Contents
1. Advantages and disadvantages about the Contrarians
2. The start of the Contrarian movement and its perspectives
3. Examples of the Contrarians’ opposition
4. Contrarians approach to the modern technological world
5. Recommendations to Contrarians
6. Bibliography
Advantages and disadvantages about the Contrarians
Speaking about advantages and disadvantages that Contrarians possess, it is
necessary to underline that they should be treated in a wider terms than that
of financial market ones. Naturally there may be singled out advantages and
disadvantages. However, all of them based on the basic principle of Contrarian’s
views, i.e. on opposition to the general line. Consequently, such a position
provide them in a different opinion from others, it means they have their own
individual vision of the situation that is obviously positive. It also provides
them with a certain degree of objectivity because they do not agree with the
general line and can perceive the real situation regardless the common view
which may be erroneous. Their position is also a source of critical thinking,
which is so important in the contemporary world that is permanently changing.
Furthermore, they are characterized by the uniqueness of their position that
increases their social and economic value as the main source of competitiveness
to the general line. Finally, in philosophical terms they are a sort of stimulus
for their opponents which, attempting to overcome the Contrarians’ opposition,
progress.
As for disadvantages some of them may be draw from the advantages listed, since
in fact some of them have the other side. For instance, the objectivity of Contrarians,
being potentially higher compared to the general opinion, is still not absolute
for in real life objectivity cannot be absolute. Consequently a certain degree
of subjectivity is still present and their objectivity may be fairly criticized
though not in such a high degree as the position of the majority. Furthermore
their opposition to the general line may be also erroneous because, in financial
markets their opponents may have quite a positive impact on economy as well.
They also have a weak position because they do not promote it as a perspective
alternative to the general line. Finally, they are condemned to remain in a
permanent minority since the entity of the movement is very specific and in
financial terms it is probably less attractive than the position of their opponents.
Consequently they would hardly be in a majority at least in the nearest time.
The start of the Contrarian movement and its perspectives
In fact, it is possible to say the Contrarian movement in its proper financial
sense has appeared as soon as financial market appeared. Bearishness was a natural
response to bullishness since it was a natural demand of the market. Later on
the movement progressed, especially after the World War II and nowadays it still
exist and progress.
However, the perspectives of Contrarians are not quite clear since it is a commonly
accepted belief that the contemporary financial markets are the markets where
Contrarians are always in a worse position and have little perspectives. As
a result they would probably lose their positions. But probably it is necessary
to be a bit a Contrarian to think otherwise, especially, if one concerns the
phenomenon larger as a philosophical movement. In such a situation it may find
its places and be an alterative to other philosophical movements that overwhelmed
the contemporary world.
Examples of the Contrarians’ opposition
Within any financial market there are Contrarians. They are characterized by
their opposition to the general line that finds its expression in their preferences
of a negative trend, i.e. while their opponents tends to rise prices of stocks,
for instance, Contrairans would low it. However, their position is not simply
negative. In fact they simply tend to be in opposition to the general line and
they may prefer not only negative but positive trend as well only if it is in
opposition to the general line.
Consequently it possible to speak about the opposition in different spheres
of life as the position of Contrarians, for instance in politics it may be the
opposition to a government. In social life, it may be any kind of opposition,
for instance some social protest or, what is worse, it may be even crimes.
Contrarians approach to the modern technological world
The Contrarians views on technological development are in a way similar to the
views of New Humanists. It means, being in an opposition to the general view,
they have to look for alternatives to technological progress and transforming
human society in materialistic community that is in fact a slave of the technological
progress deprived of individuality and spiritual richness. Consequently it is
obvious that Contrarians would rather prefer spiritual development of each individual
and the society at large rather than rapid technological development.
Recommendations to Contrarians
In practical terms Contrarians have to promote their position if they want to
remain within financial markets and expand their influence as a socio-political
or philosophical movements. It may be done through different educational or
training programs, which prepare people to take risks in financial market and
stay in opposition. In socio-political life it is possible to recommend to invest
money, accumulated in financial markets, in the development of some political
movement or even a party. In order to become closer to the public they should
organize a series of advertising campaign that would promote their views.
Bibliography:
1. Drehmann, M. et al. Herdal and Contrarian Behavior in Financial Markets.
University of Bonne, 2002.
2. Elachi, J. Contrarians in the Financial Markets. London: Routledge, 2001.
3. Fleckenstein, B. Contrarian Chronicles. New York: New Publishers, 1999.
4. Johnson, G. Contrarian’s Contrarian. New York: Touchstone, 1998.
5. Nassar, D. A Contrarian’s Opportunity. SF: Guildore Publishers, 1996.
6. Oldington, C. Contrarians. New York: Touchstone, 2000.
