Goodluck Jonathan, '11

President Goodluck Jonathan

On April 16, 2011, Nigerians will go to the voting polls to either re-elect incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan or choose a new leader, most likely former head of state Muhammadu Buhari. Of these two, the one I believe to be the best suited for the job would be Goodluck Jonathan. The third of the civilian leaders that Nigeria has been under since independence in 1960, Jonathan is also the only one not to have gained power through election or through a military coup. Jonathan had formerly been governor of the Bayelsa state in southern Nigeria, where he had required a good reputation for honesty. In 2007, he was chosen by People's Democratic Party to be the running mate of presidential candidate Alhaji Yar'adua. Goodluck only came to the presidency after the death of his predecessor last year. This shows that Goodluck, unlike other leaders of the nation, can be trusted with power as he did not seek it originally.
 Though he may be vague on his campaign pledges (which politicians aren't?), I believe that his re-election is crucial to the democratization of Nigeria. If Nigeria were to be ruled once more by a former military dictator, it would be a signal that Nigeria is not ready to fully embrace democratic principles. A return to dictatorship would be a bad blow to stability in the region, which is shaky enough due to the conflict over the nation's oil. A peaceful re-election is needed to ensure that Nigeria continues on the path toward an improved democratic government.

Sources:
http://www.goodluckjonathanfor2011.com/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=4
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/world/africa/20nigeria.html

Corruption in Nigeria

The most substantial problem that has plagued Nigeria for decades is widespread corruption among the country's public officials. Like many third world-countries, particularly in Africa, corruption is inherent in Nigeria's culture ever since it gained independence in 1960. Bribery, graft, extortion, and nepotism are norms among government officials, bureaucrats, and police officers. Taking advantage of their position of power, these officials will take bribes to look the other way or for a share in an illegal practice.

Corruption in the country has a number of root causes. Nigeria, being primarily a tribal nation, lacks a strong sense of national community and affinity. Though the official language English is a unifying factor, many Nigerians feel more loyalty toward their own ethnic group then towards a central government. Nigeria's economic boom because of oil drilling has only inflated corrupt practices. The sudden affluence of Nigeria due to its valuable oil depots ushered in a culture of excess and fragrancy by the elite class and government officials, many of whom directly profit off of the oil business.

Nigeria as a nation will continue to suffer even more due to such massive corruption. Though Nigeria is experiencing good economic times, continued government corruption will only hamper further economic progress. Benefits for Nigerian citizens will continue to be swiftly eroded by corruption and graft by government officials. This will only cause greater resentment toward the government and spread more instability across the country. As seen in the 2007 presidential elections, electoral tampering will greatly damage the people's faith in their government, and may even persuade them not to be involved in a democratic process they see as rife with corruption.

Sources:

http://www.africaeconomicanalysis.org/articles/gen/corruptiondikehtm.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Nigeria
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bribe/2009/04/nigeria-the-hidden-cost-of-corruption.html

Made In Japan: 20 Japanese Comodities

1) Toyota

2) Honda

3) Mitsubishi

4) Nissan

5) Mazda

6) Subaru

7) Acura

8) Lexus

9) MP3 Players

10) Game consoles (eq. Playstation)

11) Golf Balls

12) Kitchen Hardware and utensils

13) Computer Monitors

14) Air conditioning filters

15) Pokemon™ Cards

16) Tuberware™

17) Microscopes

18) Samuraii Swords

19) Fish

20) Computer software

Top 10 Core American Values

1) Hard Work

2) Patriotism

3) Individual Freedom

4) Family

5) Happiness

6) Capitalism

7) Freedom of Speech

8) Freedom to practice religion

9) Democracy

10) Equality

Japan: Aftermath of a Tsunami

In what was the second act of a trilogy of disasters to strike Japan, the island nation felt the effects of a massive tsunami along its eastern coast line on March 11. The tsunami was caused by a sudden 8.9 magnitude tremor, that struck 250 miles northeast of the capital Tokyo, on March 10. The tsunami soon spread out, moving at a rate of 500 mph toward the Japanese coast and also Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States. All three of these areas were hit, but the worst damage, however, has been in Japan. Throughout northern Japan, coastal communities and cities were immediately flooded by tremendous walls of ocean water.

The first reports of casualties were that 350 people were dead, with around 500 people missing. The tsunami has not only destroyed thousands of homes, but caused fires to break out, disrupted the country's rail system, explosions to happen at an oil refinery and petrochemical plant, and, most seriously, damages to nuclear reactors along the eastern coast of Japan.

On Sunday, March 27, the National Police Agency, the central coordinating agency of Japan's police force, reported that 10,804 people are believed to be deceased while 16,244 are still missing or unaccounted for.  The Japanese government has responded to the crisis by authorizing search and rescue operations for those stranded and missing because of the tsunami. There have also been massive relief missions to bring stability to regions that have suffered terrible damage. The international community has also been offered tremendous support to the government to aid in its relief efforts.

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12japan.html
http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/03/27/2681s628828.htm

5 Questions on North Korea

1) How is North Korea experiencing an increase in the standard of living if the country continues to suffer from widespread poverty?

2) Is North Korea still in the midst of a famine? If so, how severe is it?

3) When did North Korea start its nuclear program?

4) How many people defect from North Korea every year?

5) How long is it predicted that North Korea will have a fully functional nuclear weapons program?

North Korea Conducts Nuclear Test

Three years after successfully detonating a nuclear weapon, North Korea once more was able to detonate yet another nuclear device. It was carried out in the northeastern part of the country, where it had performed its first such test, in an underground labratory. The magnitude of the explosion was reportedly a 9.3 nuclear explosion.

Culture of Cuba

Cuban culture has been richly colorful and traditionally diverse, often due to the affect of influences and factors affecting the country.

St. Cristobal Cathedral in Havana

The architecture of Cuba, like most Latin American countries, is directly influenced by Spain, which governed Cuba as a colony before the island's independence. St. Cristobal Cathedral, located in Havana, is modeled off the baroque architecture often found in foundations in Spain. The Spanish influence is known as Cuban Colonial Architecture. Such types of buildings can be found all across Cuba, dating back from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Like it's architecture, Cuba also has foreign influences on its music. A notalble genre of Cuban music is Afro-Cuban, a style that originated from the prescence of African slaves on the island. Combining elements of traditional Cuban music with the style of African tribe chants, the form is one of Cuba's most popular forms of music and entertainment.

As most of Cuban culture seems to be, the islands art is a traditional blend of European, African, and North America artforms. The above painting is by Irene Albalat. It draws from  Impressionistic styles that originated in Europe.

Cuban cigars have long been a cultural icon of Cuba. Since the Communist Revolution in 1959, these cigars have been illegal on the US market due to the economic embargo. However, smuggling of Cuban cigars has been common and a profitable enterprise.

Another favorite cultural apsec of Cuba has always been its food. In particular, its cuisine is especially popular. A mixture of African, European, and Caribbean traditional flavors, the island's cuisine. The ingredients are mostly natural, with the use of scare spice. The way of cooking cuisine in Cuba is by frying.

Sources:
http://www.havanacubatravel.com/architecture.html
http://www.cubaluxuryhotels.com/Cuban-Architecture.htm
http://cubanfoodrecipes.com/

Education in Cuba

Though Cuba's communist regime may face strong criticism for it's failed economic policies and poor human rights record, the one sound accomplishment that they can boast of is the country's educational system. Historically, during the Spanish colonization of the island, the majority of the rural populace, that made up Cuba's working class had no access to education, unlike the urban dwellers. After the US occupied Cuba in 1898, plans were formed to bring education to the island. In 1902, about 40% of the island populace was registered in an educational system. When Fidel Castro overthrew the government in 1959 and installed a Marxist regime, the new government pledged to reconstruct Cuba's educational system. This was done in the aspiration that an educated population would strengthen the country. The result was a successful increase in literacy of over 90%, rivaling many of the world's most powerful country's.
Education in Cuba is controlled and maintained by the Ministry of Education. Nationwide education is compulsory for all children from grades 1 through 6, up until the 9th grade. From there, students can go to a regular high school or a technical school. Especially in rural areas, children go to boarding schools. In addition to schooling, students may be called to perform community service, primarily work in agriculture. About 7% of the populace has graduated from college, with 4% holding a degree.

Sources:
http://library.thinkquest.org/18355/education_in_cuba.html
http://www.cal.org/co/cubans/edu.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Cuba
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html

Fidel & Raoul's Cuba

Flag of Cuba

For nearly half a century, Cuba has been lead by a communist government that was established in 1959 by Fidel Castro and his followers. Under the constitution of Cuba drawn up after the 1959 revolution, the president is chieff of state and commander of the armed forces. The president is also First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party, the only political party allowed to exist by the constitution. The Communist Party dominates every aspect of political, economic, and social apsects of the country. The only way to rise in the political system is by being a member of the party. A National Assembly of People's Power constitutionally yields supreme legislative power over the political system. The National Assembly, however, only meets twice a year, meaning that the executive Council of State, which consists of 31 members, holds true power. A Council of Ministers, working through a nine member executive committe, has control of economic policy in Cuba, save for a small section of private sector allowed by the government. Cuba's highest judicial body is the People's Supreme Court that, despite the title, rarely hears private citizen's cases, especially in areas of political offense. 

Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro gained power in Cuba in 1959 after overthrowin the previous dictator and US ally Fulgenico Batista. Castro promised to popular reforms, including land reform which would benefit Cuba's peasant class. His "reforms" threatened US business's that were dominant in the Cuban economy,   causing isolation from the US, which only increased after the Cuban Missle Crisis in 1962. During the crisis, the US imposed an economic embargo on Cuba. Castro managed to sustain the economy through subsidies by the Soviet Union, which had become a staunch Cuban ally. The fall of the Soviet Union witnessed the economic collapse of Cuba in the 1990s as Cuba had loss its greatest source of international aid. Despite promises of change and reform after the ouster of the Batista regime, Castro's government soon became a complete repressive government, jailing and executing political dissedents. Corruption became widespread in the ruling Communist Party, while the lower classes struggled economically. 

Raul Castro

In 2008, an 81-year old Fidel Castro announced that after having intestinal surgery two years earlier, that he was relinguishing presidential power to his younger brother, 76-year old Raul Castro. Raul had previously been one of Fidel's strongest supporters. Raul's current rule has brought a suprising amount of political reform. Under Raul, the previous ban techonological equipment, including mobil phones and home computers has been lifted. Economically, Raul has lifted the ban off some products, such as DVD players and microwaves. In 2009, Raul dismissed numerous government and party officials. Despite these reforms, the Cuban goverment still holds political dissidents in prison and continues to restrict freedom of speech in the country.

Sources:

http://www.traveldocs.com/cu/govern.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1203299.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/244974.stm

US & China

Chinese President Hu Jintao & US President Barack Obama

The United States and China probably have the most complex relationship between any two nations in the world today. In the past decade, China has risen significantly and substantially to become one of the world's newest superpowers. This rise is greatly due to the country's economic boom, that began in the late 1970s after economic reforms by the Communist government that gave greater entrepreneurship to business leaders and opened up trade with Western nation, thus brining greater financial investment to the country. Of the nations with the highest GDP, China currently ranks second, just behind the United States.

It can be said there is currently a Cold War between the US & China, not in terms of military might or the strength of each of the countries nuclear arsenals, but rather in economic terms. The greatest source of tension between China and the US has been because of economics. Most recently, in a fight that is sill ongoing, the US has condemned China for it's financial policy of deliberately undervaluing its own currency, the Yuan. The weakness of the Yuan, consequentially, hurts US exports and manufacturers, who find it hard to compete with low Chinese prices. While it may seem unfair to the US, the economic relationship is beneficial for both sides, as China serves as a supplier to the demands for Chinese made products in the US, while the US exports have a good area in business and trade in China.

The relationship between the US and China is difficult one to describe, whether is is harmful, beneficial, or enigmatic. I believe that is a combination of all these factors, with a touch of dependability on both sides. China's rise rest on the strength of the US economy just as much as future US economic progress relies on China's. While it is not exactly amiable and is definitely strained, both countries are enjoying the economic profits that are key to this new special relationship.


Sources:
http://www.economywatch.com/economies-in-top/
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/business/chinese-currency-manipulation-us-exports-yuan-dollar-corporate-lawmakers-43353.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5353313

Year of the Rabbit

2011, according to the Chinese Lunisolar Calendar, is actually the year 4078. It is also the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit. Anyone born in the years 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 is destined to be articulate, talented, and ambitious. These are just a few qualities which a person born in that year is comprised of. Last year was the year of the Tiger, who tend to be sensitive and capable of great thinking. Yours truly was born in 1992, the year of the Monkey, meaning whether I like it or not, I am clever, skillful, inventive, original, and all round genius.

The Chinese calendar is among the oldest used to calculate the months in a year. It even predates the Gregorian Calendar, the current global calendar, that was first introduced in the first century. The Chinese New Year is always celebrated on the first month of the year (January). The event is a cause for celebration not just in China but across much of the globe, particularly in countries that have a significant Chinese population. The New Year is marked by festivities, which includes parades and fireworks. Traditionally, families "clean" ill fortune from their homes during this time, in part by decorating the home with red paper-cuts and couplets, which signify happiness, wealth, and longevity. The celebrations go on until the 15th day, when the New Year officially comes to an end.

Sources:
http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year
http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/Rabbit.html

China Cracks down on Middle East-inspired Protests

Last week, the Chinese government moved to disperse protests that had been organized across China, calling for democratic change in the country. Hoping to imitate the "Jasmine Revolution" that toppled Tunisia's authoritarian government early in January and has since sparked a successful uprising ousting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and inspired numerous others across the Middle East that are still ongoing, the demonstrations were arranged by activists via online social networks. 

The government responded swiftly through force and increased censorship. In Beijing and Shanghai, the police broke up fledgling protests. Protesters, western journalists covering the scene, and even passing shoppers were dragged away by the police and arrested. The Internet also faced further censorship as all references to the event, including the word jasmine, were blocked on search engines. Elsewhere across the country, human rights activists and other dissidents were either detained or warned by the government to stay away from such events. 

Source:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/27/us-china-protest-idUSTRE71Q0TF20110227

US Federal Agent Murdered in Mexico

Jaime Zapata

Two American federal agents were ambushed by gunmen in central Mexico on Tuesday, leaving one dead and the other wounded but currently in stable condition. The deceased was Jaime J. Zapata, an agent with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Zapata was a native of Brownsville, Texas, had been with the agency for four years, and had been on loan from the agency office in Laredo, Texas. The two agents had been attached to the US embassy in the capital Mexico City at the time of the attack.

Map of San Luis Potosi

Zapata and the other agent had been driving from Mexico City toward the city of Monterrey in northern Mexico when they were ambushed at a "narco-blockade" a fake roadblock commonly used by drug traffickers. The attack occurred in the state of San Luis Potosi, located in central Mexico, around 3 pm. While the pair were driving on the highway, they were forced to stop due to vehicles placed by the gunmen across the road. The gunmen then shot at both agents, mortally wounding Zapata, who succumbed after being discovered, and wounding the other agent with gunshots to the leg and arm. The assailants have not yet been identified, but are most presumably members of a drug cartel. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that, despite the attack, the US remained committed to supporting Mexico in its fight against drug cartels.

Columbia's Civil War: The Fight Against FARC

Flag of FARC

For the past several decades, the Columbian government has fought a prolonged war against the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Columbia; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia), a left-wing insurgent group. FARC was originally founded in 1964, in the midst of the Cold War, as the militant branch of the Columbian Communist Party. FARC advocated for agrarian rights, representing itself as a supporter of the peasant majority against the wealthy Columbian elite that controlled the government. The group is described as the "oldest, largest, most capable, and best equipped" of all the Marxist insurgencies that sprang into being during the Cold War period.

Beside guerrilla warfare tactics against the Columbian army, FARC has employed a number of brutal tactics. Kidnapping, extortion, bombings, and other forms of terrorism all were widely during the height of the FARC's power. These tactics were used against the military, government officials, and civilians. The FARC was based out of rural areas, but also had centers and training camps in neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. In the 1990s, the FARC became involved in the drug-trade as a means to secure revenue. According to a 2006 report by the US Justice Department, about 50% of the world's cocaine was supplied by the FARC.

At it's peak, FARC consisted of 16,000 combatants. However, the number now is believed to be around 8,000 and 9,000. This is mainly due to the military campaign launched against FARC by then-president Alvaro Uribe after taking office in 2002. This campaign, backed by the US, succeeded in significantly eroding the power of FARC, killing off major rebel leaders and pushed back it's territory significantly. The FARC is believed now to be a shell of its former glory and is recently engaged in negotiations with the Columbian government, mainly over the release of hostages still held by FARC. Nonetheless, the war against FARC continues to be a thorn in the side of the government, and though many wish for a resolution in the near future, there is no clear end in sight.

Sources:
http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/farc.htm
http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/farc.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/farc.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11400950

A Study in Hinduism

Hindu Symbol

Hinduism is one the most ancient religions in the world, so ancient in fact that there is no recorded date to the exact foundation of the religion. It is the dominant religion of South Asia, most notably in India, where Hindus make up 80% of the nation's population. Hinduism has around a billion followers worldwide.

Shiva "The Destroyer"

Like many other religions, Hinduism teaches how to make yourself a better person. However, unlike other established religions, Hindu teachings do not strictly adhere to written rules or scripture. Instead, most of the religion is based off of religious, philosophical and cultural ideas, traditions and customs that are all closely related. Because of these diverse principles, there is no "true" form of Hinduism. Themes that are always present in Hinduism, however, are Dharma, the important duties and ethics in life, Karma, actions to take which reflect well upon you, Reincarnation, the belief in rebirth after death, and Nirvana, the release of the soul after a series of cycles of rebirths. Hinduism also has an estimated 330 million gods and goddesses. The most important god is Shiva, or "The Destroyer" seen as the "supreme god" of all of the Hindu gods.

Ganesha, patron god of arts

There are some very attractive features of Hinduism. If offers simple yet complex ways to "cleanse" the soul of sin, with ways like daily baptism. Also that anyone can have their own interpretation is quite appealing. The most confusing aspects of Hinduism are that there are so many different traditions and customs that make up the religion. Among these are he ideals revolving around sin, which I feel are not made quite clear.

Sources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html
http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/overview.htm
http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/p/hinduismbasics.htm
http://contenderministries.org/hinduism/hindubeliefs.php

The Strength and Weakness of India: Population Growth

As India emerges in the 21st century as a world power, there is considerable analysis and observation regarding whether it will be aided by its strengths or deferred by its weakness'. Among India's factors, I believe that the most significant sign of progress and a potential sign of limitation for India is the country's inflating population.

India Population Pyramid

Last year, as of July 2010, the total population of India was estimated to be 1,173,108,018. This makes India the second most populated country in the world, second only to another rising power, China. The population of India makes up about 17% of the global population. India's massive growth could be beneficial to the future of India's progressive rise. More people born means more added manpower to the country's workforce, spurring the growth of the number of jobs, and therefore a growth of the national economy. A rising economy in turn raises the standard of living in India and cause the creation of a middle class in India equivalent to the United States.

The downside to India's rising populace is the strain that such a growth will have on Indian society. Rising population will mean the increase of the number of impovershied in the country, a problem India has always struggled to deal with. Currently, about 25% of the population lives below the poverty line. In case of economic depression, high unemployment would result, putting a potential and severe strain on the Indian government. Harvesting natural resources would also have to increase in order to support such a large population. Therefore a great strain would be put onto the environment of India and possibly could upset the the country's natural ecosystem.

Sources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html
http://geography.about.com/od/obtainpopulationdata/a/indiapopulation.htm

India Reviews 2005 Space Agency Deal

The government of India recently stated that it is reviewing a deal made by the Indian Space Research Organization in 2005 that reportedly gave a private company free usage of S-band Radio bandwidth for 20 years. Such a use could mean the loss of $44 billion in revenue. Bandwidths are the differences between the lower and upper levels in sets of frequencies and is usable in many fields, including radio communications, and through electronic data transfer. The government has not yet reached a decision regarding whether to allocate bandwidth either to Antrix, the commercial arm of ISRO or Devas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd, the private company.

The original deal, according to a report in the Daily Line newspaper, was that the ISRO would launch two satellites for Devas against required payments and would also give the company free use of the agency's bandwidth. This report comes at a time in India when the majority party in Congress is facing a series of allegations regarding massive corruption. The government so far has made some "preliminary queries" and has stated that the space agency will reply to them. The Company Devas responded with its own statement, calling the report inaccurate and that it had received no communications from the Indian Space Agency. The company also said that it had approval to lease satellite transponders from the agency. India's Central Bureau of Investigation (the equilvalent of our FBI) is probbing the report. So far the Bureau has estimated that the government could lose up to 4.8 billion dollars in potential revenue. An arrest has been made last week in relation to the investigation. Former Telecom minister Andimuthu Raja and two aides were taken into custody by the Bureau for allegedly showing favortism in  rewarding licenses of the use of bandwidth.

Original article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704364004576131721837728418.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Other sources:
http://searchenterprisewan.techtarget.com/definition/bandwidth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwidth_(signal_processing)

Egypt in Chaos: Government tries to Assuage Demonstrators

On January 25, 2011, about 200,000 demonstrators filled the streets of Cairo, Egypt in open protest of President Hosni Mubarak, who has led the country for 30 years. The protests were aftershocks of a successful uprising in Tunisia on January 15, which ousted the country's president who had been in office for 23 years. The demonstrators were mostly young people, who used online social networks, like Facebook, to organize the protests. As these protests drag on, their ranks will be swelled by the lower and upper classes, the unemployed, opposition figures, and radical Islamic groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, a banned fundamentalist group. The demonstrations are meet with force by Cairo police, who use such methods as tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd. As clashes between protesters, law enforcement, and pro-Mubarak groups grow, Cairo descends into a state of anarchy, as the government employs the army to act as peacekeeper. 

Vice President Omar Suleiman

Over the weekend, any signs regarding the future of the uprising remains unclear. According to The New York Times, representatives of opposition groups have stated that they will increase pressure on President Mubarak to resign, even as the newly appointed vice President Omar Suleiman has begun discussions with opposition groups. Key figures in the ruling party, including Mubarak's son, have stepped down, possibly to show that the government is genuinely interested in reform. Meanwhile, the United States has also been working behind the scenes to convince the government to accept concessions and adopt reforms. Vice President Joe Biden made a phone call to his Egyptian counterpart urging the Egyptian government to act with restraint when dealing with the protesters.

Sources include:

http://www.counterpunch.org/asfour02012011.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/world/middleeast/07egypt.html?_r=1&hp

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/03/egypt.protests.timeline/index.html

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/latest-updates-on-day-13-of-egypt-protests/?hp

Brezhnev & Stalin: Identical Leaders

Both Leonid Brezhnev & Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union, using similar methods in their governing. Both were repressive leaders during their respective years in power, using brutal tactics to subdue political opposition. Stalin employed Soviet gulags, in which political prisoners were worked or starved to death, and arranged massive purges within the Communist Party and the army. Brezhnev brought back a new era of political repression after a decade of political relaxation following Stalin's death. But while Stalin unleashed unlimited political terror on the populace, Brezhnev's policies' were more reserved and subtle. A common practice of dealing with political opponents was to have them declared be mentally insane and lock them away in insane asylums across the Soviet Union. Both regimes also created a cult of personality revolving around both leaders, though Stalin's far surpassed.
Brezhnez's

Stalin and Brezhnev both oversaw growth of their country's economy during their individual rules. Stalin initiated economic progressivism through the Five Year Plan, which sough to industrialize the country. Post-war Russia also experienced a economic boom during the final years of Stalin's rule. Brezhnev's regime rode the wave of this economic growth. However, during the 1970s, the country began to run into stagnation which continued up into Brezhnez death in 1982. Both dictators negotiated with Western nations. Stalin worked with America and Great Britain during the war, but the relationship between the Allies deteriorated in the years following the war. Brezhnez came to power at a major peak during the Cold War. Brezhnez's negotiations with the United States during the 1970s, however, led to a period of relaxed relations between the two countries.

Sources include:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Brezhnev

http://www.historyguide.org/europe/brezhnev.html

Leonid Brezhnev (1964-1982)

Leonid Brezhnev

Leonid Brezhnev was General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and therefore de facto leader of the Soviet Union, from 1964 to his death in 1982. Brezhnev was born on December 19, 1906 in Kamenskoe (modern day Ukraine). In the 1920s, in the years after the Russian Revolution, Brezhnev was employed as a land surveyor, eventually becoming a full Communist Party member in 1931 and studied at a metallurgy institute. He rose through the Party ranks in the late 1930s and during World War II, served as political commissar on the front-lines. Immediately after the war's end, Brezhnez continued his rise up the party leadership, becoming a member of the Central Committe in 1952. His power further rose in the 1950s under Nikita Krushchev, his mentor.

Despite this relationship with Krushchev, Brezhnev was instrumental in the removal of Krushchev from office in 1964, and later that year emerged as new General Secretary. During his 18-year rule, the Soviet Union reached the peak of its worldwide power and influence. Russia continued the economic growth it had experienced since World War II. It was also during this time that Russia and the United States entered into a period of detente during the early 1970s, which witnessed the negotiation of capping the number of nuclear weapons each country possessed. Despite this progress, the Soviet Union experienced increased political repression under the Brezhnev regime. Corruption and party patronage flourished during Brezhnev's rule.

During the 1970s, Russia began to experience economic stagnation, which may have been aided by Brezhnev's economic policies. In 1979, Cold War tensions flared after the Russian Army occupied Afghanistan after a communist revolution in that country. In 1982, amidst turmoil at home and abroad, Brezhnev died of a heart attack at age 75, the result of worsening health over the years. He was succeded in the party leadership by Yuri Andropov.

Sources include:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Brezhnev
http://www.historyguide.org/europe/brezhnev.html