Understanding Western Culture: Philosophy, Religion, Literature and Organizational Culture

Acknowledgments
Contents
Chapter 1: Western Philosophy
	1.1 Western Philosophy Before the Modern Age
		1.1.1 Greco-Roman Philosophy
			1.1.1.1	 Outline of Philosophical Ideas
			1.1.1.2	 Major Figures
				Socrates
				Plato
				Aristotle
		1.1.2 Medieval Philosophy
			1.1.2.1	 Overview of Medieval Philosophy
			1.1.2.2	 Major Figures
				Augustine
				Thomas Aquinas
		1.1.3 Philosophy During the Renaissance
			1.1.3.1	 Overview of Philosophical Thought
			1.1.3.2	 Major Figures
				Niccolò Machiavelli
				Martin Luther
	1.2 Philosophy in Modern Times
		1.2.1 Western European Philosophy from the Sixteenth to Eighteenth Centuries
			1.2.1.1	 Philosophical Thoughts
			1.2.1.2	 Major Figures
				Francis Bacon
				René Descartes
				Baruch Spinoza
				John Locke
				Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
				David Hume
		1.2.2 French Enlightenment Philosophy in the Eighteenth Century
			1.2.2.1	 Outline of Philosophical Thoughts
			1.2.2.2	 Major Figures
				Voltaire
				Jean-Jacques Rousseau
				Denis Diderot
		1.2.3 Classical German Philosophy in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
			1.2.3.1	 Outline of Philosophical Thoughts
			1.2.3.2	 Major Figures
				Immanuel Kant
				Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
				Ludwig Feuerbach
	1.3 Modernism and Postmodernism
		1.3.1 Outline of Philosophical Thoughts
		1.3.2 Major Figures
			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
		Website
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
		Websites
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