The Roles of Family and Religion in Motivating Violent Republicanism Essay

The Roles of Family and Religion in Motivating Violent Republicanism among Irish Catholics - Essay Example Differences between religions have a long history of creating conflicts even among members of citizens living within a single geographical region. This situation has various examples, one of the most notable is the division of two sects of Christianity, with one sect having more population over another and causes issues among peoples such as discrimination against the minority group and having unfair representation in congress. In addition, bloody wars ensue as a result of such discriminations, with the minority group taking on the offensive both in the name of nationalism and of religion. These are former situations in Northern Ireland, wherein the Catholic minority has long aimed to be treated fairly and equally with the Protestant majority, as well as to be properly represented in congress. Two movies, Michael Collins (1996) and Some Mother’s Son (1996) depict such periods when there has been bloodshed due to the differences in religions and this, along with the strength of family bonds and of similar ties fuel a seemingly-unending revolt against the total control of the British Monarchy and gain both independence and recognition. The movies Michael Collins and Some Mother’s Son both show the troublesome period in Northern Ireland but were set in two different times, with the former having the settings of pre-World War period and without the existence of an independent country of Ireland, and the second movie having settings after the World Wars have ended and that the independent state of Northern Ireland has been established. Both countries portray troubles such as getting recognition and rights independent from the British monarchy, both also shows retaliations of the minorities by taking up of arms, and both movies also tell of the numerous casualties both civilian and militant personnel in the process of obtaining peace. The two movies, while showing many similarities in some themes with regards to the eruption of violence in Ireland, also show various differences in terms of the strength of religions and families in the perpetuation of violence by and against the republican Catholics. For instance, the movie Some Mother’s Son has an edge over Michael Collins in both family and religious impact on the perpetuation of violent movements due to various differences in how the themes of each movie was delivered. First is the case of the role of religion, the movie Michael Collins shows religion having a lesser role in showing how it strongly fuels the violence movement, as the movie did not show lengthy religious ceremonies and traditions other than some characters being momentarily shown to be either praying and leaving the church or talking shortly to the priest in the rectory (â€Å"Michael†). Such short portrayals imply to the viewers that religion is not a strong theme in the movie, and that it is only one component for the uprisings staged by the minority militant armies. On the other hand, the role of religion in the continuing power struggles between minority Catholics and majority Protestants were better shown in Some Mother’s Son, as it was able to show lengthy Catholic traditions such as praying the rosary, receiving the Holy Communion, anointing the sick, and holding funeral masses, in addition to the main characters praying individually (â€Å"Mother’s Son†). There were also strong implications of discriminations against the Catholic prisoners and to their comrades from militant armies outside prison, as their demands were immediately brushed off by the British control centers without any proper compromises or talks between the two parties. Lastly, the families of these prisoners do not get much decent treatment from the military either, as they are readily the subject of immediate harassment and of warrantless arrests just because they were Irish and Catholics (â€Å"Mother’s Son†). However, the strong role of religion

The Risks That UK Coal, an FTSE Listed Company, Can Potentially Face Case Study

The Risks That UK Coal, an FTSE Listed Company, Can Potentially Face In Undertaking Cross-Border Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Activity - Case Study Example The researcher states that cross-border mergers and acquisitions are complex undertakings packaged with risks and rewards. When two organizations with different internal controls, management styles, corporate cultures and processes attempt to integrate, the business risk increases substantially. Before embarking on M&A journey, it is imperative that all risk factors are considered prior to injecting capital in the host country. UK Coal needs to conduct due diligence so as to ensure that M&A activity fits its long-term strategic objectives. Due diligence identifies, confirms or disputes the business reasons for proposed merger or acquisition transactions. Due diligence demands a thorough data analysis of assets and liabilities, particularly large balance sheet items such as accounts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable to establish fair market value. It is imperative that a fair value for the business is accurately established so that a reasonable price is paid for the target a ssets. A careful analysis of the target company's financial statements avoids incidents of overpaying and mismanaging shareholders' expectations. Differences in corporate culture, business practices, and institutional layouts can hinder firms from fully realizing their potential. According to a KPMG study, 83 percent of all M&As failed to economically benefit the shareholders and over 50 percent actually destroyed value. A research was conducted involving over 100 senior managers to determine the reason behind this failure which turned out to be the cultural differences. In pursuing a cross-border M&A, it is vital for an organization to assess the political situation prevailing in the target country. This assessment will not only uncover any potential political risks but also prepare the host company to face them and find appropriate solutions for them. Another potential barrier to a successful M&A activity is lack of knowledge about the target company. Knowledge about the company l eads to a successful post-merger integration. Â  Another factor that should be taken into account is the effects of trade impediments on cross-border M&A. Academic studies have found that on an aggregate basis, trade costs affect merger activity negatively, though the effect is less pronounced for horizontal mergers, i.e. mergers between firms within the same industry. UK Coal needs to ensure that its target company is one which will lead not only to economical but also intercultural synergies between the two companies. To identify an appropriate acquisition target, aforementioned due diligence should be adequately employed. Moreover, UK Coal needs cognizance in matters relating to exchange rates, local accounting standards, foreign government potential trade regulations, etc. UK Coal should have information regarding its local competitors in the host country and their respective market positions. This will lead to reasonable projections and estimates for the business. Expectations of UK Coal from this activity should be realistic and in parity with the overall strategy formulated at the design stage. Regulatory aspects also need attention to avoid any legal risks. Competent professionals (lawyers, accountants) must be hired to provide financial and legal opinions regarding the merger or acquisition transaction.