Basseri of Iran Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Basseri of Iran - Research Paper Example One definition offered for pastoral nomads is that they are â€Å"societies specializing in animal husbandry requiring periodic movement† (Barfield, 1984). For such societies, â€Å"animal husbandry is †¦an ideal way of making a living† and â€Å"movement of all or part of the society is considered a normal and natural part of life† (Barfield, 1984). Another interesting aspect of this people is that in the modern context, though they may be making more income out of activities other than pastoralism, still â€Å"the concept of nomadic pastoralism remains central to their own identities† (Barfield, 1984). Generations who have remained pastoral nomads have instilled a unique culture into this people, which cannot be erased by modernity that easily. Phillips (2001) has observed that â€Å"Basseri are true nomads, sometimes moving camp nearly everyday† (p.286). Studies (Phillips, 2001) about Basseri have shown that a group of Basseris may establish and re-erect their tent on an average of â€Å"120 times a year† (p.286). As seasons change, they follow a route that take them into pastures along the valleys and also help their cattle cope with the rising temperatures (Philipps, 2001, p.286). During summer, thus they reach the high altitudes and in the autumn, commence the return journey to the valleys (Philipps, 2001, p.286). In this way, Basseri is a people constantly on the move. And the movement in their life is connected with their primary mode of subsistence. A section of these nomads have now become sedentary while another major section still remains true to their nomadic culture (Philipps, 2001, p.283). Primary mode of subsistence As discussed above, the primary mode of subsistence for Basseri tribe has been pastoralism. They have a pattern of â€Å"annual movement cycles† which make them travel according to the climate and availability of grass for their cattle (Marx, 1977, p.344). They are also seen to mo ve around based on â€Å"subsistence units†, which are specific areas that they move into under the norm that it is their â€Å"territory† (Marx, 1977, p.344). The livelihood of Basseri tribe has been by selling meat and skin, and other pastoral products (Tapper, 1997, p.21). Anthropologists have even named the pastoral and nomadic tribes of Iran as â€Å"units of subsistence†, a nomenclature indicative of how the very mode of subsistence becomes their socio-cultural identity. Pastoralist Being pastoral does not mean that the only subsistence of a society is pastoralism. Instead such a nomenclature is just indicative that â€Å"as long as economic alternatives are insecure, and pastoralism serves as the economic base, †¦people are justly called pastoral nomads† (Marx, 1977, p.344). But the more important aspect, as discussed above is that pastoralism is always â€Å"the mainstay of their culture† (Marx, 1977, p. 344). Another fact is that past oralism is found to develop only in places where â€Å"water is seasonally in short supply† (Marx, 1977, p.345). In the deserts of Middle East, every year, there are alternating dry and wet spells of weather. It is to cope with this climatic condition that Basseri tribe became nomadic and pastoral. Culture The Basseri culture is distinct with strong ties of kinship, which has resulted in the formation of independent families who inhabit a tent.

Sir Oswald Mosley, his Political development and his Contribution to Research Paper

Sir Oswald Mosley, his Political development and his Contribution to Politics - Research Paper Example He proposed and advocated for an Irish policy of withdrawal and non-intervention, which he stood for in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Mosley later returned to parliament as an independent candidate in the parliamentary elections of 1922 and 1923. He then joined the labour party in 1924 and began to qualify himself as an expert on economic policies. In 1927, he was elected to the labour party’s national committee and then in 1929, as a chancellor of Duchy in Lancaster. Mosley resigned from office on 20 May 1930. In 1931, he founded the new party together with other MP’s. The 1930’s were characterized by emergence of Fascism in British politics. In 1932, Mosley founded a paramilitary organization called the British Union of Fascists (BUF). The ‘Battle of Cable Street’ refers to a confrontation that took place in London East end, on 4th October 1936. The police, British Union Fascists, and antifascists were involved. Keywords: Career, Sir Oswald Mosley, Battle of Cable street, British Union of Fascists, Politics Sir Oswald Mosley is best remembered for leading The British Union of Fascists in the 1930’s, as well as his unwavering support of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. From a tender age, Mosley was an active politician before turning to Fascism in 1932 (Thackeray & Findling, 2012). Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley was born in London on 16th November 1896. He was the first born child to Katherine Mead Heathcoat and Oswald Mosley. He was the eldest of three children in Oswald Mosley’s family. He was educated in Winchester, Sandhurst. He later, served in the army as a pilot and Calvary officer during World War 1, until he was circumscribed out of the army in 1916, due to an old injury. He was later elected into parliament as a Conservative coalition-unionist in December 1918 (Thackeray & Findling, 2012). Mosley got married to Cynthia Curzon, the daughter of the foreign secretary in 1920, in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary (Ritschel, 1997). Mosley’s political career was largely successful and the impetus to Mosley’s youthful political motivation was his commitment to patriotic purpose of national economic recovery and social reconstruction (Ritschel, 1997). In November 1920, Mosley opposed the British government’s policy on Ireland’s independence. This made him attain immense publicity due to his critique of government troop’s reprisals and atrocities against Ireland. Mosley proposed and advocated for an Irish policy of withdrawal and non-intervention, which he stood for in the 1920’s and 1930’s. He later returned to parliament as an independent candidate in the parliamentary elections of 1922 and 1923 (Strauss, 1993). Mosley then joined the labour party in 1924, and began to qualify himself as an expert on economic policies. It is hard however to determine whether Mosley was committed to matters of the British government, or he was just acting as a non-conformist. His unwillingness to conform to party discipline and majority decisions is evident in his controversy over unemployment policy. In 1927, he was elected to the labour party’s national committee and then in 1929, as a chancellor of Duchy in Lancaster (Strauss, 1993) In January 1930, Mosley submitted Mosley’s Memorandum to the British Prime Minister. The Memorandum was an elaborate plan on how to solve the British economy woes at the time that emanated from the