Beo-Gramscian Approaches and Marxist Thinking on International Essay

Beo-Gramscian Approaches and Marxist Thinking on International Relations - Essay Example Gramsci who was a leader of Italian Communist party in the fascist era did not ever write much directly on international relations. Gramaci did not see state merely as the government since its functioning is effectively constrained by the hegemony of the dominant capitalist class. Along with the government, he saw the role of "the church, the educational system, the press, all the institutions which helped to create in people certain modes of behaviour and expectations consistent with the hegemonic social order" (Cox, 1993, p.51). In brief, he clearly saw that "the hegemony of a dominant class thus bridged the conventional categories of state and civil society, categories which retained a certain analytical usefulness but ceased to correspond to separable entities in reality" (Cox, 1993, p.51). Gramsci's delineation of the concept 'passive revolution' is particularly useful in characterising the social formations in most of the third world countries since they are "caught up in a dia lectic of revolution-restoration which tended to become blocked as neither the new forces nor the old could triumph" (Cox, 1993, p.54). It means that since there is enormous pressure from the advance countries, the third world countries cannot remain stagnant although these societies are characterised by the dominance of old forces such as feudal and conservative forces. The crucial fact is that the industrial bourgeoisie in these countries cannot rule the society without allying with the reactionary forces. "Most of Gramsci's substantive work focused upon the analysis of national social formations in particular historic periods, particularly Italy" (Gill, 1993, p.3). Gramsci is significant in breaking the mould of orthodoxy in both Marxist theory and practice. Gramsci's ideas are so vital to develop a comprehensive understanding of the state- civil society relationships only in the West but also the rest of the world. Gramsci considered political economy as just the anatomy of civil society. Gramsci's works raise a number of critical questions on the nature of culture, the state, ideology, hegemony and civil society in advanced capitalist societies. It does not mean that his ideas have limited relevance to the non-Western contexts, rather denotes the particular milieu of his scholarship.In the realm of International Relations and International Political Economy, Gramsci's ideas are much used in understanding "the internationalisation of state and civil society, the international aspect s of social hegemony and supremacy, and the transnational class and bloc formations and economic forces, the role of organic intellectuals and of international organisations and other issues which help to define the nature of global politics in twentieth century" (Gill, 1993, p.4). There is dialectical relationship between the integration and disintegration of the world order, mainly due to the crises faces by the global system and the measures taken to overcome them. On the contrary, neo-realists presuppose that the international

Process of Recruitment Selection

Process of Recruitment Selection Executive Summary: The assignment is prepared to explain the process of Recruitment Selection Which involves identifying and attracting the potential candidates from within and outside the organization and evaluating them for future employment. Todays tight labour in the market is making it more difficult for organizations to find, recruit, and select talented people. The competition for talent is intensifying, as there is a huge talent in the market. This makes it more important for the organizations to effectively select and retain quality candidates. Better recruitment and selection strategies result in improved organizational outcomes. The more effectively organizations recruit and select candidates, the more likely they are to hire and retain satisfied employees. The study is based on the process of Recruitment Selection of the candidates on the basis of which they will be utilizing their skills for the growth and functions of the organization. Introduction: In the current scenario, there is a lot of talent in the market so the process of Recruitment selection has also been made difficult. For instance, Getting into IIMs is really a tough job or getting into a firm called Golden Gate, really calls for competition. So particular attention is given to core skills required in a selection interview such as planning, avoiding potential distortion, questioning, listening and evaluation. Process of recruitment attracts three stages: Identify define the recruitment, attract potential applicants and selecting the appropriate people, this also helps in determining the organizational objectives. Objective: The objective of making this report is to examine the overall process of Recruiting selecting in the interest of the organization. In other words, it is also important to note if the HR plans are implemented or not. Recruitment Selection: The process of recruitment selection deals with the attainment of organizational objectives by selecting the most appropriate candidate. Internet has become the most effective method of recruitment as it saves time and cost of the Recruiters and the Candidates too. In order to achieve the objectives of the organization the HR also follow some practices like Ability Tests, Behavior based interviews and also analyze the candidates knowledge required for the concerned job. Initially, it involves short listing of those candidates who are eligible for the mentioned profile. Then, the candidate is required to present his ability and knowledge by undertaking some tests which are based to analyze the knowledge of the candidate. Then the candidates are required to take interview on the basis of which the skills of the candidates are evaluated. Then after this stage, HR selects those candidates whom he thinks will prove to be beneficial for the organization. The role of the human resource function is two-fold: 1. To participate in the decision process by providing information and opinion on each option, including: * Redundancy or recruitment costs * Consequences on morale * Redeployment/outplacement opportunities * Availability of skilled staff within the organization * Availability of suitable people in the job market * Time constraints * Development/training needs/schedules * Management requirements. This forms part of the information collated from the organization as a whole 2. To support line managers dealing with the people consequences of implementing the decision. Information already gathered provides the basis for a human resource plan.) (Human Resource Management, R P Mohanty) Issues Related to Recruitment Selection: In order to perform a suitable criteria for selection, there exists different issues as it entails high competition on the technical aspects of different organizations. The recruitment process has been very challenging in todays scenario, since there is lot of competition in the market and to employ the best workforce, the best practices should be adopted, like Reliability, Validity, Costs, Professional Image and Candidate Reaction.. Validation is a process of establishing a relationship between performance on a selection method and other independently observable measures of the attributes being tested. Costs of employing a candidate is also measured both in quantitative qualitative terms, like Training costs and employee costs (salary). Apart from this the recruitment process also depends upon factors like the economy situation, the companys performance, its reputation, its market share If the economy is doing well then there would be more hiring in the organizations. Other issues like Gender Bisedness, dominancy by seniors also prevail in the market The cost and time of following through the selection procedures Employment processes can be long and costly giving rise to the temptation to take shortcuts. However a rushed employment process can be more time consuming and costly in the long run. The aim is to get the best applicant for the job in open competition. There should be no short cuts in the selection process, particularly at the short listing stage. All members of the panel should have the opportunity to see all applications and have an opportunity to have input into the short list of applicants. Conflicts of interest If a panel member is closely related or in an intimate personal relationship there is a potential conflict of interest which should be declared and a replacement found. When an applicant is known personally to members of the selection panel, or is part of their social or professional network there may be a conflict of interest or the perception that one exists. In this case it is extremely important to be vigilant in following the set procedures. The selection committee should not receive additional information (e.g. anecdotal material) about an applicant outside the recruitment process. Such information could be based on hearsay or may be influenced by the personal bias of the member who presents the information. Use of personal characteristics as selection criteria Problems may arise as a result of requiring that an applicant be ‘assertive’, ‘dynamic’, ‘enthusiastic’ rather than clearly identifying what skills the job requires. (LA TROBE UNIVERSITY) According to Mr SUSAN.R. MEISINGER, There exists four Cs in HR Profession: Competent, Curious, Courageous and Caring. Competent: An HR Professional must be competent enough to face all the challenges that come in front of him/her and able to work in a competitive environment in the interest of the Organizational objectives. Curious: The HR must be curious to know the information related to candidates which must be in the interest of the organization. It should not be against the interest of the candidate. For example, he should not be asked any question which him feel uncomfortable. Courageous: The HR must be courageous enough to employ the best staff vis-Ã  -vis taking into consideration the costs of the organization. Here is a case explained that Nokia Company wishing to hire some Professionals in the company, the HR (Mr. Halstein Moerk) was courageous enough to deal with the costs benefits of the organization.(nokia.com) Caring: It is a saying that Money is not everything, so the HR should be caring in terms of providing monetary benefits and other amenities like Transporting Facility, fooding etc. Conclusion: Above all, the process recruitment selection has all the way become more difficult. Since the organizations want to hire more talented and effective employees and can create a difference in the interest of the organization. The organizations have adopted different methods of recruiting a candidate. Different kinds of agencies are used to recruit for positions at different levels. Temporary and government agencies are used mainly to recruit non-management candidates. Employment agencies, colleges, and professional organizations are used more often to recruit managerial/professional. Although nearly all (97 percent) the organizations already use behavior-based interviews to some extent when selecting employees, nearly half (49 percent) plan to use them more frequently in the future. This type of structured interview can be used to validly predict future behavior in dimensions (or competencies) critical to job success. Less than 20 percent of organizations currently use testing or assessment methods extensively in their selection process. However, organizations plan to increase their use of applicant testing and assessment in the future. These structured approaches to assess skills, abilities, and knowledge can significantly reduce the candidate pool by eliminating those who fail to meet the minimum job qualifications. Finally, better recruitment and selection strategies result in improved organizational outcomes. The more effectively organizations recruit and select candidates, the more likely they are to hire and retain satisfied employees. In addition, the effectiveness of an organizations selection system can influence bottom-line business outcomes, such as productivity and financial performance. Hence, investing in the development of a comprehensive and valid selection system is money well spent.

The Bridge Of San Luis Ray Essay -- essays research papers

Thornton Wilder (1897-1975) The Bridge of San Luis Rey The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder, presents the ancient dilemma of whether tragedy is the result of chance or a manifestation of divine intervention. It explores the lives of five people and reveals their internal struggles for survival. The sadness that is created by the undying love of the Marquesa de Montemayor for her daughter, Esteban for his twin brother, Manual and Uncle Pio for the vain actress, Camilla Perichole, is so overwhelming in its enormity, that when tragedy strikes, we feel relief that their suffering is finally over. The scene is set in Lima, Peru, in 1714. One afternoon, an ancient bridge broke sending five people to their deaths. Brother Juniper, a Franciscan monk, witnesses this catastrophe and believes he can prove the existence of divine intervention. The first person is the Marquesa de Montemayor along with her servant and companion, Pepita. The Marquesa’s love for her daughter is not returned which sends her into a state of borderline psychosis. She begins to drink heavily and neglects to take care of the most important things in her life. One night while Pepita lay sleeping, the Marquesa is struck with the realization that her love for her daughter is a selfish love and she decides to renounce this love and begin a new life. Esteban and Manuel are orphaned twins found on the steps of a convent and raised by Maria del Pilar. When Manuel dies of an infection, Esteban is in despair and is about to embark on a new life with Captain Alvarado when he crosses the bridge. Camilla Perichole did not die on the bridge but was a victim nonetheless. Uncle Pio, friend and confidant of the Perichole, takes her son to educate him in the Arts and literature. The two never make it across the bridge. The Perichole is a famous actress who plays an important role in the story. â€Å"She is the axis, as it were, around which everything turns†(Stresau 23). She weaves the threads of the story together with her â€Å"passions and perversities†(Fadiman 338). The Perichole is a very selfish woman who indirectly causes the death of Manuel, Esteban’s brother, by destroying his will to live. When Manuel falls in love with the Perichole, the love the brothers' share becomes tainted and is forever destroyed. The only time that Manuel admits this is when he is in a state of such pain, he lashes out: ... ... of tragedy and lets her be the diamond in the rough. She is the one person whose vision is unaltered from the very beginning of the book and to her the other survivors draw their own courage. Camilla Perichole was in such pain over the loss Uncle Pio and her son Don Jaime, that she could no longer live in solitude. She desperately wished to be able to tell them one last time of her love for them. She sought out Maria del Pilar who accepted her with open arms and without judgment. â€Å"I fail everybody,† she cried. â€Å"They love me and I fail them†(Wilder 143). The Marquesa de Montemayor’s daughter, Dona Clara, also came in search of redemption. Her guilt of not returning her mother’s love was consuming her and she wished to be punished. Dona Clara and Camille Perichole began to find new meaning in their lives by helping Maria del Pilar take care of those less fortunate them themselves. The question still remains. Was it an accident or by design? It is best to leave the mystery in place, for to answer it dissolves the meaning of the book. Just knowing that some good came out of a catastrophic event brings pleasure to one’s heart and leaves us believing that it really does not matter.

Imagery of Dark vs Light in James Joyce’s “Araby” Essay

The most remarkable imagery in Joyce’s’ â€Å"Araby† is the imagery of dark and light. The whole story reads like a chiaroscuro, a play of light and darkness. Joyce uses the darkness to describe the reality which the boy lives in and the light to describe the boy’s imagination – his love for Mangan’s sister. The story starts with the description of the dark surroundings of the boy: his neighborhood and his home. Joyce uses these dark and gloomy references to create the dark mood and atmosphere. Later, when he discusses Mangan’s sister, he changes to bright light references which are used to create a fairy tale world of dreams and illusions. In the end of the story, we see the darkness of the bazaar that represents the boy’s disappointment. On the simplest level, â€Å"Araby† is a story about a boy’s first love. On a deeper level, however, it is a story about the world in which he lives – a world inimical to ideals and dreams. This imagery reinforces the theme and the characters. Thus, it becomes the true subject of the story. The prevailing imagery of darkness shows that the boy’s spiritual environment is musty and dark.. â€Å"Araby† begins at dusk and continues through the evening during the winter. He chooses gloomy setting to be the home of a young boy. The houses in the street where the boy lives have â€Å"brown imperturbable faces† (40) ,his home has â€Å"gloomy rooms†(44) and the gardens where they play are dark. In this darkness only the boy and his laughing and shouting companions â€Å"glow†. They are still too young to have succumbed to the spiritual decay of the adult inhabitants. But the boys must play in â€Å"dark muddy lanes,† in â€Å"dark dripping gardens,† near † dark odorous stables† and â€Å"ash pits† (40 ). They use to â€Å"hid in shadows† (40 ) which are also part of the dark imagery. Into this world of darkness appears a figure representative of the light and all that is ideal, Mangan’s sister. She is the contrast to the boy’s dark world so she stands out in his dark environment. The narrator describes her figure as: â€Å"defined by the light† (40). His youthful imagination sees her as a figure always surrounded with light. â€Å"The light from the lamp opposite our door caught the white curve of her neck† (43). Because of her the boy feels a surge of hope that now, in her love, he will find light. This girl becomes  an image to him of all that he seeks in his dark surroundings. She has the power to set a flame in him. The boy tells us that her image, constantly accompanies him: â€Å"at night in my bedroom and by day in the classroom her image came between me and the page I strove to read†(43). Her image accompanies him even in places â€Å"the most hostile to romance† and makes him feel as though he bears a holy â€Å"chalice† through a â€Å"throng of foes†-the Saturday evening throng of â€Å"drunken men, bargaining women, cursing laborers† (41), and all the others who represent his dark surroundings and have no conception of the mystical beauty his young mind has created in this world of material ugliness. Joyce refers to bright light when discussing Mangan’s sister in order to give her a heavenly presence. Plainly he has felt the summons to cherish the holy, the â€Å"light,† in this dark world of those who are hostile to the sacred. The most significant role of the dark and light imagery appears in the end of the story in the bazaar. Here, the two imageries appear together but the end of the story is dark as the beginning. When finally the girl speaks to the boy she asks him if he is going to â€Å"Araby†. From that moment, the boy loses interest in his school and in everything around him. He thinks of nothing but the girl and the bazaar. He can see nothing but her â€Å"dark house† and â€Å"her brown-clad figure touched by lamp-light† (44). He feels that if he can gain the girl the light will be restored to his dark existence. He goes to â€Å"Araby† to buy her some gift and win her heart. James Joyce uses the lights of the bazaar to illustrate the boy’s confrontation with reality. When the boy reaches the bazaar he expects it to be open and lighted. However ,†nearly all the stalls were closed and the greater part of the hall was in darkness† (45 ). When he sees some lights there he remembers the reason he is there † The sight of the streets†¦glaring with gas recalled to me the purpose of my journey† (46) – Mangan’s sister. But the light is there for a very short time. In the end, we see again the darkness image: â€Å"the light was out† , â€Å"the upper part of the whole was now completely dark†(46), the boy is â€Å"gazing up into the  darkness† (46). With this darkness Joyce shows us the boy’s disappointment with his quest. The dark imagery shows that when he finds out that the bazaar isn’t what he expects it to be he realizes that his love exists only in his mind. The theme of the story-the discrepancy between the real and the ideal is made final in the dark description of the bazaar, a place of tawdry make-believe. The story that begins with the light-dark contrasts ends with it. The fact that in the end of the story the bazaar is dark shows that his love, like his quest for a gift to draw the girl to him, ends with his realizing that his love exists only in his mind. The experiences of the boy illustrate how people often expect more than ordinary reality can provide and then feel disillusioned and disappointed. This disillusion is shown in the end when the boy tells that he sees himself as a â€Å"creature driven and derided by vanity† (46). The boy senses the falsity of his dreams. He sees the dark reality and his eyes burn â€Å"with anguish and anger†. The last sentence reveals anger, hostility and a sense of harsh realization that his love for the girl was based on ignorance and self-deception. Realizing this, the boy takes his first step into adulthood.

Forensic Accounting Essay

What types of systems are needed to ensure that all individuals have access to the benefits of our community as well to bring health and effectiveness to an organization or the broader community? There are two systems of process that ensure all individuals have access to the benefits of our community. The first is due process which is the ability of getting noticed and participating in the decisions that affect an individual (Baird, 2011). The second is substantive process which makes sure people know and understand the rules (Baird, 2011). How do we ensure fair treatment, fair administration of rules, fair compensation, fair blame, and ensure due process to allow all opinions to be heard? We can make ethical decisions by creating fair systems for resolution of disputes and policies that state expectations (Baird,2011). We should care for all members and institutions of the community when allocating resources (Baird, 2011). We should give to each member of the community knowing they are a part of the happiness of the entire community. How might the Relationship Lens be misused through abuse of power or personal hubris? Having an excessive pride and arrogance can move us from unintentional ethical wrong doing to intentional wrong doing (Baird, 2011). Cite a recent example in the news. I have an example of hubris in my work place that I will share. Our current CEO has chosen to take his annual bonus when he made the decision to freeze raises and increase the employee cost of health insurance. He does not pay the premiums of his health insurance policy but raised the cost for all employees. He purchased a very expensive piece of equipment costing over $2.5 million in 2011 causing an operating loss for the year. This equipment holds a great deal of prestige for him in the healthcare industry. I have been very disappointed that he has made the decisions he has made with total disregard for all other employees affected. His excessive pride and arrogance has caused him to intentionally act unethically. What types of systems are needed to ensure that all individuals have access to the benefits of our community as well to bring health and effectiveness to an organization or the broader community? Bella and Frederick both use the concept of moral ecology to callus to greater responsibility for the community.Frederick also reminds us that companies and corporations and communities at large have responsibilities toward life – conserving values such fairness, unselfishness,and restraint, that both create and sustain human collective life. Judeo-Christian tradition calls us to responsibility for others. Due process is used to achieve our goals, assuring that those without access to power have equal opportunity to thrive. How might the Relationship Lens be misused through abuse of power or personal hubris? Cite a recent example in the news. (If you don’t know the meaning of hubris, look it up and include its definition as you answer this question.) As Timothy Clark noted, â€Å"The ambition to govern one’s fellow beings tend to view leadership as the pathway to glittering world of personal reward. Another risk that we run as we work is to become authoritarian and paternalistic. Another bias to watch is entrainment,where we are so cut up in work that we forget to ask important key questions. Hubris, excessive pride and arrogance,moves us from unintentional ethical wrongdoing to intentional wrongdoing. Biggest example I can recall is resent war in Iraq,President Bush and VP Chaney failed to show responsibilities as an ethical decision makers. How do you know when you are improperly using your personal power?How do you know when your life is out of balance? How do you bring it back into balance? The focus of the Relationship Lens is always fundamental fairness. Lens is inviting us to live a life in relationship with others in community. If decision maker is not balancing the personal need of individual to community needs, if he or she not subordinates own rights to that of the group. After making the decision one must ask himself questions, analyze decision through different ethic lenses. What improvements could we make on our process of ethical analysis? Did we like the results? What were the problems with the process? What decision we are not comfortable with? As we reflect on the results,we can put strategic for the future and became more ethical in our decisions in other words more ethically mature. We also can improve and bring our self to balanced ethical ground. a. The systems I believe that are needed to ensure access to benefits in our community are education, health, and judicial. An education system is important to help equip individuals with necessary skills that will help them to earn a living and contribute to the well being of their society. A health care system will help to maintain a healthy community by addressing all health needs. Having a judicial system will ensure that justice is dispensed and that fairness and adherence of the laws are followed. b. A Democratic System of Government which is guided by the Constitution can assure fair treatment, fair administration of rules, fair compensation, fair blame, and ensure due process to allow all opinions to be heard. The Constitution is used as a guide by Government to craft legislation, laws and regulations to ensure that there is fairness and justice in society. d. We may know that we are improperly using our personal power when for example we are in a position of leadership or power and use our office to influence others to do things our way. We may realize that our life is out of balance when we become depressed, suicidal, suffer from addition and is easily enraged. We can to my mind bring our life back into balance by doing introspection, and accepting responsibility. What types of systems are needed to ensure that all individuals have access to the benefits of our community as well to bring health and effectiveness to an organization or the broader community. There are several systems that are design to allow access to benefits. These include laws that are used to identify and support individuals who would require such services. If a medical provider or a school employee notices something that might be child abuse or elder abuse, they are required by law to report it. By reporting a possible incident a wide net of services are employed to investigate and perhaps implement services needed by the individual. Laws are also passed to describe who gets and what benefits are available to an individual. Social agencies, organizations and religious groups are often used to educate, locate and provide for the individuals in need. The media in various forms is often used to promote changes or additions to the benefits. A well educated community is the best weapon in the organizations arsenal. How do we ensure fair treatment, fair administration of rules, fair compensation, fair blame and ensure due process to allow all opinions to be heard? It is sometimes very difficult to ensure all of the fairness listed above in the heat of the moment. In order to do so one must step back and remove oneself from the heat of the event. When emotions become to involved it is difficult to implement fairness. This can be seen when the media appears to â€Å"convict† someone before they are arrested and tried. Laws have been passed to help identify areas that should be address fairly and these include race, age, disability ,and religion. Legislation has also determined a federal minimal wage and passed laws dealing with equal pay for equal work. Labor Unions often campaign for certain employment benefits for its members. The knowledge that a business’s could be sued for unfairness or prejudice is another protection. Businesses often have a policy Manuel that addresses how they will deal with certain issues. Knowledge of an individuals rights and duties written down gives all sides the knowledge of what is considered right and wrong in that group. . How do you know when you are improperly using your personal power? How do you know when your life is out of balance? How do you bring it back into balance? Self analysis and appraisal is required to obtain this knowledge. Every once in a while one must ask oneself if one is following the right path. Listening to others is a good way to identify if one is improperly using ones power. It doesn’t mean they are always correct but it may point your self reflection in the right direction. Checking ones ethical compass is another. I know when my life is out of balance when I can not be everywhere at once. Work stresses, problems and information should stay there. Family and personal business should not interfere with work or school. When I find myself spending time from one part of my life dealing with another part of my life then I am our of balance. Again one must step back and access what is going on and figure out if it is going to be temporary or long term. One can then figure out a course of action and decide what is needed. Being brave enough to ask for help if needed.   Superwoman is an concept promoted by the media that does exist, rather one needs to make sure one is not overwhelmed. In addition if it is a major project or event sometimes if I break it into pieces it is easier to digest and equilibrium returns. What types of systems are needed to ensure that all individuals have access to the benefits of our community as well to bring health and effectiveness to an organization or the broader community? The types of systems that are need to that all individuals have access to the benefits of our community as well to bring health and effectiveness to an organization or a broader community would be systems such electricity which allows everyone to have access to light, television for allowing the world to come into your place of living, and also the telephone systems that allows individuals to communicate with the world through voice. 2. How do we ensure fair treatment, fair administration of rules, fair compensation, fair blame and ensure due process to allow all opinions to be heard? We ensure fair treatment , fair administration of rules, fair compensation, fair blame and ensure due process to allow all opinions to be heard by establishment organizations such as the Equal Employment opportunity commission(EEOC) for fair treatment. Fair administration of rules would include organizations such as the Federal Trade Commission(FTC) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration(FMSCA)Fair compensation organizations would include the Department of Labor(DOL). Fair blame and due process would be the Justice system. 3. How do you know when you are improperly using your personal power? How do you know when your life is out of balance? How do you bring it back into balance. Where in truth good choices are not made. Also power is abused, it can result from an imbalance of information education or financial resources, than the other party may not be able to freely choose what I wants to do. When power is out of balance, we often are using the persons as a means to our preferred ends rather than treating the person as an end, a human being with a autonomy and choices in how to live his life. To bring power back into balance is to establish a connection with your inner spirit and knowing the right thing to.

B.O.P shift from U.S. to S.U. essays

B.O.P shift from U.S. to S.U. essays The balance of power in Europe shifted to the United States and the Soviet Union during the years 1945 to 1970 making way for change. The balance of power in Europe came with the surrender of Germany to end WWII. With no common enemy to unite them, the inherent differences between East and West, capitalism and communism solidified the division of Europe between the now Super Powers, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. Lastly, as the Cold War deepened between the United States and the Soviet Union during the next several decades it intensified U.S. and U.S.S.R. positions of power in Europe. The changing balance of power in Europe shifted to the United States and the Soviet Union after World War II and the years to follow. With the surrendering of Germany during WWII, the victorious U.S. and U.S.S.R. occupied all of Europe, but the treatment of Germany and all of Europe was based on the decisions of the Big Three (Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt). The decision between western allies and Stalin for the U.S.S.R. to enter the war against Japan after the war in Germany had concluded postponed political decisions on the Balkans and Eastern Europe, which gave Stalins Red Army time to occupy those areas. The Yalta Conference attended by the Big Three attempted to liberate Europe and deal with Germany reparations and Poland. The Yalta Agreements were loosely struck and access to Berlin by the Western powers was not as clearly worked out as it should have been. Such lack of precision was characteristic of other parts of the Yalta agreements as well, leading to future disputes and recriminations between Western powers and the Russians creating a further division of powers. Escalating the division of the now Super Powers, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. was the failure of the de facto agreement made between the Big Three, allowing Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe to continue. The destiny of Easter Europe in...

Panama Canal - History and Overview

Panama Canal - History and Overview The 48 mile-long (77 km) international waterway known as the Panama Canal allows ships to pass between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean, saving about 8000 miles (12,875 km) from a journey around the southern tip of South America, Cape Horn. History of the Panama Canal The new Panamanian government authorized French businessman Philippe Bunau-Varilla, to negotiate a treaty with the United States. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty allowed the U.S. to build the Panama Canal and provided for perpetual control of a zone five-miles wide on either side of the canal. Although the French had attempted construction of a canal in the 1880s, the Panama Canal was successfully built from 1904 to 1914. Once the canal was complete the U.S. held a swath of land running the approximately 50 miles across the isthmus of Panama. The division of the country of Panama into two parts by the U.S. territory of the Canal Zone caused tension throughout the twentieth century. Additionally, the self-contained Canal Zone (the official name for the U.S. territory in Panama) contributed little to the Panamanian economy. The residents of the Canal Zone were primarily U.S. citizens and West Indians who worked in the Zone and on the canal. Anger flared in the 1960s and led to anti-American riots. The U.S. and Panamanian governments began to work together to solve the territorial issue. In 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty which agreed to return 60% of the Canal Zone to Panama in 1979. The canal and remaining territory, known as the Canal Area, was returned to Panama at noon (local Panama time) on December 31, 1999. Additionally, from 1979 to 1999, a bi-national transitional Panama Canal Commission ran the canal, with an American leader for the first decade and a Panamanian administrator for the second. The transition at the end of 1999 was very smooth, for over 90% of the canal employees were Panamanian by 1996. The 1977 treaty established the canal as a neutral international waterway and even in times of war any vessel is guaranteed safe passage. After the 1999 hand-over, the U.S. and Panama jointly shared duties in defending the canal. Operation of the Panama Canal It takes approximately fifteen hours to traverse the canal through its three sets of locks (about half the time is spent waiting due to traffic). Ships passing through the canal from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean actually move from the northwest to the southeast, due to the east-west orientation of the Isthmus of Panama. Panama Canal Expansion In September, 2007 work began on a $5.2 billion project to expand the Panama Canal. Expected to be complete in 2014, the Panama Canal expansion project will allow ships double the size of current Panamax to pass through the canal, dramatically increasing the amount of goods that can pass through the canal.