Understanding Western Culture by Xu, Guobin -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

1.3.2.1 Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche 1.3.2.2 John Dewey 1.3.2.3 Bertrand Arthur William Russell 1.3.2.4 Edmund Husserl 1.3.2.5 Martin Heidegger 1.3.2.6 Jean-Paul Sartre 1.3.2.7 Jean-François Lyotard 1.3.2.8 Jacques Derrida

Bibliography

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Chapter 2: Political Systems

2.1 Introduction to Western Political Systems 2.2 Political Systems in Major Western Countries

2.2.1 The Political System of the UK

2.2.1.1 Evolution 2.2.1.2 The UK’s Sovereign 2.2.1.3 The Polity 2.2.1.4 The Civil Service 2.2.1.5 The Local Government System 2.2.1.6 The British Constitution 2.2.1.7 The Judicial System 2.2.1.8 The Electoral System 2.2.1.9 The Political Party System

The Labour Party The Conservative Party The Liberal Democrat Party

2.2.1.10 The Civil Rights System 2.2.1.11 The National Flag, Emblem and Anthem

The National Flag The National Coat of Arms The National Anthem

2.2.2 The USA’s Political System

2.2.2.1 Evolution 2.2.2.2 The Polity

Congress The US President The US Supreme Court

2.2.2.3 The Structural Form of the USA 2.2.2.4 The Electoral System 2.2.2.5 The Political Party System

Evolution Characteristics Major Parties

2.2.2.6 The System of Civil Rights

2.2.3 The Political System of France

2.2.3.1 Evolution

The Political System of the French First Republic The Political System of the French Second Republic The Political System of the French Third Republic The Political System of the French Fourth Republic The Political System of the French Fifth Republic

2.2.3.2 The Polity 2.2.3.3 The Local Government System 2.2.3.4 The Civil Service System

Evolution Content Administrations of Civil Servants Characteristics

2.2.3.5 The Political Party System

Evolution Characteristics Major Parties

2.2.3.6 The System of Civil Rights

2.2.4 The Political System of Germany

2.2.4.1 Evolution 2.2.4.2 Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany 2.2.4.3 The Bundesrat 2.2.4.4 The Federal Constitutional Court 2.2.4.5 German Parties 2.2.4.6 The Administrative Division 2.2.4.7 The National Flag, Emblem and Anthem

The National Flag The National Emblem The National Anthem

Bibliography

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Chapter 3: Economic Systems of the West

3.1 Economic Systems of the European Union

3.1.1 Establishment of the European Community 3.1.2 Development from EC to EU

3.1.2.1 The First Enlargement of the EC 3.1.2.2 The Second Enlargement of the EC 3.1.2.3 The Third Enlargement of the EC 3.1.2.4 The Fourth Enlargement of the EC 3.1.2.5 The Establishment of the EU

3.1.3 The EC and Its Economy

3.1.3.1 Customs Union 3.1.3.2 Common Agricultural Policies

The Background to Common Agricultural Policies The Basic Content of Common Policies Monetary Mechanisms of Common Agricultural Policies Effects of Common Agricultural Policies Reforms of EU Common Agricultural Policies and Effects

3.1.4 Fiscal Systems of EC and EU

3.1.4.1 Establishment of Common Fiscal System 3.1.4.2 Nature of Common Finance 3.1.4.3 Fiscal Revenue and Expenditure 3.1.4.4 New Development in EC Finance

3.2 Economic Systems of Major European Countries

3.2.1 Germany

3.2.1.1 An Overview of German Economy

Economic System A Brief History of Economic Development

3.2.1.2 The Economy of Federal Germany from 1945 to 1990

Main Characteristics of Post-War Economy in West Germany Economic and Industrial Structure Before Reunification

3.2.1.3 Post-war Economy of East Germany 3.2.1.4 Economy of Germany After Reunification 3.2.1.5 Major Industrial Sectors of Germany

The Automobile Industry The Machinery Manufacturing Industry Chemical Industry Electronic and Electrical Industry Steel Industry

3.2.1.6 Economic Policies of the German Government

Distinctive Monetary Policies Fiscal Policies

3.2.2 France

3.2.2.1 An Overview of the French Economy

Economic System A Brief History of Economic Development

3.2.2.2 French Economy After the Second World War

Features of French Economy Major Industrial Sectors

3.2.2.3 Economic Policies of the French Government

3.2.3 UK

3.2.3.1 An Overview of the British Economy

Economic System A Brief History of Economic Development

3.2.3.2 British Economy After the Second World War

An Overview of British Economy After the War Major Industrial Sectors An Overview of British Economic Policies

3.2.4 Russia

3.2.4.1 Russian Economic Structure 3.2.4.2 An Overview of Russian Economic Policies

3.3 Economic System of the USA

3.3.1 An Overview of the US Economy

3.3.1.1 Economic System

Main Characteristics of the Market Economic System Strengths and Weaknesses of the US Economic Model

3.3.1.2 A Brief History of American Economy

3.3.2 The US Economy After the War

3.3.2.1 Economic Development After the War

An Overview of the US Economy After the War Main Features of the Economy After the War The Economic and Industrial Structure

3.3.2.2 Main Industrial Sectors

The Steel Industry The Automotive Industry Building Industry The High-Tech Industry The Machine Building Industry Energy Industry

3.3.2.3 Economic Policies

US Monetary Policy and Its Evolution US Fiscal Policy and Its Evolution

Bibliography

Chapter 4: Western Military Culture

4.1 Western Military Practice

4.1.1 Changes in Forms of War in the West

4.1.1.1 Cold Weapon Warfare 4.1.1.2 Hot Weapon Warfare 4.1.1.3 Mechanized Warfare 4.1.1.4 Nuclear Weapon Warfare 4.1.1.5 Information Warfare

4.1.2 Western Military Revolution

4.1.2.1 Overview of the Western Military Revolution 4.1.2.2 Contemporary Western Military Revolution

Innovation in Military Technology Innovation in Military Theory Innovation in Military Systems and Organization Changes of the Form of War

4.2 Modern Western Military Technology

4.2.1 An Overview of Precision-Guided Weapons 4.2.2 Classification of Precision-Guided Weapons

4.2.2.1 Guided Missiles 4.2.2.2 Guided Bombs 4.2.2.3 Guided Artillery Shells 4.2.2.4 Guided Torpedoes

4.2.3 The Influence of Precision-Guided Weapons

4.2.3.1 Improved Operational Efficiency 4.2.3.2 New Combat Theory 4.2.3.3 Political Benefits

4.3 Western Military Thought

4.3.1 Modern Western Military Thought

4.3.1.1 Theorization 4.3.1.2 Systematization and Diversification

4.3.2 Contemporary Western Military Thought

4.3.2.1 The Hot War Period 4.3.2.2 The Cold War Period 4.3.2.3 Post-Cold War Period

National Security as the Basic Starting Point Strategic Alliance Thought Playing a Greater Role Strategic Information Becoming the Focus

Bibliography

Chapter 5: Education System

5.1 History

5.1.1 Primary and Secondary Education

5.1.1.1 Emergence of School System 5.1.1.2 Rise of Modern Primary and Secondary Schools 5.1.1.3 Establishment of National Education Systems

Germany France The USA

5.1.1.4 Foundation and Institutionalization of Vocational Education

Germany

5.1.1.5 Formation and Development of Modern Primary and Secondary School Systems 5.1.1.6 Diversification of Secondary Education

5.1.2 Higher Education

5.1.2.1 Enriched Discipline 5.1.2.2 Establishment of the Basic University Structure 5.1.2.3 Rise of Universities for Applied Sciences 5.1.2.4 Creation of the Research University 5.1.2.5 Diversification in the Level and Structure of Higher Education 5.1.2.6 Transdisciplinary Reforms

5.2 Unique Features

5.2.1 The UK: Diversified Secondary and Further Education

5.2.1.1 Secondary Education 5.2.1.2 Further Education

5.2.2 France: Coherent School System

5.2.2.1 Nursery, Primary, and Secondary Education 5.2.2.2 Higher Education System

5.2.3 Germany: Unique Secondary and Vocational Education

5.2.3.1 Secondary Education 5.2.3.2 Vocational Education and Training

Dual Vocational School Specialized Vocational School Specialized School Specialized Upper Secondary School

5.2.4 Sweden: Unique Upper Secondary Curriculum and Extensive Adult Education

5.2.4.1 Upper Secondary Education 5.2.4.2 Adult Education

Folk High School: The Boarding Adult College Study Circles Comprehensive Universities

5.2.5 The United States of America: Community College and Education

5.2.5.1 Community College 5.2.5.2 Community Education

5.3 Popular Trends

5.3.1 Learning Society and Life-Long Learning System 5.3.2 Links Between Vocational Education and General Education

5.3.2.1 Equivalent Value at Secondary Education Level 5.3.2.2 Interplay Between Higher Vocational and Higher General Education

5.3.3 Informatization 5.3.4 Internationalization

Bibliography

Chapter 6: European and American Literature

6.1 Ancient Greek Literature

6.1.1 Epic 6.1.2 Ancient Greek Tragedy 6.1.3 Ancient Greek Comedy 6.1.4 Ancient Greek Lyric 6.1.5 Ancient Greek Mythology

6.2 Ancient Roman Literature

6.2.1 Virgil and the Epic 6.2.2 Drama 6.2.3 Poetry 6.2.4 Prose

6.3 Medieval Literature

6.3.1 Church Literature 6.3.2 Knightly Literature 6.3.3 Epic 6.3.4 Ballad 6.3.5 Civic Literature 6.3.6 Dante and The Divine Comedy 6.3.7 Chaucer

6.4 Renaissance Literature

6.4.1 Petrarch and Boccaccio 6.4.2 English Literature during the Renaissance 6.4.3 Renaissance Literature of France and Spain

6.5 European Literature in the Seventeenth Century

6.5.1 French Literature 6.5.2 English Literature

6.6 European Literature in the Eighteenth Century

6.6.1 French Literature 6.6.2 English Literature 6.6.3 German Literature

6.7 European and American Literature in the Nineteenth Century

6.7.1 French Literature 6.7.2 German Literature 6.7.3 Russian Literature 6.7.4 English Literature 6.7.5 American Literature

6.8 European and American Literature in the Twentieth Century

6.8.1 English Literature 6.8.2 American Literature 6.8.3 French Literature 6.8.4 German Literature 6.8.5 Russian Literature

Bibliography

Website

Chapter 7: Western Organizational Culture: EU Organizational Culture

7.1 The Origin and Development of EU Culture

7.1.1 Definition of EU Culture 7.1.2 The Formation of EU Culture

7.1.2.1 Homogeneous Culture

Ancient Greek and Roman Civilizations Christian Culture Shared Cultural Values

7.1.2.2 The “European Union Dream” 7.1.2.3 From the European Cultural Agreement to the Maastricht Treaty

7.1.3 The Goals of the Establishment of European Culture

7.1.3.1 Consolidating the Political and Economic Achievements of European Integration 7.1.3.2 Contending with American Cultural Hegemony, and Strengthening European Cultural Independence 7.1.3.3 Participating in International Affairs, Spreading European Culture, and Enhancing the Status of the EU in the World

7.2 Cultural Features of the EU 7.3 EU Cultural Policy

7.3.1 Protecting Historical and Cultural Heritage 7.3.2 Supporting Cultural Research and Cultural Industry

7.3.2.1 Supporting Two Types of Cultural Industries

Supporting the European Audiovisual Industry Supporting the European Multi-Media Industry

7.3.2.2 Creating a Sound Competition Environment

Formulating Laws and Regulations for the Audiovisual Industry Promoting Digitalization Allowing Cultural Industry into the Capital Market Emphasizing Research and Innovation

7.3.2.3 Developing Cultural Industry in Other Countries

Bibliography

Websites

Chapter 8: Religious Culture

8.1 Introduction to Religion 8.2 Christianity

8.2.1 Origin and Development 8.2.2 Christian Doctrine

8.2.2.1 Shaping of Christian Doctrine 8.2.2.2 Common Beliefs 8.2.2.3 Doctrines of Major Denominations

8.2.3 The Bible

8.2.3.1 The Old Testament 8.2.3.2 The New Testament

8.2.4 Church Government and Rites 8.2.5 Dissemination of Christianity

8.3 Judaism

8.3.1 Origin and Formation 8.3.2 Sacred Texts and Commandments

8.3.2.1 Sacred Texts 8.3.2.2 Basic Teachings 8.3.2.3 Disciplines

8.3.3 Development of Judaism 8.3.4 Doctrines of Major Denominations 8.3.5 Influence

8.4 Islam

8.4.1 History 8.4.2 Basic Teachings

8.4.2.1 Allah (God) 8.4.2.2 Prophets 8.4.2.3 Angels 8.4.2.4 Revelations 8.4.2.5 Judgment Day and Resurrection

8.4.3 Spread and Development of Islam

8.4.3.1 Caliphate 8.4.3.2 The Umayyad Dynasty 8.4.3.3 The Abbasid Dynasty 8.4.3.4 The Ottoman Empire

Bibliography

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