Regional Politics (Africa, Middle East or East Asia) Essay

Regional Politics (Africa, Middle East or East Asia) - Essay Example In terms of attitude, consolidating democracy entails the majority believing in democratic procedures that they view as adequate to facilitate governance regardless of major economic issues. Further, the majority inclining to pro-democracy forces consolidates democracy in this sense because of minimal support for other systems of governances. Constitutionally, consolidating democracy involves a process whereby both governmental and anti-governmental forces, ascribe to specific laws or institutions established because of a new democratic process (Mottiar, 2002). On the other hand, a school of thought views democratic consolidation as vague, ethnocentric and teleological in terms of not offering a plausible mechanism of assessing the longevity of the democratization process. The proponents considering the process of consolidating democracy as being vague support their arguments by highlighting on the new democracies as a way of determining whether new democracies can maintain democracy in the form. Further, assessing new democracies assist to gain an understanding of the fallacy related to electroralism because a new democracy embraces an election process. Democracies exists that offer electoral democracy, but denies freedom or rights that accompany the principles of establishing democracies (Friedman, 2011). On another note, Mottiar (2002) states that, certain conditions needs to exist prior to acknowledging the consolidation of democracy. This involves conditions that facilitate the establishment of a free civil society where, autonomous groups or movements can articulate their values and develop associations to enhance their interests. Further, there is a need to promote a political society that is autonomous and ideal for political actors to embrace competition by following the legitimate process in pursuit of public power. The core institutions that need to be streamlined in this sense include the political parties, political leadership, electoral rules, int er-party alliances, legislature and elections. In addition, the dominant political actors within a state and including the government should adhere to the rule of law that purposely protects the freedom of individuals. This rule of law entails embracing constitutionalism as a way of promoting good governance from the state administration and the elected government. State bureaucracy also needs to be in place to achieve democratic consolidation since, state bureaucracy ensures that the citizen’s rights are protected and provided with the basic services. An institutionalized economy is also important for democratic consolidation in the sense that, institutionalized economy facilitates the enactment of policies and establishing institutions ideal for sustaining a mixed economy. As argued by Mottiar (2002), democratic consolidation cannot occur in an environment of commanding economies since, market autonomy and diversity in terms of ownership, is critical in establishing an inde pendent civil society. Conversely, democratic consolidation cannot thrive in an environment that embraces completely free market economy. This is because,

Sports and Society - Examples of Each Category of Violence in Sport Assignment

Sports and Society - Examples of Each Category of Violence in Sport - Assignment Example Players can use body contact during tackling by using the upper body to push and shove opponents during a football game and this can qualify for borderline violence since it is not explicit in its nature. Using the hands to push other players when trying to control the ball. Sometimes, players will go all out and actually, assault another player defiantly qualifies as a brutal body contact. Quasi-criminal violence can come in the form of unprofessional conduct between players and can come in the form of threat, insults or other means that degrade the dignity and honour of a player, players or clubs. Criminal violence is organized violence against a player, group of players or a club where another player, players or club willfully connive to bring harm to the other in order to stop them from performing. (Hechter, 1977) 2. If we want to understand violence in sports, we must understand gender ideology and issues of masculinity in culture. How is masculinity related to violence in sports and how do issues of masculinity take on different meanings among men from different backgrounds? Give examples from the course material and from your own experiences as you discuss this issue. Sports have from time immemorial, been relegated to the domain of men. Aggression, displays of power and dominance, drivenness, and the male physic in all its powerful glory. Any sign of weakness, empathy and kindness were regarded as a sign of weakness. The Greek culture is the one that sport was birthed in and that is why it influenced many sporting worldviews. The Greeks were obsessed with power and its display in all its form for glory’s sake. The Greco-Roman culture idolized war and aggression as an expression of masculinity and this was seen in sports. Sporting events of the medieval times were gory events filled with real-life killings of wild animals and slaves who were called gladiators. The sole purposes of the gladiators were to fight and die in the arena for the sake of glory and entertainment.  Ã‚