What Criteria might be used to Define a State as Liberal Democracy Essay

What Criteria might be used to Define a State as Liberal Democracy - Essay Example The liberal state can be explained as an opposition of the individual against the norms of custom, tradition, and religion (Barry et al 2001, p. 3). As a result, the liberal inherently distrusted the imposition of any authority over the individual and the forces of the marketplace. Democracy is a means by which members of a community could ensure equality while working to achieve common goals and aspirations. Liberal democracy can be defined as a political system in which the application of state power is curtailed in several specific ways. The first, most important constraint is the clear separatior if the private and the public realms. Any explicit attempt to merge the two is considered illegitimate. Liberal democracies are also political systems in which any application of political power must be sanctioned by law and a certain degree of equality before the law is accorded all citizens. Political power is subject to popular control through regular, open, and reasonably fair elections in which at least two parties compete for power. Finally, while there may not be a constitutional separation of secular and clerical authorities, the former has prevailed over the latter, at least in recent times. (Bell 2006, p. 123). The main criteria used to defined the state as liberal democracy are the rule of laws and supremacy of constitution, voting rights and equality of all citizens, civil liberties and minority rights, independent judiciary and parliamentary power, independent media and religious freedom, subordination of military to the state power and freedom and autonomy of movements and assassinations. The examples of liberal democracies are France and Austria, Jamaica and Poland. Following Plattner (2007, p. 41), the general will of the community could force men to be free. Far from seeking to defend the liberty of the individual from the power of the state, the essence of democratic thought is to capture and employ the power of the state to benefit the community as a whole. Phrased another way, if liberalism proclaims the primacy of the individual, democracy demands the subordination of the individual to the collective welfare of the whole. Liberal values are not, of course, the only desiderata. Th ere are ideals which others share, of unity, efficiency, order and security. In addition, all societies today, whether democratic or non-democratic, pursue the secular grail of economic growth, and democracy is likely to be judged not only by its merits but its performance. Some account, therefore, had to be taken of the relationship between political reform and economic freedom--a liberalization of markets and the spread of local wealth to match the dispersal of political power (Barry et al 2001, p. 43). Civil society corresponds to liberal democratic society in its political aspects and to the pluralistic society of voluntary associations and private corporations on the other. Civil society entails the freedom of contract and the market economy. The private ownership of property and the freedom of contract and the organization of the market economy around them, are necessary conditions for civility in society. Seen in the crudest terms, civility and the market seem to be antithetical to each other--one altruistic, the other egoistic, the one inclusive, the other exclusive--but in fact they are mutually dependent. The very anonymity of the market, its relative disregard for the primordial and personal, is a necessary condition of the extension of the collective self-consciousness to the inclusion of unknown and unseen persons (Bell 2006, p. 13). Political scandals in the modern world can be understood only by developing an appreciation for this ambiguity concerning the use of politic al power-an ambiguity

Prospective strategy for Copyfix Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Prospective strategy for Copyfix Inc - Essay Example A lack of communication will also result in management becoming distant from the shop floor, and this is where all the work is carried out. The lack of communication has manifested itself in the management area and the production area. For instance: A look at the organisation chart revealed that the departments were fragmented and isolated from the shop floor. This resulted in the decision making excluding those who knew the processes. This isolation also resulted in inter-departmental conflicts, as each department was not aware of the other's roles and responsibilities, which had led to a series of problems. There are no clear lines of communication between managers with each of them reporting to one individual, and so there really is not much scope for discussion. This organisation is lacking in strategy as decisions are not thought out and rather spontaneous. For instance, a proposal was put forward that 50% of profits go towards shareholders. This figure does seem too high, and there is no mention of any discussion about this issue or where this proposal came from. The main emphasis seems to be on making the shareholders and not on improving products they manufacture. A long term strategy that is focussed is therefore required to help with managing the cash flow problem, as profits have to be diverted to the organisation in the first instance. The lack of a strategy has also resulted in massive quality problems at this organisation, and as a manufacturing organisation, the importance of quality cannot be emphasised (Hall 1987). The organisation is due to pay penalties for environmental standards, as their equipment and production line did not meet the required standards. Whilst this is tied in with strategy, as in value and quality are not built into the process, it is also a communication problem as it has not been addressed and remained undetected. Failure to build in quality will result in financial wastage (Slack et al 1997) which the new executive board are keen to avoid. The previous board also stated that they were old and had been with the organisation for a while and this may have clouded their judgement and affected the organisation. This is a call for new management styles and leadership, and the organisation really needs to look at major changes. The chair of the executive board was rotated on a regular basis and this resulted in an approach to the strategy that was inconsistent as the chair was never stayed in post long enough to see any changes or projects carried through to completion, which impacted on feedback, as the organisation has no way of finding out how well their systems are. The short-term costs also do not build loyalty, trust and are a disincentive to team working (Bartol and Martin 1998). Sales and Marketing This organisation is not maximising its marketing and sales, which is what gets their product sold. The graphs indicate that revenue is evening out, which means it is time to innovate, by either improving the product or introducing a new product (Slack et al 1998). However, this ties in with quality and it is evident that the lack of quality assurance

Steel making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Steel making - Essay Example The process of steel making process involves producing steel from either the ferrous scrap or from iron. During the steel making practice, there is the removal of excessive impurities, among which are silicon, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorous from raw iron, together with other elements of alloy like nickel, vanadium, chromium and manganese, for the production of different steel grades (Mohammed, Stephen, and Seetharaman 1566). The limitation of dissolved gases that include oxygen and nitrogen, as well as all other impurities entrained within steel is important for enhancing the product quality cast from the initial liquid state. Two important processes are involved in steel making; the electric arc furnace, and Basic Oxygen Steelmaking (BOS). The latter uses scrap steel and blast-based liquid pig-iron as the major feed materials, whereas the former makes use of the direct reduced iron or the scrap steel (Mao, Pan, Pang, and Chai 67). The oxygen steel making is exclusively fueled by the reaction’s exothermic nature within the vessels, while the electric arc furnace (EAF) process makes use of the electric energy for melting of the solid scrap material. Introduction of additional chemical energy for EAF processes has enhanced the evolution of the process to almost equal the technological expertise involved in oxygen steel making. The modern processes for steel making can be classified as primary or secondary. The primary steel making generally entails the conversion of liquid iron from an original steel scrap and blast furnace to steel by the melting of scrap, or basic oxygen steel making, and the use of direct reduced iron within the electric arc furnace (Seiji, Yoshiyuki, and Masuro 13). The secondary process of steel making, however, entails the refinery of crude steel prior to casting, and this involves numerous operations in the ladles. The addition of alloying agents occurs during the secondary metallurgy

Closing Guantanamo Prison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Closing Guantanamo Prison - Essay Example This study stresses that  Guantanamo Bay prison should remain open because if the prisoners are released, then they will join terrorist groups. In fact, these prisoners are criminals and may be a threat for national security so that they must be detained in the prison. However, what people don’t understand is the fact that they are making an assumption that all the prisoners detained there are criminals and will sooner or later join terrorist groups. This assumption is absolutely wrong because these prisoners are deprived of their basic rights and military courts are biased to pass any judgment about them. A criminal is a person who is proven guilty by law but when there is no law in the prison then how can we judge that these prisoners are criminals. It is vital to understand that no proper justice is carried out in these prisons and this is why such prisoners cannot be named as criminals and such judgment of them joining terrorist groups doesn't make any sense.  This pap er highlights that  the whole purpose of justice system is to make sure that no one is wrongfully convicted or sentenced. If everyone could judge and decide about guilt or innocence of a person, then why there is a need for the justice system? The fact that many American citizens have lost their life cannot be ignored but this should not neglect the right of these prisoners to prove their involvement level in such acts, if any. People should understand that everyone has some basic rights and they cannot be hijacked for any reason whatsoever.... In fact, these prisoners are criminals and may be a threat for national security so that they must be detained in the prison. However, what people don’t understand is the fact that they are making an assumption that all the prisoners detained there are criminals and will sooner or later join terrorist groups. This assumption is absolutely wrong because these prisoners are deprived of their basic rights and military courts are biased to pass any judgment about them. A criminal is a person who is proven guilty by law but when there is no law in the prison then how can we judge that these prisoners are criminals. It is vital to understand that no proper justice is carried out in these prisons and this is why such prisoners cannot be named as criminals and such judgment of them joining terrorist groups doesn't make any sense. People also ignore the inhumane actions of the forces in the Guantanamo Bay prison reasoning that to the suppose damage these prisoners have caused to the so ciety (Cratty, 2009). Thus, a proper justice must be existed in order to determine whether or not these prisoners are criminals. Moreover, what these people fail to understand is the fact that justice is the right of everyone. The whole purpose of justice system is to make sure that no one is wrongfully convicted or sentenced. If everyone could judge and decide about guilt or innocence of a person, then why there is a need for the justice system? The fact that many American citizens have lost their life cannot be ignored but this should not neglect the right of these prisoners to prove their involvement level in such acts, if any. People should understand that everyone has some basic rights and they cannot be hijacked for any reason whatsoever. Do serial killers not get

Chinese Cinema Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Chinese Cinema - Case Study Example Yimou began his career by making films thate looked at the past, present, and the future through a futuristic eye. He emphasized a lot on the resilience, even the stubbornness, of Chinese people in the face of hardships and adversities. The films dared to deconstruct China and reform the culture. His earlier films appear to be influenced a lot by his background and the life struggle. However, it is quite surprising to observe that Yimou has changed his track completely to make some morality fables and period martial art movies. The message from these movies also was quite confusing, considering his previous reputation as a dissident filmmaker (Salazar). Zhang Yimou was born in 1952 in the Xi'an province of China. He grew up in socialist China where class struggle dominated life and literature. His father and brother were associated with the Kuomintang (Nationalist party). So, as a child, Yimou suffered stigmatization and ridicules. The Cultural Revolution of 1966 forced him to quit studying and start working as a farm hand and laborer. Meanwhile, Yimou developed interest in painting and amateur still photography. He used his portfolio of photographs to gain admission to the cinematography department of the Beijing Film Academy in 1978. In the film academy, Yimou was exposed to art films by various European, Japanese, Chinese, and American directors, including Fei Mu, Kurosawa, Tarkovsky, Antonioni, Scorsese, and Truffaut. He graduated from the film academy in 1982 along with stalwarts such as, Chen Kaige and Tian Zhuangzhuang. The influence of these art films and such compatriots can be seen in all of Yimou's early films. Yimou started his cinematic career as a director of photography (One and Eight, 1984). In this very first venture, his unique talent was highly visible. He shot his pictures from obscure angles and captured the color stock as though it were black and white. He positioned the actors at the side, rather than at the center to improve the dramatic effect. He also used unique visual styles, based on the asymmetrical and unbalanced composition of the shots. Earlier Films - Theme and the Cinematic Vision In 1987, Zhang Yimou embarked on his directorial debut, Red Sorghum. The movie brought Yimou a lot of critical acclaim and catapulted him into the forefront of the world's art directors. The film had a lot of lush images, though the plot was simple and short. It told the story of Jiu'er, a poor girl who is sent by her parents into a pre-arranged marriage with a much older man. Thereafter, the tale revolves around the life and struggle of Jiu'er and finally her tragic end. The movie is very different from the faster and cheaper forms of Hollywood color films, primarily because of its strong melodrama and the overwhelming visual quality. The cinematography splashes its passionate colors all over the screen with abandon. The visual impact of the film is voluptuous. Yimou has used the red color as a symbol to represent passion. For Jiu'er, the red of masculinity dominates the wedding sedan, the wild sorghum, the sorghum wine, and the fire that consumes her at the end. Red Sorghum breaks cultural taboos against representing female orgasm, ecstasy, and reproductive continuity onscreen. Bold close-ups of the heroine's face, such as in the wild-sorghum abduction scene were new in mainland Chinese cinema. However, Yimou showcases female desire as

Advantages and Disadvantages of Intercultural Communication Assignment - 2

Advantages and Disadvantages of Intercultural Communication - Assignment Example Some differences were noted to be variations in interest, beliefs, ambitions, philosophies, and goals. The approach taken by the authors will be analyzed as a step in the right direction, given that most people have failed to take advantage of the benefits that come with effective intercultural communication, only because they do not know the right approaches to take in getting their communications put across properly. Chapter 12 is the part of the book where the authors bring readers close to ways and means by which they can engage in, and ensure effective communication in an intercultural context. This is done by emphasizing areas of competence where people can learn to improve as part of effective intercultural communication. Analyzing the approach to the chapter, it can be said that the authors were very transcending with their discussion because they viewed competence from several perspectives, including social science, interpretive, and critical perspectives. Once this was done, it was possible to feed the reader with information on strategies for achieving effective communication as it pertains to each of these areas of competence. The book turned out to be a very useful source in understanding and appreciating the interaction of context and intercultural communication. From the knowledge developed from the book, it can be said that context refers to the premise and circumstance under which a person makes an analogy, speech or sends a message. Intercultural communication, on the other hand, is a form of communication that is taking place among people from a different cultural background. The relationship that exists between these two is that people from different cultures have different contexts for the same ideas or messages that are put across. Consequently, while communicating, it is important to emphasize and focus on the need to presenting one’s message in a manner that can be understood and interpreted in the very context in which he seeks to communicate.  Ã‚  

Dose Animal Farm Will Different When Change Napoleon to Snowball Essay Example for Free

Dose Animal Farm Will Different When Change Napoleon to Snowball Essay Power can change a kind personal to selfish person or make a person who is full of conceit become arrogant and greedy. In the animal farm, Napoleon is kind of a person, who is conceited and become greedy when he get all the political power. There is no alive democratic in the farm. But, when we change the chief of the Animal Farm, changing the Napoleon to Snowball, the animalism in the farm will revive. This short easy will analyze why Animal Farm will become better when Snowball has power. In the book, Napoleon is symbol of the dictatorship and Snowball is the symbol of the democratic. Cancel the animal assembly, build a cabinet, change the rule and build an arm to control the animal is what Napoleon did. But Snowball as a clever leader, he focus on the constructive work in the animal farm, building a windmill and set up a democratic policy which is every decision need discuss among the animal. Furthermore, snowball is quicker in speech and more inventive than Napoleon. He is the one who organizes the animals into various committees: the Egg Production Committee for hens, the Clean Tails League for the cows and erc. Snowball also has the wisdom in the battle and has prestige among the animal, success organizing animal to against Mr. Jon and his man. Although Snowball and Napoleon both agree they should drink milk and eat apple and both want to set up an arm, but Snowball not thought everything should be done for himself. When the animal farm has the problems, he tries to solve it and set up an education institution for animals. Moreover, combining with the history, Snowball represents figure of Leon Trotsky who draft the Soviet Union’s economic construction plan. Thus, if Snowball has a power, the society of animal farm would become flourishing.