Irans influence and balance of power in the Middle East

Introduction The structure and balance of power that was established and amended in the Middle East after the Cold War has been greatly affected with Iran becoming a principal player influencing balance of power in the region. Studies indicate that the increasing levels of unrests in the Middle East play a pivotal role in transforming the dynamics and balance of power in the region (Barzegar 2010, 78).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Iran’s influence and balance of power in the Middle East specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The balance of power in any region depends heavily on the involvement of great power and how this is put into force in regional systems. Iran’s dependence on powerful allies and its superior capabilities have equipped it sufficiently to influence regional power balances. Research question: Why has Iran influenced the balance of power in the Middle East in light of the Arab unres t? Background: For the purpose of this study, some of the keywords and main concepts to answer the research question will include Influence, balance of power, Middle East and Arab’s unrest. Research Objective: To determine why and in what ways Iran is influencing the balance of power in the Middle East Context: The physical setting of the research and the study environments will be in the Middle East and it will be completely natural. Literature review Iran’s regional influence Nasri (2009, 70) points out in her article Iran: Island of stability or land in Turmoil that Iran’s neighbors and the United states have over the years expressed serious concerns over the regional ambitions that Iran has, the role it has played in influencing its neighbors domestic political circumstances and the capability it has to spoil any peace process.Advertising Looking for proposal on diplomacy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Many scholars and analysts argue almost unanimously that events happening in the Middle East are due to power struggles between the Arab states which are ruled by the Sunni who are being led by Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and Iran which has formed a team with its proxies and allies like Hezbollah, Hamas and Syria (Pilisuk, Jeniffer Gianina 2008, 112). Opponents of the paradigm regard it as overly one-dimensional and argue that the regional influence as well as the role of Iran in the region is due to its demographic and physical attributes. Nasri and Takeyh (2008, 86) concur with the opponents’ arguments and indicates that Iran is a rich country of considerable resources and size which consequently gives it the ability to impact the region both negatively and positively. Iran’s nuclear power In their publication called beyond moderates and militants, Malley and Halling (2010, 24) posit that though determining the intentions of Iran in developing a nuclear program may b e difficult, the program has massively empowered it as a stronghold in the region able to influence power balances. Iran’s nuclear program and its weaponization have been perceived by many analysts as a certainty. The international community, Iran’s neighbors and the United States have also shown concern over Iran’s nuclear program and its nature perceiving it as an imminent threat. Malley and Halling continue to observe that the program could be due to competing political and economic interests, and which may eventually lead to arms race, regional and territorial wars, complicated relationships with the US and damaged economies. Iran’s ability to produce energy Iran’s source of funds which it uses to support terrorism, fund its nuclear program and as leverage over those who condemn its activities come from its energy resources. Herman (2002, 668) points out in his article ABU DHABI-Abu Dhabi: oil and beyond that out of the entire world oil, Iran o wns up to 10% of global oil reserves and is the third largest owner from Canada and Saudi Arabia. In terms of crude oil, it exports large volumes and is considered fourth largest behind Norway, Russia and Saudi Arabia (Herman 2002, 669). Besides, it has massive oil and gas reserves second to Russia. Analysts point out that even with these, security and economic concerns between Iran and those of its neighbor countries conflict in terms of policies, priorities and relationship. Iran uses its energy resources to influence and control the regions political activities. Its ambitions have been perceived by many analysts as those which outweigh security concerns and which could easily trigger regional military conflicts (Ulrichsen 2009, 49). Those nations opposed to its influence may not policy challenge its influence for economic and dependence reasons.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Iran’s influence and balance of power in the Middle East specifically f or you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Support for terrorism Iran’s support for terrorist activities in the Middle East is one of the major strategies it uses to influence balance of power in the region (Franssen 2010, 22). Reports on terrorism issued by the US State Department indicates that Iran has over the years offered support to US-designated militant groups and terrorist organizations which include Afghanistan Taliban fighters, Iraqi militants, Palestinian terrorist groups, Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah (Nasr Takeyh 2008, 89). Oktav (2011, 139) points out in his article The Gulf States and Iran: a Turkish perspective, that this has massively undermined the regional political stability especially in Iraq and posed great threats to Lebanon and Israel among others. In addition, its support for terrorism is a great influence that challenges the efforts put by the US to advance peace process, promote regional stability and stabilize Afghanis tan and Iraq. Oktav continues to point out that through supporting terrorism, Iran easily exploits the existing sectarian and political discord in Lebanon and Palestine. Besides, by ensuring that there is a proxy military in Hezbollah, it can indirectly perpetuate conflict between Israel and Arabs. Hypothesis The high level of unrest in the Middle East and the political security arrangements tailored along balance of power are incapable of ensuring and maintaining stability and the much needed security in the region, especially with the fall of Iraq’s Baathist regime. Studies indicate that the settings of balance of power are normally based on rise of rival actors to power as well as on a win-lose or zero-sum game. The unrest in the region has been brought about by a balance of power system which has generated wars, crises, distrust and tensions (Oktav 2011, 140). In addition, the US and Iran are the only two trans-regional and regional actors with the capabilities of establi shing solutions on political security and conducting military operations in the region. Is it nuclear power, energy abilities, political and economical interests in the region amidst the instability and unrest that Iran is taking advantage of and intends to use it to influence balance of power, advance its policies and establish new governments?Advertising Looking for proposal on diplomacy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Research method and design Testing hypothesis The two basic approaches that will be applied to determine the reason for Iran’s influence in the Middle East will be qualitative and quantitative. In quantitative, the study will involve 300 respondents to represent the total population which is the proportion of the entire population that would have been approached for interviews. On the other hand qualitative research will be conducted through interview either in-depth one-on-one or in groups. Focus groups will also be used. Dependent and independent variables To determine the dependent variable, the study will examine the causes of unrest and the Middle East and the factors that are making Iran to influence power balance. On the other hand, independent variables will be obtained from studying the effects of balance of power in the Middle East. Data collection The research methodology applied in this research will be designed to achieve the set objective and test of the paper. Data collection methods for this research will be conducted through primary and secondary methods. The latter method will include books, academic journals, online articles, past projects by different authors, statistics from government and non-governmental organizations on Iran’s influence on balance of power in the Middle East. It will also involve a study of various academic works and research papers balance of power, reasons for unrest in the Middle East and security measures by the US. Primary data will be collected from surveys and interviews that will be conducted on various government and military leaders in the Middle East. Data analysis and discussions will be written from the findings on different academic resources, the survey and the interview. The study will review and classify findings, dependence and independence variables from different statistics and the situation in the Middle East as far as Iran’s influence in balance of power is concerned. It will a lso present statistics and information collected from the outlined sources to get a professional understanding of the issue References Barzegar, Kayhan. â€Å"Balance of power in the Persian gulf: an Iranian view.† Middle East Policy 17, 3 (2010): 74-87. Franssen, Herman. â€Å"ABU DHABI-Abu Dhabi: oil and beyond. The Middle East Journal 63, 4 (2009): 668-669. Malley, Robert Harling, Peter. â€Å"Beyond moderates and militants.† Foreign Affairs 89, 5 (2010): 18-29. Nasri, Grace. â€Å"Iran: Island of stability or land in Turmoil.† Domes 18, 1 (2009): 57- 73. Nasri, Vali Takeyh, Ray. â€Å"The Costs of Containing Iran; Washington’s Misguided New Middle East Policy.† Foreign Affairs 87, 1 (2008): 85-94. Oktav, Zeynep. â€Å"The gulf states and Iran: a Turkish perspective.† Middle East Policy 18, 2 (2011): 136-147. Pilisuk, Marc. Rountree Jeniffer and Pellegrini Gianina. â€Å"Playing the imperial game: the mindset behind the attack on Iraq .† Peace Research 40, 2 (2008): 39- 59,112. Ulrichsen, Kristian. â€Å"Internal and external security in the Arab Gulf States.† Middle East Policy 16, 2 (2009): 39-58. This proposal on Iran’s influence and balance of power in the Middle East was written and submitted by user Cailyn Cruz 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.

Gray Seal Facts (Halichoerus grypus)

Gray Seal Facts (Halichoerus grypus) The gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) is an earless or true seal found along North Atlantic coasts. It is called the gray seal in the United States and the grey seal elsewhere. It is also called the Atlantic seal or the horsehead seal, for the males distinctive arched nose. Fast Facts: Gray Seal Scientific Name: Halichoerus grypusCommon Names: Gray seal, grey seal, Atlantic seal, horsehead sealBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 5 feet 3 inches - 8 feet 10 inchesWeight: 220-880 poundsLifespan: 25-35 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: North Atlantic coastal watersPopulation: 600,000Conservation Status: Least Concern Description Like other earless seals (family Phocidae), the gray seal has short flippers and lacks external ear flaps. Mature males are much larger than females and have a different coat color. Males average around 8 feet long, but may grow to over 10 feet in length. They weigh up to 880 pounds. Males are dark gray or brownish gray with silver spots. The species scientific name, Halichoerus grypus, means hook-nosed sea pig, and refers to the males long arched nose. Females range from around 5 feet 3 inches to 7 feet 6 inches in length and weigh between 220 and 550 pounds. They have silver-gray fur with dark scattered spots. Pups are born with white fur. The gray seal bull has a distinctive horsehead face. Noemi De La Ville / 500px / Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Gray seals live in the North Atlantic Ocean. There are three large gray seal populations and numerous smaller colonies. The species occurs in great numbers in the coastal waters of Canada south to Massachusetts (with sightings in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina), the Baltic Sea, and the United Kingdom and Ireland. The seals are most often seen when they haul out in winter. They frequent rocky coasts, icebergs, sandbars, and islands. Gray seal distribution. Darekk2 using IUCN Red List data /  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license Diet Seals are carnivores. Gray seals eat fish, squid, octopuses, crustaceans, porpoises, harbor seals, and seabirds. Mature males (bulls) will kill and cannibalize pups of its own species. Gray seals can dive for as long as an hour at depths up to 1,560 feet. They use sight and sound to hunt their prey. Behavior For most of the year, gray seals are solitary or live in small groups. During this time, they rest in open water with only their head and neck exposed to air. They gather on land for mating, pupping, and molting. Reproduction and Offspring Males may breed with several females during the mating season. Gestation lasts 11 months, resulting in the birth of a single pup. Females give birth in March in the Baltic, from December to February in the western Atlantic, and from September to November in the eastern Atlantic. Newborn pups have white fur and weigh around 25 pounds. For 3 weeks, the female nurses her pup and does not hunt. Males do not participate in pup care but may defend females from threats. After this time, the pups molt into their adult coats and head to the sea to learn to hunt. Pup survival rate ranges from 50-85%, depending on weather conditions and prey availability. Females become sexually mature at 4 years of age. Gray seals live between 25 and 35 years. Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the gray seal conservation status as least concern. Although the species was nearly extirpated in the mid-20th century, it began to recover in the 1980s following the passage of the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act in the United States and the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in the United Kingdom (which does not apply to Northern Ireland). Gray seal population size has continued to increase. As of 2016, the population was estimated to be 632,000 gray seals. Some fishermen have called for a cull, believing high seal numbers are at least partly responsible for low fish stocks. Threats Gray seals are legally hunted in Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic Sea. Risks to the seals include entanglement in fishing gear, by-catch, collision with ships, pollution (especially PCBs and DDT), and oil spills. Climate change and severe weather also affect the seals and their prey. Gray Seals and Humans Gray seals do well in captivity and are commonly seen in zoos. They were traditionally popular in circus acts. According to Scottish scholar David Thomson, they gray seal was the basis of the Celtic seal legend of the selchie, a creature that could assume human and seal form. While gray seals frequent inhabited areas, people are advised to avoid feeding or harassing them, as this alters seal behavior and ultimately endangers them. Sources Ailsa j, Hall; Bernie j, Mcconnell; Richard j, Barker. Factors affecting first-year survival in grey seals and their implications for life history strategy. Journal of Animal Ecology. 70: 138–149, 2008. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2001.00468.xBjrvall, A. and S. Ullstrà ¶m. The Mammals of Britain and Europe. London: Croom Helm, 1986.Bowen, D. Halichoerus grypus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T9660A45226042. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T9660A45226042.enBowen, W.D. and D.B. Siniff. Distribution, population biology, and feeding ecology of marine mammals. In: J.E., Reynolds, III and S.A. Rommel (eds), Biology of Marine Mammals, pp. 423-484. Smithsonian Press, Washington, D.C.. 1999.Wozencraft, W.C. Order Carnivora. In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.

Developing an Implementation Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Developing an Implementation Plan - Assignment Example Additionally, peer support will contribute to enthusiasm and buy-in for the implementation process. Administrative support is equally important because it will influence the degree to which institutions will implement the program. Below is the process of obtaining informal approval: Formal approval will require the submission of the program implementation plan to Site Based Research Review. SBR will review the proposal to assess the validity and legality of the contents of the plan. Afterward, the SBR will assign a director who will then forward the proposal to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for review. The implementation will then commence after the approval of the IRB. Research studies reveal that health associated infections (HAIs) are some of the most common complications that healthcare organizations and practitioners face. For instance, a new research study reveals that more than two million people develop HAIs every year. The infections result in approximately 1,000 deaths every year. HAIs are also responsible for health care costs in excess of 30 billion dollars. Thus, addressing the issue of HAIs is critical in reducing healthcare costs and enhance patient safety. One of the approaches to addressing the problem of HAIs is reducing the prevalence of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (CAUTI) among patients. CAUTIs are the most typical examples of HAIs, and they account for more than 35 percent of infections. The U.S. Department of Health estimates the total annual cost of CAUTI to be 565 million dollars, and the annual rate of deaths from CAUTI is 8,205 (). Additionally, approximately six hundred thousand patients develop urinary tr act infections from hospitals and cases of CAUTI are approximately 75 percent. However, the good news is that researchers have revealed that healthcare systems can prevent CAUTIs and that approximately 70 percent of CAUTI episodes can be prevented. Additional research studies reveal that patients