Focused Differentiation Essay Example

Focused Differentiation Essay This type of strategy works on targeting narrow market niche where buyers needs and preferences are distinctively different. It offers attributes that appeal specifically to the niche member and more often they can be custom made. Marketing of the product under this kind of strategy is by communicating how product offering does the best hob of meeting niche buyers expectations. The key to sustain this kind of strategy is by staying committed serving the niche better that the competitors Non Stop Yachts is pursuing which type of generic strategy?What is attractive about the strategy and what are the risks for Non Stop Yachts? Among the above-mentioned generic competitive strategies, NSY is using broad differentiation strategy through sell supplies and parts for mega-yacht. The company offers a wide selection of products under different brand names. It is a one-stop shop through the Internet. They just give the information and specification of every product so that the customers have a wide range of options to choose from.With NonStopYacht.com, the company became a web based purchasing agent and can be accessed by customers in any part of the world through the use of Internet offering parts and supplies needed by the mega-yachts. This unique appealing attribute allows the company to increase unit sales. The competitive advantage of the company is their ability to serve their customers wherever they are because of the wide range of network of suppliers, the flexibility of the cost structure and the transparency of the billing. We will write a custom essay sample on Focused Differentiation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Focused Differentiation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Focused Differentiation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Although this type of strategy of NSY was risky because not all that visit the site are sure customers.There is a great chance that they will just be used as a source of information for customers. There is also a possibility that those traditional purchasing agents will open their own e-commerce site. So apart from the regular customers that they have they can widen their market through the use of e-commerce. Evaluate Non Stop Yacht’s value chain to determine whether there is potential for low-cost leadership, competitively valuable differentiating attributes, or a best-cost provider advantage in relation to competition.The NSY Value Chain Value chains consist of the steps in adding value towards the final production of marketable goods and services. It maps the range map activities and business function required to bring a product or service to the market, from conception and design to the extraction of raw materials and then all the steps involved in developing the product or services into its final purchase form. The value chain runs from conception to consumption and incorporates all the aspects of production, distribution and exchange.According to (Porter 1980) it can be illustrated using the figure below Inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales and services are the primary activities in the company. Firm infrastructure, human resource management, technology development and procurement are the secondary activities. A new face for value chain can describe the activities inside the Non Stop Yacht e-commerce business. For a business like this that is dependent on the online community, the value chain can be described in the following manner:Awareness in business like this means generating traffic, driving visitors to visit and look at your site. Non Stop Yacht make efforts to make the public know that this site exists by securing high placement among the more popular search engines for key word search. However, this does not work well for the company because the growth in sales was small. Being a strict Internet based business does not work for NSY. So to make the customers know that their company exist they transfer to a public accessible area and put some computers that can be used by yacht crew.Non Sop Yacht new business model, from Purely Inter Based business to Hybrid brick and mortar enterprise, make the company more accessible to the yacht crew. Especially when they put a new office in Palma Spain and advertise the company’s site in three major publications that were frequently read and referenced by captains and crews: Professional Yachtsman’s Association News, The Yacht Report and Showboats. Attendance of Non Stop Team in major boat shows in Europe and United States helped the company. Interest.When captains and crews learned the existence of an online purchasing agent named Non Stop Yacht. They become interested in learning what are the new offerings of this company that make it different from the existing purchasing agencies. Non Stop Yacht provided a compelling value proposition to the crew of super yacht and mega-yacht , which includes: An up-to-date catalogue on CD Automatic accounting for the captain or yacht management company Password protected expenditure level for captains and engineersAutomatic receipt copies Link into maintenance scheduling software if used on the yacht Easy re-ordering of parts or group of parts Intelligent add-on sales with instant access to available options Product picture and parts diagram NO time zone issues This hassle free online purchasing offered by Non Stop create desire to the yacht owners, captains and crew to place an order for their yacht parts and supply requirements. Once the order is placed, NSY has to verify the authenticity of the order before delivering it to the customer.

Calculate Osmotic Pressure Example Problem

Calculate Osmotic Pressure Example Problem This example problem demonstrates how to calculate the amount of solute to add to create a specific osmotic pressure in a solution. Osmotic Pressure Example Problem How much glucose (C6H12O6) per liter should be used for an intravenous solution to match the 7.65 atm at 37 degrees Celsius osmotic pressure of blood?Solution:Osmosis is the flow of a solvent into a solution through a semipermeable membrane. Osmotic pressure is the pressure that stops the process of osmosis. Osmotic pressure is a colligative property of a substance since it depends on the concentration of the solute and not its chemical nature.Osmotic pressure is expressed by the formula: ÃŽ   iMRT where ÃŽ   is the osmotic pressure in atm,  i van t Hoff factor of the solute,  M molar concentration in mol/L,  R universal gas constant 0.08206 L ·atm/mol ·K, and  T absolute temperature in Kelvin.Step 1:  Determine the van t Hoff factor.Since glucose does not dissociate into ions in solution, the van t Hoff factor 1.Step 2: Find the absolute temperature.T Degrees Celsius 273T 37 273T 310 KelvinStep 3:  Find the concentration of glucose.ÃŽ   iMRTM ÃŽ  /iRTM 7.65 atm/(1)(0.08206 L ·atm/mol ·K)(310)M 0.301 mol/LStep 4:  Find the amount of sucrose per liter.M mol/VolumeMol M ·VolumeMol 0.301 mol/L x 1 LMol 0.301 molFrom the periodic table:C 12 g/molH 1 g/molO 16 g/molMolar mass of glucose 6(12) 12(1) 6(16)Molar mass of glucose 72 12 96Molar mass of glucose 180 g/molMass of glucose 0.301 mol x 180 g/1 molMass of glucose 54.1 gramsAnswer:54.1 grams per liter of glucose should be used for an intravenous solution to match the 7.65 atm at 37 degrees Celsius osmotic pressure of blood. What Happens If You Get the Answer Wrong Osmotic pressure is critical when dealing with blood cells. If the solution is hypertonic to the cytoplasm of the red blood cells, the cells  will shrink through a process called crenation. If the solution is hypotonic with respect to the osmotic pressure of the cytoplasm, water will rush into the cells to try to reach equilibrium. This may cause the red blood cells to burst. In an isotonic solution, red and white blood cells maintain their normal structure and function. Its important to remember that there may be other solutes in the solution that affect osmotic pressure. If a solution is isotonic with respect to glucose but contains more or less of an ionic species (sodium ions, potassium ions, and so on), these species may migrate into or out of a cell to try to reach equilibrium.

Organisational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 7

Organisational Behaviour - Essay Example According to Needham (p. 222), hierarchy refers to the structure of organization management where there is direct communication links between superior and subordinates. In this kind if structure each member has a clear understanding of the chain of command and to whom he or she is responsible to. It is from the top of the company, the managing director down to the workforce below. An organization ought to operate within a structure that is appropriate with its purposes for it to fulfill its mission effectively. Large organizations are normally divided into functional areas. In the case of syngenta, its functions includes: research and development, global supply which also include manufacturing, human resources, sales and marketing, finance and information systems. The company’s structure is identical to most companies, it has likelihood of having several layers of authority. The number of levels is determined by structure that the organization has. It can be a flat or hierarch ical structure. A hierarchical structure is composed of several levels of management, each having span of control which is narrow. In this kind of structure, instructions are directed from level of management on the top to the workforce below. Feedback comes vice versa from the workers below to the supervisors on the top. In the hierarchical structure there is chain of control, this is the reporting system from those on the top of the hierarchy to those below. In this kind of structure, there is strict supervision. In addition, this kind of structure has clear promotion opportunities. This clarity reduces the levels of stress among the managers and employees. In this kind structure, everyone knows their roles to play. However, hierarchical organisations face communication challenges, hence, lack of effective management delays the passing of information in the chain of command. Another setback here is that employees may lack full empowerment. This does not allow them to b e innovativ e.

Fashion and Consumer Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Fashion and Consumer Culture - Essay Example Consumers like changing taste of products that they consume in the market. Clothing industry takes the advantage of advancing technology into wooing their customers to consume their products. The diversity in the society is a major factor that influences the market trends that fashion designers use to manipulate the market. For example, the television shows affect the demand for new fashions in the market. Television viewers usually tend to go for the designs that they view in the television channels. Some of the fashions that they feel they should consume belong to the royal family while others belong to the celebrity. It is a common trend in the society for artist and other special people in the society to come up with cloth designs, which distinguish them from the rest of the society. Artists who criticize the social trends in the society may come up with a design that seems to drum their views to the society. On the other hand, the society would pick the fashion without considering factors that led to its design. The society seems to incline on views and opinion of a few designers and artist to buy their products. For instance, lovers of a specific artist would be willing to dress the way the artist does no matter the cost that it takes. The aim of this paper is to discuss the notion; consumers are passive victims manipulated into buying commodities they cannot resist. Modernity contributes a lot in shaping the type of products that people buy. Social integration and mimicking of cultural practices by other communities has influenced the method fashion designers use to develop their products (Arpan & Peterson, 2008:78). Cultural practices are unique and diversified according to the number of tribes that exist in the society. Some cultures seem to dominate the market with their products because the majority of people in the society feel that they should associate with the cultural practices of a particular community. It is important to note that such practices have led the fashion trends to incline towards building the market with products that belong to that community. For example, western holiday lifestyle has influenced the kind of fashion during relaxation in beaches. Many women wear bikini in beaches and feel comfortable in it. This trend has influenced the consumption of bikini in other parts of the world because of growing civilization and gl obalization. For example, the African coasts have adopted the product because they share the shame cultures as shaped by civilization. Notably, consumers do not wish to know about the history of a specific product, instead, they would consume the product as it present itself to the market. Fashion in the market tends to follow seasons (Sassatelli, 2007:59). During hot season, the fashion designers would come up with products that seem to obey the climate change. Once the product come into the market, many consumers will rush for the product shunning the previous products in the market. This consumer trend is beneficial to fashion designers because it makes their product sell in the market. The intention behind designing a variety of products in the market is to control the amount products that consumers buy. Methods of creating and retaining customers applied in business contribute a lot in influencing the work of fashion designers. In many cases, the need to attract customers leads to innovative practices employed by the designers. In attracting customers to buy a particular product, the preference of the consumer would influence the approach that designers would take in rolling the product into the market. For instance, when the product had a single slit, the designers would add another slit and roll

Discuss the qualities of effective business leaders. Reference at Research Paper

Discuss the qualities of effective business leaders. Reference at least two business leaders . What methods do they use to create a culture of motivation and high performance - Research Paper Example They should have the ability to influence their subordinates in a positive manner with the aim that they are motivated to perform much better. A democratic working style is much better than an authoritarian working style for the leader. A leader with a democratic outlook will strive towards the betterment of the organization rather than his personal benefits. Effective business leaders are usually self-starters and they themselves always strive to improve their performance. They make themselves always available in their organization (Harvard Business School, â€Å"Becoming an effective leader†). Leaders should be visionaries and they should have the capability to articulate their vision to their employees. They should have good communication skills; they should be willing to take risks and always should have the willingness to learn (Holbeche, L., â€Å"Motivating People in Lean Organizations†). Bill Gates has been described many a times as a fierce competitor but no one can deny the fact that he is a great visionary who has always been a step ahead of his times. Microsoft has certain practices that contribute in motivating their employees. The product designers of Microsoft work in small teams. They are provided assignments that are challenging and they are also given recognition for their work. Performance assessment is carried out twice a year in Microsoft. Certain performance objectives are set and employees may compare themselves against those objectives. These self-evaluations are rated by their managers. The rating ranges from exceptional to a very low level. The low level of performance means that it is not matching up to a certain minimum standard. The good performance is rewarded by increase in salary. Bill Gates personally visits those employees who have performed exceedingly well and they are honored for their achievement. The employees are awarded by giving sha res of the company to

Victim Within The Criminal Justice System Criminology Essay

Victim Within The Criminal Justice System Criminology Essay An offender is an accused defendant who is convicted of a serious crime and who is set to appear before the criminal court. There are 37.2 offenders in total in Ireland. 38.1 of them are male and 32 of them are female. There are 53.6% of people aged under 18 who commit crimes. 33.5% of offenders get community service and 39.3% are out on a type of probation order. The most impressive statistic was that 63% of offenders did not re-offend within two years.  [2]   A victim is someone who has been harmed or affected by an offence caused by another person. Victims of violent crime may suffer financial stress as well as suffering from their injuries and emotional trauma. Recovering from violence or abuse can have effect on them for the rest of their lives as they could live in fear and suffer anxiety. Lots of people are shocked after a crime and how they feel emotionally. Theses emotions can have many effects and can leave you feeling unhappy and confused. And this can also affect family and friends around you, your emotions can have an impact on them as they will be concerned for you. Although many people feel that they have to be able to cope with this emotional burden and are expected to live out their daily lives as if nothing has happened, most victims will need counselling to come to terms with what has happened.  [3]   For this essay we have chosen to talk about the victim as we think the victim suffers the most physically and emotionally. The victim of a crime can need counselling to help them come to terms with their emotions and fears. Discussion There are many different ways a person can be a victim. Someone can be a victim for anything from a minor crime up to a major crime. Examples of where someone can be a victim are from theft, robbery, burglary, assault, dangerous driving, sexual offences, murder and manslaughter and human trafficking.  [4]  In many cases of crime it is not just the victim that can be affected, their family can also be affected, more so in the major crime cases of dangerous driving, sexual offences, murder and manslaughter. As we previously mentioned, there are many types of victims when it comes to crime, and usually the persons role within, and there perspective of the criminal justice system will change depending of the circumstances of each case. For example somebody pressing charges for something minor such as vandalism is going to expect far less drastic results than say somebody who has been the victim of rape. Also we noted that there was a staggering amount of rape crime actually reported in this country, The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre recorded 11,839 calls to their helplines, with over 9,000 of them being genuine, so when we realised the problem that exists with rape in this country we decided we would use rape cases as the main focal point of our group paper.  [5]   Rape cases can differ a lot from another type of case .For example while trials in general take place in public in our state, rape cases will be held in camera, so as to protect the victims anonymity. In some serious cases as well such as rape, arrangements may be made so that the accused does not have to appear in court along with the accused, and may instead be allowed to give evidence via a video link from another area of the courts.  [6]   In rape cases this would be of particular benefit to the victim, who due to the sensitive nature of the crime and the traumatic experience they have already been through may find the prospect of having to come face to face with their attackers in the courtroom too daunting and not be able for it. Report the crime The victim should report the crime to the police as soon as the crime has occurred. When a victim reports a crime quite quickly after the crime has occurred it allows the police to gather any evidence that may fade over time. Prompt reporting will support the victims account of what happened. Many victims of sexual assault are unsure whether they want a case to be prosecuted. Victims who are unsure about prosecution are advised to seek information about guidance to make an informed decision. For example, even if the victim is not ready to prosecute immediately after the crime, prosecutors have at least six years or more to file sexual assault charges. It is important to note that even if a crime is not immediately reported, that prosecution may still be possible. A delay in reporting is typical for safety reasons.  [7]  The role of a victim is extremely important in the Criminal justice system. They must go through a number of stages in the criminal trial process in order to feel justice was served. The first stage is actually reporting the crime. This can be difficult for many as there are a number of doubts in their minds. Such as trust in the gardai, recount the details etc. It estimated in 2007 that about 30 per cent of burglaries were unreported, as were nearly four in 10 incidents of theft with violence. Offences of a sexual nature and domestic violence are grossly under-recorded  [8]  This is astonishing and very worrying for our criminal justice system. Preserve of evidence If a crime is reported, the police will gather and keep all of the evidence from the crime, which includes: bloodstained clothing, bedding, weapons and damage to property. The police will also take photographs of injuries, damage to property and also photographs of where the crime occurred. Photographs should also be taken of the victims injuries after the crime to show the stages of healing. Testify If the case proceeds to trial, victims should expect to testify. Adult victims: Testimony is less formal before the grand jury than in a courtroom setting. The grand Jury proceedings are private. Theyre one on one with the prosecutor and the victim. The Prosecutor asks the victim questions in order to get an understanding of the case. This testimony only lasts about an hour. Testifying at trial is more formal. The victim has to wait outside the court room until it is her time to testify. The prosecutor will ask the victim questions first. Then the defence attorney scrutinizes the victim. The judges role is to also make sure that the questions asked by the attorneys are appropriate according to legal rules. There is no set time on the length of a trial testimony. The prosecutor will help the victim on preparing them for the types of questions that may be asked. The victim witness advocate will help the victim on ensuring the feelings that she may evoke on testifying and helps to provide the victim with all the support that she may need in making it a less scary situation. Sometimes criminal prosecutions go in the favour of the victim as the offender may admit to everything. This means that the victim doesnt have to testify in court. Child Victims: Young children are usually asked questions by the Judge. The judge has to be content that the child understands the legal rules of a courtroom and the oath in which it is vital that he/she must tell the truth. The courtroom can be a very scary place for a child this is why the judge ensures that the child can handle testifying.  [9]   Pressing charges Some victims may personally know the suspect that committed the crime against them. Some may be related such as a mother and son relationship. In this case it is hard for the victims to choice between seeking justice and doing what is best for both the criminal and themselves. Going to court The next stage the victim goes through is the court case. This is undoubtedly the most daunting experience for the victim. Particularly for child abuse cases and rape cases. In the case of Frances Andrade, she subsequently killed herself after giving evidence in court. She said it felt like getting raped all over again. She was sexually abused by her music teacher when she was in school. When it came around to giving evidence she felt that recounting the details in a court atmosphere was worse for her than the rape itself. Andrade killed herself the day after she heard her abuser giving his side of the story. However, some may say that by allowing the victim giving evidence they feel that they are participating in seeking justice for themselves. Conclusion We have discussed in detail the role and perspective of the victim in the criminal justice system in order to seek justice. We as a group unanimously feel that the role of the victim in the criminal justice system is crucial for receiving the justice they deserve. From summary and indictable to serious offences, justice must be served in every case and the role and perspective of the victim is important in delivering justice.

Unjust Classification of Literature :: essays research papers

The Unjust Classification of Literature   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The content of literature has been criticized and classified throughout history. Occasionally, stories become known as immoral literature in the eyes of society. This can be damaging both to sales of the book and the reputation of the author. Kate Chopin wrote two stories that are examples of literature deemed immoral by society. â€Å"The storm† and â€Å"The Story of an Hour† were written and the end of the nineteenth century. A time without many liberal opinions towards literature, as well as civil rights. Often critics judge a piece of literature only on the literal meaning of the phrases inside, while ignoring the actual message from the author. Chopin’s two stories were criticized for the impression she gave of woman’s attitudes towards their husbands and marriage. Although her stories seem to contain women that do not respect marriage, the women actually have total love and respect for their husbands The misinterpretation of stor ies leads to the unjust classification of literature as immoral.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The story of an Hour† and â€Å"The Storm† have different plots, but both convey a similar message from Chopin. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† was written about a wife ,Mrs. Mallard, who receives the sad news of her husbands death. She is flushed with conflicting emotions of sadness from the death, but also joy for the freedom from marriage that his death brings. A twist in the story takes place when she is confronted with her still living husband and she dies from the shock. Chopin wrote of a woman so caught up in married life, she forgot all of the liberties that she had sacrificed for the marriage. â€Å"The storm† tells of another wife, Calixta, living what was a normal life for a woman in the late nineteenth century. While her husband and son are kept inside a store by a passing storm, Calixta is greeted unexpectedly by an old boyfriend, Alcee. Spending time with Alcee releases feelings from Calixta that had been building up thr oughout her marriage. Calixta and Alcee give in to temptation, but never lose their sight of love for their families. Both stories suggest women in marriages sometimes feel imprisoned by the relationship and seek an outlet for their emotions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marriage is a sacred bond and should always be honored. Infidelity is the worst act that can be perpetrated on a significant other. The wife, Calixta, betrayed her family and the church by cheating on them.

The Snake and the Pharaoh

Demius had become Pharaoh when he was only twelve years old. His father Manelik and mother Consuela were the first ever rulers over Egypt. For years the nation had gone without a leader, each person was self-reliant and had no one to watch over them. When the people realized it was time to change they searched far and wide among the people of the Nile valley to find someone who was worthy to rule over them. It took them many months to find the perfect man, Manelik, who already had a wife. He was the most respected, honest and caring man in all the region and the people felt he was a prime ruler for them. Manelik and Consuela could not have children but they wanted one so badly. When the people saw what an excellent Pharaoh Manelik was, they entreated Min, the god of fertility who gave them only one child and by that time they were already over sixty years old. When Manelik’s parents died the people immediately declared that he would be heir to the throne at only twelve years old. A wise man in Egypt always used to say â€Å"love, just like wine, can blind the eyes and numb the mind.† And this is exactly what happened to Demius. As Demius got old he became more and more lonely and really desired a wife. Every week he would hold a gala and invite all the citizens of the Nile valley to enjoy the festivities. But what they did not know was that he was using this as an opportunity to seek out the perfect bride. And then he saw her. One night, dressed elegantly in lace as blue as the sky, with a face as lovely as a lily, a smile as bright as the sunshine and a beauty he had never before imagined.   He enquired about her and found out that she had a magnificent singing voice and if there was anything she loved more than singing it was dancing. Oh she was his dream come true. Unfortunately, she was engaged to be married to Anaki, said to be the best dancer throughout all the Nile Valley. Determined that he could win her over he ceaselessly tried to pursue her until she relented, under one condition. At his next party Anaki and Demius could compete for her hand in a dance. They each had to dance with her and the best dancer would be her husband. Knowing full well he could never beat Anaki at dancing, because he had seen him dance and he was, indeed, the best, Demius thought of a way he could win the competition. Demius was very good friends with the gods, and he remembered the story of how when his parents wanted a child the gods had come to their rescue. So he summoned Artemis, the goddess of nature, explained his situation to her and asked her to come to make Demius unable to dance. Artemis told him to go to the gala and she would take care of everything. On the night of the dance Demius dressed in his finest apparel and entered the dancing room. When the time came for the dance and he could not find Anaki he was very pleased, knowing that Artemis had helped him. That night he danced with Gattin and, since Demius did not show up, he was declared to be the winner and she kept her vow and promised to marry him. In the night when Demius went to bed he was elated because he had finally found his bride. But as he went to lie in bed he saw this creature with no hands, and no legs, curled up in his bed. It was Anaki, Artemis had taken away his hands and legs so that he could no longer dance. But Artemis had also made a deal with Anaki. You see she was secretly in love with Demius, but he was not interested in her, and paid her no mind. She did not want him to marry another. Though she could not go back on her word to Demius she bottled up all of Anaki’s anger and turned it into poison and placed it in his tongue. That night Demius was bitten by Anaki, who became known as Snake, because he could not speak properly with the poison on his tongue. Demius may have won the dance, but he died without getting his bride. The people of the Nile, when they learnt of Demius’ evil tricks, hated him so much that they did not bury his body but built a tomb around his palace instead so that he would stand out as a reminder forever, of the wicked effects of envy.

What is Democracy essays

What is Democracy essays Although the word democracy, in Greek, means rule by the people, there is much disagreement universally over the precise requirements of democracy. 1. Ecclesia composed of all male citizens who met 40 times a year to decide everything. Exclusivity, because there were three slaves for every two Athenians (and because women were excluded) Scale, because direct democracy only works for very small populations. Clisthenes (instituted reforms in Athens between 508 and 501 BCE) He is the founder of democracy Although property ownership remained a requirement to participate in the decision-making process, he enlarged the citizen rolls, diminished the power of the aristocracy, and elevated the role of the assembly. He divided Athens and the surrounding area into precincts (called demes), each of which elected its own officers. This move weakened the power of the aristocracy. A council of 500 of these officers was responsible for general government duties, such as receiving emissaries, maintaining finances, and preparing legislative proposals for the Assembly to pass or reject. The Ecclesia, or Assembly, was comprised of all adult male citizens. It met about 40 times annually and decided everything. He believed that a Pan-Hellenic campaign against Persia and the conquest of Asia Minor would be the solution to the economic, social, and political problems that had brought poverty and civil war to the Greek cities ever since the Peloponnesian War. All things emanate from an unseen source of Good, which we can comprehend through philosophical contemplation. Our environment is the mere image of reality, so the study of our environment is pointless. ...

Turkeys bid for EU membership

Turkeys bid for EU membership Introduction Turkey’s bid for EU membership has been considered as one of the most controversial and problematic bids that the EU has ever encountered. A lot of research has been done about what the EU thinks about this country’s accession into the union but not much information has been gathered concerning Turkey’s opinion on the same.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Turkey’s bid for EU membership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It will be imperative to know what the most influential forces in Turkey think about EU integration so as to determine whether or not the accession process is likely to remain a priority to the Turkish people in the future. In this paper, it will be argued that irrespective of attitudinal factors, there is still support for EU membership amongst the Turks. Purpose of the research/ research questions The purpose of this research is to examine Turkish societ y’s attitude towards the EU. It will be illustrated through the positions taken by key groups in the country (these include the government which consists of opposition and leading parties, business groups, the general public and labour unions). The following research questions will be useful in achieving the purpose of this research: What is the Turkish attitude toward EU membership? What arguments are given in favour of these attitudes and which major threats to the Turkey EU membership have been identified? Is this attitude aligned more towards the international or the internal? How have Turkish people interpreted EU citizen’s attitudes such as President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel’s attitude towards their entry? What other prospects for international membership have been considered and do the Turks prefer attachment to the East (Middle East) or Europe? Who influences these opinions amongst the Turkish population? What is the Turkish government’s opinion on EU membership and how influential is this opinion? (the leading party’s opinion i.e. the AKP and the opposition party’s opinion i.e. CHP will be differentiated) What opinion do key business groups hold especially TUSIAD and MUSIAD? What opinion do major labour unions such as DISK, Hak-is and Turk-is hold? Significance of study By assessing Turkish opinion about ascension to the European Union, it will be possible to know how realistic these prospects are. Furthermore, the research will give a glimpse of how integration can take place if Turkey gets admitted into the EU. The findings from this paper will also illustrate how much progress has been achieved and what needs to be achieved in order to meet this goal of entrance into the EU. The findings will have implications for the people of Turkey who will be affected by membership in the Union. It will also inform external stakeholders such as EU citizens, EU leaders as well as alternative international memb ership forums especially in the Middle East. Each group will know whether they are regarded favourably by the Turks and this will determine some of their future social and economic outcomes. Literature review Arikan (111) looks at the other side of the coin i.e. the opinion of the EU concerning Turkey. He explains some of the criticisms that have been expressed by the European Union concerning Turkey. The EU acknowledges that a lot has been achieved in terms of democracy in Turkey but its political climate still falls short of European standards. The country places limits on political associations as illustrated by the Welfare Party’s ban and restrictions of its members’ freedoms to participate in politics for five years. The Turkish government has a tendency to create a centralised political identity rather than a democratised plural state.Advertising Looking for dissertation on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 1 5% OFF Learn More Several restrictions on NGO activities have been imposed in this country and have therefore illustrated how participatory democracy is yet to be achieved within the state. Constitutional reforms have been implemented quite slowly so this implies that the country is yet to meet those standards (Arikan, 112). Furthermore, the military plays an excessively large role in the Turkish political system and this is unacceptable by European standards. The Turkish political climate has been marked by a series of military interventions in the 60s, 70s and 80s with the army asserting that they are custodians of civil liberties in Turkey. Another major problem cited by the EU against Turkey is their failure to respect human rights. Use of excessive force by security forces is common in the country. Journalists, trade unionists and other groups have been arrested for their opinions concerning key constitutional issues and people have also disappeared from the cou ntry. This has demonstrated that the EU still feels that Turkey does not deserve EU membership. Given such an opinion, it would be crucial to look at the other end of the spectrum and determine whether the same negative opinion is held by Turks. Arat (3) carried out a research concerning liberal democracy in Turkey. He especially focused on the Welfare party or Islamist Refah party and its female membership. He found that this party had a high representation of females who utilised their personal connections to mobilise other women. Through the views of these women, it was possible to see how liberalist political thought can exist in an Islamic secular society. It showed that there will always be tensions between the liberalist school and Islam but the two can still co exist. In order to understand the opinions of the Turks concerning European integration, it is necessary to learn about the political and social dynamics that operate in this nation. However, this book looked that tho se intersections in terms of gender, religion and politics. This report will dwell on the same topics but with a focus on the EU accession. It will attempt to show how opinions on EU ascension intertwine with politics, religious and gender identities amongst the Turkish people.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on Turkey’s bid for EU membership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Onar (272) explains the three major political forces that operate within the Turkish political scene and these include: the Kemalists, the liberalists and the Islamists. This analysis looks at a very important background against which one can assess political decisions within this country. The author explains that Islamists believe that Turkey is more ‘Eastern’ than European and that its identity should revolve around the Islamic faith. This group therefore nurses fears about excessive westernisation. The welfare party is known to be the most predominant Islamic party in the country. The second group consists of the liberals. While no single political entity claims to be predominantly liberal, a number of civic groups belong to this category. The latter believe in a laissez faire approach to social-economic discourses in the nation. In other words, they advocate for the freedom of religious practise throughout the country. The third category of political forces consists of Kemalists. This group consists of all those people who believe in the secularisation of Turkey. They assert that anything Islamic is backward. In fact, they have advocated for the removal of religious teachings and dress in any public institutions. They also stress the importance of the state over and above the needs of the individuals. These three groups have been in some sort of triangle; in other words, they are rarely in agreement. Information from this journal article focuses on the political climate without giving too much e mphasis on how the groups affect Turkish opinion on EU accession. This gap will be sealed in the following section of the report. Aybar et.al (329) carried out a research in order to assess Turkish perceptions towards the EU. The study was administered through questionnaires and was more focused on the numbers rather than the reasons behind these sentiments. This report will attempt to fill that gap by explaining the reasons behind Turkish attitudes. Focus in this particular research will not be quantitative as was the case with the Aybar et.al (329) study. A qualitative assessment of the reasons behind these attitudes will be examined in order to offer an in depth understanding of the Turkish people concerning EU application and accession. Findings Turkish attitude toward EU membership Arguments given in favour of these attitudes and major threats identified The overall majority of Turkish people support the country’s entrance into the EU. A research carried out in 2003 by C arkoglu (188) illustrated that about eighty percent of the participants in the research supported EU membership. This was an overwhelming majority and individuals who took part in the study represented the country’s diverse population.Advertising Looking for dissertation on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, recent figures indicate that this support has been dwindling; nonetheless, the majority still support it. In fact, polls show that a thirty percent drop in support of EU membership has been recorded in this country thus showing that there maybe other dynamics at play that may be responsible for this waning support. Westernisation is one of the major arguments in favour of EU membership (Onis, 365). The Turkish elite have often considered westernisation as a major goal from as far back as the Ottoman Empire. This is largely because the term is associated with greater standards of civilization, modernity, greater economic performance and democracy. Consequently, joining the EU would contribute towards achievement of this goal. The political elite therefore think of the EU as a platform for transforming their identity. Supporters of European integration in Turkey also cite economic performance as an important driver in their lives (Onis, 367), (Anderson, 18). Many Turks have b een frustrated by the poor economic conditions in their country and believe that there are better job prospects in other parts of Europe than in their country. This is further rationalised by the existence of millions of Turkish immigrants in some EU member countries like Germany. Records illustrate that about two million Turks live in Germany. Citizens presume that if Turkey was to become part of the EU which allows free movement of people within the Union then they would use their blood ties in those nations to look for better jobs there. However, jobs are not the only economic reason cited by these members. Big business owners believe that EU membership will provide them with a more diverse capital market and this will propel their businesses greatly. Medium sized business owners believe that the EU is the solution to the serious macro economic problems in Turkey. They believe that ascensions will guarantee them low interest rates and greater economic policies for investment. Lar ge business owners also believe that they will benefit from better macro economics in the region because the latter is likely to be much more stable than the conditions in their own country. The Turkish population also believes that EU integration will lead to greater democracy in the country. Some worry about Islamist tendencies and its ability to ruin the AKP. They believe that the European Union will contribute towards greater democracy in the country because their standards are set so high. These sentiments have been expressed by professionals and members of the middle classes (Anderson, 20). A number of political safeguards have also been cited as lucrative reasons for EU membership. Some citizens believe that EU membership will prevent the return of military rule. For the military, the EU will also serve their long term dream of making Turkey westernised. This is something that many citizens aspire to and believe will be the solution to their numerous challenges. Others are hi ghly frustrated by the prevalence of corruption in public institutions and believe that the EU will allow them to solve these problems. The poor administration of public services also causes many Turkish citizens to support EU membership because they believe that these challenges will be addressed thoroughly when in power (Carkoglu, 189) Although certain political entities believe that westernisation is an important goal to be achieved through membership in the EU, others argue that this would threaten their national identity (Kosebalaban, 134). The latter scholar explains that there is a clash between modernist tendencies and traditional forces. These opponents to European integration state that westernisation and modernisation are not necessarily synonymous. In other words, they believe that that thinking was informed by leaders in the Ottomon Empire who thought of the west as the only civilising force. However, these inclinations have changed dramatically and a number of people a re starting to oppose those notions. One such group is the Kemalist establishment. This group has great nationalist tendencies that oppose Western association but still believe in modernisation as a goal to be aspired. These sentiments come from the fact that Islamic cultural forces played an important role in fighting off western forces so they were regarded as an entity to be opposed rather than embraced (Kosebalaban, 143). Waning support of EU membership stems from a series of factors. First of all, Turkey is suffering from accession fatigue. Despite carrying out several economic and social reforms, prospects for Turkey’s integration are still not looking good. This negotiation process has taken far too long and a number of people have grown tired of waiting for EU membership. The other reason is that members of the public have been discouraged by the numbers. Even if Turkey was to meet all the criteria laid out by the EU, the country would still not be guaranteed of membe rship. There are already EU citizens and leaders that oppose Turkey accession into the EU so this is a serious obstacle to their success. The Turks know about this opposition and this has also undermined their support for integration. Whether this attitude is aligned more towards the international or the internal This attitude is still more international than national. Many Turks have been frustrated by the myriad of challenges in their own country and are looking for alternatives solutions. Nationalist sentiments are growing but there is an indication that these sentiments can coexist with international standards especially those of the EU. A number of objections have been raised concerning the dangers of these policies but the positive results from economic, civic and social reforms have illustrated that an international orientation would serve the country well. National interests have been debated on especially concerning the talk of an identity issue in Turkey. Citizens believe that national interests should be protected even as they aspire to achieve international goals and requirements. How Turkish people interpreted EU citizen’s attitudes such as President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel’s attitude towards their entry The EU debate concerning Turkey’s prospects for accession normally centred around two elements and these include the civil environment and the cultural environment. Some entities believe that Turkey should not be allowed into the European Union because of its predominantly Islamic heritage. They affirm that it is at odds with the EU culture. Two crucial people advocating for rejection of Turkey’s bid were President Nicholas Sarkozy of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. What was even worse was that people in France seemed to demonstrate intolerance against Muslim immigrants as France’s capital was characterised by a series of protests. Eventually, this created a hard line stance on the part of t he French President who together with the Chancellor of Germany out rightly rejected Turkish membership into the EU. These moves minimised the desire to gain EU membership in Turkey. Even the AKP was at odds with these sentiments because they knew that their prospects for EU membership would be undermined by these powerful EU member states. Support for EU membership is still higher than opposition to EU membership but these numbers reduced after the French stance on EU and Turkey. The French parliament had accused Turkey of failing to deal with the question of missing Armenians in their country and they had even criminalised this issue. Eventually, that decision led to immense opposition of the French in Turkey and even a boycott of their products. The tensions increased anti EU sentiments in Turkey (Onar, 284). Other people who heard about Turkey’s cultural misalignment with the EU have interpreted this in the reverse. Some traditionalists affirm that European integration fo r Turkey will threaten their cultural identity. A study carried out by Aybar et.al (330) found that fifty eight percent of the percent felt that Turkish culture would either be eroded or dominated by western cultures from the EU region if Turkey entered the EU. The President of France at that time Jacques Chirac argued that Turkey was not culturally similar to other members of the EU. Consequently, it can be said that the people of Turkey were affected negatively by these assertions made by EU leaders. Other prospects for international membership that have been considered and whether the Turks prefer attachment to the East (Middle East) or Europe (Meral, 60) explains that Turkey can sometimes be seen as a mediator in Middle Eastern foreign relations. In other words, this country thinks of itself as a go-between in Israeli and Palestinian conflicts. Also, the US has often perceived it as a stabilising force in the EU. However, the people of Turkey are well aware of the fact that th ey require support from western nations. If they get too involved in the Middle Eastern region then chances are that they will isolate themselves from the rest of the world. If the EU accession issue stalls and eventually fails then chances are that Turkeys will consider forging relationships with Russia. In fact, indications already illustrate those prospects especially because of the immense number of visits that Russia has had in turkey. Trade between the two countries has increased dramatically and it is likely that this relationship may grow even more if Turkey’s accession bid flops. Turkey has had certain ties with unconventional Muslim nations such as Syria, Sudan and Iran. Continued trade ties with Iran have undermined western and US backed sanctions imposed against it. This has severely affected the relationship between Turkey and the US. On the other hand, Turkey’s association with most Middle Eastern countries is founded on the belief that the rise would boo st their economic prospects. Furthermore, Turkey wanted to establish itself as a mediator between the troubled Middle Eastern nation and the west. Sometimes, this mediating role has compromised relations between the latter country and the west. It is likely that if the EU process fails then Turkey will continue to work with its Middle Eastern counterparts. Nonetheless, this will be done cautiously so that the country does not isolate crucial western allies in the process. All in all, one can assert that Turkey’s attitude towards the Middle East is a mixed one. The country has started turning to the Middle East especially going by its continued support for Iran and controversial group Hamas. Turkey is starting to look as if it has embraced a dark side. The EU would lose a very important country in the continent if it blocks Turkey’s membership into the EU because Turkey is moving towards immensely controversial foreign policy (Meral, 59). Entities that influence these o pinions amongst the Turkish population Carkoglu (184) carried a research to assess Turkish support towards EU membership. It was found that party inclinations were an important influential force in determining one’s position. If one belonged to a political party that supported European integration then EU support was greater. Political forces are therefore an important influence in determining support for EU integration. Religion also played an important role; if a certain citizen believed in extreme sentiments then chances are that the person would not support European integration. This means that Islam was an important shaper of the opinions that most people held. Age is yet another important factor in determining how people decide to vote. Older citizens were in greater support of EU membership than young ones. It was found that this group has a pro-European mentality that may have been created by the social forces in their lives. This is something that younger people may not have been exposed to. Information sources (or the lack of them) also considerably influence EU support. The issue of nationalism has not just been advocated by Kemalists who believe in the strength of the nation state; it has also been a pressing issue for the government through the leading party. In 2005 it was found that the government had passed certain sections of the constitution which punished people for their antinationalist sentiments; this was called the famous 301 code. The EU felt that the 301 contravened human rights and freedoms and other democratic principles. However, the government affirmed that it passed this law because it wanted to preserve national identity. This was illustrative of the fact that nationalist sentiments sometimes placed the government in a tricky spot because it wants to meet EU obligations but must also avoid stirring nationalist uproars. In this regard, one can assert that nationalists play a role in shaping attitudes towards the EU as seen through their opposition of certain EU policies (Onar, 284). Certain populations are simply not well informed about the EU process and its importance. Furthermore, the political elite have access and ability to control information flow so they can manipulate information in order to cause it to fall in their favour. However, most of the decisions made are independent. In other words, the Turkish people’s support for EU membership arose out of economic reasons. Most would disregard their political and religious affiliations in support of accession because of economic conditions. Turkish government’s opinion on EU membership and how influential this opinion is (The leading party’s opinion i.e. the AKP and the opposition party’s opinion i.e. CHP need to be differentiated) The AKP thinks of European Integration as an important part of their political agenda. They believe that if Turkey was to become a member state of the EU then the hegemonic problem existent in the party would be immediately addressed. This positive attitude has been expressed by a series of changes initiated by the AKP in response to EU directives. First, the party has reduced the military role in the National Security Council. The EU had stated that there was too much use of force by security forces. Consequently, AKP decided to close the State Security Courts. The party also abolished the death penalty and released Kurdish parliamentarians who had been jailed. All these changes illustrated that the AKP is committed towards the goal of European integration and perceives it as an important solution to the problems in the country in general (Anderson, 22). However because AKP is still a political entity, it has been forced to dance to the tune of its electorate in certain circumstances. For example, when Turkey was struggling with the issue of allowance of the veil in public spaces, AKP took up a stance which may not have been supported by their EU but also one that cou ld not be condemned. In this controversy, a university student had to discontinue her education because of the veil ban. The courts ruled against her thus implying that the courts were endorsing secularisation of Turkey. This sparked a lot of uproar among Islamists who affirmed that Turkey was loosing its cultural identity to European universal values (Onar, 279). The AKP through the Prime Minster asserted that this court decision was ill informed and that religious considerations had not been made. In this regard, AKP was showing that although it supports the EU, it still holds certain reservations stemming from the tensions that exist in the country. Another illustration of these tensions was seen when the AKP allowed the 301 code to pass. This was clearly a piece of legislation that undermined human rights as stipulated by EU and other international standards. The party therefore showed that given excessive pressure from nationalists, the party can contravene EU regulations in or der to preserve this. The party predominantly supports EU membership but may sometimes alter this inclination when strong opposition emanates from opposing groups. There is a complex interplay of factors surrounding AKP’s position. The leading opposition party called the republican People’s Party or CHP has also affected the EU-Turkey position taken by members of this country. The Party endorses EU membership albeit with preconditions. It believes that EU integration would be good for the country only if this does not compromise national interests. It has criticised the manner in which the EU has negotiated with Turkey concerning possible membership. It believes there is an uneven playing field that will cost the country. It also voices complaints against the AKP. It believes that the AKP has openly adopted EU recommendations without safeguarding national interests. It also affirms that there may be some kind of Islamisation agenda that the leading party is advocating for so this is a complicated issue for people concerned (Gulemz 423). In order to really understand CHP’s position on EU membership, one must know the difference between the different kinds of Euro-scepticism that exist in Turkey. Euro sceptics are people who oppose EU integration. However, these groups may either be soft or hard sceptics. Hard sceptics believe that the economic and political integration of Turkey into the EU will bring more harm than good so they reject it entirely. On the other hand, soft Euro sceptics believe that EU integration would be good for Turkey but they oppose a certain component of the integration process such as a policy requirement of the integration process. Soft Euro sceptics believe that national interests should be put before anything else although they still endorse European integration. Throughout the European Union, Euro-sceptics have often emanated from the opposition. They usually do this in order to have leverage over the prevailing g overnment. It can be said that the CHP have adopted a soft Euro-sceptic stance on the EU. As stated earlier, the CHP has objections against the Islamic agenda pursued by the AKP. It accused the AKP of using EU integration as a cover up to introduce new policies which are not even related to the EU agenda. For example, the AKP asserted that they would lift a headscarf ban from universities if the EU favoured it. The CHP was very critical of these sentiments. It also criticised the addition of new mosques in rental buildings by claiming that the leading party was using integration as a cover for their personal agenda (Gulmez, 427). The CHP has also criticised some of the documents that have been dispensed by the EU. For instance the EU progress report contained certain aspects that had never been brought up before. For instance, the report stated that negotiations concerning Turkey’s bid could be suspended if a majority vote supported it. Also, the negotiations on the same woul d only start if a unanimous vote existed. Consequently, the CHP is stating that Turkey’s prospects for accession have been minimised because of these assertions. The report has also talked about limiting labour movement for Turkish citizens. The CHP believes that this would be tantamount to less-than full membership. This party believes that AKP are too eager to become members of the EU, that they are willing to do anything in order to gain membership. Opposition believes that the government has not paid special attention to certain components of the EU policy. This is detrimental to Turkey’s bid for accession and is also harmful to national interests. For instance when the EU described the kind of people who would be recognised as minorities if Turkey joined the Union, the CHP claimed that such a requirement would place almost all people in the country under the minority umbrella and this contravened Turkey’s Lausanne treaty agreements. The CHP has also spoken against the possibility of losing EU membership even after meeting the Copenhagen criteria since provisions have been given for rejection of Turkey. The party affirms that this contravenes the union’s own principles. One can therefore say that the CHP party is exploiting the leading party in order to gain political mileage. The opposition claims that all these issues have not been addressed by the leading party AKP and this puts Turkey at jeopardy. On the other hand, it can also be said that the CHP considers accession as the end goal but it is sceptical about many elements of EU policy (Gulmez, 429). Opinions that key business groups hold especially TUSIAD and MUSAID As one of the leading business entities in Turkey, TUSIAD firmly endorses EU citizenship. This can be seen by the number of documents released in order to achieve these objectives. TUSIAD has many press releases in the public domain that talk about its support for the EU. It argues that membership in the EU will ensure that the economic and political arena are conducive for business. This is the reason why it has cooperated with other European business entities such as the Union of Industrial and Employer’s Confederation of Europe. It did this in order to improve relations between the EU and Turkey. Most support for EU membership revolves around the economic realm. TUSIAD believes that the EU will provide a better platform for Trade by Turkey and since it represents the private sector then it is imperative that it supports an initiative that will contribute towards a stronger economic climate. The organisation has frequently taken on a proactive stance to Turkey-EU relations. It has stated its opinions against political occurrences that appear to undermine EU accession issues. In this regard, TUSIAD has warned against statements made by Turkish political leaders concerning a very controversial issue which was Cyprus. Nonetheless, this organisation has not blindly advocated for EU fr iendly policies as it often voices complaints against these policies as well. For instance, it criticised the EU stance on Cyprus claiming that the EU had ignored many historical factors which resulted in an unbalanced and ambiguous situation in that Island. Consequently, one can say that TUSIAD is at the forefront of political reform and support of EU integration but has also given constructive criticism of this Union when it has overstepped its boundaries (TUSIAD, 2). MUSIAD on the other hand focuses on small business owners. It has not been as proactive as its counterpart TUSIAD has been in the political landscape. It has not given express statements about its attitude towards EU membership however one can deduce its stance by some of its leaders’ assertions. For example when the coordinator of the sector council was asked about his opinion on concentration of MUSIAD’s efforts on Muslim nations, it asserted that Muslim nations have greater export promise and potenti al than western nations. This inclination towards Muslim nations illustrates that the organisation is more interested in an Eastern orientation rather than a western one. Therefore, EU integration is not a very important part of its agenda (Business news Europe, 6). Opinions that major labour unions such as DISK, Hak-is and Turk-is hold Trade Unions that have taken a political stance concerning the EU matter include Turk-Is which stands for the confederation of Turkish Trade unions, DISK which stands for the confederation of revolutionary trade unions and Hak-is which stands for confederation of Turkish real trade unions. Aksin and Uzgoren (7) explain that there is an inflation of trade unions in Turkey. In this regard, one sector can have numerous trade unions with diverse interests. This implies that since the trade unions cannot speak with one voice then their influence is tremendously weakened. Turk-Is is by far the most influential trade union. It has established a reputation o f a supra party affiliation although it has been accused of befriending the US and betraying the common interests of the masses. It has been perceived as very close to the state. The other union is DISK which has a socialist agenda. It has also been aggressive in terms of military and power politics hence the reason why it was banned for eight years. Hak-Is was established at roughly the same time that DISK was established but this one was perceived as being more oriented towards religious tradition. It is difficult to classify Turk–Is’ stance on the EU because it has been rather mixed. First, Turk-Is believes that Turkey would greatly benefit from the new conditions that will emanate from membership. However, the union has also stated that it has its doubts about Turkey’s prospects for membership. It has raised a lot of concerns about EU policy on Turkey’s negotiation process and believes that the process is unfair. The EU has placed too many obstacles f or Turkey and this may greatly undermine their ability to reach those levels that they desire. Turk-Is believes that Turkey has been held at ransom by EU regulations on labour even though the country is not certain about membership. For example, the Customs Union was a requirement imposed by the EU before Turkey could consider joining it. Turk-Is criticised the implementation of this policy by affirming that Turkey had exposed itself to decreased unionisation rates, fewer availability of jobs, a worse economy and greater social risks. The Union therefore felt that Turkey had been short changed and had compromised some of its national interests. Turk-Is has also disagreed with the EU concerning a number of sensitive issues that the EU decided on. One such problem was the concept of Cyprus. Turk-is believed that the EU was wrong about its decision about the Island. It also opposed the EU’s decision on minority rights and the Armenian question (Aksin and Uzgoren, 8). This trade union has issues against the adoption of foreign policies that compromise national interests in order to meet EU’s stringent requirement. The trade union believes that the greatest concerns should be given to the country’s internal problems rather than other external matters. Hak-Is on the other hand is religiously oriented and has been advocating for the well being and safety of Muslim employers and the need to instate certain components of mutual justice borrowed from Islamic principles. This union strongly believed that Turkey should take on a more Eastern than Western orientation. Surprisingly, though, this trade union believes that EU membership would be good for Turkey because it would facilitate the growth of democracy and civil rights within the nation. It has even indicated its support through certain projects that work towards EU suggested reforms. Nonetheless, the Union’s leader has been quick to point out that Turkey should not accept all proposed ch anges at any cost because this would be detrimental to its prospects in the future. DISK also supports EU membership. Its leaders have affirmed that Turkey needs to have an international orientation if it intends on competing in the global platform and one way of doing that is joining the EU. The trade union asserts that the EU would create a greater democracy in Turkey and hence pave the way for better economic prosperity so it is definitely in support of membership (Aksin and Uzgoren, 8). Conclusion From a thorough analysis of EU membership issues in Turkey, it has been found that the Turkish public still supports EU accession even though the numbers have drastically reduced in the past one decade. Reasons identified for support include greater democratic space and less military involvement in politics, greater civil rights, better economic prospects and heightened modernisation. However, a reasonable proportion of the Turkish population object to EU membership citing internal obj ection to Turkish membership by prominent members such as France and Germany. Others are fatigued by excessive waiting, other believe that the EU has exerted double standards upon this Turkish nations. Certain groups cite cultural and national sentiments as reasons why Turkey should not join the EU. Therefore, the general public has mixed feelings about EU integration. Other stakeholders also hold varied opinions about EU integration. The leading party AKP supports EU membership and has initiated several reforms in order to meet this goal. However, the AKP has acted controversially in some respects concerning certain issues that the EU advised them against. The opposition party CHP has also endorsed membership albeit with some scepticism. They believe that national interests should not be compromised in order to meet this EU objective. Similarly, major trade unions like Turk –Is and business entities such as TUSAID have also expressed similar sentiments claiming that Turkey s hould not lose its identity in order to appease the EU. Generally, these stakeholders still support EU membership but are cautious about certain components of EU’s approach. Aksin, Deniz Uzgoen, Elif. Turkish development strategy and the European Union: Discourses and strategies of the Trade Unions in turkey on Development. May 2007. Web. Anderson, Perry. â€Å"After Kemal.† London Review of Books 30.18 (2008): 13-22 Arat, Yesim.Rethinking Islam and Liberal Democracy: Islamist Women in Turkish Politics. Albany: State University of New York, 2005. Arikan, Harun.Turkey and the EU: an Awkward Candidate for EU Membership?Aldershot: Ashgate, 2008. Aybar, C. Bà ¼lent, et al. â€Å"Analysis of Attitudes of Turkish Citizens towards the Effects of EU Membership.† Turkish Studies 8.3 (2007): 329-48. Business News Europe. The Sun Rises on Turkey’s Mittlestand. Business News Europe, 9 Mar. 2011. Web. Carkoglu, Ali. â€Å"Who Wants Full Membership? Characteristics of Turkish Public Support for EU Membership.†Turkish Studies 4.1 (2003): 171-94. Gulmez, Seck. â€Å"The EU policy of the Republican People’s Party: An Inquiry on the opposition party and euro-skepticism in Turkey.† Turkish Studies 9.3(2008): 423-436 Kà ¶sebalaban, Hasan. â€Å"Turkey’s EU Membership: A Clash of Security Cultures.†Middle East Policy9.2 (2002): 130-46. Meral. Ziya. Prospects for Turkey. Legatum Institute, 2 Sept., 2010. Web. Onar, Nora. â€Å"Kemalists, Islamists and Liberals: Shifting Patterns of Confrontation and Consensus.† Turkish Studies 8.2 (2007) Ãâ€"niÅŸ, Ziya.â€Å"Contesting for Turkey’s Political Centre: Domestic Politics, Identity Conflicts and the Controversy over EU Membership.† Journal of Contemporary European Studies 18 (2010): 361-76. TUSIAD. Cyprus Issue should not harm Turkey’s membership process. Euractiv 21 Nov. 2011. Web.

What explains the widening and deepening of international peace Essay - 1

What explains the widening and deepening of international peace operations after the Cold War - Essay Example In this sense international stability relied on the premise that if state security is maintained, then the security of citizens will necessarily follow. Therefore international security relied on the anarchistic balance of power, a military build-up between the US and the Soviet Union which were the two superpowers, and on the absolute sovereignty of the nation-state. Security was seen as protection from invasion; executed during proxy conflicts using technical and military capabilities (Bajpai, 2000). When the Cold War came to an end in 1989 with the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, when the countries of Eastern Europe regained independence, and when finally the Soviet Union disintegrated, there was widespread feeling throughout the world that at long last universal peace had descended on Earth. The fear of a war in which weapons of mass destruction would be used had vanished. Cold War was an ideological war between the capitalist west led by the USA the communist east led by the Soviet Union. Cold war was characterized by arms struggle between these two sides with either side arming its allies in readiness for any eventuality. This sometimes led to wars with the two powers supporting the opposing side. On both sides of the Cold War, the trend seemed to indicate that the world was moving toward internationalism rather than nationalism. As a result of the threat of nuclear warfare, great emphasis on democracy and human rights, economic interdependence, and gradual acceptance of universal ideologies, it became fashionable to speak of the demise of ethnic and nationalist movements.Despite expectations to the contrary after the cold war, a fresh cycle of ethno political movements re-emerged in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and many other parts of the world. In fact, with the end of the Cold War, which clearly increased international cooperation while decreasing the possibilities of inter-state wars, the main threat to peace does

Reflection R-Rent A Car Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflection R-Rent A Car - Essay Example The following week, we faced a new challenge and that is handling the scheduling of the fleet. Many customers are demanding and would not hesitate to transfer to another car-rental service company in case the vehicle they specified is not given to them. This is what makes competition in a free trade â€Å"survival of the fittest†. Smaller companies cannot compete with bigger ones since they have limited resources and manpower. I just realized that scheduling vehicles even on a daily basis is complicated. Timely coordination with other staff and drivers are crucial in giving the service on time. If there was one skill that I developed, it would be time management. In the real world setting, there are many things that needs to be done. The key to being organized is managing one’s time very well. Smaller tasks must be put aside so more important ones could be accomplished. Even personal time is sacrificed in the real workplace. One must be very flexible and willing to deal with any sudden change. Also, I learned that planning is a very important part of handling a project. Like the former project, my soft skills on communicating, negotiating and leading were developed. I had to break out of my comfort zone and feel confident in meeting new people. During interviews, I had to look confident and sure of what I was doing. As I mentioned, planning is very important. I learned that when one is not prepared for a task, then eventually there would be many problems. Among the skills that I really have to develop and master is the numerical skills involved in making financial projections. As I have mentioned in the report, the Rent-A-Car business is seasonal and the market has few barriers to entry. As a business owner or manager, one must have good financial skills that would help him plan in making the company meet its expenses despite low sales. I have to learn more also about financial planning or maybe budgeting. Budgeting should