Suchergebnisse

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES NEED A NEW FOREIGN POLICY AGENDA. AS WITH DOMESTIC POLICY, CULTURE MIGHT PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR A NEW CONSERVATIVE FOREIGN POLICY. THE DECLINE AND REJECTION OF WESTERN CULTURE HAS BOTH FOREIGN- AND DOMESTIC-POLICY IMPLICATIONS. THE HISTORICAL LESSON THAT ROME AND SPAIN OFFER IS THAT ONLY DOMESTIC REFORM AND RENEWAL CAN PREVENT DECAY AT HOME FROM BRINGING DECLINE ABROAD. IN AMERICA'S CASE, REFORM AND RENEWAL MEAN RESTORATION OF TRADITIONAL WESTERN CULTURE--THE VIRTUES AND VALUES CENTRAL TO AMERICA'S HISTORICAL SUCCESS. IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING GENERAL WESTERN VALUES, TWO SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT WOULD AID THE UNITED STATES IN THIS CULTURAL "WAR" ARE: THE REINTEGRATION OF RUSSIA INTO THE FAMILY OF WESTERN NATIONS, AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (SDI).

MUCH OF THE ACADEMIC AND POLICY DISCOURSE ON THE AFRICAN INFORMAL SECTOR ASSUMES THAT THE PEOPLE WHO POPULATE THE INFORMAL ECONOMY HAVE A DISTINCT SET OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INTERESTS. THE SECTOR'S PARTICIPANTS ARE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT POLICIES DIFFERENT FROM THOSE ADVOCATED BY THE GOVERNMENTS THAT SEEK TO TAX INFORMAL ENTEPRISES, BY SMALLHOLDERS WHO SEEK HIGHER PRICES FOR THE CROPS THEY GROW AND THEREBY CONTRIBUTE TO RISING FOOD PRICES, AND BY MODERN SECTOR MANUFACTURING THAT SELLS INPUTS USED BY INFORMAL ENTERPRISES FOR HIGH PRICES, AND BY MODERN SECTOR MANUFACTURING THAT SELLS INPUTS USED BY INFORMAL ENTERPRISES FOR HIGH PRICES AND BUYS GOODS AND SERVICES AT LOW PRICES. THIS RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT PATTERNS OF INTEREST GROUP FORMATION VARY ACCORDING TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH ENTREPRENEURS DIVERSIFY THEIR INCOME PORTFOLIOS AND ACCORDING TO THE PERCEPTION OF MOBILITY WITHIN AND BETWEEN SECTORS.

An investigation of social & stylistic changes in the British political class over the last twenty years. Analysis of available social background data reveals a growing social representativeness in Parliament members. A high turnover rate is evident among Cabinet ministers. It is conceded that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher continued the direction of government led by earlier prime ministers, although she also devalued the importance of government institutions, relying more on private-sector management techniques. While not as developed as those in the US, the emergence of think tanks in GB is linked to a class of political entrepreneurs who have the potential to be future parliamentarians. 20 References. J. Sadler

UNDER THE CONCEPT OF DEAF CULTURE, DEAFNESS IS NOT A DISABILITY THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. DEAF CULTURISTS FEEL THAT SOCIETY SHOULD NOT FOCUS ON A CURE FOR DEAFNESS BUT SHOULD ACCEPT DEAF PEOPLE AS A CULTURAL MINORITY AND RESPECT THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE AS DEAF PERSONS. DEAF CULTURISTS ALSO INSIST, HOWEVER, THAT DEAFNESS IS A DISABLING CONDITION THAT SOCIETY SHOULD COMPENSAT FOR BY PROVIDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS WHO CANNOT HEAR. DEAF CULTURISTS ARE THEREFORE STRONG SUPPORTERS OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND OTHER LAWS REQUIRING THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH IMPAIRED HEARING. THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THOSE CONFLICTING PRECEPTS.

IN 1988, MODIFICATIONS TO THE TRADING WITH THE ENEMY ACT EASED THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE EXCHANGE OF CULTURAL MATERIAL--IN THE CASE OF MUSIC, ALLOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIAL RECORDED IN CUBA AND PERMITTING CUBAN MUSICIANS TO PERFORM IN THE UNITED STATES. IN 1991, A COMPILATION OF THE WORK OF VARIOUS CUBAN ARTISTS TITLED "DANCING WITH THE ENEMY" WAS RELEASED. THIS ARTICLE ARGUES THAT WHAT WAS NOTEWORTHY WAS NOT SO MUCH THE MUSIC ITSELF AS THE FACT THAT IT INSERTED CUBAN MUSIC INTO A SPECIALIZED MARKET REFERRED TO AS WORLD MUSIC. THE LOGIC BEHIND THIS CONVERGENCE OF CUBAN MUSIC AND WORLD MUSIC HAS AS MUCH TO DO WITH IDEOLOGIES OF RACE AND CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY AS WITH ECONOMICS AND POLITICS.

THE PEOPLES OF THE FIVE CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS ARE IN SEARCH OF THEIR IDENTITY AND CULTURAL ROOTS AFTER LENGTHY ARTIFICIAL ISOLATION DURING HE SOVIET ERA. THEY FACE DEEP-SEATED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN ADDITIONS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT OF THE SHRINKING OF THE ARAL SEA DUE TO OVEREXPLOITATION OF WATER RESOURCES FOR AGRICULTURE DURING SOVIET RULE. BUT THE CASPIAN BASIN HOLDS ONE OF THE LARGEST UNEXPLOITED SOURCES OF OIL AND IS ATTRACTING SIGNIFICANT INTERNATIONAL INTEREST. CONSTRUCTION OF A PIPELINE ACROSS AFGHANISTAN TO THE OPEN SEA IN PAKISTAN REQUIRES THE RESOLUTION OF THE AFGHAN CONFLICT. DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR CHINA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST AS WELL AS THE WEST AND THE REPUBLICS' FORMER RULERS. PROSPECTS FOR STABILITY ARE LINKED TO THE REPUBLICS' ECONOMIC WEAKNESSES. CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO WORSEN AS TRANSITION CONTINUES AND SOCIAL TENSIONS COULD BE HEIGHTENED, WHILE THE ISLAMIC REVIVAL IS EXERTING GREATER INFLUENCE.

THE WEST'S SUPPOSED KNOWLEDGE OF ASIA--A TRUMPERY CALLED "ORIENTALISM"--WAS NOT A BODY OF OBJECTIVE LEARNING BUT THE CORPORATE INSTITUTION FOR DEALING WITH THE ORIENT, A MEANS BY WHICH EUROPEAN CULTURE WAS ABLE TO MANAGE AND EVEN PRODUCE THE ORIENT. THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE IMPACT THAT PHILOSOPHERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF THE WEST, HAVE HAD ON THE WORLD VIEW OF ASIA. IT FOCUSES ON THE WORKS OF EDWARD SAID, AND OTHER EGYPTIAN, ARAB, AND GERMAN SCHOLARS WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DEFINE ORIENTALISM.

THIS ARTICLE FORMS THE FIRST CHAPTER OF DEBORA SILVERMAN'S SELLING CULTURE. IN HER INTRODUCTION, SHE WRITES THAT SHE WISHES TO DEPICT A BROAD "MOVEMENT OF ARISTOCRATIC INVOCATION IN 1980'S AMERICAN CULTURE, WHOSE PARTICIPANTS COMBINED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE WORLDS OF THE MUSEUM, THE DEPARTMENT STORE, FASHION DESIGN, AND THE MEDIA." SUCH CULTURAL ISSUES SHE CONTINUES, "ARE TIED TO THE BIG BUSINESS OF ILLUSION-MAKING AND ARE PREFECTLY SUITED TO THE POLITICS OF THEATER PRACTICED IN THE WHITE HOUSE." THE FIRST CHAPTER TELLS THE STORY OF HOW BLOOMINGDALE'S AQUIRED AND IMPLEMENTED A TRADE AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNIST CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND EXPORT CULTURAL ARTIFACTS FROM CHINA'S FEUDAL PERIOD FOR A SPECIFIC AMERICAN CLIENTELE. SILVERMAN DISCUSSES THE INTENT BEHIND BLOOMINGDALE'S ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN AND POINTS OUT THE REALITY BEHIND THE ILLUSION IN THE ADS.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT FROM OTHER FORMS OF CONFLICT IS NOT THE SCALE OF VIOLENCE AS SUCH BUT THE FACT THAT VIOLENCE IS EMBEDDED IN A POLITICAL CONTEXT THAT DIRECTLY SHAPES AND CONSTRAINS IT. THIS ARTICLE EXPLORES HOW STRATEGIC CULTURE AFFECTS AMERICAN PERFORMANCE IN LOW INTENSITY CONFLICT OR SMALL WARS. IT SUGGESTS THAT IN LOW INTENSITY WARFARE, NON-MILITARY INSTRUMENTATLITIES OF NATIONAL POWER MAY HAVE AN EQUAL OR EVEN GREATER ROLE TO PLAY THAN MILITARY FORCES. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES THAT THE NEW WORLD SITUATION OFFERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FREE MANKIND FROM SOME OF THE INTELLECTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL SHACKELS THAT CULTURE HAS FORGED.

WHY DO THE BRITISH, OR AT LEAST A LARGE NUMBER OF ENGLISH PEOPLE, FIND IT NECESSARY TO TAKE REFUGE IN A SMOKESCREEN OF UNEASY EMBRASSMENT, OFTEN DISCHARGING ITSELF IN DERISION, WHEN THE WORD 'CULTURE' IS INTRODUCED? IT IS NOT AS IF WE WERE BARREN OF THE COMMODITY IN QUESTION. I SUPPOSE THAT THE WHOLE BODY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE MUST BE ONE OF THE RICHEST AND MOST VARIED THAT THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. IN MUSIC AND THE VISUAL ARTS OUR ACHIEVEMENTS MAY FALL SHORT OF THOSE OF OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, BUT THEY ARE STILL FORMIDABLE. BRITISH DOMESTIC AND ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE, FROM THE COTTAGE AND PARISH CHURCH TO THE STATELY HOME AND THE CATHEDRAL, IS DISTINCTIVE AND FULL OF BEAUTY. WE LEAD THE WORLD PERHAPS IN LOVE OF FLOWERS AND GARDENS. THE CATALOGUE IS LONG.

IN HIS BOOK "LIBERALISM, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE" WILL KYMLICKA EXPLORES THE ROLES OF SELF, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE IN LIBERAL THOUGHT. THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE STATES THAT KYMILICKA'S TREATMENT, WHILE RATHER ORIGINAL, IS SO WEAK AS TO UNJUSTLY DISCREDIT THE LIBERAL VIEW OF CULTURE IN GENERAL. THE ARTICLE ARGUES THAT EITHER KYMLICKA'S DEFENSE OF MINORITY RIGHTS FAILS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR ABORIGINAL GROUPS, SINCE THEY ARE TREATED ON A PAR WITH OTHER CULTURAL MINORITIES TO WHOM THE WORLD ASCRIBES NO SPECIAL RIGHTS, OR IT SERVES TO PROTECT ABORIGINAL RIGHTS ONLY THROUGH ASCRIBING RIGHTS TO MANY OTHER CULTURAL MINORITIES, AN EXTRAORDINARILY COUNTERINTUITIVE IMPLICATION WHICH HE WISELY SEEKS TO AVOID.