The Contemporary International System

The Contemporary International System The structure of the contemporary international system involves many different factors that influence how the world operates today. The international system is defined as the study of the interactions among the various actors that participate in international politics, including states, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, sub-national entities, and individuals. The study of international relations aims to evaluate how countries interact within the political and social international system.Factors such as, technological change, shifts of national power and various changes in the environment influence today’s system and how we live on a day-to-day basis. History is another factor that must be recognized in the shaping of the world system. Events that occurred in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have a great impact today, as we are able to make future projections based on historical trends. The operation and stru cture of the international system involves various social and political factors that shape the world we live in today.The shaping of the contemporary system was achieved through the concept of globalization. This idea is often referred to as the â€Å"shrinkage of the world† and has been made possible through the advancement in modern technology. Globalization is the process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through an international network of political ideas. Today, a nation’s technological capability is the main indicator of its power. Technology directly affects a nation’s economic growth though innovation.This growth then allows that country to produce military weapons for protection and could potentially throw off the balance of power between states. Technology and innovation can also determine a nation’s trade capacity, which can limit the amount a country can import and export. A nation with great trade cap abilities will experience international financial flows into their country, thus stimulating economic growth. Technology provides a framework for both the relative and absolute power between states and greatly impacts the structure of the international system.For example, if we evaluate the correlation of power and technology throughout history, we see that the United States and Germany experienced dramatic changes in their global position following the second industrial revolution, just as Great Britain had following the first industrial revolution. These powers have since failed to maintain their place at the forefront of technological innovation, and have faded from the international scene. Countries like Japan have been very technologically advanced for the last 50 years and have moved to the forefront of the international scene.The global scene that was once dominated by the United States, may have a new power due to Japan’s vast technological and innovative capabilities . Businesses have also globalized, as they are now able to interact with companies overseas with the click of a button. Since travel has become â€Å"easy† businesses are now able to meet face to face with their international partners on a regular basis. There are proper customs that people must follow when engaging in foreign business practices. For example, the exchange of business cards is a formal practice in countries like China and Japan.Foreign business associates may see it as a sign of disrespect if one is not educated on the proper customs of that country. The structure and operation of the international system is also influenced by the behaviors of the actors within that system. For centuries, the idea of the â€Å"state† was centered upon the idea of inclusion and exclusion. This idea became the centerpiece of national politics for centuries and is a major reason for conflicts within the system. After the French Revolution these states were formed on the th ree ideologies of realism, liberalism, and idealism.Karen Mingst and Jack Snyder define these ideologies and explain the assumptions behind the weaknesses that lead to misguided policies. Realism instills an appreciation of the role of power but warns that states will suffer if they overreach. The cooperation among states is a way to maximize each individual state’s security and often calls for â€Å"backing† during times of conflict. World War II resembles a realist idea as each state was drawn to fight to maximize its own security. Liberalism identifies the potential for democracies, but also notes that democracies can lead to tyrannies and the threat of a violent collapse.This arose after World War I in response to the inability to control and limit war within the international system. Lastly, Idealism stresses that a state’s values must reinforce any stable political order but recognizes that there is also a potential for conflict. Together these three persp ectives form the core of the contemporary international system. In order to fully understand the contemporary international system, we must first understand the historical trends in the state and international system.International Relations can be traced back to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 where the modern state system was developed. This instituted the concept of sovereignty, which is defined as absolute and perpetual power invested in a commonwealth. This power does not exist in an individual, but in a state. In this, the leaders are limited by divine law and are â€Å"subject to the laws of God and nature. † This belief is still held today and believers attribute the legitimacy of the state to the consent of the people. After all, the â€Å"people† are the fundamental the source of all political power.In conclusion, the contemporary international system was shaped on the basis of globalization, the behaviors of the actors within the international system, and the evaluation of historical patterns. The world is constantly changing and evolving toward a more connected population. The widespread use of social media and continued advances in technology allow the population to connect with each other as if they were sitting in the same room. As we move toward this new era, we must identify these historical patterns in order to further improve our future international relations.

Ten Ways to Avoid Gender Bias

Ten Ways to Avoid Gender Bias Ten Ways to Avoid Gender Bias Ten Ways to Avoid Gender Bias By Mark Nichol How do you write around the outmoded usage of the pronoun he or him when a male is not necessarily the subject of the reference? Here are ten strategies none ideal in every circumstance for achieving gender neutrality. 1. Use He or She Before: â€Å"Ask the student whether he is prepared to give a presentation.† After: â€Å"Ask the student whether he or she is prepared to give a presentation.† This solution is stiffly formal and is awkward in repetition; use sparingly. Using he/she, s/he, or any such alternative (or an invented neutral pronoun like ze) is not advised. 2. Alternate Between He and She Before: â€Å"Ask the student whether he is prepared to give a presentation. If he is ready, tell him that he may begin when he is ready.† After: â€Å"Ask the student whether he is prepared to give a presentation. If she is ready, tell her that she may begin when she is ready.† This solution works only in the case of two or more references to a hypothetical subject of either gender. In the proximity of the references in the examples, this solution is awkward, but when the references are at some distance from each other, it can be effective in moderation. 3. Omit the Pronoun Before: â€Å"Ask the student whether he is prepared to give a presentation.† After: â€Å"Ask whether the student is prepared to give a presentation.† This revision does not clearly indicate whether the student or another person is being asked; writers must recognize and respond to such lack of clarity if it affects comprehension. 4. Repeat the Noun in Place of the Pronoun Before: â€Å"Ask the student whether he is prepared to give a presentation.† After: â€Å"Ask the student whether the student is prepared to give a presentation.† When the noun is repeated in the proximity shown above, the sentence is awkward; in a more complex sentence, the repetition may not seem so obvious. 5. Use a Plural Antecedent for the Pronoun Before: â€Å"Ask the student whether he is prepared to give a presentation.† After: â€Å"Ask the students whether they are prepared to give their presentations.† Employing a plural noun and a plural pronoun may change the meaning somewhat; writers must be alert as to which other nouns, if any, should be made plural as well. 6. Replace the Pronoun with an Article Before: â€Å"Ask the student to prepare his presentation.† After: â€Å"Ask the student to prepare a presentation.† 7. Revise the Sentence to Use the Pronoun One Before: â€Å"A prepared student is more likely to succeed than if he has not done sufficient research.† After: â€Å"A prepared student is more likely to succeed than an unprepared one.† 8. Revise the Sentence to Use the Pronoun Who Before: â€Å"A student is more likely to succeed if he does sufficient research.† After: â€Å"A student who does sufficient research is more likely to succeed.† 9. Revise the Sentence to the Imperative Mood Before: â€Å"A student must be well prepared for his presentation.† After: â€Å"Be well prepared for the presentation.† 10. Use a Plural Pronoun Before: â€Å"Ask the student whether he is prepared to give a presentation.† After: â€Å"Ask the student whether they are prepared to give a presentation.† Many writers reject this solution because traditional grammar rules frown on using a plural pronoun when the antecedent is a singular noun. However, the bewildering absence of a gender-neutral plural pronoun in English calls for a radical solution. This one is widely used in informal writing and in conversation, and it’s commonsensical to welcome it in formal writing. That welcome, however, has not yet been forthcoming, and, regrettably, writers should use the plural pronouns them and they in place of singular pronouns with caution. Some writers reject the notion that one should avoid gender-specific pronouns in universal contexts at all. After all, why change long-standing usage that has only recently been challenged? But these writers, though sensible in the logic of their argument, are culturally insensitive and, ultimately, are on the wrong side of linguistic history. I hope, too, that integration of the singular they and them in any usage will eventually occur. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:4 Types of Gerunds and Gerund PhrasesDisappointed + PrepositionPreposition Mistakes #1: Accused and Excited

Free Essays on Intertextual Response

â€Å"War leaves mental as well as physical scars.† Discuss the truth of this statement using evidence from No Pretty Pictures, short stories, extracts (from Night and other text) and poetry. When something drastic happens in your life it always leaves an impact on your memories. This has happened to those who have lived through wars, not only memories but also mental and physical scars. Some of those who have endured wars first hand and have suffered with scars both mental and physical left by war have recorded their experiences in autobiographies and poems. In ‘Losses’ Randall Jarrell, shares with the reader the losses and pain he suffered while he was at war and the pain he suffered after the war also. Although he survived he writes, â€Å"It was not dying: everybody died. It was not dying: we had died before.† He describes the death of others whom he cared for or knew and the destruction of his surroundings. Something inside him died, he was never the same after seeing massive damage inflicted on everything and he expresses this. In the last verse of ‘Losses’, he says, ‘It was not dying- no, not ever dying; But in the night I died I dreamed that I was dead, And the cities said to me: ‘Why are you dying? We are satisfied if you are’; but why did I die?’ Jarrell shares with the audience a taste of what was going on inside his head and sharing with the reader that dying doesn’t mean death of the body, but he is dying in such a way that his soul and personality was becoming different from before the war. He was killing people and his friends are being killed. He thought eventually everything around him will turn to dust, and was afraid he would lose his sanity and the person he used to be, thus leaving him mental scars from trauma caused by war and physical scars inflicted by war. This was also the case with Elie Wiesel the author of Night. He describes many incidents, which were so intense that it... Free Essays on Intertextual Response Free Essays on Intertextual Response â€Å"War leaves mental as well as physical scars.† Discuss the truth of this statement using evidence from No Pretty Pictures, short stories, extracts (from Night and other text) and poetry. When something drastic happens in your life it always leaves an impact on your memories. This has happened to those who have lived through wars, not only memories but also mental and physical scars. Some of those who have endured wars first hand and have suffered with scars both mental and physical left by war have recorded their experiences in autobiographies and poems. In ‘Losses’ Randall Jarrell, shares with the reader the losses and pain he suffered while he was at war and the pain he suffered after the war also. Although he survived he writes, â€Å"It was not dying: everybody died. It was not dying: we had died before.† He describes the death of others whom he cared for or knew and the destruction of his surroundings. Something inside him died, he was never the same after seeing massive damage inflicted on everything and he expresses this. In the last verse of ‘Losses’, he says, ‘It was not dying- no, not ever dying; But in the night I died I dreamed that I was dead, And the cities said to me: ‘Why are you dying? We are satisfied if you are’; but why did I die?’ Jarrell shares with the audience a taste of what was going on inside his head and sharing with the reader that dying doesn’t mean death of the body, but he is dying in such a way that his soul and personality was becoming different from before the war. He was killing people and his friends are being killed. He thought eventually everything around him will turn to dust, and was afraid he would lose his sanity and the person he used to be, thus leaving him mental scars from trauma caused by war and physical scars inflicted by war. This was also the case with Elie Wiesel the author of Night. He describes many incidents, which were so intense that it...

Essay on Law 202

Essay on Law 202 Essay on Law 202 Essay on Law 202The â€Å"reply letter doctrine†Ã‚  can be used to authenticate private letters, e-mails, and text messages. Explain what is meant by the â€Å"reply letter doctrine†? How could its theory be used to authenticate an e-mail or text message?The â€Å"reply letter doctrine† is the federal rule that permits evidence of a letter written in reply to another letter which makes reference to the original letter. This theory can help to authenticate an e-mail or text message through the e-mail or text message sent in response to the original message with the reference to the original message.With respect to the authenticating of public records and documents, authentication is not assured merely because the document may be referred to as a public record or document. Where a birth certificate or a death certificate needs to be authenticated, what would the proponent of the evidence have to prove?The National Statistics Office serves to store and authenticate birth and death certificates. The proponent of the evidence will have to prove the authenticity of the birth or death certificate. In this regard, secondary evidence may be used, such as respective documents supplied by health care professionals that prove the fact of birth or death of an individual.Some documents are said to be self-authenticating. Within this category are regularly published newspapers and periodicals. What are three other examples of documents that tend to self- authenticate?Self-authenticating documents are documents that can be accepted during the trial without proof being submitted to support the claim that the documents are what they appear to be. Published newspapers and periodicals are self-authenticating documents. Other examples of self-authenticating documents include certified copy of public or business records; official publications of government agencies; and trade inscriptions, including labels on products.All documents that are introduced as eviden ce in court must be authenticated. Explain the concept of authentication. How must authenticated documents meet the other rules concerning admission of evidence?The document authentication is normally conducted by the secretary of state of the particular state, where documents are authenticated. Authenticated documents only can be admitted as evidence, unless documents are self-authenticated.Motions in limine are made at the beginning of the trial requesting that a judge rule that certain evidence may not be introduced in the trial. In such a way, motions in limine can determine which documentary evidence is admitted to the trial and which is not. Motions in limine serve to determine clearly which evidence, including documentary evidence may be used in trials. If certain documentary evidence is excluded from the trial by the judge ruling, this documentary evidecen cannot be used in the trial.In authenticating a writing or a document, one of four methods are traditionally followed in offering sufficient proof of authenticity. What are these four methods? Give an example of each one.Traditionally the authentication of a writing or document involves an eye-witness or witness expert, who proves the authenticity of the document. Another method of the authenticating of a writing or document is for the trier of fact, the jury in the jury trial, or the judge in the bench trial to compare a known exemplar of the signature with the signature on the disputed document. One more method of the authenticating of a writing or document is applied to business records and involves the testimony of the custodian of the records. Finally, there are self-authenticating documents and ancient documents which are admissible without outside evidence of authenticity.

Define the term 'Constructive Total Loss' for the purposes of the Essay

Define the term 'Constructive Total Loss' for the purposes of the Marine Insurance Act 1906. What are the difficulties with this definition Use case law examples to support your arguments - Essay Example The first was in the United Kingdom Court of Appeal in two thousand and eleven namely; EWCA Civ 24 and the second was the judgment in the case of Masefield v. Amlin delivered by Lord Steel in two thousand and ten namely; Lloyd’s Rep. IR 345. The definition of Constructive Total Loss provided by the Marine Insurance of 1906 leaves gaps and raises many questions when applied in modern cases that did not exist during enactment of the law more than one hundred years ago. Complexity arises when the complainant argues that ignoring a ransom payment amounts to asserting that a total loss claim is genuine and legal. This explanation means that it is not possible to retrieve deprivation according to the Marine Insurance Act of 1906 section fifty-seven subsection one. In this case, it is against public policy to claim a ransom. It is at this point that the definition provided by the 1906 Act creates difficulties regarding finding a solution to such situations. The definition generates crucial questions covering both legal aspects and public policy formulation processes. This discourse examines the difficulties raised by defining a total loss on the background of English definition given in the marine Insurance Policy of 1906. Highlighted examples include the new wave of crimes such as piracy The introduction of the constructive total loss aimed at codifying regulations touching on marine insurance. This formed the basis of introducing section sixty of in Marine Insurance Act of 19061. A constructive total loss during reasonable abandonment of the insured property regarding the unavoidability of occurrence of a total loss depending on any direct offering in the public policy. Alternatively it occurs if it was difficult to prevent the occurrence of a total loss. The legislative Act of 19062 covering marine policy further specifies that it is not possible for the owner of the property to recover viewing the position of the case and that

Knowledge based systems Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Knowledge based systems - Assignment Example Having a clear understanding of this technology poses a challenge given the fact that the term has been used to mean different things for different scenarios. An example is the fact that experts systems has been defined by some people as computer programs which make use of knowledge and inferences to solve a problem which could have been regarded as difficult if it was to be solved by human beings; perhaps difficult enough to require significant expertise (Martin, & Hoover, 2008). Yet others have defined as software which is created by bringing together and codifying the knowledge used by one or more experts and also which is also designed to perform a task which could require special expertise under normal circumstances. The last definition, at least for this paper, gives experts systems as programs which have reasoning by use of information which is symbolic in nature and use heuristics approach as opposed to algorithmic approaches; they are flexible at both runtime and design leve l. These definitions give a consensus which is broad in nature but gives us an ample scope for discussion as to the meaning of very key terms A knowledge base is special database that is used primarily for management of knowledge. It thus provides a means for the collection, organization, and retrieval of knowledge in a computerized manner. It also represents a collection of data which have related experiences and their results are related to their problems and solutions. This is a subset of the experts systems.

Soul Man Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Soul Man - Movie Review Example It goes to show the reality, things have changed for the better but racism still remains a daunting challenge and it affects the lives of the blacks' day in and day out. Racism is portrayed and also condoned in some shots of the movie thought it isn't conspicuous, this movie could only have been made in the late 1980s, it would have been severely condemned had it been made in the present time. Some shots are very offensive and raised a hue and cry back then but it was settled and did not become a great problem. The after-school format is also shown in the movie and it represents stereo-type, it goes to show how almost everyone does the same thing and the same represents stereo-typing in the society. The stereo-typing was focused upon to make the audience laugh and this, wavered the intention of the director. The intention was to make the people realize how stereotypical the society had become and to motivate the people to think out of the box but when it was turned into a comedy, the essence of it was lost and as a result of which the desired impact wasn't created on the minds of the people. Mark turned into a black man in order to