Abstract This paper examines hippie philosophy and counterculture in the 1960s, whose main catch words were, peace, love, drugs, sex, music and resistance. The paper points out that, although hippies often abused drugs, their main goal was to promote peace between all countries, cultures, and communities. The paper adds that the hippies' philosophy and lifestyle were greatly influenced by sex and drugs, in turn influencing many of the popular arts of this time period, especially music. The paper concludes that hippies were a determined group of young people with good intentions, trying to make a positive impact on the world.
From the Paper "1960 was a big year for hippies and was basically the beginning of the hippie movement, or at least when it became popular across the country. A large amount of racial tension built up with the lunch-counter sit-ins that were occurring around the southern states. Most hippies tried to calm the racial tension and create peace between all ethnic groups. They were advocates of peace and love for all people everywhere. Many civil rights activists and leaders were making progress on the movement in 1960 as well. The Civil Rights Act of 1960 was signed by Eisenhower and put into effect that year."
Tags: Vietnam War, drugspeaceprotestprejudicepolitics
Abstract This paper examines how in comparison to the use of violence in political activism and protest, the use of nonviolent passive resistance has proven more successful in achieving political goals throughout history. It discusses how it is unreasonable to believe that additional violence can possibly help solve more problems than it will create in the effort to achieve political goals and maintain international peace. The author takes the stance that people should feel motivated to take an active role in politics and stand up for their moral beliefs through passive resistance.
From the Paper "Passive resistance, also known as civil disobedience, is founded on the principal of nonviolent protest. Typically, people who practice passive resistance see a certain law, principal, or regulation, either social or legal, that they feel is morally wrong, and therefore break these laws because the laws go against their morals. Passive resistance protesters are willing to be punished for their actions. and they hope their peaceful acceptance of punishment,will set an example for others to follow in their footsteps. There is an overwhelming amount of historical support in favor of passive resistance, and many leaders of modern nonviolent political movements have followed the ideas of political activists and revolutionary thinkers like Samuel Adams, Henry David Thoreau, and Martin Luther King, Jr., who have followed a tradition of civil disobedience throughout American history."
Abstract Social movements are collective actions in which the populace is alerted, educated, and mobilized over years and decades to challenge the power holders and the whole society to redress social problems or grievances and restore critical social values. This paper shows that social movements are seeking change in a variety of policy areas, such as the peace movement, nuclear policy, and environmental policy. The paper shows that to fully understand social movements it is important to examine not one their emergence and development of protest, but more importantly, the policy outcomes. There is an interesting dynamic between social dissent and protest and the effects upon policy in the modern American political system. The paper notes that dissatisfaction or disillusion with partisan politics or the American political system altogether creates the atmosphere and the proper social conditions for social movements to occur.
From the Paper "The civil rights movement utilized the ideas of peaceful public protest combined with the new use of television and a variety of other mass media to influence the public opinion. Burstein (1985) has proposed a theory that stresses the crucial role played by social movements and media coverage as external factors that shape the general public's preferences. His study shows that the Civil rights movement and media coverage affected the people's awareness of the issue and this, in turn, led the Congress to act in favor of African American rights. By this we can see that social movements have and impact on public policy but not a direct one. Rather the impact is therefore mediated by the public opinion."
Abstract This paper takes a look at notable satirical cartoons or events through American politics. It also examines the impact that they might have had on political events. The concept of satire as a universal political tool is also dealt with.
From the paper:
"Most historians accept that political satire inspired the American Revolution. One of the foremost satirists was Dr. Jonathan Mayhew. According to the March 7, 1818 edition of the Niles Weekly Register, Dr. Mayhew was well known in both Europe and America for his publication of a seven sermons during the reign of King George II (Butler, 2000). The most notable is a 1750 sermon on the subject of passive obedience and nonresistance. In it, both Saintship and Martyrdom of King Charles I are proposed."
Abstract A discussion of the influence of Protestant Reformations on State Sovereignty of the European States. The author discusses the way religion evolved from being a comforting concept of ever-lasting life to a powerful tool of reign. The author looks at the fall of the domination of the Christian church and how, as a result, the Protestant Reformation brought about a new school of thought and political structure independent of church.
From the Paper "The events of the Protestant Reformation that spawned through Europe at the beginning of that century came as a result of the corruption and domination of the church, and their purpose was to restore Christianity and its original mission. The aftermath of those events, however, went beyond cleansing of the church, and allowed not only for other religions to be born, but also for the European states to reclaim secular governments and ruling independent of the church."
Tags: christian, religion, state, politics, government, gods, church
This paper discusses Max Weber's "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism", which theorizes on the role of religion in the emergence of capitalism in early modern Europe.
Abstract This paper explains that, in his seminal work "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism", Max Weber provided a new perspective of the emergence of capitalism by asserting that what made Europe or the Occident develop into a capitalist economy was because the majority of its people observed the Protestant ethic as their way of life, rationalizing that people's everyday actions are a pre-requisite for a society to develop into a capitalist economy. The author contends that the development of capitalism in early modern Europe was the result not only of Protestantism but also of Catholicism. The paper states that the generalization that religion had become the catalyst for capitalism to flourish in the continent is supported by the fact that religious institutions before and during the onset of capitalism have dominated the socio-political realms of Western societies, leaving no doubt that they also control the economic activities and institutions present in the society.
From the Paper "Indeed, capitalism is "a very complex system of institutions, highly rational in character and the product of a number of developments peculiar to Western civilization." Those who are unable to adapt to these 'complex systems of institutions' and 'rational character' are bound to be left behind in the process, neither achieving development nor economic success. Moreover, those who are unable to adapt to this system are bound to maintain the "anxiety of not knowing" and "fear of damnation." Thus, in order to be included in the capitalist economic system, one has to integrate himself/herself to these complex systems of institutions through labor and attain a rational character by conducting profit-making activities. Through labor and profit-making activities, one involves in the "spirit of capitalism" and accomplishes what Weber has termed as the Protestant ethic."
Abstract This essay looks at people who have turned trauma and pain into a positive experience. It discusses the work of Mairead Corrigan Maguire who organised peaceful demonstrations in N.Ireland, wrote poetry that inspired millions and through her efforts to develop a "politics of mercy and forgiveness," won a Nobel Peace prize. The author goes on to discuss the wording of Martin Jordan's poem "The changes in our lives".
From the paper:
" Everyone wants peace in his or her everyday live. Sometimes peace is hard to come by for some people. However, Some individuals react to their pain in a positive way. For example, Irish writers Mairead Maguire and Martin Jordan write poetry about peace due the tragedies for the world and in their lives. So, in Misread Maguire's ?The Vision of Peace? and Martin Jordan's "the changes in our lives" the main goal is to remind everyone that there should be peace all over of the world despite all of the pain we encounter."
A comparison of the aims and methods of two political social movements - The American Civil Rights Movement and the Argentinian Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.
Abstract Revolutionary movements have come and gone for as long as people articulate their own suffering. This paper explains how no two revolutions and no two social protest movements are ever alike. From motivations to social make-up, from method to longevity, each movement is unique. The paper examines two important movements which emerged within the last hundred years - the American Civil Rights movement and the revolutionizing of Argentina's mothers in response to the political "disappearances" committed by the junta government. It explains how these two movements are drastically different in many ways, including causation, method, structure and scope. It also analyzes how the way in which they both used protest, image, and self-sacrifice to evoke the awareness and sympathy of the world, they are alike.
From the Paper "The US Civil Rights Movement is relatively unique in the scope of history on that its major players, and those for whom it was attempting to secure rights, were all members of a former slave race. Never before, so far as can be told, has a large population of freed slaves loudly and politically campaigned over an extended amount of time for equality with their former masters. There is something uniquely American about both the phenomena of black slavery as it existed here, and the subsequent civil rights movement. (In what other historical example have slaves, after being freed, continued to ask for political equality? When the Israelites were freed by the Egyptians, for example, they didn?t stick around to demand pyramids in their honor. This grand social experiment is both a tribute to the ingenuity of its founders and to the adaptability of the American system)."
Abstract This three page undergraduate paper examines the most common types of protest in Brazil. It discusses land reform, environmental issues and globalization as the three primary issues of social, economic, ecological and political concern. The paper discusses protests over the past few years and what the protesters hoped to achieve.
From the Paper "Researching the most common types of protest in Brazil reveals that land reform, environmental issues, and globalization are the three primary issues of social, economic, ecological, and political concern. The most significant protests over the last few years have been organized and carried out by landless peasants, who have become increasingly assertive in their efforts to force the government to pass land reform legislation. In recent years, landless Brazilian peasants have protested government economic policies regarding land reform and free trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA. According to Comings (2005) twelve-thousand Landless Workers Movement activists marched on the capital last May and "occupied eight ranches during their two-week trek from the city of Goiania." "
Abstract The paper applies Lance Bennett's model of media bias to protests against the Iraq war. The focus is on the media representations of the protests not the organization and conduct of the protests themselves.
This paper explores drug prohibition in America. It is written from a point of view that supports the legalization of drugs. Political, constitutional and financial affects on American government are discussed.
3,087 words (approx. 12.3 pages), 11 sources, 2001, $ 90.95
Abstract This paper examines the repercussions of drug prohibition. This paper is written from a point of view that supports the legalization of drugs. It explores the history of America's ?War on Drugs? from a political and financial standpoint. Crime, civil liberties, foreign countries economies and medical uses for illegal drugs are discussed. Many of the statistics that are studied in this paper are taken from the DEA's web site and proven to be invalid through outside sources. This paper looks at where the government funding for drug prohibition goes; it also looks at drug prices, crime rates and statistics pertaining to the inmate population of drug offenders.
From the Paper "Every year America's drug policies are debated in Washington. These drug policies are never debated seriously, the only aspect our elected representatives focus on is how much more money should America spend battling drugs. Outside of Washington there is a growing unease about the war on drugs. Many Americans are concluding that the drug war has been given a fair chance to work and has failed. America's war on drugs is an unsuccessful battle, and it's time for a governmental reform."
Abstract This paper discusses how the validity of the Democratic Peace theory is still debated by scholars who either refute or support the normative and structural models of democratic peace. Some scholars uphold the theory of Democratic Peace on a liberal foundation, whereas others discount it on the basis of realist principles. The author takes a look at the various arguments with focus on the liberal argument.
From the Paper "The validity of the Democratic Peace theory continues to be zealously debated by scholars who either refute or support the normative and structural models that purport to explain why democratic states rarely engage one another in militarized conflict. Bruce Russett, Zeev Maoz, and Michael W. Doyle uphold the theory of Democratic Peace on a liberal foundation, whereas Christopher Layne and David E. Spiro discount the theory on the basis of realist and realpolitik principles. Neither theological position is flawless in its analysis, yet the liberal argument is more compelling and makes better use of available data."
Abstract This paper summarizes Kant's ?Perpetual Peace?, which argues the accomodation of morality within political decision-making. A discussion of how through his work, Kant suggested various methods to handle international politics and relations. The author identifies the realist and liberal aspects of Kant's work and discusses the compatibility of Kant's ideas with classical realism.
From the Paper "He maintains that a modern political state with established democracies cannot and should not work on power arrangements and strategies alone. As a moralist, Kant believes that politics should not be a function of material self-interest where the most consuming thought is to gain one's way at the expense of morals and in the end, peace. Instead, Kant suggests that there should be a limit to what politics should be allowed to do. This is applicable through a morally aware politician ?who so interprets the principles of political prudence that they can be coherent with morality" (Kant, 1998) thus maintaining the "limiting condition of politics" (Kant, 1998)."
Abstract Woodrow Wilson did not possess the will to maintain peace after the Great War. The writer asserts that there were three ways in which Wilson contributed to the build-up of tensions before WWII. First was Wilson's failure in responding to the members of the Peace Accords in relation to the redrawing of German boundaries; his influence in tearing away predominantly German areas resulted in the planting of seeds for future war. The second reason that Wilson could not maintain peace was his inability to remove himself from partisan politics in America. The third reason was in relation to Wilson's "Fourteen Points", more specifically, the point of ?self-determination.? Close examination of these three points shows why Wilson is partly responsible for WWII.
From the Paper "The Great War was a war of attrition. Many brave men on all both sides of the conflict, Axis and Allied Powers, met their fate fighting for their homelands during the years of 1914-1918. Never before had the world seen such a horrid war fought in the grand scope and magnitude of nations versus nations. Great sacrifices were made in part to the loss of human life through mechanization of artillery to the inception of chemical warfare. (Would such a tragic lesson be reason enough for peace among sovereigns?) Unfortunately, the peace was not afforded to the constituents of the Paris conference, nor those that threw away their lives in the second war that shortly followed in 1939. While there were many causes for the Second World War, it would be a herculean effort to name and attribute them all. A few of the major causes included the onset of war reparations since repayment would be next to impossible for the Germans to meet in the allotted time. Secondly were the sanctions imposed upon the size of the German military which was considered a measure of further alienation, and thirdly were territorial settlement disputes. All three factors were great causes that angered the Nazis to disregard the Peace Accords in the early 1930's with Hitler's rise to power."
Abstract This paper discusses the peace paradigm in terms of realism, power, conflict resolution, and social change. The paper explains the role of a paradigm, outlines the peace paradigm strategies used to obtain peace and presents a definition of power. Gives specific examples.
From the Paper "One of the approaches to the peace paradigm is through the study of the role played in obtaining peace through the exercise of power and coercive tactics. According to Lynn-Jones realism is usually regarded as a dominant and somewhat monolithic approach in the study of international relations. Within the realist approach there are divisions between offensive and defensive realism. Offensive realists argue that the international system tends to foster conflict and aggression, that security is scarce and international competition and war..."
Tags:political science, conflict resolution, realism, power
