volkswagen heads east essays

volkswagen heads east essays Volkswagen Heads East (or Skoda Heads West) Competition in the global auto industry has become increasingly fierce among the dozen surviving major manufacturers in the early 1990s. With the dramatic successes of the Japanese leaders (Toyota, Nissan, and Honda), both the North American and European industries have become subject to intense rivalry among U.S., Japanese, and European automakers. If we look at the Table 1, it shows the positions of major competitors in Western Europe during 1990. These conditions have led to calls for protection in the European Community against outside producers, as well as responses by the European car companies looking to solidify their positions. The increasing intensify of competition in Europe appears to due to several factors. First and the most important, the Japanese firms expanded their local production aggressively in North America during the 1980s, and now they are looking to the European market as the last major target in the global industry where their positions are weak. The leading Japanese firms, with their high quality and low-cost cars, produced growing profits and market shares during the late 1980s at the same time as their U.S. and European rivals (broadly speaking) have faced declining shares, low profits and/or losses, and generally difficult conditions. Second, the opening of Eastern Europe that began with Soviet President Gorbachevs policy of perestroika has led to aggressive strategies by several firms to build business in Eastern Europe. And third, the European Communitys goal of achieving much greater economic integration by the end of 1992 has led to Japanese and U.S. automakers to pursue more exten sive local production in Europe. These firms want both to benefit from region from region-wide economies of scale that the reduced commercial barriers will allow and to avoid being excluded by whatever protectionism may occur against non-European firms after 1992. ...

Nathaniel Bacon and Bacons Rebellion

Nathaniel Bacon and Bacons Rebellion Bacon’s Rebellion occurred in the Virginia Colony in 1676. In the 1670’s, escalating violence between Native Americans and farmers was occurring in Virginia due to the increasing pressure of land exploration, settlement, and cultivation. In addition, farmers wanted to expand towards the Western frontier, but were being denied their requests by the royal governor of Virginia, Sir William Berkeley. Already unhappy with this decision, they became incensed when Berkeley refused to act against the Native Americans after several raids on settlements along the frontier. In response to Berkeleys inaction, farmers led by Nathaniel Bacon organized a militia to attack the Native Americans. Bacon was a Cambridge educated man who had been sent to the Virginia Colony in exile. He bought plantations on the James River and served on the Governors Council. However, he grew disenchanted with the governor. Bacons militia ended up destroying an Occaneechi village including all its inhabitants. Berkeley responded by naming Bacon a traitor. However, many colonists, especially servants, small farmers, and even some slaves, backed Bacon and marched with him to Jamestown, forcing the governor to respond to the Native American threat by granting Bacon  a commission to be able to fight against them. The militia led by Bacon continued to raid numerous villages, not discriminating between belligerent and friendly Indian tribes.   Once Bacon left Jamestown, Berkeley ordered the arrest of Bacon and his followers. After months of fighting and delivering the Declaration of the People of Virginia, which criticized Berkeley and the House of Burgesses for their taxes and policies. Bacon turned back and attacked Jamestown. On September 16, 1676, the group were able to completely destroy Jamestown, burning all the buildings. They then were able to seize control of the government. Berkeley was forced to flee the capital, taking refuge across the Jamestown River. Bacon did not have control of the government for long, as he died on October 26, 1676 of dysentery. Even though a man named John Ingram arose to take over the leadership of Virginia after Bacons death, many of the original followers left. In the meantime, an English squadron arrived to help out the besieged Berkeley. He led a successful attack and was able to dispel the remaining rebels. Additional actions by the English were able to remove the remaining armed garrisons.   Governor Berkeley returned to power in Jamestown in January, 1677. He arrested numerous individuals and had 20 of them hanged. In addition, he was able to seize the property of a number of the rebels. However, when King Charles II heard of Governor Berkeleys harsh measures against the colonists, he removed him from his governorship. Measures were introduced to lower taxes in the colony and deal more aggressively with Native American attacks along the frontier. An additional result of the rebellion was the Treaty of 1677 which made peace with the Native Americans and set up reservations that are still in existence today.