Manage People Performance In an organization †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Examine about the Manage People Performance In an association. Answer: In an association, division of work is one of the preeminent errands that must be dealt with by the directors who are accountable for the individual offices (Yu et al. 2014) While distribution work and drawing up the strategy for a given work it is fundamental for the administrators to ensure that the best of the group is selected for the specific errand. The arrangement of the workforce ought to be adjusted to the degree of ability that specific representatives have over a specific area. The individuals who can take a shot at a specific theme in a superior manner than others ought to be placed in the assignment for that specific subject. This will guarantee that the best ability is given to the task. The objectives and destinations of the organization ought to be remembered while apportioning function as each association needs to work as per targets. The manner by which work is distributed and designs are made ought to be in accordance with the objectives of the work association. Th e arrangement that will be defined for a work ought to consistently keep up that the most minimal of the expenses are brought about to the organization. The whole work procedure ought to be drafted with conference from the specialists who will give proposals that will serve to the greatest advantage of the organization. KRAs and KPIs are vital piece of the arranging procedure in an association. These are the instruments that are utilized to quantify the measure of focus on that has been accomplished in the authoritative procedure. KPIs empower the association to know how much the objectives are accomplished and the outcomes that can be accomplished by sticking to the hierarchical targets. KRAs are long haul while KPIs are present moment (Arora and Kaur 2015). These take into account the constant assessment of the hierarchical advancement. The exhibition the board frameworks are required to monitor the presentation of the different workers and groups. The exhibition should be in accordance with the objectives of the association. The set of accepted rules in an association ensures that the workers are moral in their conduct and approach towards their partners. Such code ties the representatives frankly and makes them to work with honesty and reasonableness. The different Human Resource Management inst ruments, for example, prizes and acknowledgments permit the organization to energize the laborers who have been performing great continually. Such exercises spur the representatives and the disposition of the workforce is lifted up so every individual feels free to attempt to perform to the most significant level. For instance, Companies, for example, Google and Facebook give their representatives free food, ride to work and even wellness advantages, for example, Yoga and rec center participation for nothing. Inputs for terrible showings are likewise an unquestionable requirement with the goal that the staff can move in the direction of improvement and get prepared so as to exceed expectations in the work (Gong et al. 2017). It is fundamental for an association to remember of the lawful ramifications that can emerge if a worker faces unjustified end. A worker needs to serve the notification time frame on the off chance that it is an abrupt end started by the representative by and by . Every one of these procedures ensure that the association works in the most ideal manner and both the representative and manager needs are satisfied. References Arora, A. also, Kaur, S., 2015. Execution appraisal model for the board teachers dependent on KRA/KPI. InInternational meeting on innovation and business the executives March(Vol. 23, p. 25). Gong, Y., Wang, M., Huang, J.C. what's more, Cheung, S.Y., 2017. Toward an objective orientationbased input looking for typology: Implications for representative execution outcomes.Journal of Management,43(4), pp.1234-1260. Yu, H., Miao, C., A, B., Shen, Z. furthermore, Leung, C., 2014, May. Notoriety mindful undertaking assignment for human trustees. InProceedings of the 2014 universal meeting on Autonomous operators and multi-specialist systems(pp. 357-364). Universal Foundation for Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems.

Assignment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Task - Coursework Example This has brought about minimizing of economies just as decrease in development gauges for different nations around the globe by driving organizations like S&P, IMF and so on (The Guardian, 2011). The change in the economy just as ascend in shortages has prompted different sorts of spending cuts on the pieces of the legislature of different nations around the world. The wild financial swinging in the ongoing occasions has likewise created serious vacillations of records of modern creations in different built up economies like the US for a drawn out period. A considerable lot of the enterprises having a place with different areas like friendliness, agribusiness, retail and so forth have been seriously influenced. (THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY, p.19) This vacillation in modern creation has thus brought about huge cost cutting by the organizations around the globe, which thusly influenced the activity advertise and along these lines hampering shopper spending (AccaGlobal, p.7). The acti vities of Western Union exceptionally remember the exchange of accounts for the piece of the buyers just as business houses to different pieces of the world. The bleak situation developing out of the failure to determine the continuous Euro emergency by the national ideological groups has prompted delayed varieties in openings for work there by enormously hampering the spending with respect to the buyers. (National Bureau of Economic Research, P.9) The friend investigated article features the issues that emerged in the vehicle business in the US during the 2008-2011 periods as a perfection of low deals, high basic expenses just as obligations (Klier and Rubenstein, p.1-21). The paper additionally talks about the related administrative methodology that occurred during that period going from the inaccessibility of a consensual choice to offer help to the carmakers to the issuance of monetary help for a limited ability to focus the active ideological group. The paper legitimately examines

Blog Archive Harvard Business School Essay Analysis, 20162017

Blog Archive Harvard Business School Essay Analysis, 2016â€"2017 *Please note: You are viewing an essay analysis from the 2016-2017 admissions cycle.  Click here to view our collection of essay analyses for the current admissions season.   After just one year, Harvard Business School (HBS) has done away with its “introduce yourself” essay prompt, which gave applicants a lot of leeway to share their story on their terms, and has returned to an even broader promptâ€"one that at first may seem as though it has no parameters at all. This year’s question is almost exactly the same as the one the school used in 2013â€"2014, when it asked, “What else would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy?” This year, the question is “What more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy?” (italics ours). We presume that after seeing the essays candidates submitted in response to its “introduce yourself” prompt, the HBS admissions committee simply determined that the previous essay question generated “better” essays that proved more valuable in their decision-making process. Regardless of the reason behind the change, you will need to find the best way to approach this year’s prompt, which we will now analyze in more detail… “As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?” (no word limit) Take special note of the word “more” in this straightforward question. With it, the admissions committee is subtly acknowledging that it already has a lot of information about you that it can and will use to get to know you better, including your resume, extracurricular activities, recommendations, short-answer question responses, academic transcripts, and GMAT/GRE score. You should therefore think first about what these portions of your application convey about who you are as an individual and candidate, so you can determine which parts of your profile still need presenting or could benefit from more detail. Now, some applicants may fret that this means they absolutely cannot touch on anything mentioned elsewhere in their application, for fear that the admissions committee will grow furious and disqualify them. However, HBS is not asking only for fresh informationâ€"it is asking for more, and specifically, whatever “more” you believe the committee needs to evaluate you thoro ughly and fairly. So, even though a bullet on your resume may inform the school of a certain fact, if a profoundly important story lurks behind that fact that you feel effectively expresses a key part of your personality or skill set, you should not feel hesitant to share that story. That said, we are not advocating for you to explore your resume in depth, just trying to convey that “more” here does not mean strictly “thus far unmentioned.” Before we discuss a few approaches you might take in framing this essay, we must note that your goal in writing it is sincerity. The admissions committee is not staffed by robots, seeking to detect a certain “type” of applicant. These are human beings who are trying to get to know you and really want to end up liking you! With this essay, you essentially want to forge a meaningful connection with a complete stranger, and if you try to present yourself as something or someone you are not, you will fail. You, like many other applicants, may worry that your sincere stories will sound clichéd. For example, if you want to write about making a difference, you may wince simply thinking those words: “making a difference.” But the power of your story does not lie in the theme you choose (if you choose to write thematically, that is), but in the manner in which you reveal your actions. If you have truly made a significant difference in the lives of others and can own that angle by offering powerful anecdotes and demonstrating a deep emotional connection to others and profound purpose in your acts, you can write on this topic. Although more than a few candidates will undoubtedly submit clichéd pieces on making a difference, if you can capture your admissions reader’s attention fully and make a strong enough impression, the cliché aspect will disappear, and he or she will be impressed by your actions and character.   So, what approach might you take to this essay? The prompt is so open-ended that we cannot possibly capture all possible options, but here are a few: Thematic approach: You could write about a characteristic or attribute that has woven its way throughout your life or that you have woven into your life. Do some self-exploration and see if you can identify a thread that is common to your greatest achievements, thereby illustrating its importance in bringing you to where you are today. Simply stating that theme is not enoughâ€"you need to really guide your reader through the illustrative events in your life to show how and why this theme manifests. In the end, your values are what need to come to the fore in this essay, rather than just a series of discrete episodes. (Note that highlighting your values is necessary with any approach you take to your HBS essay.) Inflection points: Maybe the key events and aspects of your life cannot be neatly captured or categorized within a neat and tidy theme. People are complex, meaning that many are not able to identify a singular “force” that unifies their life experience. If this is you, do not worryâ€"instead, consider discussing a few inflection points that were instrumental in shaping the individual you are today. This does not mean writing a very linear biography or regurgitating your resume in detail. The admissions committee does not need or want such a summary and is instead interested in your ability to reflect on the catalysts in and challenges to your world view and the manifestations thereof. Likewise, you do not need to offer a family history or an overarching explanation of your existence. Simply start with the first significant incident that shaped who you are as an adult, and again, ensure that your essay ultimately reveals your values. Singular anecdote: Although this is rare, you may have had a single standout experience that could serve as a microcosm of who you are and what you stand for. If this experience or moment truly defines you and strikes at the essence of your being, you can discuss it and it alone. You do not need to worry that offering just one anecdote will make your essay seem “skimpy” or present you as one-dimensional, as long as the story has inherent strength and power. You will need to delve into the narrative and let the story tell itself; if you are choosing to write a singular anecdote, the story should be sufficiently compelling on its own, without a lot of explanation. You may have read through these three options and thought, “What about a fourth option, in which I discuss my goals and why HBS? Certainly they want to know about that!” The HBS admissions committee is a straight-shooting groupâ€"if the school wanted candidates to write about their goals and why HBS, or wanted them not to, the prompt would come right out and say so. The reality is that most people should not use this essay to discuss their career ambitions and interest in HBS, because doing so will not reveal that much “more” about them. For example, if you are a consultant who plans to return to consulting after graduation, we cannot imagine a scenario in which addressing your goals and why an HBS MBA is critical would constitute an effective use of this essay. However, if you are a medic at a bush hospital in Uganda and are applying to HBS with the goal of commercializing low-cost technologies to fight infectious diseases, this may well be a fitting topic for your essay, as you seek to connect the dots between your unusual (in a positive sense) career path and your aspirations. In short, for most candidates, we would suggest eschewing a “Why MBA? Why HBS?” approach, but in a few rare cases, it may be appropriate and compelling. Finally, let us talk about word limits! HBS has not stipulated any particular parameters, but keep in mind that with each word, you are making a claim on someone else’s timeâ€"so you better make sure that what you have written is worth that additional time and effort. We expect that most of our clients will use between 750 and 1,000 words, with some using as few as 600 and a small minority using as many as 1,250. We have difficulty imagining a scenario in which an applicant would truly need more than 1,250, but we certainly know of candidates who were accepted with essays that exceeded that high target. In short, take the space you need to tell your story properly and showcase your personality and experience, and then work to reduce your essay to its lowest possible word count, without sacrificing any impact or effectiveness. Have the Last Word: The Post-Interview Reflection (conditional on being interviewed) From the admissions committee: “Following the interview, candidates are required to submit a written reflection using our online application system. This must be submitted within 24 hours following the completion of the interview. Detailed instructions will be provided to those applicants who are invited to the interview process.” For the fourth consecutive year, HBS ask candidates who are granted an interview to complete one more written task. Within 24 hours of interviewing, you must submit some final words of reflection, addressing the question “How well did we get to know you?” As with the application essay, this post-interview reflection is open-ended; you can structure it however you wish and write about whatever you want to tell the committee. HBS urges interviewed applicants not to approach this reflection as a formal essay but instead “as an email you might write to a colleague or supervisor after a meeting.” Some candidates may find this additional submission intimidating, but we encourage you to view it as an opportunity to reveal new aspects of your profile to the admissions committee. Because your HBS interviewer will have read your entire application before your meeting, you will likely discuss information from your resume, essays, recommendations, etc., during your interview. This post-interview reflection, then, could provide an opening for you to integrate new and different elements of your profile, thereby adding depth to your candidacy. For example, if you could not find a way to include the story of a key life experience of yours into your essays, but your interviewer touches on a similar story or something connected with this experience in your meeting, you would now have license to share that anecdote. As soon as your interview is over, jot down all the topics covered and stories you discussed. If you interview on campus, note also any observations about your time there. For example, sitting in on a class might have reminded you of a compelling past experience, or participating in the case method may have provided insight into an approach you could use in some way in the future. Maybe the people you met or a building you saw made a meaningful impression on you. Whatever these elements are, tie them to aspects of your background and profile while adding some new thoughts and information about yourself. This last part is keyâ€"simply describing your visit will not teach the admissions committee anything about  you, and a flat statement like “I loved the case method” will not make you stand out. Similarly, offering a summary of everything the admissions committee already knows about you will not advance your candidacy and would constitute a lost opportunity to keep the committee l earning about who you are. HBS offers some additional advice on the post-interview reflection that we strongly urge you to take seriously and follow: We will be much more generous in our reaction to typos and grammatical errors than we will be with pre-packaged responses. Emails that give any indication that they were produced BEFORE you had the interview will raise a flag for us. We do not expect you to solicit or receive any outside assistance with this exercise. As for how long this essay should be, HBS again does not offer a word limit. We have seen successful submissions ranging from 400 words to more than 1,000. We recommend aiming for approximately 500, but adjust as appropriate to thoroughly tell the admissions committee what you feel is important, while striving to be succinct. For a thorough exploration of  HBS’s  academic program/merits, defining characteristics, crucial statistics, social life, academic environment and more, please check out the  mbaMission Insider’s Guide to Harvard Business School. (Note: As a complement to our essay analysis, be sure to read Jeremy Shinewald’s Poets Quants article “Before You Write That HBS Essay,”  in which he offers his top five dos and don’ts for this essay question.) The Next Stepâ€"Mastering Your HBS  Interview:  Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possibleâ€"the key is informed preparation. And, on your way to this high level of preparation, we offer our  free Interview Primers  to spur you along! Download your free copy of the  Harvard  Business School Interview Primer  todayâ€"and be sure to check out our one-of-a-kind service:  HBS Mock Interview and Post-Interview Reflection Support. Share ThisTweet 2016-2017 Harvard University (Harvard Business School) MBA Essay Analysis

Who Invented Touch Screen Technology

According to PC Magazine, a touch screen is, a display screen that is sensitive to the touch of a finger or stylus. Widely used on ATM machines, retail point-of-sale terminals, car navigation systems, medical monitors and industrial control panels, the touch screen became wildly popular on handhelds after Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007. The touch screen is one of the easiest to use and most intuitive of all computer interfaces, a touch screen allows users to navigate a computer system by touching icons or links on the screen. How Touch Screen Technology Works There are three components used in touch screen technology: The touch sensor is a panel with a touch responsive surface. Systems are built based on different types of sensors: resistive (most common), surface acoustic wave, and capacitive (most smartphones). However, in general, sensors have an electrical current running through them and touching the screen causes a voltage change. The voltage change signals the location of the touching.The controller is the hardware that converts the voltage changes on the sensor into signals the computer or another device can receive.Software tells the computer, smartphone, game device, etc, whats happening on the sensor and the information coming from the controller. Whos touching what where; and allows the computer or smartphone to react accordingly. Of course, the technology works in combination with a computer, smartphone, or another type of device. Resistive and Capacitive Explained According to Malik Sharrieff, an eHow Contributor, the resistive system is comprised of five components, including the CRT (cathode ray tube) or screen base, the glass panel, the resistive coating, a separator dot, a conductive cover sheet and a durable top coating. When a finger or stylus presses down on the top surface, the two metallic layers become connected (they touch), the surface acts as a pair of voltage dividers with connected outputs. This causes a change in the electrical current. The pressure from your finger causes conductive and resistive layers of circuitry to touch each other, changing the circuits resistance, which registers as a touch screen event that is sent to the computer controller for processing. Capacitive touch screens use a layer of capacitive material to hold an electrical charge; touching the screen changes the amount of charge at a specific point of contact. History of Touch Screen Technology 1960s Historians consider the first touch screen to be a capacitive touch screen invented by E.A. Johnson at the Royal Radar Establishment, Malvern, UK, around 1965 - 1967. The inventor published a full description of touch screen technology for air traffic control in an article published in 1968. 1970s In 1971, a touch sensor was developed by Doctor Sam Hurst (founder of Elographics) while he was an instructor at the University of Kentucky. This sensor called the Elograph was patented by The University of Kentucky Research Foundation. The Elograph was not transparent like modern touch screens, however, it was a significant milestone in touch screen technology. The Elograph was selected by Industrial Research as one of the 100 Most Significant New Technical Products of the Year 1973. In 1974, the first true touch screen incorporating a transparent surface came on the scene developed by Sam Hurst and Elographics. In 1977, Elographics developed and patented a resistive touch screen technology, the most popular touch screen technology in use today. In 1977, Siemens Corporation financed an effort by Elographics to produce the first curved glass touch sensor interface, which became the first device to have the name touch screen attached to it. On February 24, 1994, the company officially changed its name from Elographics to Elo TouchSystems. Elographics Patents US3662105: Electrical Sensor Of Plane CoordinatesInventor(s)Hurst; George S., Lexington, KY - Parks; James E., Lexington, KYIssued/Filed Dates:May 9, 1972 / May 21, 1970US3798370: Electrographic Sensor For Determining Planar CoordinatesInventor(s)Hurst; George S., Oak Ridge, TNIssued/Filed Dates:March 19, 1974 / April 17, 1972 1980s In 1983, the computer manufacturing company, Hewlett-Packard introduced the HP-150, a home computer with touch screen technology. The HP-150 had a built-in a grid of infrared beams across the front of the monitor which detected finger movements. However, the infrared sensors would collect dust and require frequent cleanings. 1990s The nineties introduced smartphones and handhelds with touch screen technology. In 1993, Apple released the Newton PDA, equipped with handwriting recognition; and IBM released the first smartphone called Simon, which featured a calendar, notepad, and fax function, and a touch screen interface that allowed users to dial phone numbers. In 1996, Palm entered the PDA market and advanced touch screen technology with its Pilot series. 2000s In 2002, Microsoft introduced the Windows XP Tablet edition and started its entry into touch technology. However, you could say that the increase in the popularity of touch screen smart phones defined the 2000s. In 2007, Apple introduced the king of smartphones, the iPhone, with nothing but touch screen technology.

The Relationship Between Music and Poetry Research Papers

Music and poetry have existed alongside each other for many years. The question of whether poetry is improved by music is an interesting one. People who do not enjoy traditional poetry often find that they have a passion for music with lyrics. Arguably, lyrics are a form of poetry and, through the medium of musical performance, people are able to understand the meaning of the words on a deeper level than if they were to simply read them on a page. Nevertheless, as there are many types of music there are also many types of poetry. Some poetry can be complemented and enhanced by music. Other types of poetry, however, are unlikely to work with music. Whether poetry is improved by music depends on the type of poetry. Program notes for Dubussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun said, The relationship of music to poetry (at least philosophically) was never closer than in France in the last decades of the nineteenth century. The great symbolist poet Stà ©phane Mallarmà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s attested poetic purpose was ‘to use words in such harmonious combinations as will suggest to the reader a mood or a condition which is not mentioned in the text, but is nevertheless paramount in the poet’s mind at the moment of composition.’ Mallarmà © sought to duplicate, through poetry, the effects of music, to do what music did better than any other art, express the inexpressible (Music). The concept explored here is that music can add diction and meaning to a poem that was originally on the page. It is commonly thought that music touches people on a different level to the written, or even the spoke, word. As Mallarmà © pointed out, at times the effect of a song is encompassed more within the unspoken suggestion rather than in the literal meaning of the words themselves (Music). Poetry is an often misunderstood art form, even today. Many people consider poetry to be inaccessible to all except to those who are poets or scholars of poetry. Such people claim that they don’t understand poetry. However, the vast majority of people claim to like at least one kind of lyrical music and, moreover, say that they understand the meanings within it. There are certain artists that can be accurately referred to as both poets and musicians. One example of such an artist is Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen has written many songs which have risen to considerable popularity. â€Å"You’re Missing† is just one of his songs. The lyrics contained within â€Å"You’re Missing† are poetic but are, nonetheless, plain. The opening stanza, or verse, reads: â€Å"Shirts in the closet, shoes in the hall / Mamas in the kitchen, baby and all / Everything is everything / Everything is everything / But youre missing† (Springsteen, lines 1-5). Simply seeing these lines on the page leaves the reader with a mild sense of what the words are about, but they do not rouse much emotion. However, when the reader then listens to the recording of Springsteen singing the words, along with musical accompaniment, the tone and the meaning are far clearer and poignant. The words undoubtedly have much more weight to them when heard in conjunction with the music. However, there are some poets whose work can only be read on the page. Such works could not successfully be read aloud, and certainly could not be put to music as Springsteen’s words are. E.E. Cummings is one such poet. Although Cummings wrote a great deal of traditional poetry, such as sonnets, he also did a significant amount of experimental works. A helpful example is Cummings’ â€Å"The Cubist Break-Up.† This work is separated into thirteen, relatively short, poems. Each of these poems is in a different layout on the page. Part 4, for example, reads: 1(a // 1e / af / fa // 11 // s) / one / 1 // iness† (Cummings, p. 39). Anyone would be forgiven for not understanding this poem of Cummings’. However, regardless of whether a reader does or does not comprehend the meaning of this poem, few would argue that it could or should be put to music. However, not all poets write in such an abstract way. Philip Larkin, for example, has written some poetry that is, arguably, accessible to anyone who is basically literate. â€Å"This Be The Verse,† for example, opens: â€Å"They fuck you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do. They fill you with the faults they had And add some extra, just for you† (Larkin, lines 1-4). Unlike â€Å"The Cubist Break-Up,† this poem uses straightforward language in an easy to read format. It is conversational and has a very clear meaning behind it. Larkin continues in this style throughout the poem and right until the end, the final stanza reading: â€Å"Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf Get out as early as you can, And dont have any kids yourself† (Larkin, lines 9-12). While Larkin’s â€Å"This Be The Verse† is a lyric poem, there are narrative poems which are equally simple to grasp and appreciate, even for individuals who do not study, or particularly enjoy, traditional poetry. Mark Ford’s â€Å"A Swimming-Pool Full of Peanuts† is a narrative poem from his book Landlocked (Ford, 1992). It consists of an anecdote, told from the perspective of a door-to-door salesman. The speaker tells the audience of the time he discovered a swimming pool full of peanuts in someone’s back garden. This work is an excellent example of how poetry need not be even partially abstract, nor use complicated language. It demonstrates how poetry can be in many different forms, and in very different styles and tones. Ford uses conversational language right from the start of his poem and continues with this style throughout. The following extract provides an example: â€Å"Well this is a hoax I can tell some monkey’s idea of a good joke for who’d fill up a fair sized swimming- pool with peanuts unless they’re painted in which case it’s a nice piece of work so I kneel down in my best suit on the edge†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ford, 1992). The language is simple to read and to understand. This is probably the reason for why â€Å"A Swimming-Pool Full of Peanuts† is one of Ford’s most widely appreciated poems. It is accessible to many people, as even those who have little or no knowledge of poetry can read and understand it. Moreover, the poem contains unusual but lively humour, which tends to appeal to most. â€Å"A Swimming-Pool Full of Peanuts† is written in loose blank verse. Ford has used very little punctuation throughout the piece. This can also be attractive for people who do not read a great deal of poetry, as they have the freedom to read as they choose, with only line breaks giving them set, but easy, pauses. The poem reads like a stream of consciousness, and this adds to its conversational manner. It also has a good pace and plenty of musicality. It is exciting and moves forward quickly, which is likely to hold the attention of even the most reluctant reader. A Swimming-Pool Full of Peanuts, on first read, appears to be a solely humorous, light-hearted anecdote. However, when I read it more carefully I noticed all kinds of ways that Ford has used to give us an insight into the character of the narrator. An example is when the speaker talks of his concerns with what might be hidden underneath the peanuts: â€Å"†¦for no Reason I’m feeling all queasy this pool full of peanuts Is disturbing my eye won’t focus in case in an instant They turn into piranha fish and green mambas Or anything else that might be hiding down there† (Ford). The notion that there may be such things beneath the peanuts is, arguably, ridiculous, and this example of the speaker’s thoughts gives the reader an insight into the character of the narrator. This type of detail is important, especially for people who do not appreciate more abstract poetry with hidden meanings. Another element of the Ford’s writing that features superior characterization is where the speaker retrieves a golf club from his car and begins to hit the peanuts with it: â€Å"†¦ I go back to my car and open up the trunk I take out my golf-bag I select a nine-iron And without a thought for my own safety I head back To the pool and I swing away reckless in that peanut bunker I scatter peanuts like a madman all over around there They go flying like sand-flies in all directions like golf- Balls they arc away and shower down like buff-coloured hail And I thrash and flail like one possessed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Ford). It is possible that the speaker is, as he suggests, a ‘madman’. Ford has used the show not tell technique regarding the character. This is effective and provides further appeal to those who disfavor traditional poetry. As there are different styles of music, there are also different styles of poetry. Some poetry can fit very well, and indeed be enhanced by the presence of musical accompaniment. The music of Bruce Springsteen is an excellent example of this. However, the work of other poets would be practically nonsensical if it was combined with music. Poetry can be simple to understand, with or without music alongside it. As only certain types of poetry are effective as song lyrics, whether or not poetry is more successful within music depends on the both the musical and poetical preference of the individual. Works Cited Ford, M â€Å"A Swimming Pool Full of Peanuts.† Landlocked. 1992. Print. Chatto and Windus: NY. Cummings, E.E. â€Å"The Cubest Break-Up.† Selected Poems. 2007. Print. Norton: USA. â€Å"Music, Poetry and Meaning.† Donskiff. 2004. Web. 23 April. 2011. http://donskiff.com/music_poetry_and_meaning.htm

Common Criticisms in Psychology Paper - 1486 Words

Common Criticisms in Psychology Paper University of Phoenix August 9, 2009 Common Criticisms in Psychology Paper The artificiality of inventive conditions in experimental environments is a repeated concern. How real can laboratory-based research be? This paper will explain the criticism of artificiality in the discipline of psychology and apply this criticism to at least three sub disciplines within psychology. This paper will also compare and contrast the breakthrough model of scientific research and the principle of connectivity in explaining events and outcomes; finally ending with comparing and contrasting the concepts of the single cause explanation and the principle of multiple causation in explaining events and outcomes.†¦show more content†¦It makes no difference if the theory explains old facts differently from the earlier theory, just that they are explained. This necessity guarantees the accumulative development of science. Despite a new theory explaining new facts, if there is no explanation for the old ones then there are no considera tions of finalized advancement and no immediate replacement of them (Stanovich, 2007). What will occur will be both the old and new theory coexisting as probable ideas until a new theory abdicates them null and void? Leading us astray is the breakthrough model of scientific research by suggesting that new findings violate the principle of connectivity (Stanovich, 2007). This suggestion deems risky because by abandoning the connectivity principle, the primary beneficiaries are purveyors of counterfeit science and incredulous theories. Notorious are headlines that lead off with â€Å"New Breakthrough.† Theories such as these acquire most of their interest and publicity by claims that they are astoundingly new. The next deception is to cast out past information by asserting them impertinent. The reason being given, that such information does not yet exist due to the newness of the theory. This breeds an environment of pseudoscience. Better explained is by the evolutionary theory the ghost of creationism, with its connectivity display of such different areas of science as morphology,Show MoreRelatedIs Conceptual Critiques Relevant for Psychology?1472 Words   |  6 Pagesconsideration in their theoretical works as it prevents future criticisms. To conclude on the relevance of Conceptual Critiques in Psychology, lets consider one last but not least example on Jung’s Analytic theory. The goal of this theory was to achieve a meaningful life by focusing on personality development via a continuous cycle of self-awareness, transformation, and self-actualization (Maltby, Day, Macaskill, 2010). 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How has the recent arrival Essay Example For Students

How has the recent arrival Essay Language is a tool of communication and communication gives people an opportunity to understand each other. However, language constantly changes. At some moments it is difficult to understand someone who uses words, terms or phrases that you have never heard before. Especially difficult it becomes if that person comes from other from yours region or country and uses lexical units that are not common at your region. Changes of the language are rapid and dynamic. They occur constantly and in great numbers and variations. That is why dictionaries and language manuals need periodical updates. This is supposed to help in classifying and reflecting all the changes that have occurred in a certain period of time. Nowadays this necessity of updating is becoming even more significant. This happens because new technologies, concepts, ideas, and, consequently, new words and styles of communication shape themselves within the society and replace older ones. Sciences and industries develop new technologies and concepts daily. Hence, they need to be and are being reflected in our everyday language, accepted in our everyday life. Some words change their meaning, some get out of use, some get new meanings which are different from previous ones. Changes, such as the birth of new words, ideas and concepts, are not happening in some particular language, but in most of the worlds languages. That is why not only for linguists, but for all people it is important to know them, notice, consider, and get used to the changes. Especially sharp this problem stands before the people who work or have business abroad and need to take their experience beyond the usual surrounding. Not only an industry influences the language, but the language is influenced by it as well. In his work David Crystal explained this phenomenon as follows: This would form part of a much broader economic perspective, in which the traditional view, that the economy influences language, is supplemented by the notion that language exercises a strong influence on the economy. There are several domains in which languages play an important role, and thus contribute to their economic success (Crystal, 1995) This statement, in its turn, leads us to the need to study and analyze the problem. This can be done on the basis of the descriptive and prescriptive approaches to language which may help us to clarify the issue. In the given work these two approaches will be examined. Besides, we will analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and analyze them applying not only to some particular field, but in more general applications as well. 1. Understanding the Descriptive and Prescriptive Approaches It is well known that languages change constantly. New and alternative words appear to name new things and processes, new idiomatic expressions and spellings appear to express older ones which are gradually getting out of use. Sometimes these innovations stay unnoticed or not much attention is paid to them, they are just becoming parts of our everyday communication and are used as if there is nothing new in them. However, if the change is noticed, it may face two possible responses. The first one consists in commenting on them, trying to explain and classify, deciding whether to accept them or not, or simply accepting them without any doubts. This is what the descriptive approach consists in. This approach tends to exactly and clearly describe how certain features of the language features are used in communication. This leads to the understanding that all the lexical units have similar features and may be classified. .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 , .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .postImageUrl , .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 , .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593:hover , .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593:visited , .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593:active { border:0!important; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593:active , .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593 .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6fa50e6ac53fbfc8c5a9112ba8dc9593:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My Weekend EssayModern linguists prefer applying to the descriptive approach to language because it does not require them to determine what the language should look like or prescribe what exact rules should be used. The descriptive approach requires them only to describe what language is, what new changes have appeared, what their main qualities are, and how they are used in communication. Instead of creating new rules this approach allows describing and bringing to general use those rules, which people have already invented and used to form words and sentences. Surely, there are some of the descriptive rules in English which are necessary to follow. For example, the subject precedes the verb, the object follows the verb, auxiliary verbs precede the subject in questions and the plural of a noun is formed by adding -s. But at the same time, analyzing our speech we can come to the conclusion that, for example, Present Perfect Continuous Tense is being more and more often replaced with Present Perfect and the descriptive approach accepts this change because it becomes accepted by people and is natural. The second possible reaction to the appearance of new words, phrases, and spellings is analyzing them and applying corresponding rules to their usage. This is the prescriptive approach. The main concern of this approach consists in identifying whether a phrase or sentence is grammatically correct. According to the prescriptive approach correct grammar is the most important quality of the language and should be imposed on the whole speech community (Liberman, 2005). Most of the rules which are adopted by the prescriptive approach originally come from Latin and Greek languages. As Latin and Greek are dead languages, they do not change and that is why they serve as models for grammar of English and some other languages (Ibid). Some of the prescriptive rules of English are: Dont split infinitives, dont use double negation, dont end a sentence with a preposition, dont use who in place of whom, say or write It is I instead of It is me. Though modern linguists prefer using the descriptive approach analyzing new tendencies in language, they need to apply to prescriptive approach too because it helps to understand the changes better and to find better tools to explain them. (Peters Pam, 2004) Surely, the linguists clearly understand that language changes and needs to change in order to reflect changes which take place within the society. That is why they use descriptive approach to give people an opportunity to choose appropriate words for particular contexts in order to understand each other better. The descriptive approach also acts as a more democratic way of thinking and meeting changes because common usage is really more powerful than abstract statements of what is correct or logical in a particular language. (Ibid) The descriptive approach does not require certain rules to be imposed on new words or phrases; it just gives advice and recommends certain rules to be applied to new words. It also points out cases in which variations are preferred and indicates the stylistic context in which these variations can be used. At the same time the prescriptive approach is more traditional and requires certain rules to be formulated for the usage of new words and phrases in order to avoid any confusion. As a result, this approach tends to achieve uniformity in language use, especially if it relates to grammar, spelling, and in some cases pronunciation.

Critical Review of The French Mathematician by Tom Petsinis Essay Example

Critical Review of The French Mathematician by Tom Petsinis Paper The book titled The French Mathematician by Tom Petsinis is one of the best of its genre. It is not often that biographies are written in the form of fiction. The author, having adopted the form of novel for this work, captures the essence of the character of Evariste Galois, the brilliant young French Mathematician whose life was cut short at the tender age of 21. The author carries the extra burden of using a first person narrative in the novel, whereby his imagination tries to capture the psyche and style of Galois. Though literary license would smudge some of the facts about the subject, it succeeds in showcasing the essential qualities of Galois’ personality and achievements. For a project such as this, the lack of abundant primary resources can be an advantage. Contrary to confining the author with established facts about the subject and the backdrop, it releases the author to fill up the blanks using creative imagination. And Persinis uses his creative talent to not jus t construct a plot or story, but to draw the reader further into the consciousness of the subject. As one reads through the novel, an impression of Galois as a revolutionary youth who had problems accepting the mores of his time becomes clear. That is why he got involved in student politics in his early teens. The same revolutionary zeal seen in his short political life was also seen in his mathematical life, where his papers have advanced the cause of mathematics greatly. The mathematical achievements of Evariste Galois can be summed up this way: He was the the inventor of the notion of a finite group. More importantly, he applied his new group theory to an unsolved problem of his time by giving â€Å"a necessary and sufficient group-theoretic condition for a polynomial to be solvable by radicals†. Evariste Galois lived between 1811 and 1832, a period when French society was under rapid transformation. The post-Napoleonic France was in political ferment and young students like Galois were its chief participants. Unfortunately, Galois’ political stances would antagon ize the King and the educational establishment. As a result, he would be denied enrollment in the leading institutions of the day. We also learn from the novel that the outstanding genius of Galois was accompanied by his tendency to be arrogant. Describing the final days of Galois’ life, the author suggests that the fatal duel he gets involved in could have been avoided had he exercised prudence. In what is a case of tragic irony, only when Galois becomes aware of his impending death does his creative output reach its highest expression. For example, in the final days before his fatal duel with his friend-turned-foe, Galois writes down his most significant mathematical discoveries in his letters to friends and other well wishers. We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Review of The French Mathematician by Tom Petsinis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Review of The French Mathematician by Tom Petsinis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Review of The French Mathematician by Tom Petsinis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Students of history, culture and mathematics can all find this book of interest. This book will also be a valuable resource for students of French history and culture. When compared to details pertaining to Galois’ personal life and personal thoughts, Petsinis has not fictionalized aspects of the social and political milieu. As a result, the description of social and political life in early nineteenth century France is accurately documented. The emphasis on mathematics is not very strong for reasons discussed earlier. Still, Petsinis manages to convey the key discoveries of Galois to the extent that a novel form would allow. The fact that Petsinis is a trained mathematician himself has helped the project greatly. If one has to pick flaws in the novel, it would be the liberties taken by the author in presenting the protagonist’s thought processes. There is no claim made by Petsinis about adherence to fact and hence the reader should not take them to be authentic. At different passages in the book, when Petsinis quotes Galois, one can see that the latter speaks a lyrical, florid style of prose. Passages like these look inauthentic and artificial for their style, substance and richness seem too grand for the character of Galois. So it is fair to say that the author has let his personal vision of life and his ways of thinking to get into the character of Evariste Galois. To this extent, the characterization of Galois comes across as artificial and trumped up. Furthermore, the fashion in which the character of Galois articulates his thoughts and ideas comes across as odd for a teenage boy, however brilliant he might have been. For one thing, the maturity and worldly wisdom shown by Galois s imply does not fit his image as a brash but gifted teenager. For reasons like this, it is fair to say that at places in the novel the biographer overpowers his subject. The following monologue illustrates this point: â€Å"My heart was now beating faster than usual. No longer Evariste Galois, I am impersonal, at one with the eternal mind responsible for mathematics, impelled forward to discover the mystery at the center of the labyrinth. But just as the solution is within reach, I am distracted by the scent of chamomile.† (The French Mathematician, 1997) Beside the flaw pointed above, the novel is quite unique in that it mixes the two distant concepts of mathematics and politics through the life of Evariste Galois. And similarly, the mixing of biography and fiction forms is also quite rare. For example, plenty of biographies have been written about eminent mathematicians, which elaborately account their mathematical accomplishments and their personal struggles. Indeed, barring individual quirks and idiosyncrasies, most mathematicians fall within the stereotype of living regimented, organized and aloof lives by normal standards. But Tom Petsinis employs the facts surrounding the colorful but brief life of Evariste Galois in sculpting out a novel that is one of a kind. And it is only a matter of time before The French Mathematician is adapted to the celluloid form. Indeed, the period in which the novel is set, the eccentricity of the characters, the political circumstances of the time, etc, make it a perfect material for cinema. While one would think that a third person narrative would be appropriate for a biography of this kind, the first person view employed by the author is also understandable. For example, the mind of any teenager, especially one gifted with prodigious talent and arrogance is bound to be in a constant state of flux and contradiction. In this context, the first person narrative is the best option to capture these ambiguities, as the following passage shows: â€Å"Over the past year dark feelings have been stirring within me, not only hatred of those around me, but a frustrated desire for something I cannot define, an ambition without a goal, a sense of leaving childhood and moving toward a distant, barely audible calling, which sometimes sounds like nothing more than a faint echo of my own voice, and other times a voice I have never heard before, calling compellingly in a language I do not fully understand. I know I am destined for something, though I do not know exactly what.† (The French Mathematician, 1997) Also, by the time the book was first published in 1997, the stature of Galois and the implications of his theories have already established themselves in the annals of modern science. But these subsequent events cannot be accommodated into the narrative, for they were written in first person and set in early nineteenth century. If anything, during Galois’ time there was uncertainty as to the validity and significance of his theories. So the aura surrounding Galois that was earned posthumously cannot be fully articulated by the author. But Petsinis overcomes this challenge by stating Galois’ vision of politics and mathematics in the future. This is done in such a way that the growing legacy of Galois is contained within his express vision, which is neatly captured by the author in the novel. Even discounting for the factual digressions indulged by Petsinis, the final outcome is still satisfactory so as to classify the book a biography. Finally, while Galois is obviously the hero of the novel, it doesn’t follow that the author has abandoned a critical treatment of his subject. Indeed, the vices as much as the virtues of the young hero are dwelled upon, showing that the young French mathematician is all too human, if not being ordinary in certain respects. Given that Galois’ contribution to mathematics has been so profound and that his creative life was nipped in the bud, one wonders how mathematics would have been transformed had he lived till old age. In this sense, the book manages to showcase both the heroic and the tragic aspects of the life of Evariste Galois. The political and creative heroism of the young genius might appear to be the focal point of the book but what is poignant are the glories that weren’t to be. The further theories that Galois could have developed, the inspirational political leader that he promised to be, etc are the thoughts with which the book ends.

love is all essays

love is all essays In the many dramatic, descriptive poems T.S Elliot has written proves the existence of love manipulating the mental state of one who is emotionally attached. The physical attraction toward every move is detailed, accurate as well as precise. Fail to do so time is always wasted, however if the correct move is well thought out then time is well maintained finishing at first. The two poems such as A Game of Chess and The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock counterpart these similarities. In the poem of The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock Elliot descriptively enlighten readers about a man who sacrifices a time of his life to fulfill one of the most wanted desires of mankind; love. Elliot demonstrates the hardship in confession. The willingness and compassion of the heart leads Prufrock to notice every single detail of his journey. If Prufrock is to make a wrong move then much time is wasted. Prufrocks passion for love is greatly emphasized as Elliot dictates the nervousness and trouble Prufrock goes through. The many metaphors Elliot uses illustrate the struggles and adversity during that time. In line 37 Elliot verses To wonder, Do I dare? and Do I dare?, symbolizes the confusion and instability of the mind. Choices that can be simply determined are becoming effective questions to life. In some ways Elliot depicts life and death situations. As Prufrock is debating time is an importance to this matter. In line 40-41 Elliot describes Prufrock worrying about his hair and of what others will say of it which greatly symbolizes how society plays huge role in making his decision, Prufrock is in fear of judgment and this is greatly affecting his confession for love. Prufrock also mentions if he backs out on this nothing will happen. For instance, the water will not ripple if he does not disturb it. Yet his heart tells him another. The poem structurally goes back and forth betwe...

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PAPER PROPOSAL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PAPER PROPOSAL - Essay Example Like many other Chinese cosmetics companies, Herborist has also recognized the need to expand their operations in new markets and follow and extensive internationalization process while keeping the business rooted to its own unique cultural factors and a differentiated positioning strategy. Herborist is in the business of herbal cosmetic products and is an established name in the herbal care sector of China. The traditionalism and uniqueness of the herbal factor remains the unique selling proposition for the brand which it must capitalize on while entering a new potential market for its expansion process. The international expansion process of a company is guided by many factors which are likely to drive the development of the internationalization success for the company. These factors may include the following: the company may seek growth opportunities through market diversification, the company may seek to increase the revenues and profitability of the business, the company may try to gain ideas about new business processes, products and methods for innovation, the company may aim to serve a wider range of potential customers in new regions, the company may also achieve increased benefits from new supply sources and get the advantages of global sourcing and the company may achieve economies of scale through lost cost and high volume production (Bakker, 2008, pp.117-118). Herborist can focus on entering the market of Russia as a part of their international expansion strategy as this would help the company to achieve all the above mentioned benefits as well as the company will be able to benefit from the interest of the consumers in this country towards herbal skin care products and spa services that Herborist can offer (Deighton, Kornfeld, He and Jiang, 2010, p.10). The Russian cosmetic industry is a developed market in which the customers have much

System Analysis and Design 251 Assignment Essay - 2

System Analysis and Design 251 Assignment - Essay Example d information processing provides an insufficient decision support for designing new classes and activities which would meet the the club members’ fitness goals and increase the club’s revenue. For instance, there is no easy way for the management to know which class is most popular among the members and which class contributes the most to the overall revenue generated by the club. To summarize, the current manual club management system is unable to provide an insight into the intricate financial queries that can ascertain the financial costs and identify areas of club’s financial growth. Fitness Club needs an automated information system that ensures information is stored and presented in an organized manner. Furthermore it eases the management routine tasks pertaining to the financial aspects of the organization. Since the main users of the management system are the manager and the administrators, they are the main data inputs sources of the system. The Director, Instructor and Members can not alter the state of data managed by the system. They only get their schedule information or financial reports (generated by the system) through the Administrator/Manager. The system has two active users; the Manager and Administrator, who can alter the state of data. A third passive user is the website visitor, who only views the information the site automatically displays from the company’s data store that the system

History of the Concept of Hegemony and Power

History of the Concept of Hegemony and Power The concept of hegemony is notoriously difficult to quantify both in concrete political terms and in a less tangible philosophical manner. Moreover, in a world increasingly divided upon religious as opposed to ideological lines, the concept of hegemony has suffered from a certain crisis of relevance whereby it would seem that the preponderance of resources has indeed become the central precept for the paradigm per se; whereby, furthermore, economic and cultural imperialism have united to ensure the dominance of one geo political system within the international order in the vacuum created by the dissolution of ideology and the triumph of multi national capitalism. Yet all is not quite as it seems in the modern international sphere. Current events have a distinctly repetitive feel but, at the same time, the international relations landscape is changing and re configuring its boundaries with such rapidity and vigour that definitions and sweeping statements are deemed, correctly, to be o ut of place concerning any particular sphere of international relations. Certainly, the broader subject of hegemony and inter state communication is of utmost importance in the comprehension of the new world order, though keeping track of new theories is an essentially difficult, contradictory experience, particularly at the dawn of the twenty first century. As Benno Teschke (2003:1) explains in the opening chapter of his book, The Myth of 1648, the entire subject of contemporary international relations theory is in a constant state of flux, inspired by the death of the nation state and the advent of post modernity. â€Å"The classical Westphalian system, rooted in the primacy of the modern, territorially bounded sovereign state, is being replaced by a post territorial, post modern global order. The old logic of geopolitical security is being subordinated to geo economics, multi level global governance, or the demands of a multi actor international civil society. A fundamental transformation in the structure of the international system and its rules of conflict and co operation is unfolding before our eyes.† For the purposes of the essay, it will be necessary to analyse the concept of hegemony from its origins to see how it has evolved over time and where its relevance might lie within todays post structuralist society, taking a chronological view so as to see how its conceptual meaning has altered along the way. It will likewise be necessary to examine international economic realities and histories as well as political instances of hegemony to highlight the essential duality between continuity and change – in other words, how the past might help us to better understand the present and the future, yet also how the current world order presents unique problems that were of no relevance in the past, which necessarily makes an overall academic judgement more problematic. First a definition of hegemony must be attempted. Within the context of this essay, it is extremely important to comprehend the inherently different strands of hegemony: political, military, economic and cultural. Even more noteworthy is the general interchange that is apparent between the above factors – politics merges with economics and military helps to define any given national culture, which, in turn, means that hegemony is very difficult to quantify in the essentially narrow conceptual terms of simply a preponderance of resources. It will be shown that, throughout recorded history, nations and states have used a combination of factors to control other states, all designed to increase the security of the region and underwrite the strength of the dominant geo political power. Each nation and state that has enjoyed a period of relative dominance has chosen, either through external circumstances that have been thrust upon the rulers or via a conscious, calculated ideologica l choice, to use one of the above themes of hegemony to perpetuate its power base. When a group of people takes control over the fate of another it is never via only one of the above strands – political, military, economic or cultural. Rather, there always exists a concoction of more than one of the dominant conceptual themes to achieve the sum of hegemony and though much has changed throughout the course of history, this central precept remains difficult to ignore. The key player in any discussion pertaining to hegemony and the preponderance of resources has to be the state. Certainly, as far as G. John Ikenberry (1986:53) is concerned, the interaction between any given domestic and international political economy has always been at the epicentre of international relations theory and the comprehension of the rule of empire and state elites lies in understanding the ultimate power that the state has always possessed. â€Å"As administrative and coercive organisations, states are embedded in complex political and economic environments and have a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence. Although they vary considerably, they have several elements in common. All states make exclusive claims to the coercive and juridical control of particular territories, and they also make special claims to the definition and representation of broad national interests.† In conceptual terms, hegemony is best understood as the expression of societys ruling classes over the majority of the nation or state over whom they propose to rule. Gramsci (1971:328), the interwar international relations academic and political prisoner who spent his final years behind bars in Mussolinis Italy, describes hegemony as, â€Å"a conception of the world that is implicitly manifest in art, in law, in economic activity and in all manifestations of individual and collective life.† Gramsci here describes cultural hegemony, which was of particular relevance when he was writing in the 1930s, in a world that was dominated by ideological concerns. This type of hegemony and cultural control is a constant political reality that has been a feature of culture and society since the first recorded migrations of man. Never has hegemony as an ideal simply been confined to the realms of natural resources and economic might; it has always been an intangible equation of political power expressed through the elite of any particular nation, state or empire. The much celebrated Athenians, for example, made hegemony an everyday feature of the ancient world, whereby people were defined via their status within the broader Greek political and cultural hierarchy. The Greeks underscored their cultural ideal of hegemony with language and politics, especially the concept of citizenship, which remains a key feature in the study of political and cultural hegemony today. The United States today uses its visa system, for example, to differentiate between alien visitors from within the wider plates of the hegemony that it has created. In the ancient world, Plato and Aristotle grouped the various bands of hegemony together to form what they saw as civilisation. Therefore, to be an Athenian Greek was to be a civilised member of the hegemony of the nascent nation state; to be a barbarian was to be an uncivilised member of the outposts of society, the parts where hegemony had hitherto failed to penetrate as a paradigm and as a cultural and economic force. This phenomenon has since been mirrored in the twenty first century with President Bushs with us or against us stance to global terrorism, where hegemony is once again used as the primary force in the perpetuation of the dominant military, political and economic power of the epoch. Ancient cultures used the acquisition of foreign resources to underline their superior military and cultural power, although it should be noted that the technology and logistics did not then exist to ensure the movement of goods and services across inter state borders so that the preponderance of resources could not become the only outlet of hegemony as a concept. The Middle East trade route, for instance, remained a largely autonomous cultural, political and economic region in spite of the combined power of the Greek and Roman Empires, curtailing efforts at building an Empire from the sole premise of a sound economic base. Therefore, in the ancient world, hegemony meant much more than a preponderance of resources. It implied tangible political and citizenry rights and access to a pre defined status quo that was welded by the elite members of the state and continually updated and re defined by the men and women who had access to power within the machinations of the state. Indeed, the central role of the human actors within the state system remain as relevant today as they were in the ancient world and to dismiss their relevance as secondary to the preponderance of resources would be to misinterpret the dynamics of inter state governance. Individual diplomats, ministers, parties and politics will always have a bearing on the future of both international relations as well as the concept of hegemony where economic resources are only one factor in a much larger pyramid of political and economic concerns. It thus becomes apparent that hegemony must co exist with the broader notion of empire, which is itself constructed upon the solid foundations of economic dynamism garnered through the procurement of resources. The notion of empire altered irrevocably during the dawn of modern history where industrialisation proved to be the catalyst for the significant, seismic shift in the view of hegemony as cultural, economic and political benchmark. The nineteenth century was indeed a watershed in terms of the re drawing of the conceptual parameters of hegemony. The Victorian era saw the traditional European empires of France, Belgium, Britain and Germany use their vast military and economic superiority to carve up the undeveloped world amongst each other with the procurement of raw materials and economic resources utilised as the main motivation for extra territorial action. Without doubt, it is at this juncture in world history that the preponderance of resources becomes the pre eminent factor in the power of hegemony and cultural imperialism. The Scramble for Africa, for instance, constituted a devouring of the worlds finest natural resources and raw materials; resources that were unavailable in Europe were discovered in seemingly endless abundance in Africa and the poor political and social infrastructure of the indigenous tribes meant that, militarily, it was a case of simply buying off the key local decision makers and men of influence to ensure European preponderance of locally based economic wealth. Furthermore, unlike the false promise of El Dorado that hampered the conquistadores in Latin America, the lure of previously unimaginable wealth in Africa was the determining factor behind the unprecedented and swift carving up of the African continent. The impulse for hegemony, in this instance, was therefore the possibility of individual accumulation of economic empire as well as the broader national acquisition of another nations indigenous wealth. Charles Tilly (1985:172) explains how the extraction of resources from local producers and traders in Africa was the most important development for the edification of European hegemony in the undeveloped world and for the structure of the contemporary world order today. â€Å"The quest inevitably involved them in establishing regular access to capitalists who could supply and arrange credit, and to imposing one form of regular taxation or another on the people and activities within their sphere of control.† Industrialisation was therefore the central difference between nineteenth century views of imperial hegemony and that which was witnessed in the ancient and medieval worlds. Resources became, for the first time, the main concern of empire builders. This period in world history is also important for what it implies about the motives of the European leaders and rulers who embarked upon their scramble for Africas resources. What is immediately noticeable when reading the primary sources of these explorers was the way in which they attempted to hide their true (economic) motive from view. The first British travellers to the dark continent promulgated the view that the Europeans were on a civilising mission to save the Africans from a life of pagan sin. Moreover, they said, their religious and missionary zeal would inevitably rub off on the political and economic mood of the continent so that, in effect, the Africans would wish to copy their European partners in order to better help thems elves in the long term; politically, economically and socially. To achieve this end, the Europeans thus tied the notion of political territorial acquisition to the preponderance of resources by controlling the mechanisms of the fledgling states as well as the production of raw materials and natural resources. The nineteenth century partition of the undeveloped world by the most powerful industrial states of the age thus left a legacy that is of the utmost relevance for the topic of hegemony in todays twenty first century society. As economic resources become increasingly scarce in the contemporary world, the major Western powers must find ways of securing the holding of resources while covering up the raw economic reasons for doing so. One can see, as Chomsky and Vidal attest, a certain similarity between the contemporary US symptom of national security and the war on terror and the Victorian ideal of a missionary zeal. Significantly, both propaganda spins fail to recognise that the preponderance of resources is the real reason why these states have found themselves fighting foreign wars and stationing troops so very far from their own national borders in the recent past. Of added significance was the fact that the Victorian experimentation with imperialism showed, for the first time, how a state might achieve supreme power with resources and capital based outside of the national territorial borders. Susan Strange (1988:2) sees this as the most important step in the development of true imperial hegemony in the West; the point where a modern nation has the ability to dictate key economic policy far beyond its own national, geo political borders. â€Å"The location of productive capacity is far less important than the location of the people who maker the decisions on what is to be produced, where and how, and who design, direct and manage to sell successfully on a world market.† At this point it makes sense to shift the focus of our investigation from a broader viewpoint of historical instances of hegemony to a dissection of the most important contemporary topic within the confines of the essay title. The key contemporary actor within the study, without a doubt, must be the United States, the source of the preponderance of twenty first century economic resources and the still the most potent post modern military force on the planet. As the eminent British historian, E.H. Carr (1992:292), writing on the eve of the Second World War, testified, hegemony is a by product of realism; an essentially Darwinist view of politics that suggests a discernibly detectable survival of the fittest in international affairs. The unassailable American hegemony of the post modern age is best understood within this wholly realist context. â€Å"To attempt to ignore power as a decisive factor in every political situation is purely utopian. It is scarcely less utopian to imagine an international order built on a coalition of states, each striving to defend and assert its own interests.† Since 1945 the USA has built its empire upon the twin pillars of the military and its insatiable consumer economy, even going so far as to re model the state to the tune of the desires of the political economy. The National Security Act (1947), for example, which oversaw the formation of the CIA, was the first in a long history of decrees and acts designed to ensure the longevity of the republican model and the destruction of all of its ideological enemies in the process. Gore Vidal (2004:95 96) explains the dynamic nature of American national security policy, post 1945, a policy that deemed aggression as the best form of political and economic defence. â€Å"When Japan surrendered, the United States was faced with a choice: either disarm, as we had done in the past and enjoy the prosperity that comes from releasing so much wealth and energy into the private sector, or maintain ourselves on a fully military basis, which would mean a tight control over our allies and such conquered provinces as West Germany, Italy and Japan.† It is important to understand that Washington wishes its control of the globe not to be limited to its dominance of world economic resources; rather, hegemony, as it is understood in 2005, is a varied political, economic and cultural phenomenon that wishes to export the very ethos of the United States as well as importing the wealth generated by the nations pre eminent economic position. To date, the United States has used language, technology and the military to acquire its vast array of economic resources and likewise uses its dynamic corporate ethic to underpin the strategies of the imperial national government. Therefore, to see the preponderance of resources as the only specific aim of American hegemony in the twenty first century is to miss the point entirely. As previously outlined, the American government understands the essential interplay between the various features of hegemony. Certainly, the USA has used economics as its basis for the extension of power witnessed since 1 945 but the ideology of the most awesome capitalist country on the planet has been held in place via the spread of its symbolic features to every corner of the globe (except, of course, for large swathes of the Middle East, which is a source of much of the antagonism between the two diametrically opposed sections of the new global economy). Various international relations commentators have noted the way in which imperial America uses brand names such as MacDonalds and Nike to increase the economic and cultural hegemony of the US Empire, leaving fast food restaurants and designer clothes chains as castles by proxy. As Chomsky (2003:13) succinctly puts it: â€Å"The goal of the imperial grand strategy is to prevent any challenge to the power, position and prestige of the United States.† Theories have abounded concerning the so called decline of American hegemony, largely circulating since the oil crisis in the 1970s, which first highlighted the fragility of the preponderance of key natural resources in the post modern world. Susan Strange disagrees fundamentally with international relations commentators such as Nye, who see Americas decline as an inevitable by product of the notion of both hegemony and Empire, essentially dictating that from Rome to Byzantium to Britain any attempt to secure global pre eminence must end in the destruction of that political and economic model. She argues that the USA is a unique case that shows no signs of the fragmentation that beset its historical precedents. Essentially, this means that US notions of hegemony are not solely tied to economic factors pertaining to the preponderance of resources; its survival and indeed growth rests upon the fact that the USA ideal of hegemony is far more flexible than many critics give it credit f or. As Cox (2005:21) underscores, the issue of American hegemony entails far more than a swelling of the national treasury at the expense of extra territorial economic resources. â€Å"One of the more obvious objections to the idea of a specific American empire is that, unlike the real empires in the past, the United States has not acquired, and does not seek to acquire the territory of others. This in turn has been allied to another obvious objection: that the United States has often championed the cause of political freedom in the world. How then can one talk of empire when one of the United States obvious impulses abroad has been to advance the cause of national democracy and self determination?† The issue of hegemony in contemporary times is further hampered by the ambiguity and uncertainty that surrounds the ultra contentious geo political and economic topic of globalisation. Not only have scholars found globalisation extremely difficult to define but it also poses unique problems of conceptual bracketing. It is supposedly an economic question (intrinsically tied to the preponderance of resources) yet in practice, globalisation appears to be little more than an extension of American political hegemony, namely the spread of democracy to every reach of the globe as the initial platform on which to launch a visionary global hegemony. Whereas the nineteenth century European empires formulated the concept of the preponderance of natural resources as the most vital step on the way to the establishment of their brand of hegemony, the Americans in the twenty first century have used technology, particularly their corporate dominance of new media and the Internet to strengthen their dominant position in the world economy. Globalisation therefore is tantamount to Westernisation, which is itself a direct descendent of Americanisation. According to Sinclair et al (2004:297), â€Å"world patterns of communication flow, both in density and direction, mirror the system of domination in the economic and political order,† and in this way it can be shown how US hegemony is built upon sterner raw materials than the mere preponderance of economic resources. Indeed, logic dictates that if the USAs global hegemony was only standing upon the prevalence of resources, then its position would be nothing like as contentious as it is in the broader world order, constituting the front line of the new global disorder, as Robert Harvey describes it. Indeed, Harvey (2003:455) already views the concept of global hegemony as outdated, requiring five separate but interconnecting strands of economic and politic pro action to keep the status quo alive in the future. â€Å"These then are the five great areas of change necessary to avoid a state of global political economic anarchy: the establishment of superpower policing to combat terrorism and to prevent conflicts breaking out all over the world, through an efficient system of regional alliances and deterrents, backed up by the threat of major superpower intervention; the widening and deepening of global democracy; the regulation of the global economy through co operation between the three economic super states of the next few decades – America, Europe and Japan – in co operation with regional groupings of the rest of the world; a gigantic government primed stimulus for demand and development in the three quarters of the developing world untouched by globalisation; and reform from within of the capitalist corporation.† Conclusion The analysis of hegemony and power bases throughout history shows that the prevalence of resources is but one factor in a multi faceted chain of command that requires a strong military and political infrastructure as well as a flourishing economic base to prevail. The upsurge in interest that the topic of hegemony has generated in recent years has been due to the power of the worlds one remaining superpower alone. Hegemony has become synonymous with Americas quest for global dominance and various commentators have cited the contemporary â€Å"war on terror† as nothing but a smokescreen for the increasing garnering of resources, particularly oil in the Middle East. Indeed, Vidal (2004:7) compares the â€Å"war on terror† to a â€Å"war on dandruff†; such is his confusion over what the notion actually means. There is no doubt that it is this perceived neo imperialism that is at the heart of the current negativity surrounding the concept of hegemony and its continued association with solely (Western) economic motives. However, it should be noted that a significant change in the global order is currently under way, one in which the Americans will have to broker what Strange (1988:17) refers to as a series of â€Å"New Deals† with autonomous international states in order to remain a leading economic force. The advent of China, in particular, as the twenty first centurys most potent consumer and industrial society will undoubtedly challenge the very ideal of American and Western hegemony and will necessarily require a re drafting of the USAs preponderance of resources. Hegemony must, in effect, adapt to a discernible duality and spirit of inter state co operation that the concept has not known in the past. The concept of hegemony therefore has value far beyond the preponderance of res ources as the evolving concept of globalisation is in the process of emphasising. As globalisation begins to take hold as an economic, cultural and political reality, the effects of hegemony will be felt in all areas of the world that wish to be part of the dissolution of the concept of the nation state and the embracement of a new political and economic world order. History of the Concept of Hegemony and Power History of the Concept of Hegemony and Power The concept of hegemony is notoriously difficult to quantify both in concrete political terms and in a less tangible philosophical manner. Moreover, in a world increasingly divided upon religious as opposed to ideological lines, the concept of hegemony has suffered from a certain crisis of relevance whereby it would seem that the preponderance of resources has indeed become the central precept for the paradigm per se; whereby, furthermore, economic and cultural imperialism have united to ensure the dominance of one geo political system within the international order in the vacuum created by the dissolution of ideology and the triumph of multi national capitalism. Yet all is not quite as it seems in the modern international sphere. Current events have a distinctly repetitive feel but, at the same time, the international relations landscape is changing and re configuring its boundaries with such rapidity and vigour that definitions and sweeping statements are deemed, correctly, to be o ut of place concerning any particular sphere of international relations. Certainly, the broader subject of hegemony and inter state communication is of utmost importance in the comprehension of the new world order, though keeping track of new theories is an essentially difficult, contradictory experience, particularly at the dawn of the twenty first century. As Benno Teschke (2003:1) explains in the opening chapter of his book, The Myth of 1648, the entire subject of contemporary international relations theory is in a constant state of flux, inspired by the death of the nation state and the advent of post modernity. â€Å"The classical Westphalian system, rooted in the primacy of the modern, territorially bounded sovereign state, is being replaced by a post territorial, post modern global order. The old logic of geopolitical security is being subordinated to geo economics, multi level global governance, or the demands of a multi actor international civil society. A fundamental transformation in the structure of the international system and its rules of conflict and co operation is unfolding before our eyes.† For the purposes of the essay, it will be necessary to analyse the concept of hegemony from its origins to see how it has evolved over time and where its relevance might lie within todays post structuralist society, taking a chronological view so as to see how its conceptual meaning has altered along the way. It will likewise be necessary to examine international economic realities and histories as well as political instances of hegemony to highlight the essential duality between continuity and change – in other words, how the past might help us to better understand the present and the future, yet also how the current world order presents unique problems that were of no relevance in the past, which necessarily makes an overall academic judgement more problematic. First a definition of hegemony must be attempted. Within the context of this essay, it is extremely important to comprehend the inherently different strands of hegemony: political, military, economic and cultural. Even more noteworthy is the general interchange that is apparent between the above factors – politics merges with economics and military helps to define any given national culture, which, in turn, means that hegemony is very difficult to quantify in the essentially narrow conceptual terms of simply a preponderance of resources. It will be shown that, throughout recorded history, nations and states have used a combination of factors to control other states, all designed to increase the security of the region and underwrite the strength of the dominant geo political power. Each nation and state that has enjoyed a period of relative dominance has chosen, either through external circumstances that have been thrust upon the rulers or via a conscious, calculated ideologica l choice, to use one of the above themes of hegemony to perpetuate its power base. When a group of people takes control over the fate of another it is never via only one of the above strands – political, military, economic or cultural. Rather, there always exists a concoction of more than one of the dominant conceptual themes to achieve the sum of hegemony and though much has changed throughout the course of history, this central precept remains difficult to ignore. The key player in any discussion pertaining to hegemony and the preponderance of resources has to be the state. Certainly, as far as G. John Ikenberry (1986:53) is concerned, the interaction between any given domestic and international political economy has always been at the epicentre of international relations theory and the comprehension of the rule of empire and state elites lies in understanding the ultimate power that the state has always possessed. â€Å"As administrative and coercive organisations, states are embedded in complex political and economic environments and have a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence. Although they vary considerably, they have several elements in common. All states make exclusive claims to the coercive and juridical control of particular territories, and they also make special claims to the definition and representation of broad national interests.† In conceptual terms, hegemony is best understood as the expression of societys ruling classes over the majority of the nation or state over whom they propose to rule. Gramsci (1971:328), the interwar international relations academic and political prisoner who spent his final years behind bars in Mussolinis Italy, describes hegemony as, â€Å"a conception of the world that is implicitly manifest in art, in law, in economic activity and in all manifestations of individual and collective life.† Gramsci here describes cultural hegemony, which was of particular relevance when he was writing in the 1930s, in a world that was dominated by ideological concerns. This type of hegemony and cultural control is a constant political reality that has been a feature of culture and society since the first recorded migrations of man. Never has hegemony as an ideal simply been confined to the realms of natural resources and economic might; it has always been an intangible equation of political power expressed through the elite of any particular nation, state or empire. The much celebrated Athenians, for example, made hegemony an everyday feature of the ancient world, whereby people were defined via their status within the broader Greek political and cultural hierarchy. The Greeks underscored their cultural ideal of hegemony with language and politics, especially the concept of citizenship, which remains a key feature in the study of political and cultural hegemony today. The United States today uses its visa system, for example, to differentiate between alien visitors from within the wider plates of the hegemony that it has created. In the ancient world, Plato and Aristotle grouped the various bands of hegemony together to form what they saw as civilisation. Therefore, to be an Athenian Greek was to be a civilised member of the hegemony of the nascent nation state; to be a barbarian was to be an uncivilised member of the outposts of society, the parts where hegemony had hitherto failed to penetrate as a paradigm and as a cultural and economic force. This phenomenon has since been mirrored in the twenty first century with President Bushs with us or against us stance to global terrorism, where hegemony is once again used as the primary force in the perpetuation of the dominant military, political and economic power of the epoch. Ancient cultures used the acquisition of foreign resources to underline their superior military and cultural power, although it should be noted that the technology and logistics did not then exist to ensure the movement of goods and services across inter state borders so that the preponderance of resources could not become the only outlet of hegemony as a concept. The Middle East trade route, for instance, remained a largely autonomous cultural, political and economic region in spite of the combined power of the Greek and Roman Empires, curtailing efforts at building an Empire from the sole premise of a sound economic base. Therefore, in the ancient world, hegemony meant much more than a preponderance of resources. It implied tangible political and citizenry rights and access to a pre defined status quo that was welded by the elite members of the state and continually updated and re defined by the men and women who had access to power within the machinations of the state. Indeed, the central role of the human actors within the state system remain as relevant today as they were in the ancient world and to dismiss their relevance as secondary to the preponderance of resources would be to misinterpret the dynamics of inter state governance. Individual diplomats, ministers, parties and politics will always have a bearing on the future of both international relations as well as the concept of hegemony where economic resources are only one factor in a much larger pyramid of political and economic concerns. It thus becomes apparent that hegemony must co exist with the broader notion of empire, which is itself constructed upon the solid foundations of economic dynamism garnered through the procurement of resources. The notion of empire altered irrevocably during the dawn of modern history where industrialisation proved to be the catalyst for the significant, seismic shift in the view of hegemony as cultural, economic and political benchmark. The nineteenth century was indeed a watershed in terms of the re drawing of the conceptual parameters of hegemony. The Victorian era saw the traditional European empires of France, Belgium, Britain and Germany use their vast military and economic superiority to carve up the undeveloped world amongst each other with the procurement of raw materials and economic resources utilised as the main motivation for extra territorial action. Without doubt, it is at this juncture in world history that the preponderance of resources becomes the pre eminent factor in the power of hegemony and cultural imperialism. The Scramble for Africa, for instance, constituted a devouring of the worlds finest natural resources and raw materials; resources that were unavailable in Europe were discovered in seemingly endless abundance in Africa and the poor political and social infrastructure of the indigenous tribes meant that, militarily, it was a case of simply buying off the key local decision makers and men of influence to ensure European preponderance of locally based economic wealth. Furthermore, unlike the false promise of El Dorado that hampered the conquistadores in Latin America, the lure of previously unimaginable wealth in Africa was the determining factor behind the unprecedented and swift carving up of the African continent. The impulse for hegemony, in this instance, was therefore the possibility of individual accumulation of economic empire as well as the broader national acquisition of another nations indigenous wealth. Charles Tilly (1985:172) explains how the extraction of resources from local producers and traders in Africa was the most important development for the edification of European hegemony in the undeveloped world and for the structure of the contemporary world order today. â€Å"The quest inevitably involved them in establishing regular access to capitalists who could supply and arrange credit, and to imposing one form of regular taxation or another on the people and activities within their sphere of control.† Industrialisation was therefore the central difference between nineteenth century views of imperial hegemony and that which was witnessed in the ancient and medieval worlds. Resources became, for the first time, the main concern of empire builders. This period in world history is also important for what it implies about the motives of the European leaders and rulers who embarked upon their scramble for Africas resources. What is immediately noticeable when reading the primary sources of these explorers was the way in which they attempted to hide their true (economic) motive from view. The first British travellers to the dark continent promulgated the view that the Europeans were on a civilising mission to save the Africans from a life of pagan sin. Moreover, they said, their religious and missionary zeal would inevitably rub off on the political and economic mood of the continent so that, in effect, the Africans would wish to copy their European partners in order to better help thems elves in the long term; politically, economically and socially. To achieve this end, the Europeans thus tied the notion of political territorial acquisition to the preponderance of resources by controlling the mechanisms of the fledgling states as well as the production of raw materials and natural resources. The nineteenth century partition of the undeveloped world by the most powerful industrial states of the age thus left a legacy that is of the utmost relevance for the topic of hegemony in todays twenty first century society. As economic resources become increasingly scarce in the contemporary world, the major Western powers must find ways of securing the holding of resources while covering up the raw economic reasons for doing so. One can see, as Chomsky and Vidal attest, a certain similarity between the contemporary US symptom of national security and the war on terror and the Victorian ideal of a missionary zeal. Significantly, both propaganda spins fail to recognise that the preponderance of resources is the real reason why these states have found themselves fighting foreign wars and stationing troops so very far from their own national borders in the recent past. Of added significance was the fact that the Victorian experimentation with imperialism showed, for the first time, how a state might achieve supreme power with resources and capital based outside of the national territorial borders. Susan Strange (1988:2) sees this as the most important step in the development of true imperial hegemony in the West; the point where a modern nation has the ability to dictate key economic policy far beyond its own national, geo political borders. â€Å"The location of productive capacity is far less important than the location of the people who maker the decisions on what is to be produced, where and how, and who design, direct and manage to sell successfully on a world market.† At this point it makes sense to shift the focus of our investigation from a broader viewpoint of historical instances of hegemony to a dissection of the most important contemporary topic within the confines of the essay title. The key contemporary actor within the study, without a doubt, must be the United States, the source of the preponderance of twenty first century economic resources and the still the most potent post modern military force on the planet. As the eminent British historian, E.H. Carr (1992:292), writing on the eve of the Second World War, testified, hegemony is a by product of realism; an essentially Darwinist view of politics that suggests a discernibly detectable survival of the fittest in international affairs. The unassailable American hegemony of the post modern age is best understood within this wholly realist context. â€Å"To attempt to ignore power as a decisive factor in every political situation is purely utopian. It is scarcely less utopian to imagine an international order built on a coalition of states, each striving to defend and assert its own interests.† Since 1945 the USA has built its empire upon the twin pillars of the military and its insatiable consumer economy, even going so far as to re model the state to the tune of the desires of the political economy. The National Security Act (1947), for example, which oversaw the formation of the CIA, was the first in a long history of decrees and acts designed to ensure the longevity of the republican model and the destruction of all of its ideological enemies in the process. Gore Vidal (2004:95 96) explains the dynamic nature of American national security policy, post 1945, a policy that deemed aggression as the best form of political and economic defence. â€Å"When Japan surrendered, the United States was faced with a choice: either disarm, as we had done in the past and enjoy the prosperity that comes from releasing so much wealth and energy into the private sector, or maintain ourselves on a fully military basis, which would mean a tight control over our allies and such conquered provinces as West Germany, Italy and Japan.† It is important to understand that Washington wishes its control of the globe not to be limited to its dominance of world economic resources; rather, hegemony, as it is understood in 2005, is a varied political, economic and cultural phenomenon that wishes to export the very ethos of the United States as well as importing the wealth generated by the nations pre eminent economic position. To date, the United States has used language, technology and the military to acquire its vast array of economic resources and likewise uses its dynamic corporate ethic to underpin the strategies of the imperial national government. Therefore, to see the preponderance of resources as the only specific aim of American hegemony in the twenty first century is to miss the point entirely. As previously outlined, the American government understands the essential interplay between the various features of hegemony. Certainly, the USA has used economics as its basis for the extension of power witnessed since 1 945 but the ideology of the most awesome capitalist country on the planet has been held in place via the spread of its symbolic features to every corner of the globe (except, of course, for large swathes of the Middle East, which is a source of much of the antagonism between the two diametrically opposed sections of the new global economy). Various international relations commentators have noted the way in which imperial America uses brand names such as MacDonalds and Nike to increase the economic and cultural hegemony of the US Empire, leaving fast food restaurants and designer clothes chains as castles by proxy. As Chomsky (2003:13) succinctly puts it: â€Å"The goal of the imperial grand strategy is to prevent any challenge to the power, position and prestige of the United States.† Theories have abounded concerning the so called decline of American hegemony, largely circulating since the oil crisis in the 1970s, which first highlighted the fragility of the preponderance of key natural resources in the post modern world. Susan Strange disagrees fundamentally with international relations commentators such as Nye, who see Americas decline as an inevitable by product of the notion of both hegemony and Empire, essentially dictating that from Rome to Byzantium to Britain any attempt to secure global pre eminence must end in the destruction of that political and economic model. She argues that the USA is a unique case that shows no signs of the fragmentation that beset its historical precedents. Essentially, this means that US notions of hegemony are not solely tied to economic factors pertaining to the preponderance of resources; its survival and indeed growth rests upon the fact that the USA ideal of hegemony is far more flexible than many critics give it credit f or. As Cox (2005:21) underscores, the issue of American hegemony entails far more than a swelling of the national treasury at the expense of extra territorial economic resources. â€Å"One of the more obvious objections to the idea of a specific American empire is that, unlike the real empires in the past, the United States has not acquired, and does not seek to acquire the territory of others. This in turn has been allied to another obvious objection: that the United States has often championed the cause of political freedom in the world. How then can one talk of empire when one of the United States obvious impulses abroad has been to advance the cause of national democracy and self determination?† The issue of hegemony in contemporary times is further hampered by the ambiguity and uncertainty that surrounds the ultra contentious geo political and economic topic of globalisation. Not only have scholars found globalisation extremely difficult to define but it also poses unique problems of conceptual bracketing. It is supposedly an economic question (intrinsically tied to the preponderance of resources) yet in practice, globalisation appears to be little more than an extension of American political hegemony, namely the spread of democracy to every reach of the globe as the initial platform on which to launch a visionary global hegemony. Whereas the nineteenth century European empires formulated the concept of the preponderance of natural resources as the most vital step on the way to the establishment of their brand of hegemony, the Americans in the twenty first century have used technology, particularly their corporate dominance of new media and the Internet to strengthen their dominant position in the world economy. Globalisation therefore is tantamount to Westernisation, which is itself a direct descendent of Americanisation. According to Sinclair et al (2004:297), â€Å"world patterns of communication flow, both in density and direction, mirror the system of domination in the economic and political order,† and in this way it can be shown how US hegemony is built upon sterner raw materials than the mere preponderance of economic resources. Indeed, logic dictates that if the USAs global hegemony was only standing upon the prevalence of resources, then its position would be nothing like as contentious as it is in the broader world order, constituting the front line of the new global disorder, as Robert Harvey describes it. Indeed, Harvey (2003:455) already views the concept of global hegemony as outdated, requiring five separate but interconnecting strands of economic and politic pro action to keep the status quo alive in the future. â€Å"These then are the five great areas of change necessary to avoid a state of global political economic anarchy: the establishment of superpower policing to combat terrorism and to prevent conflicts breaking out all over the world, through an efficient system of regional alliances and deterrents, backed up by the threat of major superpower intervention; the widening and deepening of global democracy; the regulation of the global economy through co operation between the three economic super states of the next few decades – America, Europe and Japan – in co operation with regional groupings of the rest of the world; a gigantic government primed stimulus for demand and development in the three quarters of the developing world untouched by globalisation; and reform from within of the capitalist corporation.† Conclusion The analysis of hegemony and power bases throughout history shows that the prevalence of resources is but one factor in a multi faceted chain of command that requires a strong military and political infrastructure as well as a flourishing economic base to prevail. The upsurge in interest that the topic of hegemony has generated in recent years has been due to the power of the worlds one remaining superpower alone. Hegemony has become synonymous with Americas quest for global dominance and various commentators have cited the contemporary â€Å"war on terror† as nothing but a smokescreen for the increasing garnering of resources, particularly oil in the Middle East. Indeed, Vidal (2004:7) compares the â€Å"war on terror† to a â€Å"war on dandruff†; such is his confusion over what the notion actually means. There is no doubt that it is this perceived neo imperialism that is at the heart of the current negativity surrounding the concept of hegemony and its continued association with solely (Western) economic motives. However, it should be noted that a significant change in the global order is currently under way, one in which the Americans will have to broker what Strange (1988:17) refers to as a series of â€Å"New Deals† with autonomous international states in order to remain a leading economic force. The advent of China, in particular, as the twenty first centurys most potent consumer and industrial society will undoubtedly challenge the very ideal of American and Western hegemony and will necessarily require a re drafting of the USAs preponderance of resources. Hegemony must, in effect, adapt to a discernible duality and spirit of inter state co operation that the concept has not known in the past. The concept of hegemony therefore has value far beyond the preponderance of res ources as the evolving concept of globalisation is in the process of emphasising. As globalisation begins to take hold as an economic, cultural and political reality, the effects of hegemony will be felt in all areas of the world that wish to be part of the dissolution of the concept of the nation state and the embracement of a new political and economic world order.