Cultural Determinants of Terrorism Essay

Orchestrated objectives within well-organized terrorist groups suggest that principles of organizational psychology apply to terrorist organizations, under the cultural influence of each one (Borum, 2004). There is much cause for optimism in understanding terrorist organizations, for as Alder and Gunderson (2008) write, â€Å"Luckily, we have learned that global complexity is neither unpredictable nor random† (p. v). The call for research has never been more pressing. Introduction â€Å"Terrorism is an elusive subject, evading precise political, jurisprudential, and cultural definition† (Oliveri, 2008, p. 49). It depends upon the definition of ‘terrorism’. â€Å"With over 100 definitions, this is not an easy task; there is no common understanding of what constitutes ‘terrorism’; no clear and universally acknowledged definition actually exists† (Franks, 2007, p. 2). The definition Munger (2006) proposes that is used for this paper is, â⠂¬Å"Culture is defined as the set of ‘inherited’ beliefs, attitudes, and moral strictures that a people use to distinguish outsiders, to understand themselves and to communicate with each other† (p. 131). The distinguishing characteristic of ‘them’ and ‘us’ is perhaps the fundamental belief generated within cultures that makes terrorism towards others possible. Whether viewed in terms of extremist Muslim culture or right-wing American culture, cultural identity supports the conflict of ideologies. Ward (2008) says, â€Å"Terrorism has taken the academic world by storm† (p. 248). The Psychology of Terrorism only became a legitimate academic study in 1982; â€Å"terrorism is far from a new phenomenon, traceable to the French Revolution and the Nihilists of 19th Century Russia† (Franks, 2007, p. ). Undoubtedly, it goes much further into the annals of history than the 19th Century, â€Å"the concept of terrorism had no meaning in history until the modern era† (Bratkowski, 2005, p. 764). Prior to modernity, terrorism was so much a part of daily culture it was normal behavior, without a specific word for it. In fact, for most of Christendom, â €Å"humankind has always provided a justification for killing and instilling terror in fellow humans† (p. 764). It is only recently that most cultures have placed a label of immorality on selective murder to achieve political or cultural ends. Our species has a protracted history and prehistory of terrorism. One might wonder why terrorism has â€Å"taken the academic world by storm†. Insights from Psychology â€Å"Terrorist violence most often is deliberate (not impulsive), strategic, and instrumental; it is linked to and justified by ideological (e. g. , political, religious) objectives and usually involves a group or multiple actors/supporters (Borum, 2004, p. 17). Since terrorist objectives originate within multinational organizations, principles of organizational psychology apply to all terrorist organizations, under the cultural milieu of the organization in question. What is now certain is that terrorism is not a psychopathological aberration, as was originally thought in psychoanalytical circles (Crenshaw, 1992). Terrorist organizations are composed of clear-headed individuals, often with advanced university degrees. Merari (1991) collected empirical data on suicide bombers, and found that psychopathology is almost never a factor in a terrorist’s profile. In fact, â€Å"prevalence of mental illness among samples of incarcerated terrorists is as low as or lower than in the general population† (Borum, 2004, p. 34). This is a clear indicator that we are dealing with psychologies of organization, and not groups of crazed sociopaths. Survival of the organization, a tenet of organizational psychology, has clear implications for the terrorist mindset (Post, 1989), even though â€Å"research on the psychology of terrorism largely lacks substance and rigor. While cultural factors are important, much study remains. â€Å"Future research should be operationally-informed; maintain a behavior based focus; and derive interpretations from analyses of incident-related behaviors† (Borum, 2004, p. 3). The main problem with such a venture might be that terrorists are not giving interviews or taking surveys. Borum points out that â€Å"there is a broad spectrum of terrorist groups and organizations, each of which has a different psychology, motivation and decision making structure† (p. 5). This further underscores the need to be on guard against the ‘stereotypical terrorist organization’: there is none. In a terrorist organization, â€Å"two key narcissistic dynamics are a grandiose sense of self and ‘idealized parental imago’. If one can’t be perfect, at least one can be in a relationship with something perfect† (Borum, 2004, p. 9). Association with a world figure such as Bin Laden satisfies this need; this can lead us back to US culture: promulgation and amplifying worldwide terrorism, via the news media. Bin Laden often makes the evening news, and every time he does, his ‘world stature’ is elevated, especially in the min ds of his followers. It the name Bin Laden was unknown, how much less effective would al-Qaeda become? Media has some degree of culpability, if not complicity in promulgating terrorism worldwide by providing free publicity to organizations and their cause. According to Paul Marsden (CPM, 2001, p. 1), â€Å"the amount of media coverage devoted to these events, by television networks and newspapers, correlates positively with the rise in subsequent `copycat’ events. This is darkly consistent with the substantial body of evidence for suicide contagion – the idea that suicides beget suicide. † If distraught teenagers copy Columbine style shootings, how much more are suicide attacks from terrorist cells encouraged by watching the evening news? Unintentionally but effectively eulogizing angry teens and terrorists alike hold moral implications for the major news media, which need addressing by society. Organizational Psychology provides some insight: if a culture perceives it is losing its ability to contribute its share to the world stage, conflict will result (Rahim, 1986; Katz ; Kahn, 1978). Considering that entire cultures may feel they are losing their ability to contribute because of intervention of external cultures upon their own culture is likely one requisite to the creation of worldwide terror organization formation. Cultural factors of extremist Muslim society While many in the West view extremist Muslim terrorism as irrational behavior by deranged individuals, â€Å"it is perfectly possible to understand terrorism as a rational decision problem, if we accept the premise that culture matters† (Munger, 2006, p. 132). â€Å"Islamic societies, not exclusively, but perhaps to a greater extent than most other nations, are committed to an idea of the perfectibility of humans in societies, through moral education and imposition and enforcement of moral law (Sharia) based on the Quran† (p. 142). This religious adherence adds a great deal of resistance to compromise from outside cultures, and bolsters the extremist elements within Islamic society. Much of the cultural foundation of extremist Muslim culture is their unique interpretation of the Quran: â€Å"The contemporary terrorist mentality and culture, which are rooted in absolutist, either-or, good-and-evil world views, resist efforts to negotiate. Accommodation, bargaining, and mutually acceptable compromise are not envisioned as possibilities within many terrorists’ mental framework† (Smelser ; Mitchell, 2002, p. 1). It appears that once a terrorist organization is established, the only ways to eliminate it is either when they accomplish their objectives, to destroy them, or to take away their reason to exist, which will allow Skinnerian extinction to follow over time. The ‘destroy’ method is problematic and costly: how does one destroy an ideology? Islamic terrorists are well-connected using technology; their geographic locality is literally everywhere and nowhere. Culturally-attuned uses of information technology† are a major source of cross-cultural influences in the creation and sustaining of terrorist organizations (Bailey ; Grimaila, 2006, p. 534). Terrorist organizations are expert in spreading and sustaining their ideology around the world. Once indoctrinated into a group, people will generally follow orders, no matter how extreme or violent, as long as the individual perceives that the order was issued from the appropriate authority (Milgram, 1965). Cultural influences caused normal students at Stanford to transform into ‘merciless prison guards’; once given the role and the authority, al-Qaeda recruits mold easily to orders from Bin Laden. Not only do they have a physical authority, which relieves their individual conscience from objecting, but also they further believe that Allah Himself sanctions Bin Laden and themselves in their efforts to establish Sharia law throughout the world (Bailey ; Grimaila, 2006). There is substantial agreement that the psychology of terrorism cannot be considered apart from political, historical, familial, group dynamic, organic, and even purely accidental, coincidental factors† (Borum, 2004, p. 22). Borum also states, â€Å"Significant differences [exist] both in, 1) the nature and level of aggression in different cultures, and 2) aggression can be environmentally manipulated; both findings that argue against a universal human instinct [of violence]† (p. 12). Diamond (20 04) argues that environmental influences are paramount in understanding why cultures are the way they are. The Fertile Crescent, once the cornerstone of agriculture, became radically altered once all the forests were clear-cut, leaving mostly a barren desert environment. It is interesting to note that the foundation cultures which harbored the seeds of al-Qaeda all come from this former environmental paradise. Therefore, while culture probably has the most influence on the creation of terrorist organizations in the short term today, environment certainly has a large degree of impact over the long term, and might have a large impact in the short term via militaristic or political manipulation. For many critics, global or ‘hyper’ terrorism has become an ultimate expression of acutely depressed geopolitical chaos† (Ward, 2008, p. 252). Geopolitical chaos produces environments ripe with opportunity for recruiters toward the cause of terrorism. Without addressing and rectifying the chaotic areas of the world, it is highly doubtful, that global terrorism will end. Cultures th at feel oppressed or depraved on the world stage may rise in rebellion against the oppressing culture(s), with or without religious dictate. Muslim culture is producing the lion’s share of high-visibility terrorists in the world today (Borum, 2004). One way to understand Muslim culture as it relates to the creation of terrorism is to look at Hofstede’s dimensions. Generally, Islamic countries have large inequalities of status, forming a small ruling group, and a large ruled group with limited power. Hofstede (2001) shows, those Arab cultures have large Power Distance (PDI) (80) and Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI) (68). When these two Dimensions are combined, it creates a situation where leaders have virtually ultimate power and authority. It is not unusual for new leadership to arise from armed insurrection – the ultimate power, rather than from diplomatic or democratic change† (Borum, 2004, p. 44). Virtually the only method available for the downtrodden in Arab society to express their need for change is by armed insurrection. This is a valuable insight into the cultural creation of Arab-based terr orism, possibly the most important one. Naturally, from the ‘terrorists’ point of view they are not terrorists at all but â€Å"freedom fighters†, fighting with their only available means to enact positive change. Does this mean efforts at establishing democracy in Muslim states are likely to fail? Cultural roots run deep, and are resistant to change by outside cultures (Weiten, 2004), so the question of democracy introduced and established by Westerners is a highly speculative venture. Finally, take the case of a female suicide bomber. It was originally assumed that the young woman who committed this act was â€Å"innocent, ignorant, and of questionable morality† (Brunner, 2007, p. 961). It is difficult for Westerners to imagine otherwise. Subsequent interviews revealed that she was educated, showed no signs of emotional disturbance, and was â€Å"as highly intelligent and more independent than other girls in her society, but still fully within the range of normal† (p. 961). The key point is that she was â€Å"fully within the range of normal†, according to the culture that she grew up within. By not understanding her culture, Western culture had labeled her â€Å"innocent, ignorant, and immoral†, overlooking key factors with which to fully understand why a mentally stable young woman would commit such an act, and more importantly, to be able to deal realistically with the rise of extremist terrorism through a lack of cultural understanding. Cultural factors of the United States There is a cultural precedence of powerful nations to label other nations as ‘evil’: a threat to ‘civilization’ (Ivie, 2005). In the U. S. , â€Å"this is a very old cultural theme, deeply ingrained into the political psyche† (p. 56). This cross-cultural mindset of powerful nations is one part in the creation of terrorists in weaker cultures, a type of self-fulfilling prophecy: the call to destroy the ‘barbarians that threaten democracy’ is an ancient one; Greece and Rome had similar ongoing open-ended campaigns against terrorists, as does the U. S. today (p. 55). The main trouble with an open-ended campaign is that it never ends†¦ another cultural perception that needs adjustment on the world stage in order to arrive at peace in the world. Looking at the cultural history of the US, the ‘savage’ has always been the object of distain and genocide, in order to ‘make way for civilization’ (Ivie, 2005). The genocide of indigenous peoples of the North American continent is well documented, even using biological terrorist tactics of germ warfare; giving ‘gifts’ of small-pox laden blankets to Indians without acquired immunity against devastating disease (Diamond, 1997). Oliverio (2008) writes, â€Å"It was also a matter of common sense that the Aryan race was superior. This taken-for-granted reality of Aryan superiority led to the extermination of millions of American Indians, millions of African slaves bound for America, and countless indigenous cultures throughout the world† (p. 21). Powerful cultures that label weaker cultures as savages are a powerful impetus to the creation of terrorism. It is a recent habit of the American Right to wage war against abstractions (Comaroff, 2007, p. 381). The line between metaphorical and real war, blurred beyond recognition, gives rise to such cultural terms as ‘the war against drugs’, ‘the war against poverty’, ‘the war against illegal immigration’ (Sherry, 1995), and has become the standard of cultural mind-set in America today. Again, the US has a â€Å"militarized world-view extended to declaring metaphorical wars on disease, crime, engaging in ‘trade wars’ with foreign competitors, and fighting ‘culture wars’ with one another† (p. 58). â€Å"Culture wars† is the main point in question: how can peace ever prevail if acts of war against culture prevail? Even the Olympic Games that followed 9/11 became a forum for the core Bush Doctrine (Falcous ; Silk, 2005). How does the reduction of civil liberties fare with the response to terrorism? â€Å"Not allowing college professors to speak out against governmental policies associated with the war on terror† (Crowson ; DeBacker, 2008, p. 296) is one form of right-wing authoritarianism that many Americans think needs implementation. A disturbing trend of loss of personal freedoms that some associate with fascism. Taken as a whole, US domestic and foreign policy regarding oil consumption, and support for oppressive regimes, is set aside in deference to critical scrutiny of individual behavior and the forms of ‘moral lassitude’ associated with a culture of dependency† (Hay ; Andrejevic, 2006, p. 344). So at least part of the U. S. cultural mindset is about securing its own economic interests at the expense of decency and fairness on the world stage. Many people think that the U. S. would never have bothered with Iraq if they had no strategic oil supplies, especially in the Middle East and Europe. This belief can only inflame world tensions further. Understanding cross-cultural inter-dependencies A surprising interdependency, regards the Bush Administration itself. According to Kellner (2004), not only Jihadists are responsible for ‘spectacular acts of terror’, but also both Bush administrations. They deployed â€Å"Manichean discourses of good and evil which themselves fit into dominant media codes of popular culture; that both deploy fundamentalist and absolutist discourses† (p. 41). This is extremely similar to the â€Å"contemporary terrorist mentality and culture, which are rooted in absolutist, either-or, good-and-evil world views, resist efforts to negotiate† (Smelser ; Mitchell, 2002, p. 1). The Bush administration openly declares its refusal to communicate with terrorist organizations or states, which is absolutist. We know that incentives flourish within such organizations (Munger, 2006). Incentives usually take two forms: 1) recruit members that are prone to obey and please within a cultural setting (e. g. collectivist rather than individualist cultures), and 2) â€Å"Create a set of incentives that reward loyalty, by giving access to excludable near-public (â€Å"club†) goods† (p. 131). Mohammed Atta reportedly was â€Å"at a strip club spending a lot of money, shouting anti-American slogans, and left a copy of the Quran before he left† (USA TODAY, 2001, p. 1). This incident seems to have fallen under ‘club goods’ instead of operational funds, because it was the night before the hijackings, and such excessive cash was no longer needed. This says nothing of the influence U. S. culture had on Atta, a devout Muslim going to a strip club, one day before he â€Å"meets Allah†. There is no such thing as a ‘terrorist state’, in the absolute sense. Triandis, Bontempo, Villareal, Asai, and Lucca (1988) have shown that national cultures never equate to individual or subgroup cultures, so while a totalitarian governing body may indeed be a terrorist organization, the general populace can in no way be held accountable for the actions of a few. It is a stereotypical mistake to label an entire country as terrorist. It is important to realize that â€Å"both differences and similarities in behavior occur across and within cultures; psychological processes are characterized by both cultural variance and invariance† (Weiten, 2006, p24). Regrettably, â€Å"quite a few nations are culturally reasonably homogeneous† (Hofstede, 1998, p180), and this may mean that a few nations may be mostly extremist in their outlook. Discourses from the Bush administrations paralleled closely to speeches given by Hitler, Pope Urban II, and others: â€Å"an appeal to a legitimate power source external to the speaker; an appeal to the importance of the national culture under attack; the construction of an evil enemy; and an appeal for unification† (Graham, Keenan, ; Dowd, 2004, p. 213). Kellner (2004) feels that â€Å"the disparity between the vast amount of information freely available to all through multimedia sources, and the narrow vision presented on the major news media via television is a travesty†, and a major cultural factor responsible for the deployments of the Bush administrations’ controlled mass media (p. 61). While arguments that ‘freely available news sources from uncontrolled sources’ might suggest this no longer to be a cultural factor, culture by nature takes time to change, and most Americans probably place more credence in the evening news than the newer Internet sources (Kellner, 2003). Another example of how cross-cultural misunderstandings regularly occur between nations: â€Å"when one cultural message sender transmits information to another culture, chances of accurate transmission are reduced† (Alder ; Gunderson, 2008, p. 72), and when nations or organizations refuse to send information between cultures as both the Bush administration and the al-Qaeda organization currently do, virtually no chance of accurate transmission occurs. Stalemate results and wars go on, indefinitely; clear contributors to terrorism. Perhaps nowhere is the question of terrorism more complex than in the European Union: â€Å"European counterterrorism culture is a difficult concept due to the fact that the regional level of analysis encapsulates a range of different national cultures. Europe has always been a rich mixture of various cultures, and ‘terrorism’ is a culturally charged term† (Rees, 2007, p. 220), hence the difficulty in consensus. Conversely, in China, we could expect to find a unified definition of terrorism under the centralized government (Diamond, 1997). While China is suspect of â€Å"using the post-9/11 discourse of counterterrorism to cloak their own domestic priorities† (Rees, 2007, p. 224), most of their counterterrorism efforts are likely to gain support with the Chinese public as being in the accord of the countries best interest: China being a collectivistic nation. â€Å"Terrorists focus their recruitment where sentiments about perceived deprivation are deepest and most pervasive† (Borum, 2004). This helps us to understand why American involvement in Iraq actually helps create recruitment opportunities for al-Qaeda. Destroyed economies, infrastructure, and family support (via killed family members), create extreme deprivation, desperation to right cultural wrongs, and enrage cultural dictates for retribution (Borum, 2004). It even gives insight into where al-Qaeda might be concentrating recruitment efforts in America. For youth torn between two cultures in a foreign land, identity crisis may result from exposure to the foreign culture, and the chiasm between their parent’s cultures: â€Å"radicalism offers simple answers to the big questions they are grappling with† (Ongering, 2007, p. ). The human tendency to stereotype will easily adapt to simple answers rather than grapple with difficult questions (Weiten, 2004). Extrapolated, it may be easier to recruit a terrorist, than to prevent a person from taking up the cause in the first place. Does cultural pressure on a subgroup help to create violent extremists? Muslim communities in America, â€Å"Not only had their religion being p resented incorrectly, but its adherents were being equated with terrorists† (Baker, 2006, p. 302). Considering the degree that Muslim communities in the Western world are subject to intensified scrutiny, and even unwarranted acts of violence against them by US citizenry (Ward, 2008), a good assumption is that many young Muslims will adapt an extremist ideology in response to cultural threat (Sirin ; Fine, 2007), and some of those extremists will turn terrorist. It seems to be a never-ending spiral escalation of one cultural assault upon the other: the ‘Crusades’ continue†¦ It is a real ‘Which came first, the chicken or the egg? ’ question. Which side began this milieu of cultural attack and counterattack? Perceptions run the gamut: â€Å"The terrorist presents a story of heroism and necessary sacrifice. The counter-terrorist presents a counter-narrative of defiance and vengeance, replacing the image of the martyr with that of inhumanity, even bestiality† (Ward, 2008, p. 254). We reminded again of weaker cultures as ‘savage’, and as we have come to see, cross-culturally, nothing could be further from the truth from both extreme perspectives. Another cultural misunderstanding that may have helped to escalate tensions is the perception that the Muslim community in America did not stand up in unison and denounce the acts of 9/11 as atrocious. This initial silent response interpreted by many Americans as tantamount to condoning such acts of terrorism (Munro, 2006). Paradoxically, this lack of public outcry may have been the result of Muslim culture itself, with the majority of Muslims feeling that it was obvious that they had nothing to do with the attacks, and therefore no reason to take a public stand (Munro, 2006). A form of ‘vigilante counter-terrorism’ develops in American culture, which gives rise to anti-Muslim sentiment and acts of violence (Johnson, 2003). One probable contributing factor is termed: â€Å"Sudden Jihad Syndrome† (Pipes, 2006). The perpetrator, â€Å"for all outward appearances, a young Muslim man, well adjusted to Western society, considered friendly; one day, without warning, he acted out an independent Jihad, which injured nine students† (Pipes, 2006). Such unforeseeable and unpredictable behavior influences non-Muslims to stereotype many Muslims as having the same potential toward â€Å"Sudden Jihad Syndrome†. This of course creates an atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust between cultures: how can you tell who the enemy is just by looking at them? Discussion There is no cultural ‘quick fix’ to this pervasive problem confronting the modern world. â€Å"The general policy approach has to be adaptive, opportunistic, and multisided. The conventional problem-solving logic so attractive in American culture—find a problem and then fix it—is of limited utility, and a longer term, more contextualized approach is necessary† (Smelser et al. , 2002, p. 4). For instance, the Global War on Terror (GWOT) as espoused by the Bush Doctrine includes toppling ‘rogue nations’ as part of the effort to thwart terrorism (Borum, 2004). Focusing on ‘nation rebuilding’ of states, that are otherwise subject to deterrent, rather than on organizations that transcend geographic localities and are not subject to deterrent, is a lack of proper cultural understanding of the issues, and will lead to further cultural misunderstandings. It makes sense that if powerful cultures do not make accusations against weaker cultures not understood, or interfere in the sovereign rights of weaker nations, that a large amount of terrorism will fail to manifest by lack of unwanted cultural impetus from foreign powers. One of the biggest troubles seems to be, that powerful countries can arouse their masses which are â€Å"easily pressed into service to rally the nation, quell dissent and effectively inoculate the public against any alternative perspective† (Ivie, 2005, p. 56), the main point being to limit any alternative cultural perspectives as being legitimate relative to one’s own ‘superior’ cultural perspective. This is error. â€Å"An increasingly militarized culture of fear† (p. 9), such as is dominant in the US today, and which has been developing over many decades, cannot reduce the threat of terrorism in the world. Indeed, Muslim culture dictates that retribution be demanded when a family member is taken. Each errant US bomb inevitably creates more ‘terrorists’ (Borum, 2004), cultural ‘deviants’ are created that never would have existed otherwise. Rumors and hundreds of websites have sprung up claiming that FEMA has erected hundr eds of internment camps on American soil is a disturbing part of the changing culture in America today. A Google search of ‘American internment camps’ will pull up hundreds of unsubstantiated claims of such camps, including specific locations; further highlighting the cultural atmosphere of increasing paranoia. Finally, what can help prevent Muslim youth in the U. S. from taking a violent path? According to Sirin and Fine (2007)â€Å"Research that the successful integration of both one’s own culture and the dominant culture, leads to more positive developmental outcomes†¦whereas marginalization, that is disengagement from both cultures, is associated with mental health problems for immigrant youth† (p. 52). Society certainly would do well to address issues of marginalization, in order to help prevent future â€Å"Sudden Jihad Syndrome† (Pipes, 2006). Conclusion While this paper has focused mainly on US and Muslim extremist involvement, state and non-state respectively, it is important to remember that many other states and organizations exist whic h perpetrate terror. Terror is a two way street, with few exceptions. Perhaps the ultimate defense against terrorism is to understand the cultural and cross-cultural causes of it, and with proper knowledge, address the issues at hand. We must avoid stereotypes at all costs, because â€Å"Nearly all terrorists are extremists, but most extremists are not terrorists† (Borum, 2004). â€Å"Long-term orientation versus short-term orientation† (Franke, Hofstede, ; Bond, 1991) may provide insights into which culture holds greater strength in the GWOT. U. S. culture demands immediate results, and has little tolerance for long term strategies, while extremist Islamic culture is bond by the vision of Mohammed, and is prepared to sacrifice for centuries if need be (Borum, 2004). Fortunately, unnecessary warring between cultures may diminish substantially as one of the biggest single benefits of cross-cultural understanding and application of organizational psychological research (Brislan, 1983). â€Å"It is argued that we now live in an age of ‘hyperterrorism,’ where the nature and scale of terrorism has reached a new level, and that the question of ‘How to deal with international terrorism is quickly becoming the defining issue of our age’† (Ward, 2008, p. 248). It is imperative that we make every effort to understand the cross-cultural determinants of terrorism, regardless of cost. Additionally, â€Å"terrorism is a discourse that affects all our lives, and the collateral argument that terrorism somehow validates the occasional abrogation of so many of our most cherished legal principles, is something that should concern all of us† (p. 249). Hogan (2006) offers: â€Å"Due to the logistical and analytical challenges of cross-national comparisons, studies to date have concentrated largely on single nations† (p. 64). While much work remains, understanding the vast scope of cultural interdependencies that help create terrorism is an extremely complex task yet must be undertaken if we are to come to terms with global terrorism. As Hostede (1998) states, â€Å"constructs are products of the mind with which we attempt to understand and predict human behavior in an infinitely complex world†, and all constructs are flawed to some degree. In an infinitely complex world, we will never entirely eradicate terrorism in its many manifestations. Our best hope to eradicate the bulk of organized terrorism is through scientific understanding and conscientious application of rational solutions, freed from cultural bias. â€Å"Culture lies entirely on the â€Å"nurture† side of the ledger, as against â€Å"nature†, or truly nherited traits† (Munger, 2006, p. 134). Solutions to the specter of terrorism will manifest through understanding and responding to such cultural nurture. This paper has posited that understanding other cultures can help to reduce tensions between cultures, which give rise to terrorism and counterterrorism conflicts. As Munger (2006) points out, â€Å"a shared understanding of something that identifies insiders, and excludes outsiders because they do not share this understanding† (p. 133), is perhaps the fundamental commonality between conflicting sides. If we can short-circuit this exclusionary identity concept, by education and promulgate understanding by either, or both sides, and act upon it with responsible communication between parties, then perhaps modern terrorism as we know it will eventually end. It may take many years, because established terrorist organizations are not open to compromise (Smelser ; Mitchell, 2002), but such efforts may play a large part in helping to prevent future recruitment, and help eliminate the need for terrorist organizations within the cultures that originally spawned them; losing their luster they slowly fade from existence.

The Empire State Building

Empire State Building The Empire State Building Outline THESIS STATEMENT: The Empire State Building did not cause much trouble for New York; instead, its construction had many positive effects. Reasons for the Building I. Raskob wanted to make money by renting offices to tenants. A. He wanted to construct a building that offered him the largest number of offices at the lowest price. B. He didn’t care for innovation and style , but he wanted a building that sticks with his budget. II.In addition, constructing the Empire State Building was a part of an intense rivalry to win the â€Å"World’s Tallest building† title. A. This dream appealed to John Raskob. B. He made sure that his design’s height would exceed the competing buildings. Constructing the Empire State Building I. To design the building, Raskob hired William F. Lamb. Lamb knew that it was a special chance to create something historical, so, although the mission was almost impossible, he decided to accept the project. A. He was able to finish the first design in four weeksB. His design fascinated John Raskob. II. Lamb found many problems with designing such a huge building. A. Designing an elevator was a trouble for William lamb B. Maintaining a fire system capable of reaching the higher floors was a challenge. C. Storing Materials was impossible. III. Just when everything seemed on track, Raskob and his partners received a striking new. A. Chrysler changed his plans in an attempt to beat Raskob B. Raskob decided to add a mooring mast to the building. C. He bet Chrysler plans by his idea Effects of the buildingI. In 1931, the Empire State Building became the highest building in the world. A. It raised the Americans’ spirits. B. It was opened during the Great Depression. II. Soon after the building’s completion, it became a major tourist attraction site. A. It attracted famous visitors like Albert Einstein. B. It has attracted over 117 million visitors. III. At le ast 32 people committed suicide by jumping of the building. A. Unidentified man jumps of the building’s roof B. Evelyn McHale jumped from the 86th floor after she left her fiance. ConclusionThe Empire State building is no longer the tallest building in the world; however, it remains an important historical figure. The Empire State Building still attracts millions of tourists yearly, and it remains a sign for America’s powers since it is was an innovation in the world of construction. Towers and skyscrapers have become an icon for development; countries now compete to build towers to attract visitors and activate tourism. Some towers are built for telecommunications and broadcasting; however, towers and skyscrapers remain an evidence for the country’s wealth and well-being.Recently, a new trend is prevailing: countries and businesspersons are competing to build the tallest building in the world. Many attempts for achieving this goal succeeded for a while, but not hing is permanent; newer and taller buildings are always built! John R. Raskob financed the Empire State building’s construction to enter the intense competition of constructing the highest building in New York (Construction: Building The Impossible 117). The Empire State Building didn’t cause much trouble for New York; instead its building had many positive effects.Reasons for the Building Raskob wanted to make money by renting offices to tenants, and he wanted a tall skyscraper that would offer him the largest number of offices for the lowest amount of money. He did not want a stylish or innovative building; he just wanted profit, but he wanted a building that sticks to his budget and deadline (117). In addition, constructing the Empire State Building was a part of an intense rivalry to win the â€Å"World’s Tallest building† title. This dream appealed to John Raskob, but this meant that he his building had to exceed 295 meters.He had to compete with Ch rysler building and the bank of Manhattan (118). Raskob’s building had to be roughly 305 meters high, and this height had to fit on the 122 by 61-meters area he had purchased on fifth avenue. Constructing the Empire State Building To design the building, Raskob hired William F. Lamb. Lamb knew that it was a special chance to create something historical, so, although the mission was almost impossible, he decided to accept the project. After fifteen trials, Lamb was able to reach a design that met the city’s zoning restrictions and Raskob’s requirements.The basic design was finished in four weeks; the project turned out to be more fascinating in appearance that Raskob has thought (119). Lamb found many problems with designing such a huge building. He faced the challenge of installing a safe elevator that is capable of transporting people such great distances. He split the elevator systems into sections. â€Å"The section serving the lower levels ended at mid-leve l where the building had to be set back; the upper elevators were placed in the central core (120). † How would water reach the upper stores in case of fire?Lamb designed a unique fire-safety system using giant steel water tanks at different levels. He included 400 hose connection and an alarm connected to the city’s fire station. Also, he ordered that bricks and limestone, fireproof materials, should be used in construction (120). Since construction was happening in one of the busiest cities in the world, the huge amount of materials-for example, tons of marbles from France and Italy, 6500 windows, and 10 million bricks- could not be stored; everything had to be used directly after its delivery.William Lamb completed the detailed project in six month, and the R. H. Shreve arranged the actual construction. (120-121). Just when everything seemed on track, Raskob and his partners received a striking new. Walter Chrysler, the owner of the Chrysler building, revealed his tr ue plans that he was hiding; he was determined to have the world’s tallest building. He added a dome to his building that raised its height to 319 meter, just a few meters higher that Lamb’s design. Raskob could not afford to redesign his building to beat Chrysler, but Raskob found a solution. A hat! † he cried. â€Å"That’s what this building needs-a hat†. At Raskob suggestion, Lamb added a 61-meter top called a mooring mast. It allowed blimps to dock and discharge their passengers. It was not practical and was used only once; however, it gave the Empire State building the title of the world’s tallest building (120-122). The labors completed the steel frame in sixth month, and one year after laying the first piece of steel the construction was completed with a height of 443. 2 meters, easily within the dead line (125). Effects of the BuildingIn 1931, the Empire State Building became the highest building in the world. The building opened in t he midst of the Great Depression; it lifted the spirits of many Americans in one of the nation’s hardest times. Celebrating what they named the eighth wonder of the world, people were psychologically lifted by the building’s construction (The Empire State Building: Skyscraper Symbol of America's Power). Soon after the building’s completion, it became a major tourist attraction site. It attracted many famous people from all over the world including Albert Einstein, the French prime minister, and Queen Elizabeth.The building became an international icon, and it has attracted over 117 million visitors (Empire State Building-Facts). At least 32 people committed suicide by jumping of the building (Empire State building-Facts). For example, An unidentified man got past a guard on the staircase leading from the 102d-floor observatory of the Empire State Building to the top floor yesterday, and leaped to his death (Leaps To His Death Off Empire Tower). Another woman, Ev elyn McHale, jumped of the 86 floor of the Empire State building after leaving her fiance. She left a note saying â€Å"he is much better without me†¦.I wouldn’t make a good wife for anybody† and jumped to her death (Life 42). Conclusion The Empire State building is no longer the tallest building in the world; however, it remains an important historical figure. Today Burj Khalifa, found in UAE, is the tallest building in the world (828 meters) (Empire State Building), but as the competition continues who knows where the next tallest building is going to be? The Empire State Building still attracts millions of tourists yearly, and it remains a sign for America’s powers since it is was an innovation in the world of construction.Works Cited Book: Nathan Aaseng. Construction:Building The Impossible. The oliver press. Mineapolis. 2000. http://books. google. com. sa/books? id=nVd8CCmafP0C;printsec=frontcover;hl=ar;source=gbs_ge_summary_r;cad=0#v=onepage;q;f=true Magazine : No author mentioned. Picture of The Week. Life. 12 May 1947. 152 pages http://books. google. com. sa/books? id=ZEgEAAAAMBAJ;source=gbs_navlinks_s Internet: Thomson Gale. The Empire State Building: Skyscraper Symbol of America's Power. BookRags. Copyright @2005-2006.Science and its times. Visited April 9, 2012. http://www. bookrags. com/research/the-empire-state-building-skyscrape-scit-06123456/#bro_copy No author. Empire State Building. Emporis. Copyright @2000-2012. visited April 9, 2012. http://www. emporis. com/building/empirestatebuilding-newyorkcity-ny-usa No author. LEAPS TO HIS DEATH OFF EMPIRE TOWER. The New York Times. November 4, 1932. Retrieved October 4, 2011. Visited April 10, 2012. http://select. nytimes. com/gst/abstract. html? res=FB0610FF355516738DDDAD0894D9415B828FF1D3

How did race influence the positions of first-wave feminists Essay - 1

How did race influence the positions of first-wave feminists - Essay Example The agenda of feminist activists included such aspirations as equality with men in the fields of â€Å"education, professional careers, and culture; married women’s economic and legal dependence; sexual and moral double standards; women’s lack of control over their bodies; the drudgery of housework; low wages; and not least, women’s exclusion from politics† (LeGates, p.203). It is quite obvious that disparities between racial and ethnic communities do not feature in this list. This suggests that while racial minorities continuously strived for emancipation during this period, their struggles were recorded independent of the women’s movement. This apparent inconsistency is reflected in the fact that the leading activists of the first-wave feminist movement were largely white women of middle-class socio-economic background. A closer scrutiny of the movement betrays a double standard on part of the reformers, who, it seemed, â€Å"were content to accept the restraints of race and class as natural and inevitable†.(LeGates, p.197) The issue of race was more pronounced in North America compared to Europe. At the time of first-wave feminism, North America was largely inhabited by Caucasians who emigrated from Western European nations in the preceding two centuries. The leaders of feminist movement saw new immigrants from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds as a threat to their own position of relative privilege. They were only too willing to perpetrate the racial prejudices and discriminatory practices of their male compatriots. As LeGates points out, â€Å"They used statistics to prove the numerical superiority of n ative-born Anglo-European women in the population, contending that the enfranchisement of all women would offset the foreign vote†. (LeGates, 257) The epitome of such attitudes is captured in the following sentiment expressed by Canadian feminist Margaret McAlpine, who advised the prime minister in 1911 that â€Å"Canadian

Arguementative Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Arguementative - Research Paper Example THESIS According the American Heritage Dictionary (2011), abortion is defined as the induced termination of a pregnancy, achieved via destruction of embryo or fetus. Abortion therefore refers to ceasing the process of child birth before the child is born. Opting for an abortion is not an easy decision, but there are many unfortunate circumstances where women find themselves with no other choice. Several reasons for opting for an abortion may include: rape pregnancies, accidental pregnancies, divorce, illness of the mother or the mother being underage etc. Abortion has for long been viewed unfavorably by most societies. In America, abortion was legalized only in five states in 1970 and in all states in 1973 (Levitt & Donohue, 2001). Women who do opt for abortion to avoid giving birth to unwanted babies face many difficulties in areas where abortion has not been legalized. If a woman is too young or unhealthy to bear a child, or if the baby is unwanted, she should have the right to ter minate her pregnancy before bringing the child to life. This will not only save an unwanted or abandoned baby from being born but will also give the woman a chance to live a healthy life and make a career after attaining whatever education she may seek chances of which would be rare if she gave birth to a baby while being in her teens. Unprepared couples or those not wanting another baby do not prove to be good parents and it is not fair for any child to be born in a home where he or she is not welcome and where his or her parents cannot support the baby. In worse cases where abortion is not an opportunity and the baby is not given for adoption either, the baby is either abandoned, or is brought up very poorly by the parents or parent. There are cases where pregnant women are murdered by their partners who are unwilling to have a baby and share the responsibility or in some extreme cases; even the newly born infants are murdered by one of the parents. All this can be avoided by taki ng a timely step namely that of abortion if contraception did not work. Even if given a chance to live, unwanted babies are deprived of normal lives where parents care for children and support them. Unwanted children often have abusive, frustrated parents who do not care for the children, resulting in unhappy lives for such children. ANTI-THESIS There are always two sides of a picture and it is pointless to prove an argument while ignoring the counter arguments available. There is some available research and literature in favor of not legalizing abortion as well. Lott and Whitley (2010), cited in UFI (2010) conducted one study to find the relationship between abortion and crime rates. They concluded that contrary to what Levitt and colleagues (2005) previously found, crime rate specially that of murders had actually increased with legalizing abortion. The researchers supporting this finding explain that with legalized abortion, pre marital and extra marital unprotected sex has also become a more encouraging option which has therefore elevated the rate of related crimes. Some people who oppose legalized abortion claim that abortion is another form of discrimination. Dr. Garton in her book ‘Who broke the baby?, cited in Murti (2006) says that we have actually conveniently excluded

A Reflective Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

A Reflective Paper - Essay Example This calls for the strategic intervention of the human resource manager or the HR. the HR has many duties which include recruitment of the workforce, human resource development, benefits and compensation, safety and health and enhancing better employee and labor relations. These factors are instrumental to the success of the organization and the approach that is taken by the HR to achieve this largely defines the success of the organization in achieving its objectives. To achieve these HR functions and responsibility and ensuring a culture of performance in the organization, the HR has to adopt an operation excellence approach that ensures making of benchmarks in the global market today. Schuler & Jackson (2007) define operation excellence as a set of strategic results that an organization aims to achieve over specific time, as demonstrated by factors such as strategic improvement in all the areas of concern, sustained improvement in all departments of an organization and laying down strategies to achieve high benchmark results. These are the essential driving forces behind a globalised approach in HR functions. Human resource recruitment, planning and selection One of the most important functions of the HR is to recruit, and critically plan on human resource that would be entrusted with the task of ensuring the success of meeting objectives in the organization. Largely, the recruited employees and staff have a large impact towards the performance of the organization in meeting its objectives. According to Brumfitt et al (2001), the complexity and extensive recruitment criteria that is involved in workforce recruitment has led many companies to hire consultancy firms in recruiting its workforce. In the current highly competitive market, this approach by the HR might not offer a competitive workforce, and it is the role of the HR to ensure that employees are recruited as per extensive criteria that rhymes with the philosophy of the organization. Johnston and Joh nston a leader in pharmaceuticals has such criteria that portray leadership in employee recruitment. The criteria involve more than 60 guidelines that guide the recruitment process and is highly integrated and linked with the philosophy of the company (Beiske, 2003). Such recruitment criteria would ensure that the process has a good fit and is well integrated to the values of the individual and the culture of the organization. The resulting workforce would lead to a culture of performance excellence. The use of assessment centers where prospective employees are critically evaluated over a short time has also proven to be instrumental in the recruitment process. Human resources development Human resources development ensures that employees are occasionally trained to meet the expected performance of a globalised market as well as improving their performance skills. It is the role of HR to plan, manage and implement occasional training of the workforce to ensure sustainable and consis tent performance of the workforce. According to Saiyadin (2009) GlaxoSmithKline a giant pharmaceutical has some of the best global human resource development strategies. The company uses assessment centers where each employee has to undergo assessment after a certain time to compare their skills with the required skills to perform the expected duties. The center reveals areas of weaknesses and

Models for Community and Individual Health Promotion Assignment

Models for Community and Individual Health Promotion - Assignment Example He as an individual might decide to help them, but such a behavior as smoking is a very addictive behavior which requires one to have the will of taking the necessary measures to quit smoking. This is a process that is not expected to be smooth running, but as long as the victim is willing then it will be easy to him or her stop the behavior (Edberg, 2010). One of the community models used to support health behavior is the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. It is easy for people to prevent themselves from getting sick by taking precautionary measures like washing your hands before eating or even after visiting the toilet. Some of the major diseases that really affect people and can easily kill; diseases like cancer, diabetes, cannot be easily screened, and one needs help from specialists and to then know how to cure it. For this reason, a community takes the initiative to educate its people more about this disease, their symptoms and where to get help from incase you are infected (Orleans, 2008). The Stage Change model helps one know that it is only you who has the full control of your life and that one is willing to leave a positive and healthy life. One can give you advise, and even avail the best clinics for you in order for you to for instance quit smoking but unless you are willing this is not possible (Gochman, 2011). This theory appreciates the spread of word and information in that, information can reach a lot of people and be helpful to the community. This is through schools, churches and such like places (Gochman,

The Future of Manufacturing in the USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Future of Manufacturing in the USA - Essay Example The Boeing Company in America announces its prevalent orders ever in the last year thus recording the highest exports by value. The enormous American brands, such as caterpillar and Intel, sustain the bases of domestic manufacturing despite their orientation globally. Companies repatriating include Ford and Continental AG that manufactures for a multitude of reasons, including problems of counterfeiting. Foreign corporations (Samsung and Volkswagen) at the same time build manufacturing amenities in America.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The current trends in the skilled workforce, reliable infrastructure, creativity, diversity, excellent universities, and entrepreneurial spirit continues to pinpoint the manufacturing advantage. It is the U.S . contentment that it would be more attractive as its counterparts costs wane as a result of productivity.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Predicaments and barriers have surrounded the U.S. manufacturing sector. It is noticeable that top foreign manufacturers could be more globalized than their counterparts in the United States. Data on the top manufacturers demonstrates that the foreign manufacturers would be more international. The foreign employment recorded increased employment to 68 percent during the years between 1998 and 2010. A comparable figure was 47 percent in 2010 for the U.S manufacturers.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The foreign manufacturers in the top list have established growing, and significant operations in the U.S. The market penetration could be due to green field investments, strategic alliances acquisitions, and mergers.

Privatization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Privatization - Essay Example Private individuals who buy these public shares will be able to participate in the decision-making process of these organizations and will be able to change their policies. On the other hand, some people argue that private sector organizations will emphasize more on their profits and not on the protection of public rights. They will keep increasing prices in order to earn greater profits. Opponents also argue that the ownership of some goods should remain in the hands of the government to ensure equality. These goods and services include healthcare and education facilities. These public goods should be facilitated by the government just as the private goods should be provided by the private sector. Through privatization, governments try to improve the performance of their duties like infrastructure etc. In the past, privatization has occurred in many different countries. In the Great Britain, privatization started with partial privatization of British Petroleum in 1979. A large numbe r of industries were privatized after this like British ports, British Telecom etc. In 1987, one of the largest airlines in Europe, British Airways was also privatized. Along with these, many other assets such as buildings, roads, and buildings were also privatized. In U.S. many services have been privatized including hospitals, parking lots, water utilities etc. One of the most significant examples of privatization was that of Chicago Skyway and Indiana Toll Road in the U.S (Government Privatization, Web).

Diabetes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Diabetes - Research Paper Example The research paper shows the prevalence of the disease. It gives information on the age group; race, ethnicity, body size and sex that have high chances of are getting diabetes mellitus. The paper also highlights on some minor causes of diabetes mellitus, and the severe complications resulted from the disease if it is not diagnosed at an early stage. Diabetes mellitus known as diabetes is the number of chronically metabolic diseases that are identified by rise in glucose levels in the blood; scientifically know as hyperglycemia (Chandalia at al., 2012). It may occur due to the pancreas producing inadequate amount of insulin, defect in insulin action, or both. It is considered to be the seventh cause of death in United States. The food we consume is catalyzed to glucose which is utilized by the body to provide energy. Hormone insulin, which is synthesized by the beta cells of the pancreas, regulates sugar levels in the blood. According to LeRoith et al. (2004), this is achieved by assisting the glucose in circulating blood to enter the body cells (p.225). Once the glucose has entered the body cells it is used to synthesize energy that is used in all body functions. Long term hyperglycemia result to ailments of the coronary artery, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as strokes, heart attack, angina and heart failur e and causes diseases associated with peripheral arteries (macro vascular) and also micro vascular complications in patients. In some cases, it also results in lower limb amputation. The data received for statistics of the number of US residents that were diagnosed by diabetes and prediabetes in 2010 was derived by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Patient Information Reporting System (NPIRS) and the United States renal data system of the national institute of health. The number of residential Americans aged 20 and above was 25.6 million which is

20th century innovators of theatre Essay Example for Free

20th century innovators of theatre Essay In this essay I will contrast and explore the key innovations and methodologies of the director/practitioner Peter Brook, and the Polish director/practitioner Wlodzimierz Staniewski and the workings of his theatre company, Gardzienice. One of Peter Brooks methodologies that I feel is key is his use of site specific work. Peter Brook felt a need to try and create theatre outside of traditional theatres. So in the early 1970s he started the experimentation of acting in the street, in hospitals, carparks, anywhere there was a space big enough to hold a production. In the early seventies we began doing experiments outside what was regarded as theatre. For the first three years we played hundreds of times in streets, in cafes, in hospitals, in the ancient ruins of Persepolis, in African villages, in American garages, in barracks, between concrete benches in urban parks. We learned a lot, and the major experience for the actor was playing to an audience they could see, as opposed to the invisible audience to which they were accustomed. This key innovation has helped both directors and actors all over the world, especially actors in third world/war torn countries who either dont have access to theatre buildings due to financial constraints, or who have no theatre buildings due to bombings. Peter Brook encountered a theatre director from Soweto in Africa. This African director explained that his theatre company had been helped greatly by Peter Brooks book The Empty Space, when Peter Brook asked how? the African director replied The first sentence, which is, I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all I need for an act of theatre to be engaged. Peter Brook felt that the newfound relationship between actor/audience would create a new and different dynamic for the actors involved, mainly due to the proximity (closeness) of the actors and audience. One of the actors main defences previously in conventional theatre was not being able to see the audiences faces. With this new site-specific theatre this defence was shattered. Peter Brook felt that this newly created relationship between actor/audience was key in the shared experience of the theatrical performance, so rather than the audience being alienated by the space, the audience sharing the auditorium and the actors the stage, suddenly both parties were sharing exactly the same space. Another aspect of the empty space is that the emptiness is shared: its the same space for everyone who is present. He also felt that there was no need for an elaborate set, lighting and the comfort of a theatre to produce living theatre, he felt that this so called living theatre was not linked to external conditions. I wish to compare what can occur only on a regular stage, with set and lighting, with what can take place only without lighting, without scenery, out of doors, in order to demonstrate that the phenomenon of a living theatre is not linked to external conditions. Gardzienice also used site specific work within their company, but what made their use of site-specific work different to Peter Brooks form was the way in which they executed it. Firstly they would interconnect their form of site-specific work and interculterallism. The Theatre Company would travel to a village and set up for a performance, this would be done in full view of the villages inhabitants so to insure a large turnout. A small group of performers would then walk between the houses either engaging in short performances in front of or inside the houses. They did this to make the villages feel like part of their performances rather than outside of them, this method connects to Peter Brooks method of actor/audience sharing the same space rather than feeling alienated, just spectators. The difference with Gardzienices performance/gatherings is that they actively encourage the villagers to participate/share in the performances. You may rehearse with local musicians, and if there are storytellers you try and include them as well, if not in the performance scenario then in the gatherings. So the preparations should animate the local community as much as possible. Gardzienice created these gatherings in order to share their work with agrarian communities and also give members of these communities a chance to share lifelong skills, in any performance-related art with them. If you present your skills, they will respond with their highest abilities. This method is used not only to share artistic forms, it is also used as a refining vehicle, because the responses of these villagers are so unblemished by society as we know it, Gardzienice felt that the responses of the villagers would be completely primitive and instinctive. The expedition tests and proves the strength and the causing effect of the performance, of the scenes, of acting, of timing-all the aspects which indicate whether it is alive or not. It is a very good camp for refining your craft. The use of the gatherings/performances changed the theatre of its time, as did the use of site-specific spaces for Brook. These gatherings created a whole newworld of what was seen as theatre. In the 1970s theatre was seen as a performance of a play in a conventional theatre space to a paying audience. Gardzienice changed this by using the natural environment of the village as the theatre. He also had no set play, the drama would unfold in an organic completely natural way, and this also reflected upon the environment in which it was set. I am of the opinion that gathering is a moment of theatre born of itself. The traditional gathering has, Within it, the fundamental structure and principles of drama. It has an enormous theatricality and dynamism. If you observe the traditional gatherings in the villages where the people meet to sing, play their music and tell their stories, you will see that they are richer and more developed than many dramas on the stage. Gardzienice also created this innovation of gathering/performance to truly allow their audience to be an integral part of the performance. For without them the performance is not actually possible. The real performance, the real event is the gathering. Staniewskis company wished to change the passive audience into the active one through the constant evoking of their senses. He did this through his deeply moving performances, which involved music and song, this musical song was used in a very ritualistic way. This performance type has elements of religious ritual and the natural environment, which usually connects greatly with these villages, as most of their lives are rooted in tradition and religious activity and their constant connection with the land. The performance demonstration is very important because it allows you to identify your work. The village is never passive during the performance because this sort of society still has liveliness, an immediate reaction to an action, a picture, to events, happenings. But the gathering is much more significant because you are changing the passive audience into the active one. In both Staniewskis and Brooks work they share a common interest in the role of the spectator. Brooks methodologies are such that the audience must be an alert energy whilst speculating. Within Brooks work he is aware that the audience should be alert to the action but not directly involved. He sees the audience as active through the channelling of their positive energy onto the actors; they have an awakened presence that manifests itself onto the energy of the performers. The eye of the audience is the first element, which helps. If one feels this scrutiny as a true expectation, which demands at every moment that nothing be gratuitous, that nothing can come from limpness, but all from alertness, one understands then that the audience does not have a fully passive function. It does not need to intervene or manifest itself in order to participate. It is a constant participant through its wakened precence. On the contrary Staniewski encourages the spectator to become an integral part of the performance process (within gatherings), sometimes even encouraging the audience to actively taking part in the creation of the action. Gardzienice display their skills, to which the villagers then respond with skills of their own. You must demonstrate your own abilities as perfectly as possible. If you present your skills, they will respond with their highest abilitys. Another very important innovation of Peter Brooks is interculterallism. He is very interested in the idea of sharing forms. Especially those that come from a long line of tradition, forms that were inbred into a people, rather than learnt/acquired as forms are usually learnt in the western world. When talking about a Taazieh performance that he saw in Iran he said about the performer It was although we heard his fathers voice, and his fathers fathers, and so on back. Although Peter Brook admires the greatness of these age-old plays/rituals/ceremonies, he also discusses the way in which these forms can become out of touch with society. Peter Brook believes in taking a form from another culture and adapting it. He believes that trying to create an exact representation of a form so alien to an outsider, yet that comes so naturally to its inhabitant is useless. Peter Brook felt that once a form was formed it was rigidly stuck and unable to progress. He said, Generally speaking, we can conclude that tradition, in the sense of the word, means frozen. It is a frozen form more or less obsolete, reproduced through automatism. He feels that forms are just like any natural cycle within our universe that everyone must accept, everything is born and everything must die. He believes that only the constant re-evaluation and adaptation of a form will keep it alive. There is no form beginning with ourselves that is not subject to the fundamental law of the universe: that of disappearance. All religion, all understanding, all tradition, all wisdom accepts birth and death. In 1968 he met a Japanese actor named Yoshi Oida who was trained in No theatre. He believed that although his training was beneficial to him, it wasnt truly in touch with the world around him. Peter Brook agreed with this actors outlook, he felt that it was important to assess the context in which you are producing/performing the form in, and inevitably its connection with an audience. A magnificent form is not necessarily the appropriate vehicle to carry a living experience once the historical context changes. So in Peter Brooks productions he takes elements of ritualistic traditions/forms that he has encountered by indigenous people, and he adapts them to suit western actors/audiences. For Peter Brooks production of The Conference of the Birds, he brought in a Balinese actor with a vast experience in the use of traditional Balinese masks, to work with his actors. Although the acting company was in awe of what they saw him do with these masks, they knew that it would be almost impossible to recreate. He used the mask as a Balinese tradition, with a thousand years of ritual behind it. It would have been ridiculous for us to try to be what we were not. Finally we asked him what it was possible for him to do. Gardzienice has a similar methodology with regards to interculterallism but rather then heavily reforming the customs the Theatre Company try to translate the nature of the form that is shared with them whether in song or dance. Staniewski and his collaborators in Gardzienice translate what they explore and discover in their expeditions into their own highly complex and innovative theatre language. Gardzienice take the use of interculterallism to a completely new level through their use of the Gathering. This event not only involves sharing of cultural forms, it also takes the reactions of the spectators, or the sounds of the natural environment during a performance, and adds this to its theatre language, so it can be recreated in later rehearsals/performances. This innovation Staniewski calls interference in dialogue For example, an actor speaks a monologue and a voice from the crowd is constantly adding something. This is when they interject with material belonging to their own lives. So Gardzienice not only share and receive songs and rituals with these villagers, crossing the boundaries of culture, they also apply their natural reactions to aid the growth of their material. This innovation again bears similarities to Peter Brooks methodologies, although Brook does not directly involve the spectators in the action. Although he believes that the actors and the audience have a link through their imagination, he doesnt want them too directly participate as in the gatherings of Gardzienice. In the sixties we dreamed of an audience participating. Nai vely, we thought that participating meant demonstrating with ones body, jumping onto the stage, running around and being part of the group of actors. The participation that Brook talks of is more of a silent participation, not in the sense of conventional theatre where the audiences are there to just watch. They must finely tune their energies into the energies of the actors in order to create an extra daily atmosphere/energy. The audience does not need to intervene or manifest itself in order to participate. It is a constant participant through its awakened presence. De-urbanisation is a key innovation shared by both practitioners. This de-urbanisation was thought to have helped cleanse the acting company of the pollutions of city life. It also helped them to get more accustomed to the natural world. De-urbinisation is a recognizable process in the history of twentieth-century actor training. Stanislavski, Vakhtangov, Brook and Copeau have, at some point, sought rural retreats for their work. The differences in their use of de-urbinisation being that Brook retreated to country retreats whilst being involved in certain rehearsals, but Gardzienice has a permanent residence in rural Poland. Brook and Staniewski believe that urban life warps our bodies. Staniewski holds the same view he said in an interview Habitants brought from the city slowly die out the defensive attitude (necessary there), the dullness of the senses, and the indifference. Gradually we become sensitive to one another, we feel our constant, tangible, warm presence. Another of Staniewskis key methodologies is incorporating religious/ritualistic ceremonies into nearly all of their performances. This is not a new innovation as theatre was born originally out of religion, but it is a key factor within Garzienices theatre practices. His theatre is a spiritual theatre that encompasses outside factors and digests them in order to externalize them whenever necessary. Staniewski expects greatness in his performances not only through the actors transmission of the material gathered over the long rehearsal period, but also with regards to the reaction of the audience. I think that Staniewski wishes the reaction of the audience (and to some extent the actor) to be similar to the transcendence that some religious ceremonies awake in people. Should one expect miracles from a performance? Yes. You have to know how to prepare the ingredients, ignite the fire under the crucible, and then the actors can transmute their material into gold. Peter Brook believes that the religious/ritualistic ceremony/performance can be completely lost once taken out of its natural environment. In the community where the ritual originates from religious sense usually pervades everything. A western audience may not understand or want to understand the importance of the religious element/indigenous peoples way of life with regards to the context of this ritual, therefore something in the spectators reaction will be lost. Brook gave an example of a performance by the Bengal Chauu a group of villagers who act out battle, moving forward in little jumps. In India Bengal Chauu are greatly received, a big excitement for the villagers. But when the same performance was performed in front of a British audience Peter Brook felt that there was no energy left within it. The spirit was no longer present, nothing was left but a show, a show with nothing to show. Another key innovation that Staniewski discovered was that of musicality. It not only involves Music in its true sense through the use of choral work, but also musicality created through the body (rhythms). This form is seen to have a direct connection with the earth, Staniewski believes that every natural element contains musicality within it. I am utterly convinced that the earth is musical, that it has musicality and that every part of nature can be musical He believes that musical composition can be composed in a totally new way to its traditional form of writing a score. He feels that the western music is in some way inhibited by its strictness in form. Thats why our western music, codified since the middle ages, is sometimes refereed to as reduced. Through the use of breath, animal sounds that occur through our connection with the earth (such as stamping), using these sounds can help to create a musical composition, full of the earths richness. The entire world is filled with sound. But natural sounds represent a rich world of music. In dogs barking in the village and birds singing at my window, I hear musical compositions, which inspire me. These innovations have revolutionized the way in which theatre is produced today. In the 1970s when these forms were first discovered music would only appear within theatrical performances in the traditional musical theatre setting, or to increase tension, or as background music. Peter Brook uses music to create dramatic tension. He sees music as accompanying the action, rather then as in Gardzienices work music being a through line during all performances. He sees music as a complimentary tool that can help develop the energies of the actor. In contrast to Staniewski He imagines this music to be outside of the actor, composed, rather then created by the performers. The simple present of a pulse or a throb is already a tightening the action and a sharpening of the interest. Then other instruments enter to play a role-always in relation to the action. But feels that this music must contain a unified language with relation to the performance, and cant contain a language of its own language, whereas Staniewski combines the two to create a newer more innovative language. Staniewski connects musicality to spirituality, although he believes that the church has had a negative influence in the codification of music. The churchs influence on Western music is a well-known story. Dissonance was regarded as a sin. Ornamentation is not only an expression of emotion but also an intellectual statement-the Church found it too dangerous and reduced it. The connection and utter concentration of the senses that musicality techniques arouse can awake the inner senses making it an almost religious experience. Codified music is usually in the background of this musicality, creating a great juxtaposition in the finished performances. He sees the music as framing the musicality. My performances incorporate music and musicality. You have to form your artistic proposal and frame it. Once you repeat this framed work, you are developing a uniform structure of sound. Musicality is like a rough diamond, which is perfectly framed by the gold of the codified music. Song is also an important aspect of Garzienices musicality; singing/choral work is incorporated in some way into every one of their performances. Song is not used in a traditional sense within their practices. The act of singing is seen as something sacred, like sharing something with you audience. It is not about communicating a skill or ability as in the conventional meaning. It must not just involve your head your whole body must become consumed by the song. Song is a being; it is not just a composition or melody which must simply be sung. Nor is it a pretext for an actor to express his or her ability as an actor. Song is not illustration; Most of the songs that are used within Gardzienices performances are strongly linked to a given community or tradition (as with all of his work). The creative potential of this way of perceiving performance has received further confirmation through Staniewskis discovery of related techniques found in native cultures. He feels that the song in its natural tradition is sung from deep within and that is what he wants his actors to recreate. They take the song and then deconstruct it using varying words, harmonies and tempos etc. You have to penetrate the song through experimentation: through making different combinations of voices and harmonies. You explore different musical ideas, which will suddenly show you different plants within the organism of the song. Gardzienice have explored harmony, polyphony and dissonance rhythm and counterpoint. This way of singing is seen to produce an almost cathartic effect, through the deep training and the actors real sincerity in giving the song through humbleness rather than through self and ego. I am an idealist. I always believe that there must be a final destination within a song, a way of singing it, which explains everything, bringing a sort of catharses. In conclusion I have compared the methodologies of two key 20th century innovators of theatre. I started off talking about Peter Brooks use of site-specific spaces. I feel that this has been a key and revolutionary innovation in terms of the freedom it has given actors/theatre companies. It has in a way broken a barrier between the classes. Poorer companies of actors may not have been able to afford to hire out large theatre spaces. It has also encouraged the actors to be more creativity within the context of performance. Gardzienices methodology is similar to Brooks in relation to using a non-theatrical space as a setting for a performance. But they take it one step further with the involvement of the people of the village within their performances also talked about actor/audience relationship and audience participation. Peter Brook believes that the spectators are active through their silent energies. Gardzienice wants the audience to directly participate in the action. With regards to inter/cross culturalism Gardzienice embraces other cultures forms and incorporates many of them into their unique theatre language. Peter Brook also embraces other cultures forms, but he constantly evolves them, retaining little of their original substance. Both Peter Brook and Staniewski have embraced de-urbanisation. Peter Brook during some of his rehearsal periods. Gardzienice indefinitely. Both practitioners were interested in ritual. Peter Brook felt that something is lost when these rituals are performed out of their original contexts. Gardzienice have a great respect for other cultures rituals, they rehearse these songs/dances so much that they become a part of them, thus becoming re-contextualised. The last topic discussed was music/musicality/song. Gardzienice have revolutionised the process of creating music within a performance. A new non-codified type of music has arisen that can work alongside the codified form. Peter Brookes music as a background element in a performance to at times highlights the action. In my estimation all of these innovations have been important in the development of theatre, as we know it. But I believe that Garzienice on every level have taken Peter Brooks methodologies one step further.

Company overview of IKEA

Company overview of IKEA IKEA is an internationally known home furnishing retailer. It has grown rapidly since it was founded in 1943. Today it is the worlds largest furniture retailer, recognised for its Scandinavian style. The majority of IKEAs furniture is flat-pack, ready to be assembled by the consumer. This allows a reduction in costs and packaging. IKEA carries a range of 9,500 products, including home furniture and accessories. This wide range is available in all IKEA stores and customers can order much of the range online through IKEAs website. There are 18 stores in the UK to date, the first of which opened in Warrington in 1987. In July 2009 IKEA opened a store in Dublin too its first in Ireland. IKEA stores include restaurants and cafà ©s serving typical Swedish food. They also have small food shops selling Swedish groceries, everything from the famous meatballs to jam. Stores are located worldwide. In August 2008 the IKEA group had 253 stores in 24 countries, with a further 32 stores owned and run by franchisees. It welcomed a total of 565 million visitors to the stores during the year and a further 450 million visits were made to the IKEA website. IKEA sales reached 21.2 billion Euros in 2008 showing an increase of 7%. The biggest sales countries are Germany, USA, France, UK and Sweden. In 2008 IKEA opened 21 new stores in 11 countries and expects to open around 20 more in 2009 as part of its strategy for growth. IKEA Vision and Business idea The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people puts this concern at the heart of the business. Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. Aims and objectives SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Strengths -Flat-pack technology -Numerous global suppliers -Focus on low price with meaning -Extra in-store perks: restraunts, shopping carts, pencils, etc. -Unique store environment -Modern design pieces as well as traditional pieces Weaknesses -Not doing appropriate market researach when branching into a new cultures market-such as when IKEA came to America. -Ratio of sales representitives to consumers IKEAs self-service ethos, Americans are not used to this type of service. Opportunites -Saving money on labor by establishing supplier relationships with developing countries -Movement into other countries that do not have this type of retailer -Capitalize on good design with reasonable pricing -Capatalize on the unique and appealing shopping experience Threats -Lower prices of general retailers like Target and Wal-Mart that have the ability to regain losses on other merchandise -Finiding ways to appeal to a borader public-Scandinavian design and style is a niche not specifically suited to everyones tastes. Therefore, IKEA must figure out how to do this before someone else does. PESTLE ANALYSIS External Environmental Factors IKEA faces a variety of external environmental factors when conducting business in a competitive, global furniture market. These different factors, provides an explanation of what faces IKEA (The Broad Environment) Research shows in the broad environment, an individual firm can do little to directly influence these factors. In this study, IKEA is broken down by social, economical, technological and political/legal factors to dissect the broad environment. Socioculturally it was hard for IKEA to integrate itself in the American market. The furniture market in the United States contained a wide dichotomy between high-end and low-end design. Within this fragmented market, the top 10 furniture retailers were only responsible for 14.2% of the entire market share. The general discount stores, i.e. Wal-Mart, Target, Office Depot bring up the low-end market. These stores usually marketed their furniture on the basis of cut-rate pricing making margins low in for these channels. There were also smaller shops offering cheap furniture to price-conscious customers such as college students. However, these stores reflected their low price focus with dreary, dingy environments containing haphazard displays and poor, inconsistently managed inventories. Conversely, the high-end specialty markets offered luxurious store environments with clean, plush displays, conjuring up affluence, prosperity and comfort. These specialty retailers include Ethan Allen, Thomasville, and Jordans Furniture. Many of these retailers offered easy payment credit options lessening the debate when considering big-ticket items. Also, these stores came complete with high-touch sales consultants who assisted with measurements and product selection. These retailers offered interior design services for consumers whom were more interested in complete home makeovers. In addition, they boasted of huge inventories often containing many sub-styles within each specific style. Complete with delivery services, retailers could guarantee that consumers new purchases would be delivered and set up in their homes in a matter of weeks without them even having to lift a finger. Lastly, these specialty retailers focused on the quality of the furniture touting that their quality pieces will last a lifetime hence the justification of steep prices-a customer would not or should not need to replace the piece again within their lifetime. The other large part of IKEAs bumpy entry to American culture was the lack of market research. Many Americans didnt like IKEA products because the beds and kitchen cabinets did not fit American sized sheets or appliances, sofas were too hard for American comfort, the dimensions were in centimeters, and the kitchenware was too small for American serving preferences. A manger of the first store in Philadelphia (1985) recalled people drinking out of the vases instead of the serving glasses. Economically, IKEA is low cost. This is a big piece of breaking into the American market. IKEA had to focus and advertising campaign directed specifically to thwart Americans unwillingness to part with their furniture. Part of this angle is the low cost. It is only furniture, change it. By being willing to listen to consumer feedback and changing the way Americans looked at furniture, during the mid-1990s IKEAs profit share in American markets improved. Technologically, IKEAs Flat Pack is unlike any other furniture retailers shipping method-IKEA claims that they do not want to pay to ship air. This is precisely why they can be self-service and do not have to employ as many people as someone would think. These flat packs make it possible for people to lug their packages home without having to wait weeks for delivery. IKEA provides pencils, measuring tapes, store guides, catalogs, shopping carts, bags, and strollers to assist with the shopping experience. Customers are expected to transport their own purchases as well as assemble them on their own. The method in which IKEAs stores are lined up are ingenious. A customer will shop displays and then take their selections (jotting their item numbers) down to the warehouse to pick up their flat packed items before proceeding to check out. Utilizing Porters Five-Forces Model of Industry Competition, IKEA can be evaluated in the following way: 1. Customers Americans-the primary consumer base for IKEAs debut in the American Market. The most likely IKEA shopper are those sort of people who travel abroad, like taking risks, enjoy fine food and wine, have a frequent flier plan, and are early adopters of trendy consumer technologies such as Discmans, laptops, and cell phones (incidentally, IKEAs most atypical customer would be they type of person who collects guns). 2. Suppliers IKEA relies heavily on global suppliers. Once IKEA sets its base price for an item, they then seek to balance cost-effective labor with the companys quality product standards. It does so by working with 1,800 suppliers in over 50 countries. In many instances, IKEA circulates its idea within supplier rings and encourages them to compete for the production package. Sometimes to meet the base price, IKEA will have one design with pieces from several different suppliers. 3. Existing Competitors Traditional Furniture stores are abundant in America. There are none exactly like IKEA in the United States. Therefore IKEA has an advantage over those traditional stores that have high priced furniture. If that is not what the consumer is looking for, then they can go to IKEA for quality, less expensive furniture with a modern design edge. 4. Potential Competitors/Entry Barriers Since IKEA is such a unique, original idea/store it would be very hard to duplicate the totality of IKEAs culture. A store could probably duplicate one or two of the things which compose IKEAs atmosphere but they would fail in other aspects. Like, a store could try and copy the Scandinavian design niche but it would be hard and unauthentic (like what IKEA embodies) without the Scandinavian heritage. 5. Indirect Competitors/Substitutes Wal-mart, Target, Office Depot and other low-cost suppliers are indirect competitors in the fact they do offer low-priced furniture that consumers assemble themselves. However, these indirect substitutes differ in the fact that these are general retailers instead of where IKEA is a specific retailer of home goods. Target, for instance, retails apparel, accessories, home goods, groceries, office products and cleaning supplies. IKEA Strategy and Strategic options Company vision IKEAs vision has from the start been To create a better everyday life for the majority of people. IKEAs business concept originates in the decision to meet a need that no other company appeared concerned with and led it to develop a niche market: manufacturing beautiful, inexpensive and durable furniture for the majority of people.27 I. Kamprad states that IKEA should stand on the side of the majority of people, which involves taking on more responsibility than might at first seem to be the case.28 A recent example is the companys exceptionally costly move into the Russian market, but considered necessary as affordable furniture is a pressing need for the Russian population.29 The democratic design also involves representing the interests of ordinary people and getting rid of designs, which are difficult and expensive to produce, even if it is easy to sell.30 The concept was formalized in 1976 in Ingvar Kamprads thesis Testament of a Furniture Dealer, which became an important way to spread the IKEA philosophy.31 The fundamental goal was and is to provide affordable furniture for the people and cost cutting is key to achieving this. Cost-consciousness is a strong part of the business idea and the waste of resources is considered a mortal sin at IKEA32. By ensuring that ordinary people are able to afford to furnish their homes beautifully, many associate IKEA with a company that stands on the side of the little person and this is a positive image for a company to have. In addition to this, I. Kamprad had another dream: the dream of good capitalism which is the idea that the good in a profit-making business can be combined with a lasting social vision. This implies the goal of developing and achieving a better future for IKEAs customers as well as people working for IKEA believing that by working for IKEA, they are working for a better society and thereby contributing to a better world.33

Spirituality in Howl by Allen Ginsberg Essays -- Papers Poem Poetry

Spirituality in Howl by Allen Ginsberg Allen Ginsberg's poem "Howl" is a complex and intriguing poem about the divine in the common world. The minor themes of drugs and sexuality work together to illuminate the major theme of spirituality. The poem reveals through a multitude of sharp images and phrases that everything from drug use to homosexuality to mental illness is holy, even in a world of atom bombs and materialistic America, which Ginsberg considers not to be holy and he refers to as Moloch. As it is stated in Ginsberg's "Footnote To Howl," "The world is holy! The soul is holy! The skin is holy! The nose is/ holy! The tongue and cock and hand and *censored* holy! / Everything is Holy! Everybody's holy! Everywhere is holy!" (3-5). Sexuality is a theme that runs throughout the entire poem. It is not an uptight sexuality of the 1950's culture but a liberated one. And this sexual imagery, that mostly takes place in the first part of the poem, constantly refers to spirituality and the divine. The poem reads, "who let themselves be *censored*ed in the ass by saintly motorcyclists, and/ screamed with joy, / who blew and were blown by those human seraphim, the sailors," (91-93). These two images contrast the common view of homosexuality in the 1950's. The sailors are "seraphim", and the motorcyclists are "saintly". They are not corrupt as the common view might see it. The combination of these images helps to uncover the true theme of the piece. The things that most people of the time would consider to be depraved, such as homosexuality, are actually divine. Images of drug-use are other tools that are used in this poem to help illuminate the major theme. Once again, even though the drug -users " †¦ate fire in paint... ... machinery! Moloch whose blood is running money! Moloch whose fingers are ten armies! Moloch whose breast is a cannibal dynamo! Moloch whose ear is a smoking tomb! Moloch whose love is endless oil and stone! Moloch whose soul is electricity and banks! Moloch whose poverty is the specter of genius! Moloch whose fate is a cloud of sexless hydrogen! Moloch whose name is the mind! (262-73) Even with all this negativity in the poem, the major theme of spirituality remains. The poem "Footnote To Howl" sums up the theme of spirituality in "Howl". It reads, "The bum's as holy as the seraphim! the madman is as holy as you my/ soul are holy!" (7-8). Spirituality and the divine run through "Howl" like veins. They carry the theme throughout the piece and deliver it to the reader. Works Cited Ginsberg, Allen. Howl and other Poems City Lights Books San Francisco 1956

Female Political Candidacy :: Politics Political Science

Female Political Candidacy Abstract Factors which influence female political candidacy were investigated. The results indicated significant gender differences on the following hypotheses: H1: Female and male political leaders will differ in their uses of interpersonal power; H2: Female and male political leaders will identify different motivations in seeking public office; and, H3: Female and male political leaders will differ in their perception of barriers to participation as political candidates. The secondary perspective of race was also considered but was not found to be a significant barrier to female candidacy. This significantly predictive model has regional and international implications, and future studies will tested it comparatively by state and region to affirm its generalizability. Female Political Candidacy: A Racial and Gender Perspective This study examines the use of interpersonal power by females in elected political positions, the factors that influence women to run for elected office, and the barriers that hinder female candidacy. Drawing from three areas of gender difference - women and development (IWPR, 2000), institutionalization of power relationships (Parsons, 1969), and socialization of gender roles (Bennett and Bennett, 1999; Lindsey, 1997) - the research focuses on women in elected political leadership positions using a comparison of women and men matched by elected positions in the State of Mississippi, USA. The hypotheses were: H1: Female and male political leaders will differ in their uses of interpersonal power; H2: Female and male political leaders will identify different motivations in seeking public office; and, H3: Female and male political leaders will differ in their perception of barriers to participation as political candidates. The secondary perspective of race is evaluated using statis tical methods on a non-matched comparison of African Americans and Caucasians who responded to the gender study. Economic arguments and incentives for policy supporting broad-based political representation are numerous. There is widespread acceptance that peoples who have little political voice are overlooked in the distribution of public goods and have less access to education and health. Kenworthy and Malami (1999) note that representative critical mass necessary for females as a social group to exert a substantial influence on politics is considered to be 30% of a legislative body, while Harvard sociologist Rosabeth Moss Kantor puts representation at closer to 50% to make a difference in the culture of an institution (Ivins, 2001). The United States Agency for International Development notes that while almost all peoples around the world, specifically women, have a legal right to vote, actual female participation is inhibited by cultural, social, economic, legal and educational constraints (USAID Fact Sheet, 1997).