibility of the state to uphold these ideals. Montesquieu added the issues of separated and balanced governmental powers, and Rousseau defended self-determination and civil liberty. Adam Smith introduced the world to comparative advantage and put forth the belief that the ability of every citizen to make his own economic choices created the most prosperous economy. The ideas of these philosophers, along with Madison, Jefferson, Ricardo, and ?the rest,? inspired more revolutions in America in 1776, France in 1789, across Europe in 1848, and again in American in 1860."
Abstract This paper delves into the causes of the collapse of the third French Republic which faced the threat of war against Nazi Germany. The occupation raises questions as to the causes of the collapse which date back to the 19th century.
From the Paper "The third republic was the longest lasting regime to have ruled France since 1789. It was a mixture of chaos and stability. Governments changed every eight months, but no other regime including today's fifth republic, has lasted even half as long. Between 1870, when it was born, and 1940, when it collapsed, the third French republic changed its government with rapidity unequalled in any other major European state. Yet at the same time the pattern of French society remained more stable than in any other European state. This paradox holds the key to understanding the causes of the third French republic's collapse in 1940."
Tags: french, hitler, society, war, nazis, germany, republic, ww1, ww2
Abstract This paper presents a detailed exploration of the collapse of Enron and the effect it will have on the National economy. The writer presents both sides of the issues and looks at investor confidence alongside other factors. The main argument is that the collapse will have a negative effect on America's economy, but that it will not completely destroy it.
From the Paper "As the nation watched in silent horror the truth came out. Enron had been scamming its investors, the stock market and the public. The collapse, once started, took very little time to complete. It was quick, it was large and when it was over white collar executives had traded the board room for 10 by 13 cells. A collapse of this magnitude shook the American public to the core. As the nation rebuilds its trust in the business world it is slowly cautious and optimistic. The Enron collapse is going to have a negative effect on the nation's economy, though it won?t take it completely down."
Abstract Nicholas Leeson was directly responsible for causing the collapse of Britain's Barings Bank by concealing $1.4 billion in losses in 1995. This paper provides an overview of the events leading up to the collapse of Barings Bank in 1995, a discussion of Nick Leeson and commodities trading and an assessment of the adequacy of internal controls at Barings Bank. An analysis of the lessons learned and steps taken to preclude recurrences of such events in the future is followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Barings Bank
Nick Leeson and Commodities Trading
Internal Controls at Barings Bank
Lessons Learned and Steps Taken to Preclude Recurrences
Conclusion
From the Paper "The research showed that Britain's venerable Barings Bank was driven to bankruptcy by the now-infamous Singapore-based derivatives trader, Nicholas Leeson. Although the evidence to date suggests that Leeson was in fact involved in shady deals, it appears that other factors were also involved in the bank's collapse. Leeson's superior knew, or should have known, what the trader was up to, and had been provided with advance notice concerning his activities. Furthermore, Leeson was not the only trader engaged in such activities, and the philosophy of many financial institutions of the day appeared to encourage the sorts of techniques employed by Leeson. In the final analysis, the Leeson case demonstrates what can happen when one individual is entrusted with too much power, and time will only tell if the remedial steps taken since then will preclude such recurrences in the future."
Abstract The paper explains that the fall of the Roman Empire has often been attributed to the rise of Christianity and the corresponding collapse of its moral infrastructure. Such moral iniquities as the regular stocking of prostitutes throughout Rome, even during the much lauded Pax Romana period, give credence to this argument. Yet, on the whole, it seems that the fall and collapse of the Empire conceivably had more to do with economics and the decay of its economic infrastructures rather than with any general decline in morality or with a rising influence of Christianity.
A discussion of the role of the Marshall Plan and Gunter Schabowski's press conference speech on November 9, 1989 on the collapse of the German Democratic Republic.
Abstract This paper discusses Gunter Schabowski's press conference speech on November 9, 1989 regarding travel law between East and West Germany and how this speech played a role in the beginning of the collapse of the German Democratic Republic. The paper also discusses the history leading up to the collapse of the German Democratic Republic and specifically focuses on the impact of the Marshall Plan.
From the Paper "The chain of events that followed Schabowski's speech proves that the GDR was destined to collapse. The fifty years of oppression, containment, and fear finally boiled over. The system was a failure and seemingly the people who kept it running, the policemen, the journalists, and even the politicians, were tired of fighting for a system which kept their own quality of life down. The new Soviets like Gorbachev also saw the flaws in the communist system and did not oppose those states which chose to do away with it. Thus, collectively those who had run the communist system simply stopped enforcing it and for the first time allowed a choice. It was then the peoples turn to voice their opinion and overwhelmingly they chose democracy."
