The Religious Aspirations Of Judaism - 1659 Words

1:6 How are the political aspirations of Judaism given a spiritual fulfillment in Acts? What two interrelated traditions echo in question of the disciples about restoration of the kingdom to Israel? How does Acts confirm the hopes of the disciples? The Jewish people were expecting a Messiah in the form of a military leader that would overthrow the Roman empire and restore the house of David. The Jewish people would not have envisioned Christ the servant of all (Mk 35:9 RSV). A leader who in humanity was humility to all He severed. The political aspiration of the Jewish people is given spiritual fulfillment when Christ ascensions into His heavenly kingdom. One is Yahweh promise to reunite the twelve tribes of Israel in the messianic age. Second giving the kingdom of God to Israel is a vision of David promises filled by the Son of Man the Messiah. The disciples being Jews have knowledge of the Torah and witness to Christ death, and resurrection are witness to the fulfillment of Old Testament promises. â€Å"But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever.† (Dan 7:18) 1:8 To what are the disciples to be witnesses? What is the Greek origin of the word â€Å"witness† ? From what OT passage does the witness motif come, and what significance does it have there? The disciples are witnesses to the decent and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Then by their witness the are to proclaim the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samar and to the all the ends ofShow MoreRelatedThe Significance Of The Enlightenment And Modern Judaism1420 Words   |  6 PagesQns 2. Explain and critically evaluate the significance of the Enlightenment to the development of modern Judaism. The Enlightenment and Modern Judaism Sapere aude! The Rise of the Enlightened man. The Enlightenment also known as the Haskalah movement began in the 18th century. In his 1784 essay entitled: â€Å"Answering the Question: What is Enlightenment?†, Immanuel Kant (1959) described the Enlightenment as ‘‘man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is man’s inability to make useRead More The Perversion of Religion Essays522 Words   |  3 PagesIm not a tremendously religious person. I dont attend religious services, I dont say prayers before bedtime (or much of any other time), I dont read a section of my holy book on a regular schedule... you get the picture. The closest Id come to claiming a personal faith is to call myself a sort of armchair Daoist. And yet I find myself deeply offended by those who profane their own professed faith... the Jim Bakkers, Osama Bin Ladens, Paul Shanleys of the world. They seem like a specialRead More The Relationship Between Religion and Israel Essay3173 Words   |  13 PagesIsrael, the place call the holy land, the land, which Jesus walked, however, it is widely acknowledged that tensions between secular and religious sectors constitute a salient feature of Israeli society. If one were to try to summarize the relationship of Israel to Jewish religion, he would say that it is related but not equivalent to certain concepts of Israel. Most people think of the holy land when they hear the names Israel but one must ask the question is Israel truly the holy land. ThisRead MoreBackground and Influence: Merchant of Venice1447 Words   |  6 Pages In England, during the lifetime of William Shakespeare, oppression was occurring against people of different races, ethnicities, and even genders. The rel igious conflicts stemmed from the differing translations of G-ds word. This created conflicts and segregation by religion, turning some people into aliens in their own country. The battles existed between Catholics, Jews, and Protestants although, for the majority of the time, the Protestants pitted the Jews and Catholics on the same side, againstRead MoreEssay1049 Words   |  5 Pagesrepeated, violent road rage. I didn’t do it. However, she is a part of me. The name on the warrant is also mine. So it is, when Israel’s elected government attaches Judaism to its apparently inalienable right to dominate. In the name of religion, they withhold from others precisely the human rights that we Jews claim for ourselves. Their religious appropriation makes us more than witnesses.   Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children play between Sukkahs, temporary structures built for the Jewish holiday of SukkotRead MoreThe Birth Of Islam And Islam1129 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: The birth of Islam published liberal and humanistic origin of Islam in east Bengal. But later this Islam turn into political Islam due to three reasons the emergence of religious based Pakistan state, failure of punished the war criminals and the declaration of Islam as the state religion in replaced of secularism (8th amendment 1988). The failure of the state to provide basic need to the people, increasing violence in Economy and political sector growing discrimination in society,Read MoreExamining Firsthand Accounts Of Early Christians982 Words   |  4 Pagesconduct of Christians in worship - then back to food (abuses of the Lord s Supper). This interpolation of ideas illuminates a division among the Strong/Weak; the Haves/Have Nots. Despite the latitude of concerns harbored in the larger peri scope the aspiration of this essay emanates from verse 14: Chapter 11 deals with an act of worship that Paul appraises as momentous . Indicative of his narrative in previous chapters, Paul often conciliates matters against a greater theological background. ThereforeRead MoreThe Entry On Diaspora By Simon Dubnow963 Words   |  4 Pagesas well as other places within the world. It refers to suggested/implied deracination, legal disabilities, oppression, and an often painful adjustment to a hostland. The diaspora helped to develop institutions, social patterns, and ethnonational religious symbols. Within The Jewish Prototype and Beyond, it states that there are seven specific criteria that need to be followed. These could be seen as â€Å"commandments† in a certain regard. The general prototype includes language, religion, values, socialRead More Reconstructionist Judaism Essay2858 Words   |  12 PagesReconstructionist Judaism As the Jewish people moved into the 20th century, they found it hard to identify themselves with the birth of their four-thousand year old faith. Along with temporal distance from the Israelites, the Jews were at a spiritual distance. A changing world brought forth evolution in modern modes of living and ways of life; many Jewish leaders seized the reins and called for the evolution of Judaism as well. Movements with the goal to concentrate and give organizationalRead MoreThe Rise Of Zionism And Arab Nationalism1407 Words   |  6 Pagesand Arab Nationalism in the nineteenth century triggered major political tensions in the region of Palestine. The conflict among the Zionists and Arab Nationalists is primarily due to the politics of territory and is essentially not comprised of religious opposition. In fact, before the advent of Zionism and Arab Nationalism, Jews and Palestinians shared a local identity due to mutual tolerances. This identity, which took precedence over religion, c reated a vivacious community with its own unique

Cultural Constraints on a Woman in Kate Chopin’s The...

Kate Chopin’s The Awakening depicts a womans struggle to find and assert herself within the cultural constraints of late 19th century America. Edna Pontellier’s journey is chronicled throughout the novel as she experiences a new sense of independence and expression of freedom that’s paralleled by her corresponding sense of conflict and despair through a series of fractured and convoluted relationships among friends, family, and societal customs. The term awakening is defined as the act or process of waking from sleep. Like her name â€Å"Pontellier†, which means â€Å"one who bridges,† it implies that Edna is in a transition between two worlds but not fully embedded in either. Edna is one whose mission is to begin the process of bridging two worlds: a world where women become wives and mothers or a world where women are exiled for their expressed individualism. The women at Grand Isle relinquish their individual identities: â€Å"They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels (Chapter 4).† The role of mother-woman was typified through Madame Adele Ratignolle. Adele Ratignolle is described as being a fairly talented pianist whose personal act of creating music is performed for the sake of her children: â€Å"She was keeping up her music on account of the children, she said; because she and her husband both considered it a means of brightening the home and makingShow MoreRelatedThe Awakening: An Emergence of Womens RIghts in the Late Nineteenth Century1330 Words   |  6 PagesThe Awakening: An Emergence of Women’s Rights in the Late Nineteenth Century Kate Chopin’s The Awakening addresses the role of women within society during the late nineteenth century. The novel is set in South Louisiana, a place where tradition and culture also play a vital role in societal expectations. The novel’s protagonist, Edna Pontellier, initially fulfills her position in society as a wife and as a mother while suppressing her urges to live a life of passion and freedom. Edna’s relationshipRead MoreFemale Empowerment in Kate Chopins The Awakening7915 Words   |  32 PagesSeminarleiter: Georg Schiller Datum der Abgabe: 16.04.2011 Female Empowerment in Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Awakening† Anjana Dhir BA Englisch KF, Geschichte NF 3. Semester Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. The French – Creole society of Louisiana 4 2.1 Cultural background 4 2.2 French-Creole women 5 3. The Role of Women 6 Read MoreSelfhood and Motherhood in The Awakening by Kate Chopin1276 Words   |  5 PagesI cant convince myself that I am (216)† Kate Chopin Kate Chopin’s The Awakening depicts Edna Pontellier’s struggle to find and assert herself within the cultural constraints of late 19th century America. Like her name â€Å"Pontellier†, which means â€Å"one who bridges,† it implies that Edna is in a transition between two worlds but not fully embedded in either. Her intent is to bridge the limited world of the mother-woman to that of selfhood. In The Awakening, the mother-women were â€Å"women who idolizedRead MoreKate Chopin s The Awakening Essay1617 Words   |  7 PagesIn 1899, Kate Chopin had published The Awakening, an American literature classic. Set in Victorian Louisiana, Chopin presented a world where woman are often given a limited amount of options in the many difficult choices we face today in life and bounded to a certain status. Stephen Greenblatt proclaims that the â€Å"beliefs and practices that form a given culture function as a pervasive technology of control, a set of limits†¦ to which individuals must conform† as well as that â€Å"literature†¦ has been oneRead MoreFeminist Analysis : Literary And Cultural Theory, American Poet And Writer, Donald Hall1855 Words   |  8 PagesThat discrimination should not be based on gender in which premises are quite diverse with the male and female power. Women’s roles have been controversial, this approaches opposing perspectives on gen der roles in society. In his book, Literary and Cultural Theory, American poet and writer, Donald Hall, introduces the idea of feminist analysis that the â€Å"Key to all feminist methodologies is the belief that patriarchal oppression of women through history has been profound and multifaceted† (Hall 202)Read MoreThe Symbolism Of Birds Throughout Chopin s The Awakening1564 Words   |  7 PagesThe Symbolism of Birds in Chopin’s The Awakening In the 1899 novella, The Awakening, Kate Chopin illustrates the social oppression that women experienced during the Victorian Era (1837-1901). The protagonist in the novella, Edna Pontellier, reflects the progressive women of the late 1800s who began to question the traditional gender roles of society. In contrast to customary women such as Adele Ratignolle, the model character in the story who displays very high standards of being a wife and a motherRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Kate Chopin s The Story Of An Hour 1274 Words   |  6 Pagessociety, especially in the late 1800’s. Women were believed to live a certain way, fulfill certain roles and duties in the household, and to be extremely fragile and weak. This type of culture still exists today but not to the extreme that it once was. Kate Chopin, however, not afraid speak out against the implications of society breaks free of the social norms of the 1800’s through her strong female characters. Specifically, in her short story, The Story of an Hour, Chopin captures quite the roller coasterRead MoreCalculus Oaper13589 Words   |  55 Pagesstructured primarily around nurturance? I Biologically men have only one innate orientation--a sexual one that draws them to women--while women have two innate orientations, sexual toward men and reproductive toward their young.(1)    I was a woman terribly vulnerable, critical using femaleness as a sort of standard of yardstick to measure and discard men. Yes--something like that. I was an Anna who invited defeat from men without ever being conscious of it. (But I am conscious of it. And being

Cultural imperialism Free Essays

This concept of cultural Imperialism is the argument that a large bulk of media products flow from the West, especially the United States, and so powerfully shape the cultures of other nations that they amount to a cultural form of domination† (Croteau, Hoynes, and Milan Location 8298). In this essay I will explain whether or not this concept provides a useful framework to understand global media, what the strengths and weaknesses are, and will provide example from ll aspects of this concept Cultural Imperialism is the extension of a countries power and influence on many other nations through, in this case, media production. Western corporations embed values and images of Western society in the media products sold. We will write a custom essay sample on Cultural imperialism or any similar topic only for you Order Now The United States has, for many years, been the most dominant nation when it comes to media and the production of media. American films and music dominates the world’s media and could be found in almost every country. â€Å"There Is no denying the overwhelming presence that U. S. culture has in other countries. American television, films, and music are common In most societies across the globe. â€Å"(Croteau, Hoynes, and Milan Location 8298). For an example, you don’t see many artists from Spain coming to the united States on tour and performing at Madison Square Garden. However, you do have many artists from America (most of the main artists), like Pitbull and Miley Cyrus, going on tour in almost every continent. â€Å"For example, global music stars such as Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga were able to sell albums regardless of linguistic differences. † (Croteau, Hoynes, and Milan Location 8298). There is a big reason why this cultural imperialism lies in the hands of the United States. That is because of the substantial budgets that the U. S projects have. This concept provides a useful framework to understand global media. Since the U. S. has all of this money from the constant consumption of their product, they have the money to afford technological Innovation. â€Å"All these things are very expensive to produce† more expensive than most non-U. S. production studios can afford. † (Croteau, Hoynes, and Milan Location 8433). One reason why some U. S. media products have been so successful is that U. S. projects tend to have substantial budgets, resulting in very creative and attractive production values. Therefore, since some nations simply do not have the resources to develop the infrastructure necessary to produce high-quality media products, like the ones produced in the U. S. , it is basically cheaper to buy U. S. made products to produce their own, which yet again leaves the U. S as the dominant media producer. However, there are a few weaknesses with the limitations of cultural imperialism. These limitations are: 1) It does not distinguish different types of media. U. S. products dominate sectors, such as the movie Industry, while other media continue to be mostly local, such as print. ) It assumes a passive audience, which means that we do not know If the other countries are Interpreting U. S. media products differently or as Intended by the media. 3) underestimates the role played by local media producers. Locally produced media content, flnely attuned to local culture, tends to De enormously popular. Local producers nave In some cases successTully competed ith the global med ia companies by providing local alternatives that distinguish themselves from international media fare. The biggest example of a vibrant film industry outside of the West is not new at all. â€Å"Bollywood,† the section of the Indian film industry specializing in Hindi-language films, is based in Mumbai and dates back to the silent film era of the early 20th century. † (Croteau, Hoynes, and Milan Location 8419). In conclusion, cultural imperialism is the extension of a countries power and influence on many other nations through, in this case, media production, which is ominated by the U. S. Since they have the substantial budget to effective create new technological inventions and continuously creating the highest profitable films and music, no other country is able to compete. â€Å"The basic argument of the cultural imperialism thesis was that Western media products introduced into other countries, especially â€Å"developing† countries, contributed to a decline in local traditional values and promoted, instead, values associated with capitalism. † (Croteau, Hoynes, and Milan Location 6322) How to cite Cultural imperialism, Papers

Youth, the spring of Life free essay sample

Youth is the joy, the little bird that has broken out of the eggs and is eagerly waiting to spread out its wings in the open sky of freedom and hope. Youth is the spring of Life. It is the age of discovery and dreams. India is of largest youth population in the world today. The entire world is eyeing India as a source of technical manpower. They are looking at our youth as a source of talents at low costs for their future super profits. If Indian youth make up their mind and work in close unity with working class people, they can hold the political power in their hands. Indian youth has the power to make our country from developing nation to a developed nation. Is it a dream? No, their dreams take them to stars and galaxies to the far corners of the unknown and some of them like our own Kalpana Chawla pursue their dream, till they realize it and die for it in process. We will write a custom essay sample on Youth, the spring of Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The youth hopes for a world free of poverty, unemployment, inequality and exploitation of man by man. A world free of discrimination on the grounds of race, colour , language and gender . A world full of creative challenges and opportunities to conquer them . But let us convert these hopes in reality. India can become a developed nation only if everyone contributes to the best of his or her capacity and ability. Youth is wholly experimental and with the full utilization of the talents of the Youth, India will become a complete Nation. Let us hope for the same.

Naturally Here free essay sample

Why am I here? I wondered, as the mild soft sunlight peered into my brown skin. The question vanished into the blue clear sky as this place was much more fascinating than the question. But there was no question of being ‘somewhere else’ than this beautiful garden. Now the place where I am; is just a god’s gift! The serene view I was experiencing sitting on the lush green lawn was just beyond one’s imagination; silent breeze flowing through the vividly green shade leaves of the trees, shadowing beneath were tiny bushes colored other than green, some were mellow yellow and some colors left me thinking. Looking around gradually, I observed a beautiful lake very still within the woods. The water was calm and had many different hues of blue. A ‘pop’ sound made me look closely at the lake; it was a fish: jumping over and proving its existence amid the silence. We will write a custom essay sample on Naturally Here or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The breeze and the soft sun rays made ripples on the water, glimmer. Approaching near the shore I saw crystal clear translucent shade of blue, but as the water got deeper, the color got richer. I noticed a white wooden bridge making its path over the beautiful lake. I noticed some beautiful and colorful birds sitting on the bridge. I looked up as I heard the crackling voice of the wooden bridge as few kids went pass running over also noticed few more people admiring the natural beauty. The vintage bridge was structured beautifully with little brown fences on both sides which mirrored a reflection over the lake. With only a few handful people around me I questioned myself why wouldnt anyone else be here? I wondered again. Ive always marveled upon how profound the experience of nature knocks on our doors of true understanding of who we truly are. Usually people bind themselves in their own pragmatic way of life, unknowingly ignoring the surroundings. There are dozens of bustling masse s of bodies queuing up, constantly shoving and pushing each other in a Super Sale event. Unlike them, I have always been fascinated towards nature engrossed in capturing the best moments of my limited journey of life in my camera which is my closest friend. I preserve and share all those fascinating instances of the Mother Nature. I try to collate my findings on my photo-blog, to make finite improvements in my life by sharing and accepting words of advice! â€Å"They say if you exchange a dollar with another you still have only a dollar with you; but if you exchange a thought each one has two!† While all this is so caressed I often wonder isnt it lesser fun to run behind fictitious unnatural attractions rather than towards the natural beauty? I am just astonished by the ignorance by the masses over the established and protected beauty of nature. Weve all heard that the nature is one of humanity’s greatest teachers- but we yet do not believe in this truly. Every tiny element of Mother Nature teaches you to improve a quality in life. Trees withstand all pressure but still stand strong, Mountains teach to be stable amidst the varying nature, fishes explain us to ‘keep moving’ and we learn from flowers to blossom no matter how hard the surrounding may be. I always learnt that a worn-out autumn is always followed by a blossoming spring. How can someone be elsewhere if one can learn so naturally? Nature is a place where you can walk over the damp grass and feel the true love from the nature, it’s a place where race, religion or caste doesnt matters to be loved and helped, it’s a place where you can just lie down in vain and truly rely. I found my answer in the same place; I want to be with Mother Nature every day for not letting off an opportunity to learn from every single element of the nature. I come ‘here’ to appreciate what the nature truly gives me, food, shelter, air and water and not the least â€Å"A peace of mind!† What I gain is what I should give back as I give back to the community where I live by volunteering, like in hospitals, I can give back to nature by visiting appreciating and help preserving, spreading awareness among those who don’t care for nature. Planting trees, preserving water Because ‘here’ is where I come from and ‘here’ is where I will end.

11 Pieces of Career Advice No One Tells You

11 Pieces of Career Advice No One Tells You Most people have decent jobs. They get up in the morning, grind out their 9-5, head home, and then do it all over again the next day. There’s nothing wrong with simply having a job. You need a job for food, clothes, shelter, etc. But if you’re someone that is looking for something more , and you’re stuck in a 9-5 rut, then you’re probably not happy with just having a job.You’ve probably noticed videos all over your social media showcasing successful people talking about their passion and how that connects to their success.For instance, successful people like Warren Buffet believe that the key to success is finding your passion. And while that may sound cliche and cheesy, we should remember that these people get up every morning, excited for the day. They look at every day as a new opportunity to affect thousands of people through their work. Clearly, these people are onto something.Here is what they understand that the average person doesn’t. Â  Source: [medium.com]

Set size and search type effect on search time during visual search Essay

Set size and search type effect on search time during visual search task - Essay Example Feature Integration theory There are a number of researches with various stimuli, while most prevalent idea proposed for human visual search comes from A. Treisman (1980), who conducted a research illustrating Feature integration theory. It asserts that a visual search is faster in presence of dissimilar background and the number of distracters involved in background do not affect the time consumption in case of a feature search (a search that involves identification of a direct feature like color, shape, orientation or curvature). On the other hand, a conjunction search is affected widely with the number of distracters presented in the background. A conjunction search is defined as a search which does not involve a direct feature but a similarity of multiple features among the various objects. (For example ‘blue square’ has similarities with ‘blue triangle’ and ‘red square’.) Consequent of the propositions, feature integration theory illustrate s that those two searches consists of different methodology for human visual search. Those methods are characterized as parallel searches and serial searches for feature and conjunctive patterns. As further illustrated in Feature Integration theory, feature search and conjunction search differ widely on time consumption patterns as conjunction search follows a twofold process which requires identifying the features and categorizing the conjunctions to create a pattern of search. The distracters found in the patterns are responsible for time consumptions. The feature-integration theory of attention suggests that attention must be directed serially to each stimulus in a display whenever conjunctions of more than one separable feature are needed to characterize or distinguish the possible objects (Treisman and Gelade, 1980) There are number of arguments and theoretical results that involve some serious diversions and modification to this theory. However, most of the theories involve th e base of feature integration which asserts that there are found clear differences in the types of searches when direct features are involved or eliminated. Other theories and Guided search In contrast with feature integration theory there are some proposition which offers different arguments and researches for visual search. A major theory is in the propositions of Wolfe (1989) who offers a broad research for how visual search is not limited only to the factors if the searches are parallel or serial but it also depends largely on the motivating factors for a visual search. Wolfe presents this theory as the guided search theory. In his propositions, a number of subjects were passed through the experiments with varying number of stimuli and the data outcome was measured over the graphs to provide a serious deflection from Feature integration patterns. Subjects searched sets of items for targets defined by conjunctions of color and form, color and orientation, or color and size. Set s ize was varied and reaction times (RT) were measured. For many unpracticed subjects, the slopes of the resulting RT x Set Size functions are too shallow to be consistent with Treisman's feature integration model, which proposes serial, self-terminating search for conjunctions (Jeremy M. Wolfe, 1989). As those results offer a diversion in self-terminating s

International Personality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Personality - Essay Example This is legal systems that regulate action by states. Sine 1945 the international legal system has been used in the world to arbitrate different conflicts and to bring conflicting sides to the table. The UN has played a pivotal role in the development of an internal legal system. However the principle subject that has been emphasized on the international law has been states rather than individuals. Individual have been placed under the municipal law. The international court of Justice had acknowledged in the repartition case which types of the international personality other than the statehood could be in existence which has seen an expansion of the subjects of the international law. But apart from the mention states, there have also been concerns that personality is also possessed by other bodies like international organization and human beings. The non-governmental organization and national liberation movement are also showing a great possession of international personality. (Nijman 2004, p. 2) In right to this we can therefore see that international personality is therefore bench marked on the power that is given to the entity. If the entity does not have the power to force the power that has been granted under the international laws, therefore it cannot be said to be an international person. This is the reason why the definition of an internal individual may not be the same as the normal definition since it will be referring to a specific entity rather those specific human beings. This means that the international community is taken as a being made up of "persons" who posses powers to act on behalf of the international community. This definition hence takes in the factors of power that is granted to the specific individual to implement the powers for the international community. While in our normal definition we may be referring to specific humans, the international community recognizes the states alone. But the non-governmental organization has also been given the same power of recognition in the international community as states. While the international law clearly defines an international person as "an entity that has the capacity to bear legal rights and duties under the international law" non governmental organizations have been able to bear the foresaid legal right and duties. (Greig 1996, p. 32) International organizations are also given legal

World History The Eugenics Debate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

World History The Eugenics Debate - Essay Example This brief essay will attempt to examine: Miller's description of genetic inheritance in criminality, poverty and intelligence, considering if this is good reasoning; consider whether his strategies for limiting undesirable births is practical; look at the position of eugenics in economics and democracy; and calculate whether these elements combined make eugenics practical in a modern society. Considering the role of genes in criminality, poverty and intelligence in Miller's essay. Any policy which argues for the reintroduction of eugenics must base its arguments upon the genetic factors which influence behaviour. In his essay, Dr Miller argues that there is 'a strong genetic component' in both criminality and those who live below the poverty line. However, while he makes a small amount of room for the theory that environmental influences may also have a strong impact upon behaviour and intelligence. He chooses to point at adoption and twin studies to demonstrate that there is a strong link between genes and criminality, poverty and intelligence.

Examine The Distinctions Between Theories Of International Relations Politics Essay

Examine The Distinctions Between Theories Of International Relations Politics Essay Critically examine the distinctions between explanatory and constitutive theories of international relations, illustrating your argument with insights from a variety of theoretical perspectives The distinction between explanatory and constitutive theory is a contested issue that has emerged as a result of the contemporary way of framing issues in International Relations. I will argue that this is an ambiguous and superficial distinction that when pressed to categorise theoretical concepts requires an oversimplification and carries a danger of negligence. I then offer an alternative categorisation; that put forward by Robert Cox ( 1981): problem-solving and critical theory. I conclude by arguing that the act of categorising in itself is highly problematic. Explanatory theory views the world as something external to our theories, indentifying a number of key factors and then predicting a range of outcomes on the basis of a few important causal factors. (Kurki Wight, 2007, p.28) In contrast, constitutive theory argues that our theories help construct our world and that we cannot separate subject and object as a causal relationship; but instead theory and practice are embedded. The epistemology of explanatory theory is positivist, arguing that we can have authentic value- free knowledge based upon sense experience and methodologically using empirical data to produce universal conditionals. (Baylis et al., 2008, p.177) Constitutive theory rejects this epistemological and methodological approach, arguing that human knowledge is not based on neutral foundations, but rather upon human conjectures. Instead, constitutive theory is concerned with the study of how norms, rules and ideas are constituted in social objects; preferring to study from a meta-theoretical perspective. (Kurki Wight, 2007, p.29) Realism, an orthodox theory, is regarded as a classic example of explanatory theory. (Kurki Wight, 2007, p.28) Realism claims that politics and society are governed by objective laws based upon a fixed conception of human nature. (Morgenthau, 1967) The Realist conception of human nature has its roots in the Hobbesian man; a creature of self-preservation, countless appetites and desires; when added to the anarchical state of nature the life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. (Hobbes, 2008, p.84) This image of man is then extrapolated into the state and world order, giving Realism a rational outline that concludes that states are by nature power maximizers. (Rosenberg, 2001, p.17) This concept of power imposes intellectual discipline upon the observer, infuses rational order into the subject matter of politics (Morgenthau, 1967) and produces the idealistic  [1]  conception of a balance of power. Overall, Realism advocates a broad positivist scientific epistemolog y by a determinate causal relation between the object and subject i.e. the fixed objective nature of man into a subjective social power relation between states. Another orthodox explanatory theory is said to be Liberalism, which sets out a common positivist epistemology and ontological emphasis on human nature. The Liberal perspective accepts the Realist ontology of human nature and state-centricity, but differs by emphasising the rational qualities of individuals and a faith in the progress of social life. Despite the fixed conception of human nature, man is able to cooperate and construct a peaceful society. (Russett, 2007, p.96) Although not denying the international system is anarchical, there is a disagreement as to what this means and why it matters. (Baldwin, 1993, p.4) Liberalism has a belief in democratic governments, economic interdependence and international law and institutions, in a series of feedback loops each factor strengthening the other and leading to a self-perpetuating peaceful system. (Russett, 2007, p.107) In a sense Liberalism breaks from away from the Realist conception of man, to a more central role of rational indi viduals cooperating and constructing a peaceful society. Once more Liberalism applies a positivist methodology by relating the agency of human nature as the ontological basis and predicting structural power relations between states. So far I have focused upon two generalised orthodox theories and argued that both categorise neatly within the explanatory bracket. However, when moving to the third paradigm of International Relations theory Marxism we find that the distinctions become obscure and potentially misleading if operated negligently. Marxisms methodology operates on a dual basis of dialectical and historical materialism; if taken separately I believe Marxism can wrongly be defined as explanatory theory, whereas, taken in its correct dual sense Marxism bridges the gap between explanatory and constitutive theories. Firstly, dialectical materialism is a theory of struggle and must be understood as in direct opposition to idealism. Contrary to the orthodox theories, dialectics does not regard nature as an accidental agglomeration of things, independent and isolated such as the ontological basis of power and human nature but a connected and integrated whole, in which things are organically interdependent. The dialectical methodology is holistic and therefore holds that we cannot understand the phenomena in nature, if isolated from surrounding phenomena. Contrary to orthodox theory, human nature is not in a state of rest, fixed and immobile, but in a state of continuous movement and change. This dialectical approach has important implications for the way in which Marxism studies social life, removing it from a simple object and subject split, whilst also distinguishing its methodology from orthodox theory. As Marx himself put it, as soon as this active life-process is described, history ceases to be a collection of dead facts as it is with the empiricists. (Marx Engels, 1970, p.48) Nevertheless, Marxism still retains an element of explanatory quality, as dialectical materialism envisages a process of development; where qualitative changes occur not gradually, but rapidly and abruptly, leaping from one state to another; not accidently, but as a natural result of gradual quantitative changes in the unfolding of contradictions inherent in nature. (Stalin, 1938) This dialectical process results in Marxist methodology to scientifically predict the eventual downfall of capitalism to a higher stage of communism. The mistake often made with Marxism is to highlight the objective factors as primarily driving revolutionary change. Instead, by incorporating a reading of Marxist historical materialism, we begin to understand that objective factors inevitably give rise to revolts and not revolution; i.e. objectively the stock market will crash due to the structure of capitalism, giving rise to a subjective revolt. By incorporating historical materialism, Marxism focuses on the subjective factors alive within an epoch of history and seeks to measure the factors for revolution and the factors against; objective factors can include unintentional structures of exploitation and alienation; giving rise to subjective necessity to find a job, or join a union. It is this dialectical interrelation of object and subject that informs the Marxist methodology. Contrary to explanatory theory, which asserts that theory can be separate from practice, and that value-free knowledge is possible due to our sensations, ideas and perceptions; Marxist materialism holds that matter is primary, since it is the source of our ideas, and that our theory is derivative, a reflection of matter and practice. One cannot separate the thought from matter which thinks. Matter is the subject of all changes. (Marx, 2001, p.167) Whatever the material conditions of life of a society, such are the ideas and theories about them it is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social being that determines their consciousness. (Marx, 2001, p.425) In summation, Marxism has scientific qualities and foundational epistemology similar to explanatory theory; yet, by its break towards a more holistic methodology and historical materialist ontology, marks a nascent stage of constitutive theory. The Marxist ideological hypothesis marks a transition towards Post theoretical concepts. Post-structuralism claims that interpretation is void of any objectivity and as such political leaders, social activists, scholars and students all actively engage in a interpretation of the world that is ideological. Post-structuralism attacks the Realist foundational approach, highlighting how state-centric ontology results in predetermined practice; i.e. balance of power emerges as Realism marks a border between inside/outside, sovereign/anarchic, us/them (Campbell, 2007, p.216) and post-structuralism is concerned with how this inside and outside relation is mutually composed. Post-structuralism argues that these interpretations are made from a particular ideological vantage point and hence representation cannot be abstracted from our identities; therefore post-structuralism is concerned with the discourse of identity politics. (Campbell, 2007, pp.214-16) Post-structuralism is essentially conc erned with the deconstruction of truth claims; for example, Realism, Liberalism and Marxism all have a normative position and therefore claim to have uncovered some fundamental truth about the world. (Baylis et al., 2008, p.185) Overall, post-structuralism has a devastating critique and deconstruction of the normative element of traditional theories. However, I would argue that this meta-theoretical critique is useful in retrospect, yet, pacifying and un-politicizing by an failure to change the concrete conditions of society; otherwise contradicting its anti-normative perspective. The distinctions between explanatory and constitutive appear to be problematic and I believe this due to the construction of explanatory theory using a framework of Realist ontology, epistemology and methodology. This forces a superficial distinction to be drawn in the shape of constitutive theory, which directly opposes Realism. Yet, when placing Marxism and to a degree Liberalism within these inflexible categories, an element of overlap is necessary. Instead, using Robert Coxs more flexible categorisation; problem-solving and critical theory helps to show clearly the points of departure and encourage reflection on the process of theorising itself; i.e. to achieve a perspective on perspectives. (Cox, 1981, p.88) Realism and Liberalism would be defined as problem-solving theory due to its negation of the prevailing social and power relationships, as well as institutions and economic structure. The second category is critical theory, it is critical because it refuses to except the exi sting order as a non-historical occurrence, but question how that order came about and how it is maintained. (Cox, 1981, pp.88-89) Overall, the problem-solving and critical distinctions offer more flexibility and clarity between theoretical perspectives. Nevertheless, the distinctions made are on a normative basis and subsequently complicate the positioning of post theoretical perspectives. To conclude, I would argue that the distinctions of Explanatory and Constitutive theory are highly problematic since the act of categorisation, in itself, leads to the creation of new discourses that can dangerously disregard important underpinnings of major theories. As Marx once famously recalled if this is Marxism, then I am not a Marxist (Engels, 1890) and Foucaults effort to escape any fixed identity through his writings, (Gutting, 2005, p.10) illustrates the discomfort of categorisation as practice in political theory.

Essay --

1. Operational Strengths and Weaknesses a. Horizontal Analysis This type of analysis compares the percent and amount of changes from year to year. The analysis is performed on both the income statement and balance sheet to detect trends and identify any issues. This can be a very useful analysis especially when more than two years of data is available. With this analysis and various others a good understanding of how the company is operating can be seen. Revenue Section The income statement shows both strengths and weaknesses. There is a jump in net sales from year 6 to year 7 by 33%; this is a substantial increase for the company and strength. In year eight compared to year seven, the company has seen a decrease in net sales by 15%. Net sales show to be rather unstable and a possible source of weakness as well. The reduction in revenue is ultimately due to the current economic situations; which could be attributed to funding cuts by sponsors for some of the riders. This kind of up and down in net sales may be common for the company over the years to come. The company should also consider having a product to balance this out. Since their main source of sales is a specialty item it would benefit the company to have additional products that are more main stream to even out sales in the future. However, unit sales will most likely stay below year sevens high of 4,342,000, it is expected that unit sales will increase over the next three years to make up for its decline in year eight. Cost of good sold has moved with the net sales, which is a positive note. This means the company is not spending more on products than sales allow, and purchasing is projecting accurately. However, there may be opportunity for the company to reduce the ... ...to reduce interest can help increase this ratio, as well as increasing sales. Overall all in the ratio analysis the company has several areas of strengths and several areas of weakness. It would benefit the company to reduce their expenses and increase sales to improve these numbers over time. The company is also struggling to keep up with competitors in several areas, and much of that could be combated with increased sales and better expense control. 2. Working Capital Currently Competition Bike Inc. working capital is positive. The company has more assets than they do liabilities. The company has seen a decrease in their assets in the last year but the company’s liabilities have also decreased. The company’s working capital ratio has remained around 2.1 for the last three years. This is very positive for the company, a ratio between 1.2 to 2.0 is recommended.