Political structure and processes Books

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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.

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

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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).

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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

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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?.

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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?

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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.

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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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Book SynopsisDisinformation made possible by rapid advances in cheap, digital technology, and promoted by organized networks, thrives in the toxic political environment that exists within the United States and around the world. In Lies that Kill, two noted experts take readers inside the world of disinformation campaigns to show concerned citizens how to recognize disinformation, understand it, and protect themselves and others. Using case studies of elections, climate change, public health, race, war, and governance, Elaine Kamarck and Darrell West demonstrate in plain language how our political, social, and economic environment makes disinformation believable to large numbers of people. Karmarck and West argue that we are not doomed to live in an apocalyptic, post-truth world but instead can take actions that are consistent with long-held free speech values. Citizen education can go a long way towards making us more discerning consumers of online materials and we can reduce disinformation risks through digital literacy programs, regulation, legislation, and negotiation with other countries.

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