Syria's Development Towards Democracy
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What is globalisation and is it a new phenomenon?
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Sophia Marinho de Lemos
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International Perspectives
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The United Nations.
Lauren Skinner PSC110 March 8, 2004 The United Nations The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was first used in the "Declaration by United Nations" of 1 January 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers. In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. The Organization officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other countries had ratified the Charter. The Charter is the constituting instrument of the United Nations. It sets out the rights and obligations of Member States, and establishes the Organization's main parts and procedures. The purposes of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these principles. The six principal parts of the United Nations are the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and
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What is politics? Many people hold contrasting views on the nature of politics. Politics can exist on many different levels. It can concern disputes within the workplace and home, to the way in which a state is run. Politics refers to the power struggles in government down to the small influences among peers. The Oxford Concise Dictionary states that politics is 'The art and science of government, a particular set of ideas, principles or commitments.' This is a sweeping definition that covers two key strands of thought as identified by Oakeshott and Crick. Michael Oakeshott, who is a modern philosopher, believes that politics is merely the organisation of the running of the state, which implies doing whatever is necessary to promote the wellbeing of the people. This leaves room for all types of rule such as totalitarian, democratic or theocratic. Oakeshott believes that the process and structure of politics is more important than the ideas behind it. Professor Bernard Crick believes that politics is a peaceful resolution of conflict. Disputes in ideas and Interests are solved through organised and legal methods that have been agreed beforehand. This then suggests that the opposite is some form of violence. This may be civil war, a form of armed conflict or Revolution. He believes the process by which politics is ruled cannot exist without the ideas and values behind it.
What is the role of Interest groups in Contemporary British Politics?
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