ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction In the last few decades, China introduced economic and social reforms that created a rapid increase in household income in the country. Based on these reforms, a dominant middle class emerged (Wang 1). These reforms also led to new changes in China’s political, social and economic spaces. To explain this phenomenon, this paper answers three questions (1) what is the cost of forming this middle class (2) what led to the emergence of this middle class (3) how has the formation of the middle class in China intensified new social stratification in post-socialist China What Led to the Emergence of the Middle Class? Changes in the Education System The quest for better jobs led many Chinese people to attain higher education qualifications (Fong 87). In this regard, there was an increased vibrancy in the education system, which helped to educate more people, thereby empowering them to secure high paying jobs. Broadly, this trend created a new class of people (middle class) who purchased more goods and services in the economy (Fong 96-97). Liberalization of the Economy The legalization of private business also led to the growth of the middle class because people who could not get jobs, and those that did not have the connections to get a job, started new businesses that allowed them to earn a living. Particularly, those that were skilled, lucky and daring became wealthy in this regard (Fong 96-97). This period was profitable for businesspersons because few legislations and taxes prevented them from do
Introduction Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority was created by the Saudi government in 2000. This authority may be regarded as the body responsible for the development of the petrochemical industry in Saudi Arabia, nevertheless, the main aim of the authority is the attraction of investment resources. The key problems which the body experiences are closely associated with the communication practices, the IT sphere in general as well as the systematization of the existing investment data. Software Quality Discussion The quality of the software may be regarded as the key aspect of the company’s activity effectiveness. Because investment presupposes quick information spread and accumulation, a lack of informational flow may cause effectiveness failure. Hence, one of the most evident problems of the low software quality is the impossibility of effective communication with other companies. The activity of the investment authority is based on the process of constant and timely update of the economic information, with further classification and analysis of the input data. (Cordesman, 2003) If the communication software is of low quality, the communication process will be arranged with inevitable data losses and delays. While the company acts within the circumstances of low competition, these delays and failures may be compensated by correct and systematic analysis of the data. The next IT problem is that the amount of software is not sufficient. The authority needs more software tools for information gathering, analysis, systematization, storing, and issuing. All the problems which the company faces are closely linked with the impossibility to arrange the proper IT structure which will be responsible for the implementation of the required software. (Jameson, 2000) Another aspect of the communication problem is the language barrier. The team of the SAGIA is not required to know foreign languages as the specification of their work presupposes an analysis of the Saudi market only. Nevertheless, as the body was intended for attracting investments into the petrochemical industry of the country, it should be stated that foreign investments would be appreciated by the authorities which represent Saudi economic development. Hence, the team of SAGIA needs to study foreign languages to expand the contacts, extend the cooperation, and improve the investment activity, associated with data collection and analysis. (El Sheikh. 2003) One of the most serious problems that the SAGIA faces is the
Introduction News reports suggest that economic giants from third world Asia namely China and India are expected to grow at the rate of 9.7 and 6.5 percent respectively. It’s not just the growth rate but also the sheer size of the economies of these nations that have made them an indispensable part of the world economy. China has now become the factory of the world with large multinational companies infusing lots of money in establishing manufacturing units and India is now one of the major destinations for back-office jobs and is the leading service sector economy. It is not just these two nations that have shown higher growth but many other developing nations which include almost the whole of South East Asia and a few parts of Latin America. Globalization has started giving results. The process which has got its roots right from the beginning of the 20th century with the beginning of economic cooperation between Europe and the United States has now become synonymous with the word development not only in the western world but also in Far East Asian Countries (The World Bank Group, 2000). But still, this globalization has yet to make this world a better place to live. Though as mentioned above India and China, the two most developing nations of Asia are actually among the two poor nations also. The standard of living in China is one-fifth of that of a developed country and in India is even worse with the standard of living being one-tenth of the same variable. The difference between the rich and the poor has widened with every passing year rich becoming richer while the poor are diving towards more destitution. So the concern related to the globalization process is the visible growth is more mathematical than real cumulative growth. It might be taking place at the cost of those who are less privileged (Kumar, 2007). Globalization and its components Globalization can be understood as a combination of four major trends. The four trends in a globalized world are the expansion of international trade, financial flows where FDI is a major entity, global communications which includes transportation, and finally the immigration i.e., transnational movements of people. These four trends have been a part of every phase of globalization right from the beginning of the 20th century. They were very much present in phases post World War II and later in the 1990s when the FDI age began. The surge in FDI in the 1990s led to the beginning of a global trend of foreign investment in privatization processes initiated by several countries all around the world. Many countries in Eastern Europe undertook extensive privatization of state-owned assets. So as a whole the merger movement around the world has caused massive effects with the growing rate of cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Being termed as an important tool for FDI flow from industrial nations to developing ones, the relatively small size of the merger as compared to that in advanced countries, gave the much-needed boost to the eco
It is safe to say that drug use, especially its legality, moral and ethical aspects, is a hot topic in public discourse. It is also no secret that drug use is stigmatized in many societies. The primary sources of stigma are the media and society itself. Goode (2015) notes that “the details are different, but the common element is the hysteria generated over the use of a novel substance, initially believed to be far more harmful than it eventually turns out to be” (p. 133). People who abuse drugs and those undergoing treatment become a discriminated group. Therefore, mass media panic and stigmatization of drug use worsens the drug users’ living conditions, mental state, and treatment outcomes. Article Summary A peer-reviewed journal article chosen for this work is Social Stigmatization of Drug Abusers in a Developing Country: A Cross-Sectional Study by Khalid et al. Their work explores the implications of media bias towards drugs and drug abusers. The researchers aimed to find out how social stigma affects the outcome of drug addiction treatment. The study setting was “the Psychiatry Department, Mayo Hospital Lahore, Pakistan” (Khalid et al., 2020, p. 1). A population-based cross-sectional study was applied to gather the necessary information, and then the data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20 (Khalid et al., 2020). They found that stigmatized patients experience low self-esteem and mild depression. New Social Pyramid The described journal article, together with facts from Drugs in American Society , provides important insights into the issue of drug use. By manipulating data and exaggerating the negative aspects of the situation, the media and elites create an informational panic around drugs (Goode, 2015). It is done for several reasons, namely drawing attention to their brands, getting traffic from clickbait headlines, and profiting from sensational news articles. Goode (2015) notes that by doing this, elites divert “attention from the fundamental problems of society, like inequality” (p. 145). Driven by biased or even false information, society stigmatizes drug use and discriminates against people who use drugs. It worsens the living conditions of drug abusers and the people around them. They become socially isolated and lose access to upward mobility. It leads to such phenomena as drug wars and drug violence from which drug users and bystanders suffer (Goode, 2015). Moreover, as noted above, it impairs their mental health and negatively affects patient outcomes. (Khalid et al.). From these two readings, one can build a social pyramid of drug stigmatization. Conclusion This work analyzes two works related to the general theme of which is the social condemnation of drug use. They are Erich Goode’s Drugs in American Society and Social Stigmatization of Drug Abusers in a Developing Country: A Cross-Sectional Study by Khalid et al. The facts, conclusions, and assumptions of t
From their historic invention in ancient Mesopotamia, roads have continued to be designed and developed in unique ways that are intended to fulfill specific purposes. In the 21 st century, a range of engineering designs and measures have been developed to ensure roads serve to fulfill these objectives while ensuring adequate safety levels. In essence, roads range in size and purpose, from private driveways and residential roads that discourage access and unsuitable speed to the fast-paced high capacity dual carriageways that encourage flexibility and speeding at the motorist’s own dispensation (Genat, 1995). In all these roads, design is predominant in allowing or disallowing specific types of usage. It is the purpose of this paper to evaluate why residential roads are higher in the middle than at the curb. There exist several types of roads that can be classified under residential roads, including private drives, access drives, car ways, collector roads, and local distributor roads, among others (Residential Road Design guide, n.d.). In many countries, these roads are designed in a way that elevates the middle of the road than at the curb due to a number of reasons such as acting as a reminder that the driver is entering a built-up area, safety concerns and drainage purposes. On the approaches to residential dwellings and other places occupied or used by pedestrians, transition zones from long flat roads which promotes higher traffic speeds to low speed roads are required. According to Genat (1995), design features such as raising the road in the middle section can be employed to generate a cumulative influence on the motorist’s perception of suitable speed culminating in a gateway phase that mark the start of the preferred speed limit for the residential area. It is of paramount importance to note that the philosophy behind this type of road design derives its strength from the opinion that the relationship between motorists and ordinary pedestrians varies in accordance to the type of road being utilized and the environmental variables located in the area neighboring the road (Residential Road Design Guide, n.d.). On major carriageways, the motorist and road prevails. However, in residential roads or cul-de-sacs , pedestrians and environmental variables in the form of buildings and other amenities prevail and the design of the road should demonstrate these changes. Elevating the road in the middle section therefore gives one of the best prospects to offer the necessary physical contrast that is bound to make drivers realize that they must give precedence to pedestrians and the buildings. Such a scenario also enhances the safety of pedestrians as vehicles are not perceived as dominant in residential roads. Roads use large amounts of resources – both manpower and financial. According to Genat (1995), roads must be maintained throu
Introduction The view of American slavery and discrimination against black people has been widely discussed in various works of literature. In literature, the plight of American slaves is described through analysis and portrayal of their miserable life, disruption of family and brutality (Gates 153). Also, most literary works attempt to describe the existence of a strong desire for freedom among almost all black slaves and their fate as they struggle to escape from slavery. Secondly, some literary works have attempted to describe slavery from the point of slave hunting in Africa. Most authors blame African kings and chieftains for capturing and selling their fellow African tribes to slavery, the whites who deal with slaves and the white settlers who purchase slaves in America and West Indies (Gates 153). Perhaps, one of the best narratives describing the plight of the captured African people and their journey through slavery is Equiano’s ‘The interesting narrative of Olaudah Equiano.’ Olaudah Equiano provides an in-depth analysis of his real journey from Africa through slavery and his work after acquiring freedom. ‘The role played by various slave dealers and owners is brought into the limelight in this narrative. An analysis of the narrative builds a negative perception of slavery in the United States because slavery is displayed as a true violation of human rights through disruption of family life and human relations, kidnappings and a wide range of inhuman actions against the black people. The impact of Olaudah Equiano’s narrative on the perception of American slavery Written as his autobiography, Equiano’s narrative describes his journey from a humble and normal life in West Africa to slavery in America and finally a free life in London. The narrative, written by Olaudah Equiano in 1789, provides an analysis of the fate of Africans who are kidnapped from their homes in Africa to slavery in America and Europe. The story begins with a description of early Igbo country, where Equiano was born. Being an Igbo, Equiano begins the story by describing the Ibo culture, customs associated with food, religion, and clothing. He also describes the beautiful and productive nature of Igbo land, where he likens the Igbo people of West Africa with Jews (Shields 1). From this introduction, a new perception of slavery is developed; the author attempts to describe how Africans were targeted in slavery simply because Europeans considered them as being inferior, less civilized and barbaric. This notion may explain why Africans were treated like animals rather than humans (Bugg 572). Europeans thought that t
Many scientists believe that, Republic administration under President Bush caused more harm than good in all fields of science. For example, during Bush administration, his officials tampered with climatic reports. Moreover, the department of Fish and Wildlife allocated minimum funds unable to carry scientific research and to sum it up; President Bush stopped stem cell research to please political egos. Republicans choose to disregard scientific innovations and instead opt for political theories without facts. It seems that, Republicans have negative issues when it comes to scientific and innovation. For example, past Republican administrations saw a period of anti-intellectualism in Barry Goldwater administration, Ronald Reagan’s distance from creationism and skepticism of science from Newt Gingrich. Republicans abuse science at the expense of gaining politically. Interestingly, political parties run governments through elected leaders. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of a government to fund its agencies to carry out scientific research. However, on the contrary, Republican administration stopped stem cell research, edited global warming policy, and cut science funding leading to stagnation of innovations in science. Conservatives both religious and political, forced hard debates over science. Religious conservatives hate science and accuse it of immorality and atheism. On other hand, journalists contributed to science war by making equal media coverage between science, politics and religion. Republicans utilized this opportunity in the media industry to stage war on science. Largely, Republicans administrations succeeded in the war. This is because; a large portion of science funding is done by the government. This summary makes us to understand one thing. That politics and science do not match, is a fact. Americans have witnessed on many occasions Republicans dismiss policies meant to bring innovations
Introduction The Hofstede Model has a five dimensional model regarding national or organizational culture namely “Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance, Individualism, Masculinity and Long Term Orientation”. (Hofstede and Hofstede, 2005) The dimensions as emphasized by the model indicate that performances and dimensional adversity of a company depends on its level of aggression. There is urgent need for a company to ensure it avoids mix-ups on the values differentiated by the model at the individual levels. What is an organization culture? It is a programming done through thoughts as a combination of executable set of instructions and rules, which distinguishes member groups or one company from others. It is attributable to a collective of phenomenon connected to different aspects and departments in the organization or firm for the purpose of guidance through its undertakings. One acquires organization cultures from the social setting of a firm or organization. When a person changes the job, the organization culture also changes but only to certain levels because the concept following many structure rally behind the Hofstede’s settings. Unlike many other cultures, the organizational culture resides in the conscious and visible mind or practices in which case the employees perceive the undertakings in the organizational environment concerning set regulations. This paper addresses the conceptual dimensions of the IBM Company with regard to the Hofstede model of organizational cultures. Power Distance The most common dimensions used to measure the degree of economy in a firm involve its evolution and modernity, economically and technologically. To suppress other common cultural varieties, a firm ought to ensure existence of low quality information transfer explicitly. The high content requires implicit specification. The IBM is an international company with vast number of employees. The aspect of power distance involves different solutions regarding fundamental predicaments that employees face in the job settings involving the issue of inequality. In relation to a big international company such as the IBM,
Introduction The idea of development for the poor third-world countries promoted by the wealthy population of the western world has experienced serious critique from researchers, who explore the issues of racial and social discrimination. The foundation of this critique is the disillusionment regarding the effectiveness of the development programs offered to the third world countries in earlier periods. The three articles observe three current undertakings in the poorest countries of the third world – fair-trade coffee, Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs, and land grabs. All these undertakings aim to be compatible with the ethical vision developed by western human rights activists, but they fail to some degree. The following paper aims to respond to the value of the class readings and discuss the new insights gained from them. Main body First, the common feature of the three articles is their address to the theme of development, and its shortcomings over the past few decades, in particular. These class readings evaluate the three current international development undertakings including fair-trade coffee, Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs, and land grabs in third-world countries. In her article, Deborah Sick speaks of fair-trade coffee as an alternative that will enable millions of small-scale farmers in Latin America to earn adequate incomes to provide for their households and cover their farming business expenses. According to Sick (2008), “the export market remains essential, and in this volatile and competitive environment, FT offers hope for the survival of small-scale coffee producers” (p. 203). Next, the PES program is the focus of research in the article by Ibarra, Barreau, Campo, Camacho, and McCandless (2011). In this article, Ibarra et al. (2011) observe the problems of such a venture as paying the native inhabitants to make them end up with their usual farming and hunting practices in order to preserve the wildlife. The authors identify the key issues connected with racial discrimination as the major foundation of the current PES programs. Thus, this venture appears to be another factor contributing to the disillusionment of current international development undertakings. Finally, Zoomers’ article makes an overview of such a burning problem as land grabs. Based on the negative outcomes for the local population, the author makes her conclusions regarding the inappropriateness of such an undertaking. Further, all three readings attempt to critique the current approach to the theoretical and practical tenets of development. Particularly, Sick critiques the attempt to create better trading conditions for the local people within the frames of the fair-trade coffee market. She explains that economically disadvantaged peop