How to Resolve an Ethnic Conflict- Case Study of Bosnia Research Paper

How to Resolve an Ethnic Conflict- Case Study of Bosnia - Research Paper Example The Serbs were seeking political dominance in Bosnia by eliminating the weak Bosnian Muslims. According to Horowitz (2000), a weak state cannot manage the differing ethnic interests peacefully in order to provide protection to all ethnic groups. The Bosnian conflict was also politically fueled by government and military leaders. Political leaders can have discriminatory inter-ethnic politics and ideologies that favor some ethnic groups (Jesse & Williams, 2011). Serbian leaders such as General Mladic and Radovan Karadzic were the masterminds of the Srebrenica massacre. Serbian political leaders had empowered Serb militias to fight the defenseless Bosnian Muslims. Cultural factors such as propaganda, stereotyping and religious differences also lead to ethnic conflict (Jesse & Williams, 2011). Stereotyping creates tension between ethnic groups and hinders social cohesion (Horowitz, 2000). Bosnia was composed of Muslims and non-Muslims. In 1992, fierce propaganda was spread by Serbs depi cting Muslims as extremist fundamentalists. This made Bosnia Serbs support Serbian militia fighting against Bosnia Muslims. Other factors such as economic factors and weak national institutions had little impact among the causes of the Bosnia war. However, these factors still remain valid causes of ethnic conflict among different ethnic groups. Several countries in Africa and Asia experience conflict due to imbalance in economic development and institutions that disregard the law. The Bosnia conflict was ended by the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995. The peace deal had been brokered by the U.S government. The Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic, and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman signed the peace agreement. The United States, Russia, France, Germany, and Britain initiated the peace deal that ended the war in 1995. Sarajevo was made the capital city of Bosnia, and the country was divided into two regions along ethnic lines. The Serbs were given 49 per cent of the country, and the remaining 51 per cent was allocated to the Bosnia Muslims. The deal led to the establishment of a Peace Implementation Council to coordinate reconstruction and development projects. The deal included the deployment of NATO troops in the country for peace keeping. A UN High Representative was appointed to make and enforce the law at the state and entity level. The country conducted national elections that established a government of three presidents. Through the peace agreement, political differences that led to the conflict had been addressed. According to Horowitz (2000), differences in political ideologies and the desire for political dominance lead to ethnic conflict. The peace agreement led to the establishment of a central government that would rule over Bosnia. Each entity also has a state government, police, and the military. The issue of weak institutions that disregard the law and a weak nation or ethnic group was addressed. T he weak Bosnia Muslims were given the biggest portion of the country and established a state government and a military force. This gave them an institution that guarantees their security and makes laws that govern the state. The PIC makes decisions that have been implemented by international organizations such as IMF, the World Bank,

House of Tata Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

House of Tata - Case Study Example The group companies would have been effective in purchasing the shares from Tata Sons. However, collusion between the companies with regard to the purchase of the exchange share would have violated the law. According to the media, the plan by Ratan of increasing the equity holdings would have raised concerns regarding the overvaluation of the shares. The deal lacked the benefit for companies that invested in the initiative (Lynch 56). The initiative by Ratan of selling 20 percent stake in the TIL to colossal of the Hong Kong-based Jardine Matheson group. This was a good idea since the firm was significantly influential throughout Asia. This deal added value by pushing the share capital of TIL up by Rs. 119, and this enhanced the venture start-ups promoted through the TIL. Ratan anticipated of Jardine contributing to the expertise in most business activities like distribution and retailing, hotels, engineering, real estate, financial services and construction. This move added value to TIL since the two companies had similar interests in exploration of potential synergy in their financial businesses. This necessitated creation of major networks for distribution of cars. Jardine believed that Ratan was careful thinker and planner, with the long-term decisions being spot-on. Though Ratan admitted of the joint venture not reading the market accurately, it was worthwhile for Jardine having stakes in Ratan (Wiersema and Joseph 65). Tata was considering several steps they hoped would give the group strong collective identity. This aimed at making Tata brand take responsibility of promoting unified brand that could have been used by all members that subscribe to the Brand Equity Scheme. Every company could have derived the benefits of promoting the Tata brand and hence enhance the Tata affiliation. The Tata sons would have required annual net income contribution of each company to meet the development costs, protect and promote the brand. The idea was good since each co mpany had to pay contribution based on the degree of brand association. Also, the involved companies had to pay the code of conduct in ensuring uniform ethical and high quality business practices. The participating companies must recognize the outstanding representation of the Tata values (Wren 98). The advantage of this initiative is that most of these countries encouraged Tata adopt a globalized and strong corporate campaign. Though the companies wanted to take advantage of the ward and opportunities off the competitive threats that emerged dramatically due to the expansion of the Indian economy, the Tata son used the fee paid by the companies in building a national and international group brand. This also enabled them emphasize on core ethics and values through advertisements. However, the domestic brand promotion would have cost the company extra Rs. 300 million yearly. The scheme also generated the debates on investment in media and public. The scheme was slated to be retroacti vely effective and was deferred in order to incorporate the additional features depending on the evolving views. This led to some Tata shareholders resenting the attempt by the Tata sons of asserting itself beyond the limits of the ordinary shareholder. Others doubted of the brand recognition offering immediate benefit to their companies while still others claimed that it was not necessarily the Tata name that promoted their success. Most companies, which benefited from the use of Tata name,

How to Resolve an Ethnic Conflict- Case Study of Bosnia Research Paper

How to Resolve an Ethnic Conflict- Case Study of Bosnia - Research Paper Example The Serbs were seeking political dominance in Bosnia by eliminating the weak Bosnian Muslims. According to Horowitz (2000), a weak state cannot manage the differing ethnic interests peacefully in order to provide protection to all ethnic groups. The Bosnian conflict was also politically fueled by government and military leaders. Political leaders can have discriminatory inter-ethnic politics and ideologies that favor some ethnic groups (Jesse & Williams, 2011). Serbian leaders such as General Mladic and Radovan Karadzic were the masterminds of the Srebrenica massacre. Serbian political leaders had empowered Serb militias to fight the defenseless Bosnian Muslims. Cultural factors such as propaganda, stereotyping and religious differences also lead to ethnic conflict (Jesse & Williams, 2011). Stereotyping creates tension between ethnic groups and hinders social cohesion (Horowitz, 2000). Bosnia was composed of Muslims and non-Muslims. In 1992, fierce propaganda was spread by Serbs depi cting Muslims as extremist fundamentalists. This made Bosnia Serbs support Serbian militia fighting against Bosnia Muslims. Other factors such as economic factors and weak national institutions had little impact among the causes of the Bosnia war. However, these factors still remain valid causes of ethnic conflict among different ethnic groups. Several countries in Africa and Asia experience conflict due to imbalance in economic development and institutions that disregard the law. The Bosnia conflict was ended by the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995. The peace deal had been brokered by the U.S government. The Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic, and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman signed the peace agreement. The United States, Russia, France, Germany, and Britain initiated the peace deal that ended the war in 1995. Sarajevo was made the capital city of Bosnia, and the country was divided into two regions along ethnic lines. The Serbs were given 49 per cent of the country, and the remaining 51 per cent was allocated to the Bosnia Muslims. The deal led to the establishment of a Peace Implementation Council to coordinate reconstruction and development projects. The deal included the deployment of NATO troops in the country for peace keeping. A UN High Representative was appointed to make and enforce the law at the state and entity level. The country conducted national elections that established a government of three presidents. Through the peace agreement, political differences that led to the conflict had been addressed. According to Horowitz (2000), differences in political ideologies and the desire for political dominance lead to ethnic conflict. The peace agreement led to the establishment of a central government that would rule over Bosnia. Each entity also has a state government, police, and the military. The issue of weak institutions that disregard the law and a weak nation or ethnic group was addressed. T he weak Bosnia Muslims were given the biggest portion of the country and established a state government and a military force. This gave them an institution that guarantees their security and makes laws that govern the state. The PIC makes decisions that have been implemented by international organizations such as IMF, the World Bank,

Anything Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Anything - Essay Example This leads to accumulation of body fat. D. Enumerated Preview: This research will analyze the importance of exercise and healthy balanced meal in reducing the pressing issue of obesity. Obesity has been contributed by our current sedentary lifestyle and the over-consumption of energy- dense foods. 1. The role of culture in fitness and diet programs. There is a cultural pattern of being bigger and fat, and this is not a good trend. Most cultural norms discourage the consumption of a healthy meal. This encourages unhealthy meal consumption. 3. The nation’s public health strategy for addressing overweight and obesity issue. The government has come up with healthy eating strategies and action plans for school growing children. This is with the intention of curbing the issue of obesity and overweight. This strategy is organized into three goals which comprise of incorporating healthy meals, reducing the access and consumption of calorie-dense foods, and raising health awareness (Edelman, Mandle & Kudzma

Government Security Classifications Essay Example for Free

Government Security Classifications Essay In light of the growing controversy surrounding the former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the Republican Party is claiming that she used her personal email account to send classified information. The United States classification system is currently established by Executive Order 13526 and has three levels of classification – Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. The lowest level of classification is Confidential. Confidential material is defined in Executive Order 13526 as, â€Å"Any information that would cause damage or be prejudicial to national security if it were made available. † A variety of markings are used for material that is not classified, but whose distribution is limited administratively such as, For Official Use Only (FOUO), or Sensitive but unclassified (SBU). Although these items are marked unclassified, they are not to be sent via personal email. No special investigation is needed at this level for the individual other than â€Å"a need to know basis.† The second highest classification is Secret. Secret material is defined in Executive Order 13526 as, â€Å"Any information that would cause ‘serious damage’ to national security if it were made public.† Most information that is classified is held at this level. In order to have a secret clearance, you must have an investigation into your background to ensure trustworthiness. This is usually conducted by a government agency. The highest level of classification is Top Secret. Top secret as defined in Executive Order 13526, â€Å"Shall be applied to information, unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause ‘exceptionally grave damage’ to the national security that the original classification authority is able to identify or describe.† It is believed that 1.4 million Americans have top secret clearances. Top secret clearances are usually given to specific individuals who pass a very stringent security background investigation. Individuals with this level of classification work at the top levels of our government. As you can see we have a government system in place to ensure that classified information is distributed accordingly throughout the government  to protect national security. In regards to Mrs. Clinton, do you think that she broke the rules by using her personal email account? The jury is still out on that investigation.

Needs and Rights of the Elderly in Social Care

Needs and Rights of the Elderly in Social Care How to balance the rights and needs of older people is a complex and important issue as it is an occurrence that will inevitably affects us all at some stage of our lives. It is fundamental to ensure a balance of the rights and needs of the individuals by remaining aware of the current Anti-Discriminatory and Anti-Oppressive Practices especially in residential care environments. In order to protect and respect elderly people it is imperative to look at these units, ensure their effectiveness; encourage accountability and most importantly, their provision of safety. This paper explores the nature of the discipline of social work and to illustrate that perhaps its central and unique characteristic is the way theory and practice are closely interrelated in reference to an article written in The Guardian dated 22nd January 2005, They didn’t have long anyway. Society has moved from the traditional family set-up where grandparents usually lived with their family in the nineteen and twentieth centuries to where families are more divided, private and elderly people often live on their own or eventually move into residential units or nursing homes. For the relative making this decision, it can be a distressing time evoking feelings of guilt or worry that they may be letting their parent down at a time of their life when they particularly need them. It can be especially complex if the elderly person resists the move. This is where the help of the social sector can be needed, both for support and information. It is helpful to have an open discussion with the elderly person, reassure them that any decision is made with their best interests being the main concern and that they are also involved in the decision-making process, wherever possible. (Rudd 1967, pp.13-15; Banks 1984, pp. 85-8). Social work’s context of care has changed significantly over the last few decades according to Ife (1997) and Banks (1995). As result of changes in politics, economic and ideologies, some gaps may exist until the social work sector has time to adapt, particularly as social work is not a single entity, rather it is made up of many components. Social work is at times ambiguous, complex and uncertain such that its major strengths are in terms of its ability to improve dialogue, understanding and interpretation, rather than simply be concerned with legislating and acting with authority. (Ife 1997, pp.1-5; Hugman, R 1995, pp 1-12). In the article, They didn’t have long anyway published in the Guardian 22nd January 2005, many vital issues are highlighted, namely the concerning deaths of thirteen elderly persons at the former Maypole that seemed to result in a low-key reaction by society. The article outlines that other sectors of society such as children at risk are protected by laws and rightfully so, yet the same does not adequately seem to apply to elderly people who may also be at risk in institutions. The main concern is that many nursing homes are sub-standard, the food is badly cooked, and hygiene standards questionable and often staff are not providing adequate care and safety for the residents. It is a difficult area of care to decipher definite statistics proving negligence as according to the article there is a lack of meaningful, national data that could provide reliable information. The situation is further complicated by the fact that there can be conflicts of interests with parties such as care providers, pharmacists and doctors and this may add to the concern regarding standards. Plus, the age-old dilemma of funding and lack of resources. The most concerning issue the article raises is that it is the staff member’s responsibility to report the death to a coroner, this could lead to those acting honourably to do so and conversely those that do not, will not report the death. (Muir, H Taylor, D 2005). There has been a long history of research into living conditions and potential abuse in institutional settings by theorists such as Goffman (1961) and Townsend (1962) culminating into a more significant scale in the 1970s and 1980s. Twenty years of campaigning resulted in the launch of two codes of conduct for the social care sector in 2002 in Britain. One code aims to identify social care workers’ conduct making them more accountable for the care they provide as well as informing service users of the standards they can expect. They are responsible for ensuring that they adhere to such standards and they protect the well-being of service users which in this case are elderly people in institutions. They work to a code of ethics including the concern for the well-being of others, respect for the autonomy of others, trustworthiness and honesty, willing compliance with the law (with the exception of civil disobedience), basic justice, refusing to take unfair advantage, duty of car e, confidentiality, commitment to professional responsibilities and preventing harm. The second code for employers of social care workers, ensuring their regulation in order to safeguard and promote the interests of both service users and carers. The code is part of the wider component of existing legislation, requirements and guidance relating to staff employment. (Excellence in caring, 2002). So this leads us to the question of what is going wrong? It is clear that elderly people are particularly at risk as they have are generally voiceless and marginalised as the move from their homes into an institution is usually fast and their families may have no idea of the potential dangers in the system. Often homes do not have regular legislative inspections, thus they can deteriorate with less questions being asked. A continued commitment to safeguarding this sector of our community needs to occur to prevent neglect and abuse. As the article They didn’t have long anyway concludes, it is often those with the loudest voices who are heard. Elderly people do not fit this description, thus it is important that a combination of steps are taken to ensure a balance of the rights and needs of the individuals by remaining aware of the current Anti-Discriminatory and Anti-Oppressive Practices especially in residential care environments. Bibliography Banks, G 1984. Options. A handbook for the elderly and those who care for them. Dove Communications, Victoria. Goffman, E 1961. Asylums. Essays on the social situation of mental patients and other inmates. Penguin Books, Great Britain. Hugman, R 1995. Ethical Issues in Social Work. Routledge, Great Britain. Ife, J 1997. Rethinking Social Work. Towards critical practice. Longman, Australia. Rudd, T.N 1967. Human Relations in Old Age. Faber and Faber, London. Townsend (1962) The Last Refuge, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London. Internet Sites Colero, L A Framework For Universal Principles of Ethics, Crossroads Programs Inc, retrieved 5th May 2006, from: http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/papers/invited/colero.html Excellence in caring, 2002 Guardian Unlimited, retrieved 5th May 2006, from: http://society.guardian.co.uk/scperformance/story/0,11025,629574,00.html. Ethics Update, 2006 University of San Diego, retrieved 5th May 2006, from: http://ethics.sandiego.edu/index.asp#PageCite. Muir, H Taylor, D, 22nd January, 2005, They didn’t have long anyway, viewed 6th April 2006: http://www.guardian.co.uk/ No secrets: guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, 2000 Department of Health and Home Office, retrieved 5th May 2006, from: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4008486chk=7Wogjo

Fashion and Semiotics Essay -- Sociology Semiology Symbolism

Ever since their invention many centuries ago, clothes have been used as a way of communicating. The message communicated relies on a number of factors including the social background of both the communicator and the receiver, and the context in which the message is communicated. Although at times the exact message or symbolism one is trying to portray may not be clear, it is evident that clothing has long been embraced as one of the best ways to project one’s desired personal image to those around them. For many centuries clothing was used namely as a form of symbolising one’s ascribed class and social honour. A good example of this was evident in Feudal European times when sumptuary laws were created in order to regulate and specify the clothing that could be worn by certain classes. In 1463 Edward IV went so far as to ‘[declare] that purple silk was to be the prerogative of the aristocracy’ (Finkelstein 1991, pg. 137). As purple dye and silk were both very expensive and sought after this declaration demonstrated quite simply that those who were in possession of such materials should command respect and were of high social standing. Eventually these laws were abolished as, instead of ‘confining people to their designated rank, the laws provoked an intense interest in fashion and a desire to transgress the codes, both in the process of prestigious emulation and as an act of rebellion’ (Craik, 1994, pg. 205). This abolition allowed groups and individu als to establish their own chosen style or ‘marker’ in order to indicate their place within society. By allowing such freedom, ascribed social status gave way to that which was achieved. This not only meant that many more people were able to engage in the ever-expanding culture of ‘Haute couture’ but also that honour was no longer perceived as a birth right but rather as something that could to be obtained. Such a shift in symbolism provided a way for those of not so noble a birth to portray themselves as the latter through a variety of means such as renting or stealing clothes and buying counterfeit copies (a common occurrence in today’s society also). In the late 18th century the Industrial Revolution occurred causing a huge shift in the ways in which clothing was produced and subsequently altering the ways in which clothing was perceived. For decades preceding industrialisation men and women of high so... ...o contextual influences and past experiences. Therefore it is almost impossible to pre-empt the ways in which others will perceive you. Over time ideas will change and therefore alter the ways in which we look back on past clothing choices. Whilst symbolism in fashion may no longer be subject to laws as it was in the 14th century or defined by strict social rules in the 17th century, the clothes we wear are still today subject to imposed social ideals. Apart from distinguishing one status group from another, a style of dress may also aid group cohesiveness, provide the individual with an identity and a feeling of belonging, and communicate the wearer’s attitudes and interests. The ways in which we interpret others and present ourselves for interpretation is the only true way that we can be individual. Symbolism in clothing may not seem as obvious or important nowadays as it was in times of extreme social bigotry, but it is still highly prevalent and has remained one of the most effective ways to project our desired image to those around us. ‘The state of a person’s clothes is synonymous with self respect and is a sign of responsibility’ (www. Pemberley.com/janeinfo/vebleis7.html)