Socialist uses of workers' inquiry

Socialist uses of workers' inquiry Translated by Arianna Bove Raniero Panzieri, 1965 The best way to shed light on the question of the 'political aims of inquiry' is to go back to a debate in Marxism. This presents us with the danger of focusing on theoretical issues and even perhaps of not dealing with them productively, a danger we should try to avoid in order for this seminar to have a practical purpose: a definition of a questionnaire, and the organisation and beginning of inquiry. However, the advantage of referring back to Marxism is that it would help us outline the working method of Quaderni Rossi, which some comrades still seem to be perplexed by. Some comrades are still wary of sociology and its tools, which is unjustified and essentially motivated by residues of false consciousness and a dogmatic view of Marxism. The use of sociological tools for the political aims of the working class will certainly reignite this discussion, because the scientific foundation of revolutionary action is historically identified with Marxism. Let me briefly run through some philological points. The Marxism of the mature Marx starts off as a sociology: what is Capital: a critique of political economy, if not an outline of sociology? Marx's critique of political economy is based on a charge of one-sidedness that is amply documented - though not always sufficiently or persuasively

  • Word count: 21955
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Power and Politics in Organizations: Public and Private Sector Comparisons

Power and Politics in Organizations: Public and Private Sector Comparisons Joseph LaPalombara Wolfers Professor of Political Science and Management School of Management Yale University A chapter for the "Process of Organizational Learning" section of the Handbook of Organizational Learning, ed. Meinolf Dierkes, A. Berthoin Antal, J. Child & I. Nonaka. Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming. DRAFT: Please do not cite without author's permission. Power and Politics in Organizations: Public and Private Sector Comparisons Joseph LaPalombara Yale University Political Organizations and Their Milieu Organizational learning derives most of its knowledge from research on organizations in the private sector, particularly from the study of the firm. Its rich interdisciplinary quality is reflected in the range of social sciences that have contributed to the field's robust development. The contribution from political science, however, has been minimal (reasons are suggested in the chapter on 'politics' by LaPalombara in this volume). The mutual failure of political scientists to pay more systematic attention to organizational learning and of organizational learning specialists to extend their inquiries into the public/political sphere is unfortunate in at least three senses. First, a general theory of organizational learning is unlikely to emerge unless and until

  • Word count: 14978
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Russia's Political Party System as an Obstacle to Democratization

Russia's Political Party System as an Obstacle to Democratization Introduction Political parties play a fundamental role in the representative political systems of northern industrialized democracies. They "connect civil and political society, advance the perceived interests of individuals, groups, and social strata while aiming consciously to develop these constituencies, and provide a link between society and the state, espousing the claims of the one and enforcing the rules of the other" (Sakwa 1995, 169). Political parties provide representation and accountability, electoral pressure for partisan constituencies, and the basis for structuring political choice in the competition of interests in the political arena. In short, they serve as an integral aspect of representative democracies, and thus are perceived as the bedrock for the process of democratization. It is the argument of this article, however, that Russia's transition to democracy actually has been inhibited by the development of a dysfunctional and extremely unstable party system. An important starting point for understanding the woeful state of Russia's contemporary party system is examining the motivations surrounding the choices made by self-interested political elites. The desire of those who already possess power to maintain it and the desire to obtain the "goods" of political office-most notably power

  • Word count: 13465
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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The Institution of the European Union and Theories.

The EU and UK Business AVCE Business Task 1 A clear explanation of key underpinning economic theories relevant to the EU. The Institution of the European Union and Theories Economies of Scale, Firms operating in the European Union can benefit economies of scale which is where a firm expands and lowers costs for consumers and makes profits. Official definition is cost advantage through increasing in sale, the main advantages of this are especially being in the EU are that firm has large market to sell to, there is increased demand and sales to be made and above all more scope for large firms. Large business such as Boots can compete more effectively than a smaller business due to greater monopoly and lower unit costs which derive from economies of scale. e.g. a firm by entering the EU has access to larger market, larger potential of sales and increased output resulting in economies of scale. By increasing in size and producing more average costs are lowered and firm makes a profit. Supply & Demand The EU enables firms from member states to operate any where in the EU, there are advantages and disadvantages of this, Supply increases as there are so many firms operating so supplies increases but one can also have a disadvantage as there are so many firms operating supply has increased so prices would be lowered, in-order for firms to

  • Word count: 11132
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Political Awareness

Political Awareness Introduction For this assignment I shall research all the relevant information needed to complete this assignment. I shall research all of the key government figures, functions and it's movements and actions since it has been in power (New Labour 2001). I shall research the key positions in this government and explain their roles and responsibilities e.g. Tony Blair is the representative of the 'New Labour' and one of his responsibilities are to choose who shall be in the cabinet. when I have finished all the tasks I shall give my conclusion and include the relevant references and bibliography. What is the cabinet? The Cabinet is composed of about 20 ministers, although the number can vary. They are chosen by the Prime Minister and may include departmental and non-departmental ministers. The functions of the Cabinet are to initiate and decide on policy, the supreme control of government and the co-ordination of government departments. The exercise of these functions is vitally affected by the fact that the Cabinet is a group of party representatives, depending upon majority support in the House of Commons. Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service-The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, MP Born in Scotland in May 1953 Tony Blair went to school at Durham and Edinburgh. He read Law at Oxford University and qualified as a barrister

  • Word count: 9386
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Transformation of the U.S. Hegemony in Europe through NATO after the Cold War

M. E. T. U DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THE MAKING OF EUROPEAN SECURITY (Prof. Dr. Mustafa TÜRKES) Transformation of the U.S. Hegemony in Europe through NATO after the Cold War Prepared by Sinan Tas Mar 29th, 2006 CONTENTS Contents Abstract 1 . Introduction 1 2. United States' Security Hegemony in Europe in Post Cold War Period, the Challenges and the Transformation of Hegemony 2 Establishment of the United States Security Hegemony 2 The Rising Challenge: The Background of the ESDP 4 Transformation of the U.S. Hegemonic Project in Europe 5 Berlin and Brussels (1996) Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meetings 7 Amsterdam EU Summit (1997) and St.Malo Summit (1998) 9 U.S. Response to the Challenge and Washington Summit (1999) 10 Afterwards 11 3. Conclusion 14 References 16 Abstract This study argues the U.S. prolonged hegemony efforts in Europe after the Cold War. What were the changing conditions with the end of the Cold War, How did this change effect the U.S. involvement within the European Security Architecture, What are the U.S. interests in this involvement and finally What has the U.S. done to maintain its security hegemony, which it established during the Cold War? were some of the leading questions addressed in this study. In order to analyze the continuities of this hegemonic

  • Word count: 8975
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Austria - An economic and political overview.

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.............................................................................. Page 2 1.1 Austria................................................................................. Page 2 1.2 Austria and WW2................................................................... Page 2 1.3 Economical situation................................................................ Page 3 1.4 Political situation..................................................................... Page 4 1.4.1 The Social Democratic Party of Austria-SPO....................... Page 4 1.4.2 The Austrian People's Party-OVP..................................... Page 4 1.4.3 The Freedom Party of Austria.......................................... Page 4 1.5 Haider................................................................................... Page 7 1.5.1 Who is Haider?............................................................ Page 7 1.6 Austria and the European Union................................................. Page 7 1.7 Minorities in Austria................................................................ Page 8 2 POLITICS........................................................................................ Page 10 2.1 Reactions.............................................................................. Page 11 2.2

  • Word count: 8541
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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The History of the Original Ku Klux Klan

The Ku Klux Klan came into existence at the end of the War Between the States in a period called "Black Reconstruction." During that period, most White people had lost the right to vote. Illiterate Blacks, with no history of civilized government, became the bulk of the voting population, resulting in tremendous crime, violence, and corruption against White Southerners. At the darkest hour, the Klan arose and restored the government of the South back to the Southern people, and as Woodrow Wilson said, it saved civilization on this continent. Since that time, the KKK has been the target of incessant hatred from anti-White, pro-minority forces in the mass media, who, because they oppose the Klan's ideals and recognize it's powerful appeal, have endeavored to defame it's leadership , its followers, it's history, and its ideals. Hundreds of books, movies, and television programs are produced each year attacking the Klan, but no arguments sympathetic to the Klan are permitted in the mass media. The only examples given are morons who are paraded around TV shows such as Jerry Springer in their multi-colored Klan robes. They certainly don't represent the type of spokesmen our people need; committed, intelligent, and articulate spokesmen for the movement they certainly are not. The Knights is proud to have such a tremendous speaker and leader as National Director Thomas Robb who

  • Word count: 8352
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Regulation 2560/2001 on cross-border payments in Europe.

REGULATION 2560/2001 ON CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS IN EUROPE TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 2 Arguments for and against 3 The case for the regulation 3 The case against the regulation 4 Implementation in the context of general EU governance 6 Technical aspects 8 Rivalry in the payment industry 12 Economic background 13 Conclusion 15 References 18 Appendix A - The regulation in full text 21 Appendix B - Teamwork 25 Appendix C - Statement on grading 25 INTRODUCTION The widely acknowledged aim of the European Union is to ensure increasing integration between its member states. The most important field on which integration takes place is the economy. In the treaties of Maastricht 1992, a milestone in economic integration was brought on its way; the euro. When it was introduced as book money in 1999 and when it replaced national coins and banknotes in 2002, experts and politicians were expecting a huge leap forward in the integration process. While the full effects still are difficult to assess, there is also agreement that other factors and obstacles to the free flow of capital must be removed in order for the Euro to unleash its full potential. One such obstacle is the high prices that banks charge on international money transfers. The prices are in sharp contrast to the extremely low ones charged domestically and are thus at odds with the idea of a European domestic

  • Word count: 8339
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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The study of international or rather global politics, seeks to provide an account of politics in the broadest domain.

. Introduction The study of international or rather global politics, seeks to provide an account of politics in the broadest domain. The domain of international politics in the twenty-first century is characterised by the increasing number of actors pursuing common and personal interests. It is largely due to the globalised, interdependent nature of the current international political environment that the concepts of sovereignty and power deserve further evaluation. The exercise of authority and power are facts as old as time, throughout the ages men have tried to explain and understand how and why political authority is organised. Sovereignty is a concept used to explain political power, to attempt to understand the complex interactions that take place as man strives towards the most effective and efficient form of societal organisation. The purpose of this discussion is to attempt to provide a clearer interpretation of the terms power and sovereignty and to gain an insight into the relationship between these important concepts which advance our understanding of the organisation of political authority. 2. The emergence of sovereignty Porfessor Hinsley, in his book aptly titled Sovereignty (1986:1), calls sovereignty a concept and not a fact, a theory or assumption applied to political power. He says that the term originally expressed the idea that there is a final and

  • Word count: 8147
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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