Author Biography: Jakup Krasniqi is the current president of Kosovo. He attended the University of Pristina. At the time he wrote this document, he was the speaker of Parliament but was elected president by the Parliament in 2010 when the president at that time, Fatmir Sejdiu resigned. This author may have bias based upon his nationalism for Kosovo. This document is declaring independence from another country. In some cases this newly declared country may not be wanted or accepted by other countries, but Krasniqi is a nationalist who is pushing for this divide, therefore adding bias that will appeal to the people that he is ruling.
Context: This document was written in 2008 while declaring independence from Serbia. Some countries do not recognize Kosovo as a state. In the 1990s there was a war between Serbia and Kosovo which could only be ended by military intervention. This produces political bias within the article showing that the state wishes to regain its connections with Serbia.
Summary: This document declares independence for Kosovo from Serbia. It recognizes that this state will be formed around their people and following guidelines set by the United Nations and other organizations to further develop in the Eurasian continent. They declare that their society is a democracy and that they are a sovereign state. They declare to welcome people in order to gain "peace, prosperity, and stability." They wish to be a part of the European Union rather than a part of Asia. Finally, they wish to tie bonds with Serbia by teaching their people to reconcile for their actions.
Key quotation: "We shall cooperate fully with these presences to ensure Kosovo's future peace, prosperity, and stability."
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
PDP4 Magna Carta
Author(s) Info and Background: The Magna Carta (The Great Charter) was written in the year 1215 by King John of England, King John’s Barons and Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was the highest ranking catholic church official in England. The document was written for the purpose of bringing peace to the state as compromises between the unpopular King John and his loyalists and the rebel barons. The document was meant to enforce the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown, to be implemented through a council of 25 barons. However, the document did little to stem the violence as the two sides fell back on their agreements and promise and continued to feud. Eventually two years later, following a full out war between the two sides, and the demise of King John, the new heir to the throne re-introduced the charter as part of the final peace agreement but removed the more radical sections that had played a part in the documents initial failure.
Document’s Purpose: While the two are very different documents, the American Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta share some similarities when it comes to the purpose of the documents. Like the DOI, the Magna Carta also was used a vessel to carry the grievances of the people to the high rulers and also was used to legitimize some of those demands. However, the Magna Carta was not a statement of secession and independence like the American Document, nor was it a constitution as is commonly believed. The document itself is list of 37 laws which were to be instated. It is preceded by a preamble containing the documents purpose and succeeded by a statement which seeks to the nullify the document if certain situations were too arise. The document is then notarized by the signatures of those present during the proceedings.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
PDP4: The Prince
Author Bio: Niccolo Machiavelli worked as a political officer for the Medici family in Florence. He lived in a time where all aspects of life were looked at with a realist point of view. Italy at the time was divided into several competitive nations, so his article is written with the bias from Florence compared to surrounding Italian nations. When he speaks of the term "faith", he is talking about keeping promises, and he believes that not following the faith is equivalent to that.
Date/Context: Machiavelli wrote this article in 1513 from Florence, Italy. The history of relations throughout a nation at that time was through the ruler. The prince played a vital role in the layout of the state. It was his job to be ideally both loved and feared, and his decisions are what impacted the country so greatly. The history of the article is composed of princes winning over their citizens through compassion and honesty, mainly by learning to trust others, but also gaining power over knowing the personalities that make up the nation. The prince was the political commander of the state, and he made decisions that influenced the people. It was his job to win over the country so that his announcements will follow through. This article connects to our understanding of european culture because it shows the type of government rulings they choose to follow, and how those rulers attempt to really take control of their land and govern the people.
Summary: Princes must be able to carry themselves in such a manner that he follows the means of intellectual truth and expresses themselves as the royalty that they are. They are expected to follow the criteria of being a prince and decide for themselves to be a "nice" or "evil" prince. If a prince chooses to be compassionate, he must follow his initial plan, disregarding situations within his people because the focus on smaller instances can lead to a large amount of corruption within the country. The same rules follow for if he decides to be cruel and ruthless. He must follow the standards that have been set for him once he has chosen a path, and continue to support the country. It is ideal to be both feared and loved as a prince. However, it is certainly difficult and most men of royalty tend to pick a side. Machiavelli argues that it is safer to be feared than loved, because of most men's rough personality. However, if the prince chooses to be feared instead, he must avoid hatred at all costs. Machiavelli also writes that several princes in the past have succeeded more based off of their cleverness compared to sincerity. For princes, it is necessary to understand the two types of forces, dealing with man and beast, knowing the people of the country and what tactics work best to help with future success. In essence, it is important to understand compassion, but also know the basics of a ruthless ruler. He must understand that not all men are good, and often he must repel against his faith and humanity to make decisions. He is braking promises as a prince, and Machiavelli believes that that is the time where he must analyze and separate the good from the evil.
Key Quotation: "It is useful to seem compassionate, faithful, humane, honest, religious- and to be so, but to stay so constructed in your spirit that if it is necessary not be these things, you are able and know how to become the contrary."
Date/Context: Machiavelli wrote this article in 1513 from Florence, Italy. The history of relations throughout a nation at that time was through the ruler. The prince played a vital role in the layout of the state. It was his job to be ideally both loved and feared, and his decisions are what impacted the country so greatly. The history of the article is composed of princes winning over their citizens through compassion and honesty, mainly by learning to trust others, but also gaining power over knowing the personalities that make up the nation. The prince was the political commander of the state, and he made decisions that influenced the people. It was his job to win over the country so that his announcements will follow through. This article connects to our understanding of european culture because it shows the type of government rulings they choose to follow, and how those rulers attempt to really take control of their land and govern the people.
Summary: Princes must be able to carry themselves in such a manner that he follows the means of intellectual truth and expresses themselves as the royalty that they are. They are expected to follow the criteria of being a prince and decide for themselves to be a "nice" or "evil" prince. If a prince chooses to be compassionate, he must follow his initial plan, disregarding situations within his people because the focus on smaller instances can lead to a large amount of corruption within the country. The same rules follow for if he decides to be cruel and ruthless. He must follow the standards that have been set for him once he has chosen a path, and continue to support the country. It is ideal to be both feared and loved as a prince. However, it is certainly difficult and most men of royalty tend to pick a side. Machiavelli argues that it is safer to be feared than loved, because of most men's rough personality. However, if the prince chooses to be feared instead, he must avoid hatred at all costs. Machiavelli also writes that several princes in the past have succeeded more based off of their cleverness compared to sincerity. For princes, it is necessary to understand the two types of forces, dealing with man and beast, knowing the people of the country and what tactics work best to help with future success. In essence, it is important to understand compassion, but also know the basics of a ruthless ruler. He must understand that not all men are good, and often he must repel against his faith and humanity to make decisions. He is braking promises as a prince, and Machiavelli believes that that is the time where he must analyze and separate the good from the evil.
Key Quotation: "It is useful to seem compassionate, faithful, humane, honest, religious- and to be so, but to stay so constructed in your spirit that if it is necessary not be these things, you are able and know how to become the contrary."
PDP4- Communist Manifesto
PDP4 - Communist Manifesto
Author Bio: The Communist Manifesto was written by Karl Marx and edited by Friedrich Engels. Marx tends to be biased towards the working class and the upper class. He favors and justifies the lower classes, while he strongly condemns the upper class. This can be attributed to Marx being born during the Industrial Revolution in Germany. Marx observed the poor working conditions for the masses and saw workers being oppressed by factory owners. This allowed Marx to develop a bias towards the bourgeoisie. Likewise, Engels was also horrified at the working conditions of the poor which contributed to the bias against the upper class. Overall, it seems that Marx is not a particularly reliable source. His writing appears to be dominated by drawing conclusions and generalizations that are not supported by fact. For example, in the Communist Manifesto there are no statistics, data, or specific evidence to justify what he is identifying as a problem in society is actually an issue. This is not to say that both men were uneducated. In fact, they both had extensive secondary education making them qualified philosophers. Marx studied under G.W.F. Hegel, a philosopher, who states that history is a process to make the earth aware of itself. Marx’s views were influenced by this as he believed that as man became more conscious of himself, the material world blocked him from himself.Date/Context: The Communist Manifesto was written to state the philosophy of the Communist League in 1848. The document is a reflection of the social, political, and economical hardships that Europe was facing prior to 1850. In other words, the document was written to help the impoverished lower classes during the industrial revolution achieve a better life. The philosophical ideas presented in the Communist Manifesto had a lasting effect on society. The ideas influenced radicals to apply Marxist ideas and socialism in their own countries. For example, Vladimir Lenin of Russia applied Marx’s ideas to the Soviet Union, making it communist. This followed Marx calling for a powerful elite to implement communism in their own country.
Summary: The document begins by establishing the relationship between the bourgeois and proletarians. Marx states that all throughout history there has been a class of oppressors and oppressed. The heart of the passage is when Marx states the Communist goal to abolish private property. He explains that property is controlled by the bourgeoisie and represents a social power. Private property merely creates capital that exploits the worker. The theory is by removing private property this will eliminate people oppressing others through property. Next, Marx refutes that women are merely a implement of production and that communism introduces the community of women. Following, Marx discredits that the belief that the communists are trying to get rid of nationality and countries. He believes that there is no nation to take from the workingmen and that communism only creates a unified world market. Lastly, the passage concludes by saying that the Communist revolution is extremely radical and can only be accomplished through the use of force.
Key Quotation: “In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in a single sentence: abolition of private property.”
PDP4: Declaration of the Rights of Man - 1789
Title: PDP of Declaration of the Rights of Man - 1789
Author Biography: n/a: As this is a legal document written by the people of France and an author is not provided.
Date/Context: This article was written in 1789, the year the French Revolution began. The French Revolution began as a series of mobs in Paris due to the new tax that the king had instated, which in turn caused people to panic and for the crops to fail and a shortage of food to occur. A National Assembly was called, which created the document that is the topic of this article analysis.
Summary: The article states that it was created by representatives of the French population, which have come together to declare the rights of all citizens of France. These rights are that all men are born equal, and are equal in the eyes of the law as well. Punishments are not excessive for the crime and everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Freedom of speech and religious views are considered sacred rights of men, and citizens are allowed to have a say in political matters.
Analysis: The rights in the article seem similar to the rights of American people. I believe that the French citizens were probably happy with the rights determined by the National Assembly. However, as this article was written in the year that the French Revolution began, some of these rights were probably not followed, as a revolution would have meant chaos and order of law would have been impossible. Also, a revolution would have meant unrest with the government, and possibly a corrupt government. That being said, at the time I believe that these rights were a good addition to political aspect of France.
Quotation: "The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly...have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties"
Author Biography: n/a: As this is a legal document written by the people of France and an author is not provided.
Date/Context: This article was written in 1789, the year the French Revolution began. The French Revolution began as a series of mobs in Paris due to the new tax that the king had instated, which in turn caused people to panic and for the crops to fail and a shortage of food to occur. A National Assembly was called, which created the document that is the topic of this article analysis.
Summary: The article states that it was created by representatives of the French population, which have come together to declare the rights of all citizens of France. These rights are that all men are born equal, and are equal in the eyes of the law as well. Punishments are not excessive for the crime and everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Freedom of speech and religious views are considered sacred rights of men, and citizens are allowed to have a say in political matters.
Analysis: The rights in the article seem similar to the rights of American people. I believe that the French citizens were probably happy with the rights determined by the National Assembly. However, as this article was written in the year that the French Revolution began, some of these rights were probably not followed, as a revolution would have meant chaos and order of law would have been impossible. Also, a revolution would have meant unrest with the government, and possibly a corrupt government. That being said, at the time I believe that these rights were a good addition to political aspect of France.
Quotation: "The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly...have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties"
Monday, March 28, 2016
PDP4: “The Wealth of Nations” (excerpts)
Title: PDP of “The Wealth of Nations” (excerpts)
Author Biography:
Adam Smith, the author of “The Wealth of Nations” was a social philosopher who enjoyed writing about the political economy, especially capitalism. The “bible of capitalism” is what Smith claims to be the first political economy. Smith wrote “The Wealth of Nations” to express his opinions on wealth not only being about silver and gold, but lands and its productivity. Smith wrote this before the Industrial Revolution and claimed that capitalist economies are more beneficial for society. Overall, Smith’s book was influential and continues to be despite his death at the age of 67.
Date/Context:
“The Wealth of Nations” was written in 1776, and this was before the Industrial Revolution. This is important to know because Smith’s book talks about ways to improve the economy and manufacturers, and the Industrial Revolution was when all the businesses started to take off and create mass production. “The Wealth of Nations” was based upon the role of government in an economy and Britain’s debate over the fact.
Summary:
Adam Smith writes that one of the most efficient and beneficial improvements that could be made to the manufacturing industry would be the division of labor. Smith supplies a great example in his book, but ultimately it says that it is better for multiple workers to contribute to the creation of one product than it is for one worker to create a single product. Overtime, more products would be made if all the workers collaborated and work together. He goes on to explain how this process would exchange the power of the workers. The power depends on the market because with a small market “no person… [will] dedicate himself entirely to one employment.” The division of labor changes how people view wealth because the employees now depend on other employees to bring in money. Smith continues to describe the commodities made by those employees and how their demand in markets change constantly. The issue than come with which business will appeal to more consumers, and the answer would be the business that sells the product for less. Competition amongst businesses continues until the demand for the product decreases and then the businesses go back to selling the product for the same price, roughly. In addition, Smith claims that wealth is not about the silver and gold quantity, but the amount of productive land that can create more commerce. Smith ends the excerpts with stating that countries should buy products from foreign place if it is cheaper than making in locally. Overall, Smith makes his capitalism claim based on reasons and opinions that can be appealing or disagreeable.
Quotation:
“The greatest improvement in the productive power of labour, and the greater part of the skill, dexterity, and judgment with which it is anywhere directed, or applied, seem to have been the effects of the division of labour.”Thursday, March 17, 2016
SJS 3: The Middle East's Spreading Morass
Source: Norton, Augustus Richard. "The Middle East's Spreading Morass." Current History:
A Journal of Contemporary World Affairs 114.776 (2015): 355-60. Print.
Author Credentials: A member of the Middle East Studies Association, the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Political Science Association, the American Anthropological Association, and the co-founder of the Conference Group on the Middle East and the Boston Forum on the Middle East, Boston University's Augustus Richard Norton is a professor of both Anthropology and International Relations. At at Oxford University, Norton is also a Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and a Visiting Professor in Politics of the Middle East. Norton has nearly 30 years of research experience in the Middle East, including his sojourns in Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan. Currently, his research interests include inter-sectarian relations in the Middle East, strategies of political reform and opposition in authoritarian states, and reformist Muslim thought. Also, Norton headed a widely-cited three-year project in the 1990s that examined state-society relations in the Middle East and the question of civil society in the region. In essence, these key experiences and titles give Augustus Norton then credibility and qualification to write this article, "The Middle East's Spreading Morass", though his bias is with the Western view of the Middle East.
Summary: Augustus Norton's article "The Middle East's Spreading Morass" examines the turmoil and disorder that characterizes, in part, the contemporary Middle East. The article begins by stating a few common explanations for the disarray, before defining the geo-political contestants in the Middle Eastern conflicts as Iran, and its allies, versus Saudi Arabia, who has allies as well. It then details some recent developments, such as the Iranian nuclear deal with the United States, and various military aid that the United States and other countries have given the Arab states. This Iranian deal complicates the uprisings, the Iraq war, and the rise of ISIS, which are all fundamentally related. To start, the article launches into detailing the groups and the effects of the support from foreign countries in the Syrian civil war. One perception that it explains, for example, is that the war is very sectarian, due to the Shi'ite support of the regime, as the regime is heavily controlled by Shi'ites but the majority of Syria is Sunni. The effects of Iranian support for the Syrian government are also very important. Next, the Vienna talks of late October and November 2015 were described, and these talks were significantly different in that Russia is more obvious in supporting the Syrian government, and Iran is allowed to participate. The humanitarian situation involving the Syrian internally displaced persons and the refugees is also briefly described. The article then begins its examination of ISIS, and explains its influence and the involvement of other countries. Following this, Iraq is scrutinized, and the political and economic developments are described, such as the influence of ISIS and low oil prices. Next, the Saudi interventions in Bahrain and Yemen are examined, with the histories and political aspects prevalent in the descriptions. The problem with the Palestinians is addressed also, and this section debates whether Palestine will become a state, and what that would look like. Lastly, the article wraps up with a recap of the Iran and Saudi Arabia competition and the Saudi influence in other countries, and Norton uncovers the unfortunate truth, that "governance in the region is often weak and corrupt." In sum, the conflicts in the Middle East are many, they have deep effects and influences in the region, and they will continue unless the people are better served by their governments.
Analysis: Augustus Norton's article "The Middle East's Spreading Morass" has a very strong argument: the lack of proper governance will cause the Middle Eastern conflicts to continue and fester. This argument is well-supported by an incredible amount of recent evidence, including an analysis of the Syrian civil war, an explanation of the Vienna talks, an examination of ISIS, a scrutinization of Iraq, a description of the Saudi interventions in Bahrain and Yemen, and a debate over a possible Palestinian state. These different topics each have political aspects, which are explained as well. Norton distinguishes between fact and opinion by using specific details for facts, and often introducing opinion with a question about the subject, or a particular part of the subject. Lastly, Norton is a very reliable source, due to his experiences in the Middle East, his academic credentials, and his involvement in many associations concerning the Middle East and foreign relations.
A Journal of Contemporary World Affairs 114.776 (2015): 355-60. Print.
Author Credentials: A member of the Middle East Studies Association, the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Political Science Association, the American Anthropological Association, and the co-founder of the Conference Group on the Middle East and the Boston Forum on the Middle East, Boston University's Augustus Richard Norton is a professor of both Anthropology and International Relations. At at Oxford University, Norton is also a Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and a Visiting Professor in Politics of the Middle East. Norton has nearly 30 years of research experience in the Middle East, including his sojourns in Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan. Currently, his research interests include inter-sectarian relations in the Middle East, strategies of political reform and opposition in authoritarian states, and reformist Muslim thought. Also, Norton headed a widely-cited three-year project in the 1990s that examined state-society relations in the Middle East and the question of civil society in the region. In essence, these key experiences and titles give Augustus Norton then credibility and qualification to write this article, "The Middle East's Spreading Morass", though his bias is with the Western view of the Middle East.
Summary: Augustus Norton's article "The Middle East's Spreading Morass" examines the turmoil and disorder that characterizes, in part, the contemporary Middle East. The article begins by stating a few common explanations for the disarray, before defining the geo-political contestants in the Middle Eastern conflicts as Iran, and its allies, versus Saudi Arabia, who has allies as well. It then details some recent developments, such as the Iranian nuclear deal with the United States, and various military aid that the United States and other countries have given the Arab states. This Iranian deal complicates the uprisings, the Iraq war, and the rise of ISIS, which are all fundamentally related. To start, the article launches into detailing the groups and the effects of the support from foreign countries in the Syrian civil war. One perception that it explains, for example, is that the war is very sectarian, due to the Shi'ite support of the regime, as the regime is heavily controlled by Shi'ites but the majority of Syria is Sunni. The effects of Iranian support for the Syrian government are also very important. Next, the Vienna talks of late October and November 2015 were described, and these talks were significantly different in that Russia is more obvious in supporting the Syrian government, and Iran is allowed to participate. The humanitarian situation involving the Syrian internally displaced persons and the refugees is also briefly described. The article then begins its examination of ISIS, and explains its influence and the involvement of other countries. Following this, Iraq is scrutinized, and the political and economic developments are described, such as the influence of ISIS and low oil prices. Next, the Saudi interventions in Bahrain and Yemen are examined, with the histories and political aspects prevalent in the descriptions. The problem with the Palestinians is addressed also, and this section debates whether Palestine will become a state, and what that would look like. Lastly, the article wraps up with a recap of the Iran and Saudi Arabia competition and the Saudi influence in other countries, and Norton uncovers the unfortunate truth, that "governance in the region is often weak and corrupt." In sum, the conflicts in the Middle East are many, they have deep effects and influences in the region, and they will continue unless the people are better served by their governments.
Analysis: Augustus Norton's article "The Middle East's Spreading Morass" has a very strong argument: the lack of proper governance will cause the Middle Eastern conflicts to continue and fester. This argument is well-supported by an incredible amount of recent evidence, including an analysis of the Syrian civil war, an explanation of the Vienna talks, an examination of ISIS, a scrutinization of Iraq, a description of the Saudi interventions in Bahrain and Yemen, and a debate over a possible Palestinian state. These different topics each have political aspects, which are explained as well. Norton distinguishes between fact and opinion by using specific details for facts, and often introducing opinion with a question about the subject, or a particular part of the subject. Lastly, Norton is a very reliable source, due to his experiences in the Middle East, his academic credentials, and his involvement in many associations concerning the Middle East and foreign relations.
SJS 3: ISIS and the Third Wave of Jihasism
SJS 3: “ISIS and the Third Wave of Jihadism”
Source: Gerges, Fawaz A. "ISIS and the Third Wave of Jihadism." Current History: The
Middle East 113.767 (2014): 339-43. Print.
Author Credentials: Fawaz Gerges is an intelligent researcher who spent a lot of time studying in Middle Eastern countries. He focused his research on Arab and Muslim politics, jihadists, and the relationship between Muslims and the West. Gerges is also a writer who published multiple books about his research such as Journey of the Jihadist: Inside Muslim Militancy. Given by the education Gerges has, a M.S and a Ph.D, and the amount of time he has set aside to understand the Middle Eastern countries, Gerges seems to be a very reliable author for this article about the Middle East.
Summary:
“ISIS and the Third Wave of Jihadism” explains and describes the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS, such as what caused this group to up rise, what actions they have done, and how they find new people to join their organization. The article starts off by describing the origins of ISIS. For instance, Gerges says that a cause of ISIS was “a rupture in an Iraqi society.” America destroyed some Iraqi institutions which gave ISIS an opportunity to enter the Iraqi political body. ISIS came from the issues in the Middle East, and this also includes the multiple civil wars that have taken place in Syria and Iraq. As for the harsh actions that ISIS has done against its enemies, there is a long list of examples. One example occurred in 1981 when Anwar Sadat, who was the Egyptian President was assassinated, and another is ISIS taking advantage of the Sunni-Shia divide when they are in a weak point during their time. Not only has ISIS brutally killed people, but they also have created divisions between ethnic groups. Some of the issues with the Kurds and the Shias can be blamed on ISIS for creating more bloody massacres. Finally, ISIS’s “recruiting tactics” which involves finding individuals who want to become apart of a community with identity. An example would be Western Muslims striving to be known. Ultimately, ISIS was an organization made from political flaws in Iraq and Syria which lead to massacres and terrorist attacks on other countries because of the differences between societies and culture.
Analysis:
This journal is a very detailed interpretation of ISIS and this group’s impact on society today, while also only including the vital details and facts. The beginning of the article gives a concise explanation of what ISIS is and how it originated. Gerges says that ISIS started from the Syrian Civil War and issues in Iraq which led to society wanting to rid of those problems, so ISIS was created to attempt to solve those dilemmas. Gerges has his bias in the article about ISIS being a negative organization which allows the rest of his writing to be about what horrible actions it has done, and the ways to terminate it. The article also relates ISIS to the Jihadist movement, but his word choice makes it a little challenging to really understand how ISIS relates to Jihadism. This article relates back to the curriculum covered in class in terms of Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated by ISIS, the Sunni-Shia division, because it allowed ISIS to step in and cause more issues, and it gives another terrorist group, other than the Hamas, who seem to stir up trouble in the Middle East. Wednesday, March 16, 2016
SJS 3: "A New Understanding of a Century-Old Genocide"
Unit 3 SJS: "A New Understanding of a Century-Old Genocide"
Analysis: While the author of this article does not directly state his argument and opinions, the author can infer the bias through the examples that he includes into the article. Based on the context, the author appears to agree with the points made by Ronald Grigor Suny as they consume a large portion of the piece. In addition, I believe the argument made is fairly strong and reasonable. The author includes many details and evidence to support and back up the argument. Within his evidence, there is a distinguishable factor that allows the reader to view opinion from facts. With this in mind, the author would appear more reliable if more of his own thoughts and opinions were directly stated, but he does include sufficient information and knowledge on the subject.
Citation: Eissenstat, Howard. “A New Understanding of a Century-Old Genocide.” Current History 114.774 (2015): 285-87. Print.
Author Credentials: Howard Eissenstat is qualified to discuss this issue as he is an author of a book on the development of Turkish nationalism, as well as a history professor at St. Lawrence University. His primary research goes to the Late Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic and he has served as a Country Specialist on Turkey for Amnesty International. Also, he frequently speaks to government officials, the press, and community groups regarding issues related to Turkey and the Middle East.
Summary: The article opens by discussing the open letter sent to Congress from United States scholars that stated the disagreement with the joint resolution to recognize Armenian ancestors of victims of the genocide in Turkey. This letter signified a moment in a battle over the past. There were many viewpoints and responses to the claims of the genocide, some positive, some negative. However, in the mid 1990’s, the more negative debates were broken up and many new works with new insights and understandings to the Armenian genocide surfaced. The breakup of Yugoslavia and the Rwandan genocide allowed for a broader approach to the concept of genocide. Ronald Grigor Suny is then introduced in this article as he plays a major role in the development of the new scholarship on this genocide. Unlike the first generation of scholars, Suny does not think that the genocide was preordained. Instead, he argues that the crucible of the Great War created a new context in which genocide was possible and attractive to the Young Turk government. He believes that it was more of a reaction to a moment of crisis that grew more radical over time and a product of state policy. Sunny’s points differ greatly from the popular public debates and he simply wants to explain and aid readers in understanding the tragedy within the context of larger processes of nationalization and integration. Eissenstat concludes the article by urging historians to further the knowledge of the genocide and, “... to take stock of what the best historians in the field discovered”.
Analysis: While the author of this article does not directly state his argument and opinions, the author can infer the bias through the examples that he includes into the article. Based on the context, the author appears to agree with the points made by Ronald Grigor Suny as they consume a large portion of the piece. In addition, I believe the argument made is fairly strong and reasonable. The author includes many details and evidence to support and back up the argument. Within his evidence, there is a distinguishable factor that allows the reader to view opinion from facts. With this in mind, the author would appear more reliable if more of his own thoughts and opinions were directly stated, but he does include sufficient information and knowledge on the subject.
SJS 3: Iraq Untethered
Citation:
Serwer, Daniel. “Iraq Untethered.” Current History: A Journal of Contemporary World Affairs 111.749 (2012): 344-49. Print.
Author Credentials/Bias:
Serwer has been involved in numerous worldwide peace movements and even founded the United States Center for Post Conflict Peace and Stability Operations, which works to bring peace and stability in all forms to struggling countries all over the world. He has devoted his work to international relations and focuses on Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans, Haiti and Sudan. While his writing is proven entirely credible based upon his area of expertise, it is slightly flawed in the sense that it depicts the situation in Iraq with some bias. He has studied the topic as an outsider and an American, so the views that he communicates through this article are from an American point of view and lack the insight of an Iraqi perspective on the conflict.
Summary:
Iraq, a middle eastern country with a particularly high Shiite population and a substantial Kurdish presence, has been marked with strife over its massive and profitable oil reserve, Sunni-Shiite conflict, and Kurdish-Arab conflict. In order to rework itself into the international world, the nation has been striving to resolve tensions and gain internal stability in the wake of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship. The recent success and growth in the oil industry in the region has served as the key factor in the maintenance of unity and slight stability within the country, despite resource disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, which have stunted revenue. In light of the recent forward motion of Iraq's stability, Maliki has been accredited with several significant contributions such as improving security, reducing sectarianism, fighting corruption, and creating jobs. In contrast to this generally hopeful outlook, a significant portion of Iraq's Sunni population holds a more pessimistic view and perceives Maliki as a power hungry dictator. On another note, Iraq has been involved in a regional conflict with Syria due to its current state of civil war and strife. Maliki fears that a division of Syria could result in an increase of Sunni power, which would challenge his own position of authority and control in Iraq. This provokes discomfort in the American government, as the U.S. has invested significant resources and lives in the Iraq war. As far as long term projections for the future stability of Iraq, there is little certainty or accord among experts. Many fear that the rapid shift of control from age to youth due to Iraq's unbalanced demographic scale poses a threat; however, many advocate that Iraq stands a fighting chance of maintaining the current state of near-democracy.
Analysis:
This scholarly journal does a commendable job of presenting the information in a clear and concise way. All of the key points of the issue are addressed in detail, and the information is cohesively tied together to form a very comprehensive piece. The analysis at the end of the writing that provides a predictive outlook on the future of Iraq is especially helpful in the sense that it presents some insight into the global significance of the instability in Iraq. In addition, it gives the reader some context, which helps to place the information. This article relates to the topics that we have covered in class in terms of its analysis of the Sunni-Shiite conflict that fills the Middle East. It also addresses the idea of sectarianism and the Syrian Civil War.
Serwer, Daniel. “Iraq Untethered.” Current History: A Journal of Contemporary World Affairs 111.749 (2012): 344-49. Print.
Author Credentials/Bias:
Serwer has been involved in numerous worldwide peace movements and even founded the United States Center for Post Conflict Peace and Stability Operations, which works to bring peace and stability in all forms to struggling countries all over the world. He has devoted his work to international relations and focuses on Afghanistan, Iraq, the Balkans, Haiti and Sudan. While his writing is proven entirely credible based upon his area of expertise, it is slightly flawed in the sense that it depicts the situation in Iraq with some bias. He has studied the topic as an outsider and an American, so the views that he communicates through this article are from an American point of view and lack the insight of an Iraqi perspective on the conflict.
Summary:
Iraq, a middle eastern country with a particularly high Shiite population and a substantial Kurdish presence, has been marked with strife over its massive and profitable oil reserve, Sunni-Shiite conflict, and Kurdish-Arab conflict. In order to rework itself into the international world, the nation has been striving to resolve tensions and gain internal stability in the wake of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship. The recent success and growth in the oil industry in the region has served as the key factor in the maintenance of unity and slight stability within the country, despite resource disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, which have stunted revenue. In light of the recent forward motion of Iraq's stability, Maliki has been accredited with several significant contributions such as improving security, reducing sectarianism, fighting corruption, and creating jobs. In contrast to this generally hopeful outlook, a significant portion of Iraq's Sunni population holds a more pessimistic view and perceives Maliki as a power hungry dictator. On another note, Iraq has been involved in a regional conflict with Syria due to its current state of civil war and strife. Maliki fears that a division of Syria could result in an increase of Sunni power, which would challenge his own position of authority and control in Iraq. This provokes discomfort in the American government, as the U.S. has invested significant resources and lives in the Iraq war. As far as long term projections for the future stability of Iraq, there is little certainty or accord among experts. Many fear that the rapid shift of control from age to youth due to Iraq's unbalanced demographic scale poses a threat; however, many advocate that Iraq stands a fighting chance of maintaining the current state of near-democracy.
Analysis:
This scholarly journal does a commendable job of presenting the information in a clear and concise way. All of the key points of the issue are addressed in detail, and the information is cohesively tied together to form a very comprehensive piece. The analysis at the end of the writing that provides a predictive outlook on the future of Iraq is especially helpful in the sense that it presents some insight into the global significance of the instability in Iraq. In addition, it gives the reader some context, which helps to place the information. This article relates to the topics that we have covered in class in terms of its analysis of the Sunni-Shiite conflict that fills the Middle East. It also addresses the idea of sectarianism and the Syrian Civil War.
SJS3: Syrian Kurds 'preparing to declare self-administration'
Source:
"Syrian Kurds 'Preparing to Declare Self-administration.'" Al Jazeera English. N.p., 16 Mar. 2016. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
Link:
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/syrian-kurds-planning-declare-federalism-160316091206786.html>.
Summary:
Northern Kurdish controlled areas of Syria are announcing to declare “a federal system imminently”. This will contribute to Turkey’s already boiling anger towards the Kurds. A former leader of the PYD (Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party) shows reporters of a federalism framework for the new Kurdish self-administration under the belief the “Federalism should be the future not only for northern Syria or the Kurdish regions but for Syria in general, because under federalism democracy and equality will be guaranteed”. Turkey has blocked the PYD from attending the Geneva peace talks because Turkey recognizes the PYD as a branch of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party). After announcing the newly forming self-administration, the Syrian regime (Bashar al-Assad and co.), say that “no political decisions will be "imposed" on the country”. This declaration of self-administration is because of the withdrawal of Russia from Syria, granting the Kurd’s, less risk than before.
Analysis:
The Syrian regime and the Turks refuse to recognize this newly forming self-administration under the Kurds. The Russians are withdrawing making this “Kurdish dream” possible. Will this lead to a new Middle Eastern state in the Northern part of Syria or will the Turks and Syrian regime prevent this declaration?
"Syrian Kurds 'Preparing to Declare Self-administration.'" Al Jazeera English. N.p., 16 Mar. 2016. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.
Link:
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/syrian-kurds-planning-declare-federalism-160316091206786.html>.
Summary:
Northern Kurdish controlled areas of Syria are announcing to declare “a federal system imminently”. This will contribute to Turkey’s already boiling anger towards the Kurds. A former leader of the PYD (Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party) shows reporters of a federalism framework for the new Kurdish self-administration under the belief the “Federalism should be the future not only for northern Syria or the Kurdish regions but for Syria in general, because under federalism democracy and equality will be guaranteed”. Turkey has blocked the PYD from attending the Geneva peace talks because Turkey recognizes the PYD as a branch of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party). After announcing the newly forming self-administration, the Syrian regime (Bashar al-Assad and co.), say that “no political decisions will be "imposed" on the country”. This declaration of self-administration is because of the withdrawal of Russia from Syria, granting the Kurd’s, less risk than before.
Analysis:
The Syrian regime and the Turks refuse to recognize this newly forming self-administration under the Kurds. The Russians are withdrawing making this “Kurdish dream” possible. Will this lead to a new Middle Eastern state in the Northern part of Syria or will the Turks and Syrian regime prevent this declaration?
Friday, March 11, 2016
PDP3: Arab-Israeli Conflict (1967)
Author Bio: The speaker Abba Eban had the history of being a Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister, Education Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, ambassador to the United States and to the United Nations, Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly and President of the Weizmann Institute of Science. He was fascinated by Arabic literature and history, and believed Arabs were intellectually superior. He referred to himself as the "father" of the modern state of Israel.
Date/context: As noted in the title the time was 1967. During the late 20th century there was a fierce feud between the Palestinians and Israelis over territory and religion. After Israel claimed its statehood, and the "Six Days War" broke out the fighting only intensified. The speech by Abba Eban was to show the United Nation's position on the conflict.
Summary: Abba Eban starts his speech by mentioning all the wonders Israel has provided the Mediterranean world, but now it is the home of people being killed and attacked. The attacks are the true origin of strains in the Middle East. Israel's very existence is being attacked by the near by Arab states. Abba wants the United Nations to do all it can to help, because Arab governments are trying to obliterate Israel. Israel is strong, and holding its own, and it should not be punished for fighting back. Visions of peace were being made, the Arab states could not recognize Israel only to plan to attack it. The Security Council needed to take actions and create ways for peace. The council wrote an agreement contract-like document that encouraged to leave Israel alone, for the stake of the stabability of the middle east. The council continue to write a charter for the Palestinians listing their basic rights.
Key quotation: "The Middle East tired of wars, is ripe for new emergence of human vitality. Let the opportunity not fall again from our hands."
Date/context: As noted in the title the time was 1967. During the late 20th century there was a fierce feud between the Palestinians and Israelis over territory and religion. After Israel claimed its statehood, and the "Six Days War" broke out the fighting only intensified. The speech by Abba Eban was to show the United Nation's position on the conflict.
Summary: Abba Eban starts his speech by mentioning all the wonders Israel has provided the Mediterranean world, but now it is the home of people being killed and attacked. The attacks are the true origin of strains in the Middle East. Israel's very existence is being attacked by the near by Arab states. Abba wants the United Nations to do all it can to help, because Arab governments are trying to obliterate Israel. Israel is strong, and holding its own, and it should not be punished for fighting back. Visions of peace were being made, the Arab states could not recognize Israel only to plan to attack it. The Security Council needed to take actions and create ways for peace. The council wrote an agreement contract-like document that encouraged to leave Israel alone, for the stake of the stabability of the middle east. The council continue to write a charter for the Palestinians listing their basic rights.
Key quotation: "The Middle East tired of wars, is ripe for new emergence of human vitality. Let the opportunity not fall again from our hands."
PDP 3: President Nasser's Denouncement of the Proposal for a Canal Users' Association, 1956
Author Bio: Gamal Abdel Nasser was the second President of Egypt, and was in office from 1956 until his death in 1970. One of Nassar's main accomplishments was the nationalizing of the Suez Canal, which is elaborated upon in his speech.
Date/Context: Nasser gave this speech on July 26, 1956. The speech primarily revolved around the nationalization of the Suez Canal, and was given in order to fund the Aswan Dam project due to the fact that Britain and America withdrew their offers to finance it.
Summary: Although there has been much effort to imperialize Egypt, Egypt will remain independent, and is strongly prepared to fight. This effort has shown the world that a small country such as Egypt will not succumb to pressure from larger powers such as the U.S. and Great Britain. Egypt will maintain its sovereignty. As a step in maintaining this independence, Egypt will keep control of the Suez Canal, and this means that the Suez Canal company will be under complete and total Egyptian rule. Currently, all Egyptians are aware of the evil imperialism around them, and know how important it is to maintain freedom, and if a country should invade, a full-scale war will be fought and Egypt will emerge victorious. The entirety of the Arab nation, as well as other free countries will support us in our efforts to retain the freedom that Egypt is marked by.
Key Quote: "Today the Egyptian people are fully conscious of their sovereign rights and Arab nationalism is fully awakened to its new destiny..."
Date/Context: Nasser gave this speech on July 26, 1956. The speech primarily revolved around the nationalization of the Suez Canal, and was given in order to fund the Aswan Dam project due to the fact that Britain and America withdrew their offers to finance it.
Summary: Although there has been much effort to imperialize Egypt, Egypt will remain independent, and is strongly prepared to fight. This effort has shown the world that a small country such as Egypt will not succumb to pressure from larger powers such as the U.S. and Great Britain. Egypt will maintain its sovereignty. As a step in maintaining this independence, Egypt will keep control of the Suez Canal, and this means that the Suez Canal company will be under complete and total Egyptian rule. Currently, all Egyptians are aware of the evil imperialism around them, and know how important it is to maintain freedom, and if a country should invade, a full-scale war will be fought and Egypt will emerge victorious. The entirety of the Arab nation, as well as other free countries will support us in our efforts to retain the freedom that Egypt is marked by.
Key Quote: "Today the Egyptian people are fully conscious of their sovereign rights and Arab nationalism is fully awakened to its new destiny..."
PDP 3: The Tyranny of Materialism over the Lands of Islam
Title: PDP 3: The Tyranny of Materialism over the Lands of Islam
Author Bio: Hassan Al-Banna was a school teacher and Islamic Leader. When he was young at the time, he participated in demonstrations in the city of Damanhur, and he grew a passion for his religion. He studied in Cairo for four years, and published fifteen articles through an Islamic journal known as Majallat al-Fath. Hassan Al-Banna was a leader and founder of the Muslim Brothers, and ten years after the creation of this group there were over 500,000 members. Al-Banna's life was ended short when he and his brother were shot by two men while waiting for a taxi. He did not like the European influence, and tried to counter the influence in many ways.
Date/Context: The Tyranny of Materialism over the Lands of Islam was written in around the 1940's, and is most likely being written to gain followers for the Muslim Brothers. At the end of the article it explains how to counter the European influence by staying loyal to Allah. During the 1940's, Egypt was greatly influenced by then, and the influence led to the declaration of the the Muslim Brothers being an illegal group. Now Al-Banna had to find a way to gain followers without getting into trouble.
Summary: European influence brought many issues to islamic countries. They brought power and germs to these states. Many Muslim leaders were persuaded by Europeans by loans and financial deals, and therefore they flooded islamic countries with capital, their banks and companies. Once the Europeans gained control, they took over the government, education, political, and cultural systems. This pretty much gave all control to the Europeans, and Islam began to fade out. There were three different levels of how affected Islamic countries were from European influence. There were countries that had influenced the majority of the country, and the peoples' feelings and beliefs had been altered. Some countries where this occurred are Turkey and Egypt. There were countries were the European influence had changed some of the culture, but the majority of the people were still true to their sensibilities, such as Iran and North African countries. Finally, there were countries that were not really influenced at all, such as Syria, and Iraq. These countries only had certain classes that were affected by the European influence. The influence can be countered though, through the continued belief in Islam and the following of its system of social organization and principles.
Key Quotation: "This being insufficient for them, they founded schools and scientific and cultural institutes in the very heart of the Islamic domain, which cast doubt and heresy into the souls of its sons and taught them how to demean themselves, disparage their religion and their fatherland, divest themselves of their tradition and beliefs, and to regard as sacred anything Western, in the belief that only that which had a European source could serve as a model to be emulated in this life."
PDP3 - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1900-89): The Uprising of Khurdad 15, 1979
Author Bio: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was an Iranian Shia political and religious leader. After 15 years in exile after opposing the Shah, Khomeini overthrew him in the 1979 Iranian which he lead. Afterwards, he founded the Islamic Republic of Iran and became the first Supreme Ruler until his death in 1989.
Date/Context: Ayatollah gave this speech after Khurdad 15 in 1979. He warns Iranians about the deception of Western ideas and values, and suggests creating a new Islamic republic, rather than a western style democracy.
Summary: All of those who died in Khurdad 15 fighting against the Shah were working-class muslims. They were the only ones who could have overthrown the government, and only they can eliminate those who oppose Islam. The Westerners have never suffered, and they aim to slow the Iranians' movement to "cure them by means of guidance." It was inside of the mosques that the Iranian Revolution against tyranny was born, and is also where they will wage war against the West.
Key Quotation: "You who have chosen a course other than Islam--you do nothing for humanity."
Date/Context: Ayatollah gave this speech after Khurdad 15 in 1979. He warns Iranians about the deception of Western ideas and values, and suggests creating a new Islamic republic, rather than a western style democracy.
Summary: All of those who died in Khurdad 15 fighting against the Shah were working-class muslims. They were the only ones who could have overthrown the government, and only they can eliminate those who oppose Islam. The Westerners have never suffered, and they aim to slow the Iranians' movement to "cure them by means of guidance." It was inside of the mosques that the Iranian Revolution against tyranny was born, and is also where they will wage war against the West.
Key Quotation: "You who have chosen a course other than Islam--you do nothing for humanity."
PDP 3- "A Turskish Republic for the Civilized World"
Author Bio: Mustafa Atatürk was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1881. He was the first President of Turkey when they gained their independence in 1919, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire he led the Turkish National Movement and the Turkish War of Independence. He helped defeat the Allies through establishing a provisional government in Ankara, Turkey. He wanted to transform Turkey into a modernized nation-state and have Turkey to be secular. He carried out what is called "Turkification".
Date/Context: Mustafa Atatürk gave his speech in 1927. He gave this speech to the National Assembly in response to the rebellion against the government. The speech took place over 36 hours from October 15, 1927, to October 20, 1927. The fall of the Ottoman Empire and the end of WWI occurred around 8 years before this speech.
Summary: In 1919 the Ottoman Empire fell, and now there was a struggle for individual countries to gain their own independence. Turkey was never colonized by a European country, but the struggle for independence was greatly threatened by Europe. In the early twentieth-century, a new legacy of "young Turks" was created. The leader of this movement was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. From 1920 to 1923, Mustafa Kemal had fought off the British intentions of carving up the Ottoman Empire by waging wars in Greece, Armenia, England, and France. Kemal was successful in his work and had become the first president of Turkey in 1923, and established the Turkish Republic. After the birth of this new Turkish Republic set in, Kemal started to convert they traditions ways of Muslim life into more Modernized and Secular nation-state. Kemal hired John Dewey to design a system of education for boys and girls a general civic education. Clothing was modernized as well and the men wore Western suits and the women wore Western dresses. In 1924, a rebellion took place against the government because they were criticized of ending "anti-Islamic". In response to the rebellions the government passed a law which was called the "Law for the Maintenance of Public Order". This banned a wide variety of "subversive" groups. In response to the rebellions as well, Kemal delivered a speech to the National Assembly from October 15 to October 20,1927, spanning over 36 hours in total. In his speech he explained many events that occurred from 1919 to the date of the speech very detailedly. He also stated his goals of the development of the Turkish Republic. Kemal was a Turkish Nationalist, but he also admired the Western European countries. Throughout the rest of the text, there are excerpts from Kemal's speech which talk about events that occurred and his policies that he could've and chose to use. He viewed another country ruling his homeland as the Turks "lacking human qualities" because he felt that he should be able to rule his country with no foreign power over Turkey. Overall, Kemal was an advocate of "Turkish youth".
Key Quotation: "The result we have attained to day is the fruit of teachings which arose from centuries of suffering, and the price of streams of blood which have drenched every foot of the ground of our beloved Fatherland."
Date/Context: Mustafa Atatürk gave his speech in 1927. He gave this speech to the National Assembly in response to the rebellion against the government. The speech took place over 36 hours from October 15, 1927, to October 20, 1927. The fall of the Ottoman Empire and the end of WWI occurred around 8 years before this speech.
Summary: In 1919 the Ottoman Empire fell, and now there was a struggle for individual countries to gain their own independence. Turkey was never colonized by a European country, but the struggle for independence was greatly threatened by Europe. In the early twentieth-century, a new legacy of "young Turks" was created. The leader of this movement was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. From 1920 to 1923, Mustafa Kemal had fought off the British intentions of carving up the Ottoman Empire by waging wars in Greece, Armenia, England, and France. Kemal was successful in his work and had become the first president of Turkey in 1923, and established the Turkish Republic. After the birth of this new Turkish Republic set in, Kemal started to convert they traditions ways of Muslim life into more Modernized and Secular nation-state. Kemal hired John Dewey to design a system of education for boys and girls a general civic education. Clothing was modernized as well and the men wore Western suits and the women wore Western dresses. In 1924, a rebellion took place against the government because they were criticized of ending "anti-Islamic". In response to the rebellions the government passed a law which was called the "Law for the Maintenance of Public Order". This banned a wide variety of "subversive" groups. In response to the rebellions as well, Kemal delivered a speech to the National Assembly from October 15 to October 20,1927, spanning over 36 hours in total. In his speech he explained many events that occurred from 1919 to the date of the speech very detailedly. He also stated his goals of the development of the Turkish Republic. Kemal was a Turkish Nationalist, but he also admired the Western European countries. Throughout the rest of the text, there are excerpts from Kemal's speech which talk about events that occurred and his policies that he could've and chose to use. He viewed another country ruling his homeland as the Turks "lacking human qualities" because he felt that he should be able to rule his country with no foreign power over Turkey. Overall, Kemal was an advocate of "Turkish youth".
Key Quotation: "The result we have attained to day is the fruit of teachings which arose from centuries of suffering, and the price of streams of blood which have drenched every foot of the ground of our beloved Fatherland."
Monday, March 7, 2016
SJS 2 - The Indian Passive Resistance Movement
SJS 2- Indian Passive Resistance in South Africa, 1946-1948
Citation- Reddy, Enuga Sreenivasulu "Indian Passive Resistance in South Africa, 1946-1948." South African History Online. South African History Online, n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.
Link- <http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/
indian-passive-resistance-south-africa-1946-1948>
Author credentials/ author bias- E. S. Reddy was the secretary of the Special Committe Against Apartheid, held positions in the United Nations, was the director of the Centre Against Apartheid, the UN trust fund of South Africa, and Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa. He was awarded the Padma Shri, and the World Peace Council Prize. This author firmly stands against Apartheid, which is present in his work.
Summary- The Indian Passive Resistance proceeds the black apartheid resistance in South Africa. In this resistance, many Indian people began by pitching tents on municipal land. They were brutally attacked by civillians, but remained nonviolent. As protests grew larger, the government began to take responsibility for the attacks. Then, the original protestors were charged twice with trespassing and arrested for being a riotous assembly. In June 1948 the resistance was suspended, but the "Ghetto Act" was left unsupported and unenforceable. This resistance movement was closely tied with the African Apartheid resistance because leaders of each supported both causes. Towards the end of this resistance, leaders began to demand of the South African Government the abolition of the Ghetto Act, the abolition of all color legislation, and the attainment of democracy within the state.
Analysis- While this resistance was small, the South African Government was able to ignore the protests and violence. This is why it was critical for these Indians to support other causes, gaining equal support from other groups. Because as more people joined, the movement posed a threat, forcing the government to acknowledge it. However when they attempted to suppress the resistance, more attention was brought to the issue. In addition, the actions of the white hooligans, such as the assault and murder of a plainclothes policeman, show that their extreme racism hurts those around them because of their blinding rage. This article, although against apartheid and the Ghetto Act, appears to be very neutral and factual. It reads as unbiased and similar to a textbook. It gives an informative background of this movement and its roots and is easy enough that someone with no prior knowledge if this issue can understand.
Citation- Reddy, Enuga Sreenivasulu "Indian Passive Resistance in South Africa, 1946-1948." South African History Online. South African History Online, n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.
Link- <http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/
indian-passive-resistance-south-africa-1946-1948>
Author credentials/ author bias- E. S. Reddy was the secretary of the Special Committe Against Apartheid, held positions in the United Nations, was the director of the Centre Against Apartheid, the UN trust fund of South Africa, and Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa. He was awarded the Padma Shri, and the World Peace Council Prize. This author firmly stands against Apartheid, which is present in his work.
Summary- The Indian Passive Resistance proceeds the black apartheid resistance in South Africa. In this resistance, many Indian people began by pitching tents on municipal land. They were brutally attacked by civillians, but remained nonviolent. As protests grew larger, the government began to take responsibility for the attacks. Then, the original protestors were charged twice with trespassing and arrested for being a riotous assembly. In June 1948 the resistance was suspended, but the "Ghetto Act" was left unsupported and unenforceable. This resistance movement was closely tied with the African Apartheid resistance because leaders of each supported both causes. Towards the end of this resistance, leaders began to demand of the South African Government the abolition of the Ghetto Act, the abolition of all color legislation, and the attainment of democracy within the state.
Analysis- While this resistance was small, the South African Government was able to ignore the protests and violence. This is why it was critical for these Indians to support other causes, gaining equal support from other groups. Because as more people joined, the movement posed a threat, forcing the government to acknowledge it. However when they attempted to suppress the resistance, more attention was brought to the issue. In addition, the actions of the white hooligans, such as the assault and murder of a plainclothes policeman, show that their extreme racism hurts those around them because of their blinding rage. This article, although against apartheid and the Ghetto Act, appears to be very neutral and factual. It reads as unbiased and similar to a textbook. It gives an informative background of this movement and its roots and is easy enough that someone with no prior knowledge if this issue can understand.
Orientalist reflection
Why do students of history, culture, and contemporary society need to consider orientalism and occidental in?
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
SJS2 - Can Africa Turn from Recovery to Development
SJS2 - Can Africa Turn from Recovery to Development
Citation: Mkandawire, Thandika. "Can Africa Turn from Recovery to Development." Current
History 113.736 (2014): 171-76. Print
Link: http://www.currenthistory.com/Article.php?ID=1153
Author's Credentials/Bias: Thadika Mkandawire is a renowned Swedish economist that is a recent contributor to the current history journal.In addition, he is a professor of African Development at the London School of Economics. This is clear evidence that he is a clear expert in his field, and has a good basis in economics. Evident biases do include the fact the he is specialized in Africa, therefore his knowledge of the rest of the world's economy isn't exactly on par with his knowledge base on Africa. Furthermore, he definitely concentrates solely on Africa throughout the journal, not taking into consideration of the colonial powers that could have shaped its destiny.
Summary: There has been rumor circulating throughout the 21st century and the world that Africa is currently backwards,or in the process of unindustrilizing. However, all of these rumors couldn't be much more false, as Africa is proven to develop at exponential rates throughout the next few decades. Ever since around the year 2000, the average GDP per capita in the continent of Africa has indeed risen exponentially, at greater heights than its ever been in history. Mkandwaire explains several factors for this rapid development in recent history. Firstly, ever since the 1990s, African economies have been forced to implement freer markets and to establish "non-crony" capitalism in all of its states. This has been a combined result of pressure from the west and its own democracies calling for better lifestyles. Another factor is that many countries such as China have been investing heavily in Africa. This investment has allowed many African nations to get back on their feet and strive to fix their own economies. However, some may argue that is just a new form of neo-colonialism, yet, not much negative attention has been attributed to it in recent years. Furthermore, many African nations are in the process of re-ndustrialization. In essence, during the 1960s and 1970s, several African nations attempted to go through a process of industrialization. However, it ended up failing due to political instability. Today, since political instability is at a low in SELECT African nations, this process is finally due-able. All of the factors are threatened simply by the face of political instability. In political instability does threaten a nation, it will moreover threaten its entire economy and infrastructure. In retrospect, many nations in Sub-Saharan have been booming fiscally, and will most likely continue to in upcoming years.
Analysis:Mkandwire does an exemplary job at providing readers with the necessary information in order to understand the fate of the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, he adequately presents us with well supported fiscal history of the region, as it will be vital for proving his point. However, he did lack slightly in terms of foreign/international relations to Africa. He only provided a handful of examples, and it would have been beneficial if he reiterated with more countries besides developing ones. For instance, he could have examined Latin America's relations with Africa and used it to reiterate his points. In addition, he did lack going into detail, as he would mostly give a general consensus of what he wanted to explain. In essence, his article is well-structured and organized, and it could be used as a reliable source.
Citation: Mkandawire, Thandika. "Can Africa Turn from Recovery to Development." Current
History 113.736 (2014): 171-76. Print
Link: http://www.currenthistory.com/Article.php?ID=1153
Author's Credentials/Bias: Thadika Mkandawire is a renowned Swedish economist that is a recent contributor to the current history journal.In addition, he is a professor of African Development at the London School of Economics. This is clear evidence that he is a clear expert in his field, and has a good basis in economics. Evident biases do include the fact the he is specialized in Africa, therefore his knowledge of the rest of the world's economy isn't exactly on par with his knowledge base on Africa. Furthermore, he definitely concentrates solely on Africa throughout the journal, not taking into consideration of the colonial powers that could have shaped its destiny.
Summary: There has been rumor circulating throughout the 21st century and the world that Africa is currently backwards,or in the process of unindustrilizing. However, all of these rumors couldn't be much more false, as Africa is proven to develop at exponential rates throughout the next few decades. Ever since around the year 2000, the average GDP per capita in the continent of Africa has indeed risen exponentially, at greater heights than its ever been in history. Mkandwaire explains several factors for this rapid development in recent history. Firstly, ever since the 1990s, African economies have been forced to implement freer markets and to establish "non-crony" capitalism in all of its states. This has been a combined result of pressure from the west and its own democracies calling for better lifestyles. Another factor is that many countries such as China have been investing heavily in Africa. This investment has allowed many African nations to get back on their feet and strive to fix their own economies. However, some may argue that is just a new form of neo-colonialism, yet, not much negative attention has been attributed to it in recent years. Furthermore, many African nations are in the process of re-ndustrialization. In essence, during the 1960s and 1970s, several African nations attempted to go through a process of industrialization. However, it ended up failing due to political instability. Today, since political instability is at a low in SELECT African nations, this process is finally due-able. All of the factors are threatened simply by the face of political instability. In political instability does threaten a nation, it will moreover threaten its entire economy and infrastructure. In retrospect, many nations in Sub-Saharan have been booming fiscally, and will most likely continue to in upcoming years.
Analysis:Mkandwire does an exemplary job at providing readers with the necessary information in order to understand the fate of the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, he adequately presents us with well supported fiscal history of the region, as it will be vital for proving his point. However, he did lack slightly in terms of foreign/international relations to Africa. He only provided a handful of examples, and it would have been beneficial if he reiterated with more countries besides developing ones. For instance, he could have examined Latin America's relations with Africa and used it to reiterate his points. In addition, he did lack going into detail, as he would mostly give a general consensus of what he wanted to explain. In essence, his article is well-structured and organized, and it could be used as a reliable source.
SJS2: The Price of South Sudan's Independence
Source: Waal, Alex De. "The Price of South Sudan's Indepence." Current History: Africa 114. 772 (2015): 194-96. Print.
Author credentials: Alex De Waal is a researcher and writer on African issues. He also is the director of the World Peace Foundation at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts.
Summary: When South Sudan finally gained independence July 9th, 2011, the people hoped for a better life in their new sovereign country. They hoped they would not have to go through racial and religious discrimination anymore, or be robbed of their bountiful resources. It seems though that 4 years later the Sudanese government still is constituted by a clump of privileged ethnic groups that exploit or exclude other groups. It seemed that South Sudan's semblance was quickly being shattered. The capital Juba seemed just as bad as the capital in Sudan, Khartoum. Meaning all the wealth and power seemed to only be in Juba. A leader of an armed group and the president of South Sudan was a man named Kiir. He payed off many people in South Sudan to work his way up and provided a lot of money to the militia. This institutionalized a government of violence. Provincial commanders fought for power leaving many people dead. Soon Kiir could not pay off people anymore and he had to let his Vice President, Rick Machar, go. Machar was an ethnic Nuer, and he announced he was running for president. Those who were loyal to Kiir went to Juba and killed many Nuers. The IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) was appointed as a mediator in South Sudan. Their plan was to make Machar and Kiir stop fighting and form a national unity, but the two leaders did not trust eachother. While South Sudan was basically at war with itself, many other countries came in and attacked. This made South Sudan have to focus on itself, so Kiir amd Machar signed a unity contract. Though the contract made them one, the fighting in the country does not seem it will end soon.
Author credentials: Alex De Waal is a researcher and writer on African issues. He also is the director of the World Peace Foundation at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts.
Summary: When South Sudan finally gained independence July 9th, 2011, the people hoped for a better life in their new sovereign country. They hoped they would not have to go through racial and religious discrimination anymore, or be robbed of their bountiful resources. It seems though that 4 years later the Sudanese government still is constituted by a clump of privileged ethnic groups that exploit or exclude other groups. It seemed that South Sudan's semblance was quickly being shattered. The capital Juba seemed just as bad as the capital in Sudan, Khartoum. Meaning all the wealth and power seemed to only be in Juba. A leader of an armed group and the president of South Sudan was a man named Kiir. He payed off many people in South Sudan to work his way up and provided a lot of money to the militia. This institutionalized a government of violence. Provincial commanders fought for power leaving many people dead. Soon Kiir could not pay off people anymore and he had to let his Vice President, Rick Machar, go. Machar was an ethnic Nuer, and he announced he was running for president. Those who were loyal to Kiir went to Juba and killed many Nuers. The IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) was appointed as a mediator in South Sudan. Their plan was to make Machar and Kiir stop fighting and form a national unity, but the two leaders did not trust eachother. While South Sudan was basically at war with itself, many other countries came in and attacked. This made South Sudan have to focus on itself, so Kiir amd Machar signed a unity contract. Though the contract made them one, the fighting in the country does not seem it will end soon.
Analysis: The author's argument is basically that even though South Sudan left Sudan to become less corrupt, it is just as corrupt. This article provides many examples of evidence that thoroughly support South Sudan's state. As stated in the summary, South Sudan's government seems to be at war with itself, and is unethical. With all the evidence, the author's argument is a strong one. Throughout the article there seems to be all facts, and no biased opinions. This makes the author a more reliable source. Also, the fact the article came from Current History, makes it more reliable as well.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
SJS 2: Apartheid's Long Shadow
Source: Gibson, James L. "Apartheid's Long Shadow." Foreign Affairs 94.2 (2015): 41-48.
Print.
Author Credentials: James Gibson earned a Ph.D at the University of Iowa. He is the Sidney W. Souers Professor of Government.
Summary: James Gibson starts the article by stating that all South African have been voting for 20 years thanks to the removal of the apartheid. The article begins by discussing how the apartheid has been removed, and then goes into talking about how South Africa still faces challenges because of the apartheid. One of the main problems is the segregation of races started by the apartheid. Gibson states that racial prejudices still exist in South Africa, and are deeply rooted in country. South Africa is often divided into four racial groups, the first being native tribes, the second a white minority, the third being the "colored" Africans, and the fourth being Indian or Asian people in South Africa. A big focus in reducing the amount of prejudice in between South Africans. Many different approaches have been taken on this account, and the people of South Africa have been getting better at their prejudices against each other.
Analysis: I believe that James Gibson has provided a very informational text on one of the major issues faced by post-apartheid South Africa. I agree with his argument on how South Africa needs to remove racial prejudices in order to improve the country after the apartheid. He uses examples of how racial inequalities are affecting South Africa and explains how the four racial groups are split up. His views fit with what we learned about how post-apartheid South Africa is still struggling with issues created by the apartheid.
Print.
Author Credentials: James Gibson earned a Ph.D at the University of Iowa. He is the Sidney W. Souers Professor of Government.
Summary: James Gibson starts the article by stating that all South African have been voting for 20 years thanks to the removal of the apartheid. The article begins by discussing how the apartheid has been removed, and then goes into talking about how South Africa still faces challenges because of the apartheid. One of the main problems is the segregation of races started by the apartheid. Gibson states that racial prejudices still exist in South Africa, and are deeply rooted in country. South Africa is often divided into four racial groups, the first being native tribes, the second a white minority, the third being the "colored" Africans, and the fourth being Indian or Asian people in South Africa. A big focus in reducing the amount of prejudice in between South Africans. Many different approaches have been taken on this account, and the people of South Africa have been getting better at their prejudices against each other.
Analysis: I believe that James Gibson has provided a very informational text on one of the major issues faced by post-apartheid South Africa. I agree with his argument on how South Africa needs to remove racial prejudices in order to improve the country after the apartheid. He uses examples of how racial inequalities are affecting South Africa and explains how the four racial groups are split up. His views fit with what we learned about how post-apartheid South Africa is still struggling with issues created by the apartheid.
SJS 2: More Aid Is Not the Answer
Source: Glennie, Jonathan. "More Aid Is Not the Answer." Current History 109.727 (2010): 205-09. Print.
Author Credentials: Jonathan Glennie is a writer on international poverty and human rights. He is currently Director of Policy and Research of Save the Children UK. He is also a visiting fellow at the International Development Institute at King's College London.
Summary: Jonathan Glennie starts his argument by stating that the common solution to Africa's poverty, foreign aid, is not an effective approach to ending this dilemma. This approach to helping Africa is refuted, and he states that foreign aid in Africa has only led to more poverty, and more hunger. Monetary aid to Africa has long been the method by which most countries attempt to help Africa, but more recently, this approach has received much dissatisfaction. To substantiate his claim, Glennie refers to Moses Isooba, a member of Uganda's Community Development Resource Network, who stated that he opposes large amounts of foreign aid to reduce African poverty. In fact, Glennie declares that the common misconception by people in richer countries that foreign aid is the answer to African poverty is objected by Africans themselves, as they often view the foreign aid situation in a more complex manner than these richer people. Three categories of effects of foreign aid in Africa are discussed. The first category, direct impacts, deals with topics such as the number of people who were able to be vaccinated as a result of foreign aid, and the displacement of African people are also discussed. The second category is indirect macroeconomic consequences, which comprises of the harmful effects that large inflows of money has on poor Afrcians. The last category is the relationship between the government and the governed, and argues that dependence on foreign aid has slowed the building of basic institutions which are required to govern. Glennie then proceeds to describe positives of foreign aid, such as improvements in infrastructure, but then the negatives are discussed, like the detrimental effects of exchange rates and prices on workers. Following the author's acknowledgment of these positive and negative effects, he uses a term called "aid realism", which is a phrase used to analyze the true effectiveness of foreign aid. Glennie believes that as a result of foreign aid, Africa has become dependent on foreign donations to operate. The article concludes with the idea that Africa does not require more foreign aid; it requires an approach to reduce its dependency on foreign aid.
Author Credentials: Jonathan Glennie is a writer on international poverty and human rights. He is currently Director of Policy and Research of Save the Children UK. He is also a visiting fellow at the International Development Institute at King's College London.
Summary: Jonathan Glennie starts his argument by stating that the common solution to Africa's poverty, foreign aid, is not an effective approach to ending this dilemma. This approach to helping Africa is refuted, and he states that foreign aid in Africa has only led to more poverty, and more hunger. Monetary aid to Africa has long been the method by which most countries attempt to help Africa, but more recently, this approach has received much dissatisfaction. To substantiate his claim, Glennie refers to Moses Isooba, a member of Uganda's Community Development Resource Network, who stated that he opposes large amounts of foreign aid to reduce African poverty. In fact, Glennie declares that the common misconception by people in richer countries that foreign aid is the answer to African poverty is objected by Africans themselves, as they often view the foreign aid situation in a more complex manner than these richer people. Three categories of effects of foreign aid in Africa are discussed. The first category, direct impacts, deals with topics such as the number of people who were able to be vaccinated as a result of foreign aid, and the displacement of African people are also discussed. The second category is indirect macroeconomic consequences, which comprises of the harmful effects that large inflows of money has on poor Afrcians. The last category is the relationship between the government and the governed, and argues that dependence on foreign aid has slowed the building of basic institutions which are required to govern. Glennie then proceeds to describe positives of foreign aid, such as improvements in infrastructure, but then the negatives are discussed, like the detrimental effects of exchange rates and prices on workers. Following the author's acknowledgment of these positive and negative effects, he uses a term called "aid realism", which is a phrase used to analyze the true effectiveness of foreign aid. Glennie believes that as a result of foreign aid, Africa has become dependent on foreign donations to operate. The article concludes with the idea that Africa does not require more foreign aid; it requires an approach to reduce its dependency on foreign aid.
Analysis: The argument that Jonathan Glennie proposes, that foreign aid to Africa is actually detrimental to the continent's people, is unique and thoroughly supported. His argument attempts to dispel one of the Five Myths of Africa, specifically: Africa needs our help. Throughout his article, Glennie details numerous harmful effects of foreign aid to Africa, and even quotes a man named Moses Isooba, a member of a Ugandan development network, who states that foreign aid is harmful to Africa. Glennie also differentiates between fact and opinion well, as he always is sure to acknowledge the opposing argument when stating one of his personal opinions. In closing, I believe Glennie is a reliable source due to his evidence, and well-organized structure.
SJS2: Food and the Transformation of Africa
Citation: Dryden, Sam, and Kofi Anna. “Food and the Transformation of Africa.” Foreign Affairs 94.6 (2015): 124-29. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 1 Mar. 2016.
Author: There are two authors of this journal. One is Kofi Anna. Kofi Annan is a Ghanian diplomat and was the seventh Secretary General of the United Nations. He was a co-recipient with the United Nations of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He is the chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and of the Elders. Kofi Annan was in many humanitarian tasks and won several awards. The other author is Sam Dryden. Sam Dryden is a leader in food nutrition and security, especially of smallholders in Africa and Asia. He worked on projects to promote technology in order to improve the agriculture system across Africa. He also led Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Agricultural Development Strategy.
Summary: This journal was bout how agriculture is very important to the cultures in Africa, however it also talks about how agriculture needs to be improved in order to benefit Africa more. By improving the agricultural system in Africa it could prevent starvation, disease, poverty, and malnutrition. Not only will it prevent these things, but it will also create jobs and improve the economy of Africa. The author of this journal stats that are five elements of improving the agriculture system. The first is valuing the smallholder farmer who is making the food because they are feeding the people in Africa. The second is empowering women because they are a major part of the agricultural workforce. The third is to focus on the quality of food because this helps to keep the people of Africa healthy and not starving. The fourth is create a rural economy that thrives because then farmers can afford the necessary materials needed in order to grow and make food. The last component is to protect the environment because the environment is the foundation of agriculture. The author of the journal also talks about how the growing of technology helps improve the agricultural systems of Africa. The technology allows for communication and collaboration between the shareholders in Africa. The journal also states that instead of agriculture representing backwardness of Africa it would represent social and economic development.
Analysis: Kofi Annan and Sam Dryden offer very strong arguments about how improving agriculture in Africa can show development instead of poverty. They talk about how agriculture can provide jobs or businesses for people so they can make money, and not end up being stuck in poverty. The authors use evidence to show that more modern technology can help better the improvement of agriculture. This shows that Africa is not that far behind in terms of technology because they do have communication lines. They also show social development because this would give the women more power in jobs, which indicate that Africa is becoming more gender equal. The authors also show development in Africa by providing evidence on how the agricultural system could show Africa as not backward and not poor. I feel this source is reliable because it is a scholarly journal from a database and the credentials of the authors.
Author: There are two authors of this journal. One is Kofi Anna. Kofi Annan is a Ghanian diplomat and was the seventh Secretary General of the United Nations. He was a co-recipient with the United Nations of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He is the chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and of the Elders. Kofi Annan was in many humanitarian tasks and won several awards. The other author is Sam Dryden. Sam Dryden is a leader in food nutrition and security, especially of smallholders in Africa and Asia. He worked on projects to promote technology in order to improve the agriculture system across Africa. He also led Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Agricultural Development Strategy.
Summary: This journal was bout how agriculture is very important to the cultures in Africa, however it also talks about how agriculture needs to be improved in order to benefit Africa more. By improving the agricultural system in Africa it could prevent starvation, disease, poverty, and malnutrition. Not only will it prevent these things, but it will also create jobs and improve the economy of Africa. The author of this journal stats that are five elements of improving the agriculture system. The first is valuing the smallholder farmer who is making the food because they are feeding the people in Africa. The second is empowering women because they are a major part of the agricultural workforce. The third is to focus on the quality of food because this helps to keep the people of Africa healthy and not starving. The fourth is create a rural economy that thrives because then farmers can afford the necessary materials needed in order to grow and make food. The last component is to protect the environment because the environment is the foundation of agriculture. The author of the journal also talks about how the growing of technology helps improve the agricultural systems of Africa. The technology allows for communication and collaboration between the shareholders in Africa. The journal also states that instead of agriculture representing backwardness of Africa it would represent social and economic development.
Analysis: Kofi Annan and Sam Dryden offer very strong arguments about how improving agriculture in Africa can show development instead of poverty. They talk about how agriculture can provide jobs or businesses for people so they can make money, and not end up being stuck in poverty. The authors use evidence to show that more modern technology can help better the improvement of agriculture. This shows that Africa is not that far behind in terms of technology because they do have communication lines. They also show social development because this would give the women more power in jobs, which indicate that Africa is becoming more gender equal. The authors also show development in Africa by providing evidence on how the agricultural system could show Africa as not backward and not poor. I feel this source is reliable because it is a scholarly journal from a database and the credentials of the authors.
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