ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Americans and the war The famous American-Mexican war took place between 1846 and 1848 and was fought in western and southwestern parts of today’s the United States. Texas was the main cause of that confrontation; it had declared its independence from Mexico and subsequently joined the Union. This infuriated Mexicans who were all determined to get Texas back. Americans were however not ready to lose their new state; contrary, they wanted to annex a bigger part of Mexico’s northern territories. The United States had argued that Texas was a sovereign entity that could join the union if it wanted. The Americans were determined to keep Texas, especially because there were many families that had settled there and did not want to be part of Mexico (Beckmann, 2008). Another force behind America’s determination to fight was the southern Democrats. This group saw the expansion of United States southern landholdings as a good way to increase their power in Washington DC as well as enlarging the number of slave states (Morrison, 1995, p. 695). Some of them saw the potential victory over Mexico as the first step to taking more of Mexican-owned territories along the Pacific seaboard. This would have provided United States with a western port (Graebner 1956, p. 753), which actually happened with the acquisition of New Mexico and California later after Americans’ victory in Texas. Mexicans and the war Mexicans were, on their part, determined to get Texas back from the United States. Mexicans saw the annexation of Texas by the United States as an abuse to its honor; and we’re prepared to do anything to reclaim that honor (Lyles, 2001 p. 5). Country leaders were not ready for another unpatriotic move by the people of Texas, especially moves that involved breaking away and joining another country. There were also fears that successful annexation of Texas by the United States would lead to other Northern territories following
Background This research discusses the relationship between cultural values and consumer behavior. Consumers are the backbone of the firm, implying that they are the most significant element of the firm. The ability of a firm to grow depends on its ability to influence consumers positively. The process of influencing consumers depends on a number of factors. Various scholars have conducted research to come up with reasons that would help in explaining consumer behavior. They have tried to determine how firms could influence the behavior of consumers. This article seeks to review the works of various scholars in order to determine their views concerning consumer behavior. The paper also seeks to determine how consumer behavior is influenced by the cultural values of various groups. Consumer behavior is heavily influenced by the cultural values of an individual. This is the main objective of this paper. A review of the literature would help in exploring the effects of culture on marketing. A literature review is also important because it guides the research. Procedure In order to conduct a critical review of the literature, the researcher intends to gather twenty different articles. The researcher would use the abstracts of the articles to obtain relevant information regarding consumer behavior. Although it is appropriate to conduct detailed research by looking at the entire work, it would be prudent in this case to use the abstracts of the articles because of the magnitude and time limits of this research. The time available for the research demands a brief investigation of the articles. Therefore, the abstracts would be extremely crucial to the researcher. Findings that support the thesis Consumer behavior is directly influenced by the cultural values of an individual. The values of society would have an impact on the personality of a person. A person’s personality is shaped by the cultural beliefs of the society. This personality would dictate the way an individual behaves. According to Vinson, Scott, and Lamont (1977), personal values play a critical role in establishing the behavior of customers in the market. These scholars concluded that personal values have a strong impact on the behavior of an individual. An individual is influenced to behave in a certain manner, depending on societal expectations and demands. T
Brief Facts In 1993, the UAE launched the competition for development of a design for an embassy and chancery which were to be built in Washington, DC. Elena Sturdza, an architect, entered a competition to provide the architectural design. Sturdza had license from Texas and Maryland, but she was not licensed by the District of Columbia. The architect was chosen by the jury of the competition which was constituted by civil engineers and architects. The architect and the UAE entered negotiations on the contract. During two years they were negotiating on the contract and Sturdza was working on her design. The architect changed the initial design to make it meet certain technical issues. Clearly, she submitted certain drafts. She also agreed to get payment after execution of the contract. In 1996, the UAE sent the final draft which incorporated all the necessary changes and Sturdza agreed to sign the contract. However, the UAE stopped communication with the architect without any explanations. The UAE did not sign the contract. In 1997, the architect discovered that the UAE started contractual negotiations with the National Capital Planning Commission. The new architect working on the embassy design was Angelos Demetriou who also participated in the competition in 1993. It is noteworthy that Demetriou’s design was significantly different from the one of Sturdza. However, Sturdza learnt that the design of Demetriou which was accepted had major features of her own design. The UAE signed the contract with Angelos Demetriou. In 1998, Sturdza brought a suit against the UAE. She noted that she completed a considerable amount of work on the design and she accused the UAE of breaching the contract and she sought quantum meruit recovery for the work she had done. Sturdza appealed to the US District Court for the District of Columbia. Thus, she claimed that the UAE breached
Introduction The commercial success of an American technology company, Apple Inc., is predicated on its ability to effectively leverage economies of scale by exploring global commodity chains. The company’s search for higher profits has led to outsourcing practices that have almost entirely moved its manufacturing function to Asian countries. However, despite the destruction of natural barriers to “capital mobility across spaces of uneven development,” which is a positive by-product of Apple Inc.’s cost reduction strategy, the politics of global production have forced foreign contractors to reduce labor standards. 1 Taking into consideration the fact that there is a substantial power asymmetry between links in contemporary commodity chains, contract manufacturers are not capable of resisting the pressure to “cut costs to the bare bones,” thereby exposing their workers to numerous health risks. 2 In opposition to its professed “ideals of corporate citizenship, environmental, labor, and social responsibility,” which Apple Inc. continuously publishes in its annual statements, the company still engages in the exploitation of the labor of approximately 1.5 million workers in China alone. 3 This exploitation is made possible through Apple Inc.’s partnership with the largest contract manufacturer of electronics—Foxconn whose triumph is only paralleled by the rise of another company’s partner Flextronics. The aim of this paper is to explicate the ascendance of Apple Inc. to a leading position in the market of consumer electronics. The paper will explore the power dynamics of the tech giant’s supply chain by relying on the main components in the framework of global commodity and value chains. It will also discuss the company’s structural relationships with its commodity manufacturers that allow it to transfer massive amounts of value that is being added at the nodes of commodity chains. 4 iPad iPad is a highly successful line of tablet computers that was introduced at an Apple Inc.’s press conference in 2010. 5 Despite the fact that the commodity has a sticker informing buyers that it has been produced in China, its parts come from a variety of Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan among others. The first generation of the product featured a 9.7-inch screen, 802.11g (Wi-Fi), GPS, and
Introduction: Creating a High-Quality Linguistic Review The primary aim of the work is to develop a consistent model of language data evaluation. Specifically, the investigation proves that linguistic studies can rely on compound quantification formulas. The research paper follows a standard format of qualitative assessment development and includes the verification of the hypothesis as well as such supporting elements as literature review, data collection method, schedule, and budget analysis. Identification of the Topic: Linguistic Relativity as a Subject for Evaluation The subject of the investigation is the theory of linguistic relativity, which signifies the idea of the correlation between the structuring of a language and the personal abilities of the speakers (Carroll 1). The conception reflects the subjective and objective evictions of real perceptions (Lucy 292). Moreover, the theory verifies the surface language formation against the rates of cognitive processing, which are peculiar to the citizens of individual countries (Naveh and Ayres 740). Hypothesis Statement: Relation between the Mindsets and Language Structures The initial hypothesis that is identified as a research question claims that cultural and behavioral patterns are highly dependent on the formation means of the language (Lucy 3). The theory is verified through the sophisticated analysis of three empirical approached to the study questions. Specifically, the paper correlates the domain-centered, behavior-directed, and structure-oriented approaches. Significance of the Study The practical meaning of the research study refers to the area of academic cognition. Thus, it is acknowledged that getting an insight into the language structuring assists the learners of foreign languages in the mastering of the linguistic conceptions (Putz and Verspoor 6). Moreover, the theory is often regarded as a platform for psychological and philosophical investigations since it contrasts how certain individuals interpret the world conceptions (Niemeier and Dirven 8). Therefore, the research evaluation creates some meaningful implications both for further studies and practical implementations. Literature Review The research analysis relies on six quality resources. Mainly, it employs the referencing of three peer-reviewed articles and three academic books. Thus, the articles “Linguistic Relativity, Contrastive Linguistics, and Language Learning”, “Digital Span, Reading Rate, and Linguistic Relativity”, and “Linguistic Relativity” create a practical grounding for the study while such books as “Language Diversity and Thought”, “Evidence for Linguistic Relativity”, and “Explorations in Linguistic Relativity” describe the theoretical conception of the linguistic relativity theory, its applications and interpretations. Data Collection Method, Time Schedule and Budget Evaluation The justification of the linguistic relativity hypothesis is built on the appliance of a few fundame
In order to have more benefits and attain a desired level of personal security, individuals enter into social contracts. However, in a bid to increase safety, personal freedom is diminished. When the diminution is equitable, fairness prevails unlike when one party is exposed to greater diminution of personal freedom, like in Panem. In such a case, then one side is enslaved to another. The Hunger Games series 1 is a science-fiction drama that delineates the situation of enslavement among the citizens of Panem to the governing class that reside in a city called Capitol. In every country, social contracts exist to delineate each party’s, government and citizens, obligation to the other. There are some social contracts in Panem that either encourage or suppress the citizens. There is a contract between the small ruling class and those in the 12 districts, where dominance of this governing ruling class prevails. This social contract is characterized by suppression, oppression, starvation and torture. The citizens of Panem work as ordered by the governing class, for the benefit of this class, and in return they only get supplies for their survival. Since the rebellion that happened some years earlier, in addition to working, they should sacrifice their own children. The citizens have a social contract amongst themselves: citizenry, which is to work collectively for the sake of their well being (Durden). Each district’s produce is based on prevailing resources. For example, in district 12, they are largely miners. Rebelling against the Capitols could lead to a disastrous end as was the case with the annihilation of district 13. Out of this event, the hunger games were born (Collins). The young adults engage in a “kill, or be killed, war,” which is the reason for the title “Hunger Games” (Durden). These games are an act of submission by the populace to the cruelty
Westernization is a phrase used to describe the process by which other cultures adopt the culture practiced by people from the West. Consequently, those who assimilate the western culture convert and shift to customs and practices of the western civilization. Moreover, this social process involves absorbing one culture and harmonizing it with another. Westernization is vital for development and progress as it incorporates various values and introduction of additional resources into the economy. For instance, some researchers believe that westernization shuns discrimination as it is concerned with the welfare of all human beings irrespective of their age, religion, economic status, or even sex. The incorporation of humanitarianism includes observation of secularization and equalitarianism where all human beings are treated as equals. In the political sector, westernization brings about nationalism, which is a concept that may not exist in the local way of government. However, western civilization is taking place at all places around the globe, hence raising the fear that almost all cultures might be eroded and consequently forgotten. Paul Harrison’s article “Westernization of the World” highlights how western culture is spreading and overtaking other cultures around the globe. The author begins by an illustration based on the culture of Singapore. The author stipulates a description of the day-to-day life in Singapore for the natives. Particularly, the author emphasizes on a theatre performance that attracted old and sham children as the audience. On interviewing one of the participants, he claims that young people have been carried away by the western culture. The interviewee, being a middle-aged man, argues hat the audience comprises of old fashioned, whereas the young people prefer the high quality western show. This aspect shows the extent to which the western culture has been accepted among the youths. The author also highlights other changes that include modes of dressing and the behavior mode of some people in certain careers especially the banking sector. The author asserts that mimicry of the western culture could be observed in several sectors that included the architecture, health care, education, housing and industrial technology. Paul Harrison believes that westernization can play a significant role in initiating more harm than good among some societies in third word countries. The author argues that the third world cannot be in order if westernization is to be adopted fully. Internal colonization is taking place in the third world countries and it is contaminating the different cultures and traditions. He upholds the importance of retaining old traditions and cultures. The author goes ahead and likes the change to flinging a baby out of the bath water. In addition, the author also ascertains that westernization is quite an unpleasant cultural diversity and diffusion that is occurring in the history of human beings. The negative altitude to
Introduction Divorces are socially significant actions that often have negative implications for both former families involved and society as a whole. The causes behind this social phenomenon can vary significantly, but for the sake of a deeper understanding, there is a necessity to explore some of them in-depth. One of the main causes of divorces is betrayal; another is unequal spending and earning. Exploring these causes could provide an insight into how to avoid them. Betrayal Betrayal or infidelity is one of the most common causes for a husband and wife to split. Infidelity for each particular person can mean a multitude of things. Some people, arguably most, define betrayal in marriage as having sex with another person. This is deeply connected with the nature and tradition of the intimate relationship between men and women. Letting another person into one’s personal space to the point of having intercourse is already an issue of deep-felt trust and having utter conviction in the other party’s genuine feelings. If a marriage partner reveals that they have had that same kind of intimacy and affection with someone else, it will definitely insult the other partner. No wonder, then, that after such an incident, the victim of infidelity would want to sever the relationship as trust is violated. At first glance, it seems understandable and logical. There is also another explanation for such a reaction. Religious people consider the marital vow of loving and honoring each other for as long as they both live sacred; sacred as something that is witnessed, blessed, and sealed by the higher power. Such an alliance is forbidden to break by divine law. If a person decides to violate this vow, it means not only that they betrayed their partner but also that they went against God. Such an action for a deeply religious person is much more than a violation of trust. Therefore, there are not many choices left other than to drift apart. There can also be other understandings of betrayal. Some people have more conservative views on marital fidelity and may consider even holding hands with a person of the opposite sex for a second too long to be a friendly handshake. It may not lead directly to divorce but may give grounds for monitoring each action of an allegedly cheating wife or husband. This is often considered a norm in middle-eastern countries where women are not allowed to even look at a person of the opposite sex in the eyes for too long. This is a deeply religious and cultural tradition that may not be acceptable to others. Interestingly, in some Islamic practices, men are allowed to have up to four wives, and this is not considered to be infidelity. Additionally, people often vary in degrees of tolerance towards infidelity. Some consider it a violation of trust but not to the point of needing to end the relationship, especially if it didn’t last that long. Many people would consider writing a one-off or
When developing a particular strategy, great attention should be paid to various aspects of management. However, some areas need to be especially considered when designing and implementing a project. One of the essential elements of the market in any country in the world is the region’s ethnic characteristics, which sometimes impose specific requirements. This essay considers the importance of cultural considerations in strategy development and their impact on the management process. First of all, it is necessary to determine which particular cultural factors can influence the formulation of the strategy. At the moment, there is a whole science called cross-cultural management that studies this issue. The discipline covers the intersection of many sciences, such as international business and communications, cross-cultural psychology, and anthropology (Mahadevan, 2020). The combination of so many disciplines and diverse approaches, such as genealogical, allows analyzing the relationship between business and culture from all possible angles. Cross-cultural management’s main idea is to find a unique approach to other people, even if the concept of “others” is continually changing (Mahadevan, 2020). It is necessary to estimate the totality of cultural factors to achieve this goal, the list of which begins with the language. When introducing a project into another culture, it is crucial to take into account the linguistic features that can distort the perception of information. For example, a word that sounds completely innocent in one language may turn out to be close to abusive in another. Secondly, each culture has a range of values, both economic and social, and family. The project, whose strategy is centered around promoting equality, is unlikely to find support in Islamic countries, where religious norms strictly fix the role of women in the family. In addition to the above, there are many more elements that must be considered when implementing a strategy. For example, a manager will have to pay some attention to intercultural management between employees, since differences in culture will also affect the organization (Thomas & Peterson, 2016). Even if a team is located in only one country, the likelihood of including members from different cultures is quite high. Thus, the presence of such factors undeniably complicates the manager’s work, entangles the implementation of the strategy, and negatively affects the entire process. The higher the number of possible cultural contradictions, the more work will have to be done. For some companies, these negative factors may become a reason for rethinking and redesigning the entire strategy as a whole, since the emerging costs of solving intercultural problems do not correspond to the expected income. Naturally, there is a second approach, which is to ignore cultural contradictions, but it is fraught with a possible drop in demand. Attempts to take into account the characteristics of the target audience, on the contrary, can raise customer confidence and increase the final profit. Therefore, while cultural factors significantly complicate the current work, in the lon