Class, Democracy and Resistance In Contemporary Thailand. What is the Dissertation

Class, Democracy and Resistance In Contemporary Thailand. What is the red shirt yellow shirt conflict about - Dissertation Example It then proceeds to explore why, if the Red Shirts are indeed representative of those who have been oppressed by an elite urban-centric Thailand, support is being given to a leader like Thaksin Shinawatra who, by all showing, is a rent-seeking and corrupt politician. It uses class and resistance as lens by which the red shirt and yellow shirt phenomenon may be understood and seeks to unravel tha complex dynamics that underlie Thai-style contemporary politics. II. Introduction The image is a searing one, and has captured the attention of a global audience. Outside Siam paragon, one of Bangkok’s gleaming edifices, a man stands with his fist clenched. He has the weatherbeaten face of a rural farmer from northern Thailand and he is in a red shirt. The picture captures the audience because of the juxtaposition it presents: the two faces of one country. On the one hand, as represented by the posh mall that is the Siam Paragon, it is a modern and bustling economy, well on its way to Capitalist-style development. On the other hand, it is a simmering hotbed of discontent, with rural labourers coming to the center so that their voices may finally be heard. This contradiction lies at the very heart of the Red Shirt and Yellow Shirt conflict in Thailand. This paper aims to discuss the political conflict in Thailand between the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts in Thailand, a conflict that has led to many dramatic scenes being played out before the international media but whose underlying themes and issues remain hidden from the Western spectator. There is much myth-making that has helped both sides along: with one side demonizing the other and glorifying its own, and people seeing only what they choose to see. The conflict illustrates the complexity of Thai politics, and the stark class injustices and inequality that have attended the so-called Land of the Free. On the one hand, there is a group who has long been a victim of historical injustices and seeks to be hear d by the center and it does so by supporting a strongman whose political career has been riddled by charges of corruption and misfeasance in public office (see: Chaturon, 2009). On the other hand, is a group affiliated with the â€Å"People’s Alliance for Democracy† (PAD) who professes support for the King and who levels on Thaksin the charge of not being respectful enough to the Thai Monarch, but who represent the elite and middle class in Thai society and to the lower classes in rural Thailand (Chaturon, 2009), partially responsible for the gaping inequalities in the political economy of Thailand by protecting the status quo from which they benefit. Andre Vltcheck (2010) puts it succinctly: Imagine that you are Thai and poor, as most people in this country still are. Imagine that you are aware of your social position, as most poor Thais are, and that you are educated and understand the complexities and hidden meanings of political life of your country, which most Tha is do not. You have basically two alternatives if suicide or emigration is not the option: to support the outrageously elitist aristocracy and the army (many of whose members now paint themselves

Policy :: essays research papers fc

If Western diplomacy has a role to play it will have to be discreet and carefully considered, always bearing in mind that the governing rule of diplomats, like that of doctors, must be ‘first, do no harm’. ( Monteagle) This thought, taken form The Clash of the Civilizations article, succinctly puts forth the ideas that I, as a diplomat learned throughout the Nations Game simulation. Diplomacy carries out the policy that nations have set. In order to carry out policy diplomats must use tactics and strategies within prescribed guidelines. The primary tool, which was most often used during the nations simulation, was negotiation. Most diplomacy is secret, though results are usually made public. The goal of diplomacy is to further the state’s interests without causing resentment. Diplomacy is an alternative to war to achieve a nation’s goals. Its weapon is words. Diplomacy may employ persuasive threats, but is usually peaceful. ‘Diplomacy seeks to strengthen the state, gaining advantages and allies while neutralizing its opponents. Thus, it tries to create good will toward the state it represents† (Britannica). The role of diplomacy during the nations simulation was very important. Envoys had to be shrewd. In order to further ones country, the diplomat had to know exactly what they needed and not back down. For example, the country of Libertania decided early on that it must concentrate on point totals. Political alliances were of secondary importance to them. Press releases were less focused on good will toward other countries, but more on setting up trade appointments. When rumors of war began to brew, Libertania immediately looked at point totals and choose a country strong in military to ally with. Ideological alliances were not at the forefront of Libertania’s strategy. Libertanian women were concerned about slavery and conditions of women in other countries, but were more concerned about our own country progressing economically. Once Libertania was in a strong economic state , then it could use diplomats to bring their political beliefs to the continent. Outside sources, such as the World Council, at first glance thought Libertania had diplomatic failures. However, it was the complete opposite. Libertania was able to move forward through diplomatic treaties. For example, counties such as Crock gave Libertania hundreds of point totals in exchange for signing an ecological preserve pact to protect the Vastlands. Libertania gave up claims to both Land disputes which to outsides seemed to be foolish, costly mistakes. Conversely, they were ingenious maneuvers which allowed Libertania to collect more points. Other countries were delighted to trade us hundreds of point totals for a piece of land that would only yield a couple hundred points.

IBP Wicked Problem

Discuss how the issues associated with broken food systems might be understood as a wicked problem. The notions of social wicked problems were first introduced in 1973 by Ritter and Webber; two Berkeley professors who published an article in Policy Sciences, that identified the characteristics that differentiated wicked problems from ordinary problems (Camellias 2008). Ritter and Weeper's article provided 10 properties that can be used as a guide to recognizing whether an issue is considered Wicked'.With the instant increasing global population, issues surrounding food production and distributed have come to light, raising the questions; is the world's food system broken? And is it a wicked problem? Studies have shown that currently the global food transport system is growing faster than the food production industry itself (Trochaic, et al 2012). Food demand is becoming a major issue among nations, and is only set to continue in the coming years, with an estimated 50% increase by 203 0 (Trochaic, et al 2012).Over consumption in the developed world has become a real issue for poorer nations who re struggling to provide basic food provisions for their people, Richard Black identifies that major governments need to start acting sooner rather than later. â€Å"We have to go beyond GAP; and either we can do it voluntarily or we'll have to do it because pressure on a finite planet will in the end make us† (Black, 2012). Adding to this, is the fact that up to 50% of food is lost in transportation, highlighting the huge amount of food wastage occurring, which if cut down would help to ease up the demand and supply chain (Law, 2011).Climate change and natural disasters are another factor contributing to the food yester crisis. As the world increases its trading and relies more on this system, elements affecting one major provider are felt globally. A catastrophic drought in Russia caused global wheat prices to rise 70% higher in 2011 compared to the previous year; causing major issues for the world's poorest people, who spend 80% of their income on food (Ford, 2011).Climate change caused by humans and natural disasters add more elements to the food system predicament, further complicating the search for solutions. The first famine of the 21st century occurred in Somalia, with experts stating that this would have never happened as humans are producing enough food to feed the world twice over (Law, 2011). The report highlights how the disaster could have been prevented through early warning systems, and a quicker response time.Archie Law brings to light two major issues contributing to the famine; one being the removal of major funding in the agricultural field; governments ignoring this need for more agriculture are simply setting up for future disaster. The second major issue is the use of land; Saudi Arabians emptied their aquifers growing wheat and can longer deed themselves. They are now purchasing land in developing countries to grow the ir own food supply (Law, 2011). This power play of rich nations adds the issue of politics into the food system, with those with the most money always coming out on top (Maxwell, 2012).Aid is not enough to fix this issue; more must be done to help the people to help themselves (Karri, 2005). The world's food system is clearly broken and needs to be addressed on a global scale. There is no definite formulation of this complex problem and the search for solutions never stops. The many elements making up this complex issue are all unique and no solution can bring a 100% fix, adding to this is the amount of stakeholders who have different opinions and expectations.These are all properties of a wicked problem (Camellias 2008), thus making the broken food system wicked.

Symptoms And Treatment Of Depression Essay - 2079 Words

Depression is a disabling mental disorder that is related to mood and characterized by persistent feeling of sadness, poor sleep and suicidal ideation in severe forms. As a topical issue, emphasis is often reserved for those with evident symptoms, with little emphasis on vulnerability. For women, the nature of sex hormone production makes them particularly vulnerable as they grow older and by the age of forty five to sixty years, depressive symptoms are quite common and they are closely related to menopausal symptoms and the quality of spousal relationship. In some population, more than three quarters of women in midlife have depressive symptoms, with almost half of these women having moderate to severe symptoms. These observations may appear frightening, but they should motivate a peculiar interest in looking inwards and asking the inevitable question; am I vulnerable to depression. Every is as long as we are human, but gender plays an important role in vulnerability to depression and women are particularly vulnerable because of the sudden drop in sex hormone production with advancing age. The dominant female hormone, Estrogen is vital to the regulation of substances that control human affect such as Serotonin. After forty years, there is a huge decline in the function of the ovaries, the main site for Estrogen production. This decline represents a normal physiological aging of the ovaries as the eggs within it become exhausted. The precipitate fall in hormone levels areShow MoreRelatedDepression Symptoms And Treatment Of Depression935 Words   |  4 Pagestreated for depression but your symptoms haven t improved, you may have treatment-resistant depression. Taking an antidepressant or going to psychological counseling (psychotherapy) eases depression symptoms for most people. But with treatment-resistant depression, standard treatments aren t enough. They may not help much at all, or your symptoms may improve, only to keep coming back. If your primary care doctor prescribed antidepressants and your depression symptoms continue despite treatment, ask yourRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression1015 Words   |  5 Pagesmoods, thinking or behavior. Fortunately, treatment for mental illness or mental disorders can lead to recovery; and although treatment may include medication, it ideally also includes psychosocial therapies and support. The mental illness I will focus on is a mood disorder called depression, or major depressive disorder. Depression is the most common mood disorder, and one of the most common mental illnesses. Depression is a mood disorder clinical depression affects how you feel, think and behave andRead MoreSymptoms And Treatments Of Depression1274 Words   |  6 PagesDepression is a major issue affecting many in a person’s everyday life. There are many ways to combat depression, whether it be medication such as antidepressants or therapeutic treatments such as psychotherapy, electroc onvulsive therapy, light therapy or even herbal remedies. (â€Å"Diseases and Disorders: Depression†). Antidepressants temporarily stop depression, but since the side effects can be harmful or life threatening, alternative treatments are a much safer and efficient way to combat depressionRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression1230 Words   |  5 Pagesmood disorder are really common and can seek treatment but some can be really rare and hard to cure even with treatment. Some of the major types of mood disorders are depression, anxiety, bipolar, and schizophrenia. Anybody at any age can develop a mental disorder, usually occurred during times of painful events or traumatizing experiences. Depression is a serious illness that caused by changes in the brain chemistry. Many people believed that depression is feeling down or sad, however, it is actuallyRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression1431 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: What is Depression? Depression is a type of mood disorder characterized by persistent and profound sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and feelings of worthlessness. While depression may be a common disorder in many cultures, not many people know about its different types and more importantly how to help themselves or others in the recovery process. There are in fact multiple types of depressive conditions each characterized by its own causes, courses, patterns outcomes, and specificRead MoreDepression : Symptoms And Treatment Essay1592 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is Depression? Depression is a condition in which a person feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated, or disinterested in life in general (Depression II). Depression is a serious mental illness that does the aforementioned as well as much more. When a person is depressed, it can interfere with daily and normal functioning as well as can cause pain for the person with it and those around them, and this is what doctors call ‘Clinical D epression’. Depression is more than just a simple sadness;Read MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression1468 Words   |  6 PagesManagement of Care Depression is one of the major causes of disabilities and it can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or culture. People who suffer from depression are a higher risk for suicide, and that is magnified if there is any family history of suicide, or other history of disorders like anxiety or panic attacks. Other conditions that can be attributed to a poor prognosis for a person who is depressed is history of substance abuse, low self-esteem, someone who is chronically illRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression1180 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Depression is a serious and prevalent problem in the 21st century and had been for a long time. It is the most common mood disorder and has a lifetime prevalence rate of 6-25% in international studies (Carr, 2012). Reliable diagnosis is vital for the study of mental disorders (Fried, Epskamp, Nesse, Tuerlinckx Borsboom, 2016) and with the rising issue that depression is, individuals with multiple chronic diseases can be tackling depression occurring at the same time thus, it may complicateRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression881 Words   |  4 Pages Depression is a word that people commonly use in everyday life. On any given day you will hear someone say I am feeling depressed, that was depressing, exc, but depression is not just a state of being but  a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way. Because of overuse of this word, people often mistake when someone should be medically diagnosed with depression for them just being sad. This is problematicRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Depression1716 Words   |  7 PagesSevere depression can have a devastating effects on not only individuals, but also on their families and communities. Depressive disorders when severe or prolonged enough can cause some patients to seek to harm themselves, or worse; to seek to end their lives. While over the last century there have been significant strides in the treatment of depression, there still is much work to be done. May medication that treat depres sion take a long time for patient to reach therapeutic dosages, mean that patients