Contrasting Policies of Russia and the USA - Case Study Example

Compare and Contrast Essays Essay Two Countries: Russia and America Russia and America possesses superiority rivalry prompted by their contrasting policies. The essay contrasts and compares their political, economic, and business culture systems. Economy Despite improvement in Russia’s economy over the last thirteen years, its standards and performance are incomparable to those of United States. United States economy has advanced more than that of Russia specifically in terms of GDP. A GDP graph of Russia and USA per capita from 1948-58 and 1998-2008 respectively is indicative of Russia’s underdevelopment. Source: Adomanis (2013, p. 1) Russian economy significantly improved from 1998 compared to that of America from 1948 as palpable in the graphical comparison of the two rival countries. Apparently, Russian economy in 2008 was lower than that of USA in 1950. Such difference in economy level clearly indicates that Russian economy is underdeveloped than America’s was more than half century ago. Such differences in economy are distinguishable despite the economic difficulties experienced by US in 1950. Presidential Elections in the US and Russia In a society besieged by political choices, elections are fundamental to the choice of leaders. Community members can make informed opinions about the kind of leadership or leaders they would prefer to govern them. In most societies, the most converging and involving political choice is that of the presidential election. Presidential elections typically result into numerous political issues regarding election procedures and transparency. Both Russia and America considers Presidents as the highest authorities with the sole responsibilities of governing their political ideologies. In both the countries, citizens elect their presidents after a series of campaigns and political debates. The main contrast between Russia and US presidential elections is that Russia uses a direct voting system while USA fancies the Electoral College system. Creation of Electoral College resulted as a compromise between electing presidents by direct famous voting method and congress. According to Electoral College system, States receives a specific number of votes in proportion to the congressional delegation number. A congressional delegation consists of a specific number of legislatures and two senators from each state. During state voting, the party that wins the popular votes commands the states electoral votes. In cases where no competing candidate wins majority votes of the Electoral College, the senate has the responsibility of electing the vice president while the House of Representatives elect the President. In contrast, Russia has not enjoyed free democratic elections until 1996. Elections in Russia before 1996 privileged few individuals who had gained political power. The current Russian electoral system obeys democratic rights with its citizens participating freely in presidential elections. Russia presidential election is accessible to citizens above eighteen years except those incompetent or imprisoned by the law. Russia elections unlike that of USA do not consist of Electoral College. Absence of Electoral College indicates that Russian citizens possess more democratic freedom than Americans do. Russia elections also rely on popular votes of its citizens. In cases where neither competing candidates attains over 50 percent majority votes, both countries holds a runoff election. The top two candidates who receive the highest votes in the runoff elections assume the presidency. A difference also exists between the number of parties in US and Russia. The political system of Russia allows numerous parties to participate in elections and decide the fate of the country’s leadership. In USA, only two major parties exist, the Republican Party and the people’s Democratic Party as opposed to Russia with a multi-party system. Despite, the vast number of political parties in Russia, only two parties participates in the final presidential elections. In 1996, however, Russia had seven parties participating in elections. After the first round of elections, only Our Home is Russia and Boris Yeltsin parties proceeded for the runoff elections. Boris Yeltsin won. Russia does not have a vice president, unlike United States. In a place of Vice president, Russia has a premier or a prime minister who assumes the role of Vice president just as in America. America presidential elections have a running mate who thereafter acts as the Vice president as divergent to Russia with a single candidate. American political system consists only of three branches of power, which includes legislature, judiciary, and the executive. Russia, on the contrary, has an additional branch of power called the central bank. Time Difference between Russia and USA Based on time zone, Russia time is normally eight hours ahead of that of USA. When the time in Washington, DC is 4 pm, it would be 8 am in Moscow Russia. American and Russian Business Cultures The Russian business cultures portray characteristics influenced by the soviet era. The most evident business culture includes autocratic management style. In America, a contrast business culture is one that is open and collaborative. Corporate companies in Russia frequently follow a strict hierarchy than businesses in America. In Russia, autocratic authority figures confer corporate decisions and mostly delegate duties and responsibilities to lower employees and managers. It follows a non-democratic corporate system that does not engage complementary ideas from junior employees. American corporate structure is more democratic on the contrary and prefers collective decision making between the senior employees and their juniors. American business professionals prefer electronic business communication style as opposed to Russians who pride in face-to-face meeting. American’s transact their businesses through emails, letters, or fax with familiar or unfamiliar business partners. Russians, on the contrary, prefer doing business with their trusted partners. In corporate meetings, Russian businesspersons frequently show fewer body movements and prefer to listen silently before making judgments. On the contrary, Americans prefer to node continuously during discussions besides numerous body gestures. A similarity exists between business attire in America and Russia. Men in both the countries commonly opt to wear dark suits while women prefer skirts and blouses or business suits. American women wear slacks more frequently than Russian executives do. It is apparent that the American economy has advanced more than that of Russia over the past centuries. Russian GDP is lower than that of America. Despite the inherent economic disparities, both the countries embrace democratic political systems. However, America prefers Electoral College voting system while Russian adopts direct voting. Essay 2 Alligator and Crocodile: Comparison and Contrast Scientists maintain that crocodiles and alligator are two reptiles that have almost similar appearance. Most individuals often mistake crocodiles and alligators. The profound mystery that the scientific researcher needs to unveil is the difference between these two animals. Even though latest scientific findings present some difference between crocodile and alligator, a thorough research is necessary to identify the prominent features that make these two reptiles dissimilar. Both alligator and crocodile belong to the same order. However, their family is different. Crocodile belongs to the Crocodilian family while alligator has its place in the Alligator family. The paper discusses the similarities as well as the difference exhibited by these two reptiles. Crocodile and alligator exhibit several similarities. They share similar physical characteristics and ecological habitat. Key among the biological similarity between these two animals is that they belong to similar taxonomical order. Basing on scientific facts, organisms sharing same taxonomical class exhibit similar behaviors. They are both cold-blooded reptiles. Cold-blooded organisms have their body temperature vary according to changes in the environmental temperature. When temperatures get cold, they adapt by burying themselves in the sand. However, they get into the water when the surrounding temperature gets hot. Alligator and crocodile predominantly inhabit water. Therefore, rivers, streams, lakes and other large water bodies including oceans and seas are host these reptiles (Gallagher 8). Although they spend most of their time staying in the water, these animals always spend a substantial amount of time on land. Latest scientific findings indicate that, these animals prefer staying on the sand mostly when mating. Similarly, female alligators and crocodiles lay their eggs on land, which explains their preferences for sandy places. Interestingly, once they lay the eggs, they bury them deep in the sand. Scientific investigations prove that sand provides the necessary warmth for incubating the eggs. Similarity between alligators and crocodiles exists in their feeding level. Alligator and crocodile share the same trophic level, which is a secondary consumer along the food chain. Technically, they are carnivorous, which refer to a feeding level with organism consuming flesh only as their dietary meal. In addition, these animals apply a similar method for capturing their prey. They spend a considerable amount of time before pouncing on their prey. Surprisingly, alligator and crocodile in their natural environment prefer feeding on rotting meat, which is palatable to them. Both alligator and crocodile mostly feed on fish. Tamed alligator and crocodiles however show dissimilar feeding pattern. Another striking similarity between alligator and crocodile is in the appearance of their skin. They have dry and scaly skin with a rough texture. Biologically, it is challenging to determine the sex type of a young alligator and crocodile. Latest scientific research shows that, alligator and crocodile lack the sex chromosome, which determines gender of each organism. In addition, the findings present that number of days taken for egg to incubate is the prime determinant for the gender of the reptile. Even though alligator and crocodile are similar in number of ways, they also exhibit diverse difference. Both alligator and crocodile show some differences in their physical characteristic. First, alligators have a rounded U-shaped snout whereas that of the crocodile is long and more pointed V-shape nose (Gallagher 7). They both have different types of jaw. The upper jaw of alligators is wider than the lower jaw and can overlap the lower one completely. Consequently, when the mouth of alligators closes, their lower teeth fit in the spaces in the upper jaw. Hind legs of both alligator and crocodile show differences in shape. Crocodiles have a jagged fringe on their rear legs and feet (Gallagher 6). On the other hand, alligators have hind legs that are smooth, but not as strong as the hind legs of crocodiles. Furthermore, alligator have webbed feet, which allow them to swim faster in water than crocodiles. However, crocodiles do not have webbed feet, but instead have serrated. Sizes of alligators and crocodiles vary across geographical divide. American alligator is the bigger of the two species of reptiles. American alligator typically measures from six to twelve feet long; however, it can grow up to nineteen feet long. The Chinese alligator is small and normally measures about five feet long. Chinese alligator can grow to a maximum length of about seven feet. Crocodiles are the biggest and heavyweight of present-day reptiles. The Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, which is in Africa, is the biggest. The saltwater or estuarine crocodile include C. Porosus of Australia also falls among the biggest species of reptiles. These crocodiles can grow to a maximum length of twenty feet long and have excess weight of a thousand kilograms in approximation, which is equivalent to two thousand and two hundred pounds. The smallest species of crocodiles are the smooth-fronted caiman, Paleosuchus. Some crocodiles are dwarf and include Osteolaemus tetraspis, which grows to a maximum length of six feet. In addition, alligator and crocodile exhibit behavioral differences. Most individuals view crocodiles as more forceful than alligators, and this is valid for a few animal categories. For instance, when cleaning alligator pools, zookeepers can tread on the reptile without evoking a reaction. However, crocodiles usually respond forcefully to such actions. Alligators prefer residing in freshwater while crocodiles can endure salty water because they have a functional salt organ on their tongue. The organ allows them to effectively channel out salt. Similarly, alligators have these structures, but they seem to have lost the capacity to utilize them for discharging critical amount of salt and thus wanting to stay in freshwater regions. Alligator and crocodile are both reptiles classified under a common taxonomical order. They both show similarities as well as differences. Among the physical similarities between alligator and crocodile is their scaly skin. Alligator and crocodile also demonstrate a similar feeding pattern, and they are both carnivorous. They predominately stay in the water and only come on land to lay eggs. On the contrary, the two reptiles discussed show diversity in appearance including different nose shape. Essay 3 Animals (elephants) in Zoos and the Wild Elephants in Zoos and wild have differences in their life spans, nature of the food that they consume, the structure that they adopt and their behaviors. However, a few similarities exist between the elephants in the wild and those in the zoos. Elephants differ from the other animals by their high level of intelligence, social structures, modes of communication and their behaviors. The environmental orientation of the elephant serves as a major facet that dictates its nature. Therefore, apparent differences exist in the nature of the elephants in the zoo and the elephants in the wild. Complex nature of elephants makes the differences between elephants in the zoo and those wild appear elaborate. The paper contrasts and compares the nature of the animals in the zoo with those in the wild. Specific consideration and emphasis is on elephants is put in respect to their lifespan, diets, behaviors, and social structures. Lifespan The element of the elephants’ lifespan deserves attention in the course of comparing the elephants in the zoo and their wild counterparts. Research on the lifespan of elephants in the two environs depicts a clear disparity between the lifespan of the animals. Studies indicate that the median lifespan of a female elephant born in the zoo is 17 years (20). Female elephant in the park lives for 56 years, a period that is four times the lifespan of the zoo elephants. Studies carried out from the other parts of the world also bear similar indications. Similarly, the Asian elephants have much worrying statistics. Female elephants in the zoo only live for a period of 19 years, a lifespan that is about half of the lifespan of the Myanma elephants which survive for approximately 42 years. The scenario embodied in the two continents fosters the notion that the elephants that are born and bred in zoos die earlier that the ones in the wild environments. Food Diet of elephants in the zoo feed on and that of their counterparts in the wild is a point of comparison. It is prospective that the nature of the two diets differs in content and the volume or quantity of supply. The duration of consumption of the diet also forms an open aspect for deliberation. Concerning the nutritional value of the diets, the animals in the zoo tend to receive a well-balanced diet that comprises essential minerals in the right proportions. On the other hand, the elephants in the wild feed on a diet that lacks some essential nutrients. Precisely, diets that zoo attendants provide to elephants have supplements of essential nutrients such as minerals that are useful to the jumbos while the diet of their wild counterparts lacks the additional nutritional supplements. The duration of consumption is another concrete aspect of comparisons that relates to the food. The zoo elephants spend less time feeding while in the zoo than the time that their counterparts take in doing the same. While the zoo elephants eat much food within a short duration, the wild elephants consume bulky diet components over long durations. It is because of the food that is available in large quantity and the freedom of roaming that their counterparts lack in the zoo. Behavior of the Animals in the two Set-ups A significance difference also exists in the behavior of the elephants in the zoo and the behavior of the wild ones. While the zoo elephants adopt abnormal behavior that arises from the restriction from varied and rich environments, the wild counterparts retain their natural behavior as they maintain their stay in the wild environments. Research depicts that the zoo elephants tend to indulge in a single activity to a very abnormal extent to recompense for the other activities that they are not able to indulge. On the contrary, the elephants in the wild often diversify their activities. In contrasts to the zoo elephant’s degree of indulgence in their activities, the wild elephants usually engage in many activities intermittently. The prominent example that fosters the disparity in behavior is that the zoo elephants usually sleep or remain mute for a long time while the wild elephants roam in their environment most of the time. On the behavior of the animals present in the two set-ups, research establishes that the zoo environment often frustrates the natural behaviors of the elephants. Contrary to the behavior of the zoo elephants, the wild elephants often maintain their behaviors. Specifically, zoo animals are more aggressive to their fellow animals in the zoos. The phenomenon is uncommon to the elephants in the wild that have less intensified aggression towards their fellow animals in the wild. The behavior of the zoo elephant often intensifies to the extent of causing harm to their mates. However, the extension of the aggression of the elephants in the wild does not usually extend to the point of impairing to their mates in the wild. In some instances though, the wild elephants harm to their mates while in the wild especially in a situation that involve a fight over mates and protection of their young ones. However, the zookeepers also try to place the elephants in zoos into family structures that bear resemblance to the natural family structures in the wild environments. Social Structure The social stratification of the elephants in the two environments also has some facets that deserve comparison. While the elephants in the wild conform to the natural social orientation, the zoo always compromises the social orientations of the zoo elephants. The wild Elephants are gregarious and always form small family sets that consist of an elderly matriarch and three to four offspring together with their young ones. Pelusey and Jane explain that people think of bull elephants as leaders of various family groups (9). However, they lead solitary lives in the wild. On the contrary, the social stratum of the elephants in the zoo often has indefinite forms. The zoo keepers organize the available elephant families according to how they feel is right. Works Cited Adomanis, Mark. “Economically, Russia Is Roughly Where the United States Was In The 1950’s.” Forbes. 2013. Web. 15 Sept. 2014. Accessed from http://www.forbes.com/sites/markadomanis/2013/04/26/economically-russia-is-roughly-where-the-united-states-was-in-the-1950s/ Gallagher, Debbie. Alligators and Crocodiles. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2010. Print. Pelusey, Michael and Jane, Pelusey. Elephants. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2009. Print. Read More