Five easy pieces and the reflection of alienation in the 70s Essay

Five easy pieces and the reflection of alienation in the 70s - Essay Example Five Easy Pieces directed by Bob Rafaelson is among the greatest films of the Hollywood 1970’s golden era. In the film, the character of Bobby Dupea is the archetype of numerous heroes from that period. Bobby gets stuck in two worlds (Rafaelson). He is a man who cannot fit into the American society and is making efforts to find a place where he truly belongs. One of the outstanding features of the 1970’s films was the character’s struggle to deal with the problem of alienation that was prevalent in the America at that time. This emerged from the sixties as the rejection of both the working class and leisure class values. The film portrays an individual trying so hard to deal with the alienation problem without being a counter culture hippie. Most of the post sixties era exhibited the theme of alienation. The theme of alienation also defined the 70’s era. However, in recent films of the 1990’s and 1980’s era, alienation has been reflected to t he extreme with the so bloody and violent action films. The heroes in these movies are violent, anti-social and alienated. They have no societal respect at large. The first scenes of â€Å"Five Easy Pieces† show the main character Bobby as a typical oil mine worker. Bobby puts a lot of energy in his work to get his money. He spends his leisure time playing time drinking beer, playing cards, watching television and bowling.   At the beginning of the film, Bobby gets reflected as a happy person, but as the film progresses he gets revealed. as a man dissatisfied with his life (Rafaelson). Rayette’s clingy mature annoys Bobby so much. He loathes country music and dislikes the way his girlfriend lives her life through Tammy Wynette songs. Rayette seems to play songs for every occasion of her life. When they go out with their friends Stoney and Elton, Bobby could not enjoy the bowling. He is angry and highly competitive at Rayette’s inexperience in the game. At some point, he later cheats on his girlfriend with a woman named Sally Struthers. This shows the relationship trend at the time, where men cheated on their wives and girlfriends (Boyer 87). In contrast with his coworker and friend Elton, Bobby hates the life that comes with their job. Elton loves spending time with his wife and kid. His job at the oil field is due to lack of skills and that the job provides the basic needs for his family. Elton represents the working class who are in pursuit of the American dream. Bobby is more interested in worldly things. This film is a reflection of how the mid-seventies society got focused on the American dream. The contrast between the two characters gets clearly depicted in the scene where Elton and Bobby are in stuck in the freeway

Applications of Machiavelli Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Applications of Machiavelli - Term Paper Example In this paper, I will look at the application of Machiavelli philosophy into Macy’s and Apo’s Inc. Power as applied to Macy’s and Apo’s The corporate scandals are very common in modern business world. These scandals have aversely affected the business performance. The scandals have led to the loss of revenues and a negative impact on the economy in the long run. These effects can be ascribed to corporate irresponsibility among the leadership. The application of Machiavelli can be related to the current power tussles in the corporations. Corporate leaders can be related to the prince in the work of Machiavelli. Matters related to power have been a source of conflict among the leaders in corporations (Machiavelli, 44). The Machiavelli principles on power and leadership have been used in applying in exercising power by leaders in the corporate world. According to Machiavelli, one can work with moral means and only resort to immoral means when circumstances de mand so. This was evidenced in the recent legal tussle between the Macy’s and Apo’s inc. versus J.C Penny in the Martha Stewart courtroom tussle. In the case, Macy’s and Apo’s were in a legal tussle to fight over the right to control Martha Stewart. This was a battle of power in which the corporation wanted to retain the right to continue being the sole distributor of Martha Stewart. In this tussle, the struggle for power and dominance is evident. Each side wants to have the exclusive rights which would enable them have high sales (Machiavelli, 46). According to work by Machiavelli, the original Machiavelli ruler had to exercise virtu which meant that he was having inner strength, shrewdness and decisiveness. This could be used to gain power, glory, security and expansion. This is evident in the court tussles over dominance (Karen). Every corporation wants to have the power to dominate the other. This is mostly done through shrewd deals which gives exclus ive rights to an individual corporation. To be successful, one has to choose the Machiavellian virtuous life. Choosing the Machiavellian life comes with its won challenges related to corruption and power tussles. Liberty according to Machiavelli comes from adoption of the virtuous or the Machiavellians life by everyone (Machiavelli, 50). Corruption Corruption is always present in human beings according to Machiavelli. Self interest is always placed above the interest of public by the leaders. There have been cases of corruption that have been exposed in Macy’s and Apo’s. In the year 2012, corruption and unethical dealing was unearthed from the corporation’s documents. One of such cases is the fixing of their competitors in unethical means to gain competitive advantage. This was done when the company accused Goodfellas of selling counterfeit merchandise and goods stolen from Macy’s. The corporation even went a step further to make sure it severed Goodfella s market by informing the retailers who had their contracts that Goodfellas were selling counterfeits goods. This is not only unethical but unfair competition based on power and greed. The power was being abused by Macy’s and Apo’s against the citizens and their competitors. In some cases, the abuse of power is kept in secrecy, and only the corporation knows about it. In the case of Macy’s and Apo’s, they employed private investigators in order to frame Goodfellas (Association Of Truth). There were

Ancient Greece Location Essay Example for Free

Ancient Greece Location Essay Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity (ca. 600 AD). Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the period of Classical Greece, which flourished during the 5th to 4th centuries BC. Classical Greece began with the repelling of a Persian invasion by Athenian leadership. Because of conquests by Alexander the Great, Hellenistic civilization flourished from Central Asia to the western end of the Mediterranean Sea. Classical Greek culture had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire, which carried a version of it to many parts of the Mediterranean region and Europe, for which reason Classical Greece is generally considered to be the seminal culture which provided the foundation of Western culture. Land: Greece has very hot, dry summers. Rain only falls in winter. This restricts crops in many areas to grapes and olives and the animals to sheep and goats. However, there are also rolling plains that are ideal for growing crops like wheat and barley. As only a certain amount of food could be obtained locally, the Ancient Greeks built boats to fish and to trade what they had. There was no sugar, so honey or boiled grape juice were used as sweeteners. There were often wars when cities wanted to take over the land of a neighboring city. Mountains Greece is made up almost entirely of mountainous land with only small areas of lowlands. The mountains are beautiful but made it hard to farm and make a living. They also made it hard to travel and communicate with people a distance away. The mountains divided the cities in Ancient Greece and each city had its own customs and ideas. Greece consists of a large mainland at the southern end of the Balkans; the Peloponnesus peninsula (separated from the mainland by the canal of the Isthmus of Corinth); and numerous islands (around 3,000), including Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Euboea and the Dodecanese and Cycladic groups of the Aegean Sea as well as the Ionian sea islands. Greece has more than 15,000 kilometres of coastline and a land boundary of 1,160 kilometres. About 80% of Greece consists of mountains or hills, thus making Greece one of the most montainous countries of Europe. Western Greece contains lakes and wetlands. Pindus, the central mountain range, has a maximum elevation of 2,636 m. The Pindus can be considered as a prolongation of the Dinaric Alps. The range continues by means of the Peloponnese, the islands of Kythera and Antikythera to find its final point in the island of Crete. (Actually the islands of the Aegean are peaks of underwater mountains that once consisted an extension of the mainland). The Central and Western Greece area contains high, steep peaks dissected by many canyons and other karstic landscapes, including the Meteora and the Vikos gorge the later being the second largest one on earth after the Grand Canyon in the US. Mount Olympus forms the highest point in Greece at 2,919 metres above sea level. Also northern Greece presents another high range, the Rhodope, located in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace; this area is covered with vast and thick century old forests like the famous Dadia. Plains are mainly found in Eastern Thessaly, Central Macedonia and Thrace.Greeces climate is divided into three well defined classes the Mediterranean, Alpine and Temperate, the first one features mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. Temperatures rarely reach extremes, although snowfalls do occur occasionally even in Athens, Cyclades or Crete during the winter. Alpine is found primarily in Western Greece (Epirus, Central Greece, Thessaly, Western Macedonia as well as central parts of Peloponessus like Achaea, Arkadia and parts of Lakonia where the Alpine range pass by). Finally the temperate climate is found in Central and Eastern Macedonia as well as in Thrace at places like Komotini, Xanthi and northern Evros; with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers. Its worth to mention that Athens is located in a transition area between the Mediterranean and Alpine climate, thus finding that in its southern suburbs weather is of Mediterranean type while in the Northern suburbs of the Alpine type. About 50% of Greek land is covered by forests with a rich varied vegetation which spans from Alpine coniferous to mediterranean type vegetation. Seals, sea turtles and other rare marine life live in the seas around Greece, while Greeces forests provide a home to Western Europes last brown bears and lynx as well as other species like Wolf, Roe Deer, Wild Goat, Fox and Wild Boar among others. Ancient Greece We begin to look at the geography of ancient Greece by examining how Greeks lived on their farms, why they traded, road systems, and the plant life that ancient Greece had. Geography has always had a great influence on Greece and its inhabitants. It is largely responsible for numerous continuities in its extensive history. While the mountains that split the Greek lands have contributed to localism they have been a major barrier to unity as a nation. The struggle of communication by land and the significant presence of the sea have made mariners out of Greeks for numerous generations. The natural resources ensure a steady flow of abundance and guarantee sustenance if governed wisely. Farming In ancient Greece, many cities had land that was used for farming within the city, but most of the people lived in small towns and villages outside of the city. Archeological survey indicates that there were even smaller settlements such as hamlets (very small villages), and isolated farms which were only lived in seasonally. According to this information, there would have been many villages, hamlets, single farms, and occasional small towns scattered over the land; as can still be seen in Crete. The Greeks had their private space that consisted of the agricultural fields in the territory of the polis and their houses compacted in settlements, whether in the central town of the city-state, in smaller towns, or villages. Ancient Greeks preferred to live in such compacted settlements, even when agriculture was their main source of support. Occasionally, there has been evidence of how agricultural land was organized by the residents of the settlements in rectangular and equal lots. The idea was that each family would farm a single plot of land. But, there was a tendency for farmland to become divided and for a landowner to own many plots of land scattered all over the community. The land was organized for mules and donkeys with built mule-tracks reaching every settlement. Since the Bronze Age, there had been chariots and wagons with roads that that were easy to drive on, but the roads were not easy to drive on. Classical Greek roads were more complete with grooves cut for the wheels in steep and rocky places. The road system, the landscape, the markets, and the farms were all part of the geography of ancient Greece. Greece has thousands of islands Ancient Greeks became a sea-going people due to the close proximity of the sea to most Greek city-states. These merchants and traders developed a sense of freedom and independence not seen before. Map of Phoenician and Greek colonies at about 550 BC In Ancient Greece, colonies were sometimes founded by vanquished people, who left their homes to escape subjection at the hand of a foreign enemy; sometimes as a sequel to civil disorders, when the losers in internecine battles left to form a new city elsewhere; sometimes to get rid of surplus population, and thereby to avoid internal convulsions. But in most cases the motivation was to establish and facilitate relations of trade with foreign countries and further the wealth of the mother-city (in Greek, metropolis). Colonies were established in Ionia and Thrace as early as the 8th century BC.[7] More than thirty Greek city-states had multiple colonies around the Mediterranean world, with the most active being Miletus, with ninety colonies stretching throughout the Mediterranean Sea, from the shores of the Black Sea and Anatolia (modern Turkey) in the east, to the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula in the west, as well as several colonies on the northern coast of Africa with the overall sum[citation needed] being 1500 from the late ninth, up to the 5th century BC. There were two similar types of colonies, á ¼â‚¬Ãâ‚¬ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ºÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ± apoikia (pl.: á ¼â‚¬Ãâ‚¬ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ºÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ¹, apoikiai) and á ¼ ÃŽ ¼Ãâ‚¬ÃŽ ¿Ã ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ± emporia (pl.: á ¼ ÃŽ ¼Ãâ‚¬ÃŽ ¿Ã ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ¹, emporiai). The first type of colonies were city-states on their own; the second were Greek trading-colonies. The Greek city-states began establishing colonies around 800 BC, at first at Al Mina on the coast of Syria and the Greek emporium Pithekoussai at Ischia in the Bay of Naples, both established about 800 BC by Euboeans.[8] Two flushes of new colonists set out from Greece at the transition between the Dark Ages and the start of the Archaic Period, one in the early 8th century BC and a second burst of the colonizing spirit in the 6th century. Population growth and cramped spaces at home seem an insufficient explanation, while the economical and political dynamics produced by the competitive spirit between the frequently kingless, newly introduced concept of the Greek city-states, striving to expand their sphere of economical influence better fits as their true incentive. Through this Greek expansion the use of coins flourished throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Ancient Greek colonies on the northern coast of the Black Sea, c. 450 BCE Influential Greek colonies in the western Mediterranean included Cyme (Aeolis), Rhegium (Rhegion) by Chalcis and Zankle (c. 8th century), Syracuse by Corinth/Tenea (c. 734 BC), Naxos by Chalkis (c. 734 BC), Massalia (what millennia later became Marseille, France) by Phokaia (c. 598 BC), Agathe by Phokaia (shortly after Massalia), Elea (Velia) by Phokaia and Massalia (c. 540 BC), Emporion (nowadays Spain) by Phokaia/Massalia (early 6th century), Antipolis (nowadays France) by Achaea, Alalia (Corsica) by Phokaia/Massalia (c. 545 BC) and Cyrene (North Africa) by Thera (762/61 and 632/31 BCE).[9] Several formulae were generally adhered to on the solemn and sacred occasions when a new colony set forth. If a Greek city was sending out a colony, an oracle, especially one such as the Oracle of Delphi, was almost invariably consulted beforehand. Sometimes certain classes of citizens were called upon to take part in the enterprises; sometimes one son was chosen by lot from every house where there were several sons; and strangers expressing a desire to join were admitted. A person of distinction was selected to guide the emigrants and make the necessary arrangements. It was usual to honor these founders of colonies, after their death, as heroes. Some of the sacred fire was taken from the public hearth in the Prytaneum, from which the fire on the public hearth of the new city was kindled. And, just as each individual had his private shrines, so the new community maintained the worship of its chief domestic deities, the colony sending embassies and votive gifts to the mother-citys principal festivals for centuries afterwards. The relation between colony and mother-city, known literally as the metropolis, was viewed as one of mutual affection. Any differences that arose were made up, if possible, by peaceful means, war being deemed excusable only in cases of extreme necessity. The charter of foundation contained general provisions for the arrangement of the affairs of the colony, and also some special enactments. The constitution of the mother-city was usually adopted by the colony, but the new city remained politically independent. If the colony sent out a fresh colony on its own account, the mother-city was generally consulted, or was at least requested to furnish a leader. Frequently the colonies declaring their commitment to the various metropolitic alliances formed in the Greek mainland and for religious reasons would pay tribute in religious centres, like Delphi, Olympia or Delos.[10] It is worth noting that the Peloponnesian War was in part a result of a dispute between Corinth and her colony of Corcyra (Corfu). The cleruchs, known in Greek as klà ªrouchoi, formed a special class of Greek colonists, being assigned individual plots of land in the place to which they had been assigned. The trade factories set up in foreign countries, such as Egypt, were somewhat different from the ordinary colonies, the members retaining the right of domicile in their own fatherland and confining themselves to their own quarter in the foreign city.

Modern Role of Chiefs in Community Development

Modern Role of Chiefs in Community Development THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL AUTHORITIES IN THE DECENTRALISATION OF POLITICAL POWER. A STUDY OF THE AKUAPEM TRADITIONAL AREA IN THE EASTERN REGION OF GHANA. AN OUTLINE OF A THESIS Introduction Background to the study Traditional governance system, is an age-old method by which the Indigenous people administered their own affairs prior to and after the advent of the Europeans into the region of modern Ghana. This system of governance is led by leaders multifariously referred to in English as chiefs, traditional authorities, tradi ­tional rulers, monarchs, kings, nobles, aristocrats, and natural rulers in a variety of African and other context. Traditional system of governance varies considerably among the different peoples that occupied the region of modern Ghana. While some groups developed very complex hierarchical structures, others had simple kin-based structure. Several definitions of traditional societies rely on the distinction between pre-colonial colonial and post-colonial times. For example, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention no. 169 states that: â€Å"A people are considered indigenous either because they are descendants of those who lived in the area before colonization; or because they have maintained their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions since colonization and the establishment of new states. And according to the Martinà ©z Cobo Report to the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination of Minorities (1986), indigenous peoples may be identified as follows: â€Å"Indigenous communities, peoples and nations are those which, having a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories, consider themselves distinct from other sectors of the societies now prevailing in those territories, or parts of them. They form at present non-dominant sectors of society and are determined to preserve, develop and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity, as the basis of their continued existence as peoples, in accordance with their own cultural patterns, social institutions and legal systems.† The office of traditional Authorities has been transformed as it has performed various functions back from the pre-colonial era through the colonial period to the present. Before the colonial period, traditional rulers had considerable influence and exercised considerable sovereignty within their areas of jurisdiction with their authority in both spiritual and secular matters. During the colonial period, they became virtual sub-agents of the colonial government in the areas of local government and judicial matters. In this period, various legislations and statutes enacted by the colonial authority prescribed the traditional ruler’s political role. Decentralization is basically described as the practice of the administration in a state by which considerable autonomy is given to sub-political governmental bodies at the local level to take decisions and implement programmes and policies. In Ghana it is also known as the local government system or the district assembly concept. The idea behind this system is to get the local people to use local resources to develop their localities. The present local government system has three-tier structure comprising the Regional coordinating council, the District assemblies and the Area, Town and Village Councils or Unit committees. Although the local government system in Ghana dates back to the colonial era, precisely 1859 when the first Councilors for James Town, Accra were elected, the current system is only a few years old precisely 1988 when the PNDC L207 was passed. The 1992 fourth republican constitution of Ghana gives credence to the system under chapter 20 with the title Decentralization and Local Government. The local government act 462 of 1993 has replaced the Local government Law 207 0f 1988. The head of the local government institution is the Minister who is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the operations of the institution. Traditional authority also known as the chieftaincy institution has lived on in Ghanaian society and is still a vibrant force in many ways. However Since independence in 1957, there has been little, if any, effective participation of chiefs in decentralization in Ghana. Indeed, the relationship between chiefs and local government units has been ill-defined, even though the history of local government cannot be written without the institution of chieftaincy. Even though some people argue that chieftaincy and modern local government are incompatible, one should not lose sight of the fact that the deep cynicism of some Ghanaians about politicians and their promises have compelled them to find in traditional authorities something that is â€Å"reassuring rather precisely because of its ambivalent position in what has become the disturbing discourse of failing modernity† (Rathbone, 2000: 164). Traditional Authorities in some time past were involved in local government functions like local development under the Native Authority System during the colonial days. Similarly, during the post-colonial period, the role of traditional Authorities in local governance and development has not been questioned The Ghanaian Constitution recognizes and protects the office of traditional Authority, thus creating a parallel system of governance. In fact, the Constitution forbids the Parliament from making laws that interfere with the chieftaincy institution. Statement of the problem. The office of the traditional Authority has evolved right from the pre colonial period through the colonial era to the establishment of party politics within the region of modern Ghana. Indeed, in Ghana, the institution dates back several centuries and remains the prime custodian of Ghanaian culture. The institution is much revered and held in awe since it provides a renewed sense of belonging as well as being a Powerful agent of social cohesion and harmony. Traditional Authorities are expected to play Lead role in fighting for social, economic and political development of their people and perform arbitration and representational roles as well as have the potential to facilitate accountability to their people. Perhaps these roles have been summarized by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (2002). our predecessors engaged in inter-tribal wars, fighting for conquest over territories and people. Today, the war should be vigorous and intensive against dehumanization, poverty, marginalization, ignorance and disease†¦ Chieftaincy must be used to propel economic development through proper lands administration, through facilitating investments in our communities, and through codification and customs and traditions making it impossible for imposters to get enstooled and creating unnecessary situations for litigation. However modern democratic dispensations has restricted the role Traditional Authorities to acting Custodians of tradition and culture as well as the embodiment of the spirit of the ancestors and a link between them and the living Community. Ironically, democratic governance in Ghana, in all ramifications, draws its strength from the traditional governance structure and it is fair to say that national politics would not be this tolerant were it not for the effective and impartial handling of the people by Traditional Authorities, particularly when one considers the stabilizing role they play during national and local elections. Bothtraditionalists and modernistsoften see traditional authority and elected political leaders competing for power in the community. The struggle between the two for political power and legitimacy is seen as a zero-sum game. This is because whatever powers a traditional Authority wrenches from the state is considered as a loss for state leadership. Far from being in competition with elected leaders for the public’s regard, traditional leaders and elected leaders are seen by the public as two sides of the same coin. Popular evaluations of both traditional and elected leaders depend on the leader’s leadership skills. An individual’s level of modernization plays a much smaller role in shaping perceptions of traditional authority. There has been the lack of empirical evidence concerning popular perceptions of how traditional leaders support elected leaders in a democratic system of governance. There is the question as to how much space traditional Authorities should be given within the context of modern democratic decentralization in Ghana. This is because since independence Traditional Authorities have lost virtually all the formal governmental, Judicial and other roles they played before, during and after colonial rule. Nevertheless their status and autonomy is guaranteed under the 1992 constitution of Ghana. Yet not all politicians in Ghanaian society see it as legitimate or are prepared to allow it to work. Even where the legitimacy of traditional leaders is not challenged, their mode of selection and the way they carry out their functions often generate deep concerns. Therefore there are no simple solutions to the question of how to define the role of Traditional Authorities in the decentralisation of pow er in the Ghanaian political systems. Individual local context is important. With many modern and highly educated individuals now occupying positions as traditional leaders in Ghana, it should be possible for the national government to work with these traditional leaders for the development of the country. Significance of the Study The study will provide useful information on the modern role of chiefs in community development. Chieftaincy no doubt is one of the most enduring traditional institutions in Ghana, which has displayed remarkable resilience from pre-colonial through colonial to postcolonial times. Nowadays, chiefs are under pressure to achieve good governance in their traditional areas. They are challenged to integrate tradition and modernity, a process about which there is considerable debate. Also the study will help to identify the role of traditional leaders in the decentralisation of power and demonstrate their active participation in the political development of their communities. Finally study will also add to the knowledge base on the role of traditional Authorities in an increasingly globalised world where the accent is on democracy, human rights, health delivery, and human development and discover if Traditional rulers have really outlived their usefulness. Their ability to come to terms with these challenges will provide an indication of their relevance. Purpose of the study/ Objectives The main objective of the study will be to examine the role of Traditional Authorities in the local governance process in the Decentralisation of power. A study of the Akuapem Traditional area of the Eastern region of Ghana. The specific objectives will include the following. To reveal and analyze the political role of traditional leaders in the decentralisation of Power in democratic Ghana to achieve good governance. To discover the extent of which elected or appointed governments officials allow themselves to be closely linked with the traditional leaders in the political development of the community. To find out the involvement and recognition of traditional Authority in the political process of Ghana’s young democracy in the local area. To discover the relevance of the role of Traditional authorities in the decentralisation of power and how the government can support them without pushing them to oblivion. Access and make recommendations on how Traditional Authority can be incorporated into the formal local government system Research Questions The following research questions will inform the study. What are the roles of traditional Authorities in the decentralisation of power in attaining good governance and political stability? To what extent do elected or appointed governments officials allow themselves to be closely linked with the traditional leaders in the political development of the community. How relevant is the role of traditional Authorities in the decentralisation of power. What kind of institutional framework will help to promote the integration of Traditional Authority into the formal district assembly structure? REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Introduction This chapter examines theories, perspectives, conceptions and models on development, endogenous development, good governance, traditional authorities and local governance. It ends with a discussion of the synergy model of traditional authorities and formal government that will be suitable for the study. Relevant literature will be reviewed. Decentralization is defined as â€Å"any act in which a central government formally cedes powers to actors and institutions at lower levels in a political-administrative and territorial hierarchy† (Ribot 2001: v., citing Mawhood 1983 and Smith 1985). Three main types of decentralisation are commonly identified: †¢ administrative decentralisation or deconcentration i.e. the re-location of branches of the central state to local areas, entailing a transfer of powers to locally-based officials who remain part of, and upwardly accountable to, central government ministries and agencies; †¢ Fiscal decentralisation i.e. the transfer of fiscal resources and revenue-generating powers, inclusive of authority over budgets and financial decisions, to either deconcentrated officials and/or central government appointees or to elected politicians;1 †¢ Political decentralisation or democratic decentralisation or devolution (of power) i.e. the transfer of powers and resources to sub-national authorities which are â€Å"(a) largely or wholly independent of the central government and (b) democratically elected† (Manor 1995: 81-2).2 METHODOLOGY This section will discuss the research design and the methods that will be adopted for collecting and analyzing data. It will also deal with the research design, validation and reliability instrumentation, population, sample and sampling procedures or techniques to be used for the research. Research Design For the approach of the study, a case study will be used as the research design type. According to Babbie (2007:298) a case study is â€Å"the in-depth examination of a single instance of some social phenomenon, such as a village, a family, or juvenile gang†. Also in Wisker (2008:210), Robson (1993:52) opines that a case study is â€Å"a strategy for doing research that involves empirical investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon in its real life context using multiple sources of evidence†. From the two definitions, common features that can be identified are that a case study focuses on a single instance or a particular phenomenon and the in-depth and empirical study of such a phenomenon. The study will also employ the use of descriptive, explorative and cross sectional survey as well as the use of multiple sources of evidence to conduct the study. Population The targeted population will be natives and residents in the Akuapem Traditional area. Sample The sample will be made up of 200 people. The target population will be the of heads of households, traditional authorities and local government officials which will be put into groups of three. Five communities will be randomly sampled from the Akuapem Traditional area. Sampling Technique As a qualitative research, it will involve techniques such as the use interviews, administration questionnaires, and focused group discussion. The interviews will be transcribed coded and analyzed. In selecting participants for the study the researcher will make use of purposive sampling technique. Instrumentation In conducting the study, the researcher will employ conversational interviews for the collection of data. This conversational style of interview will be appropriate and effective because the respondents will feel free to share their views. The interview section will help the researcher to elicit information from direct person- to – person encounter. The interview will be structured and unstructured. This will help the researcher to learn enough so as to formulate questions for subsequent interviews (Merian,Page 75). Data Collection Procedure and Method A questionnaire and interview guide will be administered. Largely data that will be collected will be presented and analyzed qualitatively. Thesis Structure/Organization of the study This study will be organized into five chapters. Chapter one will be made up of the introductory overview of the whole study. This will include the background to the study, statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions and the relevance of the study. Chapter Two will be the review of relevant literature related to the study as well as the theoretical and conceptual issues. Chapter Three will be the research methodology, which will include the description of the study area, target population, sampling procedures, data collection techniques, data analysis and limitations of the study. Chapter Four will present the results of the study. And finally Chapter five will provide the summary of findings, conclusions and recommendations. RESULTS AND FINDINGS PROBLEMS/OPEN QUESTIONS REFERENCES K.A Busia, The Position of the chief in the Modern Political System of Ashanti. London: Frank Cass Co., 1968),p.,15. Boafo-Arthur, K. (2006) â€Å"Chieftaincy in Ghana: Challenges and Prospects in the 21st Century†, in Irene Odotei and Albert Awedoba (eds.) Chieftaincy in Ghana: Culture, Governance and Development (Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers), pp. 145-168. Ghana, Republic of (1992) Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 (Ghana Publishing Corporation: Tema). Ghana, Republic of (1994) Local Government (Urban, Zonal and Town Councils and Units Committees, (Establishment) Instrument, 1994 (Ghana Publishing Corporation: Accra) Owusu, M. (1989) â€Å"Rebellion, Revolution, and Tradition: Reinterpreting Coups in Ghana†, Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 31, No. 2 (April): 380-392. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (2002) Cited in Kojo Yankah, Osei Tutu II: Tradition in Modern Times, West Africa 29th April-5th May 2002, p. 11. Ray, D.I. (2003a) â€Å"Chiefs in Their Millenium Sandals: Traditional Authority in Ghana – Relevance, Challenges and Prospects†, In Wisdom Tettey, Korbla Puplampu and Bruce Berman (eds.) Critical Perspectives on Politics and Socio Economic Development in Ghana (Brill: Leiden), Chapter 10.

Social Changes: Body And Helath (IN SPANISH) :: essays research papers

Cambio Social: Cuerpo y Salud Aà ±os atrà ¡s, una persona saludable era una persona "rellenita", con las mejillas coloradas y feliz. Hoy en dà ­a, sin embargo, sabemos que ser gordo no es bueno y puede traer consigo muchos problemas. De todas formas muchas personas no se conforman con mantener un peso normal y constante sino que viven haciendo dietas, ejercicios, etcà ©tera, hasta llegar a situaciones muy peligrosas como la anorexia o la bulimia.  ¿Por quà © ocurre esto? Esto es lo que voy a intentar analizar a continuacià ³n para demostrar que situaciones asà ­, ocurren, en gran medida por culpa de la sociedad, de la forma que veremos mà ¡s adelante. En cualquier trabajo, especialmente en aquellos en los que se debe interactuar con otras personas, clientes, por ejemplo, se pide junto con el currà ­culum para la postulacià ³n adjuntar una fotografà ­a del postulante. De esta forma se le da preferencia a una persona con mejor apariencia fà ­sica sobre otra que tal vez no tiene un bello fà ­sico, pero muchas veces tiene un mejor currà ­culum o mà ¡s experiencia. Otro caso que podemos citar es el de la alta costura: grandes diseà ±adores crean ropa de tallas increà ­blemente pequeà ±as que sà ³lo pueden usar modelos extremadamente delgados, muy pà ¡lidos y que dan la impresià ³n de estar a punto de desmayarse. Asà ­, se crea un patrà ³n poco o nada de saludable que ademà ¡s, es seguido por muchà ­simas personas, en el caso del modelaje, adolescentes (muchas veces sin criterio formado) que buscan adaptarse a à ©ste sin importar las consecuencias fà ­sicas o psicolà ³gicas que pueda traerle. En el caso de las bailarinas o atletas, muchas de à ©stas llegan al extremo de convertirse en anorà ©xicas, la mayorà ­a de las veces debido a que sus entrenadores o profesores son demasiado exigentes controlando en exceso la vida de los atletas e incluso humillà ¡ndolos en pà ºblico si sobrepasan el peso là ­mite, necesario para mantenerse competitivos. En el caso de las mujeres la situacià ³n se agrava aà ºn mà ¡s. La promocià ³n profesional es mucho mà ¡s asequible para las delgadas que para las que no lo son. Como podemos ver, la presià ³n social sobre las mujeres es mucho mà ¡s acentuada "ha podido tambià ©n verificarse que las mujeres mà ¡s emprendedoras y social y laboralmente activas son las que prefieren un cuerpo delgado y a las mà ¡s voluminosas se les atribuye funciones de madre, esposa.

Drug Legalization Essay -- Drugs Argumentative Use Essays

This paper will prove that America’s drug laws are ineffective and cause more harm than good. The notion that a state of freedom exists in America is completely voided by narcotic laws. Narcotic laws cause a black market, which raises the prices of drugs to astronomical levels. These high prices cause drug addicts to turn to crime in order to support their habit. There exists substantial evidence that marijuana is less harmful than legal product like alcohol or nicotine. The war on drugs is comparable to the Vietnam War in its harm on the current generation of minorities. The government avoids ending anti-narcotic legislation because of the vast amount of capital which is spent on the war on drugs in terms of law enforcement and prison systems. Also there are many legislators whose campaign corner stones are often getting tough on drugs, to make an about face would mean political suicide. Yes, drugs are illegal. This very fact is what discourages many Americans from using drugs. However the illegality of the substances in question do not stop all people from using. Despite the severe punishment users of illicit drugs face if caught, illicit drug use is widespread in the United States. â€Å"According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's 1992 National Household Survey, more than one in three Americans (36.2%) have used illegal drugs at least once in their lifetime, nearly 28 million Americans (11.1%) used them in the previous year, and almost 14 million Americans (5.5%) used them during the past month† (Skolnick 3). This is clear evidence that the war is not working. Drug addicts will continue using drugs regardless of the penalties associated with procession, simply because they are addicted to these dangerous substances an... ...nment run store where drugs would be sold only to adults. Much the same as the way liquor is sold in many areas of the country today. Drugs would for the most part be out of the reach of children. Drugs would be relatively inexpensive, and within the reach of addicts, who would no longer have to turn to crime in order to obtain them (when was the last time you heard of someone getting mugged in order for the perpetrator to buy beer). People would be allowed to freely grow marijuana and or hemp. Treatment for addicts would be free and easily obtainable. Money would be spent on improving the conditions of schools, roads and other things that Americans really need. There would exist much the same laws for operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs as exist for operating under the influence of alcohol today. There would once again be a state of freedom in America.

“High Fidelity”- Character anaysis Essay

Rob is a morose person who needs this excuse to always complain. He’s a very pessimistic person, who can’t seem to find a positive outlook in anything. Rob is also a very self-conscious person who is not content with himself. He believes that he lacks in the areas he views as important in his life. He depends on his woman to keep him happy, and judges his life according to the woman he’s with. He simply can’t manage to be happy without one. His unhappiness drives him to be very critical and judgmental to the world around him. He makes a jerky remark to everything he notices. All and all Rob has a weak character which depends on other things rather than himself to be happy. Rob seems to be a very pessimistic person. He sees everything in a negative fashion because he is not content with his life, and assumes it is impossible for things to improve. Once Rob returns home after seeing Marie sing with another man, he feels depressed and turns to his records for some sort of reassuring escape: Is it so wrong, wanting to be home with your record collection? It’s not like collecting records is like collecting stamps, or beermats, or antique thimbles. There’s a whole world in here, a nicer, dirtier, more violent, more peaceful, more colorful, sleazier, more dangerous, more loving world than the world I live in; there is history, and geography, and poetry, and countless other things I should have studied at school, including music. (Hornby, 83) Rob seems to feel as though his records are the only thing he can rely on. Everyone has some sort dependence on certain sentimental things, be it a pet, friend or family member. In Rob’s case, his music is the only constant that will never let him down. He sees a whole different world inside his music, one which doesn’t value the real world’s standards or values. It brings him somewhere else for a bit, somewhere which doesn’t remind him of the depressing things in his life. It seems to me that with those discouraging thoughts it drives him to be very pessimistic. Without even  talking to Marie he assumed right off the bat that she was going to hook up with the man she was singing with. He didn’t even try to show he cared in the least. His pessimism led him to give up on Marie very quickly, without even looking at the possible positive side. These actions show he has a very pessimistic outlook on life which is driven by his low self-esteem. Rob also seems unsatisfied with himself. Too inadequate to be happy in a world where he feels he doesn’t belong. I’m here , in this stupid little flat, on my own, and I’m thirty-five years old, and I own a tiny failing business, and my friends don’t seem to be friends at all but people whose phone numbers I haven’t lost. And if I went back to sleep and slept for forty years and woke up without any teeth to the sound of Melody Radio in an old people’s home, I wouldn’t worry that much, because the worst of life, i.e., the rest of it, would be over. And I wouldn’t even have had to kill myself. (74) Rob looks at every aspect of his life and feels so insufficient that he doesn’t even see the reason for living. He feels like he has no substance in his life. From having no true friends, to a failing job. All the characteristics that he values to be a person worth living, have failed him. I think his mother plays an important role in Rob’s low self -esteem as she even degrades him and offers him no support. She doesn’t even comfort him after the break-up with Laura, yet just criticizes and tells him that she â€Å"would have left [him] to get on with it years ago.† (48) She demeans his job, and adds to his low self-confidence. Parents are supposed to be supportive in times of unhappiness. Parents are the people who are supposed to love unconditionally, but in Rob’s case it seems that they only regard the negative aspects of his life which definitely cannot improve his situation. He feels so inadequate because he has no one to turn to or depend on. He wants to â€Å"run [himself] down, feel sorry for [himself], celebrate [his] inadequacies†. (72) Rob depends on a woman to keep him happy. He believes his woman defines him as a person, and each time he is without one he is miserable. Sometimes it seems as though the only way a man can judge his own niceness, his own decency, is by looking at his relationships with women- or rather, with prospective or current sexual partners. (68) He judges himself according to the woman he’s affiliated with. He doesn’t see himself as a full person without a woman. He believes that â€Å"women are going to save [him], lead [him] through to a better life, that they can change and redeem [him].† (63) Rob is basically willing to be whatever his woman wants of him. Even his relationship with Sarah Kendrew was one of convenience because he had no one else, and wanted to feel equal to his companion. Charlie had made him feel inadequate and less of a person than her, so his relationship with Sarah was one where he had someone to lean on through his time of getting over her. Sarah made it easier for him because she was going through the same situation. They were just staying together to have someone to lean on, and not be alone. He was her moment just as Charlie was mine, and when they split, Sarah had sworn off men for a while, just as I had sworn off women. It made sense to swear off together, to pool our loathing of the opposite sex and get to share a bed with someone at the same time. Our friends were all paired off, our careers seemed to have hardened into permanence, we were frightened of being left alone for the rest of our lives. (29) Rob just couldn’t handle being alone. It was easy for him to make the relationship with Sarah work because she felt the same, and had the same problems he did. His weak character leads him to depend on woman to keep him happy and satisfied. Rob was also a very judgmental and critical person. His views on music could not be challenged, as he also evaluated woman according to their musical interests and favorite movies. His views were a little harsh sometimes, and he believed he was quite educated in certain areas, which therefore lead to his many judgments. I’d say there were millions like me, but there aren’t, really: lots of blokes have impeccable music taste but don’t read, lots of blokes read but are really fat, lots of blokes are sympathetic to feminism but have stupid beards, lots of blokes have a Woody Allen sense of humor but look like Woody Allen. Lots of blokes drink too much, lots of blokes behave stupidly when they drive cars, lots of blokes get into fights, or show off about money, or take drugs. I don’t do any of these things really; if I do OK with women, it’s not because of the virtues I have, but because of the shadows I don’t have. (28) Rob makes a comment on every possible singer, songwriter, actress/actor he can. His critical attitude makes him look like a jerk. He acts above the people he criticizes to make him feel better about himself. He has a judgment on everything. Besides being critical to himself, he’s critical to the world around him because he is miserable. He sees the negative in everything which makes him as opinionated as he is. His frustration makes him angry at everything and everyone around him. All and all, Rob’s depressive, dependent, self-conscious and critical attitudes demonstrate that he has a weak character. His pessimism leads to his depression, as his low self-esteem leads to his criticisms. He has a very miserable life because he doesn’t even live up to his own standards. He depends on a woman to make him happy, which is completely unrealistic. Rob will never manage to be happy because he always manages to criticize and demean everything that’s going on around him.