Social Change Theories Essay -- Sociology

Social Change Theories Richard Roberts said, "As long as our social order regards the good of institutions rather than the good of men, so long will there be a vocation for the rebel." Moreover, the theories of functionalism, the conflict theory, and punctuated equilibrium enable rebels to emerge due to their theories' misplaced sense of value. Functionalism, largely influenced by Talcott Parsons, can be interpreted in several ways, creating the different versions of functionalism such as biocultural functionalism and structural-functionalism, which have different main aspects of belief. Bicultural functionalism expresses the belief that because of physiological needs social institutions were created in order to fulfill these needs. This belief suggests that functionalism, the belief that anything simply occurs because it serves a function, is based upon the individual's needs which include reproduction, food and shelter. Alternatively, the social structure and society as a "system of relationships" is also part of functionalism as the structural-functionalism view. According to the structural-functionalism it is not the individual that is important, but society as a whole. "He suggested that a society is a system of relationships maintaining itself through cybernetic feedback, while institutions are orderly sets of relati onships whose function is to maintain the society as a system." Overall functionalism in the idea that there is a disconnect between the mental states and the physical, and that mental states can only be identified through their functional role ("Functionalism." Web. N.p.). Parsons "[†¦] contributed to the structural-functionalist school conceptualized the social universe in terms of four types and levels of '... ...ll College. N.p., 21 Feb. 2000. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. . Morrow, Sarah , and Robert Lusteck. "Marxist Anthropology - Anthropological Theories." Department of Anthropology - The University of Alabama. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. . Porth, Eric, Kimberley Neutzling, and Jessica Edwards. "Functionalism - Anthropological Theories." Department of Anthropology - The University of Alabama. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. . "Punctuated Equilibrium | Academic Room." Educational Websites | Online Books | Online Classes | Open Access. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. .

Murdered jews of europe

History and Theory Essay: Architecture and Memory: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of EuropeFirst Page Quoteâ€Å" Abstract, unfastened and inclusive commemoration signifiers appear most frequently in cases where states attempt to memorialize their ain offenses. They seem to be capable of leting both the perpetrating state and its victims to show their histories in a individual incorporate memorial, and therefore to encapsulate a new incorporate post-conflict individuality † ( Elizabeth Strakosch )IntroductionThroughout history, states have sought to exhibit societal memory of their past accomplishments whilst conversely wipe outing the memory of evildoings committed during their development. These nostalgic contemplations of historic events have been both literally and figuratively portrayed in didactic memorials, which carefully edify the events into clear word pictures of province triumph and victory. However, displacements in the discourse of twentieth century political relations have given rise to the voice of the victim within these narratives. The traditional nation-state is now answerable to an international community instead than itself ; a community that acknowledges the importance of human rights and upholds moral conditions. These provinces continue to build an individuality both in the past and present, but are expected to admit their ain exclusions and accept blameworthiness for their old exploitations. In this new clime the traditional commemoration does non go disused, but alternatively evolves beyond a celebratory memorial, progressively citing the province ‘s evildoings and function as culprit. This progressive switch in attitude has given birth to a new signifier of commemoration: the anti-monument. These modern-day commemorations abandon nonliteral signifiers in penchant of abstraction. This medium facilitates a dialogical relationship between spectator and capable whilst besides advancing ambivalency. Critically, this new typology allows the narration of the victim and culprit to entwine into a individual united signifier, a alleged move towards political damages. This essay analyses the tradition and features of historic memorials and the post-industrial development of the anti-monument. The essay surveies and inquiries abstraction as the chosen vehicle of the anti-monument, utilizing Peter Eisenman ‘s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe as a case-study. I argue that despite its success as a piece of public art, basically, it fails to execute its map of memorialization through its abstracted, equivocal signifier.Traditional MemorialsTraditional memorials use nonliteral imagination to organize an intuitive connexion to the spectator. They use linguistic communication and iconography to show the looker-on with the province ‘s idealized perceptual experience of a important event in history. Throughout clip, these memorials have frequently outlasted the civilisations or political governments who constructed them and as a consequence their undisputed specific narrative becomes unequivocal ; all memory of an alternate narration is l ost with the passing of informants who could remember these existent events. This has the negative effect of relieving the contemporary visitant of duty for the past and fails to suit the invariably altering and varied position of the spectator. In this regard, the permanency of the traditional memorial nowadayss an unchallengeable narrative which becomes an active presence to the visitant, who is ever the receptive component.Reasons for the alteration – introduce anti-monumentHowever, events of the 20th century such as the atomic blast at Hiroshima and the atrociousness of the Holocaust altered commemorate pattern. Memorials were no longer militaristic and celebratory but alternatively acknowledged the offenses of the province against civilians. Interior designers were faced with the countless challenge of memorializing ‘the most quintessential illustration of adult male ‘s inhumaneness to adult male – the Holocaust. ‘An event so ruinous it prevents any effort to singularly enter the single victim. The new typology that emerged would subsequently be defined as the anti-monument.The anti-monumentThe anti-monument aimed to chase away old memorial convention by prefering a dialogical signifier over the traditional didactic memorial. This new memorial typology avoided actual representation through nonliteral look and written word in favour of abstraction. This move toward the abstract enabled the spectator to now go the active component and the memorial to go the receptive component ; a role-reversal that allowed the visitant to convey their ain reading to the commemoration. James E Young commented that the purpose of these commemorations: â€Å" †¦ is non to comfort but to arouse ; non to stay fixed but to alter ; non to be everlasting but to vanish ; non to be ignored by passersby but to demand interaction ; non to stay pristine but to ask for its ain misdemeanor and desanctification ; non to accept gracefully the load of memory but to throw it back at the town ‘s pess. † In this manner, James E Young suggests that the anti-monument Acts of the Apostless receptively to history, clip and memory. He besides states: â€Å" Given the inevitable assortment of viing memories, we may ne'er really portion a common memory at these sites but merely the common topographic point of memory, where each of us is invited to retrieve in our ain manner. † It is this point that basically determines the of import and necessary dialogical character of all Holocaust commemorations. ( point could be stronger here )The debut of The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of EuropeAnd so, in 1999 the Federal Republic of Germany passed a declaration to raise a commemoration to the murdered Jews of Europe. This commemoration intended to ‘honour the murdered victims ‘ and ‘keep alive the memory of these impossible events in German history ‘ . An unfastened competition selected American, Peter Eisenman as the winning designer, who proposed an expansive field of 2,711 stelae and ‘the Ort ‘ , a auxiliary information Centre. The commemoration is non merely important for its intents of recollection, but besides represents the first constructed national memorial to the Holocaust with fiscal and political support from the German Federal State.Location and relationship to immediate context.The location of the memorial itself is considered arbitrary by some, as the site has no old intension with the Holocaust or Nazism, but alternatively was a former no-mans land in the decease strip of the Berlin Wall. Whilst the commemorating power of this location may be questioned, the significance of its arrangement lies within its integrating into Berlin ‘s urban kingdom. The edge status of the memorial nowadayss a natural passage between the stelae and the paving. The land plane and first stelae sit flower to each other be fore bit by bit lifting and recessing into two separate informations that create a zone of uncertainness between. The commemoration does non admit the specificity of the site and the deficiency of cardinal focal point intends to reflect the ambient nature of the victims and culprits in the metropolis of Berlin.Feeling created – bodily experience.Within the stelae each visitant senses the memory of the victims somatically by sing feelings of claustrophobia, uneasiness and freak out within the narrow paseos and graduated table of the memorial. It was non Peter Eisenman ‘s purpose to emulate the restrictive status of a decease cantonment, but alternatively, to promote the personal contemplation of the person in their function of transporting memory in the present. â€Å" In this memorial there is no end, no terminal, no working one ‘s manner in or out. The continuance of an person ‘s experience of it grants no farther apprehension, since apprehension is impossible. The clip of the memorial, its continuance from top surface to land, is disjoined from the clip of experience. In this context, there is no nostalgia, no memory of the yesteryear, merely the living memory of the single experience. Here, we can merely cognize the past through its manifestation in the present. † In this sense, each visitant is invited to see the absence created by the Holocaust and in bend, each feels and fills such a nothingness. It can non be argued that this material battle with absence is non powerful ; nevertheless, in most cases the feeling becomes passing. Each visitant walks precariously around the commemoration, hesitating for idea and expecting the following corner. They are forced to alter gait and way unwillingly and face the changeless menace of hit at every bend and intersection of the looming stelae. It is this status, in my sentiment, that instills the feeling of menace and edginess into most visitants as opposed to the perceived connexion between themselves and the victims.Anti-commemorative: maps as art instead than a memorial.The commemoration does non give any infinite for assemblages of people and therefore inhibits any ceremonial usage in the act of memory. The aggregation of stelae is evocative of the graveyards of Judaic ghettos in Europe where due to infinite restraints ; gravestones are piled high and crowded together at different angles. Some visitants treat the commemoration as a graveyard, walking easy and mutely, before halting and layering flowers or tapers at the side of a stele. The presence of these drab grievers and their objects of recollection are one of the lone indexs that clearly place the stelae field as a commemoration. However, the objects discarded at the commemoration are ever removed by the staff, proposing the memorial be experienced in its intended signifier ; a relationship more kindred to public art instead than that of a commemoration.Rigid order – how the memorial suggests the victim and perpertratorIn Eisenman ‘s sentiment, the commemoration is symbolic of a apparently stiff and apprehensible system of jurisprudence and order that mutates into something much more profane. The visitant experiences this first-hand when feeling lost and disorientated in the environment they one time perceiv ed as rational and negotiable from the exterior. â€Å" The undertaking manifests the instability inherent in what seems to be a system, here a rational grid, and its potency for disintegration in clip. It suggests that when a purportedly rational and ordered system grows excessively big and out of proportion to its intended intent, it in fact loses touch with human ground. It so begins to uncover the innate perturbations and potency for pandemonium in all systems of looking order, the thought that all closed systems of a closed order are bound to neglect. † Through abstraction, the memorial efforts to admit both the victims and culprits in a individual, incorporate signifier. The regular grid of the memorial and its delusory portraiture of reason acknowledge the culprits of the offense: the Nazi Third Reich. Whilst viewed from afar, the stelae resemble gravestones in a graveyard, allowing the victims a marker for their life, a marker antecedently denied to them by a Nazi government who aimed to wipe out all memory of their being.How the memorial evokes memory – contrasting experiencesEisenman ‘s commemoration is concerned with how the yesteryear is manifested in the present. His involvement lies non with the murdered Jews the commemoration aims to mark, but alternatively, how the contemporary visitant can associate to those victims. In this regard, the memorial licenses recollection displaced from the memory of the holocaust itself. Eisenman wrote: â€Å" The memory of the Holocaust can ne'er be one of nostalgia. †¦ The Holocaust can non be remembered in the nostalgic manner, as its horror everlastingly ruptured the nexus between nostalgia and memory. The memorial efforts to show a new thought of memory as distinguishable from nostalgia. † The field of stelae does non show a nostalgic remembrance of Judaic life before the holocaust ; neither do they try to encapsulate the events of the race murder. Alternatively, the memorial connects with the visitant through a material battle that facilitates an single response to memory.contrast between stelae and info Centre.The stelae have the consequence of making a ghostly atmosphere as the sounds of the environing streets and metropolis are deadened, overstating the visitant ‘s uncomfortableness. However, the atmosphere is disturbed by the cheering, laughter and conversation of visitants lost in the stelae looking for one another. In pronounced contrast, the subterraneous information Centre has the consequence of hushing its dwellers. The exhibition provides a actual representation of the atrociousnesss of the holocaust, pedagogically exposing the letters, vesture and personal properties of a smattering of victims. Eisenman originally rejected the inclusion of a topograph ic point of information so that the stelae field would go the sole and unequivocal experience. However, his competition win was conditional upon its inclusion. It is my sentiment that ‘The Ort ‘ or information Centre has become the important topographic point of memory and memorialization despite being at the same time downplayed by the designer and German province. The little edifice is located belowground and accessed via a narrow stairway amongst the stelae. As with the commemoration as a whole, there is no recognition of its being or map, and as a consequence must be discovered through roving. It performs memorialization far more successfully than the stelae field by bring forthing an emotional response from the visitant. It is the lone subdivision of the commemoration where the holocaust is explicitly present ; where visitants are non removed from the horrors but alternatively confronted with them. In the dark suites the hurt of the visitant is easy gauged as they walk about solemnly as the world of the holocaust becomes perceptible. The acoustic presence of shouting and sobbing are far removed from the laughter and shoutin g in the stelae above. The exhibition features infinites where the lifes of victims are made hearable longer sentence here will assist the flow. In these suites the smallest inside informations of the victim ‘s disregarded lives are told in a heavy voice which instantly gives substance to the person and corporate loss. The visitant ‘s injury is perceptible here as the impossible statistics are non portrayed as abstract representations, but alternatively are personified. The abstract nature of the stelae and site as a whole have the affect of doing the commemoration a relaxed and convenient topographic point to be. The memorial has transcended the theory that commemorations command regard by their mere being, with the site going a portion of mundane life for Berliners as a topographic point of leisure. Many stumble on the commemoration as an empty labyrinth, a kids ‘s resort area where people walk across the stelae, leaping from one to another. They are faced with conflicting emotions between an inherent aptitude to demo regard and a desire to fulfill a self-generated demand to play. The commemoration ‘s aspiration is to enable every visitant to make their ain decision and determine an single experience, which through abstraction it achieves. However, by the same means, it facilitates a withdrawal between the person and the commemoration ‘s primary map of memorialization. The theoretical narration of the stelae field is an highly co mplex and powerful thought, nevertheless the equivocal, absent design fails to let the visitant to associate to the victims or derive an apprehension of the atrociousnesss of the holocaust. Therefore, whilst experienced in its uniqueness, the abstract stelae field fails to mark, alternatively being dependant on the didactic attack of the information Centre to let the visitant to associate to the holocaust and its victims.DecisionWhen measuring the entries for the original competition Stephen Greenblatt wrote: â€Å" It has become progressively evident that no design for a Berlin commemoration to retrieve the 1000000s of Jews killed by Nazis in the Holocaust will of all time turn out adequate to the huge symbolic weight it must transport, as legion designs have been considered and discarded. Possibly the best class at this point would be to go forth the site of the proposed commemoration at the bosom of Berlin and of Germany empty†¦ † Possibly this attack would hold finally become more pertinent. How does one design a memorial in memory of an event so impossible that in some manner does n't hold the inauspicious affect of doing it more toothsome? Possibly, as Archigram frequently insisted, the reply is non a edifice. Alternatively, the absence of a memorial delegates the duty of memorialization to the person who as carriers of memory, come to symbolize the memorial. Potentially inquiry / remark on the hereafter of the memorial.

Bourdieus Understanding the Power for Social Change

Bourdieu describes habitus as a power of adaptation. It constantly performs an adaptation to the outside world which only exceptionally takes the form of radical conversion (Bourdieu, 1993). Bourdieus concept of habitus enables us to understand women as a complex amalgam of their past and present (Bourdieu, 1990a), but an amalgam that is always in the process of completion. There is no finality or finished identity. At the same time, habitus also includes a set of complex, diverse predispositions. It invokes understandings of identity premised on familial legacy and early childhood socialisation. As such, it is primarily a dynamic concept, a rich interlacing of past and present, interiorised and permeating both body and psyche. Much of the dynamism of habitus is the product of the interconnection of habitus with Bourdieus related concept of field. Field is a set of objective, historical relations between positions anchored in certain forms of power (or capital) (Wacquant in Bourdieu Wacquant, 1992, p. 16). A dialectic relationship exists be- tween the two concepts. In one direction there is a flow of influence from field to habitus that produces a relationship of conditioning in which the field structures the habitus. When Bourdieu refers to , is usually referring to the different types of capitals that one person can acquire. These capitals are economic, linguistic, and cultural (Bourdieu, 1991). Depending of the quantity of each of these capitals, a person isShow MoreRelatedSocial Capital And Cultural Capital1264 Words   |  6 PagesAfter cultural capital and cultural arbitrary, then, comes the third capital, which Bourdieu’s theory terms habitus. Habitus is a term, which is similar to cultural capital because they are transmitted from home: â€Å"Like cultural capital, habitus is transmitted within the home† (Sullivan 149). 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Energy Drinks And Caffeinated Beverages Essay - 962 Words

How can we be so certain that energy drinks are the healthiest and safest option for energy? Energy drink consumption has been correlated with causing seizures, strokes, and sudden death (Seifert et al. 2011). When energy drinks are compared to other caffeinated beverages, it is shocking how similar, yet different their ingredients are. Both energy drinks and caffeinated beverages hold a high sugar content. Also, a primary ingredient in both is caffeine. Caffeine is a mild stimulant drug and is considered to be the most popular used drug in the world (Striley et al. 2011). The differences in energy drinks and caffeinated beverages can be drastic when comparing their caffeine levels. The main health risks that are associated with energy drinks can be directly linked to their main ingredient, caffeine (Breda et al. 2014). Consuming excess caffeine can cause a caffeine overdose. Energy drinks increase the risk for a caffeine overdose simply because of how elevated the caffeine levels are in energy drinks. Consuming energy drinks creates a high probability of a caffeine overdose which is capable of causing many different health risks (Breda et al. 2014). When a person consumes too much caffeine, health risks include: palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, restlessness, and tremors (Bedi et al. 2014) as well as nervousness, gastrointestinal upset, tachycardia, psychomotor agitation, and even death (Reissig et al. 2009). Energy drinks have also been connected withShow MoreRelatedThe Market For Non- Alcoholic Drink1636 Words   |  7 PagesIn 2013, the market for non- alcoholic drink that involves water, nectars, and useful refreshments was evaluated to be $131 billion as well as it was anticipated to grow to $164 billion by the year of 2018 (Heckman, M and Sherry, K, 2010). 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The Black Men And Public Space By Brent Staples, The Myth...

Just Walk on By, Myth of a Latin Woman, and Shooting an Elephant; Depression from Stereotyping and Prejudice There has been many years of racial stereotypes and wanting to fit into a group. The essays that show this theme are Just Walk on By: Black Men and Public Space by Brent Staples, The Myth of the Latin Woman by Judith Ortiz Cofer, and Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell. Staples shows his audience the struggles he has gone through as a black male. Cofer shows her audience the stereotypes that surround Latin women. Orwell shows his audience the overwhelming desire of being accepted into a group of people. All three of these authors want to be accepted by the larger group of people. Society needs to empathise and be aware of the silence that surrounds these issues. Otherwise it can create depression amongst minority groups. Brent Staples is a black man in American society who has been exposed to being stereotyped against. He was walking down the street one night and a white woman was walking towards him. She turned around and started quickly walking away from him. She automatically assumed because he was a black man out at night that he would mug her. He was wearing casual street clothes with his hands in his pockets, but he never showed any threat towards her. Sh figured that he was a thug or a threat to her well being. Staples does not openly say this, but it is clear from the way he describes the woman s actions. â€Å"She cast a worried glance. To her, the

How Johnny Depp got his acting from Charlie Chaplin free essay sample

Johnny Chapton Johnny Depp is one of this generation’s most talented actor. His character development is beyond compare. Johnny Depp has acted in a plethora of movies, but in Benny and Joon and some others, his physical movements are very similar to some very famous silent film actors. Johnny’s character, Sam, is an eccentric one: he’s awkward, silly, and has a very imaginative mind. Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton acted as fathers to Johnny’s acting, leading him to new ideas, more characters in his career, extreme physical movement, and more explosive entertainment. In Benny and Joon, Johnny Depp’s physical reactive, and emotional acting strongly represents Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Firstly, I believe Charlie Chaplin influenced Johnny’s acting. During the first few scenes, Joon, Sam, and Benny eat at a bar, while waiting, Sam entertains himself by sticking forks into bread and makes them â€Å"dance. We will write a custom essay sample on How Johnny Depp got his acting from Charlie Chaplin or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page † This â€Å"dance can also be seen performed by the famous Mr. Chaplin in â€Å"Gold Rush.† Also in Benny and Joon, when Joon confesses her love for him, his facial expressions and his stance on the bed is a stunning image of Chaplin in one of his silent films. And how can we forget the swinging from the window washer station at the end of the movie? I also believe that was influenced by the whacky all-bearing Charlie Chaplin. Secondly, Buster Keaton’s whacky character shines through Johnny Depp’s acting in the film Benny and Joon. The movie cover/ propaganda poster of Benny and Joon has a certain recognizable hat too. The standout scene for Johnny is when his character, Sam, drops his hat and cannot retrieve it because the hat seems to be running away from him. Also, when his hat and handkerchief is making him do flips all kinds of tricks, Keaton also shines through. Also, the first scene with Johnny in it, where he is making music with car parts and balancing and juggling them, this also reminds me of Buster and his amazing physicalities. Finally, in my opinion, Johnny Depp was more influenced by Buster Keaton than Charlie Chaplin. The only standout scene that was most influenced by Chaplin occurred in the diner when â€Å"Sam† was playing with the forks and bread rolls. Buster Keaton’s physicality can often be seen throughout the movie, such as the very first scene â€Å"Sam† is introduced, the park scene, and the swinging from the hospital scene. Each of those scenes almost looked painful, but Johnny himself performed everything, including falling on his rear end during the park scene. All the flips and almost everything with the hats was influenced by Buster Keaton. In conclusion, Johnny Depp is a standout actor with many creative and â€Å"different† roles. His performance of â€Å"Sam â€Å" in Benny and Joon was extremely relatable and influenced by the famous silent film stars, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. They’re whacky and aw-worthy performances can be see, slightly changed by Johnny. Being practically fathers of Johnny Depp’s acting in Benny and Joon and other movies, they’ve created the wonderful, funny, and entertaining Johnny Chapton.

The strategic alliance

Introduction and background of strategic alliance A global perspective is necessary for businesses since it assists in the process of identifying the prevailing threats and opportunities in the contemporary marketing arena. In spite of the fact that it is necessary to safeguard a business against global competition, it is vital to note that firms should seek ways and means of penetrating into international marketplace.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The strategic alliance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, Barnes and Nobles bookstore entered into strategic alliance with Starbucks way back in 1993. The rationale behind the partnership was to put in place in-house coffee shops, an alliance that would benefit both parties. As a matter of fact, there are myriad of opportunities that are usually created when businesses penetrate into the global market. At this point, it is often of great importance for a f irm to choose the most appropriate entry mode. While there are a host of entry modes that can be chosen by a business organization, it is worth noting that both economic merits and demerits of the chosen alternative should be assessed thoroughly. One of the most viable ways through which a firm can integrate its activities in the international platform is by creating strategic alliances. The term strategic alliance has been approached and described from different perspectives by various economic scholars. According to Inkpen (2003, p.84), whenever there is a formal agreement between two or more like minded firms to collaborate for the purpose of attaining common goals and objectives, it is referred to as a global strategic alliance. This kind of partnership is mostly common among international firms that are aiming at winning the market share by customer value creation or through competitive advantage. For instance, the Beijing University Founder Group and Advanced Micro Devices (AM D) of China formed a strategic alliance in a bid to improve its market share. AMD deals with computer sale to the founder group. The university is deemed to benefit from subsidized pricing. In yet another definition of strategic alliance, Beverland and Bretherton (2001, p.89) posit that it may also refer to myriad of well established economic partnership between potential and actual competitors in the marketplace. This paper offers a succinct discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of strategic alliance as an entry mode into international market using specific key illustrations of firms that have adopted this mode. There are various reasons why firms would opt to ally with other business entities. In the case of an alliance, the partnering firms are in a vantage position to shoulder the burden of costs that are both fixed and varied alongside the incoming risks during the process of developing new products or services. In addition, alliances allow the integration of complemen tary assets and skills which may not be easily developed by either of the firm.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Furthermore, better technological standards for any given firm in an industry may be improved through a alliance. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that firms forming an alliance should be extra cautious since such partnerships may end up being a liability to a business organization. It is also worth noting that joint ventures, licensing of technology as well as a collaborative effort may all be considered under strategic alliance. In the case of a collaborative effort, two firms often come together to form an alliance by pulling their efforts together for the sake of common benefit to both partners. When the production or service methods of a firm is licensed by another firm, it results into a form of strategic alliance called licensing technology. However, when two or more firms agree on a common platform of producing goods and services, it leads into a strategic alliance referred to as a joint venture. The latter form of strategic alliance is definitely the most common entry mode into a global marketplace. Needless to say, strategic alliances in the modern business world has gained prominence in the sense that a synergetic effect of solving common challenges, pooling resources together as well the sharing costs and risks are indeed necessary for positive and sustained business growth. Furthermore, it is also evident that most international businesses are also developing dynamic strategies and perspective on how to manage their establishments. This has been accelerated by the fast rate at which the practice of strategic alliance is taking shape. For example, PaperExchange.com deals with the manufacture of paper related products and is located in Boston, United States of America. The firm has grown by leaps and bounds from 12 employees in 1998 up to more than two hundred and fifty members today (Reeves et al. 2002, p.14). The company has subsidiary locations in over 80 countries across the world. It does not own or sell any products by itself but provides an e-commerce marketplace where buyers and sellers can reach out to each other. Some of the products handled by the industry include tissue paper, fine paper, newsprint, paperboard and containerboard. Buyers and sellers are able to negotiate pricing of products directly through this site. As part of its expansion plans, there are a total of four industries through which PaperExchange.com shares a strategic alliance. These include internet providers who deal with electronic commerce, quality certifications and assurance, transportation logistics and suppliers, consumers and manufacturers of paper products.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The strategic alliance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Under t he e-commerce segment, it has formed their strategic alliances with the following firms: Noosh, Inc., Impresse, Inc., and VerticalNet, Inc. There are other five alliances within the paper product segment namely Port Townsend, Inc., Bowater, Inc., Staples, Inc., Asia Pulp and Paper Company , Ltd and International Paper, Inc (Reeves et al. 2002, p.15). While the concept of strategic alliance is highly welcome and readily embraced by most modern firms, it should be approached with caution bearing in mind that there are underlying advantages and disadvantages which may be reaped by a firm. Advantages and drawbacks of strategic alliance One of the most outstanding benefit or merit of strategic alliance is that it provides a state-of-the-art globalization of businesses. As a matter of fact, several factors such as well enhanced systems of transport and communication as well as the development of international network (internet) has been of great importance to firms opting for strategic al liance. For instance, Weyerhaeuer, Georgia-Pacific and international Paper have also formed a strong strategic alliance to pursue their business interests. They are all forest product companies located in the U.S. running a business to business global marketing platform since year 2000. Most countries do embrace the concept of strategic alliance but based on the legal provisions that have already been put in place. In addition, the goals and needs of the partnering firms is usually a major determinant prior to the formation of a strategic alliance. The following are some of the inherent advantages of strategic alliance: Gaining capabilities In most cases, a business enterprise may not have all the human expertise, technology, skills, knowledge and competences it requires at its disposal. As a result, the need to share unique and the much needed capabilities is often of great essence to any firm wishing to expand to international market. On the other hand, a firm may find it necessar y to share its outstanding capabilities so that it can gain in terms of economic well being. It is imperative to note that no single firm can secure all the much needed capabilities that it may require. Therefore, a strategic alliance provides an ambient environment through which partnering firms can meet set goals and objectives. The newly acquired competences from the strategic alliance plan can also be used by a firm for long term gains towards meeting the needs of consumers and remaining relevant in the market.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A case example is the Apple which also entered into a formidable strategic alliance with ATT, Phillips, Motorola, and Sonny sometimes back as part of a strategy to sell its computing technology to the mobile telephony firms and improve on market share. Improved accessibility to target markets When a single firm decides to introduce a new product or service into the market, it may not be an easy task. The situation gets even trickier when a global market has to be accessed. It is worth noting that cost related advantages may not be in favour of a firm which undertakes such developments single handedly. Some of the obstacles that the management of a firm may face include operating complexity, untenable government regulations as well as stiff market completion (Shenkar Luo 2004, p.259). In addition, lack of proper assessment of the marketplace, direct financial losses and reduced opportunity costs may also befall a single firm entering a foreign market. It is against this background t hat when an appropriate strategic alliance is chosen, it would assist in minimizing some of the risks and challenges. For example, accessibility to the market can be improved when a firm opts to license a service or product in the name of the alliance partner as part and parcel of broadening the market for the given product (Pansiri 2005, p.1109). Financial risk sharing The financial risks associated with running an international enterprise can be reduced if strategic alliance is adopted. For instance, firms will usually end up sharing any risks associated with financial losses incurred in a strategic alliance partnership. Hence, no single firm will fully shoulder the burden of such risks in case of an eventuality (Harper 2001, p.30). Eradicating the political obstacle Strict legal regulations coupled with inhospitable political environment might indeed hinder the marketing success of a new product being introduced into a new market. The best solution for this hindrance is the forma tion of strategic alliance which will take care of new products of a foreign firm which will be introduced through a partnering firm already located in a foreign country. Attaining competitive advantage and synergy both competitive advantage and synergy will be readily generated in a strategic alliance business setting. Through joint efforts, each firm in an alliance will be in a position to gain these two elements in a much easier way. For instance, it is quite cumbersome to create a distinct image of a new brand in the market and also convince consumers on the same. The process may be time consuming and costly. Hence, a firm with a well known brand in the market may be used to usher in a new product into the market. For instance, Microsoft and Nokia entered a strategic alliance whereby more advanced and market compliant products are to be manufactured. This will indeed boost their competitive advantage and synergy in the market. Drawbacks of strategic alliance Inability to overcom e cultural and language barriers There are myriad of cultural setbacks that a foreign firm may find it difficult to address while expanding its business portfolio. For example, the alliance between International Business Machine (IBM) and i-flex solutions faced a lot of cultural setbacks as the firms attempted to penetrate new markets. Handing operating practices that are diverse or conflicting in nature Two or more partnering firms may not have common practices and therefore it may take long to harmonize individual operations. Cost disadvantages, lack of trust and harmony There are myriad of coordination costs incurred an also consumes time before trust within the alliance is built and also during the process of communication. Lack of formidable trust between partners especially when cooperating in competitively sensitive businesses is a serious setback in most strategic alliances which may also lead to lack of harmony in company cultures and egos Conflicting standards of ethics, c orporate values, strategies and objectives Since organizations forming a strategic alliance are usually from diverse backgrounds in terms of objectives or products and services being offered, it is definite that conflicts are likely to arise from time to time Over-reliance One or both of the partnering firms in strategic alliance may develop dependency syndrome on the much needed capabilities over a long period of time. Conclusion In summing up, it is imperative to reiterate that strategic alliance is one of the most dominant and viable entry mode into a global marketplace. As already discussed, merits such as gained capabilities, low operating costs, minimized risks and easy access to the market are usually accrued by firms engaging in strategic alliance. In addition, the essay has addressed some case studies firms that have partnered in strategic alliance. A case example is Apple Computers with Sony Mobile. Finally, it is also worth noting that any form of strategic alliance shoul d be approached with caution since it may lead to liabilities if not properly checked. References Beverland, M Bretherton, P 2001, ‘The uncertain search for opportunities: determinants of strategic alliances, Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 88-89. Harper, P 2001, ‘Four steps to making strategic alliances work for your firm’, Journal for Quality Participation, vol. 24 no. 4, pp. 28-37. Inkpen, AC 2003, Strategic Alliances, in A. Rugman and T.Brewer, The Oxford Handbook of international Business: Oxford University Press, Oxford. Pansiri, J 2005, ‘The influence of managers characteristics and perceptions in strategic alliance practice’. Management Decision, no. 43 vol. 9, pp. 1097-1113. Reeves, BJ et al.2002, ‘The Paper Industry: Strategic Alliances, Joint Ventures, and Electronic Commerce Are Reshaping Our Business Models’ Southern Business Review pp. 9-17. Shenkar, O Luo, Y 2004, International Bu siness, Wiley, New York. Woodcock, PC, Beamish, DW Makino, SM 1994, ‘Ownership-based Entery Mode Strategies and International Performance’, Journal of international Business Studies, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 253-273. This essay on The strategic alliance was written and submitted by user Brayan Conley to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.