Setting Boundaries in Counseling Essay - 854 Words

Introduction Boundaries are extremely important in a counseling session. Setting boundaries and limits in therapy sessions represents an ethical decision that is set by each counselor, when entering a therapeutic relationship. In this presentation, I will discuss pertinent boundary issues that the staff has encountered, since working at this agency. Finally, I will describe how these boundaries are addressed and resolved at this site. Significant Boundary Issues at this Practicum Site According to G. Corey, M. Corey, Callanan, (2007) boundary crossings are a departure from regular accepted practices that could benefit the client. A boundary violation is a serious ethical breach that could potentially harm the client (Corey, et el.,†¦show more content†¦This was a dilemma for the soldier, counselor as well as the command. Some counselors allow the soldier to be late for no more than 10 minutes, if the soldier or command called about being late for their appointment. In some cases, this is a boundary crossing that benefited the soldier/client, as long as every soldier is treated the same way. Fortunately, certain boundary issues were addressed during the enrollment process of the soldier to the program. Boundary Issues Addressed and Resolved These boundary issues were addressed in the enrollment process of the soldier in a Rehabilitation Treatment Meeting (RTM) in which family would be included with the soldier, along with his command and/or the soldier’s supervisor. The counselor would first staff the case with their supervisor. Walker Clark (1999) report that the counselor should obtain close supervision to anticipate or head off any possible ethical violation by intervening, when they see signs of boundary problems that may appear. The purpose of the RTM is for the counselor to present recommendations from the result of the assessment, and discuss the rules of ASAP. This includes expectations about showing up for scheduled appointments, cancelling appointments or being late for appointments. The counselor will talk about the ASAP in terms of Recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. The counselor must be aware that street drugs or abuse of prescription drugs are notShow MoreRelatedThe Ethical Issues Raised When Services Are Delivered For Non Office, Off Site Settings Essay1160 Words   |  5 PagesNon-Office, Off-Site Settings Anthony M Luciano Tanya M Giglio Mercy College In this paper, we will illustrate the issues that present when providing counseling in a non-office, off-site setting. We will explore two different kinds of counseling that occur in a space that is not a traditional office including in-home counseling and the rise of wilderness programs. These two modalities both have a limited amount of research on their efficacy and the issues raised by having the counseling take place inRead MoreReflection On Liberty Godparent Home1640 Words   |  7 PagesWritten Reflection: Family Life Services and Liberty Godparent Home As a student in the Social Work Field Exploration Course, I had the privilege to encounter an array of practice settings and glean wisdom from many social work professionals. Throughout these visits, one practice setting in particular peeked my interest: The Liberty Godparent Home (LGH) and Family Life Services (FLS). Though two distinct ministries, they work in tandem to facilitate the wellbeing of young mothers and adoptionRead Moreboundaries in a dual relationship1606 Words   |  7 PagesWhat does it mean to have boundaries in a relationship? In the profession of counseling, there is a code of ethics that guides counseling in standards that are required. The code of ethics is designed by The American Counseling Association to protect and serve clients and counselors. Boundaries can include small things such as gifts, outside of the office meeting, eating lunch, and of course physical touch, sexual relations and personally networking socially. A dual relationship can be defined asRead MoreEssay about Counselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices1234 Words   |  5 PagesCounselor Ethical Boundaries and Practices PCN-505 Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships Dual relationships and the ethical behavior that revolves around boundaries with clients present a multitude of very complicated situations to counselors where a clearly defined course of action is not always evident. Aside from no accord amongst mental health professionals and boundary issues being unavoidable at times, recognition and prediction of potential benefits or pitfalls correlated with dualRead MoreEthics in Counseling Essay example1667 Words   |  7 PagesBoundary Issues and the Dual Relationship By Jennifer Ewings Willis PCN 505, Ethics in Professional Counseling Dr. Gloria Gabler, Instructor Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships In the Counseling field, Counselors will encounter many instances of boundary issues. These types issues will occur when practitioners establish more than one relationship with clients. These relationshipsRead MoreApplication Of Songwriting Intervention At My Outpatient Adolescent Group Last Month1385 Words   |  6 Pagesleft of the group, she sighed and read her words aloud. A suicide note slowly formed. I asked several questions about the person in the song, ensured that the patient would be safe, and immediately sought out their case manager. Recognizing the boundaries of my scope of practice as a music therapist, ethically, I could not further process this patient’s suicidal ideation. As an adolescent myself, I unexpectedly lost two close family members shortly after my parents’ divorce. As my mom struggledRead MoreSsrd Example Paper1472 Words   |  6 Pagesresearch design, the researcher will evaluate the effectiveness of weekly individual outpatient counseling on Halle’s cutting. The foster mother was able to document the number of times Halle cut over a four week period while she was on the waiting list for counseling. This period provided baseline data on Halle’s behavior, and documented that Halle cut herself 43 times in four weeks. Halle began the counseling program after the four-week waiting period, and will meet with the counselor weekly for 10Read MoreWhen Mental Health Helps Mental Health: The features of an Effective counselor700 Words   |  3 PagesWhen Mental Health Helps Mental Health: The features of an Effective counselor Introduction It is known that Therapeutic counseling is an important tool for the treatment, prevention and promotion of mental health. The psychotherapeutic method contains variables that influence the progress of the emotional state of an individual. Although the techniques and methods are components of the treatment, yet there still not a robot or machine to execute the interventions, as is found on the medical fieldRead MoreThe Professional Relationship Essay1658 Words   |  7 PagesQuestions about professional ethics get stirred up when dual relationships or professional and client boundaries are violated. 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Critical Analysis Public Corruption Free Essays

Corruption is a problem dealing with economic and social structure of a nation across the globe. Corruption in politics is a public sector phenomenon and is nonetheless one of the central issues facing many nations in modern times. Dealing with both legal and ethical considerations, there are instances that the office or duties are being betrayed in exchange of selfish benefits. We will write a custom essay sample on Critical Analysis: Public Corruption or any similar topic only for you Order Now Throughout history, failure of the remedies applied to it largely impacted the socio-economic development of the nation. It is good to analyze what motivates corruption, how its different varieties are perceived, what does it serve and what can be done to minimize or even eradicate this. Attitudes towards position and obligations remained to be the prime factors that motivate public personnel to be do corrupt actions. In high level and low level of corruption, the use of public office whether it is a high official or a clerk were initiated with the use of authority giving favors due to self interests that need to be met. For example, alliance in politics servicing an electoral candidate’s campaign if perceived as a power of assuring victory in the electoral process will result not just to gratitude but to a subtle obligation for paying back in terms of influential favors since being a candidate in election required allotment of non profitable amount of money. This can also be applied with clerks who have the ability to give favor in exchange of bribes. This is possible when we consider the low compensation of government employees that in order to survive, or earn more money, they will choose to accept the bribe (U Myint. 2000. p. 40-41) We can have in mind that hard times and great stress will make corrupt people. As we can notice with the way situations are determining the attitude of an individual, we can say that corruption is a form merely not of political choice but of economic choice and if we are talking about economic variables, we should not forget that market will always play its role and price is which will matter most in dealing with it. It remained one of the highly considered points of view in analyzing corrupt acts, but this economic perception applied in high level of corruption revealed that it is incomplete and has discrepancies for there are actual motives beyond such as the immeasurable power of discipline. With the extent of corruption’s effects in the society and with its length of stay in the history of policy making, there can be notions that corruption is becoming part of the culture or that corruption is a culture itself. But any act and practices suggesting lame authority has no space in an ideal society thus making them nuisance and should be acted to totally remove them in the social system. The attitude towards the use of authority apparently needs to be addressed in post conventional manner to keep it on track of servicing solely the public interests. All collective actions done by people in the social group defined and established the culture and if a portion of culture is no longer servicing its functions there should be a way that it can be destroyed and make changes to adopt in better situations. Political planning must address the issue with high authoritative will paired with the sensitivity with the root causes of it. How to cite Critical Analysis: Public Corruption, Papers

Engagement in Professional Nursing

Question: Discuss about theEngagement in Professional Nursing. Answer: Clinical Governance Consumers in the health care system have a role in ensuring they get the best quality service from the healthcare institutions. However, they should participate in shaping this service delivery in various ways. Firstly, they can take part in both scientific and empiric research related to health and the provision of services within the institutions they attend to (Sollecito Johnson, 2013). The aim of most researches conducted is to identify problems, the causes and establish the most appropriate interventions for them. This can only be possible if the data obtained is from the consumers who are impacted by the kind of services provided. Thus the quality of life, patient satisfaction, better decision making process and general empowerment will be realized. Secondly, consumers can participate in policy and decision process in the healthcare system as one category of stakeholders. Since any policy and decision adoption in healthcare ultimately affects the consumers, then it is imperative that they are involved in the process of coming up with these policies. This will not only increase the level of quality and satisfaction but also ensure that their rights have been considered as well as the legal implications of the adopted policies. In the same way, equity and accountability will be realized as there provision of services will be based on the opinions and needs of the consumers (Numerof Abrams, 2013). As a registered nurse, I can increase consumer participation in planning, implementation, and evaluation of care delivered in a number of ways. Firstly, I will strengthen by observing health laws and client rights mechanisms that include informed consent and complaint mechanisms. According to Yoder-Wise (2013), appreciating the diversity of consumers will ensure an in-depth understanding of their needs and with informed consent, there will be collaboration and participate in decision-making process aimed at meeting their needs. This calls for the provision of education to other health care providers on cultural awareness and sensitivity. This is a form of patient-centered care that protects the patients rights, one of the roles of nurses as patient advocates. Secondly, I will promote democratic processes which include complaint process in the healthcare system to maintain transparency justice and promote open disclosure. Thus information should be shared freely with consumers in orde r to develop a mutually-beneficial relationship in which there are trust and respect. Upholding patient dignity and respects will encourage the patients to participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of care delivery for the common good of both parties (Daly, Speedy Jackson, 2015). Quality and Safety Medication safety is one of the standards of National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard (2012). The purpose of this standard is to provide guidance and ensure health care providers competently prescribe, dispense and administer medications to their informed clients. Proper identification, documentation, and communication, as well as management, are required in all these processes to maintain quality and safety of the services offered to the consumers. The significant risks associated with medication safety include not observing the five rights of patient administration namely right patient, drug, time, route, dose, and frequency, lack of informed consent during the administration of medication. In addition, during prescription, errors may occur due to misdiagnosis or lack of comprehensive history taking, physical examination, assessment, and investigations that lead to wrong prescription (Vaismoradi, Jordan, Turunen Bondas, 2014). Notably, prescription errors may also occur due to manual and electronic prescription and dispensation of drugs associated with standardized dosages that dont put into consideration exceptional circumstances and patient condition. All these instances lead to a poor patient outcome, patient harm due to injury caused, diverse effects, prolonged and unnecessary hospitalization, high cost of treatment, reduced quality of life and even death. As stipulated in NSQHS standards (2012), there is an estimate of more than 1.5 million people in Australia encounter instances of adverse effects from medication annually which lead to them seeking medical attention and hospitalization in more than 400000 and 190000 of these cases respectively. These admissions account for 2-3% of the total hospital admissions per year in Australia. Most of these cases involve the elderly in which there are about 30% admissions of people above the age of 65 years due to the adverse medicine. More than 50% of these cases are avoidable with adherence to best practice guidelines. As a registered nurse I can employ several of strategies to improve patient outcome with regard to medication errors. Two of these strategies are manipulation of environmental factors that contribute to medication mistakes and continuous professional and patient education (Adams Urban, 2013). Some environmental factors such as poor lighting clustered working environment, overcrowding, distractions and burnouts contribute to medication errors among healthcare providers. Thus addressing these causative factors can reduce the instances of errors and therefore ensure patient safety and improve their outcome. On the other hand, continuous staff education on the internal and external medication errors is paramount as a form of acquainting them on the existing medication related policies, procedures, and protocols. Patient education on medication is equally essential as it empowers them with knowledge on purpose, dosage, route of administration and anticipated adverse effects as well as dr ug interactions (Donchin Gopher, 2013). Leadership and Management Time management skill is crucial in the role of a professional nurse. Time management requires that a nurse has to organize their working environment in order not to waste time to look for needed equipment and supplies in untidy places. Not only will this save time for both the patient and the nurse but also ensure workplace safety as it prevents any incidence that can result in injury. Another aspect that can guarantee a saving of time in the clinical area is proper planning by listing all the tasks that should be accomplished in a particular period of time. Planning ensures that the most important tasks are prioritized and performed first. Thus scheduling and creating time blocks for tasks can promote organization and time management within an institution (Yoder-Wise, 2013). Secondly, self and social awareness are a skill that is crucial in leadership. Self-awareness involves having an in-depth understanding of oneself by doing self-reflection to understand emotional response to situations and how the responses impact the quality of leadership and the professional relationship with others. Improved interaction and general moderation improve relationship with other; both consumers and colleagues and therefore the quality of service delivered and outcome improves (Kelly Quesnelle, 2016). On the other hand, social awareness involves caring about others by understanding their needs and providing strategies on how to meet them. Compassion, one of the qualities of professional nurses, helps one to develop this skill as they practice active listening and emotion identification. This skill is important because it ensures that all the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental aspects of all individuals in the health care system are addressed to promote dignity a nd satisfaction in all stakeholders. One of the skills I would like to develop further over the course of my transition year is interpersonal communication. This can help me interact professionally with co-workers and clients. Some of the strategies I will use to achieve this are self-disclosure that will involve talking openly about personal values and beliefs but in a respectful manner while remaining calm in all situations where there is disagreement with others. In such circumstances am also expected to disagree politely. Secondly, I should suspend or suspend uncalled for emotions, reactions, and prejudgments in the effort to develop problem-solving skills that are important in the interpersonal communication (Arnold, Boggs, 2011). Therefore learning collaboration skills will enable me to appreciate personal strengths and weaknesses as well as those of others. This is necessary to ensure that everyone is assigned duties with reference to their strengths and interests to avoid conflict within the working environment . Organizational Culture Learning culture has a number of primary defining characteristics. Firstly, proactivity which is a personal initiative undertaken in preparation of anticipated challenges. Learning culture demands that all parties involved dont only take actions to solve the existing problems but also in anticipation of the future. Secondly, commitment to learning by striving to acquire skills among those involved is always evident in any learning culture. To gain the skills required, most individuals most often experiment, get feedback, analyze, reflect and assimilate. Thirdly, learning culture is characterized by the belief that environmental management is possible by adapting to the ever-changing environment and having control over it. Fourthly, there is a strong belief that it is human nature for individuals to learn and apply the knowledge acquired in solving problems if they are provided with necessary and adequate learning resources. Additionally, it is characterized by a positive orientation to not only the past and present but also the future by acknowledging the need for expertise and aiming at achieving it by continuous learning and assimilation of learned knowledge and skills. Furthermore, there is a commitment to investment of proper multichannel communication system through which all stakeholders can connect with others pass and receive information in the process of learning (Bach Grant, 2011). Lastly, it shows commitment to the respect of cultural diversity that is a source of different perspectives that are important in solving problems in various environments (Wentz, 2011). As a registered nurse I can contribute to the culture of learning by making continuous medical education and learning a routine in the institution by integrating it with talent, abilities, and interests to promote capability development. Active participation should be exhibited by all that are committed to the learning process to acquire the desired skills and expertise (Avillion, 2015). In most instances, job promotion and responsibility are based on these achievements. Thus as a nurse, it is imperative to realize the professional interests and objectives and aim to achieve them through attainment of expertise. Furthermore, I can I can devote my time and resources towards quality service delivery by all health care providers through sharing of knowledge and information regularly. The demand for quality and standard services from all care providers can compel participation and commitment to learning which consequently impacts personal growth (Zhan Finch, 2012). Transition to Practice Role conflict is a situation in which one is expected to perform two roles of contradicting positions that are incompatible with each other. Role conflict reduces the general performance of a nurse and therefore the quality of service is affected negatively (Rundio Wilson, 2015). Role conflict typically leads to role stress whereby a nurse is overwhelmed from performing duties that are not clearly defined for their profession. This leads to exhaustion and reduced job satisfaction. It is also detrimental in the interpersonal relationship between co-workers. Performing some duties that are beyond the scope of practice can lead to disciplinary action against the affected individuals. Consequently, there is demotivation in the practice which has eventual negative impacts to the consumers. Furthermore, the emotional and psychological wellbeing of a person involved in the role is affected. If severely affected, some may resort to malpractice and unethical behavior that leads to legal impl ications. Maintaining emotional and physical wellness is advocated for in the nursing profession. Some strategies can be employed to facilitate this wellness. Firstly, in order to promote emotional wellness, I will find and establish a supportive relationship with other professional nurses, family, and friends in whom one can confide experiences, feelings and challenges. They can then share and build new perspectives about work and how to handle the challenges. There are instances where problems become overwhelming despite all the self-efforts. Under these circumstances, professional help can be sought from friends, relatives, and other professionals. This helps in the maintenance of emotional health and wellbeing (Edlin, Golanty Brown, 2012). Secondly, I can promote physical well-being by performing regular exercises, taking enough rest and adhering to proper nutrition. Physical exercises improve the bodys fitness, reduce stress and keep one alert. Physical exercises and good nutrition contr ibute to avoidance of lifestyle-related conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes among others. They also provide opportunities to interact with others and explore ones talents and interests outside the professional practice (White, 2015) References Arnold, E., Boggs, K. U. (2011).Interpersonal relationships: Professional communicationskills for nurses. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier/Saunders. Avillion, A. E. (2015).Nursing professional development: A practical guide for evidence-based education. Brentwood, TN : HCPro Adams, M., Urban, C. Q. (2013).Pharmacology: Connections to nursing practice. Boston:Pearson. Bach, S., Grant, A. (2011).Communication interpersonal skills in nursing. Exeter [England: Learning Matters. Donchin, Y., Gopher, D. (2013).Around the patient bed: Human factors and safety in healthcare. Boca Raton : Taylor Francis Daly, J., Speedy, S., Jackson, D. (2015).Leadership nursing: Contemporary perspectives. Chatswood, New South Wales : Churchill LivingstoneEdlin, G., Golanty, E., Brown, K. M. C. (2012).Health and wellness. Sudbury, MA: Jones andBartlett Publishers. Korniewicz, D. M. (2015).Nursing leadership and management: The advanced practice role.Lancaster, Pennsylvania : DEStech Publications, Inc Kelly, P., Quesnelle, H. (2016).Nursing leadership and management. Toronto, Ontario :Nelson Education Ltd NSQHS standards Sept 2012 (2012). . Retrieved from https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NSQHS-Standards-Sept-2012.pdf Numerof, R. E., Abrams, M. N. (2013).Healthcare at a turning point: A roadmap for change.Boca Raton: CRC Press. Rundio, A., Wilson, V. (2015).The doctor of nursing practice and the nurse executive role.Philadelphia : Wolters Kluwer Sollecito, W. A., Johnson, J. K. (2013).Mclaughlin and Kaluzny's continuous qualityimprovement in health care. Burlington, MA: Jones Bartlett Learning. Vaismoradi, M., Jordan, S., Turunen, H., Bondas, T. (January 01, 2014). Nursing students'perspectives of the cause of medication errors.Nurse Education Today,34,3, 434-40. Wentz, D. K. (2011).Continuing medical education: Looking back, planning ahead. Hanover,N.H: Dartmouth College Press. White, L. (2015).Foundations of nursing. Australia: Delmar Learning.Yoder-Wise, P. S. (2013).Leading and Managing in Nursing - Revised Reprint. London: Elsevier Health Sciences. Zhan, L., Finch, L. P. (2012).Accelerated education in nursing: Challenges, strategies, and future directions. New York: Springer Pub. Co.

Summary of current research on gluten and immunity

The objective of this study was to find out if ingestion of gluten has any relationship with symptoms in individuals who are not celiac. The study was also meant to analyze the mechanism used in gluten ingestion. The observation that has led to this study was that when prescription of a diet without gluten is increased for symptoms that are gastrointestinal in people without celiac disease, there is no enough evidence to proof that the symptoms are triggered by gluten (Hopper, Cross Sanders, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of current research on gluten and immunity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The issue of individuals who are non-celiac not tolerating gluten is controversial and is currently not applicable to relate with sensitivity of gluten in man. However, there is very little evidence to support this claim because there are no controlled trials that are randomized in order to proof existen ce of the entity. Most descriptions that have been published so far are for patients with symptoms that are linked with celiac disease such as serology or who their duodenum have intraepithelial lymphocytosis. Some patients claimed to have improved considerably when they were administered with gluten-free diet, which support the claim that non-celiac gluten sensitivity exists (Gibson Shepherd, 2010). Gluten induces bloating, lack of consistent stool, pain in the abdomen and general tiredness. All patients indicated symptoms within one week after they were administered with gluten. For the placebo group it took longer and the symptoms were less severe. This happened for all the relevant symptoms of stool satisfaction, bloating and pain. Nausea symptom was less relevant and was not shown between the treatment groups. It was interesting to find out that, among other symptoms with substantial difference between the groups, tiredness was the greatest because at the endpoint the placebo had no apparent effect. For IBS patients, tiredness is common and when gluten is used to induce it, it provides relevance to the mechanism of action. It is important to answer the question on what mechanism symptoms were triggered by gluten due to anticipation that symptomatic improvement in some patients may have been reported for patients with celiac disease that had not been diagnosed (Hopper, Cross Sanders, 2008). This disease can be patchy and there is a possibility that some patients with the disease may have been among those who were included in the study. However, no significant variations were observed in celiac antibodies observed in either group. Patients with gut disorders are known to have prevalence in intolerance with non-celiac gluten.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This study used highly selected patients because health professionals frequently failed to coop erate in the investigation work-up for celiac disease. Therapies that were self-administered with no investigation at all also posed a challenge to the study. It is important for researchers to use better methods to study these patients because the current methods are limited to ruling out celiac disease, prescription of gluten-free diet and rechallenge. Improved diagnostic can be achieved through better mechanisms of action and identifying the specific component of gluten responsible in inducing the symptoms (Hadjivassiliou, Williamson Woodroofe, 2004). In conclusion, gluten triggers gut symptoms and tiredness as this has been proofed through prescription of gluten free-diet for non-celiac patients with IBS. However, there was no evidence that gluten caused intestinal inflammation. Important questions to be studied and answered are how common the intolerance for non-celiac is and how one can identify it using a reliable method with proper identification of reliable mechanisms. Thi s should be done using a double-blind rechallenge trial that is placebo controlled and randomized on individuals with bowel syndromes that are irritable. The patients should be excluded from celiac disease and controlled symptomatically on a diet that is gluten-free. They should be fed on bread with gluten and a muffin daily with a gluten-free diet for 42 days. A visual analogue scale should be used to evaluate the symptoms (Hopper, Cross Sanders, 2008). References Gibson, P. Shepherd, S. (2010). Evidence-based dietary management of functional gastrointestinal disorders: The FODMAP approach. J Gastroenterol Hepatol, 25, 252-8. Hadjivassiliou, M, Williamson, C. Woodroofe, N. (2004). The immunology of gluten sensitivity: beyond the gut.Trends Immunol, 25, 578-82. Hopper, A, Cross, S. Sanders, D. (2008). Patchy villous atrophy in adult patients with suspected gluten-sensitive enteropathy: is a multiple duodenal biopsy strategy appropriate? Endoscopy, 40, 219-24.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Summary of current research on gluten and immunity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Summary of current research on gluten and immunity was written and submitted by user Isabell Wilkinson to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky essays

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky essays Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is in my opinion one of the greatest classical music composers of all time. He also had one of the most interesting lives I have ever read about. Although he suffered through a large enormity of emotional problems and nervous breakdowns, along with having to deal with harsh instances of love and death, his music reflects these emotions in a very beautiful way. Tchaikovsky (also spelled Chaikovsky or Tschaikovsky, and often referred to as Peter), was born on May seventh, 1840 in Votkinsk, Russia. His father, Ilya Petrovitch Tchaikvosky, was the superintendent of government owned mines, giving his family an upper-class standing in Russia, and Tchaikovsky had a French governess (mostly because his mother was half-French). Although he was musically talented at a young age, his parents were unsupportive as he was kind of anxious and excitable, and they thought music would do him even more harm mentally. But even before age 10, he had already begun composing music. Because of a transfer in his fathers job in about 1850, the family was moved to Moscow and then to St. Petersburg, where Tchaikovsky was sent to the prepatory School of Jurisprudence, which was all male. He lived somewhat happily until his mothers death four years later. He had loved her very much, almost abnormally, and was deeply disturbed by it, with his fathers uncaring manner intensifying the matter even worse. To help alleviate some of the pain involved, Tchaikovsky composed a short waltz for piano, with thoughts of composing an opera as well. Underlying homosexual desires also burdened him during this time, while attending an all-male school didnt help it any. For the rest of these school years, the only musical education he got was random piano, singing, and harmony lessons, along with several opera attendances, which have been said to have lasting influences on his musi...

Resume or CV Professional Writing Tips - Proofeds Writing Tips Blog

Resume or CV Professional Writing Tips Resume or CV? Professional Writing Tips Applying for a job can involve a lot of paperwork, not least preparing a resume or CV. But what exactly is the difference between these documents? And which one do you need for your application? What Is a Resume? A resume is a short summary of your work achievements, usually no more than two pages long. The idea is to give employers a quick way to see how suitable you are for the job. You therefore need to make sure it grabs their attention! A typical resume should include: Your full name and basic contact information An objective or personal statement (i.e., a brief statement of your career objectives or a paragraph summarizing your skills and achievements) Educational achievements (including any scholarships or awards) Work experience (including job titles, where you worked, and a description of your responsibilities, starting with your current/most recent role) A list of skills (ideally including evidence of when you’ve used them, such as using leadership skills to start a community group or using programming skills to create your own website) There is no standard format for a resume, so you should tailor yours to fit the role. For example, if your degree is more relevant to the job than your work experience, the â€Å"Education† section should come before the â€Å"Work Experience† section. In all cases, though, it should be clear and concise. What Is a CV? â€Å"CV† is short for â€Å"curriculum vitae.† This Latin term can be roughly translated as â€Å"the course of life,† which sounds quite dramatic! The good news is that you don’t need to include your entire life in a CV. But a CV is a more in-depth document than a resume, so it can stretch to several pages. Typically, you will only need a CV if you’re applying for an academic, research, medical, or teaching role. Consequently, a standard CV should include: Your full name and contact information A chronological list of all professional positions held Details of your educational achievements Honors and awards Publications and presentations Research interests References You don’t have to include all of these if they are not relevant (e.g., if you are a recent graduate without any publications). In addition, the best format may depend on the position you’re applying for, so check how other CVs in your subject area are written before composing your own. Resumes and CVs Around the World Things get more complicated if you’re applying for work overseas. Outside of the US and Canada, the terms CV and resume are often used interchangeably. â€Å"CV† is certainly more common in the UK, but it refers to the kind of short work summary we would call a â€Å"resume.† The key here, then, is to do your research before applying! Make sure: You know whether your employer wants a full work history or a summary To check for the standard local format for a resume or CV To use the local version of English (e.g., British or Australian English) By tailoring your CV or resume accordingly, you stand a much better chance of getting the job!

Change Management in Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Change Management in Schools - Essay Example But here this paper instead of filling its contents with intentional verbosity, our approach is quite goal-oriented. In addition, many of these research areas are further convoluted with links and interactions to other, nor-related research that need to be considered. Finally, the lack of accurate measurability severely hampers the statistical assessment of suitability of a stated hypothesis. But this paper is rather unconventional and attempts to dig out the actual problems and stumbling blocks that hamper the process of change management in our institutions. While above-mentioned factor pertaining to the lack of accurate measurability is true for the entire field of education, it is particularly acute in researches directly related on such topics. For this reason, published articles have the search for an explanation of actions and phenomena in common as a general rule all, albeit from different points of views. But this paper is, as mentioned above is rather goal-oriented fraught with realistic recommendations and suggestions. Despite the fact that the field of this issue has attracted some of the best researchers within the educational realm, the lack of unity in opinion as well as a structured overview is outmost apparent. This paper attempts to overcome this lack by providing a comprehensive overview and analysis of current recruiting and retaining concepts. Nonetheless, an attempt is made with this paper to lessen the validation pressure from lack of data by providing the results of a small but comprehensive literature review thorough a number of books, journals and web-based sources. Thus, coming out from the ambit of educational concerns, this issue has become an inevitable topic to think upon in general. To date, there have been various researches conducted on this topic; similarly this paper is a humble attempt from my side not only to have a discussion on it in general but also to explore some unexplored avenues related with this issue that may furt her help us reaching at rather down-to-earth conclusion. There is no doubt that in Britain, in the last ten years, we have seen massive strides forward in the education system. The establishment of a national curriculum and other reforms have provided the basic framework for improvement in educational provision, but at a considerable cost to teachers. Since the Education Reform Act (1988), we have seen a continuous stream of systemic, top-down change which has had a major impact on teachers' professionalism. Their roles in strategic planning and decision making have been dominated by the requirement to implement externally driven initiatives, and workloads have expanded leading to high levels of stress, low levels of morale and difficulties with recruitment and retention. This study is offering a strategy to help school management reconstruct their professionalism by providing a framework within which they can play a full and active part in school improvement and school development. The research carried out and the consequent conclusion thereof offered here has the potential to bring about lasting change and has raised standards through the enhancement of teachers'

Public criminal investigations and private security investigations Research Paper

Public criminal investigations and private security investigations - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that public criminal investigation relates to the process through which the government through one arm of the police department that is charged with the responsibility of investigations takes up initiatives aimed to collect crime related pieces of information and to gather them to form concrete evidence. The evidence is then used to apprehend the perpetrators through the initiation of court proceedings. The police department applies the use of small pieces of evidence such as fingerprints, traces of blood, use of eyewitnesses to gather information as well as the items located at the scene of the crime. On the other hand, a private security investigation is a form of investigation that is undertaken by private individuals known as private investigators who are available for hire by the government or by private individuals who are after some information that they feel no need to inform the police. Private investigators who carry out private s ecurity investigation usually work closely with the defense attorneys working on capital punishment as well as other criminal defense cases. They must be licensed by the licensing authority who are available in every state so that their operations can be regarded as legal and not infringing on the rights and freedom of other citizens. They answerable to the individuals who have employed them to carry out the investigations as well as the registering body that may call them from time to time in order to keep track with their operations.  

Happiness Emotion Essay Example for Free

Happiness Emotion Essay Happiness is an emotion and feeling of contentment, gladness and pleasure. In some instances it may be in our power or in some other cases it may not be. Feeling of happiness is a transitory stage; however, it can turn into a long-term state when we and our surroundings constantly adopt those practices that cause happiness and pleasure. Maslow talked about long-term happiness. It can be subjective happiness or objective happiness. Maslow belief was on objective happiness. In the state of happiness our own self-deception plays a vital role. One can think of being happy when he’s not or one can be happy and content but not aware of this state. Some philosophers view that the state of being happy is completely under our control. We can choose to be happy or not. The power of being happy or unhappy is a state of mind. Because some people are happy over one thing, while others feel just the opposite of the same thing. It depends on our daily habits and practices. But Maslow believed that happiness is to have a good pleasurable life that one can achieve with his full potential. He thinks one can be happy when one is living a high-quality good life. According to Csikszentmihalyi, the philosophy of happiness in human society has always been under great controversies and discussions. Human brutality, war and conflict have caused great deal of violence, aggression and miseries in the society. Prevailing happiness in the society is not an easy task. It would require improving our relations with others. This includes all kinds of relations, relations between the nations, between different ethnic groups, between different cultures and societies. Developing relationship with others need changing our attitudes. A conflict starts when our attitude and behavior is not good with others. Keeping good attitude and behaving with others gently will only cause happiness to prevail. Harshness, brutality, rudeness, and aggressive attitude give rise to conflict, hatred and eventually war. For maintaining happiness in the society, it is not only important to improve our attitudes but to protect them and promote them to guard happiness. Happiness exists when all rights of people are protected and they get justice when harm is done to them. Philosophers define happiness as not just the ‘end of conflict’ but it’s a continuous process of developing relationships and promoting good behavior. Csikszentmihalyi gives broader view of happiness with respect to its existence and outcomes in history. He analyses how the aggression has existed in society and how happiness had evolved and been affective in prevailing tranquility in the society. Happiness exists in our feelings when our behavior inspires courteousness, love of neighborhood, sympathy, charity, if combined, defeat poverty, discrimination, abuse and other hatred attitudes. Trust in religion can overcome hatred disgust, while it ends discrimination and does not foster inequity but love. Hurting, destroying and harming others spread pain. However, love halts this devastation and ends pain.   The demands of nurturing and sustaining such love are very high. Respect for religion inspires. According to Csikszentmihalyi, a happy meaningful life might be different in views of different people depending upon the achievements in different areas, which cover happiness, wealth, richness, health, love, marriage, family relations. However, apart from these, there are spiritual and existential needs that give meaning to life. The desire to attain this meaning is not fulfilled or overcome by relative meanings, but this comes by ultimate gift. The former is limited to specific realm of meaning, while later is permanent, whatever we attain meaninglessness continues. Our moral responsibility is the necessity and our actions take root from our determination and our own choice. For this we are going to answer in the hereafter about our deeds. If our deeds are according to God’s law and His doctrine then we may be rewarded by Him but if our deeds are in rejection to what God created as ‘norms’ of life then we can be punished by Him. A voluntary act differs from a non-voluntary one in that first one has self-conscious advertence (to turn one’s attention to) to that particular action and self-choice for own causality. It has a choice that the act has been chosen by one’s own awareness. Thoughtful ideas and volition consciously started, but later continued merely spontaneously, without reflective advertence remains free because there was a free choice for bringing it about by elective adoption. Lyubomirsky states that everything, which is going on in the world, is the result of some previous event, or events. Therefore, everything that exists is already in pre-determined or pre-existent state and, hence, nothing new can come into existence. This holds the view that every event is simply the result of past events. This, in turn, has deep and radical effects on morality, science, and religion. According to the view of Lyubomirsky anything which is going to happen in the future is unalterable and is caused by prior events. It concludes that human freedom is an illusion. Free will is opposite to what determinism is, it is non-determination and freedom. The conscious of man are free to make genuine undetermined choices. Free will comes in a variety of types and strengths. Lyubomirsky states determination contradict free will and doctrine that it does not exist, because all events, are causally determined. Hence, our will can determine our happiness. This view shows that we’re in a system of parts, and strengthens the view compositional happiness, as commonly view by Christian complementariness in agreement with naturalist. According to Maslow, to build a system with happiness we must construct a physical or biological structure, and to successfully build such system, a mental life would emerge in that system. In support of this view, another philosopher suggests that to have a happy life means to have any peculiar kind of physical and emotional system. Philosophers assert that a person is system of material made up of different parts ordered in appropriate pattern. Thus, happiness may or may not be under our control. It some situations we can do things to make ourselves happy or at other times it may come without alarming. If existence is not taken into the meanings of a prosperous-being then, a society can exist without security, education and rules. But a society can never stand without any health. These three basic things are regarded as the very fundamental human rights namely security, education and health. The absence of the first two destroys the society as a whole but do not interfere with the individuals in a very direct way, but the absence of the third one destroys the entities of that society-the human beings itself. So health is the fundamental issue that a society has to care for. A society is said to exist on three main beams, Security of individuals, Education and health. Poor health conditions could affect the society in a way that even the other two collectively can not do. Nothing is more concerning to a person more than his health. Health is no doubt a basic human right. This basic right of an individual is the duty of a government. Only healthier persons can contribute effectively towards a productive society. Religion inspires courteousness, love of neighborhood, sympathy, charity, if combined, defeat poverty, discrimination, abuse and other hatred attitudes. Trust in religion can overcome hatred disgust, while it ends discrimination and does not foster inequity but love. Hurting, destroying and harming others spread pain. However, love halts this devastation and ends pain.   The demands of nurturing and sustaining such love are very high. Respect for religion inspires â€Å"civility of love† for humanity, inspires people to trust, pray, and work diligently for a world where all people are respected. According to Lyubomirsky Sheldon religion, especially monotheism, where God is the sole point of worship creates a direct relationship of man with God. Lyubomirsky Sheldon’s writing has greatly been influenced by cosmological religiosity from in a sense though he is unable to do so as it largely relates to emotions, behavior and psychological health. He relates cosmological religiosity with human powers of love, emotions, feelings, and value as it is associated with the matter of soul. He stresses that cosmological religiosity is not a religious connotation but a science to deal with mental functioning in health and illness. For him, conscious and unconscious thought is not the matter of belief in God or not to believe in Him but about humanistic view of religion, his attitude, behavior and relationship with people and a positive attitude towards the society. But this humanistic definition of religion doesn’t actually encompass religious connotations. Though, in defining authoritarian view of religion, he is correct to some extent, where monotheism is regarded the only true form of religion while all other are deviation from this truth, he hasn’t yet been able to grasp the actual meaning of religion, its important role in man’s life and in his study of mind. In monotheism only one power, God, dominates, who has to be followed and respected with submission. However, he regards this type of submission as self-destruction. Here Lyubomirsky Sheldon is proposing an incorrect view of â€Å"submission to God† as self-destruction, because history and facts show that this is the only way of developing a true and loving behavior with the Creator and the His creatures. The form of religion he states right i.e. humanistic, is actually not humanistic but self-indulgence and it hardly leads one to love his society and people but person’s life keeps revolving around himself without realization of duty-bound to his responsibilities and right of God and His people. Hence the three articles conclude about different views of happiness. Happiness lies in one’s inner-self and how we view outside world. Our personality and psychology plays vital role that how we perceive certain things as good for us and some as bad. References A Theory of Human Motivation` by Maslow If We Are So Rich, Why Arent We Happy? by Csikszentmihalyi – Pursuing Happiness by Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, and Schakade.

Comparing Trains and Planes as Means of Transportation Essay examples -

Comparing Trains and Planes as Means of Transportation From the dawn of time, man has followed his urge to travel; sometimes neglecting the enjoyment of the journey in pursuit of the destination. Although two of the favorable means of passenger transportation - the plane and the train - accomplish the task of arriving at a destination, there are distinct differences in their capacity for comfort, time, scenic value, and safety. To entice the weary traveler, accustomed and outraged by the rough, tiresome, and jolting rides on planes and trains, improvements have been made over the decades to pamper the passenger. Mechanical changes and physical changes enhance the traveling experience. Although airplane seats are space-efficient to the point of restricting movement, they are similar to the living room easy chair, reclining and cushy. At the push of a button, pillows and blankets are available. To distract, rather than to nourish, miniature bottles of liquor are served with plastic glasses. In comparison, traveling by train is similar to a luxurious hotel, in motion, with its ...

Life is like an ocean

The ocean. This is the object/place that I could compare with my life. Life is unpredictable and there are also waves like the ocean. There are calm days and there are rough days. Sometimes it's warm and inviting, but sometimes it's cold and scary. The ocean is deep and there is much to explore. And also is life. There are so many things to explore, but we can only experience all this things if we go inside it.Every mime you go inside it, you learn new things and this things could make you grow up and can teach you some things. Some of us are afraid of what will happen because we don't know what's next. â€Å"What if I can't? What if I fail? What if they laugh at me? What if I get hurt? † This questions are some of those hindrance of solving our challenges in life. We should not overreact and all we have to do is Just think about It.If we make the bad decision then we should not blame others, we must need to sail gain through the rough parts of it until we already achieve it. It can pull us under, but we can still rise if we really want that our dreams will come true. My life can be compared to ocean. It's always moving, and having ups and downs, long, and big. We also meet different creatures while exploring that can help us. Even if it is full of problems, we should still enjoy It. Life Is an ocean of experiences. You should dive right In!

Who Influences Me

19 Who Has an Influence on My Life Throughout life there are many people who influence you. Your family, friends, teachers, coaches, and even people who see you only once in your lifetime could influence you. Each person, as they grow up, changes either for better or even for worse from the impact of others. I am lucky to have to close relatives as my greatest influences in life because they change me for the better every day. The biggest influences in my life have been my grandparents and my mother. My grandmother has influenced my life greatly.She is always there when I need her and has helped shape me to the person I am today. My future has been influenced extremely by my grandma because she works as a nurse at a hospital in Sandusky. I was practically raised by my grandmother and since I have always been so close to her, I have decided to follow in her footsteps and create a career path for myself in the medical field. All the time she tells me stories about the hospital and the people she meets and is able to help. I would really like to be able to meet new people and help them as well and at the same time make my grandmother proud.Aside from all her outstanding and tedious work in the hospital, she also finds the time to make it to everyone of my sporting events. When I was just starting out in sports, I wanted to quit swimming because I was having such a hard time with it. However, my grandma told me to not give up and to push on. She has made a significant impact on my life. Another large influence in my life is my grandpa. From a very young age, he was my rock. He was the one that taught me to fish, to ride my bike, and even how to hula hoop.He not only is a great grandpa, but also he is a dedicated and extremely hard worker. Everyone could count on him to help them out in whatever they needed. I remember him always taking me with him when he used to go to people’s houses to either fix their heater or lawn mower or even fix their car. Currently, he fixes lawn mowers, weed eaters, or any other mechanical device that needed tuned up. He receives numerous calls from neighbors, friends, and even sometimes strangers because he gets the job done for little, or most of the time, no cost at all.He is a great person who puts everyone before himself. He has made a great deal of influence on me with the fact that I love to fix things and work on cars too. I will never forget the time we fixed up his old Jeep Wrangler together from complete scratch and put it all back together. Without him, I would be a total different person. Last but not least, my mother has impacted my life. It’s obvious that most mothers would naturally have a huge influence on their child’s lives, but my mom went beyond the normal.For example, around thirteen years old, my parents got a divorce. However, a long time before that they had many issues and arguments constantly. My mom knew that the marriage was over and probably was best to just end it, but instead she stayed in it for my sake. She influenced me by showing me sometimes you have to be selfless and put the ones you love before your own self. She ultimately sacrificed her happiness for my own. She has taught me that no matter what, you have to be strong and never give up.My mother not only taught me to be strong, she also taught me to always be the best person I can be and to give one hundred percent effort in everything I do. I learned that just getting by or taking the easy route isn’t okay and when things get tough I can’t just fold or fall down, I need to stand up and push through it. In conclusion, my grandparents and mother have made the biggest influences on my life. Without these three amazing human beings I wouldn’t be who I am today. They have instilled many valuable life lessons and created many of my current morals and for that I am eternally grateful.

Killer Whales1 essays

Killer Whales1 essays Whales are giant creatures that live in the sea. They look like fish, but are not. Whales belong to the group of animals called mammals. Whales belong to the group of mammals called cetaceans, which comes from a Latin word meaning large sea animal. There are two major groups of whales. The first group is mysticeti (baleen whales), and the other isodontoceti (toothed whales). In the group odontoceti, there is a family of whales called delphinidae (dolphins and small toothed whales). In this report, I will focus on a species of whale that comes from this family, and that species is the killer whale, or also known as orcinus orca, or just orca. The largest and most striking of the dolphin family, the killer whale is one of the most fearsome predators of the deep. Killer whales are basically the same shape as fish, but they differ in many ways. One of the most obvious differences is the tail fin. Fish have vertical tail fins, while whales have horizontal tail fins. One of the most distinctive features of orcas is the tall, wide dorsal fin located on its back. In females, the dorsal fin can grow to about 2 feet high. It is falcate (hooked or curved). In males, the dorsal fin is triangular in shape and can grow up to about 6 feet high. Another distinctive feature of killer whales is that they possess a sleek, black and white pigmentation pattern. A white patch is located above and behind the eye. An extensive white ventral patch extends onto the flanks (sides). There is a gray saddle behind the dorsal fin, which is black at birth. (Hoyt, Pg. 32) At birth, orcas are about 2.1 to 2.4 meters long and weigh about 180 kilograms. When they are adults, males grow to about 9.5 meters long weighing 8 tons or more. Females grow to 8.2 meters long and weigh 4-6 tons. Orcas have robust and graceful bodies with a conical or rounded head. (Hoyt, Pg. 97) It has no distinct beak. They have stra...

Free sample - The Texas State Board of Education curriculum. translation missing

The Texas State Board of Education curriculum. The Texas State Board of Education curriculumThe communication triangle Referential: Between the student (writer) and the topic Interpersonal: Between the student and the instructor (reader) Directive: Between the instructor and the topic The workplace continues to experience change due to rapidly changing technology and global economic forces. These transform the work requirements of students that necessitate them to graduate ready to perform work that require strong academic skills and application of essential skills such as critical thinking, literacy and analytic capabilities, as well as increased proficiency in math and science. The graduation requirements for secondary school should therefore reflect the changes in the workplace. The promotion of the curriculum ensures that more students enter college or workforce when they are ready to succeed. This move is an effort to ensure that students gain necessary skills for college and work. The curriculum prepares students for post-secondary success. Students at all levels, including those who may not want to go to college, benefit from the curriculum. The performance in the courses has a startling effect on the students’ readiness for college. The costs associated with training students who are not ready to go to college is high, and this may be higher when they are unprepared for work. The curriculum is designed to ensure that each student enters work or college with a higher probability of success. The curriculum in high school should ensure development of a talented labor force that is economically competitive in the world. The curriculum provides better and more rewarding quality of life for the citizens. The courses are the gatekeepers to well-paying jobs. Preparation for work and college consist of courses that are taken in high school, which is the foundation The more rigorous courses the students take enable them to persist and obtain a degree at the end. They have higher rate of staying persistent on the academic track as compared to students who did not take such coursework. These students stay enrolled and work for a degree. Students’ outcome will always be related to the type and quality of available curriculum. Rigorous courses such as have positive effects on college graduation as well as on earnings later in life. Not all rigorous courses are equal (Rose Betts 33). Students who pass through a rigorous curriculum in high school can immediately enter a dual enrolment program in colleges (Ravitch 355). These students leave school much further along. This reduces cost as well as time for a post secondary degree. Students may not be ready for college unless they take additional courses from the traditional core. The content and quality of the core courses need to be improved through additional courses that students take, and this reflects how rigor the curriculum is. The courses enable all students to have equal opportunities to be prepared for post secondary education. Many students who take the core curriculum are unprepared for college and work challenges. Positive outcomes can be achieved through rigorous courses as qualified and professional teachers are recruited to teach. Thus, the schools are able to assign teachers to courses that they can handle best. The content of the rigorous curriculum can be taught and learnt effectively. Students in rigorous schools improve their ACT test scores in mathematics. Most students do not take the right number and kind of courses they need to be ready for college and work. The requirements for graduation must be aligned with readiness expectations of college and work. These courses cover what students ought to know and are capable of doing in their high school courses in specific subject areas. As such, students can have solid foundation to begin next courses. The courses will improve teacher support in education and preparation, which are crucial to the success of students in classroom. The quality of courses can be enhanced through hiring of qualified teachers and provision of training or professional development support to the existing teachers. The teachers are assigned on the basis of their qualification to handle a subject area. Inexperienced teachers are not allowed to teach the students who need best teachers. The rigorous courses must be offered under high quality standards so that students are prepared for work and college education. The students are frequently monitored so that they are able to learn what they are needed to learn. In such cases, interventions can be made to improve students’ progress as required. Conclusion The global economy is technology based and students are in danger of competing in international arena if the vigor of the courses is not raised. The students’ competitiveness in the world must be raised and maintained. It is also important to strengthen the high school curriculum to improve the readiness of students for college. Substantial proportion of students has not been offered education they deserve in order to receive boost to be ready for college and success after graduation. The nation is at risk of losing to the better prepared international students who take technology-based and other courses oriented at overcoming global challenges. Works cited Ravitch, Dianne. Brookings Papers on Education Policy. Brookings Institution Press, 2003. Rose, Heather and Betts, Julian R. Math matters: the links between high school curriculum, college graduation, and earnings. Public Policy Institute of CA, 2001

Outside speaker evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Outside speaker evaluation - Essay Example In my view, regulatory measures should be put in place to address the increasing debate on socio-economic differences that has not be incorporated into mechanical engineers work policy (Reader, 2006). Taking the case of United States with superior engineering curriculum, the trainees and graduates exhibit high techniques. However, when it comes to foreign assignments, the disregard on local culture and political ideologies present significant challenge. In essence, engineers from developed economies with high skills are assigned in different countries where they tend to get higher pay and exploit the local workforce. Besides, there is a problem of cultural differences which necessitates introduction of multicultural tolerance among the engineers. Another critical issue is increasing trend of common language adoption by engineering firms. This lead to exclusion of non-native speakers in decision making sessions with significant isolation of local community interests while executing construction projects (Reader, 2006). I also believe that communication skills have evidently been overlooked while training mechanical engineers. Apart from the course specific report writing, concepts of intrapersonal and interpersonal skills have significantly showed poor results among several Engineers. This pose even a greater performance challenge both locally and internationally as this group of professionals strive to reconcile formal work procedures and interaction with the society from the social aspect. It is imperative that drastic measures are taken to initiate reforms on ethical codes and general mechanical engineering work policies. This should be done with the globalization view to capture the divergent skills and cultural affiliation of various

Analyse the development of British policies towards the Middle East Essay

Analyse the development of British policies towards the Middle East from 1945 to 1967 - Essay Example Britain emerged from the Second World War in a precarious position both domestically and internationally. It faced repayment of a staggering 3.75 billion dollar loan from the United States, a convertibility crisis in 1947, a devaluation in 1949 and a balance of payment crisis in 1947. During this time there was prolonged public debate on the proper use of Britain's economic and military resources. The Labor government, committed to the eradication of Imperialism, believed foreign policy aims could be achieved in the long run by dealing with the peoples of the newly liberated nations as equals. Britain played an integral role in the Middle East since the close of World War I, and faced many difficulties in the region during the inter-war years. In large part these problems were brought on when they reneged on the pledge of independence they made to various Ethnic groups during their campaign against the Ottoman Turks. In addition, the parceling out land and creation of artificial states and borders resulted in various uprisings, most noticeably that in Iraq in 1920. Finally, their handling of the Palestine issue was not well met by Arab nations. The handling of the Palestine issue in the War's aftermath was a foreshadowing of Britain's coming impotence in the region. Unable to resolve the issue, Britain gave administration of Palestine to the United Nations in 1946. On Nov 29th 1947, the UN put forth a resolution calling for the partitioning of Palestine into two parts, one Jewish, one Arab. The results were not favorable to the Palestinians: three states, including the Soviet Union and the United States said yes, thirteen said no-mostly Arab and Muslim states-and ten abstained, among them Britain. Blackwell (1993) believes that the failure to hold Palestine, coupled with Britain's economic weakness and financial dependence on the United States all contributed to the undermining of British views on its world role at the end of the war (p.107). Despite the policy slump of the years following the war, in the 1950's there was a resurgence of foreign policy aims, most noticeably in the Middle East. Almog and Watt (2003) believe that this was due largely to Britain's interest in the Suez Canal. They claim, "The Suez Canal still remained a vital route of communication to Britain's interests in the Far East, e.g. Malaya and the empire in East Africa and Australia. In addition, in was an important link to British oil interests, largely those in Iran; in 1939, the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company was one of Britain's most important economic assets (Olmag and Watt, 2003, p. 1). Changing views by the British government on foreign policy were, to a large extent, an impetuous for policy expansion. Young (1997, p. 147) states, "By 1951 the Labour Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, a former trades union leader of lowly background but forceful personality, had abandoned all idea of isolationism and led Britain into a peacetime, permanent alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)." In 1952 Sir John Harding defined two fundamental principles that were to govern British initiatives and most importantly requirements for bases, in the Middle East. Cohen (2004) states, These principles marked the recognition that the UK could no longer aspire on its own to provide an effective defence of

Is management remuneration too excessive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Is management remuneration too excessive - Essay Example In an article published in Business Week, In 1980 it was established that the a Chief Executive Officer working at a any foremost organization, on average, makes approximately 42 times compared to what a worker works on a normal hourly pay. In the next decade, i.e. 1990, this rate had crossed the doubled mark as it was up to 85 times compared to a normal hourly pay of a worker and in the next decade i.e. the twentieth century, the average salary of a Chief Executive Office has climbed to an incredible 531 times of the regular workers’ hourly pay. (Management 2000) This has been always an argument regarding the fact that the management, especially the top management, such as the Chief Executive Officers, Directors, Chief Financial Officers and the Heads of Departments etc are paid extensively more that the normal employee even though their job is limited to the decision making part while the workers have to put in extra impetus from the planning to the implementation stage. Let us go research in this respect whether the management remuneration is justified. Shleifer and Vishny (1997) in their research have described the corporate governance as the means where the providers of funding guarantee a return on their investments for themselves. Since, the profits of the investors largely depend upon the contracts incurred between themselves and the company so a variety of markets operations and the performance of players of finance has developed into various sub-literatures. literatures. need for the growth in pay of executies Lucian Bebchuk in his article â€Å"The Growth of Executive Pay’, discussed the reasons and the need for the substantial increase and the growth of the pay of executives and the top management personnel. He has justified the growth in the pay scale by the comparison of the size of the organization where the executive is employed. He mentioned â€Å"Remuneration level is predictable to augment due to the increase in the size of the firm and performance of the management, which may vary from industry to industry† He has researched over the average size of the S&P 500 firms from 1993 to 2003 and has expressed the fact that with the relevant increase in the size of the organization or the performance of the company, the compensation of the executives has increased side by side showing a very linear trend. Kaplan and Rauh (2009) inspected the query regarding if increase in the management remuneration can imitate the forc es of the market. The idea was that if a top management personnel’s pay imitates the market forces; in that case its increase should be in line with that of other extensively paid occupations. Kaplan and Rauh also assembled some information on the compensation of high yielding professions such as the employees from the financial service sector, banks, and funds and compared them to the compensation received by the business lawyers, professional athletes, doctors and celebrities. Murphy and Zabojnik (2007) proposed the thought that the escalation in management remuneration embodies the move in the significance of the ability of the managerial staff i.e. the talent and ability which is capable of being transferred through several companies related to the human capital which is specific to the firm i.e. precious only to the extent of the organization, which functioned to support the bargaining point of the top executives through improving their options of working at another orga nization. different views of executive compensation Holmstom (1979) in his article published in the Bell Journal of Economics has discussed several views of the executive compensation of which he has highlighted two of those views. He discusses that one of the view which he highlighted as the

The Role of Culture in Conflict Resolution

The Role of Culture in Conflict Resolution CASE OF DAGBON IN GHANA The inter-relativity and connectivity of human endeavor has made conflict something unavoidable as it has come to eventually be part of the normal routine of human social interaction. Ethnic conflicts and civil wars continue to plague many African countries especially in the last two decades. There are growing concerns about the impacts of these conflicts on sub-regional and regional stability as well as security, with adverse implications on economic growth, environment and development. The impacts of these conflicts have been severest on the vulnerable groups such as the aged, women and children reversing many development efforts in conflict zones (John Kusimi; Julius Fobil; Raymond Atuguba; Isabella Erawoc; Franklin Oduro Abstract: Conflicts in Northern Ghana a Mirror of Answers to Sub-Regional Stability and Security Questions). Conflict has both a colloquial meaning and a discouragingly long list of specific definitions. The list includes four rather different usages if the term: (1) antecedent conditions to some overt struggle (2) affective states (tension or hostility) (3) cognitive states (for example the perception that some other person or entity acts against ones interest and (4) conflictful behavior, verbal or non verbal ranging from passive resistance to active aggression. According to Wiktionary, conflict is an incompatibility of two things that cannot be simultaneously fulfilled. In simple terms conflict denotes a situation when two or more organizations or persons are in a contradiction between them.. Conflict is more expansive than normally perceived. The conflict is a contradiction, a war, maybe a competition exist but the real conflict condition is more greatest way to express violence, and where this take place and violence take effect, it generate more and more conflicts. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning â€Å"to cultivate†) is a term that has different meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of â€Å"culture† in Culture: a Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. However, the word â€Å"culture† is most commonly used in three basic senses: Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group (Harper, Douglas (2001). Online Etymology Dictionary and Kroeber, A. L. and C. Kluckhohn, (1952). Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions) When the concept first emerged in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe, it connoted a process of cultivation or improvement, as in agriculture or horticulture. In the nineteenth century, it came to refer first to the betterment or refinement of the individual, especially through education, and then to the fulfillment of national aspirations or ideals. In the mid-nineteenth century, some scientists used the term â€Å"culture† to refer to a universal human capacity (C. Kluckhohn, (1952). Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions) Although largely ignored as being a key element in the generation of conflicts, culture is an essential part of conflict and conflict resolution (LeBaron, Michelle Conflict and Culture: Research in Five Communities in British Columbia, Canada). Culture, mostly acting within the parameters of a toothless bulldog, it permeate all spheres of the normal daily occurrences and it does so in the least expected ways. It serves as collating avenue which sends us messages that shape our perceptions, attributions, judgments, and ideas of self and other. Cultures are powerful, they are often unconscious, influencing conflict and attempts to resolve conflict in imperceptible ways. For the single individual, cultures are a shifting, dynamic set of starting points that orient us in particular way and away from other directions. Each of us belongs to multiple cultures that give us messages about what is normal, appropriate, and expected. When others do not meet our expectations, it is often a cue that our cultural expectations are different and thought or projected as un-respected. We may mistake differences between others and us for evidence of bad faith or lack of common sense on the part of others, not realizing that common sense is not cultural. What is common to one group may seem strange, counter intuitive, or wrong to another. In the dividing circles of two groups, culture projects a huge sense of uniqueness; something most individuals would prefer to die for than to witness it degraded by the opposing group. Whether a conflict exists at all is a cultural question, and by way of mutual illustration and interconnection between culture and conflict; cultures are embedded in almost every conflict because conflicts arise in human relationships. Cultures affect the ways we name, frame, blame, and attempt to tame conflicts. On the contrary, when any of the above is diverted by one cultural group vis-à  -vis the other, conflicts are the emerging consequences. Most people especially in Africa and other parts of the globe take pride in engaging in activities with a cultural sense than advancing the course of the general good. Conflicts between teenagers and parents are shaped by generational culture, and conflicts between spouses or partners are influenced by gender culture. In organizations, conflicts arising from different disciplinary cultures escalate tensions between co-workers, creating strained or inaccurate communication and stressed relationships. Culture permeates conflict no matter wha t, sometimes pushing forth with intensity, other times quietly snaking along, hardly announcing its presence until surprised people nearly stumble on it. For this reason, this essay seeks to reconcile the role of culture in the Dagbon conflict in Northern Ghana and how these same two connections of conflicts are again intertwined for the purposes of conflict and conflict resolution. The challenge is that, given cultures important role in conflicts, it is given little thought and consideration as it mostly labeled in the unconscious circle of human behavior vis-à  -vis conflicts and some approaches cultural resolution to the management and resolution of the conflict compound this problem because they minimize cultural role and influences in the tensed situation. We will consider the Dagbon conflict in and try to fit it within this frame of neglect. This is because the Dagbon conflict although largely considered ethnic has a huge cultural dimension which goes largely unattended to. Culture is always a factor in conflict, whether it plays a central role or influences it subtly and gently. Geographically and historically, Ghana lies between latitudes 50 and 110N and longitudes 10 and 30E with a landmass of 23.9million hectares. Ghanas estimated total population is 19.5 million (GSS, 2002:1), comprising a vast mosaic of several ethnic groups speaking over hundred local languages. Northern Ghana on which this paper focuses is co-terminus with a vast acreage of land that spans the White Volta, Black Volta and Oti River Basins. The area is divided into three political/ administrative regions comprising the Upper West (18,476km2) and the Upper East(8,842km2) regions bordering Burkina Faso in the extreme northern limits of Ghana and the Northern Region (70,384km2) to the south of Upper East and Upper West. Populations in these areas witness deep poverty levels and low literacy rates, with low school enrolment rate and inadequate health care services. Over 90 percent of the population in this area is engaged in subsistence agriculture and animal rearing (GSS, (2002). Populati on and Housing Census 2000: Summary of Final Results). Therefore, land ownership determines to a large extent, the nature of social and power relations among the ethnic groups inhabiting these three regions and has also been a major source of conflicts among them. The three regions harbor inconceivable heterogeneous groups of people speaking over 30 local dialects. The hidden truth is that, most of these heterogeneous groups have historical connections dating back to the sixteenth century. The sociocultural organization of most of these peoples of the northern belt is patrilineal with a strong tradition of centralized administration under the lordship of a powerful king such as the Mossi-Dagbani Kingdoms. In recent national political discussions, the Mossi-Dagbani groups are referred to as the ‘major tribes in Northern Ghana. However, there are also stateless or acephalous groups such as the Konkomba and the Tallensi. Therefore politically and administratively, there are a lot of historical and present day commonalities. This is what causes and infact possesses the bane of shock when it comes to the issue of conflicts and the most effective tools in dealing or handling them. The past 25years have witnessed a number of destructive ethnic conflicts in Northern Ghana. The very explosive ones are those of 1980 (Konkombas against Nanumbas) and the Guinea Fowl War of 1994 (between the Konkombas on one hand and Nanumbas, Dagombas and Gonjas on the other hand) (Brukum J. N. K, The Pito, Mango and Guinea Fowl Wars: Episodes in the History of Northern Ghana, 1980-1999). In 1980/86 and 2000, Mamprusis and Kusasis went to war in Bawku. Dagombas also fought among themselves; these and more are the most recent (and of which this essay critical look) of these intra-Dagbon clashes were those between the Andani and the Abudu Gates in Yendi, in 2002 (Brukum J. N. K, The Pito, Mango and Guinea Fowl Wars: Episodes in the History of Northern Ghana, 1980-1999). There has been much similar communal violence among the Gonjas and other ethnic groups in the Northern Region of Ghana. A critical assessment of the causes of most of these conflicts can be traced to colonial and post-colonial actions of governments. This certainly is no news as the impedes of colonialism is still being felt in Africa today. Certain actions and in-actions of governments have led to the marginalization, deprivation, exploitation and the exclusion of the ‘minority groups in many decision-making processes and governance issues that affect them. This has led to dissatisfaction among the ‘minority, hence any little dispute between the ‘majority and ‘minority explodes into ethnic conflict. With these analysis deduced, let us now try to envisage how the presence of culture among the people in the northern hemisphere of Ghana is contributing to conflicts among the people using the silent pistol. Culture, as already noted, forms the core around which most individuals normalize their relations with others but this relationship does take a different dimension when one gets the slightest hint of foul play in the unique identification of the other individual. This however differs from ethnocentrism, where people openly act and portray the supposedly uniqueness of their traditional origin and heritage over that of others and to some extent cause others to follow their fray. It is important to state unequivocally that culture has a canny way of taking on the characteristics of ethnocentrism but however does with a gradual pace. Due to the heritagecal and ancestral dimension of culture, conflicts resulting from culture and cultural practices do occur undetected for a very long time. Conflict of this nature sometimes begin from a mere proclaim which is interpreted to downgrade or cast the other sides image into disrepute. At times it start with a poorly resolved dispute (in our case the Andani and the Abudu Gates in Yendi) which forces the youths of the opposing party to rise up in arms against their foes after several years of the poorly settled dispute, which obviously one party wasnt satisfied with. When this happens, all possible gates of negotiations are closed due to the lengthy or at times the generational nature it usually takes to emerge in full scale. Recent political events and expression also mean the relaxation in conflict in one side and subsequent uprising in other with political transitions. In other words, the envisioned premise is ignoring the cultural dimension of conflicts by most Ghanaian governments with the impression that Ghana is the most peaceful nation on earth. Similarly, the lay magistrate often without really solving the dispute to any sides satisfaction ended up taking sides. Culture, with the trait of a silent killer largely goes undetected due the stable political climate Ghana is reputed for but the critical thing that most conflict analysts fail to take into consideration is that conflicts of this nature are intra-tribal rather than taking on the general good or in the form of civil wars, which has stalled the core of most African countrys government setup and social development. In exact terms, a cursory look at all historical conflict on the African region reveals tremendous ethnic and religious inclinations, albeit many of them also have subtle causal relationship with land and resource use, which could be a core of protest of one group against the other. The concept of nationhood/statehood is misplaced in many African nation state building contexts. Nations on the African continent, unconsciously motivated by the great diversity of ethnic groups, continue to trivialize national homogeneity and ethnic unification thus allowing for powerful disaggregated ethnic formations. The inevitable tendency of this phenomenon is that, many national policies by governments tend to be ethnocentric and is some unconscious instances cultural, which create suspicion, rivalry, discontent, mistrust and enmity among different ethnic groups or even within the same group of people as is the case in northern Ghana, resulting in ethnic conflicts and civil wars in extreme cases. In the case under discussion, most analysts in conflict prevention turn to focus solely on the tribal or ethnic sentiments forgetting that there cultural influences even on professional judgments vis-à  -vis the heated situation and culture prevent people from giving accurate feedback. Causes of conflict in northern Ghana. The Dagbon chieftaincy dispute is a good example of the passions that chieftaincy issues can inflame in Ghana, and of the extent to which these matters have become politicised. In the Dagbon case, a traditional matter has become the main subject of local politics as well as an issue of national politics. The Dagomba people or Dagbamba as they call themselves, constitute the single largest ethnic group in Northern Ghana. They speak the Dagbani language, a subgroup of the Mole-Dagbani family of languages, which belongs to the much larger Gur with starting the Dagbon migrations from Mali to what is now the Upper East Region of Ghana. Here he married Sihisabigu, the daughter of a Tindana in a place known as Bion, and eventually replaced the Tindana after assassinating him. Kpagunimbu and Sihisabigu had twin sons called Nyamzisheli and Nyarigili, who are believed to be the ancestors of the Talinsi and Nabdam ethnic groups of the Upper East Region. Following his exploits as a warrior, the King of Grumah, Abudu Rahamani married off his daughter, Suhuyini, to Kpagunimbu. Suhuyini gave birth to Gbewaa, two of whose sons Tohugu and Sitobu founded the Mamprugu and Dagbon kingdoms respectively. Sitobus son, Nyagsi, who reigned between 1416 and 1432, expanded the Dagbon kingdom through wars against aboriginal peoples throughout what is now present-day Dagbon. Thus the Dagbamba came to the area they now occupy as conquerors and established the traditional state of Dagbon, bringing with them the institution of chieftaincy, which had not been found among the original inhabitants. The Dagbon capital is Yendi where the King, whose title is Ya Na, resides. The Dagbamba are strongly attached to the institution of chieftaincy, which partly accounts for the intensity with which conflicts over chieftaincy are carried out. Conflicts tend to revolve around questions of succession, since the rules for succession tend to be rather flexible and allow for a number of candidates. Part of the current dispute (known variously as the Dagbon conflict or the Yendi chieftaincy affairs) hinges on whether or not it is a rule of tradition that succession to the throne should alternate between two rival sections of the royal family. These two sections originated in the late nineteenth century, following the death of Ya Na Yakubu who was succeeded first by his son Abudulai and then by another son Andani. Since the death of Andani in 1899, there has been in some measure an alternation between descendants of the two brothers, and the extent to which this rotation constitutes another rule for determining the succession remains unsettled. In addition to the question of rotation between the two families, there is also disagreement over who has the right to select a successor, and over which particular act in the installation ceremony makes one a Ya Na. Formally, the selection of a successor rested in the hands of four kingmakers. In 1948, the membership of the kingmakers was expanded to eleven with the addition of seven divisional chiefs to form a selection committee. The legitimacy of the Committee, which probably represented a final attempt by the British to codify the rules and procedures of succession to the Yendi skin, has been in dispute. In the 1940s, the educated elite of Dagbon most of whom were from its royal families played a major role in the setting up of the controversial selection committee. The institution of the selection committee coincided with the era of active pre-independence politics, and the pioneer-educated elite was poised to exploit the situation. Having a king who was more amenable to their political ambitions was of vital importance to them. By 1954, there were complaints that the committee system was adopted to protect the interest of the Abudulai family and ultimately eliminate the Andani family from the contest (Sibidow, 1970). One major source of conflict in modern times is the tradition that â€Å"you do not destool a Ya Na†. In former times, a Ya Na who proved unacceptable was simply killed. As this is no longer a practical alternative, once installed a Ya Na cannot be destooled even if he is found to have violated customs. Thus Dagbon custom as a whole is ambiguous on this point if not outright contradictory (Ladouceur, 1972). Such an implicit ambiguity facilitates the intervention of an outside power to settle outstanding disagreements as to the correct interpretation of tradition. It also serves not only to foment disputes but also to sustain them. Another source of the Dagbon conflict is intergenerational in nature. Intergenerational conflict arises because of the exclusion from succession of the senior sons of a king by his junior brothers. Conversely, the junior brothers in the older generation could find themselves excluded by the sons of their senior brother. According to Ferguson et al. (1970), the critical nature of exclusion is apparent. By virtue of the Dagbon rule that no son may assume a higher rank in society than his father, a candidates failure to attain office carries with it the implication that none of his descendants may ever aspire to it. Intergenerational conflict appears then to be a structural feature for succession to higher office in Dagbon. There is, however, probably a contingent association between such conflicts and the polarization between rival factions that is also a characteristic feature of the conflict. The candidates from the senior generation may tend to attract the support of the more conser vative factions and those from the junior generation, that of the more radical. The Dagbon conflict gradually spilled over into the national political arena over the years as each side mustered what forces it could with politicians taking an increasing interest in this and other chieftaincy disputes. Each side in the Dagbon dispute has articulate well-educated spokesmen and, since 1954, prominent national political figures as well. It was largely through their activities that the dispute became a political issue shortly after independence. On the Abudu side was Alhaji Yakubu Tali, Tolon Na, while the Andani side had J.H. Alhassan. Both men had become prominent figures in both Dagbon affairs and in the emerging modern political system in the early 1950s. Both were elected to the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly in 1951 and to Parliament in 1954, the former on the opposition regional NPP ticket and the latter to the governing CPP.11 If politicians can make use of their power base in the modern political system to interfere in traditional affairs, some traditional rulers are also quite capable of seizing opportunities presented by national politics to consolidate their own positions. Ya Na Abudulai III, sensing that he might be destooled, withdrew his support for the opposition and together with his followers, including Alhaji Yakubu Tali, joined the then ruling party, the CPP, en bloc in 1958. Political interference in the Dagbon conflict continued with changes in government. The overthrow of the Kwame Nkrumah government in 1966 marked radical changes in official ideology and priorities. In general terms, the policy of the National Liberation Council (NLC), the military regime, in traditional matters was to restore chieftaincy to its former position and reduce government interference. However, chieftaincy affairs took on an added importance in post-coup Ghana and government interference increased instead of dimi nishing. In the case of the Yendi dispute, government interference was taken to new heights when in September 1969, the selection and enskinment of Ya Na Andani III was declared null and void by the NLC government. It was felt that a factor in this decision that had objectively benefited the Abudulai family was the presence of B. A. Yakubu, a family supporter, in the NLC government. Thus the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II in March 2002 took place during a time when the NPP government, successor to Prime Minister K. A. Busias party which succeeded the NLC, was in power was seen as significant. It succeeded in evoking memories of the killings in the Gbewaa palace in 1969. Zamfara state of the early Hausa kingdom. Drum history9, however, traces the origin of the Dagbon kingdom to ancient Mali whose king had been so impressed with the exploits of Toha-zhie, a wandering hunter, that he recruited him into his service. Toha-Zhie eventually married one of the daughters of the King of Mali called Paga-wobga, who bore him a son Kpagunimbu. Kpagunimbu is credited In trying to capture the role of culture in conflict especially in the Ghanaian context, it becomes imperative to trace the root cause of the conflict, taking a cue from the cultural dimension and gradually interpreting it in the resolution process. The idea is that, conflict no matter the ferocity, scholarship must seek to stop it occurrence owing to it unenviable consequence on the larger populace. Thus there are two principal lines being the prime movers behind the culture-led conflicts among the northern hemisphere of Ghana. The first of such, which has been partially discussed on the geographical notations in starting this conflict, is without doubt actions of earliest colonial governments. Many ethnic groups in Northern Ghana hitherto the introduction of indirect rule in Ghana in 1932 peacefully co-existed. The indirect rule system of administration introduced in 1932 by the colonial governors (Britain) vested political and administrative powers in the hands of some selected chiefs who had better organized systems of traditional administration (the chiefly people, i.e. Dagomba, Nanumba, Gonja etc.). For instance, the Ya-Na of East-Dagbon was given traditional cum administrative authority over the Konkomba and Chokosi who is quite culturally different ethnic from the Dagomba. The north-eastern Province (present day Upper East) was constituted into the Mamprugu Kingdom with f ive sub-divisions as Mamprugu, Kusasi, Frafra, Gurensi and Builsa all under the Lordship of the Nayiri as the paramount chief of Mamprusi. Similarly, the Nawuri, Nchumuru, Mo and Vagala were put under the Yagbonwurura of Gonja kingdom. This administrative initiative was implemented by Chief Commissioner Armitage. This was done for political and administrative expediency because the colonial administration at the time did not have sufficient logistics and personnel to govern the entire colony, especially the protected territories in Northern Ghana. Subsequently, there was the introduction of local police called â€Å"Nana Kana†, who constituted tribunals and for the collection of taxes and tried general cases except criminal ones. This enhanced the loyalty of the stateless ethnic groups to the paramount chiefs. The creation of the National Territorial Council (NTC) in 1938 for chiefs further increased the administrative authority of these chiefs. According to colonial writers such as Blair, Rattray, Tait, Cardinalland Manoukian, although the colonial administration imposed chiefs for administrative purposes, the acephalous people never accepted them, thus, they were never ‘ruled by the chiefly peoples, but were only raided periodically. The chiefly groups extorted monies from the stateless groups as fines, especially through the chiefly court system. The implication of these developments are that, with time emotional sentiments and passions are brought to bear with general official arrangements which gradually leads one side to call for changes. If the call is not heeded by the authorities involved, one side feels cheated and with the lapse of time lead to ethnic based but largely culture oriented conflict. According to Tait, Dagomba ‘rule was limited to sporadic raids to obtain slaves needed for the annual tribute to the Ashanti. From time to time, local tax collectors were sent to Konkomba territory to collect foodstuff such as millet, sorghum, yam, and maize, which was sold in the markets to raise money for the local chief. In 1950, some Konkombas were stopped by Dagombas on their way to Yendi market and their head-loads of new yam taken (which was valued at  £18), and in the same year when the Ya Na was fined in the District Commissioners court, two lorry loads of sorghum were collected in Saboba region alone on the grounds that, ‘The European says that it has got to be paid. Also according to Skalnik (1983 in Katanga,1994, pp21), Konkomba marriage disputes accounted for a large source of income for the court of the Bimbilla-Naa. Thus it became very rare for a Konkomba to appeal to the District Commissioner on cases of injustices, though instances of this sort of extor tion were frequent. Similarly, the lay magistrate often without really solving the dispute to any sides satisfaction took bribes from both parties. The cumulative effect of this was total allegiance of these non-chiefly tribes to the chiefly groups. The Konkombas for instance were compelled to give some days as free labor annually in the farms of Nanumba/Dagombas chiefs and the compulsory donation of a hind leg of any big animal killed wild or domesticated to Nanumba chiefs. Probably the most unfair of these injustices was that, Konkombas were not allowed to settle even petty quarrels among themselves including matrimonial ones, even as late as the 20th century. These conditions compelled Konkombas to request for their own tribunal under Ali, an ex-soldier, domiciled in Bimbilla, to settle petty disputes particularly marriage cases. This proposal was vehemently rejected and attempts were made to eject Ali from Bimbilla, culminating into a heated atmosphere (Brukum, 1999:11-12). Another crucial notation is post colonial government arrangements both internal and external in Ghanas northern region. Several uncharacteristic and unscrupulous actions of post-colonial governments saw a further deterioration in the social friction between the chiefly and non-chiefly ethnic groups which were largely operated by land administration policies. All lands in Northern Ghana were protected and were under the custody ownership of the Tendaanas (Earth-shrine Priest) and not chiefs. The chief (Na or Ubor) in the north wielded only political power. The Tendaana was the highest office held by the autochthonous tribes, and consisted legitimate ownership of the land which even extended over chiefs. The Na/Ubor never dared to arrogate to himself, the duties of the Tendaana. Infact, the Na/Ubor humbled himself before him and appeared disguised as poor when occasions arose for him to visit the Tendaana. This is because the Tendaana not only owned the land, but he is the only person known to the spirit of the land. Hence it was the Tendaana that had the right to give out lands. It was believed that, the Chief did not grant farming lands to individuals. He is considered not to have any right over farms. Tindaamba (another name for Tendaana) still have power over chiefs and are feared. During this era, land was not a scarce resource and according to Goody under such conditions neither individuals nor kin groups bother to lay specific claims to large tracts of territory, since land is virtually a free good (Katanga, 1994:21). Land ownership in northern Ghana came under the custody of chiefs in 1978 during the Acheampong regime when a law was passed vesting all northern lands into the hands of selected ethnic groups chiefs (notice the connection of the emergence of the intra-ethnic conflict between the Abudu and Andani Gates which will take several years to assume full scale) and left out most other groups. The criteria for vesting the lands in the hands of these few chiefs were based on the recommendations of Alhassan Report of 1978, which were backed by the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, both Dagombas (another watchful area, dealing with cultures involvement in conflict). Indeed the Alhassan Committees Report twisted the truth about the land tenure arrangements in Northern Ghana in favor of the chiefs and his tribesmen and the other chiefly people. These reforms in Northern Ghana Land administration were implemented by the then Government to solicit for political support from the Northern Chie fs for the UNIGOV System (Unity Government). With the failure of the Acheampong government however, these legislations were abrogated as the reins of government was overtaken by another military regime. The ceasure of the reins of government and the subsequent decree rule reversed this trend of land principles laid down by the previous administration and has ever since been the bane of confrontation between brothers in the different sides of the same group as is the case of the Dagbon conflict. The Konkomba Youth Association (KOYA) contested the Alhassan Report and has repeatedly pointed out that, the report has been the root cause of the three major ethnic conflicts and twenty minor ones between the chiefdoms. The jejune with these quack legislations is that they turn to outlive their significance with the transition of government, something that is purely not in the interest of the rural Ghanaian. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to conflict resolution, since culture is always a factor. Cultural fluency is therefore a core competency for those who intervene in conflicts or simply want to function more effectively in their own lives and situations. Cultural fluency involves recognizing and acting respectfully from the knowledge that communication, ways of naming, framing, and taming conflict, approaches to meaning-making, and identities and roles vary across cultures. In retrospect, culture as a key factor in conflict generation and orientation it that of a silent creeper. The kind that is in no way given premise by conflict analysts as being the prime cause in conflict situations. In the other words, the largel The Role of Culture in Conflict Resolution The Role of Culture in Conflict Resolution CASE OF DAGBON IN GHANA The inter-relativity and connectivity of human endeavor has made conflict something unavoidable as it has come to eventually be part of the normal routine of human social interaction. Ethnic conflicts and civil wars continue to plague many African countries especially in the last two decades. There are growing concerns about the impacts of these conflicts on sub-regional and regional stability as well as security, with adverse implications on economic growth, environment and development. The impacts of these conflicts have been severest on the vulnerable groups such as the aged, women and children reversing many development efforts in conflict zones (John Kusimi; Julius Fobil; Raymond Atuguba; Isabella Erawoc; Franklin Oduro Abstract: Conflicts in Northern Ghana a Mirror of Answers to Sub-Regional Stability and Security Questions). Conflict has both a colloquial meaning and a discouragingly long list of specific definitions. The list includes four rather different usages if the term: (1) antecedent conditions to some overt struggle (2) affective states (tension or hostility) (3) cognitive states (for example the perception that some other person or entity acts against ones interest and (4) conflictful behavior, verbal or non verbal ranging from passive resistance to active aggression. According to Wiktionary, conflict is an incompatibility of two things that cannot be simultaneously fulfilled. In simple terms conflict denotes a situation when two or more organizations or persons are in a contradiction between them.. Conflict is more expansive than normally perceived. The conflict is a contradiction, a war, maybe a competition exist but the real conflict condition is more greatest way to express violence, and where this take place and violence take effect, it generate more and more conflicts. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning â€Å"to cultivate†) is a term that has different meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of â€Å"culture† in Culture: a Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. However, the word â€Å"culture† is most commonly used in three basic senses: Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group (Harper, Douglas (2001). Online Etymology Dictionary and Kroeber, A. L. and C. Kluckhohn, (1952). Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions) When the concept first emerged in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe, it connoted a process of cultivation or improvement, as in agriculture or horticulture. In the nineteenth century, it came to refer first to the betterment or refinement of the individual, especially through education, and then to the fulfillment of national aspirations or ideals. In the mid-nineteenth century, some scientists used the term â€Å"culture† to refer to a universal human capacity (C. Kluckhohn, (1952). Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions) Although largely ignored as being a key element in the generation of conflicts, culture is an essential part of conflict and conflict resolution (LeBaron, Michelle Conflict and Culture: Research in Five Communities in British Columbia, Canada). Culture, mostly acting within the parameters of a toothless bulldog, it permeate all spheres of the normal daily occurrences and it does so in the least expected ways. It serves as collating avenue which sends us messages that shape our perceptions, attributions, judgments, and ideas of self and other. Cultures are powerful, they are often unconscious, influencing conflict and attempts to resolve conflict in imperceptible ways. For the single individual, cultures are a shifting, dynamic set of starting points that orient us in particular way and away from other directions. Each of us belongs to multiple cultures that give us messages about what is normal, appropriate, and expected. When others do not meet our expectations, it is often a cue that our cultural expectations are different and thought or projected as un-respected. We may mistake differences between others and us for evidence of bad faith or lack of common sense on the part of others, not realizing that common sense is not cultural. What is common to one group may seem strange, counter intuitive, or wrong to another. In the dividing circles of two groups, culture projects a huge sense of uniqueness; something most individuals would prefer to die for than to witness it degraded by the opposing group. Whether a conflict exists at all is a cultural question, and by way of mutual illustration and interconnection between culture and conflict; cultures are embedded in almost every conflict because conflicts arise in human relationships. Cultures affect the ways we name, frame, blame, and attempt to tame conflicts. On the contrary, when any of the above is diverted by one cultural group vis-à  -vis the other, conflicts are the emerging consequences. Most people especially in Africa and other parts of the globe take pride in engaging in activities with a cultural sense than advancing the course of the general good. Conflicts between teenagers and parents are shaped by generational culture, and conflicts between spouses or partners are influenced by gender culture. In organizations, conflicts arising from different disciplinary cultures escalate tensions between co-workers, creating strained or inaccurate communication and stressed relationships. Culture permeates conflict no matter wha t, sometimes pushing forth with intensity, other times quietly snaking along, hardly announcing its presence until surprised people nearly stumble on it. For this reason, this essay seeks to reconcile the role of culture in the Dagbon conflict in Northern Ghana and how these same two connections of conflicts are again intertwined for the purposes of conflict and conflict resolution. The challenge is that, given cultures important role in conflicts, it is given little thought and consideration as it mostly labeled in the unconscious circle of human behavior vis-à  -vis conflicts and some approaches cultural resolution to the management and resolution of the conflict compound this problem because they minimize cultural role and influences in the tensed situation. We will consider the Dagbon conflict in and try to fit it within this frame of neglect. This is because the Dagbon conflict although largely considered ethnic has a huge cultural dimension which goes largely unattended to. Culture is always a factor in conflict, whether it plays a central role or influences it subtly and gently. Geographically and historically, Ghana lies between latitudes 50 and 110N and longitudes 10 and 30E with a landmass of 23.9million hectares. Ghanas estimated total population is 19.5 million (GSS, 2002:1), comprising a vast mosaic of several ethnic groups speaking over hundred local languages. Northern Ghana on which this paper focuses is co-terminus with a vast acreage of land that spans the White Volta, Black Volta and Oti River Basins. The area is divided into three political/ administrative regions comprising the Upper West (18,476km2) and the Upper East(8,842km2) regions bordering Burkina Faso in the extreme northern limits of Ghana and the Northern Region (70,384km2) to the south of Upper East and Upper West. Populations in these areas witness deep poverty levels and low literacy rates, with low school enrolment rate and inadequate health care services. Over 90 percent of the population in this area is engaged in subsistence agriculture and animal rearing (GSS, (2002). Populati on and Housing Census 2000: Summary of Final Results). Therefore, land ownership determines to a large extent, the nature of social and power relations among the ethnic groups inhabiting these three regions and has also been a major source of conflicts among them. The three regions harbor inconceivable heterogeneous groups of people speaking over 30 local dialects. The hidden truth is that, most of these heterogeneous groups have historical connections dating back to the sixteenth century. The sociocultural organization of most of these peoples of the northern belt is patrilineal with a strong tradition of centralized administration under the lordship of a powerful king such as the Mossi-Dagbani Kingdoms. In recent national political discussions, the Mossi-Dagbani groups are referred to as the ‘major tribes in Northern Ghana. However, there are also stateless or acephalous groups such as the Konkomba and the Tallensi. Therefore politically and administratively, there are a lot of historical and present day commonalities. This is what causes and infact possesses the bane of shock when it comes to the issue of conflicts and the most effective tools in dealing or handling them. The past 25years have witnessed a number of destructive ethnic conflicts in Northern Ghana. The very explosive ones are those of 1980 (Konkombas against Nanumbas) and the Guinea Fowl War of 1994 (between the Konkombas on one hand and Nanumbas, Dagombas and Gonjas on the other hand) (Brukum J. N. K, The Pito, Mango and Guinea Fowl Wars: Episodes in the History of Northern Ghana, 1980-1999). In 1980/86 and 2000, Mamprusis and Kusasis went to war in Bawku. Dagombas also fought among themselves; these and more are the most recent (and of which this essay critical look) of these intra-Dagbon clashes were those between the Andani and the Abudu Gates in Yendi, in 2002 (Brukum J. N. K, The Pito, Mango and Guinea Fowl Wars: Episodes in the History of Northern Ghana, 1980-1999). There has been much similar communal violence among the Gonjas and other ethnic groups in the Northern Region of Ghana. A critical assessment of the causes of most of these conflicts can be traced to colonial and post-colonial actions of governments. This certainly is no news as the impedes of colonialism is still being felt in Africa today. Certain actions and in-actions of governments have led to the marginalization, deprivation, exploitation and the exclusion of the ‘minority groups in many decision-making processes and governance issues that affect them. This has led to dissatisfaction among the ‘minority, hence any little dispute between the ‘majority and ‘minority explodes into ethnic conflict. With these analysis deduced, let us now try to envisage how the presence of culture among the people in the northern hemisphere of Ghana is contributing to conflicts among the people using the silent pistol. Culture, as already noted, forms the core around which most individuals normalize their relations with others but this relationship does take a different dimension when one gets the slightest hint of foul play in the unique identification of the other individual. This however differs from ethnocentrism, where people openly act and portray the supposedly uniqueness of their traditional origin and heritage over that of others and to some extent cause others to follow their fray. It is important to state unequivocally that culture has a canny way of taking on the characteristics of ethnocentrism but however does with a gradual pace. Due to the heritagecal and ancestral dimension of culture, conflicts resulting from culture and cultural practices do occur undetected for a very long time. Conflict of this nature sometimes begin from a mere proclaim which is interpreted to downgrade or cast the other sides image into disrepute. At times it start with a poorly resolved dispute (in our case the Andani and the Abudu Gates in Yendi) which forces the youths of the opposing party to rise up in arms against their foes after several years of the poorly settled dispute, which obviously one party wasnt satisfied with. When this happens, all possible gates of negotiations are closed due to the lengthy or at times the generational nature it usually takes to emerge in full scale. Recent political events and expression also mean the relaxation in conflict in one side and subsequent uprising in other with political transitions. In other words, the envisioned premise is ignoring the cultural dimension of conflicts by most Ghanaian governments with the impression that Ghana is the most peaceful nation on earth. Similarly, the lay magistrate often without really solving the dispute to any sides satisfaction ended up taking sides. Culture, with the trait of a silent killer largely goes undetected due the stable political climate Ghana is reputed for but the critical thing that most conflict analysts fail to take into consideration is that conflicts of this nature are intra-tribal rather than taking on the general good or in the form of civil wars, which has stalled the core of most African countrys government setup and social development. In exact terms, a cursory look at all historical conflict on the African region reveals tremendous ethnic and religious inclinations, albeit many of them also have subtle causal relationship with land and resource use, which could be a core of protest of one group against the other. The concept of nationhood/statehood is misplaced in many African nation state building contexts. Nations on the African continent, unconsciously motivated by the great diversity of ethnic groups, continue to trivialize national homogeneity and ethnic unification thus allowing for powerful disaggregated ethnic formations. The inevitable tendency of this phenomenon is that, many national policies by governments tend to be ethnocentric and is some unconscious instances cultural, which create suspicion, rivalry, discontent, mistrust and enmity among different ethnic groups or even within the same group of people as is the case in northern Ghana, resulting in ethnic conflicts and civil wars in extreme cases. In the case under discussion, most analysts in conflict prevention turn to focus solely on the tribal or ethnic sentiments forgetting that there cultural influences even on professional judgments vis-à  -vis the heated situation and culture prevent people from giving accurate feedback. Causes of conflict in northern Ghana. The Dagbon chieftaincy dispute is a good example of the passions that chieftaincy issues can inflame in Ghana, and of the extent to which these matters have become politicised. In the Dagbon case, a traditional matter has become the main subject of local politics as well as an issue of national politics. The Dagomba people or Dagbamba as they call themselves, constitute the single largest ethnic group in Northern Ghana. They speak the Dagbani language, a subgroup of the Mole-Dagbani family of languages, which belongs to the much larger Gur with starting the Dagbon migrations from Mali to what is now the Upper East Region of Ghana. Here he married Sihisabigu, the daughter of a Tindana in a place known as Bion, and eventually replaced the Tindana after assassinating him. Kpagunimbu and Sihisabigu had twin sons called Nyamzisheli and Nyarigili, who are believed to be the ancestors of the Talinsi and Nabdam ethnic groups of the Upper East Region. Following his exploits as a warrior, the King of Grumah, Abudu Rahamani married off his daughter, Suhuyini, to Kpagunimbu. Suhuyini gave birth to Gbewaa, two of whose sons Tohugu and Sitobu founded the Mamprugu and Dagbon kingdoms respectively. Sitobus son, Nyagsi, who reigned between 1416 and 1432, expanded the Dagbon kingdom through wars against aboriginal peoples throughout what is now present-day Dagbon. Thus the Dagbamba came to the area they now occupy as conquerors and established the traditional state of Dagbon, bringing with them the institution of chieftaincy, which had not been found among the original inhabitants. The Dagbon capital is Yendi where the King, whose title is Ya Na, resides. The Dagbamba are strongly attached to the institution of chieftaincy, which partly accounts for the intensity with which conflicts over chieftaincy are carried out. Conflicts tend to revolve around questions of succession, since the rules for succession tend to be rather flexible and allow for a number of candidates. Part of the current dispute (known variously as the Dagbon conflict or the Yendi chieftaincy affairs) hinges on whether or not it is a rule of tradition that succession to the throne should alternate between two rival sections of the royal family. These two sections originated in the late nineteenth century, following the death of Ya Na Yakubu who was succeeded first by his son Abudulai and then by another son Andani. Since the death of Andani in 1899, there has been in some measure an alternation between descendants of the two brothers, and the extent to which this rotation constitutes another rule for determining the succession remains unsettled. In addition to the question of rotation between the two families, there is also disagreement over who has the right to select a successor, and over which particular act in the installation ceremony makes one a Ya Na. Formally, the selection of a successor rested in the hands of four kingmakers. In 1948, the membership of the kingmakers was expanded to eleven with the addition of seven divisional chiefs to form a selection committee. The legitimacy of the Committee, which probably represented a final attempt by the British to codify the rules and procedures of succession to the Yendi skin, has been in dispute. In the 1940s, the educated elite of Dagbon most of whom were from its royal families played a major role in the setting up of the controversial selection committee. The institution of the selection committee coincided with the era of active pre-independence politics, and the pioneer-educated elite was poised to exploit the situation. Having a king who was more amenable to their political ambitions was of vital importance to them. By 1954, there were complaints that the committee system was adopted to protect the interest of the Abudulai family and ultimately eliminate the Andani family from the contest (Sibidow, 1970). One major source of conflict in modern times is the tradition that â€Å"you do not destool a Ya Na†. In former times, a Ya Na who proved unacceptable was simply killed. As this is no longer a practical alternative, once installed a Ya Na cannot be destooled even if he is found to have violated customs. Thus Dagbon custom as a whole is ambiguous on this point if not outright contradictory (Ladouceur, 1972). Such an implicit ambiguity facilitates the intervention of an outside power to settle outstanding disagreements as to the correct interpretation of tradition. It also serves not only to foment disputes but also to sustain them. Another source of the Dagbon conflict is intergenerational in nature. Intergenerational conflict arises because of the exclusion from succession of the senior sons of a king by his junior brothers. Conversely, the junior brothers in the older generation could find themselves excluded by the sons of their senior brother. According to Ferguson et al. (1970), the critical nature of exclusion is apparent. By virtue of the Dagbon rule that no son may assume a higher rank in society than his father, a candidates failure to attain office carries with it the implication that none of his descendants may ever aspire to it. Intergenerational conflict appears then to be a structural feature for succession to higher office in Dagbon. There is, however, probably a contingent association between such conflicts and the polarization between rival factions that is also a characteristic feature of the conflict. The candidates from the senior generation may tend to attract the support of the more conser vative factions and those from the junior generation, that of the more radical. The Dagbon conflict gradually spilled over into the national political arena over the years as each side mustered what forces it could with politicians taking an increasing interest in this and other chieftaincy disputes. Each side in the Dagbon dispute has articulate well-educated spokesmen and, since 1954, prominent national political figures as well. It was largely through their activities that the dispute became a political issue shortly after independence. On the Abudu side was Alhaji Yakubu Tali, Tolon Na, while the Andani side had J.H. Alhassan. Both men had become prominent figures in both Dagbon affairs and in the emerging modern political system in the early 1950s. Both were elected to the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly in 1951 and to Parliament in 1954, the former on the opposition regional NPP ticket and the latter to the governing CPP.11 If politicians can make use of their power base in the modern political system to interfere in traditional affairs, some traditional rulers are also quite capable of seizing opportunities presented by national politics to consolidate their own positions. Ya Na Abudulai III, sensing that he might be destooled, withdrew his support for the opposition and together with his followers, including Alhaji Yakubu Tali, joined the then ruling party, the CPP, en bloc in 1958. Political interference in the Dagbon conflict continued with changes in government. The overthrow of the Kwame Nkrumah government in 1966 marked radical changes in official ideology and priorities. In general terms, the policy of the National Liberation Council (NLC), the military regime, in traditional matters was to restore chieftaincy to its former position and reduce government interference. However, chieftaincy affairs took on an added importance in post-coup Ghana and government interference increased instead of dimi nishing. In the case of the Yendi dispute, government interference was taken to new heights when in September 1969, the selection and enskinment of Ya Na Andani III was declared null and void by the NLC government. It was felt that a factor in this decision that had objectively benefited the Abudulai family was the presence of B. A. Yakubu, a family supporter, in the NLC government. Thus the murder of Ya Na Yakubu Andani II in March 2002 took place during a time when the NPP government, successor to Prime Minister K. A. Busias party which succeeded the NLC, was in power was seen as significant. It succeeded in evoking memories of the killings in the Gbewaa palace in 1969. Zamfara state of the early Hausa kingdom. Drum history9, however, traces the origin of the Dagbon kingdom to ancient Mali whose king had been so impressed with the exploits of Toha-zhie, a wandering hunter, that he recruited him into his service. Toha-Zhie eventually married one of the daughters of the King of Mali called Paga-wobga, who bore him a son Kpagunimbu. Kpagunimbu is credited In trying to capture the role of culture in conflict especially in the Ghanaian context, it becomes imperative to trace the root cause of the conflict, taking a cue from the cultural dimension and gradually interpreting it in the resolution process. The idea is that, conflict no matter the ferocity, scholarship must seek to stop it occurrence owing to it unenviable consequence on the larger populace. Thus there are two principal lines being the prime movers behind the culture-led conflicts among the northern hemisphere of Ghana. The first of such, which has been partially discussed on the geographical notations in starting this conflict, is without doubt actions of earliest colonial governments. Many ethnic groups in Northern Ghana hitherto the introduction of indirect rule in Ghana in 1932 peacefully co-existed. The indirect rule system of administration introduced in 1932 by the colonial governors (Britain) vested political and administrative powers in the hands of some selected chiefs who had better organized systems of traditional administration (the chiefly people, i.e. Dagomba, Nanumba, Gonja etc.). For instance, the Ya-Na of East-Dagbon was given traditional cum administrative authority over the Konkomba and Chokosi who is quite culturally different ethnic from the Dagomba. The north-eastern Province (present day Upper East) was constituted into the Mamprugu Kingdom with f ive sub-divisions as Mamprugu, Kusasi, Frafra, Gurensi and Builsa all under the Lordship of the Nayiri as the paramount chief of Mamprusi. Similarly, the Nawuri, Nchumuru, Mo and Vagala were put under the Yagbonwurura of Gonja kingdom. This administrative initiative was implemented by Chief Commissioner Armitage. This was done for political and administrative expediency because the colonial administration at the time did not have sufficient logistics and personnel to govern the entire colony, especially the protected territories in Northern Ghana. Subsequently, there was the introduction of local police called â€Å"Nana Kana†, who constituted tribunals and for the collection of taxes and tried general cases except criminal ones. This enhanced the loyalty of the stateless ethnic groups to the paramount chiefs. The creation of the National Territorial Council (NTC) in 1938 for chiefs further increased the administrative authority of these chiefs. According to colonial writers such as Blair, Rattray, Tait, Cardinalland Manoukian, although the colonial administration imposed chiefs for administrative purposes, the acephalous people never accepted them, thus, they were never ‘ruled by the chiefly peoples, but were only raided periodically. The chiefly groups extorted monies from the stateless groups as fines, especially through the chiefly court system. The implication of these developments are that, with time emotional sentiments and passions are brought to bear with general official arrangements which gradually leads one side to call for changes. If the call is not heeded by the authorities involved, one side feels cheated and with the lapse of time lead to ethnic based but largely culture oriented conflict. According to Tait, Dagomba ‘rule was limited to sporadic raids to obtain slaves needed for the annual tribute to the Ashanti. From time to time, local tax collectors were sent to Konkomba territory to collect foodstuff such as millet, sorghum, yam, and maize, which was sold in the markets to raise money for the local chief. In 1950, some Konkombas were stopped by Dagombas on their way to Yendi market and their head-loads of new yam taken (which was valued at  £18), and in the same year when the Ya Na was fined in the District Commissioners court, two lorry loads of sorghum were collected in Saboba region alone on the grounds that, ‘The European says that it has got to be paid. Also according to Skalnik (1983 in Katanga,1994, pp21), Konkomba marriage disputes accounted for a large source of income for the court of the Bimbilla-Naa. Thus it became very rare for a Konkomba to appeal to the District Commissioner on cases of injustices, though instances of this sort of extor tion were frequent. Similarly, the lay magistrate often without really solving the dispute to any sides satisfaction took bribes from both parties. The cumulative effect of this was total allegiance of these non-chiefly tribes to the chiefly groups. The Konkombas for instance were compelled to give some days as free labor annually in the farms of Nanumba/Dagombas chiefs and the compulsory donation of a hind leg of any big animal killed wild or domesticated to Nanumba chiefs. Probably the most unfair of these injustices was that, Konkombas were not allowed to settle even petty quarrels among themselves including matrimonial ones, even as late as the 20th century. These conditions compelled Konkombas to request for their own tribunal under Ali, an ex-soldier, domiciled in Bimbilla, to settle petty disputes particularly marriage cases. This proposal was vehemently rejected and attempts were made to eject Ali from Bimbilla, culminating into a heated atmosphere (Brukum, 1999:11-12). Another crucial notation is post colonial government arrangements both internal and external in Ghanas northern region. Several uncharacteristic and unscrupulous actions of post-colonial governments saw a further deterioration in the social friction between the chiefly and non-chiefly ethnic groups which were largely operated by land administration policies. All lands in Northern Ghana were protected and were under the custody ownership of the Tendaanas (Earth-shrine Priest) and not chiefs. The chief (Na or Ubor) in the north wielded only political power. The Tendaana was the highest office held by the autochthonous tribes, and consisted legitimate ownership of the land which even extended over chiefs. The Na/Ubor never dared to arrogate to himself, the duties of the Tendaana. Infact, the Na/Ubor humbled himself before him and appeared disguised as poor when occasions arose for him to visit the Tendaana. This is because the Tendaana not only owned the land, but he is the only person known to the spirit of the land. Hence it was the Tendaana that had the right to give out lands. It was believed that, the Chief did not grant farming lands to individuals. He is considered not to have any right over farms. Tindaamba (another name for Tendaana) still have power over chiefs and are feared. During this era, land was not a scarce resource and according to Goody under such conditions neither individuals nor kin groups bother to lay specific claims to large tracts of territory, since land is virtually a free good (Katanga, 1994:21). Land ownership in northern Ghana came under the custody of chiefs in 1978 during the Acheampong regime when a law was passed vesting all northern lands into the hands of selected ethnic groups chiefs (notice the connection of the emergence of the intra-ethnic conflict between the Abudu and Andani Gates which will take several years to assume full scale) and left out most other groups. The criteria for vesting the lands in the hands of these few chiefs were based on the recommendations of Alhassan Report of 1978, which were backed by the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, both Dagombas (another watchful area, dealing with cultures involvement in conflict). Indeed the Alhassan Committees Report twisted the truth about the land tenure arrangements in Northern Ghana in favor of the chiefs and his tribesmen and the other chiefly people. These reforms in Northern Ghana Land administration were implemented by the then Government to solicit for political support from the Northern Chie fs for the UNIGOV System (Unity Government). With the failure of the Acheampong government however, these legislations were abrogated as the reins of government was overtaken by another military regime. The ceasure of the reins of government and the subsequent decree rule reversed this trend of land principles laid down by the previous administration and has ever since been the bane of confrontation between brothers in the different sides of the same group as is the case of the Dagbon conflict. The Konkomba Youth Association (KOYA) contested the Alhassan Report and has repeatedly pointed out that, the report has been the root cause of the three major ethnic conflicts and twenty minor ones between the chiefdoms. The jejune with these quack legislations is that they turn to outlive their significance with the transition of government, something that is purely not in the interest of the rural Ghanaian. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to conflict resolution, since culture is always a factor. Cultural fluency is therefore a core competency for those who intervene in conflicts or simply want to function more effectively in their own lives and situations. Cultural fluency involves recognizing and acting respectfully from the knowledge that communication, ways of naming, framing, and taming conflict, approaches to meaning-making, and identities and roles vary across cultures. In retrospect, culture as a key factor in conflict generation and orientation it that of a silent creeper. The kind that is in no way given premise by conflict analysts as being the prime cause in conflict situations. In the other words, the largel