Political science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Political science - Essay Example As Hoffman and William say. A further reason why the Middle East is becoming more important is high oil prices. Although oil prices are far below their 2008 peak of US$147/bbl, they are expected to remain high due to rising demand from China, India, and other emerging markets. Despite efforts by international oil companies to tap into new sources, such as the Caspian Sea, West Africa, and Brazil’s offshore deposits, and despite moves to develop alternative energy sources, oil is likely to remain paramount. Meanwhile, the windfall of high oil prices should continue to boost investment in the Middle East, making it an important economic region. Apart from Israel, Lebanon and Turkey, no Middle Eastern state has an entirely democratic political system. Iran has competitive elections, but ultimate power rests with the ruling clerics. The other countries are all absolute monarchies or led by authoritarian presidents, although there are varying degrees of parliamentary representation. As a result, most leaders have questionable legitimacy. Opposition groups tend to be suppressed, and governments maintain powerful security services to keep their populations in line. This system of government has fostered patronage and corruption, in turn adding to public dissatisfaction. Arguably, the biggest question for the Middle East is whether it can continue to be an exception to the spread of democracy worldwide or whether democracy will eventually take hold. As per Wunderle openion. Over the coming decade, we expect several Middle Eastern states – notably Egypt and Saudi Arabia – to face succession issues, as incumbent heads of state pass from the scene. In Egypt, the outlook is highly uncertain, amid signs that President Hosni Mubarak is grooming his son Gamal to succeed him and opposition to this. In Saudi Arabia, the succession procedure is clearer cut, but a power

Future of Healthcare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Future of Healthcare - Essay Example untries such as the United States have established public health care as an intervention to manage and control illnesses, injuries and other health disorders through disease surveillance, and encouragement of health behavior, environment and the society. It was intended to improve the accessibility of health services through private and public insurance health care provision to all Americans (AcademyHealth, 2011). Although introduction of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010 has addressed various challenges facing the health sector the reform has its share of challenges, risks, and opportunities for the people and the state. The drive to increase government involvement in health care administration in the United Stated State can be traced in 1912 following the presidential candidate on the Progressive Party ticket Theodore Roosevelt call for creation of a national health insurance scheme to replicate that of Germany (Emanuel, 2014). After the Great Depression, the proposal gained attention in 1932 when Wilbur Commission, a governmental panel observed that millions of American residents lacked access to affordable medical cover (AcademyHealth, 2011). They suggested a medical group practices and prepayment scheme where the group would contribute finances to cover the members. The intention was to provide every American with medical cover. However, the system experienced myriad challenges partly because of inadequate funds the state was facing and partly because the American Medical Association (AMA) failed to endorse government-run healthcare. These led to the failure of legislation to support the proposa l. Another attempt to provide a ten-year health care for all Americans was put across by President Harry Truman in 1945. However, the effort was thwarted by AMAs warning of the detriment of socializing medical care and subsequent opposition by the Congress (Brill, 2015). However, these proposals set the ground for subsequent political debates to