Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Early Cold War Essay Example for Free
Early Cold War Essay The term Cold War was first introduced by Bernard Baruch, an American businessman and political adviser to every President from Woodrow Wilson to John F. Kennedy (ââ¬Å"Bernard Baruchâ⬠). It was a time of mutual distrust between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies which begun after World War II. From Democracy in Americaââ¬â¢s author, Alexis de Tocqueville, ââ¬Å"There are now two great nations in the world, which starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the Russians and the Anglo-Americans. . . . Each seems called by some secret design of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the worldâ⬠(Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). The primary concern of the United States during the early years of the Cold War was the political threat of the spread of Communist ideology from the Soviet Union (Zinn, 1980). Further back in its history, Russia exhibited radical tendencies by overthrowing Tsar Nicholas, followed by the Bolshevik Revolution, the unification under Lenin where Communismââ¬â¢s seed began to sprout and continued by Stalin (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). A history of military intervention in Eastern Europe climaxing in 1948 in the overthrow of the democratic government in Czechoslovakia by a communist coup were thrown as examples of Soviet expansionism. This reminded the American public of the atrocities of Hitler (Zinn, 1980). And with him in mind the United States and its western European allies began to see Stalin as a threat (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). The more fearful concern was the Soviet Unionââ¬â¢s revitalizing industry after badly scathed by the aftermath of World War II and its increasing military strength (Zinn, 1980). The United States slowly exercised its economic might by refusing to aid any post-war reconstruction in Russia as approved by the U. S. Congress in 1945, a major about face in policy under the Lend-Lease Act of 1941 wherein the U. S. shipped huge amounts of war equipments to Russia (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). Coming from the huge gains of World War II, the United States was also wary of regimes opposed to its capitalist structure. That fear was best exhibited by the emergence of Soviet Union as a global power with an ideology opposed to democratic and industrial capitalist principles of the United States (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). Americans generally fear revolution. They fear ââ¬Å"change real, fundamental social, economic and political changeâ⬠(Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). Fro all its democratic talk, America has a history of suppressing true liberalism and radicalism. The Soviets also had their share of fears in the early years of the Cold War. After World War II, Stalin feared that democratic principles would be forced upon the Communist tenets of the Soviet Union. He believed the two principles cannot co-exist. As he warned in his speech, capitalism and imperialism made future wars inevitable (ââ¬Å"Episode 2: Iron Curtain 1945-1947â⬠). Stalin also was aware of the United States expanding influence all over the world. He was wary of this move and pressured Turkey, a country located strategically on the southern borders of Soviet Union, for a Soviet military presence in the Darnanelles and the Bosporus. Turkey was then influenced by Great Britain and eventually aided by the United States. The atomic bomb that was dropped in Japan started the concept of the nuclear arms race which the Soviet Union was interested to join. But Stalin received intelligence reports that the Americans ââ¬Å"would not share atomic secrets with the Soviet Unionâ⬠(Zubok, ââ¬Å"Cold War Chatâ⬠). The mutual distrust and fears of both the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in actions that further shaped the history of the Cold War. The United Statesââ¬â¢s fear of the possible spread of Soviet Communist ideology led to their policy of containment. What is now known as the Truman Doctrine paved the way to the formal declaration of cold war against the Soviet Union. This was the famous speech of President Truman to the U. S. Congress asking for $400 million to aid Greece and Turkeyââ¬â¢s fight against communism (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). The containment policy of the United States involves military interventions to countries where Communism was viewed to thrive. The most famous display of the containment policy was the Vietnam War which started in 1950 under President Trumanââ¬â¢s administration. Armed with the U. S. Congress resolution named Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, President Johnson further escalated the war by bombing North Vietnam and continuing to send as many as 540,000 troops by the end of 1968. As more Americans left and died in Vietnam, the anti-war sentiments back home put pressure on the government. The Nixon years saw the continuance of the Vietnam War with the expansion of hostilities in Laos and Cambodia. Nixonââ¬â¢s Vietnamization policy of providing military aid but not troops proved to be a temporary success. A 1972 preliminary peace draft in Paris was initially rejected. By 1973, Nixon convinced Hanoi and Saigonââ¬â¢s President Nguyen van Thieu to sign the Paris Peace Agreement which ended the hostilities between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The containment policy also played a role in the creation on April 4, 1949 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), currently an alliance of 26 countries from North America and Europe. This was the outcome of Europeââ¬â¢s fears of another Soviet aggression in the guise of Stalin when they were just about to rebuild after Hitlerââ¬â¢s dictatorship. Western Europe also needed the assurance of the United Statesââ¬â¢s protection while they started to rebuild from the ruins of World War II. NATO membersââ¬â¢ common grounds are said to include the same democratic ideology and capitalist structure of economy (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). In the late 1940s to 1950s both the United States and Soviet Union sought to build their military arsenal. For the United States, this gave way to military integration, the passing by Congress of the National Security Act in 1947 which created the Department of Defence, the National Security Council, and the Central Intelligence Agency (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). On the Soviet side, they detonated an atomic bomb of their own in 1949. The first H-bomb was also detonated by the United States in 1952. Not to be outdone, the Soviets detonated a fusion bomb in 1953 (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). NSC-68, a policy the United States adopted in 1950 raised defense spending to staggering amounts, up to $60 billion dollars, ââ¬Å"a symbol of Americas determination to win the cold war regardless of cost (Kreis, ââ¬Å"The Origins of the Cold Warâ⬠). Although the Cold War has now officially ended, the United States, the only legitimate superpower left, continues to establish a world order that caters to its capitalist structure. Military interventions have been part of its policy if it serves U. S. interests. During the Cold War, the goal was the containment of Communism. At the present, terrorism is the new battle cry. It is said the United States owns a very large percentage of the worldââ¬â¢s wealth while it tries to suppress those who oppose to its capitalistic tenets. Currently, we are seeing the emergence of a possible superpower like China. It has been known as the sleeping giant and could be a contender to displace the United States from its current status. Whether there will be another Cold War by any other name, only time will tell. References Bernard Baruch. Answers. com. Retrieved 10 December 2006 from the Web: http://www. answers. com/topic/bernard-baruch Cold War (1998). CNN. com. Retrieved December 10, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www. cnn. com/SPECIALS/cold. war/episodes/02/ The Origins of the Cold War (2006). TheHistory Guide Website. Retrieved December 10, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www. historyguide. org/europe/lecture14. html Zinn, Howard. (1980). A Peopleââ¬â¢s History of the United States. Retrieved December 10, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www. writing. upenn. edu/~afilreis/50s/zinn-chap16. html Zubok, Vladislav Dr. (1998, October 4). [COLD WAR chat moderated by COLD WAR reporter Bruce Kennedy for CNNââ¬â¢s COLD WAR series]. COLD War Chat: Dr. Vladislav Zubok, Historian. Retrieved December 10, 2006 from the Web: http://www. cnn. com/SPECIALS/cold. war/guides/debate/chats/zubok/
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Edna Pontellierââ¬â¢s Self-discovery in Kate Chopins The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening Essays
Theme of Self-discovery in Kate Chopin's The Awakening Edna Pontlierre experiences a theme of self-discovery throughout the entire novel of Kate Chopin's "The Awakening. Within Edna's travel through self discovery, Chopin successfully uses tone, style, and content to help the reader understand a person challenging the beliefs of a naïve society at the beginning of the twentieth century. Chopin's style and tone essentially helps the reader understand the character of Edna and what her surrounding influences are. The tone and style also helps the audience understand the rest of the characters throughout the novel. The entire content is relevant to the time frame it was written, expressing ideas of the forthcoming feminist movement and creating an awareness of what was happening to the women of the early nineteenth century. When "The Awakening" was first published, its popularity wasn't that of modern day. In fact, it was widely rejected for years. Within the context, it is considered a very liberal book from the beginning of the nineteenth century. The ideas expressed within the content concern the women's movement and an individual woman searching for who she really is. Ross C. Murfin in his critical essay "The New Historicism and the Awakening", shows how Chopin uses the entity of the hand to relate to both the entire women's issue and Edna Pontlierre's self exploration: "Chopin uses hands to raise the issues of women, property, self-possession, and value. Women like Adele Ratignolle, represented by their perfectly pale or gloved hands, are signs mainly of their husbands wealth, and therefor of what Stange calls 'surplus value'. By insisting on supporting herself with her own hands [through art] and having control of her own property [the place she moved in to and her inheritance], Edna seeks to come into ownership of a self that is more than a mere ornament. â⬠¦She seeks to possess herself" (p 197). Within in the content, Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle represent foils to Edna. Mademoiselle represents a single woman that everyone dislikes who Edna typically confides in. Adele Ratignolle contrasts Edna because she "dutifully plays the social role of 'mother-woman'". The reader learns how Edna contrasts and transcends throughout the entire novel. From her refusal to sacrifice herself for her children in the beginning of the novel to her moving into her own house towards the end of the novel, the reader is effectively aware of the realities that face the women of the early twentieth century individually and as a society. Chopin's style in "The Awakening" is intended to help the audience understand the character of Edna and the dilemmas that she faces as a married
Monday, January 13, 2020
Horace “Adversity” Discussion Board
Discussion Board Essay #1 ââ¬Å"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant,â⬠by Roman poet, Horace. His statement implies that only misfortune may bring forth greatness. Ruin reveals true genius, in clover conceals it. The quote, ââ¬Å"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant,â⬠by Roman poet, Horace, wouldnââ¬â¢t mean much to me if it wasnââ¬â¢t so utterly true.Everyone faces some sort of adversity throughout their lifetime. Adversities or obstacles agreeably involve weighing oneââ¬â¢s options and then deciding what to do. The decisions we make shape who we are. So consequently adversity plays a crucial role in developing a personââ¬â¢s character. In Richard Rodriguezââ¬â¢s Hunger of Memory, Rodriguez is left feeling socially disadvantaged from his inability to speak English. He also had Mexican immigrants as a child which coupled wi th all his other ââ¬Å"disadvantagesâ⬠led him to be studious.He became distant from his family and chose to become a student: looking towards teachers for role models. Without this disadvantage/ adversity, he wouldnââ¬â¢t have realized his true potential as a student and writer. How we handle adversity is what mattersâ⬠¦ Take a common scenario, therapy for example, in consideration when viewing adversity. In almost all situations the psychologist will let you pour out all your emotions and troubles (adversity).He or she will then ask you how you feel and offer words of wisdom. Then youââ¬â¢ll make your decision. The psychologist will usher concepts of ââ¬Å"taking responsibilityâ⬠and action. Whether or not someone heeds this advice is up to the person and the path taken will always shape someoneââ¬â¢s character. When facing adversity I would try to be optimistic, opting never to quit. I know the challenges of my life have made me who I am today and it has brought out a lot of my talents.If I had more smothering, wealthy parents, ââ¬Å"prosperous circumstancesâ⬠, I wouldnââ¬â¢t have been even remotely near the person that I am todayâ⬠¦ The fact that I felt distant from my family at a young age caused me to be more independent (in school). I practically forced myself to learn, looking up to teachers as role models. In turn, I absorbed the merits my teachers valued. Because of them I always try my best and put quality over quantity. The extra attention to quality I gained has caused me to think more creatively and become more in tune with my artistic side. Word Count: 409
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms And Treatments
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a common mental disorder associated with excessive unnecessary worrying. There are many causes, symptoms, and treatments associated with it. While Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be paralyzing to an individual, with proper treatment a person can still function and live a normal life. Generalized Anxiety Disorder first became an individual disorder in 1980. Woodman stated in her article, ââ¬Å"The American Psychiatric Association separated anxiety neurosis into (1) panic disorder, characterized by spontaneous episodes of intense anxiety, and (2) Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a residual category for patients who have chronic, sustained anxiety without panic attacksâ⬠(Woodman, 1997). The separation of the two disorders was made at the time because of the responses people had with different medications. According to Woodman, Generalized Anxiety Disorder was finally given an independent status and a set of defined criteria of symptoms in DSM-11-R, with the main symptom of Generalized Anxiety Disorder being excessive worry. It is now known that it is differentiated by more than just different reactions to medicines, but with more systematical studies done, the symptom checklist has been edited to best discriminate between normal and pathological anxiety (Woodman , 1997). As in many mental disorders there are no set causes for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but there are many contributing factors. Some of those factors include: genetics, environmentalShow MoreRelatedSymptoms and Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder687 Words à |à 3 PagesSymptoms and Treatment Strategies for Generalized Anxiety Disorder Abstract One of the common disorders includes anxiety disorders. These disorders are exaggerations of our adaptive and normal reaction to stressful or fearful events. It is normal to feel scared or tense when facing any stressful situation. Anxiety is the natural response of human body. When a normal human being feels threatened, his natural body response behaves like an automatic alarm. Anxiety disorder is not a bad thing; it helpsRead MoreInformative Speech On Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatment Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder1420 Words à |à 6 Pages Planning for the Informative Speech with Analysis Speech Topic: To inform my audience of the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Generalized anxiety disorder Rhetorical Purpose: To inform my audience about . . . Their own mental profile and how to recognize the symptoms so they can help themselves and others around them Audience Analysis: (Refer to chapter on Audience Analysis) (RU Core Goal: a) Summarize Audience demographics, prior exposure/knowledge, common ground/interest, disposition/attitudeRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder1632 Words à |à 6 PagesGeneralized Anxiety Disorder Research Paper I choose to research Generalized Anxiety Disorder for my research topic. This disorder is one of the most arguably common faced encounters clinicians deal with today. Because of this I choose to focus much of my emphasis on the difficulties one face, thatââ¬â¢s diagnosed with GAD and the hard ship of building and maintain a good client relationship. Generalized anxiety disorder begins at the onset of a worry and or tension that carries on into more severeRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Essay1085 Words à |à 5 PagesGeneralized Anxiety Disorders Introduction to the paper Anxiety is a component found within many other mental disorders. The most common is depression. There are a number of anxiety disorders in the DSM, we will be looking at generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Generalized anxiety disorder causes one to worry and have anxiety about an event or activity that will most likely intensify and have a high impact on that particular activity or event. An individual diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorderRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder Essay1602 Words à |à 7 Pagesï » ¿ Case Analysis: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Bryan Wood Abnormal Psychology Professor Powell April 14, 2015 Bryan Wood Mr. Powell PSY 322 April 14, 2015 Case Analysis: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) ââ¬Å"During a panic attack, the first thing you want to do is get out of the situation that is causing it. However, since most professors find it disrespectful to leave during class, I had to sit for an hour and half in this agonizing stateâ⬠¦It was as if I had terminal cancerRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder771 Words à |à 3 Pagescountry are affected, it is estimated that ââ¬Å"5% - 6% of teens ages 13-18 are affected by this troubling disorder, not including the teens that receive no treatment,â⬠(ââ¬Å"Generalizedâ⬠). Youth that receive no treatment could be considered are under privileged. Meaning that they do not have the resources or are very limited to resources that could help them get the proper treatment for their disorder. Many of those adolescents are children that come from low income families, single family homes, or fosterRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder824 Words à |à 4 Pages Anxiety/OCD/PTSD Disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder PTSD When it comes to generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) though they differ in each diagnosis, they also can share a unique bond with each other. Both diagnoses can co-occur among patients. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-V), post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that s triggeredRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Essay1498 Words à |à 6 Pages The basis and length of Ms. Hendricks symptoms of worry, and feeling overwhelmed is closely related to Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a highly prevalent disorder characterized by excessive worry or anxiety about everyday events, whether they are internal or external or originating in the past, present, and/or future (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder result from increase, typical, inflexible interactions ofRead More generalized anxiety disorder Essay1107 Words à |à 5 Pages Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic and often disabling condition that is associated with uncontrollable worry and tension. The vicious cycle of anxiety and worry interferes with relationships, careers, and education, and often leads to depression. This disorder is much more than the normal anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time, and can be crippling in its severity. GAD is unlikely to disappear without proper treatment, and often worsens overRead MoreGeneralized Anxiety Disorder Is A Mental Disorder That1410 Words à |à 6 PagesGeneralized anxiety disorder is a mental disorder that affects approximately four to five percent of the general population. This disorder can be illustrated by excessive anxiety and worry that lasts a minimum of six months and deals with various events or activities. People who struggle with this disorder have difficulties controlling their worry; this worry can permeate into every action or thought which leads to increased anxiety . Moreover, people with generalized anxiety disorder exhibit at least
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Thursday, December 19, 2019
The Rights Of The Canadian Democracy - 1930 Words
The right to vote in a fair election is fundamental to Canadian democracy. While protected under law, there are tactics which have been used to prevent individuals from exercising this right. In the 2008 and 2011 federal elections, some voters received fraudulent ââ¬Å"robo-calls,â⬠instructing them to vote for candidates who were not running for election, or directing them to incorrect or non-existent polling stations. This was a calculated act of voter suppression presenting serious consequences for democracy in Canada. First and foremost, it was a deliberate attempt to deprive Canadians of their right to vote. As such, victims of these calls, as well as many other citizens, were left feeling disillusioned with our electoral system and mistrustful of politics in general. This has not been aided by the fact that only one person was ever charged in connection with the scandal. What that has proven, however, is that it is possible to utilize robo-calls to commit election fraud w ith relatively little consequence. The use of robo-calls poses a harmful impact to Canadian democracy by denying citizens their right to vote, fostering distrust in politics, and setting a dangerous precedent for future electoral fraud. For voters in the riding of Saanichââ¬âGulf Islands, the 2008 federal election was, to say the least, unusual. The NDP candidate, Julian West, withdrew from the race after the media reported a bizarre incident from 1996, where it was alleged that West had exposed himself to aShow MoreRelatedThe Canadian System of Goverment863 Words à |à 4 Pageswas a conservative approach to government and politics, although democracy was clearly lacking. Fast forward to modern Canada, where franchise has been opened to all citizens regardless of race, gender and sex and yet a true picture of democracy is often lacking amongst society. This paper will argue that Canada is a democracy, though it is often compromised in practice by exploring its parameters and p roblematic elements. Democracy in practice is a hybridized system that combines elements of democratizingRead MoreIs The Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms Perfect?1276 Words à |à 6 PagesIs the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Perfect? Introduction The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is without a doubt one of Canadaââ¬â¢s most important section entrenched in the Canadian Constitution. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights enacted into the Canadian Constitution as part of the Canada Act in 1982. However, the Charter was Canadaââ¬â¢s second attempt to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens all throughout the country and on every level of governmentRead More(1575)The Contradictions Of Profunc: An Analysis Of The1632 Words à |à 7 Pages(1575)The Contradictions of PROFUNC: An Analysis of the Problem of Human Rights and the Democratic Process in Cold War Canada In this political study the problem of human rights and the democratic process will be analyzed in the anti-communist contradictions of the covert Canadian operation called PROFUNC (PROminent FUNCtionaries of the communist party. PROFUNC defines a major problem with the democratic process by secretly monitoring and spying on communist party affiliates living in Canada inRead MoreShould Mandatory Voting Be Banned?912 Words à |à 4 Pagesthe decline in voter turn-out in the last several elections is one of great concern to Canadaââ¬â¢s democracy. As a result, mandatory voting has gained the attention of many political scientists and political analysts. While there are good reasons to worry about Canadiansââ¬â¢ diminishing voter turn-out, it is also fair to say that mandatory voting will not prove beneficial to the future of Canadaââ¬â¢s democracy. Although mandatory voting will increase the voter turn-out, it will not create an informed voterRead MoreSummary of Two Articles : Democracy Canadian-style Part I and Coal India Ltd Floats Expression of Interest for Overseas Coal Assets749 Words à |à 3 PagesDemocracy Summary In the article Democracy Canadian-style Part I: Abroad (Walberg, 2013) the Canadian democracy takes orders from its US-Euro masters to invade countries in order to set up mechanisms for elections when necessary. It uses its foreign diplomatic services to support the needs of Canadian corporations abroad and facilitate the efforts to produce profits. The author is questioning their motives in respects as to supporting the profit needs of corporations or if they are consideringRead MoreDemocracy, The Right And Liberty1445 Words à |à 6 PagesDemocracy, defined by David F.J Campbell in 2008, as, ââ¬Å"[t]he essential idea of democracy is that the people have the right to determine who governs them. In most cases they elect the principal governing officials and hold them accountable for their actionsâ⬠. As illustrated in Module 4, citizens living in a democracy have the right and liberty to, individuals are willing to compromise their own freedom to have an elected official repre sent their decisions. Citizens of a country hold power in termsRead MoreDemocracy Vs American Democracy973 Words à |à 4 PagesThe idea of democracy is the power of the people that they have democratic rights such as the doctrine of democracy and the freedom of expression. In a complete democratic society, everyone is born equal. People not only have power in democracy but also have a responsibility to the society. In addition, democracy relates with Constitutions and election. There are a lot of democracy societies except the United States. As a democratic country, the United States and Canada have similar political andRead MoreU.s. Democracy And Canadian Democracy1719 Words à |à 7 Pagescontemporary world, democracy is one of the most progressive system of government that states freedom as a core value. Democracy is based on the free expression of peopleââ¬â¢s opinions, points of view as well as their opposition to the government actions. Citizens have a great control over the political events taking place in their country because through the elections they can select the right candidate who will be able to represent their interests. Core values of the democracy such as freedom, equalityRead MorePlato And Aristotle s Life And The Formation Of The Universe899 Words à |à 4 PagesBefore developing one of the first democracies that existed on the earth, Athens had other forms of government, including monarchy (though that did not last very long). Even if there were other civilizations that were more established and advanced than the Greeks, they had produced ââ¬Å"vast literatures on every human practice, as well as speculations about the origins of life and the formation of the universeâ⬠. But, tracing back to ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, is the traditionRead MoreShould Public Voting Rights Be Allowed?1488 Words à |à 6 PagesMadeline Gropman, 104354669 Dr. Collier 02-45-100 25 November 2015 Should Everyone in Canada Be Allowed to Vote? Voting rights have been historically considered the heart of democratic citizenship wherein they hold the value that those controlled by the law should have a say in its conception and establishment. I believe that permanent Canadian residents, who have not yet gained citizenship, should be allowed to vote in municipal elections because universal suffrage is considered one of the most
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Capital Asset Pricing Model
Question: Discuss about theCapital Asset Pricing Model. Answer: Introduction: The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) is a model which is used to describe the relationship between the risks and returns for assets such as stocks. Therefore in theoretical terms it enables to assess the required rate of return from a particular asset. It basically helps the investors to analyse and assess the profits they may gain from assets such as securities and whether a particular asset should form a part of their diversified portfolio or should be sold off from their portfolio. Therefore the said model enables the investors to take more informed decision with regards the assets which are very sensitive to the market movement and these risks cannot be diversified also. What isCapital Asset Pricing Model Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM ) was introduced so as to enable determination of prices of individual stocks and a portfolio as a whole. It was formulated by Jack Treynor in the year 1961 1962, William F. Sharpe in the year 1964, John Lintner in the year 1965 and Jan Mossin in the year 1966. Thus it was introduced by four eminent economists separately. One more version of CAPM was developed named Black CAPM by Fischer Black in the year 1972. The CAPM is required by a portfolio manager who helps the investors decide about their portfolio. His main work is calculation of the equity capital to a company. Thus the said method enables quantification of the expected perils and thus enabling conversion of the possible risks to expected returns on equity. The theory has various assumptions to be taken into consideration while calculating the expected return from the risks that the securities possess. Firstly it assumes that the financial markets is full of investors who are well informed, highly educated and are prudent buyers and sellers. Second assumption states that the investors are very much concerned about their money and expect to earn a premium for the extra risks they assume while investing(Fama, French, 2004). Thirdly all the investors are considered to be moving ahead towards the same period for planning their investments. Fourthly there are no taxes or concessions or commissions applicable. Lastly it is assumed that there is just one risk free rate and the investors borrow or lend in that rate only (Mullins, 1982). The formulae for calculating the return from a asset from the expected risks is : r* =kRF+b(kM-kRF) r*= Required rate of return kRF= Risk free rate kM= Average market return b= Beta Coefficient of security (Wogner, 2015) The said formula is also known as Security Market Line Formula. Relationship Between Security Market Line (Sml) And Capital Market Line (Cml) The Security Market Line is a line which correlates the return an investment fetches in relation to the risks attached. The measurement used for risk by the SML is beta. The SML diagram below clearly indicates that the line begins with nil risk attached to an investment and as the line is moving diagonally upwards the risk attached to an investment increases with an increase in the risk also. Thus risk and return are directly proportionate to each other. Therefore an investor with a low appetite for risk would prefer investing at the beginning of the SML and those with a higher risk appetite would prefer to invest at the middle or above that of the SML. However a change in the SML line is caused due to the risk premium expected by the potential investors. Thus a shift in the SML can occur if there are changes in the expected economic growth on a real time basis, the capital market conditions and the inflation rate (-, 2014). Therefore it can be very rightly said that in the world wherein CAPM is applicable all the assets are a part of the SML. The Capital Market Line (CML) is a line which portrays the rate of return of an efficient investment portfolio after taking into account the level of risks attached for a market portfolio and the risk free rate of return. Therefore this line basically speaks about not only the risks attached to a particular stock i.e. unsystematic risks but also how the risks affect the functioning of the overall market i.e. systematic risk. Thus whenever an investor build up his investment portfolio his basic idea lies to gain the maximum possible return with minimum possible risk attached. But the said idea situation does not exist always because of the attached volatility and unexpected performances and movements of the stocks, therefore increased risk can also lead to magnification of losses. Therefore the CML can be described diagrammatically as under: From the above two definitions it is clear that there exists a relationship between the SML and CML in a Capital Asset Pricing Model. Both the concepts are related to the extend that many a times the SML is said to be a part of the CML while calculating the risks associated with securities. The CML connotes the risk and the return for the entire portfolio of stocks whereas the SML reflects the risk and returns associated with individual securities which form a part of the overall portfolio. The measurement basis of risk is however not same. The CML uses the standard deviation and the SML uses beta. Therefore the capital market line focuses mainly on the performance of the overall portfolio whereas the SMLs focus is narrowed down to only individual securities. Advantanges of Capm The Capital Asset Pricing Model theory has various advantages and uses that enables the investors to decide upon which securities to buy and how to build up a healthy and a profitable portfolio. They are: The calculations offered by this model is the simplest and stress tested which provides a wide array of outcomes. This in turn builds confidence amongst the investors to invest in a healthy portfolio. Presence of a diversified portfolio helps to eradicate the unsystematic risk. This is the only model which takes into account the systematic risk. It is important to consider the said risk is an unforeseen risk which should not be neglected or ignored and should form a part of the risk assessment theory. Thus this method is considered to be the most reliable amongst all as it enables comparison of the companys performance with regards the market performance as whole (Sigman 2005). Lastly the said method is useful for appraisal of the investment portfolio as a whole as the discount rates offered by the said model is superior than those offered by other models. Due to this it establishes a strong linkage between return an investor expects from his investment and the systematic risk attached to the investment. Disadvantanges of Capm However, the said model has got criticisms also due to some disadvantages attached to it. The same are as follows: The said model does not consider the volatile nature of securities and uses a commonly accepted risk free rate on short term government securities without factoring in the changes that place in the yield on a daily basis. The assumptions basis which the said model stands is unrealistic. Such as finding of a security which is free from all the risks is very difficult in todays scenario. The next incorrect assumption is that the lending and borrowing rates are same which is highly impossible. Thus in such situations CAPM may fail to capture the risk of investment with the help of beta (Lee, Su, 2014). Beta is used to measure basis the past information. Analysis has proved that the beta of individual assets is unstable thus the past data are not strong indicators of the risk that the securities would pose in the future. Alternative Models The CAPM model is highly regarded and accepted world-wide, but there are other methods also used to determine the return against the risks attached to investments. Such as the Gordon DDM (Dividend Discount Model), Multi-Beta Models and Market Price Based model. These methods offer better methodologies of measuring risks and returns of the investments. Gordon DDM or the Gordon Shapiro Model: As per the said model the price of the stock is determined by taking out the net present value (NPV) of the future dividends per share that is likely to accelerate at a constant rate and that the growth rate will remain unaltered. Thus this model cannot be used where the dividend of the companies are erratic in nature or where the companies do not pay dividend only (Damodaran, 2015). Multi-Beta Model: Two alternatives fall under the Multi-Beta Models. The Arbitrage Pricing Model which is similar to the conservative portfolio theory but unlike the CAPM theory it takes into consideration multiple sources of market risk and each risk as a separate beta estimated to it. The second alternative to it is The Multifactor Model which uses the past information of the stocks in question and relates it to the specific macro economic variables and thus assigns beta to the individual companies against these macro economic variables (Krause, 2001). Market Price Based Model: There exists instability in the estimation of Beta which is highly volatile in nature. One of the alternative is to let go of the correlation fully and then estimate the price of stock by dividing the standard deviation with the average of standard deviation across all stocks. This method is a more stable method than the CAPM which uses Beta. Conclusion Thus on a concluding note it is clear that CAPM is a very age old model which investors and the portfolio managers have been relying upon. Yet the same has some advantages and disadvantages to it which cannot be ignored. Being the most tried and stress tested model economists prefer it even though it is based on assumptions which may seem to be unrealistic. As per my recommendation although various other refined models have come up yet the CAPM dominates. According to me a portfolio manager should use Capital Asset Pricing Model and over and above the same he could use other methods as well. The alternate methods are also acceptable but no model is full proof each have their own pluses and minuses which should be considered while analysing a portfolio. References: Damodaran, A., (2015), The Dividend Discount Model, Available at https://people.stern.nyu.edu/adamodar/pdfiles/eqnotes/ddm.pdf (Accessed 08th September 2016) Fama, E.F., French, K.R., (2004), The capital Asset Pricing Model: Theory and Evidence, Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 25-46 Jylha, P., (2014), Margin Constraints and the Security Market Line, Imperial College Business School, Available at https://www.cbs.dk/files/cbs.dk/paper_petrijylha.pdf (Accessed 08th September 2016) Krause, A., (2001), An Overview of Asset Pricing Models, University of Bath School of Management, Available at https://people.bath.ac.uk/mnsak/Research/Asset_pricing.pdf (Accessed 08th September 2016) Lee, M.C., Su, L.E., (2014), Capital Market Line Based on Efficient Frontier of Portfolio with Borrowing and Lending Rate, Universal Journal of Accounting and Finance, vol. 2, no.4, pp. 69-76 Mullins, D.W., (1982), Does the Capital Asset Pricing Model Work?, Available at https://hbr.org/1982/01/does-the-capital-asset-pricing-model-work (Accessed 08th September 2016) Sigman K., (2005), Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Available at https://www.columbia.edu/~ks20/FE-Notes/4700-07-Notes-CAPM.pdf (Accessed 08th September 2016) Wogner, J., (2015), Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM): Definition, formula, Advantages and Example, Available at https://study.com/academy/lesson/capital-asset-pricing-model-capm-definition-formula-advantages-example.html (Accessed 08th September 2016)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)