Dion Lee

Sydney born Dion Lee is a 24 year old successful Australian born high end textile fashion designer who creates clear-cut, structured and tailored to perfection garments to create a perfect silhouette for the woman wearing his designs. He is one of the fashion industries youngest well known designers. Dion is inspired by the construction of clothing. He likes edge cutting garments which are extremely functional created with the combination of traditional tailoring techniques and modern concepts and techniques.His designs cater working class women who look for the smart casual look which is accomplished with the designer’s sharp blazers and also girls who are looking for a chic cocktail frock. Fashion designer Dion Lee launched his debut collection in 2008 and quickly cemented his status as one of Australia's leading talents. Best known for his translation of architecture and science into â€Å"relaxed sophistication† Dion now attracts global attention, but still calls Sy dney home.Believing that Sydney style reflects the physical landscape and its trans seasonal climate, Dion effortlessly designs collections balancing proportion and silhouette to create structures that â€Å"link the environment and the body†. â€Å"I design for a certain kind of contemporary feminine identity, there is a very strong connection within that kind of woman being Australian,† says Dion.With origami like precision, his work is an articulation of engineered construction and detailed resolution, running parallels between architecture and fashion with â€Å"the ability to draw something on a two dimensional level and materialising it on a three dimensional sensory level†. This season is no different. Utilising proportion, volume, texture and his signature prints, his current collection which recently debuted in the UK, is the perfect balance of structure and fluidity.Taking inspiration from the collaborations he seeks, Dion has previously joined forces with Cue Clothing to release his own collection and most recently worked with Kanye West and Fashion Editor of Harper’s Bazaar Christine Centenera on his London show, supported by a short film he created with Australian Director Lorin Askill. If it’s possible to balance complexity with simplicity, Dion Lee achieves this in volumes. An achievement that puts him on the â€Å"watch list†, a status that Sydney and the world will be monitoring. Check out Dion Lee’s collection at Westfield, David Jones and Incu.

Different Types of Groups

The concept of the social group is people coming together and having a sense of identity because of a common space, action, or any other things that can bind together people. There is several identified social groups: primary groups, secondary groups, collective groups, in-groups, and out-groups. The primary group is one that shares close and lifelong personal relationships, wherein each member shares personal space and lives and has close relations and interactions.Family and close friends are examples of primary groups, as their members are binded by strong personal ties. A sports group or an academic group that is strongly linked emotionally and physically can also be considered as a primary group. The primary groups shapes and influences a person’s identity. The secondary group relationship is characterized by being formal and temporary, instead of being closely personal and lifelong. Performance of functions is what links together people in the secondary group, and the re lationship is more fleeting and less personal.An example would be a temporary co-worker in the office, who one is constantly in contact with, but has no strong personal ties. A collective group on the other hand is one that is bonded together by a common goal or an interest that links its members. The collective group does similar things and its members have similar interests. For instance, a church group or an environmental group is an example of a collective group. The in-group is the group where the individual feels that he/she belongs in; it is where one has loyalty to or respect to.Members of the in-group shares a similar identity, like families or people of a certain ethnicity or race. Conversely, the out-group is the social group that a person is not inclined to relate, even disdains or is opposed to such group. For instance, a conservative man despising people from other races – the out-group. The different types of groups refer to the personal circles that an individ ual belongs to. These are product of his/her social environment and socialization, which then directs and determines membership to a certain group.

A sociological investigation into cohabitation in Britain today Essay Example for Free

A sociological investigation into cohabitation in Britain today Essay ? In my coursework I shall conduct a sociological investigation into cohabitation in Britain today. This is expanded from my previous coursework, which updated past research into the stigmas attached to cohabitation. It interests me to investigate whether facts and opinions of cohabitation have changed over time. To achieve this aim I shall look at the following questions throughout my research: 1. Why has cohabitation increased? 2. Does cohabitation have an effect on children? 3. What advantages and disadvantages are there to cohabitation? 4. Is there still a stigma attached to cohabitation? 5. Do cohabiting couples ever wish to marry or is it a permanent status? I believe that cohabitation is increasingly replacing marriage. I intend to research cohabitation using a questionnaire, which will be given to both cohabiting and married couples to complete. 133 Words Context Cohabitation has doubled since 1981 to around 25% and is greatly increasing. It is defined as when two people live together in a relationship without being married. This can be either a short-term arrangement or a permanent status in which the couple do not see the need to be legally married. Sociologists have researched into many areas of cohabitation and the family. However, more recently the main focus has been on the increase in cohabitation. It is argued that marriage is becoming less popular and so people are developing alternatives to conventional married life. Also, there are increasing numbers of marital breakdown, which are reflected in rises in the divorce rates. The General Household Survey from Social Trends (2000) found that in Great Britain between 1998 and 1999, 26% of males and 25% of females, between the ages of 16 and 59, were in a cohabiting relationship. This is relevant as it show evidence of the large numbers of cohabiting couples in society today. Chester (1980) has argued that cohabitation is only a temporary situation that often leads to marriage. Chester said that in many cases it is not possible for a couple to marry, due to one or both partners being married. Also, many couples see cohabitation as a trial period, which often determines whether they choose to marry. Chester concluded that around 2% of single women aged 18-49 are living and bearing children in â€Å"constitutional unions† which may be permanent. However, Chandler argues against this theory, seeing the increase in cohabitation as more significant. Chandler says that couples appear to be spending lengthening amounts of time cohabiting and seem to be choosing cohabitation as a permanent replacement for marriage. Chandler (1993) supports this by noting that 28% of children were born to unmarried mothers, 70% of which were registered by both parents. These arguments show the conflicting opinions, between sociologists, regarding the status that cohabitation appears to now have. Approximately 15% of one-parent families are created through the break-up of cohabiting unions, showing that cohabitation’s with children are even more likely to break-up than childless ones. Today, more than 20% of children are born to cohabiting couples, although around only a third of these children will remain with both parents throughout their childhood. This means that children born to cohabiting parents are more likely to experience a series of disruptions in their family life, which can have negative consequences for their emotional and educational development. Berthoud and Gershuny found, in ‘seven years in the lives of British families’, that 70% of children born to married parents are likely to live their entire childhood with both parents whereas only 36% of children born to cohabiting parents remain with both parents. It has also been shown that children living in cohabiting stepfamilies are at a significantly higher risk of child abuse, showing that these informal cohabiting families are the most unsafe environments for children. This is interesting as it shows an insight into the effects that cohabitation can have on children. There have been many theories as to why cohabitation has increased, alongside the simple and more obvious explanations. Marriage is seen as a more risky choice in a relationship due to the divorce rates and expense of marriage, along with the decline in religious influence and growing economic and employment insecurity worries. Single parenthood has been a partial explanation as to why cohabitation has increased as many women choose to cohabit in a relationship, rather than having the irresponsibility of raising a child outside of a stable relationship. Cohabitation has greatly occurred from the great rise in divorce rates, which may also have the effect if children, from divorced parents, being wary of marriage. However, the decline in childbirth and the conscious decision to not have children may have made it less necessary for couples to marry. Past research conducted into sociology appears to indicate that the once prominent stigma attached to cohabitation has greatly declined in society. Th decline in the negative view to cohabitation, in society, has been shown in the Social Trends Survey (1996). The results from ‘people who feel cohabitation is wrong: by gender, 1994’ show that between 1960 and 1978, 7% of males and 6% of females felt that cohabitation is wrong. This has greatly decreased from 40% of males and 37% of females in 1930. These statistics could also imply that these numbers are still decreasing in society today. Ronald Fletcher’s (1988) theory shows an inclination as to why this social stigma has decreased. He suggests that cohabitation is a form of marriage, which is similar to that of a nuclear family, rather than a different relationship form altogether. He argued that cohabiting couples are concealed nuclear families that are not legalised through marriage. This theory not only suggests reasons for cohabitation but also indicates that it could continue to increase in society. 810 Words Methodology feelings towards discussing such information. Using a questionnaire will allow me to get results in a short period of time, which will be easy for both me and my participants as it will take into account any individual variables, such as the participant being in a rush etc. Questionnaires will be the best method of data collection for my study as I can then easily quantify and analyse the results in relation to my rationale. I shall conduct my study by In sociology, structionalists and interactionists have each used different methods of attempting to research areas of sociology. Structuralists are positivists and so use scientific, quantitative methods if collecting data. Common methods used by structuralists are laboratory experiments, which isolate the variables to find a relationship between them and field experiments, which, attempt to control variables in a natural situation. Also used by structuralists are questionnaires, structural interviews and the analysis of official statistics. Interactionists, however, are anti-positivists and reject scientific research methods, using qualitative methods of collecting data. Common methods used by interactionists are informal/unstructured interviews, where the subject directs the interview, and participant observation, where the participants are observed during their daily activities. For my research I shall be using the quantitative research methods of questionnaires. I considered using formal interviews to collect my data as I would have been able to get more in-depth and personal results, but decided that this would be more difficult to conduct and a suitable sized sample may be harder to find for reasons such as time difficulties and personal handling out questionnaires to randomly aged cohabiting, married and non-cohabiting couples. I shall use 25 questionnaires to complete my study as I feel that this is a relatively suitable sized sample to gain reliable results with. I have chosen this sample in the hope that I will gain a wide variety of couples and ages, without attempting to manipulate who participates. The gender of my participants shall also be randomly selected, rather than pre-determined. I shall also distribute my questionnaires in a variety of places sixth form college, workplace, public areas) to aid my aim of getting a varied sample and ensure that my results are representative. I shall ensure that I am ethical in my approach of this by gaining their consent before handing them the questionnaire. The questionnaires shall also have details of the nature of the study written above the questions and they shall be verbally informed that it is not required of them to answer any questions that they do not wish to. The questionnaires shall also be confidential and so will not require a name or contact details from the participant, which may increase the validity of my results as they may be less likely to lie or refuse to disclose information. When constructing my questionnaire I ensured that I considered all of my aims, stated in my rationale. I included questions which required both written answers and a choice of pre-selected answers, depending on the nature of the question. For two of my questions, the answer choices were given in ranges, rather than individual answers (e. g. are you, 26-35 etc). I did this with ages to male the question less personal as the participant may be uncomfortable disclosing their exact age. It has also been done when asking how many cohabiting couples they know of, as it is unlikely that they would consider the exact amount accurately. I constructed the questionnaire in a form that is suitable for both married and cohabiting/non cohabiting couples to complete, and based all of my questions on a more personal form of my aims, which will hopefully result in valid results. Before conducting my final study, I completed a pilot study of four questionnaires to find any area of improvement which could better my final study. I conducted and distributed these questionnaires in exactly the same way as planned for the final study. I feel that my pilot study was successful and without any major problems. I shall, however, change some minor aspects of the questionnaire. I found that the question regarding ‘benefits of cohabiting couples’ may have been misinterpreted as financial benefits only, and so I shall change the structure of that question. I also found that people were writing more, for their answers, than the allocated space and so I shall add more lines per question on my final questionnaires. The remainder of my questionnaire shall stay the same. 741 Words Evidence To present the results of my questionnaire I shall display and discuss each question individually, in the order which they appear in on the questionnaire itself. 1. Are you: Male Female I decided to first gain some knowledge of the participant so that any relations could be made between the results and their personal details, if necessary. For my research, however, I am looking at the overall current opinions of the public and so am not looking for any direct relationships related to gender. Due to my random sample it was not expected that an equal number of males and females would be used, and this is shown in the above table. A sociological investigation into cohabitation in Britain today. (2017, Sep 10).

How are databases used in organisations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

How are databases used in organisations - Essay Example Another type of databases is distributed databases. These are databases which are scattered and stored over different systems on a network. Object-oriented databases use the concept of classes and subclasses to store and organize data. Databases usually do not exist in isolation but are part of database systems. A database system, besides the collection of records, provides a number of features such as searching for records, accessing them and updating them. Typically databases use the language SQL (Structured Query Language) to access the data and make changes to it. Popular database systems include Oracle, IBM’s DB2 and Microsoft Access. Databases play a vital and indispensible role in organizations today and are of great importance. One of the reasons for this is that they have replaced the old paper files and records. This makes the information become compact and is no longer scattered in paper files. Not only do paper files taka a lot of space, they are also vulnerable of being destroyed by fire etc. Besides saving in the space, the database provides an easier access to data. It allows the users to retrieve data in very little time and to update it easily. Data from a database can be retrieved and sorted in a number of ways depending on the requirements. Databases can provide the same information to a number of users at the same time. A large number of users can access the information and update it simultaneously. This is not possible with manual systems (SQLServer.com). Databases usually contain collection of data records of files related to a common subject or entity. Typically databases are part of information systems. These systems are used for a number of purposes. In a business organization, databases are used for storing information on finance, sales, customer records etc. Similarly, databases are immensely used in banking, healthcare and education industries. In this paper, we shall focus on the use of databases in

Conflict Resolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Conflict Resolution - Essay Example Conflict is ideally one of the greatest challenges in organizations if not tackled appropriately and in the appropriate time. The conflict could indeed be an element of developing a healthy environment. As such, organizational conflict plays a significant role in an organization, whereby its impact depends on the manner of its management. Such roles include the provision of an opportunity for organizational management the working style of the employees as well as aspects pertaining to culture. The conflict also provides an opportunity for employees to drain their feeling and associated emotions in addressing various aspects of differences in an organization. Additionally, organizational conflict provides an opportunity for the employees to learn more about themselves and others, and appreciate the diversities that exist amongst them. As such, conflict proves to be a significantly important aspect of the operations of an organization by influencing changes directed towards improving t he working conditions in an organization as well as a means of addressing differences.On a similar perspective, competition has a substantive role that it plays in an organizational setting. One critical aspect of organizations is the fact that they work for survival purpose in the highly competitive market environments. For an effective competition, every organization must streamline its operations to better standards as compared to the competitors, in order to capture a wider market and enjoy a better competitive advantage for success.

Leading Organizational Change (Individual Change Project) Assignment

Leading Organizational Change (Individual Change Project) - Assignment Example Human Resource Organization is the organization that is going to focus on. The organizational transition will make the organization change structurally and advance technologically. Through technological advancement, the organizational Change will help organization venture in educating its recruits, get them involved in different activities, and amend rules to inspire various employees (Anderson, 130). Improving support and remuneration methods and also different employees will get to work in various departments and their ranks will be improved. My greatest personal challenge to achieving the set objectives is hesitation and diffidence. Struggling to deal with doubt and timidity leads to torpor. Discerning opinion and preservation show that people identify that the details are in line with their views. It’s a routine that people fail to approve their views if change does not occur (Anderson, 130). I can assess transitional readiness by taking note of where change has been experienced in the organization. Some sectors tend to perform better than others (Anderson, 130).

Virtual Reality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Virtual Reality - Essay Example The virtual reality systems play an important role in education and training. It provides a solution to some of the challenges that the students may be facing. Virtonomics is one of the existing systems that are widely used by the students during training. It enables the students to test their knowledge and skills in the virtual economy. This has played an important role in providing solutions to the challenges that the students are likely to face in the real world. Virtual reality systems are widely used for military combat training. It enables the recruits to carry out their training under a controlled environment where they can respond to different situations. Head mounted display together with virtual reality weapon is used during the training of the recruits. Virtual reality enables the solders to train under different terrains without necessarily visiting such terrains physically. The existing virtual reality is also used widely for the training of combat pilots. This enables t hem to obtain the skills required in the battle field. Virtual reality systems are also used during the tank drivers. The existing systems, therefore, play an important role in ensuring that different personnel can obtain the required experience. Virtual reality is also used in some of the countries for train firemen. In other countries, it is used for training the doctors to respond to a different live threatening situation of the patients. Virtual reality is also used for gaming. The head mounted display is usually used for gaming.

Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 11

Case study - Essay Example The fact that there is a personal relationship with a friend’s son affects the underlying professional relationship in connection to probationer. This is a major contributor to a state of conflict of interest. Changing of probation officers is in the best interest for each of the parties as they could face accusations of conflicts of interest and could be placed on leave or fined. In the case of the probationer, he could face accusations of bargaining with me, the officer, as there is proof of a mutual interest. All positive aspects occurring between the probationer and the officer could be diluted as a result of such conflict of interest. Future research should accurately conceptualise role conflict and not simply infer that officers experience role conflict on the basis of community correctional officers having differing role preferences (LearningExpress. 2007). One strategy that might be useful is the development of an occupationally specific questionnaire focusing on the t ensions between the welfare and enforcement aspects of the officers’ role. Such a questionnaire should differentiate between internal or personally based conflicts (intra role conflict) and external or organisationally based conflicts (inter-role conflict) (Mendicino, 2010). This approach appears valid in the present study, as both forms of conflict were related to emotional exhaustion. Such an approach would enable a more sophisticated understanding of the tensions faced by community correctional officers and clarification of the issues surrounding whether community correctional officers experience role conflict. If there is evidence of discriminatory against probationers in favour of a friend’s son, it is not appropriate to continue working on the case. There are other legal repercussions emerging against the probation agency. Probation authorities must adhere to lawful procedures, but must not adhere to any provisions with formal requirements of

How Does Relationship Marketing Affect Customer Retention in Banking Essay

How Does Relationship Marketing Affect Customer Retention in Banking - Essay Example The researcher states that traditionally there were few government regulated nationalized banks, so banks did not compete to grab customers. The customers were loyal to the banks they went to and it carried on for generations. However, with the increasing number of private banks, the competition in the market has increased. The private banks are offering lucrative financial products along with basic banking facilities. The services are prompt, the procedure is short and fast, which has reduced the problems and increased the operational efficiency of the banks. The concepts of relationship marketing would be discussed in the context of the banking industry. Now the major objective of this study is to identify the significance of relationship marketing, its application, and usage in case of the banking industry. This will assist in informing the readers about the relationship marketing approaches that banks utilize to retain the customers. Since customers have more options, so they kee p switching from one bank to another for short-term profits. The banks now do not depend on customer loyalty; rather they wish to focus on customer retention through customer satisfaction. Keeping in mind the research hypothesis and the objectives of the study, a critical review of the literature would be done, which would assist in understanding the role relationship marketing and technology in the banking industry because technology has acted as a catalyst for relationship marketing to grow in the country.... ature would be done, which would assist in understanding the role relationship marketing and technology in the banking industry because technology has acted as a catalyst for relationship marketing to grow in the country (Bergstrom and Bresnahan, 1996). Literature Review Relationship Marketing Relationship marketing can be defined as a way of marketing that can be developed through direct marketing campaigns, as this will assist in focusing on customer satisfaction and their retention, rather than just concentrate on sales. Relationship marketing is somewhat different from other types of marketing strategies because it considers having long-term relationship with the customers, which will extend beyond the level of general promotion (Bharadwaj, Varadarajan, and Fahy, 1993). As the name suggests, relationship marketing deals with relationship building. In the present times, advancement of technology and growth of mobile and internet platforms has assisted relationship marketing to evo lve and collaborate with the social communication channels. There are many tools which are applied by organizations to maintain strong relationship with the customers (Chang, Chan, and Leck, 1997). In the banking industry, the marketing environment has undergone tremendous change. This is primarily due to changing government policies. The advancing technology has also intensified the competition. These factors have resulted in development of new challenges and behaviours. The loyalty of the customers towards a particular bank has declined due to the increasing level of competition in the industry (Ennew, and Binks, 1996). Nowadays the customers get more number of options and better offers, and the other reason is that the customers prefer to use more than one financial institution in order

The Complete Works of Shakespeare Essay Example for Free

The Complete Works of Shakespeare Essay Helen Keller once said â€Å"The Fearful are often caught with the bold. † This was with reference to danger. She believed that those who avoided danger met danger as often as often as those who confront it. Shakespeare’s Hamlet has its share of the fearful and the bold, and both fearful and bold were met by a tragic death. There were numerous instances in the play that presented this. The whole cause of the plot of the play, the death of King Hamlet, is an example of this. He is known to have conquered lands and fought a lot of wars. He can be considered one of the bold for he faced death head on and yet the reason why he died was not through his wars but instead he got killed in his own backyard, literally. This example is a perfect specimen as to why Helen Keller made the statement. It is exactly this, wherein he was killed in his own home, that she has this belief. Death, need not be found in dangerous grounds, for it can standing right outside your door. Somehow, the proverb hints at some form of fate or destiny but in the case of Hamlet, the proverb is made true because of a miasma of actions between King Claudius and Hamlet. Due to their need to resolve the issues between them for Claudius to hide his crime and for Hamlet to avenge is father – collateral damage in the form of the lives of the people around them were affected, if not taken away. It is Claudius and Hamlet that face their destinies and yet, the ones fearful for them received the same fate. Ophelia is the most innocent character in the play. She followed her father’s advice after being told that Hamlet will just break her heart. For fear of it being true, she obeyed her father, but this didn’t save her from the sorrow that she will experience later. In the process of helping Hamlet, Polonius dies by his hand and this drives Ophelia insane due to the extreme sorrow that she felt. She couldn’t protect herself from emotional pain that she tried to avoid. Queen Gertrude, who just wanted her son and her new husband to get along, ended up being poisoned. She, too, wanted to help her son and protect him from whatever malady it was that he was experiencing. She was afraid for Hamlet’s health and life. In the end, she was poisoned by a drink that was meant for Hamlet. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are the dynamic duo that tried to help their friend. The reason why they went to Denmark was to try and console Hamlet for the death of his father and try to unite him with his stepfather and uncle. Unknowingly, they were bringing Hamlet to his death. In their minds, all they were doing was bringing Hamlet to England to allow him time to recuperate. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were killed instead. In the case of Hamlet, the proverb â€Å"The fearful are caught as often as the bold† applied to the people that surrounded Hamlet. This is what usually is called collateral damage, the damage that is inflicted on those beside the actual target. Also, these people who surround Hamlet are not at all mindful of their own danger. As a matter of fact, it never occurred to them that they will encounter death. However, they were afraid for Hamlet. Due to their affection for Hamlet, these characters tried to make him happy, protect him from himself, and protect him from others. In the end, all these people, afraid him, died tragically, even before Hamlet himself died. Therefore, those who were fearful for Hamlet were caught as much as the bold Hamlet in the tragedy of his vengeance. Reference: Shakespeare, William. â€Å"Hamlet†. The Complete Works of Shakespeare Ed. George Lyman Kittredge. Boston: Grolier Incorporated,1936: p. 1147

Impact of Arthashastra on Modern Warfare

Impact of Arthashastra on Modern Warfare ARTHASHASTRA AND ITS RELEVANCE IN MODERN WARFARE AND COUNTERINSURGENCY/COUNTERTERRORISM PHILOSOPHY â€Å"In the happiness of his subjects lies the kings happiness; in their welfare his welfare. He shall not consider as good only that which pleases him but treat as beneficial to him whatever pleases his subjects†¦An archer letting off an arrow may or may not kill a single man, but a wise man using his intellect can kill even reaching unto the very womb.† The Arthashastra INTRODUCTION SITUATING THE ARTHASHASTRA Historical Background 1. Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta[1] was the key advisor to and the genius behind the strategy undertaken by the king Chandra Gupta Maurya (317-293 B.C.) who stopped the advance of Alexander the Greats successors and introduced the Golden Age of India.[2] The Mauryan kingdom united and amalgamated the Indian sub-continent into a single entity for the first time, thus creating the concept of Indian nationhood. The Mauryan Empire extended from the Persian border in the West to Burma in the East covered most of peninsular India.[3] The empire lasted 150 years until about 180 BC, after which the empire dissociated[4] into several fragments. Kautilya was the chancellor to Chandra Gupta Maurya, and he composed the Arthashastra to counsel a ruler on how to defeat ones enemies and rule for the general good. The Arthashastra was very influential in ancient India up to the 12th century AD, when it faded from the public eye. The text, however, reappeared in 1904 and was publis hed in English in 1915.[5] 2. Artha[6] of Arthashastra stands for wealth, but it has a much wider significance. As enunciated by Kautilya, wealth of a nation is both the territory of the state and the inhabitants of the state. Thus economics is at the heart of Arthashastra. A healthy economy and loyal subjects can be achieved by having an adequate balance between the treasury of the state and the welfare of the people, was preached by Kautilya. This was to be achieved by maintaining law and order and adequate administrative machinery.[7] Thus the Arthashastra also contains the enforcement of laws (Dandaniti) and the details of the organisation of civil service and duties of state officials.[8] Arthashastra Overview 3. Written about 300 B.C., Kautilyas work was pitched to teach with the various intricacies of governance and politics to the king.[9] Kautilya has covered the subject in depth and offers insights into various spheres of statecraft, war and diplomacy. Kautilya wished his king to become a world conqueror[10] hence his analysis of the types of war, his doctrine of assassination, sowing discord amongst the enemy, use of spies, religion, superstition, along with the use of women to create conflicts in the enemy camp are engrossing and unputdownable.[11] 4. Books of Treatise. The Arthashastra is divided into 15 books, 150 chapters, 180 sections and 6,000 slokas.[12] The books are arranged in a manner that the initial books deal with internal administration and the later books on a states relations with its neighbours. Interestingly, there exists a very prominent mention of the ancient Navy as he has mentioned the ‘superintendent of ships in Book II. He may have foreseen the advantages of a sea borne force and a Navy.[13] 5. Science of Arthashastra. Kautilya believed that a rulers duties included the internal administration of the country, protection of the state from external aggression, maintenance of law and order within the state, and the welfare of the people. New territory had to be acquired by alliance or conquest for the prosperity of the state and also in the political environment existing then, which had many kings, anyone content with his own territory was likely to fall prey to hedgemonistic ambitions of the other. 6. Spectrum of Arthashastra. Kautilya argued that a nation could never achieve prosperity under a foreign ruler; indicating that independence was a pre-requisite for prosperity and economic progress. At the macro level, the Arthashastra covers the entire gamut of human society, the establishment and continuance of a nation state, foreign policy, war, civil law and economics. At the other end of the spectrum, the book delves into the building blocks of a society by clearly defining standardised weights[14], measures and time, values and taxes on commodities[15], metallurgical standards[16], sources of state revenue[17] and a detailed analysis of the composition of an army and forts.[18] 7. National Security. Kautilya insisted that all threats to national security must be eliminated at any cost to the state, while no enemy must be privy to the inner machinations and processes of ones own state â€Å"Like a tortoise, the king (state) shall draw in any limb of his that is exposed.†[19] Internal stability was the harbinger of economic well being. However, to maintain internal and external security, Kautilya proposed a massive network of spies and agents operating within the state and also in surrounding and enemy states. Detailed descriptions of espionage and counter-espionage activities, physical punishments and torture for internal security set this work apart from any other political treatise. 8. The Arthashastra is thus a mixture of both what we applaud today and what we consider to be reprehensible. Kautilya wrote his book about 2300 years ago when extreme forms of governance were commonplace and the primary task of the ruling monarch was primacy of his state and a policy of expansionism. While Kautilya was quite willing to reward those who served the state, he seemed to have an obsession with using the discipline of the laws to make everything in the kingdom ‘just right. In the Arthashastra, everyday life in all its multifarious activities comes in for careful regulation and adjustment, from the ‘cooking pot to the crown.[20] CHAPTER II METHODOLOGY Statement of the Problem 9. The aim of this paper is to study the teachings of Arthashastra in order to determine its relevance and yield insights into military strategy and warfare with emphasis on counter insurgency and counter terrorism. Hypothesis 10. The concepts of defence and war as enunciated by Kautilya are as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the 3rd century BC. Justification for the Study 11. The Arthashastra is essentially a treatise on the art of government and specially focuses on aspects of internal administration and foreign policy. It has been translated as â€Å"Science of Politics†, â€Å"Treatise on Polity†[21] or the â€Å"Science of Political Economy†.[22] However, the best description of the word comes from Heinrich Zimmer who translates the word as â€Å"Timeless Laws of Politics, Economy, Diplomacy and War†.[23] 12. Two thousand three hundred years ago, Kautilya compiled the Arthashastra and with it he proved to be a kingmaker as he enabled the inception of the Maurya dynasty. The Arthashastra has endured the test of time and it has since withstood the test of credibility. We will be enriching ourselves if we learn and grasp even a fraction of the wisdom that Kautilya embodied. 13. Our ancient scriptures have been neglected and Western principles and teachings propounded in our literature, including military literature due to ignorance of students and insufficient importance by teachers. 14. Kautilyas treatise enraptures in many ways, the complexity of our current world. The problems that existed then, persist in a more widespread and magnified manner in the contemporary world. The principles of Military strategy followed by Kautilya are also relevant in the contemporary world. 15. Study of his military strategy will throw some light on the in-depth knowledge of warfare in ancient India and will provide important lessons for conventional and unconventional warfare in the modern world, besides enhancing understanding and pride in our country and its thinkers. The lecture by Dr Gopalji Malviya, sparked the inquisitiveness and determination to study the Arthashastra. Scope 16. The scope of this paper is restricted to the study and analysis of the aspects related to warfare as enunciated by Kautilya. The study does not include his precepts on the social, political and economical structure of an ideal state. Though Kautilya has treated foreign policy as an important part of warfare, only brief mention where necessary would be made. The famous Mandala theory[24] has hence been consciously left out. Also the actual battle fighting and formations described in detail have been omitted to maintain focus on strategy. The study will cover the relevance of Arthashastra and its importance for modern warfare, counter insurgency and counter terrorism. 17. Though a sincere effort has been made to cover the relevance, trying to expound on Kautilyas immense wisdom presents a remarkable challenge. Therefore, throughout this dissertation the work of Kautilya is quoted to speak for itself. Methods of Data Collection 18. There are a number of books written on Arthashastra. Though some books are in Sanskrit and some are literal translations, some books are available in college library on the Arthashastra notably by LN Rangarajan, R Shamashastry, MV Krishna Rao and Roger Boeshe. Some data is also available on the internet and journals. A bibliography of sources is appended at the end of the paper. Likely sources include the following:- (a) Books written by eminent authors as mentioned above. (b) Papers submitted by researchers. (c) Information available over the internet. (d) Discussions with teachers and professors of history. Dr Gopalji Malviya was gracious enough to grant some valuable time for a ‘one on one discussion. His encouragement, advice and passion for the subject made the research meaningful. Organisation of the Dissertation 19. The dissertation is organised into six chapters. Chapters one and two deal with introducing the subject and the methodology of the research. It is proposed to study the subject under the following heads:- (a) Chapter III Principles of military strategy in Arthashastra. (b) Chapter IV Relevance in 21st century conventional warfare. (c) Chapter V Relevance in fourth generation warfare. (d) Chapter VI Conclusion. CHAPTER III PRINCIPLES OF MILITARY STRATEGY IN ARTHASHASTRA 20. Kautilya has enunciated many military strategies in the Arthashastra. Most importantly he does not seem to have made much distinction between military strategy and that of statecraft. He believed that warfare is an extension and an integral part of statecraft.[25] He has covered an array of strategies over a vast canvas from the actual fighting and planning, to training and deceit. Some of these will be discussed in this chapter. Planning a Campaign 21. Kautilyas most striking doctrine is his discussion of planning a campaign -â€Å"The activity of one setting out on a campaign deals with the factors to be taken into account before the king (state) decides that it is in the states interest to commence the campaign†.[26] Kautilya brings out the various facets of planning a campaign. He enunciates eight factors which are to be critically considered for determining whether a campaign would end in success, prior to making preparations for war. The factors that he considered for a successful campaign included Power (military, intellectual and morale), place and time, revolts and the rebellion in the rear, the calculation of losses, expenses and gains and the likely dangers of treachery. Few of the factors are discussed below:- (a) Power. According to Kautilya, the most important factor is of power. Power included the military might, and the economic strength of the adversary, and also the intellectual power, and t the ability of the enemy to carry out a objective analysis and not to be swayed by emotion or opinions. He even lists out the order of the three constituents of power to be Intellectual power, Military might and Enthusiasm and morale in the decreasing order of importance. Kautilya says that though the mightier king may be endowed with better war machinery and that he can buy heroic fighters, the Power of good analysis and judgement (which include intelligence and the knowledge of politics the two eyes of the king) are superior to sheer military strength. The operational ‘fFactor of fForce as spelt out in present day warfare encompasses the tangible (personnel, weapons, mobility, fire power and logistics) and the intangible elements (leadership, morale, discipline, training, doctrine and mo tivation).)[27] The human element that is the power of good counsel and intellectual power has been given the highest importance by Kautilya, unlike modern thinkers who give more importance to the military might. The intangible human elements are difficult to quantify and hence tend to tilt the balance if not correctly assessed. Hence to compare two opponents as emphasised inemphasised in the Arthashastra ,Arthashastra, their power in all aspects needs to be compared.[28] Kautilya gives least importance to morale but adds that ‘Tthe night before the battle is to be used for preparing for battle and building up the morale[29] of troops.[30] (b) Place/Terrain[31]. The next important factor to be considered is the place andplace and the terrain.[32] Employment of infantry, horses, elephants and chariots have been given the due importance with respect to terrain[33]. He has articulated that the land being used for conflict should be unsuitable for the enemy and suitable for own operations. This terrain is a smaller manifestation of the operational ‘Factor of Space. as given in the present day references on Operational Factors. The present day conventional warfare propagates that the free movement of ones forces and the space available are crucial for success in war. An example of denial of space is the concept of Blockade. Thus the importance of space was evident to Kautilya except the new concept of cyberspace. However his postulate that on each kind of space the king should undertake such works to increase his power[34] is still relevant. (c) Time/Campaigning Season. Kautilya has laid stress on timing[35] and selection of season for an expedition. He recommends that the climate and the time or duration of a campaign (day, night, fortnight, month, season) is of great importance. His concept of space is replicated as he articulates that the time of conflict should be unsuitable for the enemy and suitable for own operations.[36] He also states the various kinds of warfare and weapons to be used in different seasons . ‘An army consisting mostly of elephants should be used in rains or when plenty of water is available, camels and horses may be used in little rain or areas with muddy water.[37] The operational factors in modern warfare give serious consideration to the factor of time. Time has further been divided into preparation time, warning time, reaction time, decision cycle time etc. Durations of the campaign and the interval between two consecutive operations should beare kept short to be maintain a high tempo. This is brought out by Kautilya when he recommends that ‘whenever the king is superior, he shall not waste any time and should proceed against the enemy whenever by doing so the enemy can be weakened or crushed. Due to new technologies the pace of thein present day warfare new technologies are enlarging the area of combat is growing and at the same time compressing the time factor is being compressed. Thus tThe critical evaluation of time, and the various weather parameters and advices such as theand terms for planningfor planning a long, medium and short war as given in the Arthashastra remain relevant even today. (d) Troop Mobilisation. He Kautilya lays down the criterias in great detail which are required for mobilising each kind of troops. like Tthe standing army, is to be chosen if the threat is great and from well trained troops, however the territorial army is to be chosen if the enemy is weak. Tthe militia or is to be mobilised if the enemy is weak and it is only a law and order problem. Ffriendly or allied forces. are to be used when the king and the ally have the same objective. Without any remorse he adds that the jungle tribes should be used when there is a gain to the king, whether they win or lose in fighting the enemy ‘Just as a Chandala stands to benefit when a wild dog fights a wild boar. Combat potential concept in the present day concepts operational art states that combat potential is converted into Combat power by mobilisation of troops and start of conflict.[38] Even Kautilya has rightly emphasised the importance of troops and thus their bearing on the factor of for ce. Kautilya prefers an army of trained Kshatriyas[39] or a large force composed of Sudras and Vaishyas[40]. He was the first Indian statesman to consider the lower castes to fight wars. (e) Other factors. The other factors he discusses in planning include the revolts and the rebellion in the rear, the calculation of losses, expenses and gains and the likely dangers of treachery. Thus Kautilya has also brought out the fact which present day planners also abide by; of not planning or initiating military action without adequate forces and in the presence of unreasonable military or political constraints. Though most planning is valid only till the first contact with the enemy, still a complex almost mathematical analysis of gains and losses was carried out to justify going to war. (f) Power Place Time relation. The relationship of power, place and time to wage a war had various interpretations during that period. However Kautilya has clearly enunciated that though each of these components is important, none is more important than the other and all are interdependent. The fact that Kautilya understood the concept of space-time-force relationship and dynamics is a revelation. He postulated that only when the king finds that he is superior in power space and time shall he proceed against the enemy. â€Å"Force is important for a campaign; just as the collision of an unbaked mud-vessel with a similar vessel is destructive to both, so war with an equal king brings ruin to both†¦place (space) is important as a dog, seated in a convenient place, can drag a crocodile and a crocodile in low ground can drag a dog†¦time is critical as during the daytime the crow kills the owl and at night the owl the crow.†[41]His analysis of Force-Space-Time in the quot e shows that the correct forces need to be deployed in the correct terrain at a time of their choosing for maximum effect. The analogy of the crocodile being dragged by a dog would refer to a vastly superior force being inexorably drawn away from their base into an area of operations that is favourable to the smaller enemy (large conventional forces fighting insurgents in urban areas). All the factors listed by Kautilya need to be considered whilst planning a modern day conventional or unconventional campaign. Internal Security 22. Physical Security. The security of own kingdom consisted of physical security and also the capability to prevent treachery, revolts and rebellion.[42] The frontier post and forts (consisting of mountains, rivers, jungle and deserts) provided physical security. The details of fortifications are placed at the Appendix _______. Thus the importance given to internal security was immense. Demobilisation of troops was carried out in times of peace to save money and they were mobilised again for conquests. However the forces guarding the forts, royal property and the kings own guards were never disbanded, thus ensuring the importance of internal security. Besides Kautilya was extremely wary of revolts, rebellion and the ability of spies trying to influence the people by wrong newstreachery. 23. Control Over Army. Various means were utilised by the king to maintain control over his army including the Chiefs of Army such as paying them well, keeping them under surveillance and testing their integrity to prevent any rebellion.. Some of these measures including shrewd and ruthless ones are enumerated below:- (e) They were paid well to prevent them from being tempted by bribes by the enemy. (f) They were kept under surveillance of clandestine agents, especially to see that they did not succumb to the instigations of the enemy. (g) Their integrity was tested to weed out the cowardly. Also the (h) Tthe wings of the Army were kept under the control of more than one chief so that mutual fear and suspicion would ensure their loyalty. (i) 24. (a) Those suspected of treachery were posted to remote areas while their families were kept in the capital as hostages. Imperativeness of Security. Kautilya believed that offensive action is based on defensive power. His insistence of for internal security clearly underlined underlines the fact that before forces are committed to the main task all own vital and vulnerable targets should be secured. In fact he even advices the king to keep the treasury and army under his control. In case of a threat of revolt, Kautilya advices the king,not to remain behind in the capital and to allow his Commander to lead a campaign and to leave it to his Commander and remain behind in the capital, .in case of a threat of revolt. 24. This coupled with the fact that he attached great importance to controlling his army brings out the fact that internal security must be the sound foundation for a successful campaign. 25. Threat of Coup. Kautilya advised the king not to leave military matters entirely to others and be involved in it. He paid great importance to the training of the army and to the loyalty of the soldiers. Towards this he advocated the use of spies especially from threat of a coup. Kautilya recommended that â€Å"secret agents, prostitutes, artisans and actors as well as elders of the army should ascertain with diligence, the loyalty or disloyalty of soldiers†.[43] Types of Warfare 26. According to Kautilya, the king had two main responsibilities which included the protection of own state from external aggression and enlargement of territory by conquest[44]. He thought there was a ‘science of warfare, presumably part of a larger science of politics. [45] Kautilya has described four types of War[46] as follows:- (a) Mantrayuddha or War by Counsel. This is the exercise of diplomacy to win wars. This is to be utilised when the king is in a weaker position and engaging in battle would not be wise or beneficial. (b) Prakasayuddha or Open Warfare. This is the form of normal warfare which follows all laid down rules of fighting a battle. Open warfare, Kautilya declared, is ‘most righteous,'[47] but he was willing to use any and all kinds of warfare to achieve consolidation and expansion of the kingdom. Kautilya advised the king that â€Å"When he is superior in troops, and when he is on land suitable to himself, he should engage in an open fight. In the reverse case, (he should resort to) concealed fighting.†[48] This was quite unlike the teachings in the Indian epics which emphasised the Dharmayudha or ethical warfare. (c ) Kutayuddha or Concealed Warfare. This form of warfare includes psychological warfare and treachery in the enemys camp. Also known as Guerrilla warfare.[49] The Chinese civil war by the Peoples Liberation Army, the Vietcong in the Vietnam war, the Kosovo Liberation Army in Kosovo are examples of using mobile military tactics to defeat a stronger force. and guerrilla warfare. (d) Gudayuddha or Clandestine / Silent War. This type of war is waged by covert means to achieve the objective. It includes means to win without fighting the battle by means such as assassinating the enemy. Also called silent war, it is a kind of warfare with another kingdom in which the king and his ministers—and unknowingly, the people—all act publicly as if they were at peace with the opposing kingdom, but all the while secret agents and spies are assassinating important leaders in the other kingdom, creating divisions among key ministers and classes, and spreading propaganda and disinformation.[50] Roger Boesche has said in his book on Arthashastra that â€Å"silent war is a kind of fighting that no other thinker I know of has discussed†.[51] The assassination of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi carried out towards furthering separatist movements are examples of this kind of warfare. In silent warfare, secrecy is paramount, and, from a passage quoted earlier, t he king can prevail only by â€Å"maintaining secrecy when striking again and again.†[52] Military Organisation 27. The military organisation is covered in great detail in Arthashastra. Maintenance of the states armies, troops and the organisational structure[53] of various components are still valid. The organisation was based on the number ten[54] and as today we follow the relationship of three. In the olden days since space was limited, it was perhaps possible to have a commander controlling ten subordinate commanders.[55] 28. Managing the Army. He further warns against calamities which adversely affect the functioning of the army which include not giving due honours, not paid sufficiently, low in morale etc. Kautilya states that armies should never be abandoned, left leaderless or totally merged into someone elses army.ItThe army should always have adequate reinforcements[56]. He further warns against calamities which adversely affect the functioning of the army. He includes many factors such as not giving due honours, not paid sufficiently, low in morale, an angry army, a dispersed one, having to fight in an unsuitable terrain or season, an army which has been encircled, obstructed or cut off from reinforcements and supplies and most importantly one without leaders. He makes an incisive observation when he states that an unhonoured army, an unpaid army an exhausted army will fight if honoured, paid and allowed to relax respectively but a dishonoured army with resentment in its heart will not do so. H e further gives importance to leadership qualities by stating that an army repulsed will fight if rallied by heroic men unlike an army abandoned by its chief. This is as true today, even in the age of C4ISR. and where troops or ships are spread across the globe. It is an accepted fact that in the absence of an inspired leader victory goes to the stronger (numerically superior) side. He also adds that even if the army faces extreme reverses like loss of capital or death of a commander it will still fight unless they are cut off from their king and leader. He stated the pre requisite for an effective leader which is true even today that he should keep in mind two fundamental elements, the mission and the people. The king is advised to guard his army against troubles created by the enemy and told to strike at the weak points of the enemys army similar to the critical vulnerabilities in JOPP. Algorithim of Victory. 29. When two kings are at war, he advises his king to sue for peace with a stronger king, accept the peace offer of a equally strong king and to destroy the weaker king.[57] He justifies going to war by the natural enemy concept[58] which states that if the conqueror does not eliminate the enemy, the enemy will eliminate him. After victory it is vitally important to consolidate on newly acquired territory so as to be able to embark on further conquests. He clarifies that a defeated army should never be harassed to the point of making it so desperate that it will return to fight with vengeance.[59] Oligarchies / Coalitions 30. A whole section is dedicated to oligarchies or confederacy. In the present world such a communion is exhibited by coalition forces. While accepting that these coalitions are strong entities he frames various means to fight and put up resistance against them. As an oligarchy is defined as a unassailable cohesive unit, sowing dissension, using deceit, treachery and playing on the differences amongst them has been suggested as measures to defeat them. In the present world, the attempt to break the coalition by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is an example of this tactics.[60] Strategies for Weak King 31. Kautilya has written extensively on the response of a weak king when being attacked by a stronger king. When confronted by a superior power Kautilya advices the weak king to find a way to survive to fight another day, preserving â€Å"his body, not wealth; for, what regret can there be for wealth that is impermanent?†[61] Kautilya did not however expect the weak king to give in to the conqueror without a fight and recommended various measures which included use of ‘diplomatic or concealed warfare and instigating a revolt in the enemy camp.As a desperate measure he even advocated a powerful speech offering a mixture of moral exhortation and arguments to be given to the superior king. People and Popular Support 32. Kautilya maintained that people were more important than forts and armies. As he put it, â€Å"one should only seek a fortress with men.†[62] Kautilya urged the king to be popular with the people and to endeavour to secure the welfare of his subjects. The Arthashastra has emphasised on not causing harm even to the subjects of the enemy king. In fact extra ordinary measures are recommended to win over the people of the enemy land. Their customs had to be respected and their gods had to be revered by the new king. After the war, carrying away loot was forbidden. 33. The important six fold foreign policy[63] has been left out due to dissertation restrictions. The gamut of strategies from the planning aspects, the types of war to the very crucial support of the people will be will be contextually examined for their relevance in the next chapters. CHAPTER IV RELEVANCE IN 21ST CENTURY CONVENTIONAL WARFARE 34. Realist School. In this chapter the present day conventional warfare will be examined as seen through the prism of Kautilya. Kautilya is widely known to have preached the Realist School of thought which advised rulers to maximise power through political rather than military means. He preached that the ends justified the means including the use of ruse, deceit[64], cunning and subterfuge[65]. However Kautilya has discussed conventional warfare in great detail and has also given the option of frontal attack on the enemy.[66] 35. Role and Mission. In an increasingly complex world, the missions of the armed forces are correspondingly more diverse and complex than ever before. In times of peace and tension, the armed forces are a powerful instrument of the nations foreign policy.[67] In times of crisis and conflict, they are the foremost expression of the nations will and intent. Suffice to say that the expectations of a nation from its military are diverse and wide-ranging. Therefore, modern warfare is not restricted to war alone. Rather, they encompass the military, political, economic and the diplomatic aspects. 36. Nature of War. War or conflict has two different characteristics. One, which represents progress and change, and the other, which represents constancy and permanency. On one hand, the dynamics of progress and change depend much upon a commanders imagination, innovativeness, grasp of technology and complexity. While on the other, the Arthashastra is testimony to the constant and unchanging nature of war. Studies of military history show that certain features constantly recur; that certain relations between type of action and success often remain the same; that certain circumstances and moments have time and time again, proved decisive. Past being the prologue of future, underscores the relevance and significance of studies of military history such as propagated by the Arthashastra. Joint Intelligence Preparation of Operational Environment 37. Factor of Space. The r Impact of Arthashastra on Modern Warfare Impact of Arthashastra on Modern Warfare ARTHASHASTRA AND ITS RELEVANCE IN MODERN WARFARE AND COUNTERINSURGENCY/COUNTERTERRORISM PHILOSOPHY â€Å"In the happiness of his subjects lies the kings happiness; in their welfare his welfare. He shall not consider as good only that which pleases him but treat as beneficial to him whatever pleases his subjects†¦An archer letting off an arrow may or may not kill a single man, but a wise man using his intellect can kill even reaching unto the very womb.† The Arthashastra INTRODUCTION SITUATING THE ARTHASHASTRA Historical Background 1. Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta[1] was the key advisor to and the genius behind the strategy undertaken by the king Chandra Gupta Maurya (317-293 B.C.) who stopped the advance of Alexander the Greats successors and introduced the Golden Age of India.[2] The Mauryan kingdom united and amalgamated the Indian sub-continent into a single entity for the first time, thus creating the concept of Indian nationhood. The Mauryan Empire extended from the Persian border in the West to Burma in the East covered most of peninsular India.[3] The empire lasted 150 years until about 180 BC, after which the empire dissociated[4] into several fragments. Kautilya was the chancellor to Chandra Gupta Maurya, and he composed the Arthashastra to counsel a ruler on how to defeat ones enemies and rule for the general good. The Arthashastra was very influential in ancient India up to the 12th century AD, when it faded from the public eye. The text, however, reappeared in 1904 and was publis hed in English in 1915.[5] 2. Artha[6] of Arthashastra stands for wealth, but it has a much wider significance. As enunciated by Kautilya, wealth of a nation is both the territory of the state and the inhabitants of the state. Thus economics is at the heart of Arthashastra. A healthy economy and loyal subjects can be achieved by having an adequate balance between the treasury of the state and the welfare of the people, was preached by Kautilya. This was to be achieved by maintaining law and order and adequate administrative machinery.[7] Thus the Arthashastra also contains the enforcement of laws (Dandaniti) and the details of the organisation of civil service and duties of state officials.[8] Arthashastra Overview 3. Written about 300 B.C., Kautilyas work was pitched to teach with the various intricacies of governance and politics to the king.[9] Kautilya has covered the subject in depth and offers insights into various spheres of statecraft, war and diplomacy. Kautilya wished his king to become a world conqueror[10] hence his analysis of the types of war, his doctrine of assassination, sowing discord amongst the enemy, use of spies, religion, superstition, along with the use of women to create conflicts in the enemy camp are engrossing and unputdownable.[11] 4. Books of Treatise. The Arthashastra is divided into 15 books, 150 chapters, 180 sections and 6,000 slokas.[12] The books are arranged in a manner that the initial books deal with internal administration and the later books on a states relations with its neighbours. Interestingly, there exists a very prominent mention of the ancient Navy as he has mentioned the ‘superintendent of ships in Book II. He may have foreseen the advantages of a sea borne force and a Navy.[13] 5. Science of Arthashastra. Kautilya believed that a rulers duties included the internal administration of the country, protection of the state from external aggression, maintenance of law and order within the state, and the welfare of the people. New territory had to be acquired by alliance or conquest for the prosperity of the state and also in the political environment existing then, which had many kings, anyone content with his own territory was likely to fall prey to hedgemonistic ambitions of the other. 6. Spectrum of Arthashastra. Kautilya argued that a nation could never achieve prosperity under a foreign ruler; indicating that independence was a pre-requisite for prosperity and economic progress. At the macro level, the Arthashastra covers the entire gamut of human society, the establishment and continuance of a nation state, foreign policy, war, civil law and economics. At the other end of the spectrum, the book delves into the building blocks of a society by clearly defining standardised weights[14], measures and time, values and taxes on commodities[15], metallurgical standards[16], sources of state revenue[17] and a detailed analysis of the composition of an army and forts.[18] 7. National Security. Kautilya insisted that all threats to national security must be eliminated at any cost to the state, while no enemy must be privy to the inner machinations and processes of ones own state â€Å"Like a tortoise, the king (state) shall draw in any limb of his that is exposed.†[19] Internal stability was the harbinger of economic well being. However, to maintain internal and external security, Kautilya proposed a massive network of spies and agents operating within the state and also in surrounding and enemy states. Detailed descriptions of espionage and counter-espionage activities, physical punishments and torture for internal security set this work apart from any other political treatise. 8. The Arthashastra is thus a mixture of both what we applaud today and what we consider to be reprehensible. Kautilya wrote his book about 2300 years ago when extreme forms of governance were commonplace and the primary task of the ruling monarch was primacy of his state and a policy of expansionism. While Kautilya was quite willing to reward those who served the state, he seemed to have an obsession with using the discipline of the laws to make everything in the kingdom ‘just right. In the Arthashastra, everyday life in all its multifarious activities comes in for careful regulation and adjustment, from the ‘cooking pot to the crown.[20] CHAPTER II METHODOLOGY Statement of the Problem 9. The aim of this paper is to study the teachings of Arthashastra in order to determine its relevance and yield insights into military strategy and warfare with emphasis on counter insurgency and counter terrorism. Hypothesis 10. The concepts of defence and war as enunciated by Kautilya are as relevant in the 21st century as it was in the 3rd century BC. Justification for the Study 11. The Arthashastra is essentially a treatise on the art of government and specially focuses on aspects of internal administration and foreign policy. It has been translated as â€Å"Science of Politics†, â€Å"Treatise on Polity†[21] or the â€Å"Science of Political Economy†.[22] However, the best description of the word comes from Heinrich Zimmer who translates the word as â€Å"Timeless Laws of Politics, Economy, Diplomacy and War†.[23] 12. Two thousand three hundred years ago, Kautilya compiled the Arthashastra and with it he proved to be a kingmaker as he enabled the inception of the Maurya dynasty. The Arthashastra has endured the test of time and it has since withstood the test of credibility. We will be enriching ourselves if we learn and grasp even a fraction of the wisdom that Kautilya embodied. 13. Our ancient scriptures have been neglected and Western principles and teachings propounded in our literature, including military literature due to ignorance of students and insufficient importance by teachers. 14. Kautilyas treatise enraptures in many ways, the complexity of our current world. The problems that existed then, persist in a more widespread and magnified manner in the contemporary world. The principles of Military strategy followed by Kautilya are also relevant in the contemporary world. 15. Study of his military strategy will throw some light on the in-depth knowledge of warfare in ancient India and will provide important lessons for conventional and unconventional warfare in the modern world, besides enhancing understanding and pride in our country and its thinkers. The lecture by Dr Gopalji Malviya, sparked the inquisitiveness and determination to study the Arthashastra. Scope 16. The scope of this paper is restricted to the study and analysis of the aspects related to warfare as enunciated by Kautilya. The study does not include his precepts on the social, political and economical structure of an ideal state. Though Kautilya has treated foreign policy as an important part of warfare, only brief mention where necessary would be made. The famous Mandala theory[24] has hence been consciously left out. Also the actual battle fighting and formations described in detail have been omitted to maintain focus on strategy. The study will cover the relevance of Arthashastra and its importance for modern warfare, counter insurgency and counter terrorism. 17. Though a sincere effort has been made to cover the relevance, trying to expound on Kautilyas immense wisdom presents a remarkable challenge. Therefore, throughout this dissertation the work of Kautilya is quoted to speak for itself. Methods of Data Collection 18. There are a number of books written on Arthashastra. Though some books are in Sanskrit and some are literal translations, some books are available in college library on the Arthashastra notably by LN Rangarajan, R Shamashastry, MV Krishna Rao and Roger Boeshe. Some data is also available on the internet and journals. A bibliography of sources is appended at the end of the paper. Likely sources include the following:- (a) Books written by eminent authors as mentioned above. (b) Papers submitted by researchers. (c) Information available over the internet. (d) Discussions with teachers and professors of history. Dr Gopalji Malviya was gracious enough to grant some valuable time for a ‘one on one discussion. His encouragement, advice and passion for the subject made the research meaningful. Organisation of the Dissertation 19. The dissertation is organised into six chapters. Chapters one and two deal with introducing the subject and the methodology of the research. It is proposed to study the subject under the following heads:- (a) Chapter III Principles of military strategy in Arthashastra. (b) Chapter IV Relevance in 21st century conventional warfare. (c) Chapter V Relevance in fourth generation warfare. (d) Chapter VI Conclusion. CHAPTER III PRINCIPLES OF MILITARY STRATEGY IN ARTHASHASTRA 20. Kautilya has enunciated many military strategies in the Arthashastra. Most importantly he does not seem to have made much distinction between military strategy and that of statecraft. He believed that warfare is an extension and an integral part of statecraft.[25] He has covered an array of strategies over a vast canvas from the actual fighting and planning, to training and deceit. Some of these will be discussed in this chapter. Planning a Campaign 21. Kautilyas most striking doctrine is his discussion of planning a campaign -â€Å"The activity of one setting out on a campaign deals with the factors to be taken into account before the king (state) decides that it is in the states interest to commence the campaign†.[26] Kautilya brings out the various facets of planning a campaign. He enunciates eight factors which are to be critically considered for determining whether a campaign would end in success, prior to making preparations for war. The factors that he considered for a successful campaign included Power (military, intellectual and morale), place and time, revolts and the rebellion in the rear, the calculation of losses, expenses and gains and the likely dangers of treachery. Few of the factors are discussed below:- (a) Power. According to Kautilya, the most important factor is of power. Power included the military might, and the economic strength of the adversary, and also the intellectual power, and t the ability of the enemy to carry out a objective analysis and not to be swayed by emotion or opinions. He even lists out the order of the three constituents of power to be Intellectual power, Military might and Enthusiasm and morale in the decreasing order of importance. Kautilya says that though the mightier king may be endowed with better war machinery and that he can buy heroic fighters, the Power of good analysis and judgement (which include intelligence and the knowledge of politics the two eyes of the king) are superior to sheer military strength. The operational ‘fFactor of fForce as spelt out in present day warfare encompasses the tangible (personnel, weapons, mobility, fire power and logistics) and the intangible elements (leadership, morale, discipline, training, doctrine and mo tivation).)[27] The human element that is the power of good counsel and intellectual power has been given the highest importance by Kautilya, unlike modern thinkers who give more importance to the military might. The intangible human elements are difficult to quantify and hence tend to tilt the balance if not correctly assessed. Hence to compare two opponents as emphasised inemphasised in the Arthashastra ,Arthashastra, their power in all aspects needs to be compared.[28] Kautilya gives least importance to morale but adds that ‘Tthe night before the battle is to be used for preparing for battle and building up the morale[29] of troops.[30] (b) Place/Terrain[31]. The next important factor to be considered is the place andplace and the terrain.[32] Employment of infantry, horses, elephants and chariots have been given the due importance with respect to terrain[33]. He has articulated that the land being used for conflict should be unsuitable for the enemy and suitable for own operations. This terrain is a smaller manifestation of the operational ‘Factor of Space. as given in the present day references on Operational Factors. The present day conventional warfare propagates that the free movement of ones forces and the space available are crucial for success in war. An example of denial of space is the concept of Blockade. Thus the importance of space was evident to Kautilya except the new concept of cyberspace. However his postulate that on each kind of space the king should undertake such works to increase his power[34] is still relevant. (c) Time/Campaigning Season. Kautilya has laid stress on timing[35] and selection of season for an expedition. He recommends that the climate and the time or duration of a campaign (day, night, fortnight, month, season) is of great importance. His concept of space is replicated as he articulates that the time of conflict should be unsuitable for the enemy and suitable for own operations.[36] He also states the various kinds of warfare and weapons to be used in different seasons . ‘An army consisting mostly of elephants should be used in rains or when plenty of water is available, camels and horses may be used in little rain or areas with muddy water.[37] The operational factors in modern warfare give serious consideration to the factor of time. Time has further been divided into preparation time, warning time, reaction time, decision cycle time etc. Durations of the campaign and the interval between two consecutive operations should beare kept short to be maintain a high tempo. This is brought out by Kautilya when he recommends that ‘whenever the king is superior, he shall not waste any time and should proceed against the enemy whenever by doing so the enemy can be weakened or crushed. Due to new technologies the pace of thein present day warfare new technologies are enlarging the area of combat is growing and at the same time compressing the time factor is being compressed. Thus tThe critical evaluation of time, and the various weather parameters and advices such as theand terms for planningfor planning a long, medium and short war as given in the Arthashastra remain relevant even today. (d) Troop Mobilisation. He Kautilya lays down the criterias in great detail which are required for mobilising each kind of troops. like Tthe standing army, is to be chosen if the threat is great and from well trained troops, however the territorial army is to be chosen if the enemy is weak. Tthe militia or is to be mobilised if the enemy is weak and it is only a law and order problem. Ffriendly or allied forces. are to be used when the king and the ally have the same objective. Without any remorse he adds that the jungle tribes should be used when there is a gain to the king, whether they win or lose in fighting the enemy ‘Just as a Chandala stands to benefit when a wild dog fights a wild boar. Combat potential concept in the present day concepts operational art states that combat potential is converted into Combat power by mobilisation of troops and start of conflict.[38] Even Kautilya has rightly emphasised the importance of troops and thus their bearing on the factor of for ce. Kautilya prefers an army of trained Kshatriyas[39] or a large force composed of Sudras and Vaishyas[40]. He was the first Indian statesman to consider the lower castes to fight wars. (e) Other factors. The other factors he discusses in planning include the revolts and the rebellion in the rear, the calculation of losses, expenses and gains and the likely dangers of treachery. Thus Kautilya has also brought out the fact which present day planners also abide by; of not planning or initiating military action without adequate forces and in the presence of unreasonable military or political constraints. Though most planning is valid only till the first contact with the enemy, still a complex almost mathematical analysis of gains and losses was carried out to justify going to war. (f) Power Place Time relation. The relationship of power, place and time to wage a war had various interpretations during that period. However Kautilya has clearly enunciated that though each of these components is important, none is more important than the other and all are interdependent. The fact that Kautilya understood the concept of space-time-force relationship and dynamics is a revelation. He postulated that only when the king finds that he is superior in power space and time shall he proceed against the enemy. â€Å"Force is important for a campaign; just as the collision of an unbaked mud-vessel with a similar vessel is destructive to both, so war with an equal king brings ruin to both†¦place (space) is important as a dog, seated in a convenient place, can drag a crocodile and a crocodile in low ground can drag a dog†¦time is critical as during the daytime the crow kills the owl and at night the owl the crow.†[41]His analysis of Force-Space-Time in the quot e shows that the correct forces need to be deployed in the correct terrain at a time of their choosing for maximum effect. The analogy of the crocodile being dragged by a dog would refer to a vastly superior force being inexorably drawn away from their base into an area of operations that is favourable to the smaller enemy (large conventional forces fighting insurgents in urban areas). All the factors listed by Kautilya need to be considered whilst planning a modern day conventional or unconventional campaign. Internal Security 22. Physical Security. The security of own kingdom consisted of physical security and also the capability to prevent treachery, revolts and rebellion.[42] The frontier post and forts (consisting of mountains, rivers, jungle and deserts) provided physical security. The details of fortifications are placed at the Appendix _______. Thus the importance given to internal security was immense. Demobilisation of troops was carried out in times of peace to save money and they were mobilised again for conquests. However the forces guarding the forts, royal property and the kings own guards were never disbanded, thus ensuring the importance of internal security. Besides Kautilya was extremely wary of revolts, rebellion and the ability of spies trying to influence the people by wrong newstreachery. 23. Control Over Army. Various means were utilised by the king to maintain control over his army including the Chiefs of Army such as paying them well, keeping them under surveillance and testing their integrity to prevent any rebellion.. Some of these measures including shrewd and ruthless ones are enumerated below:- (e) They were paid well to prevent them from being tempted by bribes by the enemy. (f) They were kept under surveillance of clandestine agents, especially to see that they did not succumb to the instigations of the enemy. (g) Their integrity was tested to weed out the cowardly. Also the (h) Tthe wings of the Army were kept under the control of more than one chief so that mutual fear and suspicion would ensure their loyalty. (i) 24. (a) Those suspected of treachery were posted to remote areas while their families were kept in the capital as hostages. Imperativeness of Security. Kautilya believed that offensive action is based on defensive power. His insistence of for internal security clearly underlined underlines the fact that before forces are committed to the main task all own vital and vulnerable targets should be secured. In fact he even advices the king to keep the treasury and army under his control. In case of a threat of revolt, Kautilya advices the king,not to remain behind in the capital and to allow his Commander to lead a campaign and to leave it to his Commander and remain behind in the capital, .in case of a threat of revolt. 24. This coupled with the fact that he attached great importance to controlling his army brings out the fact that internal security must be the sound foundation for a successful campaign. 25. Threat of Coup. Kautilya advised the king not to leave military matters entirely to others and be involved in it. He paid great importance to the training of the army and to the loyalty of the soldiers. Towards this he advocated the use of spies especially from threat of a coup. Kautilya recommended that â€Å"secret agents, prostitutes, artisans and actors as well as elders of the army should ascertain with diligence, the loyalty or disloyalty of soldiers†.[43] Types of Warfare 26. According to Kautilya, the king had two main responsibilities which included the protection of own state from external aggression and enlargement of territory by conquest[44]. He thought there was a ‘science of warfare, presumably part of a larger science of politics. [45] Kautilya has described four types of War[46] as follows:- (a) Mantrayuddha or War by Counsel. This is the exercise of diplomacy to win wars. This is to be utilised when the king is in a weaker position and engaging in battle would not be wise or beneficial. (b) Prakasayuddha or Open Warfare. This is the form of normal warfare which follows all laid down rules of fighting a battle. Open warfare, Kautilya declared, is ‘most righteous,'[47] but he was willing to use any and all kinds of warfare to achieve consolidation and expansion of the kingdom. Kautilya advised the king that â€Å"When he is superior in troops, and when he is on land suitable to himself, he should engage in an open fight. In the reverse case, (he should resort to) concealed fighting.†[48] This was quite unlike the teachings in the Indian epics which emphasised the Dharmayudha or ethical warfare. (c ) Kutayuddha or Concealed Warfare. This form of warfare includes psychological warfare and treachery in the enemys camp. Also known as Guerrilla warfare.[49] The Chinese civil war by the Peoples Liberation Army, the Vietcong in the Vietnam war, the Kosovo Liberation Army in Kosovo are examples of using mobile military tactics to defeat a stronger force. and guerrilla warfare. (d) Gudayuddha or Clandestine / Silent War. This type of war is waged by covert means to achieve the objective. It includes means to win without fighting the battle by means such as assassinating the enemy. Also called silent war, it is a kind of warfare with another kingdom in which the king and his ministers—and unknowingly, the people—all act publicly as if they were at peace with the opposing kingdom, but all the while secret agents and spies are assassinating important leaders in the other kingdom, creating divisions among key ministers and classes, and spreading propaganda and disinformation.[50] Roger Boesche has said in his book on Arthashastra that â€Å"silent war is a kind of fighting that no other thinker I know of has discussed†.[51] The assassination of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi carried out towards furthering separatist movements are examples of this kind of warfare. In silent warfare, secrecy is paramount, and, from a passage quoted earlier, t he king can prevail only by â€Å"maintaining secrecy when striking again and again.†[52] Military Organisation 27. The military organisation is covered in great detail in Arthashastra. Maintenance of the states armies, troops and the organisational structure[53] of various components are still valid. The organisation was based on the number ten[54] and as today we follow the relationship of three. In the olden days since space was limited, it was perhaps possible to have a commander controlling ten subordinate commanders.[55] 28. Managing the Army. He further warns against calamities which adversely affect the functioning of the army which include not giving due honours, not paid sufficiently, low in morale etc. Kautilya states that armies should never be abandoned, left leaderless or totally merged into someone elses army.ItThe army should always have adequate reinforcements[56]. He further warns against calamities which adversely affect the functioning of the army. He includes many factors such as not giving due honours, not paid sufficiently, low in morale, an angry army, a dispersed one, having to fight in an unsuitable terrain or season, an army which has been encircled, obstructed or cut off from reinforcements and supplies and most importantly one without leaders. He makes an incisive observation when he states that an unhonoured army, an unpaid army an exhausted army will fight if honoured, paid and allowed to relax respectively but a dishonoured army with resentment in its heart will not do so. H e further gives importance to leadership qualities by stating that an army repulsed will fight if rallied by heroic men unlike an army abandoned by its chief. This is as true today, even in the age of C4ISR. and where troops or ships are spread across the globe. It is an accepted fact that in the absence of an inspired leader victory goes to the stronger (numerically superior) side. He also adds that even if the army faces extreme reverses like loss of capital or death of a commander it will still fight unless they are cut off from their king and leader. He stated the pre requisite for an effective leader which is true even today that he should keep in mind two fundamental elements, the mission and the people. The king is advised to guard his army against troubles created by the enemy and told to strike at the weak points of the enemys army similar to the critical vulnerabilities in JOPP. Algorithim of Victory. 29. When two kings are at war, he advises his king to sue for peace with a stronger king, accept the peace offer of a equally strong king and to destroy the weaker king.[57] He justifies going to war by the natural enemy concept[58] which states that if the conqueror does not eliminate the enemy, the enemy will eliminate him. After victory it is vitally important to consolidate on newly acquired territory so as to be able to embark on further conquests. He clarifies that a defeated army should never be harassed to the point of making it so desperate that it will return to fight with vengeance.[59] Oligarchies / Coalitions 30. A whole section is dedicated to oligarchies or confederacy. In the present world such a communion is exhibited by coalition forces. While accepting that these coalitions are strong entities he frames various means to fight and put up resistance against them. As an oligarchy is defined as a unassailable cohesive unit, sowing dissension, using deceit, treachery and playing on the differences amongst them has been suggested as measures to defeat them. In the present world, the attempt to break the coalition by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is an example of this tactics.[60] Strategies for Weak King 31. Kautilya has written extensively on the response of a weak king when being attacked by a stronger king. When confronted by a superior power Kautilya advices the weak king to find a way to survive to fight another day, preserving â€Å"his body, not wealth; for, what regret can there be for wealth that is impermanent?†[61] Kautilya did not however expect the weak king to give in to the conqueror without a fight and recommended various measures which included use of ‘diplomatic or concealed warfare and instigating a revolt in the enemy camp.As a desperate measure he even advocated a powerful speech offering a mixture of moral exhortation and arguments to be given to the superior king. People and Popular Support 32. Kautilya maintained that people were more important than forts and armies. As he put it, â€Å"one should only seek a fortress with men.†[62] Kautilya urged the king to be popular with the people and to endeavour to secure the welfare of his subjects. The Arthashastra has emphasised on not causing harm even to the subjects of the enemy king. In fact extra ordinary measures are recommended to win over the people of the enemy land. Their customs had to be respected and their gods had to be revered by the new king. After the war, carrying away loot was forbidden. 33. The important six fold foreign policy[63] has been left out due to dissertation restrictions. The gamut of strategies from the planning aspects, the types of war to the very crucial support of the people will be will be contextually examined for their relevance in the next chapters. CHAPTER IV RELEVANCE IN 21ST CENTURY CONVENTIONAL WARFARE 34. Realist School. In this chapter the present day conventional warfare will be examined as seen through the prism of Kautilya. Kautilya is widely known to have preached the Realist School of thought which advised rulers to maximise power through political rather than military means. He preached that the ends justified the means including the use of ruse, deceit[64], cunning and subterfuge[65]. However Kautilya has discussed conventional warfare in great detail and has also given the option of frontal attack on the enemy.[66] 35. Role and Mission. In an increasingly complex world, the missions of the armed forces are correspondingly more diverse and complex than ever before. In times of peace and tension, the armed forces are a powerful instrument of the nations foreign policy.[67] In times of crisis and conflict, they are the foremost expression of the nations will and intent. Suffice to say that the expectations of a nation from its military are diverse and wide-ranging. Therefore, modern warfare is not restricted to war alone. Rather, they encompass the military, political, economic and the diplomatic aspects. 36. Nature of War. War or conflict has two different characteristics. One, which represents progress and change, and the other, which represents constancy and permanency. On one hand, the dynamics of progress and change depend much upon a commanders imagination, innovativeness, grasp of technology and complexity. While on the other, the Arthashastra is testimony to the constant and unchanging nature of war. Studies of military history show that certain features constantly recur; that certain relations between type of action and success often remain the same; that certain circumstances and moments have time and time again, proved decisive. Past being the prologue of future, underscores the relevance and significance of studies of military history such as propagated by the Arthashastra. Joint Intelligence Preparation of Operational Environment 37. Factor of Space. The r

Pearl Harbor Conspiracy :: essays research papers

â€Å"It was very apparent to everyone who had carefully followed the course of events that we would sooner or later have to meet the threat to civilization which these aggressor nations were presenting to the world†¦and that we would ultimately be left to face the onslaught alone†¦Ã¢â‚¬  are words from then Secretary of War Henry Stimson. America knew she was headed for war, her people though, not directly feeling the effects of the conflicts going on half a world away would not support the loss of American lives for a foreign war. The government knew about the planned attacks on Pearl Harbor, kept the information from the military leaders that needed it the most, and used the tragedy to rally the nation toward war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR. THIS IS NO DRILL.† This is the message sent out by radioman Kyle Boyer at 7:58 a.m. Sunday December 7, 1941; a date which will live in infamy. The empire of Japan had attacked the United States’ Pacific Fleet based in Pearl Harbor. For months the US Intelligence community, as well as others around the world, had been intercepting and decoding transmissions from mainland Japan to their diplomats and spies in the US. We had cracked their Purple Code, and knew exactly what military intelligence was being transmitted back and forth. The Dutch also cracked Purple and informed our government of the Japanese plan and were shocked to hear reports that we were taken by surprised. Even more disturbing, months before the attack a British double agent, Dusko Popov, codenamed Tricycle, turned over to the F.B.I. detailed plans of the Japanese air raid, which he had obtained from the Germans. The government had the information, and d id nothing with it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The people who needed the information the most, Admiral Kimmel, commander-in-chief us pacific fleet, and General Walter Short, the army commander in Hawaii, were kept out of the loop. Why would the military keep such pertinent information from its leaders in Hawaii? Some would argue they hid the information so the Japanese would not know their code was broken. I wonder if the 2,000+ service men and civilians that died that day would share the same concern. Admiral Kimmel had been complaining about shortages of personnel, planes, and radar for months. General Short did not even know he had a special Army monitoring station on the island, and was not even cleared to see the decrypted messages known as Magic.

My Hope for Tomorrow’s Schools :: Education Teaching Classroom Learning Essays

My Hope for Tomorrow’s Schools I believe schools should help students develop their value systems, if indeed these values are of God. I am a born again Christian believer of the gospel of Jesus Christ; therefore, my values are based upon the good, the true, and the beautiful which comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our society is based on a number of fundamental values; values derived from biblical truths. These truths are our highest pattern of virtue. I believe we, as teachers, have a certain degree of power to stop the moral disintegration of our society, by helping students develop biblical and Godly values. Teachers have the opportunity to instill a desire for these values within our students, yet still bear in mind that these students have a choice as to whether they want to accept these values as their own. Perhaps if Christian values remained within our school systems, the Columbine shootings as well as other school shootings, would never have happened. Today’s children are faced with an extremely challenging social environment. Therefore, I believe that adults must demonstrate to young people that it is possible to live one’s values and to advocate for a more just and responsible society. It is of the utmost importance that teachers be positive moral models and to administer character education to our children, so that we may help them understand, through experience, that what they value matters and that living their virtue lends meaning and richness to their own lives. I also believe that students need knowledge of their social, political, and economic world, and that character education will motivate them to participate in social change in order to create a more just society. Social change needs to take place in certain areas. Issues such as discrimination and bigotry can strangle an otherwise workable society. If every one of us would strive to live our lives as God has commanded, not suggested, then there would be no place in our society for discrimination and bigotry. The world literally stands or falls on mankind’s actions- each of us possessing a potential for a strategic significance to maximize the impact of good. Mankind has a high position, but no one should think themselves to be more worthy or more important than anyone else. One of the tragedies of prejudice is that it may separate one from a potential source of help.