Assess the advantages and disadvantages of using the World Systems Theory to study politics and international relations.

Researching Politics and International Relations
Theory Essay
Word Count: 1500 plus or minus 10%. Word count does NOT include the reference list.
Question:
‘Assess the advantages and disadvantages of using the World Systems Theory to study politics and international relations.’

In this essay you need to:

1. Address metatheory

2. Engage with key thinkers who have developed the approach.

3. Describe the broad ideas and key concepts of the approach.

4. Give examples of the application of the approach by established academics.

5. Contrast the World Systems Theory with one other theoretical approach (I would contrast with neo-realism by Kenneth Waltz)

6. Assess the advantages and disadvantages of using the World Systems theory to study politics and international relations.

Note: All 6 of these points need to be addressed within the essay. Although the order does not have to be laid out in this way. The structure is down to you.
I would suggest looking at two advantages and two disadvantages of using the World systems theory in IR. Exploring these in great detail. To be more explanatory rather than just descriptive.
The theoretical approach to analyse?
World Systems Theory in International Relations created by Immanuel Wallerstein developed in 1974 (note that though this approach is based in classical Marxism, any answer that looks only at classical Marxism will not be passed)

1- (Metatheory) Where does that theoretical approach situate in terms of ontology and epistemology? Why? (See figures below for support.)
Positivist Epistemology – This view is shared by neorealism, neoliberalism, behaviouralism, rational choice, rational choice institutionalism, and liberal feminism.
Critical Realism – This position is taken by Marxism, Critical Theory, radical feminism, CRT, Historical Institutionalism, constructivism in IR, forms of post-colonialism.
Interpretivism – This position is taken by interpretivism, poststructuralism, forms of post-colonialism, and post-structural feminism.
2 -Engage with key thinkers who have developed the approach.
It will be important for you engage with their contribution to the approach you’re addressing in the essay.
3 – Give examples of the application of the theoretical approach by established academics
Mention one (maximum two) example(s) of how the approach has been used by academics before.
It will most likely be the application of a particular theory that comes out of the theoretical approach (for example, if looking at Neoliberalism there is the theory of balance of power or the theory of complex interdependence).
This is where you can add most secondary sources. I will attach some that you could use. One good one I have looked at is Christopher Chase-Dunn and Peter Grimes I will add this to attached files
4- Contrast the theoretical approach with another approach
what theoretical approach would you want to contrast your approach of choice with? For example, there are groups of theoretical approaches that are quite straightforward to compare like neoliberalism and neorealism, or Behaviouralism and rational choice.
For the World Systems theory (Neo-Marxism) I would suggest contrasting this with Kenneth Walz Neo-Realist theory. Use a paragraph to do this. Remember the main focus of the essay is World Systems. – it would be good to perhaps use a reference for neo-realist theory to compare.

5 – Assess the advantages and disadvantages of using the World Systems theory to study politics and/or international relations – mentioning a couple of advantages and a couple of disadvantages is fine but make sure you explain why those are advantages and disadvantages of your theoretical approach of choice. – Explore 2 advantages and disadvantages in detail
Some disadvantages for World-Systems theory are:
• Its level of determinism – the theory suggests that the position of actors within the structure determine the way they behave
• Able to outline the evils of international capitalism but has no scheme which will change it
• It is reductionist – it reduces all phenomena – war, economic crises, inequality, aspects of identity and so forth – to the dynamic of capitalism and to social class and class struggle. In practice, structuralists have failed to ask questions about gender, ethnicity, and other sorts of identities (everything is explained by class)
• Are all interests determined by social class?
It suggests an end point to history – socialism

Learning and Talent Development

Leans Cars have asked you to design and deliver a learning and development event to a group of females as part of their Women in Manufacturing (WiM) EDI initiative.

You may select any topic of relevance to these delegates, but will need to justify your choice. You should write a written report which includes your theoretical underpinning for the proposed learning & talent development event.

You must include the following in your response:

1. The objectives of the event

2. Design of the event and the rationale for the design, based on concepts of learning where appropriate

3. Outline of the methods

4. (Proposed) evaluation and how learning might be transferred to the workplace

Critically review a curriculum programme or scheme with which you are familiar

Critically review a curriculum programme or scheme with which you are familiar, examining its aims and purposes and analysing the extent to which these are achieved in practice based on your own experience. As far as you are able you should include the different perspectives of relevant stakeholders in your analysis and identify overall strengths, limitations and possible areas for development.

Dementia in women

The focus of the paper should be the research-based treatment options for the identified target population (best practices).

Research three possible research topics.

Each topic should include:

A description of the topic.

One research source relating to the topic. Sources should come from a journal or textbook (no websites should be used for your research project at any point, as they are not scholarly). You may use the library databases and searching tools to assist you in finding quality source material. The source should be cited and referenced using APA writing style. Target population: Dementia in women

Covid-19 will change the way we work and travel permanently

In providing your response, draw upon arguments made within the following paper written by key researchers in Australia, Give a short (maximum of 500 words) response to the following statement: Covid-19 will change the way we work and travel permanently

New Zealand and the UK* – which gives a detailed review of the Human Factors issues associated with future workplaces influenced by the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. Your 500-word response should provide a critical appraisal of this paper, providing evidence for and/or against the key points they make. The focus of your response should be on physical and environmental ergonomics issues relevant to the statement, rather than cognitive and systems ergonomics perspectives. It is expected that your evidence used will also come from 3 to 5 papers published by other authors. Paper – Tim Bentley, Nicola Green, David Tappin & Roger Haslam (2021) State of science: the future of work – ergonomics and human factors contributions to the field, Ergonomics, 64:4, 427-

439, DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2020.1841308

PORTUGUESE LITERATURE – Comparison of Two Literary Texts

Compare and contrast the satirical aspects of Fernão Mendes Pinto’s Peregrination AND José Saramago’s The Elephant’s Journey. (2500 words). Find attached all the sources needed in order to write such essay, ALL OF THEM in English, just like the essay to be written which also has to be in English. Of course, knowledge on Portuguese literature appreciated. Quote, add footnotes and references. Be comparative, analytic, not too descriptive. Each paragraph should focus on a different subtopic within the book or the novels. For example, for ‘Peregrination’ each paragraph could focus on a different chapter or a different scene. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY KIND OF HELP WITH ANYTHING.

Explore the impact of current affairs on the business environment

Please find the instructions for the essay on the attached file. It is extremely important to follow the guidance in the file in order to succeed. The work must be excellent as it is very important. The topic to write about should be any you choose, but MUST be related to the situation in the European Union (EU). It would be nice to get in the depth of the subject you write about as much as possible, and include strong references, mostly articles and less website information- this is already written in the guidance just needed to highlight it because it affects the grade very much.

Assessment_2_Guidance

Critical theory media and cultural studies

please inform me on choice of question and i will upload materials relating to it.

ANSWER ONE QUESTION ONLY

1. Does Critical Theory still have a use and value today for the study of media, communication and culture?

2. Critically examine how changes in the way we work in the ‘post-Fordist’ period have impacted on our society, culture and subjectivity. You can refer to, for example, the blurring of production and consumption, the shift to ‘immaterial labour’, the importance assigned to ‘creativity’ or the automation and/or digitalisation of the workplace. Feel free to focus on one particular area as described, or one of your own choosing.

3. Drawing on theories of ideology and/or hegemony and/or interpellation, discuss how economic, social and cultural inequalities are reproduced. Use examples of cultural products and practices where necessary to support your answer.

4. Analyse the significance to the critical study of media, communication and culture of Raymond Williams’s claim that ‘culture is ordinary’ (Williams, 1989).

5. Critically consider the relationship between television output and television viewing with reference to at least one of the following: consumerism; security; domestic life; identity; self-expression.

6. “We use Empire to name the new form of sovereignty, a new form of political rule” (Hardt, M & Negri, A, 2002, para 2). Are the concepts of ‘Empire’ and ‘Multitude’, as defined by Hardt and Negri, still helpful in understanding and critically engaging the world of 2020?

7. Have social media and/or digital communication technology challenged, reproduced or intensified dominant structures of power? Use specific examples where helpful.

8. Critically explore at least one way that software is shaping contemporary society and/or subjectivity and/or interpersonal relationships. Use examples of specific software packages or platforms to illustrate your answer.

9. What is meant by the ‘posthuman’, and is this a useful concept to capture life in the 21st Century?

Diversity and Cross Culture Management

Please use the following questions to guide your description of your culture:

Which country are you from? Describe the political system in your country (e.g., how are political leaders elected to the office? What are the major parties and how are they different from each other ideologically? How do people normally participate in the political process?). How does the current political environment impact foreign businesses operating in your country?

Describe the basics of the legal system in your country (e.g., what are the basic assumptions of the system? How are legal disputes resolved? How are laws enforced). What are the basic protections for foreign businesses that want to operate in your country?

What is considered to be ethical in your country? How are the ethical beliefs in your country different from those in other countries you are familiar with? How do you think your ethical belief may impact the way you run your businesses in countries that have a different ethical belief system?

Describe the dominant culture in your country. Specifically, describe how people think of themselves as unique individuals relative to being a part of a larger collective. How do people respond to the authority? Are there significant differences in terms of how people think of men versus women in their role at home, work, and the society? Discuss the implications of these cultural values in the work place.

You need to use at least one (preferably more) external citation for each question (the citations should be included in the reference list). The citations have to come from at least three different sources. Please do not use Wikipedia or other encyclopedic sources. I want you to do your own research rather than going to a one-stop source.

Please clearly indicate which part of your answer corresponds to which question (3 points deduction if you fail to do so).

The paper should be at least three pages long that do not include the questions or the references (12-point font and double-spaced). Overall, the paper should not exceed 5 pages (you will lose two points for every one page exceeding the limit). The reference page does not count toward the 5-page limit.

Business Finance: select and reserve the company you wish to research. With few exceptions, you may choose any publicly traded company: that is headquartered in the U.S.  that has been publicly traded for at least five years that is not a bank, financial services company, insurance company, or real estate investment trust (REIT) as the ratios used to evaluate financial institutions are beyond the scope of this course.

Your first task of this week is to select and reserve the company you wish to research. With few exceptions, you may choose any publicly traded company: that is headquartered in the U.S.  that has been publicly traded for at least five years that is not a bank, financial services company, insurance company, or real estate investment trust (REIT) as the ratios used to evaluate financial institutions are beyond the scope of this course.

Once you have selected a company, post a new thread in the discussion topic with the name of the company in the subject. Each student is required to choose a different company.

When you have finished reserving your company, find the company’s most recent 10-K report. There are two ways to do this:

Option 1: Go to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website. Use the Filings tab to find the report. If you need assistance, there is a short video about how to use the site.

Option 2: Use the 10-K report posted on the company’s website. From the company’s home page, look for a link for Investors, then select SEC filings, and limit the search of SEC documents to “annual.” Select the most recent 10-K filing. Take care not to select the 10-Q as it is a quarterly report.

Your second task is to prepare a report with the required information provided below. Use the same heading names (in bold) before presenting the information as requested. Take care to write your report in third person (as a reporter) rather than in first person (as a company employee).

Recommended Resources:

10-K Report, Item 1

The Yahoo! Finance website

Report Headings

Name of Company and Ticker Symbol: Company name (ticker symbol)

10-K Report: Paste the direct URL to the company’s most recent 10-K Report

Company Website: Paste the URL to the company’s website

Company Business Model: Review Item 1 of the 10-K report to find the following information:

Short Description of Business: What does the company do? What are its key sources of revenue?

Product Mix: Identify the company’s product mix or key segments. Briefly describe each product line/segment. Include brand names if possible

Stock Price Data: use the Yahoo! Finance website to find the information required.

5-Year Stock Price Graph: Provide a screenshot of the data (Learn how to do this on a MAC or PC)

Although the screen shot tool does not work with the Yahoo interactive graph, the snipping tool does. Please view this video for directions on how to snip the graph so that you can paste it into your post for Discussion 1.

Stock Price Data: Use the interactive chart on the Yahoo! Finance page, and use your cursor to find the highest price point and lowest price point in the last 52 weeks. The date the price was hit will be at the bottom of the graph on the horizontal axis.

Dividend Data: Does the company pay a dividend? How often, and how much have the last few dividend payments been?

Evaluation: Share what you learn from the data and information collected for this discussion. Does the stock price graph provide evidence of management’s ability to maximize shareholder wealth? Does the company pay a dividend, and how does the answer to that impact the larger ‘shareholder wealth maximization’ discussion? What is your impression of the company thus far? Sufficiently examining the data and information collected will likely require at least 250 words.

THE COMPANY THAT I HAVE SELECTED IS TOPPS COMPANY