How to write a theme paper
Essay Topics For Paradise Lost Angels
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Slavery In The Tempest Essays - Fiction, Literature, Operas
Bondage In The Tempest Essays - Fiction, Literature, Operas Bondage In The Tempest Bondage in The Tempest Bondage happens on a far reaching premise in The Tempest. Event of subjugation to a significant number of the characters, all in various ways, assists with giving the air to the play. The undeniable slaves are by all account not the only slaves, as Prospero has essentially got everyone enchanted when he needs, to do anything he desires with them. He can likewise control the way that they think. The first and most evident slave is ariel. Ariel is a vaporous soul who is guaranteed his opportunity by Prospero if his activity is progressed admirably. His activity was to entrance the guests to the island under Prospero's influence. What Ariel! My enterprising hireling, Ariel! That is the thing that Prospero said in act 4, scene 1, line 33. He was conversing with his slave, Ariel, who hypnotized the guests to the island. Another model could be Alonso, the ruler of Naples. Since he isn't in Naples, however on Prospero's island, and heavily influenced by him, he is a slave as it were. In act 3, scene 3, lines 95-102, Alonso concedes total and articulate loss of control. O, it is huge, enormous! Methought the surges talked and let me know of it; The breezes sang it to me; and the thunder, that profound and unpleasant organ pipe, articulated the name of Prosper; it did bass my trespass. Consequently my child I' th' overflow is had relations with; and I'll look for him more profound than e'er fall sounded and with him there lie mudded. He is revealing to us that Prospero is in charge of him. Prospero, Trinculo, and Stephano are in charge of Caliban, the disfigured child of Sycorax, and in this manner Caliban is their slave. Beast lay-to your fingers; help to hold up under this away where my hogstead of wine is, or I'll turn you out of my realm. Go to, convey this. In act 4, scene 1, lines 250-253, Stephano advised Caliban to convey something for him, or he would be out of his realm. He treats Caliban like soil since he is their slave. In act 4, scene 1, lines 262-265, Prospero is portraying how the entirety of his previous companions are currently practically heavily influenced by him, despite the fact that they don't have any acquaintance with it, and subjugated to Prospero. At this hour lies at my kindness every one of mine foes. In a matter of seconds will my works end, and thou shalt have the air at opportunity. In act 5, scene 1, lines 7-10, it states Confined together in a similar manner as you gave in control, similarly as you left them-all detainees, sir, in the line woods which climate fights your cell. Ariel is revealing to Prospero that the guests are powerless to resist him, as they despite everything are the way that he left them. They can't do much until he breaks the spell. Taking everything into account, The Tempest is a generally excellent play to exhibit the giant of bondage in the public arena. The play shows exercises subjugation, and about classes of individuals, and how they respond to their environmental factors.
Saturday, August 22, 2020
High School Seniors Essay Example for Free
Secondary School Seniors Essay Numerous individuals accept open lunch ought to be a benefit stretched out to seniors who wish to leave the school grounds and neighboring territories during their alloted lunch periods. This benefit is predicated on the conviction that understudies as they enter their last long periods of secondary school ought to be trusted to settle on develop choices and act capably. A few understudies wish they could leave just so they could grab a bite other than school food. I comprehend that only one out of every odd senior shows the best possible development and they ought to be recognized and treated appropriately. With regards to privilages, seniors dont have many contrasted with underclassman. Of course, we get a free period rather than study lobby and a senior skip day, however dont we merit more for our twelve years of difficult work and exertion put into school? Dont we merit something that, honestly, makes everybody increasingly mindful of our position status, something that we can appreciate this year and different evaluations can anticipate? That something can be found in most likely one of the more dubious themes in secondary schools, off grounds snacks. I comprehend the school is liable for us from the time we show up at school until the time we withdraw, and having the option to have an off grounds lunch would mean we are as yet the schools duty, despite the fact that were not nearby. Be that as it may, imagine a scenario in which guardians were to sign a note expressing their kid is permitted to leave school during lunch hours and would be their obligation. If anything somehow managed to happen to an understudy, guardians would not reserve the option to run into school, arms thrashing uncontrollably, accusing whomever they can for what befell their kid. Yet, isnt it time that the school lets us rely upon ourselves in settling on the better choices, which for this situation would be returning to class in time. We will go from being checked throughout the day to a school domain where we are the ones to choose what to do. Students who neglect to meet their obligation may relinquish the benefit out and out and might be dependent upon other disciplinary activities. The school ought to create decides and guidelines that advance consistence with the arrangement and guarantee that lone qualified seniors use the benefit of open lunch.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
The Pro-Con List COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog
The Pro-Con List COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog If you have yet to do so, you are bound to eventually. Old school or digital, you will sit down with a blank piece of paper and draw a couple of columns or open up an Excel spreadsheet. You will then label the columns Pro and Con. Perhaps you have a separate sheet of paper for each school or a separate tab for each school in Excel. Decision time. The clock to the deposit deadline is ticking. You will then diligently begin to fill in the columns with what you see to be the pros and cons of each school you have received an offer from. Or perhaps you just received one offer and it is a matter of either accepting the offer or choosing a different path. I thought I would take an opportunity to help you fill in the pro list in regard to SIPA. Yes, I am biased. A native New Yorker I am not, but a converted New York lover I am. I have lived in New York City for seven years and whenever I leave for travel, I always miss it. Instead of focusing on topics like world class faculty and a robust curriculum that every policy school can most likely boast about, I will focus on the experience of living in New York City. The diversity, the energy, the attitude, the people, the events, the culture . . . the sound! I would venture to guess that by the time I help you with the pros of attending school in New York City, your pros column will require you to either go on to a second piece of paper or scroll down on your Excel sheet because more rows are going to filled than you can view on the screen. I lived in California before moving to New York and I was trying to make the decision as to whether or not I should move east. I had never lived on the east coast before and it was a big decision for me at the time, and I remember my pro con list as well. I distinctly remember a conversation I had with a very well traveled friend. He said something along the line of the following: Matt, you would be crazy NOT to move to New York City. I believe that everyone should live in New York City once in their lifetime. It has an energy you just cant describe. Dont let this chance pass. I took his advice, and boy am I glad I did. Lets take a quick look at some of the unique attributes and flavor of NYC. The following facts are from Wikipedia . . . Over 900 songs have been written about NYC (think about the inspiration you will get living here). NYC has two professional football teams, two professional hockey teams, two professional baseball teams, a professional soccer (sorry rest of the world, thats what we call it) team, a professional womens basketball team, and although it is a subject to local debate, a professional mens basketball team. There will soon be two so called professional teams when the Nets move to Brooklyn soon. The subway runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is the largest rapid system in the world when measured by stations in operation, with 468. You may not think of nature when you think NYC, however New York City has over 28,000 acres (110 km2) of municipal parkland and 14 miles (23 km) of public beaches. NYC has more than 2,000 arts and cultural organizations and more than 500 art galleries of all sizes. Care to cross pollinate with other students? There are close to 600,000 university students in New York City. . . . and how about some famous quotes related to New York City. Culture just seems to be in the air, like part of the weather. Tom Wolfe I go to Paris, I go to London, I go to Rome, and I always say, Theres no place like New York. Its the most exciting city in the world now. Thats the way it is. Thats it. Robert Deniro âI miss New York. I still love how people talk to you on the street just assault you and tell you what they think of your jacket.â Madonna When its 100 degrees in New York, its 72 in Los Angeles. When its 30 degrees in New York, in Los Angeles its still 72. However, there are 6 million interesting people in New York, and only 72 in Los Angeles. Neil Simon At night⦠the streets become rhythmical perspectives of glowing dotted lines, reflections hung upon them in the streets as the wistaria hangs its violet racemes on its trellis. The buildings are shimmering verticality, a gossamer veil, a festive scene-prop hanging there against the black sky to dazzle, entertain, amaze. Frank Lloyd Wright You come to New York to find the ambiance that will evoke your best. You do not necessarily know precisely what that might be, but you come to New York to discover it. Dr. James Hillman New York is a galaxy of adventure at once elegant, exciting and bizarre. Its a city that moves so fast, it takes energy just to stand still. Barbara Walters Can you feel the excitement!? Not only will you find inspiration at SIPA . . . NYC is a basically an inspiration or great moment waiting to happen. Thats my quote and Ill leave it at that.
Friday, May 22, 2020
Racism And Prejudice By William Shakespeare s The...
Intolerable Hostility Imagine being paranoid everyday of your life knowing all that you do is being watched and judged. Imagine being mocked and rejected every moment of your life just because you are of different religion. No one likes to be judged and left out because of their religion and what they believe in, however there is racism and prejudice present in the world. William Shakespeareââ¬â¢s The Merchant of Venice is one of his most controversial plays. Written in the 16th century England, the play poses many questions concerning racial, religious and human differences due to anti-semitism being very common at the time. The story is set in Venice where a merchant named Antonio lived. His poor friend Bassanio wants to charm and marry a lovely, rich girl of Belmont called Portia, but he needs money to reach her. He approaches Antonio for the money. Antonio could not lend money to Bassanio because his ships are gone. Both of them go to a Jew moneylender called Shylock and asked for 3,000 ducats. He gave money on one condition, if Antonio could not return his money in three months, then Shylock can have Antonioââ¬â¢s pound of flesh. Antonio agrees to Shylock s condition because he is confident that his ships will return within three months. Bassanio reached Belmont and married Portia. 3 months pass, and Antonioââ¬â¢s ships gets lost in a storm. Shylock wants his pound of flesh. Bassanio goes to Venice and Portia follows him in disguise of a male lawyer. Portia reaches Venice andShow MoreRelatedThe Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1445 Words à |à 6 PagesCGI English 11 HH 12 November 2014 Crashing Thru Venice William Shakespeare, possibly the most esteemed writer of all time, wrote a play titled The Merchant of Venice, near the end of the 1500 s. The play takes place in Venice, and while it can be described as what we now call a romantic comedy, it also draws attention to the harsh divides in the Venetian society brought on by conflicting beliefs and religions. Centuries later, in the early 2000 s, Paul Haggis wrote and directed a film called CrashRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Merchant Of Venice 1918 Words à |à 8 PagesPerformance Analysis of T he Merchant of Venice Jordan Thomas Mullineaux-Davis William Shakespeare has regularly throughout time been referred to and could be viewed as anti-Semitic because of the cultural implications within many of his plays. A particularly strong example of this could be The Merchant of Venice. This essay will explore arguments of post-colonialism within The Merchant of Venice, discussing the pertinent issues of anti-semitism, racial isolation and prejudice. It will also comment onRead MoreIs Shylock The Villain Or Victim In The Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1411 Words à |à 6 PagesCharacter Analysis Shylock Is Shylock the villain or the victim in the Merchant of Venice? In the play the ââ¬ËMerchant of Veniceââ¬â¢ by William Shakespeare the antagonist Shylock is both the victim and the villain. Shylock is a Jewish moneylender and is initially portrayed as anger filled and bloodthirsty but as the play continues we begin to see him as more human and his emotions become more evident. As the antagonist, Shylock is a fearful adversary to Antonio, the protagonist. But as good begins toRead MoreRacism And Manipulation Of William Shakespeare s Othello2226 Words à |à 9 Pages Racism and Manipulation In William Shakespeareââ¬â¢s Othello Racism has been an inevitable aspect of human society throughout the centuries, from Elizabethan England to ââ¬Å" Separate but equal, here in The United States not too long ago. Shakespeareââ¬â¢s tragic play Othello, portrays a young, and recently married Moor named Othello. His own demise is initiated by various deceits, such as his lofty new position as the Venetian Republicââ¬â¢s army general. During the time Shakespeare lived there was an overallRead MoreRace in Five Film Versions of Shakespeares Othello Essay example4150 Words à |à 17 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Othello is only moderately interested in questions of race and racism. For Shakespeare, Othellos blackness was mainly a plot device. Though the bard did demonstrate concerns about racial and religious prejudice, in Othello and The Merchant of Venice, his interest in the tragedy of the Moor was principally psychological. For Shakespeare and his contemporary audience, Othello was about jealousy, hatred, and vind ictiveness. The play has aged well, as have all ShakespearesRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words à |à 102 PagesUnable to find work, Homer and Carrie Clark moved to Chicago, leaving fourteen-year-old Langston alone in a rented room in Cleveland. Central High School became a safe haven for Langston. Although few black students attended, very little racial prejudice existed. Langston especially enjoyed classes in graphic and applied arts, taught by Clara Dieke, a young teacher who insisted that her students stick to a thing until it is done. In addition to academic classes, Langston lettered in track and field
Saturday, May 9, 2020
Speech Racism Essay - 823 Words
Speech- How would you like to be called names or even beat up because of you skin colour, religion, ethnicity, or beliefs? Imagine walking into a classroom everyone laughing at you, talking about you behind your back because of your race. Imagine not getting hired for a work because of you race. Imagine playing sport everyone singing negative chants about your race. Well this is happening everyday all around the world. But first letââ¬â¢s describe Racism. Racism is the discrimination of a person because of the race that they have inherited. Racism is very ugly. It divides people into ââ¬Ëusââ¬â¢ to ââ¬Ëthemââ¬â¢ depending on there culture etc. its an extremely serious issue that faces society today yet people still think its cool to tease and even beatâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Also the environment someone lives in can also lead to racism. For Example if a child is taught to respect their elders that concept will always be in still with them for the rest of their lives li ke wise if children grew up and are taught to be racist their will be more chance of them being racist. And the last reason is because they have experienced events that have harmed their family or someone important to them by a particular racial group or race. Now lets talk examine the 3 types of racism, historical, scientific, and institutional. Historical racism is when people are judged primarily based on the decent, ancestors or origin history. An example of historical racism is Adolf Hitler in the 1930ââ¬â¢s when he powered Germany. He believed that the Jews werenââ¬â¢t the perfect race. He believed the fair skin Germans were. And that is what caused him to eliminate over 3 million Jewish people that lived in Germany in gas chambers. This event is now widely known as the holocaust. Scientific racism is the act of justifying inequalities between natural groups of people by recourse to science. Scientific racism has no place in todayââ¬â¢s world, and yet some how a man named Jason Richwine back in 2009 was able to defend a dissertation at Harvard University in which he wrote that Hispanic people have aShow MoreRelatedracism speech Essay1431 Words à |à 6 Pagesï » ¿For centuries a disease has plagued our nation just like AIDS has Africa, I bet you all are wondering what this disease is. You probably think that it can be treated with limited breakouts every few years. The virus Im talking about is racism. Imagine living every day in fear knowing that where ever you go, everything you do is being observed and judged. Imagine walking into a store or a boutique and having someone watch every move of yours thinking that youââ¬â¢re going to steal something, or exposeRead MoreSpeech On Racism And Oppression1604 Words à |à 7 Pageseducated on racism and oppression, however after reviewing my initial video from the first few weeks of class, I quickly comprehended that in fact I had not been appropriately educated on racism or oppression through out my life. I was among many individuals in society who were convinced that they looked at all individuals equally, so color of skin was never a factor taken into consideration. Unfortunately, I didn t realize how damaging the colorblind approach was. In reality, I was ignoring racism as aRead MoreNegative And Hate Speech On Racism748 Words à |à 3 Pageseverywhere. Though today a young boy had been racially hurt only because of the words. He has been one of the racially hurt victims in the world. To him it is not something to joke about not with your friends or anybody. Now negative and hate speech about racism is entering the minds of students and kids around the world. It is being brought into the schools of America and what is to come of the future generations? Our country it is made up with different types of people with captivating heritagesRead MoreRacism and Stereotype in Karl Linders Speech1157 Words à |à 5 PagesRacism is a fatal flaw in human society. Whole cultures could be eradicated or brought to the brink of destruction, such as when Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi regime, brought on the Holocaust. In his efforts to bring the Jews to extinction he captured and imprisoned the Jews into concentration camps separated from the rest of society. Karl Linder in his efforts to keep the community of Clybourne Park ââ¬Å"pureâ⬠for his growing family, attempts to assert dominance over the Stoller family (the CaucasianRead MoreSpeech : Speech On Racism And Weather1106 Words à |à 5 PagesBarack Obama Race Speech was delivered on March 18, 2008, at the Constitution Center. When presidents give speeches there are multiple different perspectives, everyone makes their own assumptions on speeches. Race has always been an issues in the U.S. and it will always be, some never see an ending to racism because we donââ¬â¢t live in a perfect world and you canââ¬â¢t make someone believe something you believe because you think itââ¬â¢s right. Obamas presidential speech touches on racism and weather you supportRead MoreRacism Speech1587 Words à |à 7 PagesHorrendous is what I can say to describe this. à à à à Read this very carefully guys and take a close look at yourself and the environment that you live in todayâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"P.W. Botha speech 1985â⬠(I was 3 years old): THE FOLLOWING is a speech made by former South African President P.W. Botha to his Cabinet. This reprint was written by David G. Mailu for the Sunday Times, a South African newspaper, dated August 18, 1985. Pretoria has been made by the White mind for the White man. We are not obligedRead MoreInformative Speech On Racism1152 Words à |à 5 PagesSo many times Iââ¬â¢ve seen people say racism is not an issue anymore. So many times Iââ¬â¢ve been told Iââ¬â¢m living in the past. So many times Iââ¬â¢ve been blown off about it because ââ¬Å"its 2017 thatââ¬â¢s over with.â⬠Iââ¬â¢m a young mixed kid who was raised on the south side of Oklahoma Cityâ⬠¦.not a pretty place. My dad died when I was young in a gang related incident, and I have five brothers and sisters with all different dads. I guess you could say I come from a rough family. My grandma took my little brother and IRead MoreObama Perfect Union Speech - Contemporary Racism1070 Words à |à 5 PagesContemporary Racism President Obamaââ¬â¢s speech ââ¬Å"A More Perfect Unionâ⬠was a response to many outbursts made about things that Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Obamaââ¬â¢s former pastor, had said on issues of racism. The reverend made statements that Obama called dismissive when what the world needed most was unity to overcome the continual racism in the country. Quotes from the Reverend such as ââ¬Å"In theà 21stà century, white America got a wake-up call after 9/11/01. White America and the western world came toRead MoreEssay on Racism Speech by Charles R. Lawrence643 Words à |à 3 PagesRacism Speech by Charles R. Lawrence In the following essay, Charles R. Lawrence encompasses a number of reasons that racist speech should not be protected by the First Amendment. In this document, he exhibits his views on the subject and what he feels the society should confront these problems. In this well- written article, he provides strong evidence to prove his point and to allow the reader to see all aspects of the issue. On Racist Speech Charles Lawrence has been active in hisRead MoreUse And Manipulation Of The English Language1394 Words à |à 6 Pagesalliance with their audience. ââ¬Å"If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughterâ⬠(qtd. in Lindenbaum). This famous quote is an excellent interpretation of one of the most pivotal acts of a distinguished leader, Martin Luther King Jr. On August 28, 1963, MLK presented one of the most iconic speeches in the world to call an end to racism (Carson). However, what makes ââ¬Å"I Have A Dreamâ⬠such a momentous speech that continues to inspire movements and rebellions
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
A Good Man Is Hard to Find Irony Free Essays
ââ¬Å"A Good Man is Hard to Findâ⬠In the short story, ââ¬Å"A Good Man is Hard to Findâ⬠there is irony all through the pages. It shows how you should follow your gut instinct when you think you shouldnââ¬â¢t go somewhere, when you know something bad is going to happen. In the story it also talks about how the grandmother wore her nice clothes in case of an accident, she wanted to look like a lady in case anything bad was to happen. We will write a custom essay sample on A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Irony or any similar topic only for you Order Now The grandmother was constantly talking about the good in people, but was she a good woman? The first bit of irony the story throws at the reader is on the first page when the grandmother is talking about how she doesnââ¬â¢t want to go to Florida because thatââ¬â¢s where the Misfit is headed. As the grandmother is trying to get her son Bailey to listen as she says, ââ¬Å"The Misfit is aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida and you read here what it says he did to these people. Just you read it. I wouldnââ¬â¢t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldnââ¬â¢t answer to my conscience if I didâ⬠(Oââ¬â¢Connor 281). Now I donââ¬â¢t believe that the ironic twist is that the misfit was headed to Florida just like the family, I believe that the twist is that the Misfit just so happen be on the same dirt road that the grandmother asked her son Bailey to turn down later on in the story. The grandmother wanted to turn down this dirt road in Georgia because she remembered an old plantation house she had visited when she was younger. After turning down the road she then remembered that this was not the road at all, the old plantation house she had remembered was in Tennessee, not Georgia. The second major ironic twist that stood out to me was how the grandmother wore good clothes to go on a road trip, ââ¬Å"In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once she was a ladyâ⬠(Oââ¬â¢Connor 282). The grandmother wore a navy dress with a straw hat that had white violets on it. Indeed the grandmother was dressed like a lady, but did she act upon it at all times? I think she did just that, I believe she acted like a lady but was not truly one. Grandmothers cat caused Bailey to have an accident. â⬠¦as the grandmother limped out of the car, her hat still pinned to her head but the broken front brim standing up at a jaunty angle and the violet spray hanging off the sideâ⬠(Oââ¬â¢Connor 287). At this point is when I believe that the grandmother acts as if she is a lady. If she was a true lady then maybe her clothes would not have been messed up, or there wouldnââ¬â¢t have been an accident at all. But there is still that piec e of thought about how the grandmother knew to dress in case of an accident. The final bit of irony is how the grandmother kept talking about good men, and how they are hard to find. When the family stops at the diner to eat she talks to Red Sammy and his wife about how hard good men are hard to find, but then she also tells Red Sammy that he is a good man because he let a couple of men charge gas. Red Sammyââ¬â¢s wife says there isnââ¬â¢t no one that she can trust, ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËAnd I donââ¬â¢t count nobody out of that, not nobody,ââ¬â¢ she repeated, looking at Red Sammyâ⬠(Oââ¬â¢Connor 285). After they wreck a car shows up with The Misfit and his two side kicks in it, who turn out not to be good men. The grandmother realizes real soon that the man is The Misfit, she recognized him from the picture in the newspaper. Soon after arriving Bobby Lee takes Bailey and his son John Wesley into the woods to kill them. The grandmother went on about how the Misfit could be a good man, and how he should pray. The Misfit told her that his family was good people, he just wasnââ¬â¢t. Soon Bobby Lee and Hiram took the childrens mother, June Star, and the baby to the woods to meet up with the boys. The grandmother then realized that she must think of something soon, because she would be next. They started talking about Jesus and how he did or didnââ¬â¢t raise the dead. The Misfit said that if he didnââ¬â¢t know but if he would have been there he would have known better and wouldnââ¬â¢t be the way he is now. ââ¬Å"Why youââ¬â¢re one of my own babies. Youââ¬â¢re one of my own children! â⬠(Oââ¬â¢Connor 293). After the grandmother said that she touched him on the shoulder and the Misfit turned around and shot her three times in the chest. This was a great short story for irony, because the grandmother was correct about most things. The grandmother knew not to go towards Florida because The Misfit was headed that way after escaping from the pen. She was right about dressing like a lady in case of an accident, because indeed there was an accident, but she caused the accident by bringing her cat along without anyone knowing. Then there is speak of a good man, is there any such thing? Red Sammyââ¬â¢s wife wouldnââ¬â¢t even think of him as a good man, if your wife doesnââ¬â¢t believe you are no one really can. The Misfit comes along and talks to the grandmother for a while about good people, while doing so shoots her family then her dead. ââ¬Ëââ¬Å"She would have been a good woman,â⬠The Misfit said, ââ¬Å"if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her lifeâ⬠ââ¬â¢ (Oââ¬â¢Connor 293). This goes with my assumption that the grandmother was just acting like a lady, and The Misfit even saw through her lies. How to cite A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Irony, Papers
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Essay Example
The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Essay To start off this essay, try painting a picture about a certain neighborhood. This neighborhood does not have any overarching governing body, nor is there a single overarching security force. In short, this neighborhoodââ¬â¢s residents are left to fend for themselves. Assuming that there has been an unfortunate event in the neighborhood, whereby one house was broken into by some thieves, what could possibly be the reaction of the residents in that community? Will they seek to protect their own homes and not bother to care about their neighbors? Will they protect their homes and be malicious of their neighbors, thinking they could have been conspirators to the crime? Or will they work together and cooperate in one collective effort to solve the case and to protect themselves? This is an analogous picture of what the international realm may look like for scholars and the questions posted are classic questions that theories of International Relations seek to shed light into. In an international world that is ruled by anarchy, it has been a classic notion that states are left to fend for themselves. In this scenario, security of states is of great importance, if not the outright priority. As international events unfold, different scholars seek to explain the various international phenomena by choosing a theoretical framework that will best explain and account for the phenomenon they choose to account for Be that as it may, what this paper will aim to discuss is the recent development is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as an association of states, by using the pertinent theoretical frameworks in the discipline of International Relations.à The first part will discuss a brief introduction of the Shanghai Cooperation and what are the recent developments pertaining to it, while the second part of the paper will discuss briefly what theories in International Relations exist that may be of use to the discussion of the recent events in SCO. Using the chosen theories, this paper will discuss how the core tenets of such theories can possibly explain the recent developments in the SCO for example, using a certain theory, why would a certain actor in the SCO story act this way and what were the interests of that actor etcetera. We will write a custom essay sample on The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A lot of international organizations exist in status quo. The reasons for their establishment may vary from one case to another. And for scholars, it is interesting to take a look at this phenomenon in the context of the emerging new world order. With the end of the Cold War, it is interesting to observe how states and other emerging world players will configure themselves. In line with recent developments, the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is worthy of scholarly attention. Upon its formation on June 15 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has six permanent members: the Peopleââ¬â¢s Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation (Brummer, 2007). It is an international organization through its founding members that cover about three fifths of Eurasia (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). This organization or association of states, though fairly young compared to other international organizations has turned out to be an influential political, economic and security international player (Brummer, 2007). The SCO had a predecessor and it was called, the Shanghai Five mechanism, which came from the five of the, now, six membersââ¬â¢ (except the Republic of Uzbekistan) effort to further disarmament in the border regions and to strengthen confidence-building (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). Upon the signing of the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions and the Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions by these five member states, what started off as an annual meeting of their leaders ended up to be a regular practice (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). The coverage of their agenda soon expanded to talk about cooperation in various areas like politics, security, diplomacy and economics, and then later on extended the membership to Uzbekistan (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). When asked in why Uzbekistan wanted to join the organization, the reply of President Karimov indicated that the primary reason was to protect the country from any possible aggressive move by the SCO (Nich ol, 2005). The Declaration on the Establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization gave birth to the organization as it is known now (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). Recently, however, there have been some developments in the SCO and some issues have risen from these developments. Firstly, the inclusion of other states to the membership of the SCO has caught the attention of a lot of scholars and players in the international field, not so much as a reaction to its expansion but to the profile of the members that wish to be included. à Iran, as a very controversial country in terms of its relationship with the rest of the world vis-à -vis the United States of America, has been subjected to a series of deliberation (Brummer, 2007). The question of whether it will be granted membership in the SCO is something that has interested the keen observers of international relations. The main concern was what would be implications of Iranââ¬â¢s inclusion to the six-member association and consequently, how would the United States of America react to this inclusion. Secondly, post 9/11, the evaluation of the policies and reaction of the Shanghai Coopera tion Organization towards perceived (or otherwise) terrorist threats in their region, is something that the United States of America has concerned itself with (Nichol, 2005). The next section of this paper will juxtapose these recent events with the literature in International Relationsââ¬âfocusing on pertinent theories in the discipline that can explain the milestones in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and using a comparative approach in discussing them. While it is not true that international phenomenon may only be explained by either realism or idealism, it is interesting to juxtapose discussions of different international events using the two because of the contrasts in their basic assumptions and tenets. Before this paper further discusses the developments in the SCO, it would first help to have a quick overview of the premises of each of these two theories, as these will be the tools to help understand and hopefully explain what transpired in these milestones and why they were so. Realism, as espoused by scholars like E.H. Carr, asserts that states are the main actors in world politics and that their interests lie in the pursuit of power at the expense of others (Mearsheimer, 2005). In a way, it more or less follows the logic of a zero-sum game, whereby one playerââ¬â¢s gain is another playerââ¬â¢s loss. The implication of this in policymaking is that decision-makers will most likely base their decisions on power calculations, as opposed to that of Idealism which focuses on the moral dimension and on liberal ideas for decision-making considerations (Mearsheimer, 2005). One of the canons of idealism, and most often cited by other scholars, is that of Immanuel Kantââ¬â¢s Perpetual Peace, whereby he asserts how states should act towards each other to achieve peace and prevent war (Kant, 1975). Writers, like Herz, argue that idealists believe that it is an imperative to change the world and champion the realization of a world turning into a secure global communityââ¬âthat would entail states abiding by international law and observing respect and recognition of each other (Hacke and Puglierin, 2007). The inception of the SCO may be seen as an idealist characterization of what international cooperation can do, whereby states seek to cooperate with each other to achieve a common goal. As stated earlier, when the SCO was established, the initial intent was to push the disarmament of the states in the border areas and to strengthen confidence-building. These reasons are liberal in natureââ¬âdisarmament is antithetical to the realist push that states should be wary of other states and should protect themselves at any cost, and confidence-building is founded on trust and cooperation among partner states. While its inception is liberal in intent, as the time progresses, the developments in the SCO soon lend to realist assumptions. When it expanded membership, the intention of the new member (and even those seeking membership in status quo) may be contended to have realist bearings. As stated above, when Uzbekistan sought membership, it was not for cooperation nor was it based on tru st on other states but, instead, it was to ensure its own safety by establishing ties with China and the other states in the SCO. But the annexation of Uzbekistan is not the only development that lends to realist assumptions. Lately, Iran sought membership to the SCO as well, although it was not granted, there stands a chance that it can happen (Brummer, 2007). From a geopolitical perspective, Iranââ¬â¢s inclusion would have been a political statement saying that between the West and Iran, China and Russia would have taken the side of Iran (Brummer, 2007). This scenario can lend to realist assumptions by focusing on the intention of Iran to gain allies, against a perceived threat and clearly this puts security above all other concerns. It can also lend to liberal assumptions by focusing on the fact that Iran has chosen to be part of a collective effort in dealing with adversaries, as opposed to a unilateral aggressive approach that will more probably lead to war and heightened co nflict. The intention of China on forwarding the SCO agenda can also be explained using realism. There have been writings that talk about Chinaââ¬â¢s effort to gain influence in its regional area and the intention behind the formation of the SCO may well be subsumed under this. In fact, there have been assertions that China has had the intention of challenging the unipolar order by taking on the leadership position of a anti-hegemonic coalition against the United States of America (Foot, 2006). Foot further stresses that China may well be building up its military and economic capabilities to challenge the USA (Foot, 2006). Taken from this angle, this obviously lends to realist assumptions of China using a formation of an international institution to forward its own interestââ¬âthat is, to secure itself and to gain power by challenging the strength of the leading international player. But it can also be explained in a realist point of view, by showing how this is Chinaââ¬â¢s way to achieve a level of security for itself, but at the same time, it may also be a form of cooperating with the international community. Terrorism being a global problem has also been addressed by the SCO by having its members hold anti-terrorist exercises to promote common security and to gain economic benefits as well (Foot, 2006). Taken from this context, it is logical to say that the SCO has acted in favor of liberal ideas of forwarding collective cooperation. China being one of the torchbearers of the SCO has also coursed cooperation through economic ties with the United States (Langlois and Langlois, 1996). Fighting against terrorism by joining forces with other states lends to liberal ideas of aiming for peace and preventing war, even if it sounds moralistic, and forwarding causes for global security through collective action. But just as the previous discussions, the actions of China towards terrorism may also lend to realist assumptions. One particular example is in reference to the efforts of the United States of America in its fight against terrorism. Post-September 11, the members of the Shanghai Cooperati on Organization did not have a collective response to the proposal of the United States, but instead its members acted individually (Nichol, 2005). This proves the realist argument that states, despite the existence of international institutions, will still act selfishly and in favor of its own national interests. It is obvious that China did not want to lend a hand to this specific United States policy, although it was willing to cooperate with its members in dealing with terrorism in their regional area. Chinaââ¬â¢s definition of its national interests, in this context, was to ensure that terrorism does not thrive in its region, and yet not give the United States the leverage to dictate or influence its policies toward security. This shows how there can be an interplay in the way realism and idealism explains a certain international phenomenon. The next question is, how does this make sense and does this not mean that one of the two theories may lose its ability to explain things if the other can explain it the same phenomenon with equal validity? In seeking to explain political phenomenon, one can use theories as tools to help account for such events. In doing so, scholars may fall to the trap of focusing too much on dichotomies the North and South, Realism and Liberalism. While mutual exclusivity increases the validity of a theory (or a school of thought, for that matter) to distinguish it from other existing theories, this does not necessarily mean that the truth of the other is the shadow of the doubt for the other. In fact, if theories are made to help us explain political phenomenon, then perhaps it pays to have a more comprehensive picture by using the lens of various theories to account for an event. Does realism and liberalism really have to be categorized as contrasts or is it possible that they can complement each other? Lucian Ashworth even asserts that the debate between these two schools of thought may have never existed, as the liberalsââ¬â¢ (often called ââ¬Å"idealistsâ⬠by later realist writers call them) writings were not really addressed properly by realists (Ashworth, 2006). This is not to point out that liberalism has lost its capacity to explain, but what Ashworth is pointing out, is the fact that the line establishing this dichotomy is not absolute, and hence, may be blurred. There have been points raised by writers like Joseph Nye Jr.,that lend to the idea that perhaps the two can complement each other. He argues that in cases when mutual interests or a possibility in the future may suggest that there are plenty of benefits to be had for cooperating, states may actually adopt new strategies in their quest to forward their interests (Nye, 1988). This point may be used to explain why the members of the SCO chose to cooperate in their fight against terrorism in their own region, but chose not to cooperate as a group with the United States of America. This is so, because states and the associations they form can define their interests differently and their interests can also change (Nye, 1988). In this example, what happened was what the other theory cannot account for; the other can shed light to. Realism cannot fully explain how states define their interests and how these interests change, but liberalism can answer that by pushing forward the concept of co llective security, albeit this term needs more discussion as to how it can be operationalized (Nye, 1988). To be blunt about it, the true value of theories being able to explain political phenomenon rests not solely on the exclusivity of their explanations, but on the comprehensiveness of its account. Following Hacke and Puglierinââ¬â¢sà point, the realism in its absolute form can only offer a naked struggle for power, and hence any sound political thought must have elements of both utopia and reality (Hacke and Puglierin, 2007). To have a more comprehensive account of why members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization behaved in certain ways, in certain points in time, one must go beyond the dichotomy of what is considered realist and idealist. Instead, it pays to keep in mind that using relevant aspects of theories (as tools) can help paint a more comprehensive picture that will help account for the explanation of a political phenomenon. REFERENCES Ashworth, Lucian M. ââ¬Å"Where are the idealists in interwar International Relations?â⬠Review of International Studies Vol.32, No. 2 (2006): 291-308. Brummer, Matthew. ââ¬Å"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization.â⬠Journal of International Affairs 60 (2007): 185-199. Foot, Rosemary. ââ¬Å"Chinese strategies in a US-hegemonic global order: accommodating and hedging.â⬠International Affairs Vol.82,à No.1 (2006): 77-94. GlobalSecurity. ââ¬Å"Shanghai Cooperation Organization.â⬠Military. 2007. 15 Oct. 2007 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/int/sco.htm . Hacke Christian and Jana Puglierin. ââ¬Å"John H. Herz: Balancing Utopia and Reality.â⬠International Relations Vol.21, No.3 (2007): 367ââ¬â382. Kant, Immanuel. ââ¬Å"Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch 1975â⬠. 2007. 15 Oct 2007 http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/kant/kant1.htm Langlois, Catherine and Jean-Pierre P. Langlois. ââ¬Å"Rationality in International Relations: A Game-Theoretic and Empirical Study of the US-China Case.â⬠World Politics Vol.48 (1996): 358ââ¬â90. Mearsheimer, John J. ââ¬Å"E.H. Carr vs. Idealism: The Battle Rages On.â⬠International Relations à Vol.19, No.2 (2005): 139-152. Nichol, Jim. ââ¬Å"Central Asiaââ¬â¢s Security: Issues and Implications for U.S. interests.â⬠CRS Report for Congress. (2005): 1-49. Nye, Joseph S. Jr. ââ¬Å"Review: Neorealism and Neoliberalism.â⬠World Politics Vol. 40, No. 2. (1988): 235-251. The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Essay Example The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Essay To start off this essay, try painting a picture about a certain neighborhood. This neighborhood does not have any overarching governing body, nor is there a single overarching security force. In short, this neighborhoodââ¬â¢s residents are left to fend for themselves. Assuming that there has been an unfortunate event in the neighborhood, whereby one house was broken into by some thieves, what could possibly be the reaction of the residents in that community? Will they seek to protect their own homes and not bother to care about their neighbors? Will they protect their homes and be malicious of their neighbors, thinking they could have been conspirators to the crime? Or will they work together and cooperate in one collective effort to solve the case and to protect themselves? This is an analogous picture of what the international realm may look like for scholars and the questions posted are classic questions that theories of International Relations seek to shed light into. In an international world that is ruled by anarchy, it has been a classic notion that states are left to fend for themselves. In this scenario, security of states is of great importance, if not the outright priority. As international events unfold, different scholars seek to explain the various international phenomena by choosing a theoretical framework that will best explain and account for the phenomenon they choose to account for Be that as it may, what this paper will aim to discuss is the recent development is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as an association of states, by using the pertinent theoretical frameworks in the discipline of International Relations.à The first part will discuss a brief introduction of the Shanghai Cooperation and what are the recent developments pertaining to it, while the second part of the paper will discuss briefly what theories in International Relations exist that may be of use to the discussion of the recent events in SCO. Using the chosen theories, this paper will discuss how the core tenets of such theories can possibly explain the recent developments in the SCO for example, using a certain theory, why would a certain actor in the SCO story act this way and what were the interests of that actor etcetera. We will write a custom essay sample on The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Sucessful Developement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer A lot of international organizations exist in status quo. The reasons for their establishment may vary from one case to another. And for scholars, it is interesting to take a look at this phenomenon in the context of the emerging new world order. With the end of the Cold War, it is interesting to observe how states and other emerging world players will configure themselves. In line with recent developments, the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is worthy of scholarly attention. Upon its formation on June 15 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has six permanent members: the Peopleââ¬â¢s Republic of China, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation (Brummer, 2007). It is an international organization through its founding members that cover about three fifths of Eurasia (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). This organization or association of states, though fairly young compared to other international organizations has turned out to be an influential political, economic and security international player (Brummer, 2007). The SCO had a predecessor and it was called, the Shanghai Five mechanism, which came from the five of the, now, six membersââ¬â¢ (except the Republic of Uzbekistan) effort to further disarmament in the border regions and to strengthen confidence-building (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). Upon the signing of the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions and the Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions by these five member states, what started off as an annual meeting of their leaders ended up to be a regular practice (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). The coverage of their agenda soon expanded to talk about cooperation in various areas like politics, security, diplomacy and economics, and then later on extended the membership to Uzbekistan (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). When asked in why Uzbekistan wanted to join the organization, the reply of President Karimov indicated that the primary reason was to protect the country from any possible aggressive move by the SCO (Nich ol, 2005). The Declaration on the Establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization gave birth to the organization as it is known now (GlobalSecurity.org, 2007). Recently, however, there have been some developments in the SCO and some issues have risen from these developments. Firstly, the inclusion of other states to the membership of the SCO has caught the attention of a lot of scholars and players in the international field, not so much as a reaction to its expansion but to the profile of the members that wish to be included. à Iran, as a very controversial country in terms of its relationship with the rest of the world vis-à -vis the United States of America, has been subjected to a series of deliberation (Brummer, 2007). The question of whether it will be granted membership in the SCO is something that has interested the keen observers of international relations. The main concern was what would be implications of Iranââ¬â¢s inclusion to the six-member association and consequently, how would the United States of America react to this inclusion. Secondly, post 9/11, the evaluation of the policies and reaction of the Shanghai Coopera tion Organization towards perceived (or otherwise) terrorist threats in their region, is something that the United States of America has concerned itself with (Nichol, 2005). The next section of this paper will juxtapose these recent events with the literature in International Relationsââ¬âfocusing on pertinent theories in the discipline that can explain the milestones in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and using a comparative approach in discussing them. While it is not true that international phenomenon may only be explained by either realism or idealism, it is interesting to juxtapose discussions of different international events using the two because of the contrasts in their basic assumptions and tenets. Before this paper further discusses the developments in the SCO, it would first help to have a quick overview of the premises of each of these two theories, as these will be the tools to help understand and hopefully explain what transpired in these milestones and why they were so. Realism, as espoused by scholars like E.H. Carr, asserts that states are the main actors in world politics and that their interests lie in the pursuit of power at the expense of others (Mearsheimer, 2005). In a way, it more or less follows the logic of a zero-sum game, whereby one playerââ¬â¢s gain is another playerââ¬â¢s loss. The implication of this in policymaking is that decision-makers will most likely base their decisions on power calculations, as opposed to that of Idealism which focuses on the moral dimension and on liberal ideas for decision-making considerations (Mearsheimer, 2005). One of the canons of idealism, and most often cited by other scholars, is that of Immanuel Kantââ¬â¢s Perpetual Peace, whereby he asserts how states should act towards each other to achieve peace and prevent war (Kant, 1975). Writers, like Herz, argue that idealists believe that it is an imperative to change the world and champion the realization of a world turning into a secure global communityââ¬âthat would entail states abiding by international law and observing respect and recognition of each other (Hacke and Puglierin, 2007). The inception of the SCO may be seen as an idealist characterization of what international cooperation can do, whereby states seek to cooperate with each other to achieve a common goal. As stated earlier, when the SCO was established, the initial intent was to push the disarmament of the states in the border areas and to strengthen confidence-building. These reasons are liberal in natureââ¬âdisarmament is antithetical to the realist push that states should be wary of other states and should protect themselves at any cost, and confidence-building is founded on trust and cooperation among partner states. While its inception is liberal in intent, as the time progresses, the developments in the SCO soon lend to realist assumptions. When it expanded membership, the intention of the new member (and even those seeking membership in status quo) may be contended to have realist bearings. As stated above, when Uzbekistan sought membership, it was not for cooperation nor was it based on tru st on other states but, instead, it was to ensure its own safety by establishing ties with China and the other states in the SCO. But the annexation of Uzbekistan is not the only development that lends to realist assumptions. Lately, Iran sought membership to the SCO as well, although it was not granted, there stands a chance that it can happen (Brummer, 2007). From a geopolitical perspective, Iranââ¬â¢s inclusion would have been a political statement saying that between the West and Iran, China and Russia would have taken the side of Iran (Brummer, 2007). This scenario can lend to realist assumptions by focusing on the intention of Iran to gain allies, against a perceived threat and clearly this puts security above all other concerns. It can also lend to liberal assumptions by focusing on the fact that Iran has chosen to be part of a collective effort in dealing with adversaries, as opposed to a unilateral aggressive approach that will more probably lead to war and heightened co nflict. The intention of China on forwarding the SCO agenda can also be explained using realism. There have been writings that talk about Chinaââ¬â¢s effort to gain influence in its regional area and the intention behind the formation of the SCO may well be subsumed under this. In fact, there have been assertions that China has had the intention of challenging the unipolar order by taking on the leadership position of a anti-hegemonic coalition against the United States of America (Foot, 2006). Foot further stresses that China may well be building up its military and economic capabilities to challenge the USA (Foot, 2006). Taken from this angle, this obviously lends to realist assumptions of China using a formation of an international institution to forward its own interestââ¬âthat is, to secure itself and to gain power by challenging the strength of the leading international player. But it can also be explained in a realist point of view, by showing how this is Chinaââ¬â¢s way to achieve a level of security for itself, but at the same time, it may also be a form of cooperating with the international community. Terrorism being a global problem has also been addressed by the SCO by having its members hold anti-terrorist exercises to promote common security and to gain economic benefits as well (Foot, 2006). Taken from this context, it is logical to say that the SCO has acted in favor of liberal ideas of forwarding collective cooperation. China being one of the torchbearers of the SCO has also coursed cooperation through economic ties with the United States (Langlois and Langlois, 1996). Fighting against terrorism by joining forces with other states lends to liberal ideas of aiming for peace and preventing war, even if it sounds moralistic, and forwarding causes for global security through collective action. But just as the previous discussions, the actions of China towards terrorism may also lend to realist assumptions. One particular example is in reference to the efforts of the United States of America in its fight against terrorism. Post-September 11, the members of the Shanghai Cooperati on Organization did not have a collective response to the proposal of the United States, but instead its members acted individually (Nichol, 2005). This proves the realist argument that states, despite the existence of international institutions, will still act selfishly and in favor of its own national interests. It is obvious that China did not want to lend a hand to this specific United States policy, although it was willing to cooperate with its members in dealing with terrorism in their regional area. Chinaââ¬â¢s definition of its national interests, in this context, was to ensure that terrorism does not thrive in its region, and yet not give the United States the leverage to dictate or influence its policies toward security. This shows how there can be an interplay in the way realism and idealism explains a certain international phenomenon. The next question is, how does this make sense and does this not mean that one of the two theories may lose its ability to explain things if the other can explain it the same phenomenon with equal validity? In seeking to explain political phenomenon, one can use theories as tools to help account for such events. In doing so, scholars may fall to the trap of focusing too much on dichotomies the North and South, Realism and Liberalism. While mutual exclusivity increases the validity of a theory (or a school of thought, for that matter) to distinguish it from other existing theories, this does not necessarily mean that the truth of the other is the shadow of the doubt for the other. In fact, if theories are made to help us explain political phenomenon, then perhaps it pays to have a more comprehensive picture by using the lens of various theories to account for an event. Does realism and liberalism really have to be categorized as contrasts or is it possible that they can complement each other? Lucian Ashworth even asserts that the debate between these two schools of thought may have never existed, as the liberalsââ¬â¢ (often called ââ¬Å"idealistsâ⬠by later realist writers call them) writings were not really addressed properly by realists (Ashworth, 2006). This is not to point out that liberalism has lost its capacity to explain, but what Ashworth is pointing out, is the fact that the line establishing this dichotomy is not absolute, and hence, may be blurred. There have been points raised by writers like Joseph Nye Jr.,that lend to the idea that perhaps the two can complement each other. He argues that in cases when mutual interests or a possibility in the future may suggest that there are plenty of benefits to be had for cooperating, states may actually adopt new strategies in their quest to forward their interests (Nye, 1988). This point may be used to explain why the members of the SCO chose to cooperate in their fight against terrorism in their own region, but chose not to cooperate as a group with the United States of America. This is so, because states and the associations they form can define their interests differently and their interests can also change (Nye, 1988). In this example, what happened was what the other theory cannot account for; the other can shed light to. Realism cannot fully explain how states define their interests and how these interests change, but liberalism can answer that by pushing forward the concept of co llective security, albeit this term needs more discussion as to how it can be operationalized (Nye, 1988). To be blunt about it, the true value of theories being able to explain political phenomenon rests not solely on the exclusivity of their explanations, but on the comprehensiveness of its account. Following Hacke and Puglierinââ¬â¢sà point, the realism in its absolute form can only offer a naked struggle for power, and hence any sound political thought must have elements of both utopia and reality (Hacke and Puglierin, 2007). To have a more comprehensive account of why members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization behaved in certain ways, in certain points in time, one must go beyond the dichotomy of what is considered realist and idealist. Instead, it pays to keep in mind that using relevant aspects of theories (as tools) can help paint a more comprehensive picture that will help account for the explanation of a political phenomenon. REFERENCES Ashworth, Lucian M. ââ¬Å"Where are the idealists in interwar International Relations?â⬠Review of International Studies Vol.32, No. 2 (2006): 291-308. Brummer, Matthew. ââ¬Å"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization.â⬠Journal of International Affairs 60 (2007): 185-199. Foot, Rosemary. ââ¬Å"Chinese strategies in a US-hegemonic global order: accommodating and hedging.â⬠International Affairs Vol.82,à No.1 (2006): 77-94. GlobalSecurity. ââ¬Å"Shanghai Cooperation Organization.â⬠Military. 2007. 15 Oct. 2007 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/int/sco.htm . Hacke Christian and Jana Puglierin. ââ¬Å"John H. Herz: Balancing Utopia and Reality.â⬠International Relations Vol.21, No.3 (2007): 367ââ¬â382. Kant, Immanuel. ââ¬Å"Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch 1975â⬠. 2007. 15 Oct 2007 http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/kant/kant1.htm Langlois, Catherine and Jean-Pierre P. Langlois. ââ¬Å"Rationality in International Relations: A Game-Theoretic and Empirical Study of the US-China Case.â⬠World Politics Vol.48 (1996): 358ââ¬â90. Mearsheimer, John J. ââ¬Å"E.H. Carr vs. Idealism: The Battle Rages On.â⬠International Relations à Vol.19, No.2 (2005): 139-152. Nichol, Jim. ââ¬Å"Central Asiaââ¬â¢s Security: Issues and Implications for U.S. interests.â⬠CRS Report for Congress. (2005): 1-49. Nye, Joseph S. Jr. ââ¬Å"Review: Neorealism and Neoliberalism.â⬠World Politics Vol. 40, No. 2. (1988): 235-251.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)