Positioning the Tata Nano †Case Memo

Positioning the Tata Nano – Case Memo Introduction: Tata Motors Limited (TML), a part of Tata group, a highly respected conglomerate has a product that will revolutionize the way India travels. The team was successful in delivering a car that meets the goal price of 1 lakh rupees. People welcomed it with high pre bookings and initial sales. But it has been found that the car didn’t hit the target market. The initial excitement faded away leading to drastic downfall in sales. We have analyzed the case to bring out the strengths and marketing strategies that TML can play to improve upon its sales. Strength: . At 1 lakh, price is the major strength of Nano. It has been priced between the cheapest car and a bike. 2. Fuel efficient car in the Indian market. 3. Easily accommodate a family of four. 4. Tata group is the most respected corporates in India. This gives TML an advantage as people trust the brand. 5. The compact design provides easy maneuverability in the congested city traffics. Weakness: 1. Positioning of the product as a cheap car. 2. Capacity limitation due to postponement of new factory lead to lottery based delivery. 3. Absence of enough TML dealers to cover the length and breadth of the country. . Low margin for the dealers. While TML provided 4 to 10 percent dealer margin for Nano the dealer margin was only 2 to 3 percent. Opportunities: 1. TML team views nano as an opportunity to provide a safer means of transport to a typical Indian family which rides on a motorcycle. The two wheeler segment presents itself as a great opportunity to nano to tap in. 76 % of automobile sales is in two wheeler market. 2. A large percentage of Indians lie in the middle class income range. Presently their disposable income is on the rise due to better job opportunities.The fact that this section of people doesn’t have a car and also prefer to own one if affordable provides TML with unprecedented market opportunity. 3. Rising fuel prices will be adv antageous to Nano as it is fuel efficient when compared to other cars in the same segment. 4. The new Sanand factory will help achieve the scale of operation . Threats: 1. The major threat for Nano is from the cars placed in mid-sized segment. Paying a bit more customers get a larger car with bigger engine and a longer track record. 2. Incidents of some Nanos catching fire also deterred customers from buying the car.Although the fire was due to foreign electronic particles it did dampened the market sentiments. 3. Nano missed its target market and it was catering to a market of second car buyers. 4. The advanced versions which were well above 1 lakh were selling more than basic model. This led to critics criticize that Nano might increase the congestion in roads. 5. Political threats like Singur land problem. The SWOT analysis of Nano provided a picture of the product and the brand. We have used 4 Ps of marketing mix to further analyze the different aspects of Nano. Product:While de veloping Nano the whole team had one objective to provide a low cost car without compromising on the quality of the car. TML went on with the following strategies to achieve this goal. 1. Nano was the most fuel efficient and economical car. 2. Three models are available: Nano, Nano CX and Nano LX. Nano had only the basic features without power steering, power windows etc. The other models had extra features. 3. The car was designed to accommodate more in less space. Engine was kept in rear portion to achieve this goal. 4. The suppliers were also roped into the design.They made light weight , low cost parts designed especially for Tata Nano. 5. Nano had parts supplied from 100 suppliers. The suppliers viewed this as a new opportunity to develop their capabilities. 6. The engines for Nano were developed by TML itself. Tata nano has a 624 cc 2 engine cylinder. The car as a product achieved its stated goals. But unexpected incidents of some Nanos catching fire led to build up of negativ e outlook on the quality of the product. Tata did took steps to ensure the quality of the product. 1. It fitted additional safety parts in every nano. . TML had four nanos touring all over India to prove that their product is capable of withstanding all conditions. TML could have gone for safety certifications but the cost prevented it from providing basic safety measures like air bags and anti-lock brakes. Pricing: Pricing is the USP for Nano. The whole product evolved around the goal price of 1 lakh. Apart from the lower price of Nano TML also had cut dealership margins. 1. Only the basic model was priced at 1 lakh while the other variants CX and LX were priced at 157,808 and 181,438 rupees. 2.Dealer margins for nano were between 2 to 3 percentage with a 1 percent discount off the full dealer cost if the dealer paid cash up front. 3. Although nor confirmed by TML it is believed that manufacturer margin was around 15 percent. The basic model with 1 lakh pricing failed to lure the c ustomers while the advanced models with higher prices had more takers. Distribution: 1. Inadequacy of dealerships was bothering TML as they couldn’t reach out to the target market. 2. TML had 214 dealerships spread over 28 states in the country. 3. TML followed an unique model for pre bookings. It took leverage of other Tata group companies.The pre booking forms were made available in Croma ,Westside stores, World of Titan and Tata Indicom exclusive stores. In addition the pre booking can be done through online or from SBI banks. 4. The land problem led to capacity limitation. The initial production was limited to 50,000 nanos. 5. A lottery system was used to allocate cars to people who had pre booked it. 6. TML had an idea to promote entrepreneurial engineers to assemble the car at a rural location where distribution was not available. But this idea was dropped due to concerns on warranty. Promotions: Promotion of nano was a major task ahead of Ratan Tata.TML needs to adjust its marketing strategies in order to sell the volume of cars that could be produced with the new plant. The following are the ways in which the product was promoted. 1. Right from the beginning Nano was promoted heavily by advertisements. The car was advertised as cheapest car in the market. 2. TML concentrated on the price aspect alone in its campaigns. This had negative impact on the minds of customers that the car may not be on par with its qualities. TML should make sure to change the perception of customers so that they don’t view nano as low cost car but an affordable car with quality standards.The quality standards and safety measures have to be promoted vigorously as the people expect these features when investing 1 lakh rupees. Conclusion: TML has a product that will help the millions to get a decent and safe way to travel. Unlike the second car buyers, the middle class i. e. the first time car buyers will view nano as a way to travel along with family. It leads to high expectations on safety and quality since individuals never risk the safety of their family. TML has to make sure that the product is rightly positioned as the one with necessary quality standards and high safety measures to rope in a middle class customer.

Conflict Essay

The bringing of people together in social interaction necessarily involves a set of interpersonal dynamics which sooner or later will lead to conflict. Conflict between people or groups often arises from competition for resources, power, and status. Family members compete for attention. Individuals compete for jobs and wealth. Nations compete for territory and prestige. Different interest groups compete for influence and the power to make rules. Often the competition is not for resources but for ideas, one person or group wants to have the ideas or behaviour of another group suppressed, punished, or declared illegal. When you consider what a diverse society we live in, with so many different backgrounds, perspectives and approaches to life, it is not surprising that conflict is established as part and parcel of our everyday life. This is because people will have competing interests and competing perspectives in relation to the same issues, and so we should not be surprised when tensions exist between individuals and groups. Conflict is concerned with difference. If we were all the same, then there would be little or no conflict. However, thankfully we are not all the same, and so part of the price that we pay for the richness of diversity is that conflicts will arise at certain times. Conflicts are inevitable in one’s organizational life and personal life. Conflict tends to have negative consequences for both the individual and the organization. Performance is adversely affected. Decisions made may not be appropriate. Occasionally, they might even be unrealistic or irrational. Thus, conflicts tend to impair one’s efficiency. Sometimes, conflict is also observed to give rise to certain maladjusted behaviours in individuals trying to cope with it. These include alcoholism, drug abuse, excessive smoking, under eating or overeating and extremely aggressive or submissive behaviour. Conflict has also certain physiological consequences in that, certain changes take place within the physiological system which are often ignored or unnoticed. Hence, it may be understood that conflict not only affects an individual’s performance, but also gives rise to psychosomatic disturbances, which undermine the health of the individual. It can also be argued that conflicts are not necessarily bad. The progress we have made so far in our civilization is due to the conflict between nature & man. Conflict releases energy at every level of human activity, energy that can produce positive, constructive results. Conflicts tend to have a motivational value; they drive or energize an individual to tackle a situation. To resolve a conflict one might explore different avenues or alternatives of action, which make him/her more knowledgeable. Conflicts also provide opportunities to test one’s own abilities. Conflict can occur at personal level, interpersonal level, group level. It can be latent or covert. Causes of Conflict 1. Conflicts arise when people are competing for the same resources, when they are not fairly distributed or when there are not enough to go round. 2. Conflicts arise when the people are unhappy with how they are governed. 3. Conflicts arise when people’s beliefs clash. Religious and political views are particularly sensitive, because people often depend on these for a sense of identity and belonging. Sometimes the conflict is caused by a religious/political group being attacked; sometimes it is because the group is eager to spread a particular belief and even enforce it on others. Some leaders may aggravate religious and political differences as part of their tactics for keeping or gaining power. 4. In the same way ethnic differences can cause conflict, or be made to cause it. Again, people’s ethnicity gives them a sense of identity and belonging, and it is threats to this sense which can cause violent responses, just as individuals may lash out with angry words or gestures when they feel threatened. Causes of conflict in the work place The cause of workplace conflict is often misunderstood and blamed on personalities and misbehaviour, but in reality much workplace conflict is systemic and endemic to the workplace environment. Ineffective organisational systems, unpredictable policies, incompatible goals, scarce resources, and poor communication can all contribute to conflict in the workplace. Workplace conflict causes loss of productivity, distractions, and employee dissatisfaction. However, management can produce positive results by paying attention to and addressing the true causes of conflict in their organisations. Managing conflict Managing a conflict contains specialized interaction that prevents a dispute from becoming a destructive battle. Managing a conflict attends to the personal issues so as to allow for a constructive relationship, even though the objective issues may not be resolvable. For example, the former Soviet Union and the United States managed their conflict during the Cold War by using a variety of mechanisms. The objective issues in the dispute were not resolved, and neither were the personal issues, which contained significant perceptual differences. However, both sides attended significantly to the relationship to keep the disagreement from turning into a destructive battle. Ways people deal with conflict There is no one best way to deal with conflict. It depends on the current situation. Here are the major ways that people use to deal with conflict. 1. Avoidance. Pretend it is not there or ignore it. Usually this approach tends to worsen the conflict over time. 2. Accommodation. Give in to others, sometimes to the extent that you compromise yourself. Usually this approach tends to worsen the conflict over time, and causes conflicts within yourself. 3.  Competition. Work to get your way, rather than clarifying and addressing the issue. 4. Compromising. Mutual give-and-take. 5. Collaboration. Focus on working together. This approach sometimes raises new mutual needs. Effects of conflict Conflicts have positive and negative effects. They can lead to change if they are well managed, they can be used as a learning experience and they can be used to open up opportunities. However, prolonged conflicts can erupt into violence and disrupt the activities of the organisation, they may also damage relationships permanently and they can also lead to the death of an organisation. Change Most of us live and think as if the world were static, or as if it should be. As individuals, as professionals, and as members or leaders of organizations, too often the way we act, plan, and react betrays the assumption that tomorrow will be much like today, that we’ll slide by all right if we just get a little better, a little smarter, at doing what we are already doing. Some people, and some organizations, fall apart in the face of change. They seem well organized until something changes in their environment. According to Robbins (1999), change is concerned with making things different. Things must be different because they change constantly. When an organizational system is disturbed by some internal or external force, change frequently occurs. Change as a process, is simply modification of the structure or process of a system. It may be good or bad, the concept is descriptive only. † It may be constructive, destructive, comfortable or uncomfortable. People and organizations seem to have a pattern over their lifetimes. People and organizations that thrive on change share some fundamental attributes. Change is fractal: its basic nature looks the same at different scales. So the attributes that make an organization powerfully adaptive also make a relationship flexible and fruitful, a community liveable, and an individual creative, adaptive, and secure in the midst of turbulence. It is not possible to change an organization without changing oneself. Changing oneself will change an organization. The two are inextricably linked. If people seriously intend to help their organization go through the massive changes, they must set out on a path of changing their own lives, of learning the skills of change and applying them first to themselves. Any change is, in part, physical. It can be understood in one’s head, but until it lives in their body, it won’t change their behaviour. If a person wishes to be different, that person must learn to move differently, to make different physical decisions. â€Å"Stick to your knitting,† turns out to be a useful thought for dealing with change. However, at the core of every truth is a fallacy, a route to a deeper truth. The fallacy at the core of â€Å"stick to your knitting† is the invitation not to change, to stay satisfied with the way we are. Many of us have a grudging acceptance of the need to change. The reality is that every change is a new skill, one that takes time and attention to learn. If I wait to change until I am forced to it, I will be too late. To wait until change is forced on me is to stay perpetually behind on the learning curve. Whenever a person is trying to change something in his life, they should always remember that change without getting rid of the beliefs that cause the current behaviour or feelings is almost impossible. Furthermore, change probably is difficult when one is onvinced that they either saw or felt the belief causing their current behaviour or feeling on numerous occasions earlier in life. When they realize they never saw their belief and they caused the feeling, not reality, their belief will just dissolve. Today change is the essential of survival and a way of carrying out business. Every business firm whether big or small has to change with time or it will perish. This change along with it brings insecurities and pain that forces human beings or individuals to come out of their comfort zones to zone of uncomfortable debate and this leads to resistance to change.

Facebook vs. Twitter Essay

Of all the many social media outlets out there today, Facebook and twitter are the most popular in my opinion. These two social media phenomenas have several comparisons and differences in various ways. Facebook ranked number one in most used social network world wide, twitter isn’t to far behind on the list. This two social networks are appealing to billions of people all over the world because it helps you get connected with friends and you are able to communicate with them as well through tweets or Facebook chats. Which social network is better? That is for you to answer, however the social network is more beneficial to you may influence which network you prefer to use. First of all, the majority of people seem to think Facebook to be more popular than twitter. The main reason Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook was for people to connect with friends, current friends or friends from high school that you wish to get back in touch with. You can potentially connect with new friends through Facebook as well and meet different people from all of the country. The installed user base for Facebook hit one billion users at the end of september which considered by many to be a milestone that no other social network will surpass anytime soon. The reason users may not be a fan of Facebook or like twitter more is due to the fact that navigation and updates to Facebook or rather difficult and you invest more time into it. When you message somebody on Facebook it’s unlikely that you will get an immediate response from that person unless they are currently on and get notified they have a new message. On the other hand, Twitter’s popularity comes from how easily you can interact with people and you receive rapid response. People like the simplicity of twitter’s navigation and being able to send tweets whenever, if you tweet at someone and that person has the mobile app they will be notified immediately with the ability to respond quickly. Twitter’s similarities with texting are popular with the young crowd such as myself and other students all over the world. Unlike Facebooks large user base that attracts people, unfortunately twitter can’t compete with that, they are known for a much smaller user base. When sending tweets you are limited to only 140 characters, so you must be to the point when sending a tweet. Among these two social networks differences there are also several similarities. You can download both of the networks mobile app to your smart phone and access the network from your phone. Facebook and twitter both allow you to upload pictures on your profile for people and friends to view. Tweets and statuses are similar in the sense users can see what you posted on the news feed, and the popularity and growth of both networks are the biggest similarity the two have in common. Which one do you pick? I have both Facebook and twitter, I enjoy both of them and they are beneficial to my life. In the end I tend to like Facebook just a little bit more due to the interactiveness the network offers. Each network has its pros, cons and attracts people depending on the type of person you are. One person may like twitter better than Facebook, that’s fine and dandy as well, the user has there personal preference based on who they are. At the end of the day both social networks; Facebook and Twitter succeed to curb my enthusiasm.

WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures Dissertation

WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures - Dissertation Example ed system, the facts are that is simply installed a complex legal system that is basically beyond the capabilities of developing nations to effectively use in terms of staffing and expertise. The realities of the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding as brought forth in this study indicated that the organisation needs to review its process to provide a pooled legal staff to represent the interests of its emerging nations. This examination will bring forth information and examples to provide an understanding of the WTO dispute handing processes as a means to reveal the issues. Â   Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 6 1.1 Background Summary 6 1.2 Problem Statement 7 1.3 Aims and Objectives 8 1.4 Significance of the Study 8 2.0 Literature Review 9 2.1 The World Trade Organisation – An Overview 9 2.1.1 Uruguay Round Additions 11 2.2 WTO Dispute Settlement Process 17 2.3 WTO Disputes Settlement and Developing Countries 22 2.4 WTO Dispute Settlement Study 36 2.5 Developing Country I nvestigations 42 3.0 Methodology 50 3.1 Framework 50 3.2 Research Strategy 51 3.3 Data Collection 52 3.4 Limitations 52 4.0 Findings and Analysis 53 4.1 Problem Statement 53 4.2 Aim 55 4.3 Objective 57 4.3.1 The various problems associated with the system while seeking resolutions and various reforms within the dispute resolution process to make it more suitable for the developing countries. 57 4.3.1 Examine the WTO dispute settlement process using examples of Gulf States in the Middle East as well as other developing countries in terms of equity and fairness. 59 5.0 Conclusion 64 References 67 Figures and Tables Figures Figure 1 – WTO Dispute Settlement System 19 Figure 2 - Value of world merchandise trade by region, 2000-2009 22 Figure 3 - Regional shares in world merchandise exports, 2000 and...As developed and brought forth under the Introduction segment, the World Trade Organisation grew from the experiences, understandings and lessons learned under GATT. The preceding s tatement represents a sweeping broad generalisation in that within the processes of the WTO the settling of disputes represents a real as well as important part of the system. It is this area that has given rise to comments and issues that this study seeks to explore. The summary background pointed out that the prior weaknesses in terms of dispute settlement, was contained in its procedures that were not effective and were politically charged that clouded the justice process. Bello and Holmer (1994, p. 1096) add to the above by telling us that any nation, especially the one against which the complaint had been filed, could effectively delay or even block the dispute resolution process. In understanding the context of this study, one needs to understand that the prior organisation had its flaws and areas that frustrated the developing nations. This situation is clearly a part of the history of the WTO and thus needs to be understood as a means to effectively examine the present Dispute Settlement Understanding. Factors that worked against GATT were that it did not operate as a formal institution, thus it lacked official procedures for making rules that were obligatory on all parties (Georgetown Law Library, 2009).

Rogerian Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Rogerian - Essay Example Economies were destroyed; lives lost, families separated, people became disabled and other devastating effects were experienced. During the wars, there are countries that restrained themselves from getting involved. For example, the U.S.A in the Second World War did not for a long time get involved. It was only when the Pearl Harbor was bombed that they joined in the war. Today wars between states have not ceased, but the countries that know well the outcome, look for other options because there are other options. Like in the example of the U.S.A cited above, the fact that it eventually joined the war shows that there are times that war is the only option sometimes to solve international disputes. Mohammed S. Halal in his paper discussed this aspect of justifiable war. In this case, he stated that it is only necessary when it is about the protection of human security and not state security. For example, the wars against Somalia, Libya, Liberia and Iraq were humanitarian in nature (Helal, 558). He further states that these wars preserved the lives of the citizens in these countries. This is a valid point; however, with the political nature of war, telling between a humanitarian crisis and a case of state protection would not be easy. Countries are political, and war is just a selfish expression. A state security protection case will easily pass for a humanitarian crisis. Robert and John assess the ‘bush doctrine’ on whether preventive war is justified. The reason this is called the bush doctrine is because, Bush in 2002, stated that the United States cannot just sit and watch as other countries prepare weapons of mass destruction. That would affect the U.S, and its allies (Christopher, 194). The authors argue that for the same reasons that humanitarian reasons are used to justify war, preventive war can also be justified (Delahaunty & John, 828). Preventive war is interpreted as an

Construction Engineering Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Construction Engineering - Assignment Example Following are the steps involved in designing new hospitals in Canada(Martin). First and foremost step is designing the patient care areas which may either be for a single patient or for multiple patients. These areas are designed for proper HVAC conditions so that least energy is consumed to maintain required environmental parameters. These areas are usually provided with a window or wall that is directly exposed to harsh weather conditions. Therefore, proper supply and exhaust outlets are provided in order to provide isolation from air borne infections. Rooms being designed for patients with burns, aids or other diseases in which rate of infection is much higher, are provided with protective environment. In this case air pressure within the room is controlled by venture valve. After designing patient care rooms, waiting rooms and examination rooms are designed. These are designed to provide better sitting and waiting conditions to the patients. Usually square plaque diffusers are u sed in these areas in order to provide rapid mix supply of air within the room. Operating rooms within the hospitals are not only provided with good HVAC condition but also with good lightning strategies. Operating rooms are usually provided with laminar flow systems for the diffusion and mixing of air, where surgical areas are provided with air curtain systems. Laboratories in the hospitals are provided with square plaque diffusers. While designing state of the art hospitals in Canada, engineering firms are concerned in designing each part of the HVAC system in the integrated form so that it can be easily modified to updated system when needed. If an engineering firm wants to get gold certification for the design of a hospital then the design must satisfy given LEED parameters with rating of 60 to 79 units(Engineering). Sustainable sites Water efficiency Indoor environment quality Material resources Energy and atmosphere Innovative Design Question 2 Explain the different roles that an architect and an engineer fulfill on a design project where they have to collaborate. Consider that they are both assigned to the hospital project in question 1. What would be the relationship between the engineer and architect? Draw a diagram to illustrate. Architects and engineers collaborate while implementing engineering principles to the construction design and planning of a building. While designing hospitals, collaboration between architects and engineers is highly recommended. Both work side by side for proper placement and working of biomedical as well as other electrical systems. Architects are good at implementing design techniques to solve any problem whereas engineers are good at mathematical work. While designing a hospital, engineers are to decide the size of HVAC unit including compressors and boilers and architects are then to plan for the right space for the placements of instruments. Not only this, but engineers are also good at calculating the right amount of flow that should reach each room as required, they go for calculating the number of units of lights required in the operation theatre and proper positioning and distance of light from operation table. Engineers are also good at handling heavy machinery like CT-scans and MRI machines during installation. Whereas, architects are specialized in developing a hospital structure and map of the building. Figure 1: Engineer – Architect Relation Question 3 A consulting engineering firm that is

Essay Questions Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Questions - Essay Example , the khalifa, although with no prophetic function, continued as the leader of the Umayyads, with an ideology of unity and power of Islamic communities. This gave rise to the third Islamic ideology of jihad, i.e warfare, meant to defend or expand their rule and eliminate the monopoly of the Arabic rule. In Islam, religion dictates law. Hence, the propositions of jihad allowed war against non-Muslims, prohibited war within Muslims and usage of violence was allowed only to spread Islam. After the death of the last Umma leader, the Umayyads merely remained as an insignificant group as the Abbasid revolution started (747-750), with their new caliph Abu-al-Abbas-al-Saffah, and this group flourished until 1258, holding the power in Baghdad (Steams & Langer, 113). Although the Umayyads, Caliphates, and jihadis share Islamic ideologies, history revealed huge differences among these communities attributing to various interpretations of Quranic teachings. Enormous political and military oppositions emerged during the Islamicate period. The Umayyads were strongly united only until death of Uthman. Post this, intra-Muslim war broke out and continued up to a century. This war marked the beginning of Umayyads and Abbasids as two separate groups, and the Abbasids expanded vastly and for a very long period (Pipes, 67). Although the Abbasids raged war against non cooperative groups, their intention remained to create an atmosphere of peace through Islam. They invited and supported non-Muslim conversion to Islam to a great extent along with a commitment to provide security to all the Muslims. This security and noble causes helped the Abbasids expand their territory and flourish for many centuries. Therefore, the role of Abbasids in expanding Dar-al-Islam was greater than the Umayyads. The Ottoman Empire is considered as one of the largest and most influential Muslim empires of the later medieval ages. These invasions influenced trade, culture, politics and lifestyle

Physical Geology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Physical Geology - Essay Example The landscapes we see around us have many different and varying features, many of which have been fashioned by a number of external forces. Erosion is probably the major force in this respect and it can come from a number of sources, such as wind, water and ice. While these sources can be seen to be unique, in fact in the majority of cases they usually combine within the erosion process that shapes our landscapes. Wind is forceful creator of particular land features, especially in areas where deserts exist, normally close to the equator. In this instance as the warm air rises, forming clouds, the winds blow these away from the equator, both north and south, leaving a dryer condition. As a result, these areas receive significantly reduced rainfall, limiting the amount of vegetation, which would bind the earth’s surface together. The wind also carries particles of plants and rocks with it to create a build up of vegetation and chemical deposits in other areas. The power of the w ind, for example in the form of hurricanes, can have a significant effect on the landscape, as well as destroying human habitats.

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF BUSINESS - Essay Example True indeed as the article asserts, Russia has proved to be a developing growth market whose legal environment has constantly changed in the recent past. The country has in the recent past experienced an increase in activities involving corporate transactions of different types including not only public listings, but also mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, consolidation and also restructuring. The result of these development have been far reaching especially from the legal front telling from the rising number of high profile disputes involving mostly Russian parties who numerous studies have indicated to be favoring either the English courts or other arbitration venues outside Russia for resolution of the disputes. This article despite not being very comprehensive in nature, the opinions provided has been presented in quite a general way making it worth for reference by any interested persons. While discussing the changing legal environment, the current state of affairs in Rus sia has been clearly brought out. Among the issues analyzed include the various changes to the Russian legislation and the impacts which they may have. One notable effect discussed on the article is the non appreciation of Russia to what the country regards as interference by foreign courts which is a clear indicator of the importance of the companies that wish to enter into transactions relating to business in Russia having a clear understanding of the local practical, legal and procedural issues (White & Case, 2012). The article has also been very effective in identifying the various trends that are associated with joint venture and the other transactions in Russia. Truly as asserted by Andrei Dontsov in the article that most offshore JVs are usually governed by an English law shareholder agreement, this is indeed a true reflection of what is on the ground as widely documented by different research findings on the topic. The issue of upcoming changes in Russian law has been well a nalyzed in the article. The article has been successful in outlining the various amendments to the Russian Civil Code that are under consideration by the Russian parliament whose main aim is to introduce new legal concepts familiar to lawyers from other jurisdictions (White & Case, 2012). While analyzing the issues to do with enforcing one’s rights as regards to Russia-related transactions, the article has been very successful in reiterating the importance of the investors doing business in Russia to keenly following the various developments with high likelihood of impacting the investor’s rights in instances where there may arise disagreements between the parties. This has been clearly brought out in the article especially to the extent where there is no appreciation of interferences and the implementation of various measures that are mainly aimed at addressing the interferences. The article has also been very successful in addressing the issues regarding the enforcem ent against assets within Russia. Among the issues that have clearly come out include whether arbitration can be relied upon to resolve disputes and key issue of concern being there can be enforcement of arbitration award obtained outside Russia (White & Case, 2012). Another issue of concern that the article clearly brought out was mostly related to one-sided optional dispute resolution clauses that is mostly common in finance transactions while at the same time operating to give the different parties

SADDAM HUSEIN Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

SADDAM HUSEIN - Research Paper Example There is a brief mention of his ruling style in Iraq. Then a brief outline of Iran-Iraq war is given. His invasion of Kuwait and the gulf war is discussed next. The American attack on Iraq in 2003 is discussed in the end. The fall of his government, capture of Bagdad and his hiding is given in this part. This work ends with mentions of events like capture of Saddam Hussein, his trial in Iraqi special court and is execution by Hanging. Introduction: Saddam Hussein was one of the most remarkable figures in the history of the world. He was one of those men in the world who have changed the course of history. His rise and fall is linked with many important events in the history. His rise to power was an important event in the Middle East. Then there was Iran-Iraq War in which Iraq, under the leadership of Saddam, fought a prolonged war against its neighbour Iran. There was Gulf War; which was the direct consequence of his invasion in Kuwait. President George Bush Sr. Sent troops to free Kuwait from the clutches of Saddam. Then in 2003 a coalition force of mainly US force and some British force invaded Iraq and marked the end of Saddam Hussein. Birth and Early Years: Saddam Hussein was born on April 28 in the year 1937 in a poor Iraqi family. His birth place was a village near the Iraqi town, Tikrit. Few years after his birth, his father died. His mother married again. Saddam had an uncle, his mother’s brother, named Khairallah Talfah. Khairallah was a leader of an anti-king group. Some people in Iraq were not happy with the Iraqi king. They thought he was too close to Britain and was controlled by Britain. Khairallah was imprisoned for his anti government activities. Later he was released and took a job as a teacher. In 1947 at the age of 10 Saddam came to stay with his uncle. He was admitted to school. In 1955 Khairallah moved to Bagdad, and Saddam came along with him. His uncle was still anti-government and had interests in anti-government movements. They had the same allegation against the king: that he was under the power of Great Britain. Staying in Bagdad with his uncle Saddam too became interested in politics. He was influenced by his uncle and became an anti-king too. He even took part in 1952 riot in Bagdad. This was the beginning of his political career. Around this time his uncle introduced him with Ahmed Hassan-al-Bakr, an army general and his relative. Khairallah wanted him to take Saddam as his protege (Anderson, 2004, pp.10-16). Beginning of Political Career: Around 1956-57 Saddam started attending Ba’ath Party meetings. The party’s ambitious aim was to form a pan-Islamic union with all the Arabian nations. Saddam was inspired by the party’s ideology and became a supporter. He joined the party in a minor post but he was popular among his comrades. The popularity of Ba’ath Party grew in Iraq and other Arab nations. At the same time, anger against the Great Britain’s favourite the Iraqi k ing grew. There was a state of unrest and people were on the streets. In 1958 general Abdel Karim Kassem marched into Bagdad. He killed the king and the Prime Minister along with other important government officers and took the power. Ba’ath supported Kassem at the beginning. But the party had differences with him. Kassem did not like them either. Gradually the distance between Kassem and Ba’ath increased. They became enemy of Kassem. Ba’ath party leaders made a plot to kill Kassem. Saddam and six other party youths were selected to carry out the

Assessment and Learners Essay Example for Free

Assessment and Learners Essay Introduction The aim of this report is to identify my roles and responsibilities as a teacher delivering the Level 2 Certificate in Youth Work Practice (City and Guilds). The course is attended by trainee youth workers aged 18 and over and consists of 20 taught sessions and a work-based placement. The qualification is assessment based, with all Learners producing a portfolio of evidence to support their learning. The portfolios are assessed, checked by an Internal Verifier and samples of the portfolios are checked by an External Verifier to agree the standards of assessment. Responsibilities The role of teacher holds many responsibilities. Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) defines two teaching roles: 1. Associate Teacher, Learning and Skills (ATLS) which is a supportive role 2. Qualified Teacher, Learning and Skills (QTLS) which is a full teaching role To become a QTLS the Institute for Learning (IfL) states: â€Å"As a new entrant to teaching in the Learning and Skills Sector, you will have to complete the PTLLS award. It must be completed within one year of initial employment. † (March, S, 2010: 4) It is my responsibility as a teacher to complete this qualification and continuously develop my skills as a professional. As a teacher some of my responsibilities include having knowledge and understanding of the subject, curriculum development and delivery and appropriate initial, formative an summative assessment methods. As a teacher within the Level 2 Certificate in Youth Work Practice I am responsible for the development and delivery of a suitable curriculum to enable Learners to complete the qualification by demonstrating and evidencing their learning. This also includes carrying out initial assessments for all Learners and identifying any needs of the individual or the group. During the development of the curriculum I plan and prepare sessions to meet the learning outcomes of the course, sourcing and developing appropriate resources then delivering sessions and supporting Learners where necessary. Suitable assessment methods and evaluation processes will also be structured into the curriculum to ensure continuous development of the course, the Learners and the teachers. Other responsibilities within my role include: * Appropriate record keeping. This may include Learners details, registration forms, Initial Assessments, registers, portfolio files, results and assessment records, placement details and session plans alongside schemes of work. These records are kept to ensure all Learners’ needs are met and progress is appropriately recorded on Individual Learning Plans which are necessary for certification. Work placement details and Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks also need to be kept to ensure safeguarding and health and safety policies and procedures are followed correctly. Records must be kept in accordance to legislation and also as a matter of best practice and for auditing purposes. * Suitable evaluation. Evaluation of the Learners’ progress is essential to their learning to identify areas for improvement. It is important to evaluate the curriculum, sessions and my own development to ensure my practice is reflective, professional and continuously developing. * Respect. Paramount to my role as a teacher is respect for the Learners and my colleagues, including professional boundaries. This includes maintaining a degree of formality and understanding of the limits of my relationship with the Learners, ensuring these are made clear, preventing the crossing of boundaries. This also includes an awareness of my own limitations within my role and knowing how and where to signpost Learners for further support. Legislation There are many policies and procedures to follow within my own organisation and the qualification awarding body, governing many aspects of my role as teacher. Some of these relate to legislation such as: * The Equality Act (2010) This act promotes equality of opportunity. My practice must be inclusive and take into consideration this legislation to prevent discrimination as guided by mu organisations Equal Opportunities Policy. * The Data Protection Act (1998) This act regulates the processing and storing of information about individuals. My organisation follows appropriate policies and procedures in accordance with this act including storing all Learners’ files in a lockable file in a suitable environment only accessed by authorised staff. * The Copyright Licensing Act (CLA) (1988) Organisations must have a license to copy parts of books and documents. It is vital to ensure this is followed when copying any material to ensure it is done within the limits of the organisation’s licence. * Health and Safety at Work etc Act (1974) This is the main piece of legislation covering health and safety in the work place including anyone entering and using the premises. * Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999) This Legislation requires all  employers carry out appropriate risk assessments, implement necessary measures, appoint competent staff and arrange suitable information and training around health and safety. My organisation also follows appropriate policies and procedures to ensure both this and the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) are complied with. This includes risk assessments, record keeping, first aid training, incident reporting and safeguarding policies and procedures. As well as legislation and organisation policies and procedures there is a code of practice to be followed by teachers, produced by The Institute for Learning (IfL). This outlines the standards of professional behaviour expected of members working in further education and includes: * Professional integrity regarding all interactions with Learners, colleagues and other professionals. * Show respect to all Learners and colleagues and recognise and value diversity and engage in anti-oppressive practices. * Ensure reasonable care regarding the safety and wellbeing of others where possible and within legislation. * Provide evidence of your own professional development. * Notify the IfL as soon as possible after cautioning or conviction for a criminal offence. * Provide appropriate support during any investigation by the IfL. My own practice also requires me to work within the National Youth Agency code of practice too. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion As a teacher it is essential that my practice ensures the fair treatment of all Learners and that they are allowed equal opportunities to participate and gain the qualification. This may involve adapting sessions including timings, resources, assessment methods and providing additional support where necessary. The Equality Act (2010) bans unfair treatment and aims to achieve equal opportunities within the work place and wider society. The act replaces previous anti-discrimination laws to make legislation simpler and remove inconsistencies and covers nine protected characteristics which cannot be used as a reason to treat people unfairly. The protected characteristics are: 1. Age 2. Disability 3. Gender reassignment (choosing to live as a gender other than that assigned to you at birth, with or without surgery. ) 4. Marriage and civil partnership 5. Pregnancy and maternity 6. Race 7. Religion or belief 8. Gender 9. Sexual orientation The Equality Act identifies ways in which it is unlawful to treat people including: * Direct and indirect discrimination * Harassment * Victimisation * Failing to make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities My organisation operates within an equal opportunities policy influenced by this Act which must be followed by all staff and Learners. As well as a commitment to equality within my practise it is important to recognise and value individual differences and the different cultural backgrounds of Learners, colleagues and the wider community. My practice must promote diversity through my behaviour, use of language and appropriate challenging of others to reflect this. Inclusion within teaching ensures that all Learners are able to participate and feel included, removing any barriers to their learning experience. This should include all teaching and learning processes from the planning and delivery stages to evaluation and further planning. Appropriate information should be collected at the Initial Assessment stage to allow necessary adaptations to the teaching programme. This may include providing additional support for Functional Skills or allowing time and space for prayers. Recommendations for professional practice Throughout my teaching practice I will continuously update my skills through training, supervision and self-evaluation to ensure a high standard of professional practice. I will also review all necessary policies and practices to work within legislation and promote best practice. It is also important to maintain suitable contact with governing bodies to stay updates with codes of conduct and changes to legislation. Bibliography Cohen, L, Manion, L and Morrison, K. (2004) A Guide to Teaching Practice, 5th Edition, Suffolk: Routledge Great Britain. Equality Act 2010, London: HMSO March, S. (2010) Preparing to Teach – the first steps: Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Container Shipping Market Essay Example for Free

Container Shipping Market Essay Savannah and Port Everglades to their joint Europe-Ecuador service to cover the Europe-South US East Coast market. The service will continue to call at the Balboa hub in both directions to allow transhipment to other ports on the West Coast of South America. The rotation will be stretched to seven weeks, using 7 x 4,1324,872 TEU Panamaxes with high reefer capacity. SITC has placed an order for two 1,800 TEU containerships, with options for six more, from Taiwanese shipyard CSBC. This is the shipbuilder’s first order from a mainland Chinese company for more than 20 years. The firm vessels are priced at $23m each, and are scheduled for delivery in late 2014. Page 2 Licensed to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Distribution is restricted; please remember to acknowledge the source. http://www. clarksons. net 12/05/2013 09:20:16 15304 M TEU 1. 25 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-12 Jan-13 According to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index, spot rates for boxes shipped from Shanghai to Europe fell to th $940/TEU on the 12 April, their lowest level since February last year and a 34% fall since mid-March, as the ains made by the last round of general rate increases proved short-lived. As a result of this market weakness, a number of carriers including Maersk Line and Hapag-Lloyd have postponed a second round of rate increases originally scheduled for mid-April. They will now be implemented during May. Elsewhere, freight rates for boxes shipped from Shanghai to the West Coast of America stood at $2,226/FEU, 3% below the full year 2012 average, and 11% below the January 2013 peak of $2,520/FEU. Clarkson Research Services Striking dockworkers at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in the port of Hong Kong caused significant disruption to a large number of liner services. Vessels faced 2-3 day berthing delays, while over 100,000 TEU of cargo was reportedly stuck on the quayside. Major carriers cancelled calls and diverted ships to other Pearl River ports such as Chiwan and Shekou, with shippers forced to tranship inbound cargo back to Hong Kong on Feeder vessels. March’s container throughput of 1. 88m TEU at the port represented an 8. 6% y-o-y decrease, yet the strike disruption is likely to affect April’s box handling volumes even more severely. Maersk Line is to increase the capacity of its India-Middle EastUS East Coast service with the replacement of 7 x 4,800 Panamax vessels with eight ships of 6,500 TEU the service turning in eight rather than seven weeks. An additional call at Algeciras will be made in both directions, while there will also be a degree of further slow steaming. The newly deployed vessels are expected to be reflagged to the US flag in order MSC is to launch a Far East-East Coast South America service using 11 x 3,000-5,000 TEU ships. The vessels include a number of Panamaxes reportedly chartered in at very low rates. The eleven week rotation will include a call in Port Elizabeth on the return leg with the first sailing is scheduled from Shanghai on the th 18 April. UASC is to enter the Far East-West Coast North America trade for the first time after agreeing to cooperate with CSCL on three separate Transpacific services. The Kuwaitheadquartered carrier will provide two Panamaxes for a service that calls in Seattle and Vancouver, and three for a Nansha-Los Angeles service. Idle Containership Fleet 12% 9% 6% 3% 0% Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 % of total fleet capacity, TEU Source: CRSL, AXS Licensed to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Distribution is restricted; please remember to acknowledge the source. http://www. clarksons. net 12/05/2013 09:20:16 15304 According to data reported by Alphaliner, the total containership capacity in lay-up reached 0. 83m TEU on th 25 March, with 269 vessels sitting idle. This is equivalent to 5. 1% of the fleet in terms of capacity. Over Q1 2013 the proportion of total capacity in lay-up fluctuated between 4. 6% and 5. 3%, while across full year 2012 an average of 4. 1% of capacity was idle. Briskly expanding consumer demand in emerging economies should promote strong development of North-South trades, which are projected to grow by 6. 0% this year. Meanwhile, intra-regional trade is expected to grow by 7. 6% in full year 2013, with intra-Asian trade growth remaining the powerhouse. Global container capable supply growth is expected to be broadly in balance with global demand growth in 2013. Carriers will continue to dampen actual running capacity growth on the mainlanes in an effort to support freight rates. Managing the capacity cascade will remain rucial in determining trade lane supply, while further slow steaming may continue to absorb some of the capacity growth. However, the volume of idle tonnage is likely to continue to supress earnings in the charter market. Meanwhile, demolition remains at elevated levels. In conjunction with the paucity of ordering, this rapid rate of scrapping has resulted in a shrinking fleet in the smaller size sectors. Overall, while supp ly growth may accelerate slightly this year, the orderbook schedule for 2014+ delivery still looks relatively thin.

The Personality Traits In Ethical Leadership Management Essay

The Personality Traits In Ethical Leadership Management Essay Ethical leadership is mostly about leadership integrity. This statement has triggered much controversy and is widely discussed. According to Ciulla (2004), Philosophers views ethical leadership, as how the ethical leaders should behave like. Leadership integrity of a leader is shown through the consistency of values, aims and behavior (Bloskie 1995). Leadership is defined by (Wiess 2003) as a shared process, although the values and behaviors of company founders and CEOs often frame and set the cultural tone for organization. One way to recognize a leaders value is through the vision and mission statement of a company. The personality traits in ethical leadership include integrity, trustworthiness, honesty and forthrightness or candor (Trevino et al. 2000). (Trevino Brown 2004) argues that statement as a myth and argued that the coverage of ethical leadership was too vague as it only concentrated solely on individuals character and qualities such as integrity, honesty and fairness. Recent research shows the qualities of a person contributes to the establishment of ethical leadership but it is not substantial to establish an effective ethical leadership (Trevino Brown 2004). Therefore, in this essay I will touch on the ethical concepts and theories, and the occurrence of leadership and the dimensions that is related to ethical leadership and it will thus bring about a better understanding of whether is ethical leadership is mostly about leadership integrity. With much ethical scandals evidently existing in most organization, it is comes to show that ethical dimensions is crucial to explain what is ethical leadership. What is Ethical leadership? Studies were conducted by Brown, Trevino Harrison to understand the qualities that is linked to ethical leadership. Base on the interview that they held during 2002, they defined ethical leadership as a display of normatively appropriate conduct through individual activity and interpersonal relationships, and the promotion of such conduct to followers through two way interaction, reinforcement and decision-making ( Brown et al., 2005). Figure 1: The matrix of moral person and moral manager dimension (Trevino, Hartman Brown 200) Unethical leadership style Hypocritical leadership Leaders who passes down influential ethical messages across to the followers(who are ethical manager) but who is recognized to be ethical themselves (they are not ethical persons) are referred to as hypocritical leaders as shown in figure 1. Hypocritical management are about ethical pretense. The problem is that by giving much emphasiz to reliability only heighten objectives of ethical problem. If a leader talks about integrity and ethical values all time but doesnt adhere by it, followers cant place trust in the leader because he fail to do what do say. Ethically silent leadership The last combination is call the legally quiet authority. It relates to leader does not belong to either strong ethical nor strong ethical zone. They may be ethical person but their stand is not clear. They dont provide obvious leadership in terms of ethics. It may be due to the leader has no awareness on how important is ethical leadership relates to organization ethical culture, or they simply just do not care about ethical issues. Ethical leadership style To establish a reputable ethical leadership successfully, it requires the executive to display the qualities of a moral person as well as a moral manager. It is essential for a leader to possess characteristics of integrity and also to be able to inculcate this quality into others in the organization. As a leader, they portray images of a role model to others in the organization, so if they set guidelines for employee to adhere by but leaders themselves dont adhere to it; employees develop negative feelings and feel the reluctance to adhere to the guideline. (Trevino et al. 2000) states that an executive must first be a moral or ethical person or else their followers will come to regard them as hypocrites when their true nature shows. This traits, behavior and decision making characteristics should be transparently evident, or else they may be misinterpreted, and the executive may not be viewed as a moral or ethical person. A leader who is neither a moral person nor a moral manager is an unethical leader. Even if you are a moral person, but it does not make you a moral manager, to be able to able strike a balance between both moral person and manager, you will need show your followers how well you support and promote companys ethics and values to your followers. This shows that in order to develop ethical leadership, the executive need to be both a moral person and manager, it works two way (Brooks Dunn 2009). (Trevino et al. 2000) discovered out that these can be achieved by having transparency in the system, role model qualities must be portrayed openly, there should be interaction on a daily basis and persuasively about ethical requirements, principals and value, using the compensation system to keep all workers responsible to ethical standard. Lets relate this to real life scenario, take for example, civil servants who is working for the government should uphold integrity in them, Public has the perceived image that all civil servants are role models to look up so if they were commit crimes that is against integrity, public will naturally see them as hypocrites and will lose faith in them as a role model. (Bandura 1986) states that if leaders do not adhere by what they stated in the guidelines, there is no reason why the followers should adhere to it. It is the virtue of a leader will religiously stick to their principles, keeps promises, admits their mistakes and adhere to through on their commitments (Bass Bass sounds 2008). Ethical leadership and ethical culture Leaders can affect cultures in many ways. They can change culture by sending down new values to the followers. What leaders do, say or any actions affects how followers think of the leaders. Clearly, employees are very responsive towards messages send in by leaders. But they personally do not know who the senior management of the organisation is; they can only make sense of it from what they hear. Therefore, leaders has to build a reputation for ethical leadership through transparency on the ethical issue and thus communicating a strong ethic message Outcomes of ethical relationship Ethical relationships is believed to be important because of the results it is believed to impact. Constant with a social learning theory, followers replicate ethical leaders behavior because such management are eye-catching and reliable models who model normatively appropriate behavior. In addition, ethical management conveys the value of ethical requirements and use performance management systems to hold workers responsible for their performance. Employees dont have to know about the benefits and punitive measures straight but according to public social learning concept, they can learn about them by monitoring others result. Social learning theory and ethical leadership Following Brown et al. (2005), we rely on social learning theory ( Bandura, 1997, 1986) to explain outcomes of ethical leadership. Social learning theory serves as a guidance to understand why individual characteristics of ethical leadership and how external cultural factors influences followers perceived image of leader as ethical leader. According to social learning theory, for leaders to be seen as ethical leaders by their followers, they first lead an example that proves that they are dependable and trustworthy leaders to their followers. According to (Bandura, 1977,1986) social learning theory describes that based on the way individual learn by looking out for and attempting to work towards the same attitudes, values and behavior of the dependable leader. This is supported by (Kohlberg, 1969; Trevino, 1986) that most individual look up to others for ethical advice or assistance. If you are the CEO, the perceived image as seen by the followers is seen as someone who has what it on the surface you will be seen as a person who has qualities and credibility basically what it takes to be in that position, therefore the it is the status and power of a person will boost the attractiveness thus resulting in followers interest to look out for ethical leaders behavior (Bandura, 1986). Leaders have the power and authority because their position held is of a higher post as compared to the followers. Not only the status draws attention to the followers, leaders who displays acts of care and concern and giving fair treatments plays a part in the attention for followers and gives positive motivations. Studies have shown that encouragement plays an essential part in modelling effectiveness because followers focus on those who controls essential resources and to rewards and punishments. Employees can learn about what is acceptable or undesirable by focusing on how other business members are honoured or disciplined and control their own answer as a result Critical view on ethical leadership styles There are three leadership theories that overlap the ethical leadership domain, Transformational, spiritual and authentic theories of leadership all address the moral potential of leadership in some way. Transformational leadership Burns (1978) recommended that transformational leadership as moral leadership because the leaders inspire their followers to look beyond self-interest and perform and work towards goals together. Kaungo Mendonca (1996) recommended that transformational authority engaged ethical influence process, while transactional leadership did not. But bass(1985) recommended that transformational control could be ethical or unethical based on their inspiration. Authetic leadership Authetic leadership are leaders who are deeply aware of how they think and behave and are perceived by others a being aware of their own and others value/moral perspective, knowledge, and strengths; aware of the context in which they operate; and are confident, hopeful, optimistic, resilient, and high on moral character (Avolio, luthans walumbwa 2004). Self-awareness, openness transparency and consistency made up of authentic leadership. And also being motivated by good end concepts and issues for others is essential to authentic authority. Authetic leadership are capable of evaluating uncertain ethical issues, watching them from several viewpoints, and aiming choices with their own ethical concepts. Like transformational leadership, authentic leadership seems to overlap with ethical leadership in terms of personal features. Spiritual leadership Spiritual leadership comprised of the concepts, behaviours and habits that are necessary to motivate ones self and others so that they have a sense of spiritual survival l through contacting and membership: (Fry, 2003, p.711) Spiritual leadership has also been described as occurring when a person in a authority place symbolizes spiritual concepts such as reliabililty, loyalty, and humblness, developing the self as an example of someone who can be reliable, depended upon and admire. Spiritual leadership is also confirmed through actions, whether in personal indicative exercise or in ethical, sympathetic, and well-mannered treatment of others, (reave 2005) Thus, ethical leadership is clearly related to, but unique from these leadership concepts. I have described ethical leadership and articulated how it overlaps with, yet is unique from other related theories of authority. Conclusion: In conclusion, I disagree with the statement that ethical leadership is mainly about leadership integrity. Integrity only plays a part in establishment of a reputation leadership it is not sufficient enough as it requires more than just strong personal qualities or virtue. Not only should you have leadership integrity, followers must be led from the leaders on how to be ethical, it is not just enough to be a ethical person who makes good choices, a reputation for ethical leadership requires leaders to continually communicate ethical values to the followers and make sure they abide by it. Failure to develop a reputation for leadership, it will mostly likely end up as ethically neutral. Therefore, we can say that communication from the leaders is very crucial, they need to be aware of their actions, what they say, and what they do is constantly viewed from their followers. As mentioned in the social learning theory, in nature followers look up to leaders because they have status and po wer, if a leader do not abide by the guidelines they set the trust from the followers will be gone which thus result in followers losing trust and faith in their leaders. You need to be both a moral manager and a moral person in order to achieve a reputable ethical leadership

Experiencing the Magic Theater :: Literary Analysis, Harry Haller

After reading Herman Hesse’s â€Å"Steppenwolf,† one probably notices the main character in this novel, Harry Haller, is in a constant internal battle, where there is a â€Å"continual and deadly enmity† (41-42) between two natures, one where he claims to possess and the other to be divided by â€Å"a human and a wolfish one† (41). Although one can gain many insights from reading Steppenwolf, I believe Haller seeks to conform to the bourgeois in every aspect of his life. However, he belatedly realizes how he actually despises the bourgeois for its complacency and conformity. He comes upon this conclusion when he meets several people who are willing to help him form this conclusion by way of preparing him to experience the â€Å"Magic Theater.† I also believe that the Magic Theater is an important learning ground for teaching one to laugh, including Haller. The Magic Theater, which I believe to be â€Å"a world of pictures, not realities,† (178) is a reflection of Haller’s own mind. I also believe that when Haller enters the Magic Theater he is completely separated from reality because the elixir allows Haller to see what his own soul seeks; thus, the Magic Theater serves as an important learning ground for Haller, for it helps him to â€Å"see everything through the eyes of Harry and the old spectacles of the Steppenwolf† (176), which is meant to help him see his true self, as he sometimes failed to see before. In addition, the Magic Theater shows Harry his â€Å"past life had been false and full of stupid unhappiness† (199). These regrets and mistakes in his past help him to gain understanding of life so that â€Å"he can rearrange these pieces of a previous self in what order he pleases,† (192). Therefore, the Magic Theater also serves, as the chess player pointed out, to show Haller that life’s obstacles and decisions are â€Å"all the hundred thousand pieces of life’s game† (217) that’s in his pocket. For this reason Haller will be able to control his own life, to not make the same mistakes again. Rather, he will be able to relive every moment in life again as it is meant to be live. As Haller simultaneously learns how to laugh in the Magic Theater, he is intrigued by the events that take place within the Magic Theater. In one instance, within the Magic

Incorporation of the Ottoman Empire into the Capitalist World-Economy, 1750-1839 :: History Economics Ottoman Empire Essays

Incorporation of the Ottoman Empire into the Capitalist World-Economy, 1750-1839 In 1977, Immanuel Wallerstein proposed a research agenda to answer the question: When and by what process did the Ottoman Empire become incorporated into the capitalist world-economy? He also asked whether incorporation was a single event or a series of events for the different regions of the Empire--Rumelia, Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt. He suggested the answer be sought in Ottoman production processes and trade patterns between 1550 and 1850. By 1980, Wallerstein had answered his own question. When the European base of the capitalist world-economy began to develop its boundaries in the sixteenth century, the Ottoman Empire remained outside the system. Between 1750 and 1839, the process of incorporation into the capitalist world-economy was complete and the Ottoman Empire had been peripheralized. Wallerstein did not comment whether incorporation was a single event or a series of events. In this paper, I argue that current scholarship fails to support Wallerstein's version of incorporation of the Ottoman Empire into the capitalist world-economy. I examine Wallerstein's arguments and critique his discussion based on my own interpretation of recent work by Ottoman and Balkan historians pertaining to Rumelia (Southeastern Europe). According to Wallerstein, a world-economy is a single social economy containing multiple state or political structures that operates on the basis of a capitalist mode of production and in which ceaseless accumulation of capital guides the system. Wallerstein recently added the word "ceaseless" (his italics) to his definition in order to distinguish his paradigm of the capitalist world-economy with its origins in the sixteenth century from other paradigms that trace the origins to earlier points in history. The capitalist world-economy comprises a core, a periphery, and a semiperiphery. Nation-states reach the core by successfully exploiting other geographic areas in the periphery. The semiperiphery forms a buffer zone, where geographic areas can move up into the core or down into the periphery. Geographic areas outside the world-economy are relegated to the external arena. They are eventually and inevitably incorporated into the system, however.

Essay examples --

The main purpose of the article is to take a look at previously conducted research from the years 2000-2012, on the effectiveness of drug treatment programs. The main population of this research focuses in on prisoners, parolees, and probationers. The research suggested that those who were actively participating in cognitive-behavioral therapy, drug courts, and therapeutic communities had lower rates of drug use then those who did not receive these treatments. Researchers also conducted that effective treatment programs have these things going for them, emphasis on high-risk offenders, provided strong inducements to receive treatment, multiple interventions in the same time frame, intense treatment provided, and finally include aftercare. This article ties in perfectly with our research topic of the effectiveness of Narcotics Anonymous treatment programs. We will focus in more in depth at the numbers associated with this article to provide a full understanding of our research. Chen, Gila. 2006. â€Å"Social Support, Spiritual Program, and Addiction Recovery.† International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 50(3): 306-323. The author, social science researcher and lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, Gila Chen, PhD., focuses on the personal and emotional adjustments of inmates, who are recovering from substance addiction/abuse and who participated in a therapeutic intervention programs. There were two groups to her research: one group went through social support program that included spiritual factors (Narcotics Anonymous meetings with the 12-step course) while the other group went through a primarily social support program (Narcotics Anonymous meetings without the 12-step course). She had hypothesized that those w... ...statistical techniques. Regarding question one: for retention, the correlation was close to zero. For commitment, data suggested that individuals with higher levels of religiosity possessed higher levels of commitment to treatment. Overall, data indicates a weak to moderate relationship between religiosity and treatment outcomes. However, in some programs religiosity affiliation could be viewed as a positive resource whereas in other programs religiosity was a hindrance to recovery. For question two, data indicates that religiosity can be an effective resource to enhance retention if the clientele viewed religion as an important source to treatment recovery. For question three, data suggested that program religious emphasis was not related to retention. For commitment to treatment, level of program religious emphasis was significantly related to positive outcomes.

Character Analysis †Les Miserables Essay

In the novel, Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo, the protagonist, Jean Valjean changes throughout the course of the novel from a contemptible, conniving ex-convict to an noble, compassionate, and heroic man. During his time in jail, Jean Valjean’s heart becomes corrupted; he realizes the world detests him for who he is. However, a bishop named Myriel shows him great kindness and compassion for him, which transforms him forever. In a small town, Montreuil-sur-mer, Valjean restores economic and social balance as well as love and adopt an orphan girl. Because of one man’s simple acts of veneration, Jean Valjean vows to commit his life to goodness and vindicates himself and proving that he has truly changed. In the beginning of the novel, Valjean emerges from prison as a hardened criminal who hates society; Myriel, however, forever changes Valjean’s character, as Myriel compels him to become an noble person, which leads Valjean to support a town in need. Myriel treats Valjean with kindness, and Valjean repays the bishop by stealing his silverware. When the bishop came to him, he said, â€Å"Do not forget, ever, that you have promised [him] to use this silver to become an honest man. Jean Valjean, who had no recollection of any such promise, stood dumbfounded. The bishop had stressed these words as he spoke them. He continued solemnly, ‘Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good† (73).When the police arrest Valjean, Myriel covers for him, claiming that the silverware was a gift. The authorities release Valjean and Myriel makes him promise to become an honest man. Eager to fulfill his promise to his savior, Valjean masks his identity as Madeleine and brings the town of Montreuil-sur-mer prosperity and peace. Under a new identity, Cosette, a young orphan who was abused, is a flesh manifestation of Jean Valjean’s love and compassion. He realizes not only is he capable of loving someone, but passing on love to others. When Valjean find out the Thenardier family, who supposedly took care of Cosette, only used her as their main source of income since they were paid to become caretakers and abused her, it only drove to become more indulgent. Although it is not his obligation to adopt Cosette, Valjean decides to do so anyway, â€Å"love came, and he again grew strong. Alas! he was no less feeble than Cosette. He protected her; and she gave strength to him. Thanks to him, she could walk upright in life; thanks to her, he could persist in virtuous deeds. He was the support of this child, and this child was his prop and staff† (383). Valjean’s unconditional love for his daughter changes the way he is throughout the novel. This is another way Valjean keeps his promises and repa y what he had done in the past. Jean Valjean’s love is clearly shown through his adopted daughter, Cosette, whom he feels sympathy and cherishes. He is exceptional in his mental strength and his willingness to discover what is good, and this earnestness is enough to make him the novel’s hero as well as a savior and a friend to a number of people who find themselves in danger. Though many are convinced of Jean Valjean’s change in personality, Javert the chief police, discovers Valjean’s criminal records and his real identity. The novel’s antagonist, Javert, is chasing after Valjean, only to arrest him for a fraud identity. In Javert’s point of view, â€Å"to owe life to a malefactor . . . to be, in spite of himself, on a level with a fugitive from justice . . . to betray society in order to be true to his own conscience; that all these absurdities . . . should accumulate on himself—this is what prostrated him† (457). Javert is unable to comprehend his enemy’s love for humanity. Though his goals are evident to Valjean, he risks his life to save Javert. This is one of Valjean’s greatest conquest as the hero of the story: saving an enemy. Torn between the future and his mores, Valjean chooses to spare Javert’s life, who later grants Valjean’s freedom from prosecution. In Victor Hugo’s masterful, Les Miserables, an apathetic ex-convict, Jean Valjean, slowly molds into a noble, compassionate, and heroic man under various circumstances and his encounters. Though his experiences in prison hardens his heart, Valjean transform into a completely different person because of one man’s doing: Monsieur Myriel, who shows him love and respect, despite his wicked nature. As a result, Valjean’s life is changed and gives others the same compassion that was given to him. As his life drastically changes, Jean Valjean becomes the central figure of this novel and becomes the moral hero of the story.

Social And Political Conditions Influences Readers English Literature Essay

With the different reactions, observations and sentiments of the characters a strong position is developed on the two civilizations, which could so be interpreted in different ways depending on societal and political conditions in different times and topographic points. In this respect, the point of position from which the novel is narrated and the fact that it is from a western position, like our society, creates an atmosphere in which reading would change in different societal and political conditions. Marlow ‘s geographic expedition of the native civilization provides an interesting position for us, detecting what are unusual rites to us, yet to the indigens or to their posterities it may look rather normal. A western civilization is engaged by the geographic expedition of the peculiar events which unfold in the fresh whereas another civilization may non be as mesmerized, they would construe it all really otherwise and possibly non happen the same enlightenment. As the Europeans were far more technologically advanced than any other civilization these foreign people were seen as inferior and crude, they are ‘simple people ‘ and resultantly they were held in really low respect by the colonials and frequently depicted and treated as barbarian, wild animate beings. However the derogative description of these people and of their civilization was seen as a merely and just description during these times. Any uncomplimentary history was non seen as being favoritism, the people took no notice of it. Marlow ‘s steersman, a native, is possibly the most complemented of all the native people yet is still spoken of in an sick mode. A manner in which anyone today would be highly insulted and highly offended. Bing referred to as ‘an improved specimen ‘ would propose that there was so something about him which required changing, something which distinguished him from everyone else and had to be corrected in order for him to be accepted by the colonials. Yet he is still in a low place, while most of the colonials seem to hold really small intent in the physical journey along the river, the steersman and the other indigens on the crew, the woodcutters, partake in hard and arduous undertakings. Another native functioning the colonials, a guard, is referred to as ‘one of the reclaimed, the merchandise of the new forces at work ‘ proposing that he has been rescued or delivered from another civilization and trained in the right ways of the colonial civilization. Many people today would reason that non merely did these indigens non necessitate any ‘improving ‘ or ‘reclaiming ‘ , that they were by their ain right peers to any other individual, but besides that the colonials had no right to use the indigens to make their difficult work, to work as retainers. This is so exemplified by the hapless payment which they received for their services, â€Å" three pieces of brass wire † , as Marlow says, â€Å" I do n't see what good their excessive wage could be to them. † The unlawful employment of black people as retainers by white people was besides a big issue in America and the indefensible favoritism of these people everlastingly remains an issue. In current western society nevertheless people depicting the native Africans like these would be accused of being racialist and go capable to intense examination. The promotions in societal equality and anti-discrimination established in western civilization have created a society which frowns upon derogative mention to other civilizations, races or ethnicities as is normally used by the colonials in the Heart of Darkness. A pursuit for cosmopolitan tolerance has built a society which has learnt to accept and embrace people of all races and beginnings, it is what sets us apart which brings us together. Upon Marlow ‘s first brush with the native people he describes them as â€Å" black chap † and holding â€Å" faces like grotesque masks † , although people today would really probably be shocked and offended by this rough description at the clip in which the novel is set it would hold been absolutely acceptable. Many people of the clip would attest to it simply bei ng the truth yet today those same people would be labelled racialists. However, from an alternate position, in stating that it is truth it must besides be considered that these people were of a foreign race to which Europeans had antecedently had limited contact. Describing their faces as ‘grotesque masks ‘ may simply be due to a fright of what is different, what they most likely considered, unusual facial features of the foreign race is what provoked these remarks and non because they were in fact horrid. Today western society is far more multicultural. We normally associate ourselves with people of different races, ethnicities and civilizations, we have adapted ourselves to see the comprehensiveness of every civilization and go more tolerant of other people. The African people would non look unusual to us as they did to the colonials and we would hence non talk so imprudently about them. To us there is nil uneven or unusual about a black individual whereas for the colonials, of which many had most likely ne'er seen a black individual, they were a whole new species to be discovered. Some of the different characters react otherwise to the hit of the two civilizations, they have a different position of the opposing ethnicity. Marlow frequently seems to feel for the indigens, he sees an unfair intervention, he says, â€Å" these work forces could by no stretch of imaginativeness be called enemies. They were called felons, and the indignant jurisprudence. † He tells of how they are treated like junior-grade felons, yet by their ain cognition they have committed no offense or any indecency. Marlow denounces the inhuman treatment which is enforced by the colonials and refers to them as â€Å" red-eyed Satans, that swayed and drove men-men, I tell you. † Meanwhile most of the colonials have a really different agencies of detecting the indigens and of covering with them. They are so the people who subject them to the inhuman treatments of which Marlow speaks, they besides seldom hesitate to open fire when they feel threatened. Even when they ca n't see who or what they are hiting at they continue to dispatch ammo into the nothingness which is the jungle. â€Å" The pilgrims had opened with their Winchesters, and they were merely force outing lead into that shrub. † Marlow besides mentions how the Gallic ship of the line would fire into the jungle from out at sea to an evident mark which could non be seen, â€Å" In the empty enormousness of Earth, sky, and H2O, there she was, inexplicable, firing into a continent. † The European would fire into this limbo without spying and placing a precise mark, yet they knew that there was person at that place. Person who was relatively harmless and seldom hostile but person whom they felt was a hinderance or a menace to their wellbeing, â€Å" guaranting me seriously there was a cantonment of natives-he called them enemies! -hidden out of sight someplace. † Most of the Europeans treat the indigens with an indefensible fierceness, they punish them merely for being tribal and different. An attitude which Marlow seems to hate and glower upon. Had another member of the European society in the Congo been the chief storyteller so there would ‘ve most likely been a different position exposed to the reader, meanwhile people with a similar attitude to the colonials would see small or no mistake in their actions like Marlow does. They would construe Marlow ‘s observations in a different mode to others who are like-minded with Marlow. Though the sentiment of the narrative may besides be due to the frame storyteller, he may in fact be the 1 who disagrees with the colonial intervention of the indigens and non Marlow. He once more is in a somewhat different societal and political place, Marlow tells the narrative to him at a ulterior clip to when it was acted out. He may construe Marlow ‘s narrative otherwise to the manner in which Marlow had intended due to his different societal and political penchants and the society in which he had grown up possibly being somewhat different to the one which Marlow did. This manner in which societies have different political and societal constructions and how they change and develop over clip agencies that for all people their reading of a text such as Heart of Darkness can be really different. How different civilizations observe and notice different proceedings and rites, how they comprehend different euphemisms and descriptions, all depends on their societal and political background. What values and beliefs people have been constrained to make a different reading. Interpretations which are as plentiful and every bit diverse as the lands and ages which have passed, people in all different times and topographic points comprehend the novel in assorted ways. The different societies the characters have been exposed to, which the storyteller has been exposed to and which the reader exists in today offer a different position on the novel and many different waies towards its reading.

Rhetoric in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Essay

Throughout various plays and pieces, rhetoric is used to persuade characters into committing to a significant action or decision. In William Shakespeare’s plays, rhetoric is used regularly by characters that plan to persuade others into doing certain actions that satisfy their own personal opinions and needs. As it can lead to many dangerous outcomes, the art of persuasion, evoked through uses of rhetoric, can be seen as a lethal weapon that has the power to cause damage and harm. Similarly, the use of rhetoric also has the power to reveal truths and identities, that have been hidden and kept secret and are only able to be discovered through the schematic initiation of persuasion. To completely persuade someone else, a character must use rhetoric to overcome one of three key decision-making factors: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, appeals to Logos, Pathos, and Ethos are effectively used to reveal character, as seen in Cassius, Antony, a nd Brutus respectively, throughout the play. Cassius chooses to persuade different characters through appeals to Logos, which indicates his true qualities and aspects, and how they reflect his motifs. To appeal to Logos, one must appeal to the logical side of a person’s mentality; they must use reasoning and syllogism to persuade another person into believing that their opinion is completely logical, and is therefore the best decision to make. This can be seen in Cassius numerous times, and it establishes how he is calculating, logical, and cold. In the second scene of the first act, Cassius tells Brutus that Caesar is not the godly king the he sets himself up to be, and persuades Brutus that Caesar must be overthrown. Cassius convinces Brutus that Caesar is not fit for the thrown by using recollections of past experiences, in which Caesar can be seen as frail and impotent, to insult Caesar and convince Brutus that he is surely not strong enough to be crowned the leader of Rome, â€Å"His coward lips did from their colo ur fly, and that same eye whose bend doth awe the world did lose his lustre†. (1.2.122-124) The message is that Caesar is weak, and is no stronger than the average mortal Roman. If Caesar is weak and frail, how will he be able to lead an entire nation? This use of syllogism appeals to Brutus’ Logos, and convinces him that it is only logically fit to have a strong and capable man as leader, if there were to be a leader, through the simple cause-and-effect method. This is an example of Cassius being calculating, logical, and cold as he calculates that Brutus can be persuaded through a reasonable, syllogistic appeal, he uses logic to show Brutus evidence that Caesar is weak, and he is cold to the fact that Brutus is a very close friend of Caesar, and that turning such good friends against each other would be dishonourable, disrespectful, and inconsiderate to the bond they share and the significance of their relationship. Antony uses rhetoric through appeals to Pathos to effectively persuade others, and this reveals how he can be seen as smart, empathetic, and loyal. An appeal to Pathos is an appeal to emotion, rather than logic or credibility. Antony understands the power of one’s emotions, and uses his knowledge of this to persuade people into satisfying his needs by convincing them that their emotional desires are the most reasonable factor in making a decision. In the second scene of the third act, Antony gives a moving speech to the Plebians about Caesar’s death, and how he believes it was a traitorous act by the conspirators, and that his murder must be avenged. Antony knows full well that the common mob is not an intellectual group in the slightest, and chooses to appeal to emotions in an emotionally overwhelmed crowd, showing that he is smart and clever. To persuade the Plebian audience into fully believing that Caesar did not deserve to die, Antony decides to render Caesar’s death as a personal loss to each individual Plebian by overstating the fashion in which Caesar was killed, and by exaggerating the betrayal of Caesar’s close friend, Brutus, â€Å"Through this the well-loved Brutus stabb’d, and as he pluck’d his cursed steel away, mark how the blood of Caesar follow’d it, as rushing out of doors to be resolv’d if Brutus so unkindly knock’d or no, for Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel†. (3.2.174-179) By dramatizing Caesar’s death, Antony convinces the Plebians that Caesar, the man they had loved so much, did not deserve to die in such a gruesome manner, betrayed by his close friends, and thus causes the Plebians to feel resentful and vengeful for the death of such a seemingly innocent man. By persuading the Plebians into believing that Caesar’s dea th must be avenged through an exploitation of their emotional dominance in the decision making process, Antony can be seen as empathetic, as he understands the emotional connection between the Plebians and Caesar and uses it to his advantage, and loyal, as he desires, so strongly, for his best friend to be avenged for such a heinous and disloyal crime. Ethos is Brutus’ rhetorical device of choice, and his various uses of it to persuade other characters shows that he is proud, honourable, and naà ¯ve. In the first act of the second scene, Cassius brings the conspirators to Brutus’ house, where they discuss their plan to kill Caesar. Up until this point in the play, Brutus declares that he is very honourable towards his morals, and only does what he believes is right after considering both sides of an argument. Thus, Brutus can be seen as honourable, and proud of his morals, honour and the fact that he always contemplates the right decision by considering the significance of each factor. Much like the way Brutus presents himself in such a manner during the beginning of the play, Brutus can also be seen as honourable and pride through his uses of rhetoric. In this specific scene, Brutus insists that an oath is unnecessary, as they are all honourable men and plan on doing what is best for Rome, â€Å"No, not an oath! If not the face of men, the sufferance of our souls, the time’s abuse-If these be motives weak, break off betimes, and every man hence to his idle bed; so let high-sighted tyranny range on, till each man drop by lottery† . (2.1.114-119) Here, Brutus tries to persuade the conspirators into becoming honourable, if they already aren’t, and believing that their only motif for killing Caesar should be for the greater good of the Roman Republic. This shows that Brutus has pride, as he believes that his mentality of honour is the best mentality for this decision, and he is honourable, as he believes that their actions should only be the most honourable ones. However, Brutus’ pride in his honour causes him to be naà ¯ve and blind to the fact that not every one of the conspirators agrees with his honourable mentality. Brutus’ pride causes him to believe that his personal mentality is the only possible mentality, and renders him blind to the fact that the conspirators are not killing Caesar for Brutus’ honourable reasons. By becoming completely absorbed to the belief that their only possible motif is for honour, Brutus causes himself to be naà ¯ve, through his own honour and pride.

Ensorship and mass culture in Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 Essay

Of the famous dystopian literatures of the 20th century Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 offers perhaps one of the more interesting suggestions to the historic causality of censorship.   While subtle hints of ignorance is power for a tyrannical government is mentioned by some characters ala 1984, most of the text instead suggests that in the dystopian world of Fahrenheit 451 that censorship is not so much intentional as it is a side-effect of a postmodern predilection toward, as Frederic Jameson notes, a cultural waning of affect and a world of signs without signifiers, a pastiche of histories without meaning (Jameson, 2001). The books being censored then, in Fahrenheit 451’s dystopian America, then have less of an impact on the society than the drama and entertainment created from their discovery and destruction and that more than the censorship therein this blissful ignorance is the dystopian element in Bradbury’s novel. Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopia for the intellectual.   Within the story is presented an (assumed) United States where people live reasonably happy lives.   From everything we see in the novel they are well fed, live in wonderful fireproof houses, have jobs, families and plenty of entertainment.   Yet, as main character Guy Montag dwells on, people kill themselves still and a constant threat of war seems to loom in the background of the novel. Yet there is never any discussion of why, and no matter how many â€Å"picture walls† or radios are turned on throughout the course of the book no more information is ever truly recovered as to how or why the country finds them in this mess.   Yet no one outside Montag and a handful of outsiders seem to think there is any problem with this. People in Montag’s world seem encouraged to live a life of leisure.   Montag’s boss, Beatty, talks endlessly about sports and his coworkers play hand after hand of poker. Dance faster than the white clown 2 Montag’s wife, Mildred, is addicted to the â€Å"picture wall†, or television, and is constantly begging for a fourth and final wall to be installed.   Violence as entertainment, even, seems to in some way be supported generally by society as Mildred seems to take pleasure at one point from hitting small animals with her automobile.   Yet there also seems to be an urge and encouragement of sameness, as echoes in many other works of dystopian speculative fiction.   Montag notes of his colleagues, â€Å"These men were all mirror images of himself! Were all firemen picked then for their looks as well as their proclivities?† (Bradbury, 1991)   His friend early in the story, Clarisse, falls victim to this sameness as she seems pushed out of public school because she doesn’t â€Å"mix.† (22)   Mildred, although a seemingly perfect member of society also seems to suffer from the strain of sameness as Montag notices a body strained by dieting. When we think of censorship, especially in the context of dystopian narratives, we often think of an oppression of knowledge by the government in order to control the proletariat.   Yet in several sections of the novel Bradbury makes allusions that the government didn’t censor the book initially, but rather the public abandoned the book and the government got rid of it as an after thought.   In his history lesson on the fireman, Beatty explains: The bigger your market, Montag, the less you handle controversy, remember that! [†¦] Authors, full of evil thoughts, luck up your typewriters.   They did.   Magazines became a nice blend of vanilla tapioca.   [†¦]   But the public, knowing what it wanted, spinning happily, let the comic books survive.   And the three dimensional sex magazines of course.   [†¦]   It didn’t come from the Government down.   There was no dictum, no declaration, no censorship to start with, no!   Technology, mass exploitation, and minority pressure carried the trick, thank God! (47) Dance faster than the white clown 3 Beatty explains that a globalized consumer market and an increasing demand to be entertained with bigger and better products is what killed the book and the government made firemen â€Å"custodians of our peace of mind† (48) to prevent unhappiness.   Jean Baudrillard discusses homogeneity in consumer society as â€Å"where everything is taken over and superseded in the ease and translucidity of an abstract ‘happiness,’ defined solely by the resolution of tensions.† (Baudrillard 2004) This seems to fit well with the construction of media and hyperconsumerism in Montag’s world, as all things in his world seem to exist for the purpose of happiness and entertainment.   Baudrillard’s description of the consumer experience could easily come from any number of facets of Montag’s life: Work, leisure, nature and culture: all these things which were once dispersed, which once generated anxiety and complexity in real life [†¦] these activities which were more or less irreducible one to another, are now at last mixed and blended, climatized and homogenized in the same sweeping vista of perpetual shopping. (30) The sadness and dystopia of Montag’s reality is not that the books are banned, but rather, as Montag’s ally Faber notes, â€Å"the public itself stopped reading of its own accord.†Ã‚   Montag’s society believes books are boring, difficult and bring only confusion and unhappiness and are so blindly obsessed with the consumption of happiness that even if books were available they would probably be ignored. If we think of a dystopia as a world where people have no interest in educating themselves or learning about things that may potentially make them unhappy, a world where image and a pastiche of history are all that are important, then we may very well have to worry that our own society is becoming a kind of dystopia.   Of course books are still readily available, but studies show that Americans are taking less time to read and that reading comprehension skills are greatly suffering. (Brown, 2008) As Beatty describes we too are Dance faster than the white clown 4 craving faster, more flashy and more dramatic entertainment.   Internet phenomena like Twitter, where users are limited to messages of no more than 140 characters, and Youtube, where the average video is 5 minutes, are outstanding examples of our ever shortening attention spans.   As a society we are looking ever conspicuous consumers, as Frederic Jameson says, on an unending quest for bigger, faster, better.   (Jameson 2001) Unfortunately in a post-Bush America there’s a lot to be said that we have entered a dystopia.   We are a country possessed by fear and worry, where children who, like Clarisse, â€Å"don’t mix† are being pushed out as safety risks.   Our activities and interests are being more carefully monitored by authorities than they have ever been. In the UK, fears of future terrorist activities have caused authorities to create advertisements encouraging neighbors and family to report suspicious activity, in very similar ways to that of Fahrenheit 451. (Doctorow, 2009)   If we think pessimistically on such events it is very easy to think we are in a doomed and dire situation like in the book and, as Faber says, â€Å"the whole skeleton needs reshaping.† Bradbury obviously wrote Fahrenheit 451 out of a growing concern that the world he lived in was being overtaken by a world of people who chose pleasure over the burden knowledge can bring.   He wrote it hoping that things could be turned around.   I suppose he might be horrified at many of the new ways people are wasting their time, the new distractions that keep us from educational entertainment.   However, the pursuit of knowledge continues on, albeit in sometimes altered ways. The book may be going out of style but knowledge continues on in forms on the internet, is discussed on the radio and (sometimes) television.   While there are dystopian elements to our world there is still hope for intellectualism and literacy.   Bradbury’s book stands as a warning to heed to prevent ignorance and cultural destruction. Dance faster than the white clown 5 References Baudrillard, Jean (2004). The consumer society: Myths and Structures. London, England: Sage Publications. Bradbury, Ray (1991). Fahrenheit 451. New York, New York: Ballantine Books. Brown, Joseph (2008).†As the constitution says†: Distinguishing documents in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. Explicator. 67, 55-58. Doctorow, Cory (Mrch 24, 2009). Boing Boing. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from London cops reach new heights of anti-terror poster stupidity Web site: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/24/london-cops-reach-ne.html Jameson, Frederic (2001). Postmodernism, or the cultural logic of late capitalism. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press.