Marketing Strategies Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing Strategies - Research Paper Example When the companies take the decision for expanding and diversifying their businesses across the national boundaries, it is important for them to take into consideration various factors that are important for the successful operation of the company on the international scale (Keegan and Green 2008). The focus is to formulate a strategy regarding the international operations of Algerian wine in the UK market. Algerian Wine is a wine that is made from a country of North Africa in Algeria and is among the renowned name in the history of wine. Algeria is known to be one of the oldest producers of wine in the world. For the Romans, Algeria is considered to be the breadbasket and vineyard throughout the history of viticulture starting from the Roman Empire. Algerian wines have been seen to prosper the world with constant prosperity because of the fact that they have their own unique characteristics. Algerian wines are produced in five major regions that include The MEDEA region, The ZACCCAR region, The DAHRA region, The MASCARA region, and The TLEMCEN region. The aim of the company is to export the Algerian Wine called Coteaux De Mascara from Algeria into the market of UK. Coteaux De Mascara is termed to be the red wine from the Atlas Mountains. This wine belongs to The MASCARA region. This region has been well renowned in terms of producing wines with distinguished features. The wines produced in this region are considered to be robust and well structured. They are of good colour, and consist of high level of alcohol up-to 14 percent. All the wines of Algeria are distinguished with taste of deep berry flavours and the fragrance of roses and raspberries. For the purpose of data collection, various scholarly journals and articles will be selected, which will help in retrieving adequate information in relation to the international marketing. Secondary data will be helpful in collection of adequate and authentic information.

Finals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Finals - Assignment Example Malthus identified the substance wage, with foodstuff the workers’ wages is what workers eat. Rapid increase of food crops is not possible because supply of fertile land is limited and technical improvements do not come fast enough. To Ricardo, economic rent is paid to the owner of the land for the use original and indestructible power of the soil. This rent is not the same as returns derived from improvements made on the land that result to rise of the profit rather than rents. Malthus considered higher rents for landowners as salutary thing. Ricardo believed rent to be unearned income. Landowners who have to work longer hours for the bushel of wheat, sell it at same price as farmers who own the richest delta land. Rent does not determine the prices of grain rather than grain decides the amount of the rent. Answer to question 5. Both contemporary and modern critics have very often regarded Malthus, as an eminently inconsistent writer. Not only was he accused of not reasoning well (Ricardo himself wrote for instance, His arguments are not very cogent; indeed, I am often puzzled to find any connection between the premises and conclusions of his propositions’ Ricardo’s was highly influenced by sparked spare abstraction of English economy of parliamentary debate than proposed corn laws which prohibited importation of grain until the price of domestic grain increased to a specific amount. The central conflict arose from industrialist against landowners who had expanded cultivated acreage. Corns laws had favored only a few at expense of their own capital accumulation thus higher prices meant industrialists had to pay for higher wages. Since most of landowners were parliamentary, thus Corn Law passed easily, debate on these law defined interest of various economic units (groups).Malthus lavished praise on land lords and Ricardo attached the consequences, thus legislative issues become context in economic analysis and revelation of class conflict- how national income to be distributed among landlords manufacturer and workers. Malthus argued that taxation reduces disposable income thus are left worse off. Thus, Corns laws are unfavorable. Answer to question 6. Mill turns economics into a viable philosophical area of inquiry by exploring what people really want and what economics can measure and assess. Mill’s approach to economics is based on his belief in the superiority of socialism, in which economic production would be driven by cooperatives owned by the workers. To this end, Mill argues that the laws of production may be natural laws, but the laws of distribution are created and enacted by human beings. In other words, wealth is the natural product of labor, but the distribution of wealth is determined by the decisions and the will of actual people (the elite) and is not simply part of the order of nature. Mill carries this view quite far, maintaining that human laws and institutions can and should determine how w ealth is distributed. Thus, for Mill, economics is closely tied to social philosophy and politics. Private property being assumed as a fact, we have next to enumerate the different classes of persons to whom it gives rise; whose concurrence, or at least whose permission, is necessary to production, and who are therefore able to stipulate for a share of the produce. We have to inquire, according to what laws the produce distributes itself among these classes, by the spontaneous

Physics134 week7 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Physics134 week7 - Coursework Example The functions of the NERC include working with the stakeholders to establish reliability standards for power systems, enforcing and monitors those standards, providing training and educational resources as part of an accreditation program, and assessing adequacy of the resources to ensure operators of the power system are proficient and efficient. NERC analyzes causes of power disturbances to help avoid future disruptions. Long distance power transmission is sent on high voltage wires because power is roughly the product of current and voltage. It means that when sending a lot of power, high voltage and high current must be used. High voltage wires are used because high current leads to the loss of power due to the wire resistance. With high voltage wires, the current is small and, therefore, much power reaches the destination. When using high voltage transmission line where one is twice the voltage of another, each of them has advantages and disadvantages. Very high voltage transmission lines are beneficial in that they can transmit power underground and above the ground from power companies to households and individual businesses. The high voltage lines can also run long distances and maintain the electric power. They are more advantageous to utility companies because they fetch more power. They are also more efficient due to minimal loss of energy. However, they have an increase danger because of high voltage. Low voltage transmission lines are lee dangerous but fetch minimal power due to energy loss. The Grid, DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. http://www.oe.energy.gov/SmartGridIntroduction.htm http://www1.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy/guide/electricity_grid_basics.html

Starbucks - traditional coffee market Case Study

Starbucks - traditional coffee market - Case Study Example These products are marketed through retail stores. It also markets coffee and tea products through other channels of distribution. Starbucks relies chiefly on an efficient market system and product improvement. The traditional market for coffee is not in maturity one, and today it offers a limited opportunity for high profits, so it sets about developing products, that are both distinctive and could be sold at a premium price. A specialized product range, namely coffee beans necessitated a clear identification of target market. The original mission had made it clear that it was in the relatively unexploited 'adult' sector that Starbucks saw its clearest opportunity for innovation. Starbucks set out to create a range of high-quality products that were distinctive in shape, and especially appealing to people who had acquired a taste for coffee. A wholesome, appetizing and, at same time, slightly exotic taste experience was what Starbucks wanted to offer. An insight into possible consumer reaction to product and packaging was obtained by arranging for big groups, drawn from the relevant market segments, to meet in a social setting where reactions could be observed and impressions and comments recorded. The favours were often an 'acquired' taste and the products were typically consumed with alcoholic beverages, at the night clubs and restaurants, including fast food. Starbucks has maintained high-speed growth through continuous optimization of is product mix and constant technological innovation. It has also realized rapid expansion through capital injections. In addition, it had begun to follow a strategy of withdrawing from small markets with limited potential for its core products and to look for markets in countries with a major growth potential for coffee products. The main markets of Starbucks are the United States, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Germany. If there are few, large competitors in the industry, it is likely that this is due to high entry barriers. Conversely, an industry of many, smaller competitors is likely to be the result of lower entry barriers. The nature of competition for Starbucks differs from other industries. The main competitors of Starbucks are: tea, juice, soft drinks, and alcohol products. Competitive rivalry on both a price and a non-price basis is higher in the industry comprising the more, and smaller, competitors. If the product is mature and the industry is subject to 'shake-out', then competition will be more intense. The main competitors in the industry are Peet's, Caribou Coffee, the Second Cup, Coffee Station, etc. In general, Starbucks is well-positioned to take on this important global leadership role. It has the global resources and certainly has the technological capability. Clearly, some comapnies in the same industry are more successful than others, lending support to the view that competitive advantage is largely internally developed. Equally, however, there is a danger of ignoring the environment, as customers and their needs, competitors, changes in technology, etc., can play an important role in determining competitive success. Bear in mind Porter's 5 P's or five "competitive forces" which include: the threat of entry of new competitors (new entrants); the threat of substitutes; the bargaining

Religious Terms for Judaism, Mormonism, and Catholicism Essay Example for Free

Religious Terms for Judaism, Mormonism, and Catholicism Essay Once a person has truly, sincerely repented (which is done by asking God for forgiveness) due to their feelings of remorse, they are taught to put the sin behind them and not to dwell on it. Although it is also said that Brigham Young (1801- 1877), the second Mormon prophet,in the case of serious sins, it is the murder of the sinner and the literal mixing of his blood with the earth that results in forgiveness, which is also called blood atonement. (Quoted from a previous Mormon) Mormon views on contrition: â€Å"By being Mormons we are assured of salvation We believe that even if we are wrong about Mormonism, God will forgive us since we believed in Christ just like the Christians said we should. If we are right, and we know we are, then we will be together forever with our families as gods. Why should we want to be anything other than Mormons since we have all our bases covered?† Basically, although they apparently ask God for forgiveness due to their contrition that develops when they commit things they consider as a sin, Mormons don’t worry over the fact that they could be wrong since salvation is already assured when converting to Mormonism. Nevertheless, they still do believe that you should feel contrition when you commit a sin and should seek repentance/forgiveness from God. Mormon views on penance: Forgiveness is essential part of enjoying happiness in life; salvation. The aspects of forgiveness are repentance, prayer and forgive all who hurt. The Mormon Church rejects the concept of penance believing it has nothing to do with the penitence; turning away from sins. Mormon views on atonement: They believe that atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to receive forgiveness, which comes from genuine atonement; alleviating pain and guilt from past sins. It also brings comfort and joy. Mormon (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) views on sorrow: The fourth concept I would like to stress is what the scriptures term â€Å"godly sorrow† for our sins. It is not uncommon to find men and women in the world who feel remorse for the things they do wrong. Sometimes this is because their actions cause them or loved ones great sorrow and misery. Sometimes their sorrow is caused because they are caught and punished for their actions. Such worldly feelings do not constitute â€Å"godly sorrow.† Godly sorrow is vividly portrayed in two places in scripture. In the final days of the Nephite nation, Mormon said of his people: â€Å"their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin. Mormon (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) views on penitence: Penitence is one of the first principles of the gospel and is essential to our temporal and eternal happiness. It is much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments Mormon views on sin: Mormons believe that if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; if we confess our sins, Jesus will forgive us of our sins; all people sin; Jesus Christ was the only sinless person ever to have lived on the Earth; through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, each person can repent and be forgiven of his sins. Mormon views on revenge: Mormon’s view of revenge is they should not seek revenge upon someone else even if they treated them badly. They view revenge as a sin. However, some Mormons believe that they should promote revenge. Catholic views on remorse: Remorse is a product of wishful-thinking and implies the wish to avoid sin; repentance implies the determined will to avoid it. Remorse is conditional; repentance is absolute. The remorseful would like to avoid sin if doing so did not entail so much effort and sacrifice, and if he had enough faith, hope and charity. Remorse is a keen sense of guilt over having done something wrong. It is self-reproach coupled with a certain degree of discouragement either to undo the wrong or, more rarely, of being forgiven. Catholic views on contrition: (Father John A. Hardon, SJ)- Contrition is the act or virtue of sorrow for ones sins. The virtue of contrition is a permanent disposition of soul. However, only an act of contrition is required for the remission of sin, whether with or without sacramental absolution. The act of contrition is a free decision involving a detestation of and grief for sins committed and also a determination not to sin again.. Concretely, it means the desire to regain the divine friendship, either lost or injured by sin. There must also be a determination not to sin again. Four qualities permeate a genuine act of contrition and affect all three constituents of the act, the detestation, the grief, and the determination not to sin again. A valid contrition is internal, supernatural, universal, and sovereign. Contrition is internal when it is sincere and proceeds from the will, when it is not the result of a mere passing mood or emotional experience. It is supernatural when inspired by actual grace and based on a motive accepted on faith. It is universal when the sorrow extends to all mortal sins, and for valid sacramental absolution there must be sorrow for whatever sins are confessed. It is finally sovereign if the sinner freely recognizes sin as the greatest of all evils and is willing to make amends accordingly. Catholic views on penance: Sacrament (signs of grace by Christ) which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism granted by priest; penance is the showing true sorrow confessions. Confession or tribunal to penance is when a person admits wrong doings to priest. Catholics believe the sacrament of penance because God’s grace can heal a wounded soul. After penance, priest gives penance to perform such as volunteer work, donations or say prayers. Catholic views on atonement: It is the reconciliation to God. It is forgiven sins through the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. It is a moral change where in the purpose for Jesus was to influence mankind morally. Catholic views on sorrow: The pain or distress experienced because of some adversity that is felt personally. The sorrow may be over a loss or misfortune for which a person feels guilty, as in the case of sin; or the sorrow may be totally vicarious, out of compassion for someone else. Essential to the notion of sorrow is that it refers to what has already happened and its painful effects are still experienced. Catholic views on penitance The state of being repentant for having sinned. It is therefore a disposition of soul, arising from a realization of ones sinfulness and includes the willingness to expiate the wrongdoing. The penitential act is the invitation by the priest at Mass, after the opening salutation, to have the congregation acknowledge their sinfulness. This is followed by the Appeal for Mercy, the Kyrie, unless the pleas for forgiveness were already included in the penitential act. Normally each invocation is sung (or said) twice, but there may be further repetitions and also brief text insertions (tropes) if the circumstances warrant such additions. The penitential chain is a metal chain, with sharp points piercing the flesh, worn around the waist, arms, or legs by certain religious men and women as a means of penance or mortification. Catholic view of sin: Augustine of Hippo (354-430) regarded sin as a word, deed or desire contrary to the eternal law. Sin is a deliberate transgression of a law of God, which identifies the four essentials of every sin. Sin is a transgression, since Catholicism holds that grace is resistible and the divine will can be disobeyed. And the transgression is deliverate, which means that a sin is committed whenever a person knows that something is contrary to the law of God and then freely does the action anyway. Catholic moral theology divides sin into two parts. Mortal (Deathly) sin is the most serious as it involves loss of sanctifying grace. A person who dies with unremitted mortal sin would be in danger of eternal separation from God in Hell. Venial (Pardonable) sin does not directly destroy the relationship with God. Rather, it weakens that relationship. Unremitted venial sins can affect the duration spent in Purgatory. Therefore the church encourages confession of these types of sins as well. Examples o f venial sins include selfishness, anger and jealousy. God is offended, so that the divine dimension is never absent from any sin. Catholic views on revenge: Catholics believe that you shouldn’t retaliate, seek revenge or to kill. You should love enemies, do good to those who hate, and bless those who persecute. Revenge is the act or intention of inflicting injury on someone, on ones own authority, to repay an offense committed. It is a manifestation of unjustifiable anger and is one of the most common human failings that take on a variety of forms, from a momentary silence or frown to defamation of character or physical violence. As a form of sinful anger, it is an unruly desire for vengeance. The desire is immoderate if a person wants the undeserving to be punished, or the guilty to be punished excessively, or the punishment to be meted out in an unlawful manner or in order to vent ones own spite. Judaism views on remorse: According to Gates of Repentance, a standard work of Jewish ethics written by Rabbi Rabbenu Yonah of Gerona, if someone commits a sin, a forbidden act, he can be forgiven for that sin if he performs teshuva. The first step one must take in teshuva is to feel remorse for the sin you have committed. In other words, you have to acknowledge the sin and sincerely regret doing it. The remorseful would like to undo his sin, but he has not the requisite determination to remove the occasions of sin and surmount the obstacles to reform. Judaism views on contrition: Contrition admits neither ifs nor buts, and does not recognize the sacrosanctity of ruts. (Quoted from Rabbi David Rosen)- Above all, contrition and compassion are the indispensable coefficients of all rituals of forgiveness, whether they be expiatory sacrifices (Lev. 5:5-6 ; 16:21 ; Num. 5:6-7) or litanies for fasting (Joel 2:12-14 ; I Sam. 7:5-6). At the same time, inner contrition must be followed by outward acts; remorse must be translated into deeds. Judaism views on penance: Judaism doesn’t recognize penance as necessary in process of sin; repentance. Rabbis don’t prescribe penance, but spiritual discipline in presence if sin. Judaism views on atonement: It is the process of a crime committed to be forgiven; pardoned. Atonement is achieved by repentance, confession, service, and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), which is a period of fasting or prayer. Atonement of Judaism is â€Å"deflect the soul†; atone sins of past years. Judaism views on sorrow: We view these painful sufferings as part of our Redemptive process. It is regarding these troubles that the verse states, â€Å"It is a time of tribulation for Jacob, from which he will be delivered†-from the trouble itself will come the salvation. We are imbued with faith in the G-d of Israel, Who promised Abraham, â€Å"To your descendants I have given this Land, from the Egyptian river up to the great river, the Perat River. We have eternal trust in the G-d of Israel, Who promised Jacob, â€Å"The Land on which you lie I will give to you and to your descendants.† The Word of the G-d of Israel will Together with the sorrow we feel over the tearing asunder of Eretz Yisrael, we also feel joy in our hearts on the continuing process of the Ingathering of the Exiles, over the building up of the Land of Israel and Jerusalem. The people continue to stream back to their Land, and the Land returns to its children. The Torah returns to Eretz Yisrael, and the people return to their origins, their foundations. The People that was â€Å"scattered and separated among the nations,† is now becoming re-united at home, in Eretz Yisrael. True, this joining of the various parts of the nation is somewhat painful at times, as in a life-saving operation, but this pain is an integral part of the regrouping the â€Å"dry bones† into one body. Judaism views on penitence: The conventional view of penitence sees it as an effort to redress a particular transgression in the area of mans relationship with God or to his fellow man. For Rabbi Kook, penitence is the surge of the soul for perfection, to rise above the limitations imposed by the finitude of existence. It is a reach for reunion with God from whom all creation has been separated by the descent to a particular incarnation of earthly existence. Penitence, in other words, is only one aspect of the drama of human life on its eternal return to the Divine, from whom it has descended. Judaism views on sin: Jews believe that there are three kinds of sin. There are three kinds of sin in Judaism: sins against God, sins against another person, and sins against you. According to Jewish beliefs, a person sins when he or she sins they simply missed the mark. Judaism views on revenge: Jews consider revenge differently from Christians. They view on forgiveness vs. justice. If a crime has been committed, it is just to punish the criminal for the greater good and safety of the community. Also, forgiveness should not be granted for serious injury unless the offender has repented and asked forgiveness from his/her victim, and even then some crimes such as murder are deemed by the Torah unforgivable due to the irrevocable nature of the act

A View From A Bridge - analysis of act i scene 5 Essay Example for Free

A View From A Bridge analysis of act i scene 5 Essay I have chosen Nicolas cage because he is strong but not very strong and he has a good American accent. This scene is probably the most important scene of the play as there is so much action and it is the first real time you see any conflict between the characters. The scene starts when the characters have just finished their dinner and they start talking about Italy and what is like there, but it is a short lived conversation as Rodolpho and Eddie soon have a full fledged argument. After the argument Eddie offers Marco and Rodolpho some tickets to watch boxing and then offers to teach Rodolpho how to box but it looks more like Eddie is questioning Rodolpho about his sexuality. Even though Marco was on Eddie s side (You come home early now. ) before the boxing he catches on to Eddies scheme of making Rodolpho look weak and shows his supremacy over Eddie in strength by lifting a chair with one hand when Eddie could not, this is to stop Eddie making Rodolpho look like a fool. The five characters in this scene are: Eddie, Marco, Rodolpho, Beatrice and Catherine. Eddie has the most active part in the scene with fighting arguing and just talking about Italy. He starts off the scene by talking to Marco about Marcos jobs (They pay all right on them boats? ) and other things in Italy such as oranges and lemons (I heard they paint oranges to make them look orange). He then starts arguing with Rodolpho about Catherine and how late she has been staying out recently (she was never out on the street till twelve oclock at night). He then tries to make Rodolpho look bad by teaching him how to box and stunning Rodolpho briefly (he feints with his left and lands with his right. It mildly staggers Rodolpho. ). The scenes end and as Marco lifts the chair Eddie starts to look worried as Marco looks triumphant (Marco is face to face with Eddie, a strained tension gripping his eyes and jaw, his neck stiff, the chair raised like a weapon over Eddies head-and he transforms what might appear like a glare of warning into a smile of triumph, and Eddies grin vanishes as he absorbs the look). Marco seems to be a quiet but strong figure in a household and has quite a lot to do. Marco begins the scene talking about his wife and kids (Beatrice: Your wife is gettin the money alright, Marco? Marco: Oh, yes. She bought medicine for my boy. ), jobs and Italy in general, he is also reading a letter from his wife (He has been reading a letter. ). He then watches as Eddie and Rodolpho argue and box and then stands as Rodolpho staggers (Marco rises. ). Originally Marco tries to calm it down subtly, (No, Beatrice if he does wrong you must tell him. What does he do wrong? ) but by the end of the scene he obviously thinks that he needs to show to Eddie who is boss. Rodolpho begins the scene by trying and failing to enter the conversation about Italy (Once we went to Yugoslavia.), but just ends up aggravating Eddie and getting himself into a large argument with Eddie (Rodolpho: Its more strict in our town. Its not so free. Eddie: It aint so free here either, Rodolpho, like you think. ). He then gets taught to fight by Eddie and gets his own back by dancing with Catherine (Dance Catherine come), while earlier he knew there was tension and did not want to dance incase he would aggravate Eddie (Catherine: you wanna dance, Rodolpho? Rodolpho: No I-Im tired). Beatrice: right from the beginning you can tell that Beatrice is on the side of Catherine and Rodolpho (Go ahead, dance, Rodolpho. ), but she starts off the scene by joining in the conversation about Italy and Marcos life and family. She always seems to be the peacemaker (Thats enough, Eddie; he did pretty good, though. ) although she is on the side of Rodolpho and Catherine ( She watches them dance; Eddie turns his head away. ). She then looks on as Marco lifts the chair when Eddie could not (Beatrice and Eddie watch him. ). Finally Catherine: she is probably the most important character in this scene, not so much for her lines but for the reason that she is the subject that the other characters are arguing about (I have respect for her, Eddie. I do anything wrong? ). At the beginning of the scene she tries to get Rodolpho and Eddie talking (They went to Africa once. On a fishing boat [Eddie glances at her. ] Its true Eddie. ), but it just makes Eddie talk to Marco. She then is called upon to back up Rodolpho by Beatrice but seems to be shy (Beatrice: Well, you said the movie ended late, didnt you? Catherine: Yeah. ). She end s the scene by dancing with Rodolpho (Rodolpho takes her in his arms. They dance.) and then watches the fight for supremacy (Rodolpho and Catherine have stopped dancing as Marco raises the chair over his head. ). Since the beginning of the United States of America, it has been known as a unified country and as a country of with no hereditary class barrier, yet the American world has changed since the 1800s. Until 1880 anyone who had enough money to get there could get into America. Even though the government put restrictions on the amount of immigrants allowed to enter the country, 23. 5 million new immigrants entered America from 1880 -1920, most of these immigrants where Irish, Italian or Jewish from Eastern Europe. In 1920 almost 70% of New York people were immigrants or children of immigrants. This resulted in large ghettos of ethnic communities all over New York. Even though America was meant to be the land where every one had equal rights, many people were racist. The government tried to change their people instead of accepting them: Cultural Assimilation. They were forced to learn English and change from their own ways to the customs of America. In 1950 the Displaced Persons Commission enforced a huge intelligence investigation into immigrants in America. Their purpose was to try and get rid of all illegal immigrants in American society, this leads on to the question that Arthur Miller brings up in the play about loyalty and what it means to be an American and as this play was written in the 1950s this whole story is relevant to what was happening at that time in America. Immigrants were also thought to be members of fascist or communist parties in 1940, by 1950 anti-communism was so intense that members of the government such as senator Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon took advantage of peoples strong feelings and gained power from their exploits. McCarthy had so much power that he was able to accuse anybody and get him or her sent to prison or even executed. This resulted in a witch-hunt, because anyone could be accused on the slightest excuse what so ever. Many famous people where accused of being a communist, even the author of this play, Arthur Miller, was accused but he was one of the lucky ones by getting off scot free (probably because he married Marilyn Monroe). Other famous people included many movie directors and scriptwriters who were some of the early victims, they were given the nickname The Hollywood Ten. All this anti-communism resulted in thousands losing their jobs and losing any chance of getting another one and was one of the great injustices of the twentieth century.

Cold War and the German Far Right

Cold War and the German Far Right The German extreme right was unable to make headway because of the Cold War but reunification has opened many new possibilities for it do you agree? The Cold War was undoubtedly a period during which Germany’s right wing was stifled. With an oppressive Communist government in the East and a more stable and moderate form of government in the west, extremism was largely isolated in the Cold War years. This is not to say however that the extreme right was completely inactive during this period. Reunification though has certainly given a wider platform for right wing extremists and to some extent opened up new possibilities. Despite the eventual defeat of the Nazis, at the end of the Second World War there appeared to be good conditions for a neo-fascist revival. The war had left 10 million German refugees who had lost their property and 2 million civil servants who had lost their jobs having previously benefited under the Nazi regime.[1]Certainly those committed to a right wing revival would have hoped to harness the dissatisfaction of those who had lost both economically and socially from the war. Had the difficult post-war conditions continued, then this may have been the case, but the rebuilding of Europe and Western Europe’s determination to build up its defences against the Eastern bloc ensured that Europe’s post-war recovery was designed to include West Germany as an important ally in the fight against Communism. On the whole, all European countries, Germany included, came to benefit from post-war prosperity and the post war settlement was acceptable even to defeated Germans. As von Beyme concludes: â€Å"Labels like ‘defeated’ and ‘victors’ – unlike after the first world war – were of minor importance, so that in all countries neo fascism stood less chance.†[2]Had the Allies looked to humiliate a defeated Germany the outcome may have been different, as it where there was little to stir up nationalist sentiment with. The post war consensus of politics in West Germany clearly prevented the spread of fascism that might have been expected. Post-war reconstruction created favourable economic conditions that in turn enabled the state to satisfy both the political and economic interests of the major social groups. The middle classes benefited financially in the post-war years, unemployment benefits were in place for the poor and public health insurance and pension provision were both put into place. The successful economy effectively silenced many critics of the post-war governments and left extremists without a popular cause with which to fight. As Stoss writes: â€Å"Thus the socio-economic preconditions were established for a broad legitimation of state power and the integration of forces critical of or hostile to the system.†[3] The post-war party political system in West Germany also made right wing growth difficult.. A popular consensus emerged including representational democracy, social market economy, interaction with the West European community and anti-communism. Importantly, the three major political parties – CDU, FDP and SPD dominated elections at the expense of smaller parties. The five per cent barrier to a place in government prevented extremist parties from establishing a political foothold. Between 1957 and 1983, no small party succeeded in surmounting the five per cent barrier to representation in the Bundestag.[4] It should be noted however that whilst organised right wing extremism failed to develop into a mass movement in West Germany, there were certainly elements of the population that maintained anti-democratic attitudes and sympathies with the extreme right. In 1971 a survey found that 50 per cent of those questioned found ‘National Socialism, in principle, a good idea, poorly put into practice, whilst the SINUS Institute found in 1979 that 13 per cent of the West German population had a right wing extremist picture of the world and 37 per cent a ‘potential for authoritarian disposition.[5] In effect, a substantial amount of the West German population was susceptible to right wing extremism. Membership figures of right wing extremist parties gives little clear indication as to the influence of the right. Whilst membership reached 76,000 in 1954, it fell to 21,000 in 1964, rose again to 40,000 in 1967 and fell to 23,000 in 1985.[6]Such relatively low numbers combined with fluctuation in membership suggests little consistent long-term support for the extreme right. Certainly in West Germany, right wing extremism remained alive during the Cold War but economic prosperity, stable government and a state that was determined not to let extremism flourish ensured that the extreme right made little headway. Whilst there was some awareness of the dangers of right wing extremism in West Germany, the picture in the east was less clear. In many ways the old GDR seemed an unlikely breeding ground for the right wing and indeed the old communist government had often boasted of its successes in defeating fascism. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent reunification of Germany brought about huge political and social change to Germany. To some extent this has given added momentum to right wing extremism, in the East as much as the West. Reunification was initially expected to bring about a fall in support for the right as it removed the principal political demand of nationalist groups from the agenda. On both sides of the wall however there were issues other than a united Germany for right-wingers to concentrate on. Additionally, the power of the old East German regime to prevent right wing extremism can be overstated. Prior to the fall of the Wall, extremist activities and violence had formed a part of East German life but had been largely played down by the authorities. The way that extremism took a foothold early in the 1990s serves as some evidence of this. By 1992 there were 2000 neo-Nazi members in East Germany, twice as many as the West with four times the population.[7] There are other reasons as to why right wing extremist may have flourished in the East. The activism and novelty of West German right wingers will, at the time of reunification, have been seen as something of an attraction to a generation that had grown up in East Germany and lived through the ideologically directed education system and socialisation processed of the Communist regime. Ease of access to membership of groups would also have appealed to young East Germans who had previously been excluded from the old—style Communist Party apparatus. By 1992 right wing parties were beginning to achieve some electoral success in the new Germany, winning three seats in the Lander parliaments.[8]One of the primary reasons for this was that right wing extremists were able to adapt to the new political and social landscape across Germany and find new goals. Initially a number of groups laid claim to some minor East European territories that had been part of Germany immediately before the outbreak of the war. Quickly though the shift in focus moved towards a traditional hub of right wing thinking – attacks on the number of foreigners living, working or claiming benefits in the country. Right wing extremist groups from early in the 1990s began to criticise the increasing number of asylum seekers coming into Germany from across Eastern Europe. There was a positive attempt by the right to stir up fears on the effects of immigrants both economically and socially. Right wing groups pointed to the demands for right of settlement made by many guest workers and students who had previously arrived in East Germany from third world states. In 1991, 256,000 foreigners, many from Yugoslavia and Romania, entered Germany to apply for political asylum and a further 222,000 applied to become citizens under the constitutional provisions for ethnic Germans.[9]Again, right wing extremists pointed to the fact that many asylum seekers visibly lived on state subsidies while waiting for their applications to be processed. Unification quickly became a source of ammunition for the right. As Roberts writes: â€Å"Unification, far from depriving them of the nationalist theme, offered them a new variation of it, a policy success for which these groups could seek to claim the credit and which had created a larger, more powerful, Germany freed at last from the last restrictions imposed by the post-war occupancy policy of the victorious allies.†[10] Another viable point is that Communist rule in East Germany in itself had left the country with some characteristics in tune with the right wing. The anti-democratic nature of the old regime in East Germany could be mirrored in some traits of the right wing extremists. As Roberts again suggests: â€Å"Authoritarianism, the claim to possession of an absolute truth, a clear ‘friend-enemy’ distinction, fanaticism, and the idea of homogeneity of the people, were characteristics fostered by communist rule in the GDR and – suitably transferred – are also elements of the claims of extreme right wing parties and groups.†[11] There were other reasons for citizens in the East to look to the extreme right. Corruption amongst politicians was relatively widespread in the early 1990s with party financing scandals, ministers becoming involved in improper financial dealings and increased salaries for politicians. There was a feeling amongst many poorer Germans that orthodox politician were becoming too self serving and that the state subsidies for mainstream party political campaigns were too expensive – a 1992 survey found that twice as many East Germans were dissatisfied with the German democratic system than West German voters.[12] The period 1991-94 saw a notable upturn in violence orchestrated by the extreme right. Guest workers, asylum seekers and hostels housing these people came under regular attack. The violence culminated in murder on occasions – in Dresden in 1991 a young Mozambican immigrant was thrown under a tram, refuges were burnt down in cities such as Leipzig and Rostock and in a particularly chilling event in Hayerswerda, a five night protest by right wing extremists culminated in all foreigners being bussed out of the town.[13] The reaction of the government of a united Germany would be crucial in determining the post-unification progress of the extreme right. Throughout the 1980s, successive West German governments had been criticised for their lax approach in tackling the right wing. McGowan concludes â€Å"this was refuted by the administrations concerned but their reactions to the right were often contrasted with their more sever approach towards the left wing terrorists from the 1970s onwards.†[14] In the years immediately following reunification, there was a response by the states to the initial upsurge in right wing extremism. The Offices for the Protection of the Constitution have utilised powers to carefully watch anti-democratic organisations and the law has ensured that civil servants cannot join groups officially declared extremist- this measure in itself will continue to deny the right some mainstream support. Whilst new possibilities may have emerged for the extremists, the German state is working hard to ensure that it does not make great headway. Other forces in German society have continued to rally against the extremists. There is very little media coverage of right-wing extremist groups for example. Since the early 1990s the right-wing Republikaner Party has been the subject of an outright boycott by the federal press and by many public radio and TV channels.[15] What is also clear is that the new right in Germany cannot be built around the forces that supported the Nazi’s in the 1930s. Kischelt writes, â€Å"in particular, white-collar employees, professionals and members of the administrative, political and cultural elite who then backed the Nazi Party are no longer available for right wing appeals.†[16]The core support for the extreme right in Germany today is primarily lower class males who feel that they have lost out economically and socially since unification. This narrow support base continues to be a hindrance to the rights attempts to expand. Moving into the mid to late 1990s, the gradual expansion of the extreme right has continued and whilst post-war Germany has vowed never again to allow ultra-nationalism or racism to play any part in its politics, this principle has gradually come under threat. The most prominent far-right party, the Republicans, have openly asserted that unrelenting mass immigration has brought criminal foreigners into Germany and campaigns hard on an anti-immigration agenda. The German state in the meantime attempts to use constitutional tools to counteract the growth of the right the Republicans and another group, the German Peoples Union or DVU for example, are both under surveillance by Germanys counter-intelligence agency, suspected of anti-democratic or unconstitutional behaviour. There is a similar tendency to be suspicious of the right that continues to run through much of German society, both before and after reunification. Bockes and Mudde summarise as such: â€Å"As a consequence of the continuing and extensive dealing with the Nazi past, political mobilisation at the extreme right meets with public scrutiny and generally leads to strong counter reactions within society.†[17] The crux of right wing campaigning remains largely the same. It maintains the crude demand that jobs should be taken away from foreigners and given to Germans. To some extent this has begun to deliver some electoral success. In Saxony-Anhalt in 1998, nearly one-third of all voters under the age of 30 supported the right wing DVU whilst in the country as whole, opinion polls showed some that 10% of voters sympathise with far-right groups. Alongside these changes in the political scene, more than 100 neo-Nazi or skinhead groups have grown up which glorify violence and praise the ideas of Hitler. Assaults on immigrants and asylum seekers have continued to rise and a thriving skinhead culture has emerged in parts of Germany, particularly in the east. Official fi gures show that assaults by such groups on foreigners, including Asian or African refugees and Turkish, Italian, and other immigrants, are on the rise. In 1998 for example more than 400 injuries resulted from such assaults (www.bbc.co.uk). The German government’s hard-line response has been to ban dozens of extreme right-wing groups. There is a danger that the philosophy of the extreme right can spill over into mainstream politics. Conservative politicians for example have loudly complained about foreign criminality and Germanys immigration burden, ignoring warnings that such talk would encourage racist attitudes. Such politicians vehemently deny that, but they have clearly staked their claim to the right-wing ground of German politics, in an attempt to ensure that no other group takes an advantage there. There are obviously wider historical issues to consider when analysing the role of the extreme right in Germany. Clearly the horrors of the Nazi era do work as an antidote against right-wing extremism and there has been an ongoing vigilance against the spread of the right booth before and after unification. Politicians towards the right within the mainstream party political system may skirt around extremist ideas but generally the mainstream political landscape has remained clear of out and out extremism. The determination of the vast majority of Germans to consign the nazi era to the past can act as a restraint on most with serious political aspirations. The Cold War did certainly act as a barrier to the extreme right in post-war Germany, both east and West. In East Germany, a hard-line Communist government was successful in suppressing the right wing until the final years of its rule. In West Germany, the post-war political consensus was crucial in playing down possibilities for the right, as was the new constitution that made the electoral route to influence equally difficult. Germany it should be noted was geographically at the centre of the Cold War – the Western allies were keen to ensure stability in West German politics and likewise Eastern bloc leaders were quick to clamp down of right wing extremism. The Cold War threw together a combination of factors that made expansion of right wing extremism all but impossible across the whole of Germany. Reunification then along with the end of the Cold War, did indeed open up new possibilities for the extremists on the right. In the East they enjoyed new found political freedom and a growing support base, whilst in the West, economic difficulties following reunification and the upturn in numbers of foreigners on the country helped to fuel support for the right. Whether the German extreme right can make the most of the possibilities that reunification has brought about remains to be seen. Although it has enjoyed the occasional electoral success it cannot yet compare with the successes of right wing parties in other parts of Europe. McGowan succinctly states, â€Å"Neo-Nazism remains a part of German life just as national Socialism remains a part of German history.†[18]This in essence presents the most difficult issue for the extreme right-wing in Germany – whilst it may enjoy an element of support, the lessons of history have hopefully taught the German nation that right-wing extremism is a route it cannot allow itself to take again. References Beckes Uwe Mudde Cas, Germany: Extremism without successful parties, Parliamentary Affairs, vol 53 (3) July 2000) Kitschelt Herbert, The Radical Right in Western Europe – A comparative Analysis, University of Michigan Press, USA 1998 McGowan Lee, The Radical Right in Germany – 1870 to present, Pearson Education Ltd, Harlow 1998 Roberts Geoffrey, Right wing Radicalism in New Germany. Parliamentary Affairs, vol 45, 1992 Stoss Richard, The Problem of Right-wing Extremism in West Germany, West European Politics, vol 11, 1988 Von Beyme Klaus, Right-wing Extremism in post-war Europe, West European Politics, vol 11, 1988 www.bbc.co.uk http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/09/98/german_elections/172134.stm 1 Footnotes [1] Von Beyme, K, Right wing Extremism in post-war Europe, West European Politics, vol 11 1988 [2] p10 Von Beyme 1988 [3] p34 Stoss R, The problem of right wing extremism in West Germany [4] p35 Stoss [5] p38 Stoss [6] p40 Stoss [7] Mcgowan L, P189 The Radical Right in Germany – 1870 to present, Pearson Education Ltd, Harlow 1998 [8] Roberts G, Right-wing Radicalism in New Germany, Parliamentary Affairs vol 45 1992 [9] p332 Roberts 1992 [10] ibid [11] p339 Roberts 1992 [12] p340 Roberts 1992 [13] McGowan L p190 [14] McGowan L P191 [15] Bockes U Mudde C, p466Germany: Extremism without successful parties, Parliamentary Affairs, vol 53, July 2000 [16] Kitschelt , p239 The Radical Right in Western Europe – Acomparative Analysis, University of Michigan Press, USA 1998 [17] p466 Bockes and Mudde 2000 [18] McGowan L, P201