In The Heart of Darkness Essay

In The Heart of Darkness, Marlow learns firsthand the consequences, cruelty, commerce, and corruption of color consciousness in European colonialism. The mercantilism and capitalism which were gaining currency in Europe officially spread throughout the world by the colonialism. This focus on wealth acquisition drives the Europeans to loot African territories of the precious ivory, ignites the vicious cycle of violence and cruelty, dehumanizes the Natives of Africa, and takes modern racism to a whole new level under the pretext of civilizing and pacifying the African peoples. Marlow, who is the protagonist in this book along with Kurtz, bears testimony of his voyage to Africa that: â€Å"I have seen the devil of violence, and the devil of greed, and the devil of hot desire† (Conrad 34). These explanation sums up what Marlow encounters in Africa and gives a hint as to crimes of colonialism which existed in the name of trade and conquest. The Heart of Darkness explores the darkest motivations of colonialism and highlights its pillaging agenda by commercialization of a culture, the denuding and exploitation of great wealth. In the Scramble for Africa, European countries unanimously agreed on sacking and claiming portions of it. The agreement legitimized the groups of pirates posed as traders to exchange with and enslave the native peoples in a second round of Neo-Slavery. The significance of the title, Heart of Darkness, flows in tandem with the love of money which is the root of all evil. This imperialist greed is what exposes â€Å"the criminality of inefficiency and pure selfishness when tackling the civilizing work of Africa† (Hawkins 286). The heart is wholly given over to the selfish pursuit of wealth and encumbers the masses by enslavement and deception. Kurtz is the embodiment of European colonialism â€Å"for mostly his expeditions had been for ivory† (Conrad 92). The price of ivory is invaluable. As testament to the presence of the extraction of Ivory in colonial times, we have the Ivory Coast. The natives would hunt the elephant for the ivory and then would trade it for shells, strings, rum etc with the European ‘explorers.’ Just as Kurtz’ life revolves around the hunt and gain for ivory (wealth), the central purpose of the Scramble for Africa which instigated the European colonialism is commerce, which was only exploitation of an ignorant people. Kurtz is introduced to Marlow as a man â€Å"grubbing for ivory† (Conrad 72). Marlow/Conrad uses a skilful literary technique in dehumanizing the Europeans for only animals grub for food. Ivory becomes not only the food which feeds their insatiable desires for self-aggrandizement, but also holds an enshrined position as a god, to whom their veneration ascends. As a newcomer on the expedition, Marlow heard â€Å"the word ivory rang in the air, was whispered and sighed. You would think they were praying to it. A taint of imbecile rapacity blew through it all† (Conrad 44). These men sell their souls for a natural resource in the name of commercialization and prosperity. Under the aegis of a company, plans were made to undermine the rights of the people and to acquire more territory. Marlow frequently alludes to â€Å"the Company† for whom he works. It is the East Indian Company which established trading posts and for whom Marlow, Kurtz, and several other British men render service. Conrad states that â€Å"the Company had the right to every bit of information about its territories† (Conrad175). Here is a bold statement which demonstrates the company authorizing decrees, setting up surveillance, annexing territory, and claiming rights to ownership and governance. The embryonic signs are already being made manifest that Neo-colonialism is going to rear its head to prominence. As if to emphasize the financial nature of their purpose and intercourse with the people, Conrad underlines that the team of the Company were like those of El Dorado, â€Å"hunters for gold or pursuers of fame† (Conrad 17). Conrad makes a pertinent connection with the conquistadores and Spanish explorers of the ‘New World’ who searched and hunted for gold due to the mythological tale of hidden treasures in the jungles. The motives and the techniques have not changed. The goal of the men to Africa is specifically to conduct trade although there is full-blown cartography going on along the book similar to the early Spanish explorers. Describing the manager of one of the Company’s stations, Marlow describes him as one whose â€Å"eyes glittered like mica discs† (Conrad 45). This comparison of his eyes to mica tells of his mercenary vision and objective. Mica is a silvery precious stone which gleams like diamond-like crystals which a hexagonal shape. It was considered a jewel since it was rarefied in Europe thus highly costly. The cruelty of European colonialism is plain to the sight in Heart of Darkness, and is a by-product of a darkened heart. The presence of rifles, guns, and bayonets of the Europeans versus the spears, bows, arrows, and clubs of the Native makes this novel very bloody, dehumanizing, violent, and brutal. The paragon of cruelty is of course, Kurtz who embodies the Machiavellian ethic of colonizers who do whatever is necessary to achieve their own ends. As Marlow enters Kurtz’ dwelling, Marlow is greeted by the heads which stand on stakes and adorn his home like medals (Conrad 94). What barbarous man would have dead cadavers of beheaded victims constantly surrounding him! The reeking of death in Heart of Darkness is â€Å"the scent of the lies’ taint as it emanates from the symbolic corpses and metaphoric decay that litters the course of the story† (Steward 319). Moral decay and decadence are what corrupts Kurtz and which becomes materialized in the cadavers around which he surrounds himself. Whatever the colonizers could not obtain by deception, they take by force. Cruelty comes naturally to Kurtz to the point that it overtakes him. Even Kurtz threatens to kill Marlow on one occasion in demand for some of the latter’s ivory. Often intertribal war would erupt because of hunting conflict and robberies-it was a bloody, cruel affair. Marlow depicts the hunting as â€Å"just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale† (Conrad 69). In one instance Marlow witness to the merciless beating of an African by one of the European traders as punishment (Conrad 23). Cruelty is a tactic employed to subject and to intimidate people. A startling case of this is the beating of the African which Marlow records earlier in the book. The castigation occurs in front of several of his own people who stand around doing nothing to help the beaten victim. Marlow sees the strong Africans around him and knows that they can overpower the white men, however, the mind is already enslaved and terrorized therefore the Europeans have free rein over Africa. Whipping is a punitive method which recalls the times of slavery where slaves had to be lashed as incentive to toil harder or as an example of warning to others. Sometimes cruelty is the means and sometimes it is the end. Violence breeds violence. As the Europeans continue to assume rights and invade territory, the people of Africa rise up in rebellion. A few men of their team are killed by the African artillery. Marlow attests to the ammunition where he observes â€Å"a heavy rifle, and a light revolver carbine – the thunderbolts of that pitiable Jupiter† (Conrad 98). Moreover, Africans negotiated the ivory trade provided that they could acquire the high caliber weapons of the Europeans so that in their local wars, they could have a greater advantage. The proliferation of arms serves the Europeans’ purpose to divide and rule so that cruelty against the Africans advances the ruin of the Africans when they kill one another. The consequences of colonialism are too many to be enumerated; however the primary ones are dehumanization, exploitation, poverty, and the death of a culture. The European colonizers place a negative construction on Africans which Marlow himself has done. Although he only narrates the story based on his Eurocentric perspective, it is still colored with bias, prejudice, dehumanization, and condescension toward the Africans. Viewing a people as inferior justifies their slaughtering and the plundering of their goods. Marlow says that he sees â€Å"twenty cannibals splashing around and pushing† (Conrad 61) in a river. This epithet ‘cannibal’ represents the less than flattering aspect of the African upon which the European fixates thus debasing them and their culture as subhuman. Cannibalism existed in some areas of Africa; however, for all the time that Marlow remains in Africa he is not eaten. Calling Africans cannibals was a normal act however which was in vogue among the Europeans. The Africans are never considered human in the novel. They are named â€Å"black figures† (Conrad 48), â€Å"savages† (Conrad 98), barbarian â€Å"naked human beings† (Conrad 97), â€Å"nigger† (Conrad 23), â€Å"shadows† (Conrad 100). Matched up against animals, Marlow compares their sounds to â€Å"a violent babble of uncouth sounds† (Conrad 38). No African speaks intelligibly in the novel seeing that their foreign tongue has a cacophonous, guttural, and animalistic note. As a result the power of discourse solely belongs the white man. â€Å"Edward Said suggests that colonial power and discourse is possessed entirely by the colonizer† (JanMohamed 59). The dehumanization of the African serves to yoke them with The White Man’s Burden masterfully expounded by Rudyard Kipling. â€Å"Marlow feels that colonialism can be redeemed by embracing an idea unselfishly. That idea can be compared to Rudyard Kipling’s The White Man’s Burden† (Farn 16). Broaching more in depth the theme of European colonialism, Marlow comments that â€Å"all Europe contributed to the making of Kurtz†¦the International Society for the Suppression of the Savage† (Conrad 83). Here he admits Kurtz’ collusion with Britain and other members of Europe in oppressing African peoples. The beating of the Africans like little children or animals also contributes to the debasement of this people from whose lands they were benefitting. A savage is semi-human if he is at all, and since to the colonizers he has nothing to say, nor are they interested in deciphering his tongue, they take greater liberty at enchaining him in a web of incomprehensible deceit. Dehumanization is crucial in the process of colonialism for enslavement of the mind comes first and then the enslavement of the body and person. The colonized individual’s will must be broken, set at nought value and then the colonial is at liberty to dominate, exploit and commodify the human being. â€Å"The colonial legacy in Africanist ethnography can never be negated, but must be acknowledged under the sign of its erasure† (Apter 577). Commodification converts the ‘sacred into the profane’ (Marx 1848). The English explorers were the colonists of their day and once they constructed the Africans as inferior, or below their culture, dehumanization becomes easy and an almost natural step. The bitterest servitude was imposed and cruel aggressions executed and perpetrated against the Africans. Brutality, demonization and savagery are justified for the indigenous peoples are not fully human; consequently the Indians are wholly in their power through gratuitous cruelty and carnage. European colonizers profited from servility and subjugation. Through force, coercion and duress the European colonizers manipulate for ivory or exact ivory, while treating the natives like excrement. The role of color in European colonialism is easy to fathom in The Heart of Darkness. The depth of the color of darkness has several connotations which Marlow picks up along the way. First of all, the association of black has both positive and negative meanings. Blackness exemplifies richness, depth, and unity; on the other hand, black also is equated with evil, corruption, colonialism, and the devil. By the book’s name, one can see that there is a colored system which Marlow has to see for himself to believe. Views about the human nature and the human heart are also studied as one sees its enormous capacity to perform beastly, monstrous acts and these are the traits which color and taint his heart. Heart of Darkness conveys the â€Å"timeless myth about the exploration of the human soul and the metaphysical power of evil† (Raskin 113).Colonialism is all about color and thrives on, the color line, the division of the races. The European whites are distinguished about the African blacks; the color on the maps is a legendary key indicating the colonized areas of Africa. Marlow realizes that Kurtz’ heart is black as hell toward the end of the novel. The ignorance and primitiveness of the Africans are contrasted with men who lived in the light of civilization. Hence, the reader gains a broad and deep insight in understanding the color codes as Marlow himself comes to grasp, as he represents the vicarious witness through whose eyes, the reader observes the process of colonization in Africa. In sum, Conrad effectively critiques colonialism and places before the reader the darkened heart: the commerce, cruelty, corruption, and color consciousness in European colonialism in Heart of Darkness. These elements plunge both the colonist and the colonizer in an abyss of ruin where both become dehumanized, financially or morally bankrupt, and violent. The period of Neo-colonialism in Africa accomplishes great havoc in the name of progress, commercialization, and prosperity.

Garment

Even though the labor cost is cheaper in developing countries than in developed countries, due to the specific market nature of the garment industries, for example the short production life cycle, high volatility, low predictability, high level of impulse purchase and the quick arrest response, garment industries are facing the greatest challenges these days (Lucy Daly and Towers 2004). Before 1 980, customers tolerated long lead times, which enabled producers to minimize product cost by using economical batch sizes.Later, when customers began to demand shorter lead times, the producers were not able to stand in the competitive market with their current production system. This is when the problem arose and companies started to look for changes to be more competitive. This pressure was further intensified with the elimination of quotas as of January 1 , 2005. To stay competitive, many domestic textile manufacturers have sought to improve their manufacturing processes so that they can more readily compete with overseas manufacturers. Garment industries in developing countries are more focused on sourcing of raw material and minimizing delivery cost than labor productivity because of the availability of cheap labor. Due to this, labor productivity is lower in developing countries than in the developed ones. For example, labor is very cheap in Bangladesh but the productivity is poor among other developing countries (Shadily and Seed Shall 201 1). Similarly, since the cost of fabric is a major factor of the garment cost, it is controlled by using CAD and CAM system for marker making and fabric cutting to save fabric consumption.So now the worry is about labor productivity, sewing process improvement and making production flexible. Even today, industries are getting the same or more volumes (orders), but the number of styles they have to handle has increased drastically. Earlier, industries were getting bulk order so there was no need to worry, if the production line was set for the first time it would run for a month or at least a week or two. Now a days, the fashion industry is highly volatile and if the orders are not fulfilled on time, the fear for losing business is real.Due to small order quantities and complex designs, the garment industry has to produce multiple styles even within a day; this needs higher flexibility in volume and style change over (Ashram and Christian 201 1). In some cases It has been observed that, in developing countries the garment industries are run as family businesses. They don't have much confidence towards innovation over old processes. They are happy as long as they are sustaining their business. Since lacking of skilled personnel as well as sufficient capital to implement new technologies for improving productivity and flexibility, they are not moving towards new innovation. Because of all these things the industries have been running in a traditional way for years and are rigid to change (Gao et al 2009). T he best Way to Cope with all these challenges is the implementation of lean manufacturing. This will serve the purpose of flexibility and save a lot of money by reducing production lead time, reducing the inventory, increasing productivity, training operators for multiple works, ND by reducing rework. 1. 2 RESEARCH PROBLEM The sewing section in a garment firm is a most problematic section as compared with other value chains . Most of the time, failure to meet delivery time is because of the sewing section.Sewing operations (with respect to cutting and finishing) demands high skill in machine handling as well as material handling and more chances of producing defective products. So we have to give more attention to stitching tasks than fabric cutting and other value chains of garment production. Firstly, high WHIP in traditional type of batch production is the major problem aced by industries. Due to high WHIP, the throughput time as well as rework level is very high. In some cases, even though the operator has completed the sewing operations, the garment cannot be packed because of high WHIP.Also, the defective parts are hidden inside the batches and it is very difficult to clear them while completing the final order quantity. This is the reason why garment professionals seem to work like fire fighters; because they are always in hurry for searching the missing garment pieces all over the shop floor. 4 Secondly, in batch processing (Progressive Bundling system), flexibility awards the style change over cannot be achieved easily; which is the current demand (Decreasing order size and increasing number of style) of garment industry.To meet this requirement, production layout should be designed in such a way that it should hold minimum WHIP and should be flexible enough to the changing need of order. Thirdly, in batch process, since the operators are given specific jobs, they know one or few more operations only. Though he She may have good skill and can work mor e efficiently on one (allocated job only) operation; he ‘she cannot work immediately on some other operation. This is another need of today's industry, because the fashion is changing frequently and the work force should be capable enough to cope with this change.To achieve this operator should be multi-skilled; which can be served by regular training and converting long assembly lines into small manufacturing cells. Workload fluctuation and process balancing among operators is another problem in batch processing, because one operator is given one operation at a time. So the operator who is performing easier and low time consuming jobs can pile up a huge amount of WHIP whereas in the critical operations (operations which deed more time and skill) there is lagging which causes unbalanced WHIP between machines and the work load.This research tries to address all these problems of garment industry by implementing lean manufacturing tools in an apparel firm. 5 1. 3 RESEARCH OBJECT IVES Lean manufacturing is an operational strategy oriented towards achieving the shortest possible cycle time by eliminating wastes. The term lean manufacturing is coined to represent half the human effort in the company, half the manufacturing space, half the investment in tools and half of engineering hours to develop a new product.These benefits can be achieved only if the concept is religiously followed in the organization. The objectives of this research is as follows To understand the lean manufacturing principles and identify the suitable lean manufacturing tools which minimize the process wastage such as work in progress(Wall), through put time, change over time, product defects, production space and loss of productivity in garment industry TO restructure the sewing section such as machine layout, operational modification and operator skill improvement, which demand lean implementation.

A comparison of freud, jung and adlers key issues

A comparison of freud, jung and adlers key issues Freud, Jung and Adler are influential theorists that have specific positions across human nature, problem formation, change and techniques as it relates to personality theories. Freud’s theory is referred to as psycho-analysis, Jung’s is analytical psychology and Adler’s is individual psychology. All theories have similarities and differences as they seek to describe what factors contribute to the development, nurture and shapes of one’s personality. The theories of Freud, Jung and Alder â€Å"attempt to answer basic questions about the nature of personality† and examine whether we were born with a specific personality, whether the personality is a learnt behavior or whether it is influenced by unconscious or conscious forces (Schultz these are recurring modes of action that set in motion and produces a psychological state, the end result is a behavior that ultimately obtains pleasure. Adler’s view on human nature states that every individu al is unique and there is eccentricity and distinctiveness in human personality. His view on human nature differs from that of Freud’s and Jung’s concerning the idea of inherited personality components as a â€Å"superstition† (Erwin, 2010). Adler doesn’t believe that innate instincts motivate behavior like Freud and Jung; instead it is his opinion that goals and the preferred way of achieving them are selected by the human. Jung’s view of human nature is deterministic, spiritual and comprises of free will. He is of the opinion that humans are conflicted with opposing forces for example for every positive thought unconsciously there must be a negative one behind it. Freud’s view is similar in that it is also deterministic. He is of the opinion that no behavior by a human is a mistake; there is a specific reason for all actions. Freud, like Jung also believes that the unconscious mind influences behavior, however his stance differs somewhat b ecause his theory suggests that behavior is motivated through the unconscious mind. Adler’s view of human nature differs from that of Freud’s and Jung’s, his view is that feelings of inferiority and inadequacy motivate a person to strive for success. This drives continues throughout life and becomes the motivator of behavior and continues to influence goals. Freud defines the structure of personality using a topographic model that consists of the unconscious, the preconscious and the conscious. Jung’s idea on the structure of personality is similar to that of Freud’s, he too believes in the conscious and unconscious. However Jung’s differ in that he is of the opinion that difficulties and trying situations that develop in the unconscious mind exhibits itself in the conscious mind and alters the personality of an individual, at times the conscious and unconscious components may fuse together rather than remaining seperate and distinct (Erwin, 2010). On the other hand, Adler is of the assumption that personality does not have a specific structure but instead an â€Å"indivisible unity†. Adler does not agree with Freud and Jung that the majority of our personality is embedded within the unconscious, he believes that whatever thoughts and behaviors are stored in the unconscious are things that we wish to avoid, evade or don’t quite understand. Thus in the opinion of Adler, the conscious and the unconscious work hand in hand to comprehend and achieves one’s goals established by the being.

Interpreting Popular Culture Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Interpreting Popular Culture Paper - Essay Example Invariably, as with most fairytales, there are indeed a myriad of different versions of Little Red Riding Hood; however, for a means of clarity and overall purpose of analysis, the forthcoming discussion will focus upon the least common denominator that is exhibited between all of these stories. This is of course the fact that a young girl meets a wolf/werewolf on the way to her grandmother’s to deliver food that her mother had prepared. Dressed in what can only be described as dainty attire, the beguiling creature attempts to ultimately trick her. In certain versions of the story the trick is successful and the wolf/werewolf eats the young girl. In other versions, the trick is unsuccessful and the girl is able to escape. However, regardless of the ending in question, the underlying moral and social representation that should be understood is one in which strong sexual overtones pervade this particular story and the importance of maintaining chastity and situational awareness are championed. One of the first elements that can and should be discussed in terms of Little Red Riding Hood and the sexual overtones that are represented throughout this story has to do with the detailed description of the little red cloak, the little red, or the little red coats that Little Red Riding Hood is claimed to wear in almost each and every variant of the tale. The importance of this symbol has to do with the fact that it ultimately represents the female hymen. As Little Red Riding Hood is depicted as a young, chaste, and ultimately your girl, the red tape that she wears is indicative of her nature and presents the analytical mind with a deeper level of understanding of the tale in terms of sleekness and sexual virtue. In many ways, it is somewhat surprising that such a painfully obvious illustration of human anatomy has gone unnoticed by countless generations of listeners, readers, and storytellers. Another core similarity that exists between almost all the variants

Poem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Poem - Essay Example rtant to pronounce different words with different loudness to create necessary rhythm, and it is also possible only after reading a poem for several times. My pronunciation was rather good and developed while articulation requires more and more practice. I was not able to change the pitch, rate, and volume as fast as I needed and that is why the sense of some phrases was not clear. It is important to reread and listen to a poem for at least five times because each time adds to a meaning some special sense and finally it gives general picture of the poem. Reading the poem for the second time I indicated all the pauses, tried to speed intonation where it was necessary and tried to change the pitch and the tones of separate words. Some of the words were pronounced in a low voice some almost in whisper. My strength of vocal delivery is that I have rather good pronunciation of all the sounds while my weakness is inability to change capture I mind pronunciation, articulation, and deep understanding of the text because I switch concentration from to the other. That is why it is best to learn poems by

Everything is Miscellaneous Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Everything is Miscellaneous - Essay Example One thing that has gone at stake is the reliability of information. Wikipedia happens to be one of the most frequently and commonly consulted website for gathering information about any kind of subject. However, Wikipedia offers all its users to contribute to the knowledge it stores in its database because of which, it is not believed to be a credible source of information in the academic world. â€Å"Philip Bradley, a librarian and Internet consultant, said in the Guardian that Wikipedia is theoretically â€Å"a lovely idea,† but â€Å"I wouldn’t use it, and I’m not aware of a single librarian who would†Ã¢â‚¬  (Weinberger 132). Wikipedia rests on a miscellaneous system of spread of information. This paper critically analyzes a documentary that can be defined in similar terms. In this documentary (â€Å"Obsession: Radical Islam’s†), Islam is described as a threat to the Western culture. The documentary holds one of the most fundamental tene ts of Islam, called as â€Å"Jihad† as the root cause of terrorism in the world. Jihad is one of the most commonly misunderstood and misinterpreted tenets of Islam in the West. Because of the way it has been portrayed in the media, many people particularly non-Muslims think of Jihad as terrorism. Western media defines Jihad as radical Muslims’ declaration of war over the innocent non-Muslims. To give weight to image it wants to construct of Jihad, the documentary asserts that not only non-Muslims, but also many Muslims are also put to risk as a result of the spread of terrorism with Jihad because they are held accountable by the non-Muslims for the acts of the terrorist agencies. The documentary shows various scenes telecast on the TV channels mostly in Arabia in which Jihad has been defined as integrally associated with the spread of terrorism in the world (Munoz). For instance, a scholar in one of the clips shown in the documentary says that it is not a sin for a Mus lim to assassinate a non-Muslim because the latter is not more important than a cow. It is important to note that to understand Jihad in its true spirit, it is imperative that the history of Islam is read and Jihad is understood in context in which it has been made obligatory upon the followers of Islam. In order to understand the real meaning of Jihad, it must be noticed that most clips included in the documentary show misleading scholars that either are misinformed about the significance of Jihad in Islam or intentionally describe it wrongly so as to create confusions and controversies about Islam. Such scholars are funded by anti-Islamic agencies that want to deter non-Muslims from embracing Islam, considering the fact that Islam is the fastest spreading religion in the world today. The documentary also shares some right concepts about Jihad. This makes it a mix of correct and incorrect descriptions of Jihad. For instance, the documentary tells that Jihad’s literal meaning is â€Å"struggle† which is correct (Fatoohi). â€Å"In Qur'an it is not jihad but values like justice, compassion and forgiveness are more prominent. While these values are permanent and transcendent, war (for which Qur'an uses the word qital, not jihad) is contextual and defensive only when such situation arises† (Ali). Every year, millions of non-Muslims embrace Islam by their own choice rather than by

What are the main aspects of Mills principle of liberty Are they too Essay

What are the main aspects of Mills principle of liberty Are they too vague to be of any practical political value - Essay Example an be considered to be among the most influential books dealing with the liberal principle of John Mill and it has as its main theme at the beginning a distinction of the threats to liberty both from the past as well as the new ones. According to Mill, the greatest threat to liberty that existed in the past consisted of all the authority in the society being in the hands of few individuals, either in the form of monarchy or aristocracy (Mill, 1859). He believes that although there could be less worried concerning the restrictions to personal liberties by benevolent monarchs, it is a fact that the personal freedoms of individuals in the society tended to be suppressed under monarchs that were not accountable to their people. Instead, the latter monarchs would put their own interests first before those of their people, thus ensuring that they worked towards the suppression of the liberties enjoyed their people in pursuit of their personal goals. The traditional threats to liberty, represented by the rule of authoritarian monarchs, were threats which had to be addressed through the intervention of philosophical radicals who would institute democratic reforms for the benefit of the populace. According to Mill, the t raditional threats to liberty are not the only ones that members of the society should be worried about and this is mainly because even in democratic states, there are threats to the personal liberties its citizens (Jacobson, 2000). However, in this case, instead of the tyranny of individuals being dominant in the society, there is the tyranny of the majority, so that the minority has little option but to follow the lead of the majority or suffer dire consequences. As a result of these views, Mill sets out to develop his principles concerning how the threats to liberties can be neutralized in any society, notwithstanding whether it is democratic or not. Mill states that the main idea behind the control of individuals within the society through the denial

The Importance Of Financing Smes In Oman - Government Intervention Dissertation

The Importance Of Financing Smes In Oman - Government Intervention - Dissertation Example It is so because the business environment in Oman is different from that of the western countries. Hence, to examine this argument, this research study focuses on the internationalisation approaches followed by the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Oman. The decision makers of four SMEs in Oman have been interviewed in this research study. The collected data from the interviews and other secondary researches have been analysed using two approaches namely, within case analysis and cross case analysis. The findings obtained from this research study has been compared with the relevant literature on internationalisation process that exists like the theoretical framework of international new ventures (INVs) and the Uppsala School's internationalisation process model (U-model). The findings of this research study suggest that the internationalisation behaviours of SMEs in Oman are not completely different from that of the firms in the western countries. The INVs framework and th e U-model cannot explain the internationalisation process of SMEs in Oman on its own. However both these models have explained the internationalisation patterns in different ways. ... 2.3.2Factors Responsible for Internationalisation by SMEs 22 2.4Internationalisation Procedures by SMEs 26 2.4.1The U-model 26 2.4.2INVs Framework 27 2.5Conclusion 28 CHAPTER 3: Research Methodology 28 2.6Introduction 28 2.7Types of Research 29 2.7.1Qualitative Methodology 29 2.7.2Case Study Research 30 2.7.3Semi-structured Interviews 30 2.8Sources of Data 31 2.9Research Design and Tools 33 2.9.1Construct Validity 33 2.9.2Internal Validity 34 2.9.3External Validity 34 2.9.4Reliability 36 2.10Conclusion 39 3.CHAPTER 4: Findings and Results 39 3.1Introduction 39 3.2Summary of Data 40 3.3Company Backgrounds 40 3.3.1Company A 40 3.3.2Company B 41 3.3.3Company C 42 3.3.4Company D 43 3.4Within Case Analysis 44 3.4.1Company A 45 3.4.2Company B 47 3.4.3Company C 48 3.4.4Company D 49 3.5Cross Case Analysis 50 3.5.1Motives for Internationalisation 50 3.5.2Factors Leading to Internationalisation 51 3.5.3Intensity of Internationalisation 52 3.5.4Resource Base Orientation 52 3.5.5Mechanism of Red ucing Uncertainty 53 3.6Propositions 53 3.7Conclusion 55 4.CHAPTER 5: Conclusion 55 4.1Introduction 55 4.2Conclusions 56 5.CHAPTER 6: Recommendations, Limitations and Scope for Future Study 58 5.1Introduction 58 5.2Limitations and Recommendations 58 5.3Future Scope of the Study 59 References 61 Bibliography 67 Appendices 68 Appendix – 1 (Interview Schedule) 68 1. CHAPTER 1: Introduction There has been an extensive study on the internationalisation process followed by different organisations worldwide. However, the internationalisation process followed by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) has not received such extensive attention in the 21st century (Forsman, Hinttu, & Kock, n.d.). Market globalization also has a significant impact on these SMEs (Asiedu, & Freeman, 2006, p.2). With

Marketing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Marketing - Term Paper Example The main strength of the Wild planet is the quality and the product pricing. All the products of the Wild Planet’s are tested several times before they come to the market for sales. The internal strength of the company is the idea generation team. They have a tremendous branding and marketing strategies which attract the kids as well the parents towards the brand. Mattel: Mattel is the market leader in the United States. While the Mattel acquired the third largest toy manufacturing company Tyco Toys Inc in 1996, the company became extremely confident over the future performance. The Barbie and the Hot Wheels are the two show stoppers in the toy market. However, the companies combined sales represented only 19 percent of the total American Toy market. (Snyder, 2002, p 14) The Mattel Inc is a giant company in the toy industry. It is rated as the biggest toymakers in the world. The main strengths are the two brands and they are the Barbie and Hot Wheels. The company’s sales are being driven by these two brands. However, Soul Mate is in manufacturing innovative toys and they don’t manufacture small scale models of cars. Mattel is a threat to any toy manufacturing company as the deep financial pockets can allow them to buy any company in the toy industry. Mattel is a big company with a global exposure. However in the United States kids are boarded with the same old Barbie and Hot Wheels cars and may be that is the reason it contributes only 19 percent in the total sales of toys in United States. The new product idea is not that strong. From the above analysis it is very clear that the Wild Planet is the main competitor for the company. To differentiate soul Mate from its competitor it is very vital to understand the strength and weakness of the competitor. The business strategy of the Soul Mate and that of the Wild Planet is more or less same. The Wild Planet sells the innovative toys like Soul Mate and some of their products are Spy gadgets, Spy

Crossing the West and Unite Essay Example for Free

Crossing the West and Unite Essay Is Pan- Africanism merely an ideology of beliefs that belongs to a past?   Historically it can be traced that Africans in their country of origin have a great civilization but why in the world would this great people need to walk a crusade like one of its forerunner’s Du Bois when he said that: â€Å"The Last Battle of the West† in liberation of the Africans.   This was reechoed to the world when racial ideologies become severe in the West, in Latin America, and under the British Colony.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the paper written by Araia it was mentioned in detail how Pan-africanism followed throughout history how the Africans were discriminated from repatriation towards the movement of the Diaspora.   Some of them are also the black slaves who are treated well and given freedom by some of their masters.   This loyalty taught the Diaspora to adapt the ways their masters taught them. The Africans and Diaspora experienced the same discrimination and both have adjusted to their present environs.     It was also proven that one color is not a proof of unity since man seeks to have different clichà ©s or the need to belong to a certain group.   In some cases, adoption to a certain laws and culture makes a person get antagonized by two identities especially if the one being introduced is exactly opposed to his or her tradition.   And with that, instead of unification a person has the guilt of having adulterated ones culture or we may say to experience a culture shock.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   That shock divides, and Pan-African organizations have travelled a long way to reunite its brood. An issue that goes with identity crises is repatriation which has bad and good consequences like founding its way for a new black republic in the western hemisphere.   That beginnings fostered confidence to the Diaspora and to the Africans in the continent.   These are somehow, providential that the Africans scatter the world like someone says that from evil there is an abundance of good.   In this scenario, we can conclude that those early Africans who crossed the continent have struggled, though some may loose their birth right marks, many have hold on to his true identity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In one of the conferences, African’s echoed the need to be respected like all other humans as Malcolm X stated that â€Å"†¦, so that Africa too becomes respected as other huge continents are respected, then, wherever people of African origin, African heritage or African blood go, they will be respected – but only when and because they have something much larger that looks like them behind them (GAraia).†Ã‚   His words explained the impact of Pan-Africanism ideology towards the African experience and the Black Diaspora. To him, the proof of a good race is the good examples that will be left behind by that color and creed.   Malcolm X words mean to say, the need for the Africans to show to the world that the race came from a good and descent stock while explaining that respect begets respect.   But first and foremost respect for oneself should come first.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The elevation of the human nature is based on its dignity, and for this reason it is necessary to look back to where this race belongs.   It is important to see how the older ones have struggled and how did they fought squarely the battle of searching for one’s identity.   Thus when it is found, is it an experience of neither dismay nor courage.   The integral part of this soul searching is whether it is accepted or not but the most important thing is to gain confidence and repair whatever damage is done.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The reformist Du Boisian pan-Africanism had more influence and ideological impact on Africans in the Continent during the early part of reunification but on the later part the transatlantic Pan-Africanism focused on nationalist ideologies thru Nkrumah.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, the vision of Garvey became relevant until today because it has promoted unity and well-being among Africans, re-examination of public policy against racism and other forms of discrimination which has resulted to security and equality, and provision of sovereignty and respect towards individual culture.   Identity crisis was changed into acceptance in spite that points of view can not always be the same.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Brazzaville and Casablanca could have been fueled by the so called identity crisis too which could have gotten down to the marrow of the new generations of the Africans in the middle of the 19th Century. The former against the bearing of a socialist mentality and the other gets intimidated of begging or having dependence on the Western aid.   Those are two opposing ideological differences that have affected the political and economic perspectives of that time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, in the course of time different Africans groups learned to focus on their similarities to bridge the gap that has existed due to various groupings.   This meeting of the minds ended in the formation of the African Unity which led by Nkrumah created the UNIA under the influence of the philosophy of Marcus Garvey to the Negritude of Cesaire and Senghor.   This movement led to the search of the African identity till it is known today as African Union (AU) which was previously called Organization of African Unity (OAU).   Today, we may say that the Pan-Africanism movement has matured and was able to handle whatever difficulties they would get entangled within their individual principles and personal circumstances.   Through viable global communications brought by new technology, a connection was built between Africa and its Diasporas which forge Pan-African unity transcending all unproductive dichotomies. Today’s relevance of the Pan-African   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pan-Africanism will remain the instrument of fostering unity and empowerment as long as there is marginalized Africans and Diaspora that has been continually growing in numbers.   It will be the voice to call and unite, and to remind wherever this colored men are, telling each one is his brother’s keeper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With the growing world spearheading towards globalization, there is a great need for Pan-Africanism to be a state led project in the emancipation of its great role in the 21st Century. There will be new challenges facing the Africa and the Diaspora despite of its historical achievements of decolonization and civil rights.   The ideology of collective empowerment can provide a great leap for Pan-African states and societies who are merely pawns in the world arena.   According to Nkrumah there is a need to pull all resources like the socio-cultural, eco-political aspects and demographic capitals to attain the Pan-African vision of the socio-economic development of all its civil societies namely the Africans and the Diasporas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is very striking to know that African migrants (Diaspora) today are very much educated as compared to people of its country’s origin.   Making the brain drain problem severe in Africa but these international migrants who are skilled are assets for the developing countries in terms of remittances and brain mobility.   Those who migrated towards the north are very much educated however they only comprise of the minority.   Majority migrated to other African countries.   In other words, the Diaspora represents a growing mighty force for the development of Pan-Africanism today.   The African Diasporas because of their dual identities acquired from their host countries became more flexible and at the same time equipped with enormous social capital that could defend the future of Africa.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, the government only views the Diasporas as an economic resource or by way a dollar remittance arm.   They do not only exceed foreign investments cash capital but with their civic and cultural awareness could access global markets, create a more vigorous democracy that could strengthen a society that encourages growth of new philanthropic cultures.   Diasporas are regarded as people with multiple identities but with commitments firmly rooted to their country of origin.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The new generation of the African Diasporas will surely bridged the gap of the Atlantic and Africa and the African American created by prejudices and the racist media.   One can perceived today the growing awareness in the Pan-American consciousness for instance the assertiveness of the blacks in Brazil, the affirmation of Afrocentric culture in the US, and Afropolitan identities of the diasporas in European Countries.   They are collective struggles that show the world that these African migrants are reconstructing their identities by renegotiating their place in wherever host societies they belong which is in congruent that they will attain full democratic citizenship and status, a dream that has been long awaited by their peers and fore parents.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the long run, this presence of the Diaspora will be felt by the whole world and in order to facilitate their presence, African policy makers and Pan-Africanism should take the Diaspora options seriously.   This requires networks that facilitate brain mobility, formation of diverse knowledge, and the defense to Africa which have been defamed in Euro-America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   AU with its 20 councils, promoted social and cultural contexts towards its civic organizations in order to unify and integrate Africa, an enduring dream for Pan-Africanism derived from the rising of the Diaspora’s homogenization from one’s host country.   The AU is more robust organization, and is more people friendly.   The OAU was preoccupied with politics, sovereignty and elite’s camaraderie. However, both are achievers in the vision of Pan-Africanism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In its present trend, AU launched the â€Å"African Union-African Diaspora Summit at all levels of the State and Governments, with a theme â€Å"Towards the realization of a united and integrated Africa and its Diaspora† in short, after crossing the West – the African will be united.   This unity hopefully will lead to a full cooperation and better understanding of every member of the Pan-African nations including the cooperation of the Diaspora host countries worldwide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The self acceptance of the Diaspora rejuvenated Pan-Africanism with its contemporary dictum of being able to combine the old and new.   Their demands are no longer driven by political independence but learning the complex ties that separate and unites them to their origin.   With this knowledge, unity will not be an elusive dream to the Pan-Africanism but a way of life transcending global marginalism that has been caused by inequality of power and privileges.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The passing of time may have healed the wounds in the past; the present generations are no longer alienated to the prejudices, but men and women who are proud of their colors and traditional beliefs.   These Africans are more capable of confronting the problems of today than merely following the course of history.   These are men who see the world, fair and square but able to form kinship and friendship even with those who had inflicted wounds on them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pan-Africanism is not just an ideology it’s praxis, a chain that links all Africans of the world.   It has guided the race through out history and will always be a gleaming light for those who find that multiple identities seem quite confusing.   It will be a bosom for all Africans to convene, and to learn that adopting other technologies and means is not to be come inferior but teaching this race the value of genuine patriotism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The so called ideology came from a long journey, it infiltrated the West and the Atlantic continent, and it has surrounded the world as bent on becoming a one and united dynamic race.   They will be people who will not be saddened by their past mistakes but more of a people who have stand and struggled to gain respect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These are people with human culture that is unique and these beliefs are needed to be upheld and preserved. The Pan-African vision will guide these beliefs through time which must be guided by wisdom.   Loving ones country does not hate the other; nationalism is not wrong as long as we do not hate or inflict wrong another nation.   Better still, we must love our own country but also loving the rest of the world and that’s what you call patriotism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For those who are lucky to cross the West, and the other Diaspora, and those who belong to each others continent it is time to unite.   After all, man belongs to one single stock – the human being with a body and soul.   Diasporas from all parts of the globe or Africans alike wherever continent they belong, they are just one brother and sister who belongs to one and the same human race.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To all Africans and Diaspora the ideology of Pan-Africanism will always be behind, until the time that this race received the respect its forerunners has long waited for.  Ã‚   It will always be the shadow that will unite every Africans and the Diaspora who has been nurtured and taught by its adoptive nation.   In turn, both will be teaching the other their ways combining new and old and giving good examples that the rest of the world will learn to admire and accept. Works Cited Ghelawdewos Araia. â€Å"The Historical and Ideological Foundations of Pan-Africanism.†Ã‚   2006.

The Four Marks Of The Catholic Church Religion Essay

The Four Marks Of The Catholic Church Religion Essay One, holy, catholic, apostolicà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the four marks of the Catholic Church; a deacons ministry involves all four. I chose the fourth mark of the Church to identify my pastoral ministry because the Church was brought into being by the apostles on the basis of the Person, teaching and deeds of Jesus Christ. The apostolicity of the church stands on its consistency to the teachings of the apostles which are to be safeguarded by bishops in the apostolic succession. This same authority has been handed down through the Sacrament of Holy Orders from bishop to priests and deacons. No bishop, priest, or deacon in the Catholic Church is self-ordained or self-declared; he is called by the Church and ordained into the ministry given by Jesus to His Church. There is a clear connection between deacons today and almost 2,000 years ago as detailed in the Acts of the Apostles. The ministry of the Deacon is charity, word and sacrament. It is the Deacon who often brings Christ to the prisons, the hospitals, and nursing homes. The Deacon helps bridge the gap between the Church and community. Another example of the apostolic Church is the deposit of faith in both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition that has been preserved and handed on by the apostles. Jesus Christ founded the Church upon the apostles: Did I not choose you, the twelve?(John 6:70) It is clear, that the Church was started by Christ himself. The issue is did the apostles have the power and authority to pass on what they had received from Christ? The New Testament is clear that they did in fact have that authority. Titus 1:5-9 references overseers and holding firmly to the message. The ministry of Peter and the Apostles continues by the bishops under the Pope. By a mystical sense of faith, the People of God under the leadership of the bishops join themselves to the apostolic faith. The pastoral ministry of the bishops is to safeguard the People of God in the truth. The teachers are not above the word of God, they serve it. This deposit is the doctrine and the teaching that Jesus assigned to his Apostles when he taught and directed them to take it out to all nations. (Mt. 28:16-20) They, in turn handed it down to their Successors. (Mt 28:20) The deacons were instrumental in this taking it to the streets. Jesus did not hold a Saturday night revival. He went out to the people. He sent His disciples out to reach the masses. The Church began because the disciples were out doing everyday things in the community. The source of the deposit of faith is Jesus. It began in his teaching of the Apostles, as he prepared them to teach to all nations. The Apostles knew that the teaching they received from Jesus and that they handed on was the Word of God. It was the Word of God put into teachable form by Jesus and handed on by through apostolic teaching. Knowing this could not be more important for the self-identity of ordained ministers today. It is the primary duty of all the ordained, to hand on this Word of God to the faithful without straying from Church teaching. It is the Deposit of Faith. The charge to see to this reliability in teaching the Deposit of Faith is contained in the rite of ordination of all men of Holy Orders. In the Profession of Faith which all clergy take before ordination, and again whenever they take up an office in the Church, the same is affirmed: With firm faith, I also believe everything contained in the Word of God, whether written or handed down in Tradition, which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed. I also firmly accept and hold each and everything definitively proposed by the Church regarding teaching on faith and morals. Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the College of Bishops enunciate when they exercise their authentic Magisterium, even if they do not intend to proclaim these teachings by a definitive act. Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio AD TUENDAM FIDEM This is the all-encompassing life of the Church. It is the whole of Tradition. It includes the full trifecta of Word, Sacrament, and Charity. The implication of unity of communion with the bishops as successors of the Apostles, and with the Successor of Peter as head of that College is very important. Apart from that communion, there is no full and complete fulfillment of Christs command to preach, baptize, and make disciples of all men. The Permanent Diaconate brings back to the church the full fold of active apostolic ministries. Deacons are ordained to function in word, charity and service in communion with the bishop and priests; in the communication of the Word; in the celebration of the sacraments and obligation to prayer; and to minister through action and service. The Deacons role in Sacred Liturgy is also important. The parish sees a part of the deacons ministry from the altar; this part of his ministry flows out of a result of his other ministries of charity and service to the parish and community. Deacons have always been called to serve; to be the presence of Jesus, to be in touch with the community. By the way he lives his life; the deacon puts service into action and makes Jesus Christ visible to the world all while teaching and protecting the faith handed down from apostles.