5 Step Value-Chain Analysis for Customers’ Strategic Needs

Value-chain analysis is used for many purposes, but the process of examining customers’ value chains is relatively new. In our five-step process, Step 1 explains how internal and external value chains can be used separately and in related ways. Step 2 shows how to construct a customer’s value chain. Step 3 shows how to identify the customer’s business strategy by examining this value chain and using other kinds of information. Step 4 explains how to use additional information and intelligence to leverage that understanding into strategic needs and priorities. Finally, Step 5 explains how a firm’s marketing function can best use this method of value-chain analysis as a new strategic capability. Step 1: An overview of value-chain analysis Value chains may be defined in two ways: (1) within a company they describe the various value-added stages from purchasing materials to distributing, selling, and servicing the final product (Porter’s 1985 concept),[3] and (2) they also delineate the value-added stages from raw material to end-user as a product is manufactured and distributed, with each stage representing an industry. 4] For convenience, we will refer to these two definitions as ‘‘internal’’ and ‘‘external’’ value chains, respectively. The internal value chain is a key concept in the field of strategic management that has been thoroughly explored. In contrast, the external value chain has not been studied as extensively. The external value chain consists of the important ups tream/supply and downstream/distribution processes. However, even though these processes occur outside the corporation, the strategic opportunities they reveal and areas of risk they highlight warrant careful study. Consider: Outsourcing – involves transferring certain primary or support functions in the internal value chain to the external value chain. B Vertical integration – involves taking control of one or more additional stages of the external value chain and making them internal. B Horizontal expansion – involves new product lines or expanded channels of distribution, including geographic expansion. B Strategic alliances with suppliers – involves more closely managing external suppliers as if they were part of the company’s internal value chain, but without actually owning them (for example, Toyota’s Kaizen ystem, wherein key suppliers are located very near a factory and receive all kinds of help and training from Toyota to ensure smooth and efficient production). One of the most complex value chains today can be found in the oil industry. This chain has nearly 30 significant elements, starting with the search for oil (at the upstream end) and including fie ld production, transportation (pipelines and supertankers), refining and processing and, lastly, consumer gas stations (at the ‘‘downstream’’ end). Internally, the oil-industry value chain processes a broad range of products, including such major categories as oil/lubricants, gasoline, petrochemicals (plastics), fertilizers/pesticides, natural gas, power generation/electricity, and convenience stores. The firms that are considered major integrated oil companies participate in a significant number – sometimes all – of these external (upstream and downstream) and internal value-chain elements. In a 2006 issue of Strategy & Leadership, authors Wayne McPhee and David Wheeler suggested that strategists should use Porter’s concept to consider value-chain operations beyond the boundaries of the firm. Since its introduction, value-chain analysis has proven immensely valuable in three principal ways – cost analysis and reduction, differentiation, and product development – but the standard practice was for firms to analyze only their own value chain. Step 2: How to construct a customer’s value chain First, recognize that you need to construct both internal and external value chains for a particular customer. The internal value chain follows Porter’s original concept, which includes value-added steps from purchasing to distribution as well as support functions such as R&D and human resources. It’s tempting to let this generic diagram serve as the customer’s value chain, but it must be tailored to the particular customer. To produce a useful value-chain analysis, members of your engineering or sales team should ask the customer how its business processes add value and whether any have unique best-practice features. To perform the external value-chain analysis, team members should ask the customer a set of getting-to-know-you questions. What does your supply chain (the upstream value chain) look like? What role does your company play in it? How do your products reach their customers (the downstream value chain)? Your final diagram models only this single customer’s value chain and it represents virtually everything the customer does to add significant value. If your relationship with the customer permits a candid exchange of information, have the customer validate the value chain you have created. As an example of how the diagnostic process works, consider how a supplier to Wal-Mart might learn to enhance its value. [6] The objective of creating both internal and external value chains is to understand Wal-Mart well enough to be able to discern its implicit and explicit strategic concerns. Exhibits 3 and 4 depict preliminary pictures of Wal-Mart’s internal and external value chains. Getting to this initial stage is relatively easy – adding more detail, nuance, and understanding takes more time, involves interviewingWal-Mart executives, and more closely observing how the firm operates. Step 3: Inferring the customer’s business strategy Even long-time suppliers have trouble distinguishing critical customer activities from sometimes urgent but ultimately nonstrategic ones. Understanding your customer’s business strategy is therefore crucial. Value-chain analysis helps a supplier distinguish between the activities of the customer’s firm that directly support its competitive strategies – for its products and for enhancing key capabilities – and ordinary operations. For example, routine operations like billing customers or servicing the fleet of company vehicles must be done, and done well. But there is little if any competitive advantage to be gained from the superior execution of such activities. Nor are they likely to provide an opportunity for gaining new sources of revenue and profit. It is the customers’ strategic activities and projects that offer the potential for future profits and command the attention of your customers’ senior management. So by supporting strategic activities, B2B service providers stand to gain the high-margin work they hunger after, the work that produces the highest returns, and the work that should be their constant priority. The Fluor case Fluor Corporation is a global engineering and construction company providing major capital facilities for a vast range of industrial clients in many vertical markets. With as many as 2,000 projects under construction employing 40,000 workers in more than 50 countries at any time, Fluor operates in all geographic regions of the globe and in all parts of its customers’ supply chains, delivering engineering and construction management services – in sum, a full range of B2B services. The questions of where Fluor should concentrate its resources to meet its customers’ most urgent needs can become enormously complex. To rationalize this process, Fluor must determine which customer projects – the ones that address its customers’ greatest strategic needs and, hence, have potentially the greatest margins – have the highest value. For many years, Fluor has known the critical importance of understanding every one of its B2B customers’ businesses. But that was not enough. The questions for Fluor’s marketing team became, ‘‘How can we learn each customer’s business strategy and strategic needs? ’ Some of the many different sources of information about a customer’s strategy are: B Marketing communications including printed materials (brochures and advertisements), media communications (press releases) and marketing websites reveal new product directions and customer targeting; these provide insights into market positioning and marketing strategy. B Financial-community reports (annual reports, SEC filings, as well as meetings with financial analysts) shed light on internal strategic initiatives in addition to market-positioning moves. Annual reports form the basis of this Fluor case study, but 10Ks and analysts’ reports could prove equally useful. B The academic literature is replete with surgical dissections of strategically successful companies and industries. Business-school cases abound featuring companies like Apple and industries like automobiles. Wal-Mart, for one, has been the focus of many Harvard Business School cases. [8] B Many companies make their published strategic plans available to interested parties. For example, British Petroleum has published its strategy on its corporate website since 2000. B Consultants that specialize in competitive intelligence. B Face-to-face conversations with your customers. Step 4: Discovering the customer’s strategic needs Strategic activities are the activities a firm must implement in order to realize its strategy or strategies. Every strategy has such a set of activities. Insofar as a company finds doing any of these activities difficult, potential suppliers have been trained to see these as ‘‘needs. ’’ But, suppliers need to differentiate between operations that are difficult and ones that are strategic. For example, an innovation strategy requires a system for generating ideas and picking the best ones, cost estimating, engineering, R&D, prototype construction and testing, and market-acceptance testing. The pharmaceutical industry relies on a great many B2B service providers to support its new-drug-development programs in the drug-formulation (R&D) stage and also B2B service providers that develop new systems to expedite regulatory approval. Value-chain analysis identifies both as key strategic functions. Step 5: Making value-chain analysis a strategic capability of the marketing department Engineering/construction companies have developed at least two approaches to break the forces of commoditization in their industry: 1. Project screening and selectivity. Not all projects are created equal or represent equal opportunity. Service providers should select projects on the basis of projected margin, not projected revenue. They must pursue projects that build on their strengths and core competences, projects where they can apply their best talents to serve their customers. This is done by first serving customers’ commodity work to position them to then pursue customers’ strategic opportunities. This is the approach used in the Fluor example. 2. Become selected customers’ strategic business partner. Such practice puts the business-services provider right in the customers’ lap, a decidedly advantageous position to be in when strategic opportunities are brewing. It also leads to many sole-source or noncompetitive-bid opportunities and, potentially, to higher margins. 1. The method described in the article is based on actual experience of one author when he worked for Fluor Corp. . A recent example is Ram Charan, What the CustomerWants You to Know: How Everybody Needs to Think Differently about Sales, Portfolio (Penguin Group), 2007. The application of value-chain analysis to B2B clients of engineering and construction management services was originally suggested by Don F. Coleman of Fluor Corporation in May, 2000. 3. Michael E. Porter, Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, Free Press, 1985. 4. Stanley C. Abraham, Strategic Planning: A Practical Guide for Competitive Success, Thomson South-Western, 2006, 214. . Wayne McPhee and David Wheeler, ‘‘Making the case for the added-value chain,’’ Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 34 No. 4, 2006, Exhibit 1, p. 41; exhibit used with permission. 6. The supplier could have many other customers, and could replicate this process with those other customers. Typically, doing such an analysis would be reserved for the supplier’s top 3-5 customers. 7. The authors found little in the literature about B2B marketing practices based on knowledge of the customer’s value chain and business strategy. 8. See, for, example Harvard Business School Case #9-794-024, ‘‘Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ,’’ August 6, 1996, which provides a thorough review of Wal-Mart’s business practices up to its international (horizontal) expansion. 9. Michael E. Porter, ‘‘What is strategy? ’’ Harvard Business Review, November-December 1996. 10. HBS Case #9-794-024, op. cit. 11. Harvard Business School Case #9-302-102, ‘‘Robert Mondavi and the Wine Industry,’’ May 3, 2002. Mondavi’s flagship brand ‘‘Woodbridge’’ is a rare example of a brand name pointing, not to product benefits, but up the value chain to process benefits.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958) Essay

Vertigo is a 1958 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock that has stood the test of time in the horror genre. It is considered to be one of the seminal films in the genre not only because it set the tone for the films to follow but also because it exhibited numerous features and techniques that would serve to revolutionise the way in which movies were made. The camera angles, use of space, cinematography, special effects and sound all contribute to the overall effect achieved. As such, this essay will examine each of the above with a view to concluding that Hitchcock rejuvenated the horror genre with Vertigo and provided a master class in using cinematic techniques for effect. The first technique of note is the way in which camera angles are used in order to create an atmosphere of fear, giving the impression that the characters are moving in one vicious circle. The use of the camera â€Å"†¦ simulates panicky feelings of acrophobia (fear of heights) felt by Scottie Ferguson (James Stewart). † (Pramaggiore & Wallis, 2004, p. 127). For example, at one point in the film, a staircase is filmed from the very top. This not only alludes to the cyclical nature of the narrative because the bell tower staircase is indeed circular but also narrows the shot. The illusion of falling from a great height is fostered in this shot and indeed in others, like that in which Stewart appears to be standing on the ledge. Furthermore, the camera angles also link directly to the illusion of space: â€Å"†¦ serves as a template for key themes: the topography of a city and its surrounding countryside matched by dilemmas of sexual choice, guilt and obsession. † (Orr, 2005, p. 137). The view from the bell tower always appears to be bleak, thus mirroring the overtones of the plot. The sound used also highlights the cyclical nature of the narrative. In an interview in Sight and Sound, Scorsese pointed out that â€Å"†¦ the music is also built around spirals and circles, fulfilment and despair. Herrmann really understood what Hitchcock was going for – he wanted to penetrate to the heart of obsession. † (2004). Scorsese’s assessment is correct and this is typified by the scenes in which Madeline and Judy fall to their deaths. The sound is similar in both instances and actively signifies the irony that the starting point of the movie is also the end. However, it is not only the use of music that has a significant impact of the tone of the movie but also the silence. Hitchcock uses silence incredibly well and only provides dialogue as and when he has to. For example, even the confession scene at the denouement of the movie is not as full of vocabulary as it may be in other films. Words are used sparingly and to make a point. Special effects and cinematographic techniques are not used as sparingly as the dialogue in an attempt to convey the tension desired. Hitchcock undoubtedly used rear projection in Vertigo: â€Å"Foreground and background tend to look starkly separate, partly because of the absence of cast shadows from foreground to background, partly because all background planes tend to seem equally diffuse. † (Bordwell & Thompson, 1996, p. 244). This is an example of both of these features and there are numerous examples of this in the film, such as the point at which Novak and Stewart kiss against the backdrop of the ocean. The actors were filmed and then imposed on a natural backdrop, thus forgoing the use of shadow. As such, there is something innately unnatural about it, which follows the plot. The film stock is also colour and this also helps to eliminate the use of light and dark, thus enhances this particular effect. In conclusion, there can be little doubt that Hitchcock rejuvenated the horror genre with Vertigo and provided a master class in using cinematic techniques for effect. There are numerous techniques used within the movie to help contribute to the cyclical and somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere. Again, this serves to heighten the tension. The sparing use of dialogue and excellent use of sound effects, when paired with the film stock and clever camera angles, certainly enhance the narrative and ultimately allowed Hitchcock to create one of the best cinematic examples of horror in history. Bibliography Bordwell, David & Thompson, Kristin, 1996. Film Art: An Introduction. 5th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. Orr, John, 2005. Hitchcock and Twentieth Century Cinema. London: Wallflower Press. Pramaggiore, Maria & Wallis, Tom, 2005. Film: A Critical Introduction. London: Laurence King Publishing. Scorsese, Martin, 2004. The Best Music in Film. Sight and Sound (September 2004). [Online] Available at: http://www. bfi. org. uk/sightandsound/filmmusic/detail. php? t=d&q=42 [Accessed 10 May 2010]. Vertigo, 1958. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. USA: Paramount Pictures.

Aristotle and Weed Essay

What would Aristotle think about legalizing Marijuana? When attempting to speculate on how Aristotle would feel about this inquiry, I feel that only one thing must be addressed. What kind of person does marijuana make me, and does the legalization of marijuana increase or decrease a person’s ability to be happy and good? What Kind of Person According to Aristotle, the difference between animals and humans is our ability to rationalize and utilize reason. Man is at its most basic level rational animals. Non-rational beings only possess vegetative and appetitive aspects of their mind, whereas humans retain the most important, according to Aristotle, portion of the soul: the rational part. The reason that this is the most important is that it allows us to ascertain genuine happiness. Therefore, since animals and even children do not possess the rational facet of the soul, they cannot achieve true happiness. As humans, our advantage over non-rational beings is our ability to be happy, as defined by Aristotle. Happiness, he states, â€Å"is apparently something complete and self-sufficient, since it is the end of the things achievable in action. † (NE 1097b20). So for Aristotle to approve of the legalization of it, marijuana would have to be something that would advance the happiness of humans and promote reason on the part of the soul. So does marijuana foster sensible choices and assist humans in our quest for happiness? Well, when analyzed from a philosophical viewpoint, no. Using drugs diminishes our ability to utilize reason when faced with decisions. It modifies our mindset and transforms us from rational animals into just plain simple animals. Drugs can force one to talk with slurred speech, visibly alter their perceptions of what is going on around them, and even take their freedom of will. So the fact that marijuana decreases human ability to be rational, reasonable, and thus happy, I would have to say that Aristotle would disapprove for most cases. However, medicinal marijuana does promote happiness. If someone has a disease in which the use of marijuana could numb his or her pain, I think that Aristotle would say that this is ok and good because it is assisting him or her in his or her quest for happiness, even if temporary. So where would he draw the line between vice and virtue? I think that Aristotle would support the system that we have today. Excess would be allowing everyone to purchase marijuana. Lack would be banning it completely because it does have some benefits for the medical community. I think that the Mean would be allowing it to be used for medicinal purposes only and not for public access because repeated use does not promote rationalization and happiness. In conclusion, I think that Aristotle would not support the further legalization of marijuana for personal use. Aristotle would, however, not take action to ban it any further either. I think that he would be content with how the system is today. Marijuana does have some medicinal benefits to people with painful diseases in that it creates, although fleeting, happiness. For normal people, however, repeated use of marijuana results in a deteriorated capacity to make rational decisions. It weakens our soul and forces us to become irrational animals. This fact forces me to conclude that Aristotle would neither further nor reduce the current legal status of marijuana.

Strategic Plan for next Irregular US Coalition Conflict Essay

Strategic Plan for next Irregular US Coalition Conflict - Essay Example In order to bring about strategies that eliminate the challenges for the U.S irregular conflicts, a mixture of collaborative, competitive and authoritative approached are necessitated to bring about effectiveness and flexibility (Keravuori para 2). Formulating strategies that result in war effectiveness require critical understanding of the numerous actors, and their conflicting ideologies, as well as applying a multiphased approach in war. Above all, a careful examination of the economic effects and actions of the irregular conflict should be given precedence, and negotiations should be employed to the maximum. Irregular conflicts are hard to describe, and knowing how to respond to irregular conflicts is inherently intricate for an outsider like United States (Kramer para 3). Efficient strategies demand that strategists should take into account evolving, mutually dependent and multistakeholder nature of irregular conflicts. The United States defeat in the Vietnam War, setbacks in va rious battles like Somalia, Bosnia and Lebanon, coupled with military and political complexities in Iraq and Afghanistan underscores the limits of United States military traditional supremacy. The supremacy has not in the recent past yielded any influential success against non state actors practicing protracted welfare. America has based its military supremacy on firepower that has been counterproductive. This is a problem that is founded on the country’s military and political culture (Keravuori para 5). The counterinsurgency wars that America engages in are mostly political in nature, rather than being jus ad bellum. This implies that the American government risks the lives of its citizens and that of citizens in countries like afghan and Iraq when national concerns and interests are not at stake. The pentagon’s aversion to counterinsurgency is soundly rooted in the American manner of welfare. Since the early 1940s, the army has trained, outfitted and planned for lar ge scale predictable operations for large scale adversaries, and it has traditionally utilized military operations even against irregular conflicts. Barring a philosophical change in the United States’ armed and political culture, America runs a noteworthy risk of failure whenever it goes into irregular wars of choice. The reason is that great power involvement in small wars is nearly always a subject of preference. Such wars do not involve central United States’ security interests, other than placing the confines of American military on display. The war in Iraq is the latest illustration of the confines of America’s power. Observers argue that sending American renowned generals like Rommel Erwin in the operation Iraqi freedom was an incompetent move. The reason is that Iraqi forces were not difficult to deal with as they were poorly trained, incompetently led, demoralized and badly equipped. Thus, sending massively armed troops in Iraq underscores achievement o f America’s military. Neoimperialist Boot Max praised America on its Iraq invasion as one of the signals of military success in American history. These words were one sided as they anticipated a win situation for America. However, this was not the case as America not only lost in its political objective, but also in eliminating insurgency that was erupting day by day. Three years after Iraq incursion, boot expressed

Self-Build Play Equipment For Children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Self-Build Play Equipment For Children - Essay Example A merry go round is playing equipment very commonly seen in parks and is also one of the children’s favorite. By installing simple electronic controllers, wind power generators and speed-increasing gearboxes a portion of the kinetic energy generated by the children can be converted into electrical power [7]. The electric power produced can be stored in batteries. These batteries can be then utilized to light up the house at night preferably through LED lights. The product can be designed to power the lighting of the whole house for more than a week with only a few hours of play by the children. The product can be sold as a complete package consisting of the playing equipment coupled with the generator assembly, high performance LED lights, batteries, and the wires to install the electrical circuit. The product can be a very good investment because the payback is very quick. Another simple but innovative playing equipment can be a ‘tow down zip-line’ in which children can pull themselves down from a height on platforms suspended on a rope. Two pulleys on either side of the rope are rotated as the children grab and pull the rope while going down. The generator can be coupled with one of the pulleys to generate electric power which can be utilized to power lighting in the same manner as the merry go round. This product is new for the children as it is not very commonly seen in the parks and thus can attract more customers. The height of the rope can be kept low to ensure the safety of the playing children. The product can be sold in the form of ropes and pulleys along with a generator and the lights. The whole system can be assembled easily at the site of installation.

Use of Financial Statements in Food and Beverage Operation Assignment

Use of Financial Statements in Food and Beverage Operation - Assignment Example Tax authorities need to evaluate the financial statements to determine the level of taxation to be applied to the business. The balance sheet is an important financial statement that indicates the position of a food and beverage enterprise’s assets and liabilities as well as the shareholders’ equity. In a balance sheet, the difference between assets and liabilities equals equity (Reid & Botanic, 2006). Income statements contain operating costs that are categorised as direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are those incurred in running specific functions such as casual labour and raw material supplies while indirect costs are non-specific expenses that support the entire business such as depreciation, cleaning and general office supplies. These expenses are considered in determining the shareholder incomes per share. The revenue earned in a particular period of time is also contained in the income statements. They help the owner of the food and beverage operation to know if the business made a profit as well as whether the profits attained conformed to the targets set for the business. Income statements also help the owner to determine whether the profits decreased or increased compared to earlier periods. If the owner is not the manager, he/she can use the income statements to appraise the restaurant manager’s performance. Cash-flow financial statements are important in tra cking the movement of monies in and out of the business. They can be used to identify irregular payments and also to track the business’s capacity to settle outstanding bills. The owner of the food and beverage operations can evaluate the net cash increase or decrease to determine if the business is achieving the growth strategy (Bowie & Buttle, 2004). It is important to recognize and appraise the need for a product in the company. The product may be necessitated by finished stock, innovations or demand from customers. Specifications should be done to ensure that all the necessary details are taken care of to offer customers the best value.  Ã‚  

Is Inclusion a Positive Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Is Inclusion a Positive Movement - Essay Example Thus, inclusive education has met with resistance from all quarters and just like those parents who felt that their children should not be educated with blacks, many parents and teachers today still have a muted sense of distaste for inclusion. However, it has to be understood that every child that is born in a society is owed something and has to live in the real world. Thus, inclusion is a better approach than segregation and the society will do far better if it were to try to accept the best inclusive practices and to try to embed knowledge into the environment for the continuous progress of all its members. This brief essay presents a discussion about inclusion in education. I certify that, except where cited in the text, this work is the result of research carried out by the author of this study. The main content of the study which has been presented contains work that has not previously been reported anywhere. Inclusion in education refers to the notion that students from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities should study in the same regular school with their normal peers and that schools should change the way in which they work to cater for the requirements of all students (Loreman, Pp. 15). It should be noted that inclusion has been encouraged in many countries from around the world as a positive means for encouraging the development of all students and also for encouraging tolerance (Hughes, Pp. 119). However, despite the fact that inclusion has been considered in a positive manner by many, critics of the policy of inclusion do exist and it has been said that the strain that is being introduced in schools as a result of inclusion is a time bomb which can explode unless inclusion policies are properly resourced (Allan, 2008, Pp. 1 -9). Although the concept of inclusion by itself has received much support, it is the financial and emotional cost for teachers who have to try so very ha rd to do

Genetic engineering practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Genetic engineering practice - Essay Example Equally, some cultured meat is prepared with the present technology, which reduces the level of L-carnitine to zero percentage. This chemical is a contributing factor to heart diseases. The chemical is naturally contained in the red meat. Similarly, the meat is grown in the test tube (GMO) is preferred to conventional meat in terms of cleanness. According to Tomme, the GMO meat undergoes a clean process in its preparation consequently reduced infections. This argument justifies the belief that conventional meat undergoes dirt preparation process, which allows the growth of such bacteria as Salmonella and Listeria, which causes food poisoning (Tomme, 67).On the other hand, GMO meat should not be explored as a viable alternative to conventional meats because of the belief that, despite the vitro meat supposedly similar to the conventional meat, there is a probability that the test tube meat could be bodily detrimental (Tomme, 67). There is a high extent of questionability concerning th e long-term consequences of the test tube meat consumption on human beings. There is fear and doubt amongst the public that the rush to consume new food substances may cause unforeseen effects, which might be difficult to prove for hesitation to test using humans as instruments. Similarly, the technological infeasibility, which is associated with technical challenges in the production of the vitro meat, has remained technically unchallenged, consequently leaving room for doubts.

Livvie by Eudora Welty Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Livvie by Eudora Welty - Term Paper Example (Allen, 1999, p.35) The story in question, Livvie, has won both critical as well as popular acclaim. The story, in essence is the resurrection of the main characters life, from the realm of death. This is reflected in the outer atmosphere, where the season transits to spring. The story revolves around the nuptial life of Livvie, who is married to a much older man, Solomon. Although the married life provides some personal security and regularity, it lacks in passion. This makes her feel that she is entraped in the relationship. One of the people whom she meets outside her domestic setting is Cash, the young farm worker, who offers Livvie an escape from the boredom of her marriage. But thereby, she takes the risk of abandoning the safety and security provided by the husband and entering an outside world where passion may be discovered at the cost of losing orderliness. While this sort of conflict had been well-explored and presented by many feminist writers of the last century, Eudora Weltys offering is not so much distinguished by the narrative method but by the storys thematic structure which is â€Å"far more complex and subtly adjusted to the ambiguities of actual human experience" (Claxton, 2005, p.78). The story is also remarkable for the motifs it employs to depict the inner spiritual journey. As Welty has stated in interviews, she took inspiration from medieval texts such as the Book of Hours for the writing of the story. For example, the Book of Hours emphasis on seasonal changes is analogous to to the cycles of human life that is pondered over in Livvie. There is also a similarity between the characterization of Livvie and the historical fictional character Persephone, in that both characters journey forth to the surface of the earth, and avert death through the renewal of spring. (Allen, 1999, p.35) In Livvie, Welty also subtly mocks the respectable Christian image of Solomon, who is portrayed as an old man with

Econometrics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Econometrics - Assignment Example It therefore demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that the availability of married females in the work place was directly proportional to the size of their families. This could be explained by the competition for time brought about by the existence of families, Such that the woman had to make a choice between taking care of the family and coming to work. Question B The estimated logit model had a lot of resemblance to the LMP in terms of statistical significance and estimated coefficients. The few deviation (variations) were identified in cases where the females involved had some sought of secondary education. Weather this was as a result of better time management skills learnt in school or not is a subject of debate which can be investigated further but what is certainly true is that the level of education had an impact on the availability of married females at the work place. Question C An increase in a married female’s education had a substantial impact on the estimated logit model. The deviation from the logit model caused by an increase in female’s education was up to a maximum of three and a minimum of one. This was very evident from the resultant patterns plotted by the graphs. This confirmed the previous hypothesis that the level of education of a married female had a significant impact on their availability in the work place. The amount of money earned by other family members in the family was found to have a marginal impact on the logit model but the impact was not of statistical significance. It therefore appeared as though the amount of time the women put in to their work did not depend on the availability or increase of other sources of income brought into the family by other members of the family. Regression Model 2, Question D The Tobit model was to investigate weather the various variables had an impact on the amount time married women spent at work. The main variable to be investigated here was the size of the families that th ese females were responsible over. The model and the associated variable focuses on the availability of married females in the labor force, it was expected that their level of availability would be dependant on the size of their families indicated by the number of children they had. Such that, the more the children, the bigger the family thus less participation at the work place. On the logit model, the inlf coefficient was therefore expected to be inversely proportional to the kid_s and kid_m coefficients. The expected signs were realized and they were of statistical significance. The coefficients demonstrated the effect of large families on the amount of hours married females spent at work. It was noted that women with relatively smaller families spent more time at work than those with larger families. Question E There was statistically significant difference in the estimated coefficients between the Tobit and the OLS estimations which were very much expected. The differences were evident I both the signs they plotted and the magnitude of those signs. This led to the confirmation of the previously stated hypotheses namely, that is increased education and reduced families enhanced the availability of married females at work. The other hypothesis was that increase in alternative incomes by other family members had a negative impact on the availabili

Spanish literature Essay Example for Free

Spanish literature Essay From Latin litterae (plural); letter is the art of written work. The word literature literally means: things made from letters. The body of written works of a language, period, or culture. Imaginative or creative writing, especially of recognized artistic value: Literature must be an analysis of experience and a synthesis of the findings into a unity (Rebecca West). The art or occupation of a literary writer. The body of written work produced by scholars or researchers in a given field. Printed material Written material such as poetry, novels, essays, etc. , esp works of imagination characterized by excellence of style and expression and by themes of general or enduring interest. The body of written work of a particular culture or people Written or printed matter of a particular type or on a particular subject Printed material giving a particular type of information The art or profession of a writer Obsolete learning Writing in prose or verse regarded as having permanent worth through its intrinsic excellence. The entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people, etc. The writings dealing with a particular subject. The profession of a writer or author. Literary work or production. Any kind of printed material, as circulars, leaflets, or handbills. Archaic. literary culture; appreciation of letters and books. Creative writing of recognized artistic value writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest,are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. Written works (such as poems, plays, and novels) that are considered to be very good and to have lasting importance.

Importance of selected accounting and related courses as preparation for a management accounting career Essay Example for Free

Importance of selected accounting and related courses as preparation for a management accounting career Essay The heart of the global economy is undergoing a tremendous growth, which has created favorable conditions for professional development accounting career paths.. The present job market is faced with competition and education in a given career choice broadens opportunities. There are numerous types of jobs for individuals to pursuit in the field of accounting with specific requirements for career ranks and particular career clusters. Previously, educators and parents have played a significant role in assisting students choose career paths perceived to be related to economic development and overall economic-driving career path. Career clusters demand similar fundamental education and training, skills and knowledge, and career pathways. Also, accounting career, just like other fields offers the professionals the opportunity to rise along the career ladder from entry level to senior most level.Accounting is the study of the procedure used by a business to track expenses, income, assets, and liabilities over time and at the same time adhering to reporting standards. Accounting career deals with the reporting, recording, and analysis of the financial transactions of a business. While many people think that accounting is a complex career, it is not much about subtracting and adding of numbers, yet about comprehending what those numbers mean and demonstrating the ability to apply and communicate the numbers in an approach that benefits of a business organization. Essentially, accounting revolves around the preparation and analysis of financial statements, which significantly evaluates the success or failures of the company. Accountants act as middle-men between the decision-makers and business activities. As such, they record data from transactions and translate it into a meaning and useful information useful to the management, stockholder, customers, employees, government agencies and creditors. See more:  First Poem for You Essay Accounting Career Cluster                Accounting clusters in accounting involve providing analysis and interpretation of financial records in order to prepare financial documents for regulatory authorities. The job clusters in accounting include tax advisor, auditor, budget analyst, accountant, and actuary. Clusters in accounting encompass career pathways that record, classify, analyze, summarize, and communicate a business’ financial information for management decision-making. Public Accountants               Individuals in public accounting are employed by public accounting firms. They offer a range of accounting activities from financial analysis, statement preparation, private businesses, public firms, non-profit entities and government agencies. Most public accountants are certified public accountants. The most common requirement is a CPA certification, yet there are some other accountings certificates as well, including certified fraud examiner, certified management accountant, and enrolled agents for those specializing in tax. The entry level of a public accountant is a bachelor degree in accounting or finance and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. A mid-level public accountant must have a CPA certification an advanced degree like an MBA with a focus in accounting or MAcc is useful (Birrer, 2009). Senior level public accountant requires all the mid-level entry requirements with an MBA, or a MAcc is recommended. Financial Accountant                These are accounting individuals that prepares the financial statements based on the general ledgers besides participating in significant financial decisions involving M A, long-term and financial projections. Financial accountants, Birrer (2009) explains, are concerned with how the performance of a company is represented by outside party, loss and cash flow to managers and shareholders. Professionals in financial accounting career path follow the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles set by Financial Accounting Standards Board (Birrer, 2009). The requirements of an entry level a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of business administration. Furthermore, knowledge of bookkeeping, accounting software, accounts payable and receivable. A CPA certification is mandatory for any accountant working for a public company registered with Securities and Exchange Commission. The senior level, however, requires a bachelor in accounting degree or finance or a graduate degree in finance such as MBA. Career paths for financial accountants include staff accountant, bookkeeping, accountant, financial accountant, financial controller, and chief financial officer at a senior level. Management Accountants                  These are individuals employed by public or private companies to support their goals by performing tasks such as budgeting, asset management, cost management, and performance evaluation. Management accountants develop their career to become budget analysts that are responsible for developing and managing financial plans of an organization. There is also a cost accountant profession that works with consulting, corporations or accounting firms in retail and manufacturing sectors. Management accountants, another career path, involve participation in decisions about capital budgeting, business analysis, and shaping business strategy within a company. Management accountants require a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance and strong technology skills, particularly, in Microsoft Excel (Ankers, 2007). Career LadderPublic Accountant                  According to Institute for Career Research, (2006) reports that the entry level of a public accountant is defined by the types of roles, requirements and job description of pubic accounts. An entry level is a staff accountant, tax personal, or a junior auditor at an accountant firm. Rising through the ranks, the middle level of a public accountant is a senior associate/accountant or tax or a manager for the audit in an accounting firm. The highest accounting rank of a public accountant career path is a senior partner/partner or director of a firm also, a certified public accountant in private practice and a corporate accounting executive or a CFO in a private company. In the senior level, executive accounting oversees audits; tax, drives strategy and business developed and manage client relationships. CPA in private practice, however, works with clients on tax issues, audits or budget analysis. Finally, a CFO conducts senior level management accountant re sponsibilities. Financial Accountant                   The entry level of a financial accountant is a bookkeeper, accountant or a staff accountant for individuals with bachelor’s degree in arts, science or BA. Along the ranks, there is a financial accountant, senior financial analyst and a senior accountant for individuals with all entry level requirements. Besides, strong communications and analytical skills are necessary. The professionals must also demonstrate knowledge of financial regulation. The top most financial accountant career paths include financial director, chief financial officer and a financial controller. These positions require all mid-level entry requirements alongside excellent managerial and interpersonal skills, high standards of accuracy and integrity and a bachelor degree in accounting or finance with MBA desirable (Institute for Career Research, 2006).Management accountants’ entry level becomes staff accountants, junior internal auditor, cost accountant, and a tax accou ntant. Along the ranks, the professionals become accounting managers, senior internal auditor, and a senior accountant. Moreover, the senior-most level is a controller, CFO, director of finance or accounting. While the entry level requires a bachelors’ degree, along the ranks, a senior most position in management accountants requires solid management skills, track record of leadership and excellence in the field and knowledge of the organization and accounting principles of United States. Conclusion                  Discussing career clusters and ladder is such an interesting assignment to establish a solid career path. Accounting professionals are tasked with responsibilities in various career paths and different job ladders. In overall, the accounting field requires professionals to achieve a bachelors’ degree in accounting or finance alongside special skill and knowledge such as communication, computer software, accuracy, integrity, management skills and overall accounting principles. References Ankers, R. G. (2007). Opportunities in an accounting career. New York: Educational Books Division of Universal Pub and Distributing Corp. Birrer, G. E. (2009). Importance of selected accounting and related courses as preparation for a management accounting career. Ann Arbor, Mich: University Microfilms Institute for Career Research. (2006). Career as a certified public accountant: CPA : crunching the numbers and advising businesses and individuals on how to manage their financial affairs. Chicago: Institute for Career Research. Source document

History of Nationalism in Israel

History of Nationalism in Israel Promised Land, Crusader State: The Rise, Fall and Return of the Covenant Nation A dissertation submitted by 58126 to the Department of Government, the London School of Economics and Political Science, in part completion of the requirements for the MSc in Comparative Politics (Conflict Studies) September 1st, 2008 Word Count: ABSTRACT Several prominent comparativists claim that Israel is an outlier case a unique case study that generally defies most conventional forms of categorization. Such an allegation naturally assumes Israel to be exceptional and its behavior inexplicable. The assumption of Israels uniqueness was born during the marked epistemological shift from behavioral crossnational inquiries to more contextually and historically-derived theories, and has undermined Israels place in comparative politics. This dissertation seeks to place Israel and its behavior squarely back into the mix and up against much of the same scrutiny faced by other nation-states. By shifting again from a contextually and historically-derived theory of nationalism towards a more cognitive and tradition-based approach, centered on the ethno-symbolic approach professed by Anthony D. Smith and John Hutchinson, elements of Israels nationalism and national identity are analyzed as contributing to its existence as a zone of conflict a nd to its violent behavior. An analysis of the Covenant Nation as a new comparative category that presupposes the idea of; (i) a chosen people, in (ii) a Promised Land, that uses (iii) blood sacrifice in order to fulfill a redemptive destiny and a commitment to worldly salvation, is highlighted. Limited comparisons to other covenant nations are drawn where applicable. Introduction: Since 1948, Israel has been regarded by some as an occupying force in the Middle East. That Israel, and Jews in general, could be a conquering and occupying people given their fate in the first half of the twentieth century as a nation without a home, victims of anti-Semitism and persecution is confusing to many. For reasons such as this, Israel has long been considered an outlier case by political scientists (Barnett 1996, ch.1). To the point of emphasis, it is argued that Israel defies most categorization, which has become the methodology employed by comparativists in order to understand states and state behavior. Categorizing usually requires classifying a case study under dichotic, or opposite, adjectives; Israel being neither East nor West, developed nor underdeveloped, capitalist nor socialist, Third World nor First World therefore, becomes difficult to study (Barnett 1996, 7). Furthermore, Israel has routinely been excluded from geographically specific studies or regional studies, since it is often considered an alien entity in the Middle East. However, despite Israels historical particularity, Israel is not an alien entity in the Middle East and its behavior is not inexplicable. While differences certainly exist categorically between Israel and other states, they both nevertheless share many of the same traits and concerns characteristics that might have similar origins. It will be argued that in order to understand Israel, both as a nation-state and as it behaves, one needs to understand Israeli nationalist sentiments. Nationalism in itself is a difficult thing to define. Where does it come from? What does it entail? How deeply is it entrenched? The answers to these questions, and many like them, could explain why a nation-state behaves in the way that it does. There are two major competing schools of thought when it comes to understanding nationalism, (a) the modernists, and (b) the primordialists. The modernists would date nationalism to industrialism, the development of capitalism, or to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. The primordialists, on the other hand, see nationalism as dating back much farther possibly to even before history was recorded. Under this train of thought, Israel might date its nationalism back to the Hebrew Bible. Essentially, it all depends on where in history one chooses to draw the line. This paper will primarily argue that in order to understand Israel as an inherently violent and conflict-laden nation-state it is necessary to move away from the established contextually-derived theories of nationalism and move to one that is more cognitively based. In so doing, this paper will show that Israel is in fact a state like all others. It is not an anomaly, nor methodologically suspect its behavior not inexplicable. Regardless of its ancient historic roots, and despite its recent induction as a state among the family of nations, Israels nationalism should not be analyzed according to the dates of its borders, citizens, infrastructure, or institutions. In a more cognitive approach, Israels nationalism should be understood by the borders, beliefs and people themselves. As such, it will be shown that Israel is the archetypical Covenant Nation a category that exists free from both time and space. Such a theory of nationalism can thus draw on elements from either modern or pr e-modern periods/approaches and need not be based on regional developments or similarities. Israel, like all covenant nations, is inherently conflict-laden. As will be laid out in much greater detail, covenant nations have a strategic culture born of three identifying features/beliefs that make them violent and militaristic in nature. Covenant nations are under a seemingly contractual obligation to defend and secure the idea of; (i) a chosen people, in (ii) a Promised Land, using (iii) blood sacrifice. When the covenant nation theory is highlighted as the root cause of violence, it becomes clear that a solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict becomes much more difficult to ascertain. Conflict becomes unrelated to geopolitical realities or existing/imagined security dilemmas, but to an embedded sense of national superiority, a contractual obligation to fulfill the prophecy of the covenant and, derivatively, a commitment to worldly salvation. Thus, while many scholars claim Israel is an outlier case like no other, they are wrong from the outset by trying to assign Israel to conventional and contextual comparativist categories. Israel and its behavior can and should be understood much the same as other states as reactive to its nationalist sentiments, wherever derived. As will be shown, Israel has always been a conquering and occupying nation. It was true of Israels ancient past, it is true of its present and unless a drastic change occurs deep within the embedded (and sacred) structure of Zionism, it will be true of its distant future. The Nation General Definitions and Theories Quest ce-quune nation? Renans question still echoes after more than a century. In recent decades throughout the historical milieu referred to as the post-colonial era a copious amount of interest and attention has been dedicated to the study of nationalism. While no singular definition is agreed on by scholars, for the purpose of this paper a nation will be defined generally as a group that defines itself or is defined by others as sharing common descent and culture [] that also has political consciousness, claiming collective political rights in a given territory (Mann 2005, 11). A nation-state can thus be defined as an entity wherein a nation has its own sovereign state, situated within enunciated and politically defined territorial borders be they universally recognized or not. Scholars of various disciplines have attempted to provide an explanation for the rise, meaning and development of nationalism in human history and societies. The phenomenon of the constitution of nations and national identities, the emergence of national sentiments, the construction of nationhood and nationalist ideologies, appear to all be interrelated constituents of a single phenomenon. Nevertheless, competing theories of nationalism exist the major schism existing between modernists and primordialists. Modernists, such as Gellner and Anderson, assume that the origins of nations and nationalism lie in the structural changes that affected economic and social systems during the industrial revolution at the end of the eighteenth century (Gellner 2006, 48-49), implicitly denying cultural factors. In the opinion of the modernists, the introduction of new means of production and the division of labor caused a restructuring of social relations and the polarization of class interests. Nationalism emerged as a means to promote and direct change through the creation of a popular solidarity as well as a means to protect and promote class interests (Anderson 1991, 113-114). The prevalence of one intention over another brings about the constitution of different political organizations depending on the nature the political system. So to speak, nationalism is identified by the modernists with the process of nation-building a nation being a mere artificial construction fuelled by class interests. The primordialist notion of nationalism contrasts with that proposed by the modernists. Scholars such as Hastings, Smith and Geertz, believe that nations are natural givens (Hastings 1997, 5). Consequently, it is possible to find traces of nationalism and nationhood in ancient times. The feeling of belonging, the acknowledgement among a group of people sharing common cultural, racial, linguistic traits, a common ancestry, history or religion, is a documented fact in history (Smith 1994, 40). Groups tended to bind together by these ties. The proclivity to coalesce around these shared traits, or focal points, brought about the rise of politically and socially organized nations claiming sovereignty over a territory. In fact, it is Anthony D. Smiths many contributions to the theory of ethnosymbolism in particular that figure most prominently in a discussion of Israeli nationalism, and upon which I have based my initial observations and thesis. Ethnosymbolism is founded on the historical origins of nations particularly to their roots in premodern times and focuses its attention on perceptions, beliefs, symbols, rituals, and shared myths and memories. Although the ethnosymbolic approach focuses on subjective cultural and symbolic rudiments, their long term patterning produces a structure of relations and processes [] which can provide a framework for the socialization of successive generations of ethnic and national members (Smith 1999, 14). In more basic terms, the origin and descent of the community are recollected and transmitted to new members of the group by memory as interpreted by earlier generations. This subjective version of a nations origins is understood through ethnohistory rather t han any official historians lens (Coughlan 2001, 160). Before turning to the difference between history and historical traditions on Israeli national identity and behavior in the following section, allow me to first part ways with Anthony D. Smith and highlight our major difference. In War and Ethnicity: the Role of Warfare in the Formation, Self-Images and Cohesion of Ethnic Identities, Smith argues in sum that war has been a powerful factor in shaping certain crucial aspects of ethnic communities and nationhood. He points to Georg Simmels cohesion thesis, which asserts that external armed conflict or the imminent threat thereof produces all internal group solidarity (Smith 1981, XX). In so doing, Smith turns war and its variations into an independent variable that moulds the ethnic community, and invariably the nation. Though I do agree that war and conflict certainly have the ability to accentuate and exacerbate group identity and cohesion, I contend to the contrary that group cohesion is the primary cause of war and conflict. As su ch, war is the dependent variable that finds its existence and explanation in the more common group aggression theory. Thus, it is not war that creates a sense of belonging and community, but a sense of community and belonging that leads to war and conflict and the sense of belonging and community within the Covenant Nation typifies that. The Rise of the Nation-State: Context vs. Cognition To suggest that Israel is in fact an inherently violent nation-state on account of the Covenant, it is necessary to first dispel the myth that all nation-states are violent, and to trace Israels legacy back beyond its establishment. A long-standing assumption among several prominent political theorists suggests that all nation-states are inherently violent because they are forged in warfare. Richard Bean, in War and the Nation State, argues that beginning in the fourteenth century changes in the art of war inextricably led to the rise of centralized states for the purpose of raising taxes (Bean 1973, 220). It is possible, however, that the nation-state by general concept, if not by definition predates medieval changes in the art of war, and certainly Westphalia. Greek city-states, like Sparta, can be seen as examples of very homogeneous societies with developed political structures, taxation, and mutual obligations between government and citizens. Regardless, ancient historical cas es such as these would likely only serve to highlight the linkage between warfare and the birth of the nation-state. On the other end of the spectrum, what can be said about nation-states that have emerged contemporarily? Taking Israel as an example, a state that came into being by means of a vote in the United Nations, it is easy to suggest that the Arab-Israeli wars following its establishment have played a prominent role in the shaping of modern-day Israel. However, shaping by definition is not synonymous with forging. In the first instance, it is my intention to show that nation-states are not forged explicitly in warfare, but on traditions of warfare wherever derived. The purpose is to rephrase the hypothesis that nation-states are forged in warfare into one more universally applicable. For this, it is necessary to first presume that the nation, with its sense of community and belonging, existed prior. It will be shown that; from (i) a nations strategic culture, come (ii) traditions of warfare, which (iii) lead to a greater sense of national identity, on which (iv) nation-states have been forged. In so doing, I move the discourse away from a contextually derived theory of nationalism to a more cognitive-based approach, in which Anthony D. Smiths contributions to ethnosymbolism (as outlined above) figure prominently. A nation-states strategic culture is the obvious place to look for evidence of a war-born society. Strategic culture is defined by Alistair Iain Johnston as an ideational milieu which limits behavior choices. This milieu consists of shared assumption and decision rules that impose a degree of order on individual and group conceptions of their relationship to their social, organizational or political environment (Johnston 1995, 34). Essentially, it all comes down to security. A strategic culture is shaped from a shared sense of self-perception and threat perception of a specific group of people. It is necessary to assume that if a national group has a strong historical sense of war, aggressiveness, victimization, and/or persecution, that these sentiments would play out in their strategic culture, and would limit behavior choice and influence decision-making. Once forged into nation-states these strategic cultures continue to exist, and therefore become good indicators of how groups vi ew warfare and how their states came into being. In order to analyze a nation-states strategic culture properly, it is important to consider that the study of strategic culture itself has two distinct epistemological approaches context and cognition. Those that believe a strategic culture is based in context would claim that the historical record of the nation, even before its conception as a nation-state, is important to study. Basically, the nation-state expresses its national identity based on its national character. Therefore, a states strategic culture is based on its past it is path dependent. On the other hand, cognitivists see strategic culture as an integrated system of symbols (Johnston 1995, 35). Included in this integrated system of symbols are structures, languages, analogies, myths, metaphors, etc. In this approach national identity, as related to strategic culture, is more easily discernable through the study of a nation-states wartime symbols than a nation states wartime history. Carolyn Marvin and David Ingle, in their book Blood Sacrifice and the Nation, also argue that symbols (like a flag) can be very telling indicators that lead one to uncover the nature of nationalism that exists within a state. In Fallen Soldiers, George Mosse looks to nation-states war memorials: cemeteries, songs, poems and commemorations, for clues. Essentially, a nations sentiments regarding warfare might differ from its experience; they might have been shaped or molded. When trying to find the link between the birth of a nation-state and warfare, symbols offer yet another variable to consider. Due to the fact that there are two different ways to approach the study of strategic culture, and by association an element of a nation-states national identity, a clear distinction can be made between proper warfare and traditions of warfare. Traditions, like symbols, need not be based on truth or historical accuracy. There is a tradition of Santa Clause bringing presents to nice children despite there being no assumption of truth behind such a practice and certainly no historical record to legitimize it. Traditions are sometimes developed more because they serve a purpose, than because they truly commemorate something. When considering nation-state formation it is important to properly choose which traditions are worth investigating. Relating to strategic culture, or any issue that shapes a nation-states identity, it is important that a tradition have; (i) solid national support, (ii) outlived the era that gave it birth, (iii) entered the permanent lexicon of national discourse, and (iv) continued to resonate with a portion of public opinion even at a time when it was not directly affecting public policy (McDougall, Ch.1). As will be shown with the case of Israel, traditions of warfare that have passed the scrutiny of the limitations listed above have played a role in developing national identity, and ultimately forging a nation-state. Modern day Israel is a good example of a nation-state forged on traditions of warfare, and not explicitly in warfare. As suggested above the first place to look for evidence of the link between warfare and state formation would be in a nation-states strategic culture. Israels strategic culture has long been dominated by the realist tradition (Dowty 1998, 84). The realist view of security has solid national support in Israel, it has outlived the era that gave it birth, it has entered the permanent lexicon of national discourse, and even during times of relative peace it continues to resonate with a portion of public opinion. Israels strategic culture is not only realist with regards to self-defense, but also in its offense. The leftist scholars who would date Zionism to Theodor Herzls avowedly socialist ideals of establishing a free, humanitarian and egalitarian state in the Jewish homeland to escape the increasing anti-Semitism of late-nineteenth century Europe (Avineri, 1981, 88-89) are shortsighted in their efforts. There is no such thing as nineteenth and twentieth century Zionism it is only Zionism in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The bleak and destructive history of the Jews in Europe plays little significance in Israeli mamlachtiyut, or statism. The traditions that have forged the Israeli nation-state and limit its behavior choices can and should be dated back to the Hebrew Bible. For example, one might choose to examine the myth of the Covenant Nation, and how that played out during the Hebrews first experiment with forging a state following Joshuas invasion of Canaan, as evidence. The invasion represents a realist tradition of conquering and occupying. Whether or not the Hebrew Bible represents an accurate historical rendition or whether it has any academic merit at all is outside the scope of discussion. After all, when providing an account for Israels strategic culture, the scriptures can be analyzed as being contextually historical or as a symbol of cognition. Either way fact or fiction they provide a tradition from which to inherit a strategic culture from, and on which to forge a nation-state. Thus, the argument that Richard Bean makes; that nation-states developed out of the need for a strong central authority to levy taxes due to changes in the art of war, is unconvincing. To the point of emphasis, most modern economic-dependent nationalist arguments are limited when one considers ancient examples of national groups coming together to forge polities within defined and enunciated borders. Cases such as these simply highlight the fact that the forging of a nation-state draws more on myths, sentiments and symbols of collective fear, threat, pride, angst, aspiration, victimization, xenophobia and so forth when grouping together to organize politically. The above sentiments combine to form a strategic culture, from which traditions, national identity and greater cohesiveness are born. The nation-state was born as a response to a need for security; the traditions that transmit that feeling be they contextually or cognitively derived are what inevitably forge nation-states an d determine how violently they will behave. Though it may be true that many nation-states are forged explicitly in warfare (and are established using means of warfare), it is not a universal truth. Instead, it should be argued that nation-states are forged on traditions of warfare traditions that once were prescriptive and later become predictive. Covenant Nations As mentioned above, a strategic culture is shaped from a shared sense of self-perception and threat perception of a specific group of people. It is my assertion (to the contrary of international relations theorists) that Israels strategic culture has nothing to do with threat perception; geopolitical realities and security dilemmas are but moot points. Israel has adopted and further developed a strategic culture based solely on a particular tradition of self-perception that of the Covenant Nation. Defining the term Covenant Nation is not as simple as it may appear; its definition is hard to come by because it involves describing a process more than an entity. Simply put, the covenant is a tradition of ethnic election. The process of ethnic election is a multi-staged process requiring; (i) a sense of being singled out or chosen for a special purpose, (ii) a divine promise whether absolute or conditional made to the chosen people, and (iii) a belief that fulfillment of the covenant leads to worldly salvation (Smith 2003, 48-49). In short, the covenant is a tradition of a contractual agreement between God and His people. Simply put, the Covenant Nation, therefore, is the nation that enters and embodies the covenant. As stated above, traditions need not be based on historical truth or reality; in the ethnosymbolic approach traditions, myths and metaphors offer much the same credence to a debate on nationalism and national identity and thus can serve as an explanation for how nation-states behave. Let me begin by acknowledging that although the term Covenant Nation is rife with religious connotation, I do not intentionally seek to obscure the already blurred lines between religion and nationalism. In fact, I seek to avoid entering the scholarly debate about their ambivalent relationship entirely; I steer clear from scholars like Mark Juergensmeyer, whose work albeit fascinating seeks to compare and contrast the two phenomena and chart their historical interplay (Juergensmeyer 2006, 182). Instead, I point to a recent trend in thinking that sees nationalism itself as a form of belief-system or as a new religion of the people (Smith 2003, 42). George Mosse, in Fallen Soldiers: Reshaping the Memory of the World Wars, discusses how during the interwar period in Europe a civic religion of nationalism was born based on the cult of the fallen soldier (Mosse 1990, 104). If in Germany, for example, a civic religion of nationalism was born based on the cult of the fallen soldier, it c an be said that for Israel a civic religion of nationalism is born based on the cult of the chosen people and the cult of the Promised Land. The Covenant has always been the cornerstone of Israels national identity dating back to primordial times. The Hebrew Bible first marks the covenant that God makes with Abram in Genesis 12:2: I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you. It is important to note that this verse not only represents the birth of the covenant, but at the same time the birth of the nation highlighting their interconnectedness. The nation and the covenant are thus co-determining and mutually implicating; the two entities are defined by their internal relationship, such that the two entities derive their meaning through their relationship and have no meaning or basis without the other. No reason is given as to why Abram (later Abraham) is selected to head the nation that will come to be known as the chosen people, but we are told that his progeny shall; (i) inherit the land of Canaan, and (ii) outnumber the dust of the earth (Gen. 12:7 and 13:6) outlining the divine promise. In return the covenant nation is obliged to circumcise their children (Gen. 17:7-10) and post-exodus to keep the laws and commandments that God gives unto his chosen people, the holy nation, at Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:4-6). Such are the terms of the covenantal contract; if the Chosen People follow Yahwehs rules, he will give them virtue, peace and prosperity [in the Promised Land]. If they are his holy servants, the scriptures say, he will bless them (Akenson 1992, 16). Furthermore, not only do Gods chosen people benefit from fulfillment of the covenant the whole world does. By fulfilling the covenant it is believed that Gods plan of salvation is advanced; so to speak, the salvation of all hinge[s] on the conduct of a special few (Smith 2003, 51). Therefore, it is to the conduct of the special few that we now shift our attention. If the renowned modernist scholar on nationalism Elie Kedourie is correct when he asserts that nationalism produces a kind of religious fanaticism that lends to conflict (Kedourie 1971, XX), the same must certainly hold true of covenantal nationalism and likely to an even greater degree. As stated earlier, covenant nations come under a seemingly contractual obligation to defend and secure the idea of; (i) a chosen people, in (ii) a Promised Land, using (iii) regular blood sacrifice. Furthermore, the fulfillment of the covenant sets the chosen people apart from other peoples both ethically and ritually: Ye shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy (Lev. 19:2). If fulfillment of the covenant that is following the laws and commandments within the Promised Land makes one holy and will lead to worldly salvation for all, than any/all efforts to attain that credo become morally indisputable. A self-r ighteous and realist strategic culture develops whereby any actions taken in fulfillment of the covenant become necessary, justified and self-vindicating. The strategic culture associated with the covenant has thus permeated throughout time in much the same way it was born manifested from a belief in choseness, holiness, and obligation. The Jewish nation has always found its grounding in the covenant whether in the times of Elijah or Hezekiah, Josiah or Nehemiah, the Maccabees or the Talmudic Sages [] all of these looked back to the founding charter of the covenant, not just as legitimation but as the grounding for their conception of the community of Israel and the unity of the Jewish people, which they sought to restore or deepen (Smith 2003, 63). It is on this sacred foundation that modern day Israel was also established. Nineteenth century political Zionism can be broken down into three competing schools of thought; (i) the Revisionist Zionists, (ii) the Labor Zionists, and (iii) the Religious Zionists. In many ways revisionist Zionism epitomizes what it means to be a covenant nation. Vladimir Zeev Jabotinsky, the founder of revisionist Zionism, believed that people are naturally born into nations and inherit its cultures and values. So to speak, individuals have very little choice regarding which nationalities they belong to. It was Jabotinskys belief that the Jews represent a particularly strong nation because despite the pressures of the Diaspora they always maintained their originality and distinctness(Dowty, 37). Furthermore, he insisted that the Jewish state be established in Palestine and trans-Jordan because it was the historical legacy of the Jews. On the other hand, Labor Zionism the most influential branch of Zionism at the time considered itself to be totally secular in nature. Aaron David Gordon, founder of Hapoel Hatzair, saw the Jewish life in the Diaspora as dependence and a lack of self-reliance. Building on German-Jewish philosopher Martin Bubers I and Thou, he sought to create a new covenant by reconnecting with the land using the religion of labor (Dowty, 39), and by replacing the old exiled Jew with a new self-reliant Jew. However, under the secular garb of Labor Zionism the language and intent of the original Abrahamic Covenant can be discerned (Smith 2003, 93). Ber Borochov, ideological founder of the Poalei Zion labor movement wrote that class struggles exist within national groups as well as between them, clearly acknowledging a difference between the Jewish nation and other peoples, and advocating an ethnic nationalism, rather than the more open and tolerant civic kind (Howe 2000, 236). For reasons such as th is he sought to establish a Jewish socialist state. It is important to note, however, that not any state would do for Labor Zionists the state was to be established in the Jewish homeland. To the point of emphasis, upon establishment of the state of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, the first Labor Prime Minister of Israel declared the uniqueness of the Hebrew people and the redemptive destiny of Israel on its own soil (Smith 2003, 92-93). In so doing he acknowledged Labor and Religious Zionism to be not only compatible, but complimentary. Religious Zionism was headed by Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. While it is the usual view that Zionism is a sin and alien culture, a non-Jewish way of life, and that Jews should only return to the Promised Land after messianic redemption, Kook claimed that enhancing attachment to the land is an obligation (Dowty, 44). Essentially, Kook is advocating preparing the land for redemption and salvation and suggests that the secular Zionists are doing holy work by settling the Promised Land. Clearly in all three branches of Zionism the tradition of the covenant remains critical the four deep seated cultural resources that define the covenant nation, namely; community, territory, history and destiny, permeate all of their raisons dà ªtre. By 1948, the underlying dimensions of the covenant nation return to fruition and again form a unifying and legitimizing tradition like in times past. From this tradition a realist strategic culture was born that has; (i) solid national support, (ii) outlived the era that gave it birth, (iii) entered the permanent lexicon of national discourse, and (iv) continued to resonate with a portion of public opinion even during times of relative peace. Biblically, historically and contemporarily time and again the covenant h

A Cultural Examination of the Russian Federation Essay -- cultural mar

â€Æ' Introduction In 1991, the great social experiment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics dissolved. The empire spanning almost five centuries, from the remnants of the Golden Horde to Stalin's "new Russia" (Hoskins, 1997) from Poland to the Pacific disappeared, leaving a political-sociological void that is only now moving towards resolution. Still the largest nation in the world (Shultz, 2000), Russia spans two continents, multiple time zones, and a land area that diminishes that of the United States. Although it no longer demonstrates the breadth of cultural conglomeration existing in the era of Soviet existence, the Russian Federation provides for an interesting cultural examination, and will be the basis of this paper. Specifically, this paper will examine six different areas of culture noted by the Hofstede Centre's 6-D model; power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, pragmatism, and indulgence. A bar-graph of the various scorings of Russia by the standards of the Hofstede Centre to provide a visual representation of the information to be examined in this paper is provided below. Providing a cultural baseline also will assist the reader in examining a nation such as Russia, therefore the author has included cultural references and notations to the United States of America. As well, though it is outside the scope of this paper, a brief historical examination of different areas of Russia's culture will be offered, as to fully understand a nation's cultural existence and development, knowledge of its history is required. Power Distance The dimension of power distance, according to the Hofstede Centre, indicates that â€Å"[t]he extent to which the less powerful members within ... ...Soviet era, it will be of interest to examine these cultural markers and see if the nation will remain as it has throughout much of similar changes, or if Russia will truly redefine herself as the 21st century continues. References Hosking, G. (1997). Russia: People and empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. K., P. A. (2011). In this issue: Russia's special path. Russian Social Science Review, 52(6), 3. Kostenk, N. V. (2011). Information-culture styles in Russia and Ukraine. Sociological Research, 50(4), 57-86. Russia. (n.d.). In The Hofstede Centre. Web. January 28, 2015, from http://geert- hofstede.com/russia.html Schultze, S. (2000). Culture and customs of Russia. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. United States. (n.d.). In The Hofstede Centre. Web. January 28, 2015, from http://geert-hofstede.com/united-states.html

Statue of the Blessed Virgin :: Religion Prayers Irish Papers

Statue of the Blessed Virgin One of the best-kept secrets of Irish culture is the moving statues phenomenon that erupted in the mid-eighties all over the republic of Ireland. In August 1985, there were reports from the small town of Mountcollins that a statue of the Blessed Virgin had been seen to move. In the following months there were reports of the same phenomenon coming from small rural areas all over the country. Many people traveled to county Limerick to view the statue at Garryowen, following reports that some people had seen blood coming from one of the hands of Our Lady. The Rosary was recited several times each night as hundreds converged on the shrine. I myself went to once such gathering late at night at Mountcollins to see what was going on. The crowd chanted the Rosary over and over with their eyes glued to the statue of the Virgin Mary that was standing up in an alcove of a fake grotto similar to hundreds all over Ireland. It was dark and the statue had a spotlight on it. Behind the faithful, the re was a wood with the main road beyond. The Rosary recitals gradually gave way to "Mother of God, pray for us" that quickly became a rather feverish chanting of "Pray for us, pray for us, PRAY FOR US"! that got faster and more desperate as time pasted. Scenes like this sprang up nationwide with new sightings everyday. Everyone was talking about it at the pub, church or school and the media fanned the flames even more with daily coverage. Each person you spoke to who believed it was a true miracle, claimed a unique experience of the phenomena. Some said they saw the statue's hand move a bit or that a tear feel from her eye or most commonly the apparition of Christ's face upon the statue of Mary's face. The most skeptical about the whole rumpus was actually the clergy who found themselves dealing with a religious happening that was not within their control with impromptu prayer gatherings springing up everywhere. Their calls for caution in the media were generally disregarded by the members of the public caught up in the excitement. Some of this excitement began to turn a bit sour when rumors began to circulate that these miracles were actually dire omens of a coming apocalypse. It was reported in the papers that some woman claimed t o have had a vision that this was the beginning of a series of pre-apocalyptic portents that heralded the end of everything.

Comparing Two Views of Gay Marriage in America Essay -- Compare Contra

Marriage, by definition, is the institution whereby men and women are joined in a special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family. In today’s society however, things are changing. People of all genders are forming bonds with one another, and homosexuals are vying for the right to have their love established as marriage as well. Should men and men, and women and women, be allowed the right of marriage just like heterosexual couples in America? Andrew Sullivan and William Bennett have opposing opinions on this subject, however are more alike in opinion than they know. Their articles tell different stories, with the same general underlying tone. Gay people are people, just like everyone else. This is the argument that Andrew Sullivan is making in his essay titled â€Å"Let Gays Marry†. His argument is based mainly on logic and facts, and for the most part, it is strongly supported. Sullivan mentions in his article that gay people are citizens of our country and are entitled to the exact same rights as everyone else. He is not asking for any special treatment, just equal treatment. All that the gay community is asking for is the right to form a legally recognized union. He also points out that the definition of marriage has changed with the times. Women are no longer a man’s property through marriage. People of different races can get married today and it is highly accepted. He is not asking that America changes heterosexual marriage at all, he is simply requesting that they be more open and accept homosexual bonds as marriages as well. Speaking for the other side of the spectrum is William Bennett. Using a very emotional argument, it is his belief that marriage should ... ... It is obvious that there are many differences between the two articles. Sullivan is fighting for his rights as an American, and as a human being, to be able to legalize the love felt between two people of the same sex. Bennett believes that marriage is a crucial part of our society, and that it is so special and important that it should stay as it is. They differ in opinions simply because they are looking for different things. As you can see, the battle with homosexual marriage is one that is not going to be settled overnight. People will continue voicing their opinions on the topic until we can reach a middle ground. When you think about it though, are our ideas really that different? Both men are fighting for the same cause in a way. They are looking for the glorification of the loving bond of marriage; they are just going about it in different ways.

Earthquake Kills 22 in southwestern China Essay

1. Type of crisis Earthquake is an example of adventitious crisis, a natural disaster â€Å"that is not part of an everyday life and is unplanned and accidental† (Varcarolis, 2006, pp 422-423). Victims of earthquakes usually suffer from trauma, panic, shock, grief, fear and mental disorganization (which could be manifested by running around aimlessly or inability to concentrate). People who suffer from such an adventitious disaster are reported to have flashbacks or nightmares connected to the event after it happened. 2. Type of stressors that contributed to the crisis Earthquakes happen suddenly and people are caught off guard with the sudden and swift destruction that it brought about to them personally (e.g., damage or loss of property and the painful loss of a loved one or loved ones).  Ã‚   Psychologically, emotionally and mentally the victims are not prepared for the sudden loss and change of life or way of life (e.g. having to live in an evacuation center with all of its limited supply of basic necessities, or having to live with a physical disability due to the earthquake). In this instance, anxiety, grief and panic levels go up severely in just a matter of seconds.   With the combine sudden loss of property and loved ones, the victim/s may be overwhelmed. 3. Coping skills of the people involved Since problem is a part of life, it is very important that a person has learned a number of techniques that can be use to lower anxiety and to adapt to the situation when problem arises. One of the key techniques that people use is to engage in prayer. Prayer helps to lighten the load as a person learns to accept and submit to the will of God.   Also, prayer clears a person’s mind which enabled him to restore balance and equilibrium and make right choices. A person should also not isolate himself but should express to others what he is feeling and allow himself to be surrounded and comforted with other members of the family and friends. Moreover, the victim should cooperate with the help and assistance being provided by the government, counseling, medical and other disaster agencies.   If needed he should transfer to a place or engage in activities that helps him forget the incident (Varcarolis, 2006, pp.423-429). In the case of children, they should be taught to understand the situation, be assured by the parent’s presence and parents should model calm behavior and seek to divert the children’s attention by providing fun activities for them( Handouts : Talking to Children about Crisis). 4. Goal of the resolution of the crisis â€Å"Crisis by definition is self-limiting so that as soon as possible they are resolved, preferably within 4 to six weeks† so that a person or group of persons function normally again in spite of their loss and accept what happen to them during the earthquake disaster ( Varcarolis, 2006,p.422  Ã‚  Ã‚   ). More importantly the goal of the resolution of the crisis is to lower anxiety level since anxiety hampers the person’s ability to face and solve his own problems. Short term goals of the resolution of the crisis by the end of the first session involves the lowering down of anxiety level from severe to moderate or moderate to mild, clarify the problem in solvable terms, identify existing supports and other needed supports, set realistic goals to deal with the problem and identify a step by step plan of action. Otherwise a person’s safety may be at risk for due to hopelessness, grief, and fear he may tend to act suicidal or become mentally ill (Varcarolis,2006 ,pp. 427 & 430). 5. Possible resources/referrals that might be needed to help to return to pre-crisis level of functioning It may be necessary that victims of earthquakes should be remove from the place where it happened. Therefore, they may need to be referred to a stable shelter. Rehabilitation, debriefing and counseling is also recommended where psychologists, counselors and other cognitive-behavioral therapists helps them to restore balance and equilibrium. Friends, family and peer groups should also be a part of the healing process. If the person develops psychotic thinking, violent or suicidal behavior then he may need a psychiatric treatment. If he suffers from physical injuries or other health needs then he must be rushed to a hospital or clinic. Children whose parents were not coping well with the stress that the disaster had caused should be put under child care. Vocational and skills training program should also be provided to help the victims go back to supporting themselves again especially for those who had become disabled (Varcarolis, 2006, pp. 429-438; Handouts: Talking to Children about Crisis).

Western And Traditional Healing Africa Health And Social Care Essay

Traditional therapists have a important function to play constructing the wellness system in Africa. This paper aims to compare the usage of western medical specialty and traditional medical specialty. The paper aims to place similarities and differences between western and African constructs of diseases, remedy and effectual patient attention. It argues for the ordinance of traditional therapists and traditional medical specialty, every bit good as for the application of human rights rules within the traditional healing profession. The usage of western and traditional medical specialty depends on many factors such as the handiness of financess to entree the drugs. It besides depends on an person ‘s beliefs and civilization. Most African people rely fundamentally on traditional medical specialty on about all their unwellnesss chiefly because they trust its utilizations and they are so doubting to utilize western medical specialty chiefly because they do non swear it. This paper concludes with schemes by WHO to harmonize the two groups of practicians but it will take a piece before the groups agree on working together. In this paper a comparing of Western medical specialties and African traditional medical specialties shall be made. The intent of this paper is to place similarities and differences between Western and African constructs of diseases, remedy and effectual patient attention. Harmonizing to Germov ( 2007, p. 8 ) Western Medicine is â€Å" the conventional attack to medicate in western societies, based on the diagnosing and account of unwellness as a mulfunction of the organic structure ‘s biological mechanisms. † It encompasses a scope of wellness attention patterns evolved to keep and reconstruct wellness by the bar and intervention of unwellness Hewson ( 1998 ) . WHO defines Traditional medical specialty as â€Å" the sum sum of cognition, accomplishments and patterns based on theories, beliefs and experiences autochthonal to different civilizations that are used to keep wellness, every bit good as to forestall, name, better or handle physical and mental unwellnesss † . Traditional medical specialty that has been adopted by other populations outside its ain civilization is frequently termed alternate or complementary medical specialty ( WHO, 2008 ) . Helwig ( 2005 ) claimed that primary therapists in traditional African medical specialty are accoucheuses, herb doctor and diviners. Diviners focus on the root causes of illness by the hereditary liquors ( Helwig, 2005 ) . Midwifes use herbs and local workss to help with gestation and childbearing ( Helwig, 20005 ) . Herbalists use carnal, workss and mineral based medical specialties to bring around diseases ( Helwig, 2005 ) . Herb market and herb trading is a really common pattern in many African states ( Helwig, 2005 ) . Harmonizing to Okpako ( 2006 ) traditional African communities have three chief groups of workss they use to bring around serious unwellnesss, toxicant workss and workss for minor unwellnesss. Plants used for minor unwellnesss treat unwellnesss such as concerns ; contusions and hurting febrility are used without audience of religious therapists ( Okpako, 2006 ) . Plants used for serious unwellnesss are used when covering with life endangering unwellnesss and need the intercession of religious therapists, what the patient gets is holistic intervention ( Okpako, 2006 ) . Okpako ( 2006 ) stated that as for the toxicant workss, many African communities recognise it merely from experience with it or from inadvertent toxic condition. Okpako ( 2006 ) claimed that in most African states, many people western medical specialties are out of their range as they do non hold money to purchase the drugs and so they resort to traditional medical specialty is it inexpensive. Traditional African medical specialty is based on accrued experience of antediluvian Africans ( Okpako, 2006 ) . Traditional African medical specialty ‘s manner of transmittal is spread by word of oral cavity and has hindered exigency of a by and large accepted theory and hence of the systematic development of traditional African medical specialty as a self-acting profession ( Okpako, 2006 ) . Traditional African medical specialty practicians are therapists who believe that their methods can bring around many conditions including malignant neoplastic disease, AIDS, mental jobs, sterility, some sexually transmitted diseases, lesions and Burnss every bit good as many other complaints and conditions ( Helwig, 2005 ) Good wellness is linked to a right relationship between people and their supernatural environment ( Helwig, 2005 ) . Harmonizing to Helwig ( 2005 ) among the traditional therapists, being able to name an unwellness is considered a gift from both God and the ascendants. Helwig claimed that â€Å" a major accent is placed on finding the root cause underlying any illness or bad fortune † . Illness is said to stem from deficiency of balance between the patient and his or her environment, ( Helwig, 2005 ) Diviners may utilize workss non merely for mending intents but besides to command conditions and events, ( Helwig, 2005 ) . Helwig ( 2005 ) stated that â€Å" in add-on to workss, traditional African therapists may use appeals, conjurations and casting of enchantments † . They are besides skilled in psychotherapeutics and guidance ( Helwig, 2005 ) . African mending systems recognise the influence of the head on the human well being ( Helwig, 2005 ) . They recognise the negative emotions such as fright, guilt and hatred can take to illness ( Helwig, 2005 ) . Rituals are undertaken to pacify the enraged hereditary liquors, patients need to do confessions in order for the liquors to forgive them and be good ( Helwig, 2005 ) . The rites attach toing the usage of herbal medical specialty is referred to as â€Å" conjuration † . Incantation is a aggregation of carefully chosen words used to convey mending consequence or deciding emotional struggle in the head of the patient ( Helwig, 2005 ) . Liquors of the ascendants protect their life posterities, nevertheless ascendants demand from their descendent ‘s rigorous attachment to the moral Torahs laid down ( Helwig, 2005 ) . An immoral act for illustration incest is believed to rag the liquors ensuing in serious unwellness or bad luck ( Helwig, 2005 ) . Harmonizing to WHO, 80 % of the African population depends on traditional medical specialty for primary wellness attention. In Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Zambia, 60 % of kids with high febrility ensuing from malaria usage herbal medical specialty at place. Lovell ( 2009 ) claimed that persons enduring from hurting, anxiousness, depression, concerns and weariness usage alternate medical specialty. WHO estimates that several African states pattern traditional birth with the aid of traditional accoucheuses who uses autochthonal workss to help childbearing. WHO ( 2008 ) claimed that 70 % to 80 % of the population in western states has used some signifier of alternate or complementary medical specialty for illustration stylostixis. As noted by Germov ( 2007 ) there are varied grounds why alternate medical specialty is so popular at the disbursal of western medical specialty. When people get ill they need to cognize the causes of the unwellness, enduring or even decease ( Germov, 2007 ) . In Western medical specialty, the traditional position that unwellness was caused by religious immorality is no longer valid. Alternate medical specialty that have an account to causes of unwellnesss and enduring have a greater entreaty ( Germov, 2007 ) . The desire to accomplish a more holistic signifier of attention may be a motivative factor as to why patients choose traditional medical specialty ( Lovell, 2009 ) . In most African states, drugs are out of range to many people as they do non hold the money to purchase them. The lone solution available is to fall back to traditional medical specialty as it is inexpensive and dependable ( Okpako, 2006 ) . Most African people are so disbelieving to seek western medical specialty. The chief ground is that they are afraid to seek something new and prefer to go on utilizing their old manner of seeking medical aid that is the usage of traditional medical specialty ( Okpako, 2006 ) . As stated by Germov ( 2007 ) people have lost trust in western medical specialty. Many toxins found in the drugs have drove people off from the usage of it. Peoples have besides lost trust in scientific experts, they blame them on about all the environmental jobs such as planetary heating, oil spills and even acerb rain ( Germov, 2007 ) . Germov ( 2007 ) claimed that there is a good relationship between ‘personal ‘ therapist and patient. Personal therapists take their clip to listen and supply seamster made intervention to the single client. By so making they create a strong bond which can take up to swear and trueness. Wilcox & A ; Bodeker ( 2004 ) reported that in most African states the rise in drug oppositions and jobs in accessing effectual anti -malarial drugs in both distant and underprivileged countries has forced people to fall back to traditional medical specialty as their beginning of intervention. As noted by Marlise ( 2004 ) clash is apparent between western medical specialties that look at stuff causing to understand and handle an unwellness and traditional medical specialty that by and large looks towards the religious beginning such as witchery and displeasure by ascendants in order to bring around an complaint. Harmonizing to Marlise ( 2004 ) there has been media studies of traditional therapists claiming to hold a remedy for AIDS and subject their patients to unsafe or uneffective interventions. Marlise ( 2004 ) stated that amongst some people in Africa, it is believed that if a ill individual does non acquire intervention and dies, his or her spirit will do more diseases. Harmonizing to Marlise ( 2004 ) a figure of traditional therapists have seen a moneymaking chance of bring arounding people populating with HIV/AIDS in the absence of biomedicine and a figure of developing states do non hold entree to anti-retroviral medicine or equal wellness attention to those populating with HIV/AIDS. The WHO describes the jobs related to clinical informations on traditional medical specialty as steming from the hapless quality of informations and besides the methodological analysis used as being below the stipulated criterion. WHO ( 2008 ) claimed that traditional therapists need to advance both their published and unpublished informations inorder for them to derive support from the whole universe. Lovell ( 2009 ) stated that the spread between western medical specialty and traditional medical specialty practicians is increasing. As stated by Lovell, â€Å" traditional therapists do non believe that their patterns are guaranteed worldwide and their statement is that the efficaciousness of their merchandise has stood the trial of clip † . All in all the usage of western and African traditional medical specialty depends on an person ‘s beliefs and civilization. It besides depends on the handiness of financess to seek intervention. In Africa most people can non afford to beginning western medical specialty chiefly because it is really expensive and so they resort to their traditional medicine chiefly because it is cheaper. Precautions need to be taken carefully as there are a batch of side effects associated with the continued usage of traditional medical specialty. Some of the side effects might take to paroxysms or even decease.