Alexander Ii- a True Reformist

Ebba Henningsson2/09/2010 History Why and with what success did Alexander II impose so many reforms? Alexander II (1818-1881) has on several occasions been referred to as â€Å"Alexander the Liberator† due to the emancipation of the serfs, which was one of the many reforms he imposed during his reign as Tsar of Russia. The emancipation, along with the reform of the military, the installation of a judicial system, an educational reform, combined with his other â€Å"smaller† reforms, are all reforms which created a more democratic Russia; liberal to a further extent, if you will. Alexander II was however the head of an autocracy in which he had absolute power which leads one to ponder as to what his incentives for these reforms were and how successful he was in imposing these? Alexander was the successor of his father Nicholas I who passed away during the Crimean war, and it can be argued that Russia’s defeat in this war, which was fought in Russia herself, is one of the main reasons for many of Alexander’s reforms. This defeat was a hard one for Russia who had been one of the leading military powers in the previous century as well as the personal loss it presented for Alexander. These defeats may very well have been the reason for the military reform, one problem that the Russian army had was the age of the average soldier who would be considerably older than those of the western powers. Alexander changed this by reducing the years of service a soldier faced from 25 years to 6. Conversely, a soldier who had served these 25 years returned as a free man. This meant former serfs, who constituted most of the army, would return younger with full military training creating two social classes on the country side, resulting in more peasant revolts. In order to prevent this Alexander found that he would have to remove the order that made them into free men, however to do this he would have to present some other enticement or solution to keep the army conscription rate up. Alexander’s solution to this became the, most probably, reason for the reform of the constitution of serfdom; the emancipation. This meant that all serfs would become free for a period of two years with their own land, something that had not occurred before where serfdom had been much like slavery. Introducing the emancipation meant that Alexander could carry out his military reform whilst keeping the peasants under control. The land that the peasants now got was that previously owned by the nobility and to compensate the latter the peasants had to pay redemption dues to the state which would then be given to the nobility. Alexander relied heavily on the nobility to keep his rule intact in even the country side and therefore it was important for him that these remained loyal and at good peace with him and his reform scheme. However with all these new free citizens some sort of order system had to be presented. The zemstvo seemed to be Alexander’s solution for this, which along with the new legal body of Russia assembled Alexander’s judicial reform. These new bodies created a lot of question about Alexander’s goals with the reformation as a whole as this was creating a much more liberal society for the common Russian. To mayhap calm the nobility Alexander said â€Å"The existing order of serfdom cannot remain unchanged. It is better to abolish serfdom from above than to wait for the time when it will begin to abolish itself from below†. This quote has moved to become quite important when judging whether Alexander wanted to move towards a democracy or keep his autocracy intact. However another reform which, too, brought Russia further towards a democratic liberal state, was the education reform. A reason for this reform could be to educate the people of Russia seeing as the literacy rate was very low in the country side, additionally to , perhaps, integrate Russia more into Europe and the other western states society. New foreign school books were introduced along with more open universities where both women and men were allowed. This educational reform could have been inspired by Alexander’s possible wish to industrialize Russia. The emancipation of the serfs would also have helped improved that industrialization, seeing as the serfs would now be able to chose to do something other than what the nobility had ordered them to do previously. This industrialisation could have been desired due to the fact that Russia was falling behind the other European states economically. Additionally one of the major problems that had caused Russia to lose the Crimean war had been the malfunctioning railway system along with the deficiency of arms. It is often easier to draw conclusions in retrospect but when judging how successful something was there are several different aspects that ought to be considered, the emancipation of the serfs was indeed successful in its immediate goal, to free the serfs. However with the redemption dues and the shortage of land the everyday life of a serf did not change very much and in fact their economical situation decreased, hence this reformation was not good long term for neither the serfs nor for Alexander who now had the ill wishes of the serfs against him. The military reform was nonetheless very successful. Alexander managed to reduce the amount of time a soldier spent in the army, additionally he created a reserve army which was ready to step in if needed. This resulted in a much stronger and younger army, so in his military reform Alexander was very flourishing. Alexander’s judicial reform was also very thriving, both as a short term and a long term development. Short term it provided the Russians with a judicial system that was independent from the government and therefore incorrupt, furthermore the zemtsvo kept control in the country side and kept Alexander’s orders intact. This reform was therefore both beneficial for both Alexander and his Tsardome as well as for the common population of Russia who got a just law system. The educational restructuring is hard to judge as a matter of success. Even though the conditions of the students and the universities significantly improved it was not advantageous for Alexander himself. As he allowed the students to access outside information they learnt about other governmental systems which eventually, introvertably lead to his death. Hence, in itself the reform was successful however its consequences were, most likely, not those wished for by Alexander. If Alexander wished to reform Russia’s economy and industrialise her one could argue he was not very successful in doing so. The industrialisation never thoroughly commenced during Alexander’s reign and the now freed serfs kept at the new land they had gotten from the nobility. So this aspect of his overall reformation was not very triumphant either. All things considered, Alexander the second was a great reformer who managed to impose several different reforms in a large country without creating a sever debacle which would have harmed the already weak Russia. Several of his reforms were not only successful short term but also long term. Most of the reforms seem to have been brought forward due to the Crimean war, and the realisation that the Russian state was down falling. However seeing as it is unbeknownst what his objectives with these reforms were it is hard to state whether he was successful or not, he did manage to change Russia for a more liberal democratic state but he brought his own demise upon himself. Considering the reforms in themselves he was very successful in imposing them however their consequences were not favourable for himself, as well as the peasant population of Russia.

Truth as an the inevitable attributes of human nature. Based on Essay

Truth as an the inevitable attributes of human nature. Based on Stephen Vincent Benets By the Waters of Babylon - Essay Example Truth as an the inevitable attributes of human nature. Based on Stephen Vincent Benet’s â€Å"By the Waters of Babylon† From the story line and its underlying mechanism, it can be understood that harmony and the learning techniques between the human beings if developed properly, then the resolution for the termination of violence will be achieved. The paper seeks to unfurl one of the inevitable attributes of human nature which is truth. He was certain about his death but his zeal to explore the truth and to quench his thirst with the knowledge of reality took him all the way and finally leads to the realization of the legitimacy of that forbidden place. The paper ultimately finds a way to answer the question that is an absolute necessity for the establishment of ultimate harmony among the people and exposits whether it should be injected in one big push or permeated in bits and parts. 2. Introduction Published in 1937, the novel, By the Waters of Babylon written by Stephen Vincent Benet presents a dynamic platform in the future world after the devastating holocaust known as the Great Burning which jeopardized the earth. The chief character or the protagonist is a son of a priest who is well trained in law and is also well aware of the chants and the spells. There were places which were regarded as arenas for the devils, Gods a nd the spirits and were forbidden for the people in general. Despite knowing the names one cannot utter those names as it was believed that they will be inflicted with curse and spells and as a consequence death will be inevitable. But the storyline of the novel goes beyond the very notion of restraints and fear and through the exploration of a young child into the world of unknown and darkness reveals his urge for removing the curtain over the false assumptions and recognition of transparent truth. The paper seeks to answer whether truth should be injected into a person’s conscience with one big jolt or by the incorporation in small doses (Benet et al, 213). 3. Backdrop of the story The plot of the story ignites in the Eastern United many generations ex-post a war which deserted a civilization and left it into ruins. There are some descendants of only few survivors of the war who live in a clustered tribe far away from the Hudson River. These people are mainly called the Hil l People and they were equipped with the practice of the bows and arrows for hunting and the women used to spin wool for making fabrics. Now one of the member of the tribe decides to travel to a forbidden zone i.e. New York City for the purpose of exploration of the truth (Cummings). 4. Theme of the story and simultaneous exploration of the truth The story takes place in the distant future but definitely somewhere on the Earth. The name of the protagonist is John who is one of the Hill people. As he learns to be a priest he also possesses the vision of the Dead place. For the purpose of becoming a priest, John has to explore the world of Dead and he can only become a priest after coming back from his journey. His father is also a priest, but his father fears that the journey will destroy his boy. But for becoming a priest his boy has to explore the place and then come back. Dreams came in his mind and from the description of his dream and his father’s fear it was known that, â€Å"I saw and told what I saw. It was what I have always seen—a river, and, beyond it, a great Dead Place and in it the gods walking. I have always thought about that. His eyes were stern when I told him he was no longer my father but a priest. He said, "This is a strong dream" (By the Waters of Babylon, 10). John is aware of the fact that it was his place to continue and he knew that there are some dead places which are divinely forbidden to the

Postmodern Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Postmodern Work - Essay Example This is a prerequisite for that vital characteristic known as modern intelligence. However, the drawback with the theory is that it. The philosopher Richard Tarnas has claimed that post-modernism could not stand on its own values ultimately if we take out the metaphysical impressions on which it has shaped itself and it takes modernism as a fake reality. Post-modernism is referred to as post-modern because it literally refers to everything after modernity. It deals with the new theories and the new sets that need to be evolved with the passage of time because the requirements of the new century and the challenges posed by this new are completely different from those that were posed by the previous ones. Thus, there is a vital need of new theories and a new set of ideas to prove and solve the problems that we encounter in the new world. The knowledge in the modern societies is signified by the use it has. It's also different in the way it is collated, gathered, arranged and stored in postmodern society when compared to the modern societies. The use of computers and the role of information technology has increased greatly in the societies of today. It has specially helped in the modes of knowledge that have now changed in terms of distribution and creation and also the way in which it's used or consumed. For some, post-modernism is synonymous with the start of the computer era that began in 1960s and revolutionized all aspects of modern life and social life. Profile of Artist: Patrick CaulfieldIs He Postmodern Patrick Caulfield was a British artist who was an important artist of the last 50 years. He mostly deals with the pop artistry like prints and so on. He could be referred to as a postmodern artist because of the characteristics of his art. He was a 'pop' artist, the artist of today. Many people could relate to his art, especially the younger population who identified with him and his art. We could call his work postmodern because he deals with the digital themes and so on and so forth. His work is very computerized and digital. Also, he is familiar with the modern themes and talks frequently about them in his art pieces. He is post-modern because he is very 20th century and is after modernity. He is also got a modern appeal with his audiences and admirers. He is also post-modern because he is multi-dimensional and deals with myriad themes and topics. Again, it is a vital characteristic of the post-modern period. He gets abstract at times and direct at others thus allowing a diversity of themes and modes and styles to take over. Here we have an artist of the last past half century who is post-modern as hinted by his work. In a sentence, Patrick Caulfield is the voice of modern art and the illustration below shall graphically tell us the way his work was done and also the various important post-modern characteristics evident in his art. "In postmodern societies, anything which is not

Luxottica's internationalisatoin and globalisation strategy Essay

Luxottica's internationalisatoin and globalisation strategy - Essay Example The researcher of the paper will examine the elements of the gradualist approach used by the company in its globalisation strategy. It will examine the competitive strengths of Luxottica. This will be followed by a critical view of the distribution strategy used by the company to capture the markets in the various countries it operates within. Corporate strategy refers to the long term, company wide plans instituted and implemented by top level management. Luxottica began in 1961 as a small obscure Italian optical manufacturer. It was originally set up to provide spectacles for the local markets and this was the main strategy employed in the first first decade of operations. Within this time period, the strategy was focused on establishment of the brand in Italy. This means that the owners just sought to provide for the local customer base in the home country. Within the first decade, the company grew sufficient competency and skills in the manufacture of spectacles. Whilst the compe tencies increased, the brand became admirable overseas. In 1971, the company made major contacts outside Italy and began to export. This strategy was simply based on the production for a larger customer base who dwelt outside Italy. The corporate vision was still local in nature. The only variation was the increase in demand caused by the introduction of new customers outside the borders of Italy. In the early 1970s, the plan was simply to manufacture and sell to wholesalers in foreign countries. The wholesalers in these foreign companies had to find ways of selling the Luxottica products. Luxottica remained Italian in outlook. In the 1980s, the focus changed. Luxottica decided to pursue an international corporate strategy. In this drive, they quit the strategy of just producing for wholesalers. They rather sought to produce the spectacles and get some control in the sales and distribution of the product in foreign markets. This led to the growth in international distribution networ ks and channels. In the 1990s, the Luxottica went public. It floated shares on the New York Stock Exchange and later the Milan Stock Exchange. This led to a solid capital base which provided the funding to expand and capture a larger market share in foreign countries. The strategy again changed in the mid-1990s where the company focused on the acquisition of new brands in the spectacles industry. This complemented the expansion of the distribution channel which led to the acquisition of more retail outlets in USA, Asia Pacific and the Rest of the World. International Marketing Strategy In 2007, there were over Luxottica centers around the world. This was made up of over 6,400 outlets globally. Luxottica's international strategy brings the firm a sales of over $6.4 billion each year. This is quite large and can be credited to the marketing strategy that it has developed over the past years. The international marketing strategy used by Luxottica is similar to what Professor Piercy wil l call 'the process of going to the market' (Piercy 13). It involves three steps: value definition, value creation and value deliver to customers (Piercy 14). In this process, the company's top level management examines international demands and expectations. This normally involves the critical examination of marketing trends and other financial indicators

Global warming Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Global warming - Research Paper Example All these have contributed to increased production which threatens the environment. In a study released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (as qtd. in Kim et al. 64), scientists are one in saying that the world must take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but achieving this will cost a lot for the global economy. The estimated cost will be about 500 to 550 parts per million (ppm) carbon dioxide (CO2) which, when converted to the global GDP, is approximately 5%. The IPCC estimated that by 2050, the global mitigation toward stabilization is â€Å"between 1% gain and 5.5% decrease of global GDP† (qtd. in Kim et al. 64). Globalization has negative effects. Standardization and adaptation result in the choice of countless products. Markets are integrated and widened. The result is a unified spectrum of consumerism, multiple products invading supermarkets and retailers that are competing for the best. The world needs to create a green environment, an atmosphere f ree of the pollutants to control sea temperatures and protect the ecosystem and the ozone layer. The world’s program of activities has worsened the dim scenario. We depend much on fossil fuel as eighty percent of energy comes from fossil fuels. Our dependence on fossil fuel and coal as energy source exacerbates the situation. This essay will focus on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) produced by vehicles and non-moving structures like plants and industries as one of the causes of global warming. First, definitions and concepts of global warming are provided and will be followed by a discussion on gas emissions of vehicles and industries. Literature Review The Earth’s ecosystem, to include the forests, fisheries, wetland and fresh water resources, are about to lose significance to human existence. Global warming and climate change must be given attention by policy makers. Business and organizations should focus on sustainable and green environment. Air pollutants are incre asing because of our use of fossil fuels for energy, continuous deforestration, and industries increase greenhouse gases that produce the greenhouse effect. GHGs trapped in the atmosphere exacerbate the greenhouse effect directly as they interact with radiation, but indirect effects are produced in the form of chemical transformations and when gases are mixed with other gases. A gas can affect cloud formations and atmospheric processes that affect the radioactive balance of the earth. Other gases like â€Å"carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), indirectly affect land and/or solar radiation absorption, because they share in the formation of substances in the atmosphere with a climate change impact† (Giuffre and Grana 67). Concepts on Global warming Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas as it is released and stay concentrated in the atmosphere. It constitutes about 77% of the produced global greenhouse gas emissions. This concentration in the atmosphere creates global warming, which in turn creates the ozone hole. The ozone hole is caused by global warming and not the other way around. Reducing CO2 is the best way to reduce global warming (qtd. in Reinfried et al. 156). Other gases that trap heat in the atmosphere include methane (CH4),

Compare and contrast the concept of reception developed in Essay

Compare and contrast the concept of reception developed in contemporary film studies with that of audience and reception - Essay Example But the most short fallen movies are the ones which have culturally specific backbone, as audiences of different location follow different customs and traditions and cannot just accept some other ways over their own. Isaac Newton states that every action has an equal but opposite reaction and this law holds good for many everyday life tasks, some customary and some exclusive ones (Sadler, 1996,p.49). The law of reaction applies to the film studies to a greater extent. Media research has transmuted over the decades into a compound of different researches going on simultaneously. Towards the end of the twentieth century it was largely practiced as plainly researching the media that was quite concordant to content analysis. However, contemporarily audience research has become an integrated part of the subject, and many people refer to it while relating to media research (cited in Glossary of research methods). One inference devised through the contemporary film studies is that, what is famous in one place would not necessarily be popular in other place, that is, the films which are adored at one corner of the world, may not ineluctably get the same appreciation elsewhere. For instance, a film like Speed was among the thirteen most affluent Hollywood movies in Hong Kong in the whole twentieth century that was actually the eight most successful movies in the U.S. in 1994. In contrast, the most popular movie in America in 1994 was Forrest Gump, which was not particularly popular after it traveled across to Asia (cited in untitled document). It is not hard to comprehend rather tempting to look at, that the movie audience around the globe was mesmerized to enjoy the thrills and excitement of Speed and other contemporary Hollywood blockbusters without it being mandatory for them to have some background knowledge or culturally specific insight of the matter! But about Forrest Gump, there were some keen-eyed people in

Nursing Advanced Practice Role Paper -. Florida's Certified registered Research

Nursing Advanced Practice Role -. Florida's Certified registered nurse anesthetists - Research Paper Example Currently there are more than 3,400 CRNAs in the state of Florida and they are the only nurses who are credentialed to provide anesthesia services (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). In most rural hospitals of Florida, the CRNAs are the sole anesthesia providers. Nationally, the CRNAs are known to deliver 30 million anesthetics each year (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, 2008). Significant Contributions of CRNAs: The CRNAs have made incredible contributions to nursing and nursing practice. The CRNA’s education and practice has evolved in recent years to fill the growing need surgeons had for anesthetists. Unlike the regular registered nurses, CRNAs function with a high degree of autonomy. The CRNAs provide anesthetic services in surgical, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. As pioneers in the field of anesthesia, the CRNAs are committed to ensure high standards, based on evidence based practices (Northam, 2009). They provide high quality servic es, which are comparable to those provided by their physician counterparts (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). The CRNAs have made significant contributions in rural healthcare. ... Barriers Confronted: External Barriers: 1. HMOs, Medicaid and many insurance plans do not provide direct payment for the services of ARNPs as they do for their physician counterparts. In fact they do not even contract with the ARNPs directly (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). 2. ARNPs are denied medical staff privileges in many hospitals and other medical care facilities (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). 3. When compared to their physician counterparts, ARNPs are subject to strict malpractice insurance requirements (Phillips, 2005). 4. The ARNPs in Florida can prescribe a wide range of medications. However, unlike the ARNPs in other states, the ARNPs in Florida are not permitted to prescribe controlled substances (Phillips, 2005). Internal Barriers: 1. In the state of Florida, CRNAs are required to work under direct supervision of a medical physician, an osteopathic physician or a dentist (Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, 2008). They are required to work within the framework of the protocols which identify the medical acts that can be performed and the conditions under which they can be performed. This greatly limits their ability to function independently. 2. APNs generally have inadequate administrative support and are pressed for time as they try to balance clinical and non-clinical activities (Irvine et al, 2000). This is frequently reported as a major barrier to participating in education, research and leadership activities (Sidani et al., 2000). Benefits to nursing and constituents: The increasing demand for APNs has boosted student enrollment into entry-level baccalaureate programs in nursing by 5.7% (AACN, 2011). The scope