Man, the State and War by Kenneth Waltz

Summary When reading the book â€Å"Man, the State and War† by Kenneth Waltz, the main driving thesis behind the book immediately presents itself in the form of a question which is: â€Å"what is war?†. Waltz answers this question by postulating the the origin of war comes from â€Å"within man, the inherent structure of separate states and due to the very state system itself† (Waltz, 2001).Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Man, the State and War by Kenneth Waltz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He refers to the aforementioned causes of war as â€Å"images of international relations† and views them from either a singular or collective perspective from which he ascertains how each â€Å"image† interacts with the other which ends up resulting in the occurrence of war. Waltz claims that it is this interaction between the various â€Å"images† which is the main cause of war due to variances in methods of thought, thinking, relations and other variables which create either positive or negative effects. It is at this point that Waltz attempts to analyze whether it is possible to create a world that is devoid of war or if war itself is an inherent aspect of mankind which will never truly go away (Waltz, 2001). Upon further reading it can be seen that the ideas of Waltz are heavily influenced by the ideas of realism and neo-realism wherein he states that the anarchic international system combined with self interested states (which is one of the claims of realism) actually prevents the creation of a peaceful global environment due to factors related to competition and mutual distrust. In the end Waltz states that the only method of resolving the current dilemma of war is if a single world government was to be created which addresses the individual concerns of each state. Unfortunately such a situation requires each state to give up their much vaunted â €Å"sovereignty† which would be highly unlikely resulting in peace being applicable in theory however being unattainable in practice (Waltz, 2001). Examination of the Veracity of the Sources Utilized When going through the entirety of the text it can be seen that Waltz synthesized the views of Hobbes, Mills, Rosseau, Kant, Spinoza, Kant, Smith and a variety of other known experts in the field of international relations in order to formulate the arguments present within his book. The sheer amount of views and in-text lifting from other authors lends the work a certain degree of veracity in terms of the accuracy of the arguments and how they conform to current methods of thinking regarding the current state of conflict within international relations and its origins. As such, in terms of its use of sources I find that there are no problems whatsoever.Advertising Looking for book review on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Critique of the Text The main strength of the work of Walsh comes from its use of prolific body of historical knowledge and thoughts from various experts in international relations tht formed the foundation of his work. Yet, despite this abundance of literature it must be noted that Waltz fails to â€Å"think out of the box† so to speak when it comes to examining the causes of war and instead single mindedly focuses on the â€Å"images of international relations† that he had brought up at the start of the text as the main causes of war. There are other factors that he neglected to take into consideration such as religion (which was why the historic crusades were started and one of the contributing factors behind the ongoing conflict between Israel and several Arab states), ethnicities (as seen in the current ethnic conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims which has led to various uprisings in the Middle East), economic factors (as seen in the case b etween the U.S. and Japan when the U.S. cut of supplies of much needed resources to Japan which sparked the bombing of Pearl Harbor and brought the U.S. into the Pacific theater), historic alliances (seen in the case of World War 1 wherein the balance of power system and historic alliances in effect brought numerous nations into the war) (Vassalo, 2003). Lastly, the fight for resources has been an ongoing theme within human history which Walsh neglected to elaborate on yet has been growing in relevancy due to factors related to growing population rates, global warming and an assortment of other factors which has further exacerbated this growing point of contention (Betts, 1999). Furthermore it must be noted that Walsh had a habit of framing the motivation of man in relatively â€Å"black and white nature† (i.e. good or evil) which is an over implication of how people thinking and act. While the book itself is great basis from which one can learn about the origins and causes o f war, it focuses too much on the various arguments of historical thinkers without sufficiently examining other factors which influence the start of wars. Conclusion Overall, it can be stated that the work of Waltz is a great attempt at explaining the origin of war yet, based on the critique of the text, it can be seen that the concept of war is too broad to be defined within the parameters defined by Walsh and constitute far more factors than what was elaborated on. Reference List Betts, R. K. 1999. Must War Find a Way?. International Security, 24(2), 166-198. Vassalo, A. W. 2003. Man, the state and war: A Theoretical Analysis (Book). Military Review, 83(1), 68.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Man, the State and War by Kenneth Waltz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Waltz, K. 2001. Man, the state, and war: A theoretical analysis. (pp. 1-284). New York: Columbia Press. This book review on Man, the State and War by Kenneth Waltz was written and submitted by user Linda Robbins to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Do you Want to Go to College This Fall Theres Still Room!

Do you Want to Go to College This Fall Theres Still Room! The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) just reported that colleges and universities still have space available for qualified freshman and/or transfer students.   Even better news it that nearly all have financial aid to offer.   The survey asked four-year colleges and universities about the availability of space, institutional financial aid and housing as of May 1, 2010. Twenty-three percent of the respondents are public colleges and 77% are private. Ninety-three percent have housing space. If you  have not yet completed the college admission process, and want to apply, see NACACs annual Space Availability Survey: Openings for Qualified Students.

Overview of Harappan Culture in India

Overview of Harappan Culture in India The earliest imprints of human activities in India go back to the Paleolithic Age, roughly between 400,000 and 200,000 B.C. Stone implements and cave paintings from this period have been discovered in many parts of South Asia. Evidence of domestication of animals, the adoption of agriculture, permanent village settlements, and wheel-turned pottery dating from the middle of the sixth millennium B.C. has been found in the foothills of Sindh and Baluchistan (or Balochistan in current Pakistani usage), both in present-day Pakistan. One of the first great civilizations - with a writing system, urban centers, and a diversified social and economic system - appeared around 3,000 B.C. along the Indus River valley in Punjab and Sindh. It covered more than 800,000 square kilometers, from the borders of Baluchistan to the deserts of Rajasthan, from the Himalayan foothills to the southern tip of Gujarat. The remnants of two major cities - Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa - reveal remarkable engineeri ng feats of uniform urban planning and carefully executed layout, water supply, and drainage. Excavations at these sites and later archaeological digs at about seventy other locations in India and Pakistan provide a composite picture of what is now generally known as Harappan culture (2500-1600 B.C.). The Ancient Cities The major cities contained a few large buildings including a citadel, a large bath - perhaps for personal and communal ablution - differentiated living quarters, flat-roofed brick houses, and fortified administrative or religious centers enclosing meeting halls and granaries. Essentially a city culture, Harappan life was supported by extensive agricultural production and by commerce, which included trade with Sumer in southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). The people made tools and weapons from copper and bronze but not iron. Cotton was woven and dyed for clothing; wheat, rice, and a variety of vegetables and fruits were cultivated; and a number of animals, including the humped bull, were domesticated. Harappan culture was conservative and remained relatively unchanged for centuries; whenever cities were rebuilt after periodic flooding, the new level of construction closely followed the previous pattern. Although stability, regularity, and conservatism seem to have been the hallmarks of this people, it is unclear who wielded authority, whether an aristocratic, priestly, or commercial minority. Ancient Artifacts By far, the most exquisite and most obscure Harappan artifacts unearthed to date are steatite seals found in abundance at Mohenjo-Daro. These small, flat, and mostly square objects with human or animal motifs provide the most accurate picture there is of Harappan life. They also have inscriptions generally thought to be in the Harappan script, which has eluded scholarly attempts at deciphering it. Debate abounds as to whether the script represents numbers or an alphabet, and, if an alphabet, whether it is proto-Dravidian or proto-Sanskrit. The Fall of Harappan Civilization The possible reasons for the decline of Harappan civilization have long troubled scholars. Invaders from central and western Asia are considered by some historians to have been the destroyers of Harappan cities, but this view is open to reinterpretation. More plausible explanations are recurrent floods caused by tectonic earth movement, soil salinity, and desertification. A series of migrations by Indo-European-speaking seminomads took place during the second millennium B.C. Known as Aryans, these preliterate pastoralists spoke an early form of Sanskrit, which has close philological similarities to other Indo-European languages, such as Avestan in Iran and ancient Greek and Latin. The term Aryan meant pure and implied the invaders conscious attempts at retaining their tribal identity and roots while maintaining a social distance from earlier inhabitants. The Aryans Arrive Although archaeology has not yielded proof of the identity of the Aryans, the evolution and spread of their culture across the Indo-Gangetic Plain is generally undisputed. Modern knowledge of the early stages of this process rests on a body of sacred texts: the four Vedas (collections of hymns, prayers, and liturgy), the Brahmanas and the Upanishads (commentaries on Vedic rituals and philosophical treatises), and the Puranas (traditional mythic-historical works). The sanctity accorded to these texts and the manner of their preservation over several millennia - by an unbroken oral tradition - make them part of the living Hindu tradition. These sacred texts offer guidance in piecing together Aryan beliefs and activities. The Aryans were a pantheistic people, following their tribal chieftain or raja, engaging in wars with each other or with other alien ethnic groups, and slowly becoming settled agriculturalists with consolidated territories and differentiated occupations. Their skills in using horse-drawn chariots and their knowledge of astronomy and mathematics gave them a military and technological advantage that led others to accept their social customs and religious beliefs. By around 1,000 B.C., Aryan culture had spread over most of India north of the Vindhya Range and in the process assimilated much from other cultures that preceded it. The Changing of Culture The Aryans brought with them a new language, a new pantheon of anthropomorphic gods, a patrilineal and patriarchal family system, and a new social order, built on the religious and philosophical rationales of varnashramadharma. Although precise translation into English is difficult, the concept varnashramadharma, the bedrock of Indian traditional social organization, is built on three fundamental notions: varna (originally, color, but later taken to mean social class), ashrama (stages of life such as youth, family life, detachment from the material world, and renunciation), and dharma (duty, righteousness, or sacred cosmic law). The underlying belief is that present happiness and future salvation are contingent upon ones ethical or moral conduct; therefore, both society and individuals are expected to pursue a diverse but righteous path deemed appropriate for everyone based on ones birth, age, and station in life. The original three-tiered society - Brahman (priest; see Glossary), K shatriya (warrior), and Vaishya (commoner) - eventually expanded into four in order to absorb the subjugated people - Shudra (servant) - or even five, when the outcaste peoples are considered. The basic unit of Aryan society was the extended and patriarchal family. A cluster of related families constituted a village, while several villages formed a tribal unit. Child marriage, as practiced in later eras, was uncommon, but the partners involvement in the selection of a mate and dowry and bride-price was customary. The birth of a son was welcome because he could later tend the herds, bring honor in battle, offer sacrifices to the gods, and inherit property and pass on the family name. Monogamy was widely accepted although polygamy was not unknown, and even polyandry is mentioned in later writings. Ritual suicide of widows was expected at a husbands death, and this might have been the beginning of the practice known as sati in later centuries when the widow actually burnt herself on her husbands funeral pyre. The Evolving Landscape Permanent settlements and agriculture led to trade and other occupational differentiation. As lands along the Ganga (or Ganges) were cleared, the river became a trade route, the numerous settlements on its banks acting as markets. Trade was restricted initially to localareas, and barter was an essential component of trade, cattle being the unit of value in large-scale transactions, which further limited the geographical reach of the trader. Custom was law, and kings and chief priests were the arbiters, perhaps advised by certain elders of the community. An Aryan raja, or king, was primarily a military leader, who took a share from the booty after successful cattle raids or battles. Although the rajas had managed to assert their authority, they scrupulously avoided conflicts with priests as a group, whose knowledge and austere religious life surpassed others in the community, and the rajas compromised their own interests with those of the priests.

The search for independance in tibet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The search for independance in tibet - Essay Example The issue of Tibetan independence involves a long term debate which comprises of two conflicting views of the government of the People’s Republic of China and that of the Tibetan government in exile. (Norby, 2007) According to the scholars and the Tibetan government in exile none of the several foreign invasions in Tibet had been conducted by the Chinese dynasties.(Norby, 2007) While the Chinese government claims to rule over Tibet since 1200s, the historical accounts say that during the 13th century the actual rulers were the Mongols. (Norby, 2007) In the, 1700s the Qing dynasty of Manchuria invaded Tibet and ruled until 1912 when the Republic of China took over. But still the thirteenth Dalai Lama ruled Tibet independently without any significant intervention by the Chinese government. (Norby, 2007)Thus from historical account it is evident that Tibet was never ruled by China and had a unique ethnicity throughout (Norby, 2007). The problem in Tibet started to arise in 1950 after the creation of the People’s Republic of China under the Chinese Communist Party (Yeoman, 2008). Initially the Chinese government planned to improve the conditions of the historically exploited Tibetans and integrate Tibet with the mainland China and Tibet signed a 17 point treaty for peaceful integration in 1951 after the invasion of the territory by the People’s Liberation Army in the same year. (Yeoman, 2008) However, opposite to the hopes of the Tibetans, the Chinese government took steps to destroy Tibetan traditions and cultures in the name of modernization which came as a serious blow to the traditionally independent minded Tibetans and they rose to regain their independence (Yeoman, 2008). With this uprising, began a new era of Chinese suppression on the Tibetan people and the government led by the 14th Dalai Lama (Yeoman, 2008) The violent suppression exercised by the Chinese government killed thousands of

Essentials of Managerial Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Essentials of Managerial Finance - Essay Example Furthermore, although there is insufficient liquid assets to fulfill present responsibilities, Functional Profits are in plenty and hence sufficient to facilitate the debt. In the airplane industry the debtors that owe Southwest airlines are among the worst with 7.75 days’ worth of unsettled earnings. This suggests that sales need to be dealt with in a more appropriate and effective manner. Last, records appear to be thriving managed as the Inventory Processing Period is characteristic for the business, at 10.08 days. According to Southwest airline’s statement of returned earnings in 2010, they had earnings of $0.74 per share on 01/20/2011. The liquidity ratio which is normally the ratio of the current assets over the current liabilities is used to determine whether Southwest airlines can meet their short term financial responsibilities. Their liquidity ratio was 1 meaning their current assets was equal to their liabilities. The asset management ratio shows whether the assets of southwestern airlines are being utilized appropriately. Their assert management ratio was 0.8 and hence meaning they were slightly below the safe level of asset management ratio. The debt management ratio which is also commonly known as financial leverage ratio will determine the probability of the firm going bankrupt or experiencing financial upheavals in the future. The debt management ratio proved to be at a good level of 58.8. The market value ratio generally looks into the performance of Southwest Airlines in the stock market. Their market value ratio was at 8.99% Financial statements are used by the major shareholders and owners of the firm to be able to make sound decisions regarding investing in corporations and also to be able to see which areas the firm need to be improved. It is also a detailed analysis of the financial health of the corporation and hence investors get a clear view of the fairing of the corporation. Financial statements are also

Programme Schedule Essay Example for Free

Programme Schedule Essay It should be noted that although I have used Sky One as an example of a typical evenings viewing on Sky, this ignores the other channels available through the satellite broadcaster. But in doing so I am illustrating the channels provision in terms of target audience, rejection of a public service ethos (to educate, inform and entertain), and its ability to house hour after hour of populist programming on one channel (complimenting Sky One is a mass of channels providing a wide range of programming (see Sky World and Family Pack, appendix 2)). What is obvious from this comparison is that the public service broadcasters are providing a schedule which caters for the widest possible audience, within the structure of two channels (BBC1/BBC2/RTE1/N2). There is the argument that, instead of attempting to provide an output representative of the whole of its audience, which on the face of it seems impossible, it should specialise into more defined areas. Some complain that money being spent on paying comedians for programmes such as `Have I Got News For You` (Friday 21:00, BBC), could be better spent on this specialisation, however those arguments often come down to ones particular taste, rather than any informed argument. What is it that public service broadcasters provide, which are deemed in the `public interest`, that those without such a remit fail to provide? It can surely not, as outlined previously be choice. Diversity, a term often associated with public service broadcasters, is no longer solely applicable to the latter as diverseness is arguably a product of greater choice. It could be argued however that the choice and diversity available from terrestrial public service broadcasters is of a higher quality and is therefore of greater value to an interested audience. The pluralistic nature of public service broadcasting requires that they take into account the sociocultural segmentation of society, but this is often difficult because of the limited terrestrial channel space available. However, what it does do is provide a common domain, arguably important in the context of social interaction. The ability of the audience to discuss for example, the previous nights episode of Eastenders (BBC1) in the playground or at work should not be underestimated. It could be argued that a wider range of viewing could bring a greater level of social ideas and concepts, yet this ignores the `information rich/information poor` argument, and the resulting divide which has yet to be addressed. The digression by both RTE and the BBC into digital media does not, in the current climate, resolve the problem of catering for such a large audience on a limited broadcasting frequency, simply because digital television is not widespread enough at this time. The conundrum for both organisations therefore, is that in order that they become both more diverse and competitive, their energies must go into the creation and promotion of their digital services so as to have a foothold in the future of digital broadcasting. And here lies the rub, At the moment there does not exist a platform solely intended for the broadcast of the BBCs digital programmes. It is available through NTL, Sky and ITV Digital, and therefore, the BBC is indirectly promoting the formats that have reduced their audience share and contributed to calls for its privatisation. The argument hinges on how the PSBs intend to supply their digital services in the future. They may provide a set-top box through which their channels can be received, or fund their place on the current EPG (Electronic Programme Guide), available through SkyDigital. RTE will begin broadcasting on the SkyDigital platform from April 2002, which has emphasised its intention to fulfil its public service remit by extending its audience reach to as many parts of Ireland as possible. However both NTL and Chorus, (cable companies operating in Ireland) have complained that RTE paid a reported i 6 million for its inclusion on the SkyGuide EPG (Electronic Programme Guide), whereas RTE is hosted for free, and importantly, compulsorily by the two cable operators. If Chorus Digital were to pull the plug on RTE, the low subscription rate would not cause significant damage to the public service broadcaster. However, NTL, who have a much higher subscription, and therefore attract more advertising, offers a greater problem. If NTL removed RTE from its output, advertising revenues would fall dramatically, indeed, it has already fallen in 2001 by i 12 million; 15. 5 million less than projected for 2002 and RTE would inevitably become bankrupt. But in doing so, NTL would almost certainly have its licence revoked, which it would appear, provides the greatest chance of survival for RTE. As I have discussed earlier, the introduction of satellite broadcasting into the UK and Ireland has had a detrimental impact upon the public service broadcasters viewing figures. The information below illustrates the year-on-year increase and uptake of cable and satellite subscription, paralleled with a year-on-year decrease in the BBCs viewing figures. RTE has been grouped in the same category as cable and satellite, however RTE would represent only a fraction of the increase. (NB. Shares before 1996 have been rounded to nearest whole number)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Essay -- To Kill a Mockingbird Essa

To Walk in Another Man's Shoes '' You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view''; (30). Atticus Finch, a popular lawyer, and the father of the main character in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, teaches this lesson to his children. This idea does not just apply to Maycomb County in the 1930s, but to everyone everywhere. This story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama during the great depression. Most whites are very prejudiced and don't care to hear a Negro's opinions or thoughts on anything. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explains that a person has to try to see a situation from the other person's point of view before they make a judgement. Scout begins to realize that people's ignorance isn't always their fault. Her teacher, Miss Caroline, is new in Maycomb, and doesn't know about the families living there. Scout was very upset that she got scolded for explaining the caste system to the teacher, but then she began to understand. ''...but if Walter and I had put ourselves in her shoes we'd have seen it was an honest mistake on her part. We could not expect her to learn all of Maycomb's ways in one day, and we could not hold her responsible when she knew no better.'';(30). A lot of the time, people don't stop to understand a person, but are quick to make judgements. All people need to do is to try to understand why the person said what they did, try to see where he or she is coming from. Only then can mankind know what to do in a...