Concepts learned in International Relations Essay

Concepts learned in International Relations - Essay Example the ‘national interest’ is captured in the image of a social evolutionary process that predetermines a series of associated connotations and denotations of an otherwise natural phenomenon (Trubovitz, 1998, p.3). The individualistic view of ‘what’s good’ is truly based on the concept of private benefit while social good or benefit is located in a larger context that even encompasses international interests. It’s against this backdrop that American national interest as against international collective benefit ought to be examined. Concepts such as ‘absolute good’ and ‘relative good’ in a politically charged environment of conflict between ideologies are more relevant and highly feasible though definitions of them might vary according to biases and prejudices of individuals who seek to interpret them. Social issues of conflict and ideological differences deserve more attention in a study of international relations than a superficial analysis of consequences thereof. Theoretical underpinnings of social transformation in an international relations context focus attention on the inevitable concept of conflict between private interests and public interests. By extension it’s the same conflict between national interests of the individual nation state and the collective interests of the international community at large. The subsequent developments that unfold as the conflict evolves into a multifaceted phenomenon bear a closer semblance to those social issues such as ideological differences, social biases and prejudices, ethnic and religious interests and societal mores or value systems. At an international level the macrocosmic phenomenon though might assume a diversity and a complexity that has little parallel in conflicts within the boundaries of a nation state. The theoretical rigor with which the polemical issues in interstate relations are treated generates a greater degree of enthusiasm in the conflict and its impact on such relations. While

In what ways does a consideration of interdependence challenge the Essay

In what ways does a consideration of interdependence challenge the realist analysis of the prospects for international co-operation in pursuit of absolute gains - Essay Example The very fact that a new world order has emerged following the collapse of Soviet Union in particular and the Communist Bloc in general demands a shift in our focus of attention while analysing the interactions of the states. The very nature of nation-states itself has profoundly changed. The mutations on sovereignty of nation-states, which are caused by neoliberal globalisation, are unprecedented and apparently irreversible. New institutions have emerged at the international level and they exert greater influence over the policy formulations even by the nation-states that are marginally integrated to the world market. Tradionally, the international system has been indeed seen as a world of sovereign states. States have the monopoly of power within a given territory and claim to represent the interests of the subjects of its rule. A state is primary unit at the international level. Constitutional independence is a defining character of a legitimate state. All states are considered equal in front of the international law. As opposed to the theoretical situation, we can see that the interactions between and among the states at the international level do involves relations of power. Many theorists of international politics have observed that powerful states are able to incorporate their desired ends to the international laws and mobilise what they want from the other states that have lesser resources. The very conception of political is different for realism and liberalism. The political is conceived as the means to certain ideals in liberal theory such as democracy and liberty. Antagonistically, realism sees politics as characterised by conflict. Realism is also known as political realism. Classical realism, neorealism and neoclassical realism are the major varieties of realist thinking. On the other hand, liberal

Emerging markets Essay Example for Free

Emerging markets Essay Emerging markets are nations with social or business activity in the process of rapid growth and industrialization. The economies of China and India are considered to be the largest.[1] According to The Economist many people find the term outdated, but no new term has yet to gain much traction.[2] Emerging market hedge fund capital reached a record new level in the first quarter of 2011 of $121 billion.[3] The seven largest emerging and developing economies by either nominal GDP or GDP (PPP) are China, Brazil, Russia, India, Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey. [pic] An emerging market economy (EME) is defined as an economy with low to middle per capita income. Such countries constitute approximately 80% of the global population, and represent about 20% of the worlds economies. The term was coined in 1981 by Antoine W. Van Agtmael of the International Finance Corporation[pic] of the World Bank. Although the term emerging market is loosely defined, countries that fall into this category, varying from very big to very small, are usually considered emerging because of their developments and reforms. Hence, even though China is deemed one of the worlds economic powerhouses, it is lumped into the category alongside much smaller economies with a great deal less resources[pic], like Tunisia. Both China and Tunisia belong to this category because both have embarked on economic development and reform programs, and have begun to open up their markets and emerge onto the global scene. EMEs are considered to be fast-growing economies. What an EME Looks Like EMEs are characterized as transitional, meaning they are in the process of moving from a closed economy to an open market economy while building accountability within the system. Examples include the former Soviet Union and Eastern bloc countries. As an emerging market, a country is embarking on an economic reform program that will lead it to stronger and more responsible economic performance levels, as well as transparency and efficiency[pic] in the capital market. An EME will also reform its exchange rate system because a stable local currency builds confidence in an economy, especially when foreigners are considering investing. Exchange rate reforms also reduce the desire for local investors to send their capital abroad (capital flight). Besides implementing reforms, an EME is also most likely receiving aid and guidance from large donor countries and/or world organizations such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. One key characteristic of the EME is an increase in both local and foreign investment (portfolio and direct). A growth in investment in a country often indicates that the country has been able to build confidence in the local economy. Moreover, foreign investment is a signal that the world has begun to take notice of the emerging market, and when international capital flows are directed toward an EME, the injection of foreign currency into the local economy adds volume to the countrys stock market and long-term investment to the infrastructure. For foreign investors or developed-economy businesses[pic], an EME provides an outlet for expansion by serving, for example, as a new place for a new factory or for new sources of revenue. For the recipient country, employment levels rise, labor and managerial skills become more refined, and a sharing and transfer of technology occurs. In the long-run, the EMEs overall production levels should rise, increasing its gross domestic product and eventually lessening the gap between the emerged and emerging worlds. Portfolio Investment and Risks Because their markets are in transition and hence not stable, emerging markets offer an opportunity to investors who are looking to add some risk to their portfolios. The possibility for some economies to fall back into a not-completely-resolved civil war or a revolution sparking a change in government could result in a return to nationalization, expropriation and the collapse of the capital market. Because the risk of an EME investment is higher than an investment in a developed market, panic, speculation and knee-jerk reactions are also more common the 1997 Asian crisis, during which international portfolio flows into these countries actually began to reverse themselves, is a good example of how EMEs can be high-risk investment opportunities. (For more insight on getting into emerging economies, read Forging Frontier Markets.) However, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward, so emerging market investments have become a standard practice among investors aiming to diversify while adding risk. (For more details on the advantages and disadvantages of making foreign investments, see Is Offshore Investing For You? and Going International.)

Effects of gps on human life

Effects of gps on human life Effects of GPS on Human Life Part 1: Introduction and Background to issue or subject of discussion Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite guided navigational system. The system by itself allows user/ devices to calculate their latitude, longitude and altitude of their current location no matter where they are situated in the globe. To think back, before the GPS came into existence, dead reckoning and pilotage was utilized to get around and locate airports. Pilotage is the use of sectionals (air maps/charts) and physical landmarks along the route to keep you on course. An example would be following a highway or railroad track or pipeline. Additionally the Government began to simply paint names of towns on roofs of barns, buildings, water towers, gas storage tanks, and hangers. But all this technique lacked accuracy and were not considered reliable. A pilot can completely be off track as of a heavy weather change as his visibility can be negligible. The idea of GPS can be traced back to centuries where a person might have asked the question of Where am i. GPS came into existence on the year 1978, when Russia launched Sputnik into space. MIT researchers noticed that radio signals from sputnik could determine distinct positions on the ground as the radio signal was at its peak when satellite was over MIT and gradually weakened as it moved away. Thereby they were able to calculate the orbit of satellite which was the foremost important step towards GPS system. Between 1978 and 1985, eleven satellites were launched into space and put into position. In 1983, the GPS ceased being solely a military system and was made available for public use. To be able to locate position down to almost 30 metres of a GPS unit, at least 3 satellites will be required. More the number of satellites more are the accuracy. Each satellites revolving around earth has its own unique signal broadcast. All these signals are stored within a GPS unit. The signal has enough data for the unit to know the satellites current location and also it calculates the time that signal (radio wave) took to travel from satellite to the unit. By repeating this with minimum 2 more satellites, the unit is able to triangulate the position of GPS unit. By communicating with more satellites it can give much more accurate position, which can be as close as 1 or 2 metres. Hereafter I shall provide as much examples and incidents to bring out the positive effects of GPS technology into our life than rather a privacy killer of our society. Part 2: Identification of why you choose this issue/subject to study The reason for choosing GPS as my subject to study is as my final year project also involves GPS related technology. Therefore researching on for this subject will surely benefit my final year project as well. Additionally my friends experience with GPS also made me to finalize on the area of subject. He never left home country for anything and when he finally did leave for working to United States, upon returning back to home country after 4 years he was completely lost and not able to even get to his house. Initially i found it just as a funny story but later when thought on it i began to see future public depending blindly on GPS that they forget to think using their common sense. This was really disturbing on my behalf and decided i should take this opportunity to at least make my friends be aware of what is happening around them. Part3: What the implications may be for a post modern industrial society? Public Transport Only through the discovery of GPS technology has travelling feel safer to public. GPS made it easier for public and public transport. This is because before GPS, flights/ ships did lose their way and the world did witness such tragedies. It is very clear that without the invention of GPS, human technology as it is would not have been so easy and reliable. This is only as there is no other technology which is as reliable, accurate and cheap like that of GPS. In todays post modern society with computing flourishing and being a part of basic necessity, GPS has its own crucial role. For instance even though computers are used everywhere even in aircrafts, they would not be able to use autopilot if its not for the GPS satellite feeds. GPS as it is provides absolute convenience to humans since the world is becoming smaller and smaller as of technological advancement is made. Before GPS was open to the public for free usage, people were depending on rather non reliable and non accurate methods to travel around. As the famous quote goes, Necessity is the mother of invention, humans realised and needed a cheap and reliable alternative to the traditional methods of calculating latitude, longitude and altitude. There is no doubt when saying society benefits from this technology in many ways, including safer, more reliable travel and an increase in human safety. Control of GPS by U.S In todays advanced world GPS is one among the most relied technologies. Whether it is to locate/ track or find your way to a new place, it all requires satellites. GPS satellites which are always revolving around the earth in and around 12 hours are not replaceable as of today. At present almost all such satellites or rather artificial moon is owned by U.S military. Which means they have un-denied access to these technology. With the United States having such control over one of the most relied technology in todays world comes good and bad. This means that they have the capability to everything, from reducing the accuracy to shutting down GPS facility in areas around globe whenever they want. If there is to be another world war, United States clearly has a very powerful position over the world. They can not only keep track of their soldiers but get a complete overview of everything and thereby a tactical advantage. With the use of absolute accuracy of GPS satellites they can easily guide unmanned long range missiles to drop exactly where they want. This is only as the world is becoming increasingly reliant on GPS technology. Part4: What the implications may be for the IT industry? Tracking It is clear of the impact of GPS on our industry. It has changed the way people communicate and live. GPS has made our environment a safer and easier place to live. GPS has provided people with many solutions to their problems. Today different industries utilize GPS to develop new innovative solutions to human problems. It is currently being used to help parents find and keep track of their childrens. Devices are also on pet collars that can help you track your pets if they are stolen or lost. Additionally it is also used to keep track of dangerous criminals activities and thereby keep public safe from these criminals who could harm anyone. GPS device is available almost all new cell phones released which is able to provide assistance to people in mapping and getting directions. It can even help rescuers help you easily as they will know were exactly you are. Truck drivers in the UK are now being made aware of upcoming low bridges using GPS and digital maps. This combined with awareness of traffic jams, and suggestions of alternative routes allows for the cheaper delivery of goods. These are just some of the main things that GPS has added to our society by the industry. Warfare Technology GPS technologies accuracy and reliability has its own drawbacks too. With satellites being able to accurately target devices to as close as few inches, modern warfare has drastically changed around us. GPS greatly contributes to the effectiveness of warfare. With its endless applications such as being able to track a soldier, determine his used path to developing highly effective long/ short range missiles, GPS has a deadly side of its own too. In the case of missiles, GPS technology aids in an increased chance of hitting the desired target. GPS also allows for accurate tracking of military units which increases the effectiveness and level of tactical control during combat. Conclusion: Computers have been the most revolutionizing technology that humans developed to help in their tasks. Literally today there is no place or field that computers have not touched. The computers which are available and being used in transportation whether its an Airbus or a small car driving off road, without the GPS satellites feed the onboard computers will not be able to guide you through or prevent an accident. As Dr. Gerhard Schmidt, Fords Chief Technical Officer and Vice President, Research and Advanced Engineering says A satellite orbiting the earth could someday prevent an auto accident. We applaud the Auburn team for these advancements and look forward to working together on the next phase of this research, including developing prototype vehicles. GPS has become an integral part of our society, affecting our lives in many ways. The great range of applications of this technology has an impact on many aspects of society. GPS is becoming more widely used and more important in society. The importance of GPS is further stressed by the absence of a successful alternative. Even though few might point out that dependency on GPS is going to lead to unbalanced levels of political power, which if abused could lead to adverse effects on society. I strongly believe that GPS is a marvellous technology, revolutionizing navigation in virtually every industry that it touches from large corporate mass transportation to a family on a road trip. It is very safe to conclude that GPS has done well to human race than drawbacks. The drawback as it is seen can easily be overcome if the humans are taught to utilize GPS for their good and not in any way to harm them.

Reparations For Descendents of African Slaves in America Essay

Reparations For Descendents of African Slaves in America Slavery has been entwined with American history ever since Dutch traders brought twenty captive Africans to Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. Slavery in America is a subject with minimal truths and stories rarely told. The public school system excludes the fact that eight of the first twelve American presidents were major slaveholders. Emancipation brought freedom, but not approximation. The civil rights movement killed Jim Crow, but shadows remained. Affirmative Action created opportunities, but racism continues. So why shouldn't the great-great grandchildren of those who worked for free and were deprived of education and were kept in bondage not be compensated? Why should American taxpayers who never owned slaves pay for the sins of ancestors they don't even know? Ask one question and it leads to another. How would the economy be affected? How do you put a price tag on over two centuries of legalized inhumanity? In what form would reparations be paid? How would you establish who is a descendant? Questions start debates. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines reparations as the act of making amends for a wrong. Money paid by a defeated nation in compensation for damages caused during hostilities, is also included in the definition. It is essential to locate the claim for reparations within a framework of law and justice. The following four propositions are truths that attempt to conceptualize a legal framework for the formulation and prosecution of the claim for reparations. First, the evil enslavement of Africans was a crime against humanity. Secondly, domestic and international law recognizes that those who commit crimes against humanity mus... ...ington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Gifford, A. (1993). Legal Arguments in Support of Reparations: First Pan-African Congress on Reparations. Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mazrui, A. (1998). Black Reparations in a Conservative World of Racial Aspirations and Political Realities. New York: Global Publications. Rhone, S. (2000, January 28). America?s debt to blacks. The Post Dispatch, pC1. Robinson, R. (1999). The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks. New York: Dutton. Ruble, R. (2000, February 4). Riot reparations sought. The Associated Press, p.B1. Saul, M. (1997, June 30). U.S. legislation could pay money to descendents. The Dallas Morning News, p.C2. Westley, R. (1998, December). Many Billions Gone. Boston College Law Review, XL, 11.

Forensic Science Essay -- Forensics essays research papers

Forensic Science, also known as Forensics, is the application of science to law. It uses highly developed technology to uncover scientific evidence in a variety of fields. Modern forensic science has a broad range of applications. It is used in civil cases such as forgeries, fraud or negligence. The most common use of forensic science is to investigate criminal cases involving a victim, such as assault, robbery, kidnapping , rape, or murder.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Forensic science is also used in monitoring the compliance of various countries with such international agreements as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Convention and to learn whether a country is developing a secret nuclear weapons program. It can help law enforcement officials determine whether any laws or regulations have been violated in the marketing of foods and drinks, the manufacture of medicines, or the use of pesticides on crops. It can also determine whether drinking water meets legal purity requirements.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The medical examiner is the most important individual in an investigation of a crime involving a victim. It is the responsibility of the medical examiner to visit the crime scene, conduct an autopsy (examination of the body) in cases of death, examine the medical evidence and lab reports, study the victims history, and put all the information together in a report to be turned in to the district attorney. Medical examiners are usually physicians specializing in forensic pathology, the study of structural and functional changes in the body as a result of injury. Their training and qualifications most often include a medical degree and an apprenticeship in a medical examiners office. In the field of forensic science, there are many subspecialties. They include odontology (the study of teeth), anthropology(the study of human beings), psychiatry, biology, chemistry, physics, toxicology (the study of poisons), and pathology (the examination of body tissues and fluids). The medical examiner may call upon forensic scientists who are specialized in these fields for help in a crime investigation. Toxicology is a branch of forensic science that deals with the adverse effects of drugs and poisonous chemicals found in the home, at work or in the environment. All drugs have toxic effect but the effect is most often minor. The toxic effect of drugs... ...d, communities began requiring that coroners have specific academic training. In 1877, Massachusetts replaced the coroners office with the Office of the Medical Examiner, which was to be headed by a physician. Soon many other states followed. In 1915 New York City established a program where the medical examiner was authorized to investigate all deaths that occurred to people who appeared to be in good health, that resulted from criminal violence, accidents, or suicides. Computer technology now allows law enforcement officers o record fingerprints digitally and to transmit and receive information for quick identification. Recent developments in technology allows scientists o examine the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or genetic material of blood, hair, skin, or semen to see if they belong to the victim or the suspected criminal. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a lab can clone the DNA from a very small sample of one of those substances. Forensic science as practiced today is a field of science medicine that uses electron microscopes, lasers, ultraviolet and infrared light, advanced chemical techniques and computerized databanks to analyze and research evidence.

The Base Stock Model

The Base Stock Model 1 Assumptions ? Demand occurs continuously over time ? Times between consecutive orders are stochastic but independent and identically distributed (i. i. d. ) ? Inventory is reviewed continuously ? Supply leadtime is a fixed constant L ? There is no fixed cost associated with placing an order ? Orders that cannot be fulfilled immediately from on-hand inventory are backordered 2 The Base-Stock Policy ? Start with an initial amount of inventory R. Each time a new demand arrives, place a replenishment order with the supplier. An order placed with the supplier is delivered L units of time after it is placed. ? Because demand is stochastic, we can have multiple orders (inventory on-order) that have been placed but not delivered yet. 3 The Base-Stock Policy ? The amount of demand that arrives during the replenishment leadtime L is called the leadtime demand. ? Under a base-stock policy, leadtime demand and inventory on order are the same. ? When leadtime demand (invent ory on-order) exceeds R, we have backorders. 4 Notation I: inventory level, a random variable B: number of backorders, a random variable X: Leadtime demand (inventory on-order), a random variable IP: inventory position E[I]: Expected inventory level E[B]: Expected backorder level E[X]: Expected leadtime demand E[D]: average demand per unit time (demand rate) 5 Inventory Balance Equation ? Inventory position = on-hand inventory + inventory onorder – backorder level 6 Inventory Balance Equation ? Inventory position = on-hand inventory + inventory onorder – backorder level ? Under a base-stock policy with base-stock level R, inventory position is always kept at R (Inventory position = R ) IP = I+X – B = R E[I] + E[X] – E[B] = R 7 Leadtime Demand ? Under a base-stock policy, the leadtime demand X is independent of R and depends only on L and D with E[X]= E[D]L (the textbook refers to this quantity as ? ). ? The distribution of X depends on the distribution of D. 8 I = max[0, I – B]= [I – B]+ B=max[0, B-I] = [ B – I]+ Since R = I + X – B, we also have I–B=R–X I = [R – X]+ B =[X – R]+ 9 ? E[I] = R – E[X] + E[B] = R – E[X] + E[(X – R)+] ? E[B] = E[I] + E[X] – R = E[(R – X)+] + E[X] – R ? Pr(stocking out) = Pr(X ? R) ? Pr(not stocking out) = Pr(X ? R-1) ? Fill rate = E(D) Pr(X ? R-1)/E(D) = Pr(X ? R-1) 10 Objective Choose a value for R that minimizes the sum of expected inventory holding cost and expected backorder cost, Y(R)= hE[I] + bE[B], where h is the unit holding cost per unit time and b is the backorder cost per unit per unit time. 11 The Cost Function Y (R) ? hE[ I ] ? bE[ B] ? h( R ? E[ X ] ? E[B]) ? bE[ B] ? h( R ? E[ X ]) ? (h ? b) E[ B] ? h( R ? E[ D]L) ? (h ? b)E ([ X ? R]? ? h( R ? E[ D]L) ? (h ? b)? x ? R ( x ? R) Pr( X ? x) ? 12 The Optimal Base-Stock Level The optimal value of R is the smallest integer that satisfies Y (R ? 1) ? Y ( R) ? 0. 13 Y ( R ? 1) – Y ( R) ? h ? R ? 1 ? E[ D]L ? ? (h ? b)? x? R? 1 ( x ? R ? 1) Pr( X ? x ) ? h ? R ? E[ D]L ? ? (h ? b)? x ? R ( x ? R) Pr( X ? x) ? h ? (h ? b)? x? R? 1 ? ( x ? R ? 1) ? ( x ? R) ? Pr( X ? x) ? h ? (h ? b)? x ? R? 1 Pr( X ? x) ? h ? (h ? b) Pr( X ? R ? 1) ? h ? (h ? b) ? 1 ? Pr( X ? R) ? ? ? b ? (h ? b) Pr( X ? R) ? ? ? ? 14 Y ( R ? 1) – Y ( R) ? 0 ? ?b ? (h ? ) Pr( X ? R) ? 0 b ? Pr( X ? R) ? b? h Choosing the smallest integer R that satisfies Y(R+1) – Y(R) ? 0 is equivalent to choosing the smallest integer R that satisfies b Pr( X ? R) ? b? h 15 Example 1 ? Demand arrives one unit at a time according to a Poisson process with mean ?. If D(t) denotes the amount of demand that arrives in the interval of time of length t, then (? t) x e t P r( D ( t ) ? x ) ? , x ? 0. x! ? Leadtime demand, X, can be shown in this case to also have the Poisson distribution with (? L ) x e L P r( X ? x ) ? , E [ X ] ? L , and V ar ( X ) ? ? L . x! 16 The Normal Approximation ? If X can be approximated by a normal distribution, then: R * ? E ( D ) L ? z b /( b ? h ) V ar ( X ) Y ( R *) ? ( h ? b ) V ar ( X )? ( z b /( b ? h ) ) ? In the case where X has the Poisson distribution with mean ? L R * ? ? L ? z b /( b ? h ) ? L Y ( R *) ? ( h ? b ) ? L ? ( z b /( b ? h ) ) 17 Example 2 If X has the geometric distribution with parameter ? , 0 ? ? ? 1 P ( X ? x ) ? ? x (1 ? ? ). ? E[X ] ? 1? ? Pr( X ? x ) ? ? x Pr( X ? x ) ? 1 ? ? x ? 1 18 Example 2 (Continued†¦) The optimal base-stock level is the smallest integer R* that satisfies Pr( X ? R * ) ? b b? h ln[ b ] b ? h ? 1 ln[ ? ] ? 1? ? R * ? 1 b ? ? R* ? b? h b ? ? ln[ ]? ? * b? h ? R ? ln[ ? ] ? ? ? ? 19 Computing Expected Backorders ? It is sometimes easier to first compute (for a given R), E[I ] ? ? R x? 0 ( R ? x ) Pr( X ? x ) and then obtain E[B]=E[I] + E[X] – R. ? For the case where leadtime demand has the Poisson distribution (with mean ? = E(D)L), the following relationship (for a fixed R) applies E[B]= ? Pr(X=R)+(? -R)[1-Pr(X? R)] 20