ECO-FRIENDLY KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT Dissertation

ECO-FRIENDLY KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT - Dissertation Example This paper will adopt the conceptual model approach, framed by Yin (1989) in his research article. According to Yin (1989) conceptual models are necessary while conducting research work, especially in the context of framing a well-defined information and subsequent discussion and analysis. Quite often used when two phenomena are being compared and contrasted (in this case comparing and contrasting two procurement organizations, A and B), this approach requires that the researcher frame and organize the data into a modular format. This paper is in line with Yin’s theory of the resultant conceptual model, which though formulated primarily primary data, also allows for the mapping of a phenomenon and its subsequent theoretical analysis. In other words, this approach allows for the explanation of facts through theoretical analysis; the expansion of knowledge through the clarification of the relation between reality and theory; and most importantly, is ideally appropriate for a com parative analysis of two organizations (Yin, 1989). The nature and concerns of the current research have led to the determination of the imperatives of extensively exploiting the conceptual model approach. The research focuses on the critical analysis of two organizations, from the data collected during primary research. Organization A, a public sector entity, is a Public Procurement Organization; while Organization B, also a Public Procurement Organization belongs to a different Department. Primary data from both the organizations were collected through the process of extensive interviewing. 4.5.1 Qualitative Sampling When selecting samples for qualitative survey, a different set of priorities must be taken into consideration. Each conducted qualitative survey is almost similar to an individual scientific research. Here the sample size is not important, rather the set up of observable patterns in the data, is. According to Patton (1987), â€Å"The sample should be large enough to be credible, given the purpose of evaluation, but small enough to permit adequate depth and detail for each case or unit in the sample†. Qualitative samples tend to be studied in nature, rather than being random (Crabtree and Miller, 1999). Studied sampling, or criterion?based selection (Miles and Huberman, 1994) bases the selection of research and participants on certain specific features and characteristics that will enable the researcher to gather in?depth information on areas important for that particular research. This type of studied sampling is therefore strategic in nature (Crabtree and Miller, 1999), with scope for easy access to explore a situation and the participants, having only secondary importance. Typical case sampling, a particular type of purposive sampling, observed mainly in cases that are representative of a larger group selected for a detailed analysis, is relevant to the present study (Patton, 1987). Since qualitative research does not emphasize on stati stical data interpretation, there is no compulsion that samples must be of a sufficient scale for a researcher to arrive at a conclusion (Denzin and Lincoln, 2000). Sample sizes must be kept credibly small, in order to do justice to the rich evidence provided by the qualitative studies and to make best use of the resources available for intensive research analysis (Ritchie and Lewis, 2003). Within the context of the present study, sample size was primarily

Radioimmunoscintigraphy using Prostascint (Capromab Pendetide) Essay Example for Free

Radioimmunoscintigraphy using Prostascint (Capromab Pendetide) Essay Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies encountered among the men over the age of 65 years in the U.S. Proper treatment of patients with prostate cancer requires the determination of exact extent of cancer spread. Conventional imaging modalities like CT and MRI have proved to be of little use. Newer imaging modality involving radioimmunoscintigraphy using Prostascint has emerged as a useful diagnostic test for management of cases of carcinoma of prostate, particularly patients with localized disease and those showing evidence of recurrence following radiotherapy. Prostascint imaging serves as a reliable, noninvasive means of differentiating patients with organ-confined disease from those with metastatic spread to lymph. Following a positive Prostascint scan confirmatory studies (biopsy of involved sites) must be undertaken prior to initiation of a definitive surgical procedure. In the modern era, high quality fused images, using CT or MRI with Prostascint scans, obtained from using higher-resolution gamma cameras, have further increased the value of radioimmunoscintigraphy. However well designed randomized controlled trials in future are required to prove the exact clinical role of Prostascint imaging in cases of prostate cancer. Table of contents Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 Analysis of Prostascint Imaging†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.5 Applications of Prostascint imaging†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 Newly diagnosed patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer.6 Patients with rising levels of PSA following prostatectomy†¦..7 Challenges associated with the use of Prostascint imaging†¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.10 Safety and precautions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.11 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 References/ bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦l5 Radioimmunoscintigraphy using Prostascint (Capromab Pendetide) Introduction Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies encountered among the men over the age of 65 years in the U.S. During the year 2004, in the U.S 230,110 men were registered with the diagnosis of carcinoma prostate, whereas 29,900 died from it. (Jemal et al, 2004). Following the diagnosis of prostate cancer, one of the most important challenges for the clinician is to estimate the exact extent of the cancer (cancer staging) in order to undertake a proper treatment plan, which would be able to cure the cancer in its entirety in early as well as late cases. Information needed to stage prostate cancer depends upon tumor size, location, extra-prostatic extension, lymphatic involvement and distant metastases (Neal Kelly, 2004). In more than one third of cases of prostate cancer, by the time cancer is diagnosed, it has frequently involved the lymph nodes outside the pelvis, the most common ones being the periaortic lymph nodes (Neal Kelly, 2004). Treatment options and prognosis of localized cancer of prostate is different from the cases where the cancer has spread into the lymph nodes, contradicting the use of both surgery and radiotherapy, which works well for the localized disease. Hormone therapy and recently taxane based chemotherapy is used for the treatment of advanced disease (Neal Kelly, 2004). Presently the prediction of lymph node metastasis is not very accurate because, in the vast majority of cases, tissue examination for evaluating spread of cancer is based on biopsies involving a limited sample of the area with possible lymphatic spread. Conventional imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting soft tissue metastasis, suffer from many disadvantages, which limits their use for this purpose (Neal Kelly, 2004). Lymphography as a diagnostic modality for visualization of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes, following injection of radio opaque material in a lymphatic vessel has also proven to be inaccurate (Wolfgang, 2003). Significant advancements in the field of medical imaging have enabled the accurate estimation of cancer spread to a large extent. One such imaging technology is radioimmunoscintigraphy with Prostascint, which would be discussed in this paper. Analysis of Prostascint Imaging Radioimmunoscintigraphy is a nuclear medicine imaging technique which detectsn  signal from a radio labeled antibody that recognizes prostate tissue (Wolfgang, 2003). The most commonly studied monoclonal murine antibody for this purpose is (7E11-C53), capromab pendetide conjugated with the linker-chelator glycyl-tyrosyl-(N, ÃŽ-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid)-lysine commonly known as Prostascint. In the most commonly used type of radioimmunoscintigraphy, Prostascint which has been radio labeled with indium-111(In-111) is given, followed by nuclear medicine imaging or SPECT imaging (Keane, Rosner, Wingo, McLeod, 2006). The most studied target for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a glycoprotein expressed by prostate tissue, which is produced both by benign and malignant prostate epithelial cells. However it is expressed more abundantly in patients with prostate cancer, hormone-refractive disease, and prostate cancer metastases (Keane et al, 2006). Thus immunoscintigraphy is dependent on the degree of PSMA expression rather than the actual size of a metastatic lesion or the increase in the levels of PSA (prostate specific antigen). Applications of Prostascint imaging Prostascint (Capromab Pende ­tide) is commonly used as a diagnostic imaging agent, which shows significantly improved sensitivity for extra-prostatic cancer detection compared with conventional imaging modalities (Keane et al, 2006). According to the literature review by Keane et al, (2006), Prostascint, received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1996 for its use as an imaging agent for the following purposes: (1) For the staging of patients, who have been recently diagnosed with histologically proven localized prostate cancer and are at a high risk for soft tissue metastases or (2) For the restaging of post prostatectomy patients with a rising PSA level. These applications of Prostascint have been described below in details: Newly diagnosed patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer Prostascint imaging should be considered after a definitive diagnosis of localized prostate cancer, as proven by standard diagnostic investigations including chest x-ray, bone scan, CT scan, or MRI, which have been made prior to the initiation of definitive therapy in form of surgery or radiotherapy. Prostascint is not indicated in patients who are not at high risk for developing metastatic disease (Hinke et al, 1998). In fact it is especially administered to those patients who are at a high risk for pelvic lymph node metastasis as shown by an intermediate to high Gleason grade (a system for grading prostate cancer depending on the degree of differentiation of the malignant cells under a microscope) or by other diagnostic investigations carried out to evaluate the disease spread. In a study by Hinke et al (1998), scan positive extraprostatic regions, especially lymph nodes, following initial treatment, were histologically evaluated. The sensitivity and specificity of Prostascint imaging in   detection of extraprostatic disease was found to be 75% and   86% respectively, whereas the accuracy was found to be 81% and the positive predictive of Prostascint imaging in   detection of extraprostatic disease was found to be 79%. Thus, the study by Hinke et al (1998) shows that In-111 capromab pendetide (Prostascint) imaging has emerged as a promising diagnostic tool for detecting prostate cancer by having a significant impact on patient management through its detection of occult extra-prostatic disease in more than 50% of prostate carcinoma patients studied, and information regarding the presence of lymph node metastasis. It also shows that Prostascint imaging serves as a reliable, noninvasive means of differentiating patients with organ-confined disease from those with metastatic spread to lymph nodes and complements other modalities including prostate specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score, and clinical staging. Since Prostascint imaging can help predict the future involvement of lymph nodes in patients at high risk for extraprostatic disease it can therefore help in the selection of patients who may not benefit from definitive local therapy in form of surgery or radiotherapy. Patients with rising levels of PSA following prostatectomy Despite the ability of radical prostatectomy to eradicate prostate carcinoma, biochemical evidence of recurrent prostate carcinoma, in form of elevation in the serum PSA levels above the limit of detection may be seen in approximately 40% of patients, 15 years after they undergo surgery. The PSA test may become positive many years prior to a change in the bone scan or before the emergence of clinical evidence of recurrence (Neal Kelly, 2004). In more than 33% of cases the disease may recur locally in the prostatic fossa or regional lymph nodes or at distant sites. The presence of cancer recurrence requires further treatment in form of local salvage treatments or systemic therapy (Neal Kelly, 2004). Salvage therapy in form of external beam radiation may provide a therapeutic benefit only to those patients who have a localized recurrence. On the other hand, systemic therapy like hormonal therapy is usually recommended for patients with disseminated disease (lymphatic or metastatic spread) (Neal Kelly, 2004). Traditionally, most patients who show elevated serum levels of PSA post-surgically undergo a computed tomography (CT) scan of abdomen and pelvis or bone scintigraphy. The detection of tumor deposits on CT scans is size dependent i.e. the size of the tumor deposits should be more than 10–15 mm prior to detection. Further more, CT scan is not able to differentiate whether the lymph node is enlarged due to the presence of inflammation or metastasis (Neal Kelly, 2004). Thus the finding of radiographically enlarged lymph nodes is not diagnostic of carcinoma. Recurrence of prostate cancer after radiotherapy presents several challenges for the clinician regarding appropriate management. It is of utmost importance to identify correctly those patients with persistent localized disease and the potential to benefit from curative therapy (Keane et al, 2003). The localization of the extent of recurrent disease after radical prostatectomy is especially important for patients showing rising levels of PSA after prostatectomy and are being considered for salvage radiation therapy. However this is difficult with presently available techniques and may greatly influence subsequent clinical management (Raj, Partin, Polasiik, 2002). Prostascint imaging would greatly help in providing solution to this problem. Patients showing a positive result with radioimmunoscintigraphy, demonstrating that the cases with disease spread outside the pelvis can be spared inappropriate treatment, with radiotherapy, thus helps in reducing the associated morbidity and expense (Keane et al, 2006). Raj et al (2002) conducted a study to determine the use of indium- 111 labelled Prostascint imaging to detect recurrent prostate carcinoma radiographically in men with early biochemical evidence of failure (serum PSA levels less than or equal to 4.0 ng/mL) and tried to assess the minimum rise in serum PSA level, which would be necessary for imaging recurrent disease. Preoperatively, all patients had negative bone scans and negative lymph nodes on histopathological biopsy, and they did not undergo   any therapy including   hormonal ablation, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy preoperatively or postoperatively until the (111)In labeled Prostascint imaging was performed. The results of this study demonstrated that the Prostascint imaging is capable of detecting recurrent disease irrespective of level of serum PSA increase. Postive results on prostascint imaging were associated with significant increase in the probability of having recurrent disease. Furthermore 42.8% of patients demonstrated regional uptake in prostatic fossa with or without regional lymph nodes. Almost one-third of patients (30.6%) had local uptake only in the prostatic fossa. These results are in agreement with the known fact that one-third of prostate tumors that recur after prostate surgery occurs locally within the prostatic bed. Thus a positive Prostascint scan results can help classify the patients into two clinically useful categories, i.e.   those with local disease and those with distant recurrent disease, which are candidates for subsequent salvage treatment protocols. Challenges associated with the use of Prostascint imaging   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Imaging with indium In-111 capromab pendetide is technically challenging, requiring high degree of attention to anatomical details, which is not normally necessary with most nuclear medicine studies. The image quality of Prostascint imaging is observed to widely vary among different institutions depending on the method of image acquisition, the skills of the interpreting radiologist, and the resolution of cameras used for SPECT scanning (Wong, Turkington, Polascik, Coleman, 2004). Thus Prostascint imaging requires special training of the involved health care professionals in the field of nuclear medicine, utilizing this technique. Interpretation of the images requires the nuclear medicine physician to become familiar with detailed anatomy of the pelvis in order to read through the normal uptake patterns seen with this drug. On being given sufficient training and experience, the study can become routine for most nuclear medicine departments. Some of the limitations associated with the use of Prostascint scan include, relatively low spatial resolution and low detection efficiency of medium-energy collimators used in the past for detection of In-111 photo peaks; nonspecific localization of monoclonal antibodies in the blood, bowel, bone marrow, and prostate gland and lack of anatomic information on the part of the radiologist to localize accumulation of radiotracer (Wong et al, 2004). In order to improve upon the image quality, diagnostic accuracy and to discover a practical and efficient method of imaging, free from the above described problems, increasing degree of research has been done to improve image resolution. Over the past 5 years, significantly greater image resolution from improved camera technology and the use of co-registration to fuse functional images provided by radioimmunoscintigraphy with anatomic imaging scans such as CT or MRI (Wong, et al 2004). The fusion of these images helps in fusion of anatomical image (obtained on CT or MRI) and physiological image (obtained through Prostascint imaging), thereby considerably improving the resolution of fused image. Keane et al (2006) have reported an accuracy of 83% with fused images. The use of dual-head gamma cameras with a much higher resolution, to co-register the functional single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) image and an anatomic image (CT or MRI) has also made a dramatic difference in prostate cancer detection with the Prostascint imaging (Keane, (2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wong et al (2004) conducted a study in which they tried to improve the diagnostic accuracy of this examination by using hybrid gamma camera–CT technology. Imaging was performed on a dual-head scanner with an integrated CT scanner built onto the same rotating gantry as the camera heads (for SPECT scanning). Wong et al reached the conclusion that evaluation of extraprostatic disease in the pelvis and lower abdomen may also be facilitated by the combined SPECT-CT images. However, the sample size of this study was too small to reach any definitive conclusion. In future, larger well designed, randomized controlled studies are required in order to definitely prove the advantage of this type of scanning in comparison to conventional Prostascint imaging. Safety and precautions Certain precautions which must be observed at the time of Prostascint imaging as   highlighted in a study by Raj et al (2002) are as follows: Prior investigations have demonstrated that 111In-capromab pendetide immunoscintigraphy is safe, with mild adverse effects and minimal increase in the levels of antibodies directed against murine antibody levels (Raj et al, 2002). There is a theoretical risk for occurrence of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in patients who receive murine antibodies. Although serious reactions of this type have not been observed in clinical trials after administration of Indium In-111 Prostascint, Raj et al (2002) have suggested that emergency medications for the treatment of anaphylactic reactions should be available during admin ­istration of this agent. confirmatory trials in the future Due to difficulties in image interpretation, Prostascint imaging is associated with high rate rates of false positive and false negative image interpretation results.   Thus patient management should not be solely based on ProstaScint scan results without appropriate phase three confirmatory trials in the future. Positive Prostascint scan results should be followed by further confirmatory tests (e.g. histopathological analysis). Also these images should be interpreted only by physicians who have had specific training in Indium In-111 Prostascint image interpretation. High False positive scan rates associated with Prostascint may be detrimental to patient care by resulting in inappropriate surgical intervention in patients who had been cured of their primary cancer and have no cancer recurrence. On the other hand, inappropriate denial of curative therapy may occur in case results are not confirmed. Positive Prostascint scanning can also result in inappropriately high stage on sur ­gical staging if only areas of uptake are sam ­pled. Surgical sampling should not be limited to the areas of positive uptake, unless histologic examination Of these areas has yielded positive results Bone scans are more sensitive than Prostascint scanning for the detection of metastases to bone. Thus Prostascint scanning should not replace bone scan for the evaluation of skeletal metastases. Prostascint imaging involves use of radiopharmaceuticals, which must be used only by physicians and other health care professionals who are qualified for handling and using radionuclides. Care should be taken to minimize radiation exposure to patients and medical per ­sonnel, consistent with proper hospital and patient management procedures. Due to delayed clearance of In- 111 Prostascint and post scan localization in the bowel, blood , kidneys, and bladder, most researchers suggest that bladder   should be catheterized and irrigated when obtaining SPECT images. A cathartic must also be administered the evening before imaging the patient, and a cleansing enema should be administered within an hour prior to each imaging session. Conclusion From the above discussion it becomes apparent that Prostascint imaging using indium In-111 capromab pendetide offers important additional information to physicians who treat and manage prostate carcinoma patients. In the patients with primary disease, prostascint imaging should be considered after a definitive diagnosis of cancer has been made, prior to surgery or radiation therapy, when there is high risk for pelvic lymph node metastasis. Prostascint imaging serves as   a reliable, noninvasive means of differentiating patients with organ-confined disease from those with metastatic spread to lymph nodes and complements other indicators of metastatic disease like PSA, Gleason score etc. A positive Prostascint scan serves as an indicator for undertaking confirmatory studies  Ã‚   (biopsy of involved sites) prior to initiation of a definitive surgical procedure. In the modern era, high quality fused images (with CT or MRI) obtained from using higher-resolution gamma cameras, have confirmed the value of radioimmunoscintigraphy. However well designed randomized controlled trials in future are required to prove the exact clinical role of Prostascint imaging in cases of prostate cancer. References Hinke, G.H., Burgers, J.K., Neal, C.E., Texer, J.H., Kahn, D., Williams, R.D., et al. (1998). Multicenter radioimmunoscintigraphic evaluation of patients with prostate carcinoma using indium-111 capromab pendetide. Cancer, 83(4), 739-747. Jemal, A., Tiwari, R.C., Murray, T., Ghafoor, A., Samuels, A., Ward, E. et al (2004).   Cancer Statistics, 2004. Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 54, 8-29. Keane, T.E.,   Rosner, I.L., Wingo, M.S.,    McLeod, D. J. (2006). The Emergence of Radioimmunoscintigraphy for Prostate Cancer. Reviews in Urology, 8 (Suppl 1), S20–S28. Neal, D.E., Kelly, J.D.(2004). The prostate and seminal vesicles. In Russell, R.C.G., Williams, N. S., Bulstrode (Eds.), C.J.K.Bailey and Love Short Practice of Surgery. 24th Edition. (pp. 1370-1387). London: Oxford University Press. Raj, G.V., Partin, A.W., Polasiik, T.J. (2002). Clinical utility of indium 111-capromab   pendetide immunoscintigraphy in the detection of early, recurrent prostate carcinoma after radical prostatectomy. Cancer, 94(4), 987-96. Wolfgang, Dahnert. 2003. Radiology review manual: Nuclear medicine. 5th Edition.   Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Willikins: (pp.1080). Wong, T.Z., Turkington, T.G., Polascik, T.J., Coleman, R.E. (2005). Prostascint   (Capromab Pendetide) Imaging Using Hybrid Gamma Camera–CT Technology. AJR, 184, 676-680.

Dominant Theories Of Neorealism And Neoliberal Institutionalism Politics Essay

Dominant Theories Of Neorealism And Neoliberal Institutionalism Politics Essay 1. While neorealism and neoliberal institutionalism are now considered the dominant theories in international relations, neorealism can be viewed as the more dominant of the two because it more accurately portrays state behavior from a positivist standpoint. Unlike neoliberalism which can only adequately explain the economic relations of nations, neorealism is able to explain how states react to one another in terms of security affairs. Quite empirically, neorealism argues that states only act in its own interest vis a vis the material structural incentives of the international system (Griffiths, OCallaghan and Roach 282). How states behave is reflected upon how they are also positioned in a hierarchy within the international system. In the end, states will behave in a manner that allows them to improve, or at the very least, maintain their positions in the hierarchy. The more powerful states are likely to be more influential in deciding the fate of global affairs while the weaker st ates will have relatively less say on matters of international import. Therefore, among neorealists, how the international system is divided is dependent on how the capabilities of states are distributed. The international system is essentially a system of anarchy. States pursue maximum utility in order to achieve their interests. From the neorealists point of view, states need the same things but are not equally capable of meeting their needs. For instance, states in the North American continent are relatively well-positioned economically than states in Africa. A consequence of the disparate capabilities between the states from both regions is that their cooperation is limited since partnerships will end up either in dependence or exploitation. On another note, the more affluent states engage in cooperation and competition to maximize relative gains and power. This desire and the ability to maximize power on the part of states results in what is called balance of power. Neorealists believe that the unequal positions of states in the international system gives rise to a security dilemma where states struggle to balance power either by 1) building more powerful armies and increasing mi litary spending, and 2) forging regional alliances or diplomatic ties with other states to check more powerful nations. Neorealists are able to characterize the distribution of power in the international system based on capabilities of nations: unipolar (a singular power), bipolar (two great powers), and multipolar (more than two powers). The establishment of European Union, for instance, is an attempt to balance power and promote a multipolar world in a present unipolar system ruled by the United States of America. On the other hand, neoliberal institutionalism uses positivism to explain why states cooperate and why they do not cooperate with each other. Using game theory as its method of analysis, neoliberal institutionalists explain that behavior of states depends on their analysis of gains and losses. States are interested in cooperating only with states and institutions that can deliver mutual gains and profitable arrangements. Neoliberalism responds to the neorealist conception of the international system as anarchic. While it does not contest or deny this, neoliberalism purports that this is exaggeration. Neoliberals contend that states do not compete all the time and that cooperative behavior among states is possible if the international system is decentralized. Leaning on the classic liberal view of the state as a rational and self-interested actor, states, when allowed to compete fairly in a decentralized environment, are able to maximize their relative gains in power and resources. 2. Neoliberalism and neorealism are considered modern interpretations of the classic positivist theories on international relations. While different in some conceptions of state behavior, both theories are complementary and mutually enforcing. They more alike than different; both theories are rooted in the explanation of international relations using the state as primary unit of analysis. They cannot be considered alternative theories to international relations, merely, a modern version of the traditional positivist view of IR. In some ways, neorealism and neoliberalism contradict but they are essentially mutually reinforcing interpretations of international relations. Both recognize anarchy in IR but at different extents. The neorealist believes that the global system is anarchic by nature and that the main preoccupation of states is how to ensure their survival. Thus, whatever alliances and cooperation is forged among nations is hinged upon the need to survive. Other states, like North Korea, rely on their own processes of survival, even violating international law to ensure that it is not crushed by the more powerful states. Its concept of balance of power requires it to develop its own nuclear problem to deter threat. If states do not recognize anarchy, they will be weakened. From a neorealist perspective, international cooperation is illusory, if not outright impossible to achieve. Neoliberal institutionalism recognizes that there is anarchy but there are creative ways to go about it, such as the building of regimes or institutions to mitigate anarchy. Neoliberals value the existence of international institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, and other international regimes that ensure mutually beneficial relations among nations. The WTO for instance, sets norms and rules for global trade. The UN acts as an arbiter of international conflict. 3. Marxism remains of the most relevant theories that provide alternative explanations to international relations. First of all, departing from the traditional realist and liberal view of the state as the fundamental unit of analysis, Marxism treats class as the unit of analysis. Marxism argues that the international system was established to protect the property interests of the upper classes and the most affluent states. Hence, the struggle in the international system is essentially a class struggle between rich and powerful nations and the exploited nations. Variants of Marxist theory of international relations include the world-systems theory, dependency theory, and neo-Marxism. Marxism divides the world not into political entities but economic classes. Using its analysis of the base and superstructure, Marxism contends that economics supersedes politics in the global order. International relations was developed by the capitalist class to ensure capital accumulation of wealthy corporations and affluent states. The world-systems theory developed by Wallersten argues that the world can be divided into economic classes: 1) First World represents the most affluent or the core, and 2) Third World represents the poorest and underdeveloped or the periphery. According to the world-systems theory, only the core countries are able to benefit from international relations because they own the means of production while the periphery countries are exploited. The dependency theory which grew popular in Latin America propose that the poor countries (classes) are transformed into mere source of cheap labor and raw materials, hence, keeping them utterly dependent on affluent nations. International institutions such as the WTO are said to perpetuate this inequality. To resist this unequal relations, Marxists argue for protectionism and economic control policies that will liberate them from the control of the global economic regime, including import substitution to replace export-based economic models. Work Cited Griffiths, Martin, OCallaghan, Terry, and Steven Roach. International relations: the key concepts. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge, 2002.

Jasmine Essay -- essays papers

Jasmine Bharati Mukherjee was born on July 27, 1940 in Calcutta, India. (Pradhan ) She was born into a wealthy family, which assisted her in her dream of becoming a writer. She lived in India, Europe, the United States, and Canada. Migrating to these countries that are so different from her place of birth enabled her to write very powerful novels on immigrant experiences. Mukherjee’s novels focus on exploring the migration and the feeling of alienation that is experienced by these immigrants. (Pradhan) Her works have explored such themes as isolation, sexism, discrimination, the mistreatment of Indian women, and exploring identities. In Bharati Mukherjee’s novel Jasmine, the character shows some similarities to the author, but there are many differences. Both were born in India, but Jasmine was not born into wealth. Jasmine does not have the same resources as Bharati, so it is harder for her to leave her home and to migrate to the United States. One of the similarities between Jasmine and the author is their drive to go after what they want and to not stop until they get it. Bharati’s drive is to become a writer, and Jasmine’s is to go to the United States. Another similarity is their struggle to find their identity when they migrate to the United States. This is one of the major themes in Jasmine. One important aspect about the novel Jasmine is that it is not written in chronological order. The novel is written as though the main character is remembering events out of sequence. The author employed this method of writing quite efficiently. It was not entirely confusing and it set a mood of anticipation of what is to come. The novel starts out when Jasmine is a young girl in India. She is consulting an astrol... ...arries his child. This is evidence that she is steering further away from her Indian values. Someone may say that Jasmine is about a victim struggling in America or that it is about an immigrant who has assimilated herself into becoming an American. I think it is a little bit of both. I think that the main theme of this novel is exploring identities. Jasmine’s struggle in America and her immigrant experience force her to explore within herself and to discover what she is capable of doing in life. Jasmine has many stages in her life. Even her name changes throughout the novel, becoming more American, which corresponded to the stages in her life. Jasmine went through a metamorphoses in this novel in which she had to suffer many terrible and some wonderful events in order to become the person that she is at the end of the novel when she leaves Bud to be with Taylor.

Michael Henchard’s life is a series Essay

Michael Henchard’s life is a series of terrible disasters, which leads to self destruction. However, deciding whether Michael Henchard is responsible for his own downfall and to what extent is something which needs a lot of deliberation before getting an answer. There are different factors which need to be looked at before deciding this, such as whether it was Henchard’s fault, or whether he could have stopped the disaster from happening. The only way to determine whether or not Henchard is totally responsible for his own downfall is to look at each disaster which occurs in the novel and then see whether he could have prevented it or not. Starting directly from the beginning, the novel begins with Michael Henchard travelling with his wife and daughter and then stopping at a furmity tent for some food. Michael straight away decided that he wanted some rum in his furmity. â€Å"He winked to her, and passed up his basin in reply to her nod; when she took a bottle from under the table, slily measured out a quantity of its contents, and tipped the same into the man’s furmity. The liquor poured in was rum. † He soon got drunk after several helpings of it and when his wife tried to quieten him a little. He then began to ramble about how better off he would be without her. â€Å"I married at eighteen, like the fool that I was; and this is the consequence o’t. † It is clear to the audience that Henchard is a rude and careless character. Henchard’s attitude and behaviour is influenced by alcohol, and it appears to the audience that his wife, Susan is aware of this. â€Å"†¦ his wife, who seemed accustomed to such remarks, acted as if she did not hear them†¦ † The scene is set for a foreboding novel when Hardy expresses his feelings about nature and mankind in the first part of the novel. He compares nature and mankind. â€Å"In contrast with the harshness of the act just ended within the tent was the sight of several horses crossing necks and rubbing each other lovingly, as they waited in patience to be harnessed†¦ † After Michael spending his evening drinking rum, he began auctioning his wife to anybody who would buy her. A sailor offered Michael Henchard 5 guineas for both hi wife and daughter. Michael would not sell them for any less. Susan gave Henchard one last chance to say he didn’t mean it before she left with the sailor as it wasn’t a joke no more. â€Å"A joke? Of course it is not a joke! † Shouted her husband. With this his wife and daughter left with the successful bidder. Michael Henchard losing his wife and child was the first disaster. This disaster was without a doubt Michael’s fault. He had decided to have rum with his furmity, even though he had had it before, knowing that he makes him drunk, and he knew he had tried to sell his wife before. He should have known not to have too much, if any liquor, and because he chose to do so in the knowledge that he has a bit of a drinking problem, this makes the whole disaster hid fault. I do not think that any blame can be passed onto his wife. Susan felt the contempt that Michael had for her. Henchard shows he has integrity once sober, when he later regrets selling his wife and daughter and goes to search for her. â€Å"Well I must walk about till I find her†¦ † This shows a positive side to Henchard, for taking the time to recover the mistake he made. He also made an oath not to drink for 21 years, due to his hideous behaviour the previous night. In contrast to this, he later blames Susan for his atrocious attitude and behaviour and appears very angry at her. â€Å"†¦ seize her, why didn’t she know better than being me into this disgrace! † He roared out. † In the next part of the novel, Susan finds Henchard as a successful businessman as mayor of a small town called Castorbridge. â€Å"Mr. Henchard- now habited no longer as a great personage, but as a thriving business man. † Henchard has worked hard and had a lot of determination to get to where he is now. He needs to continue being successful and hard working in order to prevent his own downfall, as Henchard has much more to lose now. Henchard meets a Scottish man called Donald Farfrae by accident but takes a liking to him and employs him in order to increase his wealth. Farfrae has inventive machines which are useful to trade. â€Å"†¦ it is true that I am in the corn trade†¦ I have some inventions useful to the trade†¦ † Farfrae appears to be a helpful, kind, gentleman, who is willing to help and is a good citizen. Hardy describes how the town of Castorbridge have already taken a liking to Farfrae. The audience can view Henchard’s jealousy of Farfrae. â€Å"By this time he had completely taken possession of the hearts of the Three Mariner’s inmates. † After 19 years ‘Henchard’s daughter’, Elizabeth-Jane returns with a message from his wife Susan. Henchard is over-whelmed to see EJ again. He shows her around his beautiful home and makes her feel very welcome. He is highly surprised to hear that his wife whom he had sold many years ago remains alive. â€Å"Oh— Susan is— still alive? † He asked with difficulty. By Hardy expressing how Henchard speaks about Susan reflects his true feelings for her. Henchard doesn’t necessarily love Susan still, but he does show contempt for her towards EJ. Henchard informs Farfrae of his disastrous past when he sold his wife and child EJ. â€Å"Well, I lost my wife nineteen years ago or so -by my own fault†¦ † By Henchard admitting to doing something wrong shows he has integrity again. By Henchard being completely honest with his business partner, the audience see the positive side to him come out again. Henchard’s downfall continues from his relationship with Farfrae. Hardy describes the liking Henchard has for Farfrae. This is used to make Henchard’s downfall look bigger than if Henchard wasn’t so involved and close to Farfrae. Henchard and Susan are not lovers anymore and Susan meets him at the ‘ring’, an amphitheatre near Castorbridge which Hardy describes as,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ seldom had place in the amphitheatre, that of happy lovers. † Even though Susan and Henchard are not close anymore, Henchard shows sensitivity towards Susan and begins their conversation in a peculiar way. â€Å"I don’t drink anymore. † This is Henchard wanting to prove a point to Susan that he regrets what he did, by telling her that he now feels responsible for his actions shows a positive side to Henchard. Susan and EJ see a lot more of Henchard and after a while EJ becomes closer to Michael and spends more time with him than she does her mother. As the bond grows between the two, Henchard requests for EJ’s name to be changed to Miss. Henchard in its place of Miss. Newson. â€Å"Now, Susan, I want to have her called Miss. Henchard- not Miss. Newson†¦ it is her legal name-so it may as well be made her usual name- I don’t like t’other name at all for my own flesh and blood†¦. She won’t object. † â€Å"No. O no. But-† â€Å"Well, then, I shall do it,† said he, peremptorily. The audience see a stubborn and self-centred side to Michael here. In contrast to this the audience can also see how much Henchard wants EJ to become part of his family again by name. This again shows that he is sorry for what he done. Michael seems rather pushy towards Susan. Susan is slightly hesitant about the whole situation. Taking a situation like this upon himself, without his wife actually agreeing is very selfish of Henchard. The audience notices Susan’s hesitance and begin to sense an explanation for this. Hardy includes another character Abel Whittle in order to illustrate the variation in character between Henchard and Farfrae. Abel is employed by Henchard and when Abel is late Henchard uses an insensitive approach on Whittle. Quite the reverse to this Farfrae shows a more kind and gentle approach towards him. This sparks jealousy of Henchard on Farfrae. A sense of disruption in their relationship occurs and the audience can see the beginning of Henchard’s downfall. Henchard also becomes jealous of Farfrae when he begins to bond with EJ. Henchard doesn’t want to run the risk of losing EJ therefore dispenses with Farfrae. â€Å"Mr. Farfrae’s time as my manager is drawing to a close- isn’t it Farfrae? † He did this because he loves EJ, but he also wants to keep his good name and does not wish for Farfrae to take over everything. Hardy is clever, in the way he creates the characters Henchard and Farfrae. He makes Henchard’s character the complete opposite to that of Farfrae. This gives the audience a great understanding and knowledge of each character; therefore they’re able to predict what will occur after each turning point to each character. Henchard realises he is in yet another disaster. Michael had not too long before his wife and daughter had found him, spent the night with a woman called Lucetta. He had then promised to marry her so she can keep her virtue. He did this thinking that Susan and EJ had died. This of course means he cannot marry Lucetta. Susan becomes to unwell to leave her bed, therefore Henchard and EJ are expected to look after her. In the mean time Lucetta tells Henchard she wants her letters back, and that she wishes to meet him at the antelope hotel. â€Å"†¦ I shall be in the coach, which changes horses at the antelope hotel at half past five on Wednesday evening; I shall be wearing a Paisley shawl with a red centre, and this may be easily found. I should prefer this plan of receiving them to having them send. – I remain still, yours ever. ‘LUCETTA’ â€Å". Hardy includes a lot of specific description in Lucetta’s letter, which shows a strong character to Lucetta. Thomas Hardy has a strong point of putting across the personalities of characters to the audience. Michael is in a bit of a tricky situation here, with Susan too ill to get out of bed, and Lucetta requesting to see him. Henchard has put himself in this mess in the first place, by assuming that Susan and EJ were dead. On the other hand Henchard shows positive again by being honest with Lucetta, informing her of the unexpected arrival of his ‘who he thought was dead’ wife and child. When the traumatic death of Mrs. Henchard occurs, the lonely sad life of Michael Henchard appears. The only person he now cares about and has got left is Elizabeth Jane. EJ has lost her mother and Henchard wants EJ to know who her father is. EJ is originally shocked at what she has just heard but then settles nicely and begins called him dad. The next catastrophe which happens, Henchard walks straight into himself. Susan left a letter in an envelope for Henchard stating â€Å"Not to be opened until the wedding of EJ†. The audience immediately know that Henchard will open the letter by the anxious character which Hardy has created. EJ isn’t really Henchard’s daughter. Henchard feels that fate is against him and he begins to feel separated from EJ. Without Henchard’s eagerness and self-concerned attitude towards everything, Henchard would be able to continue his happy life with his daughter, oblivious to the fact that she isn’t his own. Hardy’s efforts to put across the personality of Michael Henchard at the beginning of the novel are very successful. Throughout the novel Henchard’s downfall has just increased by the day. The language used at the beginning of the novel is exceptionally descriptive. First impressions of Henchard are positive from reading the first page. The negative side begins to show when he reaches the furmity tent. By chapter 31 Hardy shows that Henchard has sunk socially and financially. He has to go and live with Joshua Jopp and refuses to see anyone. â€Å"Socially he had received a startling fillip downwards; and, having already lost commercial buoyancy from rash transactions, the velocity of his descent in both aspects became accelerated every hour. † Farfrae and EJ decide to get married. Henchard shows integrity by attending but EJ just can’t forgive Henchard for what he did and walks away form him. He bought a goldfinch as a wedding present, which Hardy uses as a symbol of Henchard’s life. Some people may have different opinions on why Henchard went downhill. Some people may put it down to fate. Others may think that Henchard is entirely responsible for all that happened. Hardy leaves this decision quite widely open. Henchard’s character has an extreme effect on other people and how their lives are lived, especially EJ’s.

Periodic Classification of Elements

Periodic Classification of Elements Classification of Elements according to electron configuration ( type of subshell being filled) *valence electrons –outer electrons of atom which are those involved in chemical bonding ; accounts for similarities in chemical behavior among elemens within each of this groups * Representative elements/ Main Group elements * Group 1A-7A * Incompletely filled s/ p subshells Display a wide range of physical and chemical properties * Most reactive and most predictable with respect to periodic properties * most abundant elements on the earth, in the solar system, and in the universe * Group number equals the number of electrons in the highest / outermost energy level H  Ã‚  Ã‚  1s1| Li  Ã‚  Ã‚  2s1| Na  Ã‚  Ã‚  3s1| * Noble Gases * Group 8A * Completely filled p subshell (exc. He) * Great stability * Except krypton and xenon, elements in noble gases are totally inert chemically * The noble gases are all found in minute quantities in the atmos phere, and are isolated by fractional distillation of liquid air. helium| 1s2| neon| [He]2s22p6| argon| [Ne]3s23p6| * Transition Metals * Group 1B and 3B-8B * Incompletely filled d subshells * Readily produce cations * ductile and malleable, and conduct electricity and heat * exhibit several common oxidation states * Less predictable properties * 2B (Zinc, Mercury etc. )- neither representative elements nor transition metals * Transition metal compounds are  paramagnetic  when they have one or more unpaired  d  electrons. Sc 4s23d1| Ti 4s23d2| V 4s23d3| * Inner Transition Metals Lanthanides/rare earth series- Follow lanthanum Actinides- follow actinium; most of these elements are not found in nature but have been synthesized * Incompletely filled f subshells * Cerium: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p66s24f2 Praseodymium:1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s24d105p66s24f3 Electron Configurations of Cations and Anions Ions derived from Representative Elements Cation- electrons removed Anion- electrons added Isoelectronic – ions or atoms and ions that have the same number of electrons, and hence the same ground state electron configuration Cations derived from transition Metals Prepared By: Monina Te

Life and Work of Maud Lewis, Canadian Folk Artist

Life and Work of Maud Lewis, Canadian Folk Artist Maud Lewis (March 7, 1903 – July 30,  1970) was a 20th-century Canadian folk artist. With a focus on subjects in nature and ordinary life and a folk style of painting, she became one of the best-known artists in Canadian history. Fast Facts: Maud Lewis Occupation: Painter and folk artistBorn: March 7, 1903 in South Ohio, Nova Scotia, CanadaDied: July 30, 1970 in Digby, Nova Scotia, CanadaParents: John and Agnes DowleySpouse: Everett LewisKey Accomplishments: Despite physical limitations and poverty, Lewis became a beloved folk artist, known for her brightly colored paintings of animals, flowers, and outdoor scenes.Quote:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I paint all from memory, I don’t copy much. Because I don’t go nowhere, I just make my own designs up.† Early Life Born Maud Kathleen Dowley in South Ohio,  Nova Scotia, Lewis was the only daughter of John and Agnes Dowley. She had one brother, Charles, who was older than her. Even as a child, she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, which limited her movements, even down to her hands. Despite this, she began making art at an early age under the tutelage of her mother, who taught her to paint watercolor Christmas cards, which she then sold. Maud dealt with multiple physical disabilities that left her hunched over. At the age of fourteen, she dropped out of school for unknown reasons, although it is possible that the bullying of her classmates (due to her visible birth defects) was at least partially at fault. Family and Marriage As a young woman, Maud became romantically involved with a man named Emery Allen, but they never married. In 1928, however, she gave birth to their daughter, Catherine. Allen abandoned Maud and their daughter, and they instead continued to live with her parents. Because Maud had no income and no means to support her child, a court required Catherine to be placed up for adoption. Later in life, an adult Catherine (now married with a family of her own and still living in Nova Scotia) attempted to get in touch with her mother; she was never successful in her attempts. Maud’s parents died within two years of each other: her father in 1935 and her mother in 1937. Her brother Charles inherited everything, and while he allowed his sister to live with him for a short while, she soon moved to Digby, Nova Scotia, to live with her aunt. In late 1937, Maud answered an advertisement placed by Everett Lewis, a fish peddler from Marshalltown, who was seeking a live-in housekeeper. While she was unable to perform her job well, due to the advancement of her arthritis, Maud and Everett married in January 1938. Painting Every Surface The painted interior of Maud Lewis home, as it is preserved in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.   Courtesy of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. The Lewises lived mostly in poverty, but Everett did encourage his wife’s painting – especially once he realized they could make a small profit. He procured  painting supplies  for her, and she then accompanied him on selling trips, starting with small cards like those she had painted as a child and eventually expanding to other, larger media. She even painted nearly every suitable surface in their small home, from typical sites such as walls to more unconventional ones (including their stove). Because canvas was difficult to come by (and expensive), Maud worked on beaver boards (made of compressed wood fibers) and Masonite, among other things. These smaller items, early in her career or for personal use, were full of bright colors and designs of flowers, birds, and leaves. This aesthetic would carry over into her later work as well. Early Sales Maud Lewis,  White Cat (2), 1960s, oil on pulpboard, 31.1 x 33.8 cm. Collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, gift of Johanna Hickey, Vancouver, BC, 2006.   Maud’s paintings, throughout her career, focused on scenes and items out of her own life, experiences, and surroundings. Animals appeared frequently, mostly domestic or farm animals such as cows, oxen, cats, and birds. She also portrayed outdoor scenes: boats on the water, winter sleigh or skating scenes, and similar moments of ordinary life, often with a playful and cheerful tone. The greeting cards of her youth came back again, this time as inspiration for her later paintings. Bright, pure colors are a hallmark of her paintings; in fact, she was known to never blend colors, but only use the oils as they came originally in their tubes. Most of her paintings are quite small, not exceeding eight by ten inches. This is mostly due to the constraints of her arthritis: she could only paint as far as she could move her arms, which was increasingly limited. However, there are a few of her paintings that are larger than that, and she was commissioned to paint a large set of shutters by American cottage owners in the early 1940s. Gaining Wider Attention Maud Lewis,  Fall Scene with Deer,  c. 1950, oil on pulpboard, 29.5 x 34.9 cm. Collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, purchase 1974. During her lifetime, Maud’s paintings did not sell for large amounts. By the late 1940s, tourists had begun to stop at the Lewises’ home to purchase her paintings, but they rarely sold for more than a few dollars. In fact, they wouldn’t sell for even close to ten dollars until the final years of her life. The Lewises continued to live a meager existence, with Everett taking on the lion’s share of work around the house as Maud’s arthritis continued to degenerate her mobility. Despite the attention of the occasional tourist, Lewis’s work remained fairly obscure for the majority of her life. All that changed in 1964, when the Toronto-based national newspaper  Star Weekly  wrote an article about her as a folk artist and brought her to the attention of audience across Canada, who quickly embraced her and her work. The attention only increased the following year, when the broadcasting network CBC featured her on its program  Telescope, which featured Canadians of varying degrees of notoriety who had made a difference in some way. In the final years of her life and following these major public mentions, Lewis was on the receiving end of commissions from a wide array of important figures – most notably, American president  Richard Nixon  commissioned a pair of paintings from her. She never left her home in Nova Scotia and was unable to keep up with the demand for artwork. Death and Legacy Maud Lewis,  Maud Lewis House, mixed media, 4.1 x 3.8 m. Collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, purchased by the Province of Nova Scotia, 1984.   Maud’s health continued to deteriorate, and in the late 1960s, she spent most of her shuttling between painting in her home and visiting the hospital for treatment. Her declining health was exacerbated by the wood smoke of their home and the constant exposure to paint fumes without proper ventilation, and the lung issues this caused left her susceptible to pneumonia. She died on July 30, 1970, after battling pneumonia. After her death, demand for her paintings skyrocketed, as did the appearance of forgeries. Several paintings purported to be Maud’s were eventually proven to be fakes; many are suspected to be the handiwork of her husband Everett in an attempt to continue cashing in on her prominence. In recent years, Maud’s paintings have only grown more valuable. She has become something of a folk hero in her home province of Nova Scotia, which has long embraced artists with authenticity and unusual styles, and in Canada as a whole. In the 21st  century, her paintings have sold at prices well into five figures. After Everett’s death in 1979, the Lewises’ house began to fall into disrepair. In 1984, it was purchased by the Province of Nova Scotia, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia took over the care and preservation of the house. It now dwells in the gallery as part of a permanent exhibit of Maud’s works. Her paintings have made her a folk hero among the Canadian art community, and the bright joyfulness of her style, combined with the humble, often harsh realities of her life, have resonated with patrons and fans worldwide. Sources Bergman, Brian. â€Å"Paying Tribute To Painter Maud Lewis.†Ã‚  The Canadian Encyclopedia, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paying-tribute-to-painter-maud-lewis/Stamberg, Susan. â€Å"Home Is Where The Art Is: The Unlikely Story of Folk Artist Maud Lewis.†Ã‚  NPR, https://www.npr.org/2017/06/19/532816482/home-is-where-the-art-is-the-unlikely-story-of-folk-artist-maud-lewisWoolaver, Lance.  The Illuminated Life of Maud Lewis. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 1995.

Biography of Henrietta Muir Edwards

Biography of Henrietta Muir Edwards A legal expert, Henrietta Muir Edwards spent her long life advocating for the rights of women and children in Canada. Her accomplishments included opening, with her sister Amelia, the Working Girls Association, a forerunner of the YWCA. She helped found the National Council of Women of Canada and the Victorian Order of Nurses. She also published the first magazine for working women in Canada. She was 80 in 1929 when she and the other Famous Five women finally won the Persons Case which recognized the legal status of women as persons under the BNA Act, a milestone legal victory for Canadian women. Birth Dec. 18, 1849, in Montreal, Quebec Death Nov. 10, 1931, in Fort Macleod, Alberta Causes of Henrietta Muir Edwards Henrietta Muir Edwards supported many causes, especially those involving the legal and political rights of women in Canada. Some of the causes she promoted were temperanceraising the age of consentequal grounds for divorceequal parental rightsmothers allowancesreform of the prison system in Canada. The career of Henrietta Muir Edwards: In Montreal Henrietta Muir, with her sister Amelia, founded the Working Girls Association, a forerunner of the YWCA in 1875.She launched and edited Womens Work in Canada, the first Canadian magazine for working women.In 1883, Henrietta Muir Edwards moved with her husband and three children to Saskatchewan.She was involved with the Womans Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) from 1886.With Lady Aberdeen, the wife of the Governor General of Canada, Henrietta Muir Edwards started the National Council of Women in 1893. Henrietta Muir Edwards worked with the organization for more than 30 years.Again with Lady Aberdeen, Henrietta Muir Edwards helped found the Victorian Order of Nurses in 1897.Henrietta Muir Edwards and her family moved to Alberta in 1903.In 1908, Henrietta Muir Edwards compiled a summary of Canadian federal and provincial laws relating to women and children.She wrote handbooks on women and Canadian law - Legal Status of Women in Canada in 1917 and Legal Status of Women in Alb erta in 1921. Henrietta Muir Edwards was one of the Famous Five in the Persons Case which established the status of women as persons under the BNA Act in 1929. See Also: Emily MurphyNellie McClungLouise McKinneyIrene Parlby

A Cat, a Dog and a Snake

There was a trio that once loved their life. Their lives are splendid. Do not get me wrong, they are not three friends, but they are actually three living animals living in a luxurious house. They can not even look at each other. But this situation will change soon. The first animal I want to introduce to you is a cat called a cat. Cats are gray British short hair with yellow eyes at sunrise. Next, there is a dog called a dog. A dog is a Dalmatian dog looking at the Hudson River. Scholarships can be divided into gin. They are said to be ameba, birds, cats, dogs, snakes, donkeys, lions, goats - at least once, buffaloes - and other humans, usually beautiful women. Extreme weather can drive them away and big dogs can. They like many hours after sunset before sunrise. If there is no unmanned construction site on the outskirts of the city, you have to go to a ridiculous place, preferably a cemetery if possible. Each djinn has a name, you need to write it on a piece of paper and burn it wi th musk, saffron and incense. To see them, you have to trust them, Shah explained. So, how do you teach the difference between Jon Snow and a dog and a cat? This is very intuitive - you take him for a walk When you see the cat, you point out it and say This is a cat. So you point out it again and say This is a dog. As time goes on, you will learn to distinguish between the two so that you keep showing a lot of dogs and cats. Classification: It is necessary to classify observations into groups. In the above figure, if you attach a point, you need to classify it as a blue dot or a red dot. There are several examples - do you anticipate whether a given email is spam or spam? Is the detected particle Higgs particle or ordinary elementary particle particle? You can also assign news articles to groups such as sports, weather, science etc. Most people live for a while when they choose to keep pets. Some people choose strange animals such as birds, snakes, and rodents. But most people choos e more common quadruped animals: cats and dogs. Dogs and cats share some common features, but they are very different animals that have different attitudes, needs and customs. Understanding these differences can help people choose between which of them is their best pet. Both cats and dogs give friends and friends to their owners, but they also strain your time and finances. Cats and dogs are charged. Regardless of the type of pet you need to take care of the shooting and the veterinarian in order to maintain the health of the animal. As with all animals, dogs and cats are bored, so you need toys to occupy them. They all need to eat. Most importantly, cats and dogs need a lot of love and attention. A Cat, a Dog and a Snake There was a trio that once loved their life. Their lives are splendid. Do not get me wrong, they are not three friends, but they are actually three living animals living in a luxurious house. They can not even look at each other. But this situation will change soon. The first animal I want to introduce to you is a cat called a cat. Cats are gray British short hair with yellow eyes at sunrise. Next, there is a dog called a dog. A dog is a Dalmatian dog looking at the Hudson River. Scholarships can be divided into gin. They are said to be ameba, birds, cats, dogs, snakes, donkeys, lions, goats - at least once, buffaloes - and other humans, usually beautiful women. Extreme weather can drive them away and big dogs can. They like many hours after sunset before sunrise. If there is no unmanned construction site on the outskirts of the city, you have to go to a ridiculous place, preferably a cemetery if possible. Each djinn has a name, you need to write it on a piece of paper and burn it wi th musk, saffron and incense. To see them, you have to trust them, Shah explained. So, how do you teach the difference between Jon Snow and a dog and a cat? This is very intuitive - you take him for a walk When you see the cat, you point out it and say This is a cat. So you point out it again and say This is a dog. As time goes on, you will learn to distinguish between the two so that you keep showing a lot of dogs and cats. Classification: It is necessary to classify observations into groups. In the above figure, if you attach a point, you need to classify it as a blue dot or a red dot. There are several examples - do you anticipate whether a given email is spam or spam? Is the detected particle Higgs particle or ordinary elementary particle particle? You can also assign news articles to groups such as sports, weather, science etc. Most people live for a while when they choose to keep pets. Some people choose strange animals such as birds, snakes, and rodents. But most people choos e more common quadruped animals: cats and dogs. Dogs and cats share some common features, but they are very different animals that have different attitudes, needs and customs. Understanding these differences can help people choose between which of them is their best pet. Both cats and dogs give friends and friends to their owners, but they also strain your time and finances. Cats and dogs are charged. Regardless of the type of pet you need to take care of the shooting and the veterinarian in order to maintain the health of the animal. As with all animals, dogs and cats are bored, so you need toys to occupy them. They all need to eat. Most importantly, cats and dogs need a lot of love and attention.

Globalisation, Brands & Business Organisation Essay

Globalisation, Brands & Business Organisation - Essay Example It therefore follows that corporate branding is now a powerful method by which corporations can signal corporate social responsibility. This research study demonstrates that corporate social responsibility is an important feature of corporate social responsibility and as such branding creates pressure on corporations to implement greater corporate social responsibility practices. The main question is whether or not using corporate branding to improve corporate social responsibility is a sound financial decision for companies. Will consumers be moved to purchase branded products because they are linked to corporate social responsibility? Or should companies market their brands so as to influence consumer sentiments in favour of the social or ethical standard incorporated in the brand? In determining whether or not to incorporate CSR into corporate branding another relevant question is whether or not companies can strategically and effectively make the connection between a trademark an d CSR. These are the main questions considered in this research study. This study is therefore divided into two parts. The first part of this study offers a definition and explanation of the concepts and development of corporate social responsibility in the 21st century. The second part of this paper represents the main part of this study and analyses corporate branding and demonstrates its synergy with corporate social responsibility. The second part of the paper also demonstrates how corporate social responsibility is an important part of corporate branding and corporate reputation management. Introduction Corporate branding is an important strategy used by firms to remain current and meaningful or to respond to market changes. Corporate branding is driven by brand personality which reflects the values of the corporation.1 Thus corporate branding and brand personality connects the values of the corporation with consumers either directly or indirectly. In this regard, brands build corporate reputation and essentially require stakeholder management.2 Brands make promises and build trust and as such are just as effective for connecting the corporation with the community and stakeholders as corporate social responsibility (CSR) is.3 Brand value can measure corporate performance as a result of its combined commercial value, its ability to drive consumer demand and its strength in terms of building corporate reputation, loyalty and market position.4 It therefore follows that branding can be an important instrument for implementing CSR. However, there are a number of important issues worth considering. Firstly, the issue of whether or not trademarks or brands can be effectively used to connect specific aspects of CSR to the company behind the trademark or the brand is important for determining the feasibility of implementing CSR in corporate branding strategies. Secondly, the issue of whether or not corporations may have to market brands or trademarks so as to infl uence consumer loyalty to the CSR issue and thus the brand or trademark requires consideration. Thirdly, it is also important to determine the extent to which CSR influences consumers to purchase a brand connected to a social cause or issue. CSR is particularly important for today’

Interview of three business people Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Interview of three business people - Essay Example It has now taken him twenty-three years to build his career in this profession. Among the many organizations he has worked for is Vine Board Education where he held the position of Purchase order Director. His education background started with him joining BMCC where he attained his AAS degree in Business Management. Later on, he joined Glassboro State College for his Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing in the year 1978. His profession requires him to be very responsible in his duties and provide quality service to all students in the college. To be a good accountant, Mr. R emphasizes that good writing skills, coupled with basic bachelor’s level education is necessary. One also has to be very good at math and must possess good communication and computer skills (Kimmel, et al, pg. 302) In order to succeed, patience is one of the key elements in this profession. Accounting requires you to be very keen and this means spending long hours in verifying data and numbers, while contac ting customers and suppliers of various goods and services. Moreover, you should also have very strong convictions in your undertakings. The main advantage in working in an accounting field is that the profession can be applied across different fields of professions. For instance, an accountant can be employed in schools or a business organization where he or she gets to handle work in those respective fields. In order to be valuable to your employers, an accountant should be able to portray skills that no other staff in the organization has. This will make his or her special, therefore, will be treasured. The downside of being an accounting payable department manager is that you can find it very difficult to perform your duties if one does not seek professional skills or stay on top of his game. The profession, however, is very rewarding. An average accountant gets a monthly salary of seven-thousand dollars ($ 7,000) which translates to approximately eighty-thousand dollars a years ($ 80,000). Given the chance to do everything all over again, Mr. R would still go back to accounting since the profession provides him with the satisfaction that he needs and also guarantees his security in leading a comfortable life. His future plan currently, is to retire in the next five years, since he has achieved most of his goals in life right now. His advice to those planning to join this career path is to get a higher degree in this field. Afterwards, he or she should gain some experience by working in the public sector and other government organizations. His advice for the interviewer was that he should prepare his degree, gain more experience in that field, then take the CPA examinations. Miss Y. Miss Y preference for choosing her career path was because she is very good with numbers and a very responsible person. She also hopes that she could assist customers by responding to their questions and solving their problems. Her first job was in a bank where she managed to s ecure the job through an interview. Currently, she has experience in her career spanning close to twenty years. As she earlier mentioned, she started her career in a bank, there after joined a certain high school where she taught accounting. Presently, she is employed in one of the branches of BMCC as a budget director. Miss Y education background is impressive. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management in New York University. Later on, she earned her master’

Culture and organisation (HR related) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Culture and organisation (HR related) - Essay Example Hagan (1996) postulates that globalization has not only altered the nature and the intensity of competition but has had to dictate and shape organizations in terms of what consumers wants, how and when they want it and what they are prepared to pay for it (Hagan 1996:1). Arguing in the same light, Kanter (1995:71) on his work of "Mastering Change" stipulated that success in the present day business is not for those companies trying to re-engineer the way they do things, or for those fixing the past (Kanter 1995). To the researcher, trying to fix the past will not be an adequate response. Kanter rather argues that, success is based on an organisation's ability to create, rather than predict the future by developing those products that will literally transform the way the world thinks and view it self and the needs (Kanter 1995:71). Today, it has become quite eminent that, businesses and firms no-longer compete as individual companies but try to corporate with other businesses in their activities (Wu & Chien 2007:2). For example, the much sing song conventional vertical integrated company based business model is gradually being replaced by collaborative relationship between many fragmented, but complementary and specialized value stars and constellation (Wu & Chien:1). This paper examines the human resources challenges and cultural problems Mitsubishi Corporation currently face in the light of the global financial crisis. The paper is divided into four sections. Section one of the paper provides a brief overview of the activities of Mitsubishi Corporation. Section two of the report discusses the central issues to be addressed in this report. Section three presents the central problem and issues, while the last section of the paper suggested applicable solutions and improvement based on the problems identified in the first section. This section also presents pertinent recommendation and a way forward for Mitsubishi Corporation. 1.1 Overview of Mitsubishi Corporation Activities Mitsubishi Corporation is a Japanese based general trading Company with over 200 bases of operations in about 80 countries (Report 2008). According to the company's Report (2008), it activities are diverse and can be classified under seven business groups; industrial finance, logistics and development group, energy and business group; metals group; Machinery group, Chemical group and Living essentials group company (Report 2008). 2.0 Justification and Theoretical Framework to conduct this study According to Dwyer & Kemp (2000), organizational culture is a tool in the management strategic armory which appears to be invisible yet it influences "why" "how" "what" and "when" things are done in an organization (Dwyer & Kemp 2000) in other words "it is the way things are being done here" (Johnson 1992:28, Johnson & Scholes 1997:66). It has been argued by Dwyer & Kemp (2000) that most traditional approach to organisational strategy ignores an important and powerful

Sociology and Anthropology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sociology and Anthropology - Essay Example Since most people know that smoking is hazardous to people’s health, just a limited number really understands what other social problems smoking can cause to both the people and the entire society. As stated, smoking results in death. According to the World Health Organization, smoking holds responsibility for every single death in five. Extent of Effects of Smoking as a Social Problem Apart from deaths, smoking extended illnesses such as cancer, respiratory and heart diseases among others. Facts maintain that continuous smoking can lead to cancer, which is a killer in both the contemporary United States and the world. Furthermore, smoking claims a higher percentage of heart diseases and respiratory illnesses in America. Smoking also causes liver cirrhosis, which, in turn, results in death if not treated early enough (McEachern, 2010). As people continue to wonder about the direct effects of smoking, research observations reveal that passive smoking, which is a common phenomen on among most Americans, causes lung cancer. Passive smoking is as endangering as it has links with cot death and asthma in children as well as glue gear (Barrett, 2009). Therefore, it is agreeable to say that smoking does not only affect whoever is smoking but also affects those around him. Additionally, contemporary United States, among other countries, is part of the largest producers of tobacco leafs. Tobacco planting results in deforestation as planters must clear the bushes before they replace them with tobacco trees (Gobo, 2004). This shows that the need for smoking leads to deforestation, which in the end results in lack of land for other agricultural purposes. Consequently, people suffer from poverty and other social problems due to tobacco plating in the contemporary United States. Further, the level of crime is on the increase in contemporary United States (Delamater & Myers, 2010). Criminal investigations record the habit of smoking among the youth as one of the most com mon motives of indulging in crime. This is because smoking among teenagers in contemporary United States goes hand in hand with other substance abuse. As a result, the need for more of these substances and lack of resources to acquire them among this generation accounts for their involvement in criminal activities (Barrett, 2009). Sociological Theory That Explains Smoking Interestingly, sociologists and other great thinkers tend to theorize almost everything. Through theorizing, they believe they can set forth better platforms where people can understand certain phenomena. The theory of structural functionalism explains smoking by aiding in establishing the factors that lead to smoking (McEachern, 2010). Additionally, it tries to expound on matters relevant to ways of stopping the habit of smoking. Sociologists in the criminal department have made the use of structural functionalism as a core element in trying to establish the type and amount of smokes, and the time consumed by smok ers. The theory of structural functionalism tries to provide empirical and modified range of type of cigarette that a particular person has been smoking (Evans, 2009). This symbolic dialect also encompasses the application of the theory of symbolic interactionalism which is a social psychological instrument used by sociologists in establishing the amount of smokes consumed by the subject. Essay Two The Nature-Nurture Debate The nature-nurture controversy has been and still is a

Document analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Document analysis - Essay Example The AEU was a progressive and politically active union, and a number of factors contributed to its success. Though women were not highly represented in metalworking, the AEU was able to make progress because of its competitive organization and dedication. Diane Fieldes ranks as indicators of success in this particular case, â€Å"The distribution of metalworkers throughout the economy (by 1970 metal trades unionists were 17 per cent of all unionists), and the traditional role of the fitter’s rate as representative of all craftsmen’s wages [†¦ ]In the early 1970s, whatever happened in the metal industry was a standard to which other unions aspired (Fieldes, 4). In the early seventies, women all over the world were beginning to exercise their public rights, as they pertained to labour and otherwise. The fact that this case was brought to bear is extremely indicative of the thinking of the times: women working outside the home had begun to consider themselves entitled to an equal and fair wage, begun to feel that the concept of the family wage was outdated and furthermore, that this same concept was the source of injustice. In addition to the 1972 decision, the 1970s saw other important steps for women in the labor force. As Dalton, Draper, Weeks, and Wiseman write, As a result of long, hard lobbying by women unionists, the 1977 Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) adopted the Working Women’s Charter, and in 1979 obtained maternity leave as a right in industrial awards (11). Society in general was beginning to be receptive to such notions. Fieldes remarks that the metalworkers union was not noted for its inherent progressiveness, nor for its majority female membership, but rather for its competitive organization and discipline: The final factor of note in the metalworkers’ union’s campaign for equal pay is the composition of the union’s membership. In March 1969 the

Culture and organisation (HR related) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Culture and organisation (HR related) - Essay Example Hagan (1996) postulates that globalization has not only altered the nature and the intensity of competition but has had to dictate and shape organizations in terms of what consumers wants, how and when they want it and what they are prepared to pay for it (Hagan 1996:1). Arguing in the same light, Kanter (1995:71) on his work of "Mastering Change" stipulated that success in the present day business is not for those companies trying to re-engineer the way they do things, or for those fixing the past (Kanter 1995). To the researcher, trying to fix the past will not be an adequate response. Kanter rather argues that, success is based on an organisation's ability to create, rather than predict the future by developing those products that will literally transform the way the world thinks and view it self and the needs (Kanter 1995:71). Today, it has become quite eminent that, businesses and firms no-longer compete as individual companies but try to corporate with other businesses in their activities (Wu & Chien 2007:2). For example, the much sing song conventional vertical integrated company based business model is gradually being replaced by collaborative relationship between many fragmented, but complementary and specialized value stars and constellation (Wu & Chien:1). This paper examines the human resources challenges and cultural problems Mitsubishi Corporation currently face in the light of the global financial crisis. The paper is divided into four sections. Section one of the paper provides a brief overview of the activities of Mitsubishi Corporation. Section two of the report discusses the central issues to be addressed in this report. Section three presents the central problem and issues, while the last section of the paper suggested applicable solutions and improvement based on the problems identified in the first section. This section also presents pertinent recommendation and a way forward for Mitsubishi Corporation. 1.1 Overview of Mitsubishi Corporation Activities Mitsubishi Corporation is a Japanese based general trading Company with over 200 bases of operations in about 80 countries (Report 2008). According to the company's Report (2008), it activities are diverse and can be classified under seven business groups; industrial finance, logistics and development group, energy and business group; metals group; Machinery group, Chemical group and Living essentials group company (Report 2008). 2.0 Justification and Theoretical Framework to conduct this study According to Dwyer & Kemp (2000), organizational culture is a tool in the management strategic armory which appears to be invisible yet it influences "why" "how" "what" and "when" things are done in an organization (Dwyer & Kemp 2000) in other words "it is the way things are being done here" (Johnson 1992:28, Johnson & Scholes 1997:66). It has been argued by Dwyer & Kemp (2000) that most traditional approach to organisational strategy ignores an important and powerful

Document analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Document analysis - Essay Example The AEU was a progressive and politically active union, and a number of factors contributed to its success. Though women were not highly represented in metalworking, the AEU was able to make progress because of its competitive organization and dedication. Diane Fieldes ranks as indicators of success in this particular case, â€Å"The distribution of metalworkers throughout the economy (by 1970 metal trades unionists were 17 per cent of all unionists), and the traditional role of the fitter’s rate as representative of all craftsmen’s wages [†¦ ]In the early 1970s, whatever happened in the metal industry was a standard to which other unions aspired (Fieldes, 4). In the early seventies, women all over the world were beginning to exercise their public rights, as they pertained to labour and otherwise. The fact that this case was brought to bear is extremely indicative of the thinking of the times: women working outside the home had begun to consider themselves entitled to an equal and fair wage, begun to feel that the concept of the family wage was outdated and furthermore, that this same concept was the source of injustice. In addition to the 1972 decision, the 1970s saw other important steps for women in the labor force. As Dalton, Draper, Weeks, and Wiseman write, As a result of long, hard lobbying by women unionists, the 1977 Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) adopted the Working Women’s Charter, and in 1979 obtained maternity leave as a right in industrial awards (11). Society in general was beginning to be receptive to such notions. Fieldes remarks that the metalworkers union was not noted for its inherent progressiveness, nor for its majority female membership, but rather for its competitive organization and discipline: The final factor of note in the metalworkers’ union’s campaign for equal pay is the composition of the union’s membership. In March 1969 the

The Club Essay Example for Free

The Club Essay The Club (1978), written by David Williamson, is a satirical play that follows the fortunes and misfortunes of a football club over the course of the season. David Williamson cleverly integrates the realistic portrayal of characters and dialogue into the play in order to effectively provide the reader with an insight into the power and politics of sport and the commoditisation of players. The main themes in The Club that David Williamson communicates across to the reader are power and the concept of ‘human loyalty verses materialistic gain’, which will be explained in further detail below. Power is also explored extensively in The Club; much of the play is based on power struggles between the characters. As mentioned earlier, the power struggle between Laurie and Jock is evidenced by Laurie’s accusation that Jock supported the committee’s traditional approach only to stop Laurie from succeeding. Obviously some of the characters are much more successful than others. For example, Gerry is able to skilfully manipulate the other characters so he can accomplish his own hidden agenda. However the two players, Danny (the team Captain) and Geoff, do not really become involved in these power struggles except when they aid Laurie at the end of the play. Ted (the president) has the most obvious power at the start of the play, although he steadily loses it throughout as the other characters strive to improve their standing. The desire for power is basically universal, and there is resentment from those who are not in power towards those who are. These sporting attitudes have been clearly evident in sport in the last few decades. Attitudes towards commercialism are also explored in The Club. In the play, the Club itself is just beginning the road to commercialisation with the purchase of Geoff Hayward (the star recruit) for $90,000. However, Gerry (the administrator) and Jock’s plans for next year not only include the dropping of some Club traditions, but also extensive commercialisation as wealthy entrepreneurs are recruited for sponsorship money which will be used to buy more players. Jock is a person who supports the commoditisation of players when it is in agreement with his goals. For example when trying to avert a players’ strike, Jock claims that former Club heroes would be disgusted by the idea, â€Å"I want to turn all those photographs around so they don’t have to look down on this shameful scene. † However, it is later revealed that Jock supports the buying of players and a coach who has not played for the Club, both of which are against traditions, to ensurethat the Club wins a premiership next season. This hypocritical attitude towards tradition is probably a fairly typical Australian attitude. This attitude presented by Williamson is probably even more widespread now, as success and the reaching of goals is seen as being even more important today. Loyalty is also an important issue in The Club, although each of the characters is loyal in very different degrees and ways. Some of the characters, like Danny, are fiercely loyal to others; for example Danny threatens a players’ strike if Laurie is forced to resign, â€Å"If that bloody committee of yours gives Laurie the boot tonight, then we don’t play tomorrow. † Other characters, like Jock and Gerry, lack loyalty to other people and will manipulate and lie for their own personal advantages but are loyal to the Club as a whole. Gerry believes that, â€Å"Loyalty to any one individual is a luxury you can’t afford in a business with a multi-million dollar turnover. † Gerry’s pragmatic attitude is perhaps typical of the attitudes which are becoming commonplace in the cutthroat business world of the 1990s. In The Club, David Williamson utilises realistic dialogue to assume convey meaning and enrich the text of the play. Williamson achieves realistic dialogue through the constant use of many language devices including emotive language insults, interruptions, sarcasm, idioms, colloquialism, slang, irony, jargon and hyperboles. The main purpose is to depict power and domination between characters. This is done through a device such as tone, as it creates an atmosphere of tension and conflict. Tone is shown between the two most powerful characters, Gerry the football administrator and Laurie the Club’s coach. Gerry’s tone is calm and uses very formal language, which indicated his power and control over other characters. ‘You’re scarcely in a position to be delivering ultimatums, Laurie’. Laurie also shows control by his tone and word choice. ‘If you play well enough and the team plays well enough for the rest of the year, they’ll find it pretty hard to sack me’. The tone in Laurie’s dialogue changes from exasperation to control indicating that he has become his own master. Laurie’s approach to dealing with situations shows his power and dominates. The shift in tone of Gerry and Laurie’s dialogue emphasises the power shifts that take place in ‘The Club’. The frequent use of slang and colloquial language represents the Australian culture and way of life. Also, use of football jargon such as ‘goal-to-goal line’ shows how familiar the club members are with their sport. Another purpose shown throughout the play is the conflicting relationships between characters. Williamson has created this purpose through the use of sarcasm used by the characters. In the first scene, Ted and Danny have come across as having a conflicting relationship as there are many problems associated with the football club. ‘This is lovely, really delightful, a strike threat’. By Ted using sarcasm it gets Danny worked up therefore has created a conflicting relationship. Danny who is a young footballer complains about how little money he has in the back. ‘I can hardly wait, I’m taking my two best friends to Pizza Palace and putting the other half in the bank’. This has added tension between the two characters, and has showed how they use dialogue to create conflicting relationships. Sarcasm adds a feeling of resentment and reflects an unwillingness to be open to the prospect of resolution. Williamson’s portrayal of characters, even nowadays, reflects many Australian attitudes very accurately, even though the play was written many decades ago. Some of the attitudes expressed, especially those regarding the commoditisation of sport, are even more relevant today than when the play was written, while others, such as tradition, are still equally relevant in the current Australian society. By studying ‘The Club’ it has also helped demonstrate how purposes are made by using a range of language devices such as tone and sarcasm, therefore showing how dialogue helps express its underlying theme or power and relationships. It is because of this that David Williamsons 1978 play The Club is still being performed as it gives audiences a realistic perspective into the past, present and future of sport.

The obligation to obey the law the normative

The obligation to obey the law the normative The obligation to obey the law the normative phenomenon in jurisprudence. Introduction: This dissertation aims to provide a general discourse into the normative jurisprudential phenomenon of political obligation. The debate surrounding the issue of whether or not there exists a general obligation to obey the law shall be defined and described, and the arguments of the different positions within this debate shall then be summarised at length, and critically analysed. The author shall then engage with this debate and provide his own opinions as to the correct approach to take when tackling the important question of whether or not there is an obligation to obey the law. Defining the scope of the debate: Before we attempt to define the scope of this debate, it is important to first understand the nature of the obligation in question, and also the characteristics of the duty arising from that obligation. The nature of the obligation: A moral or legal obligation? Jurists are not often concerned with the legal duty to obey the law, after all, such a notion is circular and meaningless; of course the law imposes a legal duty on its citizens to obey it. As Alexy[1] notes, â€Å"†¦ in the praxis of any system of dominion there is an implicit claim to correctness, which must be redeemed to anybody. A normative system which does not raise a claim to correctness explicitly or implicitly is not a legal system.† Neither can the law provide ultimate reasons for action, just as a parent will be unable to explain to their perpetually inquisitive child why they must not steal without recourse to the underlying morality of the actions involved in such a crime. As Nino[2] notes, â€Å"Legal norms do not by themselves constitutive reasons for justifying actions and decisions (like those of judges), unless they are conceived as deriving from moral judgments; normative propositions that exhibit the distinctive traits of autonomy, justificatory finality, universalisability, generality, supervinience and finality†. Therefore, rather than an assessment of the legal obligations to obey the law, most[3] jurists are instead concerned with the moral aspect of this obligation; are we always morally obliged to obey the law, and if not, in which situations may such a moral duty be deemed non-existent? The characteristics of the duty arising from this obligation: An absolute duty, or merely a prima facie one? To argue that there is an absolute duty to obey the law is to simultaneously suggest that in the case of every law, the moral reasons for obeying such law could never be outweighed by moral reasons pointing to disobedience. Such a position seems to pay no regard to notions of individual autonomy. As Menendez[4] writes, â€Å"if we consider it as providing an absolute reason, then we cannot any longer see it as part and parcel of the exercise of our practical reason, but as an alternative to it.† On the other hand, if we are to argue that the only duty that exists is a prima facie one, i.e. that a duty can be said to exist until it is rebutted by an assessment of the moral content of the law, then we are in essence suggesting that the law will only impose an obligation upon us where we as individuals are able to agree with the morality underlying the law in question. Such a position seems to pay little regard to the need of a legal system to be generally obeyed in order for it to successfully perform its roles of conflict solving and social co-ordination. As Raz[5] writes: â€Å"legal norms are reasons for acting, and not merely statements to the effect that there are reasons for acting.† The actual characteristics of the duty in question must lie somewhere between these two positions; the law must respect the processes of individual reasoning, but at the same time must impose obligations upon its citizens, at least to the extent that the system is able to retain social order and manage social conflict. As we shall observe later in this essay, different jurists have their own opinions of where the balance should be perceived to lie, although as we shall also see, this position tends to be nearer a notion of a prima facie duty, than that of an absolute duty. With these considerations in mind, let us now briefly attempt to define the scope of this jurisprudential debate. Defining the scope of the debate There is a divide amongst legal philosophers over the fundamental question of whether or not there is an obligation to obey the law. Some jurists, such as Rawls[6], Finnis[7] and Honorà ©[8], argue that the law always has prima facie authority over its citizens, i.e. that before the content of a law is assessed, it is morally right to comply- albeit that it may later be qualified. For the sake of later discussion, let us refer to this position as position 1. Other legal philosophers such as Smith[9], have rejected this position arguing that whether or not there is such a duty to obey the law depends entirely upon which law in question is being obeyed/disobeyed i.e. that only sometimes will there be a prima facie moral obligation to obey the law [Position 2]. Between these two positions lie the opinions of jurists such as Raz[10], who argues for a more or less general prima facie obligation to obey the law, and Greenawalt[11], who, as mentioned earlier, offers an interesting alternative view which tries to show how there could be legitimate authority without a moral obligation to obey the law, a theory which is co ntrary to the working assumption of this paper that the nature of the obligation in question must be a moral one. At this point in my dissertation I would like to make some more general points about the issue of whether or not there is a duty to obey the law, in particular to make some remarks about the irreconcilability of this question with the basic tenets of legal positivism. Critics of positivism have often voiced their concerns over this very point; they argue that if the claims which positivism makes are correct about the separation of laws and morals, then there can never be a moral obligation to obey the law which arises because of the law. In other words, they cannot suggest that the law must be obeyed without resorting to some other authority other than the law itself. Lon Fuller, a natural lawyer, is one of these critics, as is Feinberg[12], who argues that: â€Å"The positivist account of legal validity is hard to reconcile with the claim that valid law as such, no matter what its content, deserves our respect and general fidelity. Even if valid law is bad law, we have some obligation to obey it simply because it is law. But how can this be so if a law's validity has nothing to do with its content?† In many respects this is an argument that is hard to dispel. Certain contemporary positivists have even accepted, such as Himma[13], that positivism is irreconcilable with a notion of a duty to obey the law arising from the mere fact that it is the law. He argues that a citizen has a moral obligation to obey laws which contain norms worthy of moral obedience, such as those law prohibiting theft, murder, and even laws which are necessary to retain certain levels of human control, such as driving offences, but admits that a law creates no moral duty of obedience simply on the basis that it is the law. The result of this admission is as follows; positivists have been forced to seek out justifications for a prima facie obligation to obey the law, and have done so, quite unsuccessfully [as we shall now see], through reference to arguments based on gratitude, fairness, social contract via implied consent and utilitarian arguments pertaining to the common good. Let us now discuss the intricacies of these position 1 arguments in more detail, and critically analyse some of the justifications that have been offered by these leading jurists in support of their position. Defending position [1]: there is a general prima facie moral duty to obey the law. Four concepts have been advanced as giving rise to this duty[14]; 1] Gratitude; 2] Promise-Keeping; 3] Fairness, and; 4] Promotion of the Common Good. Let us assess each of these concepts in turn: Gratitude: The basic concept underlying this justification for a general prima facie moral duty to obey the law is as follows: In light of the great benefits which the law has conferred upon its citizens, those citizens should obey those laws, unless there is a good reason not to in a particular case. Promise-Keeping: This concept suggests that any citizen who enjoys the benefits and protections of the law commits him or herself to a social contract, which states that in return for such benefits they will obey the law. In this way a citizen is morally obliged to obey the law unless they have good reasons to the contrary. John Rawls[15] was a strong proponent of this thesis, although his formulation was somewhat more sophisticated than the reasoning above: He asserted that a society is just if it is governed by principles which people would have agreed to in a state of ignorance about their own particular position in society. He went on to argue that a natural consequence of this ‘veil of ignorance’ is a natural duty to obey the law; where the society is just (or nearly just), then there is a ‘natural duty’ of all citizens to support and further just institutions, because they would be collectively labelled right by the very people that are governed by them. Under Rawls’ theory, the duty exists independently from the promise to obey that which is required of them by an institution in a just society, because behind their ‘veil of ignorance,’ people would have agreed to it. In this way Rawls manages to justify the existence of a duty to obey, even where a pa rticular law is not particularly just, provided the basic structure of the society is reasonably just. Rawls does not advocate an absolute duty however; he argues that where a particular law exceeds certain limits of injustice, conscientious refusal is warranted, or even civil disobedience, should the injustice reach blatant levels. 3] Fairness This argument is twofold; firstly, in light of all the benefits that the law confers on its citizens, it would be unfair for a citizen not to obey them, and; secondly, a citizen has a duty to obey the law, not because that citizen owes anything to the government, but because he or she owes something to his or her fellow citizens; if everyone else complies with the law, then it is not fair for one citizen not to, whilst at the same time still receiving the benefit which that law confers. In essence therefore, under this concept, there are two tests that must be satisfied before it can be said that a prima facie moral obligation to obey the law has been established on the grounds of fairness. Firstly, the law must have generally beneficial effects; and secondly, most citizens must obey the law, so that a citizen would be taking an unfair advantage should he or she decide not to. The latter part of this test is identical to the argument offered by Dworkin[16] in justification of his general moral duty to obey the law; Dworkin asserts that a man is under a moral duty to obey the law for reasons of fairness, as outlined above, but at the same time, that same man may also be under conflicting duties other than those he owes to the state, such as to God and his own conscience; if these further duties conflict with his duties to the state, then Dworkin argues that such a man is entitled to do what he judges to be right. 4] Promotion of the Common Good: This ground for the existence of a prima facie duty is grounded in the ideals of utilitarianism; if citizens break the law then the collective welfare of society will diminish: therefore citizens are morally obliged to obey the law. The disadvantage suffered by one citizen through giving to obey the law should, under this reasoning, be balanced against the benefit conferred to society as a whole by his compliance. Finnis[17] is one of the main proponents of this theory, although his reasoning does go somewhat further than the simple utilitarian approaches offered above. Finnis argues that fulfilling legal obligations is necessary for the common good, simply because the common good is the good of individuals. Having described and understood all of the possible justifications promoted for the existence of a general prima facie moral duty to obey the law [position 1], let us now return to each of them and offer some critical analysis: Defeating Position [1]: no prima facie moral duty to obey the law can be justified via the concepts of gratitude, promise-keeping, fairness or the promotion of the common good: 1] Gratitude: Whilst gratitude in its normal everyday meaning might indeed lead to certain moral obligations, never has it been suggested that as a direct result of gratitude one should do everything that is asked of you. It is for this reason that this ground is weak, and does not adequately justify a general prima facie moral duty to obey the law. 2] Promise-Keeping: It is instantly obvious that no general prima facie duty could ever be said to exist by virtue of the basic promise-keeping rationale; unlike a party to a contract, a citizen has no real choice as to which country he or she belongs, and therefore even though that citizen may indeed receive benefits, be given the chance to vote, and be subjected to a just social structure, there is nothing embedded in the process of receiving these benefits which would lead one to automatically assume the imposition of a promise to obey. Therefore, I do not agree that a general prima facie obligation to obey the law can be derived by way of this rationale. 3] Fairness: This justification for a prima facie moral obligation to obey the law relies heavily upon an idea that all law confers benefits; an anarchist however may argue that the state produces no such benefits. Also, it is difficult to the concept of ‘fairness’ to a legal constraint which actually does no-one any good: if this type of case is frequently occurring, then the analysis of fairness as day to day co-operative transactions will break down. 4] Promotion of the Common Good: Whichever brand of utilitarianism one chooses to apply to this concept, the same conclusion results; ‘promotion of the common good’ cannot be used to justify the existence of a prima facie duty to obey the law: Act-Utilitarianism: The very mechanics of act-utilitarianism require a balancing act of all the positive and negative attributes of a certain action before deciding which course would be in the interests of the common good; to decide whether or not a duty to obey the law exists will therefore depend upon which particular law is in question. As such, there can be no prima facie obligation to obey the law via this concept. Rule-Utilitarianism: The very mechanics of rule-utilitarianism suggest that an action is right if it is required by a rule where general observance of that rule would have the best consequences. Following on from this, it makes sense that a rule requiring one to obey (with certain exceptions) would probably have better consequences than a rule requiring one always to obey. The process of formulating a comprehensive list of such exceptions would in effect require an assessment using the same mechanisms as relevant to act-utilitarianism, and as such, the same criticisms to a prima facie duty will apply. It should be noted that these criticisms do no necessarily serve to destroy the arguments of Finnis; Finnis argues that that fulfilling legal obligations is necessary for the common good, simply because the common good is the good of individuals. This is a theory that I will address in more detail at a later point in this dissertation. For now, we should simply be satisfied that any justifications based upon act- or rule- utilitarianism cannot be successful in establishing the existence of a general prima facie duty to obey the law. In essence, the criticisms of act-utilitarianism and rule-utilitarianism do not preclude there ever being a duty to obey the law, merely that the existence of such a duty can only be determined with reference to each particular law. This leads us back to our earlier discussion of ‘position 2’ jurists, those such as Smith[18], who argue that whether or not there is such a duty to obey the law depends entirely upon which law in question is being obeyed/disobeyed i.e. that only sometimes will there be a prima facie moral obligation to obey the law. Before we go on to discuss the rationales that have been offered in support of position 2, let us first take a brief look at the work of George Klosko[19], and his multiple principle theory of political obligation: George Klosko’s multiple principle theory of political obligation; combining the failing justifications of Natural Duty, Fairness and the Promotion of the Common Good, into a comprehensive justification for the existence of a general moral obligation to obey the law: George Klosko employs three concepts in order to combine the principles of Natural Duty, fairness and the promotion of the common good into a single comprehensive unifying theory. He labels these three concepts as cumulation, mutual support and overlap. He describes these three principles in the following way: ‘First is what we call cumulation. Different principles can cover different services provided by the state, and so by combining principles, a larger range of state services can be accounted for. Second is what can be referred to as mutual support. In regard to certain state functions, if a given principle on its own cannot justify compliance, the problem might possibly be overcome by more than one principle working in tandem. The third way is simple overlap. The intuition here is that, while requirements to obey given laws could be relatively weak, these can be strengthened by support of additional principles.[20]’ These three concepts admit that individually arguments of Natural duty, fairness and those argument pertaining to the common good must fail in their task of explaining and identifying a general moral duty to obey the law, but using these three principles as described above, he purports to show how these failing arguments can be combined to successfully address those limitations. The principle of culmination serves to suggest that the main limitation of these theories is their applicability to a limited area of state function, i.e. the services that the state provides to its citizens. Mutual support deals with the limitations of these individual arguments in relation to their attempt to justify a general moral obligation to obey the law, and the overlap principle deals with the respective weaknesses of each of these individual arguments, very much in the same way as we have done earlier in this essay. Klosko argues that a theory that only purports to account for one type of state function cannot be said to lead to a general duty to obey the law. He argues that state functions are social facts, and as such the failure of theorists to account for the variety of these functions in their theories is a factual failure in their arguments, a factual failure which must therefore lead to conclusions which are non-comprehensive and cannot therefore be said to give rise to the general moral duty to obey the law which they purport to do. Whilst prima facie I can see the point that Klosko is making; each of these theories do work to a certain extent, the problem being that we are always able to find many situations which exist where the theories fail to hold up to scrutiny. What Klosko has therefore tried to do is to incorporate these theories together, so that when one of them fails, another justification can step in to uphold our position of there being a general moral duty to obey the law. Whilst at first this may seem somewhat artificial, at least Klosko has tried to justify the fusion of these very different arguments by reference to state function. One cant help however feeling that some of the failures of the very individual justifications that he is using, rather than being simply due to their limited scope [by virtue of differing state functions], are so fundamental as to render any fusion of them inappropriate. By the end of this essay I shall hopefully have demonstrated that the best analysis of the question of whether or not there is a general moral duty to obey the law does not result from any of these individual arguments, neither from the fusion of them, but rather from a wholly new conceptualization of the character of the obligation and duty itself. Let us now turn to the position 2 theorists, and see if we can find some compelling arguments amongst their writing: Defending Position [2]; there may be a prima facie obligation to obey some laws, but such a duty cannot be a general one: M.B.E. Smith is commonly known as an advocate of this position. In his earlier work, ‘Is There a Prima Facie Obligation to Obey the Law?’ he performs an analysis of all the arguments which purport to support the existence of a ‘position [1]’ duty to obey the law, providing successful counter arguments for each, and finally concluding as a result these analyses that the true answer to the question of whether or not there is a general prima facie moral duty to obey the law must reside at ‘position [2];’ whether or not there is such a duty to obey the law depends entirely upon which law in question is being obeyed/disobeyed i.e. there will only sometimes be a prima facie moral obligation to obey the law. Defeating Position [2]; Simply because we cannot find adequate justification for the existence of a general prima facie moral duty to obey the law does not mean that we must, by default, resort to the conclusion that the most accurate description of this normative phenomenon is that of there only sometimes being a prima facie moral obligation to obey the law: Simply because we cannot find adequate justification for the existence of a general prima facie moral duty to obey the law does not mean that we must, by default, resort to the simplistic conclusion that the most accurate description of this normative phenomenon is that of there only sometimes being a prima facie moral obligation to obey the law. Joseph Raz, in his ‘Theory of Justice’ (1971) argues this point exactly. He does not understand why theorists have not ventured to reach a compromise between position [1] and position [2], especially in light of the fact that it seems so clear that the true answer must lie somewhere between these two extreme positions. Raz therefore proposed such a theory. The compromise between position [1] and position [2]; J. Raz, in search of a new characterisation: Earlier in this essay we discussed the character of the duty in question. We argued that whilst the duty will never be an absolute one, neither is it realistic to suggest that such a duty will be generally prima facie in character. To reiterate those arguments, for the duty to be absolute is to deny a place for individual reasoning and autonomy in a society; if every law must be obeyed regardless of any extraneous personal beliefs or opinions, then personal practical morality is denied. Likewise, if the duty was prima facie in character, the ability of the law to retain social order and manage social conflicts may come into question; Raz therefore decided that an alternative characterisation of the obligation was required, and so was born the notion of an ‘absolute reason’, or, as it has become known by certain other jurists[21], ‘the exclusionary reason.’ Let us now consider exactly what Raz understands by it: Raz’s new characterisation of the obligation to obey the law: Raz introduces the idea of there being two orders of practical reason; first-order reasons and second order reasons. These reasons are ‘practical’ in that they are the kind of reasons that may feature in an individual’s decision process when that individual is attempting to decide upon a particular course of action, i.e. reasons to act or to refrain from acting for a reason. Second order reasons are higher in priority that first-order reasons, and as such, if two such reasons should come into conflict, it will be the second-order reason that shall prevail. Second-order reasons however might themselves be trumped by what Raz describes as ‘cancelling-reasons’, reasons which might exist within the context of the particular decision process at hand which could render the secondary-reasons void. The jurisdiction of a ‘cancelling-reason’, i.e. its scope within the context of a particular decision, will be affected by what Raz calls ‘scope -affecting reasons.’ Exclusionary reasons are second-order reasons of a special kind; whereas all the other types of reasons may be distinguished by their ground, exclusionary reasons have a special normative role to play in the whole practical deliberative process, and it is this normative role by which exclusionary reasons should be distinguished. In effect therefore, ‘A second-order reason is any reason to act or to refrain from acting for a reason, whereas an exclusionary reason is a second-order reason to refrain from acting for some reason.[22]’ Exclusionary reasons exclude other secondary reasons from playing their normal role in the deliberative process, in effect cancelling these otherwise valid reasons from the decision making process. To best understand the nature of these exclusionary reasons, and how they operate within the practical decision making process, let us follow through Raz’s very argument for the existence of these special secondary reasons: Raz commences his argument with an analysis of a couple of examples of the decision-making process. The first example scenario involves an agent who refuses to accept a business deal on the basis that he is too tired to think about whether or not the deal could be advantageous to him. Raz explains how the decision making process in this example did not involve the processing of the actual fact pertaining to the deal in question, but rather on the basis that she realised that she was too tired to perform a thorough assessment, and as such decided to play safe and decline. In this case, the first order reasons would be the facts relating to the deal, and these are trumped by the second-order reason of tiredness. Raz then proposes the situation where a colleague of the agent, another like-minded agent of similar financial status, decides to accept an identical deal; this may prove to be an adequate reason for the agent, despite her tiredness and inability to assess all the intricacies o f the deal, to accept the deal. In such a case, we could say that the fact that the other agent accepted the deal serves as a reason for her to accept it herself. This reason does not outweigh the tiredness reason, nor does it undermine it, but it does result in a different outcome to her decision-making process. The second example scenario offered by Raz is as follows: ‘While serving in the army Jeremy is ordered by his commanding officer to appropriate and use a van belonging to a certain tradesman. Therefore he has reason to appropriate the van. His friend urges him to disobey the order pointing to weighty reasons for doing so. Jeremy does not deny that his friend may have a case. But, he claims, it does not matter whether he is right or not. Orders are orders and should be obeyed even if wrong, even if no harm will come from disobeying them. That is what it means to be a subordinate’[23]. According to Raz, the order given to Jeremy by his commanding officer should be regarded as an exclusionary reason in that it excludes the reasons offered to him by his friend, from featuring in his practical deliberative process, despite the fact that these reasons were sound in nature. This is what Raz means by ‘exclusionary reasons.’ As stated above, these reasons are disting uishable by virtue of their normative role, a role which Raz describes as â€Å"†¦reasons for performing certain actions, and, other things being equal, the fact that they are excluded by an exclusionary reason merely means that they should not be complied with, not that they should not be conformed to. The best course is if they are indirectly obeyed, i.e. if the action they indicate is performed for some other, independent, reason.[24]’ Let us now apply this characterization to our general duty to obey the law. The first thing which becomes evident is that the duty to obey the law can itself be described as an exclusionary reason; when we state that someone is under a duty to obey the law, we are effectively stating that in the decision process of that person, reliance on extra-legal considerations in the formulation of the decision of whether or not to act in such a way has no actual place in that process. Such extra-legal considerations are thus excluded from the practical decision making process by the very existence of a duty to obey the law. One might argue here that an analysis of the duty in this way yields no different results to that of the characterization of the duty as an absolute one. In fact, whilst the result may very well be the same, the description of the duty as an exclusionary reason does give respect to the existence of a balancing decision making process, in a way which an absolute conception would not; as Menendez[25] writes, â€Å"the duty to obey the law, when conceptualized as an exclusionary reason, precludes direct weighting and balancing, but it does not rule out a margin of exercise of practical reason. This is enough to render compatible the obligation with individual autonomy.† Raz’s picture of the duty to obey the law is certainly the most convincing to date; although somewhat contrived, it does manage to reconcile legal and moral duty in a way which allows the law to retain a legitimate authority, whilst respecting the fact that human beings are essentially autonomous in their decision making. Let us now see if we can find any criticisms of Raz’s