Bibliographies for 3 journal articles - Annotated Bibliography Example

Annotated Bibliography (Article from the ial reading list) Study of social sciences is an interesting subject with its vast scope and transient nature. It is the study of man and the society that he lives in. Within its scope also comes the various rules and norms on which the society as whole works. The study of social sciences is interesting in the sense that it keeps on changing with time, adjusting itself to the prevalent norms of the present period. This article deals with the study of various social issues like immigrants, racial discrimination and social transformations, that have been a problem from times immemorial, yet continue to challenge us even today. It is time that we take a look at some of the old social issues that still continue to plague us, in a completely new perspective, in order to solve the problem once and for all. Castles, S. (2003). Towards a sociology of forced migration and social transformation. Sociology, 37(1), 13- 34. This article by Castle gives us an insight into the world of ‘forced migration’ and the effects that it may have had on the social changes that we see around us today. Forced migration may arise from displacements owing to ongoing wars, environmental disasters, ‘failed states’, or, even from ‘developmental projects’, which causes displacement of many people (mainly the poor and ethnic people), and illegal trafficking of men for bonded labour, and women and child for sex exploitation. Such forced migration which had seen an upward surge after the end of the Cold War, has remarkably changed the social demographics of many countries (in the northern hemisphere) in the twentieth century. A large number of immigrating crowds have led to a complete change in the sociological conditions in those host countries. The author in the article explores the main reasons behind these sudden immigrations, which has causes such huge changes in the social demographics, in the northern part of the world. The article does a close review of the topic of social transformation that we are seeing today in this globalised world, and links it to the issue of forced migration, which had showed a sudden spurt after the end of Cold War in 1991, with the breakdown of the then USSR, resulting in the supreme reign of USA as the world power. The author’s main aim is to offer the social scientists a different perspective with which to view this ‘social transformation’, which he does quite successfully as he very clearly points out the various reasons behind the migrations that took place in the eighties. Here Castle does a reality check on the various causes pertaining to such large scale migrations, and with clinching evidences, places the blame squarely at the door of the economic greed of the northern world, which has supported and often fomented, albeit discreetly, trouble and unrest in certain countries in the southern hemisphere. Instead of indicting this change in social picture worldwide on the current spate of globalisation (which is more common), it is indeed commending to see as to how the author goes beyond everyday clichéd thinking, and hunt for real reasons for the social transformation that we are seeing today. This article is very absorbing and an invaluable read up in the sense that it presents to us a very honest and rustic picture of the real reasons behind such large scale forced migrations that have caused dramatic changes in social conditions worldwide. It is indeed necessary for us to understand as to why immigrants have come to our country, instead of blaming wrongfully them for all things gone wrong. This write-up has certain strong educational implications, which we comprehend as we read the entire article. It takes the issue of immigration and the resultant change in social demographics, and explains to us very lucidly as to why this immigration had taken place. As we read the article it forces us, as young students, to re-think about all the prejudices and biases that have become a part of our mental makeup. It reflects a remarkable analysis of the reasons for forced migrations that have caused changes in our present day social demographics. Reading this helps us, as students, to comprehend the reasons as to why people leave their motherlands, to go and settle abroad. Being at an age when we are impressible and liable to change our mental make-up if presented with strong convincing arguments, this article serves that exact purpose. It makes us feel more empathetic towards the immigrants and their families. It also helps our young minds to comprehend that not all immigrations have taken place willingly, and that these foreigners hadn’t actually come to take over our country and our economic power. (Article from the general reference list) Welch, A. (2007). Cultural difference and identity. In R. Connell, C. Campbell, M. Vickers, A. Welch, D. Foley & N. Bagnall (Eds.), Education, change and society (pp. 155-187). New York: Oxford University Press. Welch in this article puts forward a relevant question while analysing the multicultural aspect of Australia. He starts with a line from the Australian anthem which runs “For those who come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share” and then puts it within the frame of the recent spate of racial attacks in Australia. He wonders whether the Australians actually comprehend the meaning of the term ‘multicultural values’. Welch puts forward a very pertinent point that tells us that all Australians are immigrants; in fact the country was created with the coming of the immigrants from various parts of the world. Here he stresses on the importance of integrating the study of multicultural aspects, within the educational curriculum of Australian schools. Welch feels that a good knowledge on the issue of multicultural values would help to create an open dialogue between different racial groups, leading to mutual respect and recognition of the other. This article does a very detailed and specific exploration on the topic of multicultural issues in Australia. This article is very revealing in its forthright and impartial analysis of the history of migration to Australia, and does not hesitate to point out that the so called ‘original inhabitants’ were actually immigrants from England, who wanted to keep out everyone from this country, including the other ‘whites’. As clinching evidence, the author presents numerical representations of the various races that are seen in this country today, and sends forth a strong message to the concerned authorities about changing their outlook and perspective on the presence of the non-whites in Australia. While reading the article it gives us a feeling of shock, as we realise that the author is indeed telling us the truth and doing a complete reality check. This article is unique and invaluable in the sense that it stands up, defying all the racial tensions and hatred that we see around us, and points out to us very clearly that Australia from its very conception, has no right or claim to belong to any one particular race. Formed from immigrants, it basic nature is multicultural and multiethnic. This article with its revealing facts and figures helps our young minds to understand our true roots, and thus helps in developing a mutual appreciation for each other. As we traverse with Welch in the in-depth exploration that he conducts on the history of migration in Australia, it makes more aware of our own past belongings, our present stand, and our future travails. This article indeed does a commendable job by forcing us to look beyond our petty boundaries of whites, non-whites, Asians, Australians, Americans, Africans, and look at a future that is more tolerant and more conducive. It helps us to realise that peaceful co-habitation is indeed a better option, than resorting to needless violence and venting our own frustrations on other innocent people. McCarthy, C. (1997). ‘The problems with origins- race and the contrapuntal nature of the educational experience’. In Henry Giroux and Patrick Shannon, Education and cultural studies: toward a performative practice. New York: Routledge. p. 119-139. The author in this article puts forward the argument, if one perceives the concept of race only from the narrow angle of racial perspectives; will never completely comprehend its true meaning. To understand it completely one will have to apprehend the complex dynamic relationships that exist between gender, ethnicity and class distinctions. The author says that it has often been noticed that the dynamics between class and gender often lie at a perpendicular to race. The writer tells us that after the civil war America had dramatically seen a rise in insecurity amongst the white population, while there exists even amongst the Africans wide discriminations based on race, ethnicity and gender. The writer puts forward many examples collected from various schools and class rooms to drive home the point that race cannot be looked from a single perspective, if one wishes to deal with it effectively. He stresses on the fact that it is necessary to understand the history of the majority and the minority races, to get a complete picture of their current social setting. The author here examines the complex relationship between race, society and education. He puts forward many examples and does an in-depth exploration on each of these situations, to understand what constitutes race and how one handle can the complex relationships that it has with gender, language and ethnicity. The writer here quite correctly analyses the fact that until we move out of our narrow realms of the so called ‘black and white world’, we will not be able to remove racial discrimination from our society. It is indeed necessary to accept the fact that today’s world is plagued with the problems of discrimination based on race, culture or language, and on accepting this simple truth we will be able to move towards framing a better solution. A school, which the author correctly represents, must be formed in such a manner that it becomes a social function where people with multicultural values join hands together to bring about solidarity and affirmation in the lives of the young people. This article is extremely interesting and being a little more complex than the previous two, provides more fodder for thought. Racial discrimination is almost as old as the history of human civilisation itself, and still unfortunately continues to plague us. This article is innovative in the sense that it disregards most of the old and archaic theories on race, and takes a look at racial discrimination from a wider perspective, that includes viewpoints of both the black and the white population. Here the writer correctly says that school education should not only be restricted for a selected few, but should be made available to all, without any bias or discrimination of any sort. Reading this article that takes a look at the theory of race from a new perspective forces us readers, to rethink about our social prejudices. This article is also novel in the sense that it asks us to be honest and accept the problem and realise that we all have discriminatory feelings within us. Once we accept the ground truth it would become easier for us to work out a better solution. New times call for new perspectives, and this is what the author appeals for, and this is also what we feel, as we read the article, is the correct solution to handle this extremely sensitive matter. Like the author we also feel that education should be made free from all racial discriminations, and which would in turn help young minds to slowly become free of any prejudices pertaining to race, colour or culture. A social issue like racial discrimination is very old, and still continues to be a problem. It is time for us to discard all the old and failed theories that tried to explain, and hunted for a solution, which never came. In this modern age we have now reached a stage where it is necessary for us to first accept the problem and then look for new solutions. Immigration, which has lately turned into a burning social issue, needs to be given a second look. This problem needs a deep study and the reasons which Stephen Castle explains in his article, be made known to all. This is necessary because people who are ready to attack immigrants,’ need to understand the real reasons that lay behind these immigrations. Welch’s article which is an eye opener, directly addresses the problems that we are seeing in Australia today, and probes for a workable solution. All the three articles have tremendous educational implications, as it forces us to rethink in retrospect, and look beyond our prejudices and biases, which have been ingrained into our mental make-up by the surrounding social conditions. These articles indeed help us to clear many of our misapprehensions and force us to see in the correct direction. Read More