A Comparison Between King Lear and Oedipus Essay

A tragedy is not only an imitation of life in general but an imitation of an action, as Aristotle defined his ideas in the Poetics, which presents Oedipus as an ultimate tragic hero. There is a obvious link between the two characters in that blindness – both literal and metaphorical – is a strong theme in the stories. Issues of self-recognition and self-knowledge are significant for Oedipus as well as King Lear. For Aristotle, Reversal, Recognition and Suffering are key elements in a complex tragedy. The human instinct to seek knowledge of and to know an individual’s character is essential to understand their actions (Aristotle, 1-49). King Lear and King Oedipus find that self recognition and self-knowledge are very important keys to understand their behaviour and as a consequence their lives. They learn by painful suffering that wealth and kingship means nothing and that both are only common men in the end. So all three key terms of Aristotle’s complex tragedy could be found in the plays: reversal, recognition and suffering. At the start of the play, King Lear is defined by his kingship, wealth and power, but when he introduces the ‘love-contest’ over his inheritance, the losing and suffering begins. First and most obviously, he loses his wealth and power. Although the hundred knights and title he retains, having given away his royal power, give him an illusionary security, without his power he is only a poor imitation of a king. It is the Fool who demonstrates with his honest and teasing answers that Lear has lost his identity, not only his property. He says â€Å"All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with† (1.4.142) and â€Å"now thou art an 0 without a figure; I am better than thou art now. I am a fool, thou art nothing† (1.4.184). The Fool as well as Kent also tries to show Lear that his decision is not only about property and losing a big part of his identity. It is also about losing his most valuable treasure – his only true loving daughter. The Fool and Kent support King Lear during the play to find his identity, in contrast to Lear’s two elder daughters. They show him his weakness brutally when they do not allow him to keep his knights. This is the last evidence for Lear  that his two elder daughters have only wanted his property and do not care about him as a father. He still does not admit that self-worth and self identity has nothing to do with needs, nothing to do with wealth and power and that love has nothing to do with quantity but with quality. In his pain, he flees the truth as a last solution. The storm scene shows Lear’s madness and his journey to self recognition best, in which he must painfully accept that he is no more than a common man, powerless against the force of nature and the gods. It is not only Lear who has to find himself in this play. The bastard son of the Earl of Gloucester, Edmund, believes himself to be a character without scruple. His only thoughts are selfish and he does not understand that his machinations are ultimately self destructive and false. He plots against his brother and his father to gain power. Not even when his father is blinded as a result of his denunciation does he show any pity. Edmund thinks that he has a natural right to use everything to get what he wants. However, at the end, he realizes his wrong behaviour when he declares, â€Å"I pant for life. Some good I mean to do† (5.3.241). But it is too late – for Cordelia and for him. At the end Lear knows that only the love of his daughter Cordelia is worth living for. Nonetheless Cordelia and Lear die – Lear, wiser than he ever was and so a real tragic hero and Cordelia – a sacrificial victim of this tragedy. Lear finally finds out that true love has nothing to do with property but with knowing oneself and recognizing each other. True understanding of love must mean true understanding of oneself. King Oedipus’s character is similar to King Lear’s. Oedipus is a man, who is fully aware of his strength, intelligence and power. As the solver of the riddle and the national leader of Thebes in a moment of crisis, he is a noble hero and a great celebrity. Thebes high esteem for Oedipus is shown through the Chorus until the bitter end of the play. In the beginning of the play King Oedipus is a person of vast self-assurance. This character attribute is demonstrated in his willingness to take the full responsibility  for dealing with the crisis, the plague. King Oedipus feels certain that he will also manage this crisis as he has done before with the riddle of the sphinx. He feels so self-assure that he even thinks he is able to trick the oracle and the gods by simply fleeing Corinth. But this is a big miscalculation as the play shows. The outline in the story of Oedipus’s self discovery begins when he starts to solve the second riddle, the riddle of Laius death. During this solving Oedipus’ character changes from an honour man to a fearful, condemned man by his tragic fate in the end. The changing of the character is accompanied by the changing of the riddle: the question â€Å"Who is the murderer of Laius?† changes to â€Å"Who am I?† Aristotle in his Poetics discusses this reversal when he speaks of â€Å"a change of the action into the opposite† (Aristotle, 18). As the tragedy moves on, finding the truth for Oedipus becomes an obsession. The dispute between Teiresias and Oedipus demonstrates that Oedipus does not even take the possibility of involvement in something bad into consideration. Teiresias, after he has been provoked, wants Oedipus to find the truth, to acknowledge himself. â€Å"I tell you, you and your loved ones live together in infamy, you cannot see how far you’ve gone in guilt† (418). Although, Teiresias’s speeches are very clear Oedipus negates the truth before himself. The ironic net of facts becomes clearer and clearer. After the entry of the messenger and the shepherd, Jocasta suddenly recognises the truth. She now knows what she is to Oedipus and what guilt lies upon her family. Nevertheless she tries to avoid the truth and tries to save Oedipus when she begs him â€Å"Stop – in the name of god, if you love your own life, call off this search!† (1163). But now, Oedipus wants to know everything so she could only scream, â€Å"You’re doomed – may you never fathom who you are!† (1173). When in the following lines Oedipus claims that he is a son of Chance he is only just entering the circle of increasing knowledge about himself. He soon realizes that outer forces may have impact on his life, but he still relies on his own genius and infallibility. As Oedipus discovers his own identity he has to learn about himself what it is to be a man. He learns that his behaviour and his mistakes are partially responsible for this horrific truth. So he takes the full responsibility for his punishment. In blinding himself he does not die physically but in a sense he is dead. Moving out into the wastelands there is nothing to look forward to except death. The self-recognition of what he  has done and consequently what he is to his children has destroyed him. The play ends in a sense as it begins, with the greatness of a hero. But it is a different kind of greatness. Now it is based on self-recognition and self-knowledge instead of ignorance and pride. Finally Oedipus has gained knowledge of himself and his reality and he realizes that higher forces, such as the gods and destiny have influence. Werner Jaeger declares in his Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture â€Å"to know oneself for Sophocles is to know man’s powerlessness† (Jaeger, 284). And this is to be true for Oedipus as well as for King Lear. King Lear’s and King Oedipus’s awareness of their strength and power is nothing in the end. At the start of the play both kings are majestic figures. Nevertheless not only their character flaws of pride and the exaggerated opinion of themselves lead to this ultimate downfall in the end. Oedipus and Lear cause their own fall partly because they do not know who they are. They first have to find out, through incredible sufferings, that they are nothing more but common men. Both characters symbolize the tragic hero in a perfect sense. The human suffering in these plays is so significant that the reader can almost feel it. Though Oedipus’ fate is determined, the reader still feels sympathy for the tragic hero, believing that somehow he doesn’t deserve what ultimately comes to him. The same applies for King Lear, who gives everything away to his daughters, who will only betray and defraud him. Although in both plays the theme of self-knowledge is very important, it is only one of many ways of entry to the texts. The theme of Blindness, the impact of the Gods and Fate. are other interesting ways to look at the plays. But we learn from the first perspective that self-recognition and learning about oneself has also something positive. No matter how painful the realization, how destructive the outcome there are aspects of growth and gain in it. An important outcome of these plays is that the only person who can tell you who you really are is you by yourself. And this knowledge mitigates the sufferings at least a little bit.

Contemporary issues of surrogacy and birthing technologies Essay

An Estimated 10-15 per cent of Australian couples who want to start a family are infertile, similarly same-sex couples are unable to reproduce and this has led to the use of surrogacy and birthing technologies to provide a means to overcome such barriers in having children. The changing views of society along with the corresponding reforms of the law in relation to these procedures have been main contributors to contemporary issues within the area being addressed, however the effectiveness of legal and non-legal measures in place is questionable. With diverse perspectives and interpretations on what is a just outcome for all parties involved, it is difficult to evaluate such a controversial matter. Issues relevant today in relation to surrogacy include the exploitation of women overseas through commercial surrogacy as well as the presumption of parentage and parentage orders, even with the approval of legal measures dealing with such problems, conflict of views indicate many people do not agree and feel there is a great need for reform. Birthing technologies hold many interrelated issues of concerns with difficulties in defining legal parents in relation to birth certificates as well as the roles and responsibilities of gametes donors. The amendment of previous laws in addition with the introduction of new ones aim to better reflect the changing values of society with non-governmental organisations and the media attempting to assist in informing the public and creating awareness with current issues. Surrogacy is a difficult issue, especially in Australia where the law varies from state to state. Many infertile Australian couples seek the services of surrogate mothers overseas in the United States, India and other countries, spending up to $80,000 and risking breaking the law. The current issue of concern in this, is not only the exploitation of poor women but also the Australians being overcharged by these clinics as well as the legal status and protection of children caught up in the booming overseas surrogacy trade. Currently under Australian law, altruistic surrogacy is acceptable however commercial surrogacy is banned in all states, excluding the Northern Territory with no current legislation targeting surrogacy. The Surrogacy Act 2010 was designed to accommodate altruistic surrogacy moving against  commercial surrogacy, while setting out safeguards to achieve the best interest of the child and attempt to uphold all surrogacy agreements. This can be seen as an effort to sufficiently reflect societal views within the law as a 1993 survey revealed community attitudes towards commercial surrogacy had a 30% approval rate whereas 59% disapproved. Since its commencement in March 2011 overseas commercial surrogacy arrangements have also been made illegal in NSW, Queensland and the ACT, with the NSW Parliament introducing extraterritorial provisions that extend the offence to outside the jurisdiction for residents, who could possibly face fines of up to $100,000 or up to 2 years prison if caught. This legal measure however is questionable in its ability to achieve the best outcome for the child, being a punishable offence and enabling the imprisonment of parents or subjecting them to a financial hardship could only worsen the situation for a child involved. Moreover this amendment to the bill was willfully added with little review of its consequences, motivated to reduce the exploitation of poor women in developing countries, it fails to ensure the best interest of the child and that justice is achieved. Failure of existing law has led to a further need for reform as the criminalization of overseas arrangements is difficult to police and unenforceable which has created issues of compliance and non-compliance. Currently an estimated 40 per cent of India’s $2.5 billion commercial surrogacy industry is made up of Australian clientele, however complaints about the overcharging nature of these clinics are increasing. This is problematic as there are few protections for intended parents in India with its unregulated industry as well as the legal restrictions in Australia, creating difficulty in the ability to monitor such arrangements. Chief Federal Court Magistrate, John Pascoe issued a statement in December proposing Australia should legalise commercial surrogacy to ensure that agreements are properly regulated to protect children, surrogates and commissioning parents. This statement attempts to introduce a different approach similar to that of California, which relies on executed contracts between intended parents and the surrogate, defining the legal status of the child as well as the responsibilities of all parties. NSW Greens MP David  Shoebridge commented on the present act saying â€Å"What began as a progressive legislation giving equal rights to all children has ended up as regressive legislation which will force parents underground and create uncertainty around many children’s parenting†. Pascoe’s proposal would allow for better control of the issue, avoiding the criminalisation of parents and the need for intending parents acting outside of the law, which has been the result of pr esent legislation. Surrogacy Australia is a non-governmental organisation and advocacy group, which is currently addressing the concern for intended parents involved in overseas arrangements who are being cheated and taken advantage of by clinics. Increasing complaints to the organisation as well as research collected, suggests Australians are being overcharged by up to 40 per cent and more so being billed for unnecessary medical procedures on surrogates. Surrogacy Australia is a support organisation assisting those who require help and access to information, with a present focus on warning and creating awareness of this concern, for those in the future considering the surrogacy option. Research by the group also suggests the ineffectiveness of the existing laws, revealing the ban on commercial surrogacy, deters only 7 per cent of considering parents and this places a certain pressure on the government to reconsider its prohibition. A further issue arising from the inconsistent laws targeting surrogacy in Australia is the presumption of parentage, whether in cases of genetic or gestational surrogacy. Under the previous legislation, with cases governed by the Status of Children Act 1996, a child’s legal parents were its birth mother and her husband or de facto partner, irrespective to whether birthing technologies were used. For intending parents this caused a number of legal problems as they could be subject to tumultuous legal obstacles when applying for full parental rights and therefore led to the commencement of the Surrogacy Act on the 1st of March 2011. The reformed Surrogacy Act 2010 (NSW) has recognised certain altruistic surrogacy arrangements and created a process for transferring legal parentage from the surrogate mother to the intended parents in a more time-effective manner. The eligibility requirements and preconditions to  obtain a parentage order are also contained in this act and this is for purposes of creating a more structured system, considering the best interest of the children and also to regulate arrangements, as they cannot be enforced, except by the birth mother. The stated aim of surrogacy laws in Australia has been and remains to be the prevention of exploitation of vulnerable adults, to avoid the commercialization of reproduction and to protect the best interests of children. However children born overseas through surrogacy are not the legal children of their Australian intended parents; none of the state inquiries directly address the problem of parentage for children when adults travel out of the jurisdiction and or pay a birth mother to carry the pregnancy and this creates another challenge for parentage orders. Intending parents cannot lodge an application for a transfer of parentage until they return to Australia and currently the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 excludes commercial surrogacy. This is a contradiction in the attempt to protect the child, with courts torn between two irreconcilable concepts, finding on one hand parliaments intention to prevent commercial surrogacy with a clear policy across the country, and on the other the courts duty to mitigate such policy by consideration of the child’s welfare, who may end up a stateless orphan if orders are not made. Recent changes to commercial surrogacy in India however, may be of assista nce in preventing such situations from occurring. The Indian government has issued a directive that only couples who have been married for more than two years can enter into commercial surrogacy arrangements, and only if it is legal in their home country and this will have a huge impact in making Australian law unavoidable. Moreover on parentage orders, the increasingly complex web of eligibility rules developed through successive reforms to safeguard the interest of children, appear to also be inadequate with the family formation behaviours of those involved in surrogacy. This was demonstrated in the case of AP v RD (2011) NSW, which took place prior to the commencement of the Surrogacy Act on The 1st of March, with its provisions and requirements remaining, AP applied for a parentage order under the Surrogacy Act in the Supreme Court. This parentage order could only be made with all the preconditions met and in this instance the court was satisfied that the arrangement was made prior  to conception, however declined to make the parentage order due to the provision of a counselor’s report and evidence confirming the parties consent was not to a satisfactory level . This shows the courts ability to protect and ensure the rights of the surrogate mother and her partner, as consent is a dominant requirement in surrogacy arrangements. Although indicates an ineffectiveness in achieving justice for intending parents, demanding an excessive amount of evidence to allow parentage orders. With the intention to create better circumstances and gain parentage rights regulated by the law, these precautions can be seen to make it somewhat difficult for arrangements to be followed through as seen in this particular case. The reform inquiries were commenced by hastily arranged parliamentary inquires, where only six to nine months was allocated for the entire hearing and reporting process. This implies the new laws in Australia are based not on evidence of the actual behaviour or needs of families formed through surrogacy to date, but rather on inaccurate ideas and assumptions about the threats and problems with surrogacy and how they can be ‘improved’. The Federal Attorney-General, Phillip Ruddock, is calling on the states to bring â€Å"some uniformity† to the widely different laws covering surrogacy and this is an indication for a further need to reform. Prior to reforms made to the Family Law Act 1975, a birth mother that used an artificial conception procedure to conceive, in a same-sex relationship, was unable to legally identify her female partner as a parent, whereas in the case of heterosexual relationships, the law allowed the husband or male partner to be recognised as a parent. Before 2008 children born to lesbian couples only had one legal parent, and it was not uncommon for a sperm donor’s name to be recorded in recognition of their biological relationship. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission found this to be inequality in the law and an issue of discrimination. The fact that the Family Law Act was designed to accommodate and emphasise the heterosexual family also caused difficulty for judicial officers to resolve cases and disputes within same-sex families. In response to this, the NSW government in 2008 amended the Status of Children Act 1996 (NSW) and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995 (NSW) with the Miscellaneous Acts Amendment (Same Sex Relationships) Act 2008 (NSW). This created a parenting presumption in favour of women of same-sex relationships, through recognising the female co-parent of children born through birthing technologies as well as allowing both mothers to be listed on the child’s birth certificate. Accomplishing the best interest of the child who no longer will only have one legal parent, the act also successfully reflects the change in community attitudes as negative societal outlooks on homosexuality has decreased with recent years presenting a more accepting nature. A birth certificate creates a rebuttable presumption of parentage however a presumption arising out of use of a fertilization procedure is certain. The case of AA v Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages and BB (2011) focused on a man who donated sperm to a lesbian couple, considering himself to a father to the child conceived while forming a loving relationship with her and contributing thousands in support payments. This was the first case of its kind after the amendments made to the law in 2008, attempting to forcibly remove BBs name from the child’s birth certificate in a court battle that succeeded. Bringing forward the notion of legal parents versus biological parents creates the potential for complex issues surrounding children born to same-sex couples. Sperm donors have no legal parental status even if they’re on a birth certificate, with partners of lesbian mothers gaining that right automatically with the introduction of the act in 2008. Judge Walmsley, involved in the case, suggested allowing for three parents to be on the birth certificate as he recognised its powerful symbolism. However it is not possible under NSW law to have three parents with legal responsibilities, had he had sexual intercourse with the mother or married her, he would have gained this legal status. This essentially highlights the inadequacy of laws dealing with multi-parent families. Janet Loughman the Principal solicitor of Women’s Legal Services NSW stated, â€Å"Contrary to popular belief birth certificates do not make you a parent, they are just proof, like a drivers license. They record legal parentage,  not genetic parentage. It is the legal parents who need that proof as they go about the daily business of raising the child†. Even so, donors do not often involve themselves in the life of their child and prior to 2010; the Status of Children Act 1996 (NSW) stated that the identity of donors would be concealed allowing them to maintain their right to privacy. However this resulted in concerns arising for the children, as they were likely to suffer from lack of information about their genetic heritage with identity crisis or medical and social dilemmas impacting them negatively. The Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2007 commenced on the 1st of January 2010, with it, introducing the National ART Donor Registry. The Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation 2010 specifies by law what information about both the donor and donor conceived child must be provided and recorded in the registry, which is then accessible by the child at the age of 18. Significantly the rights of the child are being addressed, although this is not concurrent with those of the donor, with the legislation only allowing their access to the child’s date of birth and sex. The commencement of this legislation has provoked a wide range of responses and this in itself speaks for its effectiveness in the view of the community. The opposition health spokeswoman, Jillian Skinner commented on these changes to the bill saying, â€Å"Proposed new laws to assist donor children to know who their fathers are, have been a long time coming†. Suggesting the NSW government had a delayed response to this current problem for children, as drafts for the legislation were introduced to parliament in 2003 implies an unproductive approach in assisting children in these situations. This has now resulted in confusion towards the stance of the law in prioritising the best interest of the child or upholding privacy rights of donors prior to the enactment of the regulation. In the past 10 years, fertility clinics have only allowed donations from men who are willing to provide their identity for recording and this has resulted in the number of sperm donations decreasing by more than half between 1998 and 2008 according to the President of the Fertility Society of Australia, Peter Illingworth. Through the establishment of the ART Donor  Registry it can then be assumed this will lead to an even further decline in the number of sperm donations in Australia. Peter Illingworth also commented on the exposure of donor identities, which may occur due to the introduction of the legal clause giving the government power to demand access to this information. â€Å"We can’t release the information at all without the donor’s consent and it is as simple as that†¦ consent over-rides everything†, emphasising the importance of their right to privacy and the fact that this legislation was not enforceable when they chose to donate sperm plays int o the injustice that will occur if the government chooses to enable such actions. Regardless of this Jillian Skinner feels â€Å"The rights of children will now be enshrined in the legislation so that any child born through ART will, after they turn 18, be able to know the details of their biological parents†. Being the most important focus this understanding emphasises the fact that the current regulation, does provide a legal certainty that the best interest of the child is ensured. The media can be accredited through its release of numerous articles keeping track of the process and government introductions of new laws and regulations. Ensuring the community is aware and informed of changes in legislation that may impact on previous sperm donors or those considering donating, will help avoid any confusion or injustice occurring in the future. The commonwealth government of Australia cannot universally legislate for reproductive technology practice. Therefore each state and territory is responsible for designing and implementing separate legislation. This has resulted in laws and practices that differ from state to state. Advances in birth technology have created a great need for law reform as they challenge the long-standing moral and legal conceptions of ‘family’ and ‘parent’. It is difficult to compare surrogacy with other reproductive methods, as the surrogate mother is undergoing all the emotional, mental and physical feelings of pregnancy, not simply donating an ovum and therefore laws in place protecting surrogate mothers in Australia and overseas are important, however are useless when they compromise the rights of intended parents and the children. The current debate, taking place in Australia reflects the rapidly changing legal landscape and societal attitudes in relation to surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology. The wide divergence in  Australian and international laws are indicative of the range of opinions about surrogacy and assisted reproductive technologies and of the challenges lawmakers face in staying up to date with these new technologies. Thus far the attempt to satisfy and cater for all contemporary issues within the area can be furthered to remove inconsistencies between state and federal, as well as clarify legal rights of all parties involved. However laws relating to these issues have been slow to pass with the government and courts constrained by existing legislation, suggesting the legal and non-legal measures are more so ineffective than they have been efficient.

Land and property Develeopment Diary of the 'credit crunch' Essay

Land and property Develeopment Diary of the 'credit crunch' - Essay Example Thus the diminishing supply of capital is further depleted as it becomes available for immediate government consumption. There can be a credit crunch because of panic disintermediation. Panic disintermediation is the dumping (rapid sale) of securities, commodities, and other assets in a scramble over possession of the limited supply of money (cash). Portfolio managers were telling investors, and each other, that being out on the long end of the yield curve was the best hedge against a downturn in the world economy. It took only 48 hours in the real-world classroom for them to learn differently. There can be a credit crunch because of a run on the currency. This source is actually the same as that of the only difference being that there is panic liquidation of financial assets in one currency, in exchange for cash in another currency. This happened in October 1998 as the yen rose in value from Yen 131/dollar to Yen 111/dollar in less than two days (Oct. 7-8). The dollar had become less attractive relative to the yen: the Fed cut the discount rate, hedge funds unwound short yen positions, and Japanese banks and other financial institutions dumped dollar securities because they needed the capital at home (especially after the Nikkei 225 dipped below 13,000). Borrowing in yen at extremely low inte... Borrowing in yen at extremely low interest rates was considered a free lunch. Then one day the free lunch disappeared. Tiger Management, a hedge fund which had been borrowing in yen to buy dollar assets, suffered a loss of almost $2 billion on Oct. 7 due to the surge in the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar. That was about 9 percent of the fund's value. Credit crunches used to be banking phenomena almost exclusively. No more. During the 1980s and 1990s formerly illiquid assets became more marketable or tradable. They no longer just sit on the asset side of some bank's balance sheet. "Securitization" is the process by which a collection of receivables is put together in a package, and then bonds are issued against the package. The package may be a collection (or portfolio) of credit card receivables, or automobile lease payments, or commercial mortgages, or some similar type of asset which provides "backing". Payments made to the owner of the packaged assets are then passed along, in part, as interest and principal to the bondholders. The bonds (which may have various strange and wonderful names, such as "CMOs"--collateralized mortgage obligations) trade in a secondary market, so the whole process has turned fairly illiquid items (the original credit card payments, or whatever) into tradable securities. The term "disintermediation" is also used, meaning that banks (or other financial intermediaries) are no longer the direct lenders, but rather bond purchasers become the direct lenders. Repayment to the bond investors depends on the good credit of those making payments into the asset pool (of commercial mortgages, or whatever), so that the interest payments on the bonds reflect a "credit spread" over some

Ghandis Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ghandis Ethics - Research Paper Example He then went to South Africa to help with a court case. In South Africa, Gandhi became part of campaigns to end injustices against his countrymen and women in the region, who were discriminated against both by the colonial masters and by the Boers, the first Dutch inhabitants of the southern African region. Although his stay in South Africa was expected to last for a year, he eventually remained in the country until 1914 with his family. Gandhi is credited with the founding of the Natal Indian Congress, an organization which laboured to improve the welfare of Indians. He led an Indian medical force that fought alongside the British troops in the Boer War (1899-1901), which resulted in the British control over the remaining autonomous Boer regions (Dutta, 2010). After the conflict, his image as a trusted leader grew. Gandhi became insistent on his individual values and ethics, observing sexual abstinence, rejecting modern equipment, and expanding a "soul- force† or Satyagraha (S udhir, 2012). The main idea was peaceful resistance, usually referred to as â€Å"civil-disobedience† that he led his followers to embark on to the force the white minority rule in South Africa into submission. The group’s readiness to withstand punishment and incarceration earned him great admiration from oppressed groups in South Africa and in his native country India. His efforts eventually earned his people freedom from the rulers. By the time Gandhi departed from South Africa in 1914 for India, he had cut a niche for himself as a â€Å"saint†: people referred to him as a "Mahatma" meaning "great soul" (Dutta, 2010). Dutta (2010) has noted that at this juncture, Gandhi’s support for the British Empire was still intact, but when the white regime trampled on Indian civil freedoms in the aftermath of World War I, Gandhi embarked on nonviolent protests to reclaim it. The Amritsar Massacre, in which colonial forces killed peaceful Indian masses protesting against unfair rule, sent a chilling message to Gandhi and his native Indians on the urgency to pursue independence, and in the beginning of 1920s he organized extensive crusades of civil disobedience that brought government business in the expansive Indian region to a stand-still. The administration responded by jailing him for two years until 1924 (Dutta, 2010; Sudhir, 2012). After his freedom, Gandhi abandoned political struggle for some time and instead preferred to visit different parts of the country, interacting with peasants. Six years later, Gandhi voiced the strongest quest yet, for the country’s independence through his â€Å"Declaration of Independence of India.† He then followed it with the Salt March in mass protests against the Empire’s control of salt. The Gandhi’s move sparked-off cases of civil insubordination across India, prompting the colonial masters to convene a Round-Table meeting with Gandhi in London to discuss the issues. Althou gh Gandhi was treated to a warm reception in London, the main agenda of the Conference was unfavourable to him; discussions about how India would handle its Muslim minority groups made Gandhi to adopt a low-profile on public policy debates for the second time (Dutta, 2010). Sudhir (2012) has noted that Gandhi’s efforts were attributed to the subsequent major step toward India’

Boeotian black figure tripod kothon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Boeotian black figure tripod kothon - Essay Example The komos is a parade of masked men costumed as satyrs and an occasion of feasting, joyous drinking and dancing.1 According to Maurice Emmanuel, representations of komos was much affected by the painters of vases and the fashion spread over the whole of Hellenistic world, to Boeotia and its kothons.2 The homosexual theme painted on the kothon served its purpose because; the kothon was the preferred drinking-vessel by soldiers taken on campaigns because it is easily carried in a knapsack. Greek men are known to practice pederasty and soldiers were known to fight with their lovers in battle. In the Constitution of the Lacedaemonians, Critias wrote about the vessel: â€Å"The reason why it is so well adapted to military use is that it is often necessary to drink water that is not pure. It is first of all useful because the liquid to be drunk cannot be seen with any clarity.†3 The Boeotian black figure tripod kothon further demonstrates this with its inward turning edges which wou ld inevitably catch a residue of the impurities inside its lip. One man, in dancing depiction, stretches an inviting reach toward the other dancing figures chin in the depiction of hopeful gesture for a romantic response. It appears that the dances are part of Dionysian rites with its revelry and wine-involved dances. Dionysius or his representation, however, is not depicted in the painting. According to Csapo and Miller, it is difficult to establish a connection to Dionysius on the basis of available iconography because the kothon paintings only show general associations such as the use of wine in the ritual and the masked satyrs.4 In the previously cited kothon artifact housed in Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, there is a more detailed depiction of the komos in the Boeotian kothon (see the picture below). In this case, the komos is collocated with a sacrifice ceremony, involving wine-poring, piper playing and

Strategic Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Strategic Intelligence - Essay Example Strategic intelligence refers to all processes involving the collection, processing, analyzing and propagation of intelligence, which is essential in forming military plans and policies at both international and national level. A credible strategic intelligence has the potentials to foresight, visioning, motivation, integration of various systems to work together for a common purpose and the ability to partner and form strategic alliances. Strategic intelligence aims at collecting a wide range of data for corporations and militaries with the aim of helping in a certain campaigns such as military wars. It serves the basis for the long term planning and management of various resources. Intelligence services such as Central intelligence Agency of US, secret Intelligence are some of the intelligence services that are well developed. Strategic intelligence dates back to the US government during the cold war. General George Washington was an avid user of intelligence as he used intelligenc e to spy on British forces in Boston. This helped in the evasion of the British at Valley Forge during the continental army (Michael, 2001). In the US, the intelligence community composed of the National security Agency, the CIA, and the Defense Intelligence Agency, is responsible for collecting information, asses the accuracy of this information, define the reliability of the information, and propagate the information to decision makers. These decision makers use the information from intelligence agency and use it to make viable decision and disseminate it to the president and the senate where they use the same information to make policies governing the country. This information includes that of nuclear explorations and the security of the country and information concerning threats to the country. This intelligence agencies work with the approval of the president and their role is to provide information that will be used by the president and the senate to make viable

Is Online Privacy Dead Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Is Online Privacy Dead - Research Paper Example Despite being a digital world where every kind of transaction, application or interaction requires the disclosure of personal information, the privacy rules have become less relevant (Jose, 2013). No one seems to care about the advertising of personal, private and confidential information on the internet. No one seems to be bothered by the fact that personal information belonging to uninformed individuals are traded on the internet like mere business commodities.Purpose StatementThe question that begs, therefore, is who is to carry the blame for all this. Who should be held responsible? Should it be the individuals who fearlessly and un cautiously discloses all their personal information online or are we to blame those who are in custody of the same private information. The purpose of this research is, therefore, to delve deeper into this issue and find the root of the problem and suggest the possible cure to the same. The paper discusses whether online privacy is still in operation and how far it goes to secure personal information. Simply put, the paper discusses whether or not online privacy is dead. This has been a controversial issue that has left many in endless debates (House, 2014). While some argue that the current level of technology is not sufficient to safeguard private information online, some are of the opinion that those charged with the safeguarding duty have terribly failed at it. In addition, the paper discusses the real motive behind the revealing of such information.

Environmental Toxicology. Oil Spills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Environmental Toxicology. Oil Spills - Essay Example The catastrophe instantly hit the dwellers of neighboring regions as about 6000 metric tons of oil were observed along the beaches in Mexico and even the United States, and the rest of the oil sank to the bottom of the Gulf. It resulted in a drastic reduction (up to 70 percent) of amount of fish as was marked by the locals (Arne, 1981). This predictably had an impact on economical life of the region as most of the dwellers earned their living by fishing. Miglierini (2010) in his article claims that a number of factors decreased harmful consequences substantially. Among them it is possible to name high sea temperatures, which contributed to faster oil diffusion, and the flows in the part of the sea. Nevertheless, the long-term effects of the oil spill can still be witnessed in Mexico. According to Arne (1981), the decline of flora and fauna in the tidal zone was marked by reduction of certain species of crabs and fish as well as extinction of several species of algae, sea grasses, and corals. Due to its chemical toxicity (in the vicinity of the well) and through its physical properties (stickiness) the oil from the Ixtoc I blow-out acutely affected the species by changing their distinctive properties in the Campeche Bay area. Even after three decades the remnants of the oil spill linger in water an on land: it is possible to find tar mats (almost the same materials as the asphalt on the highways) among the reefs. Despite scientific e vidence, dwellers of the area are persuaded that strange black formations of coagulated oil noticed along the coast are the heritage of the catastrophe on Ixtoc I (Miglierini, 2010). Moreover, the most unpleasant evidence were contamination of brooks and sandy bays which resulted in decrease in reproduction of certain species of fish and birds. Nevertheless, few decades later the scientists marked the populations of endangered species

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Cultural values and social practices change and evolve over time. Cultural values and social practices inevitably over time as individuals and societies are subject to change with it. In the timeless bildungsroman novel, â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† (1960) written by Harper Lee, it explores the confronting experiences of a young child, living in a world of racism, injustice and disability. In a more modern context, however, the novel â€Å"The Family Law† (2009) written by Benjamin Law, is a hilarious memoir describing the quirky and â€Å"stranger-than-fiction† family circumstances that he and his family lived through. Both of these texts vividly describe their culture values and practices, and looking at it from a 21st century, modern perspective, we can see how much these morals and principles have changed. The novel, â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† is set in a town called Maycomb in Alabama in the 1930s and is a story about racism, injustice and empathy through the eyes of a young girl, Scout Finch. Scout is nearly six years old when the novel starts, and she lives with her brother Jem and her widowed father Atticus, who is a lawyer. In the novel, the Maycomb society is extremely rigid, conservative and unjust in terms of race and class. Any person who is black or is associated with blacks were looked down upon, and it is just assumed that â€Å"that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings, that all Negro men are not to be trusted. † The injustice towards black people is also shown through the Tom Robinson case. Even though there is sufficient and reliable proof that Robinson is innocent, he is still charged as guilty – simply because he is black. Those of lower class are also disregarded such as Arthur Radley. Arthur is a man in his 30s, but during his teenager years, he became wild and his father locked him in their house and has never been seen since. The children of Maycomb refer to Arthur as â€Å"Boo†, as if he were a ghost. They made up stories and terrible rumours about him, and he is constantly being degraded, even though he is innocent. This also brings us to the importance of the title of the novel: â€Å"to kill a mockingbird†. The significance of this title is seen through a key passage in the novel: â€Å"Atticus said to Jem†¦ â€Å"Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. She said, Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. † In the novel, Robinson, Boo Radley, Jem and Scout are the â€Å"mockingbirds†. The mockingbird represents anyone who is weak, innocent and defenceless, and to kill a mockingbird in that sense means to take advantage of someone who is weaker than you. Tom Robinson was exploited and was accused of rape, and even though everyone knew he did not do so, they still charged him guilty, because he was black. Boo can also be considered a mockingbird, as he is taunted and looked down upon, even though he is nothing like what people describe him to be. The community take advantage of his absence and vulnerability to make fun of him, although he has done nothing wrong. Finally, Jem and Scout are also referred to as â€Å"mockingbirds†, when Bob Ewell tries to take revenge on Atticus for making him look bad in front of Maycomb. He decides to attack his children, who have done completely nothing wrong. The children are innocent and naive, but they are the target because they are so weak and helpless. Without the intervention of Arthur, Bob would have easily killed the children and impact Atticus’ life greatly. Lee effectively uses analogies such as these to create a more confronting method to illustrate the inequality and injustice that people faced in history. For example, she uses an analogy of the Maycomb courthouse to describe how cultures are changing: â€Å"†¦the concrete pillars supporting its south roof were too heavy for their burden; they were all that remained standing when the original court house burned. Another court house was built around them, or is it better to say, built in spite of them†¦the Greek revival columns clashed with a big nineteenth century housing a rusty unreliable instrument, indicating a people determined to preserve every physical scrap of the past. † This passage demonstrate that the pillars were ancient – what they held before and what they are now are of the past as the world has changed; there is no point trying to support something that is not worth supporting. In this way, segregation is like this pillar – the people who are racist and segregate themselves from others are the pillar. They only uphold their own values, but these values are wrong and out-dated, and it is changing. Also, Lee adds irony to this analogy, as a courthouse is the place where everything is supposed to judge what is right and wrong – it is a place where everything should be fair and just, yet, so many bigoted and unfair things have happened there. â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† is also about empathy and heroism. The bravery that Atticus had to stand up for the blacks was considered incredulous and degraded for doing so. He knew that the jury was going to charge Tom guilty; yet he still fought and defended him just as he would defend any other innocent person. â€Å"Its when you know youre licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. † He teaches his children, especially Scout the important lesson about empathy. He says, â€Å"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. † He explains that even though some things are wrong, you have to look at it from another person’s perspective and understand it from their point of view. In the novel, people’s views do change, and not everyone is racist. For example, Mr Dolphus married a black woman, but due to the disgust of the white community, he pretended to be a drunk so that he could â€Å"give them a reason folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whisky – that’s why he can’t help himself and lives the way he does. † Change does happen slowly, and once again Lee uses metaphors and analogies to portray this. When the jury took longer than usual, Atticus says he thought there was â€Å"a shadow of a new beginning†, and he knows that wrong beliefs and values were starting to change. But most importantly, change can only come about through individuals first. This can be seen through the jail incident. When Mr Cunningham comes with a lynching mob, all it takes for him to realise his wrongs was when Scout talks to him. Scout was so innocent and unsure about what was happening, but it was this that made Mr Cunningham realise what he was doing was wrong and for him and his mob to go home. A mob is made of individuals, and each and every individual is capable of being nice people, because every individual has a heart. Atticus says to Scout at the end, â€Å"Most people are (real nice), Scout, when you finally see them†. The way Lee structure the book is also very significant. The two major victims of the novel, Tom Robinson and Boo Radley are merged at the end at an ultimate climax. The themes of racism and disability are therefore also combined. From all the events that happened in the novel, at the end, we can see that slowly, but surely, the values that the community and individuals holds are beginning to change. â€Å"The Family Law† is a memoir written by Benjamin Law about himself and his family. From the first chapter we can already see how much culture has changed between two generations. He begins by describing his father whose attitudes and values are much different than those of his children. He expresses his experiences with his father in a humorous and light tone, and uses lots of hyperboles and rhetorical questions to engage the reader in his tales. An important part of the chapter is the description of his father’s childhood. Law’s father had only seen his own father (Law’s grandfather) once in his whole life, as he moved to San Francisco to earn more money. When Law’s father turned 12, his father moved back to Hong Kong to see him, but within 30 minutes of seeing his son, he died. Law describes this moment: â€Å"Is it possible to describe what happened next without sounding like a liar? † From this chapter, we can already see how much culture has changed between 2 generations. Before, China was poor, but now it has become much more updated, innovative and modern. The fact that his grandfather had to go to America to earn money – this is usually uncommon as families nowadays are much more likely to stay together. Also, it is much easier to communicate nowadays with improving technology compared to previous years, where even electricity was scarce. In the first chapter of â€Å"The Family Law†, we can already see distinct cultural differences between the past and the present. Cultural and social values have definitely evolved over time – some changes may be slow and gradual such as racism or equality, and other perhaps quite fast such as technology and design. Either way, beliefs and values must change as over time, morals and customs evolve as well.

20 Years Ago India Essay Example for Free

20 Years Ago India Essay Twenty years ago this weekend, three top Indian officials burned the midnight oil tearing up old import controls and preparing a package of economic reforms that would slowly lead to the booming India that is widely admired today, with growth of 8-9%, 300-350m people enjoying the benefits of a consumer economy, and businessmen operating internationally. But India seems to be in no mood to celebrate that momentous event, just as it wasn’t at India’s 50th anniversary of independence in 1997 when the feeling was downbeat. People then were unsure of what to celebrate, since so little had been achieved in terms of economic development, care for the poor, and industrial efficiency since the British left in 1947. Ten years later, that had changed because of the economic boom of the intervening years. But the 1997 mood is now back again. People are aware that, despite all the economic and business successes, 800m people are still desperately poor and under-nourished, with poor access to clean water and health and education services. Public infrastructure and services are crumbling, national security and defence preparedness is woefully inadequate, and governance is sliding into a greedy, corrupt and inefficient abyss with no bottom in sight. Popular contrasts of India’s elephant and China’s tiger economies are being trotted out in various articles and studies, as they have been for 20 years. But the contrast is simplistic because India has its tiger industries such as information technology (IT), autos, pharma, and mobile telecoms that have been spurred by entrepreneurial drive and technological change. There are also rapidly industrializing states – notably Gujarat and Tamil Nadu (despite its political corruption). These are taking the place of India’s earlier internationally lauded cities, Bangalore and Hyderabad, the capitals of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh that have been swamped by the greed and corruption of politicians and businessmen in areas such as land acquisition, mining and real estate. (The Karnataka chief minister is this week accused of facilitating multi-million dollar illegal mining). India’s blundering elephant is the government establishment that has refused over the past 20 years to change the way that the country is run. The 1991 whittling-down of the government’s role has not been followed through. The government still controls the mostly unreformed banking and defence sectors as well as the vast array of public sector industries and, in various ways, land useage and licensing, especially in the corrupt telecom sector. Such government controls skew development. When the current United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power in 2004, led by Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, reforms were initially held back by Communist-led Left Front that supported the government. Since the 2009 general election, reforms have been blocked by the disproportionate power of other coalition partners that have 20 or fewer MPs out of the coalition’s total of 262. The main problem however is that Sonia Gandhi, who heads the Congress Party, is not a firm enough believer in reforms to push Singh and his government into a tougher line, and Singh is too cautious. Consequently, a raft of reforms have been delayed including divestments of stakes in public sector businesses, increasing FDI in various sector such as defence, insurance and retail, and – most important of all – curbing subsidies. Montek Ahluwalia, whose Planning Commission is currently finalising a new five-year plan, argues that the future focus should be on three more urgent areas that would otherwise block economic progress – the use of energy and water, and urbanisation. These areas need changes of action by the central government, and even more by state governments, that has eluded India for the past 20 years. It is hard to see how India can tackle these issues, given that failure since 1991. People who are well off will of course do better, and the 300-350m people now enjoying varying levels of consumerism will increase in number and satisfaction. Companies will become more profitable and will become more internationally active. But social tensions will increase, with growing battles over the use of land and other scarce resources. Major reforms will be needed to reverse the trend of bad governance and corruption. It is an irony that, though the past 20 years began and now end with Manmohan Singh, he was neither in charge at the beginning, nor is he at the end. That is not a criticism, but in the early 1990s he could only do what he did courtesy of Narasimha Rao, and now he cannot do what he doesn’t do courtesy of Sonia Gandhi and the UPA’s coalition partners. Something surely needs to change.

Mcdonalds Marketing Campaigns And Glocalisation Marketing Essay

Mcdonalds Marketing Campaigns And Glocalisation Marketing Essay McDonalds Corporation is the worlds largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving more than 58 million customers daily (McDonalds- company history). The company came into existence in 1940 by two brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Berdardino, California. The corporation was the pioneer in introducing Speedee Service System in 1948, which is now known as fast food. The present corporation dates its founding to the opening of a franchised restaurant by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955. Kroc later on went to purchase the McDonalds brother equity from the company. The use of aggressive businesses practices is what defined him as an individual (www.wikipedia.com). One of the main factors for McDonalds immense growth over the years came from Glocalization, where they started entering new markets by either offering a franchisee, an affiliate or the corporation itself. The corporations revenues came from rent, royalties and fees paid by the franchisee s as well as sales generated from the company owned outlets. Glocalisation (or glocalization) is a combination of globalization and localization.   By definition, the term glocal refers to an individual, group, division, unit, organisation, and community which are willing and able to think globally and act locally (ABCs Social Media, September 18th 2008). McDonalds have spread their business to many other countries and rely heavily upon the importance of thinking global and acting local in order to suit the tastes and preferences of cultures of various countries. Kroc believed the corporation could make more money if it appealed to children and went onto sponsoring a kids TV show called bozo the clown (www.bbc.co.uk, A brief history of McDonalds). McDonalds continued to grow as a chain over the USA. Having covered the states, McDonalds first overseas restaurant was in Australia in 1971. The company made its presence felt in most of the European countries. However, the corporation noticed an immense demand and a young vibrant market in the Indian sub-continent. McDonalds first entered India in October 1996 by establishing a joint venture in New Delhi managed by 2 Indians Amit Jatia the managing director of Hardcastle Restaurants spearheaded McDonalds in west and south India while McDonalds in North and East of India are owned and managed by Vikram Bakshi the entrepreneur of Connaught plaza restaurants (www.mcdonaldsindia.com). McDonalds has won several awards in consecutive years from 2001-07. It has built a strong relation with more than 2.75 lakh customers who place their trust in the brand everyday by providing them the highest quality of food and at a great value. OBJECTIVES OF MCDONALDS (company perspective)- McDonalds underwent a lot of changes in order to adapt to the Indian market. As mentioned by McDonalds management in their Indian website- Our strategy is to achieve best value by enhancing experience (offering best quality), while keeping prices low. The objectives of the corporation remain unchanged as they follow the same procedure which defines their global standard. Their main emphasis is on providing food that is served hot and fresh, made from the highest quality ingredients, served within minutes of placing the order (www.mcdonaldsindia.com). However, the companies main objectives in order to ensure consumers have a truly Indian experience is- Local sourcing is the key for truly Indian products- the corporation has developed local Indian businesses, which supply them the highest quality products required for their Indian operations. Respect for Indian customs and culture- McDonalds worldwide is well known for the high degree of respect to local culture. In line with its respect for local culture, India is the first country where the corporation does not offer any pork or beef. An employer of opportunity- an employer of opportunity, providing long term careers and quality employment to the Indian population. Quality, service, cleanliness and value- this is McDonalds USP to provide high quality products, served quickly with a smile and in a clean and pleasant environment. Community partnerships- the corporation believes in giving back to the community it serves. Source- (Mcdonaldsindia) PROMOTION From a marketers point of view, the corporation underwent a huge change in order to market its products in India. Since most of the western nations nearly share the same taste and culture, the corporation uses the theory of standardization since there is hardly any difference in the cultural aspect. However, entering the Indian subcontinent, which differs significantly from the west and also other Asian countries, the corporation got involved in in-depth research before entering the market. Press coverage Media advertisements and tag lines- Media for children- McDonalds advertised their kids meal on cartoon channels by showing a free toy with the purchase of a burger, which attracted a lot of attention to young children. Community work- community work always catches the eyes of the press. The corporation has participated in several fields which contribute to the community as a whole. Example- the mayors marathon for cleanliness, the BMC-McDonalds (Bombay municipal corporation) health seminar, housing charities, supporting pulse polio etc. Source- (http://www.mcdonaldsindia.com/mediacenter.html) This brings me to discussing what this research would conduct. The main subject this research would be contributing towards is whether by thinking global and acting local and the corporations marketing objectives help McDonalds attain a profitable and positive consumer base in the Indian subcontinent. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY Marketing campaigns- eagerness of individuals to participate in marketing campaigns. Example- during a festival, are consumers aware of the chance to win a free iPod or to dine in with a celebrity. Marketing mix- how has McDonalds used the marketing mix to adapt itself to the Indian Market. Cultural difference- to identify till what extent has McDonalds gone to culturally adapt itself to the market. Promotional and penetrating strategies adopted by McDonalds with regard to expansion plans and market dominance. Purpose- why do consumers chose McDonalds. This field would encompass the practical idea of cost conscious consumers, societys influence of purchasing patterns, influence of the west, consistency provided by the corporation, influence of children in choosing McDonalds, relaxed environment and advertisement campaigns/social campaigns. New concepts- asking individuals how McDonalds can serve their customers better. This might be in the form of having more location, introducing a concept such a drive thru in more locations, adding more to their existing menu in order to avoid repetitive purchase and stagnancy. LIMITATION This research survey would be targeted towards gaining information on consumers in India and their perception over McDonalds marketing objectives and how well has their Glocalization (thinking global and acting local) campaign help individuals develop loyalty towards the brand. From a companies perspective, the research would help understand and identify the corporations marketing activities but however would not give an insight into the budget that is allocated for them to carry out their tasks. Chapter one: introduction to the study Introduction Objectives of the study Scope of the study Chapter two: global marketing 2.1 The paradoxes of globalization 2.2 The globalization process 2.3 The positioning of Global brands 2.4 Global brands- The cobnsumer point of view 2.5 Global market entry strategies 2.6 Configuring the global marketing mix 2.7 The product 2.8 The price 2.9 The distribution channels 2.10 The promotion Chapter three: methodology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The case study method 3.3 Applying the exploratory case study method 3.4 The interviewees 3.5 The interviews focus Chapter four: Mcdonalds: the globalization process The make-Up world market Product categories Segmentation of the market The value of the market The expansion strategy New market development The marketing mix Chapter five: conclusions Introduction Implemented strategies analysis Problem identification Recommendations Culture and competitive advantage Effective international division structure Future managerial applications Abstract The exploratory research helps identify and examine how McDonalds corporation manages its marketing strategies based on the concept of Globalization. It helps examine and explore how the American fast food giant has adapted to the local taste and preferences of individuals in the Indian Sub-continent. Based on the concept of globalization and entering international markets, this research identifies the marketing strategies used by McDonalds corporation with respect to the marketing mix, buyer behavior based on consumer perception, cultural adaptation and promotional tools for further business expansion Qualitative research used in this research encompasses interviewing branch managers of McDonalds in selected location in India. The research also focuses on the perception and buying behavior of individuals who dine in McDonalds. The information obtained defines detailed description of various responses from the individuals interviewed, which eventually led to the completion of the research of how the corporation has used globalization and its tools for its marketing strategies in the Indian Sub-continent. Since globalization is a broad concept, the only limitation that this research faces is the clash of cultures, which can be defined as the main driver for problems associated with globalization. The problem identified in the research is based both on basis of society and the organization. This study is based solely on the concept of globalization used by McDonalds for its marketing strategies in the Indian sub-continent and there is no mentioning of comparisons to McDonalds outlets in different countries since the cross cultural analysis would be very limited and would result in the research being incomplete. Eventually, recommendations in the conclusion column is mentioned to address the future strategies that can help McDonalds achieve a more profound and effective approach for achieving a higher market growth. CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW INTRODUCTION Globalization describes the process by which regional economies, societies and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation and trade. However, there are several limitations associated with globalization from, the main factor being cross cultural analysis. This is where a new concept emerged, the term Glocalization, meaning think global by acting local. McDonalds have spread their business to many other countries and rely heavily upon the importance of thinking global and acting local in order to suit the tastes and preferences of cultures of various countries. Emphasising on this factor has helped the corporation build effective marketing strategies which have led to a profitable consumer base in India. In order to identify and the marketing objectives of the corporation and the perception that individuals have of the global brand, quantitative research can help establish a base/platform for identifying how these factors contribute to the success of McDonalds in India. To help identify the major objectives of the research, the following forms of secondary research are used- Internal company data Surveys Journals Web articles Computerized databases METHODOLOGY Secondary research can be helpful in identifying the current problem but does not guarantee any solution to the problem at hand. The McDonalds corporation has entered the market only to be welcomed. Years of research have led the corporation to a thorough understanding of the culture and sentiments of the public. The globalization process helps us understand that the buying process does not adhere to the product itself but is associated with fundamental cultural attributes/values which McDonalds understand and values. According to McDonalds senior management (www.mcdonaldsindia.com), standardization of their product is the main phenomena behind their company objectives. However, one key drawback to standardization is that it refers to a product rather than a consumer. A standardized product might be a failure when the cultural aspect comes into question. Hence the adaptation strategy used by McDonalds emphasizes on the consumer more than the product that they offer. (Cateora, 1993) m entions marketeers must be made aware of the diverse cultures present in other countries if they intend on having a profitable international expansion. Applying qualitative research in the form of journal articles, web articles and internal data helps formulate an appropriate research design (Naresh k Malhotra, Marketing research, page 96). Using the corporations internal data, the research identifies what types of entry and adaptation strategies have McDonalds used in India to give its product a definite Indian touch. Before entering the market, McDonalds had to understand the nature and consumption patterns on the Indian fast food industry. The staple fast food diet of individuals before the introduction of McDonalds was- pizza, burgers, chaat (traditional), vada pav (traditional), pani puri (traditional) etc. the leading fast food joints in this sector were Nirulas for pizzas and hot dogs (www.nirulas.com), Wimpys for its burgers, pizza corner, Haladirams for traditional and global fast food cuisine and several other local competitors. The corporation realized and understood the potential for growth in this sector. According to the Government of India website (http://business.gov.in/Industry_services/retailing.php), India is one of the most attractive markets for retail investment. Many national and global players have been investing in the retail segment and have ambitious plans for further expansion. The vast middle class with rising purchasing power are attracting global retail giants into th e almost untapped retail industry. Some of the international players already present in the Indian market include fast food chains like McDonalds and Pizza Huts; Dominos; Levis; Lee; Nike; Adidas; Benetton; Sony; Sharp; Kodak; etc. The investment opportunities in the domestic retail industry lay in most of the product categories particularly food and grocery (the largest category). According to (McDonalds India), the company invested four years to develop its unique cold chain, which has brought about a veritable revolution in food handling, immensely benefitting the farmers at one end and enabling customers to get the highest quality food products, absolutely fresh and at a great value. By using the theory penetration pricing, McDonalds priced its products at rates fairly less in comparison to its global locations. Example- a Mc chicken meal in London costs a person 3.5 GBP. The same meal in India would cost an individual $ 1. Its exclusive vegetarian burgers cost less than 30 pence. Another interesting factor that revolves around the taste a quality that differs from region to region in McDonalds products in order to serve the local taste that consumers prefer, the corporation decided to outsource their supplies to local supplier, hence keeping costs down which eventually benefits both consumers and the corporation. With regards to globalization, the corporation has set its objectives to offering their customers a complete Indian experience, which suits their culture. From a consumers perspective, branding plays an important role when it comes to choosing a product. As mentioned by ( ), the spending patterns of the Indian consumers has evolved over time. The maximum they tend to spend is on food. Since trade and commerce is growing in the country, the consumers are more aware of international brands entering the market and being bombarded with several advertisements which catches their attention and sentiments. POSITIONING OF MCDONALDS The corporate strategy of every multi-national corporation is to enter international markets. According to Keegan (1999), there are three product categories in the local-to-global continuum: national, international and global. However with regards to McDonalds, the research would only compare the differences in a national product and a global product. A national product is the one that, in a context of a particular company is offered in a single national market. Sometimes national products appear when a global company caters to the needs and preferences of countries sharing similar cultures. Example- McDonalds has its standardized product which it sells the world over Mc Aloo Tikki. Since the majority of the population in India are vegetarian, the corporation introduced its first vegetarian burger which suits the tastes and preferences of the local population and the major share of sales for McDonalds in India is derived from its vegetarian products. (www.mcdonaldsindia.com) A global product is offered in global markets. They are international and multi-regional. Example- McDonalds serves its Mc chicken burger in America, Europe, Asia, South East Asia, Australia and NewZealand. This is because the nature of the product suits the tastes and preferences of most cultures. By consulting web articles from ( ), the research identifies approach adopted by McDonalds to advertise its products in India. This would help the research identify the marketing mix adopted by the corporation to suit the Indian sub-continent. Since McDonalds is a global brand, its marketing mix varies from region to region catering to the difference in consumer taste and preferences as well as perception. Perception is what holds the key to positioning a brand. According to Trout and Ries, positioning is not what you do to a product. Positioning is what you do to the mind of the prospect. That is, you position (place) the product in the mind of the prospect. Since that time in marketing, positioning is the technique in which marketers try to create an image or identity for a product, brand, or company in the perception of the target market. What matter is how potential buyers see the product? It is expressed relative to the position of the competitors. Another factor that proves to be a factor which effects globalization is communication. Globalization does bring the world together but however, sharing of cultures and languages of different regions can be a strenuous task not resulting in productivity at times. However the concept of glocalization questions this statement. Having a thorough knowledge of any market can only be possible if there is a local citizen belonging to that region working with you. Hence, having tie-ups and the concept of franchising has helped McDonalds corporation overcome this dilemma and grow in a country where language would have been the main barrier. Quantitative research has helped the research identify how McDonalds promotes its product in a country consisting of a vast social diversity. As mentioned by a web article by (DR. Amit Rangnekar), India as a country has 20 different languages, 800 + dialects and 8 languages for national launch, can make a new product launch for any multi-national company risky and difficult by not choosing the right medium. Extensive use of the media helped capture the attention of several audiences. The corporation understood the sentiments of the population, which helped them, establish a proper communication network to address the needs of the consumers in all major languages spoken. Focussing on the Indian population, the corporation has gone to the extent of creating advertisements which capture the attention of the audience. Example- Leo Burnetts advertisement and taglines for McDonalds India- for the happy meal which was introduced in 1997 what your bahaana is? meaning what is your excuse. purane zamaane ka daam, bees mein full dhamaal- meaning (prices so low that would attract your ancestors, enjoy a blast by paying only Rs 20) and recently Im loving it. McDonalds has undergone a lot of press coverage. As quoted by (The Hindu Business Line)- happy to go McDesi covers how McDonalds besides adapting to Indian tastes is offering a range of touch points for customers on the go. It is focussed on having its presence felt in all spheres right from petrol pumps to kiosks to drive thru and home delivery. (http://www.mcdonaldsindia.com/mediacenter.html) With reference to these advertisements and slogans, the research identifies the significant impact a thoroughly understood marketing campaign has on individuals. The brand has positioned itself to suit pockets of nearly all individuals. With my personal experience, the product that is priced the cheapest in McDonalds India, can suit the pocket of a Labour, who own $ 10/day. Understanding the value and sentiments of individuals has the corporation develop a profound and trustworthy consumer base. According to Dr. Amit Rangnekar of NMIMS, McDonaldsstrategy is based on 5 key drivers of exceptional consumer experiences- People + the 4 Ps and founded on the belief of 3 success components- Operational Leadership marketing Innovation The intent of delivering an exceptional experience to almost 2.75 lakh people a day who place their trust in the brand and offering better efficiency and speed of service is what differentiates McDonalds from local counterparts in India. The efficiency with which they use their resources and the use of technology helps them retain their brand essence. Consumer perception associated with global brands has evolved over the years. According to a survey conducted by (KSA Technopak), the sector for eating out is growing tremendously, since consumer spending is increasing. The Urban fast food sector is growing at a rate of 20 % and quotes McDonalds is just not a substitute for Indian food, its just one more option for people to exercise. Indians want a taste of America but not on a regular basis as quoted by survey conducted by KSA Technopak and Dr. Amit Rangnekar. Inflexibility in the product mix could be their undoing. However, innovation has led to the introduction of products which has resulted in increased footfall of consumers eating at McDonalds and growth in the number of outlets nationwide. Concentrating on the marketing mix of McDonalds, quantitative data has helped the research identify- Pricing strategy Promotional strategy

Athletes vs Couch Potatoes Essay -- Health Diet Exercise

For many years, I’ve have been labeled as a couch potato due to my laziness and my lack of a healthy diet. Throughout my childhood, I had very few friends and I stayed inside my house, most of the time. I was always into sports, but I never got to actually join a team and play with my friends because I never enjoyed moving around. I never liked to run, skip, or jump because I was 20 lbs. overweight and I hated sweating due to the sweltering heat. I enjoyed sitting in the couch all day, doing nothing but watching T.V, eating junk food, playing video games, and watching the day go by. However, I needed to change my life around, so I joined the gym, started to eat vegetables and white meat, instead of chips, cookies, or other junk food, and I exercised daily. I was proud by the results at the end because I felt healthy, fit, and much more energetic. Many former couch potatoes have become athletes because they adopt active lifestyles and eat healthier. Unfortunately, some people fall into the trap of a sedentary lifestyle and maintain it that way. They stay sitting around, sleeping, eating junk, or watching T.V. Athletes look forward to be involved in physical activities, while couch potatoes let life go by. Due to differences in lifestyle, physical activity and health, athletes are healthier and much more energetic than couch-loving counter-parts. Athletes live a more active lifestyle than their couch laying counter-parts. They are either gifted with physical talents or they train extensively to improve balance, strength, and flexibility by exercising. Most Athletes go to the gym about 2-3 times a week and do about 1-2 hours of cardio to improve their heart rate and maximize fat-burning. They get up early in the morning or go o... ...† Nature Publishing Group 28 January 2009. 27 October 2010 http://www.nature.com/nrcardio/index.html â€Å"Why can a trained athlete run a marathon, but a couch potato cannot run half a mile?† Discovery Communications Inc. n.d. 27 October 2010 http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/information/question485.htm J. Anderson, L. Young and S. Prior â€Å"Nutrition for the Athlete†. 2010 Colorado State University Extension. 12 May 2010. 26 October 2010 http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09362.html Albanesius, Chloe â€Å"More Than Half of U.S. Adults Play Video Games† Ziff Davis, Inc. 08 Dec. 08. 27 Oct. 10. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2336392,00.asp Lifestyle â€Å"Health Effects of a Sedentary Lifestyle† LifeMojo Health Solutions Pvt Ltd. n.d. 26 October 2010. http://www.lifemojo.com/lifestyle/health-effects-of-a-sedentary-lifestyle-44282279#ixzz14A8O9cyZ

The Story of Pygmalion and Galatea :: Cyprus Mythology

The Story of Pygmalion and Galatea â€Å"If you gods can give all things, may I have as my wife, I pray†¦ one like the ivory maiden.† ~Pygmalion Pygmalion, the mythical king of Cyprus, had many problems when dating women. He always seemed to accept dates from the wrong women. Some were rude, others were selfish; he was revolted by the faults nature had placed in these women. It left him feeling very depressed. He eventually came to despise the female gender so much that he decided he would never marry any maiden. For comfort and solace, he turned to the arts, finding his talent in sculpture. Using exquisite skills, he carved a statute out of ivory that was so resplendent and delicate no maiden could compare with its beauty. This statute was the perfect resemblance of a living maiden. Pygmalion fell in love with his creation and often laid his had upon the ivory statute as if to reassure himself it was not living. He named the ivory maiden Galatea and adorned her lovely figure with women’s robes and placed rings on her fingers and jewels about her neck. At the festival of Aphrodite, which was celebrated with great relish throughout all of Cyprus, lonely Pygmalion lamented his situation. When the time came for him to play his part in the processional, Pygmalion stood by the altar and humbly prayed: â€Å"If you gods can give all things, may I have as my wife, I pray†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he did not dare say â€Å"the ivory maiden† but instead said: â€Å"one like the ivory maiden.† Aphrodite, who also attended the festival, heard his plea and she also knew of the thought he had wanted to utter. Showing her favor, she caused the altar’s flame to flare up three times, shooting a long flame of fire into the still air. After the day’s festivities, Pygmalion returned home and kissed Galatea as was his custom. At the warmth of her kiss, he started as if stung by a hornet. The arms that were ivory now felt soft to his touch and when he softly pressed her neck the veins throbbed with life.

Phnom Penh

I was born in Kampong Cham Province and I have moved to live in Phnom Penh since I finished my high school. When I first came here in Phnom Penh, I felt very surprise and scare. The building and people were far different from my hometown. I got around Phnom Penh by motorbike for a first few days. I saw many high rise buildings; especially the city's French colonial buildings were beautiful. I saw some different kind of transportation that running on the road such as: modern car, Motorbikes, Motorbike-taxis (motodops), Taxis were available at a few locations, Tuk-tuks, and Cyclos. There transportations were in the great amount if compared to my province and it sometimes caused a very serious traffic jam and accidents. I also went to the Royal Palace which no photography was allowed inside the Silver Pagoda and some of the Palace buildings. You were expected to dress decently (no bare legs or shoulders). Beside this, I went to Wat Phnom. I liked the park there. It was a pleasant green space and a popular gathering place for locals. A few monkeys kept quarters there as well and will helped themselves to any drinks you leave unattended. After that I went to Independence and Liberation memorials. Impressive Buddhist-style Independence Memorial, commemorating the departure of the French in 1953, dominated the centre of the city. Nearby was the very ugly Stalin-style Liberation Memorial, marking the Vietnamese capture of the city in 1979. The area was especially popular on weekend nights with locals when the multi-colored fountains were activated and communal music was played. I took several pictures there and got some rest. I also went to Sorya shopping center which located at the south of the Central Market. It's on a North-South Street on the west side. It is currently Phnom Penh's main Western-style mall. It is air-conditioned and contains a range of cheap fast-food outlets as well as a well-stocked supermarket named Lucky Supermarket. You can do shopping, eating, drinking, playing game and whatsoever. Everything is served here. After I live in Phnom Penh for many years, I feel that it is completely different from my province. Phnom Penh is developing very fast. Many high buildings were built, many companies were established and the whole city’s infrastructures are constructing rapidly. One I feel very anxious about is people here are competing for each other very aggressively. If you are not smart enough and you don’t high education, you will be jobless, isolate and demise from the society.

Most important Invention: The Computer Essay

When we think about technology mostly the first thing that comes to my mind is the image of a computer. Technological advancements such as computer have been designed to help humans and make the lives easy. In fact, computer is the Most important Invention because they can display and let you manipulate save information, and it is used in almost all fields . First of all computer have multi-tasking features that can minimize the work you have to do. The cheapest computer has at least the basic tasks such as mathematic that help you when you need to doing something in short time . For example, the only thing you must do is to type the information needed and it’s done. Secondly, computer can display and let you manipulate save information. You don’t need to use paper to save any information on shelves . You can have as many files as you can in a computer and organize them the way you like it without having to use any space. Finally, computer is used in almost all fields such as education, and any type of job. For example, you can use computers to play videogames, watch movies, listen to music and chat on the internet. So, computer is the most important Invention because you done the work in short time consumption on the activities, you can save the information and edit it anytime, and they let you do almost anything you need. Computer is tool of communication, and tool of education that can save money and time . You can have all the information in one place and dispose of it at the moment you need.

Whose Fault Is It Anyway?

Whose responsibility is it to ensure the obesity epidemic is reversed? Schools, Parents, Government, Community and/or the media. What can be done? Discuss using examples from the article and any other information you can bring to the discussion. Everyone should play a major part in ensuring the obesity epidemic is reversed. Parents play the most vital role in this. As a parent it is your job to make sure to bring up your children correctly this doesn’t mean just giving them an academic education it involves making sure they are healthy, getting regular exercise and have an understanding of nutrition.Parents are the key to start the ball rolling in maintaining healthy dietary habits for their children, if this isn’t done correctly by the parents their children will most probably end up being overweight as teenagers, ‘long term consequence of childhood obesity is its persistence into adulthood, Once a child is overweight or obese it is unlikely that they will sponta neously revert to a healthy weight, predisposing them to the health concerns’(World Health Organization 2000, Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic, WHO Technical Report Series 894).Parents need to understand that they are the role models for their children; if they do not eat correctly and do not exercise their children are most likely to follow in their footsteps. A survey done in 2007-2008 on the obesity epidemic in Australia the results were that in ‘2007-08, 61. 4% of the Australian adult population were either overweight or obese, and 24. 9% of children aged between 5-17 were overweight or obese’ (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2008, National Health Survey 2007-08, Cat 4364. ). Kids need to have a more active lifestyle, the issue is now days kids entertain themselves with technology such as computers, television and the Xbox. Parents need to spend time encouraging their children to be more physically active, by doing this they also need to b ecome more physically active. Simple things such as taking their children for a bike ride, taking them to the park, playing a game of sport with them.They need to put more focus on encouraging their children to be outdoors. Every little bit of physical activity will make a difference to the child’s wellbeing. Schools, The Government, The Community and the media can all make a difference in making sure the obesity epidemic is reversed. Schools can make sure their students get a minimum of 30 minutes daily exercise, they can help educate the children on nutrition and correct dietary habits and can provide healthy ptions in their canteens, ‘Only a quarter of Australian high school students eat the recommended four or more vegetables a day’ (Canberra times article- Battle of the bulge, Peter Jean). Media at the moment shows fast-food advertisements at least 4 times during an add brake. Children who are sitting on a couch watching TV are being brain washed by fast-foo d commercials, there for only wanting to eat fast-food such as MacDonald’s. The Government can control the media and controls the schools. They can make changes to the schooling curriculum to add more daily exercise.They can put a stop to the excessive fast-food advertisements that fly across our TV screens. As a community we all play a vital role in making sure children are healthy, this involves weekend sports, and community run sporting activities for young children and even adults. But this will change nothing in reversing the obesity epidemic if parents don’t start to take responsibility for their children and start by giving them the correct dietary needs and regular fitness to kick start their healthy life style.

International Issues Essay

Abstract No two countries have the same political and legal system. Each country has its own laws and regulations on business and products. When doing business in another country it is important to know the laws and abide by them. Culture plays a huge part in a business’s success when venturing into a foreign market. Being sensitive to the cultural and religious beliefs in that country is important to a business’s long term success. A business needs to be educated in the laws, customs and cultures of that country so that business will be able to comply and coincide with that country. A business needs to know how and where to resolve any legal issues that may arise while doing business in that country. Disputes need to be handled in a way that is respectful to that country and adheres to the contract in which the parties agreed. International Issues Issues in Legal Disputes in International Transactions â€Å"International transactions and dispute resolution requires both an understanding of the law and a sensitivity to foreign culture, politics, formal and informal power structures and decision-making approaches† (White and Williams LLP, 2013). When entering into a contract with a foreign country, one needs to be very specific in the contract about how to resolve any issues that could come up between the two companies. Deciding and agreeing on where issues will be resolved is a key element in the contract. Going to court can be costly for both companies and the decision made by the court could take an extended amount of time. If the companies were to go to court, deciding in where the court hearing would take place is another issue. If the hearing was to be held in the foreign country, the laws might not be the same and that country might not have much experience in international disputes. If the hearing was to be held in the United States, the other company and the country’s government it resides in could become hostile and not uphold the ruling. Arbitration would be the best way to resolve any disputes between the two countries. Arbitration can save a lot of time and money for both companies while also protecting the images of both companies by not having a lengthy trial in the press. â€Å"Arbitration is often less costly, less litigious, and less time-consuming, and offers more privacy to the parties than litigation† (Companies Export, 2008).The ruling from the arbitration could be binding or non-binding depending on what is agreed upon in the contract. Practical Considerations When trying to resolve a dispute with a company in a foreign country, one would need to look over the written contract that was drawn up at the beginning of the relationship. â€Å"The governing law clause will set out which country’s law will apply to any dispute under the contract, and the jurisdiction clause will state in which country the legal action must be taken† (Smith, 2007). The U.S. based company needs to be aware of the laws that affect the company and the business dealings in the other country. The company needs to consider the cultural aspects, the ethical behavior, and the legal structure within that country. â€Å"U.S. laws governing the international business activities of the U.S. companies fall into two categories. The first consists of laws, such as antitrust, employment, and economic-espionage laws, that are also applied frequently in the domestic context. With respect to these laws, the international business activities of the U.S. companies are a rguably at special risk because management educated and trained outside the United States might be less familiar with these laws than management educated and trained in the United States† (Winer, 2013). Bribery is also a consideration when taking legal action against a foreign business partner because this is illegal under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). In some countries, bribery and gift giving is not seen as an illegal or unethical act but a form of showing respect and gratitude. A company needs to be careful on how this is perceived because it could be seen as an illegal act on the company’s part. Factors against CadMex Time and money would work against CadMex in the sublicensing agreements. In the simunlation, Candore is under an epidemic and needs the medicine ViroBlax at a subsidized price. There would not be enough time, due to the epidemic, to work out a contract that both parties will agree upon. Each separate pharmaceutical company in Candore would have to be sought out and a new contract would have to be drawn up for each different company. This is not only costing CadMex time but countless dollars on man hours. CadMex would have to invest a lot of money into properly training the employees and building the proper facilities. CadMex would also have to insure that the generic products were to the proper standards and up to regulation. Even if CadMex was to invest the time and the money into sublicensing the drug, CadMex would lose money because the drug is being sold at a subsidized price. The royalties that would be paid out with sublicensing still would not gap the margin of loss that CadMe x has. When Customs and Laws Conflict When the local customs and the local laws conflict with the customs and laws of an organization operating abroad; the organization should look at the customs and laws in which it is operating under and those should prevail, as long as the company is following the laws in which it is to operate by. When operating abroad, it is important to be aware and sensitive to the customs of that country. Allowing employees to observe religious and cultural holidays will not only keep moral high but also will keep the company within the laws that country has. Knowing the cultural normalities and integrating those into the business model will allow for the employees and members of the community to feel that the business has their interests mind. Being able to comply with the laws of the country in which the business is in while also complying with the laws set by the country, in which the mother company resides, can be a hard line to walk. Complying with the laws of the country in which was agreed upon in the contract at the onset of the partnership would prevail. Making sure to follow the rules of the country that the business is in is important because that is where the business will produce its goods. â€Å"Employees who engage in international business are responsible for knowing and complying with both the laws and regulations of the countries in which the businesses operate and the U.S. law and regulations that apply outside U.S. borders. If U.S. law conflicts with the local customs, or if the local law is more restrictive than U.S. laws or company policies, one must follow the more restrictive law, custom or policy† (Olin, 2012). Resolving Domestic and International Issues Resolving domestic issues can be done through arbitration or through the court system. It can be as simple as suing a party and showing up to court. When trying to resolve an issue domestically, the laws are well known for both parties and the venue in which the issue will be settled is easily accessible to both parties. Resolving an issue internationally is more work involved. The issue has to be resolved through which venue both parties agreed upon when signing the contract. Both companies need to know the laws of that country and travel might be needed. If arbitration was selected, both parties would need to submit all paperwork to a panel of arbitrators and adhere to the judgment in which the panel decides. If one party does not comply with the ruling, then legal action must be taken. Conclusion When doing business internationally, a company needs to be aware of many factors. Conforming to the culture and abiding by the laws that are set in that country are essential to that business and its success. A company needs to know how to resolve issues that will come up in the daily running of the business. Being sensitive to religious and cultural norms will not only help with the moral of employees but the community as well. Adhering to the contract in which the company agreed upon will help avoid any legal action being taken against them. By following the laws and cultures of the country the business resides in will ensure success of the company and future dealings in that country. References Companies Export. (6/4/2008). Retrieved from http://export.gov/regulation/eg_main_018226.asp Olin. (2012). International Business. Retrieved from http://www.b2i.us/profiles/investor/fullpage.asp?BzID=1548&to=cp&Nav=0&LangID