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Poetry project Essay
He is that fallen spear that lies as heaved, That lies unlifted now, come dew, come rust, But still lies pointed as it furrowed the residue....
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Poetry project Essay
He is that fallen spear that lies as heaved, That lies unlifted now, come dew, come rust, But still lies pointed as it furrowed the residue. On the off chance that we who sight along it round the world, See nothing qualified to have been its imprint, It is on the grounds that like men we look excessively close, Forgetting that as fitted to the circle, Our rockets consistently make too short a bend. They fall, they tear the grass, they cross The bend of earth, and striking, break their own; They cause us to wince for metal-point on stone. Yet, this we know, the obstruction that checked And stumbled the body, shot the soul on Further than target at any point appeared or shone. How does verse assist you with seeing yourself/your reality in an unexpected way? Symbolism Imagery is the point at which the artist portrays the things in the sonnet and the peruser can picture or feel as the writer needs them to. At the point when writers use symbolism they need the peruser to have the option to find in their psyche what the sonnet is about. Symbolism is utilized with modifiers. The Gladiator Kevin Prufer When I kicked the bucket When my blood feathered away and I gazed vacantly and sideways into the grass. At the point when the grass stopped against my cheek, I really wanted to recollect the combatant who, in falling, never moans, who, requested to acknowledge it,â does not contract his neck for the last blow. What's more, the slope developed calm. The aircraft passed shriveling the trees and the city to fire. The realm fell. My realm, similar to a blood drop into the grass. It is of little outcome to the spectator if the warrior falls forward into the earth. He is of a psyche, simply, to do as he is told. He won't see the emperorââ¬â¢s thumbs. His city tumbled to its knees and consumed, moved on its side, yet he wonââ¬â¢t consider it. The individuals who once supported him are cheering still. The planes flew past that certain point and I, hunched in the grass, was scared yet didn't gaze upward, didn't complainâ when a lost bomb alarmed me away. Seal William Jay Smith See how he jumps From the stones with a zoom! Perceive how he shoots Through his watery room Past crabs and eels. What's more, green ocean growth Past cushions of sandy Minnow feed! Perceive how he swims With a turn and a curve, A flip of the flipper, A flick of the wrist! Mercury snappy, Down he plunges Softer than splash, Down he plunges And compasses away; Before you can think Before you can articulate Words like ââ¬Å"Dill pickleâ⬠Or ââ¬Å"Apple butter,â⬠Back up he swims Past sting-beam and shark, Out with a zoom, A challenge, a bark; Before you can say Whatever you wish,à He thuds next to you With a significant piece of fish! 1. In ââ¬Å"Sealâ⬠how does the utilization of rhyme conspire keep you engaged all through the sonnet? 2. After you have perused the two sonnets: How do the creators look into in their utilization of symbolism? Which one improved? Why? After you read: How did your sonnet contrast with these ones? How was yours extraordinary. Did you like the manner in which these writers utilized symbolism? Why/Why not? Sayings A hyperbole is the utilization of a word or different words that can do numerous things. Metaphor â⬠An examination of two things utilizing like or as. Model: I am as smart as a whip. Allegory â⬠An examination of two things not utilizing like or as. Model: Life is a Journey. Exemplification â⬠Giving a lifeless thing human quality. Model: The tree waved. Overstatement â⬠An extraordinary distortion of something. I remained there, hanging tight for you, for 74 hours. Also, there are different sorts of Figures of Speech yet these are the most well-known ones. Before You Read: Do you use metaphors when you compose your sonnets? For what reason do you use them or donââ¬â¢t use them? While you are perusing: Do you comprehend these employments of hyperboles? For what reason does the creator utilize the comparison/illustration/and so forth. thusly? The Writer Richard Wilbur In her room at the fore of the house Where light breaks, and the windows are hurled with linden, My little girl is composing a story. I stop in the flight of stairs, got notification From her shut entryway an uproar of typewriter-keys Like a chain pulled over a gunwale. Youthful as she seems to be, an amazing stuff is an extraordinary load, and some of it overwhelming: I wish her a fortunate entry. In any case, presently it is she who delays, As if to dismiss my idea and its simple figure. A quietness greatens, in which The entire house is by all accounts thinking, And then she is busy again with a bundled fuss. Of strokes, and again is quiet. I recollect the bewildered starling Which was caught in that very room, two years prior; How we took in, lifted a scarf And withdrew, not to alarm it; And how for a vulnerable hour, through the split of the entryway, We watched the smooth, wild, dim And glowing animal Batter against the brightness, drop like a glove To the hard floor, or the work area, And stand by at that point, bumped and grisly, For the brains to attempt it once more; and how our spirits Rose when, out of nowhere sure, It lifted off from a seat back, Beating a smooth course for the correct window And freeing the ledge from the world. It is consistently an issue, my sweetheart, Of last chance, as I had overlooked. I wish What I wished you previously, yet harder. What are fragile? Spring blooms and youth; What are profound? The sea and truth. By what means can distress be overwhelming as said in the sonnet? Today and Tomorrow be brief? Youth be fragile? Furthermore, truth be profound? Hints of Poetry Sounds of verse contain a wide range of components including rhyme, cadence, likeness in sound, similar sounding word usage, and there subtopics. Rhyme ââ¬The reiteration of the sound of the focused on vowel and anything after it. Inexact rhyme ââ¬Not accurate rhyme, not a reverberation. Inward rhyme ââ¬Rhyme within a line or lines. End rhyme ââ¬Usual rhyme toward the finish of lines. Cadence ââ¬A melodic nature of reiteration. Meter ââ¬Regular example of pushed and unstressed syllables. Iamb ââ¬Unstressed followed by focused. Foot ââ¬Stressed followed by at least one unstressed. Trochee ââ¬opposite of an iamb. Anapest ââ¬Two unstressed followed by a focused. Dactyl ââ¬Stressed followed by two unstressed. Spondee ââ¬Two focused on syllables. Likeness in sound ââ¬Words that sound like what they mean. Similar sounding word usage ââ¬The redundancy of a similar consonant sound in a few words. Sound similarity ââ¬The redundancy of vowel sounds.
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Market report for Dubal
Presentation The US is eminent for its rich law based space, solid customer influence, and business cleverness. Notwithstanding, its monetary downturn and significant expense of business may hinder achievement there.Advertising We will compose a custom research paper test on Market report for Dubal explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More An organization needs to investigate the outside and inward factors that will influence it when it enters the worldwide market. The reason for the report is to decide if Dubal, a UAE aluminum producer, ought to enter the US showcase. Large scale business condition â⬠political The Unites States of America is a government state, in which the head of state is the president and the constitution is the preeminent defender of citizensââ¬â¢ rights. It has a solid legal executive headed by the Supreme Court and is sponsored by a similarly compelling parliamentary framework. Consequently, the three communities of intensity are the offici al, the Judiciary and Congress. Two gatherings rule the countryââ¬â¢s legislative issues; that is, The Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The last part relies upon business gifts for crusade financing while Democrats get it from sorted out work. Thus, parties in office may make strategies that ensure the interests of their funders. Dubalââ¬â¢s capacity to shield its needs will rely upon the decision party and their affiliations. Regardless, the nation is a solid vote based system and has a stable world of politics. It is impossible that Dubal will encounter instances of war or common clash in this country. Exchange limitations and protectionism exist, though at low levels. Requirements exist with respect to the legitimateness of a business; Dubal should experience a long procedure before being perceived as a lawful element. Also, zoning limitations exist on firms that can carry products into the nation. Copyright and patent laws are very serious in this nation. Dubal m ay discover challenges in contending with more seasoned aluminum organizations as they may have licenses over certain business processes.Advertising Looking for inquire about paper on business financial matters? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, the nation has a few prerequisites on preparing laborers, and permitting is an extensive procedure for outside organizations. Managers are committed to pay for clinical protection too different approaches, so this may expand Dubalââ¬â¢s work costs. The UAE and US don't have unique exchange understandings; nonetheless, significant business despite everything happens between these two nations. Starting at 2011, the US had traded $15.8 billion worth of product while the UAE imports about 2.4 billion worth of merchandise. Since the UAE isn't in NAFTA or other exchanging bunches with the US, at that point exchange limitations on items should be normal. Minerals are not sec ured merchandise, so Dubal should pay a colossal sum for its crude material-bauxite-in the event that it decides to create in the (US Department of Energy 13). Full scale business condition financial The US has the second biggest economy on the planet. Starting at 2011, its GDP remains at $ 14.82 trillion. This infers Dubal will have a huge purchaser market to offer its items to. Moreover, the nation recorded a 1.5% expansion in the economy. Measurements likewise show that the US is the greatest shipper of merchandise on the planet. It permits around $2.314 trillion worth of product into its outskirts. On the off chance that Dubal selects to enter the market as a merchant, at that point it will have a favorable situation for doing as such. The most huge supporter of the economy is the administrative part while producing represents just 0.7%. Dubal won't go into an assembling zone, and this could end up being very helpful to the association. The US economy is as yet failing to meet e xpectations in this way suggesting key item advertises, for example, the car business, have decreased interest for aluminum items. The US has a few assets, for example, oil stores. Be that as it may, it doesn't have bauxite, which is the essential crude material for creation of Aluminum. Dubal may, in any case, save money on costs by sourcing its provisions from the South American market. Some bauxite-rich countries in this area incorporate Venezuela and Brazil (CRU International 54).Advertising We will compose a custom research paper test on Market report for Dubal explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Unemployment rates are at an alarmingly high rate for a nation of such a level. It currently remains at 9.1%, and is positioned 105th. This is as yet an unequaled low for the country. Customers might be reluctant to purchase new products like vehicles and houses, yet these things are produced using aluminum. The USââ¬â¢ spending shortfall is additionally at an uns urpassed high; it presently remains at $599.9 billion while its outside obligation to the world is $14.71 trillion. This makes it the second most obligated country on the planet. On the off chance that Dubal anticipates entering such a country, it needs to get ready for obliged purchasing propensities and inflexible fiscal limitations as the administration is attempting to do however much as could be expected to eliminate use. Indeed, even credit arrangements from banks may be trying as money related organizations are managing the reaction for empowering this over use. Money related organizations have made high budgetary commitments and misfortunes that must be paid by shoppers. Inability to respect these duties could make the whole budgetary area fail. Transport, correspondence and other infrastructural offices are as of now set up in the nation. The degree of advancement in the US suggests that a large portion of these requirements will be effortlessly cooked for. Dubal, which rel ies upon a consistent flexibly of power, won't experience the ill effects of irregular supplies. It will likewise not be important to put resources into back-up generators as the nationââ¬â¢s power providers are reliable. Also, it is moderately simple to get acknowledge in the country as the nation is positioned fourth on the planet. Requirement of agreements is paid attention to in the US, so Dubal will be shielded from contract defaults by its colleagues. Besides, the nation doesn't have complex business systems, for example, the Chinese arrangement of family ties. In this way, Dubal can work with associations from the professional listing. Insignificant limitations exist among the populace concerning exchange. Full scale business condition social The US is a socially different nation, and since the UAE likewise has this attribute, at that point it will be anything but difficult to work together there. English is the US official language, and most inhabitants of the UAE are cur rently acquainted with it. While people are strict, they will in general separate religion from business life. Moreover, most people don't focus on family ties while working together, so this will support Dubal.Advertising Searching for inquire about paper on business financial aspects? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More Small scale condition rivalry Several aluminum makers as of now exist in the US, for example, Alcoa, Century Aluminum, RUSAL, Alcan, and Chalco. Alcoa represents 54% of piece of the overall industry in the objective market, and has a nearness in different pieces of the world. Actually, these predominant players will limit Dubalââ¬â¢s capacity to work effectively in the market. RUSAL is one of the most considerable aluminum makers in the global aluminum industry, it controls 16% of the world market and has incorporated different aluminum-based firms. Some of them are makers of bauxite while others produce (Aluminum Industry Association 15). Besides, some of them even produce bundling material and power items. Alcan is a Canadian firm, and has a bit of leeway over different players inferable from its high item volumes. Chalco then again is a Chinese-possessed firm that commands is household showcase just as a significant bit of the US advertise. Outside contenders from China are a p ower to deal with. The passageway of Chinese players in the US advertise prompts showcase surplus subsequently value decays. The market for aluminum items is exceptionally open. Organizations need to pick the best systems for section, and they get an opportunity at succeeding. Most hardware and assets expected to make the item are found in the nation, yet Dubal would be better of it imported these items from its least expensive markets. Regardless, almost certainly, over the long haul, the development potential for this organization will be very low since the US is immersed with aluminum smelters. Around 12 organizations are liable for execution in this industry. Notwithstanding, in the following five years, all things considered, local interest will develop if the economy improves. Projections demonstrate that the US aluminum industry will increment by 12% in 2013. Such changes will come from better vitality flexibly, government backing, and cost productive advancements. Besides, c onsumersââ¬â¢ requirement for supportable development rehearses is probably going to expand the interest for Dubalââ¬â¢s item (Green 46). Benefit in the aluminum business has not been exceptionally encouraging. In 2009, somewhere in the range of 6 aluminum smelters shut their organizations. The most concerning issue for most associations is high creation use. These associations need to pay a great deal of cash to utilize power. Also, the US needs bauxite assets, such huge numbers of firms need to import their own assets and this costs them significantly. In the event that Dubal selects to bring creation into the US, at that point its gainfulness could be generously decreased. Be that as it may, in the event that it just treats the US as a market, at that point chances are that it will have a more noteworthy serious edge. Combination is currently a reality in the business and could be utilized as a wellspring of upper hand for Dubal. The most remarkable player on the planet RUS AL â⬠is utilizing this methodology to remain
Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Types of Unemployment (Which Is the Worst)
Types of Unemployment (Which Is the Worst) Sometimes, companies and business are forced to lay off employees because of a number of reasons â" restructuring, downsizing, or even when the company goes out of business. If you have ever been laid off for one reason or the other, you have experienced some type of unemployment.Economists measure different types of unemployment to help them determine the health of an economy and help governments and businesses navigate changes in the economy.In this article, we are going to look at the different types of unemployment. Before we look at the different types of unemployment, however, letâs start by understanding what unemployment is.WHAT IS UNEMPLOYMENT?Unemployment refers to a situation where a person of working age who is looking for work is unable to find employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for someone to be termed as unemployed, they have to meet these three conditions:They do not have any job, not even a temporary or part-time job.They are currently availa ble for work.They have actively searched for a job in the past four weeks.According to these conditions set by the BLS, people who have stopped looking for work are not regarded as unemployed. They are not even counted as part of the labor force. If, for example, an unemployed person wins some money through the lottery and stops looking for work as they enjoy their new found wealth, that person is not considered as unemployed.Actively looking for work means that a person has either contacted an employer, a recruiter, or even friends and relatives in relation to finding work, submitted resumes or sent out job applications, answered job advertisements, and so on.Someone who has used passive job search methods, such as attending job training courses, is not considered to be actively looking for work, since such methods do not have the potential to help this person get the attention of potential employers.The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed persons b y the total number of people forming the labor force.Now that we understand what unemployment is and how it is calculated, we can move on to the different types of unemployment.FRICTIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT Frictional unemployment, also referred to as search unemployment, is a type of unemployment that occurs due to normal turnover in the labor market, as people who have left their jobs go through the motions of finding another job. In the course of the year, it is inevitable that some workers will change jobs.Once they do, it will take some time for these workers to learn about new job opportunities, apply for these jobs, go for interviews and get hired. People going through this process are said to be frictionally unemployed.Letâs assume that Annette, who lives and works Nevada, is getting married to Phil, who works in North Carolina. After their wedding, Annette might decide to leave her job in Nevada and find a new job in North Carolina, where she will be closer to her husband. Duri ng this period, as Annette looks for a new job in North Carolina having left her old job, Annette is said to be frictionally unemployed. Similarly, if another person, Melvin, feels unsatisfied with his current job and decides to quit and look for another job, he will be said to be frictionally unemployed during the period between the two jobs.Frictional unemployment also occurs as people who have not been previously employed go through the process of finding work. For instance, if Peggy has just graduated from University and started her job search, it might take her a couple of months before she finds employment. In the period she is actively searching for a job, Peggy is also frictionally unemployed. Similarly, mothers who are returning to the workforce postpartum are also said to be frictionally unemployed.Frictional unemployment stems from economic frictions arising from redeployment of labor. This redeployment may be due to changes in employee demands for employment or changes i n employerâs demand for different types of labor. For instance, if the demand for some goods or services changes, employees who were specialized in the production of these goods or provision of these services will need some time to move to a different line of work.Frictional unemployment occurs not because there is decreased demand for labor, but rather due to difficulties in getting labor and opportunities together. Frictional unemployment is temporary and is considered a natural part of the job search process. Actually, frictional unemployment is beneficial to the economy to some extent, since it makes it possible for workers to move to jobs where they can maximize their productivity.There is not much that can be done to reduce frictional unemployment. However, the situation can be improved through measures that improve the mobility of labor, such as provision of information about job openings, provision of information on how workers can improve their job search, improvement in transportation facilities, use of employment exchanges to provide employment assistance, and so on.STRUCTURAL UNEMPLOYMENTStructural unemployment occurs in situations where long term changes in the economy and market conditions create a mismatch between the skills needed by employers and the skills that workers possess. Structural unemployment can also be defined as long term unemployment brought about by a decline in demand for production in certain industries or changes in the production process, leading to reduction in labor requirements or even disinvestment in that particular industry.In some cases, structural unemployment can be a result of geographical reasons, such as in situations where workers may live in areas that are too far away from places where jobs are available. Structural unemployment can also be made worse by some extraneous factors such as government policy, competition and technology.A good example of structural unemployment is the massive loss of well-paying m anufacturing jobs over the last three decades in the United States, caused by a migration of production jobs to Asian countries like China, due to lower production costs in these countries. This shift causes workers who were employed in the manufacturing industry in the United States to be structurally unemployed. In this case, the cause of structural unemployment is globalization.Structural unemployment is the most common type of unemployment. It is also the worst type of unemployment. Since it is caused by forces other than the business cycle, it is more permanent in nature compared to other types of unemployment. Its effects can last for decades.Structural unemployment is also harder to correct and may need radical changes for the situation to be rectified. Workers who are structurally unemployed are either forced to learn a new skill or move to regions where their specific skill set is still in demands, both of which are difficult for many workers.While some governmental policie s may be put in place to reduce structural unemployment, their effect is usually minimal, since the market is no longer in need of the skills of the structurally unemployed group.CYCLICAL UNEMPLOYMENT Alex works at an auto factory. If the economy goes into a recession today, less and less people will spend their money buying cars. With the decreased demand for cars, there will be less work to do at the factory, and in a bid to maintain profit margins, the auto maker might be forced to lay off Alex. In this case, Alex will have experienced cyclic unemployment. Once the economy strengthens, more people will start buying cars, there will be more work to be done at the factory, and Alex will probably be rehired.Cyclical unemployment occurs as a result of the contraction phase of the business cycle. This phase is characterized by a dramatic decrease in the aggregate demand for goods and services, which in turn forces businesses to lay off employees in order to minimize costs. This kind o f unemployment is referred to as cyclical because it is related to the business cycle. Over time, the economy goes through many ups and downs. During periods of contraction, workers get laid off in large numbers in what is known as downsizing.Once the economy enters the expansion phase, workers get rehired in large numbers. Cyclical unemployment can also be referred to as demand-deficient unemployment, since it is caused by a deficiency in demand or purchasing power. Cyclical unemployment is a major cause of high unemployment. Since it is caused by a decrease in general demand, cyclical unemployment affects all industries simultaneously.Cyclical unemployment can lead to a downward spiral of unemployment. Workers who have been laid off due to decreased demand now have less disposable income to spend on things they need, which lowers demand and business revenue even further, resulting in more workers being laid off. If no intervention is made, this downward spiral continues until the supply of labor decreases enough to match the decreased demand. This can lead to very high levels of unemployment.This is what happened during after the stock market crash of 1929. The government failed to intervene, causing a downward spiral of unemployment and decreased demand that led to the Great Depression, which lasted a decade and raised the unemployment rate to 25%. It was demand for military equipment resulting from the start of World War II that finally lifted the economy from the Great Depression.Cyclical unemployment can also lead to structural unemployment. In a bid to minimize costs and maintain profit margins, businesses which have already laid off workers due to an economic downtown might implement some changes in their production process. Once the economy re-enters the expansion phase, workers who had been laid off might need new skills in order to be rehired. Those unwilling to go back to school and learn new skills end up being structurally unemployed, since their former skills are no longer required.What then should be done to prevent the self-fulfilling downward spiral of cyclical unemployment? The solution is to implement measures that will increase total expenditure in the economy, which will in turn drive up the effective demand. This can be done through expansive monetary policies and fiscal policies such as deficit financing. Fortunately, since cyclical unemployment follows the phases of the business cycle, it cannot be a permanent phenomenon.SEASONAL UNEMPLOYMENTPeople often confuse seasonal unemployment with cyclical unemployment, owing to the fact that both of them occur at certain times and not others. There is a difference between the two. Whereas cyclical unemployment is tied to the business cycle, seasonal unemployment is tied to regular changes in the season. For instance, ice cream vendors are seasonally unemployed during winter, since there is minimal demand for ice cream.Ski instructors, on the other hand, become seasonally unemployed in summer, since most of the skiing happens during winter. Workers who harvest crops are also seasonally unemployed in between harvests.Seasonal unemployment is caused by a seasonal pattern of demand or due to the fact that some industries only produce or distribute their products seasonally. As a result, these industries hire high numbers of workers in peak season and lay many of them off during off-peak seasons. Seasonal unemployment is mainly common in industries such as farming, construction, entertainment, fishing, and tourism.Itâs good to note that the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not keep track of seasonal unemployment. Instead, they make adjustments to their estimates to factor in such seasonal variables.TECHNOLOGICAL UNEMPLOYMENT In January 2018, a union representing workers in the oil sands extractions industry made a public outcry against one the biggest companies in the industry. The company was in the process of implementing autonomous ore-hauling truck s, a move that would see over 400 workers laid off by the company. If the company succeeded in the implementation of the driverless trucks and the subsequent laying off of workers, these employees would have experienced technological unemployment.Technological unemployment is a type of unemployment that occurs in situations where workers lose their jobs due to technological improvement. Companies are always looking for ways of minimizing costs or making production more efficient.This might happen through the introduction of new machinery, introduction of labor-saving devices, improvement of production methods, and so on. When this happens, it is inevitable that some workers will lose their jobs as a result. Technological unemployment can be termed as a subset of structural unemployment. The laid off workers lose their jobs since their skills are no longer needed in the market.In developed countries, technological unemployment is usually a temporary phenomenon. The introduction of mo re capital promotes creation of many allied industries and leads to diversification of activities, creating new job opportunities that absorb the workers who became unemployed due to technological change. For instance, when the tractor was introduced, it displaced a great number of workers who were working in farms.As demand for tractors rose, many of those who had lost their jobs in the farms found work in factories assembling and repairing tractors. Similarly, the introduction of unmanned military drones reduced the demand for military pilots, but it increased the demand for drone controllers and analysts to make sense of the information collected by drones. Since most technology in developed countries is at advanced stages, their economies do not experience any sudden shifts due to technology either, thus minimizing the impact of technological unemployment.In underdeveloped countries, technological change is a much bigger problem. Introduction of new technology leads to displacem ent of huge portions of the labor force, yet the creation of allied industries is minimal, so few jobs are created to absorb the unemployed workers. The solution to technological unemployment is to ensure the large scale creation of new jobs in other fields.CLASSICAL UNEMPLOYMENTThis type of unemployment is also referred to as induced unemployment or real wage unemployment. This type of unemployment occurs in situations where wages are higher than the laws of supply and demand can support. Since companies have to pay more per employee, they can only afford a few employees, forcing them to lay off the other employees.In some cases, classical unemployment can even force businesses to do away with some positions. Classical unemployment is caused by one of the following situations:Powerful trade unions negotiate for salaries and benefits that are above the market equilibrium.The government comes up with legal minimum wages that are higher than the market equilibrium.Wages set by long te rm contracts exceed the equilibrium due to recession, forcing a company to lay off some workers to maintain the wages set by the contract.To make it easier to understand, letâs use an example. Let us assume that a business is willing to pay $30,000 to its salespeople. The business knows that the revenue brought by each salesperson is above $30,000, therefore the business can still remain profitable at this wage rate.At the same time, the union for salespeople within the area has negotiated for salaries of $40,000 per year, and no unemployed worker in the area is willing to work as a salesperson for less than $40,000.In this case, the real wages unemployed workers in the area are willing to accept is higher that the wages the company is ready to pay. Consequently, the business will refrain from hiring salespeople, leading to an instance of classical unemployment.CASUAL UNEMPLOYMENTIn some industries, workers are employed to perform contractual jobs on a day-to-day basis. Once the c ontract â" which is usually short term in nature â" terminates, the worker becomes unemployed and has to find another job elsewhere or get into a new contract with the same firm if they have some more work.Such a worker is said to be experiencing casual unemployment until they find another job. In other words, casual unemployment is the inevitable time delay when a casual worker is in between two jobs.Casual unemployment is common in industries where workers are hired on short term contract basis, such as agriculture and construction industries. Casual unemployment also happens in situations where some extra workers are required to perform a one-off job.For instance, in a dockyard, extra workers might be hired to help with loading or unloading. Once the task is done, the extra workers are let go and they become casually unemployed. The same happens in times of events such as weddings and parties.A caterer providing services in a wedding might hire extra workers to help serve food at the wedding. Once the wedding is over, these extra workers become casually unemployed. Casual unemployment is also common in the film industry where junior actors are hired on a casual basis.NATURAL UNEMPLOYMENTThis is a broad category of unemployment which covers some of the other types of unemployment discussed above. Natural unemployment is defined as the lowest rate of unemployment that an economy can support. Even when an economy is at its healthiest, it is inevitable that there will be some level of unemployment. It is impossible for 100% of the labor force to be employed. Natural unemployment can therefore be considered as a baseline below which the levels of unemployment cannot decline.Natural unemployment is termed as ânaturalâ because it is caused by other factors that are independent of the state of the economy. No economic or market fix can be made to eliminate natural unemployment. Since unemployment rates cannot fall below the natural unemployment rate, an econo my that has reached this point is said to be at full employment. Natural unemployment may be due to frictional, structural or classical unemployment.Economists consider a natural unemployment rate of around 4% to be an indicator of a healthy economy. The lowest natural unemployment rate ever experienced in the United States was 2.5%, in May 1953.DISGUISED UNEMPLOYMENTTake a situation where a family in an urban setting owns a business that can be effectively run by 5 people. Unable to find employment in any other place, all the 8 members of the family decide to work in the family business. While it might seem like all the members of this family are employed, three of them are actually unemployed. The work they do does not in any way improve the productivity of the family business. If anything, they might end up hampering productivity.Also referred to as hidden unemployment, disguised unemployment is a form of unemployment where it may seem that some people are employed, when in fact they are not. Disguised unemployment occurs in situations where there is overemployment or where employees are working in a redundant manner. With surplus manpower employed, the marginal productivity of some individuals falls to zero.Even if such employees are removed, the level of output does not get affected. This kind of unemployment is termed as disguised unemployment because the individuals who are disguisedly unemployed are not counted in official unemployment statistics, yet their employment provides little value to the economy in terms of productivity.Disguised unemployment is common in developing countries where increasing populations result in a surplus in the labor force.WRAPPING UPUnemployment occurs when people of working age who are willing to work cannot find any jobs. Unemployment is a natural part of the job search process; it is impossible for 100% of a countryâs labor force to be employed. The different types of unemployment are frictional, structural, cyclical, seasonal, technological, classical, casual, natural and disguised unemployment.As you might have noticed from this article, many types of unemployment occur as a result of immobility of labor.Unemployment is divided into different types to help economists understand the economy and come up with strategies to lower the rate of unemployment. The goal of any economy is to achieve full employment.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
Morality And Morality Of The Human Person - 1182 Words
One can certainly say: Morality isn t for me, it s totally relative and subjective, an oppressive construct of institutional religion that limits my freedom. It s all about what you can t do; there is only guilt, no real happiness, in living the moral life Surely, the corruption of moral code can be oppressive. This is very evident in slavery, the disregard of the rights of women, and other instances in human history. However, one cannot disregard the concept of morality and religion simply because it is abused by others. One must understand morality from an objective standpoint and consider the pros and cons of having a moral code without regarding it s abuse by others. Thinking in this manner is critical to understanding whether or not morality really makes us happy. So thus, in order to determine the subjectivity and worth of morality, one must inquire about fundamental points: That is, the nature of the human person, the nature of morality itself, how the human person and morali ty are related, and finally, the the logical conclusions of the quote above. It is from this series inquiries that one can understand if morality is oppressive, and manipulating the choices of the human person. In order to understand human nature, one should determine if there is any special properties of the human person that can separate it from other forms of life. If this is the case, then it is reasonable to say that the human person has a certain dignity. The Oxford EnglishShow MoreRelatedRelation Between Religion And Morality And The Perception Of Morality1588 Words à |à 7 PagesName: Course: Lecturer: Date: Morality and Murder In every setting, be it cultural or social, there are the fundamental principles that guide the lives of the people in the area. The guidelines express the desirable actions from the undesirable ones. The society brings up the young ones in the community using the helpful principles as a way of ensuring they lead respectful lives avoiding evil practices. In philosophy, morality is the distinction of the things that are right from those that are notRead MoreHobbes And Kant s Theory Of Morality1447 Words à |à 6 Pagesfoundations of morality. Drawing from Hobbesââ¬â¢ Leviathan and Kantââ¬â¢s Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, I will compare their understanding of the foundations of morality. I will discuss the conflicting accounts of the role played by reason versus the role played by desire and inclination in the determination of what is good, evil, right or wrong. Hobbes claims that ordinary experiences establish human beings as self-interested and are driven by desire or aversion and that is why morality is groundedRead MoreTaking a Look at Morality1395 Words à |à 6 PagesMorality has always been defined as the rules or standards governing the conduct of a human being according to the society and it selves. However, some people think that in order to have a strong morality one must first have a religion. On the other hands, others believe that there is no such thing as a having morals only if religion is involved. Itââ¬â¢s hard to analyze because for many years we have been thought to believe that religion is a way of spirituality that will help our lives instead of corruptingRead MoreMorality And Religion : Morality985 Words à |à 4 PagesMorality and Religion: a Response to Does Morality Need Religion (Prompt 1) Some people believe our life is based off of morals, a belief of right/justification or wrong/ unjust. Living this way perceives their ways of the world by doing what they feel is good or bad or what is lead by their conscience regardless of religion. Others believe in religion, a feeling or act of faith, from God or ââ¬Å"godsâ⬠( Merriam-Webster). These acts motivated by faith and God/ ââ¬Å"godsâ⬠provide a comprehension betweenRead MoreNietzsche And Murdoch s Theme Of Morality978 Words à |à 4 PagesTheme of Morality One of the nineteenth centuryââ¬â¢s greatest philosophers is Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche was ideas regarding morality and nature continue to be debated today. Irish Murdoch another great philosopher writer of the 20th century wrote about philosophy regarding religion and nature. Both philosophers discuss the theme of morality in contrasting ways. Nietzsche believes in individual morality from the natural perspective and religion not from nature. Murdoch argues that morality comesRead MoreA Critique Of Hedonism And Utilitarianism1418 Words à |à 6 PagesEthics and Morality Ethics ties together philosophy and human morality, it explores the techniques and principles used to evaluate human actions on their goodness, badness, rightness, and wrongness. In this paper, I am going to give a critique of hedonism and utilitarianism. (and answer the question of what makes something good or bad) Humans cannot be truly objective when it comes to morality. In theory, morality is supposed to be unbiased, but when it is put into the hands of humans, there isRead MoreCriminal Justice : Kohlberg s Morality Theory Essay1436 Words à |à 6 PagesCriminal Justice: Kohlbergââ¬â¢s Morality Theory Introduction Human beings have strived to find ways in which they can enhance their coexistence within the societies where they live. Peace and tranquility are may be rare if structures are not put in place to help control delinquent behaviors that are likely to be shown where different people from various social and cultural backgrounds exist. Crime and delinquency threaten humansââ¬â¢ existence. Certain behaviors are abhorred by various societies becauseRead MoreAn Essay On Man By Alexander Pope1265 Words à |à 6 Pagesprosperous was beginning to take over the morality behind getting to the top social classes. In an excerpt from Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes, Hobbes suggests that morality and economics are innate qualities of humans, as the species was designed to compete over such things. In an excerpt from Second Treatise on Government by John Locke, Locke argues that social norms have a greater strong-hold on morality than the drive for economics, though they both do drive humans. In â⬠Å"An Essay on Manâ⬠by Alexander PopeRead MoreReligion And Religious Laws On Religion975 Words à |à 4 PagesFor centuries there have been many religions that humans have incorporated into their lives. All religions have certain moral rules that they want their followers and society have to obey without questioning why the rules exist. Some of the religious rules have put limits on humans that go completely against human nature. This because we as humans are consider as mammals and animals as well Although there are many positive views of religion there are also many negative aspects to religious laws.Read MoreEthics Is Subjective, Good, And Bad1746 Words à |à 7 Pagesterrorist organization somewhere else in the world. Growing up in this type of environment would promote killing the innocent and stealing from everyone, like pirates. To prove that it is possible that man has the ability to have a different view on morality as a whole than someone else, I can use the second example. So letââ¬â¢s say that I did grow up in Syria as a member of the Islamic State, and I watched men slay innocent people, steal, and burn down villages my entire life. In my childhood I would
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
What Is Anthropology How Does Observing With An...
What is anthropology? How does observing with an anthropological manner help us understand the world? According to Kenneth Guest, anthropology is: ââ¬Å"The study of the full scope of human diversity, past and present, and the application of that knowledge to help people of different backgrounds better understand one anotherâ⬠(Guest 7). Anthropology helps one better understand and engage with the world as he or she moves through it. Specifically, cultural anthropology is: ââ¬Å"The study of people s communities, behaviors, beliefs, institutions, including how people make means as they live, work, and play togetherâ⬠(Guest 16). Where culture, is the learned and shared knowledge that people use to generate behavior and interpret experience (Leynseâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦I spoke to a few e-board members discussing as to why I was here. One of the e-board members, took it upon herself to teach and inform me about the their club culture. Thus, BK* became my key inform ant. I decided to do my fieldwork in an participation observant manner (involves both participation in and observation of the life of the people being studied (Guest 82)). Based on the sign in sheets provided by BK, on average about 20 QC students attend the meetings. Since Queens College is a multi-cultural society, people from all walks of life attend these meetings, Hindus and non-Hindus. Usually at the meetings, the e-board members (comprised of 4 people) discuss upcoming events, goals and plans for the club, and new ideas to better the club. However, the day I observed, the club was having e-board elections. All the positions, (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasure) were open. BK told me: ââ¬Å"Any HSA member, including current e-board members, can run for a position. Each runner will provide a short speech as to why he or she should be elected. Once all the speeches are done, the members will vote on who they think is the most qualified for a position. But the c urrent e-board has the final say. The e-board will take into consideration into what everyone has said and decide based on that.â⬠The e-board said I was allowed to vote for whomever I thought was best fit for each position. As time progressed, the room in the Student Union buildingShow MoreRelatedCultural Anthropology : An Understanding Of Humanity s Greatest Medicine1795 Words à |à 8 Pagesancient as human gestures, and has transformed how one looks at the world. For example, ancient writers used this device to criticize societal norms. During Medieval Times, jokers made a profession out of this human characteristic. Humor survived up until modern times and is present in academia. A field that explores the manners in which humor makes an interesting presence is Anthropology. The focus of this paper will be based on cultural anthropology; specifically within the sector of art and entertainment;Read MoreGoogle Organizational Culture9872 Words à |à 40 Pages(1): 99-112, 2010 ISSN 1549-3652 à © 2010 Science Publications Cultural Issues in the Business World: An Anthropological Perspective Michael P. Lillis and Robert Guang Tian Department of Business, Medaille College, New York Abstract: The significance of cultural influence on business has been widely recognized in both academic and business circles. A number of authors suggest that an anthropological approach is the most appropriate way to study cultural factors and assess their impact on an organizationalRead MoreAmerican Dance Study Guide3594 Words à |à 15 Pagesin understanding the broader scope of how dance can be seen as a representation of cultural values, which will underlie the remainder of our coursework. 1.1.1 Before starting this chapter it might be useful for you to write out your definition of dance. Letââ¬â¢s pretend for a moment that aliens landed on earth looking for intelligent life. Obviously they ended up at your apartment and asked you all sorts of questions. One of which is: ââ¬Å"What is dance?â⬠What would you say? On a macro-level, danceRead MoreTheology of the Body32011 Words à |à 129 Pagesredemption of the body and the sacramentality of marriage â⬠¢ 16 catechesis from July 11, 1984 to November 28, 1984 C. My aim is to summarize accurately and clearly the central themes that the Holy Father examines in each of the sections. This will help those who want to become familiar with the main ideas of the theology of the body to do so rather quickly ââ¬â in 30 pages rather than 400 ââ¬â as well as assist those who are already students of the theology of the body to have them presented in an annotatedRead MoreMethods of Qualitative of Data Collection19658 Words à |à 79 Pagesgathering information: (a) participating in the setting, (b) observing directly, (c) interviewing in depth, and (d) analyzing documents and material culture. These form the core of their inquiryââ¬âthe staples of the diet. Several secondary and specialized methods of data collection supplement them. This chapter provides a brief discussion of the primary and the secondary methods to be considered in designing a qualitative study. This discussion does not replace the many excellent, detailed references onRead MoreThe Speech Community.Pdf11808 Words à |à 48 Pageslinks general to problems key issues with in The speech community (SpCom), a core concept in investigating language variation and change. It neither offers a new and correct definition nor rejects the concept (both are seen as misguided efforts), nor does it exhaustively survey the applications in the field (an impossibly large task). The Speech Community General Problems with the Speech Community Every branch of linguistics that is concerned with representative samples of a population; that takesRead MoreThe Starbucks Brandscape and Consumers10413 Words à |à 42 Pagesconversation about the consequences of globalization. For proponents of tbe homogenization thesis, global brands are Trojan horses through which transnational corporations colonize local cultures (e.g., Falk 1999; Ritzer 1993). In recent years, anthropological studies have built a strong empirical case that, contrary to the homogenization thesis, consumers often appropriate the meanings of global brands to their own ends, creatively adding new cultural associations, dropping incompatible ones, andRead MoreIntroduction to Marketing Revision Notes8991 Words à |à 36 Pagesthose products, services and ideas to their customers and consumers and customers receive the product offering and the value created 4. The determination phase. Companies determine whether or not what customers receive really fits their needs or not and it not, redesign the product until it does fit their needs, and provide the customer with real value (or the organisation goes out of business). This process is cyclical, because products usually begin with the determination phase. There isRead MoreArchaeology Notes19985 Words à |à 80 Pagesthe parietal Biostratigraphy the use of biological organisms found in rocks to correlate ages between sites. Bipedalism refers to locomotion e.g., walking, jogging, running, etc., on two legs. Geology, is the study of the earth, which allows us to understand the preservation, age, and environment in which fossils are found. Gracile means slender. Most of them were relatively small, slender, and delicate boned Lithostratigraphy the use of characteristics of the rock layers to correlate across regionsRead MoreArt as an Embodied Imagination22095 Words à |à 89 Pages1086/376802 . Accessed: 22/10/2012 06:18 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Is Lebanon a Fragile State Free Essays
string(94) " of fragility to conflict or immediate post-conflict countries \(Stewart and Brown 2005: 2\)\." Introduction Middle Eastern nation states came into existence not as a result of naturally-evolving and unique historical, social, or political processes reaching a nexus of cohesion, but rather, they emerged as a manifestation of the fragility of colonial power in the region (Zweiri a. o. 2008: 4). We will write a custom essay sample on Is Lebanon a Fragile State? or any similar topic only for you Order Now The history of statehood in the Middle East and its establishment by colonial powers has ensured that this remains a fragile and unstable region (Zweiri a. o. 2008: 4). After the collapse of the Ottoman empire the state structure of Lebanon, for example, was instituted to ensure the protection and local hegemony of the Christian Maronites, who were backed by the French in the 1930s and 1940s (Zweiri a. o. 2008: 4). The consequences of this structuring can still be felt today (Zweiri a. o. 2008: 4). Furthermore, external actors continue to provide support ââ¬â either through foreign aid or their policies ââ¬â to certain select actors within fragile state systems. Such a process of ââ¬Å"choosing sidesâ⬠only causes further instability and exacerbates state fragility (Zweiri a. o. 2008: 4). In the contemporary turbulent world of globalization and ever-increasing interdependence across individuals, groups, international organizations and nation-states, the existence of weak/fragile/failed states is more and more seen as a significant concern (Iqbal Starr 2007: 2). The media, states, and international organizations have seen such states as threats to order and stability in the international system (Iqbal Starr 2007: 2). Failed states are seen as being associated with a range of problems: economic, social, political, and military (Iqbal Starr 2007: 3). And they are seen as having a wide range of negative consequences for their own people, their neighbors, their regions, and the global community; ââ¬Å"the chief reason why the world should worry about state failure is that it is contagiousâ⬠(The Economist, cited in Iqbal Starr 2007: 3). Is Lebanon a fragile state? Since her independence Lebanon has struggled in keeping up the difficult balance: a small country in a conflict zone, Christians versus Muslims, the civil war, the negative influence of big neighbor Syria, the role of the Palestinians and the refugee problem, the tension with Israel, the murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri on 14 February 2005 which put the political order of the country in great danger, the emergence of Muslim adicalism and extremism and the rise of Hezbollah, the crumbling of the Christian community and the role of the Lebanese diasporas. To answer this question the political order of Lebanon will be examined from a geo-political and internal perspective. The book Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict and Crisis, is taken as starting point for this paper. It is one of the books from the ââ¬ËMiddle East in Focus seriesââ¬â¢, edited by Barry Rubin. The Middle East has become simultaneously the worldââ¬â¢s most controversial, crisis-ridden, and yet least-unde rstood region. Taking new perspectives on the area that has undergone the most dramatic changes, the Middle East in Focus series seeks to bring the best, most accurate expertise to bear for understanding the areaââ¬â¢s countries, issues, and problems. The resulting books are designed to be balanced, accurate, and comprehensive compendiums of both facts and analysis presented clearly for both experts and the general reader. To answer the central question, the concept of a ââ¬Ëfragile stateââ¬â¢ will first be scrutinized. In the following section the demographics of Lebanon will be reflected upon. The third section outlines the Lebanese state and political system. The fourth section takes into consideration the external influences on the country. The final section depicts the effects of these various factors on the fragility of the Lebanese political system. 1. Conceptualization and determinants of a fragile state The Failed States Index 2010 ranks Lebanon on the 34th place. With a score of 90. 9/120 the country is considered to be ââ¬Å"in dangerâ⬠(Foreign Policy 2011b). What does ââ¬Å"state failureâ⬠actually mean? There is no agreement on what constitutes fragility and no state likes to be labeled as fragile by the international community (Iqbal Starr: 4, see also Stewart and Brown 2010). Below a set of existing definitions or characterizations of the general phenomenon of state failure will be outlined. It is helpful to begin by looking at existing definitions within the aid community. According to the Fund for Peace ââ¬Å"A state that is failing has several attributes. One of the most common is the loss of physical control of its territory or a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Other attributes of state failure include the erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions, an inability to provide reasonable public services, and the inability to nteract with other states as a full member of the international community. The 12 social, economic, political and military indicators cover a wide range of elements of the risk of state failure, such as extensive corruption and criminal behavior, inability to collect taxes or otherwise draw on citizen support, large-scale involuntary dislocation of the population, sharp economic decline, group-based inequal ity, institutionalized persecution or discrimination, severe demographic pressures, brain drain, and environmental decay. States can fail at varying rates through explosion, implosion, erosion, or invasion over different time periods. (Foreign Policy 2011a). The UKââ¬â¢s Department for International Development (DfID) definition of fragile states focuses on service entitlements (Stewart and Brown 2005: 1-2). DfID defines fragile states as occurring ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ where the government cannot or will not deliver core functions to the majority of its people, including the poor. The most important functions of the state for poverty reduction are territorial control, safety and security, capacity to manage public resources, delivery of basic services, and the ability to protect and support the ways in which the poorest people sustain themselves. (DfID 2005: 7). Four broad categories of ââ¬Å"indicative features of fragile statesâ⬠were provided: state authority for safety and se curity; effective political power; economic management; administrative capacity to deliver services (Iqball Starr: 4). Each was categorized in terms of ââ¬Å"capacityâ⬠to provide them, and the ââ¬Å"willingnessâ⬠to provide them (Iqball Starr: 4). In as much, DfID explicitly notes that it does not restrict its definition of fragility to conflict or immediate post-conflict countries (Stewart and Brown 2005: 2). You read "Is Lebanon a Fragile State?" in category "Essay examples" Non-conflict countries which are failing to ensure service entitlements constitute fragile states under DfIDââ¬â¢s definition; similarly, countries in conflict but which are nonetheless providing an acceptable level of service entitlements to the majority of the population would not constitute fragile states under DfIDââ¬â¢s definition (Stewart and Brown 2005: 2). The definition which the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) employs, is similar but goes beyond a governmentââ¬â¢s failure to provide comprehensive services and includes the protection of the populationââ¬â¢s human rights and security: ââ¬ËStates are fragile when state tructures lack political will and/or capacity to provide the basic functions needed for poverty reduction, development and to safeguard the security and human rights of their populationsââ¬â¢ (Stewart Brown 2010: 9). Finally, for the World Bank ââ¬Ëfragile statesââ¬â¢ refers to ââ¬Å"countries facing particu larly severe development challenges: weak institutional capacity, poor governance, and political instability. Often these countries experience ongoing violence as the residue of past severe conflict. Ongoing armed conflicts affect three out of four fragile statesâ⬠(World Bank 2011). From this brief review, we can see that there are considerable areas of overlap in the current use of the term ââ¬Ëfragile statesââ¬â¢ within the development community, but also differences of breadth and emphasis. Here, in this paper, fragile states are to be defined as states that are failing, or at risk of failing, with respect to authority, comprehensive basic service provision, or legitimacy. Authority failures are cases where the state lacks the authority to protect its citizens from violence of various kinds; service failures are cases where the state fails to ensure that all citizens have access to basic services; legitimacy failures occur where the state lacks legitimacy (Stewart Brown 2010: 10). 2. Demographic dilemmas One of the features that distinguish Lebanon in the region is its social composition, a spectrum of different religious minorities. (Fawaz 2009: 25). A large majority of the 4. million Lebanese belong to one of three main sectsââ¬âSunni Muslims, Shiââ¬â¢a Muslims, and Maronite Christiansââ¬âwith Greek Orthodox, Druze, and over a dozen other groups comprising the rest (Farha 2009: 83). Demographic and political representations never fully overlapped in the course of Lebanonââ¬â¢s history (Farha 2009: 83). Recurrent phases of incongruity between demographic and political balances of power have been a major driving force in all cycles of co nflict (Farha 2009: 83). ââ¬Å"Lebanonââ¬â¢s modern history has been punctuated by periodic outbreaks of fratricidal violence, followed by political compromises that recalibrated the istribution of power and privilege among the major confessional communitiesâ⬠(Farha 2009:83). Letââ¬â¢s have a closer look at the demographics of Lebanon. In Lebanon we find higher Muslims birthrates (Farha 2009: 87). Fertility favors the Shiââ¬â¢a of Lebanon in particular and the Muslims in general (Raphaeli 2009: 110). However, a projection based on fertility rates, ignores the lower infant and child mortality rates among Christians, which have counterbalanced higher Muslim birthrates to some extent (Farha 2009: 87). Some doubt should always be cast on the accuracy of projected estimates with regard to the precise size of the resident population as the last census took place in 1932. Different actors present different numbers for different political reasons (Farha 2009). Emigration is a big issue; there are more Lebanese living abroad than Lebanese-born living inside the country. A disproportionately high rate of Christian emigration took place from the mid-nineteenth- through the twentieth century, particularly during and after eruptions of civil strife in 1860, 1914ââ¬â1918, and 1975ââ¬â1990 (Farha 2009: 86). Over 900,000 Lebanese emigrated between the outbreak of civil war in 1975 and 2001â⬠(Farha 2009: 86). By 2006, the size of the Christian community was reduced to 30 percent of the total Lebanese population (Raphaeli 2009: 110). However it is said that these recent immigrants were not only Christians, but also Muslims (Farha 2009: 86). It is debated whether the Christian Leban ese people worldwide outnumber the Muslim Lebanese. Against the notion that descendants of Lebanese Christians comprise the overwhelming majority of the Lebanese in the diaspora, Farha (2009: 86) argues that emigration is equally sought By Muslims and Christians. Moreover, a 2006 study conducted by the Lebanese Emigration Research Center at NDU found that the percentage departure rates within each confession were almost equal (Farha 2009: 86). This is politically relevant as MP Nimtallah Abi Nasr hopes to expand the prospective pool of expatriate Christian voters with his campaign for a (re)naturalization of second and third-generation Lebanese abroad (Farha 2009: 87). Also ââ¬Å"Hezbollah has actively encouraged first-generation Shiââ¬â¢a emigrants to register their children as citizens for much the same reason (Farha 2009: 87)â⬠. Lebanonââ¬â¢s current power sharing covenant is far out of step with demographic realities (Farha 2009: 88). ââ¬Å"Even the most conservative statistical conjectures leave Lebanese Muslims significantly underrepresented in the parliament and the council of ministers, an incongruity that will grow in the years aheadâ⬠(Farha 2009: 88). A revision of the 1989 Taââ¬â¢if agreement, which was the basis for ending the decades-long Lebanese civil war, and in which the Christians gave up their majority whereby granting Muslims a true partnership in the political process, has been discussed though. However, up till now we see that the Taââ¬â¢if agreement is being preserved not amended. Amending the Taââ¬â¢if will not serve the interests of the Christians considering the population-increase of non-Christians. In view of the growing disequilibrium between demographic and political representation in Lebanon, a recalibration of the Taââ¬â¢if power-sharing formula along the lines of a tripartite division of power (muthalatha) among Christians, Sunnis, and Shiââ¬â¢a is all but inevitable in the coming years (Farha 2009: 90). While a tripartite division of power may not correspond precisely with Lebanonââ¬â¢s demographic balance, it is the closest possible approximation in the absence of a census and the only recalibration formula that could conceivably win the support of all three (Farha 2009: 90). ââ¬Å"So long as no one sect compromises a demographic majority few Lebanese would feel themselves egregiously underrepresented by a tripartite division of powerâ⬠(Farha 2009: 90). However, while proposals to this effect have circulated for over two decades a sweeping revision of the Constitution is highly unlikely in the short term (Farha 2009: 90). ââ¬Å"Indeed, the main leaders of both March 14 and the opposition have explicitly rejected Sunni-Shiââ¬â¢a-Christian tripartism as an alternative to Muslim-Christian parityââ¬âa position that perhaps has less to do with innate preferences than with the political exigencies of appealing to a deeply divided and anxious Christian communityâ⬠(Farha 2009: 90). Ideally, Lebanon should of course be reconfigured on a non-confessional basis. A political system is needed which is not based on the (numerical) strength of religious communities. ââ¬Å"Although, deconfessionalization may be a better cure for Lebanonââ¬â¢s ailments in principle, in practice those who hold positions of power under the sectarian system are not likely to promulgate its abrogationâ⬠(Farha 2009: 90) . 3. The dilemmas of the Lebanese political system and state 3. The state ââ¬Å"In Lebanon there is controversy over the nature of the state, as well as over national identityâ⬠(El-Khazer 2004: 6). There is a problem of defining the boundaries of the state and, more important, of the nation (El-Khazen 2004: 6). Lebanon is a multi-communal state which raises the question of legitimacy, and, by extension, the effectiveness of the political system in situations of crisis (El-Khazen 2004: 6). We see loyalties transcending state boundaries. El-Khazen (2004: 8) argues that several, interpretations explaining the weakness of the Lebanese state, and later the causes of its collapse in the mid-1970s such as the growing imbalance between loads and capabilities on the political system, the divisive forces inherent in Lebanonââ¬â¢s political system, increasing socio-economic inequalities along sectarian, class and regional lines or government inefficiency, nepotism and corruption, are of limited explanatory value, as none of these problems where unique to Lebanon. While Lebanon shares broad characteristic with other heterogeneous societies, it has particular features of its ownâ⬠(El-Khazen 2004: 32). First Lebanon has a large number of communities that are politically active, some of whom have distinctly communal agendaââ¬â¢s; second, in Lebanon there is no numerically dominant group which constitutes 60 or 70 percent of the total population (furthermore, the differences in the size of the three major groups are relatively small, which limits political significance); third is the changing demographic balance in Lebanon; fourth, communal transformations in Lebanon have not reached a significant degree of maturity, moreover, in Lebanon communal development has been in constant flux and disputes have changed partly because of internal politics and partly because of the unstable regional situation which has deeply affected Lebanon; fifth, what sets Lebanon apart from other divided societies is the regional order with which it has had to interact, the Middle East in one of the most unstable regional orders in the post-Second World War international system (El-Khazen 2004: 32). Where Lebanonââ¬â¢s problems ultimately differ according to El-Khazen (2004: 10) is in the nature and scope of externally-generated problems originating mainly from its regional order ââ¬â specifically the Arab state system and post-1967 PLO. ââ¬Å"Lebanonââ¬â¢s confessional political system (â⬠¦) functioned relatively well for over three decades. It collapsed when it was subjected to pressure, particularly externally-generated pressure, which the system could not contain while preserving its open character and the plural nature of societyâ⬠(El-Kahzen 2004:32). El-Khazen (2004: 6) suggests three phases which characterize the breakdown of the state in Lebanon: first the erosion and eventual loss of power; second, the political paralysis and power vacuum; third, the collapse of state institutions and the eruption of violence. 3. 2 The political system Ever since it attained independence from the French in 1943, Lebanonââ¬â¢s political system has been based on the National Charter (al-mithaq al-watani)ââ¬âan unwritten but enforced pact that recognizes the division of the country into religious communities (Raphaeli 2009: 110). According to the 1943 National Pact between sectarian leaders, the president would be a Maronite; the prime minister a Sunni; and the parliamentary speaker a Shiââ¬â¢a (Harris 2009: 16). The charterââ¬â¢s distribution of power among the various religious communities reflects the fact that in the 1940s, Christians represented 60 percent of the population and the various Muslim communities occupied the remaining 40 percent (Raphaeli 2009: 110). This was adjusted to an even split in 1989. Unstable multisectarian factions rather than ideological parties have dominated the legislature (Harris 2009: 17). The Lebanese political system has some positives to it. First, Lebanon is one of the very few Middle Eastern countries where the government arises from parliament (Harris 2009: 17). Second, the Lebanese system has been the political framework for a dynamic public pluralism unheard of anywhere else in the Arab world (Harris 2009: 17). Even the intimidation from 1990 to 2005 by the Damascus-directed security apparatus did not destroy a freewheeling civil society and an assertive media (Harris 2009: 17). Third, the reemergence of ââ¬Å"confessional democracyâ⬠in May 2005, with Syriaââ¬â¢s enforced military withdrawal and the first free elections since 1972, produced a parliamentary balance close to the probable numerical weight of major political forces (Harris 2009: 17). Still, Lebanonââ¬â¢s political system has many deficiencies. Between 1975 and 2005, it effectively ceased to function, with 15 years of violent breakdown followed by 15 years of manipulative Syrian hegemonyââ¬âa hegemony approved by the West until about 2000 (Harris 2009: 17). Even when operating, the system has never reconciled representation of communities with representation of individual citizens (Harris 2009: 17). Parliamentary deputies are elected under sectarian labels at the same time as they are constitutionally bound to act for the citizenry regardless of sect (Harris 2009: 17). The allocation of parliamentary seats has become out of line with the numerical weighting of the communities (Harris 2009: 17). Only an internationally supervised census, which no one wants, can resolve the issue (Harris 2009: 17). Every community has its demographic mythology, which they do not want punctured (Harris 2009: 17). The Shiââ¬â¢a community has increased from one-fifth of the population in 1932 to probably around one-third today. Even under the 1989 adjustment, it gets 27 seats out of 128 when it should have at least 40 (Harris 2009: 17). 4. Regionally powered dilemmas ââ¬Å"The external connections of Lebanonââ¬â¢s communal blocs involve antagonists in Middle Eastern disputesâ⬠(Harris 2009: 10). The Maronite Catholics have longstanding relations with the west; Lebanonââ¬â¢s Shiââ¬â¢a provided religious scholars who assisted the conversion of Iranians to Twelver Shiââ¬â¢ism in the sixteenth century, Lebanese Sunni affinities is more with Saudi-Arabia (Harris 2009: 10). The extension of Lebanonââ¬â¢s differences reach[es] into the divide between Sunni Arab states and Shiââ¬â¢a Iran and into the standoff between the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia on one hand and Syria and Iran on the other. ââ¬Å"In this sense, Lebanon really is the cockpit of the Middle Eastâ⬠(Harris 2009: 10). As we shall see it is in Syrian, Israeli and Iranââ¬â¢s interest to see a high degree of conflict. 4. 1 Syria Due to its geography and history, Lebanon always has to deal with Syria, whose regime had always considered it as an ââ¬Ëillegitimate political entityââ¬â¢ that has to be dominated. According to Harris (2009: 1) ââ¬Å"Lebanon is therefore the target of all the ambitions and phobias of the Syrian dictatorship, which cannot function as an Arab power without commanding the Lebaneseâ⬠. Lebanonââ¬â¢s multicommunal history makes for problems of coherence in modern Lebanese politics. ââ¬Å"Communal suspicionââ¬âtoday principally on a Sunni-Shiââ¬â¢a fault lineââ¬âproduces paralysis that saps Lebanonââ¬â¢s viability and pluralist foundations. This is fine for a Syrian Baââ¬â¢thist regime that denies there is anything significant about the Lebanese and their history, despises pluralism, and regards restored command of Lebanon as vital to its own viability as the ââ¬Å"beating heartâ⬠of Arabismâ⬠(Harris 2009: 20). Syria and its Lebanese allies paralyzed the Lebanese state, declaring the government illegitimate, refusing to allow parliament to meet, and blocking the election of a Lebanese president after Emile Lahoud finally left off ice in November 2007. Syrian military intelligence manipulated so-called al-Qaââ¬â¢ida elements in a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanonââ¬âthe Fath al-Islam groupââ¬âto destabilize Lebanon, debilitate its army, and disrupt Lebanonââ¬â¢s Sunni communityâ⬠(Harris 2009: 19). ââ¬Å"The problem is that the Syrian ruling clique will not leave Lebanon alone. It is determined on reassertion through its allies, and its victory will be the end of any decent Lebanon. Lebanese pluralism cannot coexist with Bashar al-Asadââ¬â¢s regimeâ⬠(Harris 2009: 22). The 2005 murder of Rafik Hariri started a period of exceptional domestic political turbulence and regional tensions, it led to institutional paralysis (ICG 2010: i). Initially experts accused Damascus. It is assumed that it is part of a Syrian plot to destabilize the country. Officially no one knows who carried out the attack and who was behind it. What can be said is that the assassination of Hariri opened doors for many political actors to get into the Lebanese and Arab political scene. 4. 2 Israel ââ¬Å"Throughout the relatively short history of their existence as modern states, Israelââ¬â¢s and Lebanonââ¬â¢s mutual border has proven to be largely disadvantageous to both countriesâ⬠(Spyer 2009: 195). For Lebanon, Israelââ¬â¢s establishment was the primary cause for the eventual arrival of the Palestinian national movement to within its borders in 1970 (Spyer 2009: 195). This, in turn, was a key factor in precipitating the countryââ¬â¢s ruinous civil war, the Israel-PLO war on Lebanese soil in 1982, the partial collapse of Lebanese sovereignty after the Syrian entry in 1990, and the partial Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon until 2000 (Spyer 2009: 195). The series of events that would lead to Israelââ¬â¢s involvement in Lebanon began with the Palestinian national movement in Lebanon. (Spyer 2009: 198). ââ¬Å"Beirut became the international center of focus for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the place of residence of its senior leadershipâ⬠(Spyer 2009: 198). As a result, Lebanon became one of the theatres in which the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians would be played out (Spyer 2009:198). Civil order broke down in Lebanon in 1975, in a civil war in which the Palestinians played a central role. Contacts between Israel and prominent Lebanese Maronite politicians had been developing since the mid-1970s against the background of the breakdown of civil order in Lebanon and the central role of the PLO in the Muslim/ leftist coalition against which the Maronites were fighting (Spyer 2009: 199). Over time, Bashir Gemayel, most prominent among anti- Syrian Maronite leaders at the time, became the main Maronite contact for the Israelis (Spyer 2009: 199). Throughout, Bashirââ¬â¢s purpose was to encourage Israel to intervene against the Syrian garrison forces in Lebanonâ⬠(Spyer 2009: 199). The 1982 Lebanon War was very much the brainchild of Menachem Begin, the Israeli prime minister from 1977 till 1983 and Ariel Sharon the Israeli Minister of Defense during the war (Spyer 2009: 202). An anti-Gemayel, anti-Israel, anti-U. S. , and pro-Syrian alignment was now emerging as the key political force in the country (Spyer 2009: 203). A number of inflammatory incidents deriving from Israelââ¬â¢s ignorance of the sensibilities of Shiââ¬â¢a Muslims contributed to the deterioration of the situation (Spyer 2009: 203). In 1985 Israeli forces occupied a strip of territory in southern Lebanon. A ââ¬Å"security zoneâ⬠close to the Israeli border, which was maintained in cooperation with the SLA (Spyer 2009: 204). Israelââ¬â¢s unilateral withdrawal from the security zone took place in 2000, thus ending the 18-year period of Israeli military involvement on Lebanese soil (Spyer 2009: 205). The Second Lebanon War which began on July 12, 2006 was one between Hezbollah and Israel. Resolution 1701, which ended the fighting, changed the situation in southern Lebanon to Israelââ¬â¢s advantage, in that it ended the de facto Hezbollah domination of the southern border area that had pertained since the unilateral Israeli withdrawal in May 2000 (Spyer 2009: 208). Israel currently has no dealings with any of the major political actors within Lebanon. However, while large-scale Israeli adventures to make alliance with political forces within Lebanon are part of the past, the weakness of the Lebanese state and central authority remain very much part of the present. One of the results of this weakness, which is itself a product of the countryââ¬â¢s divided sectarian makeup, is its vulnerability to outside penetration, and therefore its oft-repeated, luckless fate as the launching ground for attacks by various forces (the PLO, Syria, now Iran and Hizballah) against Israel, its southern neighbor. This fact remains the core reality behind Israelââ¬â¢s relations with Lebanon. It is unlikely that the final word in this story has been written. 4. 3 Iran Lebanonââ¬â¢s Shiââ¬â¢a community resides in the heart of the largely Sunni Arab world and on the frontline with Israel; therefore, Lebanonââ¬â¢s Shiââ¬â¢a are of double interest to their coreligionists in revolutionary Shiââ¬â¢a Iranâ⬠(Harris 2009: 10). ââ¬Å"H ezbollah was and remains a militant Khomeinist Islamist movement that adheres to Khomeiniââ¬â¢s doctrine of velayet-e-faqih, rule by a cleric in an Islamist state. Its ties to Iran are organic, multifaceted, and complexâ⬠(Badran 2009: 47). In order to understand Hezbollahââ¬â¢s origins properly, one must remember that the major force pushing for its establishment was the Islamic regime in Iran, as it worked to unite the Shiââ¬â¢a factions and forces operating in Lebanon (Zisser 2009: 158). Iran wanted everyone to work together under the Hezbollah framework (Zisser 2009: 158). The crisis situation that developed from the early 1970s onward became the breeding ground for a process of religious radicalization (Zisser 2009: 158). In these circumstances, Musa al-Sadr, a religious figure of Iranian origin, appeared and gained a position of great influence and power in the Shiââ¬â¢a community (Zisser 2009: 158). Hezbollahââ¬â¢s dilemma has to do with its identity, which contains a tension built into its very origins and being (Zisser 2009: 156). How is this tensionââ¬âbetween the organizationââ¬â¢s Lebanese-Shiââ¬â¢a identity on the one hand and its Islamic-revolutionary identity, its commitments to Iran, and its conception of the holy jihad on the otherââ¬âto be resolved? The balance ow seems to be turning in favor of the Islamic-revolutionary identity, which also means turning in favor of Tehran (Zisser 2009: 156). There is no doubt that the war and its aftermath revealed as never before, and against the desire and interests of Hezbollah, t he fact that the organization is the handiwork of Tehran, if not simply its instrument. Hezbollah has also been exposed as an organization dedicated to and active in achieving radical and far-reaching aims (Zisser 2009: 156-157). Its aim in the short term is to gain dominance over Lebanon and in the long term to turn that country into a Shiââ¬â¢a-dominated state ruled by Islamic law and closely linked to Iran (Zisser 2009: 157). From the mid- 1980s the organization began (with generous Iranian help) to establish a network of social and welfare services that would draw the support of the Shiââ¬â¢a community and provide it with an alternative to the services provided by the Lebanese state, or, to be more precise, to the benefits and aid the state should have provided for this population and did not (Zisser 2009: 159). With the build-up of this social infrastructure, the movement contributed to undermining the position of the Lebanese government. By the end of the 1980s the Iranian-sponsored Hezbollah grew in popularity as a force combining opposition to Israeli occupation with a wider Shiââ¬â¢a Islamist ideology implacably opposed to Israelââ¬â¢s existence and to the West (Sper 2009: 204). Hezbollahââ¬â¢s advance to the international boundary in southern Lebanon made it even more useful to its Iranian and Syrian patrons as a deterrent force in case of threats from Israel or the United States. It seemed to have it within its power to take over Lebanonââ¬âor at least those parts of the country inhabited by Shiââ¬â¢aââ¬âand to establish an Islamic order there on the Iranian model (Harris 2009: 71). As a result of the Iranian-Syrian agreement after the Taââ¬â¢if Accord ended the Lebanese war, Hezbollah was the only militia to be excluded from handing over its weapons under the pretext that it was a ââ¬Å"resistance movementâ⬠fighting Israeli occupation rather than a militia (Badran 2009: 47). This was a big mistake as it induces fragility. Since the Israeli withdrawal in 2000 and more so after the Syrian withdrawal in 2005, the fate of Hezbollahââ¬â¢s armed status (which has grown massively and developed doctrinally, ironically, after the Israeli withdrawal) is the central issue in Lebanon today (Badran 2009: 47). Hezbollah had presented itself as the ââ¬Å"defender of Lebanonâ⬠but proved to be its ruination since it brought so much destruction down upon the heads of its people (Zisser 2009: 166). After the 2006 war Hezbollah had difficulty maintaining the ambiguity about its identity (Zisser 2009: 166). In particular, the contrasts and contradictions between the organizationââ¬â¢s Lebanese identity and its loyalty to Iran, on the one hand, and its Islamic-revolutionary identity with its commitments to Iran, on the other, were exposed (Zisser 2009: 173). Hezbollah had tried to bridge or obscure these troublesome conflicting elements over the years (Zisser 2009: 173). Yet in the moment of truth it became clear that it was not prepared to renounce its partially hidden agendaââ¬âthat is, its loyalty to Iran and the ideas of radical Islam and jihad (Zisser 2009: 173). Hezbollah was now perceived more and more as a Shiââ¬â¢a organization serving the interests of Iran, as well as being an organization sinking deeper and deeper into the quicksand of Lebanese politics (Zisser 2009: 166). It dragged Lebanon into a bloody battle with Israel, whose price was paid, first and foremost, by the Shiââ¬â¢a of Lebanon but also by many other Lebanese from other ethnic communities (Zisser 2009: 173). It seems that the organization, inspired and helped by Iran, its ally and patron, is more committed than ever to continue the long and unremitting struggle it began when it was first established in the early 1980s, with the ultimate aim of taking power in Lebanon (Zisser 2009: 174). The possibility that Hezbollah might succeed in its mission has become more realistic, thanks to the demographic processes taking place in Lebanon. Hezbollah is therefore a major destabilizing factor (Zisser 2009: 175). 5. Lebanon: a conflict-affected fragile state When Lebanon gained independence in 1941, the country found itself at a loss without the French hierarchy to maintain internal control and order. A new class of political elites, with little experience, was forced to discover ways to deal with the diversity of Lebanese society. It was with this in mind that the National Pact of 1943 was crafted. The Pact was based on the census of 1932, and sought to address divisions among the Lebanese, but in the end, it would only serve to deepen them. In the years after the Arab-Israeli War, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict landed on Lebanonââ¬â¢s doorstep with the arrival of Palestinian commandos. Many Palestinian refugees, as well as militants, settled in camps in southern Lebanon, the legacy of which continues to influence Lebanese society. The migration of Shiââ¬â¢a to the capital, which was triggered by Israeli raids, heightened the already volatile mix of interests within the Lebanese political sphere. Ignored throughout the mandate years, the introduction of the confessional system saw the Shiââ¬â¢a fight for an equal voice alongside the Sunnis, Druze, and Maronites. As Lebanese society became increasingly divided, individual sectarian groups began to arm themselves militarily through their own militia organizations. Today, these militias still play a key role within the Lebanese security sphere. Ultimately, the Palestinian presence within Lebanon acted as a trigger to the outbreak of civil war among all Lebanese factions. Although Palestinian militants were the original cause of the war, it was sectarian interest and division that sustained the conflict well into the following decade. The ceasefire agreement reached by Syria and the PLO in 1976 sealed Syrian dominance within Lebanon and has had a lasting impact on the country well into the early 2000s. Nonetheless, the agreement did little to improve sectarian division and militia violence on the ground. The decades following the 1982 Israeli War continued to be marred by sectarian conflict and an international tug of war for Lebanon. Tensions along the Lebanese-Israeli border have continued well into the present day, in light of suspicions that Hezbollah is rearming for any future conflict. Ultimately, the greatest consequence of the summer war can be understood in terms of power within Lebanon. Indeed, the summer 2006 war marked the advent of power for Hezbollah, both within Lebanon and throughout the region. Considering it is a non-state actor, and that Lebanese President Fouad Siniora was in power, Hezbollah acted with state authority. This conflict reopened old wounds within Lebanese society, seeing as Hezbollah feels vindicated by the 2006 conflict and now seeks full recognition of its power. Moreover, state fragility is further deepened in a context where conflict has led to the intervention of external actors, each of whom have chosen sides in a dispute whose political and strategic consequences extend well beyond Lebanon. The current dynamics of fragile state security in Lebanon are not being dictated by Lebanese interests, but rather by the broader external policy aims of foreign parties such as Syria, Israel, and Iran. This situation is particularly problematic for the prospects of long-term and lasting stability within Lebanon. Although sectarian politics have been an influential reality since Lebanon became a fully independent state in 1941, they have taken on a new shape in an environment defined by the post 9/11 context and by three main evolutions, namely the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese President Rafik Hariri, the 2005 withdrawal of Syrian military forces, and Hezbollahââ¬â¢s rise to power in Lebanon. Conclusion The central question throughout this paper has been whether Lebanon is a fragile state or not. The precarious political order of Lebanon has illustrated the distinctiveness of the country. Although colonial rule is not unique to the Lebanon, its colonial past, combined with the evolution of politics, economics, and society in the region, as well as the role played by external actors, molds a very specific set of circumstances vis-a-vis state security that translates into an expression of fragile state security very specific to the region. The Lebanese State has always been weak. Politicians have generally sought to serve interests of their constituencies instead of the national interest. This factor has its roots in the National Pact that limited the authority of the state to maximize the autonomy of sectarian groups. As a result, Lebanese citizens feel loyalty towards their community instead of towards the country. Lebanonââ¬â¢s political system erodes the authority of the state by fuelling clientelism. Foreign protection of or influence on each community further undermines this authority. Moreover, Lebanonââ¬â¢s political system makes the state vulnerable to any stifled sense of frustration or injustice or dispossession felt by any community. Consequently, patronage networks swiftly re-emerged. In all, Lebanonââ¬â¢s political system is based upon the principle that the State should interfere in society as little as possible. The resulting weakness of state institutions has made Lebanon vulnerable to infringements of its domestic, interdependence and sovereignty. The rise of Hezbollah has made this clear. In section 1, fragile states were defined as states that are failing, or at risk of failing, with respect to authority, comprehensive basic service provision, or legitimacy. In conclusion, in this sense, Lebanon ââ¬Å"passedâ⬠on all three domains. Lebanon fails to protect its citizens as there is significant organized political violence; civil warââ¬â¢s. Also there is periodic political or communal violence causing deaths and destruction. Although the authority of the state is being undermined, it does not go as far as to say that the state authority (at present) does not extend to a significant proportion of the country. Hezbollah made sure to illustrate the inadequate delivery of services by the state. Also, in Lebanon the question of legitimacy is raised, inherent in being a multi-communal state. ââ¬Å"Lebanon, from all observable indicators, embodies the phenomenon of schism in the political and cultural realms (â⬠¦) it is a society without foundation, fragile, divided, disjointed and tornâ⬠(Dr. Khalaf, cited in Raphaeli 2009: 109). Bibliography ââ¬â Badran, T. (2009) ââ¬ËLebanonââ¬â¢s militia warsââ¬â¢, in: Rubin (ed), Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict and Crisis. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 35-62. ââ¬â DfID (2005) Why we need to work more effectively in fragile states . Department for International Development. ââ¬â El-Khazen, F. (2000) The breakdown of the state in Lebanon, 1967-76. London : I. B. Tauris Co Ltd ââ¬â Farha, M. (2009) ââ¬ËDemographic Dilemmaââ¬â¢sââ¬â¢, in: B. Rubin (ed), Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict and Crisis. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 83-99. ââ¬â Foreign Policy (2011a) FAQ Methodology, Foreign policy. Online at: http://www. foreignpolicy. om/articles/2009/06/22/2009_failed_states_index_faq_methodology(retrieved 28 February 2011). ââ¬â Foreign Policy (2011b) The Failed States Index 2010, Foreign policy. Online at: http://www. foreignpolicy. com/articles/2010/06/21/2010_failed_states_index_interactive_map_and_ rankings (retrieved 28 February 2011). ââ¬â Harris, W. (2009) ââ¬ËLebanonââ¬â¢s Roller Coaster Rideââ¬â¢, in: B. Rubin (ed), Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict and Crisis. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 63-82. ââ¬â ICG (2010) Lebanonââ¬â¢s Politics: The Sunni Community and Haririââ¬â¢s Future Current, Middle East Report, Nà °96. ââ¬â Iqbal, Z. and H. Starr (2007) State Failure: Conceptualization and Determinants. Working paper, University of South How to cite Is Lebanon a Fragile State?, Essay examples
Sunday, May 3, 2020
social responsibility of business Essay Example For Students
social responsibility of business Essay Business is for Everybodys Benefit A business should not Just look to increase profits for the stockholders but more so look at the well being of the customers, employees, suppliers, investors, vendors, communities, and the environment. Some businesses might argue that putting the investors first will lead toa more successful company. Businesses do not flourish by putting all of their attention on Just the shareholders alone. As T. J. Rogers, founder and CEO of Cypress Semiconductor, explains in his article, Put Profits First, It is mply good business for a company to cater to its customers, train and retain its employees, build long-term positive relationships with its suppliers, and become a good citizen in its community. The social responsibility of business is to benefit not just the stockholders but also all of the constituencies. Some people believe however that it is not intelligent to put the investors second. T. J. Rogers says that shareholders are a huge part of the busine ss world and it is important to keep them happy. He goes on to say that shareholders own stock voluntarily. If they dont agree with the policies put into place at the company they can vote to change them, or they can simply sell their stock. In A1 Dunlaps article, Putting Shareholders First, he discusses how he believes that it is the companies social responsibility to make money. He goes on to say, If you are not in business to make money, then you are totally misplaced in your career (Dunlap 1). Dunlap explains how he believes that businesses have an obligation to deliver good products and services for which there is a need. He does not in anyway believe that a company hould do anything to help its community. Businesses should not be wasting shareholders money by spending money donating to charity; he clarifies this by saying, If you want to conduct social experiments, Join the Rotary Club or a church group. John Mackey, cofounder/CEO of Whole Foods Market, explains in his article, Putting Customers Ahead of Investors, it is very important for businesses to shy away from putting all their focus on the shareholders. He believes that businesses should spread the focus to all aspects including: customers, employees, suppliers, and the ommunity. In his article he goes on to say how that the most successful businesses put the customers before the investors. Mackey explains, In the profit-centered business, customer happiness is merely a means to and end: maximizing profits. In the customer-centered business, customer happiness is an end in itself, and will be pursued with greater interest, passion, and empathy than the profit-centered business is capable of (194). Mackey goes on to say that although customers are very important to a business, it should not be theyre only concern. It is also very important for businesses to be concerned with the people that they have working for them. In Kim Harrisons article, Why Employee Recognition Is so Important, she talks about how beneficial to a company it is for an employee to be positively recognized for going beyond the normal expectations. When employees and their work are valued, their satisfaction and productivity rises, and they are motivated to maintain their good work. Praise can lead to an exceptional workplace. Harrison explains that, People want to be respected and valued for their group and to feel a sense of achievement for work well done or even for a valiant effort, There are many benefits to employee recognition. It can help to reinforce behavior that is beneficial for the company. For example, the greater he employee satisfaction the less time they spend complaining and more time is spent focusing on their Job. Employee recognition can also help lower negative effects such as tardiness and absenteeism. Similarly, employees tend to have more loyalty and satisfaction scores from their customers, which will bring more profit to the company. .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 , .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .postImageUrl , .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 , .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26:hover , .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26:visited , .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26:active { border:0!important; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26:active , .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26 .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc518af16d459f3a7ea4084b129fc8f26:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Free Rappaccini's Daughters: Cheeky Rappacci EssayTo onclude, there is a direct correlation between the happiness of a companys employee happiness and profits. Harrison gives an example that the Walt Disney Resort established an employee recognition program and it resulted in a 15% in staff satisfaction that resulted in higher guest-satisfaction and more returning customers (Harrison 1-2). It is also a companys responsibility to help out in its community by donating. It is thought that to donate money to organizations is considered stealing from the investors. Alaa Rady, author of Is Corporate Social Responsibility Stealing Money from Shareholders, explains doing extra social work not related to the firms operations without direct benefit for the company could be considered stealing from the shareholders. In Mackeys article he explains how donating 5% of one days profits actually benefits the company. He describes how every so often throughout the year, Whole Foods will have days where 5% of that days profits will go to a nonprofit organization. The company will focus on a group with a large membership list, and contacts all the people who support this cause and urge them to shop in their store o help this particular organization. Mackey goes on to describe how days like this will bring hundreds of new customers who are there to support their favorite charitable organization. Mackey stresses that many of these new customers go on to be regular customers of Whole Foods. The 5% day is a great of example of how not only can businesses help increase profits but also give back to their communities. Bob Reiss, Journalist for the Entrepreneur, writes in his article, Building a Good Relationship With Suppliers, that it is vital for a company to establish a good elationship with its suppliers. Suppliers are essential to a company. If a supplier goes a good Job with the delivery it will increase customer satisfaction and decrease returns. Also, timely deliveries are crucial to how customers view a companys reliability. Good suppliers can give a company a leg-up on the competition based on their pricing, quality, reliability and knowledge of the industry. Reiss emphasizes how it is important for a business to be loyal to its suppliers because they are essential for a businesses good health and growth. He stresses this point by stating, Work as ard on building a good supplier relationship as you would building a relationship with your customers. In conclusion, it is simply good business for a company to not only look at the needs of its investors but also the needs of all its constituencies. Although some people may still believe that investors and profit are the only concern a company should have. In reality its a companies obligation to help in its community, ensure that its employees are happy and productive, and ensure a loyalty to its suppliers. This is not to say that investors are not important as well, however a business should
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