Political background of russia

Political background of russia POLITICAL BACKGROUND RUSSIA FORM OF GOVERNMENT Type of Government: Federal Republic The 1993 Constitution declares Russia a democratic federative state based on the rule of the law and a republication from of government. Source: PricewaterhouseCooper (2009) Doing business and investing in the Russian Federation. Russia. http://www.pwc.com/ru/en/doing-business-in-russia/index.jhtml [24.3.2010] GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND HOW IT OPERATES The 1993 Constitution declare Russia a democratic federative state based on the rule of law and a republican form of government. State power in Russia is divided among the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The President of the Russia is considered to be the head of the state where he is responsible for approving the major decision which are taken by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister of the Russia is considered to be the head of the state where he is responsible for approving the major decision which are taken by the Prime Minister. The Government which comprises prime minister, deputy minister and minister of Russia is responsible for exercising the executive power. The government along with the federal assembly of the Russia is vested with the legislative power. The Legislature consist of bicameral Federal Assembly: State duma is the lower house or parliament which can draft legislation and amend the constitution and file an impeachment against president but cannot put in force directly. Federation Counsil is the upper house and has the power to approve or reject laws adopted by the state Duma. Source: PricewaterhouseCooper (2009) Doing business and investing in the Russian Federation. Russia. http://www.pwc.com/ru/en/doing-business-in-russia/index.jhtml [24.3.2010] INTERNATIONAL RELATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES Participation in various international organizations Russia has steadily moved from initial pro-western policy towards one that combined elements of co-operation with West (especially on economic issues) and attempts to reassert Russias status as a great power with distinct interest. Russia is a part of the European Union and it accounts to be its main economic partner at the same time it accounts for more than half of its external trade, the bulk of its energy exports and most foreign investment inflows. Russia has its presence with the Asian powers such as China and India. China is still likely to overtake Germany as Russia main trading partner in the next few years. At the same time china could become an important export market of Russian energy, although Russia remains wary of china rise as an economic power. http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy-m.deakin.edu.au/ehost/pdf?vid=4hid=8[emailprotected] CORRUPTION BRIBES According to the Russian Economic Report 2008, there has been seen an 8% growth in the economy of Russia and due to which it has witnesse economic growth over the past years. Source: World Bank 2008, Russian economic report [online], Available from: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTRUSSIANFEDERATION/Resources/rer17_eng.pdf [Accessed: 31.3.2010]. The lack of trust in institution and corruption has affected the confidence of the investor in spite of a massive economic stimulus package given by the Russian government. According to the Institute for Public Project (INOP) along with Institute for Comparative Social Research (CESSI) in their price list of bribes has cite large companies as a major barrier in doing the business in Russia. Source: Business anti-corruption portal 2009, Russia Country Profile [online], Denmark, Available from: http://www.business-anti-corruption.eu/index.php?id=9085 [Accessed: 25.3.2010]. According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, â€Å"the business executives which were surveyed the corruption was the key factor identified as the most problematic factor in doing business in Russia. According to a CDI 2008 report on this price-list, the private players will have to pay USD 1-5 in order to get licence and one third of the order price to win a government contract†. The Economist reported in late 2008, reported that USD 10,000 to USD 130,000 was the increased size of the average bribe business According to the Public Opinion Foundation survey, in 2008 around 56% of the business people polled pay bribes. A 2008 survey conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation reveals that 56% of the businesspeople polled pay bribes. Due to more corruption and weak rule of law foreign companies find trade and investment as unattractive in Russia. According to the World Bank IFC Enterprise Surveys 2009, over 29.4% of the unofficial payment are done by companies to get their work done. According to the INDEM reports and Bribe Payers Index 2008, 80% of all Russian companies pay bribes and mostly when doing business abroad. Companies that plans to invest or when operate in Russia must strengthen integrity system and to conduct extensive du diligence. Source: Business anti-corruption portal 2009, Russia Country Profile [online], Denmark, Available from: http://www.business-anti-corruption.eu/index.php?id=9085 [Accessed: 25.3.2010]. Russian Federation 2009 Corruption Russian Federation Region All Countries % of firm expected to informal payment 29.44 17.42 27.11 % of firm expected to give gifts for operating licence 22.18 12.88 16.23 % of firms expected to give gift to get government contracts 46.32 25.95 28.11 % of firms identifying corruption as a major constraint 50.00 33.53 36.62 Corruption 2006 [online], Available from: http://www.enterprisesurveys.org/ExploreEconomies /?economyid=159year=2009 [Accessed: 28.4.2010].

William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Essay examples -- Papers Romeo

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet In the love story about Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is an important character as all the events are based on his actions. Romeo the son of Montague falls in love with Juliet the daughter of lord and lady Capulet, this creates a grave problem as the Capulet's and Montague's have had a feud this has been festered for a long time. The impression I get of Romeo when he first comes on to the scene is that he sad and miserable he also shows emotion with his words it is as if he intends on keeping himself to himself. "Many a morning hath he there been seen, with tears augmenting the fresh morning's dew." Lord Montague also says that "Away from the light steels home from my heavy son." This shows that Romeo is secretive and keeps away from daylight. This also shows that Romeo is trying to hide away from people as he has been seen in the early morning looking sad and even crying. "So secret and so close" Romeo won't tell anyone what is wrong with him. Benvolio also makes his way to speak to him but even though he saw him he turned and walked off. "Towards him I made but he was ware of me and stole off into the convent of the wood." When Romeo appears he looks sad and miserable, he says to benvolio "Sad hours seem long." Romeos hours seem long because he is in love and the lady he loves doesn't love him back this makes him feel miserable as time is dragging on. Romeo also says that "Out of her favour where I am in love" This shows that Romeo is love sick for this girl but she doesn't want to give him anything in return, due to this he cannot forget his love ... ...on his enemy. Later on after the party had finished Romeo sneaked to see Juliet. When Romeo sees Juliet on the balcony talking to herself about Romeo how she loves him but how it impossible for them to be as both of their families are having a feud. Romeo decides to listen you her before replying "Call me but 'love' and I'm be new baptised henceforth I never be Romeo" When Romeo says this to Juliet he suggests to her that hew is prepared to deny his name and his family if she will love him. Romeo also tells Juliet how love overcomes all obstacles, he says that "With love's light wings did I o'eperch these walls for stony limits cannot hold love out" By saying this to Juliet Romeo also tells her that he is risking his life coming to her this shows that Romeo is brave and would do anything for love.

Re-reading of ‘A Birthday Present’

Re-read ‘A Birthday Present'. By means of close analysis of the language of this poem, demonstrate how Plath achieves her effects in this poem, and by means of BRIEF reference to one or two other poems, say how typical of her writing you find it. Plath's poem ‘A Birthday Present' creates binary oppositions of images by using antithesis. An example of antithesis in this poem is when the narrator asks, â€Å"is it ugly, is it beautiful?† The adjectives ‘ugly' and ‘beautiful' are opposing images. The structure of this phrase is mirrored in the line below when the narrator asks, â€Å"has it breasts, has it edges?† These two images are opposite as when we imagine ‘breasts' they are round and smooth and not sharp like an ‘edge'. By using this linguistic device Plath creates a ‘seesaw' effect between positive (‘beautiful') and negative (‘ugly') lexis. Plath uses this device of conflicting lexis throughout the poem creating a tension. Furthermore, it can also be said that Plath uses these binary oppositions on a more subtle level to create the theme of good vs. evil. This theme can be seen in some of Plath's other poems. Take ‘Face Lift' or ‘Morning Song' for example, the theme of good and evil is represented by the images of babies she juxtaposes with those of death. The same binary opposition of images is used in ‘A Birthday Present' when the narrator says, â€Å"White as babies' bedding and glittering with dead breath.† Again the two juxtaposed images are of death and babies. It can therefore be said that this theme is typical of Plath's writing and is probably influenced by the miscarriage she suffered prior to writing these poems. Another device that Plath employs for a specific effect in this poem is her use of the personal pronoun ‘you'. The narrator questions, â€Å"Is it impossible for you to let something go and have it go whole?† and, â€Å"Must you kill what you can?† Many other writers use this device to achieve the desired effect of involving the audience as it addresses them directly. However Plath also has another motive. On first glance one may assume that the narrator is questioning the present as it is the apparent focus of the narrator throughout the poem. However, considering the number of references to God throughout the poem, (â€Å"My God what a laugh!†, But my god, the clouds are like cotton.†) one could assess that the question is actually aimed at God. Moreover, the theme in ‘A Birthday Present' of questioning God can be linked to some of Plaths other poetry. Plath's father died when she was a young child. From studying her life I found out that she loved and idolised her father. In her poems ‘Daddy' and ‘Full Fathom Five' Plath makes subtle suggests that she now sees her father as a God-like figure. In ‘Full Fathom Five' she writes, â€Å"You defy other Godhood. I walk dry on your kingdom's border†, when talking to her father. This could therefore be evidence that although she may seem to be addressing the birthday present with questions in this poem she is really questioning to her Dad. The theme of Dad arises in many of Plath's poems and so this poem is typical of her writing. Like many of Plath's other poems she uses personification in ‘A Birthday Present' to make an inert object appear to have a life of its own. The narrator is describing the present when she says, â€Å"I feel it looking. I feel it thinking†. The two verbs are actions that only a living person could do. Plath, however uses them to make the present in the poem come alive. The literary device of personification is typical to some of Plath's other poems. One example is in her poem ‘Cut' where she personifies her thumb by referring to it as ‘Little pilgrim', ‘Saboteur' and ‘Kamikaze man', before reminding us at the end of the poem that it is just a ‘Thumb stump'. This is therefore a device that Plath uses typically in her writing. In conclusion, many of the themes and ideas found in ‘A Birthday Poem' can also be found and mirrored in Plath's other poetry. She also uses a range of literary and linguistic devices in this poem that is typical of her writing.

Culture and Gender

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia adheres to strict Koran laws. Among them is the veiling of women, structuring of their work and lives away from men, and driving (Wikipedia, 2007). Though education in the West is slowly changing this, it is not in any way translated to policy changes or reforms (Bradley, 2006). We aim to ink a deal with the Saudi government for the setting-up of a supermarket chain. To be successful, the negotiators must show respect to the country’s laws and norms. The Saudi government- through the religious police- is the primary proponent and advocate of strict laws and norms pertaining to women hence they should be dealt with sensitively. I choose the budding male executive over the veteran female to head the team. In the country, women are not expected to work in positions which allow them to interact with men. Sending a woman as head of the negotiating team would be an insult to the Saudis with their deeply-entrenched conservative values. Should the CEO insist on sending her, I will ensure that she will not be the front liner. She will still head the negotiations but the spokesman will be the male executive. She will still make the decision but through the latter. My decision will send a message to within and outside the company that we are serious in our business transactions.   It is by complying with the norms and laws of wherever you do business which wins deals. As a leader, it will show my flexibility in matters not wholly congruent to traditional norms of conducting business. Part II- Power Corruption Cycle Power Corruption Cycle is an organizational phenomena characterized by the use of rank to intimidate or bribe the lower-echelons to allow an illegitimate or corrupt practice to happen and/or continue. When the latter become managers or executives themselves, they apply the same corrupt practices which also influence those with lower positions. This cycle- if uninterrupted by new management- would go on and on. It poisons an organization in that the quality of service/s and/or products will be compromised which will eventually lead to its downfall. An example is on the awarding of contracts to bidders in government projects. The members of the bids and awards committee are all corrupt and have a mutual understanding of granting the contract not to the one which offers the premium bid but to the one who can offer the largest kickback. A young, newly-hired assistant to the committee intends to follow stated rules in bidding but soon finds out about the â€Å"unwritten rules†. He is co-opted and fits permanently into the organization. The people- recipients of developmental projects- suffer through sub-standard infrastructure and incoherent development projects and services. This leads to mistrust and enmity towards the government which will create a longing in society to reform, if not replace the government in power and/or the system. ReferenceBradley, J. (2006). Saudi Arabia exposed: Inside a kingdom in crisis. NY: Palgrave Macmillan. Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. 2007. Islam in Saudi Arabia. Retrieved Feb. 13, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Saudi_Arabia#Islamism_in_Saudi_Arabia.      

Boas - Boidae - Constricting Snakes

Boas - Boidae - Constricting Snakes Boas (Boidae) are a group of nonvenomous snakes that include about 36 species. Boas are found in North America, South America, Africa, Madagascar, Europe and many Pacific Islands. Boas include the largest of all living snakes, the green anaconda. Other Snakes Called Boas The name boa is also used for two groups of snakes that do not belong to the Boidae family, the split-jawed boas (Bolyeriidae) and the dwarf boas (Tropidophiidae). The split-jawed boas and the dwarf boas are not closely related to members of the family Boidae. Anatomy of Boas Boas are considered to be somewhat primitive snakes. They have a rigid lower jaw and vestigial pelvic bones, with small remnant hind limbs that form a pair of spurs on either side of the body. Although boas share many characteristics with their relatives the pythons, they differ in that they lack postfrontal bones and premaxillary teeth and they give birth to live young. Some but not all species of boas have labial pits, sensory organs that enable the snakes to sense infrared thermal radiation, an ability which is  useful in the location and capture of prey but which also provides functionality in thermoregulation and detection of predators. Boa Diet and Habitat Boas are predominantly terrestrial snakes that forage in low lying bushes and trees and feed on small vertebrates. Some boas are tree-dwelling species that stalk their prey by hanging their head down from their perch amongst the branches. Boas capture their prey by first grasping it and then coiling their body quickly around it. Prey is then killed when the boa constricts its body tightly so that the prey cannot inhale and dies of asphyxiation. The diet of boas varies from species to species but generally includes mammals, birds and other reptiles. The largest of all boas, in fact, the largest of all snakes, is the green anaconda. Green anacondas can grow to lengths of over 22 feet. Green anacondas are also the heaviest known species of snake and may also be the heaviest squamate species as well. Boas inhabit North America, South America, Africa, Madagascar, Europe and many Pacific Islands. Boas are often regarded solely as tropical rainforest species, but although many species are found in rainforests this is not true for all boas. Some species live in arid regions such as the deserts of Australia. The vast majority of boas are terrestrial or arboreal but one species, the green anaconda is an aquatic snake. Green anacondas are native to the slow-moving streams, swamps, and marshes on the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains. They also occur on the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. Green anacondas feed on larger prey than most other boas. Their diet includes wild pigs, deer, birds, turtles, capybara, caimans, and even jaguars. Boa Reproduction Boas undergo sexual reproduction and with the exception of two species in the genus Xenophidion, all bear live young. Females that bear live young do so by retaining their eggs within their body give birth to multiple young at once. Classification of Boas The Taxonomic Classification of boas is as follows: Animals Chordates Reptiles Squamates Snakes Boas Boas are divided into two subgroups which include the true boas (Boinae) and the tree boas (Corallus). True boas include the largest species of boas such as the common boa and the anaconda. Tree boas are tree-dwelling snakes with slender bodies and long prehensile tails. Their bodies are somewhat flat in shape, a structure that gives them support and enables them to stretch from one branch to another. Tree boas often rest coiled up in the branches of trees. When they hunt, tree boas hang their head down from the branches and coil their neck in an S-shape to give themselves a good angle from which to strike their prey below.

Politics and Beliefs Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Politics and Beliefs - Term Paper Example This essay discusses that according to Cloninger, for a certain group of people, ideology is important and performs four functions. The first function is it describes the surroundings and answers question why things go as they are. The second of these functions is the evaluation of the surrounding whether good or bad. The third of the functions of ideology is to give the person or group of people a sense of identity. The most important of the functions is the programmatic aspect where ideas are applied into actions. Political ideology is therefore a very important aspect of human nature. A political ideology according to Cloninger is like a revolutionary movement at first that will try to create change according to the goals in life as they wish. Gerring in Chris Livesey’s work entitled Power and Politics defined â€Å"Ideologies† (a set of related beliefs and values) become political ideologies when they â€Å"specify a concrete programme of actions† (such as pa rty manifesto). Mullins described political ideologies as a program of collective action for the maintenance , alteration and transformation of society†. Livesey stated that a conventional way to classify political ideologies is to view them as a continuous line (the continuum) with two ends: â€Å"left wing† parties including Communist and Socialist and â€Å"right wing† parties such Conservative and Fascist. Rummel also identified major political ideologies by illustrating a political triangle. ... They advocate the view that capitalism is a form of exploitation which unfairly concentrates powers and wealth among the few people only. Socialists believe that capitalism creates inequality in a society and does not work in the interest of the majority. According to Rummel (n.d.), libertarianism is the â€Å"political formula for those who opposed to state power.† Thus these are people who wanted to do as things their own way and support basic civil freedoms. Authoritarianism leans more on â€Å"the traditions and customs and central power lies in the hands of a leader who maintains such tradition and policies (Rummel, n.d.). Political Socialization Political socialization is defined as â€Å"the process by which political culture is transmitted in a given society. It occurs at both the individual and community level, and it extends beyond the acquisition of political culture to encompass the learning of more sophisticated political ideas and orientations. Political social ization is a lifelong process and a variety of individuals and institutions contribute to its shaping effect†(http://imej.wfu.edu, Political Socialization). This process of transmission is carried through the agents of socialization which include family, schools, church, friends and media. Family is considered to be the most important agent of socialization. Most likely, children will have the same political affiliation as their parents. Schools on the other hand also have vital effect on students’ political values through peer groups. Religion also affects a person’s values and ideologies through their moral teachings. Friends also influence a person’s value through sharing of thoughts and constant communication. Media

The Corporate Manslaughter Reform Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Corporate Manslaughter Reform - Essay Example This is but a logical consequence of the very nature of corporations' artificial personality in connection with what possible penalty they could be made to suffer. But the famous case of R. v. P & O Ferries (Dover) Ltd. 93 Cr App Rep 72 (or the famous Herald of Free Enterprise case) have challenged this idea and the courts' decision was to formally recognise that these corporations can be made criminally liable for manslaughter. This decision is taken to mean as holding the corporation itself directly criminally liable for manslaughter (as if the corporation have acted independently on its own to constitute mens rea and actus reus) aside from the individual liabilities of its directors or officers. The US Supreme Court as well in 1909 (along the same line of thought on corporate criminal liability) held that corporations could be held liable criminally for acts or omissions including failure of an agent acting within the scope of his employment. From here, there were recent cases which have stated that a corporation will be held vicariously liable for the illegal acts of its employees if the employees act within the scope of their authority and intend to benefit the corporation. In both jurisdictions (UK and the United States), corporate criminal liability is without question recognised. The Problem of the Second Element of the Offence in Government's Proposed Draft Bill Reform on Corporate Manslaughter Corporate manslaughter is a homicide for a corporation. This means that a natural person is made to answer for criminal liabilities as if it were a natural person being held to answer for the consequences of a criminal act. Taken from... The researcher of this essay states that it is but proper to mention some basic concepts of corporate criminal liability as a preliminary before taking up the crucial issues involved in the Corporate Manslaughter: The Government’s Draft Bill for Reform. Corporate criminal liability is one of those hotly debated topics. One issue that attracts much attention is whether a corporation should be at "fault" before liability is imposed, and precisely what "corporate fault" means. In other words, what liability standard should be required before imposing liability on the corporation. For example, should liability be imposed when the corporation is negligent, when it acts "knowingly," whenever harm occurs regardless of the "fault" of the corporation, or some other liability standard? This essay addresses this issue and provides some deterrence-based insights into the choice of liability standards for corporate crime. The researcher mentiones that there were recent cases which have sta ted that a corporation will be held vicariously liable for the illegal acts of its employees if the employees act within the scope of their authority and intend to benefit the corporation. In both jurisdictions (UK and US), corporate criminal liability is without question recognised. The proposed Corporate Manslaughter Law aims to tackle the identification principle by providing a new basis - a test that focuses on management failure at senior level within the organization instead of focusing on the negligent act of an individual employee.