Thursday, October 31, 2019

The primary responsibility of Businesses is to increase the profit of Essay

The primary responsibility of Businesses is to increase the profit of their shareholders - Essay Example While others believe that the primary responsibility of any business enterprise is to maximize the profits of the shareholders, others feel that a business should go far beyond just profit maximization. Zain (2008) gave a comparison of the divergent views of Milton Friedman and Archie Carroll concerning the responsibility of business in a society. Friedman believes that the main responsibility of a business is to maximize the profits of the shareholders and the interest of the shareholders should be the many area of concern in any business industry (Zain, 2008). Theorists like Friedman leave it at that and argues that a lot of emphasis need only to be put in serving the interest of the shareholders who will only enjoy a handsome return. Others like Carroll go ahead to incorporate other social responsibilities that, they believe, the businesses should perform. Friedman asserts that the management in any business organization should fight to remove all the obstacles that could impede t he maximization of profits. The effect would be translated into overworking the employees of the organization or performing operations that would be hazardous to the environment and the entire community (Zain 2008). According to his reasoning, Friedman believes that provided the firms operate within the regulations that are provided for by the pre-defined legislation, and having taken into account the interest of the shareholders, all the other supposed roles will be automatically fulfilled. Friedman argues that if business organizations simply capitalize on profit maximization while operating under the established legal procedures, then the firm is assured continued life as there will be funds for inventory maintenance and expansion (Zain 2008). In his view, the management of a firm or business enterprise that engages itself in additional social responsibility may be faced with difficulties in executing its duties to be able to sustain the growth and development of the firm. Friedm an points out that â€Å"open and free competition without deception or fraud is the only responsibility of firms,† thus, social responsibilities tend to divert firms from making enough profits as demanded by shareholders (Zain 2008). On the other hand, Archie Carroll has larger view of the supposed responsibility of business. Carroll considers the roles played by businesses as four-fold and extends beyond the maximization of shareholder’s profit. In his view, business plays economic roles, ethical roles, legal roles as well as other voluntary roles that helps shape the society in general (Zain 2008). The first responsibility in this model is in line with Friedman’s profit maximization. To be able to contribute to the macro-economic development, businesses need to emphasize on the maximization of their profits by capitalizing on their strength and market opportunities. Businesses need to embark on thorough market and marketing research so as to identify what typ es of products to deal in, how much to keep in inventory and when to do so. Secondly, the government has the role of providing certain regulations in relation to the business activities to be undertaken as well as the mode of operations. Abiding by these laws and regulations is also a responsibility of business. As Zain (2008) described, â€Å"legal responsibilities are those that are defined by the authorities and firms are required to abide by them in a strict and disciplined manner.† The other set of responsibility that Carroll considers fundamental in the operations of a business enterprise is ethical responsibility. He believes there should be some set of moral standards from which the management of

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Adam Smith the Father of Modern Economics Essay Example for Free

Adam Smith the Father of Modern Economics Essay The article, Adam Smith and the Invisible Hand by Helen Joyce, proved to be interesting reading. Although it was written about three years ago and the man himself lived more than 300 years ago, the man and his theories live on through the 21st century. Before I read the article, I had never heard of Adam Smith, but it appears his ideas have penetrated time. I started doing more research into the man and his theories. In order to understand his theories and how he thought about processes, one must understand his beginnings. Adam Smith was born in Scotland. He attended Glasgow University then Oxford University. It was his experience in this stay at Oxford that was the basis for the vital observations about universities found in The Wealth of Nations. He was selected as the Professor of Logic at Glasgow and later, Professor of Moral Philosophy. He lectured on spirituality, moral principles and political economy. His first book The Theory of Moral Sentiments established his status. He sought to understand what it was that led us to care about the welfare of others. With that book complete, he gave less attention to his theories of morals and more to political economy. Later, he made the decision to give up his university post by becoming a tutor to the Duke of Buccleuch. They traveled mainly in France, where Smith came to know many of the intellectual leaders of the country. He began a dissertation on economics. It was published as The Wealth of Nations, and on this work rests the ongoing acknowledgement of him as the father of economics. He had very provocative ideas in the book. It was a work that altered the world of economics. Many say it reformed the world itself. He asserts that wealth is steadily created by rising labor output through two key factors (1) the division of labor, encouraged by trade the natural propensity to truck, barter and exchange and also (2) the growth of capital, made possible by the natural inclination of people toward thriftiness. For example, Smith alleged that a system of natural liberty allowed the self-interest of the person to be attached for the good of society, through what he called the â€Å"division of labor and the accumulation of capital. He argued that the free market is an clever device which regulates itself through supply and demand. His purpose was pretty clear: not to advance the interests of any class, but to push the wealth of the entire country. Whatever a nation consumes must be either produced from its labor or purchased in trade. There is no other basis for spending or a standard of living. He assumed that, in fiscal life, the main inspiring force central to man’s actions was self-interest. He argued that, with the right institutional frame, men following their own self -interest would serve the general good. This framework did not call for wide government law. The best plan is to leave the fiscal method alone. This has come to be known as free enterprise. Largely through his book, these principles helped to guide the then rapidly increasing economic activity. And wealth, as he saw it, consisted of goods which all people could consume. This was a democratic; and for that time, radical principle that he adhered to with notable stability. He produced a document that he expected to be used in the conduct of governments. The book presents a persuasive argument for a new approach to economic policy. Smith offered future economists with the makeup of the discipline of economics. His vision of a competitive market balance following a path of growth to wealth and abundance defined the problems that economists have wrestled with ever since His purely scientific contribution has been vast, and in its basic structure his framework still remains the heart of modern economics. On one level, it is an attack on the opinions of his people written for its own time and directed against the existing policies of government. On another level, it is an optimistic thesis that deals with basic troubles of order in human society It is an enthralling mix of ideas. In the most radical age of Western culture, when the uproar of social and intellectual upheaval puzzled lesser men, Adam Smith gave the world order. He did not invent the market or economics. He taught the world about them. For nearly 75 years, his writings supplied most of what economists knew. If there are more people per the amount of GDP, the standard of living is lower. If there are fewer people, it is higher. The GDP per capita the measure of the wealth of the nation is the product of the amount of labor productivity of that nation. The available land or other natural resources is not a decisive factor. He provided the root details of what causes labor productivity to be high or low in a nation. The theme of the book is explaining how labor productivity is resolute by the extent of the division of labor the dividing of work into a much greater number of parts. When the market is very small, when the population density is sparse, it is impossible to achieve much in the way of a division of labor. The more people that could crowd into a place, the greater the amount of specialization among occupations and the greater the marginal productivity, rather than the lesser. There is still controversy about Adam Smith and his account on the invisible hand. Simply put the invisible hand is a notion based on the law of chance. Every person intends only his or her own gain, but though a set of policies that he referred to as the system of natural liberty the good of the nation would be the accidental result. His â€Å"invisible hand is the new method of social life. He described the invisible hand in this way: Individuals naturally intend only their own gain, but unintentionally promote the general interest. He also suggests that ethics is based on sentiment, feelings of empathy between us and other people. He wrote consider how others would fairly judge their behavior before acting on matters that would involve conscience or moral judgment. The best course toward wealth and away from poverty and want is for a nations political rulers to allow for the unplanned result of self-interest, of private property rights, and of self-regulating rivalry under rules of free trade. As the economy globalizes, corporations flourish, and as societies agonize over which issues to settle according to the principles of right and wrong and which to settle according to economic principles. We see the tension between choosing to adhere to the ancient values of tradition, honor and command, or to the modern values of the business firm and the marketplace. The future global economy will tell if the invisible hand is a principle to rely on now and in the future. Though he passed away in 1790 his ideas have surely helped shape the way economists around the globe think, globally.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Elaborate And Explain The Impact Of Globalization Economics Essay

Elaborate And Explain The Impact Of Globalization Economics Essay Globalization is a process which allows for the entire world to get closer than it otherwise tends to be. This can be seen by the extensive growth and the development of the many multinational firms which tends to bring societies and economies much closer than they normally tend to be. Another example of globalization can also be the extensive growth of multinationals such as mc Donalds all around the world. Apart from this an increasing growth of communication networks such as the internet is another instance elaborating upon the extensiveness of globalization. In addition to this, another example can be the terrorists attacks of 9/11. Apart from this the spread of diseases such as AIDS and improvements in technology saving lives all over is yet another example of globalization. There may be numerous explanations to elaborate and explain the impact of globalization. In particular there are about two main schools of thought which may elaborate upon the impacts which globalization may have upon the world economy. The fist school of thought referred to as liberalism is explained to be the opinion which has a belief that an increasing level of globalization is not good for the economy. according to this perspective globalization implies that the richer become and continue to exploit the poor and get richer and on the other hand the poorer continues to being exploited and get even poorer than the normally are. However, this opinion may be subject to criticism by a number of those who believe that a growing amount of globalization may be desirable for the economies. Perhaps one of the many explanations to support this can be the economic theory of absolute and competitive advantage. According to this theory, there may be a growing level of output in the world economy if the countries around the world produce only the output which they are good and have a competitive advantage producing at. Therefore, according to this theory, if India is good at producing cotton while Japan is good at machinery, then it should be ensured that India only produces cotton and Japan machinery and then trade is ensured to allow for a greater level of output. This theory of comparative advantage helps to support and ensure a greater world output by globalization and greater exchange. Globalization Definitions There are numerous ways and means by which people have sought to explain globalization. Some of those definitions to explain globalization are as follows: 1- Kiely ET. Al said: Globalization refers to a world in which societies, cultures, polities and economies have, in some sense, come closer together.(Kiely et. al, 1998, p.3). 2- Economic dimension. The concept of globalization has emerged since the 1990s and can be defined in various ways. Giddens (1990) defined globalization as the intensification of world-wide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa.(Kiely et. al, 1998, p.3). 3-Tom J. Palmer of the Cato Institute defines globalization as the diminution or elimination of state-enforced restrictions on exchanges across borders and the increasingly integrated and complex global system of production and exchange that has emerged as a result 4-Saskia Sassen writes that a good part of globalization consists of an enormous variety of micro-processes that begin to denationalize what had been constructed as national whether policies, capital, political subjectivity, urban spaces, temporal frames, or any other of a variety of dynamics and domains 5-the United Nations ESCWA has written that globalization is a widely-used term that can be defined in a number of different ways. When used in an economic context, it refers to the reduction and removal of barriers between national borders in order to facilitate the flow of goods, capital, and services and labor although considerable barriers remain to the flow of labor -World Bank, IMF, WTO role in making international policy in markets ((globalization)) It is important to note that the role of the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO is important when it comes to the international markets. these international organizations are in continuous collaboration with one and other to form allow and encourage globalization which in turn tends to be the basic and the most widespread institution of the world today (ARMITAGE, 2005). Apart from this, there are a number of other aims and objectives of the three collaborating organizations. One of such other aim of the organization is also to allow for poverty alleviation. There are a number of programmes launched by an active collaboration of the World Bank the IMF and the WTO to remove poverty in a number of countries around the globe. This is particularly achieved by calibrating with the local government. In this regard there are a number of poverty reduction strategy papers. These papers are prepared by country authoritiesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦to describe a comprehensive economic, structural and social policy framework that is being implemented to promote growth and reduce poverty in the country. (IMF 2005c.) However, it is important to know that the functions and the work of the three organizations may not always be in black and white. It might be difficult to allow for the distinction to take place and the differences in the various tasks that are usually performed are on mere ideological basis. Although there is no doubt that the three institutions play a major role in the entire world s economic conditions, it may be questionable as to how they function, and in particular whose side or support they stand for. It may be that their stance may be different then what appears to be at the face of it. One of the many opinions or school of thought in regards to this issue maybe the Marxist school of thought. As per the Marxist school it may very likely be that the US government tends to use these institutions in order to allow for a greater domination and a greater expansion of theory state power. in other words they may use it as a means to exercise their global dominance and sustain it for a long period of time (Held and McGrew 2002: pp 62.) their argument suggested that the many plans by the US to help and aid the other relatively poorer countries are merely attempts by the US to ensure that there is no mass scale upheaval and protest in relation to the unequal policies and strategies used by the US. This can in particular be seen and evaluated by the liberal-capitalist model. (Held and McGrew 2002: pp 62) On the other hand globalists may completely differ in their stance towards the three organizations. According to them, globalists believe that the arguments of the globalists maybe at fault. It might as well be that the three organizations are actively serving to indeed help and alleviate poverty. The fact that the organizations have been collaborating with the NGOs and the local government along with the trade unions and charitable organizations are aspects which tend to support the positivist bought by the three main world organizations. -the globalization in neo-liberalist theory Neo liberalism refers to an increasing amount of focus upon the allocation of resources from the private to the public sector. In other words, there is an increasing emphasis upon consumerism, an increasing amount of efficiency and a greater level of output in the private sector. When considering an amalgamation of the globalization in the economy with respect to the neo liberist theory, there has to be two issues which are essentially important to be taken into consideration. First and fore mostly is the increasing amount of effect that globalization has upon the government policies which often tend to ensure that their respective countries are not completely surrendered towards globalization. Globalization and Social Policy wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn) 2-The rate of change in output from the current year to the next year. www.canequity.com/mortgage-resources/ The role of globalization in the factors of economic growth (positive) Income distribution: there may be arguments and an evidence of materials especially the one by the World Bank to argue that an increase in globalization has reduced the income inequalities of the world. This in particular can be seen by the fact that the countries which are the most globalize tends to have the least inequality in its distribution of income and wealth. Quality of life: there is a general belief that an increasing level of globalization is directly related to improving living standards of the world. This may be possible due to an extensive level of exchange in technology. For instance, the development of any life saving drug may seek to increase the living standards of the general world population. The role of globalization in the factors of economic growth (negative) A. Quality of life: however, it may not necessarily be that an increase in globalization would definitely improve the life quality. An example might be that of tourism. It may be useful to assume that globalization has lead to an increasing amount of tourists but then it might a swell be that the loss of the traditional simple and happy lifestyle of perhaps a fisherman is no more the case and has been completely altered. In this case globalization has had a negative implication on the living standards if the people. B. Consumerism it has also been held that an increasing amount of globalization may also lead to an increasing level of consumerism which refers to an excess of wants then what is required or a good living. This may mean that the consumers may become excessively dependant on such goods to attain a desirable living standard. C. Equitable Growth it is also important to note that an increasing amount of globalization may not always be beneficial to the economy. There may be a need to have a more sustainable growth but perhaps due to the increasing pressure on natural resources and the need for it to being conserved for the next generation. However, if sustainable growth in the economy is not achieved as it might be in the case of industries developed at a fast rate then this may lead to an increasing amount of difficulties for the future. How can globalization promote economic growth? Globalization may have increasing amount of impacts on the economic growth of the country. It may directly seek as a means of living due to perhaps employment of people in multinational companies. this holds especially true for the developing countries where these multinational seek to allow for employment and also lead an n=increasing amount of investments into the country. This may in particular; ad to economic growth and maximize the output of the country. Apart from this, increasing demand for local goods by the foreigner may also be helpful in increasing the level of output ad income in the economy. What is the relation between economic growth and globalization? The countries that attempt the globalization policies in their life style they has faster economic growth. Examples can be found among Chinese, Indian states, and the countries of Bangladesh and Vietnam. On the other hand some countries were failed, such as Afghanistan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo in embarking the globalization strategies like some domestic reforms, many social service provision. Worldwide act, that provided access to foreign markets, technology, and aid. **Poverty reduction: Introduction Even today more than one fifth of the worlds population lives on less than $1 per day. Moreover, there is still poverty spreading out in several developing nations. This is a major concern for many particularly because world statistics indicate that 6 billion people, 2.8 billion live on less than $US2 a day, and 1.2 billion live on less than $US1 a day, while more than 800 million people are said to be malnourished (WDR 2000-2001). Moreover, the world population comprising the poor is very unevenly spread out with about one fourth of the population centered on Asian region comprising just seven countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). An approximation indicates that there might be around 800 million poor people lining in these areas. (Rasul 1997:51). Thus, poverty for such nations may be a crucial aspect and forms their primary priority to be solved. Definition Poverty is one of the greatest hurdles the world could ever face. Despite many attempts o eliminate it still remains a crucial concerns amongst many nations. It can be seen as one of the issues which tend to hinder development, particularly amongst the developing nations. Even amongst the developed nations it still continues to be problematic as it is still prevalent there. Social and economic problems such as unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition, diseases, bad housing, and lack of access to social services are often found to correlate and coexist with poverty. And as these problems imply that individual find it difficult to lead an easy life. In other words poverty implies malnutrition; lack of shelter; being sick and not being able to see a doctor; literacy; unemployment fear of the future, living one day at a time; powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom. These are the many problems of poverty which should be sought an escape from. (NCHADI MOFALADI, 2005) ((Shorter and paraphrasing)) Another definition by the World Bank study In the present state of our understanding of the poverty syndrome, there is no theoretical framework within which poverty can be satisfactorily explained in its entirety Other definition The UNDP (1997: 2) defines poverty as denial of choices and opportunities for living a tolerable life. On the other hand also poverty can be defined as the situation, which impedes an individual or a family to satisfy one or more needs and to participate fully in social life. (Morales 1994:16). These needs include health, education, housing, social security, and basic communication etc. Causes of poverty: Take in general The positive impact of globalization in poverty reduction Economic integration has positive effects on growth and poverty reduction, especially within a developing economy. In short, as Kiely et. al (1998) presented, as three main aspects of globalization, international trade, capital flows as well as transnational corporations have good and favorable impact on poverty. These positive implications of globalization for poverty are respectively analyzed in details as followed. The negative impact of poverty reduction Attempts and programmes to low for poverty reduction may imply that help provided to the poor perhaps by allowing for better housing facilities or so may make them inefficient and they may start to rely more and more and increasingly upon the state and the NGOs for help. How can the globalization reduce the poverty? Æ’ËÅ" Economic globalization reduces poverty and income inequality neo liberal economic globalization strongly believe that globalization is a benign force for social transformation, which through free trade and capital mobility is creating a global market, civilization in which prosperity, wealth power and liberal democracy are being diffused widely in all direction of the globe. The IMF also helped to allow for poverty alleviation. In this regard the loans to remove poverty came not from the IMF but from the commercial and investment banks in the private sector. The increasing OPEC oil prices had allowed for a greater amount of cash to be in flowed into the banks and these were landed to the developing countries to allow for a greater amount of loans and to earn heavy interest. However, these plans were soon failed because the developing countries failed to progress with the loans that they were given. Rather, they found it difficult to return back the loans. This had been due to the high oil prices due to which the balance of payment has gone into a deficit and soon they were out of cash. At this point in time when the debts were no longer being services, the IMF stepped in allow for loans to these nations directly. An oil fund was also set in to allow for money to the developing nation. Case study Comparison between the case studies 5.1. Introduction: The table below would seek to outline the comparison of the developing and globalize countries and would explain how the many globalize countries have developed extensively due to their globalization policies. The growth rate and whether the countries adopt globalization have also been mentioned. Note that the growth rates for the year 2009 have been given: Country globalize growth rate Thailand yes 5% Congo no 3% Malaysia yes 6.1% China yes 8.7% India yes 6.5% Kenya no 3% In the early 1980s China was among the poorest countries with more than 60 percent of its population living on less than $1 a day. However, now China is considered to be the most striking recent example of success story of globalization. Chinas poverty was cut in half by 1990 and in half again by 2001. In China, life expectancy rose by four years, from 66.8 to 70.7 years from 1980 to 2002, and infant mortality fell from 49 to 32 per 1000 live births (WB, WDR, 2005). China now has become an important trade power in the world. The share of Merchandise trade in GDP has increased significantly during the 1990s and reached 60.1 percent in 2003 as compared to 32.5 percent in 1990. The annual average Growth rate of export of goods and services is about 27 percent in 2003 and 2004. Similarly, the import growth was about 25 percent in those years. In spite of chinas perceived success which is captured by an increase in growth as attributed to globalization, the debate still exist as to the need or relevance of Globalization for developing countries. This leads to the following research questions stated below. The last 4 decades of internationalization in Thailand manufacturing has become increasingly dominant. The more globalize countries: China, Argentina, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, China, India, Nepal, Cà ´te d Ivoire, Rwanda and Haiti: These countries have all undertaken reforms perceived as positive, such as investment liberalization, stabilization and property rights. Conclusion The mainstream view also argues that if a poor country wants to catch up with the rich country, it should become more global into the world market, which is manifested through opening up its borders, reducing tariff rates, attracting foreign capital, and so on. Thus it can be seen that by globalizing the countries would definitely have a better advantage and a greater deal of earnings than it would otherwise have it does not globalize and operates in a closed economy. Operating in a closed economy would imply that the country refuses to trade. Note that in such a case the three organizations, namely the world trade organization (WTO), the international monetary fund (IMF) and the World Bank would not be very appreciative of the foreign policy and the fact that an increasing amount of protectionism is being applied by the country. This in turn would mean that in case the country gets into any state of economic recession or is perhaps hasten by poverty or any other such problem it might as well be less likely for these organizations to lend a helping hand to the country. This in turn may prove to be a genuine concern for that particular country, especially when looking at it in case of any possible trouble. However if we compare this issue to that of a country which tends to be a globalize it can be seen that globalization tends to potray a very favorable and good image of the country. For instance, let us look at India as an example. After coming out of the increasing amount of protectionist policies that the country had, it could be seen that India entered a new phase of development. Perhaps one of the best and greatest advantages that India had after it started globalizing was that of tourism. Tourism in India helped the country earn an increasing level of foreign exchange and also let it to develop. However, tourism is just one of the many advantages which globalization brings with it. One of the other great advantage that globalization tends to bring with it also tends to be that of an increase exchange of information and data all across the world. Thus any improvements in technology in one corner of the world can very easily be available and accessible to the other part of the wor ld. An example of this can be the development of the GPRS system of technology or what is commonly also referred to as the global repositioning system of technology. This means of sharing information all across the glove was possible only through an extensive level of globalization all across the world. Not only has this, but globalization helps and promises bettered living standards to each and every inhabitants of the world. One of the way in which it is done so by allowing a far greater level of goods and services to be available to individuals all over the world. for instance, if as fruit such as strawberries are not grown or available in India, then globalization and an extensive level of world trade ensures that those goods and services which in this case tends to be the fruits is made available to other. Another way of an improvement in the living standards can be seen by the way there are more and more services available to all the countries as a result of globalization. thus for instance, if a [particular country lacks educational facilities, globalization makes in easier and more convenient to avail those facilities. an example of such a service can be the cie examination service which have been spreading out to an increasing amount of countries across the globe. although initially just set up for the UK, globalization allowed an increasing number of individuals to avail the examination services and therefore this allows for an important indicator promising better living standards. Another such practical advantage which can be closely seen as a result of globalization can also be that of Dubai. Initially exporting mainly oil, Dubai learned to expand and allow more tourists into the country, thereby allowing an increasing inflow of investments to enter within the country. This in turn helped up to boost the markets of Dubai and led to an increasing level of foreign investments. these investments indeed proved to be very helpful fort he economy of Dubai because following this investment there was an increasing level of growth in the country even after the economic recession which took place all across the globe. Apart from this, there is also another issue of recognition. It is most commonly held that the countries which tend to be more globalized have a greater cognition in the international economy. As a result these countries often are supported and favored when there is any international issue coming up and the particular economy needs lot of support. On the other hand, an economy which lacks in it the element of globalization and tends to keep to it would have a greater difficulty in trying to maintain up to its image and gain an increasing amount of support internationally. However, if we compare these advantages that a globalize nation has against those which a no globalize nation often tends to have it can be seen that a globalize nation has a stronger support form the international organization and thus has a lesser chance of not receiving any help from internationally. Not only this but the relative advantages which a globalize nation tends to have in comparison to a nation which is not at all globalize implies that globalization has far greater benefits than those which otherwise appear of to be. After seeing the difference between the global and less global countries it has been obvious that globalization have many benefits to all especially to reduce poverty and on promoting economic growth for every one developed countries and un developed ones ( the third world).

Friday, October 25, 2019

The State of Our World Depicted in the Book, Natural Capitalism: Creati

The State of Our World Depicted in the Book, Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution Each word in the title of the book Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution carries powerful undertones. For example â€Å"industrial revolution† carries a negative connotation for me; I picture smoke stacks pouring out pollution and darkening the cities and six year old children working fourteen hours a day in factories for little pay. I simultaneously recognize the remarkable amount of inventions and technologies that were developed during and following the Industrial Revolution and its vast impact on the world and on the United States, which places great value on the idea of capitalism. Considering my preconceptions simply based on the words of the title of the book, I was intrigued to read the first chapter of the book and to see what could be environmentally â€Å"natural† about capitalism and what a new industrial revolution would involve. Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and Hunter Lovins, the authors of Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, offer a persuasive and powerful outlook on the state of our world currently and in the future through intertwining logical arguments, emotional appeals, and establishments of personal credibility. The chapter opens with an appeal to emotions. The book describes a scene to imagine - a more peaceful and world with more parks, cleaner air and water, societal harmony, better quality of life, and lack of income taxes (1). This beginning passage is an effective way to draw readers into the book because it intrigues them and causes them to desire the world to which they are being introduced. The opening prepares the readers ... ...pe (regarding a service and flow economy). These and the other examples given in the chapter demonstrate to the reader that changes for the better are possible and have been already taking place and yielding results. I feel that Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution is persuasive and well-written. The progression from a fantasy to how to achieve that fantasy specifically is effective. The use of emotional appeals to back up the logical claims and arguments were balanced and placed in good places. I am persuaded to learn more about how the ideals of this book are being played out in the world, and I want to support proponents of valuing natural capital in their efforts. Works Cited Hawken, Paul, Amory Lovins, and Hunter Lovins. Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revoution. : Little Brown and Company, 1999.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 22. FIRE AND ICE

THE WIND SHOOK THE TENT AGAIN, AND I SHOOK WITH IT. The temperature was dropping. I could feel it through the down bag, through my jacket. I was fully dressed, my hiking boots still laced into place. It didn't make any difference. How could it be so cold? How could it keep getting colder? It had to bottom out sometime, didn't it? â€Å"W-w-w-w-w-what t-t-t-t-time is it?† I forced the words through my rattling teeth. â€Å"Two,† Edward answered. Edward sat as far from me as possible in the cramped space, afraid to even breathe on me when I was already so cold. It was too dark to see his face, but his voice was wild with worry, indecision, and frustration. â€Å"Maybe . . .† â€Å"No, I'm f-f-f-f-f-fine, r-r-r-really. I don't w-w-w-want to g-go outside.† He'd tried to talk me into making a run for it a dozen times already, but I was terrified of leaving my shelter. If it was this cold in here, protected from the raging wind, I could imagine how bad it would be if we were running through it. And it would waste all our efforts this afternoon. Would we have enough time to reset ourselves when the storm was over? What if it didn't end? It made no sense to move now. I could shiver my way through one night. I was worried that the trail I had laid would be lost, but he promised that it would still be plain to the coming monsters. â€Å"What can I do?† he almost begged. I just shook my head. Out in the snow, Jacob whined unhappily. â€Å"G-g-g-get out of h-h-h-ere,† I ordered, again. â€Å"He's just worried about you,† Edward translated. â€Å"He's fine. His body is equipped to deal with this.† â€Å"H-h-h-h-h-h.† I wanted to say that he should still leave, but I couldn't get it past my teeth. I nearly bit my tongue off trying. At least Jacob did seem to be well equipped for the snow, better even than the others in his pack with his thicker, longer, shaggy russet fur. I wondered why that was. Jacob whimpered, a high-pitched, grating sound of complaint. â€Å"What do you want me to do?† Edward growled, too anxious to bother with politeness anymore. â€Å"Carry her through that? I don't see you making yourself useful. Why don't you go fetch a space heater or something?† â€Å"I'm ok-k-k-k-k-k-kay,† I protested. Judging from Edward's groan and the muted growl outside the tent, I hadn't convinced anyone. The wind rocked the tent roughly, and I shuddered in harmony with it. A sudden howl ripped through the roar of the wind, and I covered my ears against the noise. Edward scowled. â€Å"That was hardly necessary,† he muttered. â€Å"And that's the worst idea I've ever heard,† he called more loudly. â€Å"Better than anything you've come up with,† Jacob answered, his human voice startling me. â€Å"Go fetch a space heater,† he grumbled. â€Å"I'm not a St. Bernard.† I heard the sound of the zipper around the tent door pulling swiftly down. Jacob slid through the smallest opening he could manage, while the arctic air flowed in around him, a few flecks of snow falling to the floor of the tent. I shivered so hard it was a convulsion. â€Å"I don't like this,† Edward hissed as Jake zipped the tent door shut. â€Å"Just give her the coat and get out.† My eyes were adjusted enough to see shapes – Jacob was carrying the parka that had been hanging on a tree next to the tent. I tried to ask what they were talking about, but all that came out of my mouth was, â€Å"W-w-w-w-w-w,† as the shivering made me stutter uncontrollably. â€Å"The parka's for tomorrow – she's too cold to warm it up by herself. It's frozen.† He dropped it by the door. â€Å"You said she needed a space heater, and here I am.† Jacob held his arms as wide as the tent allowed. As usual, when he'd been running around as a wolf, he'd only thrown on the bare essentials – just a pair of sweats, no shirt, no shoes. â€Å"J-J-J-J-Jake, you'll f-f-f-freez-z-z-ze,† I tried to complain. â€Å"Not me,† he said cheerfully. â€Å"I run at a toasty one-oh-eight point nine these days. I'll have you sweating in no time.† Edward snarled, but Jacob didn't even look at him. Instead, he crawled to my side and started unzipping my sleeping bag. Edward's hand was suddenly hard on his shoulder, restraining, snow white against the dark skin. Jacob's jaw clenched, his nostrils flaring, his body recoiling from the cold touch. The long muscles in his arms flexed automatically. â€Å"Get your hand off of me,† he growled through his teeth. â€Å"Keep your hands off of her,† Edward answered blackly. â€Å"D-d-d-don't f-f-f-f-fight,† I pleaded. Another tremor rocked through me. It felt like my teeth were going to shatter, they were slamming together so hard. â€Å"I'm sure she'll thank you for this when her toes turn black and drop off,† Jacob snapped. Edward hesitated, then his hand fell away and he slid back to his position in the corner. His voice was flat and frightening. â€Å"Watch yourself.† Jacob chuckled. â€Å"Scoot over, Bella,† he said, zipping the sleeping bag open farther. I stared at him in outrage. No wonder Edward was reacting this way. â€Å"N-n-n-n-n,† I tried to protest. â€Å"Don't be stupid,† he said, exasperated. â€Å"Don't you like having ten toes?† He crammed his body into the nonexistent space, forcing the zipper up behind himself. And then I couldn't object – I didn't want to anymore. He was so warm. His arms constricted around me, holding me snugly against his bare chest. The heat was irresistible, like air after being underwater for too long. He cringed when I pressed my icy fingers eagerly against his skin. â€Å"Jeez, you're freezing, Bella,† he complained. â€Å"S-s-s-s-sorry,† I stuttered. â€Å"Try to relax,† he suggested as another shiver rippled through me violently. â€Å"You'll be warm in a minute. Of course, you'd warm up faster if you took your clothes off.† Edward growled sharply. â€Å"That's just a simple fact,† Jacob defended himself. â€Å"Survival one-oh-one.† â€Å"C-c-cut it out, Jake,† I said angrily, though my body refused to even try to pull away from him. â€Å"N-n-n- nobody really n-n-n-n-needs all ten t-t-t-toes.† â€Å"Don't worry about the bloodsucker,† Jacob suggested, and his tone was smug. â€Å"He's just jealous.† â€Å"Of course I am.† Edward's voice was velvet again, under control, a musical murmur in the darkness. â€Å"You don't have the faintest idea how much I wish I could do what you're doing for her, mongrel.† â€Å"Those are the breaks,† Jacob said lightly, but then his tone soured. â€Å"At least you know she wishes it was you.† â€Å"True,† Edward agreed. The shuddering slowed, became bearable while they wrangled. â€Å"There,† Jacob said, pleased. â€Å"Feeling better?† I was finally able to speak clearly. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Your lips are still blue,† he mused. â€Å"Want me to warm those up for you, too? You only have to ask.† Edward sighed heavily. â€Å"Behave yourself,† I muttered, pressing my face against his shoulder. He flinched again when my cold skin touched his, and I smiled with slightly vindictive satisfaction. It was already warm and snug inside the sleeping bag. Jacob's body heat seemed to radiate from every side – maybe because there was so much of him. I kicked my boots off, and pushed my toes against his legs. He jumped slightly, and then leaned his head down to press his hot cheek against my numb ear. I noticed that Jacob's skin had a woodsy, musky scent – it fit the setting, here in the middle of the forest. It was nice. I wondered if the Cullens and the Quileutes weren't just playing up that whole odor issue because of their prejudices. Everyone smelled fine to me. The storm howled like an animal attacking the tent, but it didn't worry me now. Jacob was out of the cold, and so was I. Plus, I was simply too exhausted to worry about anything – tired from just staying awake so late, and aching from the muscle spasms. My body relaxed slowly as I thawed, piece by frozen piece, and then turned limp. â€Å"Jake?† I mumbled sleepily. â€Å"Can I ask you something? I'm not trying to be a jerk or anything, I'm honestly curious.† They were the same words he'd used in my kitchen . . . how long ago was it now? â€Å"Sure,† he chuckled, remembering. â€Å"Why are you so much furrier than your friends? You don't have to answer if I'm being rude.† I didn't know the rules for etiquette as they applied to werewolf culture. â€Å"Because my hair is longer,† he said, amused – my question hadn't offended him, at least. He shook his head so that his unkempt hair – grown out to his chin now – tickled my cheek. â€Å"Oh.† I was surprised, but it made sense. So that was why they'd all cropped their hair in the beginning, when they joined the pack. â€Å"Then why don't you cut it? Do you like to be shaggy?† He didn't answer right away this time, and Edward laughed under his breath. â€Å"Sorry,† I said, pausing to yawn. â€Å"I didn't mean to pry. You don't have to tell me.† Jacob made an annoyed sound. â€Å"Oh, he'll tell you anyway, so I might as well. . . . I was growing my hair out because . . . it seemed like you liked it better long.† â€Å"Oh.† I felt awkward. â€Å"I, er, like it both ways, Jake. You don't need to be . . . inconvenienced.† He shrugged. â€Å"Turns out it was very convenient tonight, so don't worry about it.† I didn't have anything else to say. As the silence lengthened, my eyelids drooped and shut, and my breathing grew slower, more even. â€Å"That's right, honey, go to sleep,† Jacob whispered. I sighed, content, already half-unconscious. â€Å"Seth is here,† Edward muttered to Jacob, and I suddenly understood the point of the howling. â€Å"Perfect. Now you can keep an eye on everything else, while I take care of your girlfriend for you.† Edward didn't answer, but I groaned groggily. â€Å"Stop it,† I muttered. It was quiet then, inside at least. Outside, the wind shrieked insanely through the trees. The shimmying of the tent made it hard to sleep. The poles would suddenly jerk and quiver, pulling me back from the edge of unconsciousness each time I was close to slipping under. I felt so bad for the wolf, the boy that was stuck outside in the snow. My mind wandered as I waited for sleep to find me. This warm little space made me think of the early days with Jacob, and I remembered how it used to be when he was my replacement sun, the warmth that made my empty life livable. It had been a while since I'd thought of Jake that way, but here he was, warming me again. â€Å"Please!† Edward hissed. â€Å"Do you mind!† â€Å"What?† Jacob whispered back, his tone surprised. â€Å"Do you think you could attempt to control your thoughts?† Edward's low whisper was furious. â€Å"No one said you had to listen,† Jacob muttered, defiant, yet still embarrassed. â€Å"Get out of my head.† â€Å"I wish I could. You have no idea how loud your little fantasies are. It's like you're shouting them at me.† â€Å"I'll try to keep it down,† Jacob whispered sarcastically. There was a brief moment of silence. â€Å"Yes,† Edward answered an unspoken thought in a murmur so low I barely made it out. â€Å"I'm jealous of that, too.† â€Å"I figured it was like that,† Jacob whispered smugly. â€Å"Sort of evens the playing field up a little, doesn't it?† Edward chuckled. â€Å"In your dreams.† â€Å"You know, she could still change her mind,† Jacob taunted him. â€Å"Considering all the things I could do with her that you can't. At least, not without killing her, that is.† â€Å"Go to sleep, Jacob,† Edward murmured. â€Å"You're starting to get on my nerves.† â€Å"I think I will. I'm really very comfortable.† Edward didn't answer. I was too far gone to ask them to stop talking about me like I wasn't there. The conversation had taken on a dreamlike quality to me, and I wasn't sure I was really awake. â€Å"Maybe I would,† Edward said after a moment, answering a question I hadn't heard. â€Å"But would you be honest?† â€Å"You can always ask and see.† Edward's tone made me wonder if I was missing out on a joke. â€Å"Well, you see inside my head – let me see inside yours tonight, it's only fair,† Jacob said. â€Å"Your head is full of questions. Which one do you want me to answer?† â€Å"The jealousy . . . it has to be eating at you. You can't be as sure of yourself as you seem. Unless you have no emotions at all.† â€Å"Of course it is,† Edward agreed, no longer amused. â€Å"Right now it's so bad that I can barely control my voice. Of course, it's even worse when she's away from me, with you, and I can't see her.† â€Å"Do you think about it all the time?† Jacob whispered. â€Å"Does it make it hard to concentrate when she's not with you?† â€Å"Yes and no,† Edward said; he seemed determined to answer honestly. â€Å"My mind doesn't work quite the same as yours. I can think of many more things at one time. Of course, that means that I'm always able to think of you, always able to wonder if that's where her mind is, when she's quiet and thoughtful.† They were both still for a minute. â€Å"Yes, I would guess that she thinks about you often,† Edward murmured in response to Jacob's thoughts. â€Å"More often than I like. She worries that you're unhappy. Not that you don't know that. Not that you don't use that.† â€Å"I have to use whatever I can,† Jacob muttered. â€Å"I'm not working with your advantages – advantages like her knowing she's in love with you.† â€Å"That helps,† Edward agreed in a mild tone. Jacob was defiant. â€Å"She's in love with me, too, you know.† Edward didn't answer. Jacob sighed. â€Å"But she doesn't know it.† â€Å"I can't tell you if you're right.† â€Å"Does that bother you? Do you wish you could see what she's thinking, too?† â€Å"Yes . . . and no, again. She likes it better this way, and, though it sometimes drives me insane, I'd rather she was happy.† The wind ripped around the tent, shaking it like an earthquake. Jacob's arms tightened around me protectively. â€Å"Thank you,† Edward whispered. â€Å"Odd as this might sound, I suppose I'm glad you're here, Jacob.† â€Å"You mean, ‘as much as I'd love to kill you, I'm glad she's warm,' right?† â€Å"It's an uncomfortable truce, isn't it?† Jacob's whisper was suddenly smug. â€Å"I knew you were just as crazy jealous as I am.† â€Å"I'm not such a fool as to wear it on my sleeve like you do. It doesn't help your case, you know.† â€Å"You have more patience than I do.† â€Å"I should. I've had a hundred years to gain it. A hundred years of waiting for her.† â€Å"So . . . at what point did you decide to play the very patient good guy?† â€Å"When I saw how much it was hurting her to make her choose. It's not usually this difficult to control. I can smother the . . . less civilized feelings I may have for you fairly easily most of the time. Sometimes I think she sees through me, but I can't be sure.† â€Å"I think you were just worried that if you really forced her to choose, she might not choose you.† Edward didn't answer right away. â€Å"That was a part of it,† he finally admitted. â€Å"But only a small part. We all have our moments of doubt. Mostly I was worried that she'd hurt herself trying to sneak away to see you. After I'd accepted that she was more or less safe with you – as safe as Bella ever is – it seemed best to stop driving her to extremes.† Jacob sighed. â€Å"I'd tell her all of this, but she'd never believe me.† â€Å"I know.† It sounded like Edward was smiling. â€Å"You think you know everything,† Jacob muttered. â€Å"I don't know the future,† Edward said, his voice suddenly unsure. There was a long pause. â€Å"What would you do if she changed her mind?† Jacob asked. â€Å"I don't know that either.† Jacob chuckled quietly. â€Å"Would you try to kill me?† Sarcastic again, as if doubting Edward's ability to do it. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Why not?† Jacob's tone was still jeering. â€Å"Do you really think I would hurt her that way?† Jacob hesitated for a second, and then sighed. â€Å"Yeah, you're right. I know that's right. But sometimes . . .† â€Å"Sometimes it's an intriguing idea.† Jacob pressed his face into the sleeping bag to muffle his laugher. â€Å"Exactly,† he eventually agreed. What a strange dream this was. I wondered if it was the relentless wind that made me imagine all the whispering. Only the wind was screaming rather than whispering . . . â€Å"What is it like? Losing her?† Jacob asked after a quiet moment, and there was no hint of humor in his suddenly hoarse voice. â€Å"When you thought that you'd lost her forever? How did you . . . cope?† â€Å"That's very difficult for me to talk about.† Jacob waited. â€Å"There were two different times that I thought that.† Edward spoke each word just a little slower than normal. â€Å"The first time, when I thought I could leave her . . . that was . . . almost bearable. Because I thought she would forget me and it would be like I hadn't touched her life. For over six months I was able to stay away, to keep my promise that I wouldn't interfere again. It was getting close – I was fighting but I knew I wasn't going to win; I would have come back . . . just to check on her. That's what I would have told myself, anyway. And if I'd found her reasonably happy . . . I like to think that I could have gone away again. â€Å"But she wasn't happy. And I would have stayed. That's how she convinced me to stay with her tomorrow, of course. You were wondering about that before, what could possibly motivate me . . . what she was feeling so needlessly guilty about. She reminded me of what it did to her when I left – what it still does to her when I leave. She feels horrible about bringing that up, but she's right. I'll never be able to make up for that, but I'll never stop trying anyway.† Jacob didn't respond for a moment, listening to the storm or digesting what he'd heard, I didn't know which. â€Å"And the other time – when you thought she was dead?† Jacob whispered roughly. â€Å"Yes.† Edward answered a different question. â€Å"It will probably feel like that to you, won't it? The way you perceive us, you might not be able to see her as Bella anymore. But that's who she'll be.† â€Å"That's not what I asked.† Edward's voice came back fast and hard. â€Å"I can't tell you how it felt. There aren't words.† Jacob's arms flexed around me. â€Å"But you left because you didn't want to make her a bloodsucker. You want her to be human.† Edward spoke slowly. â€Å"Jacob, from the second that I realized that I loved her, I knew there were only four possibilities. The first alternative, the best one for Bella, would be if she didn't feel as strongly for me – if she got over me and moved on. I would accept that, though it would never change the way I felt. You think of me as a . . . living stone – hard and cold. That's true. We are set the way we are, and it is very rare for us to experience a real change. When that happens, as when Bella entered my life, it is a permanent change. There's no going back. . . . â€Å"The second alternative, the one I'd originally chosen, was to stay with her throughout her human life. It wasn't a good option for her, to waste her life with someone who couldn't be human with her, but it was the alternative I could most easily face. Knowing all along that, when she died, I would find a way to die, too. Sixty years, seventy years – it would seem like a very, very short time to me. . . . But then it proved much too dangerous for her to live in such close proximity with my world. It seemed like everything that could go wrong did. Or hung over us . . . waiting to go wrong. I was terrified that I wouldn't get those sixty years if I stayed near her while she was human. â€Å"So I chose option three. Which turned out to be the worst mistake of my very long life, as you know. I chose to take myself out of her world, hoping to force her into the first alternative. It didn't work, and it very nearly killed us both. â€Å"What do I have left but the fourth option? It's what she wants – at least, she thinks she does. I've been trying to delay her, to give her time to find a reason to change her mind, but she's very . . . stubborn. You know that. I'll be lucky to stretch this out a few more months. She has a horror of getting older, and her birthday is in September. . . .† â€Å"I like option one,† Jacob muttered. Edward didn't respond. â€Å"You know exactly how much I hate to accept this,† Jacob whispered slowly, â€Å"but I can see that you do love her . . . in your way. I can't argue with that anymore. â€Å"Given that, I don't think you should give up on the first alternative, not yet. I think there's a very good chance that she would be okay. After time. You know, if she hadn't jumped off a cliff in March . . . and if you'd waited another six months to check on her. . . . Well, you might have found her reasonably happy. I had a game plan.† Edward chuckled. â€Å"Maybe it would have worked. It was a well thought-out plan.† â€Å"Yeah.† Jake sighed. â€Å"But . . . ,† suddenly he was whispering so fast the words got tangled, â€Å"give me a year, bl – Edward. I really think I could make her happy. She's stubborn, no one knows that better than I do, but she's capable of healing. She would have healed before. And she could be human, with Charlie and Rene, and she could grow up, and have kids and . . . be Bella. â€Å"You love her enough that you have to see the advantages of that plan. She thinks you're very unselfish . . . are you really? Can you consider the idea that I might be better for her than you are?† â€Å"I have considered it,† Edward answered quietly. â€Å"In some ways, you would be better suited for her than another human. Bella takes some looking after, and you're strong enough that you could protect her from herself, and from everything that conspires against her. You have done that already, and I'll owe you for that for as long as I live – forever – whichever comes first. . . . â€Å"I even asked Alice if she could see that – see if Bella would be better off with you. She couldn't, of course. She can't see you, and then Bella's sure of her course, for now. â€Å"But I'm not stupid enough to make the same mistake I made before, Jacob. I won't try to force her into that first option again. As long as she wants me, I'm here.† â€Å"And if she were to decide that she wanted me?† Jacob challenged. â€Å"Okay, it's a long shot, I'll give you that.† â€Å"I would let her go.† â€Å"Just like that?† â€Å"In the sense that I'd never show her how hard it was for me, yes. But I would keep watch. You see, Jacob, you might leave her someday. Like Sam and Emily, you wouldn't have a choice. I would always be waiting in the wings, hoping for that to happen.† Jacob snorted quietly. â€Å"Well, you've been much more honest than I had any right to expect . . . Edward. Thanks for letting me in your head.† â€Å"As I said, I'm feeling oddly grateful for your presence in her life tonight. It was the least I could do. . . . You know, Jacob, if it weren't for the fact that we're natural enemies and that you're also trying to steal away the reason for my existence, I might actually like you.† â€Å"Maybe . . . if you weren't a disgusting vampire who was planning to suck out the life of the girl I love . . . well, no, not even then.† Edward chuckled. â€Å"Can I ask you something?† Edward said after a moment. â€Å"Why would you have to ask?† â€Å"I can only hear if you think of it. It's just a story that Bella seemed reluctant to tell me about the other day. Something about a third wife . . . ?† â€Å"What about it?† Edward didn't answer, listening to the story in Jacob's head. I heard his low hiss in the darkness. â€Å"What?† Jacob demanded again. â€Å"Of course,† Edward seethed. â€Å"Of course! I rather wish your elders had kept that story to themselves, Jacob.† â€Å"You don't like the leeches being painted as the bad guys?† Jacob mocked. â€Å"You know, they are. Then and now.† â€Å"I really couldn't care less about that part. Can't you guess which character Bella would identify with?† It took Jacob a minute. â€Å"Oh. Ugh. The third wife. Okay, I see your point.† â€Å"She wants to be there in the clearing. To do what little she can, as she puts it.† He sighed. â€Å"That was the secondary reason for my staying with her tomorrow. She's quite inventive when she wants something.† â€Å"You know, your military brother gave her the idea just as much as the story did.† â€Å"Neither side meant any harm,† Edward whispered, peace-making now. â€Å"And when does this little truce end?† Jacob asked. â€Å"First light? Or do we wait until after the fight?† There was a pause as they both considered. â€Å"First light,† they whispered together, and then laughed quietly. â€Å"Sleep well, Jacob,† Edward murmured. â€Å"Enjoy the moment.† It was quiet again, and the tent held still for a few minutes. The wind seemed to have decided that it wasn't going to flatten us after all, and was giving up the fight. Edward groaned softly. â€Å"I didn't mean that quite so literally.† â€Å"Sorry,† Jacob whispered. â€Å"You could leave, you know – give us a little privacy.† â€Å"Would you like me to help you sleep, Jacob?† Edward offered. â€Å"You could try,† Jacob said, unconcerned. â€Å"It would be interesting to see who walked away, wouldn't it?† â€Å"Don't tempt me too far, wolf. My patience isn't that perfect.† Jacob whispered a laugh. â€Å"I'd rather not move just now, if you don't mind.† Edward started humming to himself, louder than usual – trying to drown out Jacob's thoughts, I assumed. But it was my lullaby he hummed, and, despite my growing discomfort with this whispered dream, I sank deeper into unconsciousness . . . into other dreams that made better sense. . . .

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Theories of Secession

Liberalism predominantly will dominate the Theories of secession an emphasis on individual rights and nationalism. They are concerned with the challenges of secession and deal with cases of complete secession of specific nationalist regions from a nation-state. Buchanan (1998) identified two types of secession theories; Remedial right only theories which claim that the people have the right to overthrow the government if their fundamental rights will violate and other peaceful alternatives have failed. Another type is the theory of primary right which claims that groups with non-political characteristics have the right to secede; and that no inscriptive features are necessary for the right to secede, it's a voluntary political choice. Therefore, political legitimacy rests on the people's consent. Regulation TheoryThis theory claims that under the modern conditions of globalised urbanization, states are being restructured to meet the needs of reregulation and rescaling of governance. According to Brenner (1999), globalization has viewed as reterritorialization. Rescaling of urbanization leads to the rescaling of the state which consequently leads to a regional organization as a productive force and social relations will concentrated within geographical boundaries. Boudreau and Keil, â€Å"Secession of a political Right,† 1710.Theories of State RescalingThe issue of rescaling, reregulation, and reterritorialization has been viewed from a structuralist perspective. Structural change has been the primary focus here. The recent debate on rescaling and governance has concentrated on state-regional and state-local relationships. The focus of these two links has been economic development policies. The part that has not been focused on is the emergence of a new sub-local scale of government as part of the regional state of large urban centers. Secession can be viewed a result of such sub-local institutionalization of rescaled governance. Boudreau and Keil, â€Å"Rescaling urban governance,† 1712. Theories of Social MovementsAlways broken down into two; resource mobilization (RMT) and new social movements (NSM). Social Movement theories claim that collective action and social movements are usually related to resource mobilization (Eisinger 1973). That political opportunities and structures develop from existing political movements or camps and structural conditions. They focus on the ability of political actors to reshape systems because of their internal solidarity/strength and outer profile to facilitate secession. Boudreau and Keil, â€Å"Social movements,† 1713.