Central / national / federal government Books

Book SynopsisA fresh perspective on an ancient institution; Exploring Parliament offers an engaging and real-life insight into the inner workings, impact, and relevance of twenty-first century Parliament. Short academic and practitioner chapters are combined with highly relevant and practical case studies, to provide a new and accessible introduction to Parliament''s structures, people, and practices. As well as covering the broader structure of UK Parliament, this text explains the role of small parties in law making, the design and space of Parliament, and offers illuminating case studies on highly topical areas such as the Backbench Business Committee, the Hillsborough Inquiry and recent pieces of legislation such as the Assisted Dying Bill.This text is complemented by the following online resources for students and lecturers:- Video tours of Parliament- Podcasts to explain and explore the work of Parliament- Web links to help students to explore Parliament even furtherTable of ContentsPART I: THE ORGANISATION OF PARLIAMENT; PART II: LAW MAKING; PART III: SCRUTINY AND ACCOUNTABILITY; PART IV: REPRESENTATION; PART V: CHALLENGES AND REFORM

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Book Synopsis- What caused the increased turbulence of British Politics in recent- How do policy blunders occur and why?- Why did Brexit happen, and what is the future of the UK-EU relationship?- How powerful are political parties in British Politics?- How is British politics shaped by variation and differentiation, especially across the nations of the UK?British Politics answers these fundamental questions, putting political science and public policy at its core to provide an analytical approach to British politics. The book''s three-part structure is designed to help students make sense of the British political system. Part A covers constitutional and institutional foundations: the formal set of politics, laws, procedures, and customs which make up the distinctive features of the political system. In Part B, political behaviour and citizenship is explored, looking at politics from the view of the everyday citizen by examining political parties and the media. Finally, part C looks at how power andTrade ReviewThis is a path-breaking textbook that will help significantly advance the teaching of undergraduate British Politics courses. * Dr Philip Catney, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Keele University, UK *A very lively and interesting exploration of contemporary UK politics. British Politics is admirably analytical, balanced and thoughtful. It will get undergraduates to think, which is key. It encourages them to consider rival perspectives on a debate. It covers a lot of ground and is authoritative and rigorous but always accessible. * Professor Jon Tonge, Professor of Politics, University of Liverpool, UK *An accessible yet sophisticated exposition of the British political system. Empirically rich and theoretically driven, it is a must-have resource for students of British politics. * Dr Richard Hayton, Associate Professor of Politics, University of Leeds, UK *Table of ContentsPart A: Constitutional and Institutional Foundations 1: The Starting Point: Understanding the Political System 2: Leadership from the Top 3: Debating Politics and Making Laws Part B: Political Behaviour and Citizenship 4: What People Think and Do about Politics 5: Winning and Losing Elections 6: The Media and Agenda Setting: Political Turbulence Part C: Policy-Making and Delegation 7: Interest Groups, Advocacy, and Policy-Making 8: Governing Through Bureaucracy 9: Governing From Below 10: Delegating Upwards: Challenges of International Politics 11: Conclusion: The State of British Democracy?

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Book SynopsisThis book raises questions about one of the key institutions of American government, the United States Senate, and should be of interest to anyone concerned with issues of representation.

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Book SynopsisThe Closing Door is the first major critique of the effect of conservative policies on urban race and poverty in the 1980s. Atlanta, with its booming economy, strong elected black leadership, and many highly educated blacks, seemed to be the perfect site for those policies and market solutions to prove themselves. Unfortunately, not only did expected economic opportunity fail to materialize but many of the hard-won gains of the civil rights movement were lost. Orfield and Ashkinaze painstakingly analyze the evidence from Atlanta to show why black opportunity deteriorated over the 1980s and outline possible remedies for the damage inflicted by the Reagan and Bush administrations. The Closing Door is a crucial breath of fresh air . . . an important and timely text which will help to alter the 'underclass' debate in favor of reconsidering race-specific policies. Orfield and Ashkinaze construct a convincing argument with which those who favor 'race-neutrality' will have to contend. In re

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Book SynopsisAn account of the development of secrecy as a mode of regulation in American governance since World War I - how it was born, how world events shaped it, how it has adversely affected momentous political decisions and events, and how it has eluded efforts to curtail or end it.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Mystery Writers of America's Prestigious 'Best Fact Crime' Award, the riveting, forgotten narrative of the most corrupt attorney general in American history and the maverick senator who stopped at nothing to take him down Many tales from the Jazz Age reek of crime and corruption. But perhaps the era’s greatest political fiasco—one that resulted in a nationwide scandal, a public reckoning at the Department of Justice, the rise of J. Edgar Hoover, and an Oscar-winning film—has long been lost to the annals of history. In Crooked, Nathan Masters restores this story of murderers, con artists, secret lovers, spies, bootleggers, and corrupt politicians to its full, page-turning glory. Newly elected to the Senate on a promise to root out corruption, Burton 'Boxcar Burt' Wheeler sets his sights on ousting Attorney General Harry Daugherty, puppet-master behind President Harding’s unlikely rise to po

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Book SynopsisThis excellent reference source brings together hard-to-find information on the constituent units of the Russian Federation.The introduction examines the Russian Federation as a whole, followed by a chronology, demographic and economic statistics, and a review of the Federal Government. The second section comprises territorial surveys, each of which includes a current map. This edition includes surveys covering the annexed (and disputed) territories of Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as updated surveys of each of the other 83 federal subjects. The third section comprises a select bibliography of books. The fourth section features a series of indexes, listing the territories alphabetically, by Federal Okrug and Economic Area. Users will also find a gazetteer of selected alternative and historic names, a list of the territories abolished, created or reconstituted in the post-Soviet period, and an index of more than 100 principal cities, detailing the territory in whiTable of ContentsPart 1: Introduction Topical essay on the region. Chronology of Russia. Statistics. The Government of the Russian Federation. Part 2: Territorial Surveys. Map of European Russia. Map of Asian Russia. Surveys of each of the 83 Federal Subjects. Part 3: Select BibliographyPart 4: Indexes

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Book SynopsisThe first systematic survey of the neoclassical realist approach in international relations. It argues that variables such as international anarchy, the distribution of military capability, and international threats set parameters for state behaviour in the international system, but that the internal dynamics of states also explain different countries' foreign policies.Trade Review'Neoclassical realism is now a major research program in the realist tradition. Neoclassical Realism, the State, and Foreign Policy is the first comprehensive discussion of the program, together with several of its different theories. This important book fills a significant gap in the International Relations sub-field, and it will be widely read and cited.' Colin Elman, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University'By focusing on the state and its relationship to society within an uncertain international environment, Lobell, Ripsman, Taliaferro and their contributors advance a genuinely realist theory of foreign policy. An important set of essays that enhances our understanding of how countries assess and respond at both the international and domestic levels to security threats.' David A. Lake, University of California, San Diego'This volume is the most systematic effort yet to define neoclassical realism, to differentiate it from other forms of realist and liberal international theory, and to extend the scope of its empirical applications. It emphasizes how internal state structures filter external threats and opportunities, and how state leaders evaluate threats, formulate strategies, and mobilize societal resources to support those strategies. These essays by leading neoclassical realist scholars are a must read for all serious students of international conflict.' Jack S.Levy, Board of Governors' Professor, Rutgers University'Even those who are not card-carrying neo-classical realists will want to read this important attempt to define what is distinctive about this approach to understanding international politics. The volume shows off some excellent historical analysis done in this vein.' Jack Snyder, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Relations , Columbia University'All in all, the well balanced volume illustrates the enduring theoretical power of Realism and particularly Neoclassical Realism's successful attempt to open the 'black box' of the state … Neoclassical Realism, the State, and Foreign Policy can be recommended not only to those interested in international relations theory as it relates to the state and its foreign policy, but also to those who still believe - wrongly - that Realism is only about brutish and nasty power politics in the international system.' Jodok Troy, Diplomacy and StatecraftTable of Contents1. Introduction: neoclassical realism, the state, and foreign policy Jeffrey W. Taliaferro, Steven E. Lobell and Norrin M. Ripsman; 2. Threat assessment, the state, and foreign policy: a neoclassical realist model Steven E. Lobell; 3. Neoclassical realism and strategic calculations: explaining divergent British, French, and Soviet strategies toward Germany between the world wars (1919–39) Mark R. Brawley; 4. Neoclassical realism and identity: peril despite profit across the Taiwan Strait Jennifer Sterling-Folker; 5. Neoclassical realism and the national interests: presidents, domestic politics, and major military interventions Colin Dueck; 6. Neoclassical realism and domestic interest groups Norrin M. Ripsman; 7. Neoclassical realism and resource extraction: state building for future war Jeffrey W. Taliaferro; 8. Neoclassical realism and state mobilization: expansionist ideology in the age of mass politics Randall L. Schweller; 9. The limits of neoclassical realism: additive and interactive approaches to explaining foreign policy preferences Benjamin O. Fordham; 10. Conclusion: the state of neoclassical realism Norrin M. Ripsman, Jeffrey W. Taliaferro and Steven E. Lobell.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited memoir of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's years in Washington

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisMost governments in the world have taken responsibility for social policy and elected to develop services in health, education and social security. This book explores the role of government and the state in the contemporary world and discusses views about government responsibility for social welfare services.Table of Contents1. Introduction: the state, and what it has become Part 1: On government 2. Government 3. Public Policy 4. The state and civil society 5. Global public policy Part 2: Salus populi suprema lex: the welfare of the people is the highest law 6. The scope of legitimate action 7. Welfare 8. Which people? 9. The commitment to welfare 10. Disputed principles 11. The duties of a government

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Book SynopsisComing off of the 2020 election, THE BIDENS tells the Biden Family story in full, from the secrets lurking in the deep recesses of Joe's family tree to his son Hunter's foreign deal-making spree-and the Trump gang's ham-handed efforts to exploit it.On November 3, Americans did not just elect Joe Biden: They got a package deal. The tight-knit Biden family-siblings, children, in-laws, and beyond-is coming right along with him. They are sure to play a defining role in his presidency, just as they have in every other one of his endeavours. Inside, you'll find these and other stories and revelations about the Biden family, including:- Joe's childhood, the stunning 1972 Senate upset engineered by his sister Valerie, and the car accident that took the lives of his first wife and infant daughter soon after- Joe's early years in the Senate and his role in the creation of the cozy "Delaware Way" of conducting politics- The Biden brothers' business escapades, including the '70s rock club rivalry that pitted Jim Biden against Jill's first husband and ended in a banking scandal- The Delaware lawman who oversaw an FBI investigation into Joe's 2007 campaign fundraising and now has Hunter in his sights- Hunter's surprisingly close friendship with his Fox News antagonist, Tucker Carlson- What Steve Bannon really hoped to accomplish by giving the contents of "the Laptop from Hell" to the New York Post- New evidence that sheds light on the authenticity of Hunter's alleged computer files Like the Kennedys before them, the Bidens are a tight-knit, idealistic Irish Catholic clan with good looks, dynastic ambitions, and serious personal problems.As THE BIDENS reveals, the best way to understand Joe Biden-his values, fears, and motives-is to understand his family: Their Irish (and not-so-Irish) roots, their place in the Delaware pecking order, their dodgy business deals, and their personal struggles and triumphs alike.

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times chief television critic James Poniewozik traces the history of television and mass media from the early 1980s to today and demonstrates how a “volcanic, camera-hogging antihero” merged with America’s most powerful medium to become the forty-fifth president. He charts the seismic evolution of television from a monolithic mass medium of mainstream networks into today’s fractious media subculture. He then examines Donald Trump, who took advantage of these changes to reinvent himself: from boastful cartoon zillionaire; to 1990s self-parodic sitcom fixture; to The Apprentice-reality-TV star to Twitter-mad, culture-warring demagogue. A trenchant, often hilarious work, Audience of One provides an eye-opening history of American media and a reflection of a raucous, “gorillas-are always-fighting” culture.Trade Review"According to The New York Times TV critic, Trump’s addiction to TV and Twitter meant that even before he won the presidency, he “had essentially become a cable news channel in human form, loud, short of attention span, addicted to conflict … a meshing of man and machine”." -- Martin Pengelly and David Smith - The Guardian"The Mueller Report of television criticism! James Poniewozik’s Audience of One is both damning and illuminating, a witty, penetrating exposé of Trump’s most intimate relationship, the one with the medium that made him." -- Emily Nussbaum - The New Yorker"With wit, insight, and clarity, James Poniewozik puts Trump at the center of a series of changes that swept through American popular culture and political systems. Poniewozik’s essential book shows how these evolutions incubated Trumpism, even as Trump’s rise exposed the limits and vulnerabilities of the media, which too often found itself floundering in the face of his shameless manipulations." -- Maureen Ryan - Variety"Illuminating... Poniewozik is a funny, acerbic and observant writer… [He] uses his ample comedic gifts in the service of describing a slow-boil tragedy. If humor is the rocket of his ICBM, the last three years of our lives are the destructive payload... Poniewozik brings a new microscope with which to analyze the drug-resistant bacterium that is our president. Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of is that it makes Trump's presidency seem almost inevitable." -- Gary Shteyngart - The New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisThe November 2020 US election was arguably the most consequential since the 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln—and grassroots leaders and organizers played crucial roles in the contention for the presidency and control of both houses of Congress. Power Concedes Nothing tells the stories behind a victory that won both the White House and the Senate and powered progressive candidates to new levels of influence. It describes the on-the-ground efforts that mobilized a record-breaking turnout by registering new voters and motivating an electorate both old and new. In doing so it charts a viable path to victory for the vital contests upcoming in 2022 and 2024. Contributors include: Cliff Albright, Yong Jung Cho, Larry Cohen, Sendolo Diaminah, Neidi Dominguez, David Duhalde, Alicia Garza, Ryan Greenwood, Arisha Michelle Hatch , Jon Liss, Thenjiwe McHarris, Andrea Cristina Mercado, Maurice Mitchell, Rafael Návar, Deepak Pateriya, Ai-jen Poo, W. Mondale Robinson, Art Reyes III, Nsé Ufot and Mario YedidiaTrade Review"Thanks to the contributors and editors of this immensely valuable collection, the lessons gleaned from an array of successful organizing strategies will not be lost to the historical amnesia that often claims such local but transformative work.” — Angela Y. Davis, Distinguished Professor Emerita, UC Santa Cruz “Fierce contributors offer us battle-tested wisdom for the struggle ahead.” — Bonnie Castillo, Executive Director, National Nurses United “The broad center–left coalition to defeat Trump in 2020 was an artful display of strategic unity and tireless mass mobilization. These writers give invaluable insights into how that victory was won...” — Barbara Ransby, author of Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement “An antidote to the sort of superficial gloss that often passes for political analysis.” — Manuel Pastor, director, USC Equity Research Institute“An important, wise, and accessible book and a positive assessment of the role that electoral work can play in social change movements. It’s also a reminder that we need to… use every possible avenue, including voting, to create the world in which we wish to live” — The Progressive

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Book SynopsisThe Dead Center takes an acerbic and often ribald eye to contemporary politics, particularly those of mainstream liberals in the United States. Combining engaging polemic and serious intellectual analysis, it offers a timely portrait of a political landscape sullied by an already ineffectual Biden administration, the marginalization of forces around Bernie Sanders and the ominous shadow of Donald Trump in the wings. In these pages Jacobin staff writer Luke Savage exposes the hollowness and futility of the liberal project in the 21st century, offering searing critiques of some of its leading figures, notably Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau, and touching on topics that extend over the milquetoast politics of the Biden presidency, Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing, the monopolists of Silicon Valley, and the worst excesses of cable news punditry. Always deeply informed, often on the basis of direct personal experience, Savage’s book also explores the recent trajectory of younger people away from the liberal mainstream and towards the socialist left.Trade Review“If you have appreciated Luke Savage's work… as much as I have, then you must pick up a copy of this book. Luke brings a smart, informed, critical perspective to bear on the crisis of American democratic life and the continuing class war from above against the democratic achievements of generations.”— Harvey J. Kaye, Professor Emeritus of Democracy & Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and author of Thomas Paine and the Promise of America “Sardonic and hilarious, The Dead Center contains some of the best political, media, and cultural criticism I’ve read in some time. It’s clear-eyed about the immensely powerful forces working against progress and the working-class. It left me feeling both angrier about liberalism’s failures and more hopeful. This is a book that understands the past, present, and future of left politics as well as any I’ve read.” — Alex Shephard, The New Republic “Luke Savage is one of the contemporary left’s finest writers and one of liberalism’s most astute and merciless critics. These qualities converge in The Dead Center, which catalogues twenty-first century liberalism’s worst embarrassments and darkest betrayals. This entertaining and timely book will unsettle political moderates — and, more importantly, provide ample reinforcement for a rising generation of leftists intent on challenging them.” — Meagan Day, Associate Editor, Jacobin “Liberalism, we know, is in crisis, and few people are better at dissecting the tensions of contemporary liberalism than Luke Savage… Savage illuminates the contradictions and blindspots that have made modern liberalism so ill-suited to solving the problems that bedevil the present moment. A must-read for anyone of any ideological persuasion interested in better understanding our age and its pathologies.” — Daniel Bessner, Joff Hanauer Honors Associate Professor, University of Washington “Everyone should read this book. Luke Savage is a perceptive thinker and a lively and entertaining writer, and skewering centrist liberalism is what he does best. The socialist left is lucky to have him.” — Ben Burgis, author of Christopher Hitchens: What He Got Right, How He Went Wrong, and Why He Still Matters “It’s more than a little infuriating that one of the most clear-eyed and insightful writers on American politics is Canadian, but I suppose that’s just a sign of the times we live in.”— Josh Olson, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, co-host of The West Wing ThingTable of Contents Introduction: The Dead Center A Note to the Reader Part I: Salvos Liberalism in Theory and Practice Why Liberals Pretend They Have No Power David Brooks’ Capitalist Fatalism What Canada Can Teach Us About Liberals Everywhere Part II: Bipartisan Bromides The Curse of Bipartisanship Liberalism’s Veil of Ignorance 2004 Redux How Liberals Fell in Love with The West Wing The Never Trump Delusion Part III: Dramatis Personae The Fraudulent Universalism of Barack Obama—co-authored with Nathan J. Robinson Justin Trudeau and the Politics of Spectacle Fear and LARPing on the Campaign Trail Farewell to Betomania Why The Pundit Class Loves Amy Klobuchar| Variations in B-Flat Minor Keir Starmer and the Genealogy of Centrist Non-Belief Joe Biden Is Not a Radical Part IV: On the Media Manufacturing Consent, One Chyron at a Time The Agony and the Ecstasy of Chris Matthews All the President’s Tweets Erasing the Working Class James Carville Will Never Stop Being Wrong The Progressive Era That Wasn’t Part V: All That’s Solid… Savory Snacks for Social Justice The British Monarchy Will Not Survive Late Capitalism Barons of the Valley From New Deal to Nudge Neoliberalism? Never Heard of It. Acknowledgements Endnotes About the Author

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Book SynopsisAs naval officers transition to rewarding and challenging jobs ashore, the Naval Officer's Guide to the Pentagon offers a valuable helping hand along the journey. This practical guide advises officers of all paygrades, experience levels, and warfare communities on life and work in Washington, D.C., and in the Pentagon, in particular. The book is a user-friendly "one-stop shop" for information, offering insights from successful officers from a variety of warfare communities who have served in the Pentagon and in Washington in a range of staff roles. Tailored to naval officers but useful to civilians interested in better understanding the demands and lifestyle of working at the Pentagon, the Naval Officer's Guide to the Pentagon will be a positive addition to the professional libraries of naval leaders past, present, and future.

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Book SynopsisMuch has changed in European constitutional law after the Lisbon Treaty, not least the efforts to increase democratic legitimacy by engaging national legislatures and introducing a stricter subsidiary review process, namely the Early Warning Mechanism (EWM). This collection looks at how national parliaments have adapted to their new roles and looks at how the new system has impacted on relations between the EU legislative bodies and national parliaments. A team of experts from across Europe explore the effect of the EWM on the national constitutional orders; analyse the regional impact of EWM and evaluate the new system of scrutiny.Trade Review... the edited collection reviewed here is able to add significant value to the existing field through its unified approach and its in-depth analysis ... We may like the idea of national parliaments, but if in reality this is left to a small body of people and mainly conducted through administrative tasks, to what extent can we speak of this as improving democratic legitimacy? This book contributes to our understanding of these important questions through its rigorous analysis of the mechanism’s use in practice. -- Andrew Woodhouse * Common Market Law Review *This edited volume represents an engaging reflection on the evolution of [the early warning mechanism], and it usefully updates the abundant existing literature on this matter. It thoughtfully combines a more general critique of the EWM with a comparative analysis of the legal and political dimensions of its practical functioning. -- Davor Jancic, Queen Mary University of London * European Law Review *Table of Contents1. Introduction Anna Jonsson Cornell and Marco Goldoni Part I: Subsidiarity Review—Goals Achieved and Future Challenges 2. Is the Early Warning Mechanism a Legal or a Political Procedure? Three Questions and a Typology Ian Cooper 3. Reconstructing the EWM? Jörgen Hettne 4. Mapping out the Procedural Requirements for the Early Warning Mechanism Anna Wetter 5. Interparliamentary Cooperation between National Parliaments Bruno Dias Pinheiro Part II: Regional Parliaments 6. Regional Parliaments and the Early Warning System: An Assessment and Some Suggestions for Reform Diane Fromage 7. A New Player in the ‘Multi-Level Parliamentary Field’. Cooperation and Communication of Regional Parliaments in the Post-Lisbon Scenario Karolina Boronska-Hryniewiecka 8. Italian Regional Councils and the Positive Externalities of the Early Warning Mechanism for National Constitutional Law Cristina Fasone 9. Belgian Parliaments and the Early Warning System Werner Vandenbruwaene and Patricia Popelier Part III: The Early Warning Mechanism in National Constitutional Orders 10. Similar but Different—Comparing the Scrutiny of the Principle of Subsidiarity within the EWM in Denmark, Finland and Sweden Anna Jonsson Cornell 11. The Scrutiny of the Principle of Subsidiarity in the Procedures and Reasoned Opinions of the Italian Chamber and Senate Nicola Lupo 12. Speaking with One Voice? The French Parliament’s Use of the EWM Angela Tacea 13. Parliamentary Scrutiny of EU Affairs by the UK Parliament: The Primacy of Ministerial Accountability Adam Cygan 14. Able and Willing? Early Warning System and Political Dialogue in the Bundestag and the Nationalrat Katrin Auel 15. Like Two Peas in a Pod? The Functioning of the Early Warning Mechanism in the Czech Republic and Poland Katarzyna Granat 16. The Trajectory of the Early Warning Mechanism Marco Goldoni and Anna Jonsson Cornell

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Book SynopsisAmerican Democracy is at a Turning Point Most of the American people believe our government is on the wrong track, is broken, and is not capable of solving our major problems. Our national leaders have for too long made the rules for how we are governed for the benefit of their careers and re-election, primarily serving partisan and donor interests instead of serving the country. This book will present fact-based, unbiased and non-partisan actions that "We the People" can take to restore a service-to-country culture in Congress and the Administration.

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Book SynopsisThe power under the Constitution will always be in the people. It is entrusted for certain defined purposes, and for a certain limited period, to representatives of their own choosing; and whenever it is executed contrary to their interest, or not agreeable to their wishes, their servants can and undoubtedly will be recalled. ~ George Washington

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together a series of innovative contributions which provide an eclectic view of how theorizing politics plays out in Central Asia. How are the concepts of governance, legitimacy, ideology, power, order, and the state framed in the region? How can we use the experiences of the Central Asian states to renovate political theorizing? In addressing these questions, the volume relies on the contributions of many young and local researchers, whose chapters are primed to address three key themes: exploring models of governance, revealing ideological justifications, and reframing state and order. Utilizing a range of single and comparative case studies from across the Central Asian space, this illuminating and original volume opens up a new space for political theorists, regional specialists and students of politics to begin reconsidering how we approach the theorization of regions of the world assumed to be on the periphery.Trade Review“Theorizing Central Asian Politics is a book that is destined to have a long shelf-life, due to its innovative approach that seeks to reframe theoretically the work of scholars with first-class knowledge of Central Asia, its languages, its politics and its societies.” (Luca Anceschi, Inner Asia, Vol. 21, 2019)“The editors aimed to plant a seed to discuss political theorization starting from practices in Central Asia, but they exceeded expectations. This book marks the development of new research trails that could be the roots of a reflourishing of general political theory.” (Gian Marco Moisé, Central Asian Survey, Vol. 38 (4), 2019)Table of ContentsTable of Contents Chapter 1. Political Theory and Central Asia: An Introduction. Rico Isaacs and Alessandro Frigerio SECTION I. Exploring Models of Governance Chapter 2. Legitimacy and Legitimation in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Rico Isaacs and Sofya du Boulay Chapter 3. Governmentalization of Kazakhstani State: Between Governmentality and Neopatrimonial Capitalism. Assel Tutumlu Chapter 4. Theorizing the managerialism-neoliberalism-development nexus: Changing donor landscapes and persistence of practices in Kyrgyzstan. Liga Rudzite Chapter 5. Rawlsian Liberalism and Rationalistic Maturidi Islam in Central Asia. Galym Zhussipbek and Kairat Moldashev SECTION II. Revealing Ideological Justifications Chapter 6. In Search for “National Purpose”: in Theory and Practice. Formation and Main Features of National ideologies in post-Soviet Central Asia. Parviz Mullojanov Chapter 7. Compartmentalized Ideology: Presidential Addresses and Legitimation in Kazakhstan. Diana Kudaibergenova Chapter 8. Beyond “Personality Cults”: Sacralization of Power in Kazakhstan and the Concept of Monarchy. Adrien Fauve Chapter 9. Eternal Futurostan: Myths, Fantasies and the Making of Astana in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. Mikhail Akulov SECTION III. Reframing State and Order Chapter 10. The State Identities in post-Soviet Foreign Policy: Theories and Cases in Central Asia. Selbi Hanova Chapter 11. The Heartland of IR Theory? Central Asia as an ‘International Society’ between Realism and Liberalism. Filippo Costa Buranelli Chapter 12. The Incomplete State: Re-conceptualizing State and Society Relations in Central Asia. Viktoria Akchurina Chapter 13. Driving in Almaty: Ironic Perspectives on Domestic Anarchical Society. Alessandro Frigerio Chapter 14. Postscript: Dude Where is my Theory? Rico Isaacs and Alessandro Frigerio

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the unintended consequences of top-down reforms in Iran, analysing how the Iranian reformist governments (1997–2005) sought to utilise gradual reforms to control independent activism, and how citizens responded to such a disciplinary action. While the governments successfully ‘set the field’ of permitted political participation, part of the civil society that took shape was unexpectedly independent. Despite being a minority, independent activists were not marginal: without them, in fact, the Green Movement of 2009 would not have taken shape. Building on in-depth empirical analysis, the author explains how autonomous activism forms and survives in a semi-authoritarian country. The book contributes to the debate about the implications of elite-led reforms for social reproduction, offering an innovative interpretation and an original analysis of social movements from a political science perspective.Table of ContentsChapter 1 - Reformism and political participation in Iran Chapter 2 - Political participation in context: Reformism and elite factionalism after the Iran-Iraq war Chapter 3 - Reformism as a governmental project: The ‘reform discourse’ and political participationChapter 4 - Civil society: Crafting consensus from above, appropriating reformism from belowChapter 5 - The formation of residual counterpower and autonomous subjectivity during and after the reform eraChapter 6 - Cycles of hope, eslahat, and the state

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Book SynopsisThe age of princes has passed, but the age of politicians is at its heights. So is Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince any less relevant? No. But it needs an update, to reflect the political realities of our times. That is the purpose of this groundbreaking manuscript—a guide to success in contemporary politics, where the democratically-elected politician has assumed the role of the classical prince. Here is revealed how a politician must act if she wants to be successful, how she must plot her every move, whether dealing with colleagues, constituents, family members, bureaucrats, lobbyists or the media. Indeed, this manuscript is unique, for it exposes at a level of detail never seen before the inner workings of the mind of the contemporary politician. And while it may prove an asset to aspiring politicians, its frank and honest nature will no doubt strike fear in the hearts of incumbent politicians as it sheds light on their motives, intentions, and aspirations.Table of ContentsProlegomenaThe Lay of the LandI. From the prince to the politicianII. The role of the politician in the liberal democratic stateIII. What draws the citizen to the world of politicsIV. Why all politics is localV. The politician: crusader and opportunistGetting ElectedVI. How the aspiring political may gain electionHolding OfficeVII. How the politician should deal with his political superiorsVIII. How the politician should deal with her political peersIX. How the politician should deal with his political inferiorsX. How the politician should behave in curiaXI. How the politician should behave in cameraXII. Concerning particular dangers for the politician as office holderXIII. Concerning the politician and his constituents XIV. Concerning the politician and her personal staffXV. Concerning the politician and the bureaucracyXVI. Concerning the politician and her financial backersXVII. Concerning the politician and those who may command blocs of votersXVIII. Concerning the politician, policy makers, consultants and lobbyistsXIX. Concerning the politician and the mediaXX. Concerning the politician and her familyXXI. Concerning political discourseGetting Re-ElectedXXII. How the politician should behave between electionsXXIII. How the politician should behave during re-election campaignsXXIV. Concerning the risks attendant on political ascensions Ends and MeansXXV. The politician's better angelXXVI. ConclusionPostscriptsConcerning Donald TrumpGlossary of Proper NamesAcknowledgementsIndex

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Book SynopsisFederal models of government have shaped history and demonstrated how diverse people can live together and govern together in relative harmony. The Forum of Federations Handbook of Federal Countries 2020 builds on the previous 2005 edition and offers a much-needed update to this signature resource in comparative federalism. Outlining every federal country in the world, each chapter provides a brief yet comprehensive overview of the history of federalism in its specific country, the constitutional nature of federalism, and recent historical dynamics. As new countries have joined the Federal ranks, this handbook brings readers up to speed offering an authoritative look at both the older federal countries as well as new federal countries like Nepal. The Forum of Federations Handbook of Federal Countries 2020 is an essential resource for academics, researchers, university students, libraries, history and governance teachers, politicians and civil servants, and casual observers of federalism.Table of Contents1. ​Introduction (Rupak Chattopadhyay). 2. Argentina (Argentine Republic): Balancing centralization with federalism (Patricia Farah, Moritz Pepel & Ann Griffiths).3. Australia (Commonwealth of Australia): Using innovation if a dual federation (Cheryl Saunders).4. Austria (Federal Republic of Austria): Balancing distributed federalism with centralization (Peter Bußjäger with Christoph Schramek).5. Belgium (Kingdom of Belguim): Federalism in two languages (Andres Lecours).6. Bosnia and Herzegovina (The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina): A country for two constituent units and three peoples (Dejan Vanjek). 7. Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil): Federalism after centralization and new constitutions (Celina Souza).8. Canada: Two languages, 10 provinces and Indigenous Peoples (David R. Cameron)9. Comoros (Union of the Comoros): Three islands with three languages and a federal system (Ann Griffiths). 10. Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus): Seeking a federal solution for Greek and Turkish Cypriots (Neophytos Loizides). 11. Ethiopia (Federal Deomocratic Republic of Ethiopa): Regional states for democracy and rights for ethnicities (Asnake Kefale).12. European Union: Evolving from a free trade area to a federation (Annegret Eppler).13. Germany (Federal Republic of Germany): A federal system for unity, justice and freedom (Klaus Detterbeck).14. India (Republic of India): Sharing power with state and local governments (Rekha Saxena).15. Malaysia (The Federation of Malaysia): A centralized federation with challenged from the states (Francis Kok Wah Loh).16. Mexico (Mexican United States): Centralization, innovation with resistance from the states (Daniel A. Barcelo Rojas). 17. Micronesia (Rederated States of Micronesia): Uniting a federation of 10 olanguages and 607 islands (Anna Dziedzic).18. Nepal (Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal):From a centralized monarchy to a federal democratic republic (Surya Dhungel and Phillip Gonzalez). 19. Nigeria (Federal Republic of Nigeria): Reforming state and local governments, resisting restructuring (Olakunle Adeniran).20. Pakistan (Islamic Republic of Pakistan): Governing a federation when one province has 57% of the population (Kaiser Bengali). 21. Russia (Russian Federation): Autonomy for a very few constituent units (Andrey Starodubtsev).22. St. Kitts and Nevis (Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis): A federation with rules for succession (Ann L. Griffiths). 23. South Africa (Republic of South Africa): Reform, reduce and strengthen the provinces--or not? (Vinothan Naido).24. Spain (Kingdom of Spain): A union of autonomous communities (Jose Tudela, Mario Kölling).25. Switzerland (Swiss Confederation): Governing with 26 cantons, 4 languages and frequent referendums (Sean Mueller, Adrian Vatter).26. United Arab Emirates: Centralization and prosperity before democracy (Julie M. Simmons). 27. United States of America: Polarization between Democratic and Republican states (John Kincaid). 28. Federal Constitution-Making Processes and the Stable Cessation of Conflict (Jason Gluck, Sumit Bisarya). An Essay on Federalism by Sumit Bisarya and Jason Gluk

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Book SynopsisWhy are historically Catholic countries and regions generally more corrupt and less competitive than historically Protestant ones? How has institutionalization of religion influenced the prosperity of countries in Europe and the Americas?This open access book addresses these critical questions by elucidating the hegemonic and emancipatory religious factors leading to these dissimilarities between countries. The book features up-to-date mixed methods from interdisciplinary research contributing to existing studies in the sociology of religion field by demonstrating—for the first time—the effect of the mutually reinforcing configuration of multiple prosperity triggers (religion–politics–environment). It demonstrates the differences in the institutionalization of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism by applying quantitative and qualitative methods and by performing a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of 65 countries. The author also provides a comprehensive survey and results of empirical research on different theories of development, focusing on the influence of religion.Table of ContentsPart I: Introductory Considerations and Research Setting.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Research Setting.- Part II: Conceptual Framework.- 3. The Outcome (Criterion Variables).- 4. Diagnosing Corruption and Prosperity in Europe and the Americas (A).- 5. Conditions (Predictor Variables): Theories Explaining Prosperity Differences (B), (C), (D), (E).- Part III: Theoretical Foundations.- 6. Corruption and Religion (A), (B), (1).- 7. Prosperity and Religion (A), (B), (1).- 8. Institutions, Corruption/Prosperity, and Religion (A), (B), (D), (1), (3), (6).- 9. Education, Religion, and Corruption/Prosperity (A), (B), (C), (1), (2).- 10. Culture, Religion, and Corruption/Prosperity (A), (B), (C), (1), (2).- 11. Language and Religion.- 12. Environment/Geography and Prosperity/Transparency (E), (4), (7).- Part IV: Research Paradigms, Methodology, and Research Design.- 13. Applied Research Paradigms.- 14. Methodology.- Part V: Empirical Results.- 15. Component 1 (Macro): Quantitative (Regression) Analysis.- 16. Component 2 (Meso): Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA).- Part VI: Component 3 (Micro).- 17. Case Selection Criteria, Methods, and Data Treatment.- 18. a) Switzerland: Extreme Positive Case Study (Worldwide).- 19. b) Uruguay: Extreme Positive Case Study (Latin America).- 20. c) Cuba: A Sui Generis Case Study (Communist proxy).- 21. d) Colombia: Extreme Negative Case Study.- 22. Summary Overview of the Four Case Studies.- Part VII: Discussion and Conclusions.- 23. Integrative Conclusions.- 24. Other Considerations.- 25. Concluding Remarks.

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Book SynopsisThis open access book develops a conceptual framework for glocal governance as a multi-stakeholder local governance approach based on global human rights norms and democratic principles. It discusses glocal governance as part of an ongoing global transformation process that began in the 1990s, when democracy and individualizing responsibilities for governance became the dominant political system worldwide, and continues through today’s dawn of a New Cold War between those countries which have democratized and those which haven’t. This book will intrigue practitioners and scholars alike who are interested in the concepts of glocality and glocalism, local-global connectivity, and the implementation and dissemination of global norms and concepts such as human rights and democracy, at the local and community level as well as among civil society and private enterprises. The author argues that global norms have now become universal benchmarks which private, political, and civil actors use to assess day-to-day situations and market developments, and to make their decisions accordingly. This book will appeal to students, practitioners, and scholars of the social sciences and humanities who are interested in governance, human rights, public diplomacy and international relations; and in conceptualizing mechanisms for governing and enforcing political decisions locally, on the basis of global universal principles, international norms, and laws.Table of ContentsChapter 1. The Evolution of Glocal Governance.- Chapter 2. The Glocal between the Local and the Global.- Chapter 3. Glocal Challenges in the Present and the Future.- Chapter 4. Glocality is the current State of the Art.- Chapter 5. The System of Glocal Governance

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Book SynopsisThe book discusses smart governments and innovation in the public sector. In hopes of arriving at a clear definition of innovation in the field of public administration, the volume provides a wide survey of global policies and practices, especially those aimed at reducing bureaucracy and using information-communication technologies in public service delivery. Chapters look at current applications across countries and multiple levels of government, from public innovation labs in the UK to AI in South Korea. Providing concrete examples of innovation culture at work in public institutions, this volume will be of use to researchers and students studying new public management, public service delivery, and innovation as well as practitioners and professionals working in various public agencies.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Innovation and Government.- Chapter 2: Innovation Practices.- Chapter 3: Smart Cities.- Chapter 4: Artificial Intelligence.- Chapter 5: From Smart State to Smart Citizen.- Chapter 6: Conclusion.- References.- Appendix.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a conceptual and methodological approach for researchers evaluating governance and policy in the face of complexity, and demonstrates the application of this approach across different governance and policy contexts. It fills a significant gap in the literature on governance, and proposes a theoretical focus on coordination to enable the assessment of multi-tier, cross-sector governance institutions and policy. It also introduces a range of applications for the proposed approach, including two case studies of governance and policy for the built environment and health services. The book introduces, analyses and draws from a range of perspectives in political economy, political science, policy analysis and evaluation. It also engages with longstanding debates in political economy about states and markets, which are largely overlooked by political science analyses of coordination challenges in governance. The book will appeal to scholars and students of governance, public policy and political science.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction. - Chapter 2. Governance, markets and institutional analysis. - Chapter 3. The challenge of coordination. - Chapter 4. Policy goals and knowledge. - Chapter 5. Coordination beyond the market. - Chapter 6. Scales of governance. - Chapter 7. Evaluating coordinative effectiveness. - Chapter 8. Case studies and Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThis book analyses the effects of technological development, innovation, entrepreneurship and governance in middle income countries, such as Turkey, in detail. How to best practise innovation and entrepreneurship, which many researchers and policy makers believe to be the main drivers of economic growth and development, has become a fiercely-debated topic. The contributors to this volume consider economic, social and institutional dimensions of innovative thinking, entrepreneurial activity and governance, and investigate both theoretically and empirically how these factors should contribute to the uptake of new technology and the global performance of middle income countries. By offering country specific examples, and by comparing high income and middle income countries, this edited collection presents a comprehensive analysis of innovation, entrepreneurial growth and development outside the vacuum of high income economies, which has traditionally received substantially more scholarly attention.Table of ContentsChapter 1: IntroductionSefer Şener and Stefan SchepersChapter 2: Innovation Ecosystem Development: A Necessary Instrument to Escape the Mid-Income TrapStefan SchepersChapter 3: Is Innovation Conducive to Economic Growth? The Case of Central and Eastern European CountriesSefer Şener and Çiğdem Börke TunaliChapter 4: On the Dynamic Function of Innovative Entrepreneurship in Evolutionary Economics For Middle Income CountriesSefer Şener and Volkan HacioğluChapter 5: Collaborative Governance: Working Through Misaligned InterestsNada Kakabadse and Andrew KakabadseChapter 6: Entrepreneurship and Ethics: Examples of Social Entrepreneurship in Turkey and Selected Middle Income CountriesSelva Staub and Zeliha TekinChapter 7: An Empirical Analysis of the Macroeconomic Dynamics of InnovationÇiğdem Börke TunaliChapter 8: The Importance of Innovation and Innovation in SMEs: The Turkey ExperienceKadir TunaChapter 9: A Design of Innovative School: Learning School, Educational Leadership and School DevelopmentHanifi ParlarChapter 10: Effects of Innovation and Financial Performance on Companies in Middle Income European CountriesMustafa YurttadurChapter 11: SWOT Analysis of the Turkish Economy in the Context of Innovativeness with the Eye of the Business World, Academics, and Government Executives: A Comparative Analysis of Middle Income Countries in Terms of their Innovation CapacitiesSedat Murat, Ali Akdemir, Kadir Tuna, Volkan Hacıoğlu, Selva Staub

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a concise and engaging analysis of the particularly unusual 2020 election year in the USA. The political science perspective illuminates societal tensions in the context of the Corona pandemic and elaborates election-deciding discourses. Larger socio-political trends such as ideological polarisation are addressed as well as the different campaign strategies of the two parties. In addition, the book offers insights into the election results of this landmark presidential election for American society and for the development of its democracy. The final evaluation of the resulting implications for transatlantic relations rounds off the book. Table of Contents1 Introduction2 Joe Biden on the road to the nomination2.1 The Democratic Party's system for nominating candidates2.2 Turning Points South Carolina and Super Tuesday2.3 Joe Biden and the Democratic electorate2.4 Summary3 Voting in the shadow of the pandemic3.1 Absentee voting in the USA in the face of partisan polarisation3.2 Who can vote? - Voter registration, voter ID laws and polling stations3.3 Summary4 Democrats versus Republicans4.1 The Southern Strategy as a precursor to asymmetric polarisation4.2 The radicalisation of political discourse4.3 Summary5 Polarisation and its manifestations5.1 Party affiliation and preferences in the American electorate5.2 The polarisation of members of Congress5.3 Summary6 Economic Policy as a Question of Fate: Elections in the Wake of the Recession6.1 The shadows of the pandemic6.2 Social inequality6.3 Public policy in times of crisis6.4 Priorities of the Trump administration6.5 The Economic Policy Concept of the Democrats6.6 Summary7 A society without a net: Social issues in the election campaign7.1 The Crisis in the Health System7.2 Social Justice: The Demands for Social Justice as a Controversial Issue7.3 The ideological balance in the Supreme Court and its socio-political consequences7.4 Summary8 Minorities in the USA: The Controversial Immigration Debate8.1 Contrasting conceptions of society8.2 Social development and political orientations of minorities8.2.1 The Hispanic minority8.2.2 The Asian-American minority8.2.3 The African-American Minority8.3 Summary9 The strategies in the 2020 election campaign9.1 Biden's classical approach as antithesis to Trump's populism9.2 Opposing Narratives: The Democratic and Republican Party Conventions9.3 The delegitimisation of the election and its consequences9.4 Summary10 The election results and their transatlantic implications10.1 The results of the 2020 presidential election in historical comparison10.2 Transatlantic relations under President Biden: A New Beginning?10.3 Summary11 Final considerations

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This book is about a choice President Biden must make that will determine the future of America. His choice is between being a partisan politician or a non-partisan statesman. However, to be a statesman, he must contend with the progressive wing of his party. Today's progressives have become revolutionaries whose purpose is to remake America by canceling their opponents. Biden has a tiger by the tail. As in all such situations, the problem is how to let go. In this book, we suggest how Biden can free himself from the danger posed by the progressives and simultaneously benefit America dramatically.

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Book SynopsisPerspectives on the strategies of imperial rule pursued by rulers, officials, scholars, and subjects of the Russian empire. This book explores the connections between Russia's expansion over vast territories occupied by people of many ethnicities, religions, and political experiences and the evolution of imperial administration and vision.Trade ReviewEighteen articles, mainly by US, Russian, and British scholars, cover various aspects of the Russian Empire from its foundation under Peter the Great to the rule of Stalin. The Russian participants, mostly historians and political scientists, come from the two Russian capitals and various other cities. The major focus is the geographies of rule in Russia. . . . The materials are derived in large part from Russian archives, especially those in Moscow. Several good maps aid readers' comprehension. . . . Recommended. * Choice *[D]emonstrates brilliantly how the Russian and Soviet empires were able to survive for so long . . . This is a genuinely valuable and thought-provoking collection of essays and it deserves a wide readership. * European History Quarterly *This book makes a substantial contribution to scholarship not only on Russian history but the whole study of empire. * New Zealand Slavonic Journal *Table of ContentsContentsList of IllustrationsPreface and AcknowledgmentsComing into the Territory: Uncertainty and Empire Jane Burbank and Mark von HagenPart I: Space 1. Imperial Space: Territorial Thought and Practice in the Eighteenth Century Willard Sunderland2. The "Great Circle" of Interior Russia: Representations of the Imperial Center in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries Leonid Gorizontov3. How Bashkiria Became Part of European Russia, 1762-1881 Charles Steinwedel4. Mapping the Empire's Economic Regions from the Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Century Nailya Tagirova5. State and Evolution: Ethnographic Knowledge, Economic Expediency, and the Making of the USSR, 1917-1924 Francine HirschPart II: People6. Changing Conceptions of Difference, Assimilation, and Faith in the Volga-Kama Region, 1740-1870 Paul Werth7. Thinking Like an Empire: Estate, Law and Rights in the Early Twentieth Century Jane Burbank 8. From Region to Nation: The Don Cossacks 1870-1920 Shane O'Rourke9. Bandits and the State: Designing a "Traditional" Culture of Violence in the Russian Caucasus Vladimir Bobrovnikov 10. Representing "Primitive Communists": Ethnographic and Political Authority in Early Soviet Siberia Nikolai Ssorin-ChaikovPart III: Institutions11. From the Zloty to the Ruble: The Kingdom of Poland in the Monetary Politics of the Russian Empire Ekaterina Pravilova12. The Muslim Question in Late Imperial Russia Elena Campbell13. The Zemstvo Reform, the Cossacks, and Administrative Policy on the Don, 1864-1882 Aleksei Volvenko 14. Peoples, Regions, and Electoral Politics: The State Dumas and the Constitution of New National Elites Rustem Tsiunchuk15. The Provisional Government and Finland: Russian Democracy and Finnish Nationalism in Search of Peaceful Coexistence Irina Novikova Part IV. Designs16. Siberia and the Russian Far East in the Imperial Geography of Power Anatolyi Remnev17. Imperial Political Culture and Modernization in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century Sviatoslav Kaspe18. Federalisms and Pan-movements: Re-imagining Empire Mark von HagenList of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of Bloomberg's Best Books of 2016 "These findings run counter to a popular narrative. Recall that in 2012, Mitt Romney said that in a democracy, a candidate who offers tax breaks to the less well-off at the expense of the rich will win mass support 'no matter what.' That claim does not appear to be supported by the historical record."--Robert J. Shiller, New York Times "In its big picture argument the book is convincing: on both the correlation and nature of causality between wars that required the mass of working people to sacrifice not just their labour but also their lives; and on the imposition of higher tax rates on the rich in the 20th century."--Torsten Bell, Prospect "A sweeping look at the history of levies on the wealthy."--Hugo Greenhalgh, Financial Times "[Scheve and Stasavage] flesh out their big picture with a mass of compelling evidence. Overall, an outstanding book."--Bryan Caplan, EconLog "What is surprising about this book is how robustly the authors discount other widely held explanations for the gradual reduction in tax paid by the richest 1% since 1980. The influence of political lobbying, liberalised capital flows and the breakdown of the postwar consensus are, in their view, inadequate answers. What has changed is the focus of 'equality of sacrifice,' which has returned to a debate about fairness."--Zac Tate, Capx "Apart from anything else, the historical data on top tax rates is fascinating."--Diane Coyle, Enlightened Economist "[A] fine and stimulating book."--Financial Post "More than any other book I've read in the past few years, their arguments have prompted me to review what they wrote and look for other research that supports or counters their points."--David Cay Johnston, Tax Notes "The authors make the force of the compensatory view clear. Judging by the apparent success of the rhetoric during the 2016 U.S. presidential primaries that speaks of a system rigged to favor the rich, the compensatory theory has not gone unnoticed by political strategists."--Michael Keen, Finance & Development Magazine "[A] fine model of social science research."--Richard Cooper, Foreign Affairs "Taxing the Richexplains why the problems of America's poor and angry are unlikely to be solved by redistributive taxation."--Angus Deaton, BloombergTable of ContentsFigures and Tables xi Acknowledgments xiii PART ONE -DEBATING TAXATION 1. Why Might Governments Tax the Rich? 3 2. Treating Citizens as Equals 24 PART TWO -WHEN HAVE GOVERNMENTS TAXED THE RICH? 3. The Income Tax over Two Centuries 53 4. Taxing Inheritance 93 5. Taxes on the Rich in Context 114 PART THREE -WHY HAVE GOVERNMENTS TAXED THE RICH? 6. The Conscription of Wealth 135 7. The Role of War Technology 170 8. Why Taxes on the Rich Declined 185 9. What Future for Taxing the Rich? 206 Notes 219 References 247 Index 261

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A New Yorker Best Book of the Year""Winner of the Merze Tate – Elinor Ostrom Outstanding Book Award, American Political Science Association""[A] landmark book."---Nancy MacLean, New Republic"Brilliant. . . . Grumbach offers both a thoughtful examination of US federalism’s inherent perils and limits and a searching interpretation of how they are compounded in our current political climate."---Colin Gordon, Jacobin"[Jacob Grumbach] contends in this lucid analysis that the nationalization of America’s major political parties threatens democracy. . . . Grumbach’s claims are persuasive and timely. This is a pinpoint diagnosis of a troubling political trend." * Publishers Weekly *"The most persuasive and sweeping criticism of federalism yet."---Timothy Callaghan, Publius"Grumbach is a bit of a unicorn: deeply committed to the highest standards of theoretical and empirical rigor, strikingly uninterested in upholding the façade of academic objectivity."---Jamila Michener, Democracy

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Book SynopsisThis work locates the CIA's origins in government-wide efforts to reorganize national security during the transition from World War II to the Cold War. The author believes that the creation of the CIA was the culmination of years of negotiation among numerous policy makers.

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Book SynopsisA well-written and essential tool for those navigating today's complicated geopolitical landscape.Library Journal Best-selling author Michael Shermer presents an overarching theory of conspiracy theorieswho believes them and why, which ones are real, and what we should do about them. Nothing happens by accident, everything is connected, and there are no coincidences: that is the essence of conspiratorial thinking. Long a fringe part of the American political landscape, conspiracy theories are now mainstream: 147 members of Congress voted in favor of objections to the 2020 presidential election based on an unproven theory about a rigged electoral process promoted by the mysterious group QAnon. But this is only the latest example in a long history of ideas that include the satanic panics of the 1980s, the New World Order and Vatican conspiracy theories, fears about fluoridated water, speculations about President John F. Kennedy's assassination, and the notions that the Sandy Hook massaTrade ReviewConspiracies succeed thanks to repetition, and Shermer's numerous examples prove how entrenched these beliefs are within contemporary American culture. The book includes solid tips on how to assess a conspiracy theory's veracity, how to talk to conspiracists, and how to restore trust and truth in national conversations....A well-written and essential tool for those navigating today's complicated geopolitical landscape.—Library Journal (starred review)A fascinating tour of oddball wrongheadedness, with gentle but firm prescriptions for combatting it.—Kirkus ReviewsWhat Shermer's book does is delve into the reasons why we are so ready to believe that, to borrow a phrase from perhaps the ultimate conspiracy theory work of culture, the X-Files: The Truth is Out There....Part of why we think that is because our levels of trust in those in power has plummeted in recent years....The answer, according to Shermer, is very simple. If everyone told the truth, and we all believed that was the case, there would be no need for conspiracy theories.—The IndependentDeep and engaging.—Ralph Lewis, MD, Psychology TodayMany books about conspiracies and conspiracy theories exist, but this one stands out as an authoritative, very readable overview of the subject.—ChoiceThough we may think conspiracy theories appeal only to the naïve or uneducated, Shermer dispels that myth, showing how pervasive they really are.His book doesn't leave readers feeling overwhelmed or powerless, but offers a primer on how not to be duped—and how to help others who've fallen prey to conspiracies.—Greater Good MagazineTable of ContentsApologiaPrologue. The Conspiracy Effect: Why Smart People Believe Blatantly Wrong Things for Apparently Rational ReasonsPart I. Why People Believe Conspiracy TheoriesChapter 1. Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories: The Difference in Thinking and the Difference It MakesChapter 2. A Brief History of Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracists: Toward a Science of ConspiracismChapter 3. Proxy and Tribal Conspiracism: How Conspiratorial Beliefs Are Reinforced as Truths Chapter 4. Constructive Conspiracism: Paranoia, Pessimism, and the Evolutionary Origins of Conspiracy CognitionChapter 5. A Case Study in Conspiracism: The Sovereign Citizens Conspiracy TheoryPart II. How to Determine Which Conspiracy Theories Are RealChapter 6. The Conspiracy Detection Kit: How to Tell If a Conspiracy Theory Is True or FalseChapter 7. Truthers and Birthers: The 9/11 and Obama Conspiracy TheoriesChapter 8. JFK Blown Away: The Mother of All Conspiracy TheoriesChapter 9. Real Conspiracies: What If They Really Are Out to Get You?Chapter 10. The Deadliest Conspiracy in History: The Trigger of World War I and How Conspiracies Really WorkChapter 11. Real and Imagined Enemies: Conspiracies in Reality and in Our ImaginationsPart III. Talking to Conspiracists and Rebuilding Trust in TruthChapter 12. How to Talk to Conspiracy Theorists: Engaging with People with Whom We DisagreeChapter 13. How to Rebuild Trust in Truth: Reason, Rationality, and Empiricism in Reality-Based CommunitiesCoda. What People Believe About Conspiracy Theories and Why: Results of the Skeptic Research Center SurveyAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of a distinguished public servant, who as US Secretary of Labor, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of State, was pivotal in steering the great powers toward the end of the Cold War. Deftly solving critical but intractable national and global problems was the leitmotif of George Pratt Shultz's life. No one at the highest levels of the United States government did it better or with greater consequence in the last half of the 20th century, often against withering resistance. His quiet, effective leadership altered the arc of history. While political, social, and cultural dynamics have changed profoundly since Shultz served at the commanding heights of American power in the 1970s and 1980s, his legacy and the lessons of his career have even greater meaning now that the Shultz brand of conservatism has been almost erased in the modern Republican Party. This book, from longtime New York Times Washington reporter Philip Taubman, restores the modest Shultz to his central place in American history. Taubman reveals Shultz's gift for forging relationships with people and then harnessing the rapport to address national and international challenges, under his motto "trust is the coin of the realm"—as well as his difficulty standing up for his principles, motivated by a powerful sense of loyalty that often trapped him in inaction. Based on exclusive access to Shultz's personal papers, housed in a sealed archive at the Hoover Institution, In the Nation's Service offers a remarkable insider account of the behind-the-scenes struggles of the statesman who played a pivotal role in unwinding the Cold War.Trade Review"This is a masterpiece. Philip Taubman, one of the great reporters and editors from The New York Times, has dug forever and found the real, authentic George Shultz, one of the true peacemakers of the 20th century. Essentially positive but not avoiding some well-documented criticisms, this biography reminds me of David McCullough's classic biographies of Presidents John Adams and Harry Truman—defining and sure-footed in every paragraph."—Bob Woodward, #1 bestselling author of Peril and Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate"The nuanced diplomacy of George Shultz at the end of the Cold War was a major reason that 45-year conflict ended with a whimper rather than the nuclear bang we had all feared. In his biography about Shultz, Philip Taubman masterfully explains the many keys to Shultz's success, including his giant intellect and understated ability to build personal relationships with his interlocutors in the Soviet Union. In the Nation's Service is a must read for those interested in the life and times of one of our nation's foremost secretaries of state."—James A. Baker, III, 61st U.S. Secretary of State"Philip Taubman has written an outstanding book about the extraordinary life and public service of Secretary Shultz. As Taubman describes in these pages, Shultz possessed the rare ability to build consensus among people with diverse and sometimes deeply opposing views, exhibiting an agile diplomacy that allowed him to aid in the peaceful end of the Cold War. Taubman's account deftly captures the character of this American icon, the halls of power in which he served the nation, and the consequential one hundred years in which he lived."—Condoleezza Rice, 66th US Secretary of State, Tad and Dianne Taube Director, Hoover Institution"Taubman makes a persuasive case that Shultz was one of the most distinguished American officials of the last half century."—H.W. Brands, author of The Last Campaign: Sherman, Geronimo and the War for America and Reagan: The Life"Philip Taubman's new biography of Shultz, In the Nation's Service, offers a more complicated assessment of the well-known government official and of the modern history of the GOP. Shultz's saga of triumph and turmoil offers a reminder that the brutal moral conditions Republican administrations impose on those who work in them were not just confined to Trump, but have been manifest all along."—Washington Monthly"Philip Taubman's In the Nation's Service: The Life and Times of George P. Shultz adds a surprising new dimension to the Reagan saga. Through the eyes of Shultz, the secretary of state, Taubman portrays the Reagan administration as swamped and nearly paralyzed by disorganization and infighting. Cabinet members and White House aides were constantly at each other's throats. This will come as no surprise to students of the Reagan presidency, but Taubman, a longtime reporter and editor at the New York Times, introduces a new and highly credible source. [Taubman's research] provides valuable new insight into the Reagan years, and he gives Shultz credit for holding things together."—David E. Hoffman, The Washington Post"Taubman's book is remarkable in many ways. [I]t gives Shultz the credit he deserves in guiding Reagan's foreign policy, especially in ending the Soviet empire, that had been reserved for just Reagan, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, President George H.W. Bush, and his top diplomat James Baker."—Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner"The humanity and human touch of Shultz and his biographer emerge on nearly every page."—Walter Clemens, New York Journal of Books"Taubman has written an outstanding biography of George Shultz, both comprehensive and consistently engaging. Taubman's biography excels at conveying Shultz's human characteristics—trustworthiness, solidity, fortitude, plain-spoken directness, quick intelligence, ambition—which brought him to the summit of the American political system and made him such an invaluable player in it."—Gabriel Schoenfeld, The American Purpose"Mr. Taubman has given us a distinctly American story: A young man from a middle-income family in New Jersey, refined by education at Princeton and early service in uniform, comes to help guide U.S. foreign affairs through a perilous world moment. Shultz's spirit of service and loyalty is regrettably no longer dominant in American diplomacy or bureaucracy."—Kate Bachelder Odell, Wall Street Journal"As capably captured by Philip Taubman in his official biography of the 60th secretary of state, In the Nation's Service, Shultz had a front-row view of both the Reagan administration and the end of the Cold War. Indeed, he was an active player in it, instrumental in directing Reagan's more cooperative approach to the Soviet Union and helped along by a willing partner in Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev."—Samuel Sweeney, Foreign Policy"Taubman's excellent biography deserves great praise for highlighting the enormous debt of gratitude the country owes to George Shultz, not only for his herculean efforts to bring an end to the Cold War but also his many other achievements 'In the Nation's Service.'"—Ambassador Gary Grappo, The Cipher BriefTable of Contents01. "Grow Up a Real Man" 02. No Empty Threats 03. The Real Economy 04. Pathway to Power 05. Equal Opportunity 06. Treasury Travails 07. Odd Man Out 08. A Common Foundation 09. Stumbling Start 10. Soviet Policy Standoff 11. Nancy Reagan to the Rescue 12. Shultz's Opponents Strike Back 13. A Test of Loyalty 14. Hitting Bottom 15. The Target Is Destroyed 16. Combating Terrorism 17. Reelection and Renewed Hope 18. Sea Change in the Kremlin 19. The Fireside Summit 20. Battles That Never End 21. Implosion of a Presidency 22. Back on Track 23. Encore in Moscow 24. Epilogue

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Book SynopsisAs individuals, we depend on the services that governments provide. Collectively, we look to them to tackle the big problems - from long-term climate and demographic change to short-term crises like pandemics or war. Funding this activity, and managing the required finances sustainably, is difficult – and getting more so. But governments don't provide – or use – basic financial information that every business is required to maintain. They ignore the value of public assets and most liabilities. This leads to inefficiency and bad decision-making and piles up problems for the future. Governments need to create balance sheets that properly reflect assets and liabilities, and to understand their future obligations and revenue prospects. Net Worth – both today and for the future – should be the measure of financial strength and success.Only if this information is put at the centre of government financial decision-making can the present challenges to public finances around the world be addressed effectively, and in a way that is fair to future generations.The good news is that there are ways to deal with these problems and make government finances more resilient and fairer to future generations. The facts, and the solutions, are non-partisan, and so is this book. Responsible leaders of any political persuasion need to understand the issues and the tools that can enable them to deliver policy within these constraints. Table of ContentsPART 1. PURPOSE AND PROLOGUE1. Owning and Owing2. From Warfare to Welfare in Three Generations PART 2. ACCOUNTING FOR GOVERNMENT3. Why Government Accounting Matters4. What Does the Government Balance Sheet Look Like?5. Why Accrual Accounting Matters6. Accrual Accounting – How it Works in Practice7. Central Banks and the Public Sector Balance Sheet8. Looking to the Future: The Comprehensive Balance Sheet9. Comparison of Public Sector Balance Sheets10. Comparison of Comprehensive Balance Sheets11. Review of Fiscal Rules PART 3. MANAGING PUBLIC COMMERCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES12. Finding, Understanding and Valuing Public Commercial Assets13. The Asset Map: A Shortcut to Understanding Property Holdings Better14. Institutionalising Asset Management15. What Should Governments Do with Public Commercial Assets16. Managing Assets Better: The Role of Public Wealth Funds17. Pensions and Other Liabilities: The Benefits of Disclosure and Management PART 4. PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE18. Balance Sheets, Culture and National Achievement in Europe 1560 - 183419. How Accounting Can Save Democracy20. Implementing Change

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Book SynopsisIn the days after Donald Trump's unexpected victory on election night 2016, The New York Times, CNN, and other leading media outlets reached out to one of the few pundits who had correctly predicted the outcome, Allan J. Lichtman. While many election forecasters base their findings exclusively on public opinion polls, Lichtman looks at the underlying fundamentals that have driven every presidential election since 1860. Using his 13 historical factors or keys (four political, seven performance, and two personality), Lichtman had been predicting Trump's win since September 2016. In the updated 2024 edition, he applies the keys to every presidential election since 1860 and shows readers the current state of the 2024 race. In doing so, he dispels much of the mystery behind electoral politics and challenges many traditional assumptions. An indispensable resource for political junkies!

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Bestseller! “I hope we wake up quickly because history shows it’s a small window in which people can fight back before it is too dangerous to fight back.”—Naomi Wolf on Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson Tonight In a stunning indictment, best-selling author Naomi Wolf lays out her case for saving American democracy. In authoritative research and documentation Wolf explains how events parallel steps taken in the early years of the 20th century’s worst dictatorships such as Germany, Russia, China, and Chile. The book cuts across political parties and ideologies and speaks directly to those among us who are concerned about the ever-tightening noose being placed around our liberties. In this timely call to arms, Naomi Wolf compels us to face the way our free America is under assault. She warns us–with the straight-to-fellow-citizens urgency of one of Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlets–that we have little time to lose if our children are to live in real freedom. “Recent history has profound lessons for us in the U.S. today about how fascist, totalitarian, and other repressive leaders seize and maintain power, especially in what were once democracies. The secret is that these leaders all tend to take very similar, parallel steps. The Founders of this nation were so deeply familiar with tyranny and the habits and practices of tyrants that they set up our checks and balances precisely out of fear of what is unfolding today. We are seeing these same kinds of tactics now closing down freedoms in America, turning our nation into something that in the near future could be quite other than the open society in which we grew up and learned to love liberty,” states Wolf. Wolf is taking her message directly to the American people in the most accessible form and as part of a large national campaign to reach out to ordinary Americans about the dangers we face today. This includes a lecture and speaking tour, and being part of the nascent American Freedom Campaign, a grassroots effort to ensure that presidential candidates pledge to uphold the constitution and protect our liberties from further erosion. The End of America will shock, enrage, and motivate–spurring us to act, as the Founders would have counted on us to do in a time such as this, as rebels and patriots–to save our liberty and defend our nation.Trade ReviewLibrary Journal (starred review)- This latest offering from best-selling author Wolf, The Beauty Myth, is a harbinger of an age that may finally see the patriarchal realm of political discourse usurped. Here is Wolf's compellingly and cogently argued political argument for civil rights, not women's rights. She contributes this call to action to a canon that from Plato and Aristotle to Hobbes and Locke and forward, with a few exceptions (e.g., Hannah Arendt), has been largely populated by men. Wolf's work is actually closer to the agitated, passionate polemics of Emma Goldman than the ponderous, philosophical musings of Arendt. Readers will appreciate her energy and urgency as she warns we are living through a dangerous "fascist shift" brought about by the Bush administration. Her chapters outline the "Ten Steps to Fascism" citing historical corollaries (as well as the pigs in Orwell's Animal Farm), with headings like "Invoke an External and Internal Threat," "Establish Secret Prisons," and "Target Key Individuals." In other words, fascism can exist without dictatorship. Her book's publication through a small press in Vermont that is committed to "the politics and practice of sustainable living" rather than through a large trade house is itself a political act. Highly recommended for all collections. -- Theresa Kintz, Wilkes Univ., Wilkes-Barre, PA"One of the most important books that's been written, certainly in the last decade or two, and perhaps in my lifetime."--Thom Hartmann, best-selling author and host of The Thom Hartmann Radio Program"Naomi Wolf 's End of America is a vivid, urgent, mandatory wake-up call that addresses momentous issues of tyranny, democracy, and survival."--Blanche Wiesen Cook, author of the three-volume Eleanor Roosevelt and distinguished professor at John Jay College "Naomi Wolf sounds the alarm for all American patriots. We must come together as a nation and recommit ourselves to the fundamental American idea that no president, whether Democrat or Republican, will ever be given unchecked power."--Wes Boyd, co-founder, MoveOn.org"The framers of our Constitution fully understood that it can happen here. Patriots like Madison, Paine, and Franklin would certainly applaud Naomi Wolf and recognize her as a sister in their struggle."--Mark Crispin Miller, author of Fooled Again"You will be shocked and disturbed by this book. Most Americans reject outright any comparison of post 9/11 America with the fascism and totalitarianism of Nazi Germany or Pinochet's Chile. Sadly, the parallels and similarities, what Wolf calls the 'echoes' between those societies and America today, are all too compelling."--Michael Ratner, Center for Constitutional RightsTable of ContentsPreface Introduction: Ten steps 1. The founders and the fragility of democracy 2. Invoke an external and internal threat 3. Establish secret prisons 4. Develop a paramilitary force 5. Surveil ordinary citizens 6. Infiltrate citizens' groups 7. Arbitrarily detain and release citizens 8. Target key individuals 9. Restrict the press 10. Cast criticism as "espionage" and dissent as "treason" 11. Subvert the rule of law Conclusion: The patriot's task

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