Max Weber’s Politics as a Vocation is important in studying Political Theory. As one of the founders of social science Max Weber has made great contributions to the study of political science. At the end of World War I, when new technology in warfare caused widespread destruction, Max Weber was asked to speak on the aftermath of the war due to his good reputation as one of Germany’s top intellectuals of the time.In Politics as a Vocation, Weber names three distinct attributes for a political leader: “passion(a commitment to the matter in hand), a sense of responsibility, and a sense of proportion.” Weber also contests that passion is not sufficient for political leadership because results or successful completion of a goal or action is
Not only is responsibility one of the three traits Weber lists but responsibility shows how serious one takes something. In reference to Politics as a Vocation, responsibility showcases the “passion” that is needed to be a political leader as Weber states. In order to apply Weber’s theory in politics as a vocation U.S presidencies will be used as a recurring example.In 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast destroying many neigborhoods in the city of New Orleans. President George W Bush was did not respond to the natural disaster in an practical way which ultimately resulted in indefinite destruction of the city (in some areas), displacement in of many residents, and even death in some cases.In this instance President Bush had the resonsility of making sure the residents of New Orleans were safe or in good welfare folloing the storm. President Bush was widely criticized by the way he handled his responsibility as the political leader of the United States. Similarly, 1929 the U.S stock market crashed causing The Great Depression, then President Herbert Hoover had the responsibility of making sure the United States recovered from the financial crisis that caused major unemployment, decline investments and consumer spending. In both instances Bush and Hoover had the responsibility of making efforts to insure that the U.S was able to
A clear sense of judgement in politics outlines the “stern commitment” that the vocation of politics requires. Judgment is paramount in practical leadership because it allows one to act on problems which gives a leader the chance to produce results. In 2008 the united states incurred a major financial crisis which could have led to a crisis similar to the Great Depression. President Barack Obama used great judgement and introduced the stimulus package in order to boost the U.S economy and prevent the financial crisis from becoming as detrimental as the Great Depression. In the same token, President Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR) introduced the experimental revidatitization project known as the New Deal in order to help Americans recover from the great Depression. The New Deal provided jobs for Americans, established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to guarantee deposit security and the social security act for universal retirement pensions. Both President Obama and FDR had a good sense of judgement to the issues that were at hand and to produce effective results in attempt to fix the aftermath of The Great Depression and Hurricane
Historians claim that Hoovers term during the depression was filled with false promises and accuse the president of doing nothing while the depression worsened. Along with worsening the debt and a fairly aggressive use of government it is clear his approach towards the situation was not the best. FDR’s approach would prove during his administration to suffice in the augmentation of the crisis. Although it seemed like a completely opposite presidency, many ideas came from his predecessor. Roosevelt’s team of advisors understood that much of what they produced and fashioned into the New Deal owed its origins to Hoover’s policies.
In 1929, the stock market crashed, bringing great ruin to our country. The result, the Great Depression, was a time of hardship for everyone around the world. The economy in the US was lower than ever and people were suffering immensely. During these trying times, two presidents served- Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (F.D.R.) Both had different views on how the depression should be handled, with Hoover believing that the people could solve the issue themselves with no government involvement, and with F.D.R. believing that the government should work for their people in such difficult times.
Oaths and promises were made by Franklin Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover in their inaugural addresses. Hoover and Roosevelt helped the country face the depression and transition into World War II. Both presidents’ inaugural addresses voiced concern and hope for the country. In their inaugural addresses, Hoover and Roosevelt expressed views about the future, the current situation, the challenges that were faced by our leaders, and how the Great Depression impacted the nation Hoover outlined his hopes for America’s future during his inauguration.
President Franklin Roosevelt was one of the greatest presidents in the history of the United States. He created economic stability when the United States was suffering through the Great Depression. In his first three months of office, known as the Hundred Days, Roosevelt took immediate action to help the struggling nation.1 "In a period of massive unemployment, a collapsed stock market, thousands of banks closing for lack of liquidity, and agricultural prices fallen below the cost of production," Roosevelt passed a series of relief measures.2 These relief measures, known as the New Deal, provided help for individuals and businesses to prevent bankruptcy. Also, the New Deal is responsible for social security, welfare, and national parks. A further reason why Roosevelt is considered a great president is because he was a good role model for being determined in his...
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 marked the start of the great depression which hit America and much of the industrialised world during the 1930’s. The cycle of prosperity turned into a spiral of depression as consumer spending fell by almost half, unemployment rose to over 12 million and there was widespread poverty and homelessness. The Hoover government’s ‘rugged individualism’ meant that people did not receive any relief from the federal government and led to a loss in support for Hoover as people blamed him for their problems. After his landslide victory in 1932, President Roosevelt vowed that through his reforms and economic policies, America would return to the road of prosperity. In 1933 he set out the ‘New Deal’ which sought to deliver relief, recovery, and reform. It could be argued that although the New Deal was effective in certain aspects such as short term relief, it did not end the depression; rather the war was the decisive factor.
Canning, Kathleen. “Responses to German Reunification.” The Journal of the International Institute. 2000. The Regents of the University of Michigan. 07 March 05
Franklin Roosevelt’s “optimism and activism that helped restore the badly shaken confidence of the nation” (pg. 467 Out of Many), was addressed in the New Deal, developed to bring about reform to the American standard of living and its low economy. It did not only make an impact during the Great Depression. Although, many of the problems addressed in the New Deal might have been solved, those with the long lasting effect provide enough evidence to illustrate how great a success the role of the New Deal played out in America’s history to make it what it is today.
Amongst military theorists and practitioners who studied war, its origin and implications, Carl von Clausewitz assumes a place among the most prominent figures. With his book On War, he demonstrated his capability to provide thorough historical analysis and conclusions of the conflicts in which he was engaged, and as a philosopher he reflected about all encompassing aspects of war. Today, Western armies conduct modern warfare in a dynamic environment composed of flexible and multiple threats in which civilians form a substantial part. Studying Clausewitz provides current military and political leadership useful insights to understand twenty-first century warfare. He explains the nature of war, provides an analytical tool to understand the chaos of warfare, and he argues for well educated and adaptable leadership capable of creative thinking. Although he died before his work was complete, his writing style was ambiguous and unclear at some moments, and current technology reduced some of his tactics obsolete, his work still arouses and inspires military and political strategists and analysts.
One effect of the Great Depression was the way that he was able to change American culture in such a short time. His actions gave the executive branch of the government an amount of power that they hadn’t ever wielded prior. Presidents of the past would usually just sign what came across their desk. His work with congress initiated all kinds of reform, recovery and relief programs. “Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced programs between 1933 and 1938, designed to help America pull out of the Great Depression by addressing high rates of unemployment and poverty. An array of services, regulations, and subsidies were introduced by FDR and Congress, including widespread work creation programs. The cornerstones of the New Deal were the Public Works Administration and the National Recovery Administration.” (Croft Communications,
The New Deal period has generally - but not unanimously - been seen as a turning point in American politics, with the states relinquishing much of their autonomy, the President acquiring new authority and importance, and the role of government in citizens' lives increasing. The extent to which this was planned by the architect of the New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt, has been greatly contested, however. Yet, while it is instructive to note the limitations of Roosevelt's leadership, there is not much sense in the claims that the New Deal was haphazard, a jumble of expedient and populist schemes, or as W. Williams has put it, "undirected". FDR had a clear overarching vision of what he wanted to do to America, and was prepared to drive through the structural changes required to achieve this vision.
The United States faced the worst economic downfall in history during the Great Depression. A domino effect devastated every aspect of the economy, unemployment rate was at an all time high, banks were declaring bankruptcy and the frustration of the general public led to the highest suicide rates America has ever encountered. In the 1930’s Franklin D Roosevelt introduced the New Deal reforms, which aimed to “reconcile democracy, individual liberty and economic planning” (Liberty 863). The New Deal reforms were effective in the short term but faced criticism as it transformed the role of government and shaped the lives of American citizens.
The art of war has been a vital aspect of state-making throughout history. Max Weber contends in his essay, Politics as a Vocation, that the State is a “human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory” (Weber, 77), a definition that political experts cite to this day. However, many scholars today believe that we have created a new type of warfare, one that questions the validity of the statehood of current international powers as well as Weber’s own precedent for identifying States.
“It is your problem no less than it is mine. Together we cannot fail,” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt said in the closing of his weekly “fireside chat” on March 12, 1933, while discussing, with the hundreds of thousands of bewildered United States citizens, the painful topic of the Great Depression. When Roosevelt took office in March of 1933, just five months after the fateful stock market crash that caused the depression, America was in full-blown economic turmoil. Every day after the crash, more and more people were laid off from their already low paying jobs, making it impossible for them to support their families, and even themselves. While characterizing the aftermath of the depression in his First Inaugural Address, FDR reveals that “the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.” FDR had an indisputable determination to solve this nationwide dilemma, evident in his solution, named The New Deal. However, it has been constantly debated whether the New Deal was a success or a failure. This question is now brought up, once again.
MODERN HISTORY – RESEARCH ESSAY “To what extent was Nazi Germany a Totalitarian state in the period from 1934 to 1939?” The extent to which Nazi Germany was a totalitarian state can be classed as a substantial amount. With Hitler as Fuhrer and his ministers in control of most aspects of German social, political, legal, economical, and cultural life during the years 1934 to 1939, they mastered complete control and dictation upon Germany. In modern history, there have been some governments, which have successfully, and others unsuccessfully carried out a totalitarian state. A totalitarian state is one in which a single ideology is existent and addresses all aspects of life and outlines means to attain the final goal, government is run by a single mass party through which the people are mobilized to muster energy and support.
Within Nazi government, Hitler acted as the final source of authority, which serves as evidence against the notion that Hitler was ‘weak’. Having consolidated power by 1934 Hitler was, at least theoretically, omnipotent, being Chancellor, Head of State and “supreme judge of the nation”. However, the notion that Nazi government systematically pursued the clear objectives of the Fuhrer is challenged by the reality of Nazi government structure. It has been widely accepted by historians that the Nazi State was a chaotic collection of rival power blocs. Mommsen’s explanation that this was the result of Hitler’s apathy towards government a...