GLOBALISATION HAS MADE THE MODERN NATION STATE IRRELEVANT. EVALUATE THIS POINT.

Bethan Sutton 13t GLOBALISATION HAS MADE THE MODERN NATION STATE IRRELEVANT. EVALUATE THIS POINT. (40 MARKS) Globalisation challenges the state centred set of theories that assume that the nation state is the most powerful organisation in society, and can therefore be used to challenge the idea that there is a single ruling elite because there is no power in society to force the state in a particular direction. A state is a central authority exercising legitimate control over a given territory and which can use political violence against either its own citizens or other states to enforce that control. A nation state is constantly under scrutiny because it has not yet been defined but sociologists are still happy to use the term nation state. However, most sociologists agree that the term nation state refers to any country that can make its own laws, operate its own economy and maintain economic power within its own territory. Nation states also wish to determine their own foreign policy, having their on defence and military capabilities. James Fulcher defines globalisation as the growing integration between of people across the world. There are four main forms that globalisation takes; global communication, global interdependence, global awareness and global organisation. Global communication is used to express the increasing speed of which information, goods and people

  • Word count: 1095
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

The Palestinian Israeli Conflict Does responsibility lie outside the region? The Palestinian Israeli conflict is a very debateable subject, and the discourse around it, on many occasions is pre-determined by cultural backgrounds. When examining the Palestinian Israeli conflict one cannot overlook its direct relation to the conflict in the Middle East in general. To understand whether the responsibility for the conflict lies outside the region or not, one needs to examine the origins of the conflict. In this essay I will present and analyse those origins that date back to the end of the nineteenth century and show that the perpetuated situation in the middle east is resolvable only if those responsible are willing to fulfil their duties. I will analyze the historical facts according to Kenneth Waltz's three levels of analysis. The first level is the international system which focuses on the effects of global developments on the behaviour of the state. The second is the state level, which looks at the domestic changes of a state in context with its interior factors. And the third is the individual level which looks at history as determined by the actions of individuals. None of these levels is sufficient to an explanation by itself, yet on the other hand they are combined together in a way that it is difficult to separate them to determine the causes of the conflict (Shlaim

  • Word count: 2464
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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What impact do the mass media have on modern government and politics.

What impact do the mass media have on modern government and politics. The mass media is now a global phenomena and has revolutionised the way individuals communicate with each other and receive information. In this essay I will examine the three forms of mass media - newspaper, radio and television - and the way they have evolved. I will explain the three main theories relating to the impact of mass media on the public. I will then discuss how media has altered the emphasis of government at election time and on a day-to-day basis. The term 'mass media' embraces all kinds of information sources, such as books, pamphlets, mail circulars and films. The three principle sources of political information are however television, radio and newspapers. The mass media is a recent innovation which has reformed the way politics and government operates. "Without newspapers, radio and pre-eminently television, the present political system could not work. The media are so omnipotent and all-pervasive we are often unaware of the addictive hold they exert over our attention and the messages they implant in our consciousness on a whole range of matters." Television is widely seen as the most important of the three mediums, and radio the least. In a survey relating to the 1983 British election, television was cited as the most important media source by 63% of respondents, newspapers by 29% and

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Magical Reaslism in Like Water for Chocolate

Magical Realism in Like Water for Chocolate Ryan Patel Tuesday, December 04, 2007 What makes a novel more interesting? There is an array of literary devices and techniques which can be exhausted to make a text more entertaining. One of these devices is magical realism, and this is prominent in many novels. In Laura Esquivel's novel Like Water for Chocolate magical realism is used in the portrayal of the effect of food on those that consume it, as well as in the depiction of love between characters Magical realism is a predominantly Latin American literary style or genre which incorporates elements of fantasy into reality.i When magical realism is applied, the the extraordinary even does not seem strange or abnormal to the characters in the text. Magical realism can be applied to living and non-living things, and in Like Water for Chocolate it is applied to both. In Like Water for Chocolate magical realism is applied to food. One example of howmagical realism is applied in food is during the birth of Tita, the main character of the novel. The books states, "Tita was so sensitive to onions, anytime they were being chopped, they say she would just cry and cry...Once her wailing got so violent that it brought on an early labor"ii This is magical realism because there is no way that the Tita would have been able to be affected by the smell of the onions while she was

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Why Has Nationality Failed To Prevail Over Ethnicity In Pakistan after more than 50 years and counting...

WHY HAS NATIONALITY FAILED TO PREVAIL OVER ETHNICITY IN PAKISTAN AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS AND COUNTING.... Ethnicity is based on language, culture and religion, among other things. Pakistan, like other post-colonial states is multi-ethnic, and herein lays the failure of our leaders, who were unable to realize this basic fact. The Muslim League even during its heydays was never an organization .Rather the sole reason for its phenomenal success was mass popular support. The Pakistan movement though led by secular, liberal educated middle classes primarily drew its mass support on the basis of an Islamic communitarian tradition. After partition, save for a brief period which ended with the tragic assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan has failed to produce a leader capable of joining the various ethnic groups residing within its boundaries. A commonly held distinction between an ethnic and a nationalist movement is that while an ethnic politician tries to gain some advantage within an existing state, a nationalist seeks to establish or maintain his own state. In the case of Pakistan, more often than not, the ethnic politicians have held sway. Interaction between the various ethnic communities on power-sharing has been the causal factor in catalyzing the ethno-national movements. No group has been completely satisfied whenever a leader from such other ethnicity takes

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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What were the major inherited difficulties that confronted the 2nd Republic in 1931?

What were the major inherited difficulties that confronted the 2nd Republic in 1931? The military rising that started the Spanish Civil War begun on the 18th of July 1936. However, few would argue that the causes of the civil war were uniquely Spanish problems stretching back into the history of the country. The Spain that the Second Republic inherited was quiet unlike much of modern Europe of the period; it was an impoverished, illiterate, divided society, almost feudal in its outlook. At the time the British Foreign Office viewed Spain as a 'third class' country.1 It was this Spain that the Second Republic tried to drag into the Twentieth Century. The elections of June 1931 gave the Second Republic an overwhelming public mandate, elected to the Cortes were 117 Socialists, 59 Radical Socialists, 27 Republican Action Party, 89 Radicals, 27 Right Republicans, 33 Catalan Esquerra and 16 Galician Nationalists. These would all generally vote for the government with only 57 members of the right to oppose them2. Despite the boast of the Socialist Luis Araquistain that 'Spain is a republic of workers of all classes'3; a new generally liberal constitution was created. This new government and constitution, with Alcala Zamora as Prime Minister, attempted to tackle two of the giant reactionary forces of old Spain - the church and the army. The church in Spain in the thirties

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Examine the extent to which Nietzsche’s ideas provide a coherent alternative to liberal democracy.

Examine the extent to which Nietzsche's ideas provide a coherent alternative to liberal democracy. The work of Friedrich Nietzsche offers a very different form political philosophy from those works that liberal democracies worldwide have built themselves around. It is perhaps this alternative view of the world that has lead to such a great interest in his works. A closer review of the practical nature of the ideas put forward however may suggest that the ideas may not be able to form a coherent alternative to liberal democracy. It can be argued that the main ideas on which liberal democracy are based are the notion of a social contract, a belief in progress, the faith placed in material wealth, human rights, equality and of course a belief in democracy (Owen 1995 p5). At some stage during his writings Nietzche attacked all of these aspects. Nietzsche sights that the whole political process is just a mask to cover the will of political leaders to gain power for themselves thus making Liberal Democracy a sham. The main focus of Nietzsche's political writing is on the idea that politics is simply a way for people to exercise power over others (Clark 2000 p139). For Nietzsche all human activity is used to provide people with the feeling of power, for example the gaining of knowledge is only done in order to feel that you have more knowledge than others thus you feel more

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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People's Republic of China called a Party-state country is famous for its unique political structure.

Introduction People's Republic of China called a Party-state country is famous for its unique political structure. There is a close and interlocking relationship between the state's institution and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's); however, theoretically, their structures consist of different parts. Political structure of state is mainly composed of National People's Congress (NPC), Standing Committee of the NPC, the State Council and Provincial People's Congress while that of the CCP are Standing Committee, Politburo, Central Committee and National Party Congress. "The basic structure of political institutions remains the same as that existing prior to the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) in terms of (a) CONTINUED PARTY CONTROL OR MONOPOLY, (b) THE HIERARCHICAL PATTERN, (3) METHODS BY WHICH PARTY CONTROL ARE EXERCISED, AND (4) THE HIGHLY BUREAUCRATIC NATURE OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM." (1) This paper is going to discuss the two main problems of the existing political system in China. Moreover, solutions suggested by the Central Government will be highlighted. Finally, evaluation will also be made. In part (a) Interlocking system of the state and the CCP and part (b) Corruption and Dictatorship of CCP members are going to be discussed. (a) The Interlocking System of the State and the CCP The Chinese Communist Party controls and directs the machinery of state through an

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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To what extent should Somerset be blamed for the outbreak and the mishandling of the rebellion of 1549.

Using your own knowledge and sources A-F, answer the following ... To what extent should Somerset be blamed for the outbreak and the mishandling of the rebellion of 1549 There were two rebellions in 1549 the first was The Western Rebellion. The reason for this rebellion was mainly down to Religious Policy's, which were directed by Cranmer more than Somerset. The Rebels opposed to the new prayer book, this was in English, and therefore another grievance was that the Cornish could not understand it, parishioners refused this new book of Common Prayer. The rebels called for a return of the six articles, as they were more Catholic than Protestant and disliked the 1st act of Uniformity. The Dissolution of Monasteries was greatly hated as it proved lots of charity for the commons, also the commons wanted to say prayers for the dead, this was not possible now due to the sale of chantries, these lands were then sold to the Gentry, the commons detested this as they believed it should have been common land. The main form of employment was the tin trade, during this period it was paid very poorly. Other economic problems such as 'engrossing farms' hit smaller yeoman farmers (land owners) very hard as they could not compete against the larger farms. During the period Somerset put taxes on Cloth and Sheep, this was a popular trade in the south west and this policy was despised. In 1548

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Indonesia Regional Autonomy: Field Experiences and Emerging Challenges.

Indonesia Regional Autonomy: Field Experiences and Emerging Challenges ABSTRACT After more than three decades under a centralized national government, Indonesia decided to implement a new policy of regional autonomy that became effective on January 1st, 2001. This paper examines both the preparations for and the initial implementation of autonomy in the regions, as well as some of the challenges which have emerged during implementation. The paper is based on research conducted in fourteen districts across eleven provinces over to the last two years. This presentation has two areas of focus: first, the internal processes used by local governments to manage their new powers and responsibilities; and second, the extent to which the process of creating public policies under regional autonomy for the regions reflects the spirit of transparency, good governance and democracy. Law No. 22, 1999 on Local Government has devolved central government authorities to local governments in all government administrative sectors, except for security and defense, foreign policy, monetary and fiscal matters, justice, and religious affairs. Consequently, local governments have had to reform their internal structures to accommodate the huge increase in responsibility that has been passed on from the central government. A significant part of this process includes placing a large

  • Word count: 10367
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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