International relation theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International relation theory - Essay Example While neo-realist theory contends the effect of state principles and capabilities for the international system, neo-liberalist theory emphasizes on a wider view of the international politics, focusing on the plurality of state actions including the economic and cultural aspects. Taking these two schools of thought for discussion, we bring out an analysis of which theoretical perspective provides the most plausible account of international politics, with particular reference to the films, Independence Day, and Lord of the Flies. The article examines how the international theories appear to be true on the movie and analyze whether the theory is portrayed in the film as normal or deviant from the world in it. According to Neo-realism, the international political structure is defined by the principle of anarchy, mentioning that there is no central authority of governance for the international system. Kenneth Waltz, regarded as the founder of Neo-realism, argues that, unlike the tradition al realism, the conduct of the states is determined by this structure of the international system. The states are inclined to be formally equal in the system and they act without subordinating to each other. The needs and abilities of a state determine their capabilities and power on the international system. ... Anarchy and self-preservation alone are not sufficient to explain the war of all against all† (Pechlivanis 2012). The international relation is shaped by the balance of power among the states, which is attained by the states’ abilities to constrain to the relative powers for relative gains, through internal and external balancing. The great powers within the international system could be classified as the unipolar, bipolar and multipolar systems, owing to the number of powers contained in the system. According to neorealist, bipolar system would be a stable one as it is balanced through internal balancing alone, eliminating the need for external balancing. This is because there is no greater power to be formed from alliances and therefore lesser chance for great wars. On the other hand, Neoliberalism tends to view the international system from a wider perspective, demanding for a stronger state that promotes its interests. Unlike the neo-realism that views the state as a single entity, neo-liberalism includes plurality of its affairs. It focuses on security, integration of states and conflicting nature of the international politics in respect to the political economy and cooperation between the states. Neo-liberalism insists that states should have the goal of absolute gains rather than concerning about the relative gains for establishing power. The collaboration among the competitive states can be achieved in an anarchic international system with a rational decision and preferences of the states. Neo-liberalism contends that international institutions can successfully pave a way for the states to cooperate in the international system. â€Å"Institutions exert a causal force on international relations, shaping state preferences and locking

Should Rich Countries Help the Poor Countries Essay - 1

Should Rich Countries Help the Poor Countries - Essay Example The roots of terrorism can expand to the rich countries which may affect them. Hence for the betterment of these rich countries only it is necessary that they help the poor ones. Thirdly if these rich countries help the poor countries they would be able to have good terms with them and this can help them in increasing their consumer base. It is seen that the population of these third world countries constitutes a large part of the population of this world. Hence if a rich country helps these poor countries they can be assured that their products are being used by the consumers of these poor countries. Hence the economy of the rich countries can also be improved because of this very reason. The opponents of this view on the other hand present with opposing points. The opponents propose that rich countries should not help the poor countries because of the fact that these countries may become stronger and may pose a threat to them in the future. The poor countries may become strong enough to build a military base which can be then used for malicious purposes. In other words, it can pose a threat to the whole world. Secondly, they also propose that the money sent to the poor countries can rather be used by the rich countries for their own betterment. The rich countries should rather use this money for their own people. This would help these people to benefit in terms of finance. In other words, people suffering in these rich countries should be the first priority of these rich countries. Thirdly it is noticed that even if the poor countries are helped by rich ones the money is not utilized in the right place.  

Benefits Of Ict In Smes Information Technology Essay

Benefits Of Ict In Smes Information Technology Essay Introduction Research indicates that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) offers promising opportunities for organizations to meet the challenges of an ever-changing environment (Kapurubandara and Lawson, 2006). ICTs are recognized as key tools in management processes, having a remarkable potential to contribute to sustained competitive advantage for businesses (Ion and Andreea, 2008). In Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), ICT can be used as a business tool to reduce costs, create stronger links with customers, innovate and facilitate market niche (Kutlu and Ozturan, 2009). Although there are difficulties associated with the use ICT in SMEs, however this study highlights the benefits associated with the use of ICT a Nigerian SMEs and identifies some problems facing the Nigerian SME sector. Significance of SMEs The importance of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) cannot be overlooked in the economic development of any country since SMEs play a critical role in every countrys economic development and Nigeria is no exception. SMEs have been fully recognized both in developed and developing countries as the main engine of economic growth and a major factor in promoting private sector development and partnership (Okongwu, 2001). SMEs are often seen as vital for the growth and innovation of dynamic economies as they create employment (Mutula and Brakel, 2006). They are flexible and can adapt quickly to changing market demands as supply situations help diversify economic activity that has significant contribution to imports and exports (Ongori, 2009). Thus, SMEs contribute more and more to the national and international economies of the world. According to Wattanapruttipaisan (2003), the significance of SMEs for growth, productivity and competitiveness of the economies in both developed and developing countries is universally recognized since SMEs contribute to improved living standards, bring about substantial local capital formation and achieve high level of productivity and capability. They are recognized as the principal means of achieving equitable and sustainable industrial diversification and dispersal. The contributions of SMEs to the Nigerian economy are not contestable as about 10% of the total manufacturing output and 70% of the industrial employment are by SMEs. SMEs also promote industrial and economic development through the utilization of local resources, production of intermediate goods and the transformation of rural technology (Aina, 2007). Nigerian SMEs do not only provide employment and income for majority of its citizens but also, SMEs are acknowledged as the breeding ground for domestic entrepreneurial capabilities, technical skills, technological innovativeness and managerial competencies for the private sector development (SMEDAN, 2005, Aina, 2007). The benefits of SMEs to any economy are easily noticeable as SMEs are known to contribute to the development of several economies in terms of output of goods and services, creation of jobs at relatively low capital cost, especially in the fast growing service sector and they provide a vehicle for the reduction of income disparities thus developing a pool of skilled or semi-skilled workers as a basis for the future industrial expansion (Aina, 2007). SMEs also improve forward and backward linkages between economically, socially and geographically diverse sectors of many economies and provide opportunities for development (SMEDAN, 2005). Therefore, the development of SMEs is an essential element in the growth strategy of most economies and holds particular significance for Nigeria. SMEs have been defined by SMEDAN as: Size Category Employment Assets (N million) excluding land and building 1 Micro Enterprises Less than 10 Less than 5 2 Small enterprises 10-49 5- less than 50 3 Medium enterprises 50-199 50- less than 500 (SMEDAN, 2005) In Nigeria, SMEs cover the entire range of economic activity within all sectors and share a number of common problems. These problems as identified by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and other similar studies include low market access to credit, poor information flow, discriminatory legislation, poor access to land, weak linkages among different sectors, weak operating capabilities in terms of skills, lack of knowledge and attitudes, lack of infrastructural facilities among others. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to a wide range of computerized technologies. ICT is any technology that enables communication and the electronic capturing, processing and transmission of information. These technologies include products and services such as desktop computers, laptops, handheld devices, wired or wireless intranet, business productivity software such as text editor and spreadsheet, enterprise software, data storage and security, network security and so on (Ashrafi and Murtaza, 2008). In Nigeria, commonly used ICTs include Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), mobile phones, and smart cards. The Role of ICT in SMEs In the present knowledge-based economy, it is important for SMEs to adopt processes that would enable them provide services that would bring about competitive advantage. ICT has a significant positive impact on organizational performance (Maldeni and Jayasena, 2009). ICT is crucial to SMEs as it is a major catalyst and enabler of organizational change (Hazbo et al, 2008). Modern businesses are not possible without the use of ICT which is having a significant impact on the operations of SMEs and it is claimed to be essential for the survival and growth of economies in general (Berisha-Namanil, 2009). ICTs provide opportunities for business transformations (Chibelushi, 2008). It also provides SMEs the opportunity to conduct business anywhere (Jennex et al, 2004). It is commonly accepted that ICT provides many potential benefits to organizations so as to make them more efficient, effective and competitive (Fink and Disterer, 2006). ICT increases richness and reach (Evans and Wurster, 19 97). This refers to the way companies communicate, collaborate, conduct transactions internally with their customers, suppliers and distributors via the internet and the ability for local SMEs to participate in the digital economy (Golding, et al, 2008). According to Erumban and de Jong (2006), ICT has created a revolution by making the world seemingly smaller and improving potential economic growth. Pavic et al (2007) argue that SMEs have the opportunity to achieve a competitive advantage from the advances in ICT through innovation, marketing, efficiency gains, better quality and customer responsiveness. Also, Levy et al (2002) found some evidence which shows that SMEs act proactively in relation to the use of ICT. The European Commission (2008) state that SMEs could use ICT in order to grow and to become more innovative. The use of ICT in SMEs should be encouraged as it can help to improve technical and managerial skills, making available e-business solutions for SMEs and addressing the high cost of ownership of ICT equipment. Also, Love et al (2004) ascertains that the use of ICT provides many benefits to SMEs at different levels (operational level, tactical level and strategic level). In addition, Ongori (2009) states that the use of ICT would help change the way businesses operate in this era of globalization by changing business structures and increasing competition, creating competitive advantage for businesses and by changing business operations. Therefore, SMEs must have an ability to compete and dynamically respond to rapidly changing markets as it plays a significant role in an organizations growth and success. According to Kapurubandara and Lawson (2006), for survival in a competitive global economy and staying abreast, it is apparent that SMEs embrace ICT as it is becoming imperative for SMEs to gain competitive advantage and for stability in international markets. This implies that there are several benefits associated with the use of ICT. Benefits of ICT in SMEs The benefit of ICT cuts across all sectors of the economy and all the fields of human activities (Udo and Edoho, 2000). ICT can improve the standard of living and enhance business operations as well as organizational efficiency (Udo and Edoho, 2000). Appropriate use of ICT can assist SMEs to gain competitive advantage by reducing costs and improving core business processes. According to Brynjolfsson and Hitt (2000), the use of ICT can help to cut down the costs of coordination, communication, information processing and also enable efficient service provision at lower cost. ICT is a strategic tool that enables users to be efficient and effective (Sewanyana, 2009). The diffusion of ICT in many countries by different sectors of the economy have been found to have direct positive impact on the organizations efficiency and have led to more rapid acceleration of development in these countries (Achimugu et al, 2009). In Nigeria, preliminary investigations show that only few SMEs presently u se ICT. However, there has not been a formal study to ascertain the impact of ICT in these organizations. According to Fullanteli and Allegra (2003), ICT offer enterprises a wide range of possibilities for improving their competitiveness. They provide mechanisms for getting access to new market opportunities and specialized information services such as distance consulting, continuous training, new advisory modes, and so on. Organizations can exchange real-time information and build closer relationships with their customers, suppliers and business partners; customer can receive immediate feedback that allows companies to react fast to changing customer demands and recognising new market niches. This means that organizations that are able to exploit the potentials offered by ICT can handle innovative processes such as Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Knowledge Management (KM) more effectively (Fullanteli and Allegra, 2003). Since, ICT has been described as critical to the competitiveness and growth of SMEs (Apulu and Latham, 2009), it is important for it to be applied in the relevant manner in order to reap the far-reaching payoffs of ICT. Shiels et al (2003) state that technology would not lead to business growth except it is aligned with a business strategy. This means that having the right technology in the right place and at the right time would assist to improve business performance and also aid competitiveness and sustainability (Swift, 2009). Once ICT is integrated into a business process, it becomes a useful tool in many stages of the value chain (Swift, 2009). The use of ICT in SMEs helps to improve communication ability to exchange data, teamwork, customer relations services, market share and so on. It allows companies to obtain, process, accumulate and exchange information (Ion and Andreea, 2008). Another benefit of using ICT in SMEs is the fact that high efficiency is obtained in business transactions due to a fast and accurate processing of information (Ion and Andreea, 2008). Lal (2005) further states that web-enabled services increase the competitiveness of SMEs because they change the relationship with customers by creating a stronger link between firms and clients. The use of ICT in SMEs facilitates cooperation within the company, between the company and other firms. Similarly, Swift (2009) states that SMEs benefit from the use of ICT as it increases productivity, efficiency of internal business and operation and connects SMEs more easily and cheaply to external contact. Other benefits include increasing business competitiveness; vertical integration with other related initiatives, meeting stakeholders of various institutions; networking with other parties; creating of an enabling environment and the development of an internal competence in capturing market opportunities (Swift, 2009). Hence, the investment in ICT will result in increasing SMEs rates of sales and share of market, improve their Return on Investments (ROI), reduce cost and assist them to develop new products and/or markets. Chowdhury and Wolf (2003) argue that SMEs use ICTs both as input in the production process and in the transaction process selling their products or acquiring inputs. ICT enhances enterprise performance through indirect cost savings such as labour costs, increased labour productivity and direct cost reduction of firms input (Chowdhury and Wolf, 2003; Love et al, 2006). On top of these short-run impacts of ICT in the production process, the use of ICTs in the transaction process can foster input and output market expansion. However, in the long run ICT may have a bigger impact as it can completely restructure the production process and transaction methods and also increase flexibility and improve outputs (Chowdhury and Wolf, 2003). In order words, it can be concluded that ICTs can influence the performance of an enterprise in multifaceted ways. In addition, ICT has been widely perceived as major tools for kick-starting ailing economies and consequently in assisting developing societies to catch up with the developed world. ICT can assist groups that have lost out of the mainstream of development (Obijiofor et al, 2005). ICTs have valuable potentials for developing SMEs through more effective use and better integration in their business processes. This will bring about a change among SMEs and make them more competitive, innovative and also generate growth (Obijiofor et al, 2005). Nevertheless, several factors hinder SMEs from fully realizing these benefits. According to Liedholm (2002); Ducombe and Molla, (2009), SMEs especially in Africa suffer from many constraints related to an unfriendly policy and regulatory environment, lack of finance, lack of skills, access to markets and market information, lack of infrastructure among others and Nigerian SMEs is no exception. Problems of SMEs in Nigeria Several problems are militating against the development of SMEs in Nigeria. As a developing economy, one of the most worrying among these constraints is the issue of funding (Aina, 2007). This is because most banks are afraid of funding SMEs for the reason that they want to minimize their risk profile. Also, the Nigerian economic situation is not very attractive to investors (Aina, 2007). This forms a major constraint to SMEs growth in the country. In Nigeria, there is the problem of inadequate and inefficient infrastructural facilities, which tend to escalate costs of operation as SMEs are forced to resort to private provisioning of utilities such as water supply, electricity, and so on (Udechukwu, 2003). Other problems include lack of adequate credit for SMEs traceable to the reluctance of banks to extend credit as well as inadequate collateral by SME operators, weak demand for products arising from low and declining consumer purchasing power and lack of patronage of locally produced goods by those in authority (Onugu, 2005). All these problems hinder the effective use of ICT in Nigerian SMEs. Electricity constraint is a major factor that affects the use of ICT in Nigerian SMEs. In many rural areas, there are no electricity supplies; while in the towns and cities where there is electricity, its presence is limited. Electricity generation and distribution therefore negatively affect the diffusion levels of ICT in the country (Akpan-Obong, 2007). Nigerian population lacks access to electricity. Therefore unless power supply is stabilized, as well as expanded to the rural areas, electricity is likely to remain a key factor hindering the development of SMEs in Nigeria. There is also the problem of multiplicity of regulatory agencies and taxes which has always resulted in high cost of doing business, poor management practices and low entrepreneurial skill arising from inadequate educational and technical background of many SME owners (Udechukwu, 2003). Similarly, developmental policies weigh in favour of large firms and sometimes foreign owned firms leaving SMEs in a distressed and vulnerable position. Corruption, lack of transparency, very high bureaucratic costs and lack of government interest in supporting the roles of SMEs in national economic development and competitiveness. The most worrying of all among these challenges is funding. Most SMEs enterprises are not attractive prospects for banks as they want to minimize their risk profile. Also, In Nigeria, provision of public infrastructure is grossly inadequate and poor (Posu, 2006). Necessary telecommunication services, as public infrastructure, needed for meaningful investment are very expensive and inadequate. Research Method Case studies are the most common qualitative method used in information systems research (Cassell and Symon, 2004; Burns, 2000; Yin, 1993; Orlikowski and Baroudi, 1991). Sauer (1993) is of the opinion that research in information systems is best done by case study. A case study research is useful when a phenomenon and context are not clearly evident (Yin, 2003). It also allows us to study a phenomenon within its natural context (Yin, 2009). Therefore given the exploratory nature of this study, the qualitative case study approach is adopted. According to Yin (1994), case study methodology offers a means of testing existing theories while providing a probable analytic generalization. This study is based on primary research from interviews and secondary research including internal documents and academic sources. The case study was selected based on the size of the company, in accordance with the definition of SMEs in Nigeria and also based upon the post-ICT experience in the company. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather details of the SME. Questions related to the business aspects of the company, drivers for ICT adoption, barriers to ICT adoption, use of ICT, ICT infrastructure, competition and benefits of ICT were asked at some point in the interview. In terms of the analysis of the interviews, notes were compiled during each interview which gave an accurate reflection of the information gathered. In addition, some company documents were reviewed. Furthermore, extensive amount of secondary data was collected and reviewed from various sources which included books and academic journals. A general introduction to the organization involved is provided below , followed by a discussion on the benefits of ICT within the organization. The company in this paper has been given pseudonyms and some details of the company have been shrouded to maintain company confidentiality. Case Study MACO is a small manufacturing company located in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria and was established in 2003. Presently, the company has fourty employees all of which are full time workers. The companys goal is to satisfy its present and future customers by developing level of services superior to those of its competitors. MACOs vision is to satisfy customer needs by providing promt and efficient services and to create a secured and viable engineering solution to its customers. In 2005, the company decided to implement an ICT system called ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) due to the competitive nature of the market and the need to stand out from the crowd. Another reason behind the companys decision to use the new system was as a result of the challenges MACO was facing with its customers in terms of tendering and purchase processes and in the production capacity planning. The ERP system helps in the companys production capacity planning and control, so that the scheduling and resource allo cation for different projects can be planned ahead before the project begins. The ERP system has given MECO a huge opportunity. The company can now easily target new customers, survive and grow in this competitive climate and also build long term relationships with its customers. Discussion SMEs have been recognized for playing very important roles towards the economic growth, development and stability of several economies. SMEs play a vital role in employment generation and immensely contribute to the Gross Domestic Products (GDPs) of several countries (OECD, 2000). With reference to the case study presented above, it can be said that there are several benefits associated with the use of ICT. ICT offers SMEs a competitive edge over its competitors (for example increase in production capacity planning and control) hence, it is vital for Nigerian SMEs to use ICT. It should be regarded as a critical tool for SMEs competitiveness. Based on the literature review, some major factors that affect Nigerian SMEs are lack of infrastructural facilities and lack of electricity. Furthermore, lack of resources is another major factor. Hence, the Nigerian government should set up different agencies to look into the various problems associated with SMEs in Nigeria. The government can provide an enabling environment in which ICT can realize its full potential. They can help to address the problems and challenges of awareness and infrastructure under- development (Payne, 2001). Nowadays several organizations have moved from manual paper-based to ICTs for internal processing of information, and from telephony to ICTs for external communication. Thus access to ICT has provided people with a foundation for building up and applying knowledge globally and particularly in developing nations (Ani et al, 2007). Through the use of ICT, modern society has been described as an information age and the knowledge economy. In the present knowledge based economy, the use of ICT can to bring the same competitive advantage to small and medium sized enterprises as brought to large enterprises. ICTs are also making it possible for developing countries to participate in the world economy in ways that simply were not possible in the past. Hence, information and communication technologies should be regarded as a strategic tool in SMEs. The use of ICTs in SMEs should therefore, be considered as part of the wider informal to formal transition process for information systems. There is need for SMEs to undertake continuous improvement of their existing processes, products and services. They need to introduce products and services with extended capabilities to create more value for their customers (Hanif and Sajjad, 2009). On one hand, ICT provides all enterprises with a lot of opportunities for their business activities. On the other hand, SMEs have always been considered to be the major economic players and strong sources of economic growth. Therefore, it is apparent that the use of ICT in SMEs is critical in every economy including Nigeria. As a result of Nigerian SMEs not being fully ICT-enabled they are unable to keep up with the pace of globalization. Thus they are deprived of ways by which ICTs can improve it their business processes. ICTs have the potential to improve SMEs business processes as it brings about better insights. Hence, the government needs to address these issues to encourage ICT enabled SMEs. Nigeria can as well leapfrog from its present status of  under development to a fully developed global giant, as it cannot afford to stand alone (Elebeke, 2009). Todays business world has been deeply influenced by ICT and its application among business is widespread. ICT are rapidly changing global production, work and business methods and trade and consumption patterns in and between enterprises and consumers (Alam and Noor, 2009). Also, SMEs are often seen as a vital source of growth and innovation in a dynamic economy and consequently small businesses help to diversify the economy and at the same time create employment (Machacha, 2002, Banda et al, 2004). Therefore, the ability for SMEs to survive in an increasingly competitive global environment is largely dependent upon their capacity to leverage technologies. Conclusion and Recommendations The use of ICT can provide a platform for future growth of SMEs however; the use of ICT in Nigerian SMEs is relatively low due to many factors militating against their growth. For Nigerian SMEs to effectively use ICT, technological infrastrucures should be put in place by the government to support ICT use. Based on the literature review and case study, it is certain that there are several benefits associated with the use of ICT. Hence, effective use of ICT in Nigeria SMEs would bring about enormous opportunities for these SMEs. Therefore, for an SME to set itself apart from its competitors and also have a sustainable competitive advantage there is a need to invest in ICT. There is also a need for the government to intensify the efforts of promoting the use of ICT in Nigerian SMEs since ICT is known to improve managerial practices in SMEs and also assist SMEs to grow and become more innovative. Finally, the Nigerian government must invest largely in the SME sector by making more funds available to SMEs and putting structures in place to ensure a successful investment. The integration of ICT in Nigerian SMEs would help integrate these SMEs into the world IT village.

Marketing Plan for Skydiving Co Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing BTEC

Marketing Plan for Skydiving Co 1) What is your competition doing? The competition is doing well. They currently have holiday promotions on Christmas and Labor Day. They offer a discounted rate if you are part of a group of 7 or more. They are larger than us and operate in several states. Their marketing plans are lacking impact in that they mainly focus on billboard advertising and word of mouth. They also do not actively participate in public relations, however they do have a very good web site that allows questions to be answered via e-mail but no streaming media capabilities or â€Å"live† discussions with an operator. 2) What are the environmental factors? The market is strong right now, and the Stock Market has been on a steady increase. Spending is fluent in the economy and people are not afraid to â€Å"splurge† a bit on external enjoyment. There has been a recent surge in activity sports as the X Games just took place and were aired in 48 states. Skateboarding, extreme roller blading, and skydiving are among the top of the list. 3) How will the previous affect your marketing or promotional plans? We are privately funded, so the strength in the economy will help us with sales. Therefore, we will be using promotions and advertising to pull in good repeat customers. It will give us even larger amounts of capital in which we can reinvest in new equipment and marketing. With the recent airing of the X games, our plan is to hit the market strong and quickly to get as many people in and hooked on our exciting sport as we can while the attention is still there. Chapter 3: 1) Centralized or decentralized internal org. chart? We are using a centralized organizational chart. We are rather small and are only offering a few services. Centralized requires fewer personnel. Also, we would like to have main control over our company’s decisions and the centralized organization allows for more top management involvement. 2) Are you using an inside or outside agency? We are going to set up our own advertising agency internally in order to reduce costs and maintain great control over their activities. It will be a decent sized dept., and they will assist us (the owners) in our advertising financing, production, and distribution of advertisements. We chose this because of money savings and so that we could maintain contr... ...d your add offensive or in poor taste? In evaluating our IMC program I have found that there is very little that we have done that could be taken in offense. Our commercials are mostly action shots of skydiving with audio describing our location and phone numbers. Our website is detailed, but not shocking. The radio campaigns we have implemented are not shocking and simply urge people to think outside of themselves and take a chance. The only people that could be upset about our ads and perspective is people who do not believe that life is about having fun. Those who want to sit through life and exist instead of pushing the envelope and creating excitement for themselves. Parents might be upset if our ads appeal to their children and they make the decision to take the jump. That is out of fear for their children, and not a distasteful ad on our part. One thing that may cause us trouble is that our safety record is stressed heavily. If we were to ever have an accident it would take away from our appeal and cause u s to have to shift our advertising to other areas. This could be expensive and create mistrust in our establishment causing us to potentially lose clientele.

How I Became Hettie Jones with Two Secondary Sources…

How I Became Hettie Jones. The skin color of a person used to be a big issue in America, which appeared to have been resolved; however, it is still a big issue today. Although there is no longer slavery, a number of people continue to act in a racist fashion. They pass on these thoughts of prejudice and racism to their children, who then pass it on to their children and so forth, therefore it becomes extremely difficult to prevent it. Prejudice is an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason. There are still numerous stereotypes that can be associated with a person's skin color.Stereotypes are regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type. However, there is not only prejudice towards the black community, but also a prejudice against the white community. Hettie Jones tells the story of her life as an unconventional woman during the 50s and 60s, struggling to find her place and role in the world in New York City during the Be at generation. She was originally born as Hettie Cohen. This changed after meeting a fellow employee destined to become her spouse. She knew that their romance would cause criticism and discomfort with some people, as any interracial romances with â€Å"Negros† would at the time.He simply had too much going for him, being a â€Å"warm, funny, voluble, tender, wildly ambitious, supremely confident†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hettie became pregnant twice, one child aborted, the other she kept as the two wed. Both of their parents were simply heartbroken to hear about them being together. Ultimately however, the Jones family gave Hettie acceptance, welcoming a white daughter-in-law to the family. As for Hettie Jones, she did not consider herself white, because she didn't know what that meant anyways which is the reason that made her marry a black person even if everybody around her gave her weird looks.She quoted â€Å" For being someone these people could not influence, or hold, forgive me , but this is America†¦.. Sometimes you have to go on the road. †(62). But after their first major fight, during which Roi slaps her, Hettie notes, â€Å"Do you see race in this? Have you forgotten? It would get worse. † Many years and two children later, it does: under the influence of the Black Power movement, Roi grows increasingly ambivalent about the fact of his wife's race, finally refusing to take her to the opening of his play, Dutchman.The marriage, mirroring the times, dissolves; as Jones notes: â€Å"It fit right in with dissolving black-white political alliances. † In Andrew Hacker's book, Two Nations:Black and White, Separate, Hostile, Unequal. Hacker argues that blacks and whites live in two different worlds. Hacker believes that race plays a larger role in America than it does anywhere else in the world. The title has many sources and foreshadows some of the conclusions he makes in the book. The â€Å"Two Nations†being discussed are the White nation and the African-American (Black) nation.It has been said many times in history that the two major races in this country have been separate, hostile and unequal. This book is Hacker's opinion as to the real dimensions of race and how it controls lives and divides society. The integration issue was raised in the chapter of the book: Being Black in America. In thischapter, the author tries to describe in detail what an African-American goes through and has to deal with simply because of the color of his/her skin.Hacker illustrates how black people feel they are looked at and treated by white America. He seems to really want to stress to white people that they should try to see things from a black perspective. He wants whites to try to imagine what it is like to have a stigma attached to you because of the color of your skin. He talks about issues that range from housing, to police, to their family structure, to blatant discrimination, to having to explain and defend thems elves (and sometimes all blacks in general) intellectually to white people.

Growth and Development of Paksitani Media

Growth and Development of Paksitani Media Pak inherited 05 radio channel son its birth. International Trend played important role in development of Mass Media in Pakistan. Initial decades of Pakistani Media’s history have been dominated by PTV. 2. Government was compelled to permit freedom of media (a)Liberalization of airway in India led to mushroom growth of TV channels (b)In Kargil war India was able to sell its viewpoint to the world and cashed on its version while Pak suffered since it had only the state channel. (c)Economic boom in telecom in Pakistan. Commercial nature of Media was discovered in the economic advantages related to it. Revenue generated by Media in 2002 was 2 billion and in 2007 this soared to Rs. 17 Billion. (d)Literacy rate / level grew in Pakistan and played a role in media Development. (e)Arrival of cable operators / network and its growth held vision. (f)Govt policies played vital role, especially of President Musharraf. Javed Jabbar. Said â€Å"Media is more powerful then nuclear devices† he worked on PEMRA 3. Private sector was involved and posed challenge to state media. State Media to compete with Pvt Media has to improve and become more open and provide realistic stories, this reformed the State Media as well _ since realistic input was being provided by the Pvt Media. 4. Pak Media Market was in raw form and was untapped; it had the potential to grow. Phenomenon of community based radio channels i. e. FM channel, community based Services (print / elect) have played important role in media development. 5. Number of Press Media / Printing groups were permitted and have launched their TV channels e. . Jang Group – Geo, etc. 6. Mass media is the major source of providing news and entertainment to the people who wants to know who is doing what and what is happening. Aristotle in his book â€Å"Poetics† has written that â€Å"Media is a means of catharsis and is must for normal living†. 7. The entertainment and news value of media has played very important role its development. However, electronic media enjoys larger scope over print media, since it has wider audience, is easily accessible and be understood by even illiterate people. The media provides wide range of entertainment / news according to interest of people of different age groups / liking / languages. Talk Shows Mania has brought more liberalization and has revolutionized the concept since erstwhile taboo issues are being discussed enhancing the awareness of people. 8. The realization in the people and Government about the role of media in society / economic development is there. Indian soap operas have a large viewer ship and their popularity has attracted lots of commercials / advertisement. The commercial aspects attached to the media have contributed to its rapid development. . The Infrastructure Development has taken place. Modern state of art studios /introduction of latest equipment / communication facilities like video conferencing, fax, electronic data transfer, chat / mobiles, etc have brought in a revolution and contributed immensely in the media development. 10. The advertisement / commercials have brought big money to media market. The co ntents of programmes are changing. The high economic stakes attached to the media have brought in Professionalism in all its related fields. Due open market, there is a Scarcity of professional media men 1. The abundance of media outlets has on one hand has created lot of employment opportunities but on the other has posed challenges to the media men to excel in their fields. Jang Group has more than 50,000 employees; media persons are getting enhanced wages. Today we have number of highly professional and well-known media persons who are stalwarts of Pakistani Media and form its backbone. 12. Dozens Of other factors have played role in the development of Pakistani Media. It has been a â€Å"watchdog† on actions of the state, people strengthened the media. Media has played important role in discussing un-touched subjects. It has helped harmonizing the nation on otherwise contentious issues. The competition among the channels is bringing in qualitative improvement in the content and other aspects of programmes Impact of Cable TV Media is strengthening development in Pakistan. †¢Media has supported Democracy. †¢Media has highlighted Public issues. †¢Media has given voice to neglected element of society. †¢Media has become entertainment industry; it satisfies all segments, age groups of our society. CERTAIN NEGATIVE ROLE OF PAKISTANI MEDIA . Consumerism. Our society is consuming all messages being spread by the Media. Media has made us a talking nation, the Mobile Mania-kids, ladies, youngsters all are just talking on the mobile phones. The effect of media is very strong with respect to advertisement on consumer products, instead of being producer media has made us consumer. 2. Moral Vacuum. The dramas, programmes etc shown on media glamorize everything they depict, this has created a moral vacuum and our younger generation is going away for our values (religious, social). 3. Westernization. Western / Indian cultural invasion has taken place through media and is permeating Pakistan society. Our commercials are depicting western values and causing a loss of national identity. There are media talk shows on subjects including sex etc which otherwise are taboo in our society. 4. Not Developing National Image. Our Media is blamed for not developing /projecting our national image. Our media at times uses Indian language; projects Indian Stars in our ads, etc, the threats posed to our values are immense and must be countered. Our country lacks a defined policy to promote national image through media. . False Values. Pakistani Media is projecting false values in its programmes, etc. The projection of family planning, love stories in dramas, hi-fi living styles / material depicted in dramas, etc. are not real and are not based on ground realities. (a)Media lacks compact programmes to educate Pakistani nation. (b)Projected values on media are not congruent with our values / ground realities. It is actually projecting ‘False Values’. (c)Programmes / dramas shown are exaggerated beyond imagination. 6. Manifestation of Interests. Media is negatively manipulating the interests of the people. People of Pakistan are yet not critical / educated enough to realize this manipulation / twisting of facts. There is a famous dictum that â€Å"a lie spoken 100 times becomes greater than a truth†. 7. Exaggeration. Pakistani media is also blamed for overwhelming negative Exaggeration. It glamorizes issues, resorts to negative exaggeration of matters, newspaper headlines are depicting violence, etc all this demoralizes the nation. At times news are given without authentication / confirmation. Unethical material /photographs / scenes are shown on our media promoting vulgarization. Media is Damaging basic fiber of our nation and has created a crisis of misidentification. 8. Dangers to Socialization. We remain fixed to TV screens at the cost of socialization. We cut short our social activities just to watch some favorite programmes on TV. We are not undertaking socialization / giving time to our kids, parents, etc because we are glued to TV etc. This is developing a generation gap. We are giving more time to TV channels and less time to social activity and a sort of isolation is being developed. 9. Sensationalizing / Creating Uncertainty. Our media sensationalize the issues / accidents / incidents. When too much of information is available it creates confusion. Our media is broadcasting every type of information at times even compromising the accuracy and is creating uncertainty. 10. Overloaded with Information. Pakistani Media is discussing so many of topics are actually bombarding the audience with information. Media has flooded us with information. (a)This is psychologically not good for our scenes and disturbs our body functions. (b)Media is stuffing our minds with all types of information and has onverted us into ‘generalist’. Media is misusing our energies. (c)Media has become corporate; it possesses / uses lot of resources and has phenomenal business / financial benefits attached to it, accordingly it bombards the viewers with information. Different surveys are undertaken to find out various methods on how to attract the viewers / readers. Media Marketing has Converted us into recipient. Media is s pending so much of money on efforts to attract / enhance its viewer ship. (d)Commercials breaks are introduced at the peak points of programmes. Such commercials are very expensive.