Economy of Hong Kong Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Economy of Hong Kong - Research Paper Example Hong Kong has played a crucial role not only in Asia’s economic system but also linked to the western. British successfully prospered Hong Kong’s economy and several impacts has brought into through this development which could be said as a path to Hong Kong’s Modernization. The role of Opium War in Hong Kong’s economic development During the start of the 19th century, Hong Kong did not show any indication that it would later become a world trade center in Asia. The country was way beyond in terms of economic development. Unlike today, China was not interested into foreign trade so Hong Kong dwelled mostly on farming and fishing. This did not last until British ocean-going ships discovered Hong Kong as useful for â€Å"unloading and loading cargo to be barged up the Pearl River to Canton† (Liu). During that time, there was a trade imbalance between the western countries and china because china had more to offer than it needed in return. Because of the on-going trade imbalance, the British had to think of ways to prevent it. One of the solutions that they thought of is to illegally import opium to China. Opium was used for medicinal purposes in China toward the end of the 15th century (Tho’Mas). It was used to cure dysentery, cholera, and other diseases. However, it was in 1729 when the Chinese imperial government had found out of the detrimental effects of opium smoking. The opium sale had been banned since 1729 and its importation had been illegal until 1820 (Liu). The British saw this as an opportunity to offset the trade imbalance. According to Liu, the illegal opium trade thrived in Canton where they imported 40,000 chests of opium to China annually. The British and the US have made a good fortune in this illegal trade. "This illicit massive transfer of wealth from China, one of the world's richest and largest economies at the time, played a key role in financing the economic development of Europe and North America in the 1800s." (Liu) As the British continue the opium trade, the Qing dynasty ordered to stop the Opium trade by assigning troops in Canton and demanded that the British troops turn over their opium contraband. More than 20,000 chests of opium were surrendered by the British after six weeks (Liu). This happening encouraged British traders to occupy since

Foreign policy analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Foreign policy analysis - Essay Example According to Rational Actor Model, the government is seen as a unitary actor and policy making is done keeping in mind the cost and benefit analysis. This model assumes that policy makers are faithful and execute their role with full justice. This model is unrealistic because it is logical and asses policy on basis of cost and not on its ulterior motive and subject value. In this model, the investigation is made to understand the rational thinking of the person involved in policy making. As per (Zakiuum,2009)â€Å"The Rational Actor Model is used to understand the decisions that a nation-state or organization makes†. In Rationale Actor Model the goal and objective of a country is analyzed primarily. In Cuban missile crisis, Russian president installed nuclear missile in Cuba to defend Cuba from Unites States. The objective of then U.S. president Kennedy was to obstruct communism in the western region. Kennedy has attempted to overthrow Castro and his government many times but was unsuccessful. In this Cuban missile crisis, Kennedy wanted maximum to avoid a nuclear war which was on a brink of happening. He analyzed many options but decided blockade of Cuba as it would initiate a positive response from Russia. â€Å"On October 20, 1962, President Kennedy directs implementing a military blockade on Cuba: a full "quarantine", preventing anything or anyone from going into or leaving Cuba".†(Marxist,2000).Here the cost of the policy is not taken in to consideration but the safety of United States was in mind of Kennedy. It is not necessary that always the political leaders will act in rationale manner as human mind is egoistic. 2. Evaluate the impact of re-unification on Germany’s foreign policy. The German re-unification was a treaty signed between two German states in October 3rd 1990 in Berlin. This event has shocked the world and triggered many chain of actions. The re-unification had a tremendous impact on allies of Germany as they thought t hings were happening too fast and the international security can be at risk. America and Great Britain assumed that Germany’s unwillingness to sign NATO membership even can create more trouble. According to the (Emabssy of ,2011)â€Å"United Germany’s integration in the foreign policy context was regulated under a separate treaty signed by the two German states and the four allied powers†. The new German policy implies a considerable shift in the country’s stand towards Europe and other foreign nations. As per (Hellman,2011)â€Å"These foreign policy self-image changes are extensive and profound, and pertain not only to the self-image of a small foreign policy elite, but that of the German public in general†. Being a unified country, Germany is more confident and is trying relentlessly for a permanent seat in U.N. Security council. Germany also participated in the â€Å"P5 plus Germany† which is comprised of U.N. security members to discuss about the nuclear activities of Iran. Germany has showed its self confidence in its relation with foreign nations especially with European Union and Afghanistan. Not only European Union is t he centre of German foreign policy but its allies with U.S. regarding NATO membership is strong. Germany as a unified nation also shares a close tie with Russia. 3. Assess the impact of political change and instability on Russia’s foreign policy. The Russian foreign policy is significantly affected by the internal political factors and the action of executive leader .While U.S governors visited foreign nations to promote business, Russian governor Tatarstan formulated his own laws regarding foreign investment and attempted to build alliances with UN and other international organization without the consent from central authority. In his article(Charap,2007)states that â€Å"