Can there be peace in the Middle East based on the history of the area Research Paper

Can there be peace in the Middle East based on the history of the area - Research Paper Example Can peace ever be established there? There are initiatives under way, but the history of the region has shown that peace is elusive and fragile. There is always hope for a lasting agreement, and the world watches and waits for that moment to arrive. This paper discusses the events of the past, the problems, the initiatives, and the hope. Peace Plan for the Middle East Hot Bed of History The Middle East encompasses Western Asia and North Africa. It is arid and hot. Sometimes called the Near East, it has many rivers and irrigation channels to feed its agriculture. Its Persian Gulf contains one of the world’s most important assets: crude oil deposits. It has historically been a hot bed of political and religious turmoil. The origins of that turmoil include a crowded geography, differing political philosophies, economic pressures, and perhaps most importantly, division over religious claims to an area which has provided the historical origins of three leading world religions: Isla m, Judaism and Christianity. All three claim Jerusalem and surrounding â€Å"Holy Land† (modern Palestine) as home to their religious heritage. Culture of Combat The primary combatants for the Holy Land today are the Arabs and Israelis. But it wasn’t always that way. ... A century later, the Islamic leader, Saladin, who had Egypt under his control, led Islam in a holy war (â€Å"jihad)† against Christians, recapturing Jerusalem in 1187. So the area is known for its years of strife. But it was the Israel community which became the latter day opposition for the Arabs, and today’s conflict has become the focal point of Middle East politics and mutual aggression. Modern Day Conflict Today, the Jews and Arabs recognize that they are both losing this battle which has recently escalated between them. As Goldschmidt pointed out, things got hot during World War I. He said, â€Å"The duration and intensity of what we now call the Arab-Israeli conflict were due to the rise of nationalism in modern times" (Goldschmidt, 1999, p.231). Strangely enough, there is evidence that these two long-time adversaries have plans to try once again for peace in the region. That is a first step toward stability in an area that has rarely experienced it throughout all of history. Plan for improvement in relations Krause and Van Evera (2009) suggest several actions which could improve relations between the U.S. and the Middle East. Two-way dialogue with respect for the traditions of the Muslim world should replace one-way oratory. The use of facts over hyperbole and propaganda will better guide discussion. The dialogue should be conducted in an air of peace and desire for mutual understanding, without the background of conflict generated primarily by al-Qaeda around the world. The United States should confront and contest al-Qaeda at every opportunity and perhaps seek the assistance of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) which could apply pressure to combative governments. Initiatives begun Conflict in the Middle East in recent years has focused on the

Analysis of Emma Stone as the Interview Essay Example for Free

Analysis of Emma Stone as the Interview Essay Introduction My first transcript is an interview on the Ellen show between Ellen Lee DeGeneres and Emma Stone. It was in April 2012 and The Ellen show is a very casual chat. The transcript I’ve taken is from about half way through the interview so they’re already in full conversation. My second transcript is from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Emma Stone, this interview was from June 2012. The Tonight Show is a much more formal interview. The final transcript is with Glamour. com and the interviewer is Jenn Selby. Emma Stone and her boyfriend Andrew Garfield are in this interview and the presence of her partner definitely make the interview very different from the other two. All three of the interviews are to promote the film ‘The Amazing Spider Man’ which both Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield star in. I will be looking at Emma Stone’s role as the interviewee. Analysis Emma reacts differently in each interview. On both the Ellen Show and The Tonight Show Emma as the less authority speak compared to the interviewer. Jay Leno is quite a lot older than Emma Stone so Jay has the authority within this interview. He uses closed questions which allow him to keep control over the conversation for example he asks ‘Do um people recognise you’ when asking about her new fame however he also asked ‘how long will you keep it blonde for’ when questioning her new blonde hair style, which on the surface may look like a very closed question, but it causes Emma to talk about how long she’s going to be starring in the Spider Man films and whether there will be more than one. She answers, ‘well you know oh it’s kinda there are a few Spider Men’ which hints that there may be more than one film. He also uses initiators such as ’so’ and ’well’ to show that he is about to speak which again sho ws his power in the conversation. Ellen DeGeneres also uses closed questions, she could be criticised for being a bad interviewer, however in this case she is definitely controlling the topic of conversation. Ellen ask â€Å"Who’s a better kisser?’ and â€Å"How old are you?†. Closed questions cause Emma to respond quite minimally which shows a lack of power. In all of the interviews Emma is very polite and passively allows other to speak. The interviewers all take advantage of this and keep control by talking over her frequently. Ellen often interrupts Emma when she starts to talk. ‘Emma *shakes her head* mm nope (3) nope nope (.) I’m not scared of spiders now// what have you got Ellen // nope //you’re not scared of spiders okay because spiders’ This is done by interviewers when they want the most attention within the interview. Also in the Glamour interview Andrew talks over her and corrects what she is saying. ‘Emma – um he he’s a football player so his heroes were always guys on the I mean American football so on the American football// field so he// didn’t grow up reading comic books no I’m totally kidding he was of course excited but it was you know he he is a footballer yeah Andrew // American soccer//.’ this shows that Andrew feels he has a higher status than her as he feels the need to correct what she is saying, this could be due to him being a more famous actor and also the fact that he is the male. On the other hand in the Glamour interview Andrew talks a lot and is very complimentary of his girlfriend and co-worker Emma. He talks a lot about how ‘she’s such a great actress’ and that ‘you get lost in what she’s doing and you have to follow and try and keep up’. In this interview Emma ‘*shuffles awkwardly* and ‘*tuts*’ at his compliments. In the Jay Leno interview he uses expressive utterances and compliments her a lot. He says ‘you look lovely wow’ the use of the adjective ‘lovely’ is very complimentary and Emma responds by just sighing. It is clear that the relationship status of Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield effects the interview. Emma’s paralinguistic features in this interview show her feelings. She spends a lot of the time smiling at Andrew as he speaks very pleasantly about the film and the roles they both play. She also plays with her sleeves/hands a lot which could show how she feels uncomfortable and embarrassed around him. Each time Andrew stops speaking she smiles as if to agree what he is saying, t his is very polite behaviour. Emma Stone is often a loud and quirky person, contrastingly in this interview she is very reserved and quiet, this interview was done when Emma and Andrew first revealed they were in a relationship and this is most likely why Emma behaves so out of character as she is nervous. When the interviewer asks ‘Jenn – um the chemistry between you guys in this movie I is pretty electric not going to lie there are points um in the film where we kinda feel like we shouldn’t be watching//’ Emma looks down at her hands very shyly and then looks to Andrew as if to encourage him to answer this question. The first and only question Emma answers is a question about her younger brother’s reactions to the film, she says ‘Emma – that he’s not really into those types of movies *all laugh* Emma – um he he’s a football player so his heroes were always guys on the I mean American football so on the American football// field so he didn’t grow up reading comic books no I’m totally kidding he was of course excited but it was you know he he is a footballer yeah’ She uses the filler ‘um’ and recycles a lot with her speech most likely due to her being nervous, ‘he he is a footballer’. Also she has a false start and has to correct herself ‘his heroes were always guys on the I mean American football so on the American football’. The Ellen Show interview is very informal. This is for a lot of reasons; Ellen and Emma are both female so this may make them feel more comfortable with each other. They talk about very typically female topics such as kissing. Also the Ellen Show interviews are always very casual and fun. Emma has appeared in interviews with Ellen before so this could be another reason for why they are so comfortable with each other. The lack of low frequency words also create a casual atmosphere, even the topics of conversations are very informal and nothing serious is spoke about in the interview. Slang is an area of vocabulary which reflects a person’s age and the use of colloquial language such as ‘kinda’ and ‘stuff like that’ help to bring the interviewer to the same level as the audience and Emma, it causes everyone to feel at ease with each other. On the other hand in the Tonight Show interview the impact of gender roles cause a much more formal environment. Jay uses a lot of adjectives such as ‘beautiful’, ‘lovely’ and ‘talented’ to describe Emma Stone. He also supports what she is saying a lot by saying ‘yeah’ when she is talking to make her talk more. Jay changes the topic of conversation a lot within this interview. He changes the topic from her appearance to The Amazing Spider Man film, and then from the film to jokes about his own appearance. Men and women differ in their use of questions and this is evident in this interview. Jay Leno asks closed questions which are clear requests for information. He asks her ‘Do people recognize you?’ and ‘so how long will you keep will you keep it blonde?’ Jay interrupts and speaks over Emma a lot which shows him maintaining control over the conversation. ‘Emma – I love you *laughs* oh that’s nice//so nice// Jay- // well let me// see this is all new the blonde Emma- Yes I know//(.) I’m very Swedish today// Jay //wow // it looks good its looks good’ This show that Jay is trying to keep the attention and power more on him rather than his guest, which many interviewers do such as Jonathon Ross and Alan Carr. Conclusion Overall I can tell from these interviews alone that Emma Stone behaves differently in different circumstances; depending on a lot of features. Each interview definitely meets its purpose to entertain and inform but in very different ways, the Tonight show interview is entertaining and later in the interview informative, it is however obviously scripted and the gender differences create a very different atmosphere to the Ellen Show interview. This interview is again informative and definitely entertaining, the atmosphere is much more casual and relaxed and this calm atmosphere lets Emma relax and behave much more naturally. Finally the Glamour interview is very informative and even though it is a much more structured and scripted interview it is still entertaining. The relationship status of Andrew and Emma cause the interview to be slightly more awkward and one sided towards Andrew however this is helpful to show how Emma behaves in unfamiliar situations. It is obvious that she is uncomfortable with her new fame and in the other interviews she also denies compliments and becomes awkward. The Amazing Spider Man is the first huge film she has been in and she plays the female lead, this causes her to be very unfamiliar with fame and this is most likely the cause of her reactions. All of the evidence shows this and her anxieties about her and Andrews first interview together as a couple are especially emphasised. Also how she may be feeling slightly self conscious as she is around her boyfriend in this more formal environment.

Pollen and Stigma Interaction in Plants

Pollen and Stigma Interaction in Plants Introduction Cells of multicellular organisms must communicate not only for development to occur after fertilization but also for successful survival and reproduction of the offspring. There are different forms of signals that cells can received and the signal being received is either from another cell or from change in the environment surrounding the cell. Communication between cells is therefore either chemical or environmental driven where plants usually use chemicals for signaling. Pollination and then fertilization process of flowering plants involves complex events with highly regulated cell-cell interactions and signaling between the pollen and the pistil. The success depends on series of events such as delivery of pollen to a stigma, pollen hydration, germination, growth through the pistil to the ovary, and, finally, fertilization [10, 11]. In a compatible pollination, pollen grains that have arrived on the stigmatic surface will easily undergo the three initial steps: adhesion, hydration and germination to the stigmatic cells form pollen tubes. The actively growing pollen tubes are often capable of penetrating the stigmatic cell walls to grow down through the style and finally reach the ovary to deliver sperm for fertilization. In self-incompatible pollination, these steps may be blocked having recognized as pollen from related plant source. In doing so out-crossing is favored between unrelated individual plants there by inbreeding related problems like in breeding depression minimized. Therefore, understanding of pollen to stigma compatibility and self incompatibility is fundamental for pollination and fertilization in plants in general and for plant breeding in particular. To this end, the mechanism of pollen to stigma interaction which determines compatibility or self incompatibility is reviewed. Compatibility and Self incompatibility The first artificial pollination date back to third century though not recognized by scientists until 1682 when stamens of the flower as the male organ and the pollen as necessary for fruit production are known in science [9]. Later in 1824, an Italian scientist observed that pollen tube on stigma and he later anticipated that the pollen tube carried the sperm cells to the ovule for fertilization. After 17th century, the maternal involvement in embryology became clear and several basic researches have been undergoing in the last three decades which contributed a lot to science in the area of pollination and fertilization. Commonly, pollen and stigma from distant species are not compatible while there is 30 to 50 % of flowering plant showed self incompatibility [19]. In a compatible pollen-pistil interaction, all steps from pollen capture and adhesion to the final entry of the pollen tube into the ovule and discharge of the pollen grain is complete, resulting in double fertilization to form zygote and endosperm. Self incompatibility occurs when pollen tube dies if at all germinates on stigma of the same plant while pollen of the same species from different plant can germinate and produce functional pollen tube on stigma [2]. The self pollen rejection response can occur at any stage between pollen contact to stigma and pollen tube growth in the stigma which results no ovule fertilization and embryo development. This phenomenon enabled todays flowering plant to exist successfully in different environment. Genetically, such self incompatibility is classified as gametophytic and sporophytic [7, 10, 11]. Gametophytic self incompatibility is common in binucleate pollen which is characteristics of wet stigma whereas sporophytic self incompatibility is the case of trinucleat pollen and it is characteristics of dry stigma [1]. Nonetheless, examples of exceptions for this correlation are grasses with dry stigma and three nuclei exhibiting gametophytic; hetromorphic self incompatibility in some species which is rare in occurrence arises due to two or three flower morphs exist in population. Among these three, gametophytic is more common although detail study at molecular level is yet to be made. It is agreed that the stigma type and micro-ecology are influential to the nature of stigma-pollen interaction rather than the type of self incompatibility [6]. It is also reported that gametophytic self incompatibility occur when incompatible pollen tube is in side of style whereas sporophytic occur m ost of the time before a pollen tube penetrate the stigma [6]. Again exception is due to poppy and grasses in which gametophytic and stigmatic inhibition of incompatible pollen occur. Stigma structure Stigma in general is classified as dry and wet type which is correlated with pollen structure. Species with dry stigma possess pollen having three nuclei while those with wet stigma are with two nuclei pollen [6]. The surface cell of wet type releases secretion with proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and pigment while the dry stigma type is with intact surface cells covered by cell wall, a waxy cuticle, and a proteinaceous pellicle [3]. The secretion is primarily lipidic or aqueous and carbohydrate-rich. Both secretions contain a wide range of protein and found to be available on stigma in later development internal from the reservoirs and vesicular activity at the stigma epidermis. In dry stigma where there is no stigmatic secretion, initial adhesion of pollen to stigma depends on the pollen wall. Tryphine, lipid-rich pollen coating, is found to be important in adhesion to the dry stigma. Stigma-pollen specificity The fate of pollen grain on stigma depends on the type of stigma (wet or dry) on which pollen lands. The very first step of pollination, adhesion of pollen on stigma, occurs on wet stigma fully with out discrimination because the availability of liquid surface is the only requirement. The surface of such stigma is with carbohydrate and lipid rich secretions that hydrate pollen none selectively as a result of this, the incompatible pollen is prevented at later stage of development. However, adhesion of pollen to dry surface stigma type is species specific in the way that only pollen from specific species is allowed to adhere and get hydration. Pollen type unrecognized by stigma is not allowed to deplete the female tissue resource for further development. Self incompatible specificity determinants were identified both in pollen and stigma. To pollen side, the gene called SP11/SCR (S-LOCUS CYSTEINE-RICH) is responsible for specificity which is completely expressed during pollen developm ent and understood to encode cysteine-rich protein. The stigmatic s-locus linked molecule which is self incompatible determinant is called S-locus receptor Kinase (SRK) [18]. This female determinant of self incompatible is located in plasma membrane. Another determinant which does not directly affects specificity is S-locus glycoprotein. This soluble protein located in the cell wall only contributes to increase the strength of self incompatibility phenotype. This first step of pollination is divided in to Pollen capture, pollen stigma cross linking and pollen hydration. Pollen capture requires nothing than exine wall and it is free from lipids and proteins [21]. In the cross linking phase lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins from each side (stigma and pollen) mix to generate the adhesive forces. In the pollen hydration stage pollen receive the nutrients and liquid required to activate metabolism and initiate pollen tube elongation. In contrast to flowers with wet stigma where pollen grains are surrounded by stigmatic exudates flowing easily into pollen grains, fluid movement in dry stigma is not passive and usually depends on the conversion of pollen coat at the point of stigma contact. Hence, for successful pollen capture, diffusion of extracellular pollen coat along the stigma cells and then pollen hydration, pollen-stigma signaling is required. Pollen-stigma signaling Communication of plant cells are either molecules or physical (environmental) that one cell sensing on the neighboring cell may affected in different ways such as inhibiting the cells growth. There are different classes of molecules that are involved in signaling. These molecules are located either in the extracellular surface or within the underlying cell walls. The signal molecules can be ions or metabolites one cell supplies for another; can be hormones or they can be cell wall bound macromolecules. The source of these molecules is both from stigma and pollen grain. Pollen grains consists the inner layer cell wall called intine and the outer network cell wall called exine. The inner pollen cell wall is mainly cellulose while the outer pollen cell wall is rich in sporopollenin, a highly stable, mixed polymer containing long-chain fatty acids and phenolics [21]. Factors affecting adhesion of pollen to stigma is not known; however it was indicated that adhesion in Arabidopsis is exine dependant more than pollen coat [14, 15, 20]. Lipids, as medium of water up take in pollen hydration, is provided by the stigma and pollen coat. In some species where stigma exudate is mainly aqueous, the significance of lipids for pollen-stigma interaction is not determined but lipids are present in the pollen kit which still indicates the importance of lipids. In addition to lipid, glycine rich protein from pollen coat plays role in pollen hydration. Next to hydration is germination in which the pollen tube grows into the cell wall of the papillae toward the transmitting tissue. Germination is mainly regulated by Rop, a member of GTPase large family of hydrolase enzymes that can bind and hydrolyze guanosine triphosphate [10]. Research finding in Arabidopsis indicated that Rop1 over expression in wild type helps in pollen germination while rop1 mutant inhibits pollen germination [8]. Germination on the stigma means pollen tubes initiated in an Extra Cellular matrix (ECM) that is usually a combination of both pollen coat secretions and stigmatic exudates. In stigma type of Solanaceae, stigmatic lipids are found to be essential for pollen tube growth toward the style by creating a gradient of water. In other stigma type like that of lily, pollen tubes must be guided in the style. It was indicated that peptide stigmatic secretion of lily is involved in pollen tube guidance in the style [10]. Fertilization next to pollination is achieved after the tight control mechanisms operation that restricts mating of inter and intra species. As described above, fertilization in flowering plants needs to be in a well cellular coordination so that the sperm cells which are devoid of flagella go through flower tissues towards the ovules. The internal signaling networks regulating pollen tube growth and development in flowering plants is highly conserved. However, no pollen-stigma signaling pathway reported so far that is common between species with wet and dry stigmas. Even with in these two broad divisions, there appeared to be differences in the ways that pollen and stigma interact to create compatibility. However, regardless of the type of stigma, pollen-stigma interactions in general requires lipid at the pollen-stigma interface, water as initial directional cue for pollen tube growth , and small cysteine-rich proteins are involved. Molecular basis of self incompatibility As described above self incompatibility is the means of preventing inbreeding and a tool for species diversity. Self-incompatibility is genetically controlled which depends on a number of complex cellular interactions between the self-incompatible pollen and stigma. The way Self-incompatibility works in rejecting self incompatible pollen varies greatly from species to species. The self-incompatibility system in some plants is morphological in which flowering plants produce distinct flowers in such a way that the positions of the reproductive organs within a flower create an extra barrier in addition to the existing barrier within species [2]. In some species, the system is caused by the phenotype of the pollen not morphological character of the flower. The self incompatibility in flowers of the same morphological character is genetically controlled by S-locus and as mentioned earlier, classified as gametophytic and sporophytic. In the gametophytic systems, the self-incompatibility phenotype of the pollen is determined by is determined by its own haploid genotype where the developing pollen synthesizes its own pollen S product, whereas in sporophytic self-incompatibility systems, the self-incompatible behavior of the pollen is determined by the parental genotype. Brassicaceae from mustard family is an example of Sporophytic type of self incompatibility. The important gene product called serinethreonine kinase (SRK) interact with peptid ligand cysteine-rich protein (SCR) which creates signals that lead to rejection of self pollen [10]. Molecular mechanisms are unknown but it was indicated that ARC1, a novel U-box protein that binds to the SRK kinase domain, found to be effector for SRK [16, 17]. It was indicated that a component of hetro-oligomeric protien complex, Exo70A1, interacts with ARC1 which determines the fate of pollen up on arrival on stigma. In transgenic Brassica and Arabidopsis thaliana, the loss of Exo70A1 resulted rejection of pollen by stigma which were compatible in non transgenic [13]. Gametophytic self incompatibility is widespread system of self incompatibility. The system in Papaveraceae (poppy family) is and the Solanaceae (tobacco family) are examples of gametophytic self incompatibility. In poppy, small S-proteins secr eted by the stigma interact with the S-gene product in the pollen tube, causing the capture of incompatible pollen. Growing pollen tubes are known to have high concentration of Ca+2. This concentration is rapidly decreased in self incompatible pollen indicating the origin the first arrest of pollen tube [4]. The self incompatibility in Solanaceae is that the protein from S-gene is ribonucleases inhibitor that recognizes and inhibits S- ribonucleases in incompatible pollen. Conclusion For successful pollination and fertilization, pollen grain should travels all the way to ovule in which pistil acts as both facilitator and barrier. It facilitates by providing guidance and nutrients but it also creates barrier that rejects incompatible pollen. This biological function is highly regulated involving several gene products. Flowering plants are the most successful on earth in terms of the number of species and level of diversity of forms and ecological niches. Due to the fact that compatibility and self incompatibility system is the base for genetic variability and species boundary maintenance, studies in advanced level need to be continued. Studies at molecular level that address determinants of pollination and fertilization will contributor in understanding the basis of species barriers that maintain the enormous diversity seen in flowering plants.

Light Essay -- essays research papers

LIGHT: A FUNDAMENTAL FORCE IN OUR WORLD If asked what light is, one could say that it's one of the most basic elements of our world and our universe as we perceive it. It is through sight that we receive 90% of our information. It is through the use of telescopes aiding the naked eye that we are aware of the heavenly bodies around us. It is through light that the energy from the sun is transferred to us. The sun's energy supports the food chain; plants use it to turn water and CO2 into energy usable by other organisms. Solar energy was also used, indirectly, to produce all of the fossil fuels that we consume daily. Since light is such a basic part of our existence, we should have a basic understanding of what it is. What we call light, the intangible, powerful force that powers our world, is somewhat hard to define in real terms. It shares properties with both particles and waves. It follows the same rules as a wave does--it moves in a regular fashion, in a perfect sine wave at a certain frequency. It travels in a straight line, and is subject to refraction. All of these characteristics are found in waves of any type, from radio frequency waves, up to Gamma and X- rays. Light, however, also exhibits qualities characteristic of particles such as neutrons and protons. A photon, or quanta, is the "packet" of energy that is sent in a light wave. Like a particle, the photon is believed to have a fi... Light Essay -- essays research papers LIGHT: A FUNDAMENTAL FORCE IN OUR WORLD If asked what light is, one could say that it's one of the most basic elements of our world and our universe as we perceive it. It is through sight that we receive 90% of our information. It is through the use of telescopes aiding the naked eye that we are aware of the heavenly bodies around us. It is through light that the energy from the sun is transferred to us. The sun's energy supports the food chain; plants use it to turn water and CO2 into energy usable by other organisms. Solar energy was also used, indirectly, to produce all of the fossil fuels that we consume daily. Since light is such a basic part of our existence, we should have a basic understanding of what it is. What we call light, the intangible, powerful force that powers our world, is somewhat hard to define in real terms. It shares properties with both particles and waves. It follows the same rules as a wave does--it moves in a regular fashion, in a perfect sine wave at a certain frequency. It travels in a straight line, and is subject to refraction. All of these characteristics are found in waves of any type, from radio frequency waves, up to Gamma and X- rays. Light, however, also exhibits qualities characteristic of particles such as neutrons and protons. A photon, or quanta, is the "packet" of energy that is sent in a light wave. Like a particle, the photon is believed to have a fi...

Management and Wolfgang Keller Essay

1) Who is Wolfgang Keller? What are his key strengths and weaknesses? Wolfgang Keller is the Managing Director of Konigsbrau-TAK, which is the Ukranian subsidiary of a major premium beer brewer. Keller has previous experience in financially turning around a German food product manufacturer’s two subsidiaries (relatively smaller in scale than his current organization). Keller’s foremost strength is his ability to turn around an apparently difficult (for example, the economic turn-around of various subsidiaries) and at times apparent impossible situations (for instance, resolution of a distributor’s lawsuit, collection of payment from a near-bankrupt distributor, etc.). He has been successful in managing an organization in a foreign country for which he has made efforts to learn the language and understand the business culture. He has a hands-on management style and likes to be actively involved in the operational aspects of the business. He has the ability to build personal and, if needed, informal relationships with his staff and c ustomers alike which has been instrumental in the better performance of his company. As Dr Haussler has indicated, many of Keller’s weaknesses are â€Å"the other side† of his strengths. For example, his attempts at being hands-on can be perceived as over-interference by his sub-ordinates. Also, by trying to manage situations by himself he makes himself open to criticism over his team-working and proper delegation abilities. Keller himself recognizes that he can be impatient and may not give enough time for his ideas to settle in the minds of others. Another of his weaknesses, again as highlighted by his manager, seems to be his less than cordial relationship with corporate staff and infrequency of reporting to the corporate headquarters and his line manager. This is also something that may be construed as a problem with Keller’s working practices as a part of team. 2) What important issues does Keller face? What are the most pressing problems he needs to address upon return to Athens? There are three important issues which Keller faces and they are as follows. First is to try and improve upon his shortcomings (as highlighted in his annual performance appraisal) vis-à  -vis the corporate staff and his line manager. There have been questions raised about his personality and attitude which include his management style and his ability to work well in a team. This may not be the most pressing problem but it could turn out to be a hard one to improve upon. This is because it might require fundamental changes to how Keller is used to work with and manage his staff. Second, is the issue of his working relationship with Mr. Antonov. Keller has been in-charge of all operational activities with minimal involvement from Antonov in the general management of the subsidiary. This has been noticed by the senior management in Germany and Keller has been advised to try and keep Antonov in the loop more than he is currently. The management recognizes the importance of Antonov’s maturity and experience of the local business and Keller has been asked to make such use of Antonov. Third, and this is the most pressing issue faced by Keller, is the apparent performance issue of Mr. Brodsky, the commercial director. Keller, over the course of two years of Brodsky being in the company, has noticed several issues with Brodsky’s performance. Keller feels that Brodsky is too slow to react to situations and he (Keller) has had to intervene many a times in order to prevent a potential disaster to the company. According to Keller, Brodsky’s â€Å"formal and distant† style is not suited to his job as a commercial director and moreover does not tune in well with Keller’s current and future commercial strategy of which an integral part is a close relationship with the company’s distributors. Keller does not see Bordsky as a leader of his sales force and considers his management style as more suited to a corporate staff based job than as a line manager. 3) What would you recommend to Keller to improve his effectiveness and chances of success? I think, Keller’s experience in relatively smaller company previously has influenced strongly his working and management style (as is hinted by his manager and accepted by himself). He tends to rely much on personal contacts with his staff and even his customers and probably dislikes corporate procedures (evident by his apparent errors in interpreting corporate policies) and standard reporting mechanisms (evident by his infrequent communication to his line management). This works for a smaller organization but in a larger, multi-billion dollar, company Keller must learn to respect the importance of formal and frequent communication both upwards to the senior management and encourage it from his direct reports. If Keller has to succeed and move further up he needs to develop this skill of taking stock of and manage a situation when it may not be possible to be directly involved in that. This I believe is crucial for Keller. Keller needs to learn the art of suitable delegation. Keller can tend to micro-manage situations and thus encroach upon his subordinates’ job responsibilities. Keller has defended this approach by pointing out that he uses the same approach with all his managers and none have raised a flag except Brodsky. I think this is something that Keller must address — he needs to delegate properly and thus build an atmosphere of long-lasting trust amongst his subordinates. His reports may only joke about it as of now (ref. the mock organization chart) but in future that may turn into something similar to what’s happening with Brodsky. Keller needs to control his natural inclination to be too hands-on and must try to hold back. A failure can teach a lesson more than constant lessons from a line manager. So depending on the situation it may be wise for Keller to let his report take a decision which in Keller’s opinion may not be the best one. About the current issues that Keller is facing with Brodsky, as Keller himself concedes, firing Brodsky may not be the best decision at this moment. Keller should try and find the middle path with Brodsky – use his strengths and make his perceived weaknesses unimportant and make him feel free enough to manage his department. I think Keller should somehow try and get positive feedback from staff (maybe through a round of â€Å"360 degree feedback†) to verify whether his analysis that Brodsky is not a â€Å"charismatic leader† is really true or unjustified. It could be that Brodsky’s staff may be too happy to have a leader who delegates rather than someone who is constantly involved in their day-to-day work. Keller, in the short term, should try to have an open mind about Brodsky’s abilities and try and involve him more in the setting of the overall commercial strategy of the company and let him have more freedom in managing his department. This would not only do well to his image as a team-worker but may also help in improving relations with Brodsky. Further, if Brodsky’s performance still does not change, Keller might be able to form a stronger case of Brodsky’s removal from the company.

The Age of Discovery essays

The Age of Discovery essays The "Age of Discovery" from 1450 to 1650 lead to a new age of ocean travel, increased migration, and economic, political, and cultural expansion. First, the outward expansion of Europe began with the Viking voyages, and then the Crusades, but the presence of the Ottoman Turks in the East frightened the Europeans and forced their attention westward. Second, political centralization in Spain, France, and England prepared the way for expansion. Third, the Portuguese, under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator, pushed south from North Africa. By 1500 Portugal controlled the flow of gold to Europe and Diaz da Gama and Cabral established trading routes to India. The Portuguese then gained control of the Indian trade by overpowering Muslim forts in India. Fourth, many technological innovations lead to exploration. The development of the cannon, new sailing and navigational developments, such as the caravel ship, the magnetic compass, and the astrolabe, all supported expansion. They wanted to spread Christianity and their beliefs to foreign countries. People migrated due to limited economic and political opportunity for upperclassmen in Spain. Renaissance curiosity caused people to seek out new worlds. The economic motive, the quest for material profit, was the basic reason for European exploration and expansion. The Age of New Imperialism in the 19th and 20th centuries had many motives towards overseas expansion. First, economic motives, especially trade opportunities, were important. Although economic benefits were limited because the new colonies were too poor to buy much. Second, political and diplomatic factors also encouraged overseas expansion. The colonies were believed to be crucial for national security, military power, and international prestige. Many people believed that colonies were necessary to form great nations. The German historian Treitschke claimed that colonies were crucial to show racial superiority and nationa...

What kinds of power are explored in Othello Essays

What kinds of power are explored in Othello Essays What kinds of power are explored in Othello Paper What kinds of power are explored in Othello Paper Whilst there are many types of power one can hold in society, these all vary in influence. Such is the case in Othello for the most part, since we see examples of authorial, military, sexual and oratory power to different degrees. However, although many of us would consider the former to be the most important within the play, due to the malevolent nature of Iago this turns out to be otherwise. The authorial power of Othello stems from his position in Venice as a military commander. This in itself is also an important power; without Othellos skill in warfare he would never have any influence in Venice at all because of his skin colour, seeing as Moorish mercenaries were a common sight even in Italy. As a result Othello is able to take command in Cyprus and be shown a lot of respect, such as when he disciplines Cassio in Act II Scene iii for his drunken behaviour: Cassio, I love thee/But never more be officer of mine/Ill make thee an example (229-30, 32) . Cassio is extremely shocked and appalled with his demotion, for it has resulted in the loss of his reputation the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial- which indicates that he holds his superior in high regard to the point of hiring a clown and musicians to seek Othellos mercy. If Othello did not have clear authority over Cassio, then the latter might have used his noble upbringing and race and disregard his demotion and openly criticize him, but Cassio instead shows nothing but respect to Othello and his wife. Yet authority over people can count for nothing in Othello too. Brabantio is a key example of this; as a respected Venetian statesman he expects his daughter to obey him, which of course was a typical patriarchal attitude in Renaissance society. It was natural for him to believe that Desdemona had been bewitched by Othello for her to fall in love and marry a Moor, especially when she was so opposite to marriage that she shunned/The wealthy curled darlings of her nation let alone a supposedly uncouth dark-skinned general. Indeed, Desdamonas confession that she does love Othello is a nervous one, since she mentions her divided duty between father and husband: You are Lord of all my duty; I am hithero your daughter. But heres my husband And so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due the Moor my Lord (I.iii.182-186) Consequently, Brabantio is deeply offended by his daughters supposed deceit and delivers a line that would be brought up by Iago when Othello begins to lose trust in his wife: She has deceived her father thus and may thee. The basis for this allegation is Desdemonas cheating on Othello, and is an example of the sexual power present in the play. Desdemona does think she holds prowess over Othello; when she appears to see what was happening in Act II Scene iii Othello is at first angered at her being roused from sleep, but then remains calm as he guides Desdemona back to bed: Alls well now sweeting; come away to bed (233). Othellos calm is significant in that the couple were disturbed on their wedding night and so he had reason to be furious at Cassio, but he was composed for Desdemonas sake. Furthermore, she uses her closeness to Othello in an attempt to get Cassio reinstated as lieutenant: Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do/All my abilities in thy behalfI will have my Lord and you again/As friendly as you were (III.iii.1-2, 5-6). Conversely, it is this request that causes Desdemona to fall under suspicion of cheating, and when asking Othello to meet with Cassio her constant appeals appear to have an ambigious tone that Iago manipulates: What! Michael Cassio, That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time When I have spoke of you dispraisingly Hath tane your part, to have so much to do To bring him in? (Act III, iii, 68-74) Iagos oratorical skill is the most dominant type of power in Othello, as he uses it to great effect on several characters. The first person influenced is the unfortunate Roderigo, who is brought several times round to Iagos train of thought; firstly in Act I when he is on the verge of committing suicide, to which Iago bombards him with regular prose (instead of blank verse) on how that is a foolish idea, and again in Act IV when a largely ignored Roderigo begins to wonder if Iago is really helping him to attain Desdemona: Why, now I see theres mettle in thee, and even from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo. Thou hast taken against me a most just exception; but yet I protest I have dealt most directly in thy affair. Whilst Roderigo thinks he is using Iago to win Desdemona, the reverse instead is true. Iago thinks of him as poor trash of Venice and that he is just another puppet in his grand scheme of revenge. His contempt is shown through his backstabbing and murder of Roderigo in Act V Scene i when the plan to kill Cassio backfires. Othello also trusts Iago a lot, referring to him with the common epithet Honest Iago, and this great trust is what results in jealousy of Desdemona and Cassio as well as the belief she is cheating even without irrefutable proof. It is remarkable how Iago only says Ha! I do not like that (III.iii.34) to allow the thread of suspicion to grow in Othellos mind over seeing Cassio hurrying away from Desdemona. In turn, Othello is an easy victim in his trust of the ensign since he does not have excellent rhetoric skills, and his unhealthy trust in Iago affects his language, going from the eloquent man introduced in Act I Scene ii to the coarse person halfway through Act III Scene iii: All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven;Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! (446,448). When Othello regains his nobility in the last scene, the destruction he has partially caused has already been revealed to everyone who once respected him. So we can see how, despite his lower ranking and lack of physical power, Iago is able to bring almost all the characters to death or ruin with no mercy. This shows that different types of power manifest themselves depending on how that person recognises and uses them to their advantage.