Business HL: Burger King

Burger King’s global expansion plays a key role in the business’ hopes in overtaking McDonald’s prestigious position in the profitable fast-food world. Currently maintaining its spot as the second-largest global fast-food brand in the world, Burger King’s senior officials realize that they must effectively strategize their global marketing skills. As a global titan in the fast-food world, it is apparent that Burger King’s investment appraisal skills have paid off. Through this report, I will aim to answer the question: â€Å"Should Burger King open a franchise in Pakistan?†The first portion of my report will be the research overlook. This will outline my entire report. I will include a rationale, theoretical framework, and methodology. These will briefly overview the basis of my report.The second portion of my report will include my research findings, my analysis, and my calculations. SWOT and PEST will be amongst the analytical tools that wi ll be shown. My research will be mainly secondary but I will show a hint of primary findings. My conclusion will answer my question from a financial and non-financial perspective.The numerical values used in the â€Å"Calculations† and â€Å"Main Results and Findings† sections are estimates. The price obtained for the value of a 500 square meter plot in a commercial area was given by Pakistani real estate companies. The annual cash flow is a forecast based on the amount of cash McDonald’s generates annually in Pakistan and the average amount of cash a fast food restaurant generates per year.IntroductionBurger King’s plethora of notorious legal issues has resulted in a loss of money and reputation. Although their cost cuts have resulted in higher earnings, their revenues continue to fall along with their share prices. In order to restore their reputation and higher their revenues, it is important for the brand to tackle international expansion opportunitie s, especially in regions where their sphere of influence is low.When deciding whether to open an international franchise, a number of financial and non-financial aspects must be taken into account. The political state, consumer preferences, and cultural distinctions in Pakistan must be considered. On top of this, it is important to assess the profitability and desirability of the expansion (i.e. Investment appraisal). Burger King is not very prominent in the East and so building their prominence in sub-continental Asia will be a milestone in their global influence.This has therefore led me to research the following question: â€Å"Should Burger King open a franchise in Pakistan?† Research Question â€Å"Should Burger open a franchise in Pakistan?† Procedure/MethodMy research was fully gained through secondary resources. Online sources were used to provide interviews with Burger King Officials, get financial statistics, and gather information on Burger King’s mar keting strategies. My information was collected from online databases that specialize in marketing and financial monitoring. I obtained my balance sheets from these databases also. I discovered an interview in QSR Magazine. This interview was also used in my research and findings. Possible problems I could face are the biased in the interview I found and the reliability of my numbers (credibility of my sources). The research I obtained was very useful. I am fortunate to have found a large number of sources to choose from. My non-financial data is fully based on my research. I did not face any problems during this report.If I could do this report again, I would explore more financial aspects of the issue being explored. This is because numerical research is more reliable than non-financial findings. Non-financial findings give room for bias. All in all, I feel like this was a successful report.AnalysisSWOT AnalysisThe estimated payback period is about six and a half years; this relat ively low payback period. This is because the franchise will be profitable. The cost of labor in Pakistan is low due to the minimum wage laws in the country. Furthermore, there is a high rate on unemployment. Although the unemployment rates are decreasing, the amount of working-aged citizens that are unemployed is still high. Weaknesses presented by this appraisal include expensive land, expensive food products, power shortages, and political instability.The political state of Pakistan is extremely volatile, especially this year. Elections are being held this year and so tensions amongst opposing supporters is high. Atop this, constant riots and protests shake the stability of the nation. A political unrest could result in vandalism and our destruction of property. The largely anti-American attitude in Pakistan is also a problem due to the fact that Burger King is an American fast-food chain. This problem can be potentially decreased however, with insurance and an extensive continge ncy plan. Moving on, the political state of Pakistan has resulted in a high price for fruits and vegetables. Vegetables are necessary in order for this business to strive.In addition to a high cost for vegetables, the cost of 500 square meters of land is also relatively high ($350,000). This is not too large of an issue  however. This is because the land will be bought and not rented. Thus, the cost of the land was included in the calculations for the payback period, which turned out to be low. Lastly, power shortages are abundant. Load shedding is very consistent. Thus, the cost of a generator must be taken into account. The threats presented by this investment have already been mentioned; safety, power shortages, and the year of elections). The opportunities presented by this investment are vast. First and foremost, this will be the first Burger King franchise in Pakistan.As mentioned in my introduction, Burger King, unlike its completion (McDonald’s) lacks Asiatic franch ises. The success of this franchise may lead to the commencing of more franchises around the region. The cheap labor makes it attractive and profitable. Furthermore, there will be a larger range of consumers. Because Burger King has a very limited amount of franchises present in sub-continental Asia, its menu is not fit to satisfy Pakistanis. New customers and new flavor preferences will likely result in the production of new food items. These may be popular on a global scale. In addition to new products, Burger King will strengthen its fan base.PEST AnalysisExternal political factors have already been mentioned in the previous sub-section (SWOT Analysis). Civil unrest is extremely unpredictable due to the hostile state of the government and citizens. Unrest could potentially cause result in lasting, detrimental effects. Mediocre health and safety laws may also be an issue. Optimal hygiene factors influence the performance of the business’ employees. Also, it is vital to have optimal hygiene in order to attract customers. In addition to health and safety laws, minimum wage laws are also low. This is seen as a pro rather than a con as it ensures cheaper labor.Economic issues are also abundant in Pakistan. The weak currency is one example. The rupee is constantly dropping and so exchange rates will be high. However, due to Pakistan’s Islamic form of banking, there is no interest. This is a convincing quality of the location. Moreover, economic growth in Pakistan is very mediocre. Moving on, pork/ham is illegal in Pakistan. Ham makes up much of the Burger King menu and so they must be willing to modify the menu in order for optimal effectiveness. Also, the culture in Pakistan is highly patriarchal.Women are expected to  stay home and cook. Families usually eat home cooked meals together, at home. This may be an issue as this can result in a smaller customer count. However, the Pakistani population is growing constantly and so there are many more c hildren from newer generations. Teenagers are Burger King’s most loyal customers. Furthermore, there is a sense of anti-Americanism in Pakistan. This brings up many red flags. Burger King is an American fast-food chain and so boycott and/or vandalism must be taken into account when developing a contingency plan. This problem may not be such a big deal however. Pakistan is constantly modernizing.Views on the United States and American corporations are becoming more supportive and/or indifferent. Poverty may be the largest obstacle. Pakistan has an extremely high rate of illiteracy and poverty. This can negatively affect the franchise as many citizens will be incapable of affording fast-food. Contrastingly, Burger King can host fundraisers and/or other charity events to benefit the poor. This is one way in which they can bring up their reputation as a global brand. Lastly, the cost of packaging is high.ConclusionAccording to the SWOT analysis, the opportunities presented by thi s investment are far greater than the threats and the weaknesses. Furthermore, the payback period presented by this investment is relatively low and a franchise in Pakistan could majorly impact Burger King’s global sphere of influence. Opening a franchise in Pakistan will also add more variety to their flavor and potentially better their reputation. Their balance sheets and income statements would not show significant changes and so they were not mentioned (because this would be 1 of 11,000 franchises).In my opinion, opening a Burger King franchise in Pakistan is a swell idea. The opportunities and strengths outweigh the negatives. The franchise should open after elections to lessen the risk of political unrest.

Separation of Mixtures and Solids

After gathering all the material needed to conduct these experiments, the first experiment was initiated. The mixture of solids was weighed out as well as the 10cm square piece of paper and the weighing dish. The mixture was spread out in a very thin layer on a piece of paper, the magnet was wrapped with clear plastic and the magnet was passed over the mixture several times to remove the iron from the mixture.The iron was placed on the 10cm square paper and weighed. The next step was to separate out the sand. The sand was placed in the beaker with 50mL of water and heated to close to boiling. The hot liquid was poured into a Styrofoam cup and another 10mL of distilled water was added to the beaker and again it was heated to near boiling and poured into the same Styrofoam cup. The second heating was to ensure all the sodium chloride and benzoic acid was removed from the sand.The Styrofoam cup was placed into an ice bath, the benzoic acid began crystallizing in the ice bath as it start ed cooling. The sand in the beaker was heated very carefully to allow it to dry. After the sand was dried it was weighed. The benzoic acid and salt were separated. A filter paper was inserted in the funnel and the cup with the salt and benzoic acid was poured into the funnel. A graduated cylinder with 5mL of water was inserted into the ice bath; this was poured into the funnel to eliminate any of the sodium chloride that may have been missed.The filter paper was laid out on several paper towels to dry. After the filter paper has dried it will be weighed and the weight of the filter paper will be subtracted from the total to obtain the exact amount of the benzoic acid. The paper cup of sodium chloride was set aside to allow it to dry. Once it is dry it will be weighed and the weight of the paper cup will be subtracted to obtain the weight of the  sodium chloride.GramsPercent of MixtureTotalsSand5.4g54%54% Iron0.9g9%63% Dried Sand1.2g12%75% Salt1.8g18%93% Benzoic Acid0.7g7%100%Discu ssionI can see room for error when pouring the water out of the beaker some of the sand could be poured out with it, thereby creating an inaccurate result of dried sand. There is also the possibility of some of the benzoic acid and sodium chloride remaining in the beaker, getting stuck to the sides and again creating an inaccurate result for these two mixtures. When the water is poured through the paper in the funnel some of the benzoic acid could remain in the sodium chloride which would create another inaccurate amount for the benzoic acid.The iron could be slightly inaccurate due to the fact that it was not possible to get every single piece off the plastic wrap and into the dish, although the very small pieces may not have added up to much it might have contributed to an inaccurate amount. The initial sand weight is the most accurate; there was no room for error there.Questions1.How did your proposed procedures or flow charts at the beginning of this experiment compare to the ac tual procedures of this lab exercise? I knew the iron could be removed with a magnet. I wasn’t sure how to remove the sodium chloride and benzoic acid. 2.Discuss potential advantaged or disadvantaged of your proposed procedure compared to the one actually used. The only advantage to my procedure was using the magnet to remove the iron. I didn’t know how to remove the sodium chloride or benzoic acid. 3.How would you explain a sand recovery percentage that is higher than the original sand percentage?Perhaps you didn’t remove all the iron out or there was still some sodium chloride or benzoic acid still left in the sand. 4.What were potential sources of error in this experiment? When pouring water out of the beaker some of the sand could be poured out with it. There is also the  possibility of some of the benzoic acid and sodium chloride remaining in the beaker, getting stuck to the sides and again creating an inaccurate result for these two mixtures.When the wat er is poured through the paper in the funnel some of the benzoic acid could remain in the sodium chloride which would create another inaccurate amount for the benzoic acid. The iron could be slightly inaccurate due to the fact that it was not possible to get every single piece off the plastic wrap and into the dish, although the very small pieces may not have added up to much it might have contributed to an inaccurate amount.

Organizational Culture at Apple Inc

Organizational Culture at Apple Inc. In the year 1976, it was a dream for most people to buy a computer for their homes. Back then the computer community added up to a few brainy hobbyists. So when Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs sold a van and two programmable calculators for thirteen hundred dollars and started Apple Computers, Inc. , in Jobs garage, the reach for success seemed far. But these two young business men, Wozniak 26 years old and Jobs 21 years old, had a vision. Computers aren't for nerds anymore, they announced. Computers are going to be the bicycle of the mind. Low cost computers for everyone. From the first day on the founders of Apple kept their vision intact and they spoke it at every turn. They only hired people into the company that had the same visions as they did. Even though Jobs was the founder of Apple Computers, he resigned from Apple Computers in 1985 to form NextStep Computers after losing control of Apple. Steve Jobs was re-hired in 1997 to save Apple from its beleagurement when the past three CEO's could not bring Apple to its glory days again. Steve Jobs is one of the founders of the Apple. From the beginning his main goal was to make technologies that will change the life style and that will serve the customer. Jobs left the apple during the 80ies, only to return in 1997 and completely shake things up. He is known not only as a good visionare but as well as someone whose decisions are always unpredictable (switching to Intel). He is as well known for publicly provoking his competitors (Mac vs PC videos and talking how Michael Dell and his empire are far behind Apple when it comes to innovation and that they can only copy them. Knowing to implement excellent design to all of its products – Apple is putting a lot effort when it comes to design of all its products. After Steve jobs returned to the company, both desktop and laptop computers received new stylish helmets. Even the OS X and later Tiger had better appearance than Windows. Apple Computer, Inc. has experienced both the best of times and the worst of times. The further survival and success of this company will depend on what strategic course they decide to pursue. In order to do this, the company must first re-establish what it actually is and what it aims to become. It is important to start a course of action and develop a culture that understands and supports Apple’s mission. The computer industry is important for Apple. It should therefore concentrate in its expansion. However, survival in the computer industry depends on the development of new products and technology. Products are subject to quick obsolescence and being a leader in new products is essential. In the past, a budget was cut as a cost saving measure. This is still advised due to the importance of developing new technology. Another recommendation for Apple is to consider the licensing of clones. Apple is the only company in the PC market that makes both computers and the operating systems to run them, whereas the market is dominated by computers that combine Intel processors with Microsoft operating systems. Because of their financial situation, they need to better position themselves to quickly produce and distribute any newly developed products. For example, if they developed a revolutionary new product, cloning companies could assist in the production and distribution of this technology. Revenues would be generated from the licensing agreements. This could result in quickly establishing this new technology in the industry and re-establish Apple as a leader in technology development. Developing a better marketing and distribution of their products is a further recommendation for Apple. Apple products are not as available as PCs to the retail market. People should have as easy access to Apple products as they have on other PC’s. Next, Apple should develop an integrated and easy-to-use computer system. This system could be targeted to young children and older individuals that would be interested in using a computer but do not want the hassle of setting up equipment. Although there are many different strategies to consider, Apple’s future success will depend on their future strategic decisions. Next, Apple has proved to be much more innovative in the industry than Microsoft. By trying to be always one step further, Apple has managed to develop the iPod and iTunes, as well as the iPhone which are all complements to the digital industry. Microsoft has not developed anything new and original for a long time now. It seems that all they do is creating advanced version of the operating system that is not always compatible with the old ones. Unlike Microsoft who is desperately trying to buy Yahoo! nd stay competitive, Apple does not have to do anything to prove its popularity. It already has faithful customers and their numbers are increasing every day. The reason for this is Apple’s good knowledge in customer base. Apple’s move into new industry may have different effects on its core business. However, given the success of the iPod and iTunes as well as the further promotion on the iPhone, it is safe to say that Apple is doing well in both industries. This means that Apple has already shifted in a different direction (digital music) but so far it has had a lot of success. In fact, some people might have heard about the iPod first, and then found out that Apple is actually a big and successful company that manufacturers computers as well. If a customer is satisfied with one product, he/she will be willing to buy another from the same company. If a person sees that Apple is selling all of these different products, and they are all popular and good quality, there is no reason why this person would not buy from Apple. Apple already has loyal customers and any innovation that may happen could only lead to more success. It will also increase its profits and gain more popularity. This is why, we believe that moves into new industry might impact Apple’s core business, but in a good way – bring better promotion and reputation. There are number of reasons why apple is set up for success within computer and music industry. It designs a very good quality, compatible hardware and software products. The operating system that runs on the Mac hardware (Mac OS X) remains as the major advantage over any version of Microsoft poor quality operating system with a lot of viruses, worms, spyware, and adware. Apple creates programs that run on Mac Os X operating system, and this brings bigger market share. Apple is set up for success because it targets a niche market: the Apple users. As the case study presents, it creates its own miniature techno-environment, economy with a wide range of products offered to their clients, this builds up their market share, and strengthens their position, creating future loyal customers. Apple sets up its own stores to display their products; in this way it catches new potential clients. Apple launched many advertising campaigns; one of them featured â€Å"real people† who had â€Å"switched† from the Microsoft Windows platform to the Mac. A popular advertising slogan â€Å"Think Different† remained the integral part of Apples identity. Put simply, Apple approaches the customers, with original, funny ads, this precipitates to the creation of the products considered as fashionable, well designed and build on Apple technology. Apple owns a big share of the market, which makes it easier for the future success. It is better to work for Apple because it s a dynamically growing company with well developed campuses where the employees play and work at the same time. With the high technology used in the Apple product, employee can participate in the development or learn how company like Apple works. Apple is a rewarding environment in which employees can build their career using their special skills and talents. Apple is looking for newly graduated stude nts, and professional programmers who are looking for work sacrificed for people who would like to work in different departments, starting from Mac Hardware Engineering finishing on Retail. It is worth working for a company like Apple because of the success that the company has achieved. Steve Jobs has done an amazing job at revitalizing Apple Computers. He took over Apple when it was at the brink of death, and brought back with much life. In spite of the bad publicity about its unprofitable quarters, predictions about its death, falling market share, and advice on how to save the business (i. e. make Windows compatible hardware), Jobs continued to prove the critics wrong. Even with the 5% market share, Apple is trying hard to increase its market share. As the world’s lowest paid CEO at $1 per year (Guinness World Records, 2000), Jobs strives to make Apple provide the best computing experience to its users. To be a successful CEO, one must understand the market they are competing in. Even though the previous CEOs did not have any computer related experiences, but was highly successful and regarded at their previous positions. The CEOs did fail to adapt their strategies remain competitive in the computer market. Scully could not maintain the competitive advantage it once had, and the other two CEOs did not have the right strategies to bring Apple back to its glory. Because they did not fully understand the computer market as Jobs had done, they unsuccessfully struggled to keep Apple from falling farther down the market. With Jobs deep understanding of the computer market as a pioneer in two businesses, consumer, and a technician, he implemented many of the strategies Apple should have done in the beginning. His added value to the Mac with software, customized the products to a target market, and simplified the product chart. Steve Jobs has successfully saved Apple from death, but he faces a greater challenge, increasing market share. As long as Jobs can maintain Apple’s competitive advantage and sustain it, increasing market share should not be too much of a problem. References http://www. bloggingstocks. com/category/battle-of-the-brands/2. http://piqued. brianfrantz. com/? s=apple3. www. dailyindia. com4. http://www. operating-system. org/betriebssystem/_english/bs-macos.

US-Mexico Border and Racism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

US-Mexico Border and Racism - Essay Example Both Sweatt v. Painter and the Brown v. Board of Education case were decided to grant equality and abandoning of state-based segregation laws and the based case that was overturned was Plessy v. Furgerson. In Smith v. Allwright, (1944), the United States Supreme Court decided to keep in view the voting rights and the racial desegregation. This decision resulted in the overturning of the utilization of all-white primaries by the Democratic Party in Texas as well as in other states. It was claimed by Texas that the Democratic Party, being a private party is permitted to set its membership rules and regulations. However, the Court agreed that the restrained primary refused Smith his defense under the law. All three cases addressed the issue of racial segregation that was sponsored by state laws and in each case, the Supreme Court decided to eliminate discrimination on the basis of races and provided the ways for integration within all communities residing in a shared state (Foote 50). A nswer 5 Communities residing along the border of Mexico and the United States have a significant commonality, including two desserts, a shared history, rapidly growing population, deepening integration economically as well as thriving tourism. The routine life of individuals living along both sides of the border is influenced by these general elements, in addition to the distinguishing characteristic of an international border that separates friends, families as well as businesses. This international border draws closeness amongst two immensely unlike countries while at the same time dividing local communities of excessive similarity.  

Eugene Delaroix Libety Leading the People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Eugene Delaroix Libety Leading the People - Essay Example Initially, the literature of romanticism referred to the romances characteristics, whose profligacy carried pejorative connotation in some way. The term however came to assign another type of exotic landscape in the 18th century that evoked the melancholy pleasant feelings. Throughout the early 19th century, romanticism remained an intellectual and artistic movement that is characterized by individual focus on the freedom from political restraints and social conventions, on the nature and human imagination in a typically idealized form. However, most of the romantic authors had special interest in particular culture within the middle ages (Christensen 141). This paper therefore seeks to discuss the characteristics of romanticism and the liberty leading the people. Romanticism is particularly concerned with much of emotion than mere rationality. It put a lot of value on individuals more than it does to the society in general, and values nature over the city. Romanticism questions rule s, social protocol and conventions. It figures out humanity as living in nature in form of a morally superior and a civilized humanity. The literature of romanticism conceives children by nature as those corrupted by their nature of surroundings. It focuses on the expression of individual and personal emotions. Romanticism was not only evident in the literature in the 19th centuries, but also exhibited in music, art and architecture. The American Romanticism was influenced by the frontier promises of growth, expansion, and freedom. However, this spirit of optimism was not in Europe. Imagination led to emergence of the new perspectives and culture (Richardson 14). Generally, romanticism has the following characteristics: Static characters with no development The setting and the characters are set apart from the general society Mysterious, incomprehensible, and irrational universe Causality gap A formal language Silences within the text showing universals instead of truths Justice for the good A plot that demonstrates honor and integrity, romantic love, and self idealism Supernatural visions The primary aim of romanticism included things like: belief in the humanity goodness and return to nature; the exaltation of emotions and the senses over intellect and reason; the nationalistic pride development; and the discovery of artists like a supreme creator of individual. Nevertheless, romanticism was particularly a revolt of philosophy against rationalism (Richardson 21). Liberty Leading the People is a romantic painting. The painting was influenced by political and social events as well as historical conditions. This makes painting a reaction of the transformation and changes of the society. The liberty leading painting was painted by Eugene Delacroix in 1830. During this century, physical materialism, Neo-Classical, industrialism and quest of knowledge was brought about during this period. Delacroix utilized romanticism in his art. This is due to its reflection of the current style of art. Romanticism combines violence, terror, and heroism, this makes war it’s an ideal vehicle. This is clearly depicted in the Liberty Leading the People in its depiction of the revolution of July 1830. Just like any other romantic art, Liberty Leading the People contains a sublime quality because it communicates intensity, grandeur feelings and greatness. Romantic paintings of

Assignment gender and fairytales Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gender and fairytales - Assignment Example The Greek castle itself had a hall or room (mans quarters) specially left for entertainment from women. This is where parties, dances and sex took place .However, there was another class of women who were supposed to attend parties with the king .They were considered to be more educated. The servants of the Aphrodite were a class of women in Greece who had a high level of sexual freedom. The island of Lesbos was associated by poet Salford. His work of poetry has drawn a lot of scholarly attention. He was not homosexual but wrote long poems about his longing desire for young girls. Greece poetry played a major role in religion and the world of sexuality. The secret band of thieves was a group of died avoiding disgrace from their lovers or homosexual lovers. Their death marked an end of classical Greece era and ushered a new era of Hellenism. This was subsequently followed by changes in sexual life in Greece. There were now stronger bonds between a man and a woman, and the elites in Greece started appreciating women in general. The male nakedness as the symbol of beauty was replaced by a female nakedness. During this time, man to man relationships were replaced by man-woman sexual relationship and the society started to accept the humanity of

Biographies of Ronald Reagan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biographies of Ronald Reagan - Essay Example Though he questions the rationality of Reagan’s policies, he welcomes how his method and political capacity reassured the country and in varied dimensions changed the nation’s political course. He further argues that, Reagan failed to realize his targets. However, he managed to reduce expenditure, taxes, arrears, and size of administration. Furthermore, he instigated a course of change in varied areas that persist to direct the liaison between commonplace Americans and the organization that administer them. The country has undergone a Reagan revolution in many facets of administrational and legal policy. He labeled a ‘big administration’ as a problem. He also made attempts to endorse a conservative social ethic. He changed the lingo and content of U.S. politics in a conservative direction. He brought many devout, scholarly and economic conservatives into the state’s political mainstream. Charles Dunn investigates into the opinionated legacy of Reagan ’s confirmation and rise of his political rank in a democratic system. Reagan at all times presented himself as a commonplace American native in office. He was an ethical and an efficient leader. This efficient leader was also practical, flexible, and at times treacherous. He further describes him as an independent politician. He ventured into politics, not for fame, but due to his firm innate beliefs. This made his political regime has an outstanding appeal even in the worst of situations. Reagan was an efficient communicator who upheld to fundamental principles.

THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN FOREGIN POLICY SINCE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Essay

THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN FOREGIN POLICY SINCE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION - Essay Example After a brief but important war with Spain in 1898, the United States became, almost at once, a world power with distant colonial possessions. While some Americans believed that their national identity suited them for such overseas expansion, others questioned it. In addition, reformers began to demand greater involvement on the part of government in solving the problems of the poor and the helpless and of protecting the nation’s natural resources. Several factors contributed to the new idea of overseas expansion. New railroad lines and government land policies brought a flood of settlers to the American West. The desirable land there was quickly settled. When the Bureau of Census officially announced the end of the frontier in 1890, some Americans began to fear that the nation’s opportunities for growth would end. Another factor in the growing interest in expansion was American nation’s rapidly increasing production of goods. By the late 1800s American farms and factories turned out increasing amounts of crops and manufactured goods. American began to seek out new markets for those goods that could not be sold at home. Foreign markets for these surplus goods were considered essential for the nation’s continued economic growth. (Hall, 1999) In the late 1800s a new spirit of imperialism, the policy of extending one country’s rule over other nations and colonies, developed in Europe. Great Britain, France and Germany colonized Africa and turned eagerly toward Asia. Some Americans shared this spirit. Some believed that American empire would help less fortunate people all around the world. These Americans believed that the cultures of Asia, Africa, and Latin America were inferior to American and European cultures. They believed Americans had a duty to civilize these people by showing them American ways of governing and working. American missionaries also

Airport Improvement Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Airport Improvement Program - Essay Example Sponsors are generally permitted to expend AIP money towards major airfield capital improvement efforts as well as repairs. Projects eligible for AIP funding include; airport safety associated enhancements, improvement of capacity, protection of the environment in the airports and enhancement of security. The funds can also be used on professional services that come with the eligible projects i.e., plans, survey services and designs. It should be noted that the operating expenses associated with the same projects are not eligible for AIP funding. The projects must therefore be sufficiently justified apart from complying with federal requirements of procurement and environmental safety. In major primary airports, AIP grants cover 70% of the total eligible costs or 80% for implementation of noise programs. The range of coverage for general aviation airports, reliever and small primary airports ranges from 90%-95% of the total cost as per the statutory minimum requirements. AIP grants to airports are aimed to fund planning, development and implementation of noise compatibility projects at the public-use airports. In order to be eligible for AIP grants therefore the airports must either be owned by the public, privately owned but with scheduled services & a minimum of two thousand five hundred enplanements yearly. Also private airports designated as relievers by FAA are eligible. Inclusion in the NPIAS is another important eligibility requirement for AIP. AIP funds are generally used towards projects contributing to capital improvement at the airports. The funds can thus be expended on most of the airfield capital improvement projects and in some unique events on terminals, and hangars as well as some nonaviation developments. Professional services related to the projects are also eligible for funding. On the other hand, those projects associated operations in the airports and improvements that are revenue generating are typically not funded by AIP. Other

Investigating into the factors that affect acceleration Essay Example for Free

Investigating into the factors that affect acceleration Essay I have chosen to investigate the affect changing the amount of force applied to an object has on acceleration. Hypothesis I predict that as the amount of force applied to the trolley increases, the acceleration will increase in direct proportion. I believe this will happen because according to Newtons Second Law, increasing the force increases the acceleration, provided the mass stays the same. Therefore, acceleration is directly proportional to the force applied. Fair Test Without fair testing the experiment would be useless because the information gathered would not be accurate or reliable. Here are the things we did to ensure our experiment was a fair test:   The distance travelled; the mass and weight of the trolley shall remain constant, as these are not the factors we will be changing.   The only thing we will change will be the force applied to the trolley. No force will be applied to the trolley when it is at the top of the runway, instead we will just let go of it and let gravity be the force.   When putting the trolley at the top of the runway we will make sure that the back wheels of the trolley are touching the ticker timer this way each experiment will start in the same place. We will test the trolley beforehand to ensure all wheels were working, because if one or more wheels are not working this could affect the speed/acceleration of the trolley. Safety Precautions As with all experiment, safety is crucial. Every experiment possesses some form of danger and through these guidelines I hope the risk of danger will be minimised:   Make sure the trolley is stopped before it reaches the end of the runway where the pulley is to prevent damage to trolley, runway or pulley. Make sure that when catching the trolley at the opposite end of the runway you are not in front of it before it reaches a halt as it could cause an injury Ticker Timer For this experiment we shall use a ticker-timer to record our results. A ticker-timer is a way of analysing the motion of objects. As the trolley moves, it drags the tape through the ticker timer, thus leaving a trail of dots, which were printed there by a vibrating metal bar running on an electric current, which hits a piece of paper fifty times a second. The analysis of a ticker tape will reveal if the object is moving with constant velocity or accelerating. This is how we hope to record the acceleration of our trolley. To get the results from the ticker timer tape, you need to divide the tape into five dot strips, this is because each five dots is equal to 0. 1 seconds. Preliminary Work Before the actual experiment took place, we decided to do some preliminary work. There was a chance that something could go wrong, for example, the trolley could hit the side of the runway, or the weights could fall off or the ticker timer would not be entirely accurate. So we gave the experiment a test run to make sure everything worked according to plan. The test run went smoothly and so we all agreed the experiment would be a success Prediction Graph Equipment   Runway   Trolley Metre Stick   Ticker Timer   Roll of ticker timer tape   Pulley   String   Weights Diagram Method First of all we collected all of the equipment. Then we placed the runway on a raised surface approx. a metre above the floor. Once this had been done, we prepared the ticker timer at the top of the runway. We did this by cutting ticker timer tape to 85 cm (We chose this length because the tape will be out of the ticker timer before the weights hit the floor). Next, we plugged the wires into the ticker timer in their rightful places and threaded the ticker-timer tape through the ticker timer. Then we placed the trolley at the top of the runway. We then stuck the ticker timer tape to the back of the trolley with tape. Next, we threaded a piece of string through the trolley and attached it to the pulley at the opposite end of the runway. To the end of this string we added different weights according to which experiment we were on. We started with 100g that is equal to 1 Newton in force. Then, on the count of three we simultaneously turned on switched on the mains, which activated the ticker timer and let go of the trolley, which caused it to roll down the runway. It rolled down the runway because the force of gravity acting on the weights pulled it. Once the ticker timer tape was out of the ticker timer we stopped the trolley to prevent it from hitting the pulley at the bottom end. We then switched off the ticker timer. We then labelled the piece of ticker timer tape to refer to when writing down our results. We then repeated this process for 200g, 300g, 400g, 500g, 600g, 700g, 800g, 900g and 1000g. Results Force = 1N Acceleration = (final speed start speed). Unfortunately, my graph has not turned out how I expected. The results show me that in my experiment the acceleration was not directly proportional to the force applied, which (in relation to my scientific research) should not be possible. The graph should be a straight diagonal line (as seen in my predicted graph) however mine was very varied, although it did follow a positive correlation, so we were on the right lines. Evaluation My results were not very accurate at all. I feel this is because there were a lot of factors that made it an unfair test despite my efforts to keep it fair. This could also be the reason why there are various anomalous results (it might be possible that all the results are anomalous! ) The factors that would have altered my results include: * Friction. The surface of the ramp caused friction because any type of grip on the surface could slow the trolley down. Also, the surface of the wheels could slow down the trolley because this is the affect of any type of traction provided by wheels. There is little we can do to create a friction-less workspace, but to keep it a fair test, we will keep the factors altering friction constant.   Air-resistance. As the trolley moves through the air the trolley pushes on the air and the air pushes back on the trolley making it speed up less (this is called action and reaction). Again, there is not much we can do about this, but if we were to do this experiment again we would keep the aerodynamics of the trolley constant. * Slight curve in runway. This makes a slightly bigger force act on the trolley as it goes downhill therefore it has a greater speed. Next time, we could ensure that the runway is completely flat to prevent unfair alterations to results.   The ticker timer would alter the result as well. Consider the fact that in every second the tape gets hit fifty times this must have had some affect on the results. Unfortunately I dont think we could change this were we to do the experiment again because with the equipment available to us there is nothing more accurate. Given more time, I would have liked to repeat each experiment up to five times, to ensure the results were fair -and to prevent the amount of anomalous results. Also, if I were to do it again, I feel that we could extend the experiment. Originally the aim was to find out the factors which affected acceleration. During this experiment we only altered the force and nothing else, it would be worthwhile to alter other things such as the mass of the trolley, the distance, the weight etc. It would be interesting to see if we could prove Newtons Second Law through other experiments using different trolleys. (His law states that acceleration is directly proportional to the force applied). For example, we have proved (to the best of our ability) that through using the trolley that we did Newtons Second Law does not work, but would it work for other trolleys?

Prosthetic Rehabilitation of a Patient with Nose Defect

Prosthetic Rehabilitation of a Patient with Nose Defect Case Report Authors: Satyabodh S Guttal, MDS,MFPT 1, Blessy Bangera, BDS,2 Adarsh Kudva,  MDS,3 Basavaraj R Patil, MS, 4 Abstract Midfacial defects are enormous defects that result from cancer treatment that rarely are corrected by surgical reconstruction alone; they generally require a facial prosthesis to restore function and appearance. Surgical reconstruction may be viable for few defects, which are done with different flaps. But for the total nasal resection, prosthetic option would be more feasible. Nasal cartilaginous anatomy is complex due to the varying contours. Therefore it may be difficult for the surgeon to reconstruct the entire nose. This clinical report describes the rehabilitation of a large midfacial nose defect with a dental implant retained nasal prosthesis. The patient had adenocystic carcinoma of the medial maxillary wall extending to the nose. Introduction The face being the most noticeable part of the body when disfigured may lead to an impaired social life stemming from esthetic problems. 1, 2 Among facial defects, nasal defects produce severe cosmetic impairment. . Rehabilitation of such defects subsequent to surgery is done in a sequential manner, which includes a surgical, provisional, and definitive prosthesis. 3 Prosthesis helps restore the patients self-esteem and confidence, hence affecting the patients and their life style. 4-6 Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant perineural tumour of the major and minor salivary glands, accounting for 2% of all head and neck malignancies and approximately 10% of all salivary gland neoplasms. 60% to 70% of ACC’s arise in the minor salivary glands, which may be localized in the palate, paranasal sinuses and nose, although they may also occur in the parotid or submandibular glands.7 In the past, nasal prostheses were held in position with strings or straps fastened behind the head,8 intranasal or intraoral extensions,9,10 and gold strings or leaves.11-13 Spectacle frames have been accepted for securing nasal prostheses.14,15 Today, with the development of biomaterials, prosthetic substitutes are secured with readily available adhesives that are effortlessly applied 16 however, the effectiveness of adhesives is questionable considering presence of mobile tissues in the defect, nasal secretions, and moist air associated with respiration.17 These factors would compromise the adhesiveness. The concept of osseointegration 18 has enabled a more reliable mode of retaining nasal prostheses. 19 This clinical report describes the rehabilitation of a large midfacial defect using an implant retained nasal prosthesis. Clinical Report: A 63-year-old female patient who reported to the B.R Patil Cancer hospital, Navanagar, Dharwad was diagnosed with adenocystic carcinoma of the medial maxillary wall. Patient had no medical co-morbidity. Patient gave history of nasal obstruction due to nasal mass on left side of the nostril for which medial maxillectomy was done via endoscopic approach in the year 1993. Then in 2012 she reported back with the complaint of nodular swelling over nasal dorsum with tearing and nasal obstruction with no orbital symptoms. Intra-orally patient had destruction of palate on the left side crossing midline. Upon further investigation, biopsy revealed adenocystic carcinoma of the nose and left maxilla with no involvement of orbit or anterior skull base (Fig 1). Two cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin, 5 flurouracil and paclitaxel according to body surface area was given. The defect resulting after excision had to be covered at the earliest. Hence, prior to surgical intervention, prosthetic consultation was suggested to the patient who was thus referred to our Department of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics. Since an immediate definitive prosthesis was not feasible, the patient was suggested for temporary rehabilitation with an interim silicone nasal prosthesis with an attached eyeglass frame. However, since the patient expressed her displeasure towards spectacles for lifelong usage, she was given the option of implant-retained definitive silicone nose prosthesis. The patient agreed for the same. An orthopantomograph and computerized tomography scan were made as a part of the investigation to evaluate the bone height for implant placement. Left total maxillectomy with palatal resection across midline and total nasal resection done via weber ferguson incision, left modified radical neck dissection type three via macfee incision was made. The glabellar bone was evaluated on the operation table and upon conclusion that adequate bone was available; a single implant of 4.2 diameter x 6.5mm length, (Toureg S; Adin implants, Nazareth, Israel) was placed (Fig 2). The advantage of placing the implant on the operation table was that the patient would be under general anesthesia, and the psychological trauma of undergoing another surgical procedure was avoided. Following a healing period of 3 months the open tray impression posts were placed and the final impression was made. The abutment was placed on the implant and a custom made acrylic sleeve was fabricated for the abutment (Fig 3). A wax sculpted nose on the master cast was made to adapt to the margins of the healing wound. On either sides of the acrylic resin sleeve, two neodymium-iron-boron magnets, 5mm diameter x 1.2mm thick (Magnatech; Mumbai, India) were embedded into extensions made out of autopolymerising resin. The structure hence resembled a winged sleeve which was cemented on to the abutment using zinc-phosphate cement (Harvard Dental, Hoppegarten,Germany) (Fig 4). An acrylic resin index was fabricated over this structure which would harbor the respective magnetic keepers. The acrylic index was placed at its position over the magnets and was picked up by the wax nose that was placed on it using a drop of cyanoacrylate. The resulting wax nose thus incorporated an acrylic index with the magnetic keepers. This wax nose was carefully invested and the packing procedure using silicone and acrylic resin border framework, intrinsic coloring was carried out as mentioned for the interim above. Extrinsic coloring and pigmentation was done and patient was happy with the esthetic results. Digital weighing scale revealed that the definitive nasal prosthesis weighed around 12.2gms. The retentive force offered by the two neodymium-iron-boron magnets (Magnatech; Mumbai, India) was found to be 7.2N. The prosthesis was delivered to the patient (Fig 56). Following this, home-care instructions were given. In the subjective evaluation, the patient was very happy with the esthetics outcome of the prosthesis and expressed her great pleasure towards her ability to swallow liquids. The ryles tube continued to remain in place considering the general health condition of the patient and the need to feed semi solid food and protein supplements. The prosthesis was light in weight and could be comfortably placed in position as it was self-aligning due to the use of magnets. Patient, who is now on regular periodic follow-up ie, recalling at every 3 month period, is found to be doing well. Discussion Nasal reconstruction modalities comprises of primary closure, healing by secondary intention, skin grafts and local flaps and regional flaps. Small surgical defects can be treated well with different types of local flaps. The forehead flap is the better option for the large nasal defects. 20 The complex anatomical configuration may cause difficulty in surgical rehabilitation. In such cases, prosthetic closure is predictable and hence usually the treatment of choice. 21,22 The breakthrough for rehabilitation of facial defects with implant-retained prostheses came with the development of the modern silicones and bone anchorage. The limitations of the prosthesis were explained to the patient prior to the treatment, that fact that the prosthesis would enhance esthetics but would contribute less to the functions like speech and masticatory habits. Hence, the patient had no psychological set back on the prognosis of the treatment. In addition, there was a major set-back in terms of achieving outstanding esthetical and functional outcome due to the fact that all the work was carried out under technical constraints. This included a lack of time, chair-side patient availability, and ideal light conditions which, to an extent precluded optimal color blending. The main objective of treating this case was to close the open defect, to prevent the further spread of infection in the soft tissues exposed to the environment. The use of a magnetic assembly has eliminated the need for use of spectacle retention as per the patient’s request. The patient indicated that the nasal prosthesis reduced self-consciousness and was comfortable to wear without any type of irritation to the surrounding skin. The patient was pleased with her appearance and no longer found the need to wrap a cloth around her face. References Guttal SS, Patil NP, Thakur S, Kumar MV, Kulkarni S. Implant-Retained Nasal Prosthesis for a Patient Following Partial Rhinectomy: A Clinical Report . J Prosthodont 2009; 18:353–8. Kumar S, Rajtilak G, Rajasekar V, Kumar M. Nasal prosthesis for a patient with xeroderma pigmentosum. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2013; 5:176-8. Marunick MT, Harrison R, Beumer J. Prosthodontic rehabilitation of midfacial defects. J Prosthet Dent 1985; 54:553-60. Buzayan MM. Prosthetic management of mid-facial defect with magnet-retained silicone prosthesis. Prosthet Orthot Int 2014; 38:62-7. Jain S, Maru K, Shukla J, Vyas A, Pillai R, Jain P. Nasal prosthesis rehabilitation: a case report. J Indian Prosthodont Soc 2011; 11:265-9. Anantharaju A, Kamath G, Mody P, Nooji D. Prosthetic rehabilitation of Oro-nasal defect. J Indian Prosthodont Soc 2011; 11:242-5. Shimamoto H, Chindasombatjaroen J, Kakimoto N, Kishino M, Murakami S, Furukawa S. Perineural spread of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the oral and maxillofacial regions: evaluation with contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2012; 41:143–51. Saunders RCH. The gunner with the silver mask. Am Med Hist 1941; 3:283-5. Kazanjian VH, Rowe AT, Young HA. Prosthesis of the mouth and face. J Dent Res 1932;12:1 Kazanjian VH. Treatment of nasal deformities. J Am Med Assoc 1925; 84:177. Bulbulian AH. Facial Prosthetics. Springfield IL, US, Ed 1, 1973 pp. 364-7. Baird WH. An artificial nose. Dent Cosmos 1905; 47:560. Baker L. An artificial nose and palate. Dent Cosmos 1905; 47: 561. Rodrigues S, Shenoy VK, Shenoy K. Prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient after partial rhinectomy: a clinical report. J Prosthet Dent 2005; 93:125-8. Guttal SS, Patil NP, Shetye AD. Prosthetic rehabilitation of a midfacial defect resulting from lethal midline granuloma: a clinical report. J Oral Rehabil 2006; 33:863-7. Parel SM. Diminishing dependence on adhesive for retention of facial prosthesis. J Prosthet Dent 1980;43:552-60. Parel SM, Branemark PI, Tjellstrom A, Gion G. Osseointegration in maxillofacial prosthetics. Part II: extraoral applications. J Prosthet Dent 1986;55:600-6. Brà ¥nemark PI, Adell R, Breine U, Hansson BO, Lindstrà ¶m J, Ohlsson A. Intra-osseous anchorage of dental prostheses. I. Experimental studies. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg 1969;3:81-100. Nishimura RD, Roumanas E, Moy PK, Sugai T. Nasal defects and osseointegrated implants: UCLA experience. J Prosthet Dent 1996;76:597-02. Kose R, Okur MI. Reconstruction of the defects in the middle of the nose with subcutaneous pedicled nasolabial island flap: report of two cases. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtis Derg. 2009;19(5):272-276 Sashi Purna CR, Annapurna PD, Ahmed SB, Vurla S, Nalla S, Abhishek SM. Two-piece nasal septum prosthesis for a large nasal septum perforation: a clinical report. J Prosthodont 2013;22:143-7. Goveas R, Puttipisitchet O, Shrestha B, Thaworanunta S, Srithavaj ML. Silicone nasal prosthesis retained by an intranasal stent: a clinical report. J Prosthet Dent 2012;108:129-32. Figure Legends: Fig 1: Preoperative patients photograph Fig 2: Placement of titanium dental implant in the glabella,-confirmed on the x-ray. Fig 3: Abutment threaded to implant and the trial of acrylic resin sleeve done. Fig 4: Cemented acrylic resin framework embedded with magnets on either side. Fig 5: Comparison between before and after prosthesis placement. Fig 6: Lateral profile of before and after prosthesis placement. Spectacle glasses were given to camouflage the borders of the prosthesis.

The Definitions And Theories On Globalisation Politics Essay

The Definitions And Theories On Globalisation Politics Essay Without an iota of doubt it can be said that one of the metanarratives of our time is globalisation. Indeed, the phrases like the world has become a global village have become clichà ©s. To quote Fred Halliday Globalization has become, over the past few years, the catchword of international economic and political analysis. [Halliday, 2000, pp. 238] David Held and Anthony Mcgrew have expressed this in a slightly different way Indeed, globalization is in danger of becoming, if it has not already become, the clichà © of our times: the big idea which encompasses everything from global financial markets to the Internet but which delivers little substantive insight into the contemporary human condition [Held, Mcgrew, et al. 1999, pp. 1] They then superinduce globalization reflects a widespread perception that the world is rapidly being moulded into a shared social space by economic and technological forces and that developments in one region of the world can have profound consequences f or the life chances of individuals or communities on the other side of the globe.[Ibid] Here in this paper, first we will deal with the definitional and conceptual aspects of globalization. Then we will focus on the prospects and challenges of globalization. Finally, we will try to arrive at a cogent conclusion. DEFINITION AND CONCEPTUALIZATION: Globalization has been defined by different writers in different ways. Indeed, it has got different meanings to different people. According to Anthony Mcgrew, in simplest terms, globalization refers to widening, deepening and speeding up of worldwide interconnectedness [Mcgrew in Smith and Baylis (ed), pp. 20]. Martin Griffiths and Terry O Callaghan have defined is as the acceleration and intensification of mechanisms, processes and activities that are allegedly promoting global interdependence and perhaps ultimately global political and economic integration. It is, therefore, a revolutionary concept, involving the deterritorialisation of social, political, economic, and cultural life. [Griffiths and OCollaghan, 2004, pp. 126-127]. According to Steve Smith and John Baylis, globalization is the process of increasing interconnectedness between societies such that events in one part of the world have more and more effects on peoples and societies for away. They have also conceptualized the global world as one in which political, economic, cultural and social events become more and more impact. [Smith and Baylis ed, 2005, pp. 8] It is to be viewed not as a mere series of reforms giving free rein to transnational companies but as a radical programme to reshape the entire, economic, political, legal and ideological landscape of capitalism [Zuege, Leys et al (ed), 2006, pp. 1]. Amiya Kumar Bagchi has provided a different interpretation of globalization in his paper Womans Employment and well-being in a Globalising world as a deliberate concatenation and control of processes of production, exchange, information and services by the rich in rich nations of the world in collusion with the rich of most countries so as to increase their own power and wealth at the cost of the poor and disadvantaged everywhere. [Bagchi in Kar (ed), 2005, pp. 276] We may cite a few more definitions of globalization In words of Giddens, globalization refers to the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa. [Quoted in Smith and Baylis (ed), 2005, pp. 24] Gilpin calls it The integration of the world-economy. [Ibid]. Scholte conceptualizes it in terms of De-territorialisation or à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the growth of supraterritorial relations between people. [Ibid] David Harvey defines globalization in terms of time space compression. [Ibid] Anthony Mcgrew defines globalisation as a historical process involving a fundamental shift or transformation in the spatial scale of human social organization that links distant communities and expands the reach of power relations across regions and continents. [Mcgrew in Smith and Baylis (ed), 2005, pp. 24] In his presidential address to the 78th Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association (28-30 Dec, 1995), Deepak Nayyar defined globalization as the expansion of economic activities across political boundaries of the nation states. More important, perhaps, it refers to a process of increasing economic integration and growing economic inter-dependence between countries in the world economy. It is associated not only with an increasing cross-border movement of goods, services, capital, technology, information and people also with an organization of economic activities which straddles national boundaries. [Nayyar, 1996, pp. 1] Held and Mcgrew have written, A satisfactory definition of globalization must capture each of these elements : extensity (stretching), intensity, velocity and impact. And a satisfactory account of globalization must examine them thoroughlyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. By acknowledging these dimensions a mere precise definition of globalization can be offered. Accordingly, globalization can be thought of as: a process (or set of process) which embodies a transformation in the spatial organization of social relations and transactions assessed in terms of their extensity, intensity, velocity and impact generating transcontinental or interregional flows and networks of activity, interaction, and the exercise of power. [Held and Mcgrew (ed), 1999, pp. 15-16]. According to C. Sheela Reddy, Globalisation is a complex, multidimensional, social, economic, cultural, technological and political process in which the mobility of capital, ideas, technology, organizations and people has acquired a growing global and transnational form. Advances in new technology (in particular information and communications technology), cheaper and quicker transport, trade, liberalization, increase in financial flows and growth in the size and power of corporations are its distinctive features. It is a blessing to people benefitting from the new opportunities. At the same time others are being left behind in poverty, effectively marginalized from the hopes that globalization holds out. [Reddy, 2008, pp. 84] Thus, from the above definitions, we may reiterate some important aspects of globalization like increasing interaction of social, economic, and political activity, relative deterritorialisation and de-nationalisation of the state, increasing movements of good and services, deregulation of national economy and so on. Anthony Mcgrew observes that globalization is characterized by a stretching of social, political and economic activities across political frontiers. the intensification, or the growing magnitude of interconnectedness in almost every sphere of social existence. the accelerating pace of global interactions and processes as the evolution of world wide systems of transport and communication. the growing extensity, intensity and velocity of global interactions. [Mcgrew in Steve and Baylis (ed), 2005, pp. 22] PERIODISATION OF GLOBALISATION: The periodisation of the process of globalization has been a matter of intense debate. Some regard it as a new phenomenon, while others regard it as the new phase of an old phenomenon and thus old wine in a new bottle. Chandan Sengupta has written One opinion is that the concept of globalization dates back to the voyage of discovery in the 15th century. According to Immanuel Wallerstein, the capitalist economic foundation of globalization was laid as early as in the16th century. Ronald Roberstson traced the historical temporal path of globalization to the present complex structure of global system through five phases: (i) the germinal (1400-1750) phase of dissolution of christendom an emergence of nationalism in Europe, (ii) the incipient (1750-1875) phase of nation state and the initial phase of internationalism and universalism in Europe, (iii) the take off (1875-1925) phase of conceptualization of the world as a single international society, global calendar, first world war, mass international migration and inclusion of non-Europeans in the international club of nation states; (iv) the struggle for hegemony (1925-1969) phase of cold war, the emergence of legue of Nations and the UN, and the emergence of third world, and (v ) the uncertainty (1969-1992) phase of space exploration, recognition of global environmental problem and global mass media, via space technology [ ] The roots of newly emerging forces of globalization have been traced in specific economic and political developments in the late 1980s or early 1990s. [Sengupta, 2001, pp. 3137] TWO PERSPECTIVES OF THE CONCEPTUAL CONSTRUCTIONS OF GLOBALISATION: According to Chandan Sengupta, there are two broad contexts in which globalization has been defined. These two contexts are not very far from one another. One is the economic context, the other that of non-economic which broadly includes socio-cultural, historical and political dimensions of globalization. Such a division of however, the author admits, in reality appear to be false because it is difficult to observe cultural dimensions of globalization totally independent of its material aspects. Scholars like Immanuel Wallerstein have resorted to the first perspective. While, Giddens, Robertson and Waters et. al, have tried to look globalization through the prism of socio-cultural perspective. [Ibid, pp. 3138]. THE GLOBALISATION DEBATE AND THE THREE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT: Anthony, Mcgrew, David Held et. al have pointed out three broad schools of thought in relation to the globalization debate namely the hyperglobalizers, the sceptics, and the transformationalists. In essence each of these schools may be said to represent a distinctive account. We will highlight briefly what these theses are: For the hyperglobalisers, such as Ohmae, contemporary globalization defines a new era in which peoples everywhere are increasingly subject to the disciplines of the global marketplace. By contrast the sceptics, such as Hirst and Thompson, argue that globalization is essentially a myth which conceals the reality of an international economy increasingly segmented into three major regional blocs in which national governments remain very powerful. Finally, for the transformationalists, chief among them being Rosenau and Giddens, contemporary patterns of globalization are conceived as historically unprecedented such that states and societies across the globe are experiencing a process of profound change as they try to adapt to a more interconnected but highly uncertain world. Interestingly more of these three schools map directly on to traditional ideology positions or worldviews. [Held and Mcgrew, et. al, 1999, pp. 2] Held and others have also summarized the three dominant tendencies of globalization debate in a tabular form as follows. Conceptualizing globalization: three tendency Hyperglobalists Sceptics Transformationalists Whats new? A global age Trading blocs, weaker geogoverance than in earlier periods Historically unprecedented levels of global interconnectedness Dominant features Global capitalism, global governance, global civil society World less interdependent than in 1890s Thick'(intensive and extensive) globalization Power of national governments Declining or eroding Reinforced or enhanced Reconstituted restructured Driving forces of globalization Capitalism and technology States and markets Combined forces of modernity Pattern of stratification Erosion of old hierarchies Increased marginalization of south New architecture of world orders Dominant motif McDonalds, Madonna etc. National interest Transformation of political community Conceptualization of globalization As a reordering of the framework of human action As internationalization in regionalisation As reordering of interregional relations and actions at a distance Historical trajectory Global civilization Regional blocs / clash of civilizations Indeterminate global integration and fragmentation Summery argument The end of the nation-state Internationalisation depends on state acquiescence and support Globalization transformation state power and world politics [Ibid, pp. 10] It is noteworthy that when it comes to the sources of contention in the globalization debate, Held and others have mentioned five principal sources namely conceptualization causation periodisation impacts and the trajectories of globalization. [Held and Mcgrew et al.,1999,p10 ] It is not the purpose of this paper to explore them all at length. So, we will limit our discussion to the prospects and challenges of globalization only. PROSPECTS OF GLOBALISATION: Globalisation is a double edged phenomenon. It has got prospects as well as challenges. As regards the prospects or post dimensions of globalization, Smith and Baylis have written: The pace of economic transformation is so great that it has created a new world politics. States are no longer closed units and they cannot control their economies. The world economy is more interdependent than ever, wit trade and finances ever expanding. Communications have fundamentally revolutionized the way we deal with the rest of the world. We now live in a world where events in one location can be immediately observed in the other side of the world. Other side of the world. Electronic communications alter our notions of the social groups we work and live in. There is now, more than ever before, a global culture, so that most urban areas resemble one another. The world shares a common culture, much of it emanating from Hollywood. The world is becoming more homogeneous. Differences between peoples are diminishing. Time and space seem to be collapsing. Our old ideas of geographical space and of chronological time are undermined by the speed of modern communications and media. There is emerging a global polity, with transnational social and political movements and the beginnings of a transfer of allegiance from the state to sub-state, transnational, and international bodies. A cosmopolitan culture is developing. People are beginning to think globally and act locally. A risk culture is emerging with people realizing both that the main risks that face them are global (pollution and AIDS) and that states are unable to deal with the problems. [Smith and Baylis, 2005, pp. 10-11] C. Sheela Reddy wrote about the positive dimensions of globalizations as follows Increasing economic opportunities for countries to find markets in which their labour forces can compete effectively. Opportunities for countries with institutional and technical infrastructure to attract investments. Increasing consumer choice and falling prices for individuals around the world. Increasing protection of vulnerable groups, as communications technology facilitates global awareness and actions by international solidarity and human rights movements. Better protection of the right to seek, receive and impact information through new communication tools including cellular phones, satellite television and the internet. The right of freedom of association or freedom of assembly for which physical presence is no longer required due to new communication tools. Facilitating exchange of information on social policies and services, access to educational information and multicultural link with people of other cultures. [Reddy, 2008, pp. 86] Certain writers argue that now national boundaries do not stand in way of process of an individual or a community thanks to globalization. Men (and women) have gained access to the treasure of knowledge and culture which is the product of genius all over the world. Now local communities have the opportunity to benefit from technology information, services, and markets available anywhere in the world. Finally, globalization has created an awareness regarding the global environment all over the world, and different nations have come to recognize global problems as a matter of their individual and collective responsibility [Gauba, 2005, pp. 173] Another section of writers who strike a balance between the merits and demerits of globalization have noted that globalisation has raised per capita income in the world to three times since 1945; it has created awareness regarding environment, and congenial conditions for disarmament. It has brought the condition of subordinate groups to limelight and inspired them to form their global organizations for their emancipation. It has also liberated them from the ideological domination of their local communities and enabled them to fight for their legitimate rights. [Ibid] As regard the impact of globalization on women, Lene Sjorup has written: women are ( ) involved in globalization at a number of interlocking, diverse and sometimes even contradictory levels. They may very well be the victims of one aspect of globalization, while they remain central actors in other aspects. Why, I ask myself, paint a picture of an overwhelming enemy confronting women, when a more detailed socio-religio-political analysis shows that women participate in complicated ways in global developments? Women surely are confronted with a number of obstacles at many levels. But, why use a mega-term like globalisation for describing the arch-enemy, instead of analyzing the many forms of oppression women face within the process of globalization, and including those from which we also benefit. [Sjorup, 1997, pp. 97] Thus, it would be wrong to treat globalization as a total anathema. As regards the future of globalization, Stanley Fischer (the first Deputy Managing Director of IMF) commented to Closing Panel Discussion of IMF on Aug 26, 2000: What about the future (of globalization)? Two cheering observations to begin with: First, most developing countries continue to liberalize trade despite their complaints about the global trading system. We calculate an index of trade barriers for individual IMF member countries. Almost uniformly, it shows that barriers to trade have been declining in the developing countries. They understand that unilateral trade liberalization is in their own interest, they are arguing for the advanced countries to open up not for themselves to close down and that is good news. Second, despite the recent crisis, capital accounts in almost all emerging market countries have remained open. And the two largest economies with relatively closed capital accounts. They understand that is the best way to go. They understand that is the best way to go. They are doing it cautiously and gradually and they are right to do it that way. But the direction in which they are moving is clear. Policy-makers in almost all developing countries have no intention of reversing the process of capital account opening, despite their complaints over much of what is going on in the world, and despite their concerns over the recent crises. [http: // www.imf.org/external / np/ speeches/2000/082600.htm. visited on 21/03/10 at 8.30 p.m] He has also mentioned two forecasts.The first is conditional : if we, and this means policy makers of the advanced countries and the international institutions, manage the processes well and bring the developing countries into the process of globalization, it will continue, to the potential benefit of all and to the likely benefit of almost all. And, second, there will be surprises along the way. [Ibid] CHALLENGES OF GLOBALISATION: The rewards of globalization has not been uniform and equitable. It has benefitted only a certain category of states and people. M.A. Ommen has even called it a contrived phenomenon. He cites three reasons why globalization is not the culmination of a natural process: Firstly, the world today is virtually governed by the G-7 countries (the USA, the UK, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy). The IMF, World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO), the avatar of GATT, are neatly co-opted into the process of the economic management of the world. Second, science and technology are not a free pursuit. They are in captivity, so to say. The military powers (this includes the former Soviet Union) and transnational corporations (TNCS) have manipulated science technology for power and profit. This trend continues. The end of cold war has not materially altered the situation. Third, the United States of America as Prof. Vernon points out, has been trying to create an international system in its own image has pioneered the so-called development ideology to counter communism. [Ommen, 1995, pp.75] GLOBALISATION : THE NEW AVATAR OF IMPERIALISM Some scholars are viewing globalization as the new face of imperialism. They are of the view that imperialist globalization is gradually spreading its wings to cast an abysmally dark shadow world over. Thinkers like Ranen sen are very much critical of this contretemps. He writes Globalisation is paving the way for the US imperialism which is out to exploit the unipolar geopolitics. Militarization and more aggressive programmes are designed within framework of hegemenistic objectives of the CIS authorities à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Washington has a long-term plan to destabilize the south and central Asian countries which have untapped hydrocarbon resource. Afghanistan has a massive resource of natural gas and Iraq has a developed oil industry. The US scheme of subversion in Afghanistan, Iraq and adjacent countries in nothing new. After becoming the hegemonistic ruler of world capitalist order, following the collapse of the USSR, Wash ington pressed Pentagon more vigorously into service to dominate the oil and natural gas sectors in those countries.[Sen in Kar (ed) 2005, pp. 93-94] It is often claimed that globalization has led to the increasing interdependence. Now, the basic questions concern. Interdependence among and who are the beneficiaries? Samit Kar writes in the preface of GLOBALISATION : ONE WORLD MANY VOICES [pp. 12] Is this interdependence of world society real or tilted in favour of the richer nations? Neo-Marxists are also apprehensive of the lopsided development brought by globalization Robert Cox and other neo-Marxists à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ stress the uneven hierarchical nature of economic globalization. The global economic power is increasingly concentrated in the leading industrialised countries, including the United States, Japan, and the States of Western Europe. That means the economic globalization will not benefit the impoverished masses of the Third World. Nor will it improve the living standards of the poor in the highly industralised countries. [Jackson and Sorensen, 2003, pp. 217] Mahuya Chakrabarty writes in the same vein in the article Free Market Globalisation: Oil conflict and US aggression-This so-called free market globalization does not actually mean the spread of productive capital in the world but the accelerated accumulation and concentration of capital in the few imperialist countries, chiefly the US. Liberalization, p rivatization and deregulationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the key factors attached with free market globalization à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. have accelerated the outflow of social weather created by the people from the neo-colonies to the neo-imperialist countries. Here, the principal actor is the MNCs à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the multinational agencies like the IMF, World Bank and WTO. [Chakrabarty in Kar (ed), 2005, pp. 108] Ranen Sen has written Globalisation is a bid to restructure the power and politics of developed capitalist countries under the US hegemony. It is in a way to recolonization through the trinity of World Bank, IMF and WTO. [Sen in Kar (ed), 2005, pp. 94] In the same tune Petras and Polychroniou, have pointed out the real nature and motives of these financial institutions These institutions were controlled by appointees of the respective imperial states and their function was to displace national markets and local producers and undermine popular social legislation in order to facilitate the entry of multinationals and the primacy of domestic export elites producing for the markets of the imperial counties. [Petras and Polychroniou, 1997, pp. 2251] GLOBALISATION AND UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT: The process of globalization is highly uneven. Deepak Nayyar observes There are less than a dozen developing countries which are an integral part of globalization in the late twentieth century. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico in Latin America and Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in Asia. These eleven countries accounted for about 30 percent of total exports from developing countries during the period 1970-1980. This share rose to 59 per cent in 1990 and 66 per cent in 1992. The same countries, excluding Korea, were also the main recipients of direct investment in the developing world accounting for 66 per cent of the average annual inflows during the period 1981-1991à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ this evidence suggests that globalization is most uneven in its spread and there is an exclusion in the process. Sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia are simply not in the picture, apart from many co untries in Latin America, Asia and the Pacific which are left out altogether. [Nayyar, 1996, pp. 15] Nayyar also notes that the benefits of integration with the world economy, through globalization, would accrue only to those countries which have laid the requisite foundations for industrialization and development. This means investing in the development of human resources and the creation of a physical infrastructure. This means the acquisition of technological and managerial capabilities at a micro-level. This means the creation of institutions that would regulate, govern and facilitate the functioning of markets. In each of these pursuits, strategic forms of state intervention are essential. The countries which have not created these pre-conditions could end up globalizing prices without globalizing incomes. In the process, a narrow segment of their population may be integrated with the world economy, in terms of consumption patterns or living styles, but a large proportion of their population may be marginalized even further. [Ibid, pp. 16] According to C. Sheela Reddy, the benefits of economic globalization have not accrued to the majority due to certain adverse consequences like: The increase of inequalities among regions and nations, within nations and among individuals The continued growth of poverty. The increase of peoples vulnerability due to social risks such as unemployment and crime. The decrease in opportunities for regions, nations, communities and individuals to enjoy the benefits and advantages provided by globalization. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Thus the benefits of globalization are not uniformly enjoyed at present as many people still live in poverty and the result of alleviation efforts are uneven within and between the regions of the world. [Reddy, 2008, pp. 87-88] Hirst and Thompson have made a very harsh criticism of globalization. According to them, the most extreme versions of globalizations are a myth. In support of this claim, they have offered five arguments. First, the present internationalized economy is not unique in history. In some respects they say it is less open than the international economy between 1870 and 1914. Second, they find that genuinely transnational companies are relatively rare, most are national companies trading internationally. There is no trend towards the development of international companies. Third, there is no shift of finance and capital from the developed to the underdeveloped worlds. Direct investment is highly concentrated amongst the countries of the developed world. Fourth, the world-economy is not global, rather trade, investment, and financial flows are concentrated in and between three blocs Europe, North America, and Japan. Finally, they argue this group of three blocs could, if they co-ordinated p olicies, regulate global economic markets and forces [quoted in Smith , Baylis, 2005, p. 11] We will highlight here some other challenges of globalization First it must be borne in mind that competitive markets may be the best guarantee of efficiency, but not of equity. And markets are neither the first not the last word in human development. There was a time when many activities and goods that are crucial to human development were provided outside the market à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ but these are now being squeezed by the pressure of global competition. The policy of structural adjustment which was forced on most of the third world countries has reduced the amount of government expenses in health, employment as well as in education sector, subsequently making the people of the third world the victim of globalization. Second, unequal distribution: When the market goes too far in dominating social and political outcome, the opportunities and reward of globalization spread unequally and inequitably à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. concentrating power and values in a select group of people, nations and corporations, marginalizing the others. When the market goes our of hand, the instability grows up, as in the financial crisis in East Asia and its worldwide implications cutting global output by estimated 2 trillion dollar in 1998-2000. Since 1980s many countries have captured the opportunities of economic and technological globalization. Other than the industrial countries, the countries like India, Poland, Turkey, Chile are attracting foreign investment and taking advantage of technological progress. At the other extreme there any many countries, not all benefited from expanding markets and advancing technology Madagascar, sub-Saharan countries among others. Third, Inequality within and between countries: Jayati Gosh has written in her article Imperialist Globalisation and the political economy of South Asia à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The recent process of imperialist globalization has been marked by greatly increased disparities, both within countries and between countries. [Ghosh in Kar (ed.), 2005, pp. 260.] Inequality has been rising in many countries since the early 1980s In China, disparities are widening between the export oriented region of the coast and the interior. The human poverty index is just under 20% in coastal provinces, but more than 50% inland Guijhou. Inequality between the countries has also been increasing. Noteworthy that the income gap between the richest and the poorest fifth in the world was just 3:1 in 1820. Today, the gap in one word is gargantuan. Let us look at the following statistics included in UNDP 1999 Report: Year Income Gap Ratio 1820 3:1 1870 7:1 1913 11:1 1960 30:1 1990 60:1 1997 74:1 Again at the turn of the 21 century, the richest 20% of the worlds population had: > 86% of world GDPà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. The bottom fifth had 1% > 82% of world export markets à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the bottom fifth

Tom Stoppards Arcadia Essay -- Arcadia Tom Stoppard

Throughout the text, Tom Stoppard's novel Arcadia makes a series of philosophical statements regarding the theme of determinism. These statements are developed largely through images and completely different time periods, particularly those of the Romantic and Enlightenment era ¹s. Tom Stoppard uses the theme of determinism to show how the ideas of the Romantic era and the present day have gone in a circle. And that even though we get more and more advanced everyday, Stoppard shows us that despite our constant advancement, our basic ideas have remained unchanged. Author Tom Stoppard portrays this belief of a time cycle through the image of the apple juxtaposed with the image of the garden.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Arcadia, Tom Stoppard uses a scientific view of determinism along with a religious view on determinism in order to allow the reader to see similarities in ideas between the Romantic era and the present day. Religious determinism in Arcadia is shown to have to do with God/fate, predestination, and the future whereas the scientific view has to do with Newton, and with biological determinism. Although both stories do use both aspects of determinism, it is usually the story from 1809 using the scientific determinism whereas in the present day, they use more of the religious view of determinism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the first story, a scientific view of determinism is shown through Septimus and Thomasina in order to introduce to the reader the basic ideas on determinism and science.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  ...

The Impact of Pirates and of Piracy on the Spanish Empire Essay

The Impact of Pirates and of Piracy on the Spanish Empire When the word pirate is mentioned, many people think of ship carrying men across the seas as they pillage other ships. While this is true to some extent there was much more to the lives of the men that were known as pirates. Pirates were mostly men from French, English or Dutch heritage, and were privateers or merchants. Many of these men were sanctioned by their government. By the Spanish they were call piratas or unsanctioned sea-raiders, and would have a heavy influence of trade in the Caribbean and on the Spanish Empire. The first pirates were known as corsairs and appeared at the end of the 15th and into the beginning of the 16th century. It was at this time between 1530-60 when Spain began to transport the newly discovered riches in the New World. Large amounts of gold, sugar, tabacco and pearls were being sent back to Spain. In 1523 a French Corsair by the name of Jean Florin over took several weakly protected Spanish ships and captured a cargo that held 62,000 ducats in gold, 600 marks of pearls and several tons of sugar. This brought pirates into the Caribbean (Lane 16). Spain was forced to protect the cargo ships that transported the riches that they were obtaining in the New World and the cost was very great. Trade ships were required to travel in convoys and be armed. Also a Spanish fleet was formed that traveled the seas twice a year, patrolling the trade routes for pirates. There was great hesitation to form a navy that would patrol the Caribbean seas because of costs, but much would be lost because of this hesitation. Not only were merchant ships being pick off and there cargo taken, unprotected Caribbean towns were being raided and the colonists gains... ...story were used mainly for the raiding and capturing of Spanish colonies. These events would take place until the early 1670’s when governments attempted to phase out pirates. Laws were made in an attempt to make pirates give up the profession voluntarily (Lane 126). For the most part this worked, but there are many cases of raids and such after. The effect that piracy held on trade and the Spanish Empire was over after the sufficient damage that it caused. Damage that was highly influential in shaping the Caribbean and the Empires of Europe into what they are. Works Cited Kelsey, Harry. Sir Francis Drake The Queen’s Pirate. Yale University Press: New Haven. 1998. Lane, Kris E. Pillaging the Empire Piracy in the Americas. M.E. Sharpe: New York. 1998. Williams, Neville. The Sea Dogs Privateers, Plunders and Piracy in the Elizabethan Age. Macmillian: New York. 1975.

“A Taste of Honey” Shelagh Delaney Essay

In â€Å"A Taste of Honey† Shelagh Delaney presents Jo as a young woman looking for security and love. Compare the relationships she has with Helen, her boyfriend and Geoff. To what extent does she find security and love with each? Shelagh Delaney the writer of the play â€Å"A Taste of Honey† was born on November 25th 1939 in Salford, England. It was in school when she saw her first play, an amateur performance of Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello†. She was only twelve at the time, and the play made a great impression on her. When she was seventeen, she began writing â€Å"A Taste of Honey† as a novel but later realised that it would be better as a play so it was first performed in 1958, accepted by Joan Littlewood, a famous director of the Political Theatre who strongly believed that plays should be about ordinary people. â€Å"A Taste of Honey† is mainly about a young working class girl who refuses to conform to her dreary surroundings and way of life. When the play was introduced, it was rare to find any of the situations portrayed in any other plays as the circumstances of each of the characters in the play were polemic and unaccepted by a neglectful society. Keeping up the appearances was an important factor in life, and at the time public disgrace was a horrendous situation to be involved in., so it almost became a day to day struggle to keep others satisfied with a suitable personal image that no one had the right to question. People were often very prejudiced about things like origin and race, sexual inclination, promiscuity and sex before marriage. To be involved in any of those things was a serious act for concern from the family and members of the community. At the time people were very religious and strict with regards to homosexuality, promiscuity and sex before marriage, in households from the 20th century, there was rarely a laid back mentality when these situations happened in the conventional life of an ordinary person. It was very common for a youngster to be involved in any of the above, as the senior members relied on their traditional customs and philosophies and took a lot of care in their every move. Ironically this play doesn’t seem very concerned with all the issues that emerge from that society, and makes it a much more rebellious and interesting play to watch. However interesting it was, not everyone agreed with the content of the play, as some reviewers confessed that this was the first play they had seen with a coloured person and a homosexual man. Jo is a 15-year old girl who seems to have been unfortunate in life due to the circumstances that we see her in at the start of the play. By the way of life she leads, we learn that she is not happy or satisfied with herself or with her only relative, her mother. She displays inappropriate behaviour for a teenager of her time, â€Å"I don’t owe you a thing.† By saying this we learn that she has little respect for Helen and is very distant from her, she also sounds angry and frustrated because she knows she deserves much more and also because Helen has not been a proper mother to her in any way. Something else, which we are able to see from Jo’s lifestyle, is that she is frequently exposed by her mother, to different men coming in and out of Helen’s life. The best example is Peter, a â€Å"close† friend of Helen’s. This is evidently an unsuitable environment for a teenage girl, and clearly shows that Helen is not very concerned about the image she is creating in Jo’s mind. We can conclude that Helen is not only being a terrible example for daughter Jo, but also is offering no security in the sense of stable relationships that can benefit Jo in a good way. Helen doesn’t stand firm in front of Jo and by inviting men into her house, she is loosing all sense of respect for herself and most importantly, for her daughter. Its almost like Helen and Jo are friends who take â€Å"boyfriends† in for intimate relationships. At the start of the play we learn that Helen has a strong drinking problem, â€Å"drink, drink, drink, that’s all you’re fit for. You make me sick.† Jo is directly affected by it, as she has to co-exist with this habit in Helen’s life. We know that she clearly dislikes it and mentions how her mother isn’t good for anything else apart from drinking. This can represent the way Jo feels, since the time she started to realise her mother’s neglectful treat â€Å"you make me sick†, Jo’s frustration has become so great that she has started to hate her mother for being such a bad parent. By mentioning â€Å"that’s all you’re fit for† Jo tells us that Helen has been a total failure in every aspect of motherhood and wasn’t able to demonstrate even the smallest sign of care and affection for daughter Jo. Perhaps Helen thought that alcohol could help ease the pain of not being able to be a good parent and offer love and security to Jo. But once again we see that Helen makes the wrong choice and maybe unconsciously might not realise how much this is also affecting Jo. This drinking problem is once again an appalling example that Helen is transmitting to Jo, as she might think it’s acceptable to drink in order to ease the pain and attempt to sort out problems under a more relaxed but less rational approach. Some readers may think that at the point of Helen’s response to Jo’s comments about drinking, she is completely under the dominion of alcohol, and responds in a cynical way, â€Å"†¦Don’t just stand there shivering; have some of this if you’re so cold†. My reaction to this answer was of utter amazement as I am unable to believe the extent of Helen’s brutality and stupidity. She has just been told by Jo how much she dislikes the habit and still persists on acting irresponsibly and offering an intoxicating drink to her underage daughter. She should have been a little more considerate and thought of a more reasonable solution to Jo’s request. This once again leads us to believe that Helen is offering Jo no security, or protection in any way. Unexpectedly Jo enquires about her father just as her mother is getting ready to marry peter. As she is not pleased with what her mother responds, she declares her as a liar â€Å"You liar†¦ look at me†. This response was obviously generated from the way Helen answered Jo’s question, which evidently wasn’t tactful or sensitive. Until this point we learn that Jo is unaware of who her father is, and this sort of conversation appears to be a serious issue between mother and daughter. Jo seems to feel resentment towards her mother, by the way she says â€Å"you liar†. By hiding this important piece of information to Jo, I believe that Helen has disrespected her daughter in various aspects. Jo as being the product of an intimate relationship between Helen and the man in question is in her full right to demand respect and to know who her progenitor was. This reveals quite a lot about Helen’s personality, as she demonstrates cowardice at the single thought of facing her daughter and telling her the truth about her origin. When Jo says â€Å"look at me†, it becomes clear to us, that she has to prove or disprove her mother’s honesty with a single glance at her eyes. Jo is not entirely sure of this answer and proves to us that she does not trust her mother in her honesty and actions. Helen and Jo keep an uncharacteristic relationship; because it’s not one of mother and daughter love neither a friendly one. They just don’t seem to be able to understand each other as such and therefore have lost all mutual respect and affection, simply because Helen is far too selfish to give up her way of life to ultimately benefit her daughter and herself. It’s like they’ve swapped roles, Helen being the daughter and Jo being the mother, one more responsible and conscious than the other. Jo acts like an adult in many ways, as she shows a clear disapproval upon her surroundings and her mother’s drinking habits, she certainly feels uncomfortable at the men coming in and out of Helen’s life. â€Å"You’ve emptied more bottles down your throat in the last few weeks than I would have thought possible. If you don’t watch it, you’ll end up an old down-out boozer knocking back the meths† Jo is warning Helen that if she isn’t careful with her habits, she will be alcoholic and drinking illicit beverages â€Å"meths†. Jo sounds like she’s disturbed by her mother’s future and has a precautious tone in her voice that makes her sound like a worried mother or wife. At the start of the play, when we meet Helen and Jo, their relationship seems very weak, and doesn’t seem to get any better as the play proceeds; because of this I can predict that as they don’t dedicate sufficient time and effort to form stronger bonds they will not be able to progress and comprehend their individual needs and circumstances. â€Å"†¦Anyway, it’s your life, ruin it your own way†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Helen makes this very strong remark that suggests a very careless thought with regards to Jo’s future. She uses a common tactic that allows her to show a dignified attitude, by offering Jo sufficient freedom to ruin her future and hold her responsible for her actions, consequently saving herself from her daughter’s blame and pain of failing. This shows how careless she is at offering support in Jo’s plans ambitions and dreams. In a way this is a very sad thing to do, because not only does Jo lack financial stability, but also love and emotional security. On the other hand Jo is conscious of her mother’s intentions with regards to a good life for her. â€Å"Ruining my life. After all, you’ve had plenty of practice† this blame on Helen’s performance as mother is quite serious and is good at describing their relationship in general. This allegation is also good to prove the fact that Helen has offered no security or love to Jo. However making matters worse Helen accepts this accusation and unconsciously hurts Jo to a deeper extent saying â€Å"yes, give praise where praise is due, I always say†¦Ã¢â‚¬  pessimistically she responds with no hint of shame at what she has created in Jo, because of her neglectful behaviour. I don’t think that during the play their relationship gets to evolve in a positive or a negative way; however Helen may start to look at Jo as a woman rather than a girl due to the consequence of her relationship with â€Å"boy† and her pregnancy. In act 1 scene 2 Helen leaves her daughter Jo to go and get married to Peter, which in some way helps Jo’s emotional state, as it is supposedly the end of a most hated cohabitation, and the start of a new independent life. I believe that this action taken by Helen was by far the best thing she has done to benefit Jo, perhaps unconsciously but for the benefit of both sides. Helen has been a bad mother because she has never been able to offer Jo pure and unconditional love, instead she has made Jo’s existence imperfect and complicated without a reasonable purpose. I am not trying to justify un-motherly conduct, but she probably was never prepared to facet he responsibilities of a parent. It was completely inappropriate form Helen to allow men and alcohol form a barrier between herself and daughter Jo. Nearer to the conclusion of the play Helen returns to Jo, not to rectify her mistakes but only to make matters worse for poor Jo and her baby, I feel that she came back in a mood of pity and not love for a future single mother. However she may see herself reflected on Jo, and may feel is her duty to come to aid her. I feel great sympathy for Jo at the end of the play, because it seems to me that her life is a cycle that repeats itself over and over again. She is lonely even though she is due to have a baby and has her mother with her. Sadly Helen is still an alcoholic, and is penniless just as Jo is, which will unmistakeably make the baby suffer because of the circumstances. I also feel that since Jo and Helen have avoided resolving their differences and issues, their relationship will carry on deteriorating to a greater extent, until they will not be able to interact any longer as a team or â€Å"family†. Boy holds a fairly important role in the play, as Shelagh Delaney may have used him in order to represent a race and a whole group of people at the time. He is a twenty year old sailor that manages to infiltrate Jo’s heart and lighten up her life to a certain extent, for a short period of time. The reason why Shelagh Delaney doe not provide â€Å"boy† with a name, is because he ends up leaving her and breaking all his made promises, of returning and marrying her. His role in the play is of a young adult who meets Jo and eventually becomes her boyfriend. He also becomes the father of her baby, even though he is not aware of this. The relationship boy has with Jo is completely different to the ones she experiences with all the other characters, this one is of love and mutual understanding. â€Å"I love you†¦because you are daft.† I believe that the most important factor with regards to Jo’s feelings and other characters is that perhaps it is the first time she falls in love with someone, and is answered back in the same way. Even though â€Å"buy† offers love to Jo, he certainly doesn’t offer much security. This is because he enjoys having fun wherever he goes and is not able to make a promise and keep it. â€Å"you’re the first girl who I’ve met who really doesn’t care†¦Ã¢â‚¬  this quote shows that he is someone who’s had many relationships in the past, analyses different behaviours, and therefore has gained experience in the subject. I reckon that Shelagh Delaney wants to make the audience judgemental towards â€Å"boy† because of the way his relationship ends with Jo, and leaving to never come back. In my opinion â€Å"boy† only used Jo to sleep with and never really felt anything special for her, this truly shows the type f person he is. The audience may find that he is genuine and honest about his feelings but then turns out to be insincere and false, however what really damages his image to a higher extent is how he took advantage of Jo’s naivety and innocence. Geoff is another important character in the play, as Shelagh Delaney may have chosen him to represent the fears, hopes and dreams of a secluded group of people, who were judged by their sexual inclination. He is false a person who provides Jo with a strong friendship and some security that perhaps she took for granted. Geoff is someone who lacks self-confidence and is in desperate search for acceptance security and companionship, he wants Jo to look at him as a man with defects and expects from her as much as she receives from him. They have a peculiar relationship as Jo refers to him â€Å"as a big sister† or a womanly figure in the house, â€Å"you are just like an old woman really. You just unfold your bed, kiss me goodnight and sing me to sleep†. This kind of remark may have resulted embarrassing for him as he is a male and much older than Jo. Shelagh Delaney is very effective at revealing Geoff qualities, by telling us the large amounts of efforts he puts into Jo’s house and the way that he takes care of her, â€Å"someone’s got to look after you. You can’t look after yourself†. You would not expect this type of behaviour from a stranger and man in a male dominating society. Another good way the reader can see the qualities in Geoff is by comparing him to Helen, who is the total opposite of her and has taken better care of Jo in a short period of time than she has. From analysing Jo’s and Geoff relationship we can learn that during the time they spend living together they have both been happy and able to co-exist with each other, which is something Helen and Jo were never able to achieve. However there was always this barrier between Jo and Geoff, generated by their different attitudes towards life and other issues that revolved around their respective characters. While Geoff was optimistic, Jo was fairly negative and resembled Helen’s personality to some extent. This factor never really allowed them to enjoy their relationship and their time together to the maximum. â€Å"I think it would be best if you left this place Geoff I don’t think it’s doing you any good being here with me all the time† this tells us that Jo is being honest with him and knows about his need to experience a woman’s desire to prove whether his inclination towards a men is real. To some degree Jo is a little bit arrogant as she declares that she can be self-sufficient and doesn’t need from Geoff to carry on living a normal life. â€Å"Nobody asked you to stay here. You moved in on me, remember? If you don’t like it you can get out, can’t get†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Geoff is a maternal figure to Jo as he is making a great effort to help her out with the preparation for the coming of the baby; something Helen would be more appropriate at doing. â€Å"I thought you changed. Motherhood is supposed to come natural to women† he explain this which such patience and care that almost sounds like he has passed through motherhood himself. This maternal figure is very rare and distinctive in the play as he is the only in the play who offers this sort of care and guidance, despite him being a man. Geoff is nothing like Helen simply because they do not share any qualities or even defects. The only way in which he may resemble Helen’s behaviour is at the end of his role, when he decides to leave Jo and not rebel against Helen’s prejudices and power to throw him out of Jo’s and the baby’s life. just as Helen did, he ends up deserting Jo, and not thinking of the possible emotional crisis she may start to go through. At the end of the play Jo is left standing by herself lonely without anyone’s help and support to hep undergo the conceiving of her baby, and the rest of her life she may still have to live. The mood is quite bleak, grim and dull at this point most of the relationships between the characters have broken up. Helen has been thrown out of Peter’s house and longer is she able to enjoy financial stability or Peter’s company as a husband. I believe none of the relationships in the play were really meant to work just as much as Geoff and Jo would have never been able to coexist considering their different circumstances. Shelagh Delaney may have chosen the title â€Å"A Taste of Honey† because in a way all of the characters in the play find a hint of happiness for a short while, and then just as it came it quickly diminishes and becomes difficult once again. I believe that Shelagh Delaney was correct in choosing this title for the play because it is indeed a sequence of events that resemble the ups and downs in life and the way one can taste something good but then it’s taken away. It’s never really a constant patch of happiness throughout, but a constant struggle to keep going as much as possible.