Comparative politics Books

Book SynopsisThis book discusses and theorizes Achille Mbembe’s necropolitics, the politics of death, in the specific context of North America. It works to characterize and analyze the particularities and relational differences of American and Canadian necropowers vis-à-vis their devices, subjectivities, necroempowered subjects, and production of spaces of death in their geographical and symbolic borderlands with the Third World: the US-Mexico border, indigenous lands, migrant and Black-American ​neighborhoods, and resource rich geographies. North American necropowers not only profit from death, but also conduct disposable populations to death throughout the region. The volume proposes a postcolonial perspective that characterizes the political power of North America as a necropower—or the sovereign power to make die. Each chapter therefore theorizes and analyzes the specificities of necropower, examining different necropolitics that range from asylum and migration restrictions to the economic exploitation and abandonment of deprived populations and policing of ethnic minorities, in particular Mexican immigrants, indigenous peoples, and African Am​erican communities.Table of ContentsChapter 1. IntroductionPart I: Broadening The Theoretical Scope Of NecropowerChapter 2. The Management Of Death In North America: From The Necropolitical Governmentalization Of The State To The Rule Of LawChapter 3. From Gore Capitalism to snuff politics: necropolitics in the USA-Mexican BorderPart II. Spatializing Disposability and Lucrative Death in the US and CanadaChapter 4. The North American Race Apparatus: Management of Undesirable Lives in the United StatesChapter 5. Of Race As Space: Distinguishing Between Autonomous Bodies And Occupied Bodies In The Murder Of George FloydChapter 6. Getting away with murder: unpacking epistemic mechanisms of necropower and disposability in North AmericaChapter 7. Contested Necrocapitalism: Indigeneity Vs. Extractivism In Northern CanadaPart III. Producing Disposability And Lucrative Death In The Mexico-US Geographical and Political BordersChapter 8. The Emergence Of Necrosecurity: On The Extra-Legality Of The Rule Of Law And The Death Of The Willful SubjectChapter 9. Necropolitics and International Migration in Mexico

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Book SynopsisThis open access book offers an updated examination of the institutionalisation of political science in sixteen latecomer or peripheral countries in Europe. Its main theme is how political science as a science of democracy is influenced and how it responds to the challenges of the new millennium. The chapters, built upon a common theoretical framework of institutionalisation, are evidence-based and comparative. Overall, the book diagnoses diversity among the country cases due to their take-off points and varied political and economic trajectories. Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction: The Formation and Aims of the Book, COST and WG1, Gabriella Ilonszki and Christophe RouxChapter 2 Institutionalisation of political science in East Central Europe: Connecting Theory to the Ground, Gabriella IlonszkiChapter 3 Continuities and New Beginnings in the Post-Yugoslav States, Davor Boban, Ivan Stanojevic, Simona KukovicChapter 4 Political Science in Central European Democracies under Pressure, Darina Malova, Aneta Vilagi, Dobrinka KostovaChapter 5 Is small beautiful? Institutionalization of Political Science in small states, Eva Marín Hlynsdóttir, Irmina Matonyte Chapter 6 From Scientific Communism to Political Science: Development of the Profession in the Post-Soviet States, Dangis Gudelis, Irmina Matonyte, Serghei Sprincean, Tatsiana ChulitskayaChapter 7 On the Way to Relevance: At the crossroads of recognition and performance, Gabriella Ilonszki, Davor Boban, Dangis GudelisChapter 8 Adjusting of New Countries into Existing (Old) Institutional Frameworks, Erkki BerndstonChapter 9 Conclusion: Political Science Between Opportunities and Challenges, Christophe Roux

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Book SynopsisThis open access book offers an updated examination of the institutionalisation of political science in sixteen latecomer or peripheral countries in Europe. Its main theme is how political science as a science of democracy is influenced and how it responds to the challenges of the new millennium. The chapters, built upon a common theoretical framework of institutionalisation, are evidence-based and comparative. Overall, the book diagnoses diversity among the country cases due to their take-off points and varied political and economic trajectories. Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction: The Formation and Aims of the Book, COST and WG1, Gabriella Ilonszki and Christophe RouxChapter 2 Institutionalisation of political science in East Central Europe: Connecting Theory to the Ground, Gabriella IlonszkiChapter 3 Continuities and New Beginnings in the Post-Yugoslav States, Davor Boban, Ivan Stanojevic, Simona KukovicChapter 4 Political Science in Central European Democracies under Pressure, Darina Malova, Aneta Vilagi, Dobrinka KostovaChapter 5 Is small beautiful? Institutionalization of Political Science in small states, Eva Marín Hlynsdóttir, Irmina Matonyte Chapter 6 From Scientific Communism to Political Science: Development of the Profession in the Post-Soviet States, Dangis Gudelis, Irmina Matonyte, Serghei Sprincean, Tatsiana ChulitskayaChapter 7 On the Way to Relevance: At the crossroads of recognition and performance, Gabriella Ilonszki, Davor Boban, Dangis GudelisChapter 8 Adjusting of New Countries into Existing (Old) Institutional Frameworks, Erkki BerndstonChapter 9 Conclusion: Political Science Between Opportunities and Challenges, Christophe Roux

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Book SynopsisThis book examines why authoritarian governments are willing to address environmental problems that have an international impact, such as CO2 emissions, but are reluctant to address problems that have only a domestic impact. In a case study of Azerbaijani oil politics, it demonstrates how the incumbent Azerbaijani regime has taken important measures trying to address CO2 emissions while ignoring the damage caused by oil pollution on the Caspian coast. The book argues that resource-rich authoritarian governments are eager to join international environmental initiatives to improve their image, but they address domestic environmental issues mainly if they threaten their hold on power.This book is an important contribution to scholarship on environmental governance in the post-Soviet space, an area that is poorly researched. Therefore, it is a must-read for researchers and scholars interested in post-Soviet studies, as well as in the nexus between mineral-rich regions and how social policy is created, e.g., environment, education, and healthcare. In addition, this book will be of tremendous importance for policymakers and international organizations as it looks into the motivation of authoritarian states in the post-Soviet space for environmental measures.Table of ContentsChapter 1 - Research overview, context and problematization.- Chapter 2 - Overview of environmental governance in Azerbaijan.- Chapter 3 - Oil contamination: policy prioritization and un-politics of pollution?.- Chapter 4 - Corruption and weakened civil society: impact on environmental governance.- Chapter 5 - Explaining path dependent patterns in Azerbaijan’s environmental governance.- Chapter 6 - Reduction of GHG emissions: a comparative success?.- Chapter 7 - International pressure and domestic legitimacy.- Chapter 8 - Discussion on Findings.- Chapter 9 - Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the role of Chineseness or lo chino in the production of Chilean national identity. It does so by discussing the many voices, images, and intentions of diverse actors who contribute to stereotyping or problematizing Chineseness in Chile. The authors argue that in general, representing and perceiving China or Chineseness as the Other is part of a broader cultural and political strategy for various stakeholders to articulate Chile as either a Western country or one that is becoming-Western. The authors trace the evolution of the symbolic role that China and Chineseness play in defining racial, gendered, and class aspects of Chilean national social imaginary. In doing so, they challenge a common idea that Chineseness is a stable signifier and the simplistic perception of the ethnic Chinese as the unassimilable foreigner within the nation. In response, the authors call for a postmigrant approach to understanding identities and Chilean society beyond stubborn Orient-Occident and us-them dichotomies.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction: Chineseness in ChileSituating Orientalism in ChileHistorical Imaginary of China in ChileOverview of the Book ChaptersChapter 2. The Enduring Duality of ChinesenessChina/Chineseness as Threat or OpportunityPolemic Discussions about China in the 21st century: Threat or Opportunity?Conclusion: China as a Double-edged Sword or MirrorChapter 3. Dynamics of In/comprehensibilityThe Silent or Incomprehensible StrangerComprehending the Ethnic Chinese: Towards Greater Understanding and Distinguishing Between “Chinos”Problematizing Chineseness as Other/IncomprehensibleConclusion: Towards Chineseness as Potential or Radical OpennessChapter 4. Racialized Femininities and Masculinities, and the Queerness of the Ethnic ChineseOrientalizing Ethnic Chinese/Asian womenUndesirable or Asexual Chinese MasculinitiesThe Impossibility of MiscegenationQueering Gender/Sexual Binaries Through ChinesenessConclusion Chapter 5. Marca Chile, Marca ChinaThe Interdependence of Marca Chile and Marca China(Re)Branding China in ChileWhen Marca Chile is Actually Marca China: the Global Raspberry ScandalConclusion: Towards Incorporating Chineseness into Marca ChileChapter 6. Many-faced Orientalism: Racism and Xenophobia in a Time of the Novel Coronavirus Covid-19The Many Faces of Orientalism During the PandemicExperiences and Responses in Chile to Anti-Chinese/Asian RacismConcluding RemarksChatper 7. ConclusionChapter 8. Deciphering the Written and Spoken “Chinese:” “Me Estás Hablando en Chino” 

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Book SynopsisThe 21st century has witnessed a considerable and increasing number of political revolutions around the world. This contradicts the popular belief of many experts in the 1970s that revolutions occurred mainly in monarchies and empires. Instead, the revolutions of this century have several new characteristics, which call for a renewed analysis of the subject.This handbook offers a comparative perspective on the new wave of revolutions of the last decade. Presenting case studies on the color revolutions, the Arab revolutions of 2010–2011, and the global wave of revolutions in 2013–2018 that spanned regions ranging from Africa to the Caucasus, it offers a better understanding of the varied forms, features, and historical backgrounds of revolutions, as well as their causes. Accordingly, it highlights recent revolutions in their historical and world-systems contexts.The handbook is divided into seven parts, the first of which examines the history of views on revolution and important aspects of the theory of revolution. The second part analyzes revolutions within long-term historical trends and in their world-system contexts. In turn, the third part explores specific major revolutionary waves in history. The fourth part analyzes the first revolutionary wave of the 21st century (2000–2009), the so-called color revolutions, while the fifth discusses the second wave – the Arab Spring (2010–2013) – as an important turning point. The sixth part is dedicated to analyzing revolutions and revolutionary movements beyond the Arab Spring and some revolutionary events from the third wave that began in 2018. The seventh and final part offers forecasts on the future of revolutions. Given its scope, the book will appeal to scholars and students from various disciplines interested in historical trends, sociopolitical change, contentious politics, social movements, and revolutionary processes involving both nonviolent campaigns and political violence. ​"Once again, this volume demonstrates the kind of open-minded, systematic analysis that the field of revolutionary studies requires." (Prof. George Lawson, Department of International Relations, Australian National University Canberra)Table of Contents1. Introduction. Changing yet Persistent: Revolutions and Revolutionary Events.- 2. The Phenomenon and Theories of Revolution.- 3. On Revolutionary Situations, Stages of Revolution, and Some Other Aspects of the Theory of Revolution.- 4. Revolutions, Counterrevolutions, and Democracy.- 5. Revolutions and Historical Process.- 6. Evolution and Typology of Revolutions.- 7. The “Problem of Structure and Agency” and Contemporary Sociology of Revolution and Social Movements.- 8. Revolution and Modernization Traps.- 9. Typology and Principles of Dynamics of Revolutionary Waves in World History.- 10. Revolutionary Waves of the Early Modern Period: Types and Phases.- 11. The European Revolutions and Revolutionary Waves of the 19th Century: Their Causes and Consequence.- 12. Revolutionary Waves and Lines of the 20th Century.- 13. On Revolutionary Waves since the 16th Century.- 14. All Around the World: Revolutionary Potential in the Age of Authoritarian Revanchism.- 15. “Color” Revolutions. Successes and Limitations of Non-Violent Protest.- 16. The Bulldozer Revolution in Serbia.- 17. Serbian “Otpor” and the Color Revolutions’ diffusion.- 18. The Rose Revolution in Georgia.- 19. The Orange Revolution in Ukraine.- 20. Revolutions in Kyrgyzstan.- 21. ‘Moldovan Spring’ 2009. The Atypical ‘Revolution’ of April 7 and the Days that Followed.-22. The Green Movement in Iran: 2009–2010.- 23. The Arab Spring: Causes, Conditions, and Driving Forces.- 24. The Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia and the Birth of the Arab Spring Uprisings.- 25. Egypt’s 2011 Revolution. A Demographic Structural Analysis.- 26. The Arab Spring in Yemen.- 27. The Syrian Revolution.- 28. Revolution in Libya.- 29. The Extent of Military Involvement in Non-Violent, Civilian Revolts and Their Aftermath.- 30. The Arab Spring: A Quantitative Analysis.- 31. Global Echo of the Arab Spring.- 32. Euromaidan Revolution in Ukraine.- 33. Two Experiences of the Islamic “Revival”: The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran and the Formation of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq in the 2010s.- 34. Turkey. The (Gülen) Cemaat and the State: An Unfinished Conquest.- 35. The Armenian Revolution of 2018: A Historical-Sociological Interpretation.- 36. Modern Protest Civil Movements in Sub-Saharan Africa in the Context of Global Political Destabilization.- 37. Articulating the Web of Transnational Social Movements.- 38. Revolutions of the 21st Century as a Factor of the World System Reconfiguration.- 39. Global Inequality and World Revolutions: Past, Present and Future.- 40. Revolution Forecasting. Formulation of the Problem.- 41. Conclusion. How Many Revolutions.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a number of specific proposals that, if translated into political reality, could contribute to nurturing a Europeanisation of national public spheres. Having left Brexit behind, intellectuals and policy-makers throughout Europe are now passionately discussing how to move forward the process of European integration. Crucial to this effort is the debate about the Europeanisation of national public spheres: a process that should not harm existing national and local identities but, rather, contribute to their enrichment. This book addresses policy-makers, academics, and forward-thinking citizens alike by providing them with a variety of ideas - and the practical steps needed to translate these into reality across selected European countries - to begin narrowing a dangerous gap between national politics and supranational policy-making.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Improving on What We Already Have.- Chapter 3. Changing the Political Framework.- Chapter 4. Attempting the Leap Forward.- Chapter 5. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThis is a book about European integration and mainstream parties of the left, the main underlying question driving it being: Given that the communist left was fatally wounded by the collapse of the Berlin Wall; given that, since then, the terms ‘left’ and ‘right’ have not infrequently been attacked (especially by populists) as being no longer useful for making sense of politics; given that social democracy, understood as ‘national Keynesianism’ no longer appears to be viable (as reflected in its long-term electoral decline), what does it mean to be on the left in the early 21st century and what can be done to revive its fortunes? Its answer is that being on the left means embracing principles of equality and international solidarity, and that since the nation state is too small to respond effectively to climate change and the other most pressing issues of the present, no viable strategy for left-wing revival in Europe can dispense with European integration as a central element, of which European democratisation is a core component.Table of Contents1 Introduction: Brexit and a Pro-European Fight-back.2 European Integration as a Social Democratic Project.3 The Crisis of Social Democracy: Why Is the Mainstream Left in Europe Struggling, Electorally?.4 The European Union’s Crisis of Legitimacy.5 Social Democratic Opponents of Europe.6 ‘Critical Europeanism’.7 Conclusion: What’s Left of the European Left?.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines knowledge and policy transfer from the perspectives of Brazil and China. It assesses how these two nations have emerged as providers of ideas and models that contribute to the global offer of public policies. With a variety of case studies in areas such as health, food security and infrastructure, the volume offers new insights into the distinct levels through which knowledge and policy transfers take place, including the local, regional, national and supranational. It develops a multidimensional framework of analysis that considers the agents, objects, and mechanisms for knowledge and policy transfer, as well as the structures and timings within which they operate. Unlike previous studies on policy transfer – which largely focus on North-North and North-South learning processes – this book offers an innovative approach to this area of study. By reflecting on the experiences of these two rising powers, it provides fresh insights on the future of knowledge and policy transfer as global power dynamics shift. This interdisciplinary study will appeal to students and scholars of policy transfer, development studies, international relations and public policy. Table of ContentsChapter 1. Knowledge and Policy Transfers from Brazil and China: Research Questions for a Promising Agenda (Osmany Porto de Oliveira and Giulia C. Romano).-Chapter 2. Policy diffusion and transfer as foreign policy instruments: a classification with evidence from Brazil and China (Carlos Aurélio Pimenta de Faria, Giulia C. Romano, Markus Taube).-Chapter 3. The rise and fall of Brazil as a “policy exporter”: from Lula da Silva to Jair Bolsonaro (Laura Trajber Waisbich, Juliana Ramos Luiz and Carlos Aurélio Pimenta de Faria).-Chapter 4. China’s global role: knowledge and policy diffusion (Jing Gu and Neil Renwick).-Chapter 5. Policy circulation and South-South Cooperation in Brazil-Africa relations: rise, fall and change (Laura Trajber Waisbich).-Chapter 6. China’s policy export to Africa – From the development-security nexus to knowledge-transfer (Georg Lammich).-Chapter 7. Social Policy Diplomacy: The Diffusion of Brazilian Instruments in the Fight Against Hunger (Osmany Porto de Oliveira).-Chapter 8. From Hard to Soft Power: Chinese Policy Diffusion in Pakistan in the Age of CPEC (Asma Faiz).-Chapter 9. Knowledge and policy transfers along the BRI: the case of Duisburg (Giulia C. Romano and Markus Taube).-Chapter 10. The diffusion of Brazilian public policies within international venues: the cases of Health and Rural Development (Juliana Ramos Luiz and Maria Berta Ecija)

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Book SynopsisThis book analyses major themes in twenty-first-century east African politics. Predominantly authored by researchers and academics from the region, it examines recent political developments, public policy and governance across east and southern African countries. The book advocates for a regionally-focused comparative approach across Africa, arguing that it provides a greater level of analysis than a complete continental study. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, it covers numerous topics relating to politics, public policy, state and nation-building in Africa. Filling an important void in current literature, the book will appeal to academics, practitioners, politicians and students of politics, public policy and governance.Chapter 16 and 20 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.Table of ContentsPart I: CONCEPTUALISING STATE POLITICS IN AfricaCHAPTER 1: Towards the Africa We Want! The changing state politics in AfricaCHAPTER 2: State Politics and Public Policy in Africa: A State Transformation PerspectiveCHAPTER 3: Divergent Identity and State Formation in Eastern Africa: Legitimacy and Policy PerformanceCHAPTER 4: The "Boomerang Effect": Lessons Learned from Power-Sharing in Kenya and ZimbabwePart II: State FORMATION AND POLITICS OF CONSOLIDATION IN EASTERNCHAPTER 5: Secessionist claims and state-building: The emergence and trends in Eastern AfricaCHAPTER 6: Ethio-Sudanese Relations: Revisiting Civil Wars, Refugeeism and Foreign Policy in Eastern AfricaCHAPTER 7: Confronting Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Eastern AfricaCHAPTER 8: The People's Defence Forces (Military) and State-Building Politics in Eastern AfricaCHAPTER 9: The Past and Present of Public Sector Reforms in Eastern AfricaCHAPTER 10: Imperilled Welfare States of Eastern Africa: A comparative analysis of the Policy legacies of Taxation politics in Kenya and UgandaPart III: POLITICS OF PARTICIPATION: CRAFTING PUBLIC POLICY AND CITIZENSHIP SPACESCHAPTER 11: Social Cohesion, Politics and Governance in East Africa: Evidence from Afrobarometer SurveysCHAPTER 12: Politics of Social Protection: The Visible, Invisible and Ignored CitizensCHAPTER 13: How and why women Legislators miss out on Legislative Leadership roles: Gender Equality Policies and Legislative influence in KenyaCHAPTER 14: Civil Society Organizations' Policy Entrepreneurship roles in Kenya and Uganda's Housing PoliciesCHAPTER 15: Science and Technology and Development in Eastern Africa – from rhetoric to actions: Citizens' agency in the implementation of STIs PoliciesCHAPTER 16: Climate Change Adoptions in Eastern Africa: The Challenges and Prospects of Climate Change Adaptation PoliciesPart IV: REGIONAL INTEGRATION, DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION AND PUBLIC POLICY IN EASTERN AFRICACHAPTER 17: Intergovernmentalism vs State-centrism in supranational governance: The Eastern Africa Economic Integration in PerspectiveCHAPTER 18: Is the African Continental Fee-Trade Area (AfCFTA) a Friend or Foe of East African Development?CHAPTER 19: A Governance Discourse in Chinese's Development Finance Assistance in Eastern AfricaCHAPTER 20: The evolution of the political dimension of EU Co-operation with Eastern Africa

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Book SynopsisThis volume assesses Non-Territorial Autonomy (NTA) in terms of its practical capacity to support the linguistic, cultural, and educational rights of national minority groups across Europe. The fact that 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the coming into force of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities (FCNM) and European Charter for Regional and Minority languages (ECRML) makes this book especially timely and relevant. Its numerous detailed empirical studies, one of which uses FCNM reporting as a benchmark, give a picture of the extent (or otherwise) to which international minority rights standards are actually being realized through various NTA arrangements. In keeping with the principles laid out in these foundational documents, the contributions to this volume acknowledge that when it comes to the effective delivery of linguistic, cultural and educational rights, NTA is best regarded not as an alternative but as a complement to territorially based arrangements.This is an open access book.Table of ContentsIntroduction David J. Smith, Ivan Dodovski and Flavia Ghencea The Role of Law and Non-Territorial Autonomy Arrangements in the Implementation of Linguistic Rights: A Comparative Perspective Vladimir Đurić and Vasilije Marković ‘Living the Same Full Life’? A Critical Assessment of Non-Territorial Autonomy Practice in the Vojvodina and Sápmi Contexts David J. Smith The Dilemma of Responsibility: The Role of Kin-States and Nation-States in Implementing Non-Territorial Autonomy Models to Realise Minorities’ Linguistic, Cultural and Educational Rights Martin Klatt The Evanescence of Autonomy for Minority Groups: The Hungarian Minority in Romania and the Complex Nexus of Dependence Andreea Udrea Illiberal Forms of Non-Territorial Autonomy: The Sudeten German Party Case Oskar Mulej The Implications of Administrative Decentralisation on the Development of Non-Territorial Autonomy Practices: The Case of Romania Valentina Cornea, Mirela Paula Costache and Andreea Elena Matic Linguistic Rights in Greece: Crossing Through Territorial and Non-Territorial Arrangements Konstantinos Tsitselikis Critical Analysis of the Linguistic Rights Strategies of the Hungarian National Minority Council in Serbia Katinka Beretka Non-Territorial Autonomy and Minority Rights: Impact of the Self-Governing National Communities on Minority Protection in Slovenia Ljubica Djordjević Cultural Autonomy, Safe Haven or Window-Dressing? Institutions Maintained by Minority Self-Governments in Hungary Balázs Dobos Can Non-Territorial Autonomy Help to Enforce the Linguistic, Cultural and Educational Rights of the Roma? Natalija Shikova and Immaculada Colomina Limonero

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Book SynopsisAt a time of widespread disillusion, citizens keep telling us how “frustrated” they feel with their democracies. However, whilst scholars and commentators alike have heard that complain millions of times, we may not have taken it as seriously as we should. The author takes the concept of democratic frustration literally and puts it under an unprecedented analytical and empirical microscope. She applies insights from the psychology and political science literatures and uses a mixture of panel studies, surveys, interviews, and experiments to understand its sources, nature, dimensions, and consequences. The book sheds unprecedented light on pathologies of democratic frustration in the US, UK, Australia, and South Africa with a double focus on the general population, and on young people. Doing so, it reveals new thought-provoking insights on the true nature of contemporary democratic crises, and not least on how citizens’ actual desire for democracy uniquely shapes their dissatisfaction. Table of ContentsChapter 1 Anatomy of democratic frustration.- Chapter 2 Democratic desire and delivery deficit: Operationalising democratic frustration.- Chapter 3 Narratives of democratic frustration.- Chapter 4 Causes of democratic frustration.- Chapter 5 Withdrawal, anger, and aggression: the behavioural consequences of democratic frustration.- Chapter 6 Democratic frustration amongst youth: the case of first time voters.- Chapter 7 An experiment on democratic frustration.- Chapter 8 Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisCorruption is usually understood as hampering political development, economic growth and democratic participation of citizens, but comparing the effects of corruption for different political regimes presents astonishingly complex findings. The ongoing persistence of corruption underlines that it is not only dysfunctional, but can be highly functional as well. This special issue brings together contributions from comparative politics, political science and economics which precisely focus on these (dys) functionalities of corruption in political regimes across various world regions. The question of methodological pluralism is especially important for studying corruption comparatively. While on an international level a trend towards an increased use of quantitative methods in political science as well as in economics can be observed, the special issue underlines the importance of having a pluralistic approach for grasping the complex and multi-layered effects of the phenomenon. Of similar importance is the adoption of a comparative perspective that includes different world regions in order to understand the different roles of corruption in developing, transforming and developed countries alike.Dr. Tobias Debiel is Director of the Centre for Global Cooperation Research and of the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF). Since 2006, he is also Professor in International Relations and Development Policy, Institute of Political Science, University of Duisburg-Essen.Dr. Andrea Gawrich is Professor for International Integration at the University of Gießen.

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Book SynopsisBy studying the influence of the two main external actors in post-Soviet space, the EU and Russia, this study contributes to the increasing body of literature that studies the causes of democratic recession and authoritarian backlash in post-Soviet states and the role of regional actors in these processes. Empirically, the study finds the EU to be both a democracy-promoting and democracy-hindering actor in post-Soviet states. Russia’s impact, on the other hand, is far more negative than the literature on democratization and autocracy promotion typically suggests. It negatively affects both the quality of democracy of post-Soviet states and limits the EU's options for promoting democracy in its neighborhood.Table of ContentsRegime outcomes and degree of democracy in the post-Soviet states.- Domestic prerequisites for democratization.- Russia, EU and their vulnerable neighbors: Measuring the external leverage in the post-Soviet states.- Between neighborhood and colony: European and Russian strategies in the post-Soviet space.- Direct external influence: Elections in the post-Soviet states.

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Book SynopsisHandlungs- und Entscheidungstheorien gelten als erfolgversprechende Ansätze zur Erklärung sozialen und politischen Handelns. Handeln wird dabei als das Ergebnis eines Prozesses gesehen, bei dem Akteure aus verschiedenen verfügbaren Handlungsalternativen diejenige auswählen, die bei gegebenen Rahmenbedingungen und erwarteten Handlungen anderer Akteure ihre Ziele am besten zu verwirklichen verspricht. Band 12 des Jahrbuchs vereint innovative Beiträge zur Handlungs- und Entscheidungstheorie, die sich mit der gesamten Breite des Feldes befassen.Table of ContentsAktuelle theoretische Entwicklungen in der Sozial- und Politikwissenschaft.- Innovative methodische Ansätze der Erklärung politischer Entscheidungsprozesse.- Aktuelle Befunde aus dem Bereich „Computational Social Science“.

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Book SynopsisDieses Open-Access-Buch bringt die Daten des Deutschen Freiwilligensurveys 2019 für einen Vergleich der Bundesländer Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein und Thüringen zusammen. Der Freiwilligensurvey wurde 2019 zum fünften Mal im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ) durchgeführt. Die Ziele der vorliegenden Auswertung sind eine aktuelle Bestandsaufnahme des freiwilligen Engagements und weiterer Formen zivilgesellschaftlichen Handelns in den einzelnen Bundesländern sowie eine Darstellung zentraler Entwicklungen im Zeitverlauf seit 1999. Des Weiteren wurden erstmals landesspezifische Charakteristika und die individuellen Kontexte und Umfeldbedingungen von freiwilligen Engagement analysiert.Table of ContentsPandemie- und Kontexteffekte – Aktuelle und strukturelle Einbettung der Daten im Länderbericht zum Deutschen Freiwilligensurvey 2019.- Struktur des Länderberichts.- Landesspezifische Ausprägungen unterschiedlicher Indikatoren und Erscheinungsformen zivilgesellschaftlichen Handelns.- Landesspezifische Determinanten unterschiedlicher Erscheinungsformen zivilgesellschaftlichen Handelns.- Die Bedeutung von Lebensumfeldern für freiwilliges Engagement.- Kurzfassung wichtiger Ergebnisse.- Länderprofile.

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Book SynopsisFiscal federalism and fiscal decentralization are the main pillars of federal and decentralized systems. Although there are comparable problems, competences and designs of these systems vary significantly. Furthermore, the systems are faced with pressure to justify and to reform due to the financial and debt crisis. In this volume, leading regional and financial experts discuss different approaches and strategies of shaping and reforming fiscal federalism and fiscal decentralization in Austria, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The situation in each country is analyzed and compared. The content of this volume includes designs of decentralized financial systems, consequences of changing governments on the systems, and repercussions of the financial and debt crisis on politics. Also addressed are abilities to reform the main areas of the systems.

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Book SynopsisIn the aftermath of the Polish-Hungarian Conference held in Cracow in 2007 there has been published the present volume. It is exponential of the cooperation between the legal historians of the Cracow and Pecs Universities. The participants of the Conference discussed at length the topics concerned with the constitutional developments in the Austro-Hungarian empire in the final era of its existence. A series of articles published in the volume are illustrative of the Rechtsstaat tendencies as detectable in the functioning of the Austro-Hungarian administration and the judiciary, and also in the field of Church-State relationships. Against that background there is also discussed the liberalism of the Austro-Hungarian regime in the area of emigration as well as the grass-roots initiative of the Poles in laying the foundations of Polonia restituta at the time when World War I had not yet come to its end. Last but not least, some authors present fairly individual topics such as the role of the fidei-comissuni in promoting the preservation of cultural legacy in the Hungarian part of the empire, or the survival of Hungarian serfdom tradition in the area of Poland controlled post-war Spisz and Orawa.Trade ReviewNoteworthy analytical presentation by Istvan Kajtara eminent Hungarian historian figure Andorra Czizmadii. -- Dr. Andrzej Bryk, Jagiellonian University

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Book SynopsisThis volume brings together a group of scholars from a wide range of disciplines to address crucial questions of migration flows and integration in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Comparative analysis of the three regions and their differing approaches and outcomes yields important insights for each region, as well as provokes new questions and suggests future avenues of study.Trade Review"This collection of essays offers a clear overvies on the migration debate, from a historical perspective to the new challenges we are facing" - Volkskunde Tijdschrift (review originally in Dutch)Table of ContentsContents 5 List of Tables and figures 7 Acknowledgements 9 1 Introduction 11 The comparative study of migration flows Juliet Pietsch 2 Shifting migration flows and integration policies in Europe 25 An overview Pawe› Kaczmarczyk, Magdalena Lesiñska & Marek Okólski 3 Public opinion towards new migration flows in Europe and the increasing role of the EU 45 Juliet Pietsch 4 Shifting dilemmas 57 Multiculturalism and integration policies in Europe James Jupp 5 Malaysia 75 Labour migration, irregular movements and regional policies Amarjit Kaur 6 Labour migration flows and regional integration in Southeast Asia 99 Marshall Clark 7 Transiting asylum seekers in Indonesia 115 Between human rights protection and criminalisation Antje Missbach 8 Abrogating human rights responsibilities 137 Australia’s asylum-seeker policy at home and abroad Linda Briskman & Victoria Mason PROEF 2 9 Courting disaster? 161 Regional agreements for ‘protection elsewhere’ and the courts Penelope Mathew 10 Maritime pathways 187 Temporary migration flows from Indonesia to Australia Marshall Clark & Dedi Supriadi Adhuri Bibliography 203 Contributors 227

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Book SynopsisThe project of European integration has undergone a succession of shocks, beginning with the Eurozone crisis, followed by reactions to the sudden growth of irregular migration, and, most recently, the coronavirus pandemic. These shocks have politicised questions related to the governance of borders and markets that for decades had been beyond the realm of contestation. For some time, these questions have been spilling over into domestic and European electoral politics, with the rise of “populist” and Eurosceptic parties. Increasingly, however, the crises have begun to reshape the liberal narratives that have been central to the European project. This book charts the rise of contestation over the meaning of “Europe”, particularly in light of the coronavirus crisis and Brexit. Drawing together cutting edge, interdisciplinary scholarship from across the continent, it questions not merely the traditional conflict between European and nationalist politics, but the impact of contestation on the assumed “cosmopolitan” values of Europe.Table of ContentsIntroduction: (James Foley and Umut Korkut) Chapter 1: ‘The Never-Ending Crisis’ – Europeanisation of crisis management and the contestation of solidarity (Martin Bak Jørgensen) Chapter 2: ‘A Meta-View Psychology of Legal Categories: Rights, Identity, and Inclusiveness in Europe’ (Magdalena Smieszek) Chapter 3: ‘Towards a Political Theory of Brexit: Sovereignty, Cosmopolitanism and Member State Theory’ (George Hoare) Chapter 4: ‘Responsibility to Protect European Identity: How do Orbán and Erdo.an expand Europe’s boundaries of international protection?’ (Tarik Basbugoglu and Umut Korkut) Chapter 5: ‘Revising Humanitarianism and Solidarity: Migration management and Peripheral Europeanism in the UK, Poland, and Hungary’ (James Foley, Daniel Gyollai, and Justyna Szalanska) Chapter 6: ‘Leave a Light on for Scotland’; Examining Cosmopolitan Nationalism in Scotland (Marcus Nicolson - Soc Movements Chapter) Chapter 7: ‘Flexible redefinitions of “Us” and the “Others”: Refugee politics in the convergences of multiple “crises” in the EU and Greece’ (Eva (Evangelia) Papatzani, Electra Petracou) Chapter 8: ‘The cognitions underpinning online discrimination, derogatory sarcasm and anti-cosmopolitanism towards Syrians at Europe’s periphery’ (Bogdan Ianosev and Özge Özdüzen) Chapter 9: ‘Two sides of the same coin: post-“refugee crisis” debates on migration and European integration in Austrian party politics’ (Ivan Josipovic and Ursula Reeger) Conclusion: (James Foley and Umut Korkut)

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the transformation of India’s relations with Central and Eastern Europe from being a subset of Indo-Soviet relations during the Cold War to the rediscovery and rebuilding of relations with the region almost from scratch in the post-Cold War era. It examines how the combination of Brexit, the rise of China and India’s expanding geo-economic interests in Europe has led the Narendra Modi government to contemplate relations with Central Europe through a more strategic lens and treat the region as an autonomous element within India’s foreign policy rather than a footnote of its relations with other great powers. Fulfilling a long-felt gap in existing literature, this volume examines India’s political, economic, investment, defence and cultural relations with the Visegrad Four (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia). It analyzes Indian perceptions of Central Europe and explores prospects of New Delhi’s political and economic engagement with the region. The painstakingly compiled appendices on the exchange of bilateral visits and agreements between India and the Visegrad Four would be of immense use as a handy reference to scholars, policy-makers, and other interested persons and institutions.Trade Review“The book India and Central Europe: Perceptions, Perspectives and Prospects edited by Rajendra Jain is a welcome addition to the literature on India’s engagement with Central European countries. It is a timely Contribution … . the book provides a comprehensive analysis of India’s engagement with these countries, which is important for Indian foreign policy makers as they attempt to carve a roadmap for their relations in the future.” (Priya Vijaykumar Poojary, CEU Review of Books, ceureviewofbooks.com, September, 2023)Table of ContentsChapter 1. India and Central Europe: Perceptions and Prospects (Pramit Pal Chaudhuri).- 2. Indian Perceptions of Central Europe (Rajendra K. Jain).- Chapter 3. India and the Czech Republic (Rajendra K. Jain).- Chapter 4. India and Hungary ( Rajendra K. Jain).- Chapter 5. India and Poland (Rajendra K. Jain).- Chapter 6. India and Slovakia ( Rajendra K. Jain).- Chapter 7. India’s Economic and Trade Relations with Central Europe (Anna Wróbel).- Chapter 8. Indian Foreign Direct Investment in Central Europe (Karina Jędrzejowska and Anna Wróbel).- Chapter 9. Indian Diaspora in Central Europe (Patryk Kugiel and Konrad Pędziwiatr).- Chapter 10. The Visegrad Four and India: A Road More Travelled? (Patryk Kugiel)

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an insightful sociological study of the shrinking Japanese population through a regional variation perspective as it varies significantly by municipality, even within the same prefecture. Using demographic data on municipal levels, the book identifies the power unique to each municipality, which can mobilize a shrinking but sustainable Japan. The study identifies the principal explanatory factors based on the small area data of e-Stat through GPS statistical software tools such as G-census and EvaCva within a historical perspective. The theoretical framework of this study, i.e., the reason for regional variations in Japan, is the Goki-Shichido (Five Home Provinces and Seven Circuits of Ancient Japan). This historical knowledge helps in understanding the significance of the regional cultural heritage that remains in each municipality today. The book pays special attention to municipal variations within the same prefecture, utilizing a completely unique approach, unlike those that have been pursued by other researchers. This volume studies two present-day prefectures for detailed analyses based on the Goki-Shichido framework for impacts of regional variations of population decline in Japan. They are Niigata Prefecture, made up of the formerly named Echigo and Sado provinces; Ishikawa Prefecture, formed by the ancient Kaga and Noto provinces; Fukui Prefecture, based on the earlier Wakasa and Echizen provinces of the Hokurikudo; Nagano Prefecture, still called Shinano Province today and commonly divided into four areas and ten regions; and Gifu Prefecture, composed of the ancient Mino and Hida provinces of the Tosando as examples of the impact of municipal power on regional variations of shrinking Japan. However, due to the limitation of the number of pages set forth for Springer Briefs in Population Studies: Population Studies of Japan, for which the current publication is a part, it has become necessary to divide the book into two volumes, namely Volume I and Volume II. Because of this limitation the current volume I is consisted of three chapters, namely, Chapter 1: Issues, theoretical framework, and methodology; Chapter 2: Niigata Prefecture in the Hokurikudo; and Chapter 3: Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokurikudo. The remaining three prefectures, i.e., Fukui in the Hokurikudo area, Nagano and Gifu both in the Tosando area will be discussed in the Volume II of this book. By presenting unique analyses of regional variations on small municipal levels, with demographic variables, social indicators, and historical identities, this book offers suggestions for effective regional policies to revitalize a shrinking Japan to a sustainable one. The Volume I, therefore, analyzes and discusses in detail both Niigata and Ishikawa prefectures of the Hokurikudo.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction: Issues, Theoretical Framework, and Methodolog.- Chapter 2: Niigata Prefecture in Hokurikudo of Goki-Shichido and Regional Variations.- Chapter 3: Ishikawa Prefecture in Hokurikudo of Goki-Shichido and Regional Variations.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the phenomenon of total power in East Asia, with particular attention to China, Korea, and Japan. It shows how total power enables an examination of regional experience as a part of global context in order to demarcate the connections with other countries and regions that have similar political cultures, such as those in Central Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. Moreover, it elucidates that the phenomenon of total power unpacks the interrelations not only between different countries, but also between political, economic, religious, or cultural aspects of the region as a whole, and of each country in particular. This book takes East Asia as a classic example of where total power has achieved the highest forms of development during traditional periods in the form of absolute economic dependence of society on the state, ideologically enshrined by a system of moral obligations toward supreme power that allowed for the establishment of a monopoly on forced labour, and the appropriation and distribution of social products. The author emphasizes the importance of exploring the tradition of total power with reference to the ongoing global crisis of European democracy. In doing so, the book shows that democratization has not brought qualitative changes to the political culture of East Asia. An essential interdisciplinary read for scholars studying political science, particularly East-West relations, this book situates East Asian political culture within a global context.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Formation of East Asian Complex of Total Power A.East Asian Complex of TotalPower during Traditional Period B.Total Power in China C.Adaptation of Total Power inKorea D.Adaptation of Total Power in Japan E.Total Power and the Problem of RegionalOrder.- Chapter 2. Modernization of East Asian Complex of Total Power.- Chapter 3. Japanese Empire: Modernized Total Power.- Chapter 4. Total Power and East Asian Nation-States during Cold War.- Chapter 5. East Asian Tradition of Total Power and Neoliberal Globalization.

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Book SynopsisIn diesem Buch wird die chinesische Politik theoretisiert, insbesondere Chinas "deliberative Demokratie (xieshang minzhu 协商民主)". In einem vergleichenden Rahmen zwischen China und dem Westen hinterfragt der Autor den Anspruch der chinesischen Regierung, die Bürger zu repräsentieren, und zeigt dem Leser, wie all diese Konzepte innerhalb der chinesischen Ideologie, des demokratischen Diskurses und der Regierungsführung zusammenwirken und in welchem Verhältnis sie zum chinesischen Autoritarismus stehen. Vor allem stellt dieses Buch eine nachhaltige Hybridisierung der politischen Theorie dar, die weder eine einfache demokratisch-autoritäre Dichotomie noch eine Neuinterpretation der offiziellen Propaganda ist. Diese Studie wird für Wissenschaftler der chinesischen Politik und Staatskunst von Interesse sein, da sie Licht auf einen neu entstehenden Staatsdiskurs wirft - das chinesische xieshang minzhu. Noch wichtiger ist, dass dieses Buch über eine einfache rhetorische und sprachliche Verwendung der "deliberativen Demokratie" im westlichen Sinne hinausgeht und vielmehr den beratenden Charakter der chinesischen Politik hervorhebt, der den chinesischen Autoritarismus begünstigt und festigt.Table of Contents1. Einführung.- 2. Deliberative Demokratie im Westen.- 3. Aythoritäre Deliberation, aythoritäre Konsultation und darüber hinaus.- 4. Konsultative Demokratie und darüber hinaus, eine indifferente Neukonzeption der "deliberativen Demokratie".- 5. Die Wiedererstarkung des chinesischen Autoritarismus? Die Institutionalisierung der Konsultation.- 6. Konsultatives/deliberatives Regieren in der Praxis.- 7. Schlussfolgerung.

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Book SynopsisDieses Buch vergleicht die Einwanderungspolitik der EU-Staaten und der asiatischen Länder - Deutschland, Polen, Estland, Taiwan, China, Südkorea, Japan, Vietnam und Thailand -, analysiert die Stärken und Schwächen der verschiedenen politischen Akteure in den Regionen und untersucht, was aus den Erfahrungen der verschiedenen Staaten gelernt werden kann. In den letzten Jahrzehnten ist die Einwanderungspolitik aufgrund der Globalisierung zu einem heißen Thema geworden. Seit der Flüchtlingskrise im Jahr 2015, als mehr als eine Million Migranten und Flüchtlinge nach Europa kamen, steht die EU vor Herausforderungen im Bereich der Einwanderung. In Asien ist die Einwanderungsproblematik noch komplizierter geworden, da die wirtschaftlichen Beziehungen zwischen den asiatischen Ländern in den letzten Jahren erheblich zugenommen haben. Mit Beiträgen von Professoren, Experten und Wissenschaftlern aus verschiedenen Ländern Europas und Asiens bietet das Buch sowohl eingehende Analysen als auch breite Perspektiven zu diesem Thema und ist damit eine wertvolle Lektüre für Wissenschaftler und politische Entscheidungsträger gleichermaßen. Table of ContentsEinleitung.- Eine Studie zur Migrationspolitik in Japan.- Politische Rechte von Einwanderern in Korea.- Hat Chinas Soft Power die Jugend Taiwans angelockt? Preliminary Evidence for Overseas Employment.- The Nexus between Foreign Labor Policy and Human Trafficking in Taiwan.- Labour Immigration Policy in Vietnam.- Thailand Immigrant Policy: Herausforderung und Chance vor und nach der ASEANISIERUNG.- Die Herausforderung der Einwanderung nach Europa.- Die Migrationspolitik Osteuropas: Der Fall von Polen und Ungarn: Die Reaktion der deutschen Parteien auf die Flüchtlingskrise 2015: Eine Langzeitanalyse der Dynamik der Parteipositionierung.- Die Auswirkungen der EU-Einwanderungspolitik auf die normative Macht in Europa.- Die Gestaltung der Einwanderungspolitik in den neuen EU-Mitgliedstaaten: der Fall der estnischen Asylpolitik.

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Book SynopsisThis book documents and analyses the differentiated control policies, the determinant factors behind, social resilience, and international relations during the pandemic from a comparative perspective in a facts-based, data-supporting manner. The intermittent outbreak of cases, public sentiments after long anxiety, questions over the efficacy of vaccines, have forced governments as well as the public to rethink differing approaches and policies in the combat against not just COVID, but the delta variant. In this context, this book establishes itself as a timely product, perhaps the first of its kind, to provide a widely covered individual country-based observation of policies, with an emphasis on multidimensional determinant factors behind the policies. A comparative study of social resilience during the pandemic constitutes another highlight of the book. The different policies tested social resilience differently in parameters such as mortality rates, vaccination coverage, social mobility, travel arrangements, trust in government, and general human development. Above and beyond observations and analyses at local and national levels, this book expands its scope to incorporate international relations, contemplating over the impacts of the pandemic on international relations, power shifts, and new world/global orders, crystallized in the indisputable rise of China. Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Public Policies in Controlling Pandemic.- Cultural and Historical Comparison of Factors Behind Pandemic Control Policies.- Political, Institutional, and State Theory Comparison. Governmental Intervention or Civil Cooperation? Reliance on Governmental Arrangement Versus Resort to Institutional Power?.- International Relations and Great Power Comparison. Changes in the Soft Power and Nation Branding for Individual Countries Following their Handling of the Pandemic, Etc.- Public Health Systems and Social Policy System Regimes Comparison.- Public Wealth Regimes and Impact on Pandemic Control Policy and Social Resilience.- Economic Comparison: Costs and Benefits of Different Control Policies.- Comprehensive/ “Great Game” Strategy Comparison. Issues Around the Various Schools of Thought, Including Conspiracy Theories, Relationship Between the Pandemic, Pandemic-Control, China’s Rise, and New World Order (International Power Shift), Economic Production, and Global Supply Chain Changes, as Well as Impacts on Policymaking, Etc.- Social Resilience.- Data-Driven, Data-Supported Analysis of Resilience, Like Social and Psychological Resilience Comparison.- Sociology of the Pandemic and the Impact on Social Resilience: Comparative Studies.- Big Data Social Resilience Analysis Comparative Studies.- Economic and Political Comparison in Resilience.- “New Normal” Preparing for and Resulting From “Living With Covid.”.- Public Sentiments, Public Trust in Governance Affect Pandemic Control, Public Backlash After Once Successful Handling Of Pandemic by Coercive Force.- Social Costs and Benefits Analysis of Pandemic Control Policies.- Will Leave for Other Issues of Comparative Nature Surrounding the Pandemic Studies. Current Chapters Include.- Comparison of Pandemics in History. What was the Social, Economic, Diplomatic, as Well as Political Implications by Previous Well-Known Pandemics in History, such as the Black Death in the 14th Century, Harbin Plaque in 1910~1911, The Spanish Flu Pandemic in 1918~1919, and The SARS in 2002-2003?.- Vaccination-Related Topics, such as Comparison of Efficacy of Various Vaccines, Attitudes Towards Vaccine, Vaccine Passport, and Others. China’s International Participation in Vaccine Provision?.- Corona-A New Grand Narrative?.- Other Topics. Geographical Comparison: Routes of Pandemic Spreading and Border Re-Opening.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisChina''s reform era is ending. Core factors that characterized it-political stability, ideological openness, and rapid economic growth-are unraveling. Since the 1990s, Beijing''s leaders have firmly rejected any fundamental reform of their authoritarian one-party political system, and on the surface, their efforts have been a success. But as Carl Minzner shows, a closer look at China''s reform era reveals a different truth. Over the past three decades, a frozen political system has fueled both the rise of entrenched interests within the Communist Party itself, and the systematic underdevelopment of institutions of governance among state and society at large. Economic cleavages have widened. Social unrest has worsened. Ideological polarization has deepened. Now, to address these looming problems, China''s leaders are progressively cannibalizing institutional norms and practices that have formed the bedrock of the regime''s stability in the reform era. End of an Era explains how China arrived at this dangerous turning point, and outlines the potential outcomes that could result.Trade ReviewMr. Minzner's arguments are lucid, readable and well-sourced, making this compact volume compulsory reading for those who continue to insist that China's authoritarian governance might be an improvement on democracy." -Wall Street JournalCaptivating and essential reading for all China watchers." -Library JournalCarl Minzner takes the measure of 'China's rise' in a highly readable, yet penetrating, analysis that accurately gauges its weaknesses as well as strengths." -Jerome A. Cohen, Professor of Law and Faculty Director, U.S.-Asia Law Institute, New York University School of Law, and Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign RelationsA concise, authoritative, and impartial analysis of the challenges China faces as it tries to balance a vibrant, dynamic, ever evolving economy and society, with a static, centralised political system. This study asks fundamental, hard questions about whether this perpetual squaring of the circle can actually ever be achieved. Its conclusions are sobering and thought provoking." -Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute, King's College, LondonThis book is a must-read, conversation changing book for anyone interested in China. Meticulously researched and written in a highly accessible style, End of an Era argues that China's reform era is ending. The book details how over the last decade changes in China's society, economy, politics and ideology have coalesced in a massive, yet unnoticed, transition, ending the reform era and endangering the country's further development. The book presents a shocking message that has repercussions for virtually anyone on the globe whose lives have become intertwined with the Chinese political economy." -Benjamin Van Rooij, John S. & Marilyn Long Chair Professor, University of California, IrvineIn learned, provocative, yet engaging ways, Carl Minzner draws from his decades of China-watching expertise to explain the deeply unsettled and unsettling trajectory of contemporary China. Reflecting on the underlying social, economic, political and spiritual angst in China today, and the Party-state's tightening grip in response, the book not only convincingly explains the ^iEnd of an Era^r, but foresees a darkening future with serious implications for China and the world." -Bates Gill, Professor of Asia-Pacific Security Studies, Macquarie UniversityA valuable, clear-eyed tabulation of how, since Xi came to power in 2013, his grip has tightened." -Asia Sentinel14/01/2019Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1. Overview: The End of China's Reform Era Chapter 2. Society and Economy: The Closing of the Chinese Dream Chapter 3. Politics: Internal Decay and Social Unrest Chapter 4. Religion and Ideology: What Do We Believe? Chapter 5. China in Comparative Perspective Chapter 6. Possible Futures Conclusion

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