The Democratic Peace Theory

The Democratic Peace Theory The primary claim of democratic peace proponents is that democratic states do not wage war against each other[1]. This theory is based on the findings of Immanuel Kant in the late 18th century. In his findings Kant argues that the natural evolution of world politics and economics would drive mankind inexorably toward peace by means of a widening of the pacific union of liberal republican states.[2] According to Kants theory liberal republics insure that the state interests are transferred from single monarch to the society thus making wars less probable. This assumption can be explained by a notion that in democratic societies the decision of waging wars is transferred from a monarch to the average citizen who bears the costs of war. Furthermore, the interdependence between national interests and citizens self-interests establishes a tendency of placing ultimate authority in the hands of the average voter[3] thus reducing the chance for well-institutionalized democracies to fight war s against each other. Michael Doyle in his publication Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs adds another principle of pacification to Kants list of three definitive articles of liberal constitutions. According to Doyle: The regular rotation of office in liberal democratic polities is a nontrivial device that helps ensure that personal animosities among heads of government provide no lasting, escalating source of tension[4]. The inner state check and balance system does not exclude the probability of war between states, but instead it explains that liberal wars are only fought for popular, liberal purposes[5]. Accordingly, most common argument of democratic peace theory is the constitutional and legal restraints on executive action. In other words placing constraints on the ability of leaders to fight other democracies are the foundations of peace in democratic states. The democratic peace theory also suggests that Democracy tends to foster economic interdependence, which reduces the likelihood of war. Firstly, it is more likely for countries who share the same values, to have close economic ties with each other. The economic interdependence significantly reduces the probability of confrontation between states. The preponderance of systematic evidence for at least the post-World War II era, however, suggests that mutual economic interdependence, measured as the share of dyadic trade to GNP in the country where that trade is proportionately smaller, is strongly associated with peaceful relations in subsequent years.[6] In other words, economic interdependence helps create transnational ties that promote peace rather than conflict. Furthermore, states have a mutual benefit from the economic relations and conflict with each other is going to harm their economy. Thus, the potential loss of trade and its negative impact on countries critical imports or exports decreases the willingness of both sides to fight. Based on historical evidence, despite the liberal claim that democracies have never gone to war with each other, there have been more conflicts than instances of cooperation situation which provides a fertile ground for realism to flourish. Up until the end of the Cold War realism was the dominant theory of international relations as it explained most of the political events. However, after the end of the Cold War started crisis of realism due to the circumstances that it failed to predict or predicted wrongly several events, especially the unification of Germany (October 1990), dissolution of Warsaw Pact (July 1991) and the end of Cold War (dissolution of USSR December 1991). None of this events resolved in a hegemonic war as many realist predicted. It seems as if other theory such as democratic peace theory is better at explaining the events after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The democratic peace theory gives a logical explanation of the events which lead to peaceful disso lution of Soviet Union and end of the Cold War. Any understanding of the change in the Soviet Unions international behavior, before its political fragmentation, and in time reciprocated by the West, demands attention to the three legs on which the liberal vision of Immanuel Kants Perpetual Peace Stands. This stands are: 1. Development of Liberalization and democratization process in Soviet Union; 2. Desire to enter western markets rise of economical interdependence; and 3. influence of the International organizations. As Emmanuel Kant has predicted in his findings the natural evolution of world politics and economics would drive mankind inexorably toward peace by means of a widening of the pacific union of liberal republican states.[7] Democracy, economic interdependence and international organizations constitute the basis of the 21st century international relations. [1] Edward D.Mansfield and Jack Snyder, Democratization and the Danger of War, P8 [2] Michael W. Doyle, Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs, Part 2, p349 [3] Edward D.Mansfield and Jack Snyder, Democratization and the Danger of War, P21 [4] Michael W. Doyle, Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs, p.230 [5] Ibid. [6] Bruce Russet, a neo-Kantian perspective: democracy, interdependence, and international organizations in building security communities, Security Communities, Cambridge University Press, P.374 [7] Michael W. Doyle, Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs, Part 2, p349

Postmodern Theory: Critical Interrogations Essay -- Evolution, Social C

â€Å"Postmodern† is a complicated term, and so are â€Å"postmodernity†, â€Å"postmodernism† and â€Å"postmodernist†, and every other term one might come across in the way of evolution. According to Andreas Saugstad (2001) different postmodern theorists may have contrasting opinions and thinkers from different areas may have contrasting definitions of the term â€Å"postmodern†. Thus, the postmodern debates influenced the cultural and intellectual scene in many areas throughout the world. These terms have been used in literature, social studies, philosophy, arts and architecture. On the same hand on cultural level, discussions emerged whether modernism was dead or not and what kind of postmodernism was inheriting it. In the philosophical sphere, according to Steven Best and Douglas Kellner(1991), the erupted discussions were also concentrating on whether or not the traditions of modern philosophy had ended, and many theorists began pra ising a new postmodern philosophy related with Derrida, Jean-Francios Lyotard, Nietzsche, Baudrillard and more. Furthermore, the postmodern debates produced innovative, social and political theories, as well as theoretical struggles to define the multilayered postmodern phenomenon. On the other hand, according to The American Heritage Dictionary (1991) the postmodern can be described as â€Å"relating to art, literature and architecture, that reacts against earlier modernist principles, as by reintroducing traditional, classical or modernist elements of style to the extremes.† According to Steven Connor(1989) the â€Å"postmodern† terminology was firstly used by a number of writers in the 1950s and 1960s, however the concept can’t be said to have taken shape until the 1980s. As Hans Bertens(1995) poin... ...ations. 1st ed. Macmillan education ltd. London. Connor, S, 1989. Postmodern Culture: An introduction to theories of the contemporary. 2nd ed. Oxford: London University. The Free Dictionary. 2013. Postmodern. [online] Available at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/postmodern [ Accessed on 05 November 2013] Andreas Saugstad, 2001. Postmodernism: What is it and What is wrong with it? [online] Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/sgummer/what-are-the-characteristics-of-postmodernism-and-its-faults [Accessed on 10 November 2013] Glossary Terms. 2003. Encyclopedia of Marxism. [online] Available at: http://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/g/r.htm [Accessed on 10 November 2013] Vineet Prakash, 2007. Essay on Postmodernism. [online] Available at: http://www.preservearticles.com/201106127844/1125-words-free-sample-essay-on-post-modernism.html [Accessed on 08 November 2013]

Earth Layers Research Paper

How do scientists know what is in the center of the earth? How can we know what the core of the earth is made of, if scientists have never studied any materials from a depth below 7. 5 miles? Earth is approximately 4. 6 billion years old, and over this time period, many things have changed inside and out. The formation of our planet is quite amazing. Earth consists of multiple layers. The three most distinct or main layers are the core, mantle and crust. The inner portion is the core, in the middle is the mantle, and the outside is the crust. Over the course of this paper, the composition and formation of these layers will be described more specifically. According to ‘Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology’, â€Å"The inner core did not exist early in earth’s history, when our planet was hotter. However, as the Earth cooled, iron began to crystalize at the center to form the solid inner core and even today the inner core continues to grow as the planet cools. † The idea is that the core is composed of an iron-nickel alloy with traces of oxygen, silicon, and sulfur. The average density of this iron rich substance is fourteen times the density of water. The core is split into two separate regions, inner and outer core. The inner core is spherical and has a radius of 750 miles. The iron located within the inner core is solid, despite the high temperature; this is because of the mighty pressures in the middle of earth. The outer core is about 1400 miles thick and is a layer of liquid. Earth’s magnetic field is the cause of the movement of metallic iron within this area. The mantle contains eighty two percent of the volume of Earth. It is described as a rocky, solid shell that goes 1800 miles deep. The mantle consists of an upper and lower section. From the edge of the crust to about four hundred miles deep is considered the upper mantle. The upper mantle is divided into three separate parts. The lithosphere forms the rigid outer shell of Earth, making it the upper most part. In some areas below continents it can be more than 250 kilometers thick. Below the lithosphere lies the asthenosphere, which is a soft and weak layer. The top part of this layer has a temperature that causes some melting, which causes the lithosphere to detach from the layer and move independently. The upper part of the asthenosphere is near its melting point which makes it so weak. Below the asthenosphere, down about 660 kilometers deep is the section of the mantle known as the transition zone. The lower mantle is the largest part of the mantle. It lies at a depth of 660 kilometers down to 2900 kilometers. Increased pressure causes the mantle to strengthen as it becomes deeper. There is a layer between the lowest part of the rocky mantle and the hot outer core known as the â€Å"Dee double prime†. The face or rocky outer skin of the earth is known as the crust. The major features of the crust include the difference between the continental crust and oceanic crust. Oceanic crust is composed of basalt, a dark igneous rock, and is roughly five miles thick. Continental crust consists of many rock types, unlike oceanic crust. The thickness of continental crust averages about twenty five miles, but can be up to forty miles thick in some mountainous areas. Oceanic crust is denser because of the basalt in it. All the layers that make up the solid Earth are considered the geosphere. Above this sphere is called the biosphere. The biosphere includes all forms of life on our planet. The hydrosphere is a mass amount of water that is constantly on the move. From the oceans, it evaporates to the atmosphere, precipitates to the land, and then runs back to the ocean. About seventy percent of the planet’s surface consists of global ocean. The final sphere of Earth is the atmosphere and without it life here would not exist. The atmosphere is divided into five layers. The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth. This layer starts at the surface of Earth and extends outward about ten miles. It is in this area that weather occurs. Roughly eighty percent of the atmosphere is located in the troposphere. The stratosphere is the layer above the troposphere. This layer extends thirty miles above the planet’s surface. The temperature of this layer does rise, however it still remains below freezing. The next layer is the mesosphere, and rises about forty to fifty miles above the surface of Earth. The air is very thin in this layer and can reach temperatures as low as -184 degrees Fahrenheit. This layer is considered the middle atmosphere along with the troposphere. The thermosphere extends several hundred miles above the surface. The temperature of this layer can rise up to 2000 degrees Celsius. The thermosphere is considered the upper atmosphere. The top of the thermosphere is known as the exosphere. The exosphere rises 6200 miles above the Earth. This layer is called the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere. So how do we know what we know? Geologists have discovered a lot about the core of our planet by looking at Earth’s magnetic field and measuring seismic waves as they pass through the earth. Changes in these waves are studied, and Geologists are able to draw up conclusions about the Earths density and what it must look like inside. Rocks that originated in the mantle, and were collected at Earth’s surface have provided evidence that supports the composition of our planets interior. Meteorites also provide important clues for the composition of the core and mantle. These meteorites are important because they show samples of planetesimals, the material from which Earth and the inner planets were formed. Advances in technology have provided studies that support composition and density of the layers of Earth, such as the introduction of seismic wave studies that indicate what we know of the Earths layers today. Bibliography wwkidsgeo.com/geology en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner_core Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology. Tenth edition. Tarbuck Lutgens and Tasa geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/p/layeratmosphere.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layers_of_the_atmosphere

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel in Spanish With Translation Notes

Here is a Spanish version of the popular Christmas carol and Advent hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. The song, whose author is unknown, comes originally from Latin, dating to around the 11th century, and is known in both English and Spanish in multiple versions. This Spanish version is one of the most popular.  ¡Oh ven!,  ¡Oh ven, Emanuel!  ¡Oh ven!,  ¡Oh ven, Emanuel!Libra al cautivo Israel,Que sufre desterrado aquà ­,Y espera al Hijo de David. Estribillo: ¡Alà ©grate, oh Israel!Vendrà ¡, ya viene Emanuel.  ¡Oh ven, Tà º, Vara de Isaà ­!Redime al pueblo infelizDel poderà ­o infernalY danos vida celestial.  ¡Oh ven, Tà º, Aurora celestial!Alà ºmbranos con tu verdad,Disipa toda oscuridad,Y danos dà ­as de solaz.  ¡Oh ven, Tà º, Llave de David!Abre el celeste hogar feliz;Haz que lleguemos bien allà ¡,Y cierra el paso a la maldad. English Translation of Spanish Version Oh come! Oh come, Emmanuel!Free captive IsraelWhich here suffers, displaced,And waits for the Son of David. Chorus:Be joyful, O Israel!He will come, Emmanuel is coming. O come, You, Rod of IsraelRedeem the unhappy peopleFrom hells powerAnd give us heavenly life. O You, come, celestial light of dawn!Illuminate us with your truth,Dispel all darkness,And give us days of solace. O come, You, Davids Key.Open the happy heavenly home.Make it so we arrive there well,And close the path  to evil. Translation Notes Oh: This interjection usually expresses amazement or happiness, so it isnt always the equivalent of oh. It is far more common in poetic writing than in everyday speech. It should not be confused with the homophone and conjunction o, meaning or, even though it is pronounced the same. Ven: The Spanish verb venir, usually meaning to come is highly irregular. Ven is the singular, familiar imperative form, so in Spanish this song unambiguously is written as if speaking to Emanuel. Emanuel: The Spanish word here is a personal name transliterated from Hebrew, meaning God is with us. The name is still used today, often  in the shortened form of Manuel. In Christianity, the name usually refers to Jesus. Libra: This is the singular  familiar imperative form of librar, meaning to free or liberate. Al: Al is a contraction of a (to) and el (the). The use of the personal a in the second line indicates  that Israel is being personified. Desterrado: The adjective desterrado is derived from the noun tierra, meaning Earth. In this context, it means exiled, referring to someone removed from his or her homeland. In informal contexts, it can mean banished. Danos: It is common to attach object pronouns to verbs in the imperative mood. Here the pronoun nos, or us, is attached to imperative of dar. Tà º: The familiar form of you is used throughout this hymn as it is the pronoun that Spanish-speaking Christians use in prayer while addressing God or Jesus. Vara de Isaà ­: A vara is a rod or stick. Isaà ­ is a  poetically shortened form of the name Isaà ­as, or Isaiah. The reference here is to Isaiah 11:1 in the Christian Old Testament that there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse. Christians have interpreted this as a prophecy of the Messiah, whom they believe to be Jesus. In the common English version of this hymn, the line is Come O rod of Jesses stem. Redime:  From the verb redimir, to redeem. Poderà ­o: This noun, usually translated as power, comes from the verb poder, to have ability or power. Poderà ­o often refers to the power available to someone or something that has authority or financial or military might. Alà ©grate: From the reflexive form of the verb alegrar, to be happy or joyous. Aurora: The aurora is the first light of dawn. In the English version, Dayspring is used here. Alumbranos: Alumbrar  means to enlighten or to give light. Disipar: Although this verb can be translated as to dissipate, in the context of this song it is better translated as to get rid of or to dispel. Oscuridad: This word can mean obscurity, as when referring ideas. But it far more often means darkness. The related adjective is oscuro. Solaz: In some contexts, solaz refers to rest or relaxation. It is a cognate of the English solace. Llave de David: This phrase, meaning key of David, is a reference to an Old Testament verse, Isaiah 22:22, which Christians have understood to refer symbolically to the authority of the coming Messiah. Lleguemos: This verb for is an example of the subjunctive mood. Llegar is a common verb meaning to arrive. Note that llegar is irregular because the -g- of the stem changes to -gu- when followed by an e to maintain the correct pronunciation. Celeste: Here, this word has the meaning of celestial. However, in other contexts it can refer to the blue color of the sky. Placing the adjective before the noun, hogar, gives it a stronger emotional impact. Haz: This is an irregular form of hacer. Maldad: The suffix dad- is used to turn an adjective, in this case mal or bad, to a noun.