...1949: The Commies take control When Mao Zedong’s Communist Party took control of China in 1949, it inherited the most populous country on earth—over a half a billion Chinese people. This was more than triple the population of the U.S., which at the time stood at 150 million (US population in 2010 = 310 million). More is better? After a century of wars, unrest, and epidemics,China saw a population boom (helped by improved medical care and sanitation). This growth was initially greeted by leaders as an economic advantage. Reflecting the prevailing attitude of the leadership, Hu Yaobang, secretary of the Communist Youth League reasoned that, “A larger population means greater manpower…the force of 600 million liberated people is tens of thousands of times stronger than a nuclear explosion.” The Communist Party of China (CCP) condemned birth control as well as banned the import of contraceptives (doh!). Can China feed itself? On August 1949, U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson authored the China White Paper, in which he expressed his doubts about China’s ability to feed itself. He wrote: “The first problem which every Chinese government has had to face is that of feeding its population. So far, none have succeeded.” In direct response to this, a defiant Mao retorted: “Even if China’s population multiplies many times, she is fully capable of finding a solution; the solution is production.” He also famously stated that a large population is “a very good thing … Of...
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...Despite the huge number of studies about cultural dimensions, I think that it does not still exist a “perfect theory” which can help us understanding better other cultures. Professors L. Nardon and R. M. Steers try to find a solution not creating another brand-new theory, but providing what they call the “core cultural dimension”. The aim of the two professors is to seek convergence across the already existing theories, trying to facilitate both research and cross-cultural comparisons. The “core cultural dimensions” are: • Hierarchy - Equality • Individualism - Collectivism • Mastery - Harmony • Monochronism - Polychronism • Universalism – Particularism In spite of the attempt of solving the so-called “culture theory jungle”, they are not still come to the perfect theory. In my opinion, in order to find the perfect theory, a professor does not have to seek all the convergences among already existing cultural dimensions and make a summary of them, but, rather, he has to choose the right ones paying attention to the others. My perfect theory is formed by five dimensions and it deals with the following topics: • Use of time • Display emotions • Communication • Reach the goal Personally, I do not take into consideration any of the four clusters which Hofstede calls “the dimensions of national culture”. Of course, they can be considered the ancestors of later models and they inspired a lot of theorists, but they are also too old (1967-1973), too general,...
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...RESEARCH PAPER 06/36 19 JUNE 2006 A Political and Economic Introduction to China “If the 20th century ended in 1989, the 21st began in 1978” Martin Jacques, The Guardian, 25 May 2006 China’s political and economic rise and what it means for the world is now a central preoccupation of analysts and policy-makers. Public awareness of China is likely to increase as the 2008 Olympics in Beijing draw near. This Research Paper is intended to act as a resource that Members of Parliament and their staff can draw upon when engaging with China’s remarkable transformation. Part I provides key facts and figures about China. Parts II and III review recent developments and future prospects by addressing four key questions. Is political authoritarianism sustainable? Can China’s development be peaceful? What are the main domestic economic challenges facing China? What is China’s impact on the world economy? Part IV summarises key aspects of UK and EU relations with China. The Paper ends with a select bibliography of key sources. The Research Paper is intended to act as a platform for a series of Library Standard Notes that will address in more depth specific issues about China that there is space here only to discuss briefly. Jon Lunn, Maria Lalic, Ben Smith and Claire Taylor INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE SECTION Ed Beale, Ed Potton, Ian Townsend and Dominic Webb ECONOMIC POLICY AND STATISTICS SECTION HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY Recent Library Research Papers include: List of 15...
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...Gloabal Leadership: Grey Zone Paper Tiananmen Square Protests 1989 Chirs Niu 1454792 March 30, 2012 Box: 145 Industrial revolutions and economic reforms were the key drivers for Western societies to start the march towards democracy. The world’s most populated country, China, led by its historical figure Deng Xiaoping, started economic reform in the late 70s. Ten years of reform changed the country revolutionarily, making a once unenlightened and closed society prosperous and promising. The then current democratic atmosphere of the world heavily influenced the Chinese intelligent individuals, especially educated youth from state universities, during the late 80s. Nevertheless, the one party dominated socialist nation, which lived on its complete political control since independence in 1949, had not yet prepared to commence political reform that would eventually lead to democracy (CNN). In the early summer of 1989, astonishing sequences of events broke out and drew the entire world’s attention. This memorable event is known as the June 4th Event or Tiananmen Square Protests 1989. The Chinese government, unlike many democratic ones, uses authoritarian powers to facilitate political aspirations, from which the actions defined by the Communist Party as representing people’s rights and interests. Nevertheless, when students, workers and citizens marched on the streets all over China, the government chose to protect its own interests rather than those of the people’s...
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...Honesty in the Academic Environment Jasmine Mix RDG 504 January 18, 2013 Jessica Montgomery Honesty in the Academic Environment Introduction Six year old Kylie is asked by her teacher “Why did you place the pencils in your backpack and take the pencils home?” Very unsure of the appropriate response, Kylie simply says “ I didn’t.” The teacher then goes over to the child’s book bag to take out the pencils that are accused of to be missing. Kylie then states that she must have accidently placed the pencil in the book bag after completing the end of the day assignment while packing up to go home. Regardless of the reason the action occurred, the teacher proceeds to have a thorough discussion regarding the topic of honesty and goes forth to discipline the child in school as well as contact her parent at home to make them aware of the situation and to recommend they generously speak to their student so that the behavior is not repeated again. In this paper I look to explore the different levels of honesty and evaluate if it is as black and white as it seems. When is it Lying According to Merriam-Webster the definition of honesty is: 1. The quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness. 2. Truthfulness, sincerity or frankness. 3. Freedom from deceit or fraud. The commitment required to realize these simple terms is more clearly implied in a second definition, drawn from Funk & Wagnails Standard Handbook of Synonyms, Antonyms and Prepositions: "One who is honest...
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...Herbal Supplements The FDA should regulate herbal supplements as it ensures safety for the consumer. If taken properly, herbal supplements have great benefits. The problem is that there simply is not enough regulation of the herbal supplements. Many herbal supplements can be dangerous if taken incorrectly. What’s worse, people simply do not have enough information about the benefits and risks of herbal supplements. A great example of the lack of regulation is overuse of Ephedra. A while back, people started taking mass amounts of Ephedra in order to lose weight. It ended in a great amount of deaths, causing the FDA to take measures against makers of medicines containing Ephedra. Because it was considered an herbal supplement, it did not have the same scrutiny as synthetic drugs. Herbal supplements can be just as powerful as synthetic drugs, so the same vigilance in regulation should apply. Also, harmful ingredients sometimes end up in herbal supplements, which present an entirely new risk. If herbal supplements were more closely monitored, there would be a better chance of preventing this from happening. Because of the lack of regulation, consumers do not have any assurance that what they are buying is safe. Consumers need that assurance, especially when it comes to health products. There also is not very much awareness about herbal supplements. People do not realize how powerful some herbal supplements are. Many people hold the mistaken belief that herbal supplements...
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...The objective for most companies today is to maximize profit. The iPod has proven to be a major contributor to Apple’s overall revenue growth. However, one issue that we face with the iPod is the ability to obtain new customers. New technological innovations can be a hindering effect on long term profitability. Apple was known for its constant technological advances. Each generation of the iPod was better than the one before it. However, nowadays, consumers are able to download music right on to their smartphones and tablets, which reduces the likelihood of them wanting to buy an iPod. Cost structure will most likely not have an effect on the long term profitability of the iPod. “Cost structure is the expenses that a firm must take into account when manufacturing a product or providing a service.” (Investor Words) Apple does not manufacture their devices. Foxconn is the manufacturer for Apple and they are located in China. Apple pays their manufacturer very low and charges the consumer a high price. “While watching an interview given by CNN's Fareed Zakaria with China's Premier Wen Jiabao on October 3 2010, the Premier made a reference to the cost of making the iPod when speaking (through a translator) about the Chinese and American economies. He stated that he remembered when (in their last interview in 2008) that Fareed Zakaria made an example of the "iPod player in the United States. An iPod player is sold at $299 in the States (in 2008). But the Chinese producer only...
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...The End of Men Casper Pedersen 2.a Men have always been the dominant force in western society both economically and politically. Most top jobs belong to men and the majority of the world’s influential politicians are male, such as Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin and the Chinese president Hu Jintao. Because of this male dominance, men have led the way of culture and society for ages. But all of this may be about to change in our postindustrial era. In her article, “The End of Men” from the magazine The Atlantic, July/August 2010, Hanna Rosin argues that woman are in fact well on the way of taking over the role as the dominant cultural force. But is she right when she proclaims “The End of Men”? Hanna Rosin builds up her article in order to convince her readers that women are playing an increasingly influential role in society and are ultimately replacing men’s status as the dominant sex. She does this by referring to developments in the job market, in education and politics and in the pop industry. In all these important fields she sees a tendency towards female power. Her argument is initially built on facts, “Earlier this year, women became the majority of the workforce for the first time in U.S. history. Most managers are women too. And for every two men who get a college degree this year, three women will do the same” (ll. 1-3). These facts speak to the reader’s intellect and builds up a trustworthiness, so that the reader feels that Rosin is right in pointing out...
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...A special report on China's place in the world Brushwood and gall China insists that its growing military and diplomatic clout pose no threat. The rest of the world, and particularly America, is not so sure, says Edward Carr Dec 2nd 2010 | from PRINT EDITION • • IN 492BC, at the end of the “Spring and Autumn” period in Chinese history, Goujian, the king of Yue in modern Zhejiang, was taken prisoner after a disastrous campaign against King Fuchai, his neighbour to the north. Goujian was put to work in the royal stables where he bore his captivity with such dignity that he gradually won Fuchai’s respect. After a few years Fuchai let him return home as his vassal. Goujian never forgot his humiliation. He slept on brushwood and hung a gall bladder in his room, licking it daily to feed his appetite for revenge. Yue appeared loyal, but its gifts of craftsmen and timber tempted Fuchai to build palaces and towers even though the extravagance ensnared him in debt. Goujian distracted him with Yue’s most beautiful women, bribed his officials and bought enough grain to empty his granaries. Meanwhile, as Fuchai’s kingdom declined, Yue grew rich and raised a new army. Goujian bided his time for eight long years. By 482BC, confident of his superiority, he set off north with almost 50,000 warriors. Over several campaigns they put Fuchai and his kingdom to the sword. The king who slept on brushwood and tasted gall is as familiar to Chinese as King Alfred and his cakes are to Britons,...
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...violence during the Tiananmen Square conflict in 1989. A more modern example of when a government turns its troops on protesters can be compared to the youth revolt in France in 2006. In France there were students protesting a labor bill that they believed to be unfair and in the case of the Tiananmen square conflict students and residents both protested because they believed their government to be unfair as well not following the Chinese Constitution. There are a few factors that could have contributed such as cultural, economical, or political ones. The main reason that many believe to be what led to the protests is the death of Hu Yaobang. Hu was the general secretary of the Communist party of China. He was considered controversial because he believed that the government should become more western in there policies and was a supporter of democracy. When Hu Yaobang suddenly died of a heart attack on 15 April 1989,students began to organize on the 16 of April. Millions of people joined the march making it as said by the article China-Conflict at Tiananmen Square: “ the greatest challenge to the communist state in China since the 1949 revolution”. The protests lasted for seven weeks until June 3 when the army moved into the area shooting random protesters. Outside governments were horrified but what had happened. UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said she was “shocked and appalled by the shootings”. Three ways that cultural reasons could be one of the factors that helped cause...
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...| 2011 | | Tian Gong Fujitsu | [BUSINESS PLAN FOR TIAN GONG Hotel] | [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.] | Table of contents A. Executive Summary B. Statement of Purpose C. Name and legal structure D. Description of the business E. Description of the concept, licenses, and lease F. Market analysis and strategy G. Hotel Room Configuration, Food service menus, Beverage Menus, and Pricing H. Advertising and promotional campaign I. Conclusions and Summary Works Cited A. Executive Summary Tian Gong Inn. will centrally locate in the heart of the exclusive Gold Coast at the intersection of Goethe Street and North State Parkway. Within walking distance to the shopping and restaurants on the Magnificent Mile and Michigan Avenue, the nightlife on Rush Street, Lincoln Park and the beaches of Lake Michigan. Just a short distance to Millennium Park, museums and cultural centers, and the Loop business district. Tian Gong will provide 285 spacious and oversized guest rooms and suites are individually furnished with integrity, taste and superb functionality. It will attract more and more upper class customer as well as many of the foreigners, specially more and more Chinese business traveler, because this hotel will use traditional Chinese decorate...
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...China Threat Theory Rising China: a security threat to the West? Abstract The rising China into the world stage has paved the way to the China threat theory. The China threat theory claims that China will soon disrupt the status quo in the world that has been dictated for decades by the Western nations like United States, United Kingdom and France. Especially the United States will not easily give up or relinquish their position as hegemon. The perceived threat of a rising China; especially when there are several publications of books, articles and anti-China bashing blogs that helps to exacerbate these fears. China’s increase in soft power and hard power does not mean it is a threat to the global security; China’s development and their economic growth relies on peaceful relations with the West because China needs access to their domestic markets. The main reason why China is considered to be a threat to the West is because they cannot maintain their domination on the world stage, and has to make room for developing nations like the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Yet China simply wants to develop and increase the living standards of its people, and no desire of aggressive military actions. Thus, the foundation of why China is still been seen as a threat will be explored but the conception will be dismissed because as a growing superpower these steps are logical and any country that is in the same situation as China now will simply...
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...from ministers and those subjects The Ideal person is to become educated and live a moral life. He taught that if man is good by nature, then it is quite simple to acquire what is natural to humans where kindness and generosity should be prevalent. An Ideal Man will live in squalor with minimal means, and still have authentic happiness for himself and those around him. This type of man has no jealousy for those who dwell in riches nor shun those less fortunate. The important features of an Ideal man according to Confucius are a man that remains humane to all things given by the Earth and to not acquire comfortable living means in ill-gotten ways. Confucianism in modern Chinese culture has seen revivals in Confucianism and President Hu Jintao developed the idea of “Harmonious Socialist Society” based upon Confucius ideals (Dr. Li Yiu, 2011). Confucius was considered a “backward thinker” (Ch. 06, pp. 248) during the early stages of the Chinese Communist government and his philosophy was believed to keep Chinese people in servitude...
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...Abstract Japanese invaders occupied the city of Nanjing in 1937, a day forever etched in blood, pain and tears. The debate between Asia's two largest economies over the history of World War II has become an ongoing battle over which nation will become the region's dominant power. Primary Issues Between China and Japan According to the Council on Foreign relations, tensions between the two countries date to the humiliation of China in the Sino-Japanese War. These animosities surfaced in recurring cycles, often involving Chinese anger over Japan’s perceived lack of contrition for wartime crimes (Beehner & Bhattacharji, 2008). The history of World War II remains disputed, and China and Japan face challenges on how to move forward from the past. Growing tensions fueled when a Japanese history textbook distorted historical events surrounding the Nanjing Massacre. Further problems such as territorial and economic issues aggravated the relationship, including Japan’s close alliance with the United States, economic rivalry, trade frictions, and disputes over ownership of islands in the East China Sea. Recently a Chinese trawler collided with Japanese Coast Guard patrol boats near the Diaoyu Islands and resulted in a major diplomatic dispute between the two nations. The rivalry between the two countries continued, when China flexed its muscle to oppose a move to elevate Japan, into permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council. Chinese Government Extends Olive...
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...i l l i a m a . Ca l l a h a n China’s Strategic Futures Debating the Post-American World Order a b S t r aC t This essay examines how China’s “harmonious world†foreign policy has unintentionally created opportunities for citizens to challenge elite discussions of foreign policy. Although they are relative outsiders, the essay argues that citizen intellectuals are a growing influence as a source of ideas about China’s future—and the world’s. K e y W o r d S : China, foreign policy, strategy, public intellectual, civil society Although we did not recognize it at the time, Beijing’s current assertive foreign policy started in September 2005 when Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered a major speech to a global audience at the United Nations. From the podium of the General Assembly, Hu introduced “Harmonious World†as a new concept of global politics, explaining that his goal was to “build a harmonious world of lasting peace and...
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