In 1989, when it first became clear to observers in the West that the Soviet Block was in its final death throws, commentators in the Western press began to predict a flood of economic and political immigrants from the USSR into western Europe.
B207 - POPULATION GEOGRAPHY CHERYL GODDARD WHY HASN'T EAST-WEST MIGRATION LIVED UP TO EXPECTATIONS OVERVIEW In 1989, when it first became clear to observers in the West that the Soviet Block was in its final death throws, commentators in the Western press began to predict a flood of economic and political immigrants from the USSR into western Europe. In 1990, the head of the Soviet passport department, Rudolf Kuznetsov, suggested that 'up to 8 million' people could leave the Soviet Union once the necessary travel legislation had been passed (Daily Telegraph, 27/9/1990). On 20th May 1991, the Supreme Soviet passed this long awaited and much discussed legislation. The new legislation, which was not to come into full effect until 1993, states the following:- * Every Soviet citizen is now entitled to a 5 year passport and no longer requires an exit visa. * All rules and regulations concerning the issuance of passports will be published. * Some temporary restrictions will apply, mainly to the milatary and those with access to state secrets. * Right of appeal if a passport application is declined. (Smirnov, 1991) Under Gorbachev's reforms the economy was spiralling out of control, the political situation was rapidly becoming more and more unstable and ethnic tensions were increasing. Surely, said the press in light of these developments, people will leave this
The French Revolution
The French Revolution The French revolution was more than just a revolution to change the government of France in fact it changed the whole of France socially, economically as well as politically, to quote A. J. P. Taylor, " The French were confident that they were preparing a new age and that history would begin again from 19 September 1792, when the revolutionary Convention met". In this light it is obviously foolish to look for one neat explaination of the French revolution. There are long-term causes such as the divisions within French society,and the lack of representation for the people within government. There are also short-term causes such as the bankruptcy of the country caused by war coupled with the increases in food prices caused by bad harvests, the need for the absolutist government to call the parlements in order to reform taxation and the sucess of the American revolution which saw a just and rational system of government set up in the colonies which broke away from Great Britian. There are though other factors which need consideration if a true explaination for the causes of the French revolution is to be found. The very structure of the French regime is of vital importance to this question. An absolutist state such as France was then is, by it's very nature, bound to exclude the mass of the people from taking an active role in government and it will
DISCUSS THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF CONSTANTINE’S CONVERSION.
DISCUSS THE NATURE AND EFFECTS OF CONSTANTINE'S CONVERSION. The conversion of Emperor Constantine is often viewed as one of the most significant events in the entire history of the early church. Its repercussions enabled the church to actually flourish and develop into how we know it today. "Constantine, like his father, worshipped the Unconquered Sun;...his conversion should not be interpreted as an inward experience of grace . . . It was a military matter. His comprehension of Christian doctrine was never very clear, but he was sure that victory in battle lay in the gift of the God of the Christians." Chadwick, Henry, The Early Church Constantine, son of Constantinius and Helena, lived from 274 or 288(?) to 337, (the date of his birth is uncertain as the beginning of his life played little significance). He was sent to the court of Diocletian to learn how to rule, but he fled back to his father in the West. In 306 Constantine's father died, and later, Constantine was acclaimed emperor by his army at York. He was ambitious, and set about reuniting the empire under his rule (i.e. bringing the separated Eastern and Western blocks of the empire back together). In 312, Constantine invaded Rome in order to take control of the Western Empire by defeating Maxentius, who had taken power in Italy and North Africa. Two other emperors had
What was the significance of the 1926 Imperial Conference?
What was the significance of the 1926 Imperial Conference? The British Empire once embodied Africa, Malaysia, India, Burma, the West Indies, Iraq, Turkey, Transjordan, Palestine, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. However increasing unease, growth for independence, and the uncertainty of the status of white dominions led to a number of events that reshaped the Empire and led to the formation of the Commonwealth. One of the most important events that lead to this formation was the 1926 Imperial Conference. By granting the right of independence to all countries in the empire, the history and the significance that this conference had to all countries involved changed the empire forever. As it was Mackenzie King, the prime minister of Canada who helped to write the declaration, particular focus will be made to the significance the conference had on Canada. The Imperial Conference is an assembly of representatives of the self-governing members of the British Empire, held about every four years until World War II. The meetings prior to 1911 were known as Colonial Conferences, and were mainly concerned with defense problems and the possibility of imperial tariff preference. Relatively informal, they were held when colonial representatives came to Great Britain for royal celebrations. More formalized meetings were held every four years starting in 1907 to 1937. The
With reference to the Res Gestae and Suetonius' Life of Augustus, to what extent did Augustus establish a monarchy between 31BC and 19BC?
With reference to the Res Gestae and Suetonius' Life of Augustus, to what extent did Augustus establish a monarchy between 31BC and 19BC? The key component of 'monarchy' as a political system is generally considered to be the rule, usually in this period absolute, of one person over a state for the duration of their lifetime. It also contains an inherently hereditary nature, with the holder of the office not being elected or appointed through a political process, but named by their predecessor as heir. Rome of the first century BC, however, boasted a strong tradition of proud Republicanism; a tradition with which the concept of monarchy seemed wholly incompatible. Despite the virtual collapse of the Roman Republic in the foregoing years of military demagogues and civil war, and the systematic murder of vehement Republicans such as Cicero under the Triumvirate, the concept of hereditary rule was still widely regarded with hostility following the Battle of Actium. Memories of Julius Caesar's adoption of quasi-monarchical powers in Rome loomed large, and the civil war had left the concept of "monarchy" indelibly associated with the eastern despotism and excess of the reviled Cleopatra. Such different systems of government are seemingly irreconcilable, being as they are inherently antagonistic. Yet Augustus Caesar, one of the most consummate politicians of the ancient world,
Can the revolt of 1857 be described as a popular revolt against foreign domination?
Ravie Charles B.A.(Hons) History III St. Stephen's College Q. Can the revolt of 1857 be described as a popular revolt against foreign domination? An uprising is termed as popular on the basis of the degree of participation of the general populace and the geographical extent of spread. In addition, the class/caste/section-wise participation and identification of leadership are also taken into account. In case of the revolt of 1857, all these issues have been subject of contentions, and continuing, debates. Yet another issue of debate is about the identification of the target(s) of revolt. While some scholars see the revolt as an anti-British revolt, others consider it a civil war between the collaborators and resisters of colonial rule. Though the scale and intensity of the revolt of 1857 is generally acknowledged to be much greater than previous revolts, this fact by itself does not prove the popular character of the revolt. There was a significant threat to the British rule in India, when a number of Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army rose in revolt in 1857 against their officers and against the colonial regime in general. This revolt of the soldiers struck a sympathetic chord among many people who had their own reasons to be dissatisfied with the British rule. The revolt of 1857 consisted of both rebellion by the sepoys and the reaction from the sections of the
Choose a comic of my preference and explain why I like it and convince a person to hold my opinion, this was an easy choice.
Comics In American Culture L384 Paper 2 -Maus by Art Spiegelman I have been asked to choose a comic of my preference and explain why I like it and convince a person to hold my opinion, this was an easy choice. Maus is a fantastic representation of an aural history; many people don't appreciate or realize what useful information lies within the heads of the old people we know. Thankfully Art Siegleman did and wrote the master peace that is Maus which later proved to be a huge success; it was a best seller in New York and won the Pulitzer Prize. Maus even though starting out a fictitious peace of work was a great portrayal of the anguish suffered by the Jews in the Holocaust, Spiegelman was not happy that his work was under the fictitious category and rightly so, wanted it changed to fact, this I totally agree with. Many people could not even come to imagine the ordeals and hardships that the Jewish people had to suffer during the Holocaust. Throughout our lives we have read, listened and watched films, that have portrayed an image of the Holocaust in our minds, such fantastic films as "Shlinders List" which have given us a good portrayal of what actually happened, but these secondary presentations do not even come close to experiencing the Holocaust first hand as did Vladek, Art Spiegelman portrays the Holocaust in a very different and original manner. Spielgelman's
Out of the rival political factions in interwar time Albania how were the communist able to take control of the country by 1944? When Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, there
Question: Out of the rival political factions in interwar time Albania how were the communist able to take control of the country by 1944? When Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, there was no such thing as a structured communist movement in Albania. Yet by November 1944, a mere three years later, the Albanian Communist Party (ACP) led by Enver Hoxha emerged as the rulers of the country. What is even more amazing is that they did so without the military might of the Soviet Union and were able to install a communist run government before the end of World War Two, in contrast to other eastern European communist states. However the path to power was not straightforward, nor without opposition. During the interwar period Albania's communist movement drew few supporters. This was due to the illiterate, agrarian, and Muslim dominated society which was under constant scrutiny by King Zog's security police. In 1930 the Comintern (the soviet sponsored association of international communist parties) sent Ali Kelmendi, an excellent public speaker to Albania to organise some communist cells. However Albania did not have a working class to exploit and the ideology of communism only seemed to appeal to intellectuals, peasants and miners who were not happy with Albania's obsolete social and economic structures. Kelmendi who had been forced to flee Albania eventually
Was the First World War Planned or the result of accident and miscalculation?
WAS THE FIRST WORLD WAR PLANNED OR THE RESULT OF ACCIDENT AND MISCALCULATION? In the immediate view, it seems that there are two main arguments attributed to the origins of the First World War. One is that the war was planned, the other that it occurred due to accident and miscalculation. I aim to give a detailed analysis of these two arguments with the focus being on the main European powers at the time - Germany, Great Britain, France and Russia. It is my view that the First World War was effectively planned, all be it for a later date, and that due to some miscalculations, it was then brought forward so that war would break out in Europe in August 1914. Using sources from various historians, I will argue this point of a planned war blaming it almost solely on the part of the German Empire and bringing in the other side of the argument, that the First World War was the result of accident and miscalculation. The most important idea in the argument that Germany planned the First World War is to be found in the Foreign Policies that she pursued from the late Nineteenth Century to the outbreak of war in 1914. It was the view that no matter how achieved, a German dominated Europe would provide a successful base for the ideal of Weltpolitik. This idea of Weltpolitik was the aim at the head of the hierarchy of German Foreign Policy; it gave the notion of a world mission,
To what extent did Wilson's achievements as PM outweigh his failures between 1963 and 1976?
To what extent did Wilson's achievements as PM outweigh his failures between 1963 and 1976? Introduction To determine the extent of Wilson's achievements compared to his failures I must weigh up his achievements and failures as PM on a personal and professional level. I will define each of his failures and achievements in terms of Wilson's responsibilities as PM, such as, manifesto commitments, modernising the country and in comparison to other administrations or in relation to specific issues. I will also take into account influential factors of the period and weigh up their affect, if any on Wilson's performance as PM. Harold Wilson governed the country from 1964 until 1970 and then again from 1974 until his resignation in 1976. Many liberal policies were introduced during his time in power, including the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which decriminalised homosexual practices and the 1967 Abortion Act which legalised abortion. However, his government is also remembered for the deteriorating relations with Trade Unions and the huge economic problems, such as rising inflation and low relative growth. Wilson's biggest political achievement was to win four elections after Labour had been in the wilderness for thirteen years "he had achieved something no previous PM had done this century...led four administrations"1 Additionally, an early political achievement was to increase his
