Both regimes believe in use various criterion for eligibility of benefits and social programs; however, the authority over one criterion over the other differentiate the welfare in each regime. Ideally, the social democrats back all welfare programs and activities including long-term welfare, which aims at ensuring that resources are distributed equally among citizens of a country. This socialism ideology came about because of religious, communal, and occupational groups that considered solidarity and empowerment of the people. Unlike the social democrats, the conservatives do not support welfare activities (Korpi 13). Categorically, they believe that those in need should be given a chance to exploit their potential and become self-reliant. They add that people should not domineer on the government for help; instead, they should strive and achieve from their effort. However, in Britain, a conservative commentator uttered that if the government was not ready for social reforms then they should prepare for a revolution.
On issues regarding immigration, Germany maintained a conservative approach where they only supported legal immigration, but did not support the idea of giving amnesty to those of entered their country illegally. At all levels, illegal immigrants were not given a chance to benefit from anything or reside anywhere within Germany. The rationale behind it is that after Germany culminated support and won against France, it adopted conservative ideologies, which included securing all borders and enforce existing laws on immigration.
On the other hand, a few countries including Finland, who were affiliated to the social democratic ideology believed that amnesty should be given to immigrants who enter their country illegally and requested that such a group of illegal immigrants should enjoy the rights of education, health and others just as other registered citizens. They noted that on average, illegal immigrants improved the socio-economic status of the country because they were ready to work at low wages and work for long as compared to citizens.
On issue relating to the European Union, the social democrats including France and Greece among others believe that the committee of their countries would help in championing for improved socio-economic status of members countries and protect their financial and commercial affairs through a collective bargaining. According to them, the union has helped in bailing some of them like Greece and that sticking to the regulations of the union will see members emerge the best economically, socially and even politically because of the solidarity they would have practiced.
Unlike the social democrats, the conservatives such as Germany considered that the European Union is not strong to protect the monetary affairs of their countries and that relying to the union. For this reason, at some point in time, Germany technically pulled out of the union after experiencing the economic recession that paralyzed financial operations of some of the member countries. Since then, Germany has been operating from an individualized and capitalized point of view. For instance, the idea of exploring its own source of energy, nuclear and rejecting the use of Gas. Interestingly, Germany seemed to have benefitted because the individualistic mode of operation forced it to manage its resources effectively because it knew there was no union or country to bail it. In such a conservative ideology, people were allowed to conduct their commercial activities freely without interference of the government, a move that was strongly opposed by the European Union.
Interests groups are formed voluntarily to pursue publicly pursue some of the agenda aimed at benefiting some members of the society regarding legal policies, economic regulations, and socio-economic condition among others. These agendas are presented to leaders who were elected by members of these groups. In Europe, interest groups have played a vital role in shaping the political arena and activities in all electioneering periods. For instance, electorates through their interest groups might formulate sets of policies that will change their voting rights, the freedom of expression, freedom of speech and equality to information, which will mean that aspiring leaders will have to abide by the set rule or fail to garner enough votes to win the elections (Warntjen 43). From an economic point of view, the European council, and the European parliament, in several occasions, has been withdrawing experts who develop and formulate policies in governments within Europe such that these governments end up lacking enough expertize. Following this reason, they will opt to seek for technical help from this organized interest group, who will influence the policy formulation process including readings and approval of the legislation to ensure that some legal, economic, or political policies are passed without any hindrances. Apart from that, most political parties in Europe rely on the financial support of economic interest groups to finance their elections. For this reason, they are able to condition the political parties to change some of the policies such as socio-economic policies or political ideologies knowing that they (interest groups) will accrue much benefit from it that the political parties expect (Warntjen 46). Considering that some of the judges and magistrates are appointed and/or elected by the legislature, interest groups through their conditioned political leaders would champion for some specific people or group to administer justice in the judiciary to ensure that they get “through passes” with regard to legal processes that hinder their operations. On the other hand, they (interest groups) aim at protecting preferred politician from legal battles that might be facing them (political leaders), which might remove them from office at the expense of the interest groups.
Since the removal of the previous Ukrainian government led by Viktor Yanukovich, the new Kiev’s government has had a series of protest, demonstrations, and wars forcing it to review some of the policies, which protest deemed should be changed. As a way of abiding by the changes the new government organized for a referendum. Notably, the new government is forcing international conflicts with the EU because of the threat that it wanted to abandon the trade agreement convention. Despite this, the citizens are opposed to it, have over the time revolted, and interrupted with political and economic operations. With continued protests, the locals manage to remove Viktor Yanukovich as the president and the position is taken over by the speaker (Walczuk 75). As this is not enough, the Ukrainian citizens get backings from the Russians who have been fighting Ukrainian forces in support of the locals. Various countries have been conducting meeting aimed at settling the Ukrainian stalemate, but all has been in vain. For this reason, it is true to say that Ukrainian politics are at the verge of taking a different shape after a series of demonstrations, international interference, and anti-political backings from foreign nations.
The problems faced by Ukraine are not only political, but also economic. By mid-January 2014, the ratio of the US dollar to the hryvnia was pegged at 1: 8; currently, a Ukrainian has to part with ten units of hryvnia to secure a unit a dollar. From the economic perspective, the Ukrainian currency has depreciated over major currencies such as the dollar and that the economy might not be able to settle some of its foreign debt in the end. Despite the government issue of bonds at 15% in 2014, the Ukrainian government has not managed to influence the economy positively as there has been a negative response regarding the market of government bonds (Anieri 125).
The major reasons that explain the non-development or unsuccessful nature of the Ukrainian economy is that government official are corrupt and large sums of money aimed at improving the economy end up to benefit a few individuals. Apart from that, some of the economic policies that have been formulated have not been able to mitigate the problem and instead aggravated the economic problems. For this reason, the high-populated country has been plunged in a hyperinflation macroeconomic problem, which might take long and might not be solved anytime soon.
Part 2
After the Second World War, the two countries, France and Germany decided to forge a relationship called Franco-Germany Relationship, which fostered co-operation between the two countries. However, as the European Union reports, the “twin engine” has been experiencing hiccups where the relationship has been alternating from stable to unstable. The euro crisis, French economic weaknesses during the reign of President Hollande, and Germany success during the leadership of Chancellor Markel influenced the Franco-Germany Relationship (Nanto 18). After the euro crisis, Chancellor Markel demonized other countries including France; Germany purported that the former were careless and responsible for the global problem that almost crippled her (Germany’s) economy. Although the French government is trying to revive the relationship, their former close partner is not relenting in their move to work independently. Apart from that, Germany thinks that the relationship between it and France is not mutual as the latter is accruing much benefit that Germany is; therefore, it is “silently” operating independently.
Among the members of the EU, it is only France, which is facing a stiff financial crisis. Despite this Germany has been closely giving it financial support because the latter controls resources of the EU including funds necessary to bail out financially crippled countries. in Germany’s case, it is ensuring that it continues to export some of its products to countries that have been most hit by the financial crisis, use its knowledge and expertise to low the cost of production and always use forward contracts in sealing financial and other vital transactions. France on the other hand, has vowed to reduce her recurrent expenses and focus on developmental issues, which would see it improve with the little help its gets from the EU and other partners.
Works cited
Anieri, Paul J.. Economic interdependence in Ukrainian-Russian relations. Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1999. Print.
Korpi, Walter. Power resources theory and the welfare state a critical approach : essays collected in honour of Walter Korpi. Toronto, Ont.: University of Toronto Press, 1998. Print.
Nanto, Dick K.. The Global Financial and Economic Crisis: Analysis and Policy Implications. Ft. Belvoir: Defense Technical Information Center, 2009. Print.
Warntjen, Andreas. Governance in Europe: the role of interest groups. 1. Aufl. ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2004. Print.
Wolczuk, Roman. Ukraine's foreign and security policy, 1991-2000. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003. Print.
