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The Correlation Between The Proposed Introduction Of CBT And Local Attitudes In Barbados
The Correlation Between The Proposed Introduction Of CBT And Local Attitudes In Barbados
Abstract
Tourism, Barbados’ major provider of foreign exchange has been experiencing worrying levels of tourism arrivals since the current world recession. The industry needs an injection of ideas to strengthen its portfolio because the economy of Barbados is increasingly declining. Although there is ample research on community-based tourism (CBT), there are no studies available as it relates to Barbados. In particular, no research has been conducted on the relationship between CBT and local attitudes, expectations, and changes in local culture in the context of Barbados. This cross-sectional, quantitative survey design will fill the gap that presently exists in the literature. The research questions seek to analyze the relationship between CBT, attitudes, expectations, and changes in local culture. The sample of 162 persons will be interviewed from Christ Church and St. James, which are the two major tourist areas of Barbados. The proposed study should assist future tourism and management researchers, and should be of importance to tourism stakeholders of Barbados neighboring islands such as St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada, which depend on tourism as a critical component of economic development.
Keywords: CBT, attitudes, expectations, culture, Barbados.
Proposal
Table of Contents
List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………………vi
List of Figures …………………………………………………………………….…………….ii
Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ……………………………………………………,,,……..1
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………1
Background of the Study ……………………………………………………………….. 2
Problem Statement …………………………………………………………………….… 6
Purpose Statement………………………………………………………………….……7
Research Questions and Hypotheses ……………………………………………………8
Research Questions ………………………………………………………………8Research Hypotheses ……………………………………………………………………8
Theoretical Framework ………………………………………………………………….9Nature of the Study ………………………………………………………………………11
Definitions ………………………………………………………………………………12
Assumptions ……………………………………………………………………….……13
Scope and Delimitations …………………………………………………………………13
Limitations ………………………………………………………………………………14
Significance of the Study ………………………………………………….……………15
Summary …………………………………………………………………………..……………16
Chapter 2: The Review of the Literature …………………………………………….…………16
i
Introduction …………………………………………………………….………………………16
Restatement of Research Problem and Purpose ………………..………………………16
Chapter Preview of Sections ……………………………………………………………17
Global Recession and the World Economy …………………………….………………17
Global Recession and the American Economy …………………………………………18
Global Recession and the British Economy ………………………………….…………19
Global Recession and Tourism …………………………………………………………19
Global Recession and Barbados ……………………………………………..…………20
Global Recession and Barbados Tourism …………………….………………..21
Literature Search Strategy ……………………………………………………………..23
Library Data Bases ………………………………………….…………………23
Search Key Terms Used ……………………………………………………….23
Theoretical Foundations ………………………………………………………………..23
Name and Origin of CBT ………………………………………………………23
Positive Contributions of CBT to Economic Development ….….…………….24
Major Theoretical Propositions ………………………….……………………..25
Tourism and Attitudes …………………………………………..…….……………….25
Definition of Attitudes ………………………………..…………….…………25
Tourism and Attitudes …………………………………………….…………..25
Tourism and Expectations …………………………………………….………………37
ii
Definition of Expectations …………………………………….………………37
Tourism and Expectations ……………………………………………….…….37
Tourism and Culture ……………………………………………………….………….51
Definition of Culture …………………………………………………………. 51
Tourism and Culture …………………………………………………………..51
Summary of Conclusions ……………………………………………………………..61
Brief Summary of Major Themes in the Literature ………………….………..61
Impact of Global Recession on Barbados …………………………….61
CBT ……………………………………………………………………61
Attitudes ………………………………………………………………62
Expectations …………………………………………..………………63
Culture ………………………………………………..……………….64
Known Concepts in the Literature and Transition to Chapter 3 ……………….65
Chapter 3:Methodology ………………………………………………………………………..65Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………65
Purpose of the Study ………………………………………………………..…65
Preview of Major Sections of the Chapter ……………………………………………66
Research Design and Rationale ……………………………………………………….66
Study Variables ……………………………………………………….………66
Research Design and Connection to the Research Questions ……………..…66
iii
Time and Resource constraints consistent with Design Choice ……..………67
How Design Choice is Consistent with Research Designs
Needed to Advance Knowledge in the Discipline ………….……………..…67
Methodology …………………………………………………………………………68
Population …………………………………………………………….………68
Target Population ……………………………………………….……68
Estimation of Population Size ………………………………..………68
Sampling and Sampling Procedures …………………………………………68
Non-Probability Sampling ……………………………………………68
Convenience Sampling …………………………………………….69
Purposive Sampling …………………………………..………69
Quota Sampling ………………………………………………..69
Probability Sampling ………………………….………………………69
Random Sampling …………………………………….………69
Systematic Sampling …………………………………….……69
Stratified Sampling ……………………………………………69
Cluster Sampling ………………………………………………70
How the Sample will be Drawn ………………………….……………70
Sample Frame Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria ……………………….70
Power Analysis …………………………………………………………70
iv
Statistical Power ………………………………………………..70
Alpha Level …………………………………………………… 70
Effect Size ………………………………………………………71
Determination of Sample Size …………………………………………72
Results ………………………………………………………………………….72
Recruiting Procedures and Demographic Information …………………………73
Recruiting Procedures and Demographics ……………………………..73
Providing Informed Consent to Participants and Data Collection …….74
Data Collection …………………………………………….…………..74
Debriefing and Follow-up Procedures ………………………….………74
Pilot Study ……………………………………………………………………..74
Researcher Instruments …………………………………………………………75
Plan to Provide Evidence for Reliability ………………………………………76
Instrument Validity ……………………………………………….……………77
Content Validity …………………………………………………….….77
Face Validity ………………………………………………..….77
Sampling Validity ………………………………………………77
Empirical (Predictive) Validity …………………………………………77
Construct Validity ………………………………………………………77
Plan to Provide Evidence of Instrument Validity ………………..…….78
v
Operationalizing the Variables …………………………………………………78
Operationalizing Attitudes ………………………………………………………78
Operationalizing Expectations ……………………………………………..…….78
Operationalizing Culture ……………………………………………………..….78
Data Analysis Plan …………………………………………………………………..…..79
Software …………………………………………………………………..……..79
Restatement of Research Questions and Hypotheses ……………………………………79
Research Questions ………………………………………………………….…..79
Research Hypotheses ……………………………………………………….……79
Analysis Plan ………………………………………………………………..….80
Interpretation of Results …………………………………………………..……80
Threats to External Validity …………………………………………………………….82
Addressing Threats to External Validity ……………………………………….82
Threats to Internal Validity ……………………………………………………………..82
Addressing Threats to Internal Validity …………………………………..…….83
Threats to Content Validity …………………………………………………….83
Ethical Procedures ……………………………………………………………….……..83
Summary of Research Methodology ……………………………………………….…..84
References ………………………………………………………………………………85
Appendix A: Consent Form ……………………………………………………………127
vi
Appendix B: Confidentiality Agreement Form …………………………………..……131
Appendix C: Letter of Cooperation from a Community Research Partner ……………133
Appendix D: Sample Data Collection Coordination Request Form …………………………136
Appendix E: Data Use Agreement Form ………………………………………………139
Appendix F: Authorization to use or Disclose PHI for Research Purpose ,,,,,,,,,,,……..143
Appendix G: Questionnaire on Residents’ Attitudes …………………………………145
Appendix H: Questionnaire on Residents’ Expectations ………………………….…. 146
Appendix I: Questionnaire on Residents’ Opinions on Cultural Change…………….147
Appendix J: Variables and Sources for Items in Survey Instrument – Attitudes…….. 148
Appendix K: Variables and Sources for Items in Survey Instrument – Expectations ,..150
Appendix L: Variables and Sources for Items in Survey Instrument
Cultural Change …………………………………………………….………… 152
Appendix M: Information on Participants Form ………………………………………154
List of Tables
Table 1. Barbados Tourist Arrivals for the Years 2007-2012 …………………………..3
Table 2. Increase/Decrease in Barbados Tourist Arrivals for the Years 2007-2012…….3
Table 3. Barbados GDP, Inflation, Unemployment, and Public Debt Rates for the
Periods 2008- 2012 ……………………………………………………….……21
Table 4. Total Land-Based Tourist Arrivals to Barbados 2008-2012 …………………22
Table 5. Total Land-Based Tourist Arrivals to Barbados by Country 2008-2012 ……22
viii
List of Figures
Figure 1. Calculation of Sample Size using G* Power………………………….………………71
Figure 2. Map of Barbados by Parish……………………………………………………………73
Introduction
Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. Globally, income generated by this industry rose from US $2 billion to US $919 billion. The number of tourists travelling grew from 25 million people to 940 million persons. Tourism contributes to millions of worldwide jobs and businesses. (Bruyere, Adam, & Lelengula, 2009; Jackman, Lorde, Lowe, & Alleyne, 2011; Sharma & Dyer, 2009).
The islands of the Eastern Caribbean are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. They are characterized by low productivity, high costs, high debt to GDP ratios, and volatile tourism industries (Acevedo, Cebotari, & Turner-Jones (2013, February 20).
Tourism is Barbados’ main earner of foreign exchange. As a net foreign exchange contributor, it plays a significant role in the maintenance of businesses, job creation, and purchases of foreign goods and services. It’s contribution to employment and gross domestic product is 47% and 46.6% respectively. (Jackman, Lorde, Lowe, & Alleyne, 2011).There is no single definition for community-based tourism (CBT), but it can be described as a tourism program that is managed and serviced by members of the local resident community. Although not limited to rural destinations, CBT is widely characterized as being carried out in rural communities, where local residents are in charge of the program’s operations(Harrsion, 2008; Lopez-Guzman, Borges, & Castillo-Canalejo, 2011).
The Barbados tourism industry has been underperforming for over 5 years. The main reason for the reduction in tourists is the negative economic impact of the global recession which began in 2008 (Adebamowo, 2011; Barbados Ministry of Tourism, 2011; Li, 2011). This study will assist tourism-planning stakeholders of Barbados and other small Caribbean states that are dependent on tourism in identifying how local Barbados residents would respond to the implementation of CBT to the island. This response is related to residents’ attitudes, expectations, and cultural changes. Local tourism planners would have an advantage in planning CBT strategies because before the program is implemented, they should be able to indicate how residents would respond in the context of their (the residents’) attitudes, expectations, and cultural changes to commencement of CBT. The implementation of CBT to Barbados should lead to positive social change by increasing numbers of tourists arriving in Barbados, and consequentially, increasing foreign exchange. An increase in foreign exchange should lead to a reduction in unemployment and increased business creation and investments by the Barbados government and private sector. This study will also add to the literature by filling the existing gap as it relates to the proposal to implement CBT and its relation to local attitudes, expectations, and cultural changes in small, tourism-dependent economies.
Background of the Study
Barbados is the most easterly of the eastern chain of the islands of the Eastern Caribbean. As at March, 2013, the population of the country was estimated to be 200,725 persons (Central intelligence Agency, 2013). Barbados was mainly dependent on sugar cane as its main export product and source of foreign exchange like most of its Eastern, small state neighbors; however, during the 1950s, the island changed its export strategy by shifting to tourism. Long-stay tourists increased from 17829 in 1956 to 536,303 in 2012 (Barbados Ministry of Tourism, 2011; Caribbean Tourism Organization, n.d.).
Successive Barbados governments have invested significantly in the tourism industry over the years. Since 1971, tourism has contributed to between 10% -12% of the island’s gross domestic product (GDP), and has been the major monetary driver of foreign earnings (Lorde, Francis & Drakes, 2011). However, the numbers of tourists to the island have not increased in any marked volume since the global recession of 2008. Tourist arrivals have been sporadic, and in some instances, declined (Worrell, Belgrave, & Grosvenor, 2011). The Caribbean Tourism Organization (n.d; 2012; 2013) listed Barbados tourist arrivals to the island for the last six years as follows:
Table 1
_________________________________________________________________
Barbados Tourist Arrivals for the Years 2007 – 2012
__________________________________________________________________
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
572,937 567,667518,564532,180567,724536,303
___________________________________________________________________
Note: Adapted from “Individual Country Statistics (2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004)” by Caribbean Tourism Organization (n.d).
“Latest Statistics 2011” by Caribbean Tourism Organization (2012, July 02).
“Latest Statistics 2012” by Caribbean Tourism Organization (2013, March 08).
Based on the above tourist arrivals, the following are total and percentage increases and decreases over the six years’ period 2007-2012:
Table 2
____________________________________________
Increase/Decrease in Barbados Tourist Arrivals
for the Years 2007 – 2012
____________________________________________
Years Total Percentage
Increase Increase
-Decrease -Decrease
2007- 2008 -5,270 -0.0091
2008- 2009-49,103 -0.0864
2009 –2010 13,616 0.0262
2010- 2011 35,544 0.0667
2011-2012 -31,421 -0.0553
____________________________________________
Note: Adapted from “Individual Country Statistics (2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004)” by Caribbean Tourism Organization (n.d).
“Latest Statistics 2011” by Caribbean Tourism Organization (2012, July 02).
“Latest Statistics 2012” by Caribbean Tourism Organization (2013, March, 08).
The Barbados tourism industry needs to be revitalized in order to make gains in the global tourism market. CBT was identified as a form of tourism that can aid tourism recovery (Diss & Trent, 2009); as a result, it might be able to initiate a recovery of the Barbados economy.
The literature records varying views as it relates to CBT, local attitudes, expectations, and cultural changes:
Saarinen (2010) declared that positive local views and attitudes toward tourism play an important part in a successful tourism program. Hurst, Niehm, and Littrell (2009) highlighted the need for local residents to harness positive attitudes toward tourists in order for tourism to create a foundation for a successful tourism program. Kennett-Hensel, Sneath, and Hensel (2010) were of the view that, in order for a tourism master plan to be successful, local resident attitudes would have to be in positive alignment and supportive of the effort.
Razzaq et al. (2011) showed that expectations of rewards can play a part in the motivation of residents to ensure that a CBT program is successful. Kayat (2008) concluded that local stakeholders were committed to CBT when their interests were positively affected and when they were allowed to take part in managing the program. Stone and Stone (2011) advanced the need for tourism stakeholders to promote programs among local residents that would foster a higher level of local expectation in CBT programs
Baum, Hearns, and Devine (2008) contended that with the passing of time, local attitudes, expectations, and perception toward tourism change due to changes in societal norms and values derived from the impact of sustained tourism. Abga, Ikoh, Bassey, and Ushie (2010) contended that tourism penetrated and diluted local culture. Mhizha, Mandebyu, and Muzondo (2012) suggested that tourism had an overwhelmingly negative impact on society’s culture. It was, however, asserted that tourism could have a positive effect on culture where a unique cultural resource is in demand by tourists, and local residents were in control of that resource.
The studies above highlight the interaction of the variables: CBT (independent variable), and local attitudes, expectations, and cultural shifts (dependent variables), as they relate to different locations. However, the settings do not relate to Barbados. A study would be, therefore, be needed that could identify how these variables would react in the context of Barbados. The findings of the research should assist Barbados’ tourism planners, and fill the gap that presently exists in the literature as it relates to Barbados.
Problem Statement
Tourism has been Barbados’ leading engine of economic growth for the past five decades. In 2008, it accounted for 14% of GDP, 10% of employment, and 54% of foreign currency earnings. However, meaningful and sustained growth has been stalled since the 2008 world recession. As a result, the island has lost a significant portion of its global and local regional market share, with tourism real value-added declining by an estimated 9.8% as its traditional target markets performed poorly (Government of Barbados, 2009; Pattaranukul, 2008). Compounding the matter, tourism growth for Barbados has been slower than that of its Caribbean neighbors; in particular, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Lucia (Worrell, Belgrave, Grosvenor, & Lescott, 2011). The International Monetary Fund (2011) predicted that Barbados’ foreign reserves will continue to fall due to weak external demand for tourism. The government of Barbados reacted to the slowdown in tourism and economic growth by reducing expenditure and aborting certain social programs (Barbados Economics Society, 2010; Central Bank of Barbados, 2012).
Barbados’ tourism industry has a greater potential to improve; however, there is a need to introduce novel and effective programs to complement and assist its current tourism operations. CBT was identified as an emerging line of tourism in the world market that contributed substantially to the building of small states’economies (Kavat, 2008; Okazaki, 2008; Xiong, Ding, Deng, &Zhang, 2008). CBT has increased the standard of living in many of the countries in which it is operational (Marx, 2011); however, some studies indicate that implementation of CBT can be fraught with challenges as it relates to attitudes, expectations, and cultural changes(Candrea, Ispas, Constantin, & Hertanu, 2012; Kesar & Ferjanic, 2008; Lorant, 2011, Wright & Lewis, 2012).
Presently, there are no studies in the literature that have evaluated the relationship between Barbados’ local population’s attitudes, expectations, changes in local culture, and the implementation of CBT. This research will seek to fill that gap.
Creswell (2009) stipulated that quantitative research is a ”means for testing objective theories by examining the relationship among the variables” (p.233). The design of this study will be quantitative because the relationship between the independent variable (CBT) and dependent variables (local attitudes, expectations, and change in culture) will be examined.
Purpose Statement
Barbados is experiencing a slowdown in its tourism industry due to the economic downturn of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, which are its main sources of tourists (International Monetary Fund, 2010). A strengthened tourism industry should assist Barbados `in arresting its economic problems by increasing much-needed foreign exchange. The purpose of this proposed quantitative study is to evaluate resident attitudes, expectations, and changes in local culture through proposed implementation of CBT in the context of Barbados. It is expected that being able to pre-determine resident attitudes, expectations, and changes in culture should enable tourism stakeholders to minimize mistakes and have an advantage in CBT implementation. Furthermore, the purpose of the proposed study is to provide recommendations for successful implementation of proposed CBT model to enhance tourism in Barbados.
A quantitative study involves determining the relationship among the independent and dependent variables of the inquiry; it does not determine why the variables react. Qualitative research involves exploring and understanding the meaning of individuals or groups; it is not concerned with examining the relationship among variables. Mixed method inquiry combines both features of quantitative and qualitative inquiry (Creswell, 2009).
A quantitative design is chosen for this proposed research because the purpose of the statistical tests will be to determine the extent of the relationship between the independent variable (CBT) and the dependent variables (attitudes, expectations, and changes in culture).
Research Questions and Hypotheses
The following research questions and hypotheses are formulated to address the main research problem statement:
Research Questions
RQ1: What is the correlation between the proposed introduction of CBT and local attitudes in Barbados?
RQ2: What is the correlation between the proposed introduction of CBT and local expectations in Barbados?
RQ3: What is the correlation between the proposed introduction of CBT and changes in local culture in Barbados?
Research Hypotheses
Ho1: There is no significant relationship between the proposed introduction of CBT and local attitudes in Barbados.
Ha1: There is a significant correlation between the proposed introduction of CBT and local attitudes in Barbados.
Ho2: There is no significant correlation between the proposed introduction of CBT and
local expectations in Barbados.
Ha2: There is a significant correlation between the proposed introduction of CBT and local expectations in Barbados.
Ho3: There is no significant correlation between the proposed introduction of CBT and changes in local culture in Barbados.
Ha3: There is a significant correlation between the proposed introduction of CBT and changes in local culture in Barbados.
Theoretical Framework
This study will identify the relationship between the independent variable, CBT, and the dependent variables, local attitudes, expectations, and change in culture in the context of Barbados. The theoretical framework of this study seeks to provide a foundation for the varying thoughts on CBT, attitudes, expectations, and changes in culture.
Tourism is a major global billion dollar industry that is responsible for worldwide creation of millions of jobs, business ventures, productivity, and disbursed wealth creation(Lorde, 1995). The attempt of CBT is to divide widely the gains of tourism into the community by creating division of wealth among broader spectra of society (Sharma & Dyer, 2009). Different views exist pertaining to the importance and effectiveness of CBT. Lorrant (2011) underscored the need for positive local resident attitudes to effect a successful CBT program. It was suggested; however, that in order for attitudes to be positive, tourism stakeholders needed to: integrate tourism in general governmental planning, broaden its outreach base by initiating programs to help the economy, involve the local community in planning strategies, promote training programs for workers, engage in responsible tourism marketing, and develop a tourism program that is part of government planning, inclusive of society on a whole. Ho (2011) found that residents’ attitudes towards tourism varied in accordance with the impact felt by local residents as a result of the type of strategy that was practiced by tourism stakeholder-planners..
Jim and
The Corona Generation
The Corona Generation
Prompt 1
The COVID-19 epidemic has placed a sharp focus on inequity. Individuals living on the basis of pay check to pay check particularly in the service sector occupations are in a totally distinct situation than the ones working in salaried positions that they may perform from the comfort of their houses. Stark differences in fortune, healthcare and job have shifted from being chronic concerns to acute ones. Some inequities have grown much more relevant in this particular period of social distancing – such as access to regular services. Some have concerns that COVID may make class gaps even wider. Some think that some of the countermeasures to sustain the economic structure may lead to good long-term developments in the political economy. Basic income may not really sound as insane months in the near future as it did a year ago. It is certainly too early to know. The world could be at a historical political turning point. People could be back to business as normal rather fast. Although class differences are of more urgent relevance. There are substantial disparities by income class in both the danger posed by the pandemic, due of underlying health issues, and in degrees of reaction to the risk of becoming infected. As Bristow and Gilland (2020: 72) assert, the main concern brought about by the pandemic will turn out to be of class rather than generation.
Class plays a role in determine which individuals benefit and which ones loses in response to the coronavirus outbreak. This is particularly evident in the academic sector where inequalities between the rich and the poor have exacerbated. Laura describes how she was lucky to enrol in a school that provides all sorts of lessons both traditionally and online means. Nevertheless, in spite of the different sorts of lessons provided by the school, she heavily depended on herself to ensure that she stays on track with the academics. Some students prefer studying patterns that enable them to work in privacy and cover enough content that will enable them to pass their exams. Nevertheless, this will be a different story for other people. This is because even during normal times, individuals that come from the families with better-off backgrounds perform better in terms of academics since their parents can add additional resources to the ones offered by the government in schools. As Bristow and Gilland, 2020) puts it, “Even in ‘normal’ times, kids from better-off backgrounds do better in school because their families can top up the resources offered by state education”. In this period of pandemic, the world has witnessed widening gaps private schools that are trying all their best to justify their exorbitant fees with latest technologies such as Zoom from which they carry out their lessons as well as personalized support. What is offered online by the government schools varies widely, and so does the ability of pupils to engage with what the schools are offering. Learners who are already struggling or demotivated, the ones that do not possess computers, space they can use to do their school work or even lack a good internet connection and whose parents lack the money to hire tutors or acquire additional resources to assist their children keep up with their peers in privileged schools.
In the United States in particular, where the gap between the haves and the have nots in terms of academics is even broader when compared to the United Kingdom, the repercussions of school closures along with the current parental fears for the kids to contract the virus will probably have even starker associated consequences. According to an article by Butler, he predicts that there will be some dire downstream consequences in the middle-class flight from government learning institutions. She also notes that there is already evidence that the minority communities especially the Hispanic and the Blacks are bearing the Brunt of the disease. She additionally warns that white parents the in the upper middle and middle class will likely avoid sending the children two institutions having a larger percentage of the Hispanic and black populations since they will start associating with the virus that has already eliminated within the communities. By doing so, these parents could actually make such stereotypes to become prevalent and true. A majority of the minority community parents earn their living from jobs such as packaging, retail, food delivery as well as hospitals which do not offer them the opportunity to stay at home and hide out from the virus.
As Butler points out, one cause of this gap is that the pandemic could undo the attempts and efforts of integrating learning institutions and this comes as bad news for all learners. Promoting some sort of equality in terms of academics throughout the social divisions of class as well as race was complicated even before the pandemic broke out and the educational polarities in the United States and the United Kingdom were already significantly entrenched.
For the moon, the crisis brought about by the pandemic has presented itself as a tale between two cities. There is the working from home City, which entails corporate executives and professionals who glories in the lack of commute and bicycle rides or rather lovely long walks, spending memorable time with their kids in between the breaks of Zoom lessons established by the private schools. The individuals of this city brag about the money they are saving when they make their own lunch and preach about how people can benefit from the less consumerist lifestyle. On the other hand, there exist the keeping things going City who make their way to waste disposal services, retail outlets, and care homes making use of whatever means available for transportation. They are usually essential workers who work on low wages and often at time rhetorically applauded for the daily coronavirus death tally. They are the individuals who bear the weight of the pandemic. As the two authors puts it, “These are the people who will bear the brunt of health effects of the virus, economic effects of lockdown, and educational effects of school closures.”
The above points out that, the issue of the pandemic crisis is one of class rather than generation. Also, the real individuals do not necessarily reflect the cultural binary of the two cities. The experiences of people during the pandemic have also been impacted by their place of residence, whether they have people relying on them to cater to the needs, and or desperately suffering from their job loss. In this case, age is not a factor, especially in the case of the virus where the risk of serious conditions is clearly linked with advancing age. Nevertheless, it is worth to note that the corona virus pandemic, with its unprecedented characteristics, has not resulted in new problems, a lot has exacerbated what was already existing. This is particularly true at the beginning of the movement restriction as put by governments across the world, the distinction between the covid life and normal life appeared to be very stark thereby questioning the assumptions and norms which had underpinned social life till date.
The two authors are skeptical about ‘generation wars’ in regards to whether the world will witness an emergence of a genuine war between different generations. In their previous work, they have pointed out media and policy narratives that claim conflict of interest that exist between the young and the old generation do not reflect the manner in which folks themselves are concerned about their obligations to and relations with each other. Instead, the generationalist framework has turned out to be a fashionable where the cultural and political elites dodge talking about, let alone confrontation, the deeper cultural, social, and economic tensions which afflict today’s societies. When framed within the deeply divided ‘generation wars’ framework, the issue of skyrocketing house prices, which seem to be due to weak economies’ dependence on over-inflated, financialized residential bubbles, is faulted on an older population in which multitudes of purportedly greedy, rich elderly individuals have the audacity to live in their dwellings, is framed as an issue of race and class. Because of their ego conduct as children, the Baby Boomer generation profited from the post-war welfare system and has wrecked it as an adult. They have the audacity to survive longer than projected, putting a strain on the health-care and social-security systems at tremendous financial risk. Even difficult contemporary political occurrences, like the voting for Brexit in the United Kingdom and the election of Donald Trump in the United States, are interpreted as the result of selfish seniors voting against ‘the future’. Therefore, it carries on and on.
Prompt 2
The corona epidemic has had a significant impact on our day-to-day lives. To prevent the spread of the virus, a lot of effort is being put in. Furthermore, it is critical to consider the future. The measures taken to keep the virus controlled have an impact on our conduct, as well as our freedoms and liberties. Face-to-face conversations were frequently restricted to core network members, like partners, members, of the family or, in certain cases, live-in roommates, during the peak of COVID-19 regulations; some ‘weak’ ties were severed, and conversations became more constrained to those nearest to the person in question. Given the fact that periphery, poorer social relationships gave a greater range of resources, perspectives, and backing, the pandemic led to networks that were shorter and more homogeneous in composition. Because social networks are also flexible and receptive to change in the sense that a disturbance in customary means of connecting can be substituted by modern methods of interacting, such alterations were neither unavoidable nor particularly long-lasting (for example, Zoom). Despite this, there are significant inequities, with networks and individual connections across networks not being capable of adapting to these changes in the same way. I have had a significant number of recently developed friendships and other kind of relationships and I have experienced difficulty transferring these ties in the online spheres, leading to lost contacts and an increased risk of social solitude. I can now positively point out that I have experienced a worsening of my relationships with my colleagues and other people during COVID-19. nevertheless, I have been able to witness something else. When geographical limits like the stay-at-home orders were imposed, local area-based networks arose, leading to increased neighbourly solidarity and local volunteerism.
Connections with neighbours have resulted in the greatest net improvement in the quality of relationships in comparison to a variety of other kinds of relationships for example, partner, colleague, friend. Several of them were formed as a result of unplanned individual encounters within the small communities around where I reside, which collectively gave rise to the “community spirit” that several people experienced. As a result, COVID-19 limitations, I have seen the pandemic to have an influence on both the organisation of personal social networks and the formation of wider networks within society. Another positive effect that I have experienced as a result of the pandemic is intimacy. It is a fundamental human need to feel emotionally connected to others. This can be achieved via romantic, friendship, or familial relationships. Intimate connection has numerous benefits for health, such as reduced levels of stress, better mental health, reduced blood pressure, as well as a lower risk of developing heart disease as research suggests. Favourably, the coronavirus pandemic has provided opportunity for me to reconnect with as well as restrengthen intimate connections within my family by spending quality time around each other when since a majority of the typical outward social activities have been curtailed due to the outbreak. Nevertheless, this comes as two sides of the coin. This is because I have also experienced negative effects of the pandemic in terms of pandemic with my significant other. Interactions have been reduced to video calls. We no longer communicate one on one like before.
References
Bristow, J., & Gilland, E. (2020). The Corona Generation: Coming of Age in A Crisis. John
Hunt Publishing.
Political Knowledge and Democracy Writing Assignment
Political Knowledge and Democracy Writing Assignment
Formatting: 11-point Arial font, 2 full pages, double spaced. Type your name in the header.
Use your book and power point presentations. Outside sources are not required. Use proper citation guidelines for all direct quotes, statistics and other information that is not your own (MLA or APA is fine). Submit in Blackboard by the due date and time. Emailed papers will not be accepted.
Directions: Using your textbook chapter and power point presentations, fully answer all questions found below.
1 –Why is political knowledge important in a democracy?
2– What is the relationship between political efficacy and political knowledge?
3– What were the components of citizenship for the ancient Greeks?
4– What was required for ancient Greek citizens to engage in politics?
5– What types of knowledge is necessary for citizens to effectively participate in politics today? Give examples.
6– What are the challenges of finding reliable political information today?