Official Development Assistance and Underdevelopment Research Paper

Official Development Assistance and Underdevelopment - Research Paper Example First, we begin by laying down the chosen theoretical framework. Frank’s main thesis is that contemporary underdevelopment is in large part the historical product of pas and continuing economic and other relations between the satellite underdeveloped and the now developed metropolitan countries. These relations are an essential part of the structure and development of the capitalist system. Underdevelopment was and still is generated by the development of capitalism. Frank talked a great deal about the metropolis-satellite relationship. He noted that this relationship is not limited to the imperial or international level, but also penetrates and structures the economic, political, and social life of (LA) colonies and countries. Thus, a whole chain of constellations of metropoles and satellites is created. Each of these satellites serves as an instrument to suck capital or economic surplus out of its own satellites, and channel a portion of the said surplus to the world metropo les (i.e. Europe and US). This notion was further developed by Wallerstein who proposed the idea of â€Å"unequal exchange† between the strong states and the weak ones and a view of capitalism that â€Å"involves not only appropriation of the surplus value by an owner from a labourer, but an appropriation of surplus of the whole world-economy by core areas.† by core areas.† (p. 401). ... Public financing transactions are moving away from multilaterals, which had been found quite inept in resolving the world’s problems. The option which provides government less than market price loans (in terms of interest rates) is through bilateral arrangements. Commonly facilitated through state-to-state negotiations, bilateral lending’s advantage lies with the fact that it is easier to trace, clarify, and assert the advantages and interests of both donor and beneficiary states – making easier to resolve potential opposition. China has been the trumpeting its achievements in trading with Africa. In a document entitled, â€Å"China-Africa Economic Trade Cooperation† it was stated: China-Africa bilateral trade volume was only US$12.14 million in 1950, it rose to US$100 million in 1960, and exceeded US$1 billion in 1980. After reaching the US$10 billion mark in 2000, China-Africa trade has maintained a momentum of rapid growth ever since. In 2008, China-Afr ica bilateral trade volume exceeded US$100 billion, of which US$50.8 billion is  China's exports to Africa and US$56 billion is imports from Africa. In the past, loans were used to help developing countries, particularly those in a post-conflict setting. Killick (1998: 4) states that: There has also been a powerful move to link aid with the promotion of â€Å"good governance† (accountability, transparency, the rule of law, the prevention of corruption, etc.) the observance of human rights and the promotion of multi-party democracy. There has been a growing use of conditionality in these areas, particularly by bilateral donors but also by the World Bank. But when it became clear that it was possible to expand the business interest of the donor country

Canadian Politics Essay Example for Free

Canadian Politics Essay Some historical theorists say that the dissimilarities between America and Canada are established in the Revolution of America, a subject that dominated most studies in the history of Canadian. With the creation of the US, the core founders of the US supported republicanism, refusing the Westminster structure of parliamentary democracy. Republicanism that inspired Americans pressured independence, an aversion to corruption, and innovation, counterbalanced by an apparent need for loyalty to public duty. Many Americans in planning a unique American path, freighted, and therefore refusing, a sturdy nation, which is central government. This paper looks into the different ways to which the Canadian political structures differs with those of the US. America and Canada are both governed under constitutions; Canadas constitution is partly conventional and partly written, and that of the US fully codified. The ultimate interpreter of the constitutions of both countries is their own supreme courts. Nevertheless, the High Court of the US has a more stretched history of constitutional implementation than the High Court of Canada. Canada’s Constitution contains of Acts of both the legislature of the UK and the National Assembly of Canada, but because of the Canadas federalism, several Acts of regional parliaments like the lawmaking Assembly of Ontario. The Constitution was altered in 1982, at which the Canadian Charter of Rights, Freedoms and amending formulas were included. The other one basic concept on these differences is the dissimilarity between the US congressional system and the Canadian parliamentary system. More differences occur from the legal/political perception of division of powers and the authority of the head of state. The President of the US is the head of government and head of state, while Canada’s Prime Minister is not head state but only head of government (Charlton, 1998). Another distinction is the Governor General and his or her cabinet ministers- also playing roles as legislators, represent the combination of power in Canada’s system, with the part of the monarch. Ministers of the crown are normally directly elected by their respective electorates known as ridings who advise the monarch or the Vice Governor General on how to practice his Crown authority and as Members of the legislature in the Canadian House of Commons. Even though neither the Governor general nor monarchs are lawfully required to select his or her cabinet Members from the House. This indicates those in charge of executive duties also contribute as legislators in the policy discussions and lawmaking process features of their duties as Members of National Assembly. By contrast, the US president has no official duty as a legislator, but only implementing and enforcing laws passed by Congress. The President of the US contributes in only informal, occasional, gatherings with Senators and Representatives. Only formally, addresses once in a year in the two term of his Presidency the gathered houses of the Congress, the Cabinet, and the Justices of the High Court of the US (James, 2004). The checks and balances in Canada are very opposite from those in the US, it can be debated that within Canada that the Prime Minister has additional authority than the US President. Canadas executive and legislative branch draw from each other, the viceroy hardly uses their powers without the consent of the Prime Minister. This only occurs from situations brought on by constitutional crisis. To ensure the firmness of government, the Governor must always select for his Prime Minister a member who has the biggest group of followers in the Canadian Common House. The Prime Minister must resign or order the General to call for an emergency election or be forced out by the governor general if a big number of the house vote against the government on serious matters of the country. The Prime Minister of a marginalized government is in a much dangerous situation than any United States president, which his presidency term is secured by the law. Often times of cohabitation are also there in the US known as divided government. Happens when different group than the White house directs congress. The President has incomplete control over the members of the House and must regularly make deals for there support. This leads to a stalemate that greatly slows down the law-making process (Charlton, 1998). It is known that the lack of individual identity which characterizes the resulting efficacy of the combined policy activity of the individuals participating in, and influencing the progression of, the US separation-of-powers system in contrast to the personal identity that characterizes the resulting efficacy of the aggregate policy activity of individuals participating in, and influencing the progression of, the Canadian fusion-of-powers system that truly makes this distinction meaningful. An example (putting federalism aside, arguendo) would be the one political actor in Canada responsible for motivating national defense policy decisions for Canada, the Minister of National Defense, contrasted with three(the Secretary of Defense, and the two chairs of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and House Committee on Armed Services) sometimes adverse political actors responsible for the direction of national defense policy Centralization of power in Canada has some benefits and legal responsibility when matched with the United State system. A good line of authority/power showing to whom the government is accountable for any particular duty Unlike the U. S. (James, 2004). There is also the issue of political parties whereby the Canadian House of Commons has seats for four political parties while US has only two political parties in Congress. Both Canada and the US use first post system to elect their representatives. This type of a system can sometimes exaggerate regional interests and disparities, e. g. Dixiecrats and Quebec of the southern. The meltdown of progressive Conservation party and the rise Quebecois party changed the political field in Canada. At the past only two parties dominated federal politics like the US, these parties were the Progressive Conservatives and the liberals, the Liberal held power for most of the 20th century until they were known as Canada’s natural governing party. Different from the US, Canadian third parties have always been able to get Members of parliament elected into the National Assembly since 1921, at times succeeding one of the two main parties as Her Majestys Loyal Opposition or forming casual coalition governments (Paul, 1992), In my opinion there are great differences regarding the way political cultures in Canada and the US. This is clearly shown on how the different political institutions in both countries are being managed and the structure through which these institutions are developed. Therefore, it would be appropriate for one to say that the Canadian political culture is not and has never been Americanized even though there are some aspects of similarity in other government structures References Charlton, Barker (1998). Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues Edition 5. ITP Nelson, Michigan Collins, Richard. (1991). Culture, communication and national identity: The case of Canadian television. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. James Bickerton, Alain Gagnon (2004). Canadian politics. Broadview Press, New York John C. Pierce, Nicholas P,(2000). Political culture and public policy in Canada and the United States: only a border apart? Edwin Mellen Press, Michigan Paul Attallah (1992), Richard Collins and the Debate on Culture and Polity, Canadian Journal of Communication, Vol 17, No 2 Nelson Wiseman (2001) Pathways to Canadian Political Culture consensus, Retrieved on 14th March 2009 from www. ubcpress. ca/books/pdf/chapters/2007/insearchofcanadianpoliticalculture. pdf

Tribulation Force :: Essays Papers

Tribulation Force Tribulation Force written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. It was published in association with the literary of Alive Communications, INC. in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1996. I got this book at the Thomasville Public Library. Jerry Jenkins is an experienced author. He has written or co-written more than one hundred books. His works have appeared in a variety of publications, such as Reader’s Digest, Parade, and many Christian periodicals. He writes his books in four genres: biography, marriage and family, fiction for adult, and fiction for children. Mr. Jenkins also writes the Gil Thorp comic strip. Jerry Jenkins has worked on this series with Dr. Tim LaHaye. Dr. Tim LaHaye is an author, minister, and counselor. Dr. LaHaye came up with the idea to put the rapture and tribulation into a book. He has written over forty books with a wide range of subjects such as, family life temperaments and Bible prophecy. Tribulation Force is part of a continuing series of thos e left behind. In the first book, Left Behind, the rapture took place. The rapture is when God takes his people or the people who has asked Jesus into their hearts up to heaven. This book is about the people that have been left behind and there struggle to survive. The book’s main characters are Rayford Steele, Chloe Steele, Buck Williams, and Bruce Barnes. Rayford Steele is a PAN-continental airline pilot. Rayford lost is wife and son in the disappearance (the rapture). Rayford was on his way to Israel when the disappearance took place. When he was on the plane he met Buck Williams, a newspaper journalist. They became fast friends. Chloe Steele, Rayford ‘s daughter, is a collage student at Stanford University. She has moved back home to be closer to her father in their time of need. Chloe meets a journalist, named Cameron (Buck) Williams. They are currently going out and are eventually getting married. Buck Williams works for the New York Global Weekly, a newspaper, as their senior writer. At home in Rayford’s wife’s church, New Life Community Church, they search for the reasons why their families were gone and not them. They turned to Bruce Barnes, a minister at New Life Community Church, for the answers. Bruce ha s told them that Jesus has came and took his people and that there will be an anti-Christ that will try to rule the world.

John Smith and William Bradford

John Smith and William Bradford were both great early explorers. Smith and Bradford had both many similarities and differences when it came to such topics as Leadership, Interaction with Native Americans, and Success in Arrival. John Smith was an explorer from the Virginia Company. He was always known as a good leader but he had one flaw. His sarcastic attitude was always getting him in trouble. It almost got him killed when he was captured by the Powhatan tribe. The only thing that saved him from execution was Pocohontas, the chiefs daughter.Smith was scheduled to arrive in Virginia because everyone on his charter were to work there as endentured servants. But Smith never ended up landing in Virginia, his charter ended up landing in Plymouth MA. William Bradford was an Explorer aboard the Mayflower and also had a lot to do with the Mayflower compact. Thankfully, Bradford never really had any problems with the native americans. He actually made peace with a Native American by the nam e of Squanto. While aboard the Mayflower, Bradford experienced a very tough journey. The ship was over crowded, they experienced bad weather, there was much disease, and a lack of necessary supplies.Once they finally made it to America though it was well worth it. Their primary reason for leaving was to escape their tyrannical King. Now that they were in a new country they weren't forced to worship him anymore. In conclusion, Smith and Bradford had both many similarities and differences when it came to such topics as Leadership, Interaction with Native Americans, and Success in Arrival. They were some of the first to colonize what the U. S. is today and they had an incredible impact on American Literature with the documents and journals that they left behind.

Islam Religion and Cultural Diversity Essay

Introduction Practices of the Muslim religion have become of great concern in the contemporary society especially in issue of world peace. Islam values and beliefs have raised controversy between followers and non-followers where the latter criticize the religion as threat to peace. This paper will explore teachings of the Islam religion to provide understanding of beliefs, values and practices in effort to resolve the controversy. This will be achieved by discussing the main pillars of Islam: Shahada, Salat, Sawm, Zakat, Hajj, Islamic law (Shariah) and Jihad (Pecorino, 2001) as well as showing application in cross cultures and nations. The paper will also show how Islam is contrasted form Christianity and Judaism. Further, it will outline how understanding of Islam would impact interactions or communications between Muslims and non-Muslims. Eventually, the paper will summarize main arguments. Muslim Teachings and Pillars Practiced Across Cultures There is diversity in Muslims and several core beliefs are held to bring unity in the religion all over the world. There are five main practices described in Quran for Muslims to observe and are commonly regarded as pillars of Islam. The first one is the declaration of faith (Shahada) that requires Muslims to bear witnesses as well testify for only one God, Allah, and His messenger Muhammad (Esposito, 2002). This declaration is needed for anyone to become Muslim and has two aspects. One part affirms absolute monotheism, oneness of God, and that associating other things to God is idolatry which is unforgivable sin. This would serve to correct Muslims on  deviating from the right path of believing in one God. The second part asserts that Muhammad is both a prophet as well as God’s messenger and hence forms the highest revelation of God’s messages to Muslims. Moreover, Muhammad life is an example that serves as role model for Muslims to emulate. The second pillar of Islam is the prayer which as known as Salat and require Muslims to worship God by praying five times in day, that is, in the morning, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and in the evening. In many places prayer times are alerted to Muslims through mega speakers at mosques’ minarets. This serves to remind believers of God’s presence in their daily activities and hence need to reaffirm dependence on Him. The prayers are accompanied by rituals and were established by Muhammad though are not in Quran. However, prayers consist of citations from the Quran and movements observed such as bowing, kneeling, and touching ground with the forehead signify expression of humility and God’s adoration. Muslims can pray anywhere such as places of work, houses, and mosques though preferably in groups for solidarity and should face Mecca that is regarded a holy city. The prayers are orderly with same start and ending. The third pillar is the Zakat that means purification and requires Muslims to worship and give thanks to God by supporting the poor. All things are believed to be owned by God and Muslim believers are required to give 2.5 percent of all they possess every year so as to support the poor, orphans, widows and those needy (Esposito, 2002). Zakat is observed as a social security in Islam and was developed about fourteen hundred years ago. In some Muslim groups, believers also contribute religious taxes out of their incomes to religious leaders and are used to support the poor. The fourth pillar is observing the fast of Ramadan (Sawm) during the ninth month of every year according to Islamic calendar. This month is regarded as Ramadan and is observed since was the time when Muhammad received first revelation of the Quran from God. During the month-long fast believers are required to abstain from foods, drinks, and sexuality between dawn and sunset. Ramadan consists of special prayers cited and foods served only during this period. In the 27th day Muslims commemorate the night of power when Muhammad received God’s revelation and the Ramadan ends with celebration of Eid al-Fitr to break the fast and give gifts (Esposito, 2002). Ramadan is meant  to stimulate reflection of believers on dependence of God, spiritual values and responsibility to care for less fortunate. The fifth pillar is the Pilgrimage also known as Hajj to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and requires all able adult Muslims worldwide to visit the city at least once in their lifetime. It follows Ramadan and requires sacrifices of time, things and comforts hence making Muslims pilgrims in God’s service. There is also lesser pilgrimage called umrah that that involves visits to other holy sites during other periods of the year. There are other teachings of Islam practiced worldwide and are more shaped or shape cultures in which they are applied. These include Jihad that is regarded as the sixth pillar and the Islamic law. Jihad is explained in Arabic as meaning to struggle or exhaust one’s efforts to exalt God though is interpreted to mean holy wars in some cultures (Pecorino, 2001). Within Islam, Jihad can be applied to lead virtuous life, charity works, preaching and fighting to defend Muslims. The Islamic law defines Islam as submission to God and hence Muslims have moral responsibility and observe Jihad in the path of God also known as Shariah. The law provides guideline for relations and interaction of believers with God as well as with amongst themselves (WGBH. 2014). Islamic law on regulation of social life include prescription of dressing codes, rituals in marriages, divorce, inheritances and behaviors that would connect all Muslims all over the world. These provisions are applied to varied magnitudes over varied cultures. This has been influenced by interactions of people due to globalization and modern law incorporates integrated cultural practices (UTA, 2009). The requirement of Muslims to exercise moral responsibility in legal, political and economic practices is also shaped by cultural practices in diverse geographic and historical contexts. Similarly, the Islamic laws influence social frameworks. There are varied practices of Islamic teachings as observed in low Islamic conviction is western nations compared to high levels in countries to the East. America and Great Britain regard Islam as strange religion compared to other religions and has expressed little support for values advocated by Muslims in national structures (PRC, 2012). However, Muslim converts are growing in the two nations and followers observe the pillars of Islam and  other teachings. Middle East, India, Pakistan and other Asian nations show strong support for Islam and have large Muslim populations that observe teachings of the religion. These countries have frameworks that reflect teachings of Islam, for instance, in their laws, political, economic activities and social practices such as behavior, marriages and support for the needy among their populations. Contrasting Islam from Christianity and Judaism The teaching of the Islam indicated above compare or contrast with some in Judaism and Christianity. Some of the contrasts include the oneness of God that is inconsistent with Judaism and Christianity that also advocate for monotheism and believe in trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God in Islam is not associated with other things that contrast with some Christians and Judaism followers that have some representation for God (Esposito, 2002). Muslims worship God through Muhammad who is God’s messenger and prophet unlike in Christianity and Judaism that worship God through Jesus who is regarded the son of God. Muslim religion believes Muhammad was the last prophet send by God to human beings and shows acknowledgement of other divine figures send to Christianity and Judaism in the Quran whereas the latter do not acknowledge other religions, for instance, Muhammad send to Islam. There are several denominations in Christianity and Judaism unlike in Islam that has single denomination practiced worldwide. The Muslim religion is allowable to polygamy in the marriage laws unlike followers of Christianity and Judaism who believe in pure monogamy. Muslim religion is more restrictive such as in dressing code especially for the women that is not observed through the teachings of Christianity and Judaism. Muslims have fixed prayer and fasting schedules that are not observed in the other among Christians and Judaism followers who set prayer and fasting events. Influence of Islam on Interactions of Muslims and Non-Muslims There are different understandings of Islam teachings that influence how Muslims and non-Muslims interact or communicate. Muslims belief of Jihad has been conceived among non-Muslims as allowable to wars that has been strongly linked to the increased terrorist activities all over the world (  2002). In addition, the contributions raised in through Zakat are misunderstood as avenues for financing war activities rather than benefiting the less fortunate. This has sparked rivalry among people since Muslims are considered as threat to world peace. This has been witnessed in conflicts based on religious inclination in some countries such as Nigeria. This rivalry would also be said of conflicts of America and nations with majority Muslims such as Afghanistan. This perspective has misconceived the aim of Jihad and would be overcome through advocating for moral value of peace possible through tolerance of religious diversity by both sides. Islamic laws regulate behaviors, communications and modes of dressing that create disconnection with other practices in the world and this hinders interactions such as marriages and talks that include education. Varied practices related to religious faith does not allow free environment to interact and hence limit integration. This would be minimized through enhanced understanding of practices for both sides since ignorance of values observed by different religions induces misconceptions that limit interactions. Conclusion Muslim religion has induced controversy among followers and non-followers in contemporary society especially when world peace is considered. This paper has discussed Muslim teachings practiced over the world in attempt to resolve the controversy. Muslim practices are embedded in pillars developed following the Quran. These pillars are Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj, Jihad and Shariah. Provisions of this pillars aim at worshipping one God and are carried out all over the world though are shaped or shape cultures. Western nations show little support of Islam in aspects of life when compared to nation to the East. Islam contrasts Christianity and Judaism through belief in oneness of God and Muhammad, acknowledging other religions in Quran, single denomination, allowed polygamy and more restrictive behavior and dress codes. Different understandings of Islam by non-followers negatively impact interactions and communication with Muslims and this has led to religious conflicts. References: Esposito, J. L. (2002). Ten Things to Know About Islam. Teach Mideast. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from: http://www.teachmideast.org/essays/35-religion/58-ten-things-to-know-about-islam Pecorino, P. A. (2001). Religions of the World: Islam. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from: http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/socialSciences/ppecorino/PHIL_of_RELIGION_TEXT/CHAPTER_2_RELIGIONS/Islam.htm PRC. (2012). The World’s Muslims: Unity and Diversity. Pew Research Center. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from: http://www.pewforum.org/2012/08/09/the-worlds-muslims-unity-and-diversity-executive-summary/ UTA. (2009). Muslim Histories & Cultures. The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from: http://sites.la.utexas.edu/mhc/tag/islam/ WGBH. (2014). Islamic belief, Law, and Practice. PBS Frontline. Retrieved 8 May 2014, from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/themes/beliefs.html