What Should We Know About Fortunato - Free Essay Example

The Cask of Amontillado is one of Poes most famous short stories. In the story a man named Montresor takes revenge upon his friend, Fortunato. Readers dont know what Fortunato did to deserve revenge. During the 1700s in a European city Montresor had a plan to get revenge on Fortunato. The both of them meet during a festival called carnival season, Montresor then convinces Fortunato to go home with him to an underground wine vault to taste a special type of sherry wine called Amontillado. Although Amontillado might not be real Montresor lets Fortunato know that, but Montresor also pretends to ask another man named Luchesi to taste it just so he can trick Fortunato into wanting to be the one to taste it. Montresor then goes down to his wine vault, and acts on his plan of revenge. Fortunato was in luck, he received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado. Fortunato had his doubts about it though, so Luchesi decides to be on his way because if anyone will know a real Amontillado it would be him. Fortunato was led through multiple suites of rooms that brought him into the vaults. Going along the vaults, The Montresors were a great and numerous family as you can see all around. Passing through walls of piled bones, and puncheons into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. Luchesi grabbed Fortunato ad shouted the The nitre! The nitre increases, it hangs like a moss upon the vaults. Being below the rivers bed drops of moisture trickle among the bones. It is nothing Luchesi said to Fortunato, I need another drink of wine. Fortunato gave a bottle of De Grave to Luchesi, Luchesi finished it up in a quick breath, his eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upwards with a gesture, Fortunato didnt understand but Luchesi looked at him in surprise and said its the movement, a ridiculous one. Passing through a range of low arches, arrived at a deep crypt in which foulness of the air caused torches to glow than to turn into flame. At the end of the crypt was walls lined up with human remains piled to the vault ahead. Going along the vault was Amontillado. In an instant reaching the wall and finding progress stopped by a rock they stood completely confused. Montresor then chained up Fortunato to the granite. In its surface were two iron rings, distant from each other about two feet, horizontally. Throwing the links around his waist it took only a few seconds to lock it. Fortunato was too surprised to fight back. Montresor then barely laid the first layer when discovering that Fortunatos intoxication had worn off. A low moaning cry from inside the hole was heard, it was not the cry of a drunken man. A succession of loud and shrill screams bursting all of a sudden from the throat of the chained form seemed to throw Fortunato violently back. A quiet laugh that followed along a sad voice Fortunato was in pain. A voice laughing along saying what a good joke, an excellent joke indeed. Following along saying we will have a rich laugh about it at the palazzo continuously laughing. The Amontillado! Montresor shouted. Let us be gone is all that is saying, yes let us be gone for the love of God, Montresor. Montresor listened in vain for a reply, he grew impatient. Yelling on the other hand screaming out Fortunato Fortunato, no answer. Thrusting a torch through the remaining hole came fo rth in return of jingling bells. His heart grew sick of the dampness of catcombs, he hurried to make an end of his work but forced the last stone into its position and plastered it up against the new masonry. He also re-erected the old pile of bones, and for the half of a century no human has disturbed them. May he rest in peace Montresor said talking about Fortunato.

Hamlet By William Shakespeare s Hamlet - 1206 Words

Humanity in Hamlet The play Hamlet shows how, Humans are the most complex species on the planet earth. Ever since the history has been keeping records, we have seen how humans reacted under different circumstances. Human feelings are like a ripple effect. Many people are affected by the decisions they make. Humans could be either very cruel or show great compassion and kindness towards each other. The William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet shows how human nature can be greedy, revengeful and cruel. All these sides of human nature are an example of the ripple effect caused by the decisions of an individual. The theme of greed is seen though the play Hamlet portrayed by different characters under different circumstances. The opposing character of the play is Claudius, all the conflict is caused by him. Throughout the play audience gets aware of how he killed his brother so he can claim the crowned greed of being the new King of Denmark. His blinded by the greed which made him forget the relationship he had with his brother. Claudius â€Å"that cannot be; since I am still possess’d. Of those effects for which I did the murder, My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen(Act 3 Scene 3 56-59). In this soliloquy Claudius asks for forgiveness but he comes to notice that he can’t be forgiven because of what he possesses and what he has done. Due to what he possess he struggles to feel sorry for his actions. He sacrificed the happiness of others for his own selfish reasons. Characters in theShow MoreRelatedHamlet : William Shakespeare s Hamlet1259 Words   |  6 PagesOmar Sancho Professor Christopher Cook English 201-0810 Hamlet Paper 23 May 2016 Hamlet Character Analysis â€Å"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.†(Act 2, Scene 2, 239-251) Hamlet by William Shakespeare is one of the most famous plays written that conveys a multitude theme. But most predominant is the presence of Hamlet s obsession with philosophy of life, throughout the play Hamlet philosophy reviles his point of view love, loyalty, the importance of family and friendsRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Hamlet1160 Words   |  5 PagesPart 1: Hamlet Word Count: 1000 In what ways does Shakespeare s Hamlet explore the human mind? The play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, is seen to be an exploration of the human mind and shows the consequences our actions have when they are acted in pure impulse and emotion instead of being thought about. The character Hamlet makes majority of his decision in the heat of the moment, but had trouble deciding which action to take after intense consideration. The actions that Hamlet doesRead MoreHamlet By William Shakespeare s Hamlet1936 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare s, Hamlet, written in the seventeenth century and first performed in 1602, is still a complex and intriguing play that encompasses many Jungian archetypes in relation to the setting and characters. This play was approximately four centuries old before Shakespeare reworked it for the stage. Hamlet is based on events involving the death of the King of Denmark according to the Norse legends. This paper deals with a small portion of the entirety of the events in Hamlet. ScholarsRead MoreWilliam Shakesp eare s Hamlet - Hamlet And The Ghost Essay1550 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough written over 400 hundred years ago, Hamlet remains a puzzling and complex play, partially due to the ambiguous Queen Gertrude. The Queen is a puzzling character as her motives are unclear and readers question her intentions throughout the play. Townsend and Pace in The Many Faces Of Gertrude: Opening And Closing Possibilities In Classroom Talk view her â€Å"as a simple-minded, shallow woman...who has no self beyond a sexual one† while Harmonie Loberg in Queen Gertrude: Monarch, Mother, MurdererRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet Essay902 Words   |  4 PagesTo be, or not to be; that s the question† (Act III, Scene 1, P.1127) is of the most widely circulated lines. As we all know, it is also the most important part of the drama, â€Å"Hamlet†, which is one of the most famous tragedy in the literature written by William Shakespeare between from 1599 to1602. The drama was written at the age of Renaissance that reflects the reality of the British society in sixteenth century to early seventeenth century. During that period, Britain was in the era of reverseRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 1265 Words   |  6 PagesWe have all been guilty at some point in our lives of trying to act like a conflict we ve had has not existed or been a problem at all. In William Shakespeare s Hamlet we are bombarded with characters that are avoiding conflict by acting like they don t exist. Although majority of my classmates felt Hamlet was a play about revenge, I believe Shakespeare is addressing the issue of chaos and how it cannot be rectified by conjuring up a false reality; it only pushes the conflict into further disarrayRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 1130 Words   |  5 PagesHoratio and Hamlet that demonstrate how he changes from the beginning to the end of the play. In the epic tragedy Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Prince Hamlet is trapped in a world of evil that is not his fault. Hamlet’s demeanor and attitude fluctuate over the course of the play. While Hamlet means well and is portrayed to be very sensitive and moral, at times he can appear to be overruled by the madness and darkness from the tragedy of his father s murder. His dealings with his dad s ghostlyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 1116 Words   |  5 PagesTeresa Fang Professor Moore Humanities 310 28 October 2015 To Seek Revenge or to Wait? Hamlet is a very enigmatic fellow. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the theme of revenge is presented as a controversial one. Before the play was set, Prince Hamlet’s uncle and new stepfather, King Claudius, had taken part in the assassination of his brother, old King Hamlet. Old King Hamlet died without a chance to receive forgiveness for his sins. As a result, his spirit is condemned to walk the earthRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 1077 Words   |  5 Pagessuch as William Shakespeare have 4dictated their works in a way that allows for them to integrate common occurrences of new psychological findings into a text, giving them an opportunity to sculpt characters that differentiate themselves from one another. Psychoanalytical Criticism is the application of psychological studies incorporated into the findings of contemporary literature, principles founded by Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan are most commonly referred to in these texts. Hamlet is an identityRe ad MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 2273 Words   |  10 Pages William Shakespeare was an English playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world s pre-eminent dramatist. Shakespeare is perhaps most famous for his tragedies. Most of his tragedies were written in a seven-year period between 1601 and 1608. One of these tragedies is his famous play Hamlet. The age of Shakespeare was a great time in English history. The reign of Queen Elizabeth saw England emerge as the leading naval and commercial power of the

Organ Donation After Death By Toni Gross - 1476 Words

Organ Donation After Death by Toni Gross Specific Purpose Statement: To invite my audience to consider the pros and cons of donating organs after death and to consider where this leads into the future. Thesis: Organ donation is the process of giving an organ or a part of an organ and transplanting it into another person in order for them to survive, today I am wanting to better understand the different views on organ donating so I can make a better decision on deciding whether to register. Introduction I. [ Attention-Getter ] Imagine your loved one has passed away and you are devastated. But now a lady has approached you in desperation, claiming that your loved one has the opportunity to save her child s life. Would you be†¦show more content†¦Every year we hold a soccer tournament in her name and recipients of the organs have come to interact with her close family and friends. I had the opportunity to interact with these recipients as well as witness how difficult it was for her parents. It was hard but at the same time it was a very beautiful thing. A. That is why I chose this topic, so I can become more knowledgeable as well as help my classmates comprehend the process more. B. After researching the advantages and disadvantages I am more knowledgeable and understanding of the different perspectives. IV. [ Thesis and Preview] Therefore, I would first like to present the definition of organ donation and history as well as move into the difference of pros and cons A. I hope by sharing this information today and then hearing your opinions we can all make a more informative decision for ourselves on organ donation Signpost: Let’s rewind back to where it started Body I. Organ donation is the process of giving an organ or a part of an organ and transplanting it into another person in order for them to survive. II. Organ donation has actually not been around that long, it started in the mid 1900s. A. Unos.org claims that in 1954 the kidney was the first organ to be donated, followed by the first succesful liver transplant in 1967. B. Then in 1968 something important happened, a donor card was established as a legal document. C. In the 80s the first lung and heart

Discussion about Ethical Conflicts and Cultural Differences among Empl

Question: Describe about the Ethical Conflicts and Cultural Differences among Employees? Answer: 1. The organization structure of Quo Terra Real Estate was initially chosen for a real estate company that was in the business of selling real estate from corporate offices, primarily for a consumer to consumer transactions. As QRE expanded into franchising the anticipation was that the modified VP structure would serve the company well when moving forward. One of the benefits of franchising is that some of the challenges associated with a conventional new business are removed such as decisions regarding product, pricing, branding, marketing collateral, signage, etc. (Whittington, 2014). In essence, a business consultant is acquiring some intangible elements which, in theory, should serve to help business consultant reduce business consultant business risk. The franchisor cannot directly enforce the franchisee's obligations to the tenant. If the franchisee defaults under the lease, the landlord can exercise its rights and even forfeit the lease without notice to the franchisor. The f ranchisor may not be able to take possession immediately on termination, which can be vital. This can, however, be provided for in the documentation (Tan Antonio, 2015). 2. Yes, the QRE should have revised/modified their corporate structure in a different way to allow for the integration of their franchisees into the corporate fold. The corporate structure at QRE was designed to accommodate the initial and possible growth into more corporate real estate locations. The President was at the top of the structure (Zadek, Evans Pruzan, 2013). There was a VP of Administration Facilities that also expanded to include Franchising, a VP of Sale Marketing and several years after the startup of QRE All three of these Vice Presidents reported directly to the company president. The org chart was simple, efficient, and made good business sense for their current situation. 3: As the intensity of the franchise offices growth increases, conflicts between the existing offices increased notably in number. Conflicts with personnel hired and transferred between the various corporate and franchise locations had also become a problem. To solve this problem some ethical considerations are: Readily identify clients interests and potential legal positions. Ask whether a conflict or potential for conflict might exist. Inform the franchise of any conflict or potential conflict at the outset of the relationship (Whittington, 2014). If the organization does not represent an employee of the organization, be sure he or she is informed of that fact and receives an Upjohn Warning. Ask whether informed consent can be given and if so, obtain it in writing. Even if clients give informed consent, ask whether business consultant wants to take on joint representation. As the litigation or deal proceeds, readily flag conflict issues that might arise between parties (Whittington, 2014). 4. Yes, QRE considered all of the potential ethical issues when moving forward with their modified corporate structure. As the intensity of the franchise offices growth increases, conflicts between the existing offices increased notably in number. Conflicts with personnel hired and transferred between the various corporate and franchise locations had also become a problem. Even QRE franchise locations were having conflicts (Tan Antonio, 2015). Also, QRE franchisees were upset that, as their offices grow, they are not allowed to move towards the St. Louis market; they feel they are wasting advertising money, and that is unfair that they have to avoid servicing a sizable segment of the nearby population base that their advertising reaches.5. As marketing continues to evolve, this organizational structure will adapt to whatever needs to be come about. Coupled with the adoption of new business processes like Agile Marketing, I believe functional depth expertise, combined with cross-func tional management of the work business consultant team is focused on, will keep a steady stream of ideas flowing, more analytical decisions about which of those ideas to implement, and ultimately create predictability in the outcome of business consultant and business consultant teams efforts (Lee Lee, 2014). Marketing Operations professionals oversee the complexity of the marketing tech stack, Figure 1: Corporate Marketing Structure (Source: Created by author) IT integration, and hypothesis testing, and optimizing customer experiences in the product. Flexible structure allows for adding headcount and functions seamlessly as the company's product mix evolves. Much of the marketing org flows through Product Marketing Managers (PMMs). PMMs partner with functional experts in other sub-departments. References Lee, B., Lee, S. (2014). Ethical Conflicts and Cultural Differences among Employees in the Hospitality Industry. Tan, J. B., Antonio Jr, S. (2015). Control or Let Loose: The Franchising Business in Davao City. International Journal of Accounting Research, 2015. Whittington, R. (2014). Corporate Strategies in Recession and Recovery (Routledge Revivals): Social Structure and Strategic Choice. Routledge. Zadek, S., Evans, R., Pruzan, P. (2013). Building corporate accountability: Emerging practice in social and ethical accounting and auditing. Routledge.

Yes Minister Is A Successful Satire. Discuss. Essays -

Yes Minister Is A Successful Satire. Discuss. The British comedy Yes Minister is a brilliant satire in which the characters are creatively manipulated to form a humorous program. It deals with the wheeling and dealing of political life behind the scenes and attempts to expose its true nature. Although the series is set within the British political scene, it deals with political games and clashes between politicians and the civil service that could be found almost anywhere in the world. Yes Minister started airing in 1980 on BBC 2 with each episode running for about 30 minutes. With its astounding success it ran for six years until Jim Hacker finally became what he always dreamt of throughout the course of the series: Prime Minister. At this point the BBC started a new series called Yes Prime Minister. The series is still shown on television today and people continue to enjoy the satirical British humour. In the third season of Yes Minister and for the first time on 11 November 1982, two years into the series, ran an episode called Equal Opportunities. As its title suggests it encompasses the issues to do with Equal Employment Opportunities, focusing on the Civil Services and their attitudes towards women in the workforce. As in other episodes of Yes Minister, Equal Opportunities aims to educate and summon change, while simultaneously entertaining the audience it is targeted towards. Clever incorporation of a variety of different types of humour creates a jovial fa?ade for the underlying issues. In Equal Opportunities it has allowed the exploration of each sexes emotions and thoughts towards each other in the workforce. A twist of irony occurs when Sarah announces that she is leaving the civil services. She explains to Jim Hacker that she wants a job that will appreciate her as a person and where she personally can achieve things and therefore has accepted a job at a merchant bank. She is absolutely not charmed by the fact that she would be part of a 25% quota and does not appreciate being patronised: Quite honestly, Minister, I want a job where I dont spend endless hours circulating information that isnt relevant, about subjects that dont matter to people who arent interested. I want a job where there is achievement rather than merely activity. I am tired of pushing paper. I want to be able to point to something and say: I did that. Sarcasm is used to cunningly say what is really meant without saying it straight out. What it does say straight out often defiantly contradicts its true meaning: We must, in my view, always have the right to promote the best man for the job, regardless of sex. Sir Humphrey makes out that hes being fair but by calling everyone man and then saying regardless of sex it appears as a contradiction. The use of dialogue allows the viewer a deeper insight into the characters involved in the show. While the male characters in Yes Minister deny being sexist and claim to be looking out for the best interests of women in the workforce, it is obvious through their use of sexist dialogue that this is not the case. Terms such as feminist touch and dear lady are frequently used when referring to women throughout the script. Sir Humphrey often uses circumlocution to confuse the issues. Euphemisms are used by many of the Public Servants involved to get around an issue or to make the issue sound better than what it really is: a pause to regroup, a lull in which to reassess the situation and discuss alternative strategies, a space of time for the mature reflection and deliberation. Yes, you mean drop the whole scheme. Attitudes of people who work in the Public Services are cross-examined and mocked. It is shown that many of the people within the Public Services are lazy, only care about their own success, and believe that advancements happen as a matter of turn: Minister! It takes time to do things! This plays on the fact that because so many people in the Services are caught up doing useless things or are so slow and lazy, it takes a long time to achieve anything major. Jim Hacker mentions Alexander the Great ruling at a very young age,

International Relations Theory Essay Example

International Relations Theory Essay Example International Relations Theory Essay International Relations Theory Essay In the current Hobbesian world, true security depends on the possession and use of military might. Some argue, however, that liberalism or even constructivism has replaced realism as the proper lens through which to view the international system. Proponents of liberalism often cite Europe’s ever increasing use of laws, transnational negotiations, and cooperation or the increasing interdependence between the East and the West as evidence of the waning influence of realpolitik, or power politics. Constructivists point to the expansion of social sciences and human rights to prove that ideas hold the real power in the international system. What both of these camps miss is the underlying element, or foundation, which allows norms, ideas, economic trade, and every other positive element of the international system to exist: stability underwritten by military might and the balance of power. The following analysis will outline the influence of the theories of realism, liberalism and constructivism on the international system. Moreover, it will outline why power politics and the balance of power remain the most important influences in international relations, and why realism is the only theory adequate to explain the balance of power among states through military might. Before outlining why balance of power is the most important factor in the international system, it is important first to define and understand the three prevailing theories in international relations realism, liberalism, and constructivism and also to define the term â€Å"norm. For the purpose of this paper, norms are â€Å"a standard of appropriate behavior for actors with a given identity,† and â€Å"one difference between ‘norm’ and ‘institution’ †¦ is aggregation: the norm definition isolates single standards of behavior, whereas institutions emphasize the way in which behavioral rules are structured together and interrelate (a ‘collection of practices and rules’). † (Finnemo re and Sikkink, p. 891). Realism During the era of the Cold War, realism became the dominant paradigm within international relations (Walt, p. ). Its emphasis on the power politics, balance of power, and most importantly the actions of states within an anarchic international system provided a sense of understanding (Waltz, p. 121). According to realists, states are the only actors on the political stage. They are driven to seek power in an anarchical system, in which there is no higher, trans-governmental and universally recognized authority. States are driven by the law of human behavior, which is the drive for power, will to dominate, self-interest, and ambition. States have no one but themselves to rely on for protection and they will do all they can in order to maximize their likelihood of survival. Moreover, as all states exist in a state of anarchy, they all pursue self-interest and try to acquire power to secure themselves and ensure their survival in a system where no other state or authority will come to save them if they fail to do so. (Waltz, 1979, p. 104). Kenneth Waltz defines anarchy as a condition of possibility for or ‘permissive’ cause of war, arguing that â€Å"wars occur because there is nothing to prevent them. (Waltz, 2001, p. 232). In realist view, the world is uncertain and dangerous. Realists assume that all states have some military power and no state knows what its neighbors’ intentions are. Waltz says, â€Å"Because some states may at any time use force, all states must be prepared to do so or live at the mercy of their militarily more vigorous neighbors. † (Waltz, 1979, p. 102) However, Mearsheimer explains that there is â€Å"relentless security competition with the possibility of war looming in the background,† not a constant war. Mearsheimer, 1994, p. 9) Hobbes argues, â€Å"Man cannot assure the power and means to live well which he hath present, without the acquisition of more. † (Hobbes, 1651, p. 61). Similarly, Machiavelli states that â€Å"men never appear to themselves to possess securely what they have unless they acquire something further from another. † (Carr, in Betts, p. 91). Thomas Hobbes characterizes human nature as â€Å"competition, diffidence and gl ory† amongst humans. (Hobbes, in Betts, p. 80). The balance of power theory, according to Waltz, explains how states, being unitary actors who seek their own preservation in the first place (at a minimum) or seek universal domination (at a maximum), use all the means they have available in order to achieve a balance of power against their rivals. Waltz then divides those means into two categories internal efforts, which include increasing military and economic strength and developing clever strategies and external efforts, which include forming an alliance or weakening an opposing one. Waltz, 1979, p. 118) Once the balance of power is achieved, it becomes a game of preserving this balance to ensure the state’s survival. To reach such an equilibrium, and to achieve mutual goals and interests, states in an alliance must accept the restraints on them due to the framework of which they are a part. â€Å"Only if states recognize the same rules of the game and play for the same limited stakes can the balance of power fulfill it s functions for international stability and national independence. † (Waltz, 1979, p. 120) Liberalism Liberalism can be defined as the â€Å"freedom for the individual,† as it believes, in contrast with realism, that humans are good-natured beings. For liberals, humans are beings of progress and strive for perfection during life. â€Å"Unlike Realism, it strives for, and believes in, improvement in human condition and provides a rationale for building cooperative institutions that can facilitate better lives for human beings. † (Keohane, p. 127) The main characteristics of liberalism are individual freedom, political participation, freedom from authority and equality of opportunity. (Doyle, p. 206, 207) Liberals see a heterogenous state of global peace, in which the expectation of war disappears, instead of a homogenous state of war. â€Å"Liberal societies compete to become rich, glorious, healthy, cultured, all without expecting to have to resolve their competition through war. † (Doyle, p. 210) Although liberals agree with realists that the international system is anarchic, they also believe that international institutions are able to mitigate anarchy’s effects on interstate cooperation. Their contest is not a zero-sum game, but rather a positive- or negative-sum game, meaning that they can win or lose together (Doyle, p. 11). Liberals distinguish between liberal and non-liberal societies, capitalist from communist, republican from autocratic. These differences reflect the differences in international behavior. â€Å"The aims of the state, as do the aims of the individual, go beyond security to the protection and promotion of individual rights. † (Doyle, p. 2 11) According to liberal institutionalists, institutions are to facilitate cooperation among states, but many critics say that they cannot force states to behave in ways that are contrary to their own selfish interests. Kant, in Perpetual Peace, stipulates three â€Å"definitive articles† of peace. The first article states that â€Å"The Civil Constitution of Every State Should be Republican. † (Kant, in Betts, p. 136) Kant argues that if the consent of the citizens is required in order to decide that war should be declared, it is natural that the people will not be willing to pay the costs of the war from their own resources and take upon their shoulders the devastation that war leaves behind. (Kant, in Betts, p. 136). The second article states that â€Å"The Law of Nations Shall be Founded on a Federation of Free States. (Kant, in Betts, p. 137) The concept of pacific union between liberal states is a treaty of the nations among themselves, which prevents wars and steadily expands. The third article states that â€Å"Cosmopolitan Right should be limited to Conditions of Universal Hospitality. † (Kant, p. 105) The theory of democratic peace is built on the claim that democraci es are inherently more peaceful than autocratic states. (Walt, p. 39). It can be crudely defined as â€Å"democracies do not fight each other. † Although democracies seem to fight wars often, like other states do, they very rarely fight against each other. Walt says, â€Å"Democracies embrace norms of compromise that bar the use of force against groups espousing similar principles. † (Walt, p. 39) This perspective suggests that, for example, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the newborn democracies should embrace each other in their emerging markets and live happily ever after; instead, we have witnessed years of bloody conflict. According to this perspective, we would expect â€Å"mother Russia† to support the newly emerging democracies; instead, we witnessed the blockade of Georgian goods at the Russian market, closed borders, and in 2008, military invasion of Georgia. Many believe that Russia wanted to demonstrate its sphere of influence and to show Georgia, Ukraine, and the West, that there is no way Russia is going to respect the acceptance of these countries in NATO. As a realist would say, it is the underlying balance of power being the main underlying purpose for their actions, and not the liberal democratic peace, because even democracies fight each other. Constructivism Rather than a theory, we could call constructivism an ontology- a certain set of assumptions about the world and the motivation of people. Therefore, constructivist theories are quite diverse and do not offer a unified set of explanations on any of the issues mentioned above. Realism and liberalism tend to focus on material factors power or trade. (Walt, p. 40) â€Å"Constructivists contend that their theory is deeper than realism and liberalism because it explains the origins of the forces that drive those competing theories. † (Snyder, p. 60) According to Hopf, constructivism offers alternative understandings of the issues discussed above (in the sections on realism and liberalism) including balance of power and the meaning of anarchy. However, instead of taking the state for granted and assuming that it simply seeks power, constructivists â€Å"regard the interests and identities of states as highly malleable products of specific historical processes. † (Walt, p. 40) While realists view the war as unavoidable and the international system as static, constructivists argue that interests and identities change over the course of history, allowing cooperation between states which were previously enemies. A good example might be the European Union in which member countries after World War II learned how to cooperate in order to be better off altogether. For constructivists, to explain the behavior of states, we have to recognize the importance of identity and interests. Some constructivists admit that ideas will have greater impact when backed by powerful states and reinforced by enduring material forces (Walt, p. 43). However, a constructivist would not agree with the assessment that material power is all that matters their main concerns are norms, ideas and discourse. Some constructivists might actually agree with the realist view of balance of power, but they would add the reasoning and background. Hopf contends that constructivism in general â€Å"does not specify the existence, let alone precise nature of its main causal/constitutive elements: identities, norms, values and social structure† (Hopf, p. 189) . He also states that constructivism is weak in dealing with what precisely norms are. â€Å"Constructivists are good at describing changes in norms and ideas, but they are weak on the material and institutional circumstances necessary to support the emergence of consensus about new values and ideas. † (Snyder, p. 1) Constructivism might be a way to approach international relations theory, but the fact is that theory does not create practice, as constructivists assume, but practice theory, as Machiavelli states: â€Å"Good counsels, whencesoever they come, are born of the wisdom of the prince, and not the wisdom of the prince from good counsels. † (Machiavelli, p. 50) Conclusion Realism is often criticized for not being able to explain contemporary world politics because it oversimplifies things and the world we live in today is much more complex and complicated. Realism has been valid for over 2,500 years. We have witnessed even recently that when it comes to the point no international law, treaty, or institution can stop one state from invading another. I agree with Walt that â€Å"each of these competing perspectives captures important aspects of world politics† and that the â€Å"‘compleat diplomat’ of the future should remain cognizant of realism’s emphasis on the inescapable role of power, keep liberalism’s awareness of domestic forces in mind, and occasionally reflect on constructivism’s vision of change. † (Walt, p. 44) Realism builds on fear rather than hope. The first duty of political leaders is to prevent the worst. As Waltz says, â€Å"although many academics (and more than a few policymakers) are loath to admit it, realism remains the most compelling general framework for understanding international relations. † (Waltz, p. 43) States are still worried about the possibility of major conflict. They still keep their arsenals fully armed, even though their economic ties may be very healthy and the possible costs of a conflict are high. The Kantian paradise we want to live in is great, but whether we like it or not, there are wolves in the backyard.

Compare and contrast two different type of suras in the Qur'an Research Paper

Compare and contrast two different type of suras in the Qur'an - Research Paper Example These verses also instilled hope in the believers, as for them Allah repeatedly promised Paradise, the eternal abode of bliss. (Denffer) The Madinite Surahs on the other hand were focused on educating the believers in laws, duties and injunctions upon them, once an Islamic State at Madina was formed. These verses taught the appropriate way of living and how matters should be resolved. They also warned the believers of the hypocrites living within them in the society who were conspiring against Islam and the believers. (Denffer) The Surah starts with the first verse revealed to the Prophet (P.B.U.H), which was: to read in the name of The Creator. The Surah first acknowledges that there is a Creator of the universe and that same Creator has made mankind out of congealed blood. He is the Generous, the Knowledgeable, who imparts knowledge to mankind as He pleases. Recognizing Allah as the sole Creator is the first and foremost part of the Islamic faith. The Surah further builds upon the fundamental beliefs of the Muslims by mentioning that each soul shall return to Allah and the Angels are at His command, which will bring about destruction and calamity if ordered by Allah. Hence we see three articles of Islamic faith mentioned in this short Surah: the Oneness of Allah, the Angels and Resurrection. The verse further enjoins to prostrate in front of Allah and no other being, for He alone is the one Who can protect mankind. This prostration was later made a formal way of worship called the Salah. (Ali) This Surah explains that a Final Hour that will come which will end life on this world and on that Day the dead will be resurrected and will account for their deeds. It further describes what the Striking Hour is and when it will come. The devastation created on that day is metaphorically explained by mankind being scattered as moths and mountains flying in air like discarded wool. This predicts the mayhem and destruction marked