China241 - Chiense language analysis (homework) Case Study

China241 - Chiense language analysis (homework) - Case Study Example for males and females in rhotacization (85%,83%), lenition (63%, 57%), interdental (ts) (39%, 0%) and realization of neutral tone as full tone (0%, 1%). The state professionals use these local Beijing features frequently except full tone variant while Waiqi professionals use non-local variants and a foreign language like English and German. Sharp gender differentiation for Waiqi professionals is due to value of language in producing cosmopolitan professional identity, company image projection and decline of state feminism due to new market economy (Zhang, 405). Use of linguistic features shows this difference for males and females: rhotacization (64%, 235), lenition (47%, 27%), interdental (ts) (15%, 0%) and full tone (10%, 31%). Language and gender related characteristics are resources or symbolic capital for Waiqi as they are used to project company image. Having foreign language skills is crucial for Waiqi as means for interpretation and communication with Chinese businesspersons but women are more constrained to use it than men do due to work requirements. Language and gender have great impact on professional access to opportunities and career trajectories. Unlike state enterprises where there are no front desks or need to present company face, Waiqis value company image in the competitive market hence employ women to represent the face of the company. These women must have foreign language skills and be presentable and firm employs them as receptionists and secretaries. Regardless of their area of expertise, they begin as secretaries, move up the ladder, and sometimes continue performing administrative duties whilst men begin with doing real business such as marketing (Zhang, 411). According to Zhang, â€Å"this has to do with gendered practice in parent corporations† and political and economic circumstances (413). The Chinese language is not â€Å"gender language† like European or other languages in order to avoid sexism. It therefore has no grammatical

How have African-Americans Worked to End Segregation, Discrimination, Research Paper

How have African-Americans Worked to End Segregation, Discrimination, and Isolation to Attain Equality and Civil Rights - Research Paper Example Various methods have been evident in this struggle with others being dropped because of their incapability to address their needs. Most of these methods have worked and they have contributed to the success of the liberation of the black population from the discriminatory practices of the whites. There are various methods and tactics that were used to achieve equality and end discrimination and isolation especially after the end of civil war in America. The most common were based on two philosophies and were seen as very effective in achieving their intended outcomes. But, as we shall see, these methods emerged as ineffective and other tactics had to be thought of to help in the struggle. The first method or philosophy was based on Booker T. Washington ideas who advocated for the philosophy of accommodation (Dautrich, Yalof, Prindle, Newell, & Shomaker, 2010). This philosophy promoted vocational training for the African American’s and was against the aspect of confrontation wit h the white power structure that was in place in the post-civil war America. He believed that the practice of thrift, industry and Christian morality will eventually earn the blacks their rights (Sitkoff & Franklin, 2008). This was a very passive approach to dealing with the various problems that they faced as black American’s but Washington urged them to accept the current conditions of the state. He urged them to even tolerate racial segregation and other forms of discrimination. According to Washington and his philosophy it was only through engaging in law abiding practices and standing by their former white oppressors that the black American’s would get prepared for the exercise of the franchise. He said in his speech at the opening of the Atlanta Exposition on September 18, 1895 in all things that are purely social they could separate just as the five fingers, but remain united as the hand to all things that are essential to the mutual progress (Sitkoff H. , 2010) . According to various authors this philosophy of struggle fit well in the within the then dominant conservative political and economic structures of the time. His critics on the other hand saw Washington as accepting second class citizenship for his race. The speech especially symbolized his acquiescence to segregation and the erosion of Black’s rights (Korstad, 2008). Washington’s philosophy continued to influence people to avoid confrontation and only engage in peaceful activities but this stretched the people to the limit with the various discriminatory practices that were seen as continuing to be stringent (Peterson, 2003). This was evident keeping in mind that there was no other person that could help the Black Americans to advocate for their rights as the only person who was of great help Frederick Douglas died in 1895 and so they had to adopt this philosophy of self-help (Peterson, 2003). The second philosophy was in contrary to the above passive philosophy of accommodation. The agitation philosophy urged the African Americans to challenge the discriminatory practices that were affecting their lives such as racial segregation and injustice through various forms of political activity. The person that is most accredited for supporting this philosophy is W.E. B. Du Bois (Dautrich, Yalof, Prindle, Newell, & Shomaker, 2010). During the early 20th century, he and his colleagues proposed a specific platform

Syncretism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Syncretism - Essay Example In china the followers of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism actively borrowed from each other in a mutual fashion to achieve syncretism commonly known as "sanjiao heyi† meaning the â€Å"Unity of the three teachings†. Ancient Chinese believed that the three religions merged into one creed and that all the three religions should be believed and followed (Gallager 105). Through syncretism the major differences between the different religions disappears or the adherents choose to adapt the differences into their way of religion avoiding contradictions in the sencretised worship. Syncretism is unique in that it differs from the major doctrines that explain interaction of different religions; syncretism is not ecumenism which employs the belief that truth is universal. In syncretism every religion retains its fundamental beliefs and perceptions that define it. Syncretism does not seek to accommodate the religious practices of another religion but rather fully integrates the religion completely. Neither does syncretism involve integrating the other religions into one to reinforce the deficiencies and weaknesses of the individual religions (D'Costa 19). Before the Tang dynasty, the three distinct schools of thought tried successfully to remain distinct and pure from the influences of the other religions. Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism developed distinctively different and independent schools of thought, organization and ritual practices that was logical. Each religion had a different and a unique message to communicate to the society about the conduct of lif e. Syncretism of the three religions purposed to teach people to be good .They were mainly practiced by the elite’s intellectuals of the Chinese people who could be able to read, understand and translate the texts of the three doctrines. In the shengxue Zonglun text (Basic treatises on learning of the sages), the author states that the three teachings are one teaching and that the teaching of the three halls have changed because of false transmission. The author had an issue that the work was largely of Confucian doctrine aimed at destabilizing Buddhist and Taoist fundamental doctrines. This illustrates that syncretism indeed incorporated various aspects of the three religions as seen in this text which did not auger well with strong adherents of the religions who did not assent to syncretism. The unity of the three teaching was demonstrated by a practice of joint worship that incorporated cults and symbols from the other religious deities. The ‘chongful’ monaste ry had both Confucian and Buddhist traditions and religious practices. Worshippers would follow the state sanctioned cults and seek divination from the Confucian religion in a Buddhist monastery. In the sixteenth and seventieth century, the monks in the upper Tianzhu monastery constructed more than five halls of worship to non Buddhist deities. They constructed the shrine to the lingering beneficence of master Lei for the Taoist adherents. They also constructed the shrine of the three officials who protect the sage in 1574, which honored the Taoist deities of heaven, earth, and water that oversaw human actions from the underground. Many other Taoist shrines were constructed in the Buddhist monastery and they were fully functional without any disagreements, they coexisted peacefully and hence this suggests that the two religions had a functional syncretised way of worship that fully integrated Taoist and Buddhism. Joint worship of Buddha, Lao Zi and Confucius was commonly practiced i n the mid -Ming period. Though the state did not

Do violent video games lead to violent behaviour among young people Essay

Do violent video games lead to violent behaviour among young people - Essay Example One of the reasons stated for this good fortune is the fact that the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II topped Amazons best sellers list for the first time in 2009. Most people play video games because they are fun and challenging but research shows that for children, certain types of video games can lead to aggression and often violence. This violence can be towards other children or it can evolve into other forms of violence. As an example, the game, "Grand Theft Auto has been criticized for teaching teenagers how to kill policemen. Studies show that the reason this happens is because teens become desensitized and find that killing the police is something natural after playing the game. Another example brings the researcher to school shootings. The shootings at Columbine high school in Littleton, Colorado took place because Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were playing a version of the game Doom. Video games have been blamed for a variety of crimes. As this researcher began to study this trend, there were several questions that came to mind. Do video games really create crime? If so, what happens to create this problem and What is being done abo ut it? The literature on this topic is vast because it has been the topic of several studies, many books, and many magazine and newspaper articles. Most of this literature supports the idea that video games create aggression and over time, this aggression leads to violence. Aggression can be defined as any behaviour, be it physical, verbal, psychological or emotional, intended to cause physical, emotional or psychological injury to another human being (Kirsh, 2006 p. 10). In our society, this definition can be seen in many television programs whether they are cartoons, other childrens programs or general television shows. As an example, programs like CSI and Dexter continue to be very popular shows because people like the voyeuristic view they have of violence that these

Business Project Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Business Project - Dissertation Example The company is also known for its innovation strategies, such as ThinkPad. The company currently employs a total of around 27,000 employees worldwide. The company sells its products in nearly 160 countries and specifically targets the technological markets by way of manufacturing various innovative technology products, which outsells in the market as compared to many of its competitors. The company has been able to gain all round market recognition and popularity. The products manufactured by the company are considered to be of high quality and is widely sold in the global market. The company has also been able to establish itself as a well-known brand in the global market (Schuman, 2009). This paper entails a detailed study about the key factors concerning about the company’s competitive position in the global marketplace. The industrial position acquired by the company in the present marketing scenario, along with its past performances will also be reviewed in the further di scussion of this paper. The discussion in this paper will also encompass various subjects relating to cross-cultural issues that persist in the working environment of Lenovo. The project will highlight upon all those factors that will represent the company’s current position in relation to various aspects, such as balancing pressures that occur while managing different activities in a large-sized multinational company including marketing and sales, financing activities, supply chain processes and other activities related to administration and support. The report will also emphasise various activities relating to the corporate social responsibility of the company performed to suffice the need of the overall society. It will also highlight those factors, which relates to the profitability of the company and the various procedures that the company can follow in order to raise the profitability and also for fulfilling the demands of the consumers. This paper would thus provide a great aid to acquire a detailed outlook about the actual operations and management policies of the company and help in assessing the actual position of the company in terms of various factors including its financial position, output ratio, level of competency along with its market positioning among various other factors. Chapter 1: Lenovo’s Competitive Position in Its Various Markets In this section, all those aspects that are associated with the competency levels of the company in the global markets will be studied. This part will rigorously analyse the company’s present position and the degree of its stability, as compared to the other players of the global consumer technology industry. From a generalised point of view, reviewing the current trends in the global consumer technology industry, the company is seen to have a favourable position. The company is a renowned business firm with a huge customer base. Reviewing the strategies of the company, it can be observed that Lenovo’s organisational leadership framework is well versed with the demands of the customers, moving in parallel to the ever increasing demands and following numerous processes of advancement in the features of its products. Accordingly, the company has

Deat Adam Smith and the Wealth of Nations Essay Example for Free

Deat Adam Smith and the Wealth of Nations Essay They would do this not as a means of benefiting society, but in an effort to outperform their competitors and gain the greatest profit. But all this self-interest would benefit society as a whole by providing it with more and better goods and services, at the lowest prices. To explain why all society benefits when the economy is free of regulation, Smith used the metaphor of the â€Å"invisible hand†: â€Å"Every individual is continually exerting himself to find the most advantageous employment for whatever capital he can command. It this own advantage, and not that of society, which he has in mind, but he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote and end which was no part of his intention, for the persuade of his own advantage necessarily leads him to prefer that employment which is most advantageous to society. † The â€Å"invisible hand† was Smith’s name for the economic forces that we today would call supply and demand, or the marketplace. He sharply disagreed with mercantilists who, in theft quest for a â€Å"favorable balance of trade,† called for regulation of the economy. Instead, Smith agreed with the physiocrats and their policy of â€Å"laissez faire† letting individual and businesses function without interference from government regulation of private monopolies. In that way, the â€Å"invisible hand† would be free to guide the economy and maximize production. The Wealth of Nations goes on to describe the principal elements of the economic system. In a famous section, Smith turned to the pin industry to demonstrate how the division of labour and the use of machinery increased output. One man draws out the wire, another straights it, a third cuts it, a fourth points it, a fifth grinds it at the top for receiving the head; to make the head requires two or three distinct operations. † Also modern technology has improved the methods by which pins are produced; the principles pertaining to the division of labour remain unchanged. Similarly, other section dealing with the factors of production, money and international trade are as mea ningful today as when they were first written. You can see, therefore, hat Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations have more in common that a birthday. More importantly, both contain some of the best descriptions of the principles upon which our political and economic systems are based. 2. Comprehension 2. 1. Fill in the gaps with the necessary prepositions. 1. The year of 1776 associates †¦ the signing †¦ The Declaration †¦ Independence. 2. It earned the author the title â€Å"the father †¦ economics,† Smith objected †¦ the principal economic believes †¦ his day. 3. He disagreed †¦ the mercantilists who measured the wealth of a nation †¦ its money supply, and who called †¦ government regulation of the economy †¦ order †¦ promote a â€Å"favorable balance †¦ trade. † 4. It this own advantage, and not that †¦ society, which he has †¦ mind, but he is in this, as †¦ many other cases, led †¦ an invisible hand to promote and end which was no part of his intention, †¦ the persuade †¦ his own advantage necessarily leads him to prefer that employment which is most advantageous to society. 5. †¦ that way, the â€Å"invisible hand† would be free †¦ guide the economy and maximize production. . Also modern technology has improved the methods †¦ which pins are produced; the principles pertaining †¦ the division †¦ labour remain unchanged. 7. Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration †¦ Independence and Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations have more †¦ common that a birthday. 8. Both contain some †¦ the best descriptions †¦ the principles †¦ which our political and economic systems are based. 2. 2. Answer the questions to the text. 1. When and where was The Wealth of Nations by A. Smith published? 2. What is a famous nickname of Adam Smith and why? 3. What economic issues did Adam Smith deny? 4. What does a nation’s wealth depend upon according to A. Smith? 5. What was the heart of his economic philosophy? 6. In what way did he explain why society benefits when the economy is free of regulation? 7. What is â€Å"invisible hand† in the text? How do we call it today? 8. What physiocrats’ policy did Smith agree with? 9. What is described in Adam Smith’s â€Å"The Wealth of Nations†? 10. How can the division of labour and the use of machinery increase output according to Smith? 11. Is there anything common in Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations? 2. 3. Find in the text English equivalents for: , 3. Lexico-grammatical exercises 3. 1. Find out the correspondent definition to the given English business colloquialisms. Give the Ukrainian variants. Make up a dialogue about your business using 5 of the given English business colloquialisms. ColloquialismDefinition All in everything included in the price Big notesa very important person Book of wordsgenerally

The Phenomenon Of Gated Communities Cultural Studies Essay

The Phenomenon Of Gated Communities Cultural Studies Essay This paper explores the subject of gated communities being a globally prevalent urban or quasi-urban form: which relatively recently have rapidly become widespread within Polish cities. The authors interest in studying the topic arose from a genuine concern over the future of metropolitan layouts and how they are worryingly being determined by the rising number of fortified enclaves. The tendency of enclosing communities does not only apply to new housing, but also existing streets, apartments built in the past, standalone buildings, and whole residential districts. Blakely and Snyder (1999) describe these communities as a new form of discrimination, an economical one. Earlier, ones social status has been asserted by the architectural density of parts of the city and architectural ornamentation of the buildings. However, gated communities are heading one step further underlining the economical segregation by creating physical barriers defending the accessibility, privatise the public space and social living aspects such as safety (private security instead of police care), educational and communal service. More often inhabitants of those housing estates sweep past through their secured public spaces to similar ones in their work place, mega stores, or recreational centres. Gated communities are creating a new, private world which turns into an insular environment (Zaborska 2006). Alternatively, Jacek GƦdecki (2009: 25) believes that a fine line should be established between global and local processes, as there are GC examples which faultlessly adapt to their local: urban, social, economic and cultural conditions and are frequently well perceived. Using both descriptive and predictive approaches the subject has been investigated through gathered literature, resident interviews, analytical research of existing gated communities in Poland and case studies of existing gated communities in Poland, which the author has personally examined through frequent site visits and numerous examples of daily press columns in which the discourse has grown greatly over the past decade. The reader has to acknowledge that the bountifulness and ambiguity of local and international discourses illustrate that Gated Communities come into existence from diverse rationales and are creating different types of social realities (GƦdecki 2009: 66) Therefore, the authors aim is to prove that living in an enclosed community in Poland creates only an illusion of safety, and that building fortresses is turning away from the real problem. The middle class living amongst themselves stops grasping concerns the whole society should deal with. Building an enclosed world, ghettos available for selected citizens, elite housing estates, where admission is forbidden to lower social classes, which in effect could lead to the growing frustration among the lower class. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) I got a letter today, a letter from a friend He writes mate, youve betrayed, gained a pile of cash and weight You no longer travel by tram, times have changed so much I guess you dont remember me anymore, apparently you live in luxury You must have forgot, whats a crowded bus like (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Staszczyk, Z. (1997): T.Love Komercja (Commercialism) PHENOMENON ORIGINS The common definition of gated communities refers to a physical area seceded off its urban context with fenced or walled barriers and access routes patrolled by an around the clock security (Landman 2000). Although the elements separating these enclaves from the outside world are comparable, the basis for this happening is not common and is directly related to its setting (GƦdecki 2009: 66). Blakely and Snyder (1999) describing the growing number of enclosed communities in USA, named three types, different because of the inhabitancy motif and type of habitants: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Lifestyle- inhabited by people living in a specified lifestyle (for instance: golf enthusiasts, retired people etc.)- designed for giving wealthier people amenities they could not find elsewhere à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Prestige- underlining the adhesion to a higher class à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Security- creating a feeling of physical and social safety GƦdecki (2009: 23) citing Landman uses the category of race and power when explaining the spread of GCs in apartheid. This is one of the most extreme examples, as these are a by-product of a totalitarian regime in which people were forced to separation rather than the indicated being a matter of choice. However, the appearance and investigation of gated communities does not relate solely to North American countries. In 1980s and 1990s this new movement started reaching large European cities of Spain, France and Portugal, as well as South African, Chinese, Central and Eastern European metropolises (PolaÅ„ska 2010: 423). In the latter, the reason for gating enclaves happening and the urban economic transformation had a close relation to the 1989 collapse of the Communist-led administrations and socio-political transformation to post-communist / capitalist systems. The economic conversion from command economy towards a free market orientated, thereby the upward importance and rapid enrichment of middle and upper class citizens and more visible cleavages between the rich and the poor (PolaÅ„ska 2010: 421), materialized in the ubiquitous quasi-urban form of Gated Communities. It has been over twenty years since the Capitalist system has been introduced in Poland. In numerous articles and publications, one can observe the tendency of typecasting the communist state as the bad and the capitalist as good, whereas good and bad sides can be distinguished in both. Therefore, the past two decades and the current states condition needs reflecting upon some unfulfilled expectations and unwanted changes in societys behaviours, inherently associated with its political transformation. Architectural propensities of XX century Poland, before the 1939 Third Reich armed conflict and immediately following USSR aggression under the Ribbentrop-Molotov alliance covenant, were not exceptionally different from European tectonic tendencies. Instantly after the occupation of Warsaw, Nazi Germany introduced the Pabst Plan. Performed under the leadership of the newly appointed Chief Architect Friedrich Pabst, the novel development plan anticipated demolition of the majority of the capitals built environment to transform it into a provincial town with the sole purpose of being a centre for the German elite and a strategic transport hub. The five-year German occupation led to the demolition of entire neighbourhoods and Polish cultural monuments (NDAP: 2011), as well as the destruction of communities by forcing certain members of society into enclosed ghettos and slums. The Countrys revival came with the end of II World War under the Soviet sphere of influence (Majewski, n.d.). This coincided with the introduction of socialist realism to Poland. Originated in 1930s the soviet art movement socialist realism became the only legitimate method of artistic creation exhibiting and applauding comrade ideologies, thereby becoming one of the main Communist parties propaganda tools (MordyÅ„ski 2006: 4). This politically radical movement has been initially introduced by BolesÅ‚aw Beirut the first leader of the Peoples Republic of Poland and the head of state from 1947 during the 1949 PZPR (Polish United Workers Party) Warsaw Conference, during which the Six-year plan for Warsaws reconstruction has been announced. The capital reconstructed during the interwar period has been described as unfortunate, because built to satisfy each tenement house owners lust of wealth, whereas the owner himself, as an exploiter and speculator, peoples antagonist opposing the forming of the new Warsaw as the capital of the socialist state. The proletariat supporters proclaimed patronage over the oppressed workers class by putting the perfect city plan into effect and improving their purportedly poor pre-war living conditions. States main objective became the salvage of its commons, forced to inhabit deprived of light basement apartments and top tenement stories facing gloomy courtyards in favor of the capitalist bourgeoisie all inclusive first floor flats. The establishment of the societys new socialist realism order depended upon undertaking drastic changes in the urban built form. A great number of survived historic tenement houses, which endured the II World War air bombardment of Nazi Germany planes and Pabst Plan cleansing, have been scheduled for demolition to make way for the implementation of realistic works of architecture, corresponding to the high culture and art of socialism, material and spiritual needs of the nations development (MordyÅ„ski 2006: 3-4). Interacting and radiating the whole country will accelerate and intensify the creative effort of socialist construction in the remotest and most neglected neighborhoods and parts of the state. BolesÅ‚aw Bierut From: Marzenie o idealnym mieņºcie Warszawa socrealistyczna (The dream of a perfect city social realistic Warsaw) (2006) (translation: Author) However, the decimation of a great part of eclectic, art nouveau and inter-war edifices was not the only transition the new socialist society had to face. Along with the introduction of the autonomous directive certain behavioural habits were planned to be imposed on future inhabitants. It was believed that the cities urban built form needed to fulfil solely the realistic needs of their occupants. The capitalist individualism has been openly criticized, which became most apparent in both city planning and individual residential layouts. The new Warsaw cannot be a repetition of the former. It cannot be only merely improved, or become a revised repetition of the prewar community of private interests of the capitalist society BolesÅ‚aw Bierut (1949) The dream of a perfect city social realistic Warsaw (2006) (translation: Author) In this manner, the socialist realism clique endeavoured to create truly inspiring urban settings, spaces of communal interaction filled to the brim with public squares, culture houses, public dining rooms, arcades and colonnades, opposed to cramped tenement houses apartments void of cooking, laundry and drying facilities emphasising the elevated ranks of its novel social movement with its monumentality, and at the same time despotically dictating national collectiveness. Therefore the quest for rooting the national familiarity met with great public criticism. The social realist vision of a unified state has been withdrawn when the communist demiurges realised their failure in communicating socialist characteristics of processes occurring in life, or life processes that are not perfectly socialist. (MordyÅ„ski 2006: 5-8). The social realist thaw in the communist bloc countries followed the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953. Stalinist dictatorship, cult of personality and the total submission of USRR polity have been criticized by the new The Central Committee of Polish United Workers Party leader- Nikita Khrushchev. Berated form of mastery has been sentenced to the Orwellian evaporation in the commanders 1956 Personality Cult and its Consequences paper, which called for the continuity of the autonomous state system, exclusive of the condemned citizen/fellow dignitary terror governance and courteous coexistence of communist and capitalist worlds. (Tomaszewska: n.d.) The reprove of the cult of personality along with the socialist functionalism ideology in search of an alternative to the extremely expensive architecture of socialist realism, unable to cope with the increasing demand for residential buildings, has found reflection in modernist planning and mass-produced prefabricated architecture. Thereafter, multi-storey concrete slab estates began to dominate the majority of Polish cities skylines, thus rising to the occasion and repairing the housing shortage situation, as well as becoming the novel urban form showcasing the socialist pursuit of civilians living conditions uniformity and standardization (Wieteska 2007). Ironically, the example comes from the top saying was not applied in spreading the social classless ideology, where the party nomenclature voluntarily isolated themselves from the rest of the society by inhabiting closed off palaces and fenced edifices (GƦsior-Niemiec: 2007 et al.). These estates were and still are in disrepute for their crowded layouts, poor quality concrete construction caused by the accelerated process of hardening and inefficient thermal properties (Semczuk: 2010). Despite this, one needs to acknowledge that its creation was the best solution at the time to the housing shortage in a country tumbled-down by perpetual wars and occupations. The hitherto flourishing construction sector stalled due to 80s economic crisis. Failure in repaying foreign loans taken in Western countries, by implication foreign debt growth, stalled a great number of domestic investments. Deteriorating housing market, working conditions and rocketing goods prices caused a flurry of protests, which subsequently led to the formation of the Solidarity union. This succession of events forced the Communist Party to conduct negotiations, resulting in the 1989 cessation of dominance and transfer of power to the reactivated chamber of deputies and presidency (Madej: 2005). Transformation of the political system, foreign capital inflow and newly introduced law amendments, mainly citizenship and establishment freedom, allowed the replacement of the heavily indebted state-building co-operatives with private property companies. Moving away from the ubiquitous communist times typification, the diversity of available built materials and developed technology has allowed for the implementation of various architectural concepts (Communist times construction: 2010). Majewski (n.d) distinguished three stages in the history of Polish architecture after the fall of communism. In the first period, a vast quantity of buildings designed by Western architects was built. The small group of emerged developers sought to achieve rapid return on their investment; therefore these buildings are characterized by poor quality of workmanship and the use of building materials. The second period was characterized by the growth and stabilization of the countrys economy. Hence the e mergence of many new development agencies and a range of architectural design companies to choose from. Third near the end of the 90s the economy continued to grow strong and became brimful of large scale developers. Companies exposed to construction sector competition were forced to introduce more attractive offers and marketing promotions in order to acquire new customers. PolaÅ„ska (2010: 427) remarks the stereotypical classification used: the tendency of negatively portraying the old as the time of contemporarily loathed prefabricated concrete slab estates and the new as the period of residential wealth and freedom. GƦsior-Niemiec (2007:6) on the other hand juxtaposes this fact with citizens growing income and statutory disparities, lack of confidence in the states inefficiency and inability to ensure security. As a consequence the capitalist system and its social stratification and secure lifestyle have been introduced in the form of Gated Communities. According to Katarzyna Zaborska (2006) the main reason for fencing the communities in Poland is the exigency of security. Enclosed fenced enclaves could be the reaction to long years of regnant communism, when personal ownership was stigmatized, and is coming back in an exaggerated form of fortified apartments. The propensity of Communist Poland was to merge social layers in communal apartments, which fuelled growing frustration and could be another factor that triggered the exigency of isolation and underlining affiliation to a higher social category. Coexistence of areas inhabited by people with different incomes results in the feeling of endangerment within wealthier citizens. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) When Im looking in your eyes, which are so tired as mine Im loving this city, which is tired as I Where Hitler and Stalin did their stuff (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Staszczyk, Z. (1994): T.Love Warszawa (Warsaw) URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AT RISK The public realm is defined as all those areas that are publicly owned and unreservedly accessible to citizens, generally at all times of the day and night (Ritzer: 2007). Tridib Banerjee (2007: 155) citing Lynch defines these territories as ones being accessible both physically and psychologically, consecutively underlining how vital such spaces are in creating successful urban environments, merrily and constantly occupied by the public. In this context and specifically with regard to the fact that a great deal of human occupation and interaction occur around and within: streets, lanes, routes, paths, parks, open spaces as well as public and civic buildings, one would anticipate coherent and legible movement strategies within and across urban blocks. Unfortunately, in the absence of adequate capital funds, by implication failure to provide sufficient city expansions, the majority of Central and Eastern European states had to rely on private sector financial support. (GƦdecki: 2009 et al.) In her paper, PolaÅ„ska (2010) aptly grasps the lost boundary between public and private spaces in connection with Polands socio-political and economic revolution. The abolishment of the Communist regime inevitably transformed the heretofore equal societys social status to a novel social stratification. This public cleavage profoundly underlined public position inequalities between individuals, consequently stretching social distances, in effect: triggering the feeling of hostility amongst lower and upper class citizens. In this manner, Jane Jacobs (1961) social capital theory relating to the significance of relationships and interactions in order to create a strong sense of community has been altered significantly. The term social capital refers to a network of collective bonds inscribed in the social structure of a community. The author stresses the importance of these social interactions and their contribution to shaping neighborhood connections, trust, everyday sociability and most importantly diversity (Jacobs: 1961). In the case of gated communities, the spread of this citizenship co-operation and collective responsibility is being limited spatially, by detaching whole residential districts from their urban fabric with the creation of a physical barrier in the form of a fence, as well as mentally by limiting the development of social diversity through the creation of enclaves only available to higher social status representatives. (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Our neighborhood stands as it used to So many of us became poor herein Our city stands as it used to Busy by day, few by night Separately rather, yet collectively In one apartment, like kamikaze We dont suffer from money or power Yet this collectively does our heads in Staszczyk, Z. (2006): T-Love Ã…Å ¡cierwo (Carcass) The rapid social class transformation in terms of cultural preferences, work, consumption and rest models of the neo-liberal middle class citizens has been widely described by GƦdecki (2009: 103) whilst analyzing the swift widespread of Gated Communities in Poland. To describe these changes the author refers to the processes of gentrification and suburbanization. The first term has been originally used in American urban sociology to depict the prompt economical, social and cultural character change of a citys section, usually from a residential area inhabited by a miscellaneous range of tenants to an area predominantly occupied by higher class individuals. The latter relates to the middle class depopulation of city centers in favor of the expansion of suburban areas resulting from the development of transport infrastructure and the perception of suburban modernity in contrast to city centre lower class orthodoxy (GƦdecki: 91). Curiously, GƦdecki (2009 : 106) citing Neil Smith considers that the driving forces of these processes are not so much class transformations, but discrepancies between actual and potential land values (GƦdecki citing Smith 2009: 106). These discrepancies gave development agencies the opportunity to seek reimbursement for the expansion of otherwise derelict city parts. The author noticed that publicly funded urban development of cities serves to mobilize and develop the real estate market (GƦdecki citing Smith 2009: 106), as well as that these processes have no affect on social diversity, but instead allow to take control of citys political and cultural economy (GƦdecki citing Smith 2009: 106) and take the attention away from fundamental issues such as: land ownership and property value speculations (GƦdecki citing Smith 2009: 106). This free market opportunity, lack of adequate planning regulations, increasing fear of crime, caused by the lack of confidence in the capacity of the state to protect its citizens, consequently amplified protection endeavour, has been spotted and exploited by housing developers and relapses in the shape of private clubs for selected citizens. Increasing validity of development companies involvement and contribution (Madanipour: 2007 [1998]) together with failure in introducing reputable Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) programme as well as theories such as Oscar Newmans Defensible Space (1996), has led to privatisation of space at unprecedented before scale. Over the past decade the increasing privatisation of space in the form of gated enclaves has been one of the main discourse topics amongst architectural, urban and sociological loops of Polish society. In many instances it has been pejoratively compared to a contemporary form of ghettos (GƦdecki: 2009, Zaborska: 2006 et al.). This rundown section of cities has been extensively depicted in Martyna Obarskas essay (2008), in which the author uses Calimanis The History of Venetian Ghetto (2002) and eventually San Gerolamo as an example of a space completely separated from the citys context , where admittance was supervised by specially hired forces. Interestingly, not all inhabiting Jews negatively perceived the forming of ghettoes. On many occasions a closed off district has been associated with security, protecting the occupants from Christians discrimination, and where individuals choices have not been stigmatized. All Jews should live together in a housing quarter, such as the Ghetto near San Gerolamo. They should not walk around by night too. From inside of the ghetto, where the small bridge is positioned and its opposite side, two gates will be erected. They will be open able at dawn at the sound of the Maragon and closed by night, at midnight. The inhabitants will need to designate and pay a fee to four Christian guards to operate these [gates Author] San Gerolamo, Ghetto Decret: 1515 Calimani, R. The History of Venetian Ghetto (2002) Historically and conceptually closer to Poland is the Warsaw Ghetto the symbol of oppression and suffering of the Warsaw Jews. Formed within allocated city districts and separated from the rest of the city with an elevated wall during the II World War by the Nazi occupational authorities. This is the time when ghetto became the synonym of ignorance, filth and squalor and the thought horizons narrowness. Castellino (2005) remarks how the meaning of the term ghetto changes dramatically at different points of history. Although this words undertone has always been pejorative, the rationale behind forming ghettos in early Venetian times cannot be put on a par with them being ingloriously created during the governance of the Nazi regime during II World War. The Author believes that the term gated communities needs to be assessed against local rationales, as its undertone can recall more affirmative connotations in some urban settings, similarly to the two presented ghetto precedents. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the passion for improvisation, which demands that space and opportunity be at any price preserved. Buildings are used as a popular stage. They are all divided into innumerable, simultaneously animated theatres. Balcony, courtyard, window, gateway, staircase, roof are at the same time stages and boxes. Walter Benjamin One Way Street, 1924 THE NEW TREND (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Concrete slab estates Everyday I stand stock-still How can you build this s*** How can you breed And than not reign Over this bunch, that snuffels the same (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Staszewski, K. (2000): Kazik Chcem piwa! (I want beer!) The fashion for enclosed communities seem to gain new believers. Quiet green, The beech manor, Sky blue cirque, Sunny slope, Green apartment- these are some names that the developers want to lure their potential customers with, names that conjoin with a safe and happy living, a green garden, fun circus for your children and an equivalent comrades. But are those expectations being fulfilled? Or is this only a catchy marketing slogan that the developers happily use? According to the internet site Tabelaofert.pl the majority of new apartments on the market are situated on enclosed areas. Only in Warsaw (1.7 million citizens) on 106 available estates, 81 are fenced (69 of them are being guarded round the clock). The case looks differently in other large cities. In Wroclaw (0.8 million citizens) 18 in 31 investments are enclosed, Gdynia (0.4 million citizens)- 9 out of 16, Gdansk (0.6 million)- 11 out of 24 ( Poznan (0.8 million)- half of 16 new investments. Surprisingly, in the cultural capital of Poland, and the second largest city- Cracow (population of 1.2 million)- only 3 out of 14. These numbers actually confirm the states capitals citizens snobbish mind-set, feeling of being above other parts of the country and by implication- having the necessity of guarding their belongings from the conquest of citizens originated in other parts of Poland. Is there a new trend? Which social layers inhabit gated communities? How gated communities are being perceived? How gated communities in Poland are being advertised / marketed? Sympathetic naming of these developments to be highlighted (Quiet Green, The Beach Manor, Sky Blue Cirque, Sunny Slope, Green Apartment etc.) Costs of living in gated communities in Poland / How does it compare to the per capita income of an ordinary citizen? Does it exclude some social layers right from the start? Affordability It is enough to compare the appearance of neighbourhoods that are gated and non-gated to understand the reasons behind restricting access to several public spaces. Well-taken-care-of, carefully maintained, clean and well managed- it is almost exclusively those [neighbourhoods (PolaÅ„ska: 2010)] gated by high fences or watched over by guards. Devastated, worn-out, trampled, decorated with daubes on their walls, with cars parking wherever its possible- these are those opened to the public, where the order is theoretically supposed to be protected by the police, but nobody is protecting in practiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ PiÄâ„ ¢kno Kapitalizmu (The Beauty of Capitalism) Majcherek, A. Gazeta Wyborcza, November 15, 2007 (translation: PolaÅ„ska: 2010) SOCIO-URBAN IMPACT OF GATED COMMUNITIES ____ (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Ajajajaj I think Ill leave the house Have a wonder around the city Ajajajaj Ajajajaj My estate is guarded Sometimes I feel here Like in Auschwitz Or in custody But I like it here I live here a while Although I wasnt born here Ive been always a visitor Ajajajaj (à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) Staczyk, Z. (2001): T-Love ZÅ‚y Wtorek (Bad Tuesday) THE SOLUTION (CASE/COMPARISON STUDIES) CASE STUDIES: Two Gated Estates in SÅ‚upsk / Poland: Two estates situated in authors home town, which have been gated after the proposal put forward by the housing association has been voted for. One with a higher crime figure than the other. The author believes that the crime figures differ because of the setting of both of these enclaves. The fence creates only an aura of security. Estate 1: suburbs / surrounded by single family homes / new built hospital on the other side of the street / greenery well groomed (small patches of green space within) / no security (Defensible Space Theory O. Newman milieu- proof of frequent appearance of inhabitants) / one local shop, accessed from within the gated community (from residents interviews the gates had to be opened to the wider public [pedestrian access], as the local shop could not be supported by the clients from within the community only. The same problem has been encountered in Marina Mokotà ³w. -Estate 2: city centre / surrounded by various types of housing blocks / no local shop within gated community / local park possible thieves hide out? / no security (approx 200m) From residential interviews: both of these communities suffer from lack of internal open green / play space, mainly used for car parking shared Dogs not allowed to be taken for a walk within the gated blocks. Children play space: within the community (shared surface) or outside the gates. Comparing to Marina Mokotà ³w: Size of the gated communities 1 2 occupy one city block -Marina Mokotà ³w Warsaw / Poland KuryÅ‚owicz Associates Biggest new built gated community in Warsaw (22 ha). Number of units: 1500 (residential buildings, houses, residences). Overall green / play space within gated community: approx. 60%. From Architects interview (found on the web) original design: whole land to be fenced. Result: whole land fenced + individual buildings within the gated community fenced additionally. Highest quality materials used throughout / gardens, alleys, squares, fountains, waterfalls, pergolas, lake, internal roads within GC (city within a city?) / ground floor uses: trading posts, restaurants, bars, shops etc. (again, gates had to be opened to the wider public [pedestrian access], as the local shops could not be supported by the clients from within the community only: Crisis In Marina Mokotà ³w: barriers up Gazeta StoÅ‚eczna. 17 September 2009) encountered huge dissatisfaction / opposition from local residents. Off street car parking (insufficient number ) / underground car parking (additional fee) Bibliography_V3: Atkinson, R., Flint, J., Blandy, S., Lister, D. 2003. Gated Communities in England, New Horizons project: University of Glasgow and Sheffield Hallam University Bartoszewicz, D. 2009. Kryzys w Marinie Mokotà ³w: szlabany w gà ³rÄâ„ ¢ (Crisis In Marina Mokotà ³w: barriers up) Gazeta StoÅ‚eczna. 17 September Blakely, J., Snyder, M. 1997. Fortress America: Gated Communities in the United States, Washington, D.C. Brookings Institution Press Blandy, S. 2007. Gated Communities in England as a response to crime and disorder: context, effectiveness and implication