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Thursday, April 2, 2009

dEbatE goVernMent 1 amd6pc - refOrmaTion : rEforM to DoOm

According to Samonte,administrative reformation is to make the administrative system a more effective instrument for social change, a better instrument to bring about political equality, social justice and economic growth. While the word 'doom' can be defined as to cause the experience or suffer something unavoidable and unpleasent, such as death or destruction.
We as the government agree that the reformation is reform to doom. In our opinion, the process of reformation is only lead to failure of the administration. We can directly see it through the barriers of the administrative reformation. This involving the political bribery. As we know, the corruption is always increase in rank. For example, In Hong Kong, PERC managing director Robert Broadfoot said this was a slight decrease from 2006 when Malaysia scored 6.13 although it was still better than the 2005 score of 6.80. “This corruption perception index is something we’ve done for over 20 years now and although perception and reality are different things, when it comes to corruption, it becomes very important,” he said.
The second barrier is the bureucratic resistance. The bureaucratic system can be said as ineffective. This is because most of the people is not aware and resist to the bureaucratic system. For example, in India, people did not aware about the bureaucratic because of their attitude.
The third barrier is static bureaucracy. The static bureaucracy can cause a failure to the administration reformation because it is not flexible to be practiced by people. The system of bureaucracy is too rigid and it is difficult for people to follow the system. In Weber's view, bureaucracy established a relation between legally enstated authorities and their subordinate officials. This relationship is characterized by defined rights and duties prescribed in written regulations.
Contemporary writers have highlighted the problems of bureaucracy, such as its inflexibility and rigid adherence to rules, so that today the term is often used as a criticism rather than its original neutral sense.
The forth barrier is people participation. It is depend on people involvement to implement the reformation. The problem is, it is difficult to get full participation from the people. In order to reform, all people need to cooperate and give their full effort to ensure the success of the reformation. Hence, due to the difficulties in getting people's participation, there are possibilities for the reformation to be a failure.

Monday, March 2, 2009

TASK 5

Economic Obstacles

1. Underdeveloped Financial Systems

In contrast to the financial systems in developed countries which are able to mobilize private saving and allocate those savings to the most productive areas, many developing countries’ financial systems are unorganized, fragmented, lack of transparency and are dependent on external sources of capital.

These factors are difficult for the government to regulate the monetary supply or to control foreign exchange reserves. This leads to a monetary system in which the wealthy will have access to the capital while the vast majority of society is forced to rely on an unorganized, unregulated monetary system which limit the people’s access to capital and increase the cost (interest rate) of capital.

Example: corruption in financial system in Indonesia.

2. Lack of Economic Freedom


Economic freedom is the absence of government coercion or constraint on the production, distribution or consumption of goods and services beyond the extent necessary for citizens to protect and maintain their liberty. Government rules and regulations have a significant impact on economic development. When the government interferes in the market for reasons other than the protection of person and property, it undermines economic freedom.

Determining the exact boundary between control and freedom is open to debate. To promote equality, the government should ensure that all of the society enjoys the benefits of the economic growth and in some cases, to strengthen the power of the state; the government should have historically placed a wide variety of constraints on economic activities.

However, as can be seen in many developing states, limiting economic choices and interfering with the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services will slow the economic growth of a country.

Example: A Washington D.C. based NGO, the Heritage Foundation is annually ranks the world’s economies according to 50 economic variables in the following 10 categories:

I. Banking and finance
II. Capital flows and foreign investment
III. Monetary policy
IV. Fiscal burden of government
V. Trade policy
VI. Wages and prices
VII. Government intervention in the economy
VIII. Property rights
IX. Regulations
X. Black markets

Economic freedom leads to the higher level of income and contributes to the economic development.

Social obstacles

1. Population Growth


In many developing countries, the population is growing faster than the ability of society to provide the education and skills which necessary to improve the economic growth of the countries. In addition to this, a rapidly growing of population will lower the per capita of income growth especially for those who are already poor and live in the rural areas and depending on the agricultural-based economy.

Example: In India, the population is big and it is hard for the country to develop. The richer becomes rich while the poorer becomes poor.

2. Lack of Access to Education

Since human resources are ultimately determine the characters and paces of economic development, a poorly educated workforce will limit the increasing in productivity and competitiveness and thus slowing the economic growth.

There are 2 major factors which limit the educational access:

• Poverty
• Rapidly expanding population

The former prevents poor families from sending their children to school and later dilutes educational expenditures and diminishing their effectiveness.

Example: In Africa, the education is hardly to develop because the country itself is not developed due to poverty.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Teacher's Note - TEST 1

Salam.

Because of BTN, I've to reschedule your Test 1. I've decided the test will be held as follows:
  • AMD6PA - Tuesday (Feb. 17th, 2009), KARAH 10/3, 10.15am - 12.05pm

  • AMD6PB - Thursday (Feb. 19th, 2009), 12B1, 12.15pm - 2.05pm

  • AMD6PC + AMD6PD - Monday (Feb. 16th, 2009), 8C, 4.20pm - 6.10pm

Thus, for this coming Monday, AMD6PA and AMD6PB can have more time to study because your test will be held as scheduled.

Only AMD6PC and AMD6PD will take the test on that day.

Those from AMD6PC and AMD6PD who has problem taking test on the mentioned day, please notify me by or before Sunday (Feb. 15th, 2009 - 10am) so I can prepare the things accordingly.

The test will covers all chapters i.e. chapter 1 - 4, and don't forget Vago's chapter 6 and 9.



Good luck everybody and have a nice day!

Love you all ... as always!

Wassalam

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Differences Between Karl Marx and Ralf Dahrendorf

Karl Marx

Ralf Dahrendorf

Proletariats and Bourgeoisie

-In capitalistic society, individuals will move intermediate groups to become other proletarians (workers) or bourgeoisie (property owner)-means of production-resources, technology, factories, labors use to produce goods and services.

-The struggles inevitable between these two classes, will result as class consciousness and militant class action develop in the over throw of the existing system.

-It will culminate in the establishment of a new form of economic production-communistic production-new historical stage, communism. The proletariat having won the revolution will become the dominant group.

-The proletariat defeats the bourgeoisie to seek the best stage of human development- communism.

-Communism is only fair and square and not injustice the society.

Example: Our warriors before this are not agree with the administration of the British and Dato Maharajalela fought with British. It shows the proletariat and Bourgeoisie in the community.

The Ruler and Ruled

-Changes happen between authority

-Problem of unequal authority in all sector of society.

-The ruler-status quo.

-The ruled will try overthrow the corrupt

-The ruled will not defeats the ruler but they can replace if they not satisfied with the ruler.

-Conflict will not happen if they compromise each other.

-It contrast from the Karl Marx theory that more strict in their classes.

Example: In every election, the representatives are change. If the society is not satisfied with the ruler, they do not select the same ruler in the next election. So it shows the ruled is only replaced and not to destroyed the ruler.

Perfect society

-Perfect society can be achieved when communism stage is achieved. Marx divided history into five major stages, each characterized by a type of economic production. The first stage is Tribal Ownership which is a type of primitive communism. The second stage is the ancient communal and state ownership accompanied by slavery while the third stage is feudalism. The fourth stage is capitalist and the final stage is communism, where the society who achieve this stage known as the perfect society.

Example: Tunku Abdul Rahman is responsible to make our country independent. He used the diplomatic negotiation without war.

Have no perfect society

-According to Ralf Dahrendorf, there are no perfect societies because the people learn to compromise with each other. This means the ruled are willing to follow the rule made by the rulers that they think good for them. People have no intention to defeat each other. The group in position of power or authority is interested in preserving the status quo, whereas the subordinated group is interested in change. These two ‘quasi groups’ are potential antagonist, in that their members share common experiences, roles and interests, whether or not they are aware of them.

Example: Our country was being colonist by the colonialist in years. All the administration was under them. If one Resident gone or transferred, the other Resident will take over and it will continuously until the country find the independent.

Conflict

- According to him, with regards to the social change, he emphasizes more on the roles of conflict in the progression of the social change.

- For max, conflict is normal condition to society. For him, conflict and change are inseparable meaning that it relies on each other.

- The conflict is arisen in capitalistic society which is proletarians and bourgeoisie, and it will result the overthrow the existing system.

Example: Conflict between the capitalist make the establishment of the communist in China.

Compromise

- Agreed with Karl Marx point which is conflict plays roles in the progression of social change. But he does not agree with Karl Marx which is conflict is identified as the primary source in the internal working of society.

- He saw conflict as problem and not all conflict can contribute the benefit to the social change, he suggests that conflict can be controlled through compromise.

Example: Although people do not want to go to PLKN, they must participate because they compromise with the government policy. If they do not want to compromise, they will get the punishment.

Economic

- According to Marx, society is depends on the economic foundation that he called the ‘mode of production’. The ‘mode of production’ is divided into 2:

i) the forces of production

ii) the social relations of production

- Marx divided the history into 5 major stages that characterized by a type of economic production.

- Economic conflict will lead to further political and social conflict that further in own interest at the expense of other groups.

- He believes that changes in production will give rise to variations changes in social institutions.

- He also emphasizes on economically and conflict based on power and rank.

- It is based on the unequal distribution of authority.

Example: Previously, the rich men will get the title while the poor men will become the slaves. It shows that if they have the better economy in their life, they will get the title and respect from others.

Authority

- According to Ralf, the ruled will look the authority as the same among others in society that is the conflict will stop when the people compromises to each other.

- His theory is different with Marx theory in terms of conflict.

- He looks at the authority of the ruler which pressure status quo that the ruled will gave the same authority.

- The conflict will stop because of the same authority.

- Because of the unequal authority so it will be a conflict.

Example: People elected Barisan Nasional as the government of Malaysia. So, they will follow the policy made by the government. It is because they are satisfied with their choice and at the end, no conflict happens.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Teacher's Note - Public Announcement

Dear students,

Hi and welcome back to class.

As I browsed your blog and read and commented on them, I noticed some common pattern of answer,
1) where you have the tendency to simplify your answer that sometimes I couldn’t find any relevancy to point discussed before it; 2) having so much unnecessary facts and details that making readers fell like reading a textbook.

Even though a blog entry should be short and simple, you don’t have to discount many of your words and make your argument everywhere. You don’t have to write an essay for that matter, but try to use concise word to articulate your point.

For those who love to back up their answer with all facts and data (as if we really want to know!), you too need to be concise and precise in choosing your words so that your entry doesn’t dazzled me … you know how much I hate to scroll the whole page just to find your main point at the end of your entry!

It is a waste when you come out with such a good point but having discussed it on the surface or lace it with unnecessary ‘ornament’ …

Try to be concise and precise and at the same time keep it short and simple.

On other words … briefly elaborate your point in detail – if you know what I mean.

Thank you and have a nice day!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Task 3: Chapter 3

ISSUE: HOMOSEXUAL

The Components

1) Identity of Change

The homosexual problem can be seen nowadays which it leads to lack of moral values among the society. This issue may be lessening the potential for the family institution to be continued. This means that the homosexual person is not able to produce offspring when they get married to the same sex.

2) Level of Change

The group that relates to this issue is the young generation, majority. In fact, some of the homosexual people are the old generation. The young generation is mostly involve in homosexual because of they be easily influenced by the western culture.

3) Duration of Change

This kind of issue is unplanned and quantitative. The social change happens in a long period of time, where we can find that homosexual happened a long time ago and this culture is still exist and continue these days.

4) Magnitude of Change

The magnitude of change of this issue is incremental. It is because the number of homosexual people in this world is increasing from day to day.

5) Rate of Change

The homosexual phenomenon still exists and there is no strict law or action taken by the authority to go against this group. This means that the rate of change is continuous. The government itself must come out with specific rule that will prohibit the homosexual group but there is still no further action is taken by the government.

The Variables

1) Technology

The homosexual group is being influenced by internet, television and etc. Mass media plays the important part fro influencing people to become gay. This group is being influenced via watching inappropriate movies and idolized the persons who play the gay roles in the movies.

2) Ideology

People who involve in the homosexual problem are tending to believe and count on people who are as the same sex as theirs. They are interested in believe in them because of their horrible past experiences to not to trust the different gender.

3) Conflict

The homosexual phenomenon is happening because of the inner conflict between the person and his/her family, friends and society. The homosexual person is more interested in having a relationship with the same gender in order to release the conflict happens to him/her.

4) Structural Strains

The homosexual culture is clashing with our culture and religion, so do to other religions. All religions in this world seen the normal love affair between two different genders is acceptable and not with the two same gender. It will lead to a lot of social problems and give bad impacts towards the person who involve in this problem.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Teacher's Note

Task 1 – definition of DA
If it is neither a system, nor an action, then, what is it? Be precise when you defining the concept. I’m sure that all of you understand our discussion in the last class about the whole definitions very well. But, when it comes to makes your own definition you don’t have to replicate the definitions given by those scholars. Just feel free to formulate your own understanding and define it. For example, why don’t you justify the obstacle in development to be developed as a concept in defining DA? I think that point really cool to work with. Try again, ok? [Spelling mistakes – deduction]


Task 2 – why do we need development?
Good answer (well, if after this you get hate-comment for receiving such good compliment from me, just ignore it. It is their problem if they don’t agree with me :p).


Task 2 – What are the significance of administration in development?
The significance is clear. But, it sound better if you can come out with several case studies that may justify the establishment of those government agencies. You also may consider doing comparative study on cases that being administered before and after the establishment of those agencies. For example, how development is done in Malaysia before the ICU came into existence.

Somehow, I just couldn’t understand why Putrajaya was regarded as successful of DA case when you defining DA is something else in the first place? Enlighten me, please.


Task 2 – The differences between nations

I have no comment on these since most of the group gets the answer from the same source. However, none of the group acknowledges the sources. Deduction for that.

Note: you can create link to that source and don’t have to write the whole URL. Highlight the key word, then click at “link” icon, type the URL, voila!



TASK 3 – The relevancy of Development Administration to:

Human and Social Dimension of Development:
I don’t think I understand what you are talking about except some facts here and there.



Economic Development:
Well defined – but be prĂ©cised with your example. A budget is not more than a blueprint for government expenditure, but the real use of budget all that matter.



Political Development:
“For example, the politics in Malaysia where there are General Election.”


Huh??



Public Administration Development (Reinventing Public Sector) :
OK … but how would you reinvent the public sector? No explanation.
The example given is too simple … how JPN reinvienting their department? What they did? No explanation either.






Result:
Overall group performance
: 6.5/10

Individual group performance:
Norfarhanis Bt Mahamad Sukri: 6/10
Nur Natasha Bt Asmit: 6/10
Raja Nurmunira Binti Raja Harman Shah: 5.5/10
Syaza Ain Binti Sazely: 5/10
Normaizura Binti Mohd Shukri: 5/10
Nur Faradiana Bte Mohamed: 5/10

Grade of the day: