Social Alienation

Abstract Social alienation exists in many countries around the world. For example, over the decades, societies have continued to experience marginalization and lower social mobility. Inequalities in education, income, and health highlight the worsening impact of social alienation in the society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Alienation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Despite the existence of these social ills, western countries perceive social alienation differently from Eastern countries. America and Europe, for example, perceive social alienation as undesirable. Comparatively, Eastern countries accept social alienation as a normal practice. This analysis shows that social alienation is perceptual. Based on this analysis, this paper explains the contextual nature of social alienation by demonstrating that, unlike western countries, countries from the East (notably Asia) have learned to embrace alienati on as an acceptable social practice. This view stems from the differences in economic, social, and political structures of western and non-western societies. These structures also inform the existence of social alienation and individualism in contemporary society. Introduction Social alienation refers to the lack of cohesion among groups or individuals. The low level of integration may arise from the lack of common values or beliefs among people (Ilardi, 2009). Social alienation is a growing problem in modern society and it exists in different contexts. Racism and class differentials are the most common denominators for defining social alienation today (Ilardi, 2009). For example, some sociologists (Immanuel, 2011; Ilardi, 2009) believe racism is the most divisive social factor today. However, other researchers, such as Morrison (2006), say class overrides racism as the most divisive factor in modern society. For example, many Americans understand social stratification along three l ines – the rich, middle class, and the poor (Immanuel, 2011). Gilbert (2010), a sociologist, for example, uses six criteria for defining human societies – upper class, upper middle class, middle class, lower middle class, working class, and lower working class. He says many societies use such divisions to alienate people (Gilbert, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More America leads most countries in practicing social alienation (Immanuel, 2011). Ilardi (2009) quotes a survey from Duke University, which reported that social alienation has worsened in the past two decades. Statistics show that a quarter of the American population feels segregated from the community (Gilbert, 2010). Such people do not have anyone to confide in. Duke University further reports that 50% of Americans do not have a close â€Å"confidant,† besides their family members (Ilardi, 2009 ). Statistics collected in 1985 reveal that this trend has worsened over the years because only 10% of the American population felt isolated at the time (Ilardi, 2009). Social alienation has spread to almost all aspects of society. For example, Ilardi (2009) says social alienation exists even in the highest and most prestigious educational institutions. Although Gilbert (2010) says many people understand the need to eliminate social alienation, non-western societies (notably, Asia) do not have a problem with the practice (Mishra, 2012). For example, social alienation exists as an acceptable social practice in many Asian societies, like China and India (Mishra, 2012). Moreover, such societies do not experience the same effects of social alienation as western societies do (for example, social alienation does not cause divisions among people in such societies) (Mishra, 2012). The differences between western and non-western perceptions of social alienation arouse curiosity regarding the reasons for this division. To answer this question, this paper explains that social alienation is contextual. Therefore, unlike western countries, countries from the East (notably, Asia) perceive social alienation as an acceptable practice, while western societies do not. This study explains these differences by discussing the economic, social and political structures of western and non-western societies, which inform isolation and individualism (or the lack of it) in contemporary society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Alienation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The structure of this paper explores the theoretical background of social alienation, eastern and western perceptions of alienation, and measures that both societies could take to reduce the practice. First, it is important to understand the depth of the differences in eastern and western perceptions of social alienation. Perceptions of Social Alienation Few researchers dispute the fact that social alienation is more severe today than in the past (Mishra, 2012; Immanuel, 2011). This paper already shows that western societies have the highest prevalence of social alienation today. This section of the paper explains the depth of the differences in eastern and western perceptions of social alienation and how the social, economic, and political structures of the east and the west affect their perceptions of social alienation. Western Perception Although studies show that the prevalence of social alienation is higher in Western societies, it is important to point out that social alienation is undesired by western societies. Ilardi (2009) says most western societies consider social alienation as an unwanted and negative practice. In fact, western societies often associate social alienation with personal â€Å"emptiness† (Ilardi, 2009). Szirmai (2005) says specific western liberties and rights have contributed to this per ception. Notably, the quest to be free and independent has made most people to be individualistic (Szirmai, 2005). This fact stems from the western view that most people are private citizens and responsible for their destinies. There is therefore little concern regarding what other people do, or need (Ilardi, 2009). Particularly, this view explains the quest for individual success in western societies (Ilardi, 2009). Individualism is at the center of this analysis because success shares a close relationship with individualism. Certainly, most westerners believe people should take ownership for their mistakes and success (Szirmai, 2005). To avoid the pitfalls of failure, people therefore strive to make individual decisions, thereby fuelling the spread of social alienation. There is therefore a strong sense of indifference to people in western societies because of this fact.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More An example from the work of Pappenheim (2013) highlights an example of indifference towards people in western societies when he explains an incidence where a man attacked a woman with a knife in Kew gardens, New York. In front of other people, the man wounded a woman with a knife and killed her, without experiencing any opposition from dozens of onlookers who witnessed the incident (Pappenheim, 2013). In fact, Pappenheim (2013) says 38 people witnessed the incident and none of them helped the victim, even as she cried for help. This example shows the extent that social alienation has permeated western societies and almost like a plague, it has made people less â€Å"inhuman.† Consequently, Szirmai (2005) says people who are aware of social alienation in the society (in the western world) are few because many people have become immune to it. From the extreme nature of social alienation and its undesirable effect on humanity, western societies consider it an undesirable concept (although few people do anything about it) (Pappenheim, 2013). Nonetheless, as shown through the analysis below, most non-western societies do not experience the extremes of social alienation, as witnessed in western societies, because they have a different view of the practice. Indeed, such societies embrace social alienation as an acceptable social practice. Eastern Perception In the context of this study, the Eastern perception of social alienation mainly refers to the social, cultural, and economic systems of Asia, and similar subcultures shared by societies in the geographic Eastern region of the world, which inform their understanding of social alienation. Unlike western countries, most eastern societies support the existence of social alienation in the society. A deeper comparison of Eastern and Western philosophies show that both paradigms perceive social alienation differently. Western societies conceive social alienation as an undesirable practice, while Eastern societies perceive the same practice as an important tool for self-growth. These differences manifest in different ways. For example, Henion (2013) replicates the same differences in explaining the American and Chinese lifestyles. He says, Americans love a culture of self-promotion, but China prefers a society that promotes the â€Å"collective good.† A study by Michigan state university affirms the same view after it reported that many Americans preferred having virtual friends, as opposed to spending quality time outside the realms of the virtual world (Henion, 2013). Their comparatively high presence on social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, shows the extent that mass cultures prevail in the American society. Comparatively, the same study found that Chinese people preferred to have many real friends, as opposed to virtual friends (hence their fewer numbers in social networking sites, compared to America and other western countries) (Henion, 2013). The same study aff irmed that Chinese people dislike a â€Å"me too† culture, which characterizes the western society. Henion (2013) says these differences show the individualistic nature of the American society, which strives to take credit for all good things that happen, while avoiding blame for any wrongdoing that may occur. The Chinese culture fails to mirror the same philosophy because people take responsibility for whatever wrongs that may happen and attribute successes to teamwork and group effort (Henion, 2013). The public indifference to social alienation in the East stems from the political organization of Eastern States (Gluck, 1991). In China, for example, political mobilization occurs through the creation of an atomized society (Ernest Breuilly, 2008). This situation is often normal for authoritarian regimes because it enables leaders to consolidate power (Wong Bo, 2010). Moreover, in such countries, the government does not recognize the distinction between public and private li fe. People live in atomized systems that pledge their loyalty to a central power (Henion, 2013). Therefore, such societies regard any type of social organization that does not follow this structure as subversive to the goal of social cohesion. Wong Bo (2010) say this situation is conducive to social alienation, but interestingly, he adds that social alienation is a normal characteristic of such societies. Theoretical Background This section of the paper explains the conceptual framework of social alienation. It explores the views of researchers who have greatly contributed to the understanding of social alienation in the western and non-western societies. The significance of this theoretical framework is the understanding of social, political, and economic structures that differentiate the western and non-western perceptions of social alienation. Therefore, through this understanding, it would be easy to understand the structural differences of western and non-western societies tha t make both societies perceive social alienation differently. Similarly, through this theoretical background, it would be easy to understand how the social, economic, and political pillars of non-western countries make them more receptive to social alienation. Notably, the theories of Durkheim, Weber, and Karl Marx contribute to this discussion. Karl Marx Karl Marx contributed to the understanding of social alienation through the Marxist theory which explains societal structures that support social alienation in the western world. He described social alienation as an antecedent of the industrial revolution (Morrison, 2006). Marx says social alienation affects people because the industrial revolution produces a â€Å"mechanized† society (Morrison, 2006). He attributes this situation to the spread of capitalism in the western world because capitalism denies workers their right to forge fulfilling social relationships (Morrison, 2006). Stated differently, Marx said the capitalis t system alienates workers from their humanity by depriving them the power to think (mechanistic lifestyles) (Morrison, 2006). For example, capitalism reduces people to factors of production (Immanuel, 2011). Most people are therefore at work and rarely get time to spend with their family. Marx says although the capitalist system recognizes workers as individual entities, the upper class (owners of factors of production) normally dictate their lives (mostly their goals and ambitions) (Immanuel, 2011). He further says, the bourgeoisie class does not sympathize with the working class because they want to extract maximum value from them (Immanuel, 2011). It is difficult to blame them for pursuing this goal because they are following the rules of business competition, which started from the industrial revolution. From the Marxist view, a structural analysis of social alienation in the East reveals that its acceptance stems from labor structures of these countries. Certainly, unlike the capitalist system, the communist system broadens the definition of labor by seeking people’s talents and abilities for mass production (Mishra, 2012). Comparatively, the capitalist system narrows the definition of labor into a small perspective of minimal wage analysis. As opposed to benefitting both the workers and the organizations that employ them, the capitalist system exploits workers by deriving maximum value from them (Kenneth Topik, 2012). The communist perception of labor differs from this view because bourgeoisie wishes do not define the relationship between factors of production and production. Instead, communism operates from a classless framework, where the system recognizes worker-inputs, based on the value they create to the society, and not the profits they provide to the ruling class (Mishra, 2012). Overall, the communist system differs from the capitalist system because communist societies have a collective ownership of production factors, while capitalist systems do not. Workers in the communist system therefore develop identities that mirror the ideals of a communist society. Through the collective ownership of the factors of production, Kenneth Topik (2012) say Eastern countries embrace social alienation. Weber and the Theory of Rationalization Weber explored the role of industrial growth in regulating human interaction. He explored how the influence of the industrial revolution affected people’s happiness (Morrison, 2006). His analysis shows that the industrial revolution rationalized societies in three distinct ways. The first involved a personal cost-benefit calculation of social interactions (Morrison, 2006). To explain this view, Weber said, â€Å"Human beings choose the basis of rational calculi by weighing up advantages and disadvantages with the goal of an optimization. They then estimate a risk, as the product of the extent of the damage threatening and the probability of the event, and weigh it with their persona l risk preference† (Hronszky, 2005, p. 59). His second view of how the industrial revolution rationalized the society involves the transformation of human societies into bureaucracies (Morrison, 2006). Weber believed that bureaucratic principles would have a firm grip on human society. He made this assertion by associating bureaucracy to rationalization. Through this view, he believed rationalization charts the course of human interaction and societal development (Morrison, 2006). Unlike modern theorists that advocate for the elimination of bureaucracy as a form of institutional governance, Weber did not see an alternative to the concept. He therefore believed that the bureaucracy would eventually lead to the creation of an â€Å"iron-cage† society (Hronszky, 2005). This perception forced Weber to predict a bleak future for human interaction (Morrison, 2006). He said people would eventually be unhappy because capitalism would force them to operate within a narrow realm of rules and control, without the hope of ever changing this situation. Besides bureaucratization, Weber also perceived rationalization as a process that strives to conceive reality through magic and mystery (Hronszky, 2005). This view was his third explanation of how the industrial revolution rationalized the society. Although most of Weber’s assertions affirmed Marxist principles, it is important to understand that his views also contradicted the latter. One distinctive difference of their views was the use of profit-maximization and rational calculations, as bases for understanding human relationships. Marx advocated for the use of profit-maximization, as the basis for understanding human relationships, while Weber said rational calculations could explain the same (Hronszky, 2005). Weber also used the Marxist understanding of capitalism to present a wider conception of bureaucracy (Hronszky, 2005). He said capitalism was a wider long-run social trend of bureaucratizing the society (Morrison, 2006). Unlike Marx, Weber said the motive to make a profit was not only distinct to the capitalist system. Instead, he said, â€Å"new in capitalism is the rational organization of production for sustained profitability, making use of systematic book-keeping records† (Hronszky, 2005, p. 2). Weber also equated the rise of new and emerging markets (mostly in non-western societies) to the spread of rationalization. He said the emergence of new markets spurred a new way of thinking, in terms of cost and benefits (Morrison, 2006). Personal concerns and relationships were therefore secondary considerations in this new way of thinking. The emergence of the growth of radical thinking is therefore a new system of harnessing human capabilities for the benefit of corporations and multinationals (with little regard for human relationships). This view explains why many emerging markets (mostly in Asia) accept social alienation. Durkheim and Solidarity Durkheim’s principles closely resembled the principles of Marx and Weber. Like his colleagues, he blamed social alienation to the growth of industrialization (Morrison, 2006). Notably, Durkheim feared that the industrial revolution would eventually lead to unhappiness. Stated differently, Durkheim said the most important attribute of human existence was social solidarity. Some researchers refer to the same concern as â€Å"promoting a sense of community† (Hronszky, 2005, p. 5). Durkheim’s beliefs appeared in most of his work. For example, in his book, Suicide, he said that the lack of social solidarity explains the high incidence of suicide in the society (Hronszky, 2005). He equated the lack of social solidarity to the rising individuality in Protestant churches because Catholics often advocate for social solidarity (Morrison, 2006). A deeper analysis into the works of Durkheim shows that social solidarity manifests in different clusters. He said the first cluster was the mecha nical adoption of social cohesiveness (Morrison, 2006). A mechanical organic society bonds people through mechanistic attributes like education, religion, and training (Morrison, 2006). Some researchers say this type of social cohesion stems from homogeneous traits that attract people to one another (the prevalence of mechanistic solidarity is higher in small societies) (Hronszky, 2005). The second cluster of social cohesion is organic solidarity. This type of solidarity stems from the interdependence that binds different societies together. Again, industrialization birthed this interdependence because job specialization formed different interdependent social and professional groups (Morrison, 2006). Unlike mechanical solidarity, the prevalence of organic solidarity is higher in advanced societies. To further explain this type of social cohesion, Hronszky (2005) says, â€Å"Although individuals perform different tasks and often have different values and interest, the order and very solidarity of society depends on their reliance on each other to perform their specified tasks† (p. 5). These three types of social solidarity explain social alienation through the rationalization theory. How to Reduce Social Alienation Stewart Barrà ³n (2006) admit that the elimination, or reduction, of social alienation in the society is a difficult and multifaceted issue. From this admission, they advocate for a sensible approach to the formulation of social, economic, or political interventions to solve this issue. Regardless of this suggestion, both researchers admit that any intervention aimed at stemming out this vice should address group discrimination (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). They also say any intervention for eliminating social alienation should have a political dimension (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). Nonetheless, broad understandings of such interventions highlight similarities with affirmative action. In fact, both interventions ordinarily include political and economic interventions for allocating political and economic power to vulnerable groups. This action should not discriminate between public and private sectors, but Stewart Barrà ³n (2006) admit that such interventions are more effective in the public sector. This focus shows that policy interventions present the highest hope for reducing social alienation. Policy interventions ordinarily cover legislative approaches for empowering disenfranchised groups. Lee (2010) says policy formulators should ensure they consider the political and social sensitivity (described above) when formulating effective policy interventions. He also says policies should go beyond providing opportunities for marginalized groups because such groups cannot exploit these opportunities with the same effectiveness as other groups would (Lee, 2010). This observation is especially true for groups that have experienced social alienation for long periods. To affirm this view, Stewart Barrà ³n (2006) argue that , â€Å"Without any overt discrimination, the children of long-term privileged groups may do better in any competitive examinations, and so on. Moreover, disadvantage has many aspects, some of which are unclear. Social networks and information about education, jobs, and economic opportunities are often strongly group-related, so what seems like a level playing field is not† (p. 11). After acknowledging the weaknesses of general policy interventions, Stewart Barrà ³n (2006) say policy interventions to eliminate social alienation may take three formats. The first type involves the elimination of policies that promote social alienation. Changes in such policies should address indirect and direct social alienation. The second category of policy interventions should strive to empower alienated groups to perform better in social, economic, or political contexts (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). The third approach involves the formulation of social, economic, and political targets for t he betterment of a person’s abilities. Lee (2010) believes the second category of policy intervention would be the most effective way of eliminating social alienation because it promotes competition. This advantage makes it easy to rally people to support this cause. The redirection of public expenditure would also achieve the same objective of reducing social alienation by redirecting more resources to marginalized people. This strategy would solve a perennial problem of capitalism – the failure of the capitalist system to empower everybody. In fact, many pundits say capitalism creates an extremely wealthy society, which thrives under the sweat of an extremely poor society (social alienation) (Morrison, 2006). The redirection of resources to these vulnerable groups would help to solve some of the problems associated with capitalism because it may give an opportunity for vulnerable groups to enjoy the fruits of capitalism, as people who own factors of production do. No netheless, the possibility that privileged groups would oppose this strategy is high. Similarly, there is a high possibility that some sections of government, which represent these privileged groups, would also oppose the same strategy. One issue that may arise during the process of implementing such a strategy is the public expenditure implications of introducing such a strategy. The introduction of targets, or quotas, as a measure of reducing social alienation is perhaps the most controversial strategy for reducing social alienation. The controversy surrounds the implementation of the strategy in the private sector. For example, it is easy for governments to implement elements of affirmative action in their policy frameworks. However, it is very difficult to introduce the same standard in the private sector. The difficulty exists from the fact that introducing extraneous policies in the private sector contravenes the spirit of pro-liberalization of the free market. Despite this di fficultly, history shows that some countries have adopted this strategy with relative success. For example, America, New Zealand, and Northern Ireland (examples of western countries) have used the same strategy to reduce social alienation (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). Fiji, India, and Malaysia are some Eastern countries that have also adopted the same strategy successfully (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). Some of these countries have achieved a reduction of social alienation by promoting the group ownership of assets. For example, some countries promote group ownership of land, as a strategy for reducing social alienation. The same countries have achieved the same objective by regulating employment policies to promote equal access to employment (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). Research shows that the adoption of the above strategies reduces social alienation, but does not eliminate the practice from the society (Lee, 2010). The same studies do not guarantee an improvement in the effectiveness o f production if societies adopt the same strategies to reduce social alienation (Lee, 2010). Theoretically, it is important to understand that the adoption of the above strategies should provide both positive and negative effects to the society. One negative effect is the interference with competitive activities in a free-market system. However, such negative effects do not override the benefit of reducing discrimination and social alienation in the society. In fact, a broader analysis of this issue shows that the existence of social alienation would eventually lead to inefficient resource allocation, thereby eroding the assumption that a free-market system would lead to efficient allocation of resources, if left alone. Evidence of the adoption of the above strategies in Malaysia undermines concerns that the adoption of the above strategies would introduce inefficiencies in free-market economies. Indeed, Malaysia has adopted strategies that reduce social alienation, while upholding economic growth, at the same time (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). A deeper analysis of the Malaysian case shows that the country minimized social alienation (associated with capitalism) by adopting the above strategies. For example, Lee (2010) says in 1969, the country experienced ethnic riots that decried the high level of social alienation in the country. Before the riots, race was a function of economic position. This situation led to poverty and economic imbalance in the country (Lee, 2010). Policy interventions aimed to correct this situation by expanding social services and promoting rural development. The central government also encouraged group land ownership to promote the distribution of national assets to marginalized groups (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). The formulation and implementation of these policies reduced intergroup inequalities. Income distribution among different groups also improved significantly. Malaysia also experienced political harmony after the introduction of these policies. In fact, Lee (2010) says that after 1969, the country has not witnessed any serious political conflict. Besides Malaysia, some western countries have also adopted the above strategies to reduce social alienation. Notably, Northern Ireland successfully formulated and adopted inclusionary policies to reduce the high level of social alienation that most Catholics faced in the country. Stewart Barrà ³n (2006) say the Northern Ireland society alienated Catholics in the 15th and 16th centuries after groups from Protestant churches colonized the country (the Protestants controlled vast economic resources throughout the country). They also ensured they controlled political power by controlling economic activities and maintaining majority representation in government. The Catholics experienced social alienation on many fronts (political, social, and economic). This marginalization led to the outbreak of violence in the 1970s (Stewart Barrà ³n, 2006). However, after the B ritish government committed itself to reduce this social inequality by introducing corrective policies, Catholics decided to stop the violence. The government introduced fair employment acts to stop the high level of unemployment witnessed among the Catholic population. This legislation also reduced inequalities in education and housing. Another agreement between the Catholics and the Protestants (Good Friday Agreement) also corrected economic inequality. Comprehensively, these legislative changes led to a revolution of the social status of the Catholics in Northern Ireland. To sum them up, Stewart Barrà ³n (2006) say, â€Å"Inequality in access to higher education was eliminated by the 1990s; inequality in incomes was reduced; the housing inequality was significantly reduced; and the employment profile and unemployment rates became more equal; even the imbalance in recruitment to the RUC was slowly being reversed† (p. 17). Today, observers say the policy interventions in N orthern Ireland stand out among the greatest governmental efforts to reduce social alienation in one generation (Lee, 2010). Evidence of the adoption of inclusive policy interventions therefore shows that they can work in Eastern and Western societies. Conclusion After weighing the findings of this study, it is important to acknowledge the differences between Eastern and Western perceptions of social alienation. Both regions acknowledge the existence of social alienation, but western societies consider it an undesirable practice. However, Eastern societies accept social alienation as an acceptable practice. Social, economic, and political structures explain why such societies embrace the practice. Although the political view of this analysis shows that most Eastern societies embrace social alienation because it is the main platform for the mass mobilization of people, the economic structures of such societies outline the main reason for the acceptance of social alienation in the Eas t. The same is true for western societies because economic structures created (and supported) social alienation. Indeed, from an economic standpoint, Weber and Marx say that industrialization has worsened social alienation because it dehumanizes societies by creating social tiers of production. This paper draws from this understanding and shows that the minimization of social alienation could occur if policy interventions correct the excesses of capitalism. The elimination of policies that promote social alienation should be the first strategy for reducing its effects on the society. However, the â€Å"politically correct† strategy to adopt is empowering alienated groups to compete with privileged groups because this strategy does not interfere with the spirit of fair competition. The success of such interventions in Malaysia and Northern Ireland shows that such interventions could be successful in reducing social alienation in the East and West. Significant challenges exist with the introduction of these policy interventions, but most of them should correct economic, political, and social imbalances. References Ernest, G., Breuilly, J. (2008). Nations and nationalism. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press. Gilbert, D. (2010). The American Class Structure in an Age of Growing Inequality. New York, NY: Pine Forge Press. Gluck, M. (1991). Georg Lukà ¡cs and His Generation, 1900-1918. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Henion, A. (2013). Social Network Use Reflects East-West Disparity. Web. Hronszky, I. (2005). Rationality in an Uncertain World. New York, NY: Edition sigma. Ilardi, S. (2009). Social Isolation: A Modern Plague. Web. Immanuel, W. (2011). The Modern World System IV: Centrist Liberalism Triumphant,  1789-1914. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Kenneth, P., Topik, S. (2012). The World That Trade Created: Society, Culture,  and the World Economy, 1400 to the Present. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe. Lee, J. (2010). Islamizatio n and Activism in Malaysia. Singapore, SI: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Mishra, P. (2012). From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt against the West and the  Remaking of Asia. New York, NY: Penguin. Morrison, K. (2006). Marx, Durkheim, Weber: Formations of Modern Social Thought. London, UK: SAGE. Pappenheim, F. (2013). Alienation in American Society. Stewart, F., Barrà ³n, M. (2006). Social Exclusion and Conflict: Analysis and Policy  Implications. University of Oxford, UK: Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity, CRISE. Szirmai, A. (2005). The Dynamics of Socio-Economic Development: An Introduction. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Wong, J., Bo, Z. (2010). China’s Reform in Global Perspective. New York, NY: World Scientific. This essay on Social Alienation was written and submitted by user Bridget Warren to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A Struggle between Love And Prejudice

A Struggle between Love And Prejudice One of the most interesting threads to follow in the novel Pride and Prejudice is how the feelings of the main heroine, the witty, intellectual, and sensitive Elizabeth Bennett, towards Fitzwilliam Darcy change from complete detestation to become passionate love at the end of the story. I find it very exciting to examine what Elizabeth has to go through to reach the point at which her opinion alters and that is the reason why I have decided for this theme.The alteration of Elizabeth ´s opinion and feelings is a long process. The first meeting of Darcy and her at the Meryton ball is a complete catastrophe. Although at first everybody is fascinated by the sight of the young, elegant stranger and all find him extraordinarily handsome, this feeling does not last long. The people slowly realise that his pride is so irritating and revolting, that it makes his character almost totally unlikeable and almost all of them agree that he is not even worth talking to.Lady Catherine confronts Eli zabeth about Darcy, on...Elizabeth happens to overhear a dialogue between Darcy and his friend, Charles Bingley , during which Darcy refuses to dance with a woman from a lower society. Furthermore, he declares Elizabeth to be" ...tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt (him) ..." This surely is sufficient for our heroine to create a quite unfriendly picture of this gentleman. So, beginning with this event, this energetic, wise young girl forms a prejudice towards Darcy that will prevent her future involvement with him. It is here then that the two main themes of the novel, pride and prejudice, are first presented.Elizabeth ´s prejudice, sparked off at the ball, requires quite a long time to be overcome. When they next meet at Sir William Lucas ´ party, Elizabeth refuses to dance with Darcy and her attitude remains...

Adidas Marketing Plan

(Adidas Group Annual Report, 2008) This marketing plan will focus on the Adidas brand. While research indicates there’s a belief that Adidas makes better footwear than Nike (Vertical Ascent Website), it has been unsuccessful in penetrating the young hip-hop crowd. With a generation that has grown up with i-pods, blogs and video games, Adidas is looking to appeal to his younger generation through technology that they have become used to using. (Marina, 2009) Adidas 1, claimed to be the world’s first computerized smart shoe, went on sale March 18, 2005. Adidas has long focused on being the footwear for sports and high performance with its core base being sports. According to the Adidas Group 2008 Annual Report, the company targets three brands: sports performance, sports heritage and sports styles. It’s known for its technological innovation and cutting edge design, with its mission being to challenge and lead through creativity. Adidas has positioned itself as a leader in professional and competitive sports, notably soccer, basketball, and running. As the technology permeates everyday life, Adidas hopes to live up to their changing expectations and deliver the best consumer experience through using creative new initiatives including interactive fitting footwear for peak performance and fit. With that focus on technological innovation, Adidas is going high tech, with everything from high tech sneakers, high tech virtual stores, and high tech promotion. This high tech is not just for show or glitz. It has a purpose – to deliver the best fitting, and best performing footwear tailored to the consumer’s individual needs. Adidas is hoping the high tech approach will eliminate potential customer dissatisfaction through virtual fitting. This eliminates producing shoes that don’t fit properly or perform well. It also leads to the best fit for the best performance out of footwear, something desired by professional or amateur athletes, as well as anyone embarking upon a running or fitness program. Adidas is looking at the changing interests of the up and coming market who also have i-pods, video games, email, internet, youtube and other highly technological devises as a way of life rather than traditional television or print media. With this change in media delivery, there’s also a change from it being one way to two-way communication, and with rapid advances in technology, they expect new and different things, and new and different footwear and sportswear is a way to reach that market. With an emphasis on fitness in today’s world, Adidas must create an image that Adidas footwear excels for everyone who is looking to improve their health. The goal is to maintain its traditional base as well while developing a technological environment that will broaden appeal to a younger consumer. Adidas’ strategy is to come up with a technology that meets a consumer need – excellent fitting footwear that has top notch performance. By having technology where one is not just fitted for the footwear, but also can gauge them for exact pressure and running posture, the company continues to follow its positioning as being the world’s favorite footwear for sports, and setting the pace for their footwear to meet their customer’s performance needs. The company is taking that image to its traditional promotional use of television and print advertising, as well as its exclusivity banners at major sporting events, especially European soccer matches. It also has made deals with professional football players and the New York Yankees to endorse Adidas. The company is the official sponsor of the 2008 Beijing Olympics that will reach millions, billions, and potentially open up strong Chinese Markets, and renew interest in sports performance which will lead to increased sales Adidas is distributed in corporate stores, throughout the web, high end sporting stores, the internet, and more limitedly in sporting goods stores throughout the US and Europe. It is also rethinking its distribution practices after last year’s purchase of Reebok and will close Reebok sports apparel and sneaker distribution centers in Massachusetts, Tennessee and Kentucky, and move those operations to an expanded center in South Carolina. Spartanburg was chosen for the two brands’ consolidated distribution center in part because it’s close to the two brands’ product shipping locations and to many customers (The Associated Press, 2008) Adidas high tech strategy is moving into its internal operations departments, adopting a better delivery system, increasing retail distribution, and taking customer service to a new level, beyond satisfaction to delight, thus trying to obtain return and possibly ifetime customers, something that would be very profitable for the company. The company can benchmark its success by measuring sales, web traffic to its innovative color based on-line advertisements that never mention the product, the number of downloaded pod casts and the number of visits to their Paris high-tech store. Works Cited http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/2005-03-02-smart-usat_x.htm Adidas Marketing Plan (Adidas Group Annual Report, 2008) This marketing plan will focus on the Adidas brand. While research indicates there’s a belief that Adidas makes better footwear than Nike (Vertical Ascent Website), it has been unsuccessful in penetrating the young hip-hop crowd. With a generation that has grown up with i-pods, blogs and video games, Adidas is looking to appeal to his younger generation through technology that they have become used to using. (Marina, 2009) Adidas 1, claimed to be the world’s first computerized smart shoe, went on sale March 18, 2005. Adidas has long focused on being the footwear for sports and high performance with its core base being sports. According to the Adidas Group 2008 Annual Report, the company targets three brands: sports performance, sports heritage and sports styles. It’s known for its technological innovation and cutting edge design, with its mission being to challenge and lead through creativity. Adidas has positioned itself as a leader in professional and competitive sports, notably soccer, basketball, and running. As the technology permeates everyday life, Adidas hopes to live up to their changing expectations and deliver the best consumer experience through using creative new initiatives including interactive fitting footwear for peak performance and fit. With that focus on technological innovation, Adidas is going high tech, with everything from high tech sneakers, high tech virtual stores, and high tech promotion. This high tech is not just for show or glitz. It has a purpose – to deliver the best fitting, and best performing footwear tailored to the consumer’s individual needs. Adidas is hoping the high tech approach will eliminate potential customer dissatisfaction through virtual fitting. This eliminates producing shoes that don’t fit properly or perform well. It also leads to the best fit for the best performance out of footwear, something desired by professional or amateur athletes, as well as anyone embarking upon a running or fitness program. Adidas is looking at the changing interests of the up and coming market who also have i-pods, video games, email, internet, youtube and other highly technological devises as a way of life rather than traditional television or print media. With this change in media delivery, there’s also a change from it being one way to two-way communication, and with rapid advances in technology, they expect new and different things, and new and different footwear and sportswear is a way to reach that market. With an emphasis on fitness in today’s world, Adidas must create an image that Adidas footwear excels for everyone who is looking to improve their health. The goal is to maintain its traditional base as well while developing a technological environment that will broaden appeal to a younger consumer. Adidas’ strategy is to come up with a technology that meets a consumer need – excellent fitting footwear that has top notch performance. By having technology where one is not just fitted for the footwear, but also can gauge them for exact pressure and running posture, the company continues to follow its positioning as being the world’s favorite footwear for sports, and setting the pace for their footwear to meet their customer’s performance needs. The company is taking that image to its traditional promotional use of television and print advertising, as well as its exclusivity banners at major sporting events, especially European soccer matches. It also has made deals with professional football players and the New York Yankees to endorse Adidas. The company is the official sponsor of the 2008 Beijing Olympics that will reach millions, billions, and potentially open up strong Chinese Markets, and renew interest in sports performance which will lead to increased sales Adidas is distributed in corporate stores, throughout the web, high end sporting stores, the internet, and more limitedly in sporting goods stores throughout the US and Europe. It is also rethinking its distribution practices after last year’s purchase of Reebok and will close Reebok sports apparel and sneaker distribution centers in Massachusetts, Tennessee and Kentucky, and move those operations to an expanded center in South Carolina. Spartanburg was chosen for the two brands’ consolidated distribution center in part because it’s close to the two brands’ product shipping locations and to many customers (The Associated Press, 2008) Adidas high tech strategy is moving into its internal operations departments, adopting a better delivery system, increasing retail distribution, and taking customer service to a new level, beyond satisfaction to delight, thus trying to obtain return and possibly ifetime customers, something that would be very profitable for the company. The company can benchmark its success by measuring sales, web traffic to its innovative color based on-line advertisements that never mention the product, the number of downloaded pod casts and the number of visits to their Paris high-tech store. Works Cited http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/2005-03-02-smart-usat_x.htm

The Dangers of Cyber-Terrorism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Dangers of Cyber-Terrorism - Research Paper Example The face of international terrorism is beginning to change at a quick speed. Even though the motives keep on being the identical, United States is now confronted with cutting edge and unusual tools. The intelligence strategies, safety strategies, and devices which are designed to shield us, now are immobilized against this latest disastrous tactic, known as cyber terrorism. Moreover, the ways of counter terrorism that the world depends on have become fairly outdated since this opponent is not going to strike people with explosives, however, this enemy strikes with computer viruses and aims to interrupt our computer units which people have grown to be so reliant on. (Collin, 1997) Cyber strikes, system safety and data present complicated troubles that hit into new places for nationwide safety and public plan. This paper examines one list of concerns – those associated with cyber-terrorism and cyber offenses on crucial system and their ramifications for countrywide safety. Cyber-terrorism is â€Å"the consumption of computer system resources to turn off crucial national infrastructures (for example power, transport, federal government procedures) or even force or torment a government or civilian populace.† The idea of cyber terrorism tends to be that as countries and vital infrastructure grew to become more influenced by computer systems for their functioning, innovative vulnerabilities are built – â€Å"a substantial computerized Achilles heel.†

Barclay bank Indian Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Barclay bank Indian - Essay Example There are approximately 33 foreign banks in India. Barclays has been one among them. The report presented below tries to analyse the environment in which Barclays Bank India has been operating. Further, it tries to analyse the reason for Barclays’s success. It has been analysed that the main reason for Barclays Bank’s success in India has been its innovative strategies. The report tries to analyse the organisation by conducting the value chain analysis. In addition to this, the report further tries to explore the competitive stances of the organisation and evaluates its sustainability Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Overview 4 Section A 5 Analysis of Organisation Business Environment 5 Porter’s Five Forces Model 5 Industry Life Cycle 7 Key Reasons for Barclays’s Success 7 PEST Analysis 9 Section B 10 Value Chain Analysis 10 Competitive Stance 11 Scope and Scale 11 Evaluation of Sustainability 12 Critical Appraisal of Strategy 13 References 14 Bibliog raphy 16 Overview Barclays PLC can be considered as one of the leading financial firms of Britain catering to the needs of the customers by providing financial services. In India, the Barclays Bank is considered to be one of the most esteemed foreign banks that provide services to more than 9 lakh customers. The bank started serving the needs of the commercial customers from the year 2006 November onwards and aims at offering the premier banking services. In addition to the commercial customers, Barclays Bank in India also serves the needs of public sector companies, small and medium enterprises and multinationals (Maps of India, 2011). The management report of Barclays Bank India has been aimed at understanding and analysing the strategic situation of the firm. The report will begin with the analysis of organisation’s business environment and of industry survival and the success factors. The second section of the report will contain in-depth strategic analyses of the Barclay s Bank in India. Finally, the report will conclude with the decisive appraisal of the strategy. Section A Analysis of Organisation Business Environment Porter’s Five Forces Model According to Michael Porter, the five forces models tend to understand the level of competitiveness in the market and also affect the profitability of the firms that already exist in the industry. Threat of Substitute Products It has been analysed that although there are various foreign banks in India such as ABN AMRO Bank, American Express Bank, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, HSBC bank and Standard Chartered Bank, there are few features as well as products of which they can only be obtained from the Barclays Bank such as Hello Money, the country’s only 7-year personal loan scheme, premier banking services and NRI banking services. Thus, it can be revealed that this force is favourable to Barclays Bank in India. It, therefore, bears a positive sign. Bargaining Power of Suppliers It can be demonstrat ed that the core business of the banking industry can be considered as ‘service’ that mainly focuses upon the safety of the wealth. It has been evident from the case study that the bank has invested heavily to acquire the talented pool of workforce. In addition to this, the suppliers at the banking sectors are the providers of tangible goods such as cheque books, furniture and others. However, the impact of such tangible goods is not that significant. The provision of talent pool has an impact upon the operation. In context of

how do image and sound create meaning and what other functions does so :: essays research papers

Baby's First Sweater size: 6 months - 1 year; chest size: 21 1/2"; finished size: 22" materials: 4-ply worsted weight yarn; needles size 8, 1  ¼ yrds 3/8" satin ribbon gauge: stockinette stitch on size 8 needles-- 9 stitches = 2" 6 rows = 1" back: cast on 50 stitches (sts) †¢ row 1: work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 6 rows. †¢ row 7: work in stockinette stitch until 7† from beg. end purl row. †¢ note: width across back is 11". sleeve shaping: cast on 24 sts at end of just worked purl row. Now 74 sts. next row: knit (k) across row. cast on 24 sts. now 98 sts. row 2: p across row. row 3: rep rows 1 & 2 to 4† above last cast on sts. last row is right side neck: row 1: work 39 sts. Slip to stitch holder. BO 20 sts for neck. Work remaining 39 sts. †¢ row 2: work on the 39 sts for 4 rows in stockinette stitch (st st). †¢ row 6: work across row. inc 1 st at end of row for neck edge, and 1 st at same edge every other row 2 times more. now 42 sts. †¢ next row: work 42 sts for 2 rows in st st. cast on 9 sts at end of last row for front edge. there are now 51 sts. †¢ row 11: knit 5 for front border, purl to last 5 sts, knit 5. †¢ row 12: k. †¢ row 13: rep rows 11 & 12 until sleeve is 8† end at cuff edge. †¢ next row: bind off 24 sts at beginning of row, work across row. working in garter st at front edge work on the 27 sts to match back to garter st border. then k 6 rows. bind off. slip sts off holder onto needle with the point of the needle at neck edge. join yarn and work across 39 sts. work 3 more rows (4 rows worked). †¢ next row: increase 1 st at beginning of row, and 1 st at same edge every other row twice more. end at cuff edge. there are now 42 sts. †¢ next row: work across row in st st. cast on 9 sts at end of row for front edge.

Constitutional Law Paper

Constitutional Law Paper BY ctndoee_272 Constitutional Law Mid Term Paper It is evident that over the past few years, American Democracy has been loosing its power. The causes toward this effect are many. Some amongst the many are decreased political participation and the minimum quality of functioning of government. Before understanding that these are some of the effects that has caused the waning in American Democracy one must understand what Democracy is and its measures as well. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state.It is equal access to power where the people are the supreme source of that power. There are rights, laws, and policies that reflect the will of the people, consent of the governed, and popular sovereignty. Amongst the government, there are 6 basic principles within the democracy. They are Popular Sovereignty, Rule of Law, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Judicial Review, and Federalism. The U. S C onstitution is built upon these basic principles. It is logical that by having these 6 principles to abide by, the U. S Democracy would have the highest ranking hen it comes to measures of Democracy.It would make sense that American Democracy would have a high rank in the following categories: Electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation, and political culture; but, in reality it isn't that way. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIIJ), the United States has a world rank of 19 as opposed to Norway who has a ranking of 1 . The Democracy Index developed by the Ell-J shows that the U. S is has the lowest ranking for political participation. This is one of the factors that are causing our government to lose power.This political issue is caused by the voting requirements set. Under California law, you must meet several requirements in order to be able to vote in state and local elections. You must be a U. S. citizen, and a resident of California, who is eighteen years of age or older, or who will be eighteen years or older on the date of the next election. Additionally, you must not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction. Finally, you must not have been found to be mentally incompetent by a court. With these voting requirements set, we are limiting the amount of people who can vote and participate in elections.Democracy, as a system of governance, is supposed to allow extensive representation and inclusiveness of as many people and views as possible to feed into the functioning of a fair and Just society. â€Å"Limitations to the amount of people who can vote, voter apathy, disenfranchisement, parties not representing people, and voter intimidation are all reasons for a low voter turnout† . The common criticism leveled at those who do not vote seems to be to blame them or being apathetic and irresponsible, noting that â€Å"with rights come responsibilities. There is often some tr uth to this, but not only are those other reasons for not voting lost in the assumption of apathy, but voting itself isn't the only important task for an electorate. Being able to make informed decisions is also important. In a local voting survey conducted by the class the question that followed if the person was eligible to vo e † Then why don't you vote? † was asked t . I was discovered that the reason many people do not vote is because they are not informed correctly or there is the bservation that the leading parties are not that different from each other and they do not offer much said to the voter.The media not being much help or being biased sometimes also make it harder for the electorate to make an intellectual decision. In addition, the other percent of the people surveyed responded that they have little or no time to vote. A solution to this political issue is to make voting easier and more convenient. With this said, establishing no excuse absentee ballots w ould introduce an early voting system that would allow thousands of voters to vote at their onvenience. Currently, registered voters can only obtain absentee ballots if they are unable to be in the polling place on Election Day due to illness, travel or religious reasons.By doing away with these restrictions, registered voters could apply for the ballots and vote without having to fgure out when or how to get to their polling place. As our world has been more fast-paced and as California residents are busier trying to hold on to their Jobs in this difficult economy, our voting system needs to catch up. If voting is made easier, more people will vote increasing our political articipation. The Democracy Index provided by the Ell-J also shows that the United States has a score of 7. 5 in functioning of government.This data ultimately corresponds to the score the U. S has in political participation. The United States, as a form of democracy utilizing the â€Å"First Past the Post†(FPTP or FPP) system and gerrymandering results in a government, would ultimately yield a relatively moderate two party system. Additionally, the United States Government doesnt function according to the will of the people. The United States Government as a representative government means that the representatives in its political office represent the people but function based on their own beliefs and opinions.Thirdly, the average person has no direct impact on who the president is. â€Å"That Privilege falls to the Electoral College, under the 23rd amendment of the constitution. â€Å"00Ultimately, this government â€Å"of the people, by the people, for the people†, fails to truly recognize the power and worth of those on the outskirts of society, those who can't fend for themselves, those who don't conform to he status quo, those who are not well off or better, and those who â€Å"fail to contribute† to society.Again, attempting to increase the voting rate will ass ist our ranking score for the functioning of government, as it will be more accurate toward what the people want. Over the past few years, American Democracy has been loosing its power. One of the main causes is that there is not enough political participation amongst its citizens. ‘As their responsibility our government has to find a way to facilitate the voting process for electorates and that way increasing our political participation that ill then establish a more democratic functioning of government.The best action to revitalizing democracy in the United States is to change the voting system itself – the method that determines how we cast our votes for candidates and how the winners are decided. Our current winner-take-all voting system is one of the least representative and least democratic of all forms of elections. Adopting a better voting system could go along ways toward enhancing the political power of average citizens, and this would help to blunt the influe nce of private economic power.