Modern World History - Assimilation & Exclusion in Societies Research Paper

Modern World History - Assimilation & Exclusion in Societies - Research Paper Example Burchardt et al defined social exclusion as â€Å"†¦the attempt of one group to secure for itself a privileged position at the expense of some other group through a process of subordination..† (p.2). Social exclusion has existed in so many ways and forms in societies. South East Asia generally refers to the nations east of the Indian sub-continent and west of China and the Indian Ocean islands south of these nations. It includes Burma, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Most of the people living in these areas speak dialects of the Austronesian family of languages and they share similar cultural practices and animist religious traits (McKay, p.429). In the 13th Century, Jewish, Christian and Muslim influences were felt in the region by traders. After the 1300s the Muslims established the Malacca which became a trading entry point and flourished in trade (McKay, 430) In 1511, the Portuguese captured Malacca and the Spanish occupied Manilla in 1571. Th is marked the beginning of world-class social exclusion in this region. The Europeans sent missionaries to convert the Southeast Asians with a view of training them to integrate into their Europeanized colonies. Mendelssohn & Marika report that the Europeans used the support of these Europeanized natives to suppress ‘inferior’ tribes. ... They were granted second grade status. (Bauer, p79) In 1599, a Dutch fleet containing large quantities of spices returned to Amsterdam and this prospect caused them to establish the Dutch East Indies Company with the intention of taking over the spice trade from the Portuguese (Kagan et al p.77). The Dutch East Indies Company became the national tool for the colonization of several islands in South East Asia by the 1700s. Britain followed with the colonization of Malaysia and some other lands in the region whilst the French took over the territory now known as Vietnam. The next thing that followed was widespread social exclusion, where white Europeans were living privileged lives on the socio-economic plane whilst the natives toiled on the farms. â€Å"In Southeast Asia, economic profit was the immediate and primary aim of the colonial enterprise. For that purpose, colonial powers tried wherever possible to work with local elites to facilitate the exploitation of natural resources. Indirect rule reduced the cost of training European administrators and had a less severe impact on the social group.† (Duiker, p36). The colonial powers forced the natives to work hard on plantations in very harsh conditions. The Europeans exported all the products, mainly palm oil and spices to Europe, which they sold for very high profit margins. Duiker reports that the South East Asian barely had enough to feed himself and his family. However, the Europeans and their ‘priyayi’ (native collaborators) enjoyed luxurious lives in Southeast Asia whilst the locals were denied rights to basic necessities like education, healthcare and justice. The main advantage of colonialism is that it set the stage for the modernization of these nations.

Communicable Disease Medical Definition Assignment - 73

Communicable Disease Medical Definition - Assignment Example It spreads from person to person when a mosquito feeds on human blood (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). According to Stanhope and Lancaster, Malaria affects the liver and Erythrocytes, and it is characterized by high fever and other symptoms resembling those of flu. It mostly affects pregnant mothers and children under the age of five (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). It is one of the key contributors to infant mortality, especially in African countries, where it is responsible for over a million deaths annually. This disease was earlier considered as a tropical disease, but with the advent of global travel, the disease can affect anybody and anywhere as long as they have been to a Malaria prone region (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). Malaria infections in the United States occur to those people who have traveled to areas that are prone to the insect carrying the parasite. The government’s efforts in curbing malaria include medical screening at all points of entry, into the country, to e nsure that those who are infected get immediate treatment regimen to prevent further spread of the infection. It has embarked on public sensitization programs to deal with pest control and how to identify the first signs of Malaria. The use of mosquito nets, repellents, and protective clothing has also been encouraged in a number of counties where there are high mosquito populations like Louisiana and Florida. The challenges that are encountered in the prevention and treatment of Malaria are usually people related. The belief that Malaria is a tropical disease makes people and even some doctors misdiagnose the disease as a bad form of flu since most of its symptoms are flu-like. The government is also making efforts to develop a vaccine that can be given to people traveling out of the country. Â