Elections, Political Parties, and Civil Society in Authoritarian Regimes Essay

Within many Authoritarian Regimes, the conditions are very similar and the political participation becomes severely limited. The following essay will attempt to briefly capture a few key characteristics of two countries in terms of elections, political parties, and the role of civil societies within the state. The two countries that I will be discussing are Iran and China. First of all, after reading page 80-81 in our Comparative Politics textbook written by Carol Ann Drogus and Stephen Orvis, it soon became clear to me that Authoritarian Regime structuring has a heavy political saliency in terms of elections, political parties, and the role of civil societies. It seems that if elections even manage to exist in an authoritarian regime, they do not determine who holds the majority of power in the state. For example, on page 80, the textbook discusses how 1906 a new democratic state within Iran was created in order to provide a real legislature with elections. This democracy was soon polarized, and the central state has limited sovereignty over the other provinces and was able to control most economic profit and most of the military power. Although elections were ushered into Iran’s political system, they had little influence on the government itself. On page 81, the textbook discusses how a left-wing prime minister named Mohammad Mosaddeq was elected in 1951, but due the primary regime’s influence and power, they overthrew this elected prime minister because he did not support their interests. This example shows that even if an election determines something within an Authoritarian Regime, this determination may not last for very long or may not have any power in the first place. An elected official such as Mosaddeq can be overthrown at any point if the people that truly hold the power within a state decide too. This brings me to the next topic of political parties. Within the country of China, it is clear to me that the political system of the Authoritarian Regime has created an extremely powerful political party with little to no opposition. Elections have almost no affect and are just a disguise for the Chinese Communist Party to make the real decisions affecting their country, especially in terms of the economy. As discussed on page 86, after a series of wars ended, the Communist Party of China soon created a Soviet-style command economy with a huge bureaucracy that controlled most of the society. This society is interesting because as time went by, more and more economic freedoms were created, but political freedoms became increasingly denied. It is ironic that one can live in China and possess private property, but when it comes to the decisions governing that person’s society and economic policy, that same individual will have zero rights whatsoever. The book also discusses how these socio-political conditions have created a sense of political uncertainty and fear. This brings me to my final topic of civil society. It is a huge risk for citizens within an Authoritarian Regime to form organized and nonviolent groups in pursuit of political reform. Citizens tend to fear the consequences of their actions and punishment from their government, and when they do attempt to reform, it tends to end up violent. For example, many protests within China in the past century have ended in massive bloodshed or violence. I do not recall ever hearing of a widely successful nonviolent civil society causing politically salient changes within an Authoritarian Regime. I believe that I have never heard of such a thing because civil societies do not have much impact on a society that is restricted by an Authoritarian Regime’s influence and political/economic desires.

Knight of Faith vs Overman

For my final research paper, I have chosen to compare and contrast Friedrich Nietzsche’s overman with Soren Kierkegaard’s knight of faith As if a coroner were standing over a body, holding a cold hand in one and looking at his chain watch in the other, I hear Nietzsche say: God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it? – Nietzsche, the Gay Science, Section 125 As if conversing with Nietzsche I hear the response of Kierkegaard to be, God will never die, only faith in Him can, and has died, in you Nietzsche. To which Kierkegaard would add, but that’s only my perspective. Kierkegaard and Nietzsche each have views that respond to the issue of faith and the life lived by the individual. Kierkegaard’s view is called the knight of faith and Nietzsche’s called overman. The knight of faith is an individual who has placed complete faith in himself and in God. Kierkegaard argues that the knight of faith is the paradox, is the individual, absolutely nothing but the individual, without connections or pretensions. The knight of faith is the individual who is able to gracefully embrace life. Most people live dejectedly in worldly sorrow and joy; they are the ones who sit along the wall and do not join in the dance. The knights of infinity are dancers and possess elevation. They make the movements upward, and fall down again; and this too is no mean pastime, nor ungraceful to behold. But whenever they fall down they are not able at once to assume the posture, they vacillate an instant, and this vacillation shows that after all they are strangers in the world. This is more or less strikingly evident in proportion to the art they possess, but even the most artistic knights cannot altogether conceal this vacillation. One need not look at them when they are up in the air, but only the instant they touch or have touched the ground–then one recognizes them. But to be able to fall down in such a way that the same second it looks as if one were standing and walking, to transform the leap of life into a walk, absolutely to express the sublime in the pedestrian–that only the knight of faith can do–and this is the one and only prodigy. – Soren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling, Nietzsche’s overman can be described as; overman has his own self, both his higher and lower natures, neither repressed. He has this, his world, to which he is faithful. He has the love of this life, in this world, without the illusions that this world is inferior. And he has his reflective mind that reinforces these ideas. I believe that Nietzsche would claim his perspective to better because his claim focuses on this world, the one known to exist, whereas Kierkegaard’s claim implies a next life. Nietzsche would argue that Kierkegaard’s claim has two assumptions, 1) that there may or may not be an after life, and 2) that it is superior to this life. I like Nietzsche’s view of overman; overman is strength incarnate, reveling in the beauties of this life while satisfying his desires, both worldly and not. But it begs me to ask the question, as long as the anticipation of the next life doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of this one, can an overman not love this life and carry this love so far to greatly anticipate the next life as possibly even more beautiful than this one? I would further like to challenge Nietzsche on the topic of morals, and his overman. Since there is no objective truth, there are no objective morals or values. One becomes free to create their own and this is precisely what overman does. Overman has his own set of morals and values. Unless the morals one lives by here on earth are different than those they live by in Heaven, I don't see a problem. And even then I don't see a problem, unless one desires Heaven with its values inferior to their own. If one enjoys the way they live here and Heaven takes those enjoyments and morals away, why would one desire to live in Heaven at all? Nietzsche professes that God is dead, meaning the very idea of God's salvation is no longer held in the world's belief. If this is so, then doesn't it imply that having religious faith is indeed a subjective act, if not the highest possible subjective act? The fewer people who truly believe only means that the objective uncertainty is greater. Since objective uncertainty is at a maximum, so too must be the will to believe and the passion by which to believe. If this does not require also the maximum amount of courage, I don't know what does. I also like Kierkegaard’s view, but his view as well again begs me to ask questions. Kierkegaard’s knight of faith is self sacrificing. Christianity's absurdity makes it harder to have faith than to not. It almost seems that faith is a response to the fear of being wrong about the afterlife. Better to believe in just case than not believe and burn for it. The very degree of doubt makes belief seem desperate. But strong God fearing people should not feel such apprehension for the next life. Now don't get me wrong, they shouldn't depend on the next life for salvation. They shouldn't even depend on the existence of the next life, for there may be none. But if so, one isn't even disappointed if the next life doesn't exist since this life gives them all the happiness they desire. The despair that, Kierkegaard speaks of, needn't exist if he grant the premise that God desires ones happiness in this life, and if he grant the human race the possibility of achieving this happiness, independent of the next and possible nonexistent life. Subjectivism says that it matters more how one believes than it does what or why we do. So if one believes fervently that one can be happy here, what God would impose that such subjectivity is wrong, that one can only be happy independently of this world? Nietzsche’s overman has this courageous independence, but why can't a knight of faith also have it? I think that both Nietzsche and Kierkegaard have valid points. The overman's worship of this world, a world made beautiful by God Himself, is justified. It's courageous to find happiness in a meaningless world. The knight of faith's authentic anticipation of the next is equally justified as long as such faith doesn't interfere with living an authentic life while here on earth. The overman is not inferior to the knight of faith and the knight of faith is not inferior to the overman. They are both authentic, subjective existing individuals, living life the fullest way they know how, both courageous in their own ways. They are both equally superior in courage to all the slave moralists, master moralists and mock Christians of the world. And while I live here on earth, neither the overman nor the knight of faith can discredit the other, since there may or may not be an afterlife. The lacking evidence of an afterlife doesn't suggest there isn't one. Where would be the challenge in believing in something I know to exist? Likewise the very notion of Christianity defying common logic tempts me to doubt the faith it is so hard for me to have.

Reflections on history Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reflections on history - Coursework Example This era also saw new kingdoms and technology. In fact, the Middle Ages set the stage for the birth of modern Europe. This is divided into two parts: the early middle ages and the high middle ages. The Early Middle Ages saw the Fall of the Roman Empire. The fall started on the second century. The debate still goes on today about the theory of the fall of the Roman Empire but generally, what happened was mismanagement. The Roman Empire was suddenly too big for some of the leaders and they failed to maintain the civic infrastructures that they built, like libraries, public baths and schools. Because of this, merchants also lost the confidence in investing in the empire and the intellectual development of the empire stagnated. It also became unsafe for traders to trade, thus economic collapse followed. This vulnerability offered the barbarians the chance to attack the empire. This event led to the fall of the empire and some Romans migrated to lands as far as Iberia. The Roman Empire fe ll because of the repeated Gothic invasions. The felled Empire saw a wave of Germanization in their culture, and it was controlled by many barbaric tribes. Charlemagne was an important character in this era. He was the king in the largest territory in Europe that time. He was named by Pope Leo III as the Emperor of the Roman Empire. This is not to be confused with the Byzantine Empire which is the medieval Roman Empire since his territory is called the Carolingian Empire. This period also saw Byzantium and Avar Khanate.

Reconstruction Plans Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reconstruction Plans - Coursework Example However, President Abraham Lincoln was also afraid that the federal Court might contrary his orders on reconstruction. This was a possibility that encouraged efforts of Republican and resulted in emancipation of Thirteenth Amendment. President Abraham Lincoln highly supported this amendment to ensure that the new constitution could improve an essential guide for reconstructed states as well as post-Appomattox High Court. President Abraham Lincoln had a belief that the Constitution was appropriate for reconstruction and states’ unity. Both his innate instinct towards decency and impressive education enabled him to become the President a post that enhanced to reunify as improving the entire nation. In the year 1862, Lincoln asked Attorney Edwin to ensure that the rights adhered to all citizens in the nation. The reply of the Attorney General rested on circuit opinion of Justice Bushrod Washington in the year 1823 in Corfield Coryell. Lincoln ensured that the rights abolished slavery. Lincoln’s plans towards reconstruction were depicted in the year 1862 and 1863 when he ordered black to be included in the military. Qsn 2: reconstruction was an attempt that was started from the year 1865 to 1877in the history of America. The main purpose of reconstruction was to resolve the matters of the Civil War after destruction of both slavery and confederacy. Reconstruction went through three different phases, which include the presidential reconstruction phase, radical reconstruction phase, and redemption phase. The presidential reconstruction phase started in the year 1863 and ended in 1866. This phase was under control of Andrew Johnson and President Abraham Lincoln with the aim reuniting the entire country at a faster rate2. This moderate program was affected by opposition of Radical Republicans a faction that was influenced by 1866 elections. The main aim of the Radical reconstructionwas to improve voting rights and civil rights for the citizens. In the year 1873

Process of exploring acomplex situation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Process of exploring acomplex situation - Essay Example Each of these categories has their own matched occupations. For example, the realistic type is best suited to be a mechanic, drill press operator, assembly-line worker or a farmer (Robbins 2005, p. 39). These classifications lend understanding on how individual behave towards their work and other people. Hence, choosing the most appropriate motivation tool can be applied to that individual. Central to the effectiveness of motivation is its definition. Motivation is the "willingness to do something and is conditioned by this action's ability to satisfy some need for the individual" (Robbins 2005, p. 48). The needs of the individual which must be satisfied are identified through the understanding of the individual's personality. Lukes, Gaventa VeneKlasen and Miller explained that there are three faces of power: visible power which is the first face of power, hidden power which is the second face of power and invisible power which is the third face. More specifically, an example of invisible power is culture which means the "invisible power concealing behind concretely visible things and it will influence people's behavior" (Chang and Lee 2007, p. 300). Power visible is the ability to influence decision making and thus, can be observed. This power is sourced from specific mandates, for example a company's Chief Executive Officer's power is visible and inherent in his position. Power invisible, on the other hand, is not always observable. It is the shaping of people's wants and needs which is normally embedded social, cultural and ideological norms and values. For example, in the early 1970s, an American manager deployed somewhere in Japan has no visible power to fire an employee because of the cultural and social norm in the county of 'life time' employment. Question # 3 Part A Figure 1 Spray Diagram Part B 1. The Community - being the most affected by the wastes and toxins emitted and discharged by the United States' healthcare systems. The people, as the community, are directly affected because of the diseases resulting from exposures to toxins released by the healthcare system. This considering the rising cost of healthcare. 2. The Healthcare Systems and its Components - if the healthcare system doesn't shape up in light of its impact to the environment and to the community, affected stakeholders such as the community and the government will likely demand penalties. The Healthcare System is composed of clinics, hospitals, doctors, suppliers, pharmaceuticals, incinerator operators, and its employees. 3. The Government - as the overseer of the whole system which includes the healthcare system and overseer of the welfare of the average American, the government can not help but to take a firm hand on how the healthcare system manages its wastes. Part C Based on the discussion and the spray diagram, surely I am as much at risk as the average American. The effects of exposure to toxins such as the chlorine content of polyvinyl chloride or PVC and mercury are not selective. These toxins can affect anyone, anytime. Chlorine from PVC "forms cancer-causing dioxin as a byproduct when manufactured and incinerated" (HermanMiller 2007, p. 4). Most of the diseases resulting from exposure to the toxins and dioxins released from the wastes of the different components are fatal while all of them requires high amount of money to cure. In my opinion, the Hippocratic Oath of physicians should be expanded and include the well being not only of individual

Research Proposal (general research proposal for doctoral thesis to Essay

Research Proposal (general research proposal for doctoral thesis to the graduate department) - Essay Example My research during the first year of my master's program at the University of Victoria covered multiple topics within non-photorealistic rendering (NPR), graphics, and animation. During the course of my research, I completed a class on perception and graphics that resulted in a project that will be submitted this month for the _(name of journal)____, a reputable __enter subject__ journal . The project involved the study of human vision and perception and prompted me to expand my topic of NPR with perception into the formation of my master's thesis. My master's thesis titled, "Perceptual Imitation of Human Drawn lines" involved study within the areas of Newtonian Physics, Image Processing, and Artificial Intelligence. From my research and findings with this thesis, I intend to publish two papers in NPAR'08 and CAE'08. Therefore, for my doctoral study I wanted to get more in depth in my research in these particular topics. First, I would like to expand on the subject of lines to full animated cartoon character images. Image processing is naturally an essential field of study in NPR and will play a major role in my thesis. Also, image processing will lead to more critical study of perception. The study of perception falls into the area of psychology. Surprisingly, psychological research on NPR is limited. It was briefly discussed in my master's thesis.

Social Awareness Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Social Awareness - Assignment Example waited without having any interaction with his spouse or girlfriend, he was more or less relaxed with an open stance; however, as soon as she appeared, he closed his legs, removed his arm from the back of the bench and acted as if he were immediately in a more formal setting. With regards to the social awareness that the situation presented, it is the belief of this observer that the level of awareness was directly exhibited by the man on the bench with regards to how the situation changed for him as soon as his wife or girlfriend returned from her shopping experience. As has been previously discussed, the situation itself was more or less informal as it too place within a relatively busy shopping mall and both participants knew each other reasonably well due to the fact that they exhibited being in a relationship. However, even though a level of familiarity existed between the individuals, an analysis of the social awareness that was exhibited by the male specifically helped this observer to quickly note that his overall level of comfort with the situation and/or with seeing his wife or girlfriend was not as easy or as informal as the situation itself dictated. Although the conversation between the two individuals was within earshot of me while I observed the given communication and signals that were transmitted, it was the nonverbal communication that most effectively told me what was truly going on within the given situation. As a result of the male’s actions and non verbal stance with regards to seeing the female return, I was able to form a rather rapid determination of my impression of the pair based upon this observation. The second interaction that I observed was that of a general manager of a grocery store discussing the way in which a return could not be accepted due to the fact that the customer was unable to present a valid receipt for the item. What took place between the two individuals was a situational misunderstanding, disagreement, and