scholarly journals A Search for Beauty/A Struggle with Complexity: Christopher Alexander

Urban Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Gabriel ◽  
Jenny Quillien
Keyword(s):  
Modern World ◽  
Constant Return ◽  
Christopher Alexander ◽  
The World ◽  
Indian Village ◽  
Work Done

Beauty. Christopher Alexander’s prolific journey in building, writing, and teaching was fueled by a relentless search for Beauty and its meaning. While all around him the world was intent on figuring out how to simplify, Alexander came to embrace complexity as the only path to his goal. The Beauty and life of that which he encountered and appreciated—an Indian village, a city, a subway network, an old Turkish carpet, or a campus—lay in its well-ordered complexity. As a designer and maker he found that simplicity came from choosing—at every step—the simplest way to add the necessary complexity. The failure of so much of our modern world, in Alexander’s eyes, was oversimplification, wantonly bulldozing context, misunderstanding the relationships of part and whole, ignoring the required role of time in the shaping of shapes, and ultimately dismissing, like Esau, our birthright of Value in favor of a lentil pottage of mere Fact. Ever elusive, Beauty demands of her suitors a constant return of attention to see what might be newly revealed, and Alexander duly returned again and again in pursuit of the mystery. In this essay—essentially biographical and descriptive of one man’s endeavors—we examine the full arc of his work from dissertation to most recent memoir. We don’t shy away from his failures, and we don’t simplify his journey. We leave work done by other scholars for another day. We reach no conclusion, rather, we invite readers to reflect on what Alexander’s lifelong effort suggests to them about their own path, their own sense of aesthetics and order, innate cognitive shortfalls, and professional blind alleys.

Business Correspondence: Main Rules and the Specifics of Translation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
O Turitsina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Business Communication ◽  
International Communication ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Cross Culture ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
National Differences ◽  
The World ◽  
Business Correspondence

Abstract: The article discusses the issue of business correspondence, its rules and etiquette, which is highly important in modern world as a great number or e-mails and business letters are sent and received every day throughout the world. So, the ability to correspond in business sphere is a crucial skill for the employees of multinational companies as well as for those who communicate internationally in different fields. It also concerns the cross-cultural aspect of organizing and translating business letters taking into consideration the key role of international communication due to the growing globalization of our society, and a lot of attention is paid to the national differences and peculiarities we may face while establishing contacts with foreign colleagues and partners. It analyses numerous studies and articles written by linguists, interpreters as well as by business coaches who, basing on their research and experience give advice and suggest solutions to different challenges we may face in this sphere. The article focuses on the different issues, such as the language and style, the structure and layout, the peculiarities and difficulties of translation, the things which should be avoided and are inappropriate in business letters. A lot of advice with numerous examples are given in order to avoid misinterpreting when it comes to cross-culture communication as well as embarrassing mistakes and those mistakes, which may have serious professional consequences. The article focuses six different problematic areas in business letter translation. These include: lexical-semantic problems; grammar; syntax; rhetoric; and pragmatic and cultural problems. The information must be interesting and useful for those who deals with business communication on international level as well as career coaches and business consultants in order to provide them with advice appropriately and help to improve and systemize necessary knowledge and skills to handle business correspondence successfully.

The Middle Path of Moderation in Islam

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hashim Kamali ◽  
Tariq Ramadan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Financial Crises ◽  
Conceptual Analysis ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Continuity And Change ◽  
Personal Character ◽  
The World ◽  
Historical Profile ◽  
Moderating Role

This book is presented in two parts, consisting of a total of twenty-three chapters. Part One occupies seven chapters, which begin with a conceptual analysis of wasaṭiyyah, its meaning, definition, scope, and manifestations. This is followed by a review of the source evidence in the Qur’an and hadith, and then a round-up of modern opinion on wasaṭiyyah. The hallmarks of wasaṭiyyah and those of extremism, identification of wasaṭiyyah, its manifestations, and institutional developments on wasaṭiyyah are also discussed under Part One. Part Two looks into the various manifestations of wasaÏiyyah in the context, for instance, of religiosity, moderation and justice, environmental degradation, and financial crises the world has experienced in recent years. Other chapters that follow address subjects such as moderation in jihÉd, the moderating role of disagreement (ikhtilÉf), how wasaÏiyyah can be manifested with regard to women’s rights, the moderating influence of Sufism, wasaÏiyyah and globalization, and moderation in personal character and lifestyle. Two other chapters that appear toward the end bear the titles respectively of “Islam Between Antiquity and the Modern World” and “Reconciling the Concerns of Continuity and Change.” The former looks at Islam’s historical profile, how it played out its role of moderation in its relations with the outside world, whereas the latter looks into the ways Islam can moderate itself from within through the instrumentalities, for instance, of tajdid and islah (renewal and reform), respectively. In almost every chapter, the book explores Islamic principles and doctrines on a number of selected themes that seek to contextualize Islamic teachings with contemporary realities through the lenses of wasaṭiyyah. Part One thus focuses on a conceptual analysis of wasaṭiyyah and its understanding from a perusal of the Islamic text and doctrine, whereas Part Two presents a selected cluster of themes related to wasaṭiyyah and their application to contemporary issues.

International trade

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Анастасия Руднева ◽  
Anastasiya Rudneva
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The World ◽  
World Economic

The textbook examines the essence, place and role of international trade in the system of modern world economic relations and in ensuring international economic security, as well as forms and methods of international trade. Particular attention is paid to the specifics of pricing and state regulation of this form of MEO, including in the framework of the world trade organization, as well as trends in the development of international trade in the context of the transformation of its geographical and commodity structure, taking into account modern challenges and threats. The textbook is intended for bachelors studying in the direction of "Economics", graduate students, teachers and a wide range of readers interested in the discipline.

From state socialism to capitalism: The role of class and the world system

2006 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lane
Keyword(s):  
World System ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
Modern World ◽  
State Socialism ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Transition To Capitalism ◽  
State Socialist

While theories of global capitalism have added a new dimension to our understanding of the dynamics of the modern world, a ‘globalisation’ approach to the transformation of the state socialist societies is relatively underdeveloped. This paper studies the role of international and global factors under state socialism and the world system in the pre-1989 period. The paper considers traditional Marxist approaches to the transition to capitalism and criticises the model of state capitalism as well as the world system approach. In contrast, social actors (the ‘acquisition’ and ‘administrative’ social strata and the global political elite)are identified as playing a major role in the fall of state socialism, and were a nascent capitalist class. The transformation of state socialism, it is contended, had the character of a revolution rather than a shift between different types of capitalism.

scholarly journals The Violence Based on Religion as a Factor of the Distribution of the World Political Process

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
Ihor Mykhalskyi
Keyword(s):  
Political Violence ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Modern World ◽  
The World ◽  
Religious Terrorism

The article deals with the role of political violence in the modern world through the prism of exacerbation of cultural-religious contradictions. Based on the analysis of statistical data, the tendencies of the spread of confrontation on religious grounds have been revealed, such as discrimination and impairment of the rights of religious communities, ethnic-confessional conflicts, and the spread of transnational religious terrorism. It is concluded that the politicization of religions is a significant factor of social and political destabilization both at the regional and global levels

scholarly journals Social media and youth: the risk of radicalization

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.D. Tikhonova
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Young People ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Psychological Analysis ◽  
Media Space ◽  
The World ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
Use Of Social Media

The purpose of this article is the socio-psychological analysis of the process of radicalization of young people through the use of social media. The article considers the role of social networks in the life of modern youth, touches upon the problem of "clip" consciousness in the perception of media space, and analyzes the features of the radicalization process through the use of modern media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook.It is noted that online chats today are a key tool for radicalization of young people. It is emphasized that social media contribute to the fact that young people have a distorted picture of the world, which ultimately contributes to the loss of a sense of self-identification and the emergence of uncertainty. Extremism and radicalization are considered as a way to overcome uncertainty in the modern world, as well as an attempt to solve the lack of time. The article discusses that the state of boredom and a sense of uncertainty are fertile ground for radicalization of young people.

scholarly journals The Role of International Law as a Specific Legal System in Overcoming the Issues of Inter-Cultural Collaboration and Social Integration Related to Migration Processes in the Modern World

Migration law ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 6-10
Author(s):  
Aleksey I. Klimenko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Integration ◽  
International Law ◽  
Legal Consciousness ◽  
Modern World ◽  
International Level ◽  
Legal Requirements ◽  
Intercultural Interaction ◽  
Functional Potential ◽  
The World

The article is devoted to the functional potential of international law as an ideological form of law in overcoming the problems associated with migration processes. Currently, migration is an unavoidable objective (and generally positive) phenomenon. However, it gives rise to a number of problems, among which the main problem is the problem of intercultural interaction and the integration of migrants in the recipient society. This process is often a painful process for both the migrant and his new social environment. It is the problem of social integration that often gives rise to the problem of a conflict between the migrant’s legal consciousness and the external legal requirements of a politically organized society. Using the socio-axiological approach, the author considers the conventional mechanism for synthesizing legal values, which are understood as a kind of super cultural meta-values, and comes to the conclusion that many of them are being formed today at the supranational — international level. The author comes to the conclusion that it is in the space of international legal discourse in the framework of international law as a special ideological form of law that basic, minimal, and therefore universal legal values can be formed. These values, as international law develops as an ideological form of law and its influence on national and international integration legal systems grows, people around the world can rely on in developing strategies of behavior, regardless of their habitat. In this, the author sees the solution to a number of important problems related to intercultural interaction, which is caused by the activation of migration processes in the modern world.

scholarly journals Ideological bases of Foreign Political Positioning of Republic of Tajikistan

2021 ◽  
pp. 150-171
Author(s):  
A. Bulvinskyi
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Great Powers ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Open Door ◽  
Open Door Policy ◽  
Muslim Countries ◽  
Important Region ◽  
The World ◽  
World Development

In the article there has been made the analyzes of reflection ideological bases of foreign political and governmental positioning of Tajikistan in its’ doctrine documents. The main blocks of our analyzes was historical bases of Tajik statehood; the place and a role of Tajikistan in the world history, the place of the country in the modern world and features of understanding of the world trends of development; the place of water diplomacy in foreign political positioning of Tajikistan. It was found, that important part of official ideological concept of Tajikistan was the appeal in way of Aryan origin of Tajiks, the heritage of government of the Samanids and the losses of the “original” Tajik’s territories. It was state that during 1990s until 2010s, doctrine understanding of Tajikistan about their place in the evolutionary region in the spot of the mission of historical civilization of Tajik’s nation regarding to other population of the region. Important elements of the ideology of Tajikistan’s foreign policy positioning in the 1990s were the secular nature of the development of this Muslim state, elected during the 1992-1997 civil war, and the need for international assistance due to the country’s poverty and underdevelopment. In the doctrinal documents of the first half of the 2000s, the provision on poverty was combined with the thesis of the injustice of world development, which is dominated by the West, and the negative impact of globalization, which fuels the confrontation of civilizations. Since the mid-2000s, there has been a doctrinal rethinking of the role and place of Central Asia in the world - from a backward and troubled region to a clash of global interests and an economically important region of the world, dominance of great powers. By proclaiming a multi-vector open door policy in 2002, Tajikistan has doctrinally broadened its horizons of engagement with the world, going beyond the discourse of cooperation only with neighboring Muslim countries and Russia.

scholarly journals FEATURES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS, THEIR ROLE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2(30)) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
V. N. Borobov
Keyword(s):  
World Economy ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Transnational Corporations ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Scientific Article ◽  
Development Indicators ◽  
The World ◽  
Further Development

The scientific article examines the nature and role of TNCs in the modern world economy. The stages of development of multinational companies with a detailed description are described in some detail. Statistical data on the development indicators of TNCs over the years are presented. Indicators of the increasing role of foreign branches of TNCs in the overall results of their operation. Activities are proposed on the strategic priorities of TNC profit generation and further development.

scholarly journals QUALITY OF BANKING PRODUCTS: FACTORS OF INFLUENCE

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetiana Gavrilko ◽  
Karina Skripnik
Keyword(s):  
Customer Orientation ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The World ◽  
Oriented Activity ◽  
The Impact

The article presents the impact on the quality of banking products of internal and external factors in terms of the need to strengthen the customer orientation of banking activities based on innovative technological decisions. The state of the banking system of Ukraine in a pandemic is analysed and the necessity of banks to find new opportunities to ensure a high level of quality of their products, both traditional and innovative, taking into account the peculiarities of modern world trends. The essence of the concepts "banking product" and "quality of a banking product" is studied. The expediency of considering the complex of concepts - a banking product, a banking service and a banking operation - as a set of interrelated elements that constitute a certain holistic hierarchical system was determined. The article substantiates the necessity of understanding the quality of a banking product as the degree of satisfaction of clients' needs taking into account a number of criteria that form a state of loyalty to the banking institution, ensuring its sustainable operation in the short and long term. The basic principles to which the portfolio of banking products should correspond are highlighted. External and internal factors influencing the quality of the banking products portfolio are analysed. The role of organizational culture of the bank as the basis for strengthening client-oriented activity has been defined. The factors which influence the level of loyalty of the banking institution's clients have been studied. The main differences between the priorities of customers and banks are considered. The focus is placed on the need for hyper-personalization when interacting with customers, which will allow them to best meet their needs by providing relevant services. The prospects of cooperation between banks and Fintech companies as a condition for creating modern innovative products on the basis of providing the appearance of a synergistic effect of a new quality level were analysed. This cooperation will open the possibility of access to a solid bank customer audience for Fintech companies, and for others it is a condition for mastering of modern digital innovations. The factors influencing the level of development of the Fintech industry are considered, and the dominant trends in the field of digitalization of the leading countries of the world are given. The role of neobanks in creating conditions for a high quality of interaction with consumers as compared with classic banks was investigated. The features in the activities of the leading non-banks of the world are set out. The reality of the threat to banking systems from technological giants BigTech was analysed. Identified changes in the needs of customers to obtain a set of financial and non-financial products. Considered the possibility of meeting customer needs by forming a banking ecosystem with access to other, non-traditional banking segments.

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