Globalisation and International Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Globalisation and International Politics - Essay Example Fortunately, the poor countries’ debt relief deal by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (Rosenberg, 2005, 45), has been one among the significant changes, which have resulted from the strong protests and demonstrations, linked to international political economy. Adding to that, the workability of markets has not been up to the expectations of many key players in the markets. For instance, the past few years have marked significant progress for many nations in terms of progress, while some states have had their development deteriorate. In some cases, the progress in development of some nations has altered within a small margin over the past few years, as the political economies of such state has been affected by globalisation in small extents. All the happenings in the past few years have seen the challenging of institutions, strategies and beliefs. As an example, the functionality of the institutions concerned with the economic governance at the global platform and the development doctrines that are internationally accepted have faced attacks from the western economists (Stiglitz, 2003, 97). At the same time, global issues have pressurised the urge of addressing the big problems that have prevailed in Africa over the past few years. ... The term is mostly associated with the economic aspect, which involves the production of services and goods, and how they are distributed – the progress in reducing the factors that inhibit trade internationally. Such factors often include import quotas, the export fees and tariffs (Sepulchre, Arcak & Teel, 2002, 524). Thus, globalisation defines the process by which national economies integrate increasingly, to global economy. On the other hand, the term ‘political economy’ refers to the study of how goods and services are produced, bought and sold (Amoore, 2000, 72), and how these processes relate with the government, custom and law. These processes also relate with how the wealth and income of a nation are distributed. The term owes its origin to the moral philosophy, and has grown over time to be the study of the states’ economies. Globalisation and the political economy have interconnections to the sense that, in the present world, most issues surround ing globalisation are politically oriented, and thus, globalisation is a major factor in the political economy. Globalisation plays a vital role in shaping the international political economy in a diverse spectrum. Ways in which Globalisation Shapes International Political Economy In the better internalisation of the basic organisation of our societies, the strong interrelation between wealth and power has been a critical factor. For the past few years, the richness in the political economy has been unveiled by international relations. Currently, the international relations are a key issue that explains the operation and evolution of the economy of the present world (Dilip, 2001, 168). The relations often include public policy shaping, the steps taken by regulatory systems and

Ecological Evaluation of Environmental Problems Essay Example for Free

Ecological Evaluation of Environmental Problems Essay Biodiversity refers to the abundance of life forms (bio means life, diversity means variety or assortment). This includes different animals, plants and micro-organisms. The ecosystem where these living organisms belong, as well as their genetic make-up, is also part of biodiversity. Wide biodiversity is advantageous to species development as there will be various interactions going on among the different species. Among the most bio-diverse ecosystems are rainforests and aquatic ecosystems. Both land and water species can be found in these habitats. The existence, however, of these ecosystems are becoming endangered as a lot of human activities negatively impact these ecosystems. Forest destruction has been an existing issue for the longest time. Pollution – air and water – is also one of the most common problems different ecosystems and the environment itself are facing. Human activities also cause global warming which is not healthy for all living creatures. These things that people do to our environment can definitely be prevented and avoided. We can start by stopping the use of substances with chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which were identified as harmful to the ozone layer. This simple deed can help decrease the effects of global warming to the environment. Local governments should also enforce strict laws against forest destruction. Environmentalists can also start a campaign on reforestation to help rebuild destroyed forests and natural habitats. Maintaining biodiversity is important in human sustainability. Each life form is beneficial to one another. Plants are the producers in the food chain. Some primary and secondary consumers are also taken by humans as food, which is our main source of energy. Continuous destruction of the ecosystems leads to the decrease in these food sources. Thus, preserving the ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity should be seriously considered by everyone. Acid deposition starts with the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Burning of these fuels produces nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide which are considered air pollutants. Volcanic eruptions can also emit these pollutants. When the nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides get released to the atmosphere, chemical transformation happens and sulfuric and nitric acid compounds are produced. These compounds make the air acidic. Eventually, these acidic compounds fall to the surface of the Earth – the process called â€Å"acid deposition†. Deposition can happen in wet or dry form. Wet deposition occurs when the nitric acid and sulfuric acid compounds are transported with rain, fog, or snow. When these compounds are carried as fine particles by the wind, it is called dry deposition. Acid deposition cause severe damages to the ecosystem. Fish species found in lakes affected by acid deposition tend to disappear. Other aquatic resources in lakes and rivers tend to either disappear or die which creates an imbalance to aquatic ecosystems. Acidification also changes phytoplankton composition. Likewise, acid deposition also affects forests by killing a lot of trees due to the acidic compounds settling onto these life forms. This is evident in most forests where there are copper and nickel refineries nearby. This environmental problem can also trigger asthma and some bronchial infections to humans. The effect may not be seen immediately and may take years before it can be realized. In order for us to minimize the cases of acid deposition is to have a global initiative of reducing emission of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which cause air pollution. Educating the entire world population of this phenomenon can be a good start. Factories and industrial plants burning fossil fuels should try to research and find other earth-friendly alternatives to those harmful chemicals. Cultural eutrophication is the accelerated aging of aquatic ecosystems, especially lakes, through man-made activities. Eutrophication is the natural process of aging of lakes which is characterized by an increase in the growth of algae and aquatic weeds. Eutrophication rate is determined by how fast the lake gets sediments and nutrients from the watershed, and this naturally occurs over a long period of time. However, if the lake is located in an urbanized area or developed region, eutrophication speeds as there is definitely higher number of sediments and nutrients getting into the lake. This is when natural eutrophication becomes cultural eutrophication. The increased sediments and nutrients, which are mainly phosphorous, usually come from road sand, oil, lawn fertilizers, gas, salt and organic matter being transported to the lake through stormwater or groundwater. Inefficient septic systems can also cause cultural eutrophication. This environmental phenomenon can be prevented through continuous monitoring of the local government. Environmental officials should identify the cause of the cultural eutrophication and determine where the increased sediments are coming from. Once this is identified, measures to prevent these nutrients and sediments from getting into the lake could be placed and enforced. Global warming, from the term itself, is the continuous increase in the temperature of our planet. Global warming is mainly caused by increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, ozone and methane forms a gaseous blanket around the Earth. This blanket traps the heat which is responsible for making the Earth warm; else our planet’s temperature would be well over 60 degrees colder. Global warming becomes an environmental issue because the gaseous blanket is getting thicker and thicker over the years which make the Earth’s temperature extra hot. The increase in greenhouse gases which causes global warming is due to burning of fossil fuels, agricultural byproducts, industrial processes, waste disposal and treatment among others. By the year 2100, Earth’s temperature will rise by 3 °C to 5 °C and sea levels will rise by 25 meters, at least, because of global warming. This would mean an increase in the occurrence of heat waves, floods, tornadoes and drought. Agricultural yields will be low due to these extreme weather conditions. Diseases will also spread easily. Global warming is already a known issue. The only thing that we have to do is to make significant changes in the way we do things like the use of fuels contributing to the increase of greenhouse gases. Little things can help curtail the effects of global warming such as changing filament light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs, making sure the refrigerator and freezer doors are always shut properly, and other measures of conserving electricity. This will not only help save the Earth from global warming, it will also help you save money due to less electricity consumption. Electricity is the most common form of energy people use daily. Currently, electricity is being generated mainly by burning fossil fuels. We all know from the above discussions that fossil fuel combustion creates air pollutants that contribute to acid deposition and global warming – in short, environmental destruction. If this way of using energy continuous, we would be in danger of losing a healthy planet to live in a hundred years. Another danger of this is not having enough fossil fuels to use in the future as this is not a renewable source of energy. Fossil fuels such as coal and oil can be depleted because there can only be as much of them in our planet. In order for us to prevent global environmental destruction, we should all try to use sustainable energy in order for us to have reserves in the future. Examples of sustainable energy are renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, tidal and wave power among others. Power plants and electric companies should slowly convert their electricity generating processes to one of these in order to lessen the waste pollutants of fuel combustion. Big companies may also want to initiate a study if its facilities and offices would run on self-built solar power. Other than the big savings, it will definitely help in reducing the number of fossil fuel electricity consumers.

Key Trends In Footwear Industry

Key Trends In Footwear Industry The key trends currently affecting this industry can be seen in both the macro and micro environments. Firstly, alongside Government health campaigns, consumers are exercising more (Bauer 2008, p.14). Dichotomously, the World Health Organization predicts that there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults in the world by 2015 (BBC News, 2008). Therefore an interesting paradox is emerging between consumers becoming more fitness-oriented and those who are being pushed to exercise more. Bauer further reports that an increase in health-club memberships has driven sales of sportswear. More specific to the sportswear sector, an initial trend is the rise of consumer nostalgia, which has led to many brands re-releasing heritage or retro products for fashion-related purposes. Another key trend is the merging of sportswear and technology as brands develop advanced fabrics and continue to develop activity-specific technologies in each sport (Pedersen, Parks, Quaterman and Thibault 2010, p. 80). Bauer also reports that these companies have a bias towards male consumers, but this being addressed by more attention to womens sporting needs and tastes. Moreover, in response to a higher bargaining power of retailers, sportswear companies are opening their own concept stores. Company Background Puma AG can be considered as one the leading manufacturers of athletic shoes, sportswear, as well as accessories in the world. It is best known for its products like soccer shoes, and uses sponsorship for its marketing strategy. The company had already done several sponsorship for different international sports super stars like Diego Armando Maradonna and offer different line of sport clothing that designed by renowned designers such as Lamine Kouyate. The company was first founded in 1924, as Gebruder Dassler Schuhfabrik, in English, the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory by the Dassler brothers, Adi and Rudi. But the partnership ended during the World War II, when the brothers had a great fight, that lead for separation of the business. Adi continue the business and renamed it from his nickname and first 3 letters of his surname: Adidas. On the other hand, Rudi founded his own company named, Puma AG Schufabrik Rudolf Dassles, on the other side of Aurach, in 1948 (Pedersen 2006, p.513). The company had become famous due to their innovative products such as the process of vulcanization in producing their soccer shoes that had become the standard process for the soccer shoes during that time. The company had also introduced their innovation in running shoes with the help of the unique shape sole and the Velcro strap. Puma brand differentiation In recent years, the Puma brand has become synonymous with fashion, style, and sport. Through fresh design, co-branding and partnerships with celebrities and famous designers, Puma has elevated their brand image so that it now competes with fashion brands as well as their traditional rivals in the sporting footwear industry. The Puma brand communication strategy is flexible across multiple categories, yet communicates innovation for an active lifestyle (Sports in America 2008). Puma communicates with each category in a unique manner, but the tone is distinctly tied back to the overall brand through the overarching brand personality and identity. To extend their brand Puma has created concept retail stores that enable people to experience the brand in engaging and compelling ways (Cassidy 2001, p.31). Puma also engages customers through their Mongolian barbeque concept that enables customers to design and build their own footwear from scratch. Further differentiating the brand from traditional rivals, Puma frequently hosts promotional events that are based around active lifestyle themes based on dining, entertainment, fashion, and music. Puma creative advertising Puma has emphasized its position as a trendy brand. For example, during the 2002 World Cup in Japan, while Nike and Adidas spent millions of dollars on conventional advertising, Puma used sushi bars in fifteen cities around the world including New York, Hong Kong, and Madrid to showcase its product. Puma branding director Antonio Bertone noted that Pumas target market of fashion-conscious customers are eating sushi anyway. The company also began running a commercial that featured former English soccer player Vinnie Jones and other Puma sponsored athletes in a sushi restaurant (Tkacik 2002, p. B8). Not all major ad campaigns feature celebrity athlete endorsements. New Balance has a long standing policy against such endorsements. Instead, it relies on campaigns featuring every day people. One of their most recent campaigns ran under the slogan There are two motivations in sports. Which is yours? For love or money? which emphasized their focus on producing shoes for everyone who enjoys sports, not just star athletes (White 2005, p. 13). This strategy complements their original product positioning as a company for serious runners that also makes shoes in all widths, for athletes of different abilities and shoes sizes. Fashionization Style-conscious consumers, guided in part by effective marketing, want shoes that will enhance their image and not just cover their toes. Customers notice whether their shoes have a swoosh or a lack thereof, thus entrants will have difficulty winning them over without these symbols and the cool-factor that goes with them. Even in the athletic shoe sector, the importance of fashion over function is rising. The fashionization of shoes took off in 1997, when Puma enlisted designer Jil Sander to create a limited-edition womens running shoe to ignite its lackluster image and sales (Orecklin 2002, p. Y4). Celebrity advertising The effectiveness of celebrity advertising has been linked by some authors, to the process of social influence (All-Star Athletes Reveal -Almost- All for Puma TV Campaign 2005, p.9). In a seminal work, authors had it distinguished two forms of social influence. The first, termed informational social influence, refers to influence to accept information obtained from another as evidence about reality. The second, normative social influence, refers to the influence to conform to another person or group (Pedersen, Parks, Quaterman and Thibault 2010, p. 112). Using celebrity advertising is necessary, since Puma shoes stick to its goal to mix sports, lifestyle, and fashion. New Stuff campaign PUMA decided to communicate their brand image through a product-focused campaign that conveys cutting edge style to a 16-34 year old audience (Sports Industry Trends 2008). Puma introduced the award winning New Stuff campaign as a way to showcase their design leadership. New stuff print executions highlighted the freshest new Puma styles and the commitment that Puma has to providing customers with innovative sport lifestyle products. A core objective of the campaign was to increase sales, increase the mainstream audiences knowledge of Puma ranges and project the brands core values as being different. New products needed to be showcased to the mainstream audience in a creative and unique way that was unexpected, unique and different (Sports Industry Trends 2008). To communicate this concept, animated animals such as monkeys, bats, bees, mice, and fish are depicted as playfully interacting with Puma products in an engaging and fresh manner. Puma first introduced this campaign in 15 second television advertisements (Thompson and Baden-Fuller 2010, p. 118). The campaign was visually fresh and clean with crisp photography that drew attention to the products. The print advertising that followed reflects the focused simplicity and whimsical nature of the TV spots. Building momentum from the holiday season TV spots were run in November and they drew inspiration from Aesops fables by depicting two typical adversaries gifting each other Puma presents. Based upon the success of the TV ads, print ads were run into the following two seasons highlighting new Puma products. Elements of the ad migrated into surrounding media environments, engaging advertising savvy young adults who might be suspicious of broadcast advertising (Pedersen, Parks, Quaterman and Thibault 2010, p. 218).

Gene Therapy Essay -- Genetics Science Essays

Gene Therapy The Human Genome Project began around 1986. The main goal of the project is to locate and sequence all genes found in human DNA. The objectives for this ambitious effort are to learn more about heredity of disease and to discover the genes that would aid in gene therapy. Advances in gene therapy strive to treat hereditary diseases and possibly eliminate disease from the genome. The definition of gene therapy is the introduction of genes into existing cells to prevent or cure a wide range of diseases (Jaroff, 1996). Gene therapy has two possibilities of disease treatment, somatic gene therapy and germline gene therapy. Somatic gene therapy involves the manipulation of gene expression in cells that will be corrective to the patient but not inherited to the next generation. Germline gene therapy involves the genetic modification of germ cells, which pass the change on to the next generation (Wilson, 1998). Somatic gene therapy is currently being researched more aggressively due to ethical and technical complications with germline gene therapy. Technical Aspects Gene therapy began with the Human Genome Project. The Human Genome Project has found gene locations for many diseases. Among the diseases that have been found Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, ADA deficiency, and two genes for breast cancer are just a few examples. After a disease-causing gene is found, correcting it is the next logical step. This can be achieved through various methods. One of the first tested methods was to obtain the faulty gene from the patient, introduce the corrected gene into cells, and finally inject the altered cells back into a blood vessel. Blood is taken from the affected individual to obtain cells with DNA carryi... ...imit our ability to adapt to ecological and environmental changes. In spite of this, I am enthusiastic about gene therapy. I want to live a healthy life and I want my children to be able to live happy, healthy lives. With gene therapy, the use of human cells to treat disease looks very promising. Who knows, by the time the environment does change, gene therapy may be so advanced that a simple injection could make us adapt to this change. References Elmer-Dewitt, Philip. The Genetic Revolution. Time. January 17, 1994. V 143. N 3. P (46-44). Grace, Eric S. Better Health Through Gene Therapy. The Futurist. Jan-Feb 1998. V 32. N 1. P (39-43). Jaroff, Leon. Keys to the Kingdom. Time. Fall 1996. V 148. N14. P (24-29). Wilson, Jim. The Institute for Human Gene Therapy. Obtained from the WWW November 1, 1998:http://www.med.upenn.edu/~ihgt/info/whatisgt.html

Clientelism, Tribalism, and Ethnic Conflict in Africa

In this essay I will firstly examine and break down the components of the question. I will separate and clarify the meaning of Clientelism, Tribalism and Ethnic Conflict and deal with each of these as separate enterties. Although I will argue each of them on a separate basis. I aim also to show the complex interlinked relationships between the three themes, and argue that because of this the central argument of the question is not easily agreed or disagreed with. My main argument however, will be to disagree with the central question and advocate that Clientelism was a part of Africa's tradition long before any notion of modernity and colonial influence was present in the continent. I will provide empirical evidence, which supports the inherent presence of Clientelism, and also show how it has strong links with Tribalism, in both its history and modern perpetuation. Tribalism however is a different matter and I agree with the central statement and advocate that modern African tribalism and notions of ethnicity were mainly a direct result of colonial imposed modernity restructuring. For the final part of my answer I will provide an argument that African ethnic conflict lies somewhere between the two extremes, that it was present in African society before colonial modernity and it was further exacerbated by the restructuring that colonialism brought about. In my conclusion I will further justify my arguments and advocate a thesis for future development in Africa on tribalism, ethnic conflict and clientelism. Whether clientelism, tribalism and ethnic conflict were a product not of tradition but of modernity in Africa and a type of development is a difficult and complex question in many respects, but one to which I have a strong argument. To study this it would be practical to firstly define what I shall mean by modernity and â€Å"the type of development† in relation to the main statement, as it will form the crux of my argument. By modernity and type of development in Africa I will be focusing on colonialism and justifying whether clientelism, tribalism and ethnic conflict were present before the arrival of colonialization or whether they emerged from the new society that restructuring colonial development brought with it. I believe through looking at African society in its modern context and studying empirical data that it is evident to determine whether the three main themes of this essay where present before or a after product. What is not so clear however is the complex linkages between and the contexts they operate in. I advocate for instance that it is impossible to separate out clientelism from tribalism, and that ethnic conflict is closely related to both of these. Due to this in order to justify and construct my argument I must separate out clientelism, tribalism and ethnic conflict and study them individually. Clientelism To determine from what circumstances Clientelism in African emanated it is important to define the term itself and what it means in African society. Clientelism is also known as patron-client relations/politics, and in its modern form is highly evident in African society. This clientelism is an exchange between actors who have unequal balance of power, one being weaker, and the other being stronger. It is the patron who is the more powerful and the client who is normally the weaker of the two. The exchange between client and patron is formed when the more powerful patron offers something, be it scarce resources or protection to the weaker client. This weaker client offers something back in return, perhaps support or other services to the patron who is in a more dominant position. † bound up with important ties of reprocity linking those who are related within networks of vertical relationships. Clientelism can be viewed on both micro and macro levels as a phenomenon of African society (although it is evident elsewhere),and to assess from where this Clientelism originated from it is necessary to see where it is present in modern society. In modern day Africa these patron -client relationships are most visible in the political arena. I argue that clientelism although it is pervasive in African politics did not emerge as a direct result of colonisation, which most people would view as the birthplace of modern African politics and political institutions as a result of the restructuring of African society. Instead I advocate that Clientelism, although present in modern day politics was in place well before the colonial era and was present in tradition and the era before any notion of modernity was in Africa. I believe clientelism was evident in the traditional African way of life. Pre-Colonial African society was in terms stateless. There was no formal state. African society was based around a system of patron-client relationships, which were the fundamental core of society. Where there was no state there was no other system, in a vast continent holding various competing tribes and peoples in order for there to be a ‘society' arbitrating, protecting and trade were all centred around these unequal deals between various networks. â€Å"The power relations of pre-colonial Africa were typically of patrons and clients. ‘Big Men' presided over intricate networks of clientage involving reciprocal but unequal relations with ‘small boys', as well as power over women and children and those held in the diverse forms and degrees of servitude of pawnship and slavery. 2 Patron-client networks as evident today I argue are based around extended family (and later as I will discuss) tribal loyalties evident from traditional African life. â€Å"African communities were pervaded by relations of domination and dependence, based on patriarchal power exercised across differences of genders and generations, lineages and clans, languages and cultures. â€Å"3 The arrival of Colonialism and modernity had utilised these already existing patron-client relationships and used them for their own ends. The colonial administrators sought chief headmen and perpetuated clientelism by supplementing their meagre salaries and earnings they gained from their official positions with monies gained from trade and other bonuses. (Berman) â€Å"Chiefs and headmen were the essential linkage between the colonial state and African societies. This relationship typically took on a patron-client form, and had several important and contradictory consequences. â€Å"4 So I argue rather than colonialism creating these patron client linkages it merely utilised them. I believe that clientelism at it is today stemmed from the traditional African societies. So to reiterate African society pre-colonial era although traditional was not so natural and traditionally uncorrupted to be devoid of the practice of clientelism that we so readily see as corruption today. That is was present and a working framework for society. â€Å"The other runs the risk, in reaction, of idealising the virtues of a pre-colonial era supposedly devoid of corruption, the growth of which is supposed to have been caused by the perversion of the social order induced by the arrival of the colonialist Europeans. â€Å"5 I argue that modernity and the formation of formal political institutions and frameworks of power merely perpetuated Clientelism and provided new avenues for the patron-client relationships based on new networks of power. What had always gone on before merely was allowed to operate in a new arena. African politics became â€Å"politics of the belly†, where individuals used public office for private gain. The scarcity of resources in Africa being as it is, if one person holds an office where he/she controls resources or power politics becomes a way of utilising patron-client networks to distribute these resources and gain support and power. made patron/client relations not only the fundamental mode of access to the state and its resources, but also, as in pre-colonial society, the fundamental relationship between ordinary people and those with wealth or power. † As before in pre-colonial society clientelism formed the basis of a persons power through the number of people he had domination and arrangements over, now in politics a persons political power is based on how many people pledge support through reciprocal client-patron networks in return for favours. Clientelism hasn't been formed it has merely morphed into a new generation of deals. â€Å"Where land was plentiful and populations small, wealth and power were measured in control of people, in having a large following of family and non-kin dependants. â€Å"7 In politics this clientelism has become diverse, not created by modernity but adapted for its use in formal political positions. Peter Ekeh (1975) described this as being the formation in African society of two publics, where Clientelism has been and always is the norm. That the same political actors act in both systems of a Civic public and the Primordial public. The citizen in the Civic public works in the beaurocratic institutions of the state, in a supposedly amoral system. The citizen takes from his position and gives nothing in return. This is through clientelism and a network of contacts where state resources and power can be distributed in this way. However the same person in his Primordial public, largely associated with ethnic tribalism and belonging to an extended family/ community, gives out and gets nothing in return. Due to the kinship of this the actor is expected to do good for his own community, by using his political position. The key idea in Ekeh's case then is that the ‘good man channels part of the largesse of the civic public to the primordial public. ‘ This shows the complex links between the old clientelism networks and what I will argue as the more modern artificial tribal relationships in African society. Tribalism Tribalism in its present form in Africa however is not a traditional aspect of African culture I argue as Clientelism had been, but a product of the development imposed on the region by Colonialism. Colonialism and the social and economic changes it brought with it ‘created' the sense of tribalism and strong ethnic identities that are present in modern Africa. That tribes were not traditionally based but created in a means to gain power, resources and recognition in the process of colonial modernising. â€Å"The accumulating weight of evidence shows that African ethnicity and its relationship to politics is new not old: a response to capitalist modernity shaped by similar forces to those related to the development of ethnic nationalism in Europe since the late nineteenth century. † This is not to say there were not tribes in the pre-colonial era, but I believe what tribes existed there were, not so ethnically divided. That the tribes were various groups of mixed race and language peoples who were in a constant state of flux, without the fixed ethnic boundaries one finds today. â€Å"Pre-colonial political and socio-cultural boundaries were marked by fuzziness and flexibility; and Africans existed within a reality of multiple, overlapping and alternative collective identities. â€Å"9 What created these tribal identities therefore if they were not present in traditional African society was the arrival of colonialism. Europeans were of the assumption that African tribes were the basis of society. That the tribes had neat compact boundaries and consisted of culturally identical peoples. This assumption I argue was the basis for tribal creation, as the missionaries especially and other state institutions sought to formalise and categorise these tribal units. The recording of culture and the teaching to a whole area of a ‘supposedly' local language, which in many cases was merely a local dialect, began to bring differing peoples together. This wiped out some cultural differences and creating false collectives of tribal peoples often not historically related, but brought together by colonial boundaries. â€Å"The ideology and culture of colonialism, especially in the imagining of African societies by colonial officials and European missionaries, provided the dominant cognitive context moulding the invention of tribes and their customs by Africans themselves. â€Å"10 If the colonial rulers and administration could claim links with these tribes then, through working with the ‘traditional' ruling groups in Africa they gained legitimacy in their operations and ruling of the area. By working with these fixed tribes, the colonial rulers could fragment and control the local populace by breaking it down into smaller loyal groups. In reality the creation of tribes made it easier for the colonial beaurocracy to rule. â€Å"Each administrative unit ideally contained a single culturally and linguistically homogenous ‘tribe' in which people continued to live within the indigenous institutions and were subject to ‘tribal discipline' through local structures of authority. â€Å"11 Although this was a key issue in the creation of Africa tribalism however, I believe that the stronger reason for the formation of tribes was for political gain and recognition. Due to this European notion of African tribalism, in order to hold power with the colonial administration actors must be part of a clearly fixed ethnic group. This created political tribalism, which was the creation of ethnicities by elite groups in African society to gain access to resources and to seek the foundations for a conservative modernisation. In short it was the manipulation of tribal ethnic identities by Africans themselves for political and economic gains in the face of colonial changes. † Ethnic collective action', according to Mozaffar, ‘is predominantly a process of strategic political interaction between self-interested actors with divergent interests'. 12 Ethnic Conflict Ethnic Conflict has both strong links with tribalism and clientelism in Africa. I believe its origin is not so easy to pinpoint as it has been for tribalism and patron-client relations but that ethnic conflict is merely a product of the two. It was evident in pre-colonial society and was heightened and exacerbated by the modern formation of tribes in the colonial era as I have previously described. Ethnic Conflict was present in traditional African society. African society had never been egalitarian in nature, and a society in which there are unequal power relations is ultimately to have conflict in its midst. † Pre-colonial societies were thus full of conflict and competition, instability and change. † What I believe was created by the form of colonial development placed on Africa was the increase in ethnic tensions as new tribes and identities were created. Resources in Africa are still scarce and the modern beaurocratic frame work and political distribution of power has led to ethnic conflict becoming more fierce and modern in its use of warfare and state apparatus. The tribal divisions between the Hutus and Tutsis and the ensuing Rwandan war and genocide are examples of this. As the colonial era ‘created' false country borders this conflict now often seeps out between neighbouring countries, comprising of different tribal identities over land and resources. I believe the colonial era did not create tribal conflict but merely change the scale that it is played out upon and provided it with state apparatus, militia, armies that now take conflict into a modern era, on a wider and more devastating scale. Conclusion It is clear to see then that tribalism, ethnic conflict and clientelism, although intricately related all have different origins. I advocate however that they were all evident in some way or form before any type of modernity was present in Africa. Although I believe Clientelism and ethnic conflict were not created by the development in the colonial era they were not solved or prevented by colonial restructuring. They still persist today. Ethic conflict I argue was present before the arrival of the Europeans in Africa on a localised scale as fighting between the complex and varied tribes on the continent. With the arrival of colonialism I believe it was merely aggravated by the adaptation of formal tribes and the struggle in politics for scarce resources, power and recognition. I argue that it has merely adapted and become a more serious problem as the apparatus of state have been used to fight wars etc. The conflict now envelops far larger groups of people and even countries constructed by the colonial boundaries of ethnicity and country. Clientelism is pervasive throughout African politics. It is our normative viewing of clientelism today, as corruption in Africa that I believe has led to some believing it was is not in existence in pre-colonial society but a product of the introduction of formal politics and modernity in Africa. of idealising the virtues of a pre-colonial era supposedly devoid of corruption, the growth of which is supposed to have been caused by the perversion of the social order induced by the arrival of colonialist Europeans. † What I believe we must consider however that we are applying the principles of the old African order rather to a new context of modern development and democratic politics, etc where impartiality is presupposed. This is what makes us view clientelism as a modern phenomenon rather than its rightful place as a traditional form of dealings in African society. This is the opposite with tribalism, where many suppose it as a traditional part of African society. It was this European view of tribalism that thought of it as such, however closer examination reveals it to be a politically dynamic and deliberately constructed phenomenon. It was not a traditional aspect of society that was carried over into colonial modernity but a means by which if African created a concrete identity they could gain power and resources in a system which colonialism brought about.

Evaluate the Role of Individuals in Bringing About the Changing Influence of the Russian Communist Party, 1905-1945

In the period 1905 to 1945 there was three key individuals that caused significant change in the influence of the Russian Communist Party: Lenin, Stalin and the Tsar. The influence of the party came in two main forms, political and public, which all three leaders changed in different ways. The most important individual in bringing about the change in influence is Vladimir Lenin, who brought about a sudden sharp rise in the party’s popularity. Following the 1917 October Revolution, Lenin became the leader of the Communist Party and greatly increased the party’s political influence with his ‘one party state’. Lenin’s creation of the Politburo in 1919, which was a group of eight high profile party members who influenced any decision being made, demonstrates the party’s increased political influence by showing their domination of governmental bodies. Public support of the party is obvious in the increase of RCP membership, March 1919 to March 1920, from 250,000 to 612,000. This may have been due mainly to Lenin retaining his power through the 1918 civil war. In 1921, Lenin introduced his New Economic Policy, aimed at gaining peace with the peasant class, which resulted in the ending of armed resistance to the communists. This support increased the Russian Communist Party’s (RCP) public influence greatly, backed in rural areas as well as urban working class districts. Due to all these factors, Lenin is the most important individual in changing the influence of the Russian communist party between 1905 and 1945. However, Lenin’s contributions to the party would not of been possible if no for the actions Tsar Nicholas II. In 1905, the public support for the Tsarist regime was extremely low, in all classes and geographic locations, leading to a rapid expansion of the RSDLP (Russian Social Democratic Labor Party) and general strikes throughout; the Russian public began to search for other groups to replace the Tsarists. The Bolsheviks, aka the RSDLP, would later become the RCP and therefore this increase in membership, up to 150,000 in 1905, increased the general influence of the communist party. The decision of the Tsar to order his troops to fire upon peaceful protestors, at Bloody Sunday on 22nd January 1905, dramatically increased the popularity of the RCP and thus the public influence. Although not being the most important, Tsar Nicholas II was a key individual in bringing about the changing influence of the RCP, due to his actions acting as a springboard for Lenin. Following Lenin, Stalin played the biggest party in changing the party influence, both political and socially. During Stalin’s time in power, up to 1945, the influence of the party plummeted significantly, resulting in the RCP having no say in the country’s activities. Due to Stalin’s original ‘facade’ of communism, until reaching power, and his actions once dictator, the party lost the ideological influence of the public. The RCP was in fact fully in charge of the country, however the party was fully controlled by Stalin, thus undermining their influence; this is shown by the ‘Great Purge’ of 1937, where Stalin â€Å"cleaned out’ the party. Thus, during Stalin’s rule, contrary to the facade of power, both the political and social influence of the RCP plummeted to rock bottom. In conclusion, between 1905 and 1945, Lenin caused the greatest change in social influence, shown by bring the part to power with the support of the majority of the classes. Whereas Stalin brought about the biggest fluctuation of political influence for the RCP, from complete control down to no longer being charge of the country but being ‘servants’ for the dictator. However, none of this would have been possible without the role of Tsar Nicholas II, who ‘allowed’ the party to gain public support through his rash decisions. To conclude I believe the role of the individuals in bring about the changing influence of the Russian Communist Party, between 1905 and 1945, was extremely important, with Vladimir Lenin taking pole position.