Frankenstein Literary Terms Flashcard

Frankenstein Literary Terms

Free Essays on Kant Ethics

INTRODUCTION: In this paper I will attempt to overview Kantian Ethics and by doing so explain why I believe that Knat’s theories are best suited for making business decisions. 18th century German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) presents a criterion of moral obligation, which he calls the categorical imperative. Kant’s account of morality fits squarely into the deontological (Deontology is the study of duty) tradition. Kant’s writings indicate that he was aware of the moral traditions that went before him, such as virtue theory which bases morality on good character traits, and consequential accounts which base morality solely on the consequences of actions. In all of his ethical writings, Kant rejects these traditional theories of morality and argues instead that moral actions are based on a â€Å"supreme principle of morality† which is objective, rational, and freely chosen: the categorical imperative. Kant’s Ethics: Kant is the primary proponent in history of deontological ethics. On Kant’s view, the sole feature that gives an action moral worth is not the outcome that is achieved by the action, but the motive that is behind the action. The categorical imperative is Kant’s famous statement of this duty: â€Å"Act only according to the maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.† The good will, Kant says, is the faculty of acting according to a conception of law. When we act, whether or not we achieve what we intend with our actions is often beyond our control, so the morality of our actions does not depend upon their outcome. What we can control is the will behind the action. Therefore the morality of an action must be assessed in terms of the motivation behind it. A shopkeeper, Kant says, might do what is in accord with duty, and not overcharge a child. Kant argues, â€Å"It is not sufficient to do that which should be morally good that it conform... Free Essays on Kant Ethics Free Essays on Kant Ethics INTRODUCTION: In this paper I will attempt to overview Kantian Ethics and by doing so explain why I believe that Knat’s theories are best suited for making business decisions. 18th century German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) presents a criterion of moral obligation, which he calls the categorical imperative. Kant’s account of morality fits squarely into the deontological (Deontology is the study of duty) tradition. Kant’s writings indicate that he was aware of the moral traditions that went before him, such as virtue theory which bases morality on good character traits, and consequential accounts which base morality solely on the consequences of actions. In all of his ethical writings, Kant rejects these traditional theories of morality and argues instead that moral actions are based on a â€Å"supreme principle of morality† which is objective, rational, and freely chosen: the categorical imperative. Kant’s Ethics: Kant is the primary proponent in history of deontological ethics. On Kant’s view, the sole feature that gives an action moral worth is not the outcome that is achieved by the action, but the motive that is behind the action. The categorical imperative is Kant’s famous statement of this duty: â€Å"Act only according to the maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.† The good will, Kant says, is the faculty of acting according to a conception of law. When we act, whether or not we achieve what we intend with our actions is often beyond our control, so the morality of our actions does not depend upon their outcome. What we can control is the will behind the action. Therefore the morality of an action must be assessed in terms of the motivation behind it. A shopkeeper, Kant says, might do what is in accord with duty, and not overcharge a child. Kant argues, â€Å"It is not sufficient to do that which should be morally good that it conform...

Business law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business law - Case Study Example The company has been in the midst of legal issues for multiple times and there has been heavy criticism on the products and operations of the company. Recently the company has issued the statement that it has realized the errors and it is on the path to greater corporate social responsibility. The following paper would take all such issues into account and it would be determined whether the position of the company is justified. History of Monsanto Company Monsanto is the world’s leading producer of genetically engineered seeds, herbicides and other agricultural products. The company is headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The company was founded in St. Louis in 1901 (Monsanto.com). The first product by the company was artificial sweetener which was sold by the company to Coca-Cola Company. Criticism has followed the company from its very first product. The company faced criticism by health experts for the adverse impacts of the artificial sweetener produced by the company o n the health of the consumers. After the production of artificial sweetener, the company introduced caffeine and vanillin to Coca-Cola Company and after the introduction of these products it became the main supplier of the Coca-Cola Company. ... The company then initiated the production of a number of other products such as; polystyrene, synthetic fibers, herbicides, DDT, and the artificial sweetener. The company had to face a controversy again for the production of DDT when the environmentalists put forth their reservations regarding the adverse effects of DDT on the environment and the side effects of its use on human health. In 1970s, the company became the pioneer producer of optoelectronics. Monsanto became the first company to start mass production of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). In this era, the company witnessed tremendous growth in its revenues and the overall sales of the company doubled after every few months. The LED products of the company were the pioneer products and they became the standards of the industry. The company has engaged in several other controversial products in the past as well. The company was one of the most important producers of Agent Orange for US military operations in Vietnam. Agent Orang e manufactured by the company was found to be defective as it was contaminated with carcinogenic dioxin. The Agent Orange produced by the company caused immense damage to the health of US soldiers. The current core business of the company was initiated in 1982 when the company was the first to genetically modify a plant cell. The company holds primary status for a number of products and in case of genetic modification of plants, the company holds the pioneer status. Five years after the company succeeded in genetically modifying a plant cell, the company conducted the first field test of genetically engineered crops. Thus, due to the immense success of the company in producing genetically engineered crops, the company

Compare and contrast the ways in which two plays investigate the Essay

Compare and contrast the ways in which two plays investigate the question of gender - Essay Example Both the plays explore the depths of lust, power and money through the struggles of the characters, who are in a quest after it. In this article, we discuss by comparing and contrasting the various themes, characterization and ideology of the two plays, particularly investigating the question of gender. Women Beware Women: The play Women Beware Women was originally written by Thomas Middleton in 1657 and later on, in 1879, Howard Barker, one of the prolific playwrights of that period, revamped it to the modern world audience. The play was primitively observed as a Jacobean tragedy, until when Barker replaced the Jacobean Puritanism with the ‘modern’ adaptation, putting forward his views on the redemption power of sex. According to the Barker’s version of the play, Women Beware Women tells the story of Bianca, a rich daughter, who elopes with her love, Leantio and lives secretly in his mother’s place. Despite her husband’s exhortation, the Duke of Flo rence determines to lure her with the help of Livia, a wealthy widow in the neighborhood. Bianca is seduced by Duke and turns to be his mistress leaving her husband. Parallel to it goes the story of Isabella, who engages in an affair with her uncle, Hippolito, with the help of his sister Livia, and later is forced for a marriage with a rich foolish Ward. On the night before the wedding of Bianca, she is raped by Sordido, as a punishment for her acquisitive complicity for the Duke’s seduction. However, the Ward is not ever a fool and has pretended to be so for hiding his despair for Isabella. By the end, Livia is reformed as a liberated woman with a highly igniting passion towards Leantio. Cloud Nine The two-act play Cloud Nine is written by Caryl Churchill in 1979 with the workshops of Joint Stock Theatre Company. In the first Act, the characters are set in the backdrop of Victorian era, when the British colonialism was in full swing. However, in the second Act, the setting i s changed to a reformed culture in London during 1979, when the Victorian ideology of restrictions are loosened yet several other forms of repression exist in the society. In Act I, Clive, the British colonial administrator, lives with his wife Betty, son Edward and daughter Victoria. Meanwhile, Harry Bagley, an explorer and Mrs. Saunders, a widow arrives seeking protection from the natives. Matters start changing dramatically in the family when Clive ogles with Mrs. Saunders, while Betty fancies Harry, whereas Harry gets intimate with the servant Joshua. The governess Ellen reveals her lesbian nature which is confronted by Clive, forcing her into a marriage with Harry, even after his gay sexuality is disclosed. The play forwards with the marriage celebration, where Mrs. Saunders is kicked out by Clive for her disgusting behavior with Betty for kissing Clive. The Act ends with Joshua pointing a gun at him when he starts to initiate a speech for the couple. Act II happens a few decad es later in a setting in London and the characters are grown up. Betty, after leaving Clive, lives with her daughter Victoria, who is now married to Martin, an authoritarian husband. Edward, in the new scenario, is openly gay, leading a relationship with Gerry, whereas, Victoria begins a lesbian relationship with Lin. However, Edward discovers that he is bisexual and moves in with Lin and Victoria. Finally, Victoria leaves Martin and goes for living together with Lin and

The influence of Avant Garde film movie in Pop Cinema Essay

The influence of Avant Garde film movie in Pop Cinema - Essay Example ilms where developers strive to capture the social and cultural features of the society, avant-garde film developers infuse their creativity and thoughts into the development of films thereby pushing the boundaries of possibilities in such creations (Kostelanetz & Brittain, 2000). Avant-garde film therefore increased the bounds of film development thereby providing developers with more possibilities, this has consequently revamped the industry thus perpetuating both competition and creativity in the industry as espoused in the discussion below. Mesh of the afternoon is one such film in which the developers experiment with different features and elements of film development. The short is film is a perfect example of avant-garde film. The film adopts a circular narrative structure with the developers repeating similar motifs and symbols. Among the motifs are flowers, a knife and a falling key among others. The simplistic structure easily portrays the ease of developing the film as the developer manipulates the camera angles, shots and lighting of different scenes in order to develop the sequential flow of concepts in the film. The film therefore provides a realistic manifestation of avant-garde film in the contemporary society. Andy Warhol is yet another contemporary developer of avant-garde films who has depicted understanding of the intricate features in film developments and the need to infuse creativity and experimental aspects of films in film developments in the contemporary society. Among his greatest works is Ann the girl who cried a tear. In his works, Andy Warhol portrays the role of arts in the society; he developed films and music that provided a perfect reflection of the society through his artistic and analytical eyes. This provides him with the relativity to experiment on different issues. He for example pioneered the use of computers in the generation of arts including films. Ann the girl who cried a tear is one of his famous works, which portray

Hilton Hotels Challenges Faced

Hilton Hotels Challenges Faced Hilton Hotel, Reading hotel facilitates a very homely atmosphere which invites people to live in their own houses. It is just four minutes away from Readings historical city centre, The Thames River and the renowned shopping centre. This hotel is located on the Kennet Island Development and has walking distance to Madejski Stadium. This hotel is close to the Reading train station. And it hardly takes twenty-five minutes to reach Heathrow airport. This is very convenient for the customers. Hilton Hotel Reading provides spacious, air-conditioned rooms which have large units. This hotel is decorated and attracts large number of the tourist. It also provides wired and wireless internet access for their customers. They have the latest audio-visual technology. A large customer service desk and comfortable Hilton beds. Dinner in a fabulous Larder Restaurant, which provides a mixture of domestic and inter-continental dishes which persuades both modern and traditional dishes and finishing the delicious meal with a cocktail in the tranquil bar K.Tone . There is a flattering twenty-four living well health club characterising Living well by precor gym equipment, swimming pool indoor as well as out door, sauna and a dance studio for various fitness classes. Customers can celebrate or have business occasions at the Hilton Reading Hotel which has eight large meeting rooms and a large ballroom which can cater up to four hundred guests. Literature review: Hilton hotel Reading is just few minutes away from Reading station and twenty five minutes away from the Heathrow Airport. www.hilton.co.uk/reading. Hilton hotel is a service industry and in the service. In a service industry customers are of great importance. Without the customers the organisations dont work. Online banking has become a very important technological development not only for business but also for general public. Food and beverages of Hilton Hotel is branded and of very good quality. They higher people who perfectionists in their jobs. Their standard is highly maintained. But as it is said nobody is perfect. There are some problems faced by the food and beverages of Hilton hotel Reading. There are some customer complaints for the food and beverages staff of Hilton hotel, reading. Hilton Hotel Reading has an emerging problem and complaints. The positive impact of the complaints on the staff The staffs try their level best to provide best services to customers but due to some mistakes committed by them, customers complaint. Customers have full rights to complaint as they are paying for their stay and the facilities. If they are not satisfied about spending their money at good place they have to give feedbacks. The feedbacks of the customers help to analyse the staff performance. The complaints of customers helps the hotel to understand that what went wrong and what can be done so that these complaints are not repeated.Nita Umashankar, Raji Srinivasan, and Dustin Hindman Journal of Service Research, May 2011; vol. 14, 2: pp. 164-179. First published on March 7, 2011 Hilton hotel take keen interest in solving the problems of the customers. Customer satisfaction is the basic objective. Hilton Takes the complaints positively and puts in their best so that the mistakes are not repeated again. As per the interview of a manager, who said that if they wont have complaints how they will proceed? And criticism is very important because they always cannot be perfect. Without having complaints they cannot know about the problems in the staff. They cannot maintain their standard. As per the information the staff has always been trained if there are complaints from the customers. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/hilton www.hilton.com International Journal of Hospitality Management, Volume 25, Issue 1, March 2006, Pages 69-90 Osman M. Karatepe Negative impacts of the complain Staff of Hilton Hotel reading is highly qualified. They pay keen attention towards satisfying their customers. When there are complaints about their services in food and beverage they feel very bad and loose their self-confidence. They get demotivated. They are afraid to face their managers. In this fear they perform even more badly and sometimes even leave the job out of frustration. There is lot of pressure on them so that they provide good services to the customer in this pressure they make even more mistakes. The staff members are scared of getting fired from their work. They loose their attention and sometimes with this fear even of loosing their job they get stressed. Due to stress they have tensions which lead to illness and low performance at work, absenteeism, less participation at work. [emailprotected] Difference between Complaints and Requests Requests: Request is when the customer politely orders for a service. For which he/she has paid. Complaints: Even after requesting a service for which the customer has already paid, doesnt get a good response then there is a complaint of dissatisfaction. The disappointment to the customer lead them to complaint. What measures have to be taken by the manager to solve the problem The staff members get demoralized when they hear about the complaints from their manager. It is very inappropriate to disclose the facts in front of the staff. As per the Manager of Hilton Hotel, Reading the staff has to be tackled carefully because they are the jewels of the company. They cannot be thrown away by the hotel. Instead of that the term diplomacy is brought into practice with the help of which the food staff and beverages staff can be handled. Recruiting is not easy they value their staff and will put full efforts to train them as per the customer requirements. How can you motivate your employees in a Service industry? To support your employee he/she have to be given a pay-raise. He must feel vital. Manager should make him understand his significance in the company. In a hotel fabrication which is a service industry customers are very significant. They recruit the best people to hand round customers. A practical theory of motivation applied to the hotels Having meeting, seminars, incentives, motivational trips, get-together planners , organising events. Employees should be given training, education apparatus, minimalism of task and both inherited cerebral and substantial competence. Give me enough medals and Ill win any war Napoleon Bonaparte Darren Lee-Ross (Lecturer in tourism and hospitality management; South Cross University) Levels of employee motivation Path of an member of staff actions: It relates to those behaviours which the individual chooses to execute The level of endeavour: How firm the individual is enthusiastic to work The level of determination: It refers to the individuals readiness to follow the behaviour in spite of barriers Motivation theories Maslows theory Self Actualisation: achieving the basic goal of a persons life. Esteem: The self confidence of the person. Of motivation applied to the hotels Belongingness/love: Attainment of love from friends, family Safety: the security of life. Security of employment Physiological needs: Food, clothing and shelter. Theory X and Theory Y Douglas McGregor Theory X According to theory X, the employees are satisfied with whatever they have. They dont like to contribute in meetings. The only work for what they are paid and have no interest after their working hours are over. They dont participate in the business meetings. They obey the boss, if the boss says stand the employees stand if they say sit then they sit. This is a traditional theory. Obey the boss and never speak anything in front of him. Boss is always right. So the employees never bothered to interfere in companies matter they were pleased with whatever they get. Employees depend upon the boss to take decisions. And follow the instructions given by them. The boss is very dominating in theory X. And the employee has to follow his instruction or else he/she will be removed from job. So the employees are passive without any interest and happiness to work. Theory Y According to theory Y, the employees are not satisfied they crave for more and more. They love to participate in the meetings. The employees are very innovative. They come up with new ideas and share it with the top level management for the progress of the company. They work than hours, they have hunger of success. The employees are very enthusiastic and are always willing to help and participate. Employees love to take responsibilities, they like when the manager shows trust in them. This modern theory where an employee can speak in front of the high authorities. He can share his views unlike theory Y. The boss doesnt dominate the employees he lets them free and guides them for the responsibility handed over to them. Such employees are bothered about the companies well being. They love to serve for the company. They have great chances of getting promoted because they are very flexible and are very loyal with the business or the company. They are always appreciated by their managers and promoted. Taylors theory of scientific management Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856 1917) motivating the employee increasing the remuneration of the employee. Workers or employees dont like working so the managers have to have supervision and split their work. They should be trained properly and should have good environment for working. If the pay scale is increased workers work with enthusiasm. Mayos Elton Mayo (1880 1949) believed that employees are not only concerned about money but about social needs. He considered that workers having feelings and like to be noticed. Mayo concluded that Better communication between the employees and employers. Involvement of the employees in making decision Working in groups. http://tutor2u.net/business/gcse/people_motivation_theories.htm Importance of motivation to an employee Service industry recruits qualified people. The key of an organisations success is its employees. If the employees are motivated they work with enthusiasm and that is good for the companys welfare. So it is very important to motivate employees. If the employees are satisfied, customers will be satisfied. If the customers are satisfied company is satisfied. Management style being followed at Hilton Group Hilton Hotel is a part of a very big corporation of Hilton group. It follows civilization of a Multi National Company. The Staffs at the hotel are well qualified and highly experienced employees and from this time forth, the management style being adopted by the managers in the hotel is Laissez-Faire. The manager delegates the work to the staff and he sets the time and responsibility of completing the task success on the employees. The manager keeps on supervise and advising the staff whenever it is required but he himself does not take the decision. This method motivates the employee. The workers here are dedicated towards their work as they find an surroundings where they see their individual and specialized enlargement. The staff here gets more of job and proficient contentment as he not only learns by taking the accountability but has also being salaried when he completes the task on time. Management Structure theories The management structure of an organisation can assist or put obstruction in the advancement towards achieving the long term objective. The organisations can attain their business aim by examining their needs and then corresponding them with the suitable management structure. The management structure plays a major role in fascinating the staffs and maintains long term growth. It also helps in getting better the decision making performance. The three main types of management structure are Matrix, Functional and Divisional Structure, (Small Business, 2011). Functional Structure: This structure is generally formed by considering the purpose of each part of organisation and then groups them accordingly. In this type of structure, for example, there could be a marketing department, a food and services department, home services, Security, etc. This structure is good when the organisation is smaller in size, as the department will be able to rely on the experience and knowledge of its staff and will be able to support itself. But, the disadvantage of functional management structure is that, the harmonization and communiquà © between different section can become difficult and thus leading to miscommunication or trouble when more than one department is involved in completing the task, (Small Business, 2011-04-29). Divisional Structure: Generally, the organisations which are overweight in size and operate at different locations or they have separate organisations but beneath one umbrella group to handle diverse market areas, use this type of management structure. In case of warmth industry, like we have taken Hilton Hotel, which has a variety of twigs at diverse location, they cant rely on central office for every decision. In this case, each hotel follows their own strategies, as each of them may be administrating in different business marketplace and may be facing different confront. The prevalent advantage of this arrangement is that, the decisions are made quickly and are more detailed towards the needs of that particular hotel. But, the difficulty is the statement is self-conscious as the employees of different divisions are not working together, (Small Business, 2011). Matrix Structure: This type of management structure is a mix of both functional and divisional structure. This is generally used in multinational companies or organisations which has presence in various part of globe. This structure allows the advantages of functional as well as divisional structure. But the biggest drawback here is that, it creates power struggle as most of the areas of organisation has dual management. The functional manager and the divisional manager at a time holding same area thus causing confusion and tensions at times, (Small Business, 2011). Management Structure in Hilton Reading Hotel Hilton Hotel, Reading is a part of Hilton HOTELS group which has process in around 90 nation. Being part of such a big corporation, it was classically not possible for the top executives to design a functional or matrix management structure. Henceforth, they chose the Divisional management structure to give liberty to each of the hotels in force at different geological locations and also to make decision making procedure easier. The Hilton Hotel thus follows divisional management structure where each hotel is accountable for its business. This has given more sovereignty to the managers in taking the decisions based on the ground and day today state of affairs. This has also kept the staff and the mangers at the hotel level more work acquaint you with and stimulated towards the task. Globalization and its effects on Hospitality Industry Globalization leads to more reciprocally supporting world financial system and thus it becomes a major driving factor in the hospitality and tourism industry. The people of one nation itinerant to other parts of the world and vice versa have given a chance for the hotel industry to tap this occasion. Cultural diversity is one of the belongings of the globalization. And bearing in mind various chances which have come due to globalization, management has become aware of this occurrence while deciding the intended plans for their corporation. Its the effect of globalization only, that you can get any continental food in any benchmark hotel. Its easier to find diverse varieties of foods while visiting a hotel these days than it was few years ago. Now the industry has adopted itself and has developed its business as well which not only comprise the forces and products but the organisation as a whole, which further consists of management and the labour force. Benefits to Hotel Industry Globalization has benefitted the hotel industry. The customers are from different countries coming and living in Hilton. Globalization has developed relationships with the customers globally. Methodology: In order to obtain sufficient amount of information about Hilton Reading hospitality and service industry number of methods have to be followed. There are two methods which relate to the research methodology which are as follows:- Primary search : The primary research consists of personal interviews and questionnaires. There was a questionnaire conducted and the detailed information of the interview is as follows: Male customers 56% and female customers 44% Ages of the customers was from 20-25 years of age 10% 25-40 years of age 60% 40 and above years of age 30% and the rest age group people are not extraverts. Businessman 60% , Retired 20% , Professional 20% Have you ever been to Hilton Reading? Yes____ No____ How was your experience? Good____ Bad____ Dont know____ If your experience was good then please give the reason to it. If your experience was bad then please give a reason to it Will ever go back to Hilton for a stay? Yes____ No____ If yes please give the reason for the stay.. If no please give the reason for not staying.. Will you recommend your friend to Hilton Reading? Yes____No____ How many stars will give to the staff of Reading Hilton? ___% Do you have any complaints about the hotel? yes___ No____ If you have any complaints please fill in the complaints How was the food of Hilton Reading? Good____ Bad____ Dont know___ How well maintained is the Hilton Building is? Good____ Bad___ Dont know____ How much will you grade for cleanliness? Good____ Bad ____ Dont know___ Did you feel like home? Yes___ No___ How comfortable where the beds? Good___ Bad___ Dont know____ How was the staff behaviour at Hilton Reading? Good ___Bad ___ Dont know__ Did you find the staff friendly? Yes___ no ___ 2) Secondary search: The secondary research was conducted as to support the primary research. The research or investigation also depends on resources which were drawn from published materials such as prior studies, e-journals, bank reports and websites. Time Table of work Duration Steps taken Week 1 Reading the topic and understanding what is necessary. Week 2-3 Choosing the topic and sending the proposal Week 4-5 Aim of the study and objectives of the company Week 6 Literature review, methodology data collection Week 7 Analysing the data collected. Week 8 Rough draft of assignment and corrections made by the lecturer. Week 9 Correcting mistakes and Final submission. Conclusion The complaints of the customers have both negative effects and positive effects on the employees or staff members. The positive effects to company is they will be able to correct their mistakes. But it is not good to have customer complaints it ruin the brand image of the company. People think ten times before going to the hotel. If there are complaints the hotel industry has to pay attention and give proper reply to their complaints. They should be instant. Hilton hotel has to maintain its standard by reducing the complaints. Due to complaints hotel loose their loyalty with the customers. In order for customers to be loyal they have to minimise their complaints. When a customer files a complaint the employers have to be very careful about discussing it with the staff. This can demoralize the staff. Managers/ employers have to be very careful in dealing with employees. He should motivate them to do better. He should find out why the employee made a mistake and such a mistake that the customer had to complaint about it. Food and beverages have to be of high standard. If any mistakes in these areas the customers can sue the company. The issue is about handling the positive and negative aspects of complaints on the employees. It is very much known to the employer and if the problem of de-motivation arises the employees loose their self confidence and keep repeating their mistakes. And sometimes they even leave the job. This can cost a fortune to the company if their entire employee keeps leaving the job. The manager has to be polite enough and not aggressive. He should train the employees again and start give awards to the employees who work will. In Hilton Reading this procedure has been followed. As per the interview of an employee it was said that Hilton has always been good to their employees. They have been faithful and have always realised their importance. Recruiting and training is not an easy task. So the old employees already know the welfare and standar d of the company Hilton doesnt want to loose their employees. So to conclude the manager should keep things calm and be tactful and make the employees work well under their guidance. Recommendation After study and investigate on the guidance and organization styles and its arrangement, following proposal has been not compulsory: The Hotel management needs to be supportive towards the employees. The employees should be given a chance to interact often with the management to reduce the miscommunication. The consumers should be given more educational varied surroundings, to make their stay more relaxing and give them comfortable feeling.

Causes of World War One :: essays research papers

Causes of World War One -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Economic Imperialism at home and abroad - In one generation Africa - direct possession (1902: only Liberia, founded by former American slaves remains independent) Asia and Near East: economic and diplomatic pressure Economic concessions and extra-territorial privileges: Ottoman Empire - most vulnerable; China - most vulnerable; Japan - modernizing rapidly; India - firmly in British hands; Importance to Europe: keeps fat on European economy; colonial rule a reproach to democracy; encouraged feelings of national and racial superiority; "Pan" movements - a form of imperialism Technology and science: materialism B. Social Human welfare: serfdom gone (except in Russia); surgery and anesthetics perfected; life span longer; Victorian middle class morality in decline; spread of literacy. Peace movements: "pipe dream of peace". Aristocratic remainders. Neglect of the proletariat. C. Intellectual 1. European cultural heritage 2. Ideologies of progress: conservatism - delaying action not progress (aristocracy) liberalism - freedom, law, representative government (upper middle class) radicalism - remove class distinctions, anti-clerical (lower middle class) socialism - collectivist doctrine (city workers) new left - syndicalism D. Political 1. the nation-state: language and race 2. parliamentary government 3. parties: tied to class and ideology lack of responsibility too many of them 4. Differing forms separation of powers only in the USA king or president a figurehead in Britain and France search for majorities in parliament Britain: the cabinet held the whip France and Italy: parliament held the whip 5. Extension of the suffrage 6. Exceptions to democratization Germany: only has external form of it, the Reichstag is a "debating chamber" Austria-Hungary: maintaining monarchy in polyglot confusion Russia: a struggle between Duma and Ministry E. Military 1. popular militarism Boer War naval building race: Admiral Tirpitz - risk theory Three-year army law: France 1913 Tripoli campaign in Italy, 1911 2. Comparative figures on army increase, 1870-1914: 1870 1914 Russia 700,000 1,300,000 France 380,000 846,000 Germany 403,000 812,000 Austria-Hungary 247,000 424,000 Britain 302,000 381,000 Italy 334,000 305,000 Japan 70,000 250,000 U.S.A. 37,000 98,000 3. military expenditure