The American Mideast Leadership Network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The American Mideast Leadership Network - Essay Example George W. Bush, in his second inaugural address, stressed that "it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world" (qtd. in Lowenkron, 2006: np). While these policies may sound familiar, almost boilerplate in some respects, it is the increasing interest in and overt support of many non-governmental organizations that merits attention. For instance, in his remarks to the American Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Barry F. Lowenkron, the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, stated, regarding President Bush's desire to end tyranny in the world, that "The work of NGOs is crucial to reaching that goal" (Lowenkron, 2006: np). It is this nuance, the interposition of non-governmental organizations, that indicates a growing trend in international relations. ... s; for example, they report and publicize facts otherwise not known about civil societies, they lobby and protest, and they sponsor educational conferences and debates. Non-governmental organizations deal with health issues, environmental concerns, education, humanitarian relief operations, and the protection of fundamental rights and liberties. They are, in short, free of many of the constraints faced by state actors and increasingly well-funded and supported. This trend, from a western perspective, has been emphasized by one leading scholar in the field: NGOs in this context appear as missionaries of the good word about the marriage of convenience between the free market and democratic elections, and the virtues of social democratic action in the spaces available within the power structure as opposed to direct action against it. In this context, the NGOs are enlisted by official development agencies (ODAs) and governments as partners in the process of "sustainable human development" and "good [democratic] governance"-as watchdogs of state deviancy, as interlocutors and participants in the formulation of public policy, and guarantors of its transparency to inhibit or prevent corruption and rentierism (Veltmeyer, 2005: 90). In the final analysis, non-governmental organizations are increasingly thought to be able to accomplish goals traditionally associated with more traditional state and multinational actors. One example of a non-governmental organization doing such work is the American Mideast Leadership Network. American Mideast Leadership Network Incorporated as a section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Code, the American Mideast Leadership Network is dedicated to the creation of educational and cultural exchanges (American

Criminal Justice Capstone Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Criminal Justice Capstone - Research Proposal Example This paper explores gun violence, the triggers and ways to curb it. Gun violence is a problem that can be traced to the advent of guns. But unlike ancient aggressive actions of individuals, violence in the current era of sophisticated guns has been more serious and damaging to the victims and the society in general. The influx of firearms in Arkansas has served to offer a more sincere means of threats as well as a faster medium of taking out human life. The initial interaction American society had with guns in the mid-nineteenth century was exceptionally lacklustre (Hogeboom, 2000). The extension of the acquisition of guns to civilians created the unintended result of an effective means of death, especially in states with poor anti-gun laws like Arkansas. The slacken rules of owning a gun without proper license in the state has led to rampant cases of murder in the state (Devi, 2012). The intense measures of violence associated with guns over the years have prompted various actions to be taken in order to minimize the injurious situations that have occurred and continue occurring in the state. Other states, however, have implemented laws that offer exceptionally punitive penalties for unlawful possession of a gun. Task forces that seek to limit the amount of illegal weapons available within the public have also sprouted in the state, but with little if any achievements made so far (Stell, 2004). In light of this, researchers have proposed that further action in the form of tighter legislation should be enacted to limit cases of gun violence in Arkansas (Lot, 2013). However, a major source of contention stems from the Second Amendment, which legalizes gun ownership for security and sporting events (Faria, 2012). This paper explores th e issue of gun violence in Arkansas and proposes strategies that if implemented would curb the problem. The grave issue of gun violence in Arkansas