Gasb and Fasb Essay

Board is to establish and improve standards of state and local governmental accounting and financial reporting that will result in useful information for users of financial reports and guide and educate the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of those financial reports. source: http://www. gasb. org/ FASB: The mission of the Financial Accounting Standards Board is to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information. ource: http://www. fasb. org/ Similarities & Differences: Both boards share the following objectives: 1. To be objective in its decision making and to ensure, insofar as possible, the neutrality of information resulting from its standards. 2. To weigh carefully the views of its constituents in developing concepts and standards. 3. To promulgate standards only when the expected benefits exceed the perceived costs. 4. To bring about n eeded changes in ways that minimize disruption to the continuity of reporting practice. . To review the effects of past decisions and interpret, amend or replace standards in a timely fashion when such action is indicated. The main difference between the two is that the GASB is specific to individual state legislatures and the FASB is on a federal level, so their scope is much broader. Compare and contrast GASB and FASB. Explain objectives and how they are similar and different. Describe how the modified accrual basis of accounting differs from full accrual accounting. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board were created to establish accounting and financial reporting standards for governmental and not-for-profit organizations. The GASB for governments and the FASB for not-for-profit organizations. Governmental and not-for-profit organization financial statements serve the purpose and needs of their users. These users include governing boards, investors and creditors, taxpayers and citizens, and organizational members, donors and grantors, regulatory and oversight agencies, and employees and other constituents. Users of these statements should be able to assess an organization financial condition, compare an organization’s actual performance with the budget, determine compliance with appropriate laws, regulations and restrictions on the use of funds and evaluate efficiency and effectiveness. (Granof, 2007, pg. 13) The GASB places importance on accountability and feels that the government should be accountable to citizens. In achieving this goal the objectives of the GASB is that organizations are accountable to the citizens. This accountability insists that financial reporting information that will reveal whether current-year revenues are enough to pay current-year expenses; demonstrate whether budgets were adhered to; and mission The objective for the GASB is to set standard in accounting and financial reporting for state and local governments. These standards are to provide useful information for the users of financial reports. In achieving this goal the objectives of the GASB is that organizations are accountable to the citizens. This accountability insists that financial reporting information that will reveal whether current-year revenues are enough to pay current-year expenses; demonstrate whether budgets were adhered to; and assist users in assessing cost and accomplishments of the government organization. According to the GASB users should be able to determine the operating results of the entity for the year with the use of its financial reporting by providing information about sources and uses of financial resources, how the entity financed its activities and meet its cash requirements, and whether the organization financial position improved or eteriorated due to operations. Ensuring that financial reports allow users to determine what level and if the government entity will be able to meet its obligations by providing information on the financial condition and position, about its physical and nonfinancial resources and disclousrue of legal or contractual restrictions on resources and their risks. The F ASB’s mandate is to set accounting and financial reporting for not-for-profit organizations. The FASB determined that financial reporting should provide information that help users make decisions about the allocation of resources, assess services and the ability to continue to provide service, assess how managers discharge their stewardship responsibilities and their performance. In addition, the FASB requires that information is provided about economic resoreces, obligations and net resources of an organization, periodic performance of the organization, how cash and liquid assets are spent and its borrowing and repayment and explainations and interpretations to understand financial information. Differences between GASB and FASB is that the GASB sets standards for state and local governments while the FASB set standards for the federal government. Another difference is that GASB feels that government organizations should adhere to budget compliancy while the FASB does not place specific emphais on budgets but on managers and their manangement . The modified accrual basis is a form of accounting where expenditures are recognized on a accrual basis and cash basis. When using the modified accrual basis revenues are recognized in the period they become available and measureable. On the other hand the full accrual basis of accounting calls for the recognition of revenues and expenses when they are incurred no matter when the monetary transaction takes place.

Light and Saint Luke

The painting St. Luke by Master Theodoric was painted 1360-1364 and is paint and gold on panel. The size of the piece is 115 x 94 cm. St. Luke is located in the Holy Cross Chapel, Karlstejn Castle, near Prague. One of the most intriguing parts of this painting is above Saint Luke’s right shoulder is a tan colored miniature ox. Although the ox is a symbol of Saint Luke, when I see this piece the miniature ox gives the impression to be an ominous figure in the painting. This may not be the focal point of this artwork however; this small part is the first object that I noticed. What makes this painting unique and is two parts of the painting spill over onto the golden frame. Perhaps the most noticeable part of this painting is Saint Luke’s piercing gaze. I believe this to be the focal point of the painting. His large gray eyes seem to looking to the right, not right at the viewer, his stare is slightly eerie. He is an older man; the signs of age can be seen on his forehead and the graying in his facial hair. Saint Luke’s beard is long, like you would expect of the time. It is very wavy and seems to curl in places. His head seems to be large which during the time this piece was painted was a common style toward the end of that century was. Saint Luke is wearing a vibrant blue robe like the types you would see in religious artworks. The detail in the color of his robe stands out. For instance, darker shades were used in parts of the folds of the material. The lighter parts are the outside, it gives the illusion that there may be a light facing the painting and the light is reflecting off his robe. Another important detail is in front of his heart is a cross painted in the lighter shade of blue of the robe. The placement of the cross is situated over his heart. Under the cross his hand is extend out of the robe. His hand has long boney fingers with blue veins on the top of his hand. It doesn’t give the impression of someone that is elderly because it lacks wrinkles, mostly appears as it is someone who is frail. In his left hand is a thick book that has a red cover and white sheets of paper. The book looks as though it may be a bible. The book is open to the middle of the book facing out; the pages of the book are blank. In the upper left corner of the painting is the miniature ox which is a symbol of Saint Luke. The ox seems to be breaking through the wall behind Saint Luke and resting on his right shoulder. Behind the ox is a brilliant blue sky with white clouds. The ox is a dark beige color, a very earthy tone. His right profile is the only part of his face that you can see; his eye is a deep red color. On top of his head are his horns which are a light brown at the base and gradually take a darker shade, they are black at the tips of his horns. At the base his hair is curly and the same shade as his body. On his back are odd shape wings that are multiple shades of light and dark pinks. The shape is wavy with the small feathers. They are not the normal shape of wings that you are customary of seeing. The background looks to be a wall that is painted gold in a geometric pattern. The pattern is very detailed, there appears to be flowers in the shapes. Behind Saint Luke’s head there appears to be a halo painted in the same bold gold color. The designs behind Saint Luke are the same design carried over to the frame giving the appearance of the painting being three dimensional. On the frame at the top where the miniature ox is coming through the wall behind Saint Luke, the blue sky is paint is overlapping on the frame. This also occurs on the right side of the frame, the top right corner of the open book is painted onto the frame also. At the bottom of the frame there is an oval cut out. Within the cut out there is another cutout possibly meant to hold some sort of object, it looks to be empty. The style in which this artwork was painted to me says good and evil. The miniature ox to me looks like a goat due to the size and I have never heard of a miniature ox. The red eye and the horns give the impression that he represents the devil. Saint Luke to me symbolizes holy and spiritual. I am uncertain the meaning and purpose of the open book with the blank pages. Religious works of art such as paintings, sculptures, and architectures can be interpreted many ways by many different people.

Response To A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift Essay...

Desperate times often call for desperate measures, and proposals of desperate measures are often met with swift criticism if they are found to be without rational thought and merit. It is unlikely that anyone in their right mind would consider, for any amount of time, the proposal of rearing children, or properly raising them, as food to help alleviate poverty-stricken Ireland in 1729. Yet, Jonathan Swift’s suggestion was satirical brilliance, and it was a modest proposal for illuminating the cause of Ireland’s woes. The proposal was not actually eating children but placing a mirror for the reader to reflect upon. The target audience of landlords, gentlemen, and other people of stature were more than accustomed to stepping on the poor on†¦show more content†¦In extreme circumstances, it is frowned upon, but in lesser degrees, it is accepted as part of the cost of doing business. Profit margins are continuously rewarded, while countries that have abysmal human r ight records are producing goods for countries that ban such practices. Just recently, a company that produces touch screens for electronic devices, which are made for a company that uses a logo not comparable to an orange, was punished for using a banned chemical to clean the products. Nearly a month later, the company is still using it and as a result, one employee has died from exposure and others have shown adverse effects. Turning the clock back nearly 300 years, we find similar circumstances for Ireland, having tariffs placed on products sold to England. Higher costs mean lower margins and less importance placed on the conditions in which the products are made to help the profit margin. The desperate have to keep their jobs to pay exorbitant rent to absentee landlords, and greedy rulers. So what’s new? Why can we not seem to break this cycle? Swift’s proposal attempted to do so with the same logic and motivation that he considered to be the cause of the melanchol y that could be observed traveling through Ireland. He aims his observations and remarks as sympathetic for the people, but more importantly empathetic because, as a prosperous traveler, one does not want to see such things whileShow MoreRelatedHardship in Ireland in A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift850 Words   |  4 Pages In Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal† written in 1729, he writes of the hardships faced by the lower class and proposes a solution to help it out. Living in Ireland, Swift witnessed many hardships suffered among the poor, such as stealing and begging. However, not too far away, the British royalty was living a lavish lifestyle, and by doing so, it was sucking the life out of the poor. Jonathan Swift saw this enormous unbalance of wealth and wanted to do something about it. Therefore, in his articleRead MoreThe Satirical Nature of Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal Essay example662 Words   |  3 Pages A Modest Proposal The satirical essay â€Å"A Modest Proposal† written and published in in 1729 by an Anglo- Irish man named Jonathan Swift, in response to the worsening conditions of Ireland, was one of his most controversial and severe writings of his time. The narrator in Swift’s essay â€Å"A Modest Proposal† argues for a drastic and radical end to poverty in Ireland. Swift’s proposal suggests that the needy, poor people of Ireland can ease their troubles simply by selling their children as food toRead More Self Representation and the Self-Defeating Speaker in Jonathan Swift1735 Words   |  7 PagesBecause Swift constructs a speaker who is meant to be seen as himself in â€Å"Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D.†, his approach to the satire changes, taking on a more playful approach. The poem is more personal than political, and is more comedic in the sense that he satirizing himself as well as other people groups. The self-defeating rhetorical approach is embodied in this poem in the way that he puts himself down and exposes his own follies throughout the poem. While this is no doubt somewhatRead MoreAnalysis Of Jonathan Swift s The Revolutionary War 1583 Words   |  7 PagesHannah Rice Schmidt – 1 Research Paper 23 September 2014 Jonathan Swift The Revolutionary War is one, if not the most memorable time of American history. It is what started the beginning of the land of the free. The colonization and tyranny of England was not just felt in the thirteen colonies that became America but also in places such as Ireland. Authors such as Jonathan Swift not only acted as literary geniuses but as a way for modern day historians to see the effects of colonization and the hardshipsRead MoreA Modest Proposal For Preventing The Children Of Poor People1458 Words   |  6 Pagesfor utilizing satire in his works of literature is Jonathan Swift, whose hard-hitting essay â€Å"A Modest Proposal For Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland, from Being a Burden on Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Publick† is one of the most popular and analyzed texts within the world of satire, and truly makes one think about the art. One article that explores Swift’s use of satire within â€Å"A Modes t Proposal† is Paddy Bullord’s â€Å"The Scriblerian Mock-Arts† ThisRead MoreA Modest Proposal: Jonathan Swifts Political Statement About Conditions of Life in 17291077 Words   |  5 Pages A Modest Proposal† a Political Statement Mouth-watering, scrumptious, and delicious are a few words that come to mind when you think of Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal.† His satire on the conditions of life in 1729 was to draw its readers to serious discussion on the distressing matters that plagued their society. His extreme and sarcastic response to the treatment of the ever-growing poor population of Irish families, by the rich English landowners, was to bring to light a matter that theyRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift813 Words   |  4 PagesJonathan Swift, author of the satirical piece â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† organized an outrageous proposal to the people of Ireland. In this pamphlet, Swift offered his personal views on how to overcome Ireland’s issue of overpopulation and poverty. By raising nationwide attention, Swift plan to shock the readers by emphasizing the idea of cannibalism as a way to deal with Ireland’s problems. Swift’s technique of audience , tone, and pathos help determine the advantages and disadvantages of â€Å"A Model Proposal†Read MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1340 Words   |  6 PagesA Modest Proposal was written in the year 1729 by the famous satirist Jonathan Swift. In his work he outlines the pros of eating unwanted children of Ireland for economical benefits in a time of great poverty. While the reader can obviously discard the idea of eating children, in his proposal, in a roundabout way, Swift speaks to hard pressing issues of the time. The state of Ireland is well described by Swift in this piece. He speaks of woman who â€Å"instead of being able to work for their honestRead MoreA Modest Proposal On Satire1239 Words   |  5 Pagestheme, antagonistically; distortion is utilized to bring down the effect of an issue to its lesser quality. Aggregately, these procedures are practiced to draw out the human follies and vices in society. In Molià ¨re s Tartuffe and Jonathan Swift s article A Modest Proposal, both diagonally condemn and criticize human conduct and the discernment we have towards others. Through a comedian conveyance, these creators offer an understanding past the apparently self-evident, and expect to enhance this flawedRead MoreSimilarities between Martin Luther Kings Letter from Birmingham Jail and Jonathan Swifts A Modest Proposal1358 Words   |  6 Pages Even the most cursory analysis of Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. and A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift reveals gl aring differences between the two essays. Surprisingly, a side-by-side comparison also yields many similarities between the two works. The most obvious similarity between the two essays is the overarching theme of the subject matter. In both essays, the writers address deeply-entrenched social injustices. For example, in Letter From Birmingham Jail

“There Must Be Many Buried Or Hidden Forms Of Intellectualism

â€Å"There must be many buried or hidden forms of intellectualism that do not get channeled into academic work†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Graff 22), this said by non-other than Gerald Graff himself within his article â€Å"Hidden Intellectualism†. This quote being his overall main point of the entire article. Graff meaning that students can be intellectual even if they feel like they aren’t a book smart student. Graff argues that students who are street smart could also be intellectual. Within Graff’s article, there are a few arguments he makes that I agree with but also a few that I disagree with. â€Å"Hidden Intellectualism† offers various points about how every student possesses intellectualism but it’s also possible that not every student possesses this trait. The†¦show more content†¦This meaning that schools are still missing the chance to tap into the intellectual skills that students possess. An even deeper meaning to this would be the overa ll fact that students come already equipped with these argumentative intellectual skills. Graff even shows that he agrees with another author named Meier, who believes students should â€Å"fight with ideas† instead of â€Å"fighting with fists†. This being another point that Graff makes that I would agree with. This being because I use argumentative skills constantly within my own life. Within my family, we often discuss various topics which causes arguments very easily. An example that comes to mind when using these skills would be discussing political viewpoints with my grandma. Both of us would on occasion, sit down and argue about our own points bases off the knowledge that we possess on the specific topic. Usually most arguments resulted in one of us with the beginning argument and the other presenting a counterargument. Within my personal beliefs, I feel as if students often use these skills which is why I agree with Graff. A final point that Graff makes is the experiment that Graff conducted to see if his position on students and intellectualism was accurate. Graff and another teacher named Crandus using hisShow MoreRelatedEssay 1 - Role of the Educator3727 Words   |  15 Pagesleaving it then free to develop, to unfold, - herein lies the first task of the educator. In such a delicate task, a great art must suggest the moment, and limit the intervention in order that we shall arouse no perturbation, cause no deviation, but rather that we shall help the soul which is coming into the fullness of life, and which shall live from its own forces. This art must accompany the scientific method.† Dr.Maria Montessori, The Montessori Method Comment on the above statement and explainRead MoreEssay 1 - Role of the Educator3721 Words   |  15 Pagesleaving it then free to develop, to unfold, - herein lies the first task of the educator. In such a delicate task, a great art must suggest the moment, and limit the intervention in order that we shall arouse no perturbation, cause no deviation, but rather that we shall help the soul which is coming into the fullness of life, and which shall live from its own forces. This art must accompany the scientific method.† Dr.Maria Montessori, The Montessori Method Comment on the above statement and explain your

Homosexuality The Role Of Religion And Cultural Context...

People who attend church regularly will be more likely to be opposed to homosexual relations, all else being equal. Religion and views on homosexuality are closely linked. As Amy Adamczyk and Cassady Pitt note in their research, â€Å"Shaping attitudes about homosexuality: The role of religion and cultural context,† â€Å"religion is often seen as an important predictor of attitudes about homosexuality.† The reason for this is because some people believe views on homosexuality are written into the Bible, and that this provides evidence with which to justify discrimination against homosexuals. Therefore, regularly attending church not only implies a strong affiliation and deeply held beliefs, but constant exposure to these views. Not all religions profess the same views on homosexuality, but the most popular one, the Catholic Church, tends to hold negative views on the subject. Albert L. Winseman’s paper â€Å"Religion Colors Teen Views of Gay Marriageâ₠¬  has also looked into this relationship, except this focuses explicitly on youth views. Research Design In order to retest this hypothesis, I will be using data from the GSS (General Social Survey) 2012 dataset. The unit of analysis will be individual people. Specifically, there will be an examination of people’s church attendance, while controlling for educational status and political views to see how church attendance may be correlated with views on homosexual sex. There will be 1,163 units that will be studied. I will beShow MoreRelatedChristianity And Homosexuality : The Way Of Thinking1395 Words   |  6 PagesSimilar to the ancient Greeks’ way of thinking, homosexuality in Christianity was considered taboo because of the way the homosexual acts (specifically sodomy) were considered to degrade one partner to the status of a female. An encyclopedia article in the Encyclopedia of Gender and Society, titled â€Å"Christianity and Homosexuality†, talks about how the way a person interprets the different lessons of the Bible can influence how t hey view homosexuality. Using the historical-critical way of reading theRead MoreLgbt Views On Lgbt Rights Movement Essay1598 Words   |  7 Pagescountries (i.e. religion, culture, social climate) have greatly hindered the progression of the LGBT Rights Movement in Africa; the Motherland of Humanity. Throughout African history, many have attempted to justify the discrimination and brutality against LGBT individuals through false assumptions and accusations, research on mental illness, and claims of condemnation from a biblical standpoint (God Loves Uganda). African countries in present-day frequently claim that homosexuality was brought uponRead MoreThe Continual Evolution Of A Complex Concept1045 Words   |  5 Pageswhat constitutes good will be explored through analyzing three popular contexts of the term: language, morality, and social ideology. Since the beginning, languages and cultures around the world have developed various methods of communication that convey the idea of good; however, this exploration will primarily focus on verbal communication. What distinguishes good words from bad ones? It is ultimately determined by cultural meaning. Historically, the meaning of some offensive words, some with unclearRead MoreGay Marriage Should Be Legal And The Normalization Of Homosexuality1422 Words   |  6 Pagesachieving their goal and legalizing gay marriage. However despite gay marriage becoming legal and the normalization of homosexuality, the LGBQT community continues to face scrutiny over their lifestyle. I will be talking about the various conflicts the community faced in the past and continues to face in the present. And the various sociological concepts that links as to why homosexuality is seen by society as deviance , such as the Functionalist perspective and Socialization. According to the AmericanRead MoreArticle Analysis : Performative Acts And Gender Constitution1387 Words   |  6 Pagesdesire. Butler had then released her better known work â€Å"Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity† in 1990, and its sequel, â€Å"Bodies that Matter: On The Discursive Limits of Sex† in 1993. Much of her work had great influence on feminism, cultural studies, and continental philosophy. Butler has addressed many political issues throughout her life. Her early political activism surrounded feminist issues. Throughout time, she started focusing more on gay and lesbian issues as well as anti-warRead MoreStereotyping: A Neverending Cycle993 Words   |  4 Pageswas. Christian was released, by the officers and he is suing Barneys and the NYPD for unspecified damages (Marsh, 1). Tayvon was the victim of stereotyping. In today’s society stereotypes play an important role, because it is broken down into so many categories such as religion, homosexuality, and race. Stereotyping is widespread in America and all over the world. It is based on generalized belief about a particular group or class of people. Tayvon was a victim of stereotype because people tend toRead MoreGender As A Person s Identity1111 Words   |  5 Pagesperson’s identity is closely connected to the social institutions he or she includes himself in. These social institutions have influence over the lives of individuals in various aspects. One social institution an individual imparts oneself in is religion. Religious institutions use scriptures as the primary basis for life such as the Holy Bible for the Catholics and the Quran for the Muslims. Of the data given, some Christians and Muslim non-heterosexuals experience social exclusion because of someRead MoreHomophobia And Discrimination864 Words   |  4 Pagescause a context of isolation and tension. This discussion talks about the insight and deviance, which violators of important social norms are therefore stigmatized. Hence, deviants are believed to be different from normal people and are set apart. When the social norms are violated, they could be tolerated or even ignored. However, important principles are discussed to help understand social deviance in sexual orientation. Therefore, understanding the link between homophobia and the gender role conflictRead MoreWhat Factors Influence Sexual Orientation1331 Words   |  6 PagesWhat factors influence sexual orientation in men and women? Throughout history there has been speculation about what influences sexuality in men and woman. Is sexual orientation biological or cultural in nature? There is a common misconception that sexual identity operate in parallel with gender roles( Sell, 2005 as cited in Wilkinson Roys, 2005, p.65). Scholars have not came to an agreement regarding what actually comprise a person’s sexual orientation, however a sexual orientation has been deemedRead MoreEssay Systems and Multi Cultural Approaches p1042 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Systems and Multi-Cultural Approaches Darla K. Parido CJHS 400 November 17, 2014 Justina Smith Systems and Multi-Cultural Approaches Systems Theory Definition The systems theory of psychology uses multifaceted systems to discover behavioral pattern and the human experience. â€Å"The technique relies on identifying specific behavior patterns and how each member responds to anxiety within the dynamic. By doing this, the individual participants can begin to understand and transform their patterns

French revolution 4 Essay Example For Students

French revolution 4 Essay The causes of the French Revolution, being provoked by this collision of the powers of the rising bourgeoise and an sinking aristocracy defending its privileges, was the Financial debt of the government and the long-standing political differences in the government. Over the course of twenty-five years after the Seven Years War, the government of France could not manage its finances on a sound basis. This was worsened when France aided the American Revolution against Great Britain. The Government had reached great financial debt. The problem lied and continued because of the governments inability to tap the wealth of the French nation by taxation. There was a great paradox in France being a rich nation with a government in poverty. The deteriorating finances of the government is what triggered the prolonged differences between the Bourgeoisie and the aristocracy. The political differences between the monarchy and the nobles came about after the Seven Years war also. The increasing debt of the government escalated the hope for the monarchy to resume a absolute power status along with Louis XIV. This could not be accomplished because of the doubt that the public had towards the present kings Louis XV and Louis XVI, and the public could not be swayed to help. The only result of the attempts for absolutism by the monarchy were a series of new and increase taxes on the nobles. The aristocracy immediately reacted to these taxes as declaring them unfair and would not accept them. Louis XV began with a series of Financial advisors chancellors which all had the intention of saving the monarchy from financial ruin. They made many attempts at taxation, such as a land tax, but each of these were defeated by the nobles the Parlements were even destroyed for a brief time, but were later restored by Louis XVI in attempt to gain public support. The government continued to become poorer and poorer and it seemed the only successful taxation was done towards the peasants, whom had the least money. The monarchy eventually fell and caused great unrest leading to the French Revolution. The French Revolution was caused by the escalating rivalry between the monarchy and the aristocracy. The conflict would make an impact on all of Europe to come and even world history. All this turmoil was caused by a bunch of greedy Nobles and kings which wanted power and money.

Social Media Networks Impacts on Political Communication

Introduction Social media networks have greatly influenced political communication in modern society. Its impact on political activities and governance is especially profound. In the book, the Internet Imaginaire, Patrice Flichy says the development of the internet (social media) is among the most revolutionary processes in modern society (more specifically because the internet has become a super-highway of information).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Media Networks’ Impacts on Political Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From the increasing importance of the internet, today, Flichy argues that most politicians have only joined an ongoing trend of designers, business executives, and individuals (among others) who have resorted to use social media as a technical utopia for advancing their goals. Since many people have accepted the internet as their main communication paradigm, the intern et has become widely successful in changing how politicians interact with their subjects. In sum, Flichy argues that the internet has been widely successful in politics because it transforms the interaction between leaders and their followers. From an emphasis on the Middle East political space, this paper focuses on explaining the impact of social media in the UAE political life by exploring if social media networks make leaders more visible and transparent. To have a practical understanding of this issue, this paper focuses on the social media activities of UAE’s foreign affairs minister, H.H. Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Through an analysis of his Twitter account, this paper proposes that social media networks make political accountability easier and friendlier, as it increases the visibility and transparency of political leaders. However, to understand this fact, this study first explains how social media has created a new way to represent political leaders in the UAE. A New Way to Represent the Political Leader in the UAE Culture The social media presence of Abdulla Bin Zayed draws significant inferences from the works of Louis Marin, in the book, the King’s Portrait. Marin largely borrows from the experiences of King Louis XIV in portraying the image of a politician as an immortal onlooker (through the transformation of politicians from theological bodies to immortal political figures). Flichy contextualises this transformation through his understanding of the power that most politicians enjoy in transforming themselves to political relevance today (through social media). Marin explains the same situation, although from a historical perspective, by saying that the transformation of politicians to political relevance (through the internet) is a symbol of absolutism.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Absolutism represents a political order that redefines the meaning and status of representation by redefining the configurations of power. Broadly, Marin’s work shows how politicians achieve social control through art. The relationship between politics and art is unfamiliar for most political studies, but it symbolises the interaction between aesthetics and kingship. This relationship also stems from the interaction between state, God, and the truth. A complete symmetry of these three aspects of governance stems from the absolute achievement of sovereignty and power. Most literatures that have explored the impact of social media in the UAE political space have chronologically shown that the growth of social media has led to a shift of its use from a social paradigm to a political and civic paradigm. Recent events surrounding the Arab spring and the increased influence of civic movements in the Arab world have especially supported this change. The influence of social media in the UAE political space associates with several political and social factors, like the acceptance of divergent political views, the support of social and political changes, people’s empowerment, and the influence of social media on people’s views of the society. Across the Arab world, social media use has however introduced political change in different measures. Particularly, social media has had a huge impact on how political leaders interact with their followers. A key issue that manifests here is persuasion because it explains how political leaders interact with their followers. The role of social media in persuading people to follow a leader is a departure from the traditional role of social media as a tool for collecting signatures, or for advocating a social or political cause. Nonetheless, every political leader has a distinct reason for using social media. An analysis of Sheikh Zayed’s Twitter page shows that the uses of social media are highly dynamic (even though it should primarily i ncrease the level of interaction between political leaders and their followers). Therefore, today, social media serves to provide a more intimate/personal access to political leaders. For example, people know Sheikh Zayed more intimately through random tweets. For example, one tweet (which appears on his Twitter page) says, â€Å"Read my piece on how Sheikh Zayed’s childhood and early youth shaped his character as a leader.†Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Media Networks’ Impacts on Political Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such tweets offer a personal insight into the life of the political leader. Despite providing a personal touch to political leadership, social media also provides a platform where people can be entertained and informed about political events. For example, in Sheikh Zayed’s Twitter account, there is a lot of information regarding the dangers of driving, the importance of eating healthy, personal inspiration (among other factors). In sum, social media has helped to package political leaders differently, by presenting them as multifaceted individuals with a more personal touch (than before). This platform gives them visibility in their public lives. Too Much Visibility While social media offers immense advantages to businesses, political institutions, individuals, and political leaders, it also has its disadvantages. A common disadvantage is too much visibility. In the past, visibility was mainly limited to the presence of individuals on one location and at a specific time. However, with the development of social media communication, people do not have to be at the same place and at the same time to be visible; online presence gives them this visibility. This new form of visibility has a huge impact on the relationship between visibility and power because it may destroy or build the reputation of politicians. However, smart political leaders seek the services of third parties, like public relations (PR) firms, to manage this new level of representation and exploit it to their advantage. Usually, such political leaders use this platform to create a strong support base for their political causes. Relative to the above assertion, Abdulla Bin Zayed uses his visibility on his Twitter page to create a strong support base for his official duties. As the minister of foreign affairs, Abdulla Bin Zayed uses his Twitter account to communicate positive issues about the UAE. For example, his Twitter account has the following tweets, â€Å"Abu Dhabi is the world’s fourth favourite city, ranked behind only New York, London, and Paris.† â€Å"American University in Paris receives anonymous donation from UAE in honour of late educator.† These tweets report positive issues (such as security, development, tourism, and charitable matters) about the UAE and some of its cities. A positive portrayal of the UAE also complements his role as an ambassador for the government (especially in his capacity as the minister for foreign affairs). Depending on the contextual framework, too much visibility may be a positive and negative thing for social media users. For example, for political leaders, too much visibility is a positive thing because political leaders are public figures and the higher their visibility, the better they achieve political effectiveness. Even though some political leaders use social media for the right reasons, the proper management of increased public attention may expose such leaders to new risks.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More New risks create new areas of fragility for political leaders because even though the smart ones manage this visibility to their advantage, they cannot have an absolute control over social media issues. Therefore, their efforts to exploit social media may still work to their disadvantage. The public may however enjoy increased political transparency through social media. Increased Transparency in the UAE Political Life – A Social Media Analysis The role of social media in increasing the level of transparency in the political life of the UAE largely stems from its influence in determining how people share information (its implication on governance is usually very profound). Social media therefore introduces new risks and opportunities for the UAE political space because on one hand, political leaders may use this platform to influence people’s perceptions, but on the other hand, the same platform has greatly empowered the people to question and criticise political activ ities in the country. Therefore, through an angry blog or tweet, someone can easily tarnish the name of a political leader. While many political leaders have understood these inherent risks and opportunities, they cannot afford to be complacent. Increased transparency is therefore one issue that political leaders cannot wish away. While traditional communication channels included extreme barriers of bureaucracy and lack of access to political leaders, social media has broken down these barriers and made leaders more accessible to the electorate. This way, the electorate finds it easy to question their leaders. In turn, the leaders have become more accountable and transparent in their political and professional activities. A tweet from Abdulla Bin Zayed’s account confirms the above assertion because it contains evidence of public complaints and responses to such complaints (increased accountability). For example, one person said, â€Å"believe it or not; they called to tell m e that they credit the money back based on my complaint.† This tweet shows an interesting dynamic of social media communication in politics because it highlights a seamless communication between the electorate and political leaders. In the past, this type of communication was one-sided (from the political leaders to the electorate). A transformed communication framework outlines one aspect of Flichy’s argument (in the book, the internet Imaginaire) that captures the essence of this paper – redefining information sources. Through a constructivist model, Flichy says the transformation of communication (through the internet) means that information does not have to originate from only one source. Instead, people may interact freely without experiencing the traditional communication barriers held by politicians and mainstream media. This assertion largely explains the nature of information in the Twitter account of Abdulla Bin Zayed because most of the content (tweets ) appearing in his pages do not necessarily originate from him. The potentials that social media and other internet platforms hold for politicians create a huge bulk of the arguments presented by Flichy because he says that the internet has helped politicians to transform mask utopia to liberal ideology. This argument mentions the role of social media in transforming the political causes of some US politicians, such as Al Gore, who used the internet to transform mask utopia to liberal ideology. Nonetheless, evidence of unbiased information sources of interaction also exists between other Middle Eastern leaders and their subjects. In sum, this level of interaction shows that social media has greatly increased the level of transparency in political governance in the Middle East. Conclusion After weighing the findings of this paper, we can affirm that social media networks increase the level of political accountability and transparency in the Middle East. Evidence from Abdulla Bin Zaye d’s Twitter account also shows that social media has helped to package political leaders as more humane, fun, and entertaining. However, the main goal of a political leader, in using social media, is to persuade their followers to be more familiar with their thinking. As leaders strive to achieve this objective, they should use the increased visibility they get through social media to advance their ideologies and relate better with their followers. Marin says that the proper use of social media may immortalise the relevance of political leaders because they can re-invent themselves this way. Comprehensively, smart political leaders identify the right types of conversations (that promote their cause) and engage their audiences accordingly. This attempt should be followed with extreme persuasion because the value of social media exists here – persuading the electorate. This essay on Social Media Networks’ Impacts on Political Communication was written and submitted by user Jeram1ah to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.