Political structure and processes Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Wild Grass, Pulitzer Prize—winning journalist Ian Johnson tells the stories of three ordinary Chinese citizens moved to extraordinary acts of courage: a peasant legal clerk who filed a class-action suit on behalf of overtaxed farmers, a young architect who defended the rights of dispossessed homeowners, and a bereaved woman who tried to find out why her elderly mother had been beaten to death in police custody. Representing the first cracks in the otherwise seamless façade of Communist Party control, these small acts of resistance demonstrate the unconquerable power of the human conscience and prophesy an increasingly open political future for China.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA clear account of how Islamic political thought has developed from the politico-religious structure established by Mohammed and his immediate successors.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne of the key aims of devolution in Scotland was to change the way people felt about their country and the way they were governed. This book draws on a unique range of Scottish Election Studies and Scottish Social Attitudes surveys to explore the early success--or otherwise--of devolution in meeting this objective. It asks how the Scottish public has reacted to the initial experience of devolution, and the lessons this experience might have for the future of devolution.Table of Contents1. Introduction (The Editors); Part 1: Constitutional Preferences; 2. The Devolution Conundrum (Alison Park and David McCrone); 3. A Better Union? (Paula Surridge); 4. Putting the Nationalist genie back in the bottle? (Lindsay Paterson); Part 2: Devolved Elections; 5. Who Votes? (Catherine Bromley); 6. Holding Scotland's Politicians Accountable (John Curtice); 7. A Chance to Experiment? (Robert Ingram); 8. Proportional Power (John Curtice); Part 3: National Identity; 9. Being Scottish (Ross Bond and Michael Rosie); 10. Islamophobia and Anglophobia (Asifa Hussain and William Miller); 11. Conclusion (The Editors); Technical Appendix (summary details of the surveys used in the book and other technical information of relevance to the analyses).

Read more less

Book SynopsisSecond edition of this comprehensive account of the policy process in contemporary Scotland.Trade ReviewSecond editions are often first editions plus some cosmetic changes and a few updates. Michael Keating's second edition of The Government of Scotland is much more than this. Of course it brings things up to date, including a nuanced analysis of the impact an SNP Government has had on politics and policy in Scotland. But it also develops much more strongly the theme of how politics and policy have become re-scaled within the state. Scotland appears here as an especially interesting case study of the territorialisation of 'policy community' and the embedding of a distinctive policy style. This is one of the best books on devolution so far. -- Charlie Jeffery, Head of School of Social and Political Science, Edinburgh University Second editions are often first editions plus some cosmetic changes and a few updates. Michael Keating's second edition of The Government of Scotland is much more than this. Of course it brings things up to date, including a nuanced analysis of the impact an SNP Government has had on politics and policy in Scotland. But it also develops much more strongly the theme of how politics and policy have become re-scaled within the state. Scotland appears here as an especially interesting case study of the territorialisation of 'policy community' and the embedding of a distinctive policy style. This is one of the best books on devolution so far.Table of ContentsList of Tables; List of Figures; Preface; 1. Public Policy and Devolution; 2. The New Scottish Political System; 3. Publics, Parties and Elections; 4. The Policy Environment; 5. Government and Parliament; 6. Intergovernmental Policy Making; 7. Getting and Spending; 8. Policy Making in Practice; 9. New Politics, New Policies?; Bibliography; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisProvides an introduction to the major changes in the political landscape of the UK caused by the political devolution of power to London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This book also helps those wishing to understand devolution by explaining its development, and assessing the operation, strengths and weaknesses of the devolved state.Table of Contents1. The Background to Devolution; 2. 'Devolution all round?': the case of England; 3. English devolution: London leads the way?; 4. The Evolution of Scottish Devolution; 5. The Governance of Scotland; 6. Political Parties and Politics in Scotland; 7. The Government of Wales; 8. The Continuing Evolution of Welsh Devolution; 9. Northern Ireland: Historical Political Development; 10. Northern Ireland and Devolution: Structures and Process; 11. Political Parties within Northern Ireland; 12. Creeping Federalism or a Unitary State?.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe political landscape of the UK was altered dramatically with the devolution of power to London, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This introduction to the major changes caused by devolution looks at both the historical background and contemporary political events. It assesses the operation, strengths and weaknesses of the devolved state.Table of Contents1. The Background to Devolution; 2. 'Devolution all round?': the case of England; 3. English devolution: London leads the way?; 4. The Evolution of Scottish Devolution; 5. The Governance of Scotland; 6. Political Parties and Politics in Scotland; 7. The Government of Wales; 8. The Continuing Evolution of Welsh Devolution; 9. Northern Ireland: Historical Political Development; 10. Northern Ireland and Devolution: Structures and Process; 11. Political Parties within Northern Ireland; 12. Creeping Federalism or a Unitary State?

Read more less

Book SynopsisScotland's Choices, now fully revised for the critical last few months before the referendum, explains the choice that Scotland will have to make in September 2014. The authors clearly explain the issues and how each of the options would be put into place after the referendum, without any bias or agenda.Table of ContentsList of Tables; List of Figures; Preface; 1. What it means to have a referendum on independence; 2. Independence for Scotland: what will it mean in practice?; 3. The Calman Commission and the Scotland Act 2012; 4. The possibilities for more devolution; 5. A social union?; 6. The principles of fiscal federalism; 7. Oil; 8. Devolution and separation in the United Kingdom since 1707; 9. After the Vote; References.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first textbook to explain the full range of operations in Welsh governance and politics, for AS, A2 and undergraduate students

Read more less

Book SynopsisJonathan Shea is Associate Curator of Coins and Seals at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, and Dean's Distinguished Lecturer in the Humanities at The George Washington University. He received his PhD from the University of Birmingham and has published in peer-reviewed articles and edited collectionsTrade ReviewThis is a useful and refreshing contribution to the complex history of eleventh-century Byzantium and offers an approach that differs from those that place emphasis chiefly on fiscal problems on the one hand or military collapse on the other. * Speculum *[A]n important contribution to the study of Byzantine government and society. Given its rich and sometimes complex detail it will serve as a useful reference work. Further, in conjunction with other recent studies of Byzantium in the tenth and eleventh centuries...it will enable greater understanding of this crucial period of Byzantine history. * Early Medieval Europe *Table of ContentsPart 1 Byzantium at the Turning Point · Part 1.2 Byzantium in the Eleventh Century · Part 1.2 Seals, Coins, and Lists Part 2 The Byzantine Bureaucrat Part 3 The Rise of the Civilians · Part 3.1 Changing with the Times: The Logothesia and the Treasuries · Part 3.2 Slipping Backwards: The Imperial Chancery · Part 3.3 Governing the Capital · Part 3.4 A New Bureucratic Elite: The Judiciary Part 4 The Collapse of Civilian Government · Reform and Consolidation: The Logothesia and the Treasuries p. 116 · The Chancery: A Part of the Imperial Household? · The Administration of Constantinople: A Steady Decline · Falling From Grace: The Judiciary · The End of Civilian Government Part 5 Changing Priorities and an Evolving Government Appendix Chartoularioi, Notarioi, and Logariastai Bibliography

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA study of politics but also an analysis of different approaches to leadership, this is a portrait of a US Senate that no longer exists - one in which two leaders, while exercising partisan political responsibilities, could still come together to pass groundbreaking legislation - and a reminder of what is possible.Trade ReviewIn today’s era of polarized politics, it seems extraordinary that the Senate’s majority and minority leaders could put aside party rivalries to work together for the common good, but Mike Mansfield and Everett Dirksen shaped partisanship to create room for significant compromise. Marc C. Johnson deftly reveals how they made that work." - Donald A. Ritchie, Historian Emeritus of the US Senate and author of Press Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents

Read more less

Book SynopsisAssesses how the news media covered the extraordinary 2016 US presidential election and, more importantly, what information - true, false, or somewhere in between - actually helped voters make up their minds. The evidence uncovered shows how Donald Trump's victory, and Hillary Clinton's loss, resulted in large part from how the news media responded to these two unique candidates.

Read more less

Book Synopsis Curing the causes and consequences of Trumpism It''s no secret that the United States faces extraordinary political and societal challenges, even as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Political polarization and extremism are the most apparent symptoms, resulting from long-term economic and social inequities as well as a toxic information ecosystem. It is easy to blame Donald Trump for the sad state of American democracy. After all, he abused his executive authority, spread false claims, and even incited violence. But Trumpism is almost certain to outlast Trump himself. The grievances he exploited and the aggrieved to whom he appealed existed well before he became president and likely will endure after he is gone from the political scene. The current political atmosphere is poisonous for those who operate on the basis of facts, reason, and logic. It is time to step back from this dangerous precipice and reflect on the causes of the serious threats to American democracy, procedural justice, and a reason-based society. With polarization now entrenched and authoritarianism gaining strength, no one should assume that facts somehow will triumph over falsehoods and reason will prevail over emotion. Drawing on his personal experiences in the D.C. policy world, Darrell West offers advice for protecting people, organizations, and the country as a whole from our contemporary challenges. This book makes the risks to democracy understandable by explaining specific threats and offering concrete ideas for ameliorating them. It will appeal to anyone interested in American politics, democracy, elections, mass media, technology, and governance.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn his timely and exhaustive analysis of the political economies of the GCC states since the 1970s to the present, Dr Yousef Khalifa Al-Yousef examines the factors responsible for the failure of the states to achieve lasting change in development and security.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo get a better sense of power dynamics in global politics, this book presents an innovative theoretical framework, combining a critical engagement with, and further development of, Michel Foucault's governmentality on the one hand, and the theory of world society of the Stanford School of Sociology on the other. Making an original contribution to academic debates about power and global political order, this book develops a comprehensive theoretical perspective on power relations and political dynamics. The book starts from the presupposition that any theoretical engagement of that kind requires nuanced empirical study as well. It therefore analyzes the dynamics of world-societal order in the concrete empirical example of Palestine, and raises the question of how its political and societal order comes into existence. The author argues that governmentality represents a fundamental pattern of political order in world society that also profoundly affects power dynamics in PalestTrade Review"In the vast field of literature on the Middle East in general, and on Palestine in particular, this book by Jan Busse is a gem. Rich in of understanding the local conditions, it shows how locality is inextricably woven into, and partly produced by, global context. This global context is analysed in a conceptually innovative fashion. This book is a must-read not only for every student of contemporary Palestine, but also for those interested in the uses of sociological approaches in understanding contemporary world affairs."- Mathias Albert, Bielefeld University, Germany"This volume addresses in an excellent way the growing number of calls for a stronger cross-fertilization between IR Theory and Middle East Studies and for disciplinary boundary crossing more generally. Based on an innovative theoretical framework that combines Foucault’s notion of governmentality and the Stanford School’s sociological neo-institutionalism the volume not only contributes, in original ways, to our understanding of how order is constituted and power exercised in a Palestine embedded within the world society. It, furthermore, succeeds in showing why it is important to transcend prevalent but problematic dichotomies in the study of global politics, such as universalism/particularism, inside/outside, traditional/modern, local/global, and, not at least, how this can be done." - Morten Valbjørn, Aarhus University, Denmark"I was fascinated by the research undertaken by Jan Busse. This is an outstanding book that succeeds in what many publications in the field fail to do. Namely, to combine innovative theoretical reflection with rigorous empirical insights generated on the basis of intimate knowledge about a specific place. The book elegantly combines theories of world society and Foucauldian theory with an inspiring analysis of politics in Palestine. A must-read." - Stephan Stetter, Bundeswehr University Munich, GermanyFrom the Series Editor Preface, authored by by Iver B. Neumann:This book draws on two perspectives that have a rightful place in a series on the new International Relations, namely Foucauldian governmentality studies and the world society perspective of the Stanford School. (…)The book introduces these perspectives, as well as their contested uptake within the discipline of International Relations, and brings them to bear on detailed empirical analyses of Palestinian practices. (…) The result is a book that challenges the all-too-prominent methodological nationalism of Palestinian Studies and, by implication, other area-specific fields. More than that, however, the book is part and parcel of the general thrust towards making International Relations a more social discipline that is arguably at the core of the new International Relations.In sociology-speak, it succeeds in pairing up the micro, the meso, and the macro. In anthropology-speak, it begins to look at interaction data in order to say something about social form. In New International Relations parlance, it focuses on the everyday as it is shaped by and shapes institutions and states. That should be as true an aim as any social science could ask for."Jan Busse’s Deconstructing the Dynamics of World Societal Order offers a unique and innovative analysis of Palestine for scholars of International Relations (IR). (...) Deconstructing the Dynamics of World Societal Order requires attention from the discipline. It speaks to the various literatures, from post-structuralist IR to area studies. It advances the debates on how governmentality can be adopted to study political and social phenomena without abandoning a global perspective. Most importantly, the book provokes new ideas and ways of thinking about Palestine." - The International Spectator"Deconstructing the Dynamics of World Societal Order requires attention from the discipline.It speaks to the various literatures, from post-structuralist IR to area studies. It advances the debates on how governmentality can be adopted to study political and social phenomena without abandoning a global perspective. Most importantly, the book provokes new ideas and ways of thinking about Palestine." - Ali Bilgic, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Loughborough UniversityTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. Global Palestine and world society 3. Conceptualizing governmentality in world society 4. Contested numbers: the biopolitics of statistics in Palestine 5. The surveillance of good governance in Palestine 6. The order of the subject: technologies of the self in Palestine 7. Conclusion

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis textbook offers a systematic and up-to-date introduction to politics and society in the Middle East. Taking a thematic approach that engages with core theory as well as a wide range of research, it examines postcolonial political, social and economic developments in the region, while also scrutinising the domestic and international factors that have played a central role in these developments. Topics covered include the role of religion in political life, gender and politics, the Israel-Palestine conflict, civil war in Syria, the ongoing threat posed by Islamist groups such as Islamic State as well as the effects of increasing globalisation across the MENA. Following the ongoing legacy of the Arab Spring, it pays particular attention to the tension between processes of democratization and the persistence of authoritarian rule in the region. This new edition offers: - Coverage of the latest developments, with expanded coverage of the military and security apparatus, regional cTrade ReviewThis book is an invaluable resource for students of the Middle East. It is a highly accessible, but nuanced text that rightly eschews simplistic explanations of an increasingly complex region. The authors’ decision to undertake a thematic analysis of events and currents across the last 150 years makes the book one of the best of the genre, and ensures that students of all levels will be well served. * Dara Conduit, Lecturer in Political Science, University of Melbourne, Australia *To analyse in depth and nuance the comparative politics of the Middle East in less than 300 pages and to offer such a sum to both the academic community and general public is a real tour de force. Two of the most brilliant representatives of Middle East Studies combine their efforts to synthesize numerous years of burning events, passionate debates and innovative leads. A stellar contribution. * Mohamed-Ali Adraoui, Assistant Professor in Middle East History, Politics and International Relations, Radboud University, the Netherlands *This book provides an excellent overview of the historical, religious, social, political and economic context framing the persistence of authoritarianism in the modern Middle East. It analyses the domestic and international forces at play, and what impact this may have on political and security institutions, state society relations and gender relations. Accessible and engaging, Cavatorta and Durac’s book serves as a comprehensive guide for any student of Middle East politics. * Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor of Government, University of Essex, UK *An extremely useful tool both for students and professionals who want to better understand political dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa. Extensive, accurate and well informed, this second edition provides an updated analysis of the region’s politics in light of more recent political developments and debates. An essential textbook that offers a fresh overview of countries, issues and political trajectories. * Rosita Di Peri, Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations, University of Turin, Italy *The second edition of this innovative textbook provides a dynamic overview of the key topics characterising the MENA region and the substantial changes it has witnessed since the Arab Uprisings, offering a balanced overview while also questioning the validity of nation-state systems in the region. This book is an essential textbook for university students and scholars, as well as for the average interested reader seeking a basic knowledge of politics in the Middle East. * Younis Lahwej, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations of the Middle East, University of Reading, UK *Table of Contents1 Introduction 2 The Historical and Political Context 3 Social Structures and Social Development 4 Political Economy 5 Political Systems 6 Religion and Politics 7 Civil Society and Political Change 8 Gender and Politics 9 The Use of Violence: Armed Forces, Police and Militias 10 Conflict in the Middle East and North Africa 11 The Middle East and the Wider World 12 The Origins of the Arab Uprisings 13 Reflections on the Nature and Aftermath of the Arab uprisings

Read more less

Book SynopsisExamines how centralised authoritarian regimes upgrade their system of local governance

Read more less

Book SynopsisIllustrates how when securocrats dominate government decision-making, the democratic life of a country can be threatened. Duncan argues for the importance of keeping the security cluster under democratic, civilian control, and broadly accountable to the society they claim to serve.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is for all those who suffered under apartheid, and suffered to end it, and in particular for Marion Sparg, Zubeida Jaffer, and Guy Berger, who here share their story so generously.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis two-volume set surveys the profound impact of political humor and satire on American culture and politics over the years, paying special attention to the explosion of political humor in today's wide-ranging and turbulent media environment.Historically, there has been a tendency to regard political satire and humor as a sideshow to the wider world of American politicsentertaining and sometimes insightful, but ultimately only of modest interest to students and others surveying the trajectory of American politics and culture. This set documents just how mistaken that assumption is. By examining political humor and satire throughout US history, these volumes not only illustrate how expressions of political satire and humor reflect changes in American attitudes about presidents, parties, and issues but also how satirists, comedians, cartoonists, and filmmakers have helped to shape popular attitudes about landmark historical events, major American institutions and

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis interdisciplinary collection of essays asks how Scotland can create a brighter economic and social future, given the range of powers available, economic constraints, institutions and public support. Looking at economic policy, taxation and welfare, it realistically analyses the opportunities and constraints.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPublished in honour of Professor Yasir Suleiman, this collection acknowledges his contribution to the field of language and society in general, and to that of language analysis of socio-political realities in the Middle East in particular.

Read more less