To Kill A Mockingbird Reader Response Essay Example for Free

To Kill A Mockingbird Reader Response Essay Harper Lee’s book, â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird,† is, in my opinion, a book with a diverse collection of messages, skillfully woven into an interesting and engaging story. It seems to me, though, that the book is very focused on symbolism. The symbol of mockingbirds is reoccurring in the book. It appears in the title, it is suggested in various characters and situations, and in parts of the book it is stated explicitly. For example, on page 90, Atticus told Scout and Jem, â€Å"Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird. † Scout didn’t understand this, and so she asked Miss Maudie about it. She responded, â€Å"Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, they don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.† From these parts of the book, we learn that mockingbirds are innocent; it is a sin to hurt or injure them. I think that the symbolism of mockingbirds extends to humans also. They represent the innocent ones who are injured by evil. For example, I think that Tom Robinson is a prime example of a mockingbird that was killed. He was innocent; he was a good guy who didn’t hurt anybody. However, because of prejudice, he was accused of a capital offence. He was convicted by a prejudiced jury and sentenced to death. With all his hope gone, he made a crazed attempt to escape his prison, but was shot dead. Clearly, the author is telling us here that Tom shouldn’t have died. It was a sin to kill him. He shouldn’t have been convicted because he didn’t do anything. Boo Radley, however, is an example of Mimidà ¦n symbolism that was not killed, but nearly was. He led a reclusive life, but he was a kind person. He gave gifts to Scout and Jem, and even patched up Jem’s pants. However, his greatest moment in the book was when he saved Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell. Without Boo, Scout and Jem would have ended up dead. However, even though Scout and Jem were saved, Mr. Ewell was not so lucky. When Atticus heard about all this, he was presented with a serious moral situation. He didn’t really know what to do about Boo. Boo had almost definitely murdered Mr. Ewell, but Mr. Ewell had nearly murdered two children. At first Atticus was convinced that Boo should go to court. In Atticus’s mind, not sending Boo to  court would be hypocrisy. As he stated on page 274, â€Å"I can’t live one way in town and another in my home.† The choice boiled down to this: if Boo went to court, justice would be carried out, but an innocent life might be destroyed. If Boo didn’t go to court, Atticus would be a hypocrite. Atticus was confronted with this problem, but Heck Tate and Scout convinced him that it a greater sin to kill a mockingbird. As Scout said on page 276, â€Å"[sending Boo to court would] be sort of like shootin’ a mockingbird.† Eventually, Atticus decided that it would be better to save Boo. Here, the author is telling us that killing a mockingbird, or hurting an innocent person, is wrong, more so than most things that a person can do. â€Å"I wanted you to see what real courage is†¦ It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Ms. Dubose won†¦ She was the bravest person I ever knew.† Atticus told this to Scout and Jem to help them understand what real courage was. According to Atticus, real courage is when you keep on trying to do what you think is right, even if you’re almost certain to lose. When I was reading about courage and Ms. Dubose, I was reminded of Homer’s â€Å"The Iliad.† The main character of the Iliad, Achilles, was a nearly invincible Achaean hero who possessed the same refusal to change his views as Ms. Dubose. In Homer’s book, the king of the Achaeans had wronged Achilles, and so he decided not to fight in the war. He kept this totally fixed resolve for most of the book. In the Iliad, Homer even compared Achilles’ total refusal to change his opinions, based on what others thought, to how the Greek gods behaved. In the book, for example, Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite each believed that they were the most beautiful goddess. Rather than make a compromise, they eventually started the Trojan war because of this dispute, and fought each other over something so seemingly insignificant. For example, in one part of the Iliad, Athena and Aphrodite were each helping opposing sides in the war. Athena was helping the Achaean hero Diomedes, and so she had him throw a spear at Aphrodite. The spear went right through Aphrodite’s wrist, injuring her, and gave the Achaeans a small victory in the battle. Ironically, thousands of Achaean and Trojan lives were lost because of a dispute between three goddesses. The goddesses did not care how many mortals were killed because of their  dispute, just as Achilles didn’t care that the Achaeans might lose the war because of his decisions. Similarly, Ms. Dubose would not change her views for anything. This is what Atticus described as real courage. According to the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, prejudice is, â€Å"preconceived judgment or opinion.† Prejudice is also a major theme in â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird.† For example, while in court Atticus referred to, â€Å"the evil assumption that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are immoral, that all Negroes are not to be trusted around women.† According to Atticus, people with minds like Mr. Ewell had these assumptions, and Mr. Ewell was counting on the jury being the same. For most of the trial though, Mr. Ewell’s attempts to win over the jury with such an extreme assumption were a total failure. Atticus had solid evidence and Mr. Ewell had nothing. As Atticus put it, â€Å"[The state] has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross-examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant.† However, Tom Robinson didn’t win the trial. Somet hing happened that caused the jury to turn against him. This event happened on page 197, when Tom said, â€Å"I felt right sorry for her.† The people in the jury were uncomfortable with this answer, as alluded to on the same page. I think that this was because they believed black people to be subhuman. They thought that black people, such as Tom Robinson, had a limited capacity to feel human emotions, especially for someone who was supposedly higher than them in society. Atticus though, a firm believer in equality, called Tom’s feelings for Miss Ewell, â€Å"unmitigated temerity† (page 204). The jury was not prejudiced enough to assume that all black people were born criminals, but they did feel that a black person could not feel sorry for a white person. Somehow, Tom’s one statement of temerity jeopardized all of Atticus’s evidence. To the jury, Tom was guilty. Of course, prejudice in â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird,† also occurred on a less dramatic level. Maycomb itself was divided into different social groups. For example, in chapter 23, Scout thought that it would be nice to invite Walter Cunningham over for dinner. However, Aunt Alexandra forbade this, on the grounds that Walter was somehow not as good as the Finches. Jem summed up  Maycomb’s social hierarchy on page 226 when he stated, â€Å"Our kind of folks don’t like the Cunninghams, the Cunninghams don’t like the Ewells, and the Ewells hate and despise the colored folk.† Scout, however, didn’t quite agree with this system. She believed that all folks were equal. I think that by showing us the prejudice in â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird,† the author is telling us that all labels are wrong. For example, Scout thought that Walter was a nice person, but society disagreed. Tom Robinson was a respectable man, but because he was black and admitted to being capable of feeling sorry for someone who was white, society condemned him. I personally think that giving a person a label is wrong, because each person is an individual, not a clone of some stereotype. Today, I think prejudice and stereotypes are a not only a big problem for the entire world, but they also affect teenagers such as D’Arcy students. It seems that all too often students categorize each other into stereotyped groups, much like how the citizens of Maycomb divided themselves. For example, if someone was walking down the hall at a school wearing old 70’s style glasses, corduroy pants, a plaid vest, suspenders, an ugly bow tie, and a shirt with a pocket protector and several pens plus a calculator in the pocket, many students would immediately associate this person with a stereotype. However, this student might be a great skateboarder who enjoys cooking and football. Obviously, labels are wrong. They can never be accurate because a person is not a stereotype. People are individuals. If everyone understood this, then maybe the world would have less problems, because many of the artificial barriers that we create because of prejudice would be broken down, and we would all get along much better. Of course, what starts off as a barely conscious stereotyping at school could develop into racism, just as Maycomb’s subtle prejudice escalated in enough racism to kill an innocent black man. Racism is a major problem around the world, and I think that its foundation is based on small acts of prejudice, and hypocrisy or ignorance. For example, one major connection to racism in the book occurred in chapter 26 when Scout was discussing current events in her class. What she wanted to know was, â€Å"How can you hate Hitler so bad an’ then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home?† I think that what the author was trying to tell us here was that many people are hypocrites.  Atticus was very careful to avoid this, almost to the point of killing a mockingbird, but others, such as Ms. Gates (Scout’s teacher), were total hypocrites when it came to racism. As Scout said, how could a person accept the social hierarchy of Maycomb, convict Tom Robinson, and then turn around and say that prejudice is wrong? I think that the author is not only telling us that racism is completely wrong, but she is also telling us that we should not be hypocrites. We should make up our minds about what is right. â€Å"Folks don’t like to have somebody around knowin’ more than they do. It aggravates em’.† Calpurnia said this on page 126, in response to a question from Scout. When I read this, I realized that it was very true. Generally, people don’t like to have people around who know more than they do. For example, a few weeks ago I was talking to someone at school who had gotten an excellent mark on an important assignment. When they told me their mark, they asked me not to tell their friends, because they might be angry. I think that it’s too bad that people, especially students such as those at D’Arcy, can’t always share their achievements with others without running the risk of â€Å"aggravating em’.† While I was reading, â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird,† I noticed that one of the most effective tools that was used was point of view. The story was told in first person perspective, with Scout speaking. I think that this mainly allowed us to follow Scout’s personal development; it allowed us to see Scout’s thoughts and emotions. For example, in the beginning of the book, Scout enjoyed terrorizing Boo Radley in an attempt to make him get out of his house. Later on, though, she realized that doing this was really just hurting an innocent person. On page 279, Scout finally understood Boo well, and she felt that she had developed so much that â€Å"there wasn’t much else left [for her] to learn, except possibly algebra.† This sort of progress in Scout’s character made the story much more interesting for me, and helped me to better recognize the messages that the author was trying to convey. I also thought that the author used point of view to alter the mood in certain parts of the book. For example, on page 211, when the jury was convicting Tom, Scout said that it â€Å"had a dreamlike quality†. This sort of dazed confusion from Scout helped me understand what she thought of the  conviction. I think that Scout knew that Tom would be found guilty, but she didn’t want to accept it. This sort of tension and confusion seemed to convey similar feelings to the reader. When I first read this part of the book, I had to read it again to make sure that Tom really was being convicted, just like how Scout seemed to have some trouble accepting what happened to Tom. One of the characters in the book that I found particularly interesting was Atticus. Atticus was a person who knew what the world was like. He knew that countless mockingbirds were being killed every day around the world. He knew that there were many people who were selfish and unwilling to help others. However, even when he knew all this, he was one of the few characters in the book that continued to believe that there was good in the world. For example, after Jem had seen prejudice in a jarring way at the trial, he decided that everyone was not really equal. As he stated on page 227, â€Å"If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other?† Jem didn’t understand that even though many people fight each other and divide themselves into social groups, they really are equal. Because what Jem thought was right wasn’t reflected in society, he changed his values. Atticus, though, understood that prejudice and racism were common in the world, but he always tried to see the best in people. On page 281, the story was ending when Atticus was putting Scout to bed. Scout was talking about a book that Atticus had been reading, and she said, â€Å"When they finally saw him he hadn’t done any of those things. Atticus, he was real nice†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Atticus responded, â€Å"Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.† From this quote we can see that Atticus kept his own values, and his faith in humanity, despite what others did. I think that Atticus was able to do this because he didn’t think of a person as a ‘good’ person or a ‘bad’ person, instead he saw people as individuals with good and bad qualities. I think that the author is trying to tell us that people should be like Atticus, and not change their values to suit society’s values. We need to see people for who they really are, though, or it would be almost impossible to do this. Also, the way that Jem changed his own values to represent what society thought reminded me of John Wyndham’s book, â€Å"The Chrysalids.† In the book,  the people of Waknuk were obsessed with ‘the norm’. They believed that any deviation from ‘the norm’ was totally wrong, and they exiled offenders for (a very short) life. All of the people strived for their concept of normality, sort of an exaggerated example of how Jem changed his values to reflect what the majority of Maycomb thought. One last theme that I noticed in the book was the importance of education. The novel seemed to contrast two different types of education. One type was Atticus’ teachings to his children. Atticus enjoyed reading, and he passed this on to Scout by reading to her every night. Atticus also helped Scout and Jem to understand courage by sending them to Ms. Dubose. When Atticus taught something to Scout and Jem, he was always sympathetic and he usually succeeded in teaching whatever he was trying to. This contrasts strongly to the way that Scout’s schoolteachers tried to teach children. They ignored, or perhaps were oblivious to, the needs of their students, and tried to force them to follow the educational system they had been hired to teach. For example, on Scout’s first day of grade one, her teacher, Miss Caroline, found out that Scout could read. You would think that any reasonable grade one teacher would be very impressed by this, and maybe send Scout up a few grades, but instead Miss Caroline said (on page 16), â€Å"You tell [Atticus] I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage†¦ Your father does not know how to teach.† Actually, Atticus was a much better teacher than Miss Caroline, because he understood Scout and Jem, his students. I think that the author is trying to tell us that while it is important to educate children, it is important to do it right. The key to teaching children, or, for that matter, anyone else, is to understand those who you are trying to teach. In conclusion, I think that, â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird,† is a book that talks about innocence and understanding. It encourages us all to not hurt the innocent ones, the mockingbirds.

Criminological Praxis And Tearoom Trade Media Essay

Criminological Praxis And Tearoom Trade Media Essay Laud Humphreys study of the tearoom trade has proved to be an extremely controversial piece of research, so controversial in fact that many called for his PhD to be revoked. Humphreys used covert observation in order to study impersonal sexual encounters between men in public restrooms, this is an extremely controversial subject, and was even more so at the time when the research was undertaken; furthermore, covert research is often heavily criticised for being unethical, leading to additional controversy. Covert research is where researchers go undercover to obtain their information. To lessen the potential for reactive effects and to gain entry to otherwise inaccessible settings, some researchers have adopted the role of a covert participant. By doing so they keep their research secret and do their best to act like other participants in a social setting or group. (Bachman and Schutt, 2007:267) This essay will explore whether the controversy surrounding the tearoom trade is a result of the subject matter studied, or the methodological approach used. The research undertaken by Humphreys will be discussed in some detail, describing what the research consisted of, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology. Consideration will also be given to the use of covert research in general, assessing the pros and cons of the method, as well as covert research conducted by other researchers. Laud Humphreys conducted his research in the 1960s and his book Tearoom Trade: A study of homosexual encounters in public places was published in 1970, with a second edition published in 1975. Humphreys carried out his research in order to determine who the men were, who were willing to risk arrest in order to indulge in impersonal sex in public places, as well as to uncover the dynamics of the encounters between the men involved, and discover what this could tell us about human behaviour. The main finding of his research was that the majority of individuals engaging in homosexual activities within the tearoom led the rest of their lives at heterosexuals. Humphreys used covert methods in order to enter in to the tearoom. A tearoom is a public toilet where men meet for sex with other men. (Banyard and Flanagan, 2005:27) Humphreys (1970, pp page 2-3) suggests that the reason public restrooms are so ideal for impersonal sex is because they can provide both a public and private setting. Public restrooms are easily accessible, yet they provide little public visibility. Due to this Humphreys focused his study on restrooms within public parks, as they were often frequented by men seeking instant sex due to their easy access and limited use by general members of the public. In order to be accepted by the participants of the tearoom trade, Humphreys, assumed the role of tearoom watchqueen by serving as a lookout with the responsibility to warn of approaching strangers in exchange for the right to observe the homosexual activity. (Kimmel, 1988:22) By acting as the watchqueen, Humphreys was able to freely observe what was occurring in the tearooms without suspicion from the genuine participants. This use of deception has been heavily criticised by many, as deception within research is seen as highly unethical. Many social scientists feel that it is unethical for a researcher to conceal his identity to gain inside information. Others feel disguised observation is ethical as long as the welfare of the subjects is protected. (Fitzgerald and Cox, 2002:133) Although he did use deception, Humphreys did go to some lengths to protect his participants, which will be discussed later. Furthermore if he were to have entered the tearooms, and announced his role as a researcher, the likelihood is that all sexual activity would have been terminated and the men who frequented the tearooms would have left, either for fear of being discovered as a person who seeks impersonal sex, the fear or criminal conviction, or for the sheer fact of not wishing to be observed by a researcher. Even if the participants remained, it is likely that they would have altered their behaviour, as they knew they were being observed. If Humphreys had informed the tearoom goers of his research, the results which he obtained would probably not have been as valid, as the results he obtained by using covert methods. Another issue that arises from the use of covert methods and deception is that of informed consent. Covert participant observation is clearly a violation of the principle of informed consent. (Bulmer, 1982:218) Covert methods rely on the research subject being unaware of the research taking place; it can therefore be argued that by studying people without their prior knowledge is a breach of human rights. People should clearly have the right to decide whether or not to participate in any research, and their decision should be based on full understanding of what the research consists of, and how any personal information or data obtained will be used. Every code of ethics designed to guide research involving human subjects gives primacy to the requirement of fully informed voluntary consent on the part of the individual concerned. (Gregory, 2003:35) Humphreys research clearly violates this need for informed consent; however, it again can be argued that his research findings could not have been obtained by any other means. It is also important to note, that at the time the research was conducted, there were no professional guidelines making informed consent a research requirement. By observing the participants covertly it can be argued that Humphreys was also invading their right to privacy, however, as they were conducting private acts, in a public domain, is this criticism justifiable? Any male is free to enter the mens restroom, and observe the goings on, it was only by recording his observations that Humphreys can be criticised for invading privacy. As well as observing the homosexual acts conducted in the tearooms, Humphreys engaged in verbal relationships with twelve men he encountered during his research, he named these the intensive dozen. Humphreys revealed his true identity to these twelve men, informing them of his true reason for attending the tearooms. This enabled him to conduct in-depth interviews. With the help of some meals together and a number of drinks, all agreed to cooperate in subsequent interviewing sessions. (Humphreys, 1970:36) It can easily be argued that the intensive dozen, were the only participants in Humphreys study who gave full informed consent. Interestingly, especially to those who criticise Humphreys use of deception, Laud himself states that, Apart from the systematic observations themselves, these conversations constitute the richest source of data in the study. (Humphreys, 1970:37) This brings in to debate whether the covert methods used were really called for, as Humphreys obtained valuable information from the intensive dozen, by revealing to them his true identity and purpose. However, it could be argued, that without his use of deception, and the fact that he often frequented the tearooms, that the twelve men would not be willing to cooperate. If a total stranger had approached these men, would they be willing to confess all about their homosexual exploits? Social deviants inside restrooms and elsewhere develop careful defences against outsiders, including special gestures and extreme caution with strangers. (Warwick, 1982:39) Was it because they had become acquaintances with Humphreys already that they were willing to tell all? Unfortunately it is impossible to be able to answer these questions. In order to gain even more information about the men who participated in the tearoom trade, Humphreys made notes about the physical appearance of the men he observed as well as noting the licence plates of their vehicles. By posing as a market researcher Humphreys was able to obtain the registration details for the vehicles in question from a friendly policeman; again this procedure is ethically questionable as Humphreys once again used deception to gain private information about people. Upon receiving the names and addresses of the participants, he visited their homes and made observations and notes about the physical appearance of the house, as well as the location. Humphreys then took advantage of his role as a research associate for a local research centre. He was asked by the centre to produce a questionnaire for a social health survey, for men in the local community. Humphreys saw this as an opportunity to include the tearoom participants in the survey, selecting 50 participant s to be surveyed along with 50 other members of the community. Approximately a year after his attendance at the tearooms, he sufficiently altered his appearance, so that the tearoom participants would be unable to recognise him as the voyeuristic watchqueen, and proceeded to enter their homes, under the premise of a social worker, in order to conduct the social health survey. This again raises ethical issues, as Humphreys is once again using deception to enter in to the private domain of the men he is researching, and because of this deception he was able to gain private information under false pretences. It may also be argued that Humphreys was putting his participants in harms way, as the issue of impersonal homosexual encounters is a sensitive one. As many of the men he surveyed led heterosexual lives, with wives and families, he was putting them in real danger of being exposed, which may of led to their personal lifes being destroyed. However, regardless of how the information was obtained, Humphreys ensured he took every measure to prevent the information being used by anybody else, and to protect the anonymity and confidentiality of the participants. The British Sociological Association state that, The anonymity and privacy of those who participate in the research process should be respected. Personal information concerning research participants should be kept confidentialWhere possible, threats to the confidentiality and anonymity of research data should be anticipated by researchers. The identities and research records of those participating in research should be kept confidential Appropriate measures should be taken to store research data in a secure manner. (British Sociological Association, 2002) The survey data and all other research materials which were obtained by Humphreys, were secured in a safety deposit box, in a different city to where the research was conducted, and upon finishing with the data, it was destroyed. This is good ethical practice, despite the way the information was gathered. As the information was so sensitive, and could have been used for blackmailing purposes or to bring about criminal convictions, it was vital that Humphreys treated the information in such an appropriate way. So far, it is evident that one of the major controversies surrounding Humphreys research was his repeated use of deception. Warwick (1982:46) suggests that, Humphreys research provides a unique case study of deception. The concatenation of misrepresentation and disguises in this effort must surely hold the world record for field research. (Warwick,1982:46) Warwick then continues with a list of shortcomings regarding the research Humphreys conducted. Included in the list are the facts that Humphreys misrepresented his identity while serving as a watchqueen in public restrooms, the fact that he deceived the police in order to obtain personal information about the tearoom participants, and the fact he altered his appearance and conducted the surveys in disguise. When all the uses of deception are put so bluntly into a list, it is clear to see why there is such controversy surrounding the methodology used by Humphreys. But is this criticism unique to Humphreys work, or can it be applied to all covert research? Many people strongly object to the use of covert research, this essay will now explore why this is so. Roger Homan (1991, pp page 109-113) lists thirteen separate objections to the use of covert research. He argues that covert methods flout the principle of informed consent, help erode personal liberty, betray trust, pollute the research environment, are bad for the reputation of social research, discriminate against the defenceless and powerless, may damage the behaviour or interest of subjects, may become habitual in the everyday life of the person doing the research, are seldom necessary, have the effect of confining the scope of the research and finally he suggests that the researcher suffers excessive strain in maintaining the cover. With so many objections to covert research is it any wonder that Humphreys has been so heavily criticised for his work? All these objections and criticisms of covert methods, begs the question, why do some researchers employ covert methods? Many researchers do so, as they feel that they would be unable to infiltrate and obtain information from certain groups or settings, if covert methods were not used. For example, Calvey (2000) who went undercover for six months to research club bouncers and nightlife, states that, In terms of taking a covert role, some argue that such a stance is ethically indefensible. However, given my concern with authenticity and the lived experience of this dangerous work, it would have been nearly impossible to gain access any other way. (Calvey, 2000:46) What Calvey is saying here, is that he felt that the only way to gain accurate, valuable information from his research was to adopt a covert approach; he felt that by honestly approaching bouncers as a researcher he would be unable to obtain information on their culture and way of life. Like Humphreys, Calvey has been heavily criticised for his work, due to his use of deception and the fact he was putting both himself and the people he was researching at risk. However, not all covert research has come under such heavy fire when it comes to criticism; an example of such research would be that conducted by Howard Becker on dance hall musicians and becoming a marijuana user. Becker also used deception, and often recorded conversations without informed consent, yet his work has not been criticised as relentlessly as Humphreys work has. It would appear, that although covert methods are widely criticised as unethical practice, the subject matter being studied is capable of stoking the fire, and influencing peoples judgement even further, helping to produce heavier criticisms and distain for both the research and the researcher alike. At the time when Humphreys conducted his research, homosexuals did not have the same freedom to explore and enjoy their sexuality that they do today; the gay liberation movement was only just beginning to emerge. At the time, homosexual sex was characterised as criminal sodomy and very little research had been conducted on the gay subculture in general, never mind research pertaining to sexual acts between members of the same sex. It is interesting to think that, if Humphreys conducted his research in todays modern times whether he would have received the same criticism that he did when his book was published in 1970. It is clear that, through his use of covert methods, and controversial subject matter, Humphreys has come under fire, and his research has been heavily criticised. But was his research justified and did the outcome of his research benefit those involved and society as a whole? Although his use of covert methods are controversial and may be considered unethical, Humphreys probably would not have been able to uncover the information which he did without using such methods, therefore, in these circumstances, the use of such methods are justified. There are serious ethical and legal issues in the use of covert research but the use of covert methods may be justified in certain circumstances. (British Sociological Association, 2002) Humphreys also went to incredible lengths to protect the information he obtained, which can only be seen as a strong asset to his research. Also, it was due to the research undertaken by Humphreys, and other such research conducted at a similar time, that many of the current ethical codes and guidelines pertaining to research exist today. These guidelines have enabled recent research to be much more ethically sound, and therefore not be so heavily criticised. Therefore, Humphreys work has helped in the advancement and evolution of social research. It is also interesting to consider whether the research conducted by Humphreys should have received such criticism considering that these ethical codes did not exist at the time. In relation to the impact his research has had on both the homosexual community and society as a whole, Humphreys managed to disprove many of the myths surrounding the tearoom trade. Many believed that the tearoom trade put young people at risk of sexual assault, yet Humphreys managed to show that the only sexual activity occurring in public restrooms was between consenting adults, and that no advances were made to disinterested parties. He also managed to show that the men engaging in the tearoom trade were not merely criminals or transients, but that the majority were upstanding members of the community, many of which were employed and had families, and a considerable amount were members, or had been members of the armed forces. This can only been seen as shedding a positive light on the then, underground homosexual subculture. As West (1970) states, [there can only be] benefit in the long term from the information the author has been able to obtain about a little understood but important facet of deviant behaviour. (West, 1970: viii) In conclusion it can be argued that the controversy surrounding Humphreys research is down to a combination of his methodological approach, and his chosen subject matter. His work drew attention to a little known deviant activity, which many people may have been disgusted by, and his findings are somewhat graphically depicted in his book Tearoom Trade. This controversial subject matter coupled with his ethically flawed methodology is what has led his research to become so infamously controversial within the field of social research. Warwick (1982), one of Humphreys main critics acknowledges that some of the controversies surrounding the research come from the research topic, yet he defends Humphreys decision to research into the tearoom trade, and only finds fault with the research methods that he used. Undoubtedly public reaction to Tearoom Trade will be strongly affected by the subject matter and the way in which the findings are presented. Many readers, finding the whole topic revolting, will channel their distaste against the author and sociology in generalEven so I would strongly defend Humphreys right to study this topic, however controversial it may beSocial scientists have not only a right but an obligation to study controversial and politically sensitive subjects, including homosexuality, even if this brings down the wrath of the public and government officials. But this obligation does not carry with it the right to deceive, exploit, or manipulate people (Warwick, 1982:54-55) However in defence of his methodology, it is important to consider that there were no formal guidelines and ethical codes relating to social research at the time Humphreys conducted his study of the tearoom trade. Also, many of the criticisms relating to the possible harm to participants are what ifs. Is it justifiable to criticise a piece of research on the fact that harm may come to the participant? Humphreys went to incredible lengths to ensure harm would not come to his participants, and that their identities would not be disclosed. In relation to his use of covert methods, deception and lack of informed consent, it is difficult to see how else he would have been able to conduct the research and still achieve the same results. Furthermore, deception is not restricted to covert methods, as can be seen in the example of Milgrams Study of Obedience, where informed consent was obtained, yet deception was still used. It is my opinion that although Humphreys research is ethically flawed, the reason it has become so controversial is not solely down to the methodology, the controversial subject matter has served as an accelerant in fuelling the controversy surrounding the research. Word Count: 3277

Network Management Roles In Growth Information Technology Essay

Network Management Roles In Growth Information Technology Essay The arrival of computer technology these days are contributed to the growth of many business corporations, especially computer networking (Vivki, 2010). There are three main goal of network management is to make operations more efficient, and operators more productive (Alexander, 2007). There is cost, quality and revenue (Alexander, 2007). I will explain these goals further by using examples and information I have found. I will discuss the essay question by using some real life examples of company experiences that was affected by network management, for example how the company gained benefits from network management and how the company loss revenue for having a bad network management and so on. I also will describe some network management tools that help company to gain different benefits and reduce cost. According to research, if network management is managed properly, it can be a positive business asset (Jason, 2010). Computer network creates an easy and convenient way for employees and clients to communicate and make transaction between each other (Vicki, 2010). Based on research, with the growth of the internet with/and good network management skills by the network administrator, the corporation will have higher chance to success or grow (Vivki, 2010). Based on the research I have done, I agree that network management do play an important key role in corporate business growth, and I realized that no business can do or success without technologies in this modern time, particularly computer network and systems. Small and large companies are depending a lot on computer network communication to get things done faster and more reliable compared to the traditional method of doing things. As the rate of technology keeps changing in the business field, we will definitely see more changes after the next three years than we have seen in the past ten. It is also impossible for organisations to grow if they have poor-performance of network management or poor-maintenance skills as well. In the real situation, every business is aimed towards growth, and network support is standing at the middle of those many factors leading to the progress of a business (Bryan, 2009). Today, network management has become a compulsory Information Technology(IT) system or department for every business corporation, because computer field, including network management as well, has expanded a great deal for organisations. This means that businesses will surely gain advantage or benefit from installing and understanding the latest network technology (Bryan, 2009). As IT teams has played an important role in an organisation, it is essential for the companys manager to choose the IT firm that could gives them reliable performance and ensure of quick response time in maintaining, installing and repairing networks and servers. Based on research, if a company h as an efficient computer network, most probably it will raise business outcome, reduce unnecessary costs and increase business efficiency, this makes network installation and computer maintenance as the two most important aspect of business growth (Bryan, 2009). I will explain more about the benefits of network management in the next paragraph. In todays networked economy, understanding the business impact of network management is important, because most of the business revenue is relying on network-based system whose availability and performance are critical to survival and business growth (Stephen, 2003). The company network is like the backbone of the company, customers use the network service to access into goods and services that is provided by the company, or whether for Internet or databases access, billing enquiry, or other business practices (Stephen, 2003). The entire company business will suffer if the network fails or network does not manage properly by the network manager, because customers and employees cannot communicate, they cannot access needed information, or employees are not able to perform printing, and email services; this will causes productivity suffer and a stop to revenue flowing, for example, if a network failure affects the email services/server. Today, most people are using email services to de liver messages instead of using hand written paper. If the companys network device fails, employees are not able to deliver email and part of the business will be terminated. Customers are affected, employee productivity slows down, the reputation of the corporation will decrease, and revenue will be dried up (Stephen, 2003). In my opinion, this is the reason why network must be properly managed and always need a redundancy for any obstacles that may bring in the future. The information about the network failure that was mentioned just now, the network manager should be responsible for this case because it is network managers job to maintain good network performance. Network Managers must ensure he could minimize the downtime and remain the network performance speed, so most of the network managers will use network management systems or tools together to manage the network. These systems also allow businesses to operate more efficiently, low costs, and prevent revenue loss. I will p rovide some examples of companies to prove the usage of these systems. After explaining of how network management affects business growth, I will now provide some white/research paper, books, and internet resources discussion that I have found to explain the real-world situation of organisations that is affected by the network management. This is to prove that network management does play an important role in business growth. As networks grow larger, they will become less manageable (Douglas, 2007). In fact, we are already reaching the limits of network sizes that we can handle with the current tools (Douglas, 2007). In addition, network management helps to keep networking cost and operational cost under control. Businesses increasingly rely on data networks as the primary link to customers and other businesses. One particular aspect of network management has become inextricably linked to the bottom line: network downtime. For many businesses, the losses that occur while a network is down, brings the business to staggering results. Ironically, as businesses grow and its network size increases, the time required to diagnose and repair increases rapidly, businesses that are most successful bears the most risk (Douglas, 2007). These days many network companies, like Dell Corporation, provides network management tool. Dell creates a network management software/tool to provide easier methods to manage their ow n network to reduce cost, because it is expensive to hire a network management professional to manage a companies network, and by reducing the cost, the company could use the money to invest into other field (Stephen, 2003). The system will provide a so called early warning system for network outages or failure to warn users that problems are coming soon. The software name is called Dell OpenManage. The software is designed to meet the cost and feature requirements of Small, Medium Enterprises, and it also save time and money (Stephen, 2003). As I mentioned earlier, these tools are created for companies to manage their network with some easy features and to support their business objectives and brings revenues while reducing costs by helping IT administrators to manage the companies network in less time and in a more efficient manner. Furthermore, I will provide another example. In the white paper from Solarwinds, network management and monitoring software is on demand for every company across all industries (Mike, 2010). As a result, some companies are experiencing strong Return on Investment(ROI) from a good network management because of the amazing data analysis and reporting that relates to business processes, and it also benefits like consolidated hardware usage, reduced man-hours and reliable network uptime (Mike, 2010). In my opinion, there is no excuse for companies to not be careful about their investment on network and Information Technology in these days or else, they might lose revenue at the end of the day. One way to reduce cost for network management is to use a network management tool. The example below shows how a team has gained benefits from a network management tool. I would like to give another example of a network management tool that brings benefits to a team in an organisation -The Orion. The Orion brings benefits to a senior network engineer in California by providing good network management service with a low cost while he is doing a project with his team members. He mentioned that Orion network management monitor tool helps him and his team increase data capture and report, and offer an easy business root analysis company-wide (Mike, 2010). Orion provides them with system performance insight and it analysis mission-critical business applications, as the result that was calculated, they are able to save $29k on equipment replacement costs over two years (Mike, 2010). Orions automated nature and ability to approach network issues proactively saved the company about $50k in its overall IT budget in 2008 and $80k in 2009, rather than employing help desk workers, a system admin and a network engineer to manually monitor the network, the product can do the job of several individuals (Mike, 2010). From saving all the money from 2008 to 2009, the company is able to use that money to support into other fields. From my point of view, the company might need to spend $50K to $80K or more to support network management to achieve their needs if they work the plan without a network management tool. Based on the conclusion of the white paper, they conclude that network management can provide tangible results for the company; not only helping to make their job easier but also easing issues across the entire company (Mike, 2010). In my opinion, I totally agree with the explanation shows just now that network management plays an important role in corporate business growth. Based on a white paper, reducing or preventing network downtime is the biggest factor in preserving revenue, maintaining customer satisfaction, maintain the companys reputation and maximizing productivity (Jason, 2009). A company stated that SME companies experience an average of nearly 140 hours of downtime every year. The study concluded that the total impact of an outage was 55% lost revenue and 45% lost productivity (Jason, 2009). The total amount of downtime reduction can deliver significant business savings, one group of SMEs in the study experienced an average loss of $70,000per downtime hour (Jason, 2009). Further analysis found other studies into the causes of downtime concluded that 45% of all network outages are caused by configuration error or network management, sometimes referred to as soft issues. In my opinion, the network is at the core of the activities and must operate efficiently and reliably. They also concluded and confirmed that without network management, comp anies are vulnerable to network performance and availability problem. According to research, when changes to the network are not carefully planned and implemented, it compounds the difficulty of maintaining the network in a cost-effective way (Jason, 2009). Based on research, top managements support is critical for projects to be successful (Teresa, 2005). However, in large organisations spread across the globe, it is easy to lose sight of this factor. CIO reports the case of a company that lost 50% of its market capitalization due to top management failure to implement a global information technology strategy (Teresa, 2005). The failure cost the company approximately $500 million dollars (Teresa, 2005). There were several IT issues that were the cause for a lot of agony. First, customer queries on order status took several days to respond. Second, orders from a single customer with locations in different countries were processed by separate systems (Teresa, 2005). This created unnecessary statements to the customer. In my opinion, I conclude that most of the problems are affected by bad network management, for example the second issue about customer locations in different countries been processed by separate system, should blame on net work manager for not having good network management plan. In conclusion, I have explained three network management goals that effect the business growth by using examples of companies and information I have found. I have used some real life company experiences that were affected by network management. And I have explained how network management tool will provide different benefits to a company in certain situations. Based on every research and information I have found, I concluded that network management play such a key role in generating revenue and keeping employees productive and customers happy, we need to understand the importance of network management and the role it plays in maintaining network performance, availability, and customer satisfaction. In return, having an effective network management working in an organisation should provide a excellent performance, and governance, to ensure the ongoing success of the communications infrastructure in support of, and aligned to, organisational goal (Jason, 2010). Bibliography Devaraj, S and Kohli, R, The IT payoff : measuring the business value of information technology investment, Prentice-Hall Inc, 2003. Harris, K, Building the new Enterprise People, Processes and Technology, Sun Microsystems Press, 1998 Dawson, R. Living Networks: Leading Your Company, Customers, and Partners in the Hyper-Connected Economy. Prentice-Hall Inc, 2003.

Distortion in Brave New World Essay -- Brave New World Essays

Distortion in Brave New World    Distortion is an image of a thought or idea that appears to have a single affect on a society, but in actuality provides one that is totally different. Often times in order for readers to understand the realism of today's society and the point that the author tries to make in presenting its flaws, the writer must distort reality. In doing this he urges the reader to engage in a deep thought process that forces them to realize the reality of a situation, rather than perceiving it to be good or evil based on the dilutions of individuals. In his novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley uses tomorrow's dystopia and distorts it by creating a utopian visage. By distorting religion and science, Huxley allows readers to realize the happiness that the inhabitants feel is in actuality the unhappiness they are trying to avoid.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Huxley's brave new world loathes the pain and agony of religion, as well as the complications that it creates; but in reality the inhabitants have a rigorous... Distortion in Brave New World Essay -- Brave New World Essays Distortion in Brave New World    Distortion is an image of a thought or idea that appears to have a single affect on a society, but in actuality provides one that is totally different. Often times in order for readers to understand the realism of today's society and the point that the author tries to make in presenting its flaws, the writer must distort reality. In doing this he urges the reader to engage in a deep thought process that forces them to realize the reality of a situation, rather than perceiving it to be good or evil based on the dilutions of individuals. In his novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley uses tomorrow's dystopia and distorts it by creating a utopian visage. By distorting religion and science, Huxley allows readers to realize the happiness that the inhabitants feel is in actuality the unhappiness they are trying to avoid.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Huxley's brave new world loathes the pain and agony of religion, as well as the complications that it creates; but in reality the inhabitants have a rigorous...

The Importance of Diet and Nutrition Essay example -- Health Nutrition

The Importance of Diet and Nutrition A child's diet and nutrition is a growing concern. Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and often times parents struggle just to get their children to eat. Most parents assume that as long as their children eat something, it is fine to let them eat what they want. The wrong approach to food can give children mixed messages about proper nutrition and lead to serious problems later. Parents are solely responsible for children's poor eating habits. "Children today, more susceptible than any to propaganda, are eating an increasing amount of sweets, lollipops, crisps and refined carbohydrate food." (Mount 23) To know what children are eating these days, one must simply watch Saturday morning cartoons. Children are targeted by advertisement after advertisement with bright colors and toys. From sugary cereals to new and improved cookies, children decide the types of food they want to eat from commercials and select those products when grocery shopping with mom or dad. With fun characters and special toys in every meal, fast food restaurants lure children in. Though children may be taken in by advertisements, their parents are the ones who buy the products and ultimately have the power to say "no." Parents unfortunately do not take a stand. They give in to avoid temper tantrums and get their children to eat something, but more lies at stake than a public scene. "Sweets, lollipops and crisps with the help of television ad vertising have eroded what innate good nutritional sense remained... and the stage is set fair for widespread subnutrition." (Mount 67) A movement away from fruits, vegetables, and grains towards fats and sweets has become increa... ...as a child, chances are the same bad eating habits will carry over into adulthood. Parents must realize their own struggles with obesity, high blood pressure, and heart problems are linked to their diet. In order to prevent their children from going through the same issues, they must plant the idea of nutrition now. Parents have ultimate control over the health and growth of their children. It is time they faced that responsibility. Works Cited Environmed Research Inc. homepage. pp. 1-2. http://www.nutramed.com/children/index.htm (Retrieved November 5, 1998) Martin, H. Darlene. "Dietary Guidelines for Children Age Two to Five". pp. 1-4. Issued On-Line January 1996. <http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/Foods/g1249.htm (Retrieved November 5, 1998). Mount, James Lambert. The Food and Health of Western Man. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1975. The Importance of Diet and Nutrition Essay example -- Health Nutrition The Importance of Diet and Nutrition A child's diet and nutrition is a growing concern. Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and often times parents struggle just to get their children to eat. Most parents assume that as long as their children eat something, it is fine to let them eat what they want. The wrong approach to food can give children mixed messages about proper nutrition and lead to serious problems later. Parents are solely responsible for children's poor eating habits. "Children today, more susceptible than any to propaganda, are eating an increasing amount of sweets, lollipops, crisps and refined carbohydrate food." (Mount 23) To know what children are eating these days, one must simply watch Saturday morning cartoons. Children are targeted by advertisement after advertisement with bright colors and toys. From sugary cereals to new and improved cookies, children decide the types of food they want to eat from commercials and select those products when grocery shopping with mom or dad. With fun characters and special toys in every meal, fast food restaurants lure children in. Though children may be taken in by advertisements, their parents are the ones who buy the products and ultimately have the power to say "no." Parents unfortunately do not take a stand. They give in to avoid temper tantrums and get their children to eat something, but more lies at stake than a public scene. "Sweets, lollipops and crisps with the help of television ad vertising have eroded what innate good nutritional sense remained... and the stage is set fair for widespread subnutrition." (Mount 67) A movement away from fruits, vegetables, and grains towards fats and sweets has become increa... ...as a child, chances are the same bad eating habits will carry over into adulthood. Parents must realize their own struggles with obesity, high blood pressure, and heart problems are linked to their diet. In order to prevent their children from going through the same issues, they must plant the idea of nutrition now. Parents have ultimate control over the health and growth of their children. It is time they faced that responsibility. Works Cited Environmed Research Inc. homepage. pp. 1-2. http://www.nutramed.com/children/index.htm (Retrieved November 5, 1998) Martin, H. Darlene. "Dietary Guidelines for Children Age Two to Five". pp. 1-4. Issued On-Line January 1996. <http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/Foods/g1249.htm (Retrieved November 5, 1998). Mount, James Lambert. The Food and Health of Western Man. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1975.

‘Antony and Cleopatra’ & Shakespeare Essay

As is often true of the study of history in general, the people who dominate Shakespeare’s historical plays are those in positions of power and authority. This is simply because such people will be the ones to effect history in the most significant way. In ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ we see several different leadership figures, who show all of the range of burdens, strains and qualities that those in positions of power can have (such as Antony himself, Cleopatra, Caesar, Lepidus and Pompey). In terms of leadership, Classical Renaissance ideas can be very helpful when trying to approach Antony and Cleopatra for the first time. The traditional idea of heroism and leadership was summed up in the quality known as ‘virtus’, which describes the characteristics of a virile nature, military strength, and old ideas of chivalry and honour. Renaissance artists such as Machiavelli in ‘The Prince’, modified this to emphasise calm ruthlessness and intellectual power. As we shall see, these two opposing views of what a leader should be (the traditional and renaissance ideals) are reflected in the struggle between Antony and Caesar. Antony, representing the old ‘virus’ values, is defeated and replaced by Caesar, representing the Machiavellian hero. Thus I shall begin with these two characters, whose conflict is vitally central to the play. Antony is represented as an old-fashioned hero, whose moral blemishes are excused because of his heroic nature. Maecenas tells us that his â€Å"taints and honours waged equal with him† (Act 5, scene 1). These taints become apparent in the first act when we discover that Antony in fact has a wife (Fulvia), even though we have just watched the obvious love affair that he is having with Cleopatra. When he returns to Rome (having heard of the death of his wife), he soon marries Caesar’s sister thus betraying Cleopatra. However, we do also see that Antony has an obvious preoccupation with honour, reputation and ancestry. His past military glory is very important to him, and it is for these ideas of honour and ancestry that he eventually will return away from Egypt and back to war. These are all characteristics of the traditional hero, whose titanic anger would have won him favour in the eyes of the Shakespearean audience, but perhaps not as much, in a modern audience. This is because he is more likely to be seen in modern times as an impulsive reckless leader who leads with his heart and not his head. In Act 3 scene 10, Antony’s declaration that he will fight by sea has the ring of bluster and bravado, and is an emotional response to Caesar’s challenge. His decision alarms even the most humble soldier who pleads: â€Å"O noble emperor, do not fight by sea/Trust not to rotten planks† Sweeping, flamboyant gestures, such as his challenge to single combat and his declarations of the love he feels for Cleopatra (which he sees as liberating and life enhancing – â€Å"The nobleness of life is to do thus† Act 1 scene1) provide a stark contrast to the behaviour of Caesar. Another element that is central to Antony as a leader, is the constant conflict between duty and desire. This conflict results in a felling of guilt, a sense that he has neglected his duty to his people. It is only in the final stages that we see these emotions expressed. In Act 3, after Antony’s defeat in battle, for the first time we see an Antony full of self-disgust, confusion and an overall sense of failure. The responsibility that he feels for his men, and the fact that his actions determine the fate of all of them, obviously makes defeat even worse. In some instances however, Antony’s honest acknowledgement of his faults increases our respect for him, as when he admits that â€Å"poisoned hours† (Act 1, scene 2) caused him to forget himself and lose his sense of duty. Another aspect to the burden that all leaders must face is that of being replaced. The endless cycle of the old being overthrown by the young, is one of the hardest things a leader has to face, partly due to its inevitability. In Act 3 scene 11, Antony addresses an imaginary listener, and takes comfort in recalling the military success he achieved at Philip, whilst the inexperienced Caesar relied on his officers to fight for him and wore his sword as an ornament, â€Å"like a dancer†. Though Antony does have negative aspects to his character, he has a warmth, human passion and engaging personality that is totally lacking in Octavius Caesar. He is in general represented in an unflattering light. He is shown to be an unemotional, strict character who is quick to turn on Antony when he steps out of line. This seems all the more heartless when we realise that Antony was a close and dear friend to Octavius’s father, Julius Caesar. However at the same time he is shown as the successful strategist and ruler. This pehaps is meant to demonstate the idea that a truly great leader cannot be an overly emotionally figure. He represents Roman efficiency and Duty to the state, whose interests must be held before all others, and achieved by whatever means necessary. This manipulative nature is shown through his reconciliation with Antony. Caesar needs Antony’s military skill in the war against Pompey, and can see that the Roman people, who do not love Caesar (â€Å"Caesar gets money where/ he loses hearts† Act2 Scene1), will follow the heroic Antony into battle. The marriage that he orchestrates between his sister and Antony shows that he is a figure who is only able to gain loyalty through his manipulation of others. We must still recognise, however, that Caesar has all the qualities necessary to be a good leader. Indeed he seems not to feel any of the psychological burdens that come with leadership. He seems to be sufficiently focused on the success of Rome, to think that any burdens he does feel must be tolerated out of a sense of duty, but also to satisfy his ambition. He sees Antony as having become a â€Å"strumpet’s fool†, and his pursuit of pleasure being an intolerable burden placed on the triumvirate. As well as the contrast between Antony and Caesar, we also see several stark contrasts between Cleopatra and Caesar. She represents indulgence, extravagance and pleasure, whilst Caesar (as said before) represents duty and self-control. Cleopatra’s royalty and power is emphasised by her own self-preservation, bolstered by her followers and maidservants. We are constantly reminded of her position, through what is said and the general grandeur that surrounds her. Antony calls her â€Å"your royalty† (Act1 scene 3), and Cleopatra reminds the helpless messenger in Act 3: â€Å"Remember/If e’er thou look’st on majesty† She is a traditional Queen, believing that she rules by a divine right, and owes nothing to her people. As a result she is much more likely not to suffer from the guilt and duty to her people that both Antony and Caesar show. Caesar is a democratically elected leader, is meant to represent the people, and thus the sense of having a duty toward them is much stronger. Like Antony, Cleopatra is ruled by passion. She is capable at points in the play of inspiring intense admiration, whilst at others, of showing a common humanity. Indeed this is demonstrated perfectly in Enobarbus’ speech in act 2 scene 2, which describes both sides to her personality.

Globalization and TNCs Motivation Essay

Research reveals that Transnational Corporations commonly abbreviated as TNCs exert an immense influence in the current economy which has embraced the concept of globalization. There is widespread discussion as to whether globalization is a new or old phenomenon. Some analysts consider the concept to be new as well as revolutionary. Others including Kenneth Waltz argue that, in comparison to the era prior to the first world war, the current global set up has underachieved in terms of the level of intensification (O’Rourke and Williamson, 2000). Furthermore, the earlier governments especially before the First World War had less intervention than the government of today. The aforementioned points are valid but they also do not denounce that capitalism brought a vigorous stride in global integration that was affected by the interwar of between 1918 and 1939 and the Cold War. The degree of consolidation of the worldwide production systems and disengagement of nations from economic activity may still be below the levels achieved in 1910. However the present rate of globalization particularly by TNCs is high and the level of intensification may soon exceed the prior set records (Hill, 2005). Notably, the welfare state set up that had been predominant since years of the interwar in the 21st century has declined. As a result, TNCs have witnessed a new direction in global order that is designed in line with the reasoning tradition of Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek. According to Hayek, for example, the concerns of social imbalance by TNCs are just indication of the outdated communalistic idea which should be scraped out and replaced by individual responsibility and freedom the issues of poverty and inequality not withstanding. Again, there is an increase in the outlook that national economies have integrated into a common space of worldwide economy; furthermore, only one form of organization is appropriate. The realization of a single global economy has still a long way to go. However, there is a powerful force propelling the world to that direction. Controversy also mars the factors that promote TNCs globalization. Obliviously, technological development has contributed to the intensification of interdependence. However, it is not substantial to claim that technology, by itself, would precipitate globalization. For instance, it is unclear whether capital mobility would be achieved due to technological advances alone; development in communication coupled with capital flows deregulation have improved capital mobility. Some sectors agree that globalization is modelled by the forces of the market system. In argument, to realize an economic system a political system must come in handy. Therefore, globalization is dictated by the assent of governments and in this regard, the United States predominant power as well as other developed nations (Friedman, and Ramonet, 1999). The strict followers of the market system argue that the reception of globalization by TNCs is inevitable such that they cannot prevent globalization in which case they would incur immense costs. Interest of powerful capital can punish national governments which implement monetary and fiscal policies that impact greatly on their visions. In these circumstances, developing countries have sided with capital due to amounting pressure from the advanced nations and the multilateral globalization agents. Capital has caught the attention of most countries governments. It is unforeseen that the world economic order perceived in globalization will be viable in a situation where labour arrangement is sufficient to counterbalance the effects of capital governments. Powerful nations like the United States cannot be deemed helpless against globalization. They can determine its fate at their own will or where there are changes in the balance of power amid social classes of the powerful nations. The death of globalization in the nineteenth-century, due to mostly political pressure, adds to the point that globalization is not a passing wind that is controlled by merely the technological advancement and market forces. (Chossudovsky, 2003) Globalization has different meanings depending on its global nature, how it impacts individuals and perspectives that such people have about this concept. Some individuals define globalization as being that state where each and everyone in the society is a resident of that global society. To other people it refers to the issue of Transnational Corporations taking advantage of poor nations to augment there financial bases through exploitation of human resource as well as the available raw materials in such countries. Globalization is understood as a complex concept that has brought much controversies world wide. Research indicates that globalization have little harmony in regard to what it is and whether it is a new or an old idea. Therefore globalization implies a process of aggravation of political, economic, and cultural interdependence amid the different actors within the global system. We also find that globalization is more systematic in the economic field where it signifies a process of intensification of national economies with the purpose of developing the capacity of the global economy to work as a unit (Joseph, 2001). This integration comes with certain socioeconomic conditions as well as policy mechanisms enhanced by TNCs. Therefore, understanding globalization necessitates the description of the underlying context that makes it viable, as well as the institutional set up and policy frameworks within TNCs that promote it. Over the last two decades, some significant changes in the global system have precipitated globalization particularly when TNCs global activities are considered. One is the changes in power distribution on a global level where any nation could have emerged as the sole superpower. This development has therefore eliminated the competition among nations for global leadership and dominance; it would be difficult to have a common economic space while there are competing superpowers. However, in this regard, globalization is perceived as a United States dominated set up. In addition, it implies that if another superpower emerged, then the process would be reversed. The other factor that is found to be affecting this globalization concept is the predomination of capitalism and the free market economic system. Research indicates that conflicting economic frameworks and visions would not be compatible with the processes of making a common economic space. Under this we find that lack of competition between various economic visions has been described one of the leading factor for globalization (Held and McGrew, 2002). Several policy instruments have been created to act as mechanisms of globalization; this is after the establishment of the acknowledged underlying conditions. There has also been creation of fresh multilateral institutions with the restructuring of the older ones so as to manage and promote the mechanisms of globalization; a few key examples include the International Monetary Fund (IMF), The World Trade Organization (WTO), and the World Bank. The policy mechanisms developed in harmony with a neoliberal ideology that is also stated to be fostering globalization; disengagement of a nation in economic activities regarding to the regulation and institutional changes like trade barriers restriction, privatization, and capital mobility liberalization are some examples of these mechanisms. Under this we find that many developing nations, the World Bank and IMF through their sponsored programs have been the vehicle behind the adoption of these globalization mechanisms (Chossudovsky, 2003). Globalization Debate Research indicates that there is growing debate about the reality of TNCs globalization with two arguments arising; that globalization brings prosperity and that globalization brings impoverishment. Those who argue that it brings prosperity are the proponents while the later are opponents of this concept. Those who oppose globalization cite some issues associated with the growth of this concept and include; nations which are poor are always disadvantage for example countries who rely on agricultural products and their domestic markets having experiencing competition from Multi-National Corporations in same industry which force the local firms to offer there commodities at cheaper prices thus leading to making of loss by such firms. (Joseph, 2002) The other issue is that of exploitation of employees of foreign origin by utilizing them as labour and paying them fewer wages and salaries on the work done. Also TNCs may subject such workers to working for long hours with less pay. Such a situation particularly in poor countries like in Africa has led to escalation of poverty levels since such workers may not be able cater for their basic needs. Globalization has also led to sudden shift to service work from manufacturing processes; this is because of the service provision being considered cost effective particularly when viewed from the aspects of offshore employees and such workers shifting to service industries. Such scenario particularly in Africa and some Asian Countries has led to increase in economic gap between the unskilled and the skilled employees. There is also an argument that globalization has resulted to growth of contingent jobs in that many TNCs like the Coca Cola Companies are now favouring the recruitment of part-time or contract based workers thus saving costs that they have could incur on the recruitment of full-time employees. Such scenario have led to job insecurity since the workers will not receive benefits like pension benefits when they will retire thus making life difficult particularly for the old in the society. Globalization has also led to weakening of labour trade unions in that many firms are set up in different parts of the world and there have also been an increase of unemployment rates meaning that there exist surplus of workers in many modern economies. A good example is in the U. S where firms can replace the employees at will since the existing unions have limited powers to protect their workers. (Tehranian, 2001) On the other hand globalization enhanced by TNCs has brought some benefits or what is commonly referred to as prosperity by its proponents and they include the following; globalization has led to production of a lot of products in the market which are of quality and at the same time extensive access of overseas commodities. This concept has also led to realization of worldwide ordinary market and at the same time to introduction of financial markets which is integrated and thus can lead to many opportunities like securing loans and external financing arrangements. Globalization has also resulted to enhancement of international relations between nations. This is because several firms from different countries are now investing in their markets of choice thus making the world to be the global village (Hill, 2005). The inception of globalization has also led to enhancement of information flows among geographically inaccessible places in the world; for example commercial banks from the UK have now invested in Africa especially in Sudan which has been inaccessible because of lack of political stability for a long period. Globalization has also led to introduction of new technologies by TNCs and thus such technologies have increased the pace of production by different firms in there manufacturing processes. Other benefits of globalization include fostering of tourism, increase of multi-culturalism, increase in local consumptions of locally produced products, has fostered sports competition such as Athletics championships and FIFA World Cup, creation of collective values, development of good worldwide telecommunications structures and the accomplishment of free movement of individuals of all countries among other benefits.