Comparative politics Books

Book SynopsisOrganizing Against Democracyinvestigates some of the most important challenges modern democracies face, filling a distinctive gap in the literature, both empirically and theoretically. Ellinas examines the attempts of three of the most extreme European far-right parties to establish roots in local societies, and the responses of democratic actors. He offers a theory of local party development to analyze the many factors affecting the evolution of far-right parties at the subnational level. Using extraordinarily rich data, the author examines the ''lives'' of local far-right party organizations in Greece, Germany and Slovakia, studying thousands of party activities and interviewing dozens of party leaders and functionaries, and antifascists.He goes on toexplore how and why extreme parties succeed in some local settings while, in others, they fail. This book broadens our understanding of right-wing extremism, illuminating the factors limiting its corrosiveness.Trade Review'This is a path-breaking study. Though we have long recognized that all politics are local, few, if any, scholars have examined far-right parties as local organizations. Ellinas provides extensive local interviews and event analyses that are deeply impressive on their own. But his greatest contribution is to use these primary sources as the foundation for a compelling argument about party success and failure. With strong implications for how institutional actors and local communities should react to the threats that the far-right presents, this book is not only very good, but also much needed.' Nancy Bermeo, Princeton University and University of Oxford'Many great studies of the far-right view this topic from the top down, and we need more work that looks at it from the ground up. This absorbing and impressively detailed book does exactly that. Ellinas clearly demonstrates that local-level organization, or the lack thereof, matters. For those concerned about the rise of extremism, this book also suggests, optimistically, that counter-mobilisation can make a difference.' Tim Bale, Queen Mary University of London'In this clinical analysis of some of Europe's most openly racist and violent political movements, Antonis A. Ellinas makes a compelling case for a robust political and societal response … His exhaustive and meticulous research offers both a roadmap for those hoping to contain these forces, as well as a warning that dedicated right-wing extremists will remain an enduring feature of liberal democracy.' David Art, Tufts University, Massachusetts'Thanks to its fresh analytical perspective and meticulous research, Organizing against Democracy not only offers a landmark contribution on Greece's Golden Dawn, but also opens up a whole new line of investigation on European right-wing extremism. Unlike most scholars, Ellinas puts the local context front and center of his explanation of the rise of the extreme right, offering a uniquely rich set of empirical evidence. This careful and insightful close-range analysis greatly enhances our comparative understanding of this troubling phenomenon.' Giovanni Capoccia, University of Oxford'Parties' organizational set-up interacts with their strategies and electoral support, but few studies probe into this relationship. Ellinas deals with this subject through a detailed empirical analysis of the local organizational dynamics of select extreme radical right-wing parties in Europe, particularly Greece's Golden Dawn. He has completed a model investigation on which others should be encouraged to build.' Herbert Kitschelt, Duke University, North Carolina'Ellinas delves where few have gone before: into the murky and dangerous internal politics of three extreme right-wing parties located across Europe. It is a forensic analysis of their internal organization and activities to try to determine what helps or hinders their growth. As such, this timely and important study provides warnings for the future of our democratic systems in periods of stress. This is high-quality political science.' Kevin Featherstone, London School of Economics and Political Science'Challenges the predominant focus on national right-wing parties' endogenous characteristics, national electoral results, and extremist leaders.' T. D. Lancaster, Choice'Ellinas provides a timely and ambitious project and suggests ample avenues for future scholarship.' Trevor Allen, Perspectives on Politics'The strength of this book lies in the combination of national politics with the microdynamics of local development … the book fully convinces with its comprehensive framework, compelling argumentation, and clear writing style. Overall, Antonis Ellinas provides a seminal work on the organizational effectiveness of extreme rightwing parties. The book will be of interest to scholars of comparative (party) politics and of modern Greece.' Maik Fielitz, Journal of Modern Greek Studies'Many great studies of the far-right view this topic from the top down, and we need more work that looks at it from the ground up. This absorbing and impressively detailed book does exactly that. Ellinas clearly demonstrates that local-level organization, or the lack thereof, matters. For those concerned about the rise of extremism, this book also suggests, optimistically, that counter-mobilisation can make a difference.' Tim Bale, Sage JournalsTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Extremist right-wing parties in Europe; 3. The organizational development of extremist right-wing parties; 4. The organizational development of the Golden Dawn; 5. Variation in local organizational development; 6. Endogenous drivers of local organizational development; 7. Electoral drivers of local organizational development; 8. The state and local organizational development; 9. Societal reactions and local organizational development; 10. The local development of extremist right-wing parties in Germany and Slovakia; 11. Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisIn this innovative study, Lea David critically investigates the relationship between human rights and memory, suggesting that, instead of understanding human rights in a normative fashion, human rights should be treated as an ideology. Conceptualizing human rights as an ideology gives us useful theoretical and methodological tools to recognize the real impact human rights has on the ground. David traces the rise of the global phenomenon that is the human rights memorialization agenda, termed ''Moral Remembrance'', and explores what happens once this agenda becomes implemented. Based on evidence from the Western Balkans and Israel/Palestine, she argues that the human rights memorialization agenda does not lead to a better appreciation of human rights but, contrary to what would be expected, it merely serves to strengthen national sentiments, divisions and animosities along ethnic lines, and leads to the new forms of societal inequalities that are closely connected to different forms of Trade Review'Learning from history is an obvious step for post-conflict societies. Yet, enforcing remembrance through a standard trope of techniques and scripted commemorations also presents its own challenges. Lea David walks us through the process of how apparent reconciliation actually might exacerbate conflict and tensions. This is a wonderful book that should be read not just by governments and scholars, but by all those who seek to remember and remedy past wrongs.' Miguel Centeno, Princeton University'The Past Can't Heal Us presents a path breaking analysis of the limits of the global standardization of memorialization. The novel comparative analysis discloses ever-expanding fissures in foundational paradigms in Human Rights discourse and practice while grounding fascinating re-conceptualizations of ideology and micro-solidarity. David's provocatively critical and courageous voice permeates every illuminating chapter. A must read for scholars, students and laypersons alike.' Carol Kidron, University of Haifa'Human rights are often seen as a panacea capable of curbing political extremism and social inequalities. In this wonderful and highly original book, Lea David shows convincingly that enforcing human rights policies in a world dominated by the nation-state model of social organisation is likely to produce the opposite effect: prescribed moral remembrance regularly generates more group animosity. This is an excellent, thoughtful and brave contribution that combines superb analytical skills with the comprehensive and meticulous empirical research.' Siniša Malešević, University College Dublin'Her innovative approach and original argument mark an important scholarly contribution, inviting further research on globalization and memory.' Katarina Ristic, Connections: A Journal for Historians and Area SpecialistsTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Human rights as an ideology? Obstacles and benefits; 3. What Is moral remembrance?; 4. The institutionalization of moral remembrance: the case study of Palestine and Israel; 5. The institutionalization of moral remembrance: the case study of Western Balkans; 6. Human rights, memory and micro-solidarity; 7. Mandating memory, mandating conflicts.

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Book SynopsisIs democracy in crisis? The current threats to democracy are not just political: they are deeply embedded in the democracies of today, in current economic, social, and cultural conditions. In Crises of Democracy, Adam Przeworski presents a panorama of the political situation throughout the world of established democracies, places it in the context of past misadventures of democratic regimes, and speculates on the prospects. Our present state of knowledge does not support facile conclusions. ''We should not believe the flood of writings that have all the answers''. Avoiding technical aspects, this book is addressed not only to professional social scientists, but to everyone concerned about the prospects of democracy.Trade Review'The mood in the democratic world these days is one of pessimism, but we are fortunate to have one of the grandmasters of comparative politics to help us understand the situation. Crises of Democracy is incisive, clear and full of insights into where we have been and where we might go.' Tom Ginsburg, Leo Spitz Professor of Law, University of Chicago'In this sober, highly illuminating look at the shaky state of democracy around the world, Adam Przeworski seeks to understand the causes of the explosion of populist, anti-establishment forces that have overtaken mature democracies in Europe and have resulted in the election of Donald Trump in the United States. Every page is chock full of insights. Przeworski, arguably the most brilliant comparativist of our time, carefully defines 'democracy crisis' and shows why many mature democracies are facing one now.' Mitchell A. Seligson, Centennial Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee'In the age of Trump, Putin, and Brexit, ordinary people and pundits alike increasingly wonder whether democracy is in a crisis or even danger. The flood of explanations ranges from factors as different as the decline of traditional parties, rising economic inequality, and the emergence of social media - to name just a few. What is sorely lacking is a perspective that separates what is unique about the present moment from what is history just repeating itself. Adam Przeworski, the world's leading authority on democracy and democratization, delivers precisely that - and he does so with an unparalleled historical perspective and the rigor of modern social science.' Milan Svolik, Yale University, Connecticut'The wealth of information and lucid narrative make Crises of Democracy an informative read.' Michal Boncza, Morning Star'This is a book by a remarkable man about a topic of immense importance and great urgency which he has been studying from one angle or another for most of his adult life. Its conclusions are careful, tentative and disconcerting. It is neither partisan nor melodramatic, yet also resolutely undidactic an object lesson in how to think seriously about politics but leave your readers better equipped to go on doing so coherently for themselves.' John Dunn, Society'… a major contribution to the comparative politics literature—and a must-read for political scientists and educated citizens concerned about the fate of democratic institutions in the contemporary era.' Stephen E. Hanson, Perspectives on PoliticsTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. The Past: Crises of Democracy: 2. General patterns; 3. Some stories; 4. Lessons from history: what to look for?; Part II. The Present: What Is Happening?: 5. The signs; 6. Potential causes; 7. Where to seek explanations?; 8. What may be unprecedented?; Part III. The Future?: 9. How democracy works; 10. Subversion by stealth; 11. What can and cannot happen?

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Book SynopsisRecent years have seen renewed interest in the study of revolution. Spurred by events like the 2011 uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, the rise of Islamic State, and the emergence of populism, a new age of revolution has generated considerable interest. Yet, even as empirical studies of revolutions are thriving, there has been a stall in theories of revolution. Anatomies of Revolution offers a novel account of how revolutions begin, unfold and end. By combining insights from international relations, sociology, and global history, it outlines the benefits of a ''global historical sociology'' of revolutionary change, one in which international processes take centre stage. Featuring a wide range of cases from across modern world history, this is a comprehensive account of one of the world''s most important processes. It will interest students and scholars studying revolutions, political conflict and contentious politics in sociology, politics and international relations.Trade Review'George Lawson gives us a new perspective on the sociology of revolutions in a masterwork that is destined to become the best 'go-to' book on revolutions for the 2010-20 decade!' John Foran, University of California, Santa Barbara'An incredible tour de force, rich in scholarship and powerful in its original analysis, this is the brilliant new approach to revolutions we have been waiting for. Bridging history, sociology, and political science, Lawson treats revolutions as a living, evolving process, equally international and national in character. His fresh insights on the dynamics and outcomes of revolutions expand our understanding of events from seventeenth century England to today's Islamist and populist upheavals.' Jack A. Goldstone, Hazel Chair Professor, George Mason University, Virginia'In this magisterial and highly anticipated study, George Lawson forces us to fundamentally reconsider the way we think about revolutions. Theoretically sophisticated, empirically rich, and intellectually stimulating, this is absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in revolutions.' Daniel Ritter, Stockholms universitet'In this highly original study, George Lawson gives flesh to an 'historicist' approach to the study of revolutions, outlining ideal-typical paths underpinning their materialization, unfolding, and outcome across multiple cases. In the process, he shows how revolutions are best understood in relational and global terms, and how revolution and avoidance of revolution have been central to the course of modern history.' Mark R. Beissinger, Henry W. Putnam Professor of Politics, Princeton University, New Jersey'George Lawson's latest book comes at a crucial time. With remarkable depth and breadth, Lawson argues for a relational understanding of revolution as a dynamic social process. In doing so, he provides a sweeping overview of the tensions, limitations, and contradictions inherent in revolutionary processes and outcomes. Contrary to those who question the revolutionary potential of contemporary uprisings, Lawson makes the case that, in historical context, many recent popular upheavals do indeed possess revolutionary qualities. Lawson shows that the age of revolutions is far from over. A brilliant book.' Erica Chenoweth, Harvard Kennedy School, Massachusetts'This is a brilliant book: cleverly conceived, beautifully crafted, and now the state of the art with reference to revolution. Lawson judiciously walks us through where we've been, are, and proffers a glimpse of where we must go, but it is by situating us in the global and revolution within the pantheon of socio-political change, he opens up whole new dimensions to our great good fortune. Smart, sophisticated, invaluable work.' Eric Selbin, Southwestern University, Texas'… this book accomplishes something truly remarkable: it provides clarity, not in spite of its complexity, but through it.' Eric Loefflad, The London School of Economics Review of Books (https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/)'Lawson sets the stage for a new generation of studies of radical social change and the reshaping of the modern global order.' John Ikenberry, Foreign Affairs'Lawson's double achievement of a rigorous engagement with revolutions literature and a demonstration of the usefulness of an ambitious and iconoclastic methodological approach makes this book valuable to all scholars of international politics.' Horia M. Dijmarescu, International Affairs'The book will likely stand as the ideal-typical example of fourth generation revolution studies … will be read a generation from now.' Colin J. Beck, Social ForcesTable of ContentsIntroduction: the rights and wrongs of revolution; Part I. Theories: 1. Revolutionary dynamics; 2. Within and beyond the fourth generation; 3. Anatomies of revolution; Part II. Histories: 4. Revolutionary situations: England and Chile; 5. Revolutionary trajectories: Cuba and South Africa; 6. Revolutionary outcomes: Iran and Ukraine; Part III. Prospects: 7. Revolutions in the contemporary world; 8. Revolutionary futures.

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Book SynopsisStephen White is James Bryce Professor of Politics at the University of Glasgow, UKand Visiting Professor at the Institute of Applied Politics inMoscow, Russia. Paul G.Lewis is Emeritus Professor of Politics at the Open University.Judy Batt holds a Jean Monnet Ad Personam Chair in the European Integration of South East Europe. She is an independent consultant on Balkan affairs.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Defining Central and Eastern Europe; Judy Batt 1. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland; Frances Millard 2. The Other New Europeans; Tim Haughton 3. The Western Balkans; Judy Batt 4. The East Europeans: Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova; Andrew Wilson 5. The EU and Central and East European Politics; Nathaniel Copsey 6. The International Transformation and Re-regionalization of Eastern Europe; Rick Fawn 7. Executive Leadership; Ray Taras 8. Elections and Voters; Sarah Birch 9. Representation and Accountability: The Parliaments; David M. Olson 10. Political Parties; Paul G. Lewis 11. Citizens and Politics; Krzysztof Jasiewicz 12. Recovering from Transition in Eastern Europe: Neoliberal Reform in Retrospect; Mitchell A. Orenstein 13. Social Change and Social Policy; Terry Cox 14. The Quality of Post-Communist Democracy; Andrew Roberts.

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Book SynopsisThe American Anomaly systematically analyzes the U.S. political system by way of comparison with other countries, especially other industrialized democracies. It is organized into four sections, respectively covering the constitutional order, governmental institutions, political participation, and public policy. Extended case studies and examples in each chapter draw on all the major regions of the world.Thoroughly revised throughout, the fourth edition includes: Updates to reflect events including the anomalous presidential election of 2016, the start of the unconventional presidency of Donald Trump, and shifting partisan dynamics within Congress. Coverage of recent political developments such as the Black Lives Matter and Antifa left-wing groups, the rise of the Alt-Right and resurgent nationalism, and youth-led movements for immigration reform and gun violence prevention. A newly developed chapter offTable of ContentsPart 1: The Constitutional Order 1. The American Nation, State, and Regime Case Study: The Nation, State, and Regime in Poland 2. The U.S. Constitution Case Study: The Post-Apartheid Constitution of South Africa 3. Federalism Case Study: The Unitary State in Japan Case Study: German Federalism 4. Separation of Powers Case Study: The Westminster Parliamentary Model A Hypothetical Case Study: Parliamentary Checks and Balances Part 2: The Institutions of Government 5. The Executive Branch: The Presidency and the Bureaucracy Case Study: Variations in Executive Power in Southeast Asia 6. The Legislative Branch: The Two Houses of Congress Case Study: Legislative Variation in the Former British Dominions 7. The Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court and the Federal Courts Case Study: The Judiciary in France Part 3: Political Participation 8. Unconventional Political Participation: Activism, Social Movements, and Interest Groups Case Study: The Zapatista Movement in Mexico 9. Voting and Elections Case Study: Voting and Elections in Israel 10. Political Parties A Hypothetical Case Study: Electoral Systems and the Number of Parties 11. Public Opinion and Mass Media Case Study: Public Opinion and Mass Media in Post-Communist Russia Part 4: Public Policy and Policymaking 12. Domestic Policy: Socioeconomic Regulation, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights Case Study: Social Welfare Policy in Denmark 13. Foreign Policy: The United States in the World Case Study: The Foreign Policy of China Conclusion: The American Anomaly on Balance For Further Study: A Brief Bibliographic Essay on "American Exceptionalism"

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Book SynopsisFully revised and updated, the second edition of The African Union continues to offer the most comprehensive overview of the work of the African Union (AU), with special emphasis on its capacity to meet the challenges of building and sustaining governance institutions and security mechanisms. This new edition: Re-examines the African Union at the historic moment of the golden jubilee of the OAU, its predecessor. It examines the AU's efforts in its first decade, points out some of the organization's weaknesses, and posits options for addressing more effectively the challenges of peace, security, and governance in coming years. Critically reviews several arrangements and initiatives, including the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Analyses performance of key institutions and programs of the AU, including the Commission, the Executive Council, the Assembly, and the Pan-Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Organization of African Unity: liberation, integration, and mutual preservation 2. The African Union: meeting the challenges of an ambitious and rapidly expanding agenda 3. Challenge of promoting governance, democracy, and the rule of law 4. Challenge of maintaining security and building peace 5. The African Union’s international partners 6. Knowledge and development 7. Addressing the challenges of peace, security, and governance

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Book SynopsisIn June 2016, the United Kingdom shocked the world by voting to leave the European Union. As this book reveals, the historic vote for Brexit marked the culmination of trends in domestic politics and in the UK''s relationship with the EU that have been building over many years. Drawing on a wealth of survey evidence collected over more than ten years, this book explains why most people decided to ignore much of the national and international community and vote for Brexit. Drawing on past research on voting in major referendums in Europe and elsewhere, a team of leading academic experts analyse changes in the UK''s party system that were catalysts for the referendum vote, including the rise of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), the dynamics of public opinion during an unforgettable and divisive referendum campaign, the factors that influenced how people voted and the likely economic and political impact of this historic decision.Trade Review'It would be hard to come up with a better line-up of analysts to dig into both the long- and short-term drivers of Britain's decision to leave the EU. Whether you're a Leaver or a Remainer, the vote for Brexit needs explaining - and this is just the book to do it.' Tim Bale, Queen Mary University of London and author of The Conservative Party from Thatcher to Cameron'Do not read Brexit - unless you want truth rather than propaganda, objectivity rather than bias and evidence rather than prejudice. Harold D. Clarke, Matthew Goodwin and Paul F. Whiteley have written a book that will still be standing when the post-truth claims of those on both sides of the referendum have rightly crumbled to dust.' Peter Kellner, former President of YouGov'Clarke, Goodwin and Whiteley have written what is sure to be a standard reference on Brexit. A wonderfully written history of the rise of the UKIP and the Brexit referendum lead to a diverse array of empirical analyses: a survey of UKIP members, longitudinal national surveys and pre-post referendum surveys. Instead of simple explanations, they show the variety of diverse factors that produced the final referendum outcome and discuss the implications for British politics going forward.' Russell J. Dalton, University of California, Irvine'An empirically rich and insightful analysis of the dynamics of the Brexit vote. Essential reading for understanding the social and political forces underlying one of the most important and consequential electoral decisions of our times.' Lawrence LeDuc, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto'Brexit: Why Britain Voted to Leave the European Union isn't a book of opinions about why the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union but a close look at what the statistics tell us. It's an … informative read.' Sue Magee, The Bookbag (www.thebookbag.co.uk)'The British public does not have a settled view on Europe. … The authors conclude that the British are not unusually racist among Europeans … The British appear easily swayed.' Danny Dorling, The Times Higher EducationTable of Contents1. Brexit introduced; 2. Campaign prologue; 3. Into battle; 4. Attitudes to Brexit over time; 5. The people's army; 6. The rise of UKIP; 7. Voting to leave; 8. The consequences of Brexit; 9. Beyond Brexit.

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Book SynopsisCases and Concepts in Comparative Politics bridges the gap between understanding and doing comparative politics. Concepts are presented in the context of real situations with pedagogy that asks students to apply their new knowledge immediately in country case studies. Students spend more time actually doing the work of comparative politics. Through Dynamic Data Figures in the Norton Illumine Ebook, in addition to InQuizitive, students have even more support in learning the core concepts of comparative politics and applying them to real-world examples.

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Book SynopsisWhile Western modern political thought has been a story of inclusion, it has also been one of continued exclusion and new forms of political oppression and silencing. This is why political theory is so necessary today.Political thought is diverse. From liberal theories laying out ideal democratic institutions, to critical analyses of postcolonial settler states, to conceptual analyses of the nature of freedom, there are very different approaches, topics and aims within the tradition of Western political theory.What binds these diverse forms of thinking together? How do how do they help us to understand political institutions, life, behaviour and events? How do they help us to make decisions in the complex world of politics?This book, significantly revised and reconceptualized, introduces you to the modern discipline of political theory in the Western tradition, tackling its key debates, concepts, problems and traditions:- What is the nature of political concepts? What problems dTrade ReviewA vital and engaging introduction to modern political theory in all its breadth and complexity. This book is an invaluable tool for any student of politics. * Ashley Dodsworth, Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Studies, University of Bristol, UK *This fifth edition of Andrew Heywood’s textbook Political Theory, adapted and improved by Clayton Chin, serves as an excellent introduction to political philosophy and theory. Approachable, comprehensive and updated, this book gives attention to students and instructors alike and is an essential resource for inclusion in more theoretically-oriented courses offered by political science departments. * Jean-Paul Gagnon, Senior Lecturer of Politics, University of Canberra, Australia *Clearly and accessibly written, this is a masterly and comprehensive study of the major concepts and problems in political theory. It relates key figures and traditions in the history of political thought to contemporary debates, covering the diverse strands of liberal thinking, as well as a wide range of critical theories and approaches. * Katherine Smits, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, New Zealand *This new edition of Political Theory is an astute, remarkably skilful and telling account of what political theory is. It is an engaging and stimulating resource for all those who are interested in the topic. * Ruth Groff, Associate Professor of Political Science, Saint Louis University, USA *A highly accessible, compelling and up-to-date introduction to political thought conveyed through the myriad debates that propel it from past to present. Students who read it will not only be able to grasp concepts, but learn how to use them to understand the world we live in. * Jemima Repo, Reader in Political and Feminist Theory, Newcastle University, UK *Newly revised, the fifth edition of Political Theory provides a comprehensive and up-to-date survey of the field. Distinguished by its focus on both traditional and modern political problems, including those related to exclusion, the book thoroughly explores the nature and contributions of the discipline. * Clay Arnold, Professor and Department Chair of Political Science, University of Central Arkansas, USA *Table of ContentsPART 1: WHAT IS POLITICAL THINKING? 1) The Problems of Political Theory 2) The Problem of Foundations: Tradition, Progress and Utopia 3) The Problem of Human Nature: The Individual and Society PART 2: MODERN POLITICAL ISSUES 4) The Problem of Power: Authority and Legitimacy 5) The Problem of the State: Politics, Sovereignty and Government 6) The Problem of Law: Order and Justice 7) The Problem of Citizenship: Freedom, Rights and Obligations 8) The Problem of Democracy: Representation and the Common Good 9) The Problem of Political Community: The Nation and Transnationalism PART 3: THE 20TH CENTURY AND BEYOND 10) The Problem of Property: Planning and the Market 11) The Problem of Equality: Social Justice and Welfare 12) The Problem of Exclusion: Culture and Gender 13) The Problem of Exclusion: Race and Colonialism

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Book SynopsisUsing 12 pivotal cases, this book brings comparative politics to life by highlighting the key differences in political systems around the world. Written by renowned textbook author John McCormick, the book opens with two context-setting chapters on the field of comparative politics and the varying nature of political systems. The cases that follow thereafter have been carefully chosen to illustrate a variety of political types, different levels of political development, and to ensure geographical and cultural diversity. The textbook is ideal for both undergraduate and postgraduate students who are taking introductory courses in comparative politics, introduction to politics and political science. Accompanying online resources for this title can be found at bloomsburyonlineresources.com/cases-in-comparative-government-and-politics. These resources are designed to support teaching and learning when using this textbook and are available at no extra cost.Trade ReviewSets a new standard for accessibility and engagement in introductory comparative texts. As a lecturer in Comparative Politics, I think John McCormick’s book should be the go-to guide for every student hoping to gain a better understanding of the political world in which we live. * Zachary Taylor, University of Wyoming, USA *This text offers an excellent introduction to the diversity and breadth of today’s comparative politics. Up to date, clearly written and engagingly presented, the country case studies all closely follow the same clear structure, helping students to think comparatively. * Nicolas van de Walle, Cornell University, USA *Cases in Comparative Politics provides a great balance between highlighting important conceptual themes central to comparative study, and introducing students to the wide empirical variety of political systems around the world. The accessible, systematic case studies provide a great basis for an introductory comparative politics course. * Lucy Barnes, University College London (UCL), UK *One of the most effective and brilliant case-based texts, it explores the political landscape behind twelve diverse countries, shining a light upon the political dynamics that are so crucial to understanding comparative politics. * Daniel Zirker, University of Waikato, New Zealand *This textbook emphasizes the parts of the course that students always find the most exciting: the cases! Conceptual elements are introduced in the opening chapters and then illustrated by reality, demonstrating that comparative politics is best understood through the actual art of comparison. * Tracy Slagter, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, USA *The author brings the discipline to life, writing with clarity, precision and authority. * Elizabeth Monaghan, University of Hull, UK *Table of Contents1. Comparing Government and Politics 2. Political Systems 3. United Kingdom 4. Germany 5. United States 6. Japan 7. France 8. India 9. Mexico 10. Nigeria 11. Turkey 12. Russia 13. China 14. Iran.

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Book SynopsisThe volume examines the causes and consequences of regional turbulence in the Middle East following the 2003 Iraq war and the 2011 Arab uprisings. ?

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Book SynopsisTHE TOP 10 BESTSELLER''Richly argued and brilliantly written... a deeply thoughtful analysis that should be mandatory reading for anyone seeking to understand where we have gone wrong.'' Vernon Bogdanor, Financial TimesIn WTF? Robert Peston draws on his years of experience as a political, economics and business journalist to show us what has gone bad and gives us a manifesto to put at least some of it right. Framed by two letters to his father (who died in early 2016) WTF? is Robert Peston''s highly personal account of what those who have ruled us for years got so badly wrong, and what we need to do to mend the terrible fractures in our society.With characteristic passion and clarity he looks at what must happen to prevent democracy being subverted by technocratic geniuses with the ability to manipulate social media, how and whether it is possible to make a success of leaving the EU, what the lessons should be of theTrade ReviewTremendously interesting analysis of the mess we've got ourselves into -- Judith Wood * Telegraph *Robert Peston's WTF is a work of meticulous analysis that is also an inspiring, and often moving, manifesto for change. Beautifully-written, it is a manual for our times that everyone should read. * Matthew d'Ancona *Informed, personal, angry and funny: Peston lets rip in an immensely readable and thought-provoking book. * Eddie Mair *Essential reading. * Stylist *This is a more radical, more passionate, swearier book than I would have expected from Peston - and the better for it... WTF is a great primer on how we ended up here. To escape this mess, we must first understand that. * London Evening Standard *This gripping and persuasive account of the mess facing liberal democracy ends with some optimism that politicians will rise to the challenge of responding to the tide of hopelessness. * i newspaper *WTF is a well-argued and comprehensive account of how we became the divided nation that is post-EU referendum Britain and it suggests some thoughtful policy levers that future governments might pull to bring us back together. * Express *It is richly argued and beautifully written... WTF has the prime virtue of encouraging the reader to reflect and argue. Peston has the journalist's gift of the striking turn of phrase, the telling anecdote, and the ability to explain complex economic problems in straightforward terms. But his book is far more than clever journalism. It is a deeply thoughtful analysis that should be mandatory reading for anyone seeking to understand where we have gone wrong. * Financial Times *WTF is possibly the best summary of Britain's problems to be released in recent years. * Young Fabian *Read the book, everyone. It's a superb analysis of the state we're in and what we can do about it. * Cole Moreton *An unbuttoned and vitally even-handed analysis that take in everything from the decline of social mobility to the tyranny of social media. * Metro *Elegant analysis of long term forces driving our politics (inc some solutions). Also a moving tribute to his dad. * Paul Waugh *The chapters on Tony Blair's and Gordon Brown's approach to borrowing, the handling of the banking crash and the failure to address economic inequality in its aftermath are well worth bookmarking. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisExamines new authoritarian practices and state control in MENA countries to target and neutralise dissidents

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Book SynopsisOnce seen as a fringe phenomenon, populism is back. While some politicians and media outlets present it as dangerous to the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, others hail it as the fix for broken democracies. Not surprisingly, questions about populism abound. Does it really threaten democracy? Why the sudden rise in populism? And what are we talking about when we talk about "populism"? The Global Rise of Populism argues for the need to rethink this concept. While still based on the classic divide between "the people" and "the elite," populism's reliance on new media technologies, its shifting relationship to political representation, and its increasing ubiquity have seen it transform in nuanced ways that demand explaining. Benjamin Moffitt contends that populism is not one entity, but a political style that is performed, embodied, and enacted across different political and cultural contexts. This new understanding makes sense of populism in a time when media pervades political life, a sense of crisis prevails, and populism has gone truly global.Trade Review"Everybody must have heard by now that the so-called 'specter of populism' is once again haunting Europe, the US, the whole world! Obviously, something other than banal paraphrases of Marx is urgently needed to explain populism's complexity. Benjamin Moffitt provides exactly that. His innovative ideas will undoubtedly fuel academic debate for years to come." -- Yannis Stavrakakis * Aristotle University of Thessaloniki *"In the increasingly crowded field of populism studies, The Global Rise of Populism develops a fresh approach. It is a must-read for researchers and students of global populism, the media, and politics." -- Carlos de la Torre * University of Kentucky *Table of ContentsContents and Abstracts1Introduction: The Global Rise of Populism chapter abstractThis introductory chapter sets the scene by outlining the rise of populism across the globe over the past two decades, and introducing the key arguments, themes and structure of the book. The chapter makes the case that we need to rethink populism in an age of media saturation, communicative abundance and a wide perception of global crisis. It does this by focusing on populism's position in a shifting media landscape; populism's genuinely global dimension – which moves beyond the Americas and Europe to also take in the Asia-Pacific and Africa; and arguing that populism is not an ideology, strategy, discourse or political logic, but rather a distinct political style comprised of 1) appeal to 'the people' versus 'the elite', 2) 'bad manners', and 3) crisis, breakdown or threat. 2The Problems with Populism chapter abstractThis chapter traces the historical development of the term 'populism', tracing its etymological roots from the US Populist Party of the late nineteenth century through populism's conceptual 'journeys' across the twentieth century, before providing a critical overview of contemporary debates about how to define it. It identifies the four central approaches to populism in the current literature – populism as ideology, strategy, discourse and political logic – and outlines the key authors, central arguments and key features of each approach. In doing so, it balances the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches, overall showing that while the features of populism that each approach identifies may be valid – for example, nearly all agree on the centrality of 'the people' versus 'the elite' or some Other – there are problems with the social science categories they use to describe the phenomenon. 3Understanding Contemporary Populism: Populism as a Political Style chapter abstractThis chapter develops the concept of political style as a new way of thinking about populism. Synthesising work on the concept in the fields of rhetoric, political philosophy and political sociology, it defines political style as the repertoires of embodied, symbolically mediated performance made to audiences that are used to create and navigate the fields of power that comprise the political, stretching from the domain of government through to everyday life. It then uses this concept to understand populism. This is done inductively, by examining the cases of 28 populist leaders from around the world, and determining what links them in terms of political style. The three key features of populism thought of in this way are: appeal to 'the people' versus 'the elite'; 'bad manners'; and crisis, breakdown or threat. The chapter then sets out the positive ramifications of using this new conception of populism. 4The Performer: Populism & the Leader chapter abstractThis chapter addresses the specific role of the populist leader as the key 'performer' of contemporary populism. It considers the centrality of leaders within populism, arguing that they should be focused upon above and beyond parties and movements when studying the phenomenon. It then examines how these leaders must negotiate between appearing as both of 'the people' as well as above 'the people' at the same time, balancing performances of ordinariness with extraordinariness. In terms of ordinariness, it looks at populist leaders' 'bad manners' and efforts to distance themselves from 'mainstream' political leaders, focusing on how they flaunt expectations of how politicians are 'supposed' to act. In terms of extraordinariness, it shows how populist leaders present themselves as the embodiment of 'the people', often through performances of strength, health and virility, and how this links with classic notions of the body politic. 5The Stage I: Populism & the Media chapter abstractThis chapter addresses the media as one of the key 'stages' upon which contemporary populism plays out upon. It seeks to answer the following questions: what is the relationship between the media and populism? How do populist actors use media, and how do media cover them? And what have changes in the media landscape, particularly the emergence of new media, meant for populism? In doing so, the chapter examines the links between contemporary populism and the mediatisation of politics, whereby politics is increasingly reshaped and changed as the influence of the media grows. It presents a case for understanding populist actors' nuanced adaption of new media technologies and strategies as a central factor in the spread of the phenomenon, while also reflecting on the role of media control and celebrity within contemporary populism. It finally addresses what the shift from old media to new media has meant for contemporary populism. 6The Audience: Populism & 'The People' chapter abstractThis chapter turns to populism's central 'audience' – 'the people' – and investigates the way that populist actors use mediated communication to construct, portray and render-present 'the people' in contemporary populism. It seeks to answer a number of important questions: what processes are involved in speaking for 'the people'? Who are populist performances actually aimed towards? And why do some characterisations of 'the people' gain traction, while others fail? Challenging claims that populism is a 'direct' or 'unmediated' phenomenon, it introduces the concept of mediation in order to better understand these processes. It does this by considering the role of images and media spectacles in presenting 'the people' in contemporary populism; outlining the differences between populist audiences and constituencies when speaking for 'the people'; and explaining how media are never just neutral 'loudspeakers' for populist performances, but actually active participants, often presenting themselves as proxies for 'the people'. 7The Stage II: Populism & Crisis chapter abstractWhile the received wisdom in the literature on populism is that crisis is a trigger for populism, this chapter offers a new perspective, arguing that we should also consider how populism attempts to act as a trigger for crisis. This is because crisis is never just a neutral or objective phenomenon, but must be performed and mediated by certain actors – something populists tend to do well. Conceptualising crisis as the 'spectacularisation of failure', the chapter shows how populists use crisis to pit 'the people' against a dangerous Other, radically simplify the terrain of political debate; and advocate strong leadership and quick political action. In making this argument, the chapter suggests that we should move from a conception of crisis as something that is purely external to populism, to one that acknowledges the performance of crisis as an internal feature of populism as conceptualised as a political style. 8Populism & Democracy chapter abstractThis chapter tackles one of the most controversial debates when it comes to populism: what is populism's relationship to democracy? Arguing that populism itself tells us very little about the substantive democratic 'content' of any political project, the chapter undoes the strict binary between populism and democracy that is often invoked in the literature by instead examining both the democratic and anti-democratic tendencies within populism as conceptualised as a political style. In doing so, it shows that these tendencies can operate concurrently, with populists flaunting their democratic tendencies at the same time as undoing democratic guarantees. Overall, it demonstrates that questions about populism's relationship to democracy should not always be taken at face value, as they often conceal larger questions about what constitutes 'correct' or 'legitimate' forms of political practice. 9Conclusion: The Future of Populism chapter abstractThis chapter draws together the arguments made within this book about populism as a political style and discusses the implications for our understanding of the relationship between contemporary populism, media, crisis and democracy. It shows that contemporary populism should be conceptualised as a distinct political style; that populism cannot be understood without considering the role of media; that crises do not just trigger populism, but that populism attempts to trigger crises; and that populism is a global phenomenon. It also identifies future avenues of research that the book has opened up. It closes by considering the future of populism across the globe – specifically arguing that populism is here to stay as a permanent feature of contemporary democratic politics – and why we need to continue to pay attention to populism's changing shape.

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Book SynopsisReferendums are ubiquitous; from Brexit in the United Kingdom in 2016 to same-sex marriage in Australia in 2017 Why are referendums held at all? And when they are held, why are they won or lost? Moreover, what are the consequences of having referendums? Do they strengthen or weaken democracy? Are they mainly won or mainly lost or do they strengthen populist leaders? Or, are referendums a shield against demagogues and overeager politicians? Government by Referendum analyses why politicians sometime submit issues to the people Based on an historical analysis, but with an emphasis on the last two decades, the book shows that referendums often have been lost by powerful politicians. While sometimes used by autocrats, mechanisms of direct democracy have increasingly performed the function of democratic constitutional safeguards in developed democracies.Trade Review'Referendums are increasingly capturing the headlines. Not always for good reasons. While the referendum might have a place as a constitutional safe-guard, Professor Matt Qvortrup’s outstanding analysis shows that they can be dangerous when politicians call them for selfish and tactical reasons'.Arend Lijphart, University of California, San Diego, Author of Patterns of Democracy and former President of the American Political Science Association‘Government by Referendum… is full of interesting information and thought-provoking observations.’Chris Stafford, LSE Review of Books -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1. The world history of referendums 2. The history of the referendum in Britain3. Brexit campaign: the anatomy of a bitter divorce battle4. The myth of populist referendumsConcluding unscientific postscriptFurther readingReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisHuman rights and détente inextricably intertwined during Carter’s years. By promoting human rights in the USSR, Carter sought to build a domestic consensus for détente; through bipolar dialogue, he tried to advance human rights in the USSR. But, human rights contributed to the erosion of détente without achieving a lasting domestic consensus.Trade Review'Readers looking for a nuanced and informative study will not be disappointed. Utilizing a wide array of archival research, Tulli recounts Carter’s efforts to promote human rights in the Soviet Union, which intersected withdétente. While such arguments are not as novel as Tulli suggests, A Precarious Equilibrium still makes an important contribution to explaining how Carter waged the Cold War.'Christian Philip Peterson, Ferris State University, Journal of Contemporary History 57(1) -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Setting the Stage for a Human Rights Policy2 Human Rights and the 1976 Presidential Election3 Firmness Abroad; Consensus at Home, 1977-1978.4 Coping with Critics: the Choice in Favour of Quiet Diplomacy, 1978. 5 Critics’ Triumph: Quiet Diplomacy, SALT II and the Invasion of Afghanistan, 1979-1980.Conclusions

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Book SynopsisHow do collective actors move from moderate politics to (violent) extremism? Faced with high risks of repression and implosion, they need to legitimate such radical change to keep members and followers committed to collective action. Drawing on the texts, audios, and videos of five Islamist organisations in the UK and Germany in the 2000s and 2010s, the book develops a transdisciplinary theoretical framework and innovative methodological approach to explore how radical changes in activism are mediated. Clément argues that political violence has to feel right, as a collective, for an organisation and its followers to move from moderate activism to (violent) extremism. She shows that organisations mediate this change by performing collective emotions in and through narrative. The book offers a provocative and nuanced account which departs from conventional interpretations of radicalisation and reminds us of the power of emotions.Trade Review'This exciting new book offers original and powerful demonstration of the importance of shared emotions in political activism. Drawing on examples from the UK and Germany, its emphasis on political violence needing to ‘feel right’ for collectives takes debate far beyond the individualism and idealism of dominant explanatory frameworks. Clément’s book will be widely read by scholars and students in Politics, Sociology, and beyond, deservedly so! Lee Jarvis, Professor of International Politics, University of East Anglia'This outstanding contribution by Maéva Clément brings together two of the hottest topics in IR: emotions and narratives. It convincingly shows how narratives are woven by Islamist organisations in order to aid group radicalisation and legitimise extremism. The book emphasises that humans, including extremists, love storytelling.'Alexander Spencer, Chair of International Relations, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg‘Offering both conceptual depth and empirical detail, Maéva Clément shows how emotions – and in particular the emotional power of group narratives – are crucial to understanding why and how individuals and organisations move from moderate activism to violent extremism. The ensuing insights illuminate the inherently affective relationship between political moderation and escalation. This is an innovative book with important implications for appreciating the linkages between emotions and political violence.’ Emma Hutchison, Associate Professor of International Relations, The University of Queensland -- .Table of ContentsIntroductionPart I: Characterising changes in political activism1 Contextualising Islamist organisations in Western Europe (2001–13)2 Reconstructing phases of activism: group moderation, radicalisation and extremismPart II: Exploring the performance of collective emotions3 A theory of emotionalisation in narrative form4 The romantic narrative of Western Islamist organisations5 Narrative emotionalisation and extremismConclusionIndex

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Book SynopsisThis book offers a crash course in contemporary Russian politics. An updated version of the bestselling 2016 edition, it explores the decline in western relations since the early 2000s, from the disagreements over European security and the war in Syria right up to the invasion of Ukraine. -- .

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Book SynopsisRepresenting the first in-depth qualitative study of how social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are used to mediate contentious public parades and protests in Northern Ireland, this book explores the implications of mis-and dis-information spread via online platforms for peacebuilding in societies transitioning out of conflict. -- .

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Book SynopsisSince the ‘migration crisis’ of 2016, long-simmering tensions between the Western members of the European Union and its ‘new’ Eastern members – Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary – have proven to be fertile ground for rebellion against liberal values and policies. In this startling and original book Ivan Kalmar argues that Central European illiberalism is a misguided response to the devastating effects of global neoliberalism, which arose from the area’s brutal transition to capitalism in the 1990s. Kalmar argues that dismissive attitudes towards ‘Eastern Europeans’ are a form of racism and explores the close relation between racism towards Central Europeans and racism by Central Europeans: a people white but not quite.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Race, Illiberalism, Central Europe 1. How Eastern Europeans Became Less White 2. How Central Europeans Became Eastern European 3. How Central Europeans Became Central European (Time and Time Again) 4. Central Europe: Half-Truths and Facts 5. The Last of the White Men: Central Europe’s White Innocence 6. ‘Have Eastern Europeans No Shame?’ Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Homophobia in Central Europe 7. Imitators Spurned: Why the West Needs Central Europe to Stay in its Eastern European Place 8. ‘We Will Not Be a Colony!’ 9. Slavia Prague v. Glasgow Rangers: Lessons from a Football Match Conclusion: When the Migrants Come Postscript: Confessions of a Canadian Central European

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Book SynopsisOver the past decade, the UK has experienced major policy and policy making change. This text examines this shifting political and policy landscape while also highlighting the features of UK politics that have endured. Written by Paul Cairney and Sean Kippin, leading voices in UK public policy and politics, the book combines a focus on policy making theories and concepts with the exploration of key themes and events in UK politics, including: • developing social policy in a post-pandemic world; • governing post-Brexit; and • the centrality of environmental policy. The book equips students with a robust and up-to-date understanding of UK public policy and enables them to locate this within a broader theoretical framework.Table of ContentsPreface: How To Analyse UK Policy Making 1. Introducing UK Politics and Policy Making 2. Perspectives on Policy and Policy Making 3. Explaining UK Politics and Policy Making 4. The Transformation of the UK State 5. What Does State Transformation Tell Us About the UK Policy Process? 6. Crises and Policy Making: The UK Response to COVID-19 7. Constitutional Policy: Brexit 8. Environmental Policy: Climate Change and Sustainability 9. Economic Policy: Austerity 10. Social Policy: Inequalities, Racism, and Protest 11. Foreign Policy: The War on Terror 12. Conclusion References

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Book Synopsis'one of the year’s most exciting releases' - The Herald China is building the world’s first digital totalitarian state, a system of hitherto unimaginable social and political control. Internet freedom has been eliminated and ubiquitous surveillance cameras employ the latest facial recognition technology. Through flagrant cyber espionage, it has plundered Western technology on a massive scale, bullied Western tech companies and academics (though many have been willing accomplices) and intimidated critics worldwide. In doing so, it has become a model for aspiring dictators everywhere. Ian Williams examines the extraordinary rise of the Chinese surveillance state, showing how it has been driven by the enigmatic Xi Jinping, now effectively president for life, and how it impacts the daily lives of Chinese citizens, particularly dissidents and those from ethnic minorities. Supporting interviews and first-hand accounts from those whose lives have been turned upside down or worse highlight the chilling and ruthless efficiency with which the government can now act. The book also considers the wider implications for the rest of the world. How to deal with an increasingly strident, aggressive Beijing is one of the biggest challenges facing the West in what has become a technological Cold War.Trade Review'Ian Williams has written a superb and deeply informed study on containing a technological totalitarian state. It is a chilling reminder to all who believe in the rule of law and an open society of China's present threats to our way of life' -- Chris Patten (Lord Patten of Barnes), last governor of Hong Kong and current Chancellor of Oxford University'Forget Soviet Russia, Xi’s China now echoes 1930s Germany' * Sunday Times *'Fascinating… a really interesting book. China has no private companies… you are always dealing with the Chinese Communist State whenever you deal with them. An unarguable fact' -- Stig Abell * Times Radio *'Williams knows his stuff, as an award-winning foreign correspondent reporting for a quarter of a century from Asia with a special interest in China. This is an accessible, valuable, troubling, timely book' -- Ian Martin * Reaction Life *'one of the year's most exciting releases' * The Herald *'I have been reading a superb new book by the journalist Ian Williams called Every Breath You Take: China's New Tyranny. The title comes from the 1982 hit song by the band known as The Police, written by its frontman Sting, who later described it as "a nasty little song. Rather evil. It's about jealousy and surveillance and ownership." It refers to "every move you make … I’ll be watching you." A stalker, not a lover; an oppressor, not a partner. In every sense, the CCP regime. Yet not only watching you. Now, in Hong Kong, lecturing you every day' -- Benedict Rogers * HK Apple Daily *'A devastating exposé' -- Dominic Sandbrook * Daily Mail *'A persuasive, alarming wake-up call' -- Brian Maye * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisNarendra Modi has been a hundred years in the making, and this book provides the backstory. It begins with the creation of Hindu nationalism, moves on to the 1980 formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and ends with its first national administration, from 1998 to 2004. By revisiting these events, we can trace the Modi government’s current dominance of Indian politics all the way back to its origins. Vinay Sitapati follows this journey through the entangled lives of the party’s founding fathers: Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani. Over their six-decade-long relationship, Vajpayee and Advani worked as a team, despite differences in personality and beliefs. Bound together by RSS discipline and shared ambition–for a Hinduised Indian polity– their partnership explains the nature of the BJP before Modi, and why it won power. In supporting roles are a colourful cast of characters, from the warden’s wife who made room for Vajpayee in her family to the billionaire grandson of Pakistan’s founder, who happened to be a major early BJP benefactor. Based on private papers, party documents, newspapers and over 200 interviews, this is a must-read for all those interested in the Hindu nationalist ideology that now rules India.Trade Review‘Sitapati’s book is a wonderful read – like a fast-paced novel. The dramatis personae come alive on the page… [Readers] will relish the lively political storytelling, and learn a great deal about today’s Indian political scene.’ -- Survival'India Before Modi is a thoroughly researched and engrossing book. It is a triple treat. It provides a riveting dual biography of Vajpayee and Advani, an indispensable guide to the long arc of Hindu Nationalism, and an insightful take on the making of modern India. It is a considerable achievement.' -- Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta, former president of the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi-and Vice-Chancellor of Ashoka University, 2017 to 2019'An illuminating and fluent narrative that charts the rise of the BJP: a story, as Vinay Sitapati tells it, which had less to do with grandiose ideology, more with a canny understanding and ruthless manipulation of electoral politics by the party's two founding shapers, A.B. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani. Sitapati's account reveals the BJP's impressive investment in winning power by electoral means -- and the equally impressive vacuum at the movement's heart, when it came to the exercise of democratic power.' -- Sunil Khilnani, Professor of Politics and History, Ashoka University, author of 'Incarnations: A History of India in Fifty Lives''A masterful storyteller and brilliant scholar, Sitapati delivers a truly insightful account of contemporary Indian politics and the characters that have shaped it .... there is much to learn and to argue within this book. An absolute must-read.' -- Yamini Aiyar, President and Chief Executive, Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi'This is a masterly study: well researched; clearly written; and full of rich insights. It is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the origins of the BJP and the shape of contemporary Indian politics.' -- Atul Kohli, David K.E. Bruce Professor of International Affairs, Princeton University'Sitapati once again highlights the crucial role of individuals in explaining big political outcomes, this time through his deeply researched study of the long partnership of Vajpayee and Advani in the rise of the BJP. ... Especially now, when their successors Narendra Modi and Amit Shah dominate both the BJP and India's political scene, this focus on how individual character, talents and strategy make political power is especially welcome.' -- Steven Wilkinson, Nilekani Professor of India and South Asia, Yale University

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Book SynopsisIn most regions of the world, federalism (territorial autonomy) is used as a successful institutional means of dispersing political power and accommodating ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity. The Middle East is an exception. Aside from the anomalous case of the U.A.E and Iraq's troubled experiment with federalism, Middle Eastern regimes have largely resisted efforts to decentralize political power. As a result, the norm in the region has been highly centralized, unitary systems that have, more often than not, paved the way for authoritarian rule or played witness to serious internal fragmentation and conflict divided along ethnic or religious lines.Federal Solutions for Fragile States in the Middle East makes an argument for the implementation of federalism in the post-conflict states of the Middle East. The argument operates on two levels: the theoretical and the practical. The theoretical case for federalism is backed by empirical evidence, but to accurately evaluate the practical and logistical feasibility of its implementation in any given case requires detailed knowledge of 'real world' political realities. The book's focus is on four post-conflict states — Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Libya — though the arguments advanced within have broad regional applicability.

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Book SynopsisA leading Central European journalist investigates how political and intellectual elites in Europe's democracies underestimate and enable the continent's authoritariansfrom the Cold War onwards.

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Book SynopsisFully updated from the original edition. As the retreat from Kabul shows, America goes to war not to bring democracy, or glory, but in the pursuit of profit. In The Spoils of War, leading Washington reporter, Andrew Cockburn, reveals the extent of the rot that stretches from the Pentagon and the White House, to Wall St and Silicon Valley.The American war machine can only be understood in terms of the "private passions" and "interests" of those who control it - principally a passionate interest in money. Thus, as he witheringly reports, Washington expanded NATO to satisfy an arms manufacturer's urgent financial requirements; the U.S. Navy's Pacific fleet deployments were for years dictated by a corrupt contractor who bribed high-ranking officers with cash and prostitutes; senior marine commanders agreed to a troop surge in Afghanistan in 2017 "because it will do us good at budget time."Based on years of wide-ranging research, Cockburn lays bare the ugly reality of the largest military machine in history: squalid, and at the same time terrifyingly dangerous.Trade ReviewCockburn is ... an assiduous investigator and skillful narrator. -- Foreign AffairsCorruption is the recurring theme that runs through the US journalist Andrew Cockburn's brilliant journalism collected in The Spoils of War: Power, Profit and the American War Machine. -- Richard Norton-Taylor * Declassified UK *An accessible yet forensic account of not only why runaway military spending is wrong, but how. -- Ed O'Loughlin * Irish Times *A devastatingly convincing account of the runaway nature of a powerful grouping of interests - the defence, intelligence and financial sectors in the US. -- Mary Kaldor * openDemocracy *This is robust, old-fashioned progressive, polemical journalism . Cockburn describes some shocking practices, and provides valuable critiques - for example, of the over-reliance on sanctions as a coercive instrument. -- Lawrence Freedman * New Statesman *He possesses a uniquely detailed knowledge of the arcane, lucrative machinations of this world, as well as a deep historical understanding of the forces that built it. And while the specifics change, the stories he tells all have the same shocking moral. "People say the Pentagon does not have a strategy," he quotes a former Air Force colonel as saying. "They are wrong. The Pentagon does have a strategy. It is: 'Don't interrupt the money flow.'" -- Jon Schwarz * The Intercept *A withering exposé reveals the insatiable and squalid profit motive that drives the US military apparatus - the largest in modern history * Morning Star *Informative and entertaining. -- Mike Phipps * Labour Hub *Nothing I have read for years has so reoriented, even revolutionized, my thinking about the corporate/political forces that underly our constructing and "modernizing" a doomsday machine, the subject of my own life's work I am urging everyone to read this book. -- Daniel Ellsberg, author of The Doomsday Machine, Confessions of a Nuclear War PlannerCockburn presents a damning account of America's military-industrial complex, culled from his best work over a decade on the paradoxical nature of American military power...Spoils of War is a meticulously researched book that presents a critical perspective on the 'American War Machine.' -- Marc Martorell Junyent * Responsible Statecraft *

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Book SynopsisFor three centuries the capitalist system has shaped western society, informed its rulers, and conditioned the lives of its people. Has the time come to move beyond it? Using his unrivalled knowledge of the subject, Harvey lays bare the follies of the international financial system, looking at the nature of capitalism, how it works and why sometimes it doesn't. He examines the vast flows of money that surge round the world in daily volumes well in excess of the sum of all its economies. He looks at the cycles of boom and bust in the world's housing and stock markets and shows that periodic episodes of meltdown are not only inevitable in the capitalist system but essential to its survival. The Enigma of Capital is a timely call-to-arms for the end of the capitalism, and makes a compelling case for a new social order that would allow us to live within a system that could be responsible, just and humaneTrade ReviewA lucid and penetrating account of how the power of capital shapes our world -- Andrew Gamble * Independent - Book of the Week *A well-timed call for the overthrow of capitalism ... elegant ... entertainingly swashbuckling -- John Gapper * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisAfter decades of imperfect secularism, presided over by an often corrupt Congress establishment, Nehru's diverse republic has yielded to Hindu nationalism. India, the first major democracy to fall to demagogic populism in the twenty-first century, is racing to a point of no return.Since 2014, the ruling BJP has unleashed forces that are irreversibly transforming the country. Indian democracy, honed over decades, is now the chief enabler of Hindu extremism. Bigotry has been ennobled as a healthy form of self-assertion. Anti Muslim vitriol has deluged the mainstream. Religious minorities live in terror of a vengeful majority. Congress now mimics Modi; other parties pray for a miracle.In this highly acclaimed critique of post-Independence India from Nehru to Narendra Modi, revised and expanded with a new chapter, K.S. Komireddi charts the dismaying course of the world's largest democracy. He argues that the missteps of the nation's founders, the mistakes of Nehru, the bet

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis book sheds light on how member states and EU neighbours reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of European solidarity, what they expect from the EU, and other member states, and how they are ready to contribute to common action. The volume reveals how European countries experience and perceive solidarity from the EU and towards the EU in different policy dimensions, such as intra-EU mobility, healthcare and financial and economic aspects of Europe’s recovery. The book offers national perspectives and perceptions of solidarity and concrete aspects in different policy areas. It includes a Foreword by the Vice-presidents of the European Parliament Katarina Barley and Othmar Karas.Table of ContentsChapter 1: MEMBER STATES Austria first? Chapter 2: Belgium: Struggling with Solidarity Chapter 3: Bulgaria: Free-riding on EU solidarity Chapter 4: Croatia: Solidarity lost in translation Chapter 5: Cyprus’ quest for EU solidarity: juxtaposing community values with national interest Chapter 6: Flexible solidarity and the limits of altruism in Czechia Chapter 7: Danish Frugal Solidarity Chapter 8: Estonia: symbols of solidarity or traps of interdependence? Chapter 9: Finland: Cherry-picking on solidarity? Chapter 10: France: solidarity for others… and for itself!Chapter 11: Germany: ‘Together for Europe’s recovery’? – ‘Wir schaffen das!’ Chapter 12: Contested European solidarity in times of migration crisis: the Greek case Chapter 13: European Solidarity? A view from a renitent Hungary Chapter 14: Ireland: Dublin Benefits from and Contributes to European Solidarity Chapter 15: Italy: the straw that breaks the camel’s back? Chapter 16: Latvia’s Peripheralised Solidarity: Rise and Fall of the ‘Baltic Bubble’ during the COVID-19 Pandemic Chapter 17:Perceptions of European solidarity in Lithuania - plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose? Chapter 18:Liberty, Fraternity, Recovery - The Luxembourg perspective Chapter 19 :Solidarity as the Small State Mantra for Malta’s EU Membership Chapter 20: Poland: from the Solidarity movement to non-reciprocal European solidarityChapter 21: Gone with the pandemic? - Portugal and EU solidarity Chapter 22: Romania relies on the EU’s solidarity budget to overcome the pandemic Chapter 23: The extent of solidarity - (mis)interpretation in Slovakia Chapter 24: Slovenia: Solidarity sounds right, but can we see it? Chapter 25: Spain’s view of European solidarity: a pro-EU attitude and a self-perception of weakness Chapter 26: Sweden: COVID-19 messing up the concept of solidarity Chapter 27: The Netherlands: Solidarity and responsibility are two sides of the same coin Chapter 28: "EU NEIGHBOURS Is the EU Albania’s Indispensable Ally Through Thick and Thin?" Chapter 29: Can the coronavirus defeat ethno-politics? Paradoxes of solidarity and politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina Chapter 30: Georgia’s Pandemic Response: promoting European integration through the lens of solidarityChapter 31: European solidarity out of self-interest: Iceland and crisis management in the EU Chapter 32: Friends in need are friends indeed: how Kosovo failed to show solidarity during COVID-19 crisis Chapter 33: Liechtenstein: Solidarity, Yes, but on my terms Chapter 34: Montenegro: Enlargement solidarity, Hoping for the Best… Chapter 35: EU solidarity in action: the curious case of North Macedonia – welcomed amidst quarantine! Chapter 36: European solidarity in a time of crisis: a Norwegian perspective Chapter 37: Serbia: Shared Loyalties Amidst the Pandemic Chapter 38: Switzerland: solidarity taken hostage Chapter 39: Solidarity clashes with geopolitics in EU-Turkey Relations Chapter 40: United Kingdom: Brexit meets European Solidarity Chapter 41: EU-Ukraine: Towards a New Quality of Solidarity

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Book SynopsisThis book sheds light on how member states and EU neighbours reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of European solidarity, what they expect from the EU, and other member states, and how they are ready to contribute to common action. The volume reveals how European countries experience and perceive solidarity from the EU and towards the EU in different policy dimensions, such as intra-EU mobility, healthcare and financial and economic aspects of Europe’s recovery. The book offers national perspectives and perceptions of solidarity and concrete aspects in different policy areas. It includes a Foreword by the Vice-presidents of the European Parliament Katarina Barley and Othmar Karas.Table of ContentsChapter 1: MEMBER STATES Austria first? Chapter 2: Belgium: Struggling with Solidarity Chapter 3: Bulgaria: Free-riding on EU solidarity Chapter 4: Croatia: Solidarity lost in translation Chapter 5: Cyprus’ quest for EU solidarity: juxtaposing community values with national interest Chapter 6: Flexible solidarity and the limits of altruism in Czechia Chapter 7: Danish Frugal Solidarity Chapter 8: Estonia: symbols of solidarity or traps of interdependence? Chapter 9: Finland: Cherry-picking on solidarity? Chapter 10: France: solidarity for others… and for itself!Chapter 11: Germany: ‘Together for Europe’s recovery’? – ‘Wir schaffen das!’ Chapter 12: Contested European solidarity in times of migration crisis: the Greek case Chapter 13: European Solidarity? A view from a renitent Hungary Chapter 14: Ireland: Dublin Benefits from and Contributes to European Solidarity Chapter 15: Italy: the straw that breaks the camel’s back? Chapter 16: Latvia’s Peripheralised Solidarity: Rise and Fall of the ‘Baltic Bubble’ during the COVID-19 Pandemic Chapter 17:Perceptions of European solidarity in Lithuania - plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose? Chapter 18:Liberty, Fraternity, Recovery - The Luxembourg perspective Chapter 19 :Solidarity as the Small State Mantra for Malta’s EU Membership Chapter 20: Poland: from the Solidarity movement to non-reciprocal European solidarityChapter 21: Gone with the pandemic? - Portugal and EU solidarity Chapter 22: Romania relies on the EU’s solidarity budget to overcome the pandemic Chapter 23: The extent of solidarity - (mis)interpretation in Slovakia Chapter 24: Slovenia: Solidarity sounds right, but can we see it? Chapter 25: Spain’s view of European solidarity: a pro-EU attitude and a self-perception of weakness Chapter 26: Sweden: COVID-19 messing up the concept of solidarity Chapter 27: The Netherlands: Solidarity and responsibility are two sides of the same coin Chapter 28: "EU NEIGHBOURS Is the EU Albania’s Indispensable Ally Through Thick and Thin?" Chapter 29: Can the coronavirus defeat ethno-politics? Paradoxes of solidarity and politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina Chapter 30: Georgia’s Pandemic Response: promoting European integration through the lens of solidarityChapter 31: European solidarity out of self-interest: Iceland and crisis management in the EU Chapter 32: Friends in need are friends indeed: how Kosovo failed to show solidarity during COVID-19 crisis Chapter 33: Liechtenstein: Solidarity, Yes, but on my terms Chapter 34: Montenegro: Enlargement solidarity, Hoping for the Best… Chapter 35: EU solidarity in action: the curious case of North Macedonia – welcomed amidst quarantine! Chapter 36: European solidarity in a time of crisis: a Norwegian perspective Chapter 37: Serbia: Shared Loyalties Amidst the Pandemic Chapter 38: Switzerland: solidarity taken hostage Chapter 39: Solidarity clashes with geopolitics in EU-Turkey Relations Chapter 40: United Kingdom: Brexit meets European Solidarity Chapter 41: EU-Ukraine: Towards a New Quality of Solidarity

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Book SynopsisThis book looks at how both advocacy groups in New Zealand and Australia use political marketing to conduct advocacy and support Israeli and Palestinian public diplomacy and nation branding. The focus lies on their marketing orientation, segmentation/ targeting/ positioning (STP), and internal marketing practices. The theoretical framework will draw upon several political marketing frameworks and concepts including the product/sales/market-oriented framework, the STP process, and Petitt's internal stakeholder marketing approaches. The book examines four case studies: (1) the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), (2) the Israel Institute of New Zealand (IINZ), (3) the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), and (4) the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN). To ensure balance and comparison, four groups representing both the pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps in NZ and Australia were selected. Other criteria included their broad scope of activity, approachability and accessibility, as well as connections to state actors through advocacy, public diplomacy, and nation branding.Table of Contents1. Introduction2. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa3. Israel Institute of New Zealand4. Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council5. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network6. ConclusionAppendices

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Book SynopsisChapter 1. Democracy and the Survival of Governments.- Chapter 2. Democracy and Manipulation.- Chapter 3. The Strategy of Election Timing.- Chapter 4. What is Left? The Changing Promises of Social Democracy.

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Book SynopsisThe Iran National Front and the Struggle for Democracy: 1949–Present explores the activities of the Iran National Front (INF). The INF is a coalition of parties, groups, and individuals and Iran’s oldest and main pro-democracy political party. This book presents a political history of the INF from 1949 to the present day. It discusses the current platform of the INF, its leadership, policies, strategies, as well as criticisms and weaknesses. The volume draws on a rich range of primary sources, INF documents, and interviews, including translated transcripts with the top leader of the INF. As it is one of the major political parties opposing the current regime in Iran, the book also examines the current situation in the country. It provides an analysis of the nature of the political systems under the Shah and the Islamic Republic.

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Book SynopsisThe authors of this book analyze the mechanisms and strategies that allow specific religious actors to affect the foreign policy agenda and decisions of the countries in which they are active. Paying special attention to events and phenomena that have had a decisive impact on regional and global development, this book provides an international outlook on how the activities of religious actors can influence foreign policy. The research subject was inspired by the idea of identifying what dynamics are occurring and whether there are any discernible trends. Table of ContentsStrategies of Implementing Religious Influence on Foreign Policy.- The Role of Religion in Foreign Policy in the European Context – Examples and Reports.- Religious Impact on Foreign Policy in Non-European Countries – Examples and Reports.

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together contributions from leading authors in a range of fields related to Japan and the United Kingdom. Adopting a comparative perspective, it tackles topics ranging from the politics of opposition, democracy, immigration and citizenship, to education, sportsmanship and popular culture, as well as issues of immigration and identity. Each chapter presents and clarifies the differences, similarities and exchanges between the two countries to emphasise that, though little exists in isolation in this global age, in-depth knowledge of particular regions remains vital. This book argues for a deeper understanding of the UK and Japan in pursuit of hope, and casts a reflection on the self and one's own sense of place and identity. It will be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in cross-cultural theory and comparisons between Japan and the United Kingdom.

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Book SynopsisThis open access book offers unique in-depth, comprehensive, and comparative analyses of the motivations, context, and outcomes of recent land reforms in Africa. Whereas a considerable number of land reforms have been carried out by African governments since the 1990s, no systematic analysis on their meaning has so far been conducted. In the age of land reform, Africa has seen drastic rural changes. Analysing the relationship between those reforms and change, the chapters in this book reveal not only their socio-economic outcomes, such as accelerated marketisation of land, but also their political outcomes, which have often been contrasting. Countries such as Rwanda and Mozambique have utilised land reform to strengthen state control over land, but other countries, such as Ghana and Zambia, have seen the rise in power of traditional chiefs in managing the land. The comparative perspective of this book clarifies new features of African social changes, which are carefully investigated by area experts. Providing new perspectives on recent land reform, this book will have a considerable impact on scholars as well as policymakers.Table of ContentsPreface1. Shinichi Takeuchi & Kojo S. Amanor. “Introduction: Social outcomes of land reform in post-Cold War Africa” 2. Kojo S. Amanor. “Land governance, class and rural development in Ghana” 3. Peter Narh. “Traversing state, agribusinesses, and farmers' land discourses in Kenyan intensive agriculture” 4. Horman Chitonge. “Land reform in Africa: The governance of customary land in the spotlight” 5. Shuichi Oyama. “Shifting cultivation and land tenure reform in Zambia” 6. Akiyo Aminaka. “Politics over the land resource management in Mozambique” 7. Shinichi Takeuchi. “Land law reform and the state-building in Rwanda” 8. Teshome Emana. “Urban policy and state power in urban land commercialization in Ethiopia” 9. Chizuko Sato. “Land tenure reform in three former settler colonies in Southern Africa” 10. Lungisile Ntsebeza. “Land tenure reform in South Africa's former Bantustans: Reform or regression?” 11. Shinichi Takeuchi. “Conclusion: Community, chief, and the state,”

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Book SynopsisBy exploring the particularities of South-South solidarity, this volume begins new conversations about what makes these movements unique, how they shaped political identities, and their lasting influence.Trade ReviewThis volume so convincingly demonstrates South-South interactions are as important if not more so than interactions from the north to the south. Both scholars and a broader public with interests in solidarity and political mobilizations will warmly welcome Stites Mor's insightful contributions to our understandings of solidarity." - Marc Becker, author of Twentieth-Century Latin American Revolutions "Stites Mor's expertise has established her as a leading authority on histories of Latin America, solidarity, human rights and culture. This book builds on her work, positioning the region in a global context and offering new conceptual frameworks to theorize solidarity, its practices, results, and legacies. This exciting and ambitious contribution is a pleasure to read." - Tanya Harmer, author of Beatriz Allende: A Revolutionary Life in Cold War Latin America "Offers major contributions to several interconnected fields. . . . With this book Stites Mor joins the best of transnational historians in pushing traditional boundaries and expanding our understanding of the complex realities in our interconnected world. Moreover, she challenges scholars of transnational solidarity to expand our definitions of “activist,” to attend to the long term of solidarity work (beyond the protest marches and other public flares), and to uncover precisely how ideas of solidarity and partnership are communicated, received, and acted upon." - The Americas"Ambitious. It tackles four very different cases of South-South connections using archives from eight countries." - Hispanic American Historical ReviewTable of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Introduction: How We Think about Solidarity 1 South-South Solidarity and the Revolutionary Latin American State 2 Rendering Solidarity: Tricontinentalist Culture at the United Nations 3 “Nuestros Palestinos!” and Representational Solidarity in the Southern Cone 4 Latin American Liberation Theology in Southern Africa Conclusion: South-South Solidarity and History at a Crossroads Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA uniquely broad and fair-minded guide to making immigration policy ethical.Immigration is now a polarizing issue across most advanced democracies. But too much that is written about immigration fails to appreciate the complex responses to the phenomenon. Too many observers assume imaginary consensus, avoid basic questions, or disregard the larger context for human migration. In Borders and Belonging, Hiroshi Motomura offers a complex and fair-minded account of immigration, its root causes, and the varying responses to it. Taking stock of the issue''s complexity, while giving credence to the opinions of immigration critics, he tackles a series of important questions that, when answered, will move us closer to a more realistic and sustainable immigration policy. Motomura begins by affirming a basic concept--national borders--and asks when they might be ethical borders, fostering fairness but also responding realistically to migration patterns and to the political forces that migration generates. In a nation with ethical borders, who should be let in or kept out? How should people forced to migrate be treated? Should newcomers be admitted temporarily or permanently? How should those with lawful immigration status be treated? What is the best role for enforcement in immigration policy? To what extent does the arrival of newcomers hurt long-time residents? What are the root causes of immigration and how can we address them? Realistic about the desire of most citizens for national borders, this book is an indispensable guide for moving toward ethical borders and better immigration policy.

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Book SynopsisRadical-right behavior is increasing across Western democracies, often very quickly. Previous research has shown, however, that political attitudes and preferences do not change as quickly. Vicente Valentim argues that the role of social norms as drivers of political behavior is crucial for understanding these patterns. Building on a norms-based theory of political supply and demand, he argues that growing radical-right behavior is driven by individuals who already had radical-right views, but who did not act on those views because they thought that they were socially unacceptable. If these voters do not express their preferences, politicians can underestimate how much latent support there is for radical-right policy. This leaves the radical right with less skilled leaders, who are unable to mobilize even radical-right voters to support them. However, if politicians realize that there is more private support for radical-right policy than is typically observable, they have an incentive

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