- Art and Music Appreciation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

- Art and Music Appreciation - Essay Example bit of a sunset: at first you are sad to see the day go, but as the sun sinks down and the sky turns pink, you think, â€Å"Ah, the beauty of the sunset is worth the fact that it is now night and a bit cold out.† It is a fine song to relax to. There is a constant shift from soft notes to hard ones, marking it as a very dynamic piece. It requires a great deal of dexterity from its performer, especially to keep the constant swarm of notes going. It is very brisk and seems to be in a great rush, bouncing off the walls at a dizzying pace. In the middle, it begins to slow down a bit, before playfully speeding up again. I find this to be a cheerful, funny piece, and can easily imagine people smiling as they try to dance to it. 2.) Discussion Questions: Art. The impressionist style of painting is characterized chiefly by concentration on the general impression produced by a scene or object and the use of unmixed primary colors and small strokes to simulate actual reflected light. -Nicholas Pioch Impressionism is often a kind of soft-focus style of painting where the figures or objects appear in varying levels of detail. The world of light has more influence on our sight than you might expect, is what impressionist seem to be saying. They try to shift our allegiances from strict forms to a vaguer, airier world. They use soft colours that blend into one another and often capture pastoral scenes. They question how we perceive the world and what our visual prejudices might

A Marketing Plan For Etihad

A Marketing Plan For Etihad The report presented here is a marketing plan for Etihad which is planning to launch an airline service in India, one of its Asian destinations in Business and First class segment. The potential of India for Etihads new destination in Asia is because of its biggest and fasted growing Middle class. The country and over a billion people living in her and most of them belongs to middle class. This also raised the purchasing power of the people here and too the need of luxury. The country has over 70 domestic Airports and nearly 12 International Airport. Indian aviation market has a number of domestic players. These include Indigo Airline, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Air India, Cathy Pacific, Kingfisher, British Airways etc. Talking about the business class segment, only few players like Kingfisher, Indian airlines are there from domestic side and rest all are foreign players. The competition in luxury segment is less as compared to low cost service. One dimension in which Etihad can give a great image to its service/ brand is by establishing itself as a luxury brand. For distribution strategy, the firm can utilize any of the existing channels in India as they provide services as a third party to all airlines. Other aspect include tie-ups with corporate so that a minimum customer base can be assured. Talking about the promotional strategy, the promotional techniques suggested includes voice call, newsletter and participating in social functions etc. The estimated budget for the plan is 35.5 million US $. Current Market Situation: Introduction: Asian aviation market is very competitive. The number of players in Asia includes more than 50 domestic and international players. The dominant players in Asian aviation sector are Air Asia, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airlines and foreign players include French airways, British airways and Cathy Pacific airlines. A number of Airlines from UAE too have presence in Asia which include Air Arabia, Emirates Airways and similar. The potential of the market is huge. Asia includes China and India which are the biggest economies in the world in terms of economic growth. Out of the potential destination for Etihad in Asia, we have chosen India; the study will focus on Indias market only. (Avaition, 2010) Market Description India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The potential of India for Etihads new destination in Asia is because of its biggest and fasted growing Middle class. The country and over a billion people living in her and most of them belongs to middle class. This also raised the purchasing power of the people here and too the need of luxury. The country has over 70 domestic Airports and nearly 12 International Airport. The facilities here are not equal to the world standard but the economy is rapidly expanding and the needs are getting higher too. All these points favor India as an attractive destination for Etihads new market in Asia. Talking about first class and business class segment of India, the growing population and high earning of people provide enough customer bases for the market. The target Market for Etihad will be people of annual income over Rs. 10 lacks. In India, around 7% of the total population falls in this category as considering the size of population in the country, 7% gives a huge customer base for first and business class segment. The market requires following benefits from Business class flights. The below is the table which shows the benefits of product Feature Benefit Extremely comfortable seats, more space Business class is meant for comfort and thus these seats and extra space will add to the comfort. Delicious food As the business class segment people are travelling paying high prices, they expect high quality food too. Comparative low cost Indians do not like to spend much and thus the cost of travelling should not be high. The future prediction about India is as follows: US$ 32 billion+ for developing and maintain the airport infrastructure in the country Passenger traffic for different types of sectors is estimated to grow over an estimated CAGR of over 14% in the arriving few years. A huge amount of 110 billion dollars investments is foreseen in next 10 years The Civil Aviation would grip around 280 million travelers by the year 2020 (India G. , 2010) Product Review Product line: The product we are concerned here is business and first class segment. This segment is used by people of high earning group. The segment requires high quality of services, extremely comfortable seats, more space and other luxury facilities as are provided in expensive hotels. Type of customers and market: The customers of the products are business executives and high earning families who can afford heavy ticket price. As our selected destination in India, the product must be looked as Indian perception. In India, the per capita income is increasing but the concern is its still not comparable to that of European or Middle East. So, if Etihad wants to launch first and business class services in India, the cost of the product must be kept low. If we look at the competitors product in the segment concerned, we will find that competitors service is not at all comparable to that of other first class services in the world. This shows that one aspect where Etihad can exploit an advantage is to provide luxury at the same of comparable price. Services: The service is needed to be served with tasty food and this must be insuring that veg. and non-veg, food are cooked separately. The customers also want less time travel between destinations. Also, internet connectivity and entertainment sources like small TV screens should also be provided. Competitive Review Indian aviation market has a number of domestic players. These include Indigo Airline, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Air India, Cathy Pacific, Kingfisher, British Airways etc. Talking about the business class segment, only few players like Kingfisher, Indian airlines are there from domestic side and rest all are foreign players. The foreign players involved first class and business class segment include Cathy Pacific, French Airways, Singapore Airways etc. Till now, these airlines capture most of the customer segment of first class. Talking about competitors in AD to India route, airlines such as Air India, Paramount Airways are there. Etihad too have a run on this route with other operators like Air Arabia. The carriers here are few and this will encourage the business idea for Etihad as well. (India M. o., 2010) The key stragey of Indian airlines in business segment is less cost in business segment. Talking about French Airways, Singapore Airways and other foreign players in the segment, their key strategy is providing great hospitality experience in business class segment. Channels review Channels for any firms (distribution channels) are critical to its success. Marketing channels include logistics and other mode for moving goods in and out of the firm. In context of the first class business we are concerned; channels in India are well formed and structured. There are number of providers like Jet airways, Spice Jet, Indigo airlines etc which work on sharing of distribution channels. In such sharing, the distribution channel in a separate entity different from the business. It can be looked as a third party service provider which provides the service to the airlines. Only Air India is the one which has its own service channels but the performance of its service is not up to the mark. Talking about these channels individually, Jet airways provide very time efficient logistics. Air Indias distribution channel is vast and has more services but is not reliable in terms of consistency. So, for Eithid, the firm can utilize any of the existing channels which are been used by Jet or other airway. As these channels are experienced in the business, the airline may not have to worry for receiving comparable channel services as that of Indian competitors. SWOT analysis The analysis is carried out in terms of strength of Etihad airline keeping in mind its plan to enter the business class services in India. Strength Strong brand image in luxury sector on the global scale, so will be able to attract the Indian First class customers too. Experience in maintaining regular communication with customers. This will help in maintain customer base for first and business class. Increasing hold on luxury segment in other Asian destinations too. Four of the globes longest continuous commercial flights, these continuous flights will advantage in business class segment as they take less time to travel between destinations. A large fleet of planes including the new Airbus 380, these planes have a good image in terms of providing comfort essential for business class. (Avaition, 2010) With the increasing infrastructure, high regional GDP (Indian) and a huge demand in various regions, providing First class services will prove a new unexplored market. Weakness: The market we are concerned about has a specific segment to focus on. The First class segment requires heavy initial investment and thus entering directly to first class segment would be a risky business. Less growth in business class in Indian aviation industry. Limited desired costumer volume in the segment. Most of the earnings are coming from a single segment Hold on economical class and cargo facility market is not that good Opportunities: In India, most of flights between destinations are two long. The airlines here, to reduce cost extend the routine route to cover more number of destinations. But the people who fly from business class are worried about time (as they are already spending high on ticket price). So an opportunity exists in terms of attracting business class customers by operating on direct routes. (Airways, 2010) India has a number of low cost airlines. Etihad, to reduce business risk and overtake any one of them and convert to first class services. Exploit Indian presence to explore new hubs like Russia and South-East Asia-Pacific in business class segment. Present destinations can be increased. The Airline can start service to other Indian destinations too like Madras, Kolkata etc. Boeing and Airbus has reduced the cost of the aircrafts Threats: The other reason of threat for Etihad is that all the newly merging airline companies are in a spree to capture the market by making a strong reputation. Once they come up with price fares lesser than Etihad then even the best of advertising would fail. Constant increase in number of aviation services in business class segment. Economic crises and sadness in Indian aviation market because of high debt. This has hammered the volume of people travelling from business class. The aviation ministry and put an upper limit on fairs and is constantly increasing rules and regulations to restructure the industry. Objectives and issues The objective here is to construct a marketing plan for Etihad to enter a new destination in Asia (which is selected as India) while considering the launch of First class and business class service by the company. The key issues (measureable) are: Increasing the market hold to at least 10% (business class segment) Based on the responses of the customers on initial routes of the company, to start operations on other routes too Increasing service and facilities in the business class segment. Marketing Strategy Positioning Positioning statement: Feel the luxury As identifies from market analysis, people of India for their business class travel, desire for extremely luxury services. So the positioning is targeted on luxury only. Taking into account the huge competition in the market for different airline companies in India, for example Cathy pacific, British airways, Singapore Airlines etc, there have to be something that has a unique image about the brand. One dimension in which Etihad can give a great image to its service/ brand is by establishing itself as a luxury brand. The Company to be positioned in the market will be done as an innovator in hospitality hemisphere. Thus in rapid developing and competitive Indian aviation sector, this innovator image will benefit in long run as India is growing and too the luxury need of the people here. Individuality and image require being eminent. Individuality is the way a corporation aims to identify or place itself or its manufactured goods. Image is the technique the community perceives the corp oration or its goods. An effectual individuality does three things: It sets up the products nature and worth proposal. It expresses this nature in a characteristic mode. It brings touching authority further than a psychological image. The individuality we are talking about, Etihad can address this concern by benchmarking the luxury in business class. For the individuality to labor, it must be expressed through every obtainable message means of transportation and product get in touch with. The company should show in every aspect of work that it cares for the passengers time and is pioneer and experienced in proving high end flight services. (Avaition, 2010) Product Strategy First concern here is to aim the service. Etihad here is concerned only on the Business and first class segment, so according to the traditional model shown below; the company should focus on higher ends passengers who fall in high earning group. Another thing is degree or quality of the service. Etihad want to enter in First class segment which falls in most facilitated level of product development as explained by Kotler. Kotler defined the development of a product in following manner. If we talk about the economy class, that falls in core product but first class and business class are included in augmented product segment. But there is a potential drawback in directly attacking the augmented product, the heavy cost of product building and then risk of non-acceptance by the market. One strategy that Etihad can make out and choose suitable new features by examination of new purchasers and then manipulative customer value versus company cost for each possible feature. The corporation should also think how many public want every feature, how time-consuming it would get to bring in every feature, and whether contestant could with no trouble duplicate the feature. Corporation must also believe in terms of feature bundles or correspondence. Auto companionship often produces cars at more than a few trim levels. This lowers developed and record costs. Every corporation must make a decision whether to present feature customization at a superior price or a few normal corresp ondences at an inferior price. (Avaition, 2010) Distribution Strategy Channel for the company is not going to be new in India. As we stated earlier too that there are separate entities that provides services to airline companies in India, Etihad too can take distribution services from any of these services. Another suggestion is to construct own ticket selling units so that a differentiation in terms of customer attraction. The way suggested is a level two distribution channel which looks like as follows: Consumer Retailer Wholesaler Manufacturer By following this model, the service information can be gained by an individual through the information available on the companys website and also by contacting any of the local retailers. The service can be ordered through the online booking and the payment can be made through credit or debit card, in this case the product will be delivered to the home of customer. Channel Involved in distribution: Two channels are there for this product: Wholesaler: One wholesaler is there for one state. In the case of no wholesaler in particular sate than two sates is handled by single wholesaler. Wholesaler will look after all the retailers under its domain. Retailer: Retailers are located in prime cities of the state and they will be direct contacting the single wholesaler of that particular state. Out of the various retail store some stores would be discount store. (India G. , 2010) Marketing communication or promotional strategy Integrated market communication stands for communicating rather making stakeholders believe that product is really reliable and will lead for a better profit for these stakeholders too. There is a difficulty in getting stakeholders in an easier way if there is large competition in the market for the same product and thus efficient promotion is a must. Market communication stands for several promotion techniques and the personal relation with the stake holders. Some of the suggested techniques for Etihad are as follows: Voice mail services: Voice mail can be a very efficient source of the information about the service to the concerned segment. If the people are interested in taking the product, they will definitely want to have all the information that is the correct information about the product. There could a very good option for it that is the voice mail system. There should be voice mail which will be telling all the necessary information about the product which will include the net rates and all the exciting features and offers with the product. Forums, Newsgroups, Bulletin Boards, and Web Communities: On-line buyers not just consume the product but increasingly create product information internet interest groups by sharing product-related information. Online marketing can be done by using forums, newsgroup, and bulletin board related to health care services. (Avaition, 2010) Several promoting Events: As the firm is addressing to higher end costumers only, the company can offer few organizations a kind of tie up so that special discount could be given employees of the organization if they travel from Etihads flight. Alliances: Take the time to join a professional or business organization. These organizations usually have very knowledgeable people who are willing to help you out. It also increases your personal network and allow for larger opportunities. Newsletters: As the concern here is also at maintain the existing clients, sending out newsletters to established customers, new customers, friends, family, and any group you think would be interested in companys product or service (Avaition, 2010) Actions Program The overview of action plan looks as follows: The first step is to consturct an augumented service based on the values and demand in Indian market. This include: Keeping low cost Launchig new aircrafts like Boing 747 and Airbus etc Next Step would be launch separate route that do not exist in Indian market. As we found out from SWOT analysis, the company can see an opportunity in launching fast services which provide non-stop service between important destinations. Next would be to enter the contract with an existing distributor. Next is promotion by TV, Newspaper, and sending of newsletter to existing customers. Coordination with different departments: The step one would be consulted with finance department (to allocate budget) and with operations (to ensure that the services desired in the product are there in the augmented product). For next step, that is launching services on few routes; marketing department will identify the target routes to start with. For entering in contract with distribution channel, operation department holds the right to select the channel which best suits the need of the department. The last step would be addressed by PR department. Budget Tentative budget in the activities are as follows: Activity Estimated Price (US $ per annum) Augmented Product 5 million Additional cost for nonstop services 7 million Distribution services 15 million TV ads 2 million News letter 0.5 million Relationship building (discounts/ tie-ups) 6 million The tentative budget which comes out is around $ 35 million. This is quite affordable price for Etihad. The profit in first year of operation would be less and will increase with course of time as product development, distribution services will costs less in later years. Controls A tight control strategy would be implemented which would be based on customer feedback, sales data analysis, performance evaluation and similar quality management aspects. The key performance indicator would be sales figures and brand equity of the company. The company will maintain close look on both of these aspect to keep itself near to the performance norms.

Cost-Utility Analysis Essay -- Economics

The central concern of economics is how best to allocate scarce resources among competing uses. The same concern applies to the scope of health care. As a result, pharmacoeconomics, which compares the value of one pharmaceutical drug or drug therapy to another, became a prominent issue by the mid 1980s. There are several types of pharmacoeconomic evaluations, one of which is cost–utility analysis (CUA). CUA focuses on quality of a health outcome produced or forgone by different health programs or treatments. CUA is a form of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) that attempts to capture timing and duration of disease and disability by comparing the utility (person’s preference) associated with different health outcomes. (see Figure 1) It was originally called â€Å"Generalized Cost-Effective Analysis† as it is used to narrow the restrictiveness of traditional cost-effectiveness analysis. In 1972, it was renamed â€Å"Utility Maximization† and then â€Å"Healthy Status Index Model† in 1976. Since 1982, it has been referred to as CUA in many countries, although the United States still called it CEA. Even though these two terms are used interchangeably, there are still several distinguishing features between the two. Such differences include integration of multiple outcomes, , quantification of outcomes based on desirability, and measurement of relative desirability of outcomes with von Neumann-Morgenstern utility theory. A cost-utility analysis describes the additional cost of the new intervention per unit of health gain and assesses health in terms of length and quality of life using the quality adjusted life year (QALY). QALYs were invented in 1956 by two health economists, Christopher Cundell and Carlos McCartney. The concept of QALY was f... ...room/features/measuringeffectivenessandcosteffectivenesstheqaly.jsp Neumann, P., Weinstein M. (2010, Oct 14). Legislating against use of cost-effectiveness information. The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol 363, 1495-1497. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1007168. Office of Health Economics (2002). What is a QALY? Retrieved from http://oheschools.org/ohech5pg4.html Wilkerson J. (2011, Sep 28). PCORI head vows not to do cost-effectiveness studies, but notes gray areas. InsideHealthPolicy.com. Retrieved from http://insidehealthpolicy.com/Inside-Health-General/Public-Content/pcori-head-vows-not-to-do-cost-effectiveness-studies-but-notes-gray-areas/menu-id-869.html Yee, GC (1997, Dec 1). Cost-utility analysis of taxane therapy. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Vol 54, Supplement 2, S11-15. Retrieved from http://ajhp.org/content/54/suppl_2/S11.short

Poverty and Lifeboat Ethics Essay

A famous Chinese proverb goes: â€Å"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach him how to fish and he will eat for the rest of his days.† Although this wise advice was given thousands of years ago, nowadays looks like no powerful or rich government on Earth understands that sentence. Garrent Hardin, author of â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor† show us an honest perspective on how the rich countries in the world, by donating food and money, instead of helping poor countries get out of their misery, cause more hunger and strife. In addition, he tells us that overpopulation in poor countries should be controlled soon, or the current situation will turn ugly very fast. Although Hardin’s evidence is almost indisputable, his position is not. I understand why the author believes that helping poor people is a bad idea but he isn’t looking at many others sides of the situation. At the beginning, my reaction was the opposite. I was totally convinced by Hardin’s theory. I desperately sought a place within a â€Å"lifeboat!† But after discussing the essay in class, and hearing myself repeat Hardin’s words that express his indifference about poor people, and also rethinking his thesis in which poor people don’t have a chance for a better life, I changed my position. I can’t support those ideas because in my own point of view, they are false. It is just not true. Some countries and some societies already made a change. Some countries like South Korea, Singapore and China have broken the poverty cycle. We shouldn’t be so negative and we must remember that even the poorest people on the planet have imagin ation, ideas, beliefs and an imperative necessity to change their own universe. However, I think that the answer is within Hardin’s thesis too. Poor people don’t need food and clothes only in cases of emergency. Instead, they need a few rich governments interested in giving them tools and ways to improve their economies, to develop their ideas and to use their creative minds. Without that little help all life in this planet will disappear. So, helping the poor is also a way of helping everyone else, even rich people. And here Hardin’s thoughts are necessary: â€Å"Without a true world government, controlled reproduction and the use of available resources, the sharing ethic of the spaceship is impossible.† (Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor. Pg. 310.) If the poorest destroy their natural resources, the consequences will be for everyone, regardless of how much each possesses. In conclusion, I think Hardin is correct when he asks about the future on Earth, if we take statistics and analyze their results for the year 2050. However, his position against helping poor people and trying to eliminate them from the face of the Earth is wrong. I believe in a true world, where rich countries use their development technology and their healthy, well-nourished minds to decrease the percentage of poverty in the world, and where everyone wins the right to live in this, our planet Earth.

Data Abstraction

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the word abstract is defined as â€Å"disassociated from any specific instance† or â€Å"expressing a quality apart from an object†, or â€Å"having only intrinsic form with little or no attempt at pictorial representation or narrative content†.From these definitions, it can be possible to get an idea that to abstract an object implies something ethereal and nebulous, completely disjoint from a concrete instance of that object. In an idea reminiscent of Plato, the world can be separated into two things – the abstract idea and the concrete instance.Understanding the concept of the abstract data type or ADT is easier knowing the definitions of abstraction. An ADT is a representation of a concrete instance. Computers can only process ones or zeros and can only store long ones and zeros.However, in building programs a programmer might want to develop code that interacts or models real world objects or process es. ADTs are â€Å"invented† data types – data types that are modeled after the abstract idea of the concrete instance. An example is the string data type found in some programming languages.A computer cannot store a string (only ones and zeros) yet programmers can do operations on a string like concatenation (using the + operator) effortlessly as if the computer or compiler understands that the user is working with sentences.This brings to light an important concept when dealing with ADTs – the concept of information hiding. A compiler designer might engineer a programming language to handle strings in many ways. He may choose to use ASCII or EBCDIC, use 8 bits per character or a full 32 bit word, use little endian or big endian storage.All these choices are invisible to the user. All the developer needs to understand is that to concatenate strings uses a â€Å"+† operator. Indeed, for an abstracted data type to be functional the functionality of that da ta type should reflect that what that ADT represents independent of the implementation.The nitty gritty of its workings is hidden behind a wall called the interface. The interface (associated operations, properties, etc) is all that the programmer needs and should need to   know. A good wall is a prerequisite of good ADT design.So far the paper has discussed about ADTs as data types that represent an idea (such as a string) that is not natively supported by the hardware. A developer might also make his or her own ADTs through the use of data structures.A data structure is basically just an ordered way of organizing data. An example of a data structure is the struct in C, linked lists, and trees. A developer may choose to create one of these data structures in order to represent an abstract idea. He may choose to use a tree in order to represent a family tree.In designing user created ADTs, the concept of information hiding should still be remembered. The ADT should provide a const ant standard interface for every method or subroutine that chooses to call it. Additionally, it goes without saying that the data structure of choice should efficiently model the abstract idea it represents. Using a tree to represent genealogy is easier and makes more sense compared to using linked lists.A soda vending machine, even though it is quite simple is a good illustration of the many aspects of ADT design. The developer might need to store the types of sodas the machine is selling. As there is no â€Å"soda† data type, the programmer might use strings. When the machine vends, the machine should also know that there is one less soda in its storage.A programmer might then choose to implement the sodas as a stuct composed of one string (for the soda name) and an integer representing the number of soda cans left. When the customer presses a button corresponding to a soda, the soda name is displayed on the screen and the machine checks if there are still soda cans left.If there are cans left, the vend process continues through with the customer getting his soda (after payment of course) and the integer counter for the soda is decremented by one. However if the counter is of value zero already, the machine halts the operation and tells the customer to pick another soda.BibliographyCarrano, Frank, and Janet Prichard. Data Abstraction and Problem Solving with C++ Walls and Mirrors. 3rd ed. Boston: Addison-Wesley, 2001.Sedgewick, Robert. Algorithms in C. 3rd ed. Boston: Addison-Weslet, 1998.Sun Developer Network [Website], java.sun.com

Reflection Example

Reflection Example Reflection – Coursework Example Sur Shades of Pink Different projects are conducted worldwide to engage children in different learning and study exercises. ‘Shades of Pink’ is also a learning project which included six preschoolers and their teacher. Through the collaboration of their teacher the preschoolers were able to learn different shades and colors of pink. This paper aims to discuss the project in brief as for how the children were engaged in the learning phase and how they showed creativity and rich understanding towards the project.The children were engaged in the project in a way that seemed interested. The teacher made them engaged in the project and emphasized on teaching them the shades through different experiments. All these theories and experiments were used as a tool of art which helped the children towards their learning and understanding of pink color (Kim)."Every child is creative and full of potential and has a desire and right to make meaning within a context of rich relationship s". The children are capable of learning and being taught through different ways. However, all of them make them learn and sharpens their learning capabilities and their understanding towards certain things. In this project the six preschoolers were first able to make a hypothesis. Once they made the hypothesis they tried to make its relation with that of the theories and their understanding through elaboration and testing. Once they were done with their expression with the help of their teacher Ms. Mistry they shared their ideas (Kim). When we talk about children and art and then it is important to understand that these two has a very strong relationship. It is the most powerful and simplest way for children to express and explore their selves. It is a kind of a child language. Therefore, Shades of Pink also took advantage of it and used it a platform to teach and educate the preschoolers. Work CitedKim, Bo Sun. "Shades of Pink." Youn Children March 2012: 44-68.

Apartheid in South Africa

Apartheid in South Africa Introduction South Africa is one of the countries with rich and fascinating history in the world. It is regarded as the most developed state in Africa and among the last to have an elected black president towards the end of the 20th century. Besides its rich history, the South African state has abundant natural resources, fertile farms and a wide range of minerals including gold.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Apartheid in South Africa specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The country is the world’s leading miner of diamonds and gold with several metal ores distributed around the country like platinum (Rosmarin Rissik, 2004). South Africa experiences a mild climate that resembles that of San Francisco bay. With its geographical location and development, South Africa is one of the most accessible African countries. All these factors contribute to South Africa’s global prominence, especially before and after the reign of its first black President, Nelson Mandela in 1994. However, these alone do not add up to what the country’s history. In fact, South Africa’s history sounds incomplete without the mention of Apartheid, a system that significantly shaped and transformed the country in what it is today. Without apartheid, many argue that South Africa would have probably been a different country with unique ideologies, politics and overall identity. In other words, apartheid greatly affected South Africa in all spheres of a country’s operation. From segregation to all forms of unfairness, apartheid system negatively affected South Africans and the entire country (Pfister, 2005). On the other hand, some people argue that apartheid positively affected South Africa in countless ways. This essay gives a detailed coverage of the issue of apartheid in South Africa and its impact to the economy, politics and social life of South Africans. To achieve this task, the analysis is divided into useful sections, which give concise and authentic information concerning the topic. Up to date sources were consulted in researching the topic to ensure that data and information used in describing the concept is up to date, from reputable and recommended authors.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Among important segments of the essay include but not limited to the literature review, history, background information and recommendations. Research questions In addressing the issue of Apartheid in South Africa, this essay intends to provide answers to the following questions: What was apartheid system? What are the factors that led to the apartheid system? What were the negative effects of the apartheid system? What were the positive effects of the apartheid system? Why was it necessary to end apartheid in South Africa? Literature Review Apartheid in South Africa is one of the topics which have received massive literature coverage even after the end of the regime. Most of the documented information describes life before 1994 and what transpired after Nelson Mandela took leadership as the first black African President of the state. This segment, therefore, explores the concept concerning what authors, scholars and researchers have recorded in books, journals and on websites as expounded in the following analytical sections. Apartheid in South Africa Apartheid refers to a South African system that propagated racial discrimination imposed between 1948 and 1994 by National Party regimes. During this period of decades, the rights of the majority â€Å"blacks† were undermined as white minority settlers maintained their supremacy and rule through suppressive tactics. Apartheid was primarily developed after the Second World War by the Broederbond and Afrikaner organizations and was extended to other parts of South West Africa, currently known as Namibia until it became an independent state four years before the end of apartheid. According to Allen 2005, discrimination of black people in South Africa began long before apartheid was born during the colonial era. In his survey, Allen noted that apartheid was ratified after the general election which was held in 1948.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Apartheid in South Africa specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The new legislation that the governments adopted classified all South African inhabitants into four groups based on their racial identity (Allen, 2005). These groups were Asians, whites, natives and colored. This led to all manners of segregation that ensured complete distinction among these groups, achieved through forced displacement of the oppressed groups without necessarily thinking about their rights. The practice continued throughout the period, reaching heightened moments when non-whites were depriv ed of political representation in 1970, the year when blacks were denied citizenship right causing them to become members of Bantustans who belonged to self-governing homes (Allen, 2005). Besides residential removal and displacement, other forms of discrimination dominated in public institutions like education centers, hospitals and beaches among other places which were legally meant for everybody regardless of their skin color, gender or country of origin. In rare cases where black accessed these services, they were provided with inferior options as compared to what whites received (Allen, 2005). As a result, there was significant violence witnessed across the country, accompanied by internal resistance from people who believed that they were being exploited and languishing in poverty at the expense of white minorities. Consequently, the country suffered trade embargoes as other countries around the world distanced themselves from South African rule as a way of condemning it and ra ising their voices in support for those who were considered less human in their own country. Overwhelmed by the desire for equality, South Africa witnessed countless uprisings and revolts, which were welcomed with imprisoning of political and human rights activists who were strongly opposed to the apartheid rule. Banning of opposition politics was also adopted in order to suppress leaders who believed in justice for humanity (Edwards Hecht, 2010). As violence escalated around the country, several state organizations responded by sponsoring violence and increasing the intensity of oppression.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The peak of apartheid opposition was in 1980s when attempts to amend apartheid legislation failed to calm black people forcing President Frederik Willem de Klerk to enter into negotiations with black leaders to end apartheid in 1990. The culmination of the negotiations was in 1994 when a multi-racial and democratic election was held with Nelson Mandela of African National Congress emerging the winner and the first black president in South Africa (Edwards Hecht, 2010). Although apartheid ended more than a decade ago, it is important to note its impact and ruins are still evident in South Africa. Background Information Segregation took shape in the Union of South Africa in order to suppress the black people’s participation in politics and economic life. White rulers believed that the only way of maintaining their rule was to ensure that black people do not have opportunities to organize themselves into groups that would augment their ability to systematize themselves and fight back for their rights. However, despite these efforts, black people in South Africa became integrated into the economic and industrial society than any other group of people in Africa during the 20th century (Edwards Hecht, 2010). Clerics, educations and other professionals grew up to be key players as the influence of blacks sprouted with Mission Christianity significantly influencing the political landscape of the union. Studying in abroad also played a major role as blacks gained the momentum to fight for their rights as the move received support from other parts of the world (Burger, 2011). There were continuous attempts from the government to control and manipulate black people through skewed policies, which were aimed at benefiting whites at the expense of the majority. The year 1902 saw the formation of the first political organization by Dr Abdurrahman which was mainly based in Cape Province. However, the formation of the African National Congress in 1912 was a milestone a s it brought together traditional authorities, educationists and Christian leaders (Burger, 2011). Its initial concern was defined by constitutional protests as its leaders demanded recognition and representation of the blacks. Efforts by union workers to form organizations for the purpose of voicing their concerns were short-lived as their efforts were short down by white authorities. This led to strikes and militancy, which was experienced throughout 1920s. The formation of the Communist Party proved to be a force to last as it united workers’ organizations and non-racialism individuals (Beinart Dubow, 1995). Segregation of blacks was also witnessed in job regulations as skilled job opportunities remained reserved for white people. The introduction of pass-laws further aimed at restricting African mobility thus limiting their chances of getting organized. These laws were also designed to have all blacks participate in forced labor as they did not have a clear channel to ai r their views. According to historic findings, all these efforts were inclined towards laying the foundation for apartheid in later years. Noteworthy, there were divisions among whites as they differed with regard to certain ideologies and stances. For instance, they could not agree on their involvement in First World War I as the National Party dislodged from the South African Party (Beinart Dubow, 1995). Conversely, allocation of skilled jobs to whites targeted high productivity from people who had experience while pass-laws prevented aimless movement. Labor issues continued to emerge through organized strikes though these efforts were constantly thwarted by the government using brutal and inhumane ways like seclusion of migrant residential houses using compounds. Miners also protested against low payment and poor living standards, conditions which promoted hostility between black and white labor forces, culminating into a bloody rebellion in 1922 (Beinart Dubow, 1995). Intensif ied discrimination against blacks mounted to serve the interests of white rulers through reinforcement of the unfair government policies and employment bar in certain areas like the railway and postal service to address the infamous â€Å"poor-white problem†. The world depression of early 1930s led to the union of major white parties which was closely followed by the breakaway by a new Afrikaner led by Dr. DF Malan. The entrenchment of the white domination led to the elimination of Africans from the voters’ role in 1936 (Burger, 2011). These continued up to the end of the Second World War when the government intensified segregation rules in 1948 that led to the conception and birth of Apartheid in South Africa. Desmond Tutu against Apartheid As mentioned above, Mission Christianity played a major role in the fight against apartheid and restoration of justice in South Africa. This saw several leaders rise to the limelight as they emerged to be the voice of the voiceless in the South African State. One of these Christian leaders was Archbishop Desmond Tutu who has remained in the history of South Africa, featuring prominently in the reign of apartheid (BBC, 2010). He is well known worldwide for his anti-apartheid role and for boldly speaking for the blacks. He served a very important role, especially during the entire time when Nelson Mandela was serving his prison term making him nominated for the highly coveted and prestigious Nobel Peace Prize award in 1984 for his relentless anti-apartheid efforts. This was a real implication that the world had not only observed Tutu’s efforts but also raised its voice against the discriminatory rule in South Africa. After Nelson Mandela was elected democratically in 1984, he appointed Archbishop Desmond Tutu to steer the South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission which was mandated to investigate all forms of crimes committed by blacks and whites during the whole period of apartheid. Alth ough Tutu was a teacher by training, he dropped the career after the adoption of the Bantu Education Act in 1953 (BBC, 2010). The act was meant to extend apartheid to black schools around the country, causing several schools to close down due to lack of finances after the government discontinued subsidized programs for those that did not comply. To confirm and affirm that apartheid was not the best regime option in South Africa, Desmond Tutu was highly influenced by white clergymen like Bishop Trevor Huddleston, who strongly opposed the idea of racial discrimination that was being propagated by the white government (BBC, 2010). Although he was closely involved in active politics, he remained focused on religious motivation, arguing that racialism was not the will of God, and that it was not to live forever. His appointment as the head of the Anglican church in 1986 did not deter him from fighting apartheid as he risked being jailed after he called the public to boycott municipal ele ctions that were held in 1988. He welcomed President FW De Klerk’s reforms in 1989, which included the release of the one who was later to become the first black president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela and the reinstatement of the African National Congress (BBC, 2010). Nelson Mandela against Apartheid Nelson Mandela is regarded as a key player in the fight against apartheid in South Africa as he led black people together with other activists to publicly denounce and condemn the discriminatory regimes of the time. As a way of demonstrating his dissatisfaction and criticism of apartheid, Mandela publicly burnt his â€Å"pass†. All blacks were required to carry their passes as the government prohibited the movement of people to other districts (Atlas College, 2011). While working with ANC, Mandela’s involvement in anti-apartheid efforts was increased as he realized the need to have active resistance in dealing with apartheid. He was severally charged with treason and acquitted although in 1964, Mandela was life imprisoned a move that was considered to be ill-motivated to maintain the white rule supremacy. He continued his fight while in prison as his message penetrated every village and district in the country. Although he acted together with like-minded people, Nelson Mandela’s name stands high as the leader of the anti-apartheid campaign which culminated in his election as the first black president of South Africa in 1994 (Atlas College, 2011). Opposing opinion Although apartheid was highly condemned and still receives high-charged criticism, some people view it from a different perspective. Did apartheid have any benefit to the people of South Africa and to the nation at large? Apart from propagating injustices across the country, apartheid is one of the economic drivers of South Africa with some of the policies and strategies used during that time still under active implementation by the government. For instance, the Reconstructi on and Development Programme (RDP) was orchestrated by ANC and served as the core platform during the elections that were held in 1994 (Lundahl Petersson, 2009). The programme focused on improvement of infrastructure, improvement of housing facilities, free schooling, sharing of land to the landless, clean water and affordable health facilities among others. This led to the improvement of social amenities in the country. RDP also continued financing the budget revenue. It therefore suffices to mention that those who support apartheid base their argument on the status of the country after 1994 when subsequent governments chose to adopt some strategies from apartheid to drive the reconstruction agenda (Lundahl Petersson, 2009). As one of the leading economies in Africa, some of the institutions, factories and companies which were established during apartheid significantly contribute to development in the country. Even though new plans have been adopted, majority have their foundatio ns rocked on apartheid. As a result of these development initiatives, a lot has changed in South Africa. There has been substantive economic growth augmented by several factors which relate to apartheid (Lundahl Petersson, 2009). Improved living standards among South Africans cannot also be ignored in any discussion of apartheid. Many jobs have been created for the skilled people who never found an opportunity to work when the regime was at its operational peak. South Africa also prides on some of the most prestigious learning institutions in the region which are highly ranked on the world list. It therefore suffices to mention that apartheid had several advantages which cannot be overshadowed by its disadvantages. Against Apartheid Despite the advantages of apartheid discussed above, there is no doubt that the system negatively impacted South Africans in a myriad of ways. From undermining of human rights to promotion of hostility and violence among residents, there is enough evide nce to condemn the regime. It affected several social structures people were not allowed to freely intermarry and interact. This was coupled with limited expression rights as they were believed not to have rights. Movement was highly restricted as black people were to walk with passes and restricted to move within one district. Additionally, forceful evacuation was a norm as black people never owned land and houses permanently (Burger, 2011). What about employment? Many skilled jobs were strictly reserved for whites as black people survived on manual duties with little or no pay. This contributed to low living standards and inability to meet their needs, manifested through labor strikes which were continuously witnessed in several organizations. Consequently, violence escalated with police brutality hitting high levels and several people losing their lives as others spent the rest of their lives in jail. It was a system that needed more condemnation than just protesting in order to allow justice to prevail (Pfister, 2005). Conclusion Apartheid in South Africa is one of the most outstanding in the history of the country with millions of people with painful and remarkable memories. With its culmination in 1994 democratic elections which saw Nelson Mandela rise to power, the regime had severe negative effects, which necessitated the need to end it and pave the way for a fair nation that respects humanity regardless of skin color, ethnicity, country of origin and gender (Pfister, 2005). Based on the above analysis, it is important for a number of lessons to be learnt from it. World leaders need to establish and implement leadership mechanisms that would prevent recurrence of apartheid in South Africa or in other parts of the world. To the millions who suffered under rule, reconciliation efforts are essential in allowing them to accept themselves and move on with life as they mingle with thousands of white settlers who continue owning parcels of land in the country . It should however to be forgotten that apartheid was important in transforming South Africa into what it is today. From factories and infrastructure to a stable economy, it had lifetime merits that ought to be acknowledged throughout in history. References Allen, J. (2005). Apartheid South Africa: An Insiders Overview of the Origin and Effects of Separate Development. Bloomington, Indiana: iUniverse. Atlas College. (2011). Nelson Mandela and Apartheid. Atlas College. Web. BBC. (2010). Profile: Archbishop Desmond Tutu. BBC News. Web. Beinart, W., Dubow, S. (1995). Segregation and apartheid in twentieth-century South Africa. London: Routledge. Burger, D. (2011). History. South African Government Information. Web. Edwards, P., Hecht, G. (2010). History and the Techno politics of Identity: The Case of Apartheid South Africa. Journal of Southern African Studies, 36(3), p. 619-639. Lundahl, M., Petersson, L. (2009). Post-Apartheid South Africa; an Economic Success Story? United Natio ns University. Web. Pfister, R. (2005). Apartheid South Africa and African states: from pariah to middle power, 1961-1994. London: I.B.Tauris. Rosmarin, I., Rissik, D. (2004). South Africa. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish.