How Has Nato Survived The Cold War Essays - NATO,

How Has Nato Survived The Cold War The latter half of the twentieth century has been dominated by the Cold War and the actions and events surrounding it. During this period different alliances and treaties were formed and many of these were institutionalized. One such alliance was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This organization was set up by the Northern Atlantic Western Powers to combat the Eastern Soviet threat. Today however NATO still exists and plays an active role in international relations. The question asked then is why after the Soviet Threat has dispersed an organization that was set up with the sole purpose of defeating the Soviets, is still persisting. NATO was formed on the 4th of April 1949 with an alliance of twelve independent nations committed to defence and security. Between 1952 and 1982 four more nations joined and three more in March 1999. The original alliance was formed with the purpose of stopping Soviet expansion in Europe, with the United States as the main driving force. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the consequential end of the Cold War it may be asked why has NATO survived and still plays an active and influential role in European interstate politics. NATO has a definite reason for still continuing on in Europe. According to Michael Ruhle (Senior Planning Officer, Policy Planning and Speechwriting Section of NATO's Political Affairs Division) NATO has changed from a singular-purpose organization to a multi-purpose institution, working together to create a more benign strategic environment. Mr. Ruhle argues that NATO is contributing to the emerging Euro-Atlantic security architecture. It is not really an institution but an architect. The architecture being a series of key political processes that shape the strategic environment, the European integration process, the evolution of Russia, the development of transatlantic relations, and the evolution of crisis management in the Euro-Atlantic area. NATO can be seen to be an institution aiming at peace and security within Europe. There are other alliances than NATO that have become or are multi-purpose institutions. This can be seen through the EU, with its enlargement operation and its designs for Russia. Also the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in defusing minority obstacles in Europe, overseeing elections in Bosnia and working with an agreement in Kosovo. NATO, according to Mr. Ruhle is however, unique as only it can offer coherency in bringing about these processes. The NATO website offers an interesting perspective on the reasons for NATO's existence. Today following the end of the Cold War and of the division of Europe, the Alliance has been restructured to enable it to participate in the development of cooperative security structures for the whole of Europe. It has also transformed its political and military structures in order to adapt them to peacekeeping and crisis management tasks undertaken in cooperation with countries which are not members of the Alliance and with other international organizations. Its peace plans and structures includes the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC), replaced by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and the Partnership for Peace (PfP). However there is a different way of looking at the persistence of on organization such as NATO in contemporary international relations. Stephen Walt argues that alliances that persist are a result of hegemonic leadership, preserving credibility, domestic politics and elite manipulation, the impact of institutionalization and ideological solidarity, shared identities and security communities. A strong driving force behind an alliance will sustain it even after the immediate threat has gone, especially if that force is willing to bear the costs of the alliance and its purposes. The hegemonic power within the alliance must be strongly committed to preserving and even expanding the relationship. They must also be stronger than any in the alliance that may no longer wish to participate or contribute. To survive the alliance must be a symbol of credibility and resolve. Nations may be unwilling to pull out of an alliance in case an opponent or another ally may see this move as a lack of resolve. Walt argues that US involvement in Bosnia was a result of the fear that no response would create further suspicion on NATO's role and future, rather than a genuine care for the Bosnian

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Promising improvements of the SST Process Prior to placing a student in a special education program, a full and individualized evaluation of the student’s educational needs must be conducted. The Student Success Team process was first established in the early eighties in California by the Special Education Resources Network. It is now implemented in most districts in California. The Student Study/Success Team (SST) is a group of people at a school who utilize a problem-solving approach in an attempt to help students to be more successful in school, at home, and in the community. The team meets at the school and thoroughly reviews individual student’s strengths and weaknesses. The SST often includes the family, classroom teacher and principal. Others who may know the student, who can support the team, such as the student advisor, resources teacher, speech and language specialist, school psychologist or mental health specialist, may also be present. There are several important functions of the SST. The SST can support students, their families and the classroom teachers. In addition the SST accesses resources and services in the school, the district, and the community, such as parent organizations, academic tutoring, after-school and summer activity programs, or counseling services for students and/or families. Most importantly, it is not only a general education pre-referral program that identifies disabilities, but it is a tool to prevent a disability. The purpose of the SST is to recommend modifications to the general education program, if interventions are unsuccessful, referral for an individualized education plan may be made. A student who is achieving less than her potential, is academically below grade level, or whose behavior at school has negative impact on her academic or social development may be an at-risk student. The SST intervenes as early as possible when concerns arise as a preventative tool. The problem-solv... Free Essays on SST Free Essays on SST Promising improvements of the SST Process Prior to placing a student in a special education program, a full and individualized evaluation of the student’s educational needs must be conducted. The Student Success Team process was first established in the early eighties in California by the Special Education Resources Network. It is now implemented in most districts in California. The Student Study/Success Team (SST) is a group of people at a school who utilize a problem-solving approach in an attempt to help students to be more successful in school, at home, and in the community. The team meets at the school and thoroughly reviews individual student’s strengths and weaknesses. The SST often includes the family, classroom teacher and principal. Others who may know the student, who can support the team, such as the student advisor, resources teacher, speech and language specialist, school psychologist or mental health specialist, may also be present. There are several important functions of the SST. The SST can support students, their families and the classroom teachers. In addition the SST accesses resources and services in the school, the district, and the community, such as parent organizations, academic tutoring, after-school and summer activity programs, or counseling services for students and/or families. Most importantly, it is not only a general education pre-referral program that identifies disabilities, but it is a tool to prevent a disability. The purpose of the SST is to recommend modifications to the general education program, if interventions are unsuccessful, referral for an individualized education plan may be made. A student who is achieving less than her potential, is academically below grade level, or whose behavior at school has negative impact on her academic or social development may be an at-risk student. The SST intervenes as early as possible when concerns arise as a preventative tool. The problem-solv...

Economics 3400 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economics 3400 - Essay Example Currently McDonalds manages more than 31,000 outlets across the world while providing employment to greater than 1.5 million people. Approximately, one in eight people from the US labor force have worked as employees of McDonalds. Any McDonalds restaurant is managed by a McDonalds itself, an affiliate, or the franchisees. The companys sales are generated through the royalties, rental of property, and charges submitted by the franchisees, and sales generated from firm-operated outlets. McDonalds sells various burgers and sandwiches such as Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, McArabia and McChicken. Other than burgers it also sells breakfast items like oatmeal and hotcakes. To make sure that the firm is not criticized for promoting unhealthy eating habits fresh salads, low fat milk, smoothies and fruit are also sold. Most outlets of McDonalds provide both counter and drive-through services. The services can be both indoor and occasionally outdoor seating. In 1975, after observing other fast food companies Drive-Thru was started in Arizona. To adapt to the recent preference for premium coffee and the overall reputation of coffee shops, McDonalds launched McCafà ©, similar to Starbucks. After making changes to the interior dining areas and facilities certain Australian stores of McDonalds have observed a 60% rise in sales. By the end of 2003 there were more than 600 McCafà ©s located across the world. A few McDonalds located in out-of-town residential areas and specific cities have enormous indoor or outdoor playgrounds. In 1987 the first â€Å"PlayPlace† with the well-known crawl-tube shape with ball craters and slides was introduced in America. Various â€Å"PlayPlaces† were constructed afterwards. Some PlayPlace areas have been redesigned and converted into "R Gym" areas. In 2006, McDonalds redesigned all of its restaurants. This was the first major change in interior since the 1970s. The aim of this modification