Political structure and processes Books

Book SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLER Shortlisted for the Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award“The best window I’ve seen into this new world.” —David Brooks, The New York Times   In this indispensable guide to navigating the twenty-first century, two visionary thinkers reveal how “new power” is reshaping politics, business, and life to be more open, participatory, and peer-driven. Here, Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms reveal a new and compelling lens on the biggest stories of our age—from the out-of-nowhere victory of Donald Trump to the rise of mega-platforms like Facebook. They show the strength of new power—movements like #MeToo; platforms like Airbnb and Lyft; organizations like TED and Lego—as well as its dark side. They contrast it to “old power,” the foundations of which are coming under assault in an age of ubiquitous participation.

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Book SynopsisThe Virginia School''s economics of natural equals makes consent critical for policy. Democracy is understood as government by discussion, not majority rule. The claim of efficiency unsupported by consent, as common in orthodox economics, appeals to social hierarchy. Politics becomes an act of exchange among equals where the economist is only entitled to offer advice to citizens, not to dictators. The foundation of natural equality and consent explains the common themes of James Buchanan and John Rawls as well as Ronald Coase and the Fabian socialists. What orthodox economics treats as efficient racial discrimination violates the fair chance entitlement to which people consent in a market economy. The importance of replication stressed by Gordon Tullock, developing themes from Karl Popper, is another expression of natural equality since the foresight of replication induces care into research. The publication of previously unpublished correspondence and documentation allows the reader to judge recent controversy.Trade Review'This wonderfully documented study of the Virginia School of economics provides important insights into an economics that might have been, and should be.' Dave Colander, Middlebury College, Vermont'Historians of Economic Thought extraordinaire David M. Levy and Sandra J. Peart provide an essential contribution in understanding the intellectual history of public choice theory and constitutional economics. In addition to providing a compendium of original sources that trace the dynamics of the Virginia School, Levy and Peart provide a sympathetic but not uncritical account of the evolution of thinking of leading members of the school.' Steven Durlauf, Steans Professor, University of Chicago'Levy and Peart provide a fascinating exposition of the importance to economics of the idea of the innate equality of individuals, with implications that range from promoting racial equality to questioning the right of economists to be all-knowing and all-powerful policy advisers. This book could hardly be more timely in our current political and intellectual crisis.' William Easterly, New York University'Precursors and initiators of public choice engaged in debate with propagators of mainstream views. Through documentation of the writings and correspondence of the leading figures, this book provides a splendid statement of how ideas of public choice were developed and what the arguments of opponents were, and might still be.' Arye L. Hillman, Bar-Ilan University, Israel'Read Levy and Peart's documentary history of the Virginia School of Buchanan-Coase-Tullock, and appreciate the perils of academic innovation in economics.' Vernon L. Smith, Chapman University and 2002 Nobel Laureate in Economics'The subtlety in this work combined with their mastery of the historical context of the exchanges is beyond compare.' Peter Boettke, Coordination Problem (www.coordinationproblem.org)'… Peart and Levy's is an insightful work, where the history of ideas and institutions, in the postwar American economists and social scientists' communities, are explored in detail.' Gianluca Damiani, History of Economic Ideas'David Levy and Sandra Peart are reputed for writing this kind of book. One always learn a lot by reading their work. This one is no exception … a major achievement …' Alain Marciano, The European Journal of the History of Economic ThoughtTable of Contents1. Why the Virginia School of Political Economy matters; 2. James Buchanan and the return to an economics of natural equals; 3. 'Almost wholly negative': an early reaction to the Virginia School; 4. 'The economics of Universal Education' and after: from Friedman to Rawls; 5. Virginia political economy and public choice economics; 6. The individuals and their connections; 7. The role of the Earhart Foundation in the Early Virginia School; 8. The early Virginia School and the anti-democratic right; 9. Neoliberalism, the Virginia School, and the Geldard Report; 10. Conclusion: should the Virginia School be restored?

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Book SynopsisWhen people have the freedom to further their own personal interests in politics, the results may be disastrous. Chaos? Tyranny? Can a political system be set up to avoid these pitfalls, while still granting citizens and politicians the freedom to pursue their interests? Republic at Risk is a concise and engaging introduction to American politics. The guiding theme is the problem of self-interest in politics, which James Madison took as his starting point in his defense of representative government in Federalist 10 and 51. Madison believed that unchecked self-interest in politics was a risk to a well-ordered and free society. But he also held that political institutions could be designed to harness self-interest for the greater good. Putting Madison''s theory to the test, the authors examine modern challenges to the integrity and effectiveness of US policy-making institutions, inviting readers to determine how best to respond to these risks.Trade Review'Before we can determine how well the American system of government is working, we have to understand how it is designed to work. Republic at Risk provides a sophisticated, yet accessible, explanation of the theory behind 'Madison's Republic,' and offers ample empirical evidence with which to assess the republic in practice. For those who have ever been frustrated, or simply bewildered, by the operation of American politics, Republic at Risk is essential reading.' Stephen K. Medvic, Franklin & Marshall College'Republic at Risk is not only a superb introduction to American politics, but an excellent introduction to political science, through its focus on competing theoretical models of the American political system. I completely reoriented my course after seeing the first edition, and the second is even better - completely updated and with new material on polarization, gridlock, and the Supreme Court.' Ronald Rapoport, College of William and Mary'Sweeping across mass and elite political behavior, Stone and McCann explore the boundaries of Madison's argument that 'self-interest is the problem, and the solution.' Blending eighteenth-century political thought with contemporary academic scholarship and current events, they illuminate how the evolution of formal and informal norms, rules, and institutions has shaped outcomes that either sustain or distort the Founders' original intentions. The end product is a masterpiece of how the very best political scientists approach the study of American politics.' Sarah A. Fulton, Texas A&M University'Republic at Risk is the perfect text for an introductory course in American government. Short and readable, the book presents the arguments about our democracy's future that are particularly relevant in the current context, in a way that will engage students throughout a semester.' L. Sandy Maisel, Colby CollegeTable of ContentsPreface to the second edition; Introduction; 1. Some enduring questions and relevant concepts; 2. Big answers, bigger questions: Madison's theory of the republic; 3. Citizen participation in politics: an interest in self-interest?; 4. Who's in charge here? Voting choice in elections; 5. Interest groups and pluralist theory: self-interest in the republic reconsidered; 6. Political parties: an alternative to the republic?; 7. A pivotal politics model of the policy process: the separation of powers re-imagined; 8. Congress: representation and power; 9. Presidential leadership: beyond self-interest?; 10. The Supreme Court: another way out of the problem of self-interest?; 11. Conclusion: self-interest and representative government; Appendix Federalist 10 and 51 by James Madison; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisUpdating the papers from the 2011 Asan Conference to cover the end of 2011, this book reflects the state of analysis on the eve of the important 2012-13 transition to China's fifth-generation leaders.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Gilbert Rozman PART I: CHINA'S LEADERSHIP AND FOREIGN POLICY 1. More Actors, Less Coordination? New Challenges for the Leaders of a Rising China; Thomas Christensen 2. China's Foreign Policy and the Leadership Transition: Prospects for Change under the 'Fifth Generation'; Avery Goldstein 3. Another Take on Prospects for the Foreign Policy of the Chinese Fifth-Generation Leadership; Shin Jung-seung PART II: CHINA'S THINK TANKS AND FOREIGN POLICY 4. Chinese Foreign Policy Research Institutes and the Practice of Influence; Bonnie S. Glaser 5. Moving between the 'Inner Circle' and the 'Outer Circle': The Limited Impact of Think Tanks on Policy Making in China; Quansheng Zhao PART III: CHINA'S NATIONAL IDENTITY AND FOREIGN POLICY 6. Chinese National Identity and Foreign Policy: Linkages between the Two; Gilbert Rozman 7. Chinese Nationalism and the American Response: Sources of Tension and Prospects for Renewed Cooperation; Robert S. Ross PART IV: FINANCIAL FACTORS IN CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY MAKING 8. China's Leadership and Their Financial and Monetary Policies; William H. Overholt 9. How Do Monetary and Financial Issues Interact with China's Foreign Policy Making?; François Godemont PART V: CHINA'S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARD THE KOREAN PENINSULA 10. China's North Korea Policy: Misperception and Reality (An Independent Chinese Perspective on Sino-Korean Relations); Chen Ping 11. China's Korea Policy in the Making; Yufan Hao 12. Disillusionment and Dismay: How Chinese Netizens Think and Feel about the Two Koreas; Peter Gries Index

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Book SynopsisThis book advances an Islamic political philosophy based on the concept of Ihsan, which means to do beautiful things. The author moves beyond the dominant model of Islamic governance advanced by modern day Islamists. The political philosophy of Ihsan privileges process over structure, deeds over identity, love over law and mercy and forgiveness over retribution. The work invites Muslims to move away from thinking about the form of Islamic government and to strive to create a self-critical society that defends national virtue and generates institutions and practices that provide good governance. Trade Review“This book is a feat in interdisciplinary scholarship for coming up with an alternative paradigm for Islamic political philosophy by its reconstruction of the concept of Ihsan.” (Owais Manzoor Dar, Arab Law Quarterly, Vol. 36, 2022)Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction: The Quest for a Political Philosophy of IhsanChapter 2 Loss of Ihsan Chapter 3 Islam as Identity: After a Century of Islamic RevivalismChapter 4 Ihsan: Classical and Contemporary UnderstandingChapter 5 Unveiling Ihsan: From Cosmic View to WorldviewChapter 6 Islamic Political Philosophy: A Critical Genealogy Chapter 7 Ihsan and Good Governance Chapter 8 Closing Thoughts

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Book SynopsisPatrick O'Meara is Emeritus Professor of Russian and former Master of Van Mildert College, Durham University, where he worked from 2004 to 2011. He taught in the Russian Department at Trinity College Dublin for 30 years and was elected an Honorary Fellow in 2013. He has published extensively on the political history of Alexander I's reign and on the Decembrists in particular.Trade ReviewPatrick O’Meara draws on extensive research to offer a highly informative, richly detailed, and expertly curated history of the Russian nobility during the reign of Alexander I … O’Meara’s thoroughly insightful guide to the Alexandrine period in Russian social and political history is a welcome addition to the library of any scholar interested in the history of Russia in the nineteenth century. * The Russian Review *[In] the course of O’Meara’s excellent analysis of the legal status, education, state service and political struggles of the Russian nobility, as well as their relationship with Alexander I, he gives us a wealth of evidence of this nobility’s diversity by providing rich descriptions of its differing segments and factions. It is an enlightening and engaging piece of scholarship. * European Review of History: Revue européenne d'histoire *It has been said that 1848 was a turning point when Europe “failed to turn.” Russia reached a similar juncture under Alexander I. For a brief moment, it seemed that the Tsar, supported by a minority of progressive nobles, might free the serfs, issue a constitution, and enable Russia’s successful entry into the modern age. Why this did not happen is the subject of this outstandingly researched and argued book. Weaving together noble society and culture, provincial and imperial politics, and the debates among the Russian elite, Patrick O’Meara provides a masterful interpretation of early 19th century Russia that is both stimulating to the expert and accessible to the novice. * Alexander Martin, Professor of History, University of Notre Dame, US *Based on extensive sources, including memoirs and local archives, this is an authoritative account which explains the role played by nobles in the Russian Empire, the flawed policies of Alexander I, and the subsequent parting of the ways between the Tsar and the educated noble elite by the end of his reign. It will become the standard work on the subject. * Janet Hartley, Professor of International History, London School of Economics and Political Science *A commanding work of synthesis, this volume offers a dispassionate, richly textured portrait of the Russian nobility, this amorphous, hugely diverse and layered, at once supine and self-important estate, whose historical responsibility has divided historians. O’Meara deftly surveys the territory, taking the reader into a lucid and comprehensive analysis of political culture in the age of Alexander I, while also allowing the voices of contemporaries to speak directly to us. This surely will be a lasting work of reference. * Professor Andreas Schonle, Head of the School of Modern Languages, University of Bristol *In this fundamental work all aspects of the history of the Russian nobility of the first quarter of the XIX century are considered. The work is based on extensive documentary material, in particular, archival documents found by the author in the central metropolitan and provincial archives. A great creative success is the author's approach to the presentation of the material: the book combines generalizing conclusions and various cases that demonstrate the diversity of the fates of the nobility. In general, we can say that the book Patrick O’Meara will be a very significant event in the history of the study of the Russian nobility. * Elena Marasinova, Professor at the Higher School of Economics, Institute of Russian History, Russian Academy of Sciences *This book gives us a persuasive, vivid and extensive exposition of its specified subject. It is an impressive scholarly achievement and will be required reading for those interested in Russia in the early nineteenth century. It is also well written, a good read, and a well-produced volume. * Journal of European Studies *Patrick O’Meara informs us that the aim of his book ‘is to offer its readers a densely textured social and political portrait of the Russian nobility’ during the reign of Alexander I. The work succeeds admirably in this regard. * European History Quarterly *O'Meara's work offers a broad and articulated picture of the nobility ... It is undoubtedly a major advance on previous research and may also be the starting point for future historical and legal studies. * Journal of Constitutional History *In today’s world of seemingly infinite access to information, this is precisely the sort of book that seasoned scholars and advanced students need (and want) to read. Indeed, for anyone beginning a project on the Russian nobility or the age of Alexander I, O’Meara’s study is a productive place to start ... Put simply and unequivocally, O’Meara’s book is a delight to read. * History *The Russian Nobility in the Age of Alexander I is a very well-written scholarly work that paints a political portrait of the Russian nobility during the reign of Alexander I. … This book can be highly recommended to anyone with an interest in any of these topics. * International Journal of Russian Studies *

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Book SynopsisDerek Beach is Professor of Political Science at the Aarhus University, Denmark.Rasmus Brun Pedersen is Associate Professor of Political Science at Aarhus University, Denmark.Trade ReviewThis second edition goes from strength to strength. It offers an authoritative and accessible introduction to foreign policy analysis and gives invaluable advice on research design and strategy. It should be essential reading for any student of foreign policy. * Kai Oppermann, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany *Students and scholars need this book on their shelf. The text is clear, accessible and informative, with each chapter incorporating a wealth of pertinent examples and drawing on a wide range of authoritative scholarly sources. A superb text! * Derek Averre, Birmingham University, UK *An excellent overview of the main theories and approaches to the study of foreign policy, this book is a perfect combination for students at all levels seeking to understand how foreign policy is crafted and implemented. * Cameron Thies, Arizona State University, USA *This excellent book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the field of Foreign Policy Analysis. With its combination of theory, methods, and practical application, this is a first-rate textbook for students and scholars alike. * Patrick A. Mello, Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Germany *Beach and Pedersen deftly present the fascinating sub-discipline of foreign policy analysis with plentiful practical examples and a rich connection to IR scholarship. Methodologically diverse and rich in content, and with two very helpful chapters on doing FPA research, this second edition is a must-have. * Baris Kesgin, Elon University, USA *The new edition of Analyzing Foreign Policy, featuring expanded and updated methodology-related content, is now the go-to resource for students seeking straightforward, practical guidance on how to conduct on foreign policy research. * Benjamin Day, Australian National University, Australia *A timely introduction to the field of Foreign Policy Analysis that not only introduces key drivers and issue areas of foreign policy but embeds the discussion in broader questions of research strategy and design. * Klaus Brumer, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany *Analyzing Foreign Policy’s revised edition has a lot to offer to teachers of classes on foreign policy. The original book has been effectively expanded to help students formulate relevant research questions, choose their research design and embed their work in the general International Relations literature. This book thus serves the purpose of making one’s students engage with foreign policy issues in a creative and academically rewarding way. * Bertjan Verbeek, Professor of International Relations, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands *An intelligent and insightful survey of the field of Foreign Policy Analysis, offering students and scholars an excellent starting point for their own research. Methodological issues are described with clarity and precision and the text is replete with practical examples from world politics. This is both a first rate teaching tool and an original contribution to the discipline in its own right. * Jamie Gaskarth, University of Birmingham, UK *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Research Questions and the Use of Theory 3. Choosing an Appropriate Research Strategy 4. System Level Factors 5. Domestic Factors 6. Understandings of the Choice Situation 7. Making Foreign Policy 8. What States Do: Security Policies 9 What States Do: Diplomacy 10. What States Do: Economic Foreign Policies 11. A Transformation of State Foreign Policy-Making?

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Book SynopsisPresident Donald Trump is a revolutionary figure in American politics. 2016 was the 1776 of our generation and 2024 was our greatest victory ever!

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Book SynopsisAn analysis of how traditional power structures in Nigeria have survived the forces of colonialism and the modernization processes of postcolonial regimes. This book analyzes how indigenous political power structures in Nigeria survived both the constricting forces of colonialism and the modernization programs of postcolonial regimes. With twenty detailed case studies on colonial andpostcolonial Nigerian history, the complex interactions between chieftaincy structures and the rapidly shifting sociopolitical and economic conditions of the twentieth century become evident. Drawing on the interactions between the state and chieftaincy, this study goes beyond earlier Africanist scholarship that attributes the resilience of these indigenous structures to their enduring normative and utilitarian qualities. Linked to externally-derived forces, and legitimated by neotraditional themes, chieftaincy structures were distorted by the indirect rule system, transformed by competing communal claims, and legitimated a dominant ethno-regional power configuration. Olufemi Vaughan is Professor in the Department of Africana Studies and the Department of History, State University of New York at Stony Brook. Winner of the 2001 Cecil B. Currey Book-length Award from the Association ofThird World Studies.Trade ReviewVaughan magisterially treats heavily troubled Nigeria. . . Six good maps, four helpful tables, excellent endnotes, a comprehensive bibliography, and good indexing enhance this title. * CHOICE *The contribution of this study is a significant one. . . [Vaughan's] is an exceptionally complex account, incorporating every possible variable. * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AFRICAN HISTORICAL STUDIES *Vaughan's book is an excellent survey of the central role played by chieftaincy structures in these decades. * EHR *Vaughan's study of Yoruba chiefs is a brave undertaking. . . [his] book is especially welcome in that it makes a major contribution to the historiography of modern Nigeria. * AFRICAN HISTORY *

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Book SynopsisFocusing on peasants, witches, runaway slaves, prostitutes, revolutionaries and others who defied authority, this book details these lives of exclusion and challenge, looking at the rise and transformation of capitalism as it was lived by the dispossessed.

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Book SynopsisAs David Vine demonstrates, the overseas bases raise geopolitical tensions and provoke widespread antipathy towards the United States. They also undermine American democratic ideals, pushing the U.S. into partnerships with dictators and perpetuating a system of second-class citizenship in territories like Guam. They breed sexual violence, destroy the environment, and damage local economies. And their financial cost is staggering: though the Pentagon underplays the numbers, Vine's accounting proves that the bill approaches $100 billion per year. For many decades, the need for overseas bases has been a quasi-religious dictum of U.S. foreign policy. But in recent years, a bipartisan coalition has finally started to question this conventional wisdom. With the U.S. withdrawing from Afghanistan and ending thirteen years of war, there is no better time to re-examine the tenets of our military strategy. Base Nation is an essential contribution to that debate.

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Book SynopsisThis history of Athenian democracy covers the period 403-322 BC, and focuses in particular on the crucial last thirty years which coincided with the political career of Demosthenes and ended with his suicide in 322. It examines Athenian democracy both as a political system and as an ideology. In describing the former it distinguishes between the three major decision-making organs (the Assembly,the Legislators and the People's Courts) and the magistrates who were responsible for preparing the agenda for the legislature and also for carrying its decisions into effect. In discussing Athenian democratic ideology, the book also makes the important distinction between the ideals held by the democrats themselves and those imputed to them by the critics of democracy. The Athenians conceived of liberty both as the ability to participate in the decision-making process, and as the privilege to live without oppression from state or other citizens. Equality was not considered as an equality of nature, but as one of opportunity.

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Book SynopsisIn the post Cold War era does the withdrawal of armies from direct rule in most countries herald an end to their role as actors in domestic politics? Is it indeed sensible to assume that political intervention by the military has been more or less permanently superceded? Drawing on the 20th century experience of a dozen important countries this book examines a number of closely related issues: What generalizations can be made about the causes and enduring consequences of military rule for nation building and economic development? How have the passing of the Cold War, the rise of globalization and other changes in the 1990s affected the political role of the military? How can we assess the role of political armies in relation to the problems of consolidating civil politics and democratic governance? Are there lessons for policy makers to be learned from a comparative analysis of political armies in such fields as global governance and post-conflict reconstruction? This stimulating set of explorations and investigations builds on previous theories about the role of the military in politics and looks to the future - the possible proliferation of armed actors, new perversions in the domestic roles of the armed forces, and the much more prominent emergence of privatized forces of law and order.Trade Review'A provocative and wide-ranging collection of first-rate case studies on the political roles armies have played and still play around the world. The choice of countries included is very original and the wide ambit of issues it covers makes it the most comprehensive book existing today on this ongoing debate. This timely volume is essential for understanding the importance of the military factor in current processes of democratization as it gives a cautionary sign about the ever-existing prospects of authoritarian regression.' Patricio Silva, editor of The Soldier and the State in South America 'Political Armies lays bare the important truth about civil-military relations in the post-cold war world.' Johanna Mendelson Forman, American University, Washington, DC 'This timely volume raises hugely important issues for the aftermath of political armies which cannot be ignored. The particular forte of the contributors lies in their ability to penetrate the thinking of the military and to highlight their capacity for "strategic" responses to the dilemmas resulting from the dismantling of the Cold War and the surge of democracy ... Quite probably the most important and sophisticated comparative volume on the subject of the military and politics to emerge in recent years.' Eboe Hutchful, Wayne State UniversityTable of Contents Introduction 1. Military Politics and the Mission of Nation Building - Kees Koonings and Dirk Kruijt 2. From Military Reformists to Civilian Dictatorship: Peruvian Military Politics since 1960s - Dirk Kruijt & Maria Del Pilar Tello 3. The Guatemalan Politico-Military Project: Whose Ship of State? - Jennifer Schirmer 4. The Military and Politics in Brazil, 1964-2000 - Celso Castro 5. A Political Army in Chile: Historical Assessment and Prospects for the New Democracy - Felipe Aguëro 6. The Janus Face of the Indonesian Armed Forces - Nico Schulte Nordholt 7. The Military, Politics and Post-Cold War Dilemma's in Turkey - Aylin Güney 8. The Algerian Army and the State - Lahouari Addi 9. Entrenched Militarism and the Future of Democratic Transition in Nigeria - J'kayode Fayemi 10. Political Armies and the Nation State in Ethiopia and Eritrea - Robin Luckham 11. Army Politics as a Historical Legacy: The Experience of Burma - Martin Smith 12. Serbia and the Politics of the Yugoslav Armies: Communism, Federalism and Democracy - James Gow 13. The Military Politics: Old Wine in New Bottles? An Attempt at Stock-Taking - Emanuel De Kadt Epilogue: Political Armies between Continuity and Demise - Kees Koonings and Dirk Kruijt

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