Abstract
This paper examines how America has been characterised by a dramatic decrease in civic engagement and how this decrease is not only illustrated by low turnouts at presidential elections, which reveals a fall in electoral political participation, but also by lower civic engagement through active participation in social and political organisations. Robert Putnam suggests that American society's civic disengagement is, in large part, due to the development of the television. The paper argues that, if the American society is indeed characterised by a significant decrease in civic engagement, the development of television and other forms of media technologies does not lead necessarily to a more 'politically cynical' society.

Outline:
Putnam's Thesis: The Loss in Social Trust is Responsible For Less Civic Engagement
The End of America's Republican Civic Engagement?
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Mouritsen questions Putnam's concept of social capital by interrogating the 'civil' in Putnam's conception of 'civil society'. Mouritsen insists on the fact that Putnam puts largely the emphasis on a civic community that emerges almost spontaneously from the people, "from the microcosmos of society" (MOURITSEN, 2003: 651). Putnam's considerations on the forming of social capital are thus based on the assertion that voluntary forces emanating from the people, from 'below', constitute the foundation of a civic consciousness. Mouritsen therefore criticises a conception of civil society that appeals to a narrow sense of republicanism: in this logic, many social scientists used to see the civil society as a civic space emerging independently from state forces, according to the "classical republican ideology of self-governing citizens" (MOURITSEN, 2003: 652). "

Tags:disengagement, groups, individualism, interest, media, networks, participation, television, tocqueville

Abstract
The paper discusses the "Gaza Pull-Out Plan," also called "Israel's Unilateral Disengagement Plan." This was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to remove all Israeli settlers from various communities in Gaza and the West Bank. The paper presents two web sites that have varying attitudes regarding Israel's pullout from Gaza. The first site (Palestinian Responses...) shows that it was a victory for Palestine and a defeat for Israel. The second site (So Much for Good Deeds...) shows that although it may seem a temporary defeat for Israel, the repercussions are many. The paper concludes that we can only wonder whether peaceful actions will eventually lead to a nation's victory or annihilation.

Contents:
Introduction
Palestinian Responses to an Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza
So Much for Good Deeds
Analysis and Conclusion

From the Paper
"The "Gaza Pull-Out Plan", also called the "Israel's Unilateral Disengagement Plan", was a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to remove all Israeli settlers from various communities in Gaza and the West Bank. This move was enacted last August 15, 2005 and completed on September 12, 2005. According to Sharon, the purpose of the withdrawal was to reduce the existing conflict between the Palestinians who have their own claim on the said territories. It is also the part of the plan of a greater peace "roadmap", which aims to propose a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. Israel claims to initiate the peace process through this move, and it expects Palestine to stop terrorism against them. Another purpose was to improve the quality of life of Israeli settlers by unifying them demographically."

Tags:Palestinians, unilateral, settlers, pullout

Abstract
The paper asserts that employee engagement is vital to long-term growth and financial success in the marketplace and should be managed accordingly. The paper then provides an analysis of internal and external factors that affect disengaged employees. In addition, the paper looks at three possible solutions and recommends the solution that entails investing more in the candidate recruitment and selection process. The paper notes the future implications related to customer service outcomes for competitors in all industries. Graphs, tables and a survey are included as appendices to the paper.

Outline:
Main Problem
Analysis and Investigation
Possible Solutions
Best Solution
Future Implications

From the Paper
"The issue of employee disengagement is seen to have a profoundly negative impact on factors such as a firm's customer service relating to internal and external customers or clients. Employee engagement is viewed to be related to other factors such as employee morale and motivation where employee disengagement is seen as a manifestation of these factors. There are several alternatives available to an organization interested in improving employee disengagement of which the recommended solution is to screen for more motivated employees in the recruiting and selection process at hiring."

Tags:teams, motivation, morale, turnover, screening

Abstract
The 1985 film The Trip to Bountiful (Masterson, 1985) offers insight into aging, changing perspectives on time during the aging process, many of the problems faced by older people, and issues of modernization, activism, and disengagement.

From the Paper
"The 1985 film The Trip to Bountiful (Masterson, 1985) offers insight into aging, changing perspectives on time during the aging process, many of the problems faced by older people, and issues of modernization, activism, and disengagement. The film thus illuminates much of what is written in the literature on these subjects.


Cox (1998) notes research showing an inverse relationship "between the degree of modernization and the status accorded old persons" (Cox, 1998, 1) which means that in the more industrialized nations, the older person has a lower status than is the case in less industrialized nations. This is something we can see all around us as our own culture celebrates youth to the exclusion of the old and has been charged with throwing away older people."

Abstract
This paper explains that risk in contemporary society now has a new level of ethics within its politics that is created by a tug of war between instigators and spin machines. Next, the author relates that a high degree of uncertainty is one of the main features of a risk society because the information presented on several dominant issues are based on speculation or scientific projection rather than fact. The paper investigates the issues of individualism and of the problem of obesity in a risk society. The paper includes quotations.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
Risk in Contemporary Society
Individualization
Obesity

From the Paper
"The public in general both as individuals and political entities tend to intermix with the scientific society of experts more so in this highly advanced era of technology than ever before, by necessity. With science dominating political decision we can no longer afford to accept what we read without engaging in the findings of experts, as only then can we make an informed choice of where we stand on highly moral yet complex issues reliant on expert analysis. Once these complexities are understood on a first-hand basis rather than one of heresy, only then can we decide if a risk exists or whether there is a more political motive than expert suggestion taking place."

Tags:trigger, evidence, motives, speculation, probabilities

From the Paper
"Different cultures treat the elderly in different ways. Cox (1998) notes research showing an inverse relationship "between the degree of modernization and the status accorded old persons" (Cox, 1998, 1), which means that in the more industrialized nations, the older person has a lower status than is the case in less industrialized nations. This is something we can see all around us as our own culture celebrates youth to the exclusion of the old and has been charged with throwing away older people.

The position of the aged in modern society is clearly a reflection of the process of disengagement, referred to by Morgan & Kunkel (1998) in terms of retirement. Disengagement should be a social process that moves older people into a new arrangement, but still "into full participation within the..."

Tags:aging

Abstract
This paper critically examines the process of Ontario disengaging from its previous role in the Canadian federation and re-defining itself as a North American region state, due to a consequence of a range of political, economic, and social factors. The paper discusses Ontario's origins and features, as well as its future implications. The paper then argues that the primary causal factors behind this process have been the policy rift between the Ontario provincial government and the federal government, a North-South economic realignment supplanting intra-provincial trade relations, and the phenomenon of globalization.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
What is a "Region State"?
Ontario and the ROC: Fraying Economic Ties
Ontario and Ottawa: Policy Differences
Ontario as a Globalized Region State

From the Paper
"In terms of Ontario as a region state, we can currently see this region-international process underway in terms of the growing region to region trade between Ontario and key economic regions of the United States. Consider, for example, Ontario's trade relationship with Michigan - the automotive production region of the United States - in which in 2005 Ontario enjoying a remarkable trade surplus exporting goods and services worth over CAN $55 billion and importing goods and services worth over CAN $25 billion. While the trade relationship with Michigan is clearly an exceptional case given the important industrial significance of the automotive industry that links Michigan and Ontario, such large scale trading relationships can be seen between Ontario and major American regions. For example, in 2005 Ontario also enjoyed a trade surplus with the state of New York, to which it exported over CAN $11 billion in goods and services, and imported over CAN $10 billion."

Tags:trade, import, globalization

Abstract
The paper explains that the issue of employee disengagement is seen to have a profoundly negative impact on factors such as a firm's customer service metrics relating to internal and external customers or clients. The paper also discusses how employee engagement is viewed to be related to other factors such as employee morale and motivation where employee disengagement is seen as a manifestation of these factors. The paper notes that there are several alternatives available to an organization interested in improving employee disengagement of which the recommended solution is to screen for more motivated employees in the recruiting and selection process at hiring.

From the Paper
"This document discusses the issues related to poor employee engagement in the workplace or employee disengagement. The issue of employee disengagement is seen to have a profoundly negative impact on factors such as a firm's customer service metrics relating to internal and external customers or clients. Employee engagement is viewed to be related to other factors such as employee morale and motivation where employee disengagement is seen as a manifestation of these factors. There are several alternatives available to an organization interested in improving..."

Tags:issues, engaged, employees

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that for many years there has been a considerable achievement gap in America. Most often this achievement gap is evident when comparing wealthy children to poor children. There are also achievement gaps along the lines of race and gender. The writer explores why these achievement gaps exist and the ways in which these gaps can be reduced. The writer also provides some facts concerning the types of achievement gaps that exist in America. The writer maintains that achievement gaps between white and black students begin in elementary school and exist throughout adulthood. The research suggests that such factors as poverty, under funding and racism play substantial roles in contributing to the achievement gap amongst American students.

Outline:
Introduction
Achievement Gap
Why Does an Achievement Gap Exist?
Poverty
Unequal Funding
Locus of Control
Acting White
Academic Disengagement
Reasons for Academic Disengagement
How to reduce the Achievement Gap
Adequate School Funding and School Choice
Better Trained and Better Paid Teachers
Detracking
Changing Perceptions
Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"When schools do not have adequate funding they can not purchase enough books for every student, school equipment may be deteriorating and students may not have access to the technologies needed. A lack of these essential tools can make it difficult for students to thrive.
"In addition to adequate school funding, school choice may be needed in some districts. The issue of school choice is a controversial one but parents and students should not have to bear the cost of schools that are failing children and not providing them with the education needed to compete in the world. In a perfect world schools would get funding and well trained teachers but the reality is that in order to close the achievement gap some serious issues must be addressed and this may result in the temporary or permanent closing of underperforming or failing schools."

Tags:students, classes, standardized, tests, disparity

Abstract
General summaries of the last four stages of human development: Adolescence, Young Adulthood, Middle Adulthood, and Late Adulthood. Examines physical, cognitive, and psycho-social aspects of development.

Adolescence
Definition
Reproduction
Risky behavior
Cognitive: Piaget (Formal operations), Elkind
Identity vs. identity confusion (Erikson)
Peer and Family relations

Young Adulthood
Cognitive: Postformal thought, Triarchic theory of
Intelligence (Sternberg), Emotional Intelligence
Personality: 5 factor model (Costa & McCrae)
Intimacy vs. Isolation (Erikson)
Levinson & the Grant Study
Culture: Marriage, childbirth, remaining single

Middle Adulthood
Physiological changes ? hearing, sight, endurance,
metabolism
Ailments ? hypertension, osteoporosis, stress
Seattle Longitudinal Study: Fluid and Crystallized
intelligence
Cognitive ? Hoyer and Schaie
Jung ? Individuation
Generativity versus stagnation (Erikson)
Psychosocial ? identity style, assimilation,
accommodation

Late Adulthood
Biological aging ? genetic programming, variable rate
theories
Physical changes
Cognitive ? Metamemory, semantic, procedural, sensory
Ego integrity versus despair (Erikson)
Disengagement, continuity, and activity theories
Retirement
Marriage, family, peer relationships
Living arrangements

From the Paper
"Adolescence is the developmental transition from childhood to adulthood. Although its beginning or end is not clearly marked in Western societies, adolescence lasts about a decade from age 11 or 12 until the late teens or early twenties. Adolescence carries many risks to healthy development, as well as opportunities for physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth."

Tags:erikson, geriatric, jung, middle-age, old, piaget, stage, young