Historical Approaches to studying the themes of 'Society' and 'Economy'
Historical Approaches to Studying the Themes of Society and Economy As a historian, one of the most important lessons that one can learn is how to transfer the skills needed to learn about one aspect of history to learn about another. It is important for us to always assess the advantages and disadvantages of studying different themes alongside one another in order for us to gain the most effective insight into our work. In my opinion, nowhere can this be more apparent than when studying the themes of 'society' and 'economy' alongside each other. To myself, and many others who research this field, it is clear that society and economy go 'hand-in-hand' together; that they are inevitably linked in one form or another. Indeed, any basic study of the subjects will tell you that any change in one will instantly have an effect on the other. However, it is my aim in this essay to discuss how historians have approached these two themes in their studies, and in doing so, whether or not they have done so effectively. When looking at the ways in which historians study the economy, what is clear to ascertain is that there are strong links to the ways in which historians study society. Indeed, what is interesting to note is that the study of economics is often defined as a 'social study'1, highlighting the fact that historians will apply very similar methods to the two fields of study.
Cuban Revolution.
INTRODUCTION Cuban Revolution, widespread uprising in Cuba that overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista (1952-1958) and brought the government of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro to power. The revolution established the only communist state in the western hemisphere and produced profound changes in the economic and social structure of Cuban society. It also ended more than a half century of United States influence in Cuban internal affairs. Batista's government, which came to power following a military coup in 1952, had become widely unpopular as a result of rampant corruption and harsh repression of dissent. Batista faced growing opposition to his rule from many segments of Cuban society. Fidel Castro, a political activist and former lawyer, led the best organized of a number of anti-Batista forces. He waged a successful guerrilla campaign from the mountains of eastern Cuba while steadily building a broad network of support both within Cuba and abroad. This coalition of opposition forces eventually induced Batista to flee the country. Following the overthrow of Batista, Castro began changes that dramatically altered Cuba's political, economic, and social structure. He confronted the United States, which had been involved in Cuba's internal affairs for decades, and announced that Cuba would follow a socialist path. Castro severed Cuba's close ties with the United
The battles of the United States and the consequences of these.
"Once on the tiger's back, we cannot be sure of picking the place to dismount" -George Ball- (Donaldson 1996: 106) Throughout the twentieth century, the United States has actively entered in an array of unforgettable battles, for instance, the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Even though these wars had awarded the United States the prestige and made it into the fame of superpower, the Vietnam War, amongst many wars, exceptionally brought the United States the massive casualties of manpower, a humiliated military defeat as well as the political setback. The road to the longest and most decisive war continually lasted over many presidencies. Five presidents - Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon - had struggled with the dilemma of the Vietnam War. Seemingly, none of them was very successful whereas, for some, their attempt had been proved to destroy the creditability of their own presidencies. Literally, in relation to the Vietnam War, many scholars began their researches upon the nature and the cause of the American defeat. Nevertheless, very few scholars have devoted their efforts to answer why the United States had spent almost a quarter of the century intervening the disastrous incident in Vietnam since they have never found the exact explanation and its actual causes. Accordingly,
In what ways do the themes of consumption and the informal economy, living standards and social welfare shed light on the nature of the socialist regime in Poland and the extent of its impact on the lives of ordinary people?
Mark James Fisher HIST 3094: Independence and Occupation in Poland since 1918 Case Study Essay Dr. Kathy Burrell In what ways do consumption and the informal economy, living standards and social welfare shed light on the nature of the socialist regime and the extent of its impact on the lives of ordinary people? Following the Second World War, a Soviet-imposed communist regime was established in Poland. [1] Using the themes of consumption and the informal economy, livings standards, and social welfare, it is possible to shed light on the nature of this socialist regime, and the extent of its impact on the lives of ordinary people. These themes reveal that whilst in some periods, the communist regime was progressive in nature, thereby allowing its citizens to experience an enhanced life; it was also backward and corrupt, as a result of the various governments’ command economies, and industrialisation schemes. [2]At the same time, these themes also shed light on the extent of the socialist regime’s impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. These themes reveal that the regime’s impact could be negative or positive, minimal, and large at different times. These themes will each be examined in turn, firstly looking at the nature of the regime, and then the extent of its impact on citizens. Consumption and the informal economy firstly shed light on the nature of
Change in an Indian Village. Analysis of Charlotte and William Wiser's "Behind Mud Walls".
Modern India Behind Mud Walls Paper In order to understand India, one needs to understand its villages. Behind Mud Walls does a great job in providing a detailed background of an ordinary village life in India. Since seventy percent of Indians live in villages, it is important to learn about village lifestyle and the changes that take place in it. Only then one can learn about the cities because one needs to understand the relationship between the two in India. Behind Mud Walls provides the opportunity to examine a north Indian village from a non-Indian point of view; in other words, a non-biased point of view. Since the book is broken up into parts by years, it gives the reader a great way to examine the changes that take place in this village; it shows how it was then and how it is now. Karimpur in 1930 was very different from Karimpur in the 80’s and 90’s. Many changes were observed by Wisers and Susan Wadley, who writes the later chapters in the book. These changes were social, economic, educational, technological, political and cultural but most significant of these were social, and educational. The social changes with an emphasis on role of women, the slowing down of the Jajmani system and the rise in education will be the focus of this paper. What was Karimpur like in 1930? Women in Karimpur in late 1920s were very traditional. They had a purdah (covering of the
Examine the emergence of 'urban African Culture'
Examine the Emergence of Urban African Culture Throughout the twentieth century, the migration of a large proportion of South Africa’s population from rural ‘homelands’ into the colony’s rapidly expanding urban centres is an historical phenomenon that largely shaped the country’s social structure and had a profound effect on the family and gender ideologies held by the South African people. Black migration to the cities had been taking place as early as the 1850s, but with the development of the migrant labour system and the detrimental effects this had on many rural familial structures, as well as a variety of other factors, the 1930s and 1940s witnessed the movement of African people and their subsequent urbanisation on a far larger scale.[1] This surge of immigration was marked by a distinctive feature that caused both black tribal chiefs and white colonial administrators considerable worry and which, given the patriarchal nature of South African society, has attracted much scholarly attention; the dominance of females amongst the immigrant population. By 1951, the number of black females living in the towns had more than tripled since 1921, with more than twenty-one percent of all African females living in urban areas, and the urbanisation of black females was taking place much more rapidly than that of males.[2] The subordinate position held by women in South
Comment on the following extract: Extract from the Kennedy Tapes, Off-The-record Meeting on Cuba, October 16, 1962, 6:30 P.M. - 7:55 P.M.
Comment on the following extract: Extract from the Kennedy Tapes, ‘Off-The-record Meeting on Cuba, October 16, 1962, 6:30 P.M. - 7:55 P.M.’ October 1962 was one of the most dangerous times for the world in recent history. The text being examined in the essay is that of an extract from the Kennedy Tape transcripts. These were a set of secret tape recordings that President J.F Kennedy had made during his time in the white house. The only people aware of these recordings at the time were J.F Kennedy himself, his private secretary, the two guards who manned the machine and perhaps his brother, Robert Kennedy. The conversation that was recorded in this instance was obviously meant as a private meeting between an official groups of important officials including military leaders, experts on Latin America, representatives of the CIA, cabinet ministers and personal friends whose opinions were valued. Apart from JFK, they were unaware that this conversation was being taped and therefore this document itself was not meant for public hearing. This gives to historians a rare insight to the personal conversations and decision making processes that occurred within the walls of the white house. It shows the wariness of the President himself to make a decision concerning the Cuban missile crisis, the changing responses and attitudes to attacking Cuba and the importance of the perception
Book Review of "Stonewall: the Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution" by David Carter
Conor Stephenson 11/4/12 NHD Book Review A2 ________________ Title: Stonewall: The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution Author: David Carter Copyright Date: 2004 Pages: 266 Words in essay: 1,146 The book Stonewall: the Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution by David Carter was a great book to read while learning about the 1969 Stonewall Riots. This book helped me gain insight into what it was like in the 50s and 60s, when there was still much to be done to give homosexuals the rights they deserved. It also helped delve into the multiple turning points which eventually lead to the Stonewall Riots. Overall, it gave me important information that I'll need in the future to compare earlier turning points in the timeline of gay history to the Stonewall Riots and to decide whether they were as significant as they are portrayed these days or whether they were just another one of a series of important turning points which helped propel the gay rights' movement into the mainstream. This book has helped me understand the key turning points during and after the Stonewall Riots to a powerful degree, and therefore I believe that it’s a compelling read for anyone looking for information regarding this subject. This book begins by describing the scene in Greenwich Village New York, where the Stonewall Riots took place. It then goes on
The Rise of Western Culture and Economy in Japan after World War II
Sarac The Rise of Western Culture and Economy in Japan after World War II According to some scholars, a society's culture determines its economic destiny. Before 1860, Japan had been isolated for over two centuries, and it was not until the aftermath of World War II when Japan was forced to ration food to extreme measures (Hiesinger 39), the Japanese people's fear of become a Western sub-colony coupled with “their flexible attitude towards cultural variance (Sparke 10),” ushered them into economic and cultural Westernization. The economic downfall of Japan after World War II caused Japan to put culture second and focus on economic growth, thereby copying Western civilization (Jones 3); the Westernization of Japanese culture and economy soon became apparent in the integration of modern means of production coupled with a traditional aesthetic. Through isolation, a country denies itself the opportunity for monetary growth, thereby stunting its culture by denying influences from other countries. Meiji leaders studied and adopted a Prussian-style government-directed capitalistic system that gave the government a significant role in determining what is produced, as well as power over the allocation of capital through control of the financial system. The Meiji Restoration was a major force in brining the West to the East and the major influences for design today, even more so
Assess the success and failures of Thatcherism.
Assess the success and failures of Thatcherism. Margaret Thatcher and her time in British politics have had a profound impact upon not just Britain but on world politics too. Thatcher’s high profile of governance began from May 1979 and she continued to be the Prime Minister of Britain for eleven and half years. During her time in office, Thatcher had been the talk of Britain and the world. The reason being her strong public personality moreover she was judged in terms of her political, social and economic ambitions. Thatcher’s governance led to the political phenomena of Thatcherism. The term Thatcherism obviously derives from Margaret Thatcher but can be defined generally as the system of powerful political beliefs which were based on ‘monetarism and a belief in reducing the power and actions of the state in economy and society’, but also the promotion of the private sector. Thatcherism wasn’t only based around Thatcher’s policies but equally as important on her leadership style, for example the reference made by the Russians to the ‘Iron Lady’. However the concept of Thatcherism was deeply rejected and regarded as a failure by socialists and social groups. This essay intends to assess the two sides of Thatcherism, the success as well the failures. It will also examine Thatcher’s personality and politics, i.e. policies, which contributed to the formation
