United States support for European Integration Term Paper

United States support for European Integration - Term Paper Example While the European integration unfolded during the Cold War, the United States expressed and entered its support for a more united Europe. Much issue was attributed to such support, primarily because of the fact that a united Europe might eventually create a potential diplomatic and strategic rival to the United States. However, others are quick to point out that such support was extended because the United States has always been supportive of European success. Various theories have been suggested explaining the US support for European integration. This paper shall discuss two of these theories, and it will establish how these theories would explain this series of choices, and how the two theories would tend to agree and disagree with one another on this question. This essay would also evaluate how, based on these explanations, and what would be expected for the future of US-EU relations. It shall also consider which explanation and which theory’s predictions would I find more compelling, and why. Body The United States supported the European integration because it believed that a united Europe would be within the purview of the United States and its national security (Ekovich, 2009). They believed that an integrated Europe would further support the region’s democratic goals. ... These two countries have had stormy relations with each other for a long while, further exacerbated during the Second World War. Americans saw European integration as a means of forging renewed relations between these two countries. The Americans also believed that the integration would provide a venue for more American businesses in Europe, thereby also helping to manage decision-making processes (Morgan, 2005). The integration has made negotiations easier, with one individual speaking for several countries in order to establish significant decisions. In effect, separate and multiple negotiations were negated in the long run. American also believed that a stronger European integration and economy was in the best interest of the US and Europe (Morgan, 2005). The integration simplifies business transactions, making Europe a more favorable recipient of American investments. Emotional affinity can be significant in managing views on political actors and objects, especially when other co gnitive standards of reference do not sufficiently apply (Chong, 2000). Possible aversion toward the European integration is not based on cost/benefit evaluations or cognitive mobilization; however it is based on the fear of other cultures (McLaren, 2002, p. 553). The foundation of such approach or decision is even more persuasive due to the fact that the European Union is not just an international regime which is meant to decrease barriers to trade, or decrease the costs of transaction in intergovernmental bargaining. In fact, the EU is shaping up as its own policy-maker, and seems to pose a threat to the national integrity and sovereignty of the region (McLaren, 2002). America does not support such possibility, however it does favor the

Virtual Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Virtual Learning - Essay Example Pursel and Bailey (2005) focus their attention on how online video games can contribute to the elearning processes and stimulate them. They explore a number of resources demonstrating that there are two primary limitations of online learning. Learners generally lack motivation and they do not interact enough during their online courses. Pursel and Bailey (2005) propose that in order to enhance the elearning possibilities new approaches should be adopted by teachers. The new generation processes information in a different way in comparison to their parents', consequently methods used in online games have to be included in the virtual learning. The author's main purpose in writing the article is to offer an alternative solution in overcoming the decreasing interest and value of courses conducted online. Their attempt presents innovative and facilitating model of the learning within the virtual world. Education is a great asset which transforms communication in a higher level. The benefits of good quality online education, however are not available to the urban sections of society. Pursel and Bailey (2005) provide information only about the U.S. consumers and do not refer to sources about the rest of the world. Yajnik (2005) notes that information technology is such a powerful tool that has the potential to make education available even to people in remote locations. The primary limitations lack of interactivity and motivation deficit that Pursel and Bailey (2005) have to be related to a specific strata from the society and clarifications made about the economic status from the country in questions. The generalizations delivered by Pursel and Bailey (2005) show limited research scope. A problematic issue is that the majority of those who drop out of the online courses do not find them challenging enough. It is of critical importance to emphasize that Pursel and Bailey's (2005) pr oposal to incorporate video games strategies into elearning is directed mainly to satisfy the requirements of U.S. student audience. In countries with developing economies students are willing to engage in all kinds of learning to higher their educational background. Yajnik (2005) suggests that the growth in communication technology in India widens the divide between those who have access and those who do not. The main task of elearning methods is not to increase the social gap introducing video games methodology, but to make it possible for underdeveloped countries to have the same opportunities. Implementing video games in the structure of online courses will create immediate exclusion of certain users. E-learning tutors might not want to risk "information exclusion" of their students by complex design or unaffordable software. Kenya's education minister, Professor George Saitoti (cited in Ogodo, 2007) says that when integrated into educational system the Internet Communication technologies "have the capacities to improve the delivery of education through distance learning, provide access to universal digital libraries, offer ways in which universities can globally compete and offer improvements in academic administration (par. 17)." The elearning technologies offer new ways in which the quality and effectiveness of higher education is delivered. However the way in which elearning will be made constructive depends on the