Democracy Books

Book SynopsisThe collapse of the communist monopoly across Central and Southeastern Europe in 1989/1990 initiated a process of rapid political, economic, and cultural change. While Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia went on to suffer three and a half years of war, all the states of the region have confronted challenges as they dismantled communist institutions and drafted new laws, in some cases ignoring their own laws. Indeed, in certain countries, local politicians have done their best to corrupt the media and the economy, with recent years seeing some states move in an illiberal direction. Throughout the region, however, there has been a strong interest in enjoying the benefits of membership of the European Union and NATO. In this updated second edition, regional specialists comprehensively analyze the post-communist trajectories of the states of Central and Southeastern Europe, encompassing democratization, privatization, corruption, and war. It will appeal to students and scholars, whetheTrade Review'The second edition of this useful collection of essays provides context for the persistent challenges to what in 1989 was advertised as the 'transition' of Central and Eastern Europe from Communism to liberal democracy and European integration. Contributors take a sober view of populism and the stubborn corrosive of corruption and provide specific suggestions on how governments, activists, and European institutions might overcome the disorientation that has afflicted them since at least the financial crisis of 2008. It helps the reader understand that 'progress' is only one of multiple plausible futures for the region.' David Kanin, The Johns Hopkins University'This second edition of the Ramet-Hassenstab book is an extraordinary and timely contribution to rethink the long itinerary of post-socialist Europe from the 'Great Transformation' of 1989 to the current events. Shedding new light to the impact of reforms and societal transformations, this highly recommended book offers an updated and unique analysis of a world under deep transformation, where still corruption, freedom constraints of media, reforms stagnation, and attractive 'illiberal democracy' perspectives are playing a crucial role within a broader, European context, which is increasingly under growing disorder. Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna, Forlì'With the European Union finally taking note of the illiberal trends in some newer members, this updated volume is a timely look at the mixed outcomes from the post-Communist transitions. Bringing together the insights and analyses of noted specialists from North America and Europe, Ramet and Hassenstab have again grappled superbly with understanding the challenges to democratic resilience, economic reform, and regional security in an era of rising populism, Russian resurgence, and fragile institutions.' Robert F. Goeckel, State University of New York, Geneseo'This book shall be of use and importance to students, analysts and policymakers interested in any country of the region, and in the different experiences of these neighboring countries.' Senada Zatagić, Insight Turkey'Where this textbook really shines and comes into its own is in the level and depth of analysis undertaken by each author, something that is often not seen in a textbook of this nature. This one serves as an excellent introductory text for students taking their first steps into the history and politics of the region and will probably find itself on many recommended reading lists. At the same time, the book also serves as a useful reference for more knowledgeable readers who want to reacquaint themselves with the region before delving deeper into the literature. All readers will benefit from the strong empirical account of the region's development accompanied by expert analysis at the theoretical level.' Jonathan Millins, Europe-Asia StudiesTable of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. The challenge of transformation since 1989: an introduction Sabrina P. Ramet and Christine M. Hassenstab; 2. Post-socialist models of rule in Central and Southeastern Europe Sabrina P. Ramet and F. Peter Wagner; Part II. Issues: 3. Media, journalism, and the third wave of democratization in former Communist countries Peter Gross; 4. Economic reforms and the burdens of transition Karl Kaser; 5. The war of Yugoslav succession Marko Attila Hoare; Part III. Central Europe: 6. Poland since 1989: muddling through, wall to wall Konstanty Gebert; 7. Building democratic values in the Czech Republic since 1989 Carol Skalnik Leff; 8. Slovakia since 1989 Erika Harris and Karen Henderson; 9. Two faces of Hungary: from democratization to democratic backsliding András Bozóki and Eszter Simon; Part IV. Yugoslav Successor States: 10. Slovenia since 1989 Danica Fink-Hafner; 11. Politics in Croatia since 1990 Sabrina P. Ramet and Ivo Goldstein; 12. Serbia and Montenegro since 1989 Sabrina P. Ramet; 13. Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1991 Florian Bieber; 14. Macedonia/North Macedonia since 1989 Zachary T. Irwin; 15. Kosova: from resisting expulsion to building on independence Frances Trix; Part V. Southeastern Europe: 16. Romania: in the shadow of the past Lavinia Stan; 17. Bulgaria since 1989 Maria Spirova and Radostina Sharenkova-Toshkova; 18. Albania since 1989: the Hoxhaist Legacy Bernd J. Fischer; Part VI. Present and Future Challenges: 19. Regional security and regional relations Rick Fawn; 20. The European Union and democratization in Central and Southeastern Europe since 1989 Ulrich Sedelmeier; 21. Conclusion – adapting to the twenty-first century: lessons, progress, and regression Aurel Braun.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSergio Fabbrini proposes a way out of the EU''s crises, which have triggered an unprecedented cleavage between ''sovereignist'' and ''Europeanist'' forces. The intergovernmental governance of the multiple crises of the past decade has led to a division on the very rationale of Europe''s integration project. Sovereignism (the expression of nationalistic and populist forces) has demanded more decision-making autonomy for the EU member states, although Europeanism has struggled to make an effective case against this challenge. Fabbrini proposes a new perspective to release the EU from this predicament, involving the decoupling and reforming of the EU: on the one hand, the economic community of the single market (consisting of the current member states of the EU and of others interested in joining or re-joining it); and on the other, the political union (largely based on the eurozone reformed according to an original model of the federal union).Trade Review'Europe's Future provides an incisive analysis of the design weaknesses of the European Union - its dual supranational and intergovernmental character - and explains how that structure has contributed to the extraordinary surge of opposition to the EU among voters across the continent. Sergio Fabbrini, one of the leading scholars of the EU, presents his case in a highly readable form and provides guidance as to how it can get out of its current predicament.' Francis Fukuyama, Stanford University, California'Fabbrini's book is a twofold exercise in lesson-drawing and forward-looking. He designs a stimulating and challenging alternative to the present process of Europeanisation by decoupling market objectives from the aspiration of political integration. Both scholars and students will be nourished with food for thought aplenty in this rich and provocative study.' Yves Mèny, European University Institute, Florence'In a brilliant and complex study, Fabbrini develops a powerful explanation of the EU's present malaise and an original perspective on its possible correction. The way forward suggested would decouple the supranational regime of the Single Market from a more selective 'federal union'. This fascinating vision of a federal union 'functioning without a people, a government and a state' will push the debate on EU reforms beyond the current agenda of predictably ineffective or illegitimate proposals.' Fritz W. Scharpf, Max-Planck-Institut für Gesellschaftsforschung, Cologne'In this tour de force, Fabbrini boldly demonstrates how and why the EU's current institutional architecture, challenged by the euro and migration crises combined with the rise of nationalism and populism, can only be resolved by creating two unions, the economic one wide, for the Single Market, the political one deep, around the Euro area.' Vivien A. Schmidt, Boston UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction: multiple crises and European governance; 1. Supranational and intergovernmental governance; 2. Intergovernmental governance and its implications; 3. Sovereignist challenges and the political union; 4. From Statist to federal political union; 5. The future of Europe as constitutional decoupling.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIdeological congruence is the term generally used in comparative politics for the representative relationship between the general preferences of citizens and the perceived and stated position of government. This study provides a systematic comparative assessment of success and failure in achieving ideological congruence in nineteen developed parliamentary democracies from 1996 through to 2017. It then deconstructs the processes through which elections can connect citizens and governments into the three major stages: citizens'' votes in parliamentary elections; the conversion of those votes into legislative representation; the election of prime ministers by their parliaments and the appointment of cabinet ministers. Analyzing these three stages shows that average distance from the median citizen increases at each stage, with only a few remarkable recoveries once congruence begins to go astray.Table of Contents1. Elections and ideological congruence in parliamentary democracies; 2. The (rocky) paths to government congruence: three stages; 3. Party systems as contexts; 4. Incongruence at stage I: starting out on or off the path to ideological congruence; 5. Congruence failures at stage II: votes into seats – disproportionality and the distance of the median legislative party; 6. Forming governments: stage III failure – distance of the governments; 7. A special analysis problem at stage III: minority governments; 8. The costs of ideological congruence: achieving and achieved; 9. Representation in parliamentary democracies: when does congruence go astray?

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this rich analysis of the changing ideals of citizenship, Stephen K. White offers a path for the renewal of democratic life in the twenty-first century. Looking beyond passive notions of citizenship defined in terms of voting or passport possession, White seeks a more aspirational portrait, both participatory and inclusive, that challenges citizens, especially in the middle class, to confront power structures to achieve greater justice. Using the Tea Party and followers of Donald Trump as foils, he shows how these groups'' resentful and exclusivist conceptions of active citizenship undermine democratic aspirations. White explores how such deleterious influence might be effectively engaged by a robust counter-conception on the democratic left. The book makes this aspirational ideal conceptually clear, normatively compelling and aesthetically attractive.Trade Review'The volume requires an extensive understanding of political theory but is a rewarding read.' R. A. Harper, ChoiceTable of Contents1. Moral and theoretical sources; 2. Models of citizenship: virtual patriots and Tea Parties; 3. Models of citizenship: a democratic bearing; 4. Depth experience, faith and democratic life; 5. One path for critical political theory; 6. The consensus machine and 'no-saying'; 7. Suspicious conjectures and uneven injustice; 8. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDemocracy in America, written by French lawyer Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831, documents his travels through America where he finds an equality unknown in Europe. When Alexis de Tocqueville came to study Democracy in America, the trial of nearly a half-century of the working of our system had been made, and it had been proved, by many crucial tests, to be a government of liberty regulated by law, with such results in the development of strength, in population, wealth, and military and commercial power, as no age had ever witnessed. Democracy in America was received at once by the scholars and thinkers of Europe as a profound, impartial, and entertaining exposition of the principles of popular, representative self-government. This book continues to be as important today as when it was first written.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDemocracy in America, written by French lawyer Alexis de Tocqueville in 1831, documents his travels through America where he finds an equality unknown in Europe. When Alexis de Tocqueville came to study Democracy in America, the trial of nearly a half-century of the working of our system had been made, and it had been proved, by many crucial tests, to be a government of liberty regulated by law, with such results in the development of strength, in population, wealth, and military and commercial power, as no age had ever witnessed. Democracy in America was received at once by the scholars and thinkers of Europe as a profound, impartial, and entertaining exposition of the principles of popular, representative self-government. This book continues to be as important today as when it was first written.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere is no doubt that the House of Representatives exists and functions in the United States. The fact that few understand how it does exist and function is the subject of this new book. The chapters in this book detail the sometimes arcane procedures and processes of this grunt-type chamber. These are the folks who do the heavy lifting of lawmaking. The Senate may be considered august, especially to its own members, but it is the House which forms the backbone of American democracy at the federal level.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe central concern of this study is power and influence, a twin concept: How African countries can obtain power and use it properly for the common good of the people. Thus the transfer of the concepts of power and influence from the plane of theory to that of social practice should render a service to those in search of greater social relevance in social change as well as to those seeking an improved, more precise, and intellectually more manageable and intelligible frame of reference for power and its usage. This publication is different, and the hope is that it will open new vistas to students as well as the reading public who are beginning to learn about state-building, democracy and development (government and politics) in countries other than their own.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book includes a discussion of the impact of women in Congress as well as historical information, including the number and percentage of women in Congress over time, means of entry to Congress, comparisons to international and state legislatures, records for tenure, firsts for women in Congress, women in leadership, and African American and Asian Pacific American women in Congress. This book also includes biographical information, including the names, committee assignments, dates of service, listings by Congress and state, and (for Representatives) congressional districts of the 297 women who have served in Congress.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscretionary spending covers the costs of the routine activities commonly associated with such federal government functions as running executive branch agencies, congressional offices and agencies, and international operations of the government. Essentially all spending on federal wages and salaries is discretionary. Discretionary spending also funds grants, purchases of equipment and other assets, and contractor services that support various federal programs and activities. Congress provides and controls discretionary funding through annual appropriations acts, which grant federal agencies the legal authority to obligate the U.S. government to make payments. Budget authority is the amount that can be legally obligated. Outlays are the payments made by the U.S. Treasury to satisfy those obligations. This book discusses trends in outlays. It also presents figures showing trends in discretionary budget authority as a percentage of GDP by subfunction within each of 17 budget function categories, using data from President Obama''s FY2014 budget submission. It provides a starting point for discussions about spending trends.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis series gathers and presents original research in the study of the Presidency of the United States. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial topical data across a broad spectrum. Topics discussed in this compilation include the Presidential inauguration; joint Congressional Committee on inaugural ceremonies; inauguration security; the President''s budget; gifts to the President of the United States; the 2013 cybersecurity executive order; national security and emergency preparedness communications; and executive order 13438.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership that represents a unique form of cooperation among sovereign countries. The Union is the latest stage in a process of integration begun after World War II, initially by six Western European countries, to foster interdependence and make another war in Europe unthinkable. Today, the EU is composed of 28 member states, including most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and has helped to promote peace, stability, and economic prosperity throughout the European continent. The EU has been built through a series of binding treaties, and over the years, EU member states have sought to harmonise laws and adopt common policies on an increasing number of economic, social, and political issues. EU member states share a customs union, a single market in which goods, people, and capital move freely, a common trade policy, and a common agricultural policy. This book serves as a primer on the EU and provides a brief description of U.S.-EU relations that may be of interest in the 113th Congress. This book also asks questions about the democratic credentials of the European Union.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Citizenship Clause, provides that [a]ll persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. This generally has been taken to mean that any person born in the United States automatically gains U.S. citizenship, regardless of the citizenship or immigration status of the persons parents, with limited exceptions such as children born to recognized foreign diplomats. The current rule is often called birthright citizenship. However, driven in part by concerns about unauthorized immigration, some have questioned this understanding of the Citizenship Clause, and in particular the meaning of subject to the jurisdiction [of the United States]. This book traces the history of birthright citizenship under U.S. law and discusses some of the legislation in recent Congresses intended to alter it.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn urgent and timely exploration of a British political system in peril – and what we must do to save it. For centuries, British identity has been shaped by ideas of exceptionalism, grandeur and competence. Yet British democracy is failing. Governments supported by a minority of voters are elected with enormous majorities under a deeply unrepresentative first-past-the-post system. The result has been failed leaders delivering wounding blows to the country's economy, prosperity and international image. Britain Is Better Than This explores what lies beneath this sense of malaise, revealing the structural and constitutional failures at the heart of a sclerotic political system. It sheds light on a culture of lies, distrust and corruption. It reveals fundamental flaws in core institutions, including the media, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It draws on events such as the MP expenses scandal, Brexit, 'Partygate' and the farcical premiership of Liz Truss, as symptoms of a great nation at a turning point yet unsure of which way to turn. And it looks ahead, offering practical solutions to answer the key question of our time: What do we need to do to build a better future? 'The most compelling, lacerating description of the Muppet Show that is British public life I have yet read.' Will Hutton 'There can be no book more urgently needed than this one.' Steve RichardsTrade ReviewThe most compelling, lacerating description of the Muppet show that is British public life I have yet read. Esler on occasion reaches the heights of Tom Paine in his devastating mockery of the British system – from the corners of the House of Lords to the playing fields of Eton. You laugh out loud while violently agreeing – we are better than this. * Will Hutton, author of The State We're In *Gavin Esler rightly asserts that Britain is better than this, shows with vivid insight why it is a country in deep crisis and what can be done about it. There can be no book more urgently needed than this one. * Steve Richards, author of The Prime Ministers We Never Had *As Gavin Elser writes, ‘many of us feel that our demonstrably clever and competent country has lost its way’. I am certainly amongst their number. And I share his view that much of our problem is bound up with our outdated and unwritten constitution and our distorted media landscape. We can be better than this. We can be a stronger democracy and a kinder society. Gavin Esler’s important book points the way to that better future for our country. * Professor Molly Scott Cato, Vice Chair of the European Movement *This powerful and passionate book sets out a searing account of why our political system is broken, and what needs to be done to repair the damage and restore our international reputation. I strongly recommend it! * Lord Peter Ricketts *PRAISE FOR HOW BRITAIN ENDS: 'A wonderful book which will be quoted in years to come' New European. 'An eloquent, forensic examination of resurgent English nationalism as the force that has driven Brexit and may now break up the United Kingdom' Jonathan Coe. 'A fascinating book that draws on poetry, literature and on-the-ground reporting' The Times. 'Packed with broad cultural and literary insight to go with hard-nosed political evaluation' GQ. 'A cool-headed contribution to this often emotional debate' * Sunday Business Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisNever in the lifetime of most British adults has there been such uncertainty about the future of the political and governing institutions of the state. Brexit has the potential to change everything – from the shape of government institutions, to the main political parties, from Britain’s relationship with its near neighbour Ireland to its international trading. The idealists of the Leave campaign won their vote in 2016. But now the realists are gently taking over. Here, Denis MacShane explains how the Brexit process will be long and full of difficulties – arguing that a ‘Brexiternity’ of negotiations and internal political wrangling in Britain lies ahead.Trade ReviewBrexiternity is another title with foresight and flair. * Financial Times *Denis MacShane knows European politics better than most and he has been consistent in predicting and charting the course of Brexit ever since David Cameron announced the referendum in January 2013. His latest look forward to many years of dominating England's relations with Europe, with Ireland and Scotland. Unless new political leadership arises that cuts the Brexit Gordian knot we face a difficult Brexit decade which this book explains. * Polly Toynbee *It is unbelievable to me that a rational nation like Britain should embark on such a disastrous venture as Brexit, which puts at risk the economic and political links with Europe, the continent where our civilization was born and where our, and still the world’s, biggest market is to be found. With the rise of Asia and the growing isolation of the United States it is imperative that we stay united in Europe and work for each other for the common good. Brexit in any form can only do serious damage to the British economy and to Europe, the store of national wealth and the public revenue that comes in from a growing economy. Dr Denis MacShane has written a book on the future impact of Brexit which policy makers would be well advised to read. * Sir Christopher Pissarides, Regius Professor of Economics, LSE and Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences *Leavers and Remainers alike will learn from this book as we face a decade in which Brexit will dominate our national life. * Jon Snow *Denis MacShane has spent much of his writing and political life engaging with European politics as well as a deep sense of the English politics that gave rise to Brexit. He is right to argue that we face years and years of Brexit issues in Britain but also in Ireland and the rest of Europe as well. This book spells out why Brexit will morph into a Brexiternity. * Brigid Laffan, Director, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies *Denis MacShane is a rare British politician who understands how the EU actually works. His book is a sombre warning about how Brexit will damage relations with Europe in the years ahead. * Radek Sikorski, former Foreign and Defence Minister of Poland *Denis MacShane is a former Europe Minister who spends time talking to European politicians and getting first-hand information by visiting EU capitals. Taking the British egg out of the EU omelette if it can ever be done will take years of negotiations - a Brexiternity indeed. * Pascal Lamy, former WTO Director-General, former Chief of Staff to Jacques Delors *I’ve just read Denis MacShane’s excellent Brexiternity and strongly recommend it. * Professor Chris Grey *Whether you agree or disagree with him – it will be well worth reading. * Order! Order! *Table of ContentsIntroduction. Chap 1 England , Our England Chap 2 Why Brexit Chap 3 The Brexit Majority Has Vanished Chap 4 How Brexit Killed Party Politics Chap 5 Negotiating Brexit Chap 6 The Economics of Brexit Chap 7 Brexit and Britain’s Role in the World Chap 8 Europeans in Britain, Brits in Europe Chap 9 How the Brexit and Orange Card Fused Chapter 10 Alternatives to Europe – the Anglosphere? Commonwealth? Chap 11 Brexit, Books, and the Pessimism of the Intellectuals Chap 11 Where is the Opposition to Brexit – Civil Society, Fake News and the Solutionist Dead-End Chap 13 British Politicians Join Long List of Enemies of Europe Conclusion . How Europe Survives Brexit

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book opens the often narrow discourse on the future of Europe and criticises the false dichotomy between nationalism on the one hand and a neoliberal version of Europe on the other. Existing emancipatory projects from across the continent are presented together with reflections on strategies to achieve a democratic Europe beyond the nation state: from the municipal level to the level of transnational media, from technology and counter-surveillance to the systemic change provided by the commons movement and more.The shift towards a new way of thinking and doing politics is possible!With contributions by Etienne Balibar, Ulrike Guérot, Gesine Schwan, Renata Avila, Barbara Spinelli, Andreas Karitzis, Lorenzo Marsili, Jonas Staal, among others, and interviews with city governors from Madrid to Naples.Trade Review"The book proves that a shift towards a new way of thinking and doing politics is not only possible, but actually already happening." https://euroalter.com, 8 (2017) "In sum, what is particularly convincing about the theme of this publication is that it releases the reader from a dichotomous discursive straightjacket. Instead of reproducing the binary discourse of being for or against, respectively in our out of Europe, it opens up alternative spaces and pathways for more creative political practices." Antje Scharenberg, http://blogs.lse.ac.uk, 8 (2017) "This book is essential reading for anyone not just involved with European affairs, but concerned about the state of the EU and looking for the evidence that change is possible for the better." Tony Venables, www.ecit-foundation.eu, 6 (2017) Reviewed in: Commons Network Newsletter, 7 (2017) P2 Foundation, 23.06.2017, Stacco Troncoso http://www.engagee.org

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe work of Pierre Rosanvallon has increasingly found itself at the center of debates in democratic and political theory - although only few of his numerous monographs have thus far been translated from French. This interdisciplinary volume, the first comprehensive collection on his political thought in English, seeks to lay the groundwork for the study of this eminent political thinker and historian. Following a hitherto untranslated opening essay by Rosanvallon, the chapters - written from a variety of disciplinary perspectives including political theory, political science, philosophy, and history - cover a wide range of topics from the history of democracy to sovereignty, populism, and the function of the press in liberal democratic regimes.Trade Review"The anthology [demonstrates] impressively, how effective the combination of history and philosophy can be." -- Sebastian Jutisz, Francia recensio, 1 (2020)

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter a long time of neglect, Artificial Intelligence is once again at the center of most of our political, economic, and socio-cultural debates. Recent advances in the field of Artifical Neural Networks have led to a renaissance of dystopian and utopian speculations on an AI-rendered future. Algorithmic technologies are deployed for identifying potential terrorists through vast surveillance networks, for producing sentencing guidelines and recidivism risk profiles in criminal justice systems, for demographic and psychographic targeting of bodies for advertising or propaganda, and more generally for automating the analysis of language, text, and images. Against this background, the aim of this book is to discuss the heterogenous conditions, implications, and effects of modern AI and Internet technologies in terms of their political dimension: What does it mean to critically investigate efforts of net politics in the age of machine learning algorithms?

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhere are all the bodies? Political institutions are populated by living, breathing human beings, who eat, sleep, gesture, desire and suffer. And yet participants of the political realm are often depicted as disembodied minds, detached and distinct from their corporeal existence. Amanda Machin considers six embodied modes of democratic politics: representation, deliberation, disagreement, protest, occupation and counsel. Drawing on diverse thinkers such as Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Michael Polanyi, Simone de Beauvoir, Donna Haraway and Judith Butler, she offers an absorbing illustration of the ways human bodies are not only the disciplined objects of politics, but the generative subjects of democracy.Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Political Remembering of Bodies; Embodied Representation: Performances of Identity; Embodied Deliberation: Conditions, Excesses, Disruptions, Opportunities; Embodied Disagreement: The Agony of Others; Embodied Protest: The Politics of the Hunger-Strike; Introduction; Embodied Occupation: Disciplined Bodies in Counter-Conduct; Embodied Counsel: Bodies of Knowledge; Conclusion: Recalling Bodies.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTraditionally, citizenship has been defined as the legal and political link between individuals and their democratic political community. However, traditional conceptions of democratic citizenship are currently challenged by various developments like migration, the rise of populism, increasing polarization, social fragmentation, and the challenging of representative democracy as well as developments in digital communication technology. Against this background, this peer reviewed book reflects recent conceptions of citizenship by bringing together insights from different disciplines, such as political science, sociology, economics, law, and history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow can we overcome the existing political, economic, and ecological crises that humanity faces? With the notion of the commons, Lukas Peter argues that this form of social organization can provide answers to the shortcomings of centralized states and open and competitive markets. By building on and going beyond the work of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom, he develops an ecological understanding of the commons and human freedom, more generally, thereby reinterpreting classical thinkers such as John Locke and John Rawls. Importantly, he does not suggest an end to property, states or markets, but rather a radical democratization thereof, ultimately providing a real alternative for the 21st century.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSocial practice theories help to challenge the often hidden paradigms, worldviews, and values at the basis of many unsustainable practices. Discourses and their boundaries define what is seen as possible, as well as the range of issues and their solutions. By exploring the connections between practices and discourses, Minna Kanerva develops a conceptual approach enabling purposive change in unsustainable social practices. Radical transformation towards new meatways is arguably necessary, yet complex psychological, ideological, and power-related mechanisms currently inhibit change.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMusic and Democracy explores music as a resource for societal transformation processes. This book provides recent insights into how individuals and groups used and still use music to achieve social, cultural, and political participation and bring about social change. The contributors present outstanding perspectives on the topic: From the promise and myth of democratization through music technology to the use of music in imposing authoritarian, neoliberal or even fascist political ideas in the past and present up to music's impact on political systems, governmental representation, and socio-political realities. The volume further features approaches in the fields of gender, migration, disability, and digitalization.Table of ContentsAmbivalences in Music and Democracy: Introductory Remarks; Part 1: From Recorded Democracy to Digital Participation? Part 2: Political Impacts of Bourgeois Music Culture; Part 3: (Non‐)Democratic Participation in Popular Music and Performance Cultures; Part 4: Sonic Implications of Political Changes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe European Union has developed a range of instruments to promote democracy and human rights worldwide. However, the success of its democratisation efforts remains questionable in countries that lack an EU membership perspective. The case of post-soviet Central Asia, where the EU declares democracy promotion among its key priorities yet is confronted with unfavourable domestic conditions for democratisation and often fails to follow through, is an eye-opening example. Vera Axyonova's study offers the first comprehensive evaluation of the micro-level effects of the EU engagement in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and examines the factors that have made the EU efforts more or less successful in Central Asia.Trade Review"Vera Axyonova's book offers an insightful and refreshing analysis of the European democratization strategy in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The book is a must-read for all those interested in understanding the very limited success of EU democratization tools in Central Asia and the challenges that European institutions face in their promotion of a value-based agenda." -- Marlene Laruelle, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat kind of public sphere is possible in the European Union with its considerable diversity of national identities, languages and media systems? Against the backdrop of debates about a fundamental European community deficit and the possibility of post-national democracy, this book explores the role of a European public sphere not only in bridging presumed gaps between citizens and their representatives in the European institutions, but also in creating transnational communicative spaces that contribute to the politicisation of EU politics. Drawing on Deweyan pragmatism, social constructivism and the Habermasian notion of constitutional patriotism, this book moves beyond the conventional wisdom that a European public sphere necessitates the existence of a sense of European "identity light". Arguing that a political sense of community along the lines of a European constitutional patriotism can only emerge out of the democratic process itself, Maximilian Conrad looks at the role of daily newspapers not only as framers of public debate, but also as actors with distinct normative views regarding the future of the integration process, both in terms of the nature of the EU as a polity and the nature of democratic rule in this polity. The crucial empirical question addressed in the book is: Do newspapers with a pronounced preference for more democracy beyond the nation state also play a more active role in providing forums for transnational debate?

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo the public's eye, lobbying is still a highly obscure trade. Lobbyists are generally perceived to work behind closed doors in order to influence legislation -- what really happens is unknown to the public. To make interest representatives more visible, both the European Union and the United States have developed mechanisms to register lobbyists. However, while US legislation now forces lobbyists to register and report their influential work by fixed deadlines, the EU's registration remains voluntary due to the lack of a legal basis. This book takes the reader closer to today's concept of lobbying, especially in regard to the EU's registration mechanism. Lisa Moessing compares both the US and the EU registration systems by their technical composition, accessibility, and handling and contrasts their efficiency and effectiveness. Providing a forum for 17 lobbyists, watch dog members, and political representatives to discuss lobbying registration, this book defines starting points for improvement and emphasises the importance of listening to those who deal with the registers in everyday practice.Trade Review"Thanks to its qualitative interview approach as well as an interviewee array of influential actors, decision-makers, and lobby organizations, the book is an important research contribution to the EU's mechanism of lobbying regulation which has been fought for and debated for several years." -- Hans-Wolfgang Platzer, Holder of the Jean Monnet Chair of European Integration at the University of Applied Sciences Fulda"While the book's description of the U.S.' and the EU's registration systems is both extensive and in-depth, it covers all the essential literature, even the most recent ones." -- Rinus van Schendelen, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe papers presented in this volume analyze the civil uprising known as Euromaidan that began in central Kyiv in late November 2013, when the Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych opted not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, and continued over the following months. The topics include the motivations and expectations of protesters, organized crime, nationalism, gender issues, mass media, the Russian language, and the impact of Euromaidan on Ukrainian politics as well as on the EU, Russia, and Belarus. An epilogue to the book looks at the aftermath, including the Russian annexation of Crimea and the creation of breakaway republics in the east, leading to full-scale conflict. The goal of the book is less to offer a definitive account than one that represents a variety of aspects of a mass movement that captivated world attention and led to the downfall of the Yanukovych presidency.Trade ReviewOn David R. Marples, "Heroes and Villains: Creating National History in Contemporary Ukraine" (2008) Clearly written and well argued, this study will make a major impact both within and beyond academia. -- Serhy Yekelchyk, University of VictoriaTable of ContentsContributions by: David R. Marples, Frederick V. Mills, Taras Kuzio, Anna Susak, Natalia Otrishchenko, Marta Dyczok, Olesya Khromeychuk, William Risch, Olga Onuch, Tanya Zaharchenko, Svitlana Krasynska, Uladzimir Padhol, Aya Fujiwara

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe introduction of consociational power sharing as a post-war political system has become one of the international community's preferred post-conflict devices. In situations where warring polities are internally divided by ethnic, religious, linguistic, or national identity, consociationalism guarantees the inclusion of all groups in the political process and prevents a 'tyranny' of the majority over one or more minorities. However, if international actors keep intervening in the political process, the advantages of consociationalism are turned upside down. In this exceptional book, Adis Merdzanovic develops a theoretical and empirical approach to understanding consociational democracies that include external intervention. Using the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the consociational Dayton Peace Agreement ended the three-year war between Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks twenty years ago, it elaborates on the different approaches used in the past and gives practical recommendations for future state-building exercises by the international community.Trade Review"Merdzanovic's study presents a most welcome new assessment: He is the first scholar to scrutinize how the system of imposed consociationalism worked, or rather, didn't work, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a must-read for anybody interested in the history of the Balkans in general and current Bosnian politics in particular." -- Prof. Dr. Josette Baer, University of Zurich

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe introduction of consociational power sharing as a post-war political system has become one of the international community's preferred post-conflict devices. In situations where warring polities are internally divided by ethnic, religious, linguistic, or national identity, consociationalism guarantees the inclusion of all groups in the political process and prevents a 'tyranny of the majority over one or more minorities. However, if international actors keep intervening in the political process, the advantages of consociationalism are turned upside down. In this exceptional book, Adis Merdzanovic develops a theoretical and empirical approach to understanding consociational democracies that include external intervention. Using the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the consociational Dayton Peace Agreement ended the three-year war between Serbs, Croats, and Bosniaks twenty years ago, it elaborates on the different approaches used in the past and gives practical recommendations for future state-building exercises by the international community.Trade Review"Merdzanovic's study presents a most welcome new assessment: He is the first scholar to scrutinize how the system of imposed consociationalism worked, or rather, didn't work, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a must-read for anybody interested in the history of the Balkans in general and current Bosnian politics in particular." -- Prof. Dr. Josette Baer, University of ZurichTable of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Acronyms 1. Introduction Part I: Nationalism 2. Theories of Nationalism-A Brief Survey 3. A Comparative Look at Western Balkan Nationalisms 4. Nationalism in Bosnia-Herzegovina Part II: Consociationalism 5. A Brief Introduction to Consociational Theory 6. 'Imposed Consociation' Part III: Bosnia and Herzegovina 7. Consociationalism in Bosnia-Herzegovina 8. Political Elites and Political Quarrels 9. The Office of the High Representative from 1996 to 2013 10. Bosnia-Herzegovina as an 'Imposed Consociation' part IV: Concluding Remarks 11. Conclusion Epilogue 12. A Short Postscript on Other Cases: Macedonia and Kosovo 13. Annex 14. Bibliography

Read more less

Book Synopsis"Brussels made democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and good governance its top co-operation priorities in the EU Strategy Framework towards Central Asia for 20072013. This book examines two interrelated questions: To what extent has EU democracy promotion in Central Asia been successful? And, to the extent that it was successful, why was it so? The book presents a comprehensive analytical framework for the evaluation of democracy promotion, including factors which may facilitate or hinder democratic development in Central Asia. It demonstrates the validity of a holistic approach to analyzing impediments of democracy promotion meaning that external pro-democratic support is affected by a variety of diverse factors whose impact can vary as international, regional, and domestic conditions change. The stable and rich authoritarian state of Kazakhstan is different from the much poorer Kyrgyzstana state prone to political instability, but also to democratic openings. By contrasting the success of democracy promotion in these two countries which have different strategic importance for the EU, this study provides valuable insights into how non-normative interests interfere with normatively driven policies."Trade Review"This book provides a very timely and well-informed analysis of the effectiveness of EU democracy promotion efforts in Central Asia. It goes beyond existing accounts by offering a holistic picture of the state of affairs on the ground, accounting not only for the EU but also for local and wider regional contexts. In doing so, it acknowledges that a variety of factors affect external democracy promotion and that their impact can vary as international, regional, and domestic conditions change. Through a comparative case study of EU democracy promotion in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the book convincingly demonstrates that EU democracy promotion has not been successful in these two target countries and masterfully identifies EU-related, local, and regional factors that help to explain this."Fabienne Bossuyt, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium

Read more less

Book SynopsisUkraine's 2004 presidential election was falsified, spurring the Orange Revolution. To many observers, the Orange Revolution was a shock, and the stolen elections a recent development. However, both the election fraud and the effort to topple the government of Leonid Kuchma emerged from political dynamics that had appeared in earlier Ukrainian elections. In this path breaking volume, leading scholars place Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution in the longer perspective of Ukraine's post-Soviet electoral politics. Covering both presidential and parliamentary elections over the entire post-Soviet period, the chapters clarify the manner in which earlier elections had emerged as part of the battle for power in Ukraine well before 2004. The opposition that came to power in 2004 had also won the 2002 elections and had developed its strategies during opposition protests that had been catalysed by the Kuchmagate crisis in 2000. The evolution of the dynamics that led to the fraudulent 2004 election reveals that the events of 2004 represented continuity as well as change. By placing the 2004 elections within a longer trajectory, the volume enriches our understanding of the Orange Revolution and helps us to understand the difficulties faced in consolidating Ukraine's democratic breakthrough following the Orange Revolution. The volume contains an introduction to Aspects of the Orange Revolution I-VI by Andreas Umland followed by eight chapters by Robert K. Christensen, Edward R. Rakhimkulov and Charles Wise, Paul D'Anieri, Robert Kravchuk and Victor Chudowsky, Paul Kubicek, Taras Kuzio, Lucan Way, and Anna Makhorkina. These authors bring complex and varied perspectives that situate Ukraine's post-Soviet elections in economic reforms, constitutional law, foreign policy objectives of integrating into Europe, as well as in the broader context of the rough and tumble competition for political control of Ukraine.Trade Review"These 45 papers and supplemental election reports provide an excellent overview of the Ukrainian 2004 events, as well as their historical and political context." -- Uwe Dathe, OsteuropaTable of ContentsIntroduction to Aspects of the Orange Revolution I-VI: Ukraine's Second Transition in the Russian Mirror, by Andreas Umland Ukraine's 1994 Elections as an Economic Event, by Robert S. Kravchuk and Victor Chudowsky Regime Type and Politics in Ukraine under Kuchma, by Taras Kuzio Rapacious Individualism and Political Competition in Ukraine, 1992-2004, by Lucan A. Way The Ukrainian Orange Revolution Brought More than a New President: What Kind of Democracy Will the Institutional Changes Bring?, by Robert K. Christensen, Edward R. Rakhimkulov, and Charles R. Wise The Last Hurrah: The 2004 Ukrainian Presidential Elections and the Limits of Machine Politics, by Paul D'Anieri Ukrainian Political Parties and Foreign Policy in Election Campaigns: The Parliamentary Elections of 1998 and 2002, by Anna Makhorkina The European Union and Democratization in Ukraine, by Paul Kubicek

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe third volume of Aspects of the Orange Revolution complements the essays of the first two collections providing further historical background on, and analytical insight into, the events at Kyiv in late 2004. Its seven contributions by both established and younger specialists range from electoral statistics to musicology, and deal with, among other issues, such questions as: Why had blatant election fraud not generated mass protest before 2004, but, in that year, did? How was Viktor Yushchenko able to collect enough votes to defeat the establishment candidate Viktor Yanukovych, and become the new President of a socially, geographically and culturally divided country? How was it possible to prevent large-scale violence, and which role did the judiciary play during the quasi-revolutionary events in autumn-winter 2004? What legal foundations and court decisions made the repetition of the second round of the presidential elections possible? Which campaign instruments, and political 'technologies' were applied by various domestic and foreign actors to activate the Ukrainian population? How did the internet and music become factors in the emergence of mass protests involving hundreds of thousands of people? To which degree and how did external influences affect the Orange Revolution? Erik S Herron, Paul E Johnson, Dominique Arel, Ivan Katchanovski, Ralph S Clem, Peter R Craumer, Hartmut Rank, Stephan Heidenhain, Adriana Helbig and Andrew Wilson present a multifarious panorama of the origins and dynamics of the processes that changed the nature of political and civic life during and between the three rounds of Ukraine's fateful 2004 presidential elections.Trade Review"These 45 papers and supplemental election reports provide an excellent overview of the Ukrainian 2004 events, as well as their historical and political context." -- Uwe Dathe, OsteuropaTable of ContentsIntroduction Approaches to a 'Watershed' in Ukrainian Politics, by Ingmar Bredies, Andreas Umland and Valentin Yakushik Part 1. Prelude to a Mass Rebellion Fraud before the 'Revolution': Special Precincts in Ukraine's 2002 Parliamentary Election, by Erik S. Herron and Paul E. Johnson Part 2. Why and How It Happened Orange Ukraine Chooses the West, but Without the East, by Dominique Arel Regional Political Cleavages, Electoral Behavior, and Historical Legacies in Post-Communist Ukraine, by Ivan Katchanovski Shades of Orange: The Electoral Geography of Ukraine's 2004 Presidential Elections, by Ralph S. Clem and Peter R. Craumer Part 3. The Context of a Mass Uprising The Legal Evolution behind the Orange Revolution, by Hartmut Rank and Stephan Heidenhain The Cyberpolitics of Music in Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution, by Adriana Helbig Foreign Intervention in the 2004 Elections: 'Political Technology' versus NGOs, by Andrew Wilson

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe fourth volume of Aspects of the Orange Revolution continues the previous volume's discussion on the impact of foreign actors on Ukrainian politics. It provides both scholarly analyses and first-hand accounts. The collection not only investigates, but also gives voice to, some of those involved in the events of 2004. While most of the volume's contributors have an academic background, some of them report here from the perspective of official election or informal participant observers of the three rounds of the Ukrainian presidential elections. Part One juxtaposes some contrasting views on how far Russia's and the West's various interests, activities and tools influencing the Orange Revolution were comparable to each other, and adequate given the circumstances. Part Two presents individual reports by a number of international election observers who were following the campaign and voting in various parts of Ukraine in 2004. Part Three presents three additional on-the-ground observations focusing solely on the notorious electoral district No. 100 of Kirovohrad Oblast. The contributions by Andreas Umland, Iris Kempe, Iryna Solonenko, Vladimir Frolov, Valentin Yakushik, Matthias Brucker, Jake Rudnitsky, Rory Finnin, Adriana Helbig, Paul Terdal, Tatiana Terdal, Peter Wittschorek, Hans-Jörg Schmedes, Adrianna Melnyk, Ingmar Bredies, Oxana Shevel and Volodymyr Bilyk add a number of novel points of view to those presented in the previous volumes. These partly contradictory and emotional texts as well as a number of photographs document the tense atmosphere and confrontational climate within which Ukraine's second phase of post-Soviet democratisation started in 2004.Trade ReviewThese 45 papers and supplemental election reports provide an excellent overview of the Ukrainian 2004 events as well as their historical and political context. -- Uwe Dathe OsteuropaTable of ContentsList of Tables List of Pictures Introduction: Domestic and Foreign Factors in the 2004 Ukrainian Presidential Elections, by Andreas Umland Part I. Political Transition and External Forces in Post-Soviet Societies Foreign Involvement and International Orientation in the Orange Revolution, by Iris Kempe and Iryna Solonenko Democracy by Remote Control, by Vladimir Frolov The Orange Revolution and the Distortion of the Citizenry's Will: Material for a Complaint by the Party of Regions, by Valentin Yakushik Trans-national Actors in Democratizing States: The Case of German Political Foundations in Ukraine, by Matthias Brucker Part II. Voices from the Ground: Reports by International Election Observers Ukrainians in the Mist: Gorilla Tactics in the Campaign for Ukraine's Highest Office, by Jake Rudnitsky Prelude to a Revolution: Reflections on Observing the 2004 Presidential Elections in Ukraine, by Rory Finnin and Adriana Helbig Observations from the Cherkasy Region, by Paul Terdal and Tatiana Terdal From Sunset to Sunrise in a Territorial Election Commission: Special Observations during a Crucial Night, by Peter Wittschorek and Hans-Jorg Schmedes Optimism and Gratitude: Reflections of an Election Observer in the Poltava Region, by Adrianna Melnyk Part III. The Special Case of Electoral District No. 100 Election Observation in a 'Notorious' Region: The 100th Constituency in Kirovohrad Oblast, by Ingmar Bredies The Repeat Second Round of the 2004 Presidential Elections in Kirovohrad, by Oxana Shevel My Experience of a Lifetime: Elections in Kirovohrad, by Volodymyr Bilyk

Read more less

Book SynopsisReports by international governmental and non-governmental organisations on the 2004 presidential elections in Ukraine constituted a significant factor in generating, facilitating and completing the Orange Revolution. Ukrainian civil society, mass media, courts and political parties were the main driving force behind the popular uprising that returned Ukraine to the path of democratisation it had embarked on in 1991. Yet, the unambiguous stance and political weight of such institutions as the EU, PACE, NATO, and, above all, OSCE played their role too. The democratic movement benefited from the spectre of international isolation and stigmatisation of the Ukrainian state had President Leonid Kuchma decided to prevent a repetition of the second round of the voting. The volume collects not all, but some of the most widely discussed reports, including English translations of selected sections of the three reports produced by the CIS International Observers Mission. The latter as well as a report by an Israeli institute depart from the assessments of the other organisations represented here, allowing for comparison of diverging evaluations of the same events. The volume assembles full or excerpted official reports of the International Republican Institute, Tel Aviv Institute for the Countries of Eastern Europe and CIS, European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and Commonwealth of Independent States. Contributions by Jevgen Shapoval and Roman Kupchinsky introduce and conclude the collection.Trade Review"These 45 papers and supplemental election reports provide an excellent overview of the Ukrainian 2004 events, as well as their historical and political context." -- Uwe Dathe, OsteuropaTable of ContentsList of Tables and Figures Introduction: The Institute of International Election Observation in Ukraine, by Yevgen Shapoval 1. Reports by Non-Governmental Institutions 2. Reports by Governmental Institutions Conclusions: Monitoring the Election Monitors, by Roman Kupchinsky

Read more less

Book SynopsisPost-communist democratic revolutions have, so far, taken place in six countries: Slovakia (1998), Croatia (1999-2000), Serbia (2000), Georgia (2003), Ukraine (2004) and Kyrgyzstan (2005). The seven chapters in this volume situate these events within a theoretical and comparative perspective. The volume draws upon extensive experience and field research conducted by political scientists specialising in comparative democratisation, regime politics, political transitions, electoral studies, and the post-communist world. The papers by Valerie Bunce and Sharon Wolchik, Henry Hale, Paul D'Anieri, David R Marples, Taras Kuzio, Lucan A Way and Steven Levitsky, as well as Anika Locke Binnendijk and Ivan Marovic explore different regime types and opposition strategies in post-communist states, the diffusion of opposition strategies between states in which democratic revolutions were attempted, the strategic importance of youth NGO's in mobilising oppositions towards democratic revolutions, the use of non-violent strategies by the opposition, path dependent, theoretical and comparative explanations of the sources of successful and failed democratic revolutions, and the factors that lie behind divergent post-revolutionary trajectories. The volume represents a breakthrough in our understanding of why and how democratic revolutions take place in the post-communist world. It provides an integrated analysis of why such upheavals succeed in some, but fail in other states. The contributions point to, among other issues, why the post-revolutionary breakthroughs in Serbia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan have encountered obstacles, the ousted regime was never fully defeated and its representatives were able to launch counter-revolutions, as well as why, in Serbia and Ukraine, the political forces of the ousted regimes have returned to power in free elections held after democratic revolutions. Post-Communist Democratic Revolutions in Comparative Perspective will be important reading for scholars and policy makers alike.Trade Review"These 45 papers and supplemental election reports provide an excellent overview of the Ukrainian 2004 events, as well as their historical and political context." -- Uwe Dathe, OsteuropaTable of ContentsInternational Diffusion and Postcommunist Electoral Revolutions, by Valerie Bunce and Sharon Wolchik Democracy or Autocracy on the March? The Colored Revolutions as Normal Dynamics of Patronal Presidentialism, by Henry E. Hale Explaining the Success and Failure of Post-Communist Revolutions, by Paul D'Anieri Color Revolutions: The Belarus Case, by David R. Marples "Civil Society, Youth and Societal Mobilization in Democratic Revolutions", by Taras Kuzio The Dynamics of Autocratic Coercive Capacity after the Cold War, by Lucan A. Way and Steven Levitsky Power and Persuasion: Nonviolent Strategies to Influence State Security Forces in Serbia (2000) and Ukraine (2004), by Anika Locke Binnendijk and Ivan Marovic

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisInvestigating Danish students in a global perspective pinpoints a range of pressing dilemmas: To what degree do students conceive school as a place of democracy or authority, do they see classrooms as open or closed, do they recognise themselves as active or passive students? Questions of this kind challenge citizenship education across countries and regions. The democratic commitment of young people is difficult to measure, but many key figures appear in the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study. Reflections on this study are used in this book to describe young people as contemporary citizens. Rather than discussing the basic principles of democracy or citizenship in abstract terms, the intention is to analyse and evaluate the political education of young people (students in year eight), their acquaintance with democracy in school, and the context and democratic ethos their experiences seem to reflect. By doing so, the book also gives indications of how the lives of young people are changing in globalised democracies across the world, thereby challenging citizenship education.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less