Csr(References) - 1138 Words

How relevant is CSR in todays business agenda? Corporate Social Responsibility is described as being a company’s ethical, economic, environmental, social and legal attitude towards its stakeholders in order to establish long-term success (Crane at el, 2008). These issues have come to have an important role in the running of a business in recent years. CSR was developed over a number of years and has been researched by professional economists. There are many arguments in favour of and against the CSR strategy. A company that adopts and operates the CSR can gain control over a variety of sectors, including shareholders and stakeholders. In brief, businesses can generate maximum profit and reduce potential risk by adopting the CSR strategy†¦show more content†¦According to Joell Brohier-Meuter, however, Asian countries launched such societal policies as Green Social, Harmonious Society and Business Ethics policy. Therefore, multinational companies need CSR for expanding their business. This source explores the role o f multinational business activity and outlines the factors of CSR in running a business. In addition, it shows a variety of elements, which can affect a business’ success or failure. Crane, A., Matten, D. and Spence, J. L. (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility. Routledge. In this book, Clane et al (2008) states why companies need the CSR strategy in many areas of their activity: increased social awareness, as a result of global warming; major disasters; social consciousness and media pressure. The book explores each of these factors and analyses how a business can overcome its weakness and create opportunities. This source explains the overall advantages to a business and it details the benefits of running a business. Furthermore, this source is highly influenced by a business’s social performance, purpose and adherence with Corporate Social Responsibility. Friedman, M. (1970). ‘The Social responsibility of business is to Increase its Profits’. Place of publication: The New York Times Magazine, 13 September 1970. Available atShow MoreRelatedBusiness Case Study : New Balance1610 Words   |  7 Pagesathletic footwear industry, the company faced challenges in the realm of CSR in the areas of human and labor rights issues in the supply chain, increasing demands for transparency, greenhouse gas emissions regulation, and health, safety and product stewardship. While CSR is an embedded part of New Balance’s values and mission, the company lacked public awareness of its CSR activities due to the fact that the company did not have a CSR department and fact that the owners were hesitant to talk about socialRead MoreParadigm Shift of Firms from Capitalism to CSR (Rationale) The integration of social700 Words   |  3 PagesParadigm Shift of Firms from Capitalism to CSR (Rationale) The integration of social responsibilities in business that emerged with the financial capitalists spurred a fierce debate on whether or mot CSR should be included in the corporate objective function. the earliest reference to such criticism appears to be Ghent, who in 1902 criticized this new trend for its similarity to the economic feudalism of the middle Ages, and who argued that CSR was being used as a tool for forestalling public criticismRead MoreIs Corporate Social Responsibility a Way to Cover Exorbitant Charges1268 Words   |  6 PagesContents 1. Introduction 2 2. Motivations behind CSR 2 2.1 Self-Interest 2 2.2 Ethics 2 3. Arguments for CSR 3 3.1 Innovation 3 3.2 Cost-Saving 3 3.3 Brand Differentiation 3 3.4 Long-Term Thinking 3 3.5 Customer Engagement and Employee Engagement 3 4. Arguments against CSR 3 4.1 Misdirections 4 4.2 Controversial Industries 4 5. Conclusion 4 6. References 4 Is Corporate Social Responsibility a way to cover exorbitant charges? 1. Introduction Various authors have different definitionsRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility : Business Communication And Technology835 Words   |  4 PagesExample – Carnival Australia 3 Conclusion 4 Recommendations 4 Reference List 5 Appendix 1 6 Appendix 2 7 â€Æ' Corporate Social Responsibility Introduction What is Corporate Social Responsibility? The responsibilities a business has to the environment, society, and public health (The Triple Bottom Line Approach, refer to appendix 1) are major factors in relation to the long sustainability of a corporation. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a means by which an organisation can incorporate self-regulationRead MoreImplementation of Corporate Social Responsibility Programs by Foreign Subsidiaries716 Words   |  3 PagesHow can a foreign subsidiary located in the United States improve its CSR in the United States? Are attitudes toward CSR in the United States changing as more foreign subsidiaries locate within the United States? How, and why? Foreign subsidiaries need to start with a well-planned and defined strategic plan if they are to succeed with their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, taking into account value creation, risk management and corporate philanthropy as part of their strategic visionRead MoreHow Remuneration Is Determined in Csr1202 Words   |  5 PagesHow your Remuneration is Determined 1. INTRODUCTION CSR staff are paid an annual salary, along with company superannuation contributions and annual leave loading. In the case of senior staff, the salary and benefits are combined as a remuneration package. The processes for determining annual salaries and fixed remuneration packages in CSR are the same. All references to salary in this document relate equally to both salary and remuneration package. Senior staff however, should also referRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility And Its Impact On The Food Industry996 Words   |  4 Pagesfood industry, as this sector has strong impact and high dependence on the economy. CSR threats and responsibilities are increasingly shifting from single firm level to the food chains and network. Over the past decade, there has been substantial evolvement in CSR as a response to perceived limitations of governmental regulations such as privatization and globalizations. Another main reason for rising relevance of CSR is shift in values and preferences of more affluent citizens in western society asRead MoreTo What Extent Is Csr Beneficial to a Companys Performance1184 Words   |  5 PagesTo What Extent is CSR Beneficial to a Company’s Performance? Corporate social responsibility (CSR), which is a popular debate topic over decades, has divided into five major dimensions over time. They are known as the stakeholder dimension, the social dimension, the economic dimension, the voluntariness dimension and the environmental dimension in research (Dahlsrud, 2008). The relationship between CSR and company’s performance, which is classified as the stakeholder dimension, aroused a controversialRead MoreThe Relationship of NGOs and CSR813 Words   |  3 PagesThe essence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is that businesses should be self-regulating in their strategic and tactical business models that ensure they are in compliance with the moral, ethics, and standards of stakeholder expectations and the law. The goal, of course, is to encourage moral actions so that it does not become necessary for governments to legislate compliance (Kotler Lee 2003). CSR has been increasingly important in the global arena after the Enron scandal, and is a trendRead MoreThe Benefits of Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility Programs965 Words   |  4 Pagesdiverted form landfill (Bell, 2009). These facts show that Bell as same as Rogers, also take a proactive stance facing the environmental issue. They contribute to the charitable fund and make full use of renewable resources. Compared with the CSR programs of Rogers and Bell, it seems clearly that the big companies are more and more willing to give generously to charity. Actually, some people have already wondered what was that for? According to Bansal, Maurer and Slawinski (2009), â€Å"by corporate

Ebay Strategy Free Essays

Short history of eBay Pierre Omidyar launched the first online auction in 1995 under the name ‘Auctionwatch’ under the domain name of www. eBay. com with the intention of creating a person- ­? to- ­? person trading community based on a democratized, efficient market where everyone could have equal access through the same medium, the Internet. We will write a custom essay sample on Ebay Strategy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The initial concept was to attract neighbours and other interested in the San Francisco Bay area residents to the site to buy and sell items of mutual interest. From there, the business grew to succession year after year. 1996: Jeffrey Skoll became co- ­? president and director of eBay. 997: Margaret Whitman became CEO of eBay. 2004: eBay acquired a share in Craigslist. 2005: eBay acquired Rent. com and Shopping. com. 2006: Acquisition of Skype. 2007: eBay acquired Stubhub. com. 2008: Margaret Whitman resigned as CEO. John Donahoe was her successor. During the years 2006- ­? 2008, eBay experienced a drop in gross merchandise sales to - ­? 12% and a reduction in number of auctions listed to - ­? 15%. This signalled a downturn in business for eBay, and a need to overcome the challenges which it now faced. Between 2006 and 2008 : eBay’s share of the US e- ­? commerce market had fallen from 19% to 17% (Amazon market hares, same period: from 3,7% to 5,3%). In 2008, John Donahoe took over the firm. Donahoe was a man who liked change. He believed that the firms marketplace sector had reached its maturity and a change in strategy was needed for the firm to move forward. In other words, he believed that the emphasis should no longer be put on the market place sector of eBay but on expanding the business by providing an array of other services. Question 1: Porters’ five forces: When eBay was first set up in 1995, it was the first business in the online auction industry. Since then, the industry has grown significantly. eBays competitors include Amazon, uBid, Yahoo, and Google. Due to the increasing interest in the online auction industry, eBay is now facing competition from a number of different rivals, most importantly Amazon. 1. Bargaining Power of buyers: Medium Buyers have the power to negotiate a price which suits them through setting their preferred bid. There is no pressure on buyers to surpass their preferred price limit. However, the number of buyers in the market is vast therefore their power is limited. 2. Bargaining Power of Sellers: Low As a result of endless number of sellers in the market, the bargaining power is low as there are many alternatives which an offer buyers good value and at a low price. Unless dealing with high end items or collectibles, which may be rare, the bargaining power of suppliers is low. 3. Existing Rivalry among competitors: Medium: The online auction industry is oligopolistic in the sense that there are a few large companies who own a large proportion of the market shares (eBay, uBid) . However eBay is facing competition from several online retailers (Amazon, Overstock). 4. Threat of Substitutes: High Many consumers still prefer to use traditional methods for purchasing and selling items such as in- ­? store purchases. Consumers prefer to use this ype of purchase for many reasons. Firstly for security purposes, there is no risk in giving cash- ­? in- ­? hand to an establishment as opposed to giving credit card details online. Also, buyers have the opportunity to check the value of the good they wish to purchase. Many retail outlets have also extended their market to an online level. 5. Threat of new entrants: Medium The threat from new entrants is medium. As a result of low barriers of entry into the market, it is not difficult for businesses to be created. Businesses find it difficult to generate regular customers, as they must build up a reputation of having a safe nd secure website. In this sense, eBay has a competitive advantage as it has created a stro ng, trusted environment for its customers. Rising competition in the market will, in turn, cause improvements in product quality and innovation. Also in order to generate good profits, eBay must focus on the sector of suppliers which regulates the most profits, this being the suppliers of high end items such as collectible products. EBay can differentiate by specialising in the market for collectible goods. Question 2: PEST Analysis:  §? Political: The internet is a tax free environment. EBay is not affected by the governments’ laws on axes. However, eBay is affected by certain policies considering the sale of certain products in different countries. For example, the CNIL in France. Economical: As a result of the economic crisis, consumer behaviour is changing. Consumers have less disposable income to spend caused by problems associated with the economic downturn such as rising unemployment rates, inflation rates etc. Sociological: Consumer behaviour has changed dramaticall y in recent years. Consumers want a quick and convenient way to source their products/services; the internet provides this through online retailers and auctions. The number of internet sers has amplified (insert statistics later? ). Technological: The internet has revolutionised, its range of activities has expanded with time. Along with offering search engines to quickly find products/ services, internet now makes it possible to quickly make transactions between buyers and sellers (PayPal).  §?  §?  §? The combined aspects of political, social, economic and technological will strengthen competition in the industry. In reference to economical, the economic crisis will cause companies to differentiate and work harder to find a competitive advantage over its rivals. In relation to technological, the use of e- ­? ommerce is becoming more and more popular; it has transformed the market place. Changing demographics has meant the internet and e- ­? commerce has become a more pro minent force in the lives of consumers. E- ­? commerce is appealing as a more attractive industry as opposed to traditional retail outlets. It is less expensive for companies to create a business online as they can avoid the cost of employing a sales workforce. Also, as technology progresses, there will be the opportunity for firms to globalize, therefore expanding their market reach into different countries, and increasing their consumer base. Online businesses ill be able to target a larger number of consumers worldwide. In the current economic crisis, people need to increase their cash flow. This is an advantage for online auctions such as eBay as people can sell items that they no longer use. It creates a larger market for second- ­? hand items such as worn- ­? once clothing. Question 3: Key Success Factors: Online auctions and retailers †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ These key success factors apply to both online retailers and online auctions. However, in the cas e of the online auctions, a key success factor would be the necessity to create a community of trusted buyers and sellers. Online auctions uch as eBay emphasise the importance of good values among their users such as honesty and trustworthiness. A second key success factors for online auctions is the importance of attracting and keeping sellers as without sellers supplying the items, the market would not exist. It is essential that online auctions are made attractable to sellers. This can be done by offering suppliers the option to set a minimal price for their products, further advertisements of their products e. g. eBay will display sellers products on their homepage for a minimal fee. As shown, there are specified key success factors for online auctions. †¢ Necessity to create a community Necessity to attract suppliers Expertise in technology Brand name Generate traffic to the site: by attracting and keeping customers Overcome internet users nervousness about using the inter net for e- ­? commerce Security of payment Question 4: Our strategic map conveys that this is an oligopolistic market. There are two main competitors who hold strong positions in the market, those being eBay and Amazon. Both businesses have a strong reputation in the market combined with a wide variety of auctions/product categories. EBay is a household name when it comes to online auctions. The map shows hat eBay holds the strongest position in the market. Amazon lacks in number/variety of auctions compared to eBay but it still managed to hold a strong position in the market through its well- ­? established brand name. In comparison with eBay, Yahoo holds a weak position in the market. It lacks in brand recognition as an online business. Yahoo also has a limited variety of auctions paralleled with the market giants eBay and Amazon. Question 5: Swot Analysis  §?  §?  §?  §? Strengths: Global brand for online auctions (Brand awareness). Quality and Quantity of products. C ommunity spirit. Payment security (Paypal). Opportunities: Acquisition of new business. Develop a market in emerging countries (India, Brazil†¦). Increase in online shopping.  §?  §?  §? Weaknesses: Model opened to fraudulent activities. System breakdowns. Increasing customer demands Threats: Substitute products (stores, online shopping web sites†¦). Success attracts competition. Interest and foreign currency exchange rates. Consumers’ fear of fraudulence  §?  §?  §?  §?  §?  §?  §? The SWOT analysis reveals that eBays strengths outweigh its weaknesses. eBays most promising strength is its globally known brand name. EBay has been established as a household name with its continued success in the - ­? commerce industry. It is still possible for eBay to expand and grow in this industry due to the increasing interest in online shopping. A notable weakness of the online commerce industry would be its systems openness to fraudulence. This has been faced by many businesses in the market including eBay. Even th ough eBay was subject to controversy over this problem it has still emerged in a strong position nevertheless. Question 6: After computing the current ratio, we found that the company is able to pay its liabilities with its assets. 2005 2006 2007 Current Assets Current Liabilities 3990993 1266792 4970586 2518395 7122505 099579 Current ratio = current 3,15 1,97 2,30 assets /current liabilities It means that in 2007, the company can reimburse its liabilities with its assets 2 times. We noticed that the net income is decreasing (- ­? 70%). In fact, the gross merchandise sales are decreasing (- ­? 20%) and the auction listed too (- ­? 14%). The working capital shows us that eBay has enough cash available for the firm day to day operations. Working capital = current assets- ­? current liabilities 2005 2006 2007 2724201 2452191 4022926 The average collection period in 2007 is about 22 days. That means the company wait just 22 days before receiving the How to cite Ebay Strategy, Papers

Mobile Phones A boon or a bane free essay sample

Is a knife useful instrument or a perilous weapon? It depends on how it is used. Same implies with the case of technology. The greatest invention are those which affect the mass of people; and of those greatest invention is cell phones .It would be very ungrateful on our parts not to recognise how imperative are they to us. Cell phones have revolutionised the human existence .This is possible only because they are getting cheaper and cheaper day by day. Discounted cell phones accessories have made it even easier to keep the phone intact and give it a longer life. Undoubtedly , if cell phones are in right hands ,then they are a marvel ! Firstly they are proved to be a gratuity on the account of uniting not only the country but the entire planet as a â€Å"global village†. No matter how far we are sitting we can gossip anytime anywhere! In fact it’s bliss to the parents as well as children . We will write a custom essay sample on Mobile Phones: A boon or a bane or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Parents can every time monitor their children and children are also safe. If anyone is in any kind of danger s/he can call for help immediately . It arrests mishaps. The delight of watching favourite tv shows, songs, etc is unmatched; as now cell phones are embedded with all high tech features. Also discounted cell phone accessories have added cherry on the top. Accessories such as wireless Bluetooth handset (can be used to talk without even locating the cell phone ) , cases and pouches (keeping the phone intact and out of harms way ) , charger ,adapter battery covers ,screen protectors are so easily available that they help people to uphold their cell phone with an ease. There are always two sides of a coin . The Time creation aspect of technology has posed a peril which we keep ignoring .The cell phones have progressed rapidly at the rate of knots. Also at the same time they have provide us with a cushion to challenge more task than what we would have attempted if cell phones would have gone on a French leave! This invites element of multitasking. This deprives a person of enjoying his own hard earned money! Also when a person is multitasking rather than completing a single task he merely juggles between a huge number of tasks. This causes burden and hence results in Stress . Stress is a bane to the modern era. Due to our ill capacities of not understanding the correct usuage of resource, our life has turned into a Frankenstein’s movie! Also cell phones have made terrorist attacks in the world very easy. This has become a global matter of concern .Not going far beyond and viewing things aerially and focusing solely on our lives children are growing in precocious manner ,which is again a big matter of concern for parents .Also discounted cell phone accessories have made it easier for children to buy them and keep them unnoticed! They burn their time to ashes by playing games on it, listening songs etc. Instead of going out and playing, they stick to their easy chairs or couches and play games on their phones , which turns their reflexes into slow responses! We have heard of batteries blasting when they were put to charging. This is again on the account of using discounted cell phone accessories .The retailers replace the original piece with duplicate ones, to which customers are totally unaware of. Over utilisation of any resource is harmful . Now mobile phones have interweaved into our lives so much ,that some have started considering it as an inevitable part of their lives. They are addicted to it like a drug addict is addicted to drugs and some have gone even worse! This has consequently given rise to new phobias! Such as Nomophobia (the fear of being out of cell phone) ,Phantom ring (imagining call phone to be ringing when it is actually not) , Human antenna (holding phone high up in the air so that it can catch signal! )and so on. Not only this usage ,of cell phones driving have contributed 10% to the road accidents. We should always remember , that there lives a wise man between the valley of two mountains. Plain and pleasure are a result of modern technology . Usage of cell phones as a boon or a bane ; the answer lies in our hands!

The Auditor and Fraud Essay Example

The Auditor and Fraud Essay EXPLAIN THE RESPECTIVE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGEMENT AND AUDITORS IN THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF FRAUD. The primary responsibility for fraud detection lies with management. This arises due to a contractual duty of care. Directors are able to discharge their duty toward prevention and detection of fraud and error in many ways, for example: * Complying with the Combined Code on Corporate Governance * Developing a code of conduct, monitoring compliance and taking action against breaches * Emphasising a strong commitment to fraud prevention. This involves establishing a culture of honesty and ethical behaviour within the organisation with clearly communicated policies. * Establishing an internal audit function * Having an audit committee The role of the auditor is with assessing the effectiveness of the internal controls. Auditors should appraise the risk of misstatements due to errors and fraud. The role of the auditor in the detection of fraud is appraised within case law, for example: Re Kingston Cotton Mill (1896) – An auditor â€Å"is a watchdog not a bloodhound†. According to Melville (2007), this judgement set the tone for the audit profession for a century. Auditors were to be passive checkers rather than be proactive in searching out errors, misstatements and fraud. This statement may no longer have the force it once did in the light of ISA 240 The Auditor’s Responsibility to Consider Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements. Auditor’s are now expected to recognise at least the possibility that fraud may exist and, consequently, adopt an attitude of professional scepticism in their approach to audit work. Re Thomas Gerrard Son (1968) highlighted the negligence of auditor in overlooking fraudulent activities committed by directors. We will write a custom essay sample on The Auditor and Fraud specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Auditor and Fraud specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Auditor and Fraud specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Auditors relied on stock certificates given to them by the managing director, a person who they trusted. This was supported by the decision in Re Kingston Cotton Mill whereby an auditor is ‘justified in believing tried servants of the company in whom confidence is placed by the company’. It was held that their responsibility was to investigate the matter fully once their suspicions had been aroused. If they had done so, the fraud would have been revealed. This is supported by the content of ISA 240 which requires auditors to follow up anomalies. Once suspicions have been aroused, tests designed specifically and uniquely to detect and establish the extent of fraud will be performed. Auditor’s should plan and conduct their audit tests to limit the possibility that material fraud and irregularities go undetected. Certain assets such as cash are more susceptible to fraud than others and audit planning should take account of this. Tests are mainly carried out due to the need to assess whether a matter is material before reporting it. If the matte proves to be material, it should be first reported to management (unless management are implicated in the fraudulent activity themselves). Auditors cannot guarantee the detection of all frauds and errors because they are not able to spend the time searching for frauds as they only analyse a sample. A guarantee cannot be made as auditors provide an opinion. IDENTIFY AND DISCUSS BOTH THE ORGANISATIONAL AND PERSONAL FACTORS WHICH MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE FRAUD IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR. The integrity of the individual and whether they seem to have a strong sense of ethics. Although a difficult characteristic to assess, the behaviour of individuals and their opinions on issues may provide important evidence to assist the auditors in assessing this characteristic. Personal integrity may well be a key if not the most important factor in keeping a person from committing fraud. There are many cases in which individuals with severe financial or personal pressures and the opportunity to engage in fraudulent activity do not do so because they have a strong personal moral code. Some fraud investigators believe that a strong moral code can prevent individuals from using rationalisations to justify illicit behaviour. Typical rationalisations include: I am only borrowing the money and will pay it back Nobody will get hurt (perception of fraud as â€Å"victimless† crime The company treats me unfairly and owes me Its only temporary until my financial position improves Everybody’s at it!! The extent to which individuals appear to be motivated by greed. Again, a difficult characteristic to assess but the individual’s concern with money and consumer goods may provide some clues about this. If someone starts turning up to work in a brand new Ferrari, they may have won the lottery, or benefited from the demise of a loving relative, or they could be up to no good!! The degree of loyalty exhibited by an individual. If the individual has been with one firm a long time, this may indicate a certain level of satisfaction with their employment and perhaps reduce the likelihood of them committing fraud. You should, however, also be aware that experienced employees, because they are trusted, might have a greater opportunity to commit fraud. Ernst Young Survey (2000) found that nearly half of the employees who defrauded their firms had been employed for over five years. Also bear in mind that opportunities to commit fraud can arise when an employee reaches a level of trust in an organisation or when internal controls are weak or nonexistent. Then the employee if he or she is so motivated will perceive that there is an opportunity to commit fraud, conceal it, and attempt to avoid detection and punishment Also, recent research undertaken by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that in order to make it to the top ranks of corporate management you of course have to be very self-assured, but this can turn into overconfidence which can lead you to â€Å"cross the line† and commit fraud. For example, a senior manager believes that his firm is experiencing only a bad quarter or patch of bad luck. He believes it is in the best interests of everyone involved – management, employees, customers, creditors and shareholders to cover up the problem in the short term so that these constituents do not misinterpret the current poor performance as a sign of the future. In addition, he is convinced that down the road the company will make up for the current period of poor performance. It is the optimistic executive or overconfident executive who is more likely to have these beliefs. May stretch the rules a little or engage in earnings management ploys, but what if things don’t turn around as expected? Then he has to make up for the prior period and that requires continuing fraudulent behaviour. There appears to be a belief that overly optimistic executives can turn their firms around before fraudulent behaviour catches up with them, at least according to the US research. Jordan (2002) as cited in Quirke (2008) reaffirms this attitude by quoting a communist era Czech axiom â€Å"If you do not steal from the state, you rob your family† Antonio Birritella; â€Å"All these funds from the EU were seen as a gift to the Mafia, easy pickings†

History of Yugoslavia - Overview

History of Yugoslavia - Overview Location of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia was located in the Balkan region of Europe, to the east of Italy. The Origins of Yugoslavia There have been three federations of Balkan nations called Yugoslavia. The first originated in the aftermath of the Balkan Wars and World War One. At the end of the nineteenth century, the two empires which previously dominated the region – Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans – began to undergo changes and retreats respectively, sparking discussion among intellectuals and political leaders about the creation of a united South Slav nation. The question of who would dominate this was a matter of contention, be it a Greater Serbia or a Greater Croatia. The origins of Yugoslavia may partly lay in the Illyrian Movement of the mid-nineteenth century. As World War I raged in 1914, the Yugoslav Committee was formed in Rome by Balkan exiles in order to come up with and agitate for a solution to a key question: what states would be created if the Allies of Britain, France and Serbia managed to defeat the Austro-Hungarians, especially as Serbia looked on the verge of destruction. In 1915 the committee moved to London, where it had an effect on allied politicians far greater than its size. Although funded by Serbian money, the committee – comprised mainly of Slovenes and Croats – was against a Greater Serbia, and argued for an equal union, although they conceded that as Serbia was the state which did exist, and which had the apparatus for government, the new South Slav state would have to coalesce around it. In 1917, a rival South Slav group formed from deputies in the Austro-Hungarian government, who argued for a union of Croats, Slovenes, and Serbs in a newly reworked, and federated, Austrian led empire. The Serbs and the Yugoslav Committee then went further, signing an agreement to push for the creation of an independent Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes under the Serb kings, including land currently in Austria-Hungary. As the latter collapsed under the pressures of war, A National Council of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was declared to rule Austria-Hungary’s former Slavs, and this pushed for a union with Serbia. This decision was taken in no small part to rid the area of marauding bands of Italians, deserters and Habsburg troops. The Allies agreed to the creation of a combined South Slav state and basically told the rival groups to form one. Negotiations followed, in which the National Council gave in to Serbia and the Yugoslav Committee, allowing Prince Aleksander to declare the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes on December 1st, 1918. At this point, the devastated and disjointed region was only held together by the army, and bitter rivalry had to be damped down before borders were set, a new government was formed in 1921, and a new constitution was voted in (although the latter only just occurred after many deputies walked out in opposition.) In addition, in 1919 the Communist party of Yugoslavia formed, which received a large number of votes, refused to join the chamber, committed assassinations and got itself banned. The First Kingdom Ten years of political infighting between the many different parties followed, largely because the kingdom was dominated by Serbs, who had expanded their governing structures to run it, rather than by anything new. Consequently, King Aleksander I shut the parliament and created a royal dictatorship. He renamed the country Yugoslavia, (literally ‘Land of the South Slavs’) and created new regional divisions to try and negate the growing nationalist rivalries. Alexander was assassinated on October 9th, 1934 while visiting Paris, by an Ustasha affiliate. This left Yugoslavia governed by a regency for the eleven-year-old Crown Prince Petar. War and the Second Yugoslavia This first Yugoslavia lasted until the Second World War when Axis forces invaded in 1941. The Regency had been moving closer to Hitler, but an anti-Nazi coup brought the government down and the wrath of Germany onto them. War ensued, but not one as simple as pro-Axis versus anti-Axis, as communist, nationalist, royalist, fascist and other factions all fought in what was effectively a civil war. The three key groups were the fascist Utsasha, the royalist Chetniks and the communist Partisans. As the Second World War was concluded it was the Partisans lead by Tito – backed at the end by Red Army units - who emerged in control, and a second Yugoslavia was formed: this was a federation of six republics, each supposedly equal – Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, and Montenegro - as well as two autonomous provinces within Serbia: Kosovo and Vojvodina. Once the war was won, mass executions and purges targeted collaborators and enemy fighters. Tito’s state was initially highly centralized and allied to the USSR, and Tito and Stalin argued, but the former survived and forged his own path, devolving power and gaining assistance from western powers. He was, if not universally regarded, then at least for a time admired for the way Yugoslavia was progressing, but it was Western aid – designed to keep him away from Russia – that probably saved the country. The political history of the Second Yugoslavia is basically a struggle between the centralized government and the demands for devolved powers for the member units, a balancing act that produced three constitutions and multiple changes over the period. By the time of Tito’s death, Yugoslavia was essentially hollow, with deep economic problems and barely concealed nationalisms, all held together by the cult of Tito’s personality and the party. Yugoslavia may well have collapsed under him had he lived. War and the Third Yugoslavia Throughout his rule, Tito had to tie the federation together against growing nationalism. After his death, these forces began to increase rapidly and tore Yugoslavia apart. As Slobodan Milosevic took control first of Serbia and then the collapsing Yugoslavia’s military, dreaming of a Greater Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia declared their independence to escape him. Yugoslav and Serbian military attacks in Slovenia failed quickly, but the war was more protracted in Croatia, and longer still in Bosnia after it also declared independence. The bloody wars, filled with ethnic cleansing, were mostly over by the end of 1995, leaving Serbia and Montenegro as a rump Yugoslavia. There was war again in 1999 as Kosovo agitated for independence, and a change in leadership in 2000, when Milosevic was finally removed from power, saw Yugoslavia gain wider international acceptance again. With Europe afraid that a Montenegrin push for independence would cause a new war, leaders produced a new federation plan, resulting in the dissolution of what remained of Yugoslavia and the creation of ‘Serbia and Montenegro’. The country had ceased to exist. Key People from the History of Yugoslavia King Alexander / Aleksander I 1888 - 1934Born to the King of Serbia, Alexander lived some of his youth in exile before leading Serbia as regent during World War 1. He was key in declaring the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, becoming king in 1921. However, years of frustration at the political infighting made him declare a dictatorship in early 1929, creating Yugoslavia. He tried to bind the disparate groups in his country together but was assassinated while visiting France in 1934. Josip Broz Tito 1892 – 1980Tito led the communist partisans fighting in Yugoslavia during World War 2 and emerged as the leader of the new second Yugoslavian federation. He held the country together and was notable for differing markedly with the USSR, which dominated the other communist nations of Eastern Europe. After his death, nationalism tore Yugoslavia apart.

Biology and Ecosystems Education Admission/Application Essay

Biology and Ecosystems Education The paper "Biology and Ecosystems Education" is an outstanding example of an application/admission essay on English. The environment in which we live, the uniqueness of different creatures across diverse ecosystems, as well as, how a man gets along with them has been a question that has always fascinated me. The way in which the environment and ecosystem relate to the future of humankind has always been an intriguing subject for me. When I joined a junior school that was my first experience with nature and interaction with human life. It was here that I noticed I had an affinity for the environment and animals. Nothing excites me more than seeing plants and animals behaving the same way as I have learned in the classroom. Immediately, I get the urge to share what I know and observe with people around me, feeling that they need to realize and appreciate the wonders of nature around us. I usually feel in these situations that man has forgotten the wonders of nature in his pursuit for p rofit and wealth.Understanding the environment and ecosystems has aroused curiosity in me and taught me to view the world from a new point of view. This passion has propelled me to chose NYU and focus on biology. It is my belief that this will be the best institution to conduct experiments in biology, as well as to learn how to conduct research with regards to the ecosystem. In high school, I built up my knowledge of different ecosystems through my work with the wildlife club and cleaning up beach land. Three years of high school have firmed up my determination to pursue biology, and it is my belief that NYU is the best institution to do this. With the advanced opportunities of research and the working partnerships between NYU and other universities around the world, I believe that I can improve my knowledge in biology and ecosystems greatly. Thank you.

Real estate national overview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Real estate national overview - Essay Example In addition to, France hosts a number of NATO agencies, which play a significant role in the development of the group. France is an active part of the modernization process of NATO military (Milligan, 14). The state of the national economy of France is that it is stagnating. It is evident through growth, unemployment, and national debt. According to statistics, the economy of France will hit the European Union budget shortage of 2007 (Murphy, 8). The French believes that an intervention can bring the situation under control. The French president believes that an expansive fiscal policy is essential in dealing with the French economy. France has a GDP of $35700 in comparison to other nations in the region (Boyer, Berend & Haba, 19). The economy of France has expanded its horizons when relating various sectors of the economy. The central government has privatized most large companies in France to allow other stakeholders help the nation to develop. On the contrary, the government maintains to play a significant role in some sectors of the economy. The government manages to hold a majority of the shares in industries such power, transport and defense system. France has at least 82 million foreign tourists annually, and it is the most visited country in the world. France leaders are capitalists, and they have maintained a social equity through laws and policies. The unemployment rate in 2008 rose from 7.8% to 10.8% in 2013(Boyer, Berend & Haba, 19). Despite the slow rate of growth in France, the borrowing rate reduced significantly and attracted investors to the country. The demand for housing in France rose due to the massive demand for houses. The increase in interest rates increased the demand for houses in the nation. The availability of long mortgages has encouraged the demand for houses in France. The financial crisis caused a drop in housing projects in France. In comparisons with other countries, there are many similarities when it