Reception or Interpretation studies / Audience Theory Books

Book SynopsisIf you thought the point of war was to win, this book will make you think again. David Keen questions the model of war as a contest between two sides aiming at political and military victory, and he also rejects the contrasting view that war represents a collapse into anarchy, mindless violence and ethnic hatred.Trade Review"A much more sophisticated contribution than most ... a valuable contribution to the ever-growing literature on conflict and violence." Times Literary Supplement "Complex emergencies aims to analyse the various abusive systems of government that have created the world's recent humanitarian disasters. It is an important and challenging book and, being well edited and thoroughly researched, it achieves its stated aim." International Affairs "A lucid and highly accessible volume and an essential text for anyone wishing to understand the multifaceted interaction between conflict and its benefactors." Journal of Peace Research "The great value of this book is that it enables understanding of the causes of complex emergencies. It provides powerful, detailed analysis of many specific instances from across the globe." Third Way "Combining critical theorizing and detailed knowledge of conflict zones around the world, Keen challenges a mountain of received wisdoms, urban myths, and simplified understandings regarding collective violence, aid, reconstruction, and peace-building." Making Sense of Darfur "Recommended for scholars of international relations and development studies. It provides an important contribution to the literature by synthesizing existing research about the dilemmas of trying to intervene in complex emergencies that initially may seem irrational to outside observers but ultimately make sense from the perspective of the different interests involved." Journal of Refugee Studies "Complex Emergencies is the indispensable text on the topic of internal war and its humanitarian implications. It analyses how conflict functions systemically and the role of psychological factors in extreme violence. Moreover, despite dealing with such a difficult subject, this book is also a delight to read." Alex de Waal, Global Equity Initiative, Harvard University "In providing a powerful corrective to the urge to dismiss African wars or terrorism as mindless violence, this book represents David Keen at his incisive best. In this comprehensive and challenging review of complex emergencies, Keen brilliantly shows how factors often dismissed as irrational or unforeseen actually function to constitute the predicament in question. For anyone seriously concerned with what is happening in the world’s disaster zones - whether student, policy-maker or general public - you will not find a better or more illuminating guide." Mark Duffield, University of BristolTable of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1 WarChapter 2 ‘Greed’: Economic AgendasChapter 3 Combatants and their GrievancesChapter 4 Defining the EnemyChapter 5 FamineChapter 6 AidChapter 7 InformationChapter 8 PeaceChapter 9 ConclusionBibliography

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Book SynopsisDaniel Tudor covers all the important issues, yet does not simply tell the more familiar stories, but looks deeper and wider to give the full story of Korea today. Martin Uden, Former British Ambassador to South Korea.Trade Review"Tudor, Seoul correspondent for The Economist, provides a fairly perfunctory account of the 'miracle on the Han River,' which saw South Korea transformed from postwar ruin to prosperous democracy within four decades. The book's real value comes in its exploration of the cultural forces behind the country's zeal for self-improvement." --Financial Times"Sixty years ago, South Korea was an economic wasteland. Today, it is not only the world's 11th largest economy but also a vibrant democracy and an emerging cultural force. This transformation is the subject of a new book, Korea: The Impossible Country, by Daniel Tudor, Korea correspondent for The Economist.'" --Time Magazine"Mr. Tudor pushes into new social and economic territory with his book, including the rising role of immigrants, multicultural families and even gay people in South Korea. He lays out some of the contradictory behavior one finds in South Korea, such as the unending desire for new and trendy gadgets and fashion and yet the tunnel-like view of what constitutes a successful life." --Wall Street Journal

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Book SynopsisAn urgent demand for a People's Green New Deal, foregrounding global agricultural transformation and climate justice for the Global SouthTrade Review'Hands-down the best book yet on the Green New Deal. Courageous, bold, refreshing - Ajl pushes the horizons of progressive thought and envisions an ecosocialist transition that is rooted in principles of global justice' -- Jason Hickel, author of 'Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World''An amazing text, truly inspirational. There are few books in which nearly every sentence is urgent and quotable, but this is one. Lucid and profound, it assembles the elements that are necessary for an actual political program of survival and renewal' -- Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of 'An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States' (Beacon Press, 2014)'You cannot purchase your way out of climate change the same way you cannot pick a 'Green New Deal' brand that suits your personal preferences. Anti-imperialism and anti-capitalism are not by-gone projects, they're very much alive in the Global South. Left climate movements in the North would be better served by following their example as well as reading this critical work' -- Nick Estes, author of 'Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance' (Verso, 2019)‘Ajl guides us with an authority steeped in scholarship but also with panache. If you really want to learn what'll be necessary for our species to survive climate apocalypse, read this book. You'll then know the ways by which humanity's very fate can be won’ -- Rob Wallace, author of 'Dead Epidemiologists: On the Origins of COVID-19' (Monthly Review Press, 2020)'Anyone wanting to understand the limitations of the Green New Deal, and how it is being employed as a tool to rationalize Green Capitalism, and sanitize its advance within the capitalist system must read this critical work' -- Kali Akuno, Executive Director of Cooperation Jackson"In this urgent book, Max Ajl poses the question “What would visions for sustainability in Global North look like if they were anti-imperial, reparative, socialist and agroecological?” The answer, he argues, looks radically different from – and more liberating than - the Green New Deals on the table today" -- Raj Patel, co-author of 'A History of the World in Seven Cheap Things: A Guide to Capitalism, Nature, and the Future of the Planet' (Verso, 2020)'An exceedingly important and powerful book, a uniquely comprehensive report about climate change, its politics and injustices' -- Judith Deutsch, ‘Counterpunch’‘A bracing and thought-provoking call for those of us in the Global North to reconsider how we fight for social and climate justice’ -- ‘ROAR’‘A refreshing and rich scholarly alternative to how an ideal green new deal should be imagined … an exquisite sketch of ideal avenues towards eco-socialism’ -- ‘Developing Economics’‘Provides a comprehensive survey of the nuanced issues a red-green alliance must confront and resolve’ -- ‘System Change not Climate Change’'An exceedingly important and powerful book, a uniquely comprehensive report about climate change, its politics and injustices'. -- ‘Socialist Project’‘A magnificent work that should be at the top of reading lists for anyone remotely concerned about the climate crisis' -- ‘Canadian Dimension’Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I: Capitalist Green Transitions 1. Green Transition - or Fortress Eco-Nationalism? 2. Change Without Change: Eco-Modernism 3. Energy Use, Degrowth, and the Green New Deal 4. Green Social Democracy or Eco-Socialism? Part II: A People's Green New Deal 5. The World We Wish to See 6. A Planet of Fields 7. Green Anti-Imperialism and the National Question Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisStephen Sterling is a pioneer in sustainability education. This collection of his essential writings is freshly curated by the author and offers a new overview and chapter by chapter introductions that link together his thinking to inform the growing and urgent debate on the role and nature of education.

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How do we try to make the world a better place, when the challenges of poverty, disease, war, conflict, and climate change continue to impact millions of lives? Global Development: The Basics is a lively and engaging introduction to the shifting landscape of global development, right from its origins, to present-day problems, and on to what the future for global development might look like. Recognising global development as an economic, political, and social project, this book tackles a series of critical questions: asking what' development is and how it is measured, where and to whom it is assumed to happen, how its approaches are developed, and whose benefit do they serve? The book invites readers to consider the complexities and challenges of the concept of development, including its historical roots in colonialism, and the geopolitical power relations which continue to set much of the agenda. It investigates whose voices are included or silenced in do

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Book SynopsisThe history and politics of Syrian Kurdistan, with a special focus on the revolution in Rojava.Trade Review'Preferable to most journalistic accounts that reduce the Rojava revolution to a single narrative. It will remain an informative resource even when the realities have further changed' -- Martin van Bruinessen, Kurdish Studies 3 (2), (2015)Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface to the English Edition Preface to the Fourth Edition Preface to the Third Edition The Development of Kurdish Parties 1. The Long Struggle for Autonomy 2. Background and Methods of Social Science Research in War 3. Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, and Assyrians: Rojava as Part of the Ethnic Diversity of Syria 4. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Alevi, and Êzîdî: Religious Pluralism in Rojava 5. Kurdistan: Country without a State or Country against the State 6. Syrian Kurdistan under the French Protectorate 7. Kurds in Independent Syria 8. In the Crosshairs of Pan-Arabism: From the United Arab Republic to Ba‘athism 9. Special Census and Statelessness 10. The Kurds under Ba‘athist Rule 11. Between Two Brief Springs: Rojava under Bashar al-Assad 12. The Kurdish Party Landscape 13. From Revolution to Civil War 14. Military Developments since 2012 15. Political Economy in the Civil War 16. The Kurdish Districts of Aleppo 17. The Kurdish Para-State in Rojava 18. Voices from Rojava 19. Conclusion: Rojava, Quo Vadis? Bibliography List of Interviews Notes Index

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Book SynopsisImagining a better future is at the heart of development. But mainstream development models are driven by a very narrow, Western- centric set of ideas about what it means to be human. What could be possible if we let ourselves imagine differently? As our world continues to evolve at breakneck speed and faces unprecedented crisesfrom the decaying environment to cascading inequality the need for bold new directions for development has never been greater. Peter Sutoris and Uma Pradhan put a spotlight on the thought- provoking visions of leading theorists, activists and practitioners for rethinking development as a political project towards more equitable futures. Questioning top-down economic frameworks, they explore transformative ideasfrom degrowth to indigenous knowledgethat may enable us to address the complexities of our rapidly changing global landscape. They consider how the world can chart a path towards reconciling the moral case for eradicating poverty with these critical perspectives to advance a more ethical approach, one that is sensitive to history, diversity, and the challenges and opportunities of this moment. If development is to remain relevant today, it must reinvent itselfand finally listen to voices on the ground.

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Book SynopsisA penetrating, personal look at contemporary India—the world’s largest democracy at a moment of transition.Trade Review"[A] sharply observed study... richly detailed portraits." -- The Economist"Thoughtful and timely... Sengupta balances strong impartial analysis with emotional investment." -- The Wall Street Journal"[Sengupta] marvels at the resulting ambition and ingenuity, while also observing the power of residual caste and gender prejudices." -- The New Yorker"How India’s youth are trading fatalism and karma for free will and higher expectations, by a former New York Times New Delhi bureau chief who interweaves data, first-hand accounts and archival research to great effect." -- Best Books of 2016 - The Economist"For a topical taste of India on the turn, Somini Sengupta's The End of Karma offers just the ticket." -- Literary Review

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Book SynopsisChanging relations between science and democracy â and controversies over issues such as climate change, energy transitions, genetically modified organisms and smart technologies â have led to a rapid rise in new forms of public participation and citizen engagement. While most existing approaches adopt fixed meanings of âparticipationâ and are consumed by questions of method or critiquing the possible limits of democratic engagement, this book offers new insights that rethink public engagements with science, innovation and environmental issues as diverse, emergent and in the making. Bringing together leading scholars on science and democracy, working between science and technology studies, political theory, geography, sociology and anthropology, the volume develops relational and co-productionist approaches to studying and intervening in spaces of participation. New empirical insights into the making, construction, circulation and effects of participation across cultures are Trade Review"The insightful chapters collected in this book show how concerns raised by technosciences provide a tremendous opportunity for remaking democracy. The editors and authors invite us to consider the so-called participatory turn neither as a masquerade nor as a mere social technology but as a global multisite construction place where new forms of collective life and government are imagined and experimented. A brilliant book that should be read by all those interested in the future of our planet." –Michel Callon, Professor of Sociology, École des mines and Centre de sociologie de l'innovation, Paris, France"Do not mistake the modesty advocated by this book for half-heartedness. Remaking Participation argues that we should expand our perspectives on participation, and need to get better at appreciating the incredible variety of locations, devices and genres with which participation is done in today’s technological societies. This situation makes it necessary to ‘un-fix’ our understanding of participation. In practice, participation often does not conform to the democratic ideal of participation that we know so well – it is not necessarily good, necessary, authentic. But neither would it do to declare that participation has turned into its opposite (that it has become co-opted, trivial, ineffective). Bringing together leading intellectual voices on science, technology and democracy, Remaking Participation shows that participation lies at the very heart of current technological, environmental and political transformations, and outlines a much needed research agenda that engages with the intensely ambivalent situations that result from this."–Noortje Marres, Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies, University of Warwick, UK"Modern societies remain hampered by myths about the relationship between science and democracy. The myths produce unwelcome practices, such as attempts to scientize political decisions or to discredit science by politicising it. This landmark volume explodes the myths and shows how science and democracy can achieve a new relationship underpinned by the core value of public participation. It shows how and why science needs to rethink its relationship with society, and how societies can make science and democracy far more responsive to their needs and desires. The book takes readers to the cutting-edge of debates about the proper relationships between science and democracy. More than this, it also explores new territory, showing how science and democracy can be more richly infused with the practices of both. The editors and authors have together done a brilliant job of showing us what needs to change, and how. It will be a key reference for many years to come. "–Noel Castree, Professor of Geography, University of Wollongong, Australia and University of Manchester, UK"Whether sparked by gene editing or geoengineering, fracking or food crops, arguments about the possibilities and pitfalls of advances in science and technology ripple through our societies with increasing frequency. How, and on what terms, experts, policymakers and wider publics engage in these debates is a topic of constant and fierce negotiation. In Remaking Participation, Jason Chilvers and Matthew Kearnes have brought together an exciting and original series of contributions from some of the leading thinkers in this field. The end result is a collection of rare quality, insight and relevance to real-world questions. It should be read by scholars, students, practitioners, policymakers, and all those who care about the future of science, technology and society."–James Wilsdon, Professor of Science & Democracy, University of Sussex, UK & Chair, Campaign for Social Science"‘Participation’ is the word that covers all sins, a term so elastic that it can be used to both challenge and legitimize any given decision-making process. Remaking Participation shows how to redeem this slippery concept and sharpen its critical edge. By examining in detail how citizens engage with controversial scientific and environmental issues, this book invites us to see the objects and the subjects of participation, the problems that trigger political action and the collectives that gather around them, as emergent, mutually constitutive realities. Far from being a recipe for relativism and detachment, the authors’ embrace of the contingency that besets participatory democracy in the making reinvigorates the ideal of civic engagement and recasts the role of social scientists as participants in open-ended political experiments."–Javier Lezaun, Deputy Director, Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Oxford, UK"This is the book that many have long been waiting for. It tackles head-on, some of the most important current issues at the meeting of social science and wider politics: What does participation mean? Where is it going? Transcending the usual dichotomised tropes, these essays take diverse and highly nuanced critically reflectively views – with many very practical implications. The conclusions are of enormous importance to all those academics and practitioners working in policy arenas touched by the language and practice of participation"–Andy Stirling, Professor of Science and Technology Policy and Co-Director of the STEPS Centre, University of Sussex, UK"Exercises of participatory technology assessment are a fascinating window onto relations of science, citizens, and state. Bringing together a rich diversity of cases and arguments, the book builds on the idea that public assessment of technology is a form of democratic experiment by analyzing the variety of ways in which this is so. In the process, we gain a useful theoretical framework for understanding the modern enterprise of ‘public engagement’ as a co-constructive process of making publics, democratic idioms, and technoscience itself." –David Winickoff, Director, Berkeley Program in Science & Technology Studies, USA"This important book argues for a new approach to public participation in science and technology, one which understands participation as co-produced, relational and emergent. Written by the leading contributors in the field, and combining theoretical depth with engaging empirical material, this refreshing and timely collection is essential reading for all those concerned with science, innovation and democracy." –Jane Calvert, Science Technology & Innovation Studies, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK"Participatory politics are all the rage. This is especially the case when science, technology, corporate and political power shape innovation and policymaking. Such forces also manipulate opinion and even political and social outlooks. So the very act of participation could, in the wrong hands, reinforce the tools of power and influence. Jason Chilvers and Matthew Kearnes are very much alive to these dangers. They have brought together an impressive array of contributors who show that effective participation can be truly revolutionary and politically transforming. They are all on their guard that such a rewarding outcome has constantly to be fought for and reinvented through genuine partnerships and dialogue. The ultimate test is how far power is progressively shared and social justice genuinely created." –Tim O’Riordan, Emeritus Professor, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK"Participation is a key field within the study of international development. This book adds significantly to existing approaches to participation by adding insights from science and technology studies and theories of democracy. It should be read by students and analysts working on international development, and anyone interested in participation as a research and policy tool." –Tim Forsyth, Department of International Development, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK"[T]he individual chapters in the book, which comprise a series of excellent explorations of participatory practices in our science and technology drenched democracies, showing how those practices are continually (re)configured during unending contestations over democracy.The strength of the volume resides in those excellent chapters, and in the good intentions of Chilvers and Kearnes" - Darrin Durant, Metascience Journal, 2018Table of Contents1.Science, democracy and emergent publics Part 1 Rethinking participation 2. Participation in the making: rethinking public engagement in co-productionist terms 3. Engaging in a decentred world: overflows, ambiguities, and the governance of climate change 4. Engaging the Mundane: Complexity and Speculation in Everyday Technoscience 5. Ghosts of the machine: Publics, meanings and social science in a time of expert dogma and denial 2 Making participation 6. State experiments with public participation: French nanotechnology, Congolese deforestation, and the search for national publics 7. Technologies of participation and the making of technologised futures 8. Participation as pleasure: Citizenship and science communication 9. The temporal choreographies of participation: Thinking innovation and society from a time-sensitive perspective Part 3 Remaking Participation 10. An ‘experiment with intensities’: village hall reconfigurings of the world within a new participatory collective 11. Against blank slate futuring: Noticing obduracy in the city through experiential methods of public engagement 12. Reflexively engaging with technologies of participation: constructive assessment for public participation methods 13. Remaking participation: towards reflexive engagement

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Book SynopsisThis book situates state failure and state collapse in historical context and explains the structures and forces that have led to state collapse in a number of countries around the world. It also analyses and critiques contemporary interventions and reconstruction efforts in collapsed states.Table of ContentsNotes on Contributors. State Failure, State Collapse and State Reconstruction: Jennifer Milliken and Keith Krause, Graduate Institute of International Studies. Part I: States, Statebuilding and State Collapse:. 1. Putting State Collapse in Context: History, Politics and the Genealogy of a Concept: Christopher Clapham, Lancaster University. 2. State Collapse and Fresh Starts: Some Critical Reflections: Martin Doornbos, Institute of Social Studies. 3.State Collapse and Implications for Peace-Building and Reconstruction: Alexandros Yannis, Graduate Institute of International Studies. Part II: Anatomies of Failure and Collapse:. 4. Collapsing States and Non-Revolutionary Insurgencies: William Reno, Northwestern University. 5. Rising From the Ashes? The Difficult Rebirth of the Georgian State: Spyros Demetriou, Graduate Institute of International Studies. 6. Try Again, Fail Again? Adventures in State-Building in Afghanistan: Jonathon Goodhand and Christopher Cramer, SOAS. 7. Africa: Private Military Intervention and Arms Proliferation in the Process of State Decay: Abdel-Fatau Musah, Centre for Democracy and Development. 8. State Collapse as Business: The Role of Conflict Trade and the Emerging Control Agenda: Robert Neil Cooper, University of Plymouth. Part III: Relief and Reconstruction:. 9. UNTAC in Cambodia: A New Model for Humanitarian Aid in Collapsed States?: Daniel Chong, School of International Service, American University. 10. From East Timor to Participatory Intervention: Jarat Chopra, Brown University. 11. Rebuilding State Institutions in Collapsed States: Marina Ottaway, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 12. Aid Conditionality as a Tool for Peacebuilding: Opportunities and Constraints: James Boyce, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 13. Reconstructing the Borderlands: Aid as a Relation of Global Governance: Mark Duffield, University of Leeds. Index.

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Book SynopsisA streamlined edition of the book that restored the role of government in promoting science and technology.Trade ReviewPraise for the original edition: Profound and dazzling. The authors' analysis provides the foundations of an understanding of the progress and regress of nations. This is social science at its best. -- Sir Partha Dasgupta, University of Cambridge [A] sweeping work of macroeconomic theory. Harvard Business ReviewTable of ContentsPreface to the Reader's Edition Preface to the Original Edition Acknowledgments Introduction Part I. Creating a Learning Society: A New Approach to Growth, Development, and Social Progress: Basic Concepts and Analysis 1. The Learning Revolution 2. On the Importance of Learning 3. A Learning Economy 4. Creating a Learning Firm and a Learning Environment 5. Market Structure, Welfare, and Learning 6. The Welfare Economics of Schumpeterian Competition 7. Learning in a Closed Economy 8. The Infant-Economy Argument for Protection: Trade Policy in a Learning Environment Part II. Policies for a Learning Society 9. The Role of Industrial and Trade Policy in Creating a Learning Society 10. Financial Policy and Creating a Learning Society 11. Macroeconomic and Investment Policies for a Learning Society 12. Intellectual Property 13. Social Transformation and the Creation of a Learning Society 14. Concluding Remarks Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisThe author argues that current development thinking uses only a narrow range of approaches to change and the result is that most development strategies are limited; excessively reformist and insensitive to underlying power and inequality and largely ignore environmental issues that confront our societies and planet..

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Book SynopsisTrade Review[A] compelling and timely book * Kevin Morgan, Regional Studies *Want to be an innovation hot spot? Don't copy Silicon Valley... we should remember what innovation is and why we care about it. The first part comes down to realising that innovation is not invention. * John Morgan, The Times Higher Education *The abiding message of Breznitz's book is that it is a mistake to assume that "what works in one time and one place will always work across time and space... a defense of experiments, mistakes, and the right to choose. * William H. Jeneway, Project Syndicate *In this fascinating book, Breznitz, a professor at the Munk School at the University of Toronto, argues that innovation is 'the only way to ensure sustained long-term economic and human-welfare growth'. But, crucially, 'innovation is not invention, nor is it high-tech and the creation of new technology and gadgets". It is "the complete process of taking new ideas and devising new or improved products and services.' This Catholicism gives fascinating insights. * Martin Wolf, Financial Times *This book provides valuable guidance for all governmental or business leaders who are trying to find sustainable solutions in the midst of turbulent circumstances. Technology provides enormous opportunities, but these will be realized only through excellent leadership and management. * Aho Esko, former Prime Minister of Finland *Writing a book with advice to local leaders on how to create innovative ecosystems, which are resistant to the centrifugal forces of globalization, was a brilliant idea. This book proves that a precisely structured narrative can be a powerful tool to communicate the results of excellent academic research. * Marek Belka, former Prime Minister of Poland; Head of the Central Bank of Poland *A must-read book for researchers, mayors, economic developers and all those concerned with building more innovative and inclusive places. Breznitz combines cutting-edge research on innovative clusters and ecosystems, with laser-like focus on what works and what does not. His book provides a much-needed reminder that Silicon Valley is the wrong model: Cities across the world must forged their own unique paths and strategies for innovation and prosperity. * Richard Florida, author of Rise of the Creative Class *Breznitz's brilliant research on innovation and growth strategies coupled with a meticulous focus on explaining what does is means in practical terms for local leaders, makes is a must read for anyone who cares about their community. A truly important book and a highly enjoyable read. * Thierry Mandon, Former Minister of Public Accounts and State Reform and Minister of Higher Education and Research, France *In writing this highly engaging and accessible book, Breznitz has done an important public service. Readers interested in the future of innovation and prosperity will avail themselves of not only the most cutting-edge research, but also understand how it applies to their own community. Breznitz's provocative arguments against the Silicon Valley model and the Venture Capital Industry caused me to nod my head in agreement as the former Chief Scientist of Israel and wince in pain as an active Venture Capitalist at the same time. This's a tour de force and a must read for policy makers and concerned, but hopeful, citizens. * Avi Hasson, former Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy of the State of Israel *Finally, a book which is not only a masterful piece of research but is also extremely useful for policy makers. This very well written and superbly research book is a much-needed eye opener for the multiple opportunities that exist in our globalized world. * Victor Sánchez Urrutia, National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation, Panama *Dan Breznitz has written a terrific piece which has influenced my thinking about the varied and multifaceted approaches to innovation that we need dependent on place. * Ro Khanna, Member of Congress *The 'problem with startup ecosystems' says Breznitz, 'is the assumption of homogeneity. They think about their whole population as potential founders of new companies.' They need to instead 'realize that people have experience and capacities at all ages, all backgrounds. What a 45-year-old needs to start a real company is completely different from what three 22-year-olds will need.' This is exactly right-and something that I explore in my own book (if I can get it finished)." * Dane Stangler, Forbes.com *It's what I think the doctor ordered as an exploration for some of the deep social tensions." ~Rob Johnson, president of the Institute for New Economic ThinkingTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I: The State of Innovation Chapter 1: The New Globalization of Innovation Chapter 2: The Silicon Peaches Chapter 3: Startups are Everywhere! (But The Growth Statistics) Chapter 4: Making America Great Again? Part II: Innovation and Prosperity Chapter 5: Four are Better Than One (But First, Let Us Plan It Strategically) Chapter 6: Singing and Designing--Incrementally--Innovation-Based Growth Chapter 7: Out With The Old, In With The New! But in What Ways? Chapter 8: Looking for Better Options: The Science of Innovation Policies and Agencies in a Globally Fragmented World Part III: The Three Dysfunctionals A Short Introduction to Part III Chapter 9: Our Anti-Intellectual Property Rights System Chapter 10: The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions: The Age of Financialization Chapter 11: Data: Why Mining Us is the New Boom and For Whom Conclusion: In Defense of Experiments, Mistakes, and the Right to Choose Index Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn Equality and the City, Enrique Peñalosa Londoño draws on his experience as mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, as well as his many years of international work as a lecturer and consultant, to share his perspective on the issues facing developing cities, especially sustainable transportation and equal access to public space.As mayor of Bogotá, Peñalosa Londoño initiated development of the TransMilenio Rapid Bus Transit system, among the largest and most comprehensive public transit systems in the Global South, which carries 2.5 million passengers a day along dedicated bus lanes, bike paths, and a rapid metro line. The system emphasizes accessibility for the entire population. Peñalosa Londoño's efforts to create public space were similarly ambitious: over the course of his two terms, more than a thousand public parks were created or improved. Underlying these policies was a conviction of how cities should bea compelling humanistic philosophy of sustainable urbanism. For Peñalo

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Book SynopsisMaria Mies is a Marxist feminist scholar who is renowned for her theory of capitalist patriarchy, which recognizes third world women and difference. She is a professor of sociology at Cologne University of Applied Sciences, but retired from teaching in 1993. Since the late 1960s she has been involved with feminist activism. In 1979, at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, she founded the Women and Development programme. Her other titles published by Zed include The Lace Makers of Narsapur (1982), Women: The Last Colony (1988), The Subsistence Perspective (1999) and Ecofeminism (2014).Trade ReviewCompelling. One of the most ambitious projects undertaken by a feminist scholar in recent years. * Deniz Kandiyoti, SOAS, University of London *In Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale, Maria Mies drew connections between two structures of domination that had previously been viewed separately. In showing the convergence between patriarchy and capitalism, she has pushed intellectual boundaries, and has enriched feminism, women's struggles, and movements for social and economic justice. If you want to understand the roots of the economic crisis, and of violence against women, read this book. If you want to create alternatives and participate in shaping living economies, read this book. Patriarchy and Accumulation is essential reading for all, more so today than when it was first written. * Dr. Vandana Shiva, founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology and director at the International Forum on Globalization *Maria Mies' vision is huge, the scale of her project breathtakingly bold. * New Internationalist *Feminist theory at its very best. * Off Our Backs *A major contribution to authentic development theory and practice. Women cannot hope for justice from a mode of production built on subordination either as housewife in the West or cheap labour in the third world. Mies produces an alternative feminist concept of labour and some strategic elements of its implementation. The critique is compelling. * World Development *Table of ContentsForeword by Silvia Federici Preface to the critique influence change edition Introduction 1. What is Feminism? 2. Social Origins of the Sexual Division of Labour 3. Colonization and Housewifization 4. Housewifization International: Women and the International Division of Labour 5. Violence Against Women and the Ongoing Primitive Accumulation of Capital 6. National Liberation and Women's Liberation 7. Towards a Feminist Perspective of a New Society

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Book SynopsisBy providing a succinct evaluation of competing approaches to, and perspectives on, the idea and practice of international development, this book offers students across the social sciences a distinct and invaluable introduction to the field.Table of ContentsPart I: Debating development 1. Introduction: international development in the 21st century 2. The challenge of development: from economic to sustainable development 3. From the Third World to the Global South: mapping and measuring development 4. Theories of development: from modernisation to post-development and beyond 5. Globalisation and the dilemmas of development: is globalisation good or bad for the Global South? Part II: Development challenges 6. Population, food and famine: where are we now? 7. Poverty and Inequality: the key challenges for development 8. Health and education: moving towards healthy human development 9. Looking to the future: digital technology, a green environment and gender equality 10. Conclusion: making international development sustainable

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Book SynopsisIn the 1970s Shiva Naipaul travelled to Africa, visiting Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia for several months. Through his experiences, the places he visited and his various encounters, he aimed to discover what ''liberation'', ''revolution'' and ''socialism'' meant to the ordinary people. His journey of discovery is brilliantly documented in this intimate, comic and controversial portrayal of a continent on the brink of change.

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Book SynopsisA rare and timely intervention from Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, on development in Africa.To many, Africa is the new frontier. As the West lies battered by financial crisis, Africa is seen as offering limitless opportunities for wealth creation in the march of globalization. But what is Africa to today''s Africans? Are its economies truly on the rise? And what is its likely future?In this pioneering book, leading international strategist Kingsley Moghalu challenges conventional wisdoms about Africa''s quest for growth. Drawing on philosophy, economics and strategy, he ranges from capitalism to technological innovation, finance to foreign investment, and from human capital to world trade to offer a new vision of transformation. Ultimately he demonstrates how Africa''s progress in the twenty-first century will require nothing short of the reinvention of the African mindset. ''Africans seriously analyz

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn brilliant, novel detail, A Thousand Cuts provides a devastating indictment of the IMF's austerity-driven conditionality and its systemic undermining of social policies and outcomes. It should be required reading not just for scholars and policy activists, but also for IMF staff intent on substantively changing the institution's practices. * Daniela Gabor, Professor of Economics and Macro-Finance, University of the West of England *A Thousand Cuts is the most significant piece of research on austerity's pernicious effects in the Global South. Alexandros Kentikelenis and Thomas Stubbs meticulously demonstrate that budget cuts fail poorer countries time and time again. This is essential reading for anyone concerned with how the world can avoid economic mistakes of the past, and how governments can implement policies that promote social protection. * Mark Blyth, The William R. Rhodes '57 Professor of International Economics, Brown University *This carefully researched book examines more than 6,000 IMF loan documents over four decades to show convincingly that IMF conditionalities still require regressive public policies that in turn have regressive socio-economic outcomes. Such an important book must be read carefully in every national capital, and most of all in Washington, D.C. It forms the basis for arguments for major change if the IMF is to be fit for purpose in the contemporary world economy. * Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst *A Thousand Cuts is the first comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the outcomes of IMF lending policies. While the methodology is rigorous and writing style elegant, the conclusions are not pretty. Kentikelenis and Stubbs document the consistently devastating social consequences of ill-conceived austerity measures by the IMF. This truly original and alarming new volume is mandatory reading for anyone interested in how to build a more progressive global economic governance based on evidence over ideology. * Kevin P. Gallagher, Director of the Global Development Policy Center, Boston University *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments 1. Introduction Part I: Forty Years of Structural Adjustment 2. The Evolution of IMF Conditionality 3. How to Evaluate the Effects of IMF Conditionality Part II: Social Protection and Structural Adjustment 4. Conditionality and Health Policy 5. Conditionality and Income Inequality 6. Conditionality and Health Outcomes Part III: Looking Forward 7. The IMF and the Covid-19 Response 8. The Future of IMF Conditionality: A Better Way? Appendix: A New Dataset on Conditionality, 1980-2019 Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThere is much discussion about global poverty and the billions of people living with almost nothing. Why is it that governments, development banks, think-tanks, academics, NGOs and many others can''t just fix the problem? Why is it that seemingly obvious reforms never happen? Why are prosperity and equity so elusive? The revised second edition of Economic Development: What Everyone Needs to Know brings readers right into the trenches of development policies to show what practitioners are actually doing and explains the issues, dilemmas, options, frustrations and opportunities they face, day in and day out. In straightforward language and a question-and-answer format, Marcelo M. Giugale outlines the frontier of the development practice or, as he puts it, ...the point at which knowledge stops and ignorance begins. He takes readers from why it is so difficult to get governments to function, to the basic policies that economies need to work well, the powerful new tools for social assistance, and the challenges of inclusion, education, health, infrastructure, technology, data, and foreign aid. Giugale gives no definitive, universal answers. They don''t really exist. Rather, he highlights what works, what doesn''t, and what''s promising. Drawing from examples across the world, his overall message is clear: economic development, and the poverty reduction that goes with it, have never been more possible for more countries.Trade ReviewMarcelo Giugale has written a book with a highly original style: it poses, and then answers, a series of questions, with fascinating examples on every page. Even more remarkable, it lives up to the ambitious goal proclaimed in its title: Economic Development - What Everyone Needs to Know." - George Akerlof, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2001Giugale has done a favor to all of us. This short and easy-to-read book tackles central questions about economic development, and provides answers based on the latest evidence but that, at the same time, are presented in simple language. If you want to understand why development economics is such a fascinating field, but want to by-pass economists' gobble-di-cock, read this book; you will enjoy it and learn a lot." - Santiago Levy, Vice-president for Sectors and Knowledge, Inter-American Development BankNot many societies have managed to flourish. What's holding the rest back? Giugale gives us an insider's view from the very trenches of economic development. In a language that anyone can understand, and with examples that everyone would recognize, he explains why governments are struggling to unlock the forces of widespread prosperity. That is an invaluable contribution, especially for a world that seems to have lost its compass." - Edmund Phelps, Nobel Laureate in Economics, 2006Economists have often done a bad job of explaining their policy views to the people they are trying to serve. As a consequence, policies that make technical sense fail to get popular support. This book provides an excellent bridge to bring readers to the frontier of policy making in economic development." - Dame Nemat Shafik, Director Designate, The London School of EconomicsTable of ContentsPreface: Whom is this book for? Acknowledgments Overview: What Is Economic Development and What Does This Book Say about It? Chapter 1: Governments: One Day, They Will Work for You Why Do Obvious Reforms Never Happen? How Is the Relationship between the State and the Citizen Changing? Why Should Governments Intervene in Markets? Has Government Decentralization Worked? Do We Really Care about Graft? Why Can't We Stop Conflict? Are Natural Resources a Curse? What Are the Signs That a Country Is Managing Its Riches Well? Chapter 2: Economic Policy: The Basics You've Got to Get Right Why Governments Struggle to Prop the World's Economy? What Is Structural Reform? What Are the G20 and Why Do They Matter for Development? How Do Governments Regulate the Financial Sector? Do the Fed's Decisions Matter for the Developing World? What Do Europe's Woes Mean for the World's Poor? How Do You Prepare for the Next Global Crisis? Was the Commodity Bonanza Wasted? Will Globalization End? Why Does Growth Happen in Some Places and Not in Others? Why Is It So Difficult to Agree on Tax Reform? What Is the Global Tax War? Chapter 3: Social Policy: Old War, New Weapons Why Did Piketty's Work Pique Our Sudden Interest in Inequality? How Many People Live in Extreme Poverty? How Can We Help the New Poor? Can We End Poverty? Is There a Way to Measure Human Opportunity? Why Are Statistics So Important in Ending Poverty? Do We Know the Real Impact of Government Interventions? Can Cheap Oil Hurt the Poor? Chapter 4: Inclusion: Those Who Are Always Left Behind Will We Ever Reach Gender Parity? Has Globalization Helped or Hurt Women? Impact Evaluation: A Woman's Best Friend? How Did Average Housewives Become the Greatest Generation of Argentine Women? Why Do the Poor Complain So Little? Why Is Early Childhood Development So Difficult? What Do We Know about Informal Workers? Chapter 5: Sectors: What Ministers Will Worry about-or Should Can Governments Create Industries? Does Foreign Investment Help You Join Global Value Chains? Can You Innovate Your Way out of the Middle-Income Trap? From Miami to Mumbai: What Makes Cities Competitive? How Will Technology Shape the World of Tomorrow's Leaders? How Will Tomorrow's Infrastructure Be Built? How Green Should Economic Growth Be? Is It Time to End Fuel Subsidies? Can Emerging Economies Have Universal Health Coverage? How Do You Measure the Economic Impact of Ebola? Is There New Power in Entertainment Education? How Do You Deal with Rising Food Prices? What Are "Commodity Super-cycles," and Why Do They Matter? How Do Oil-rich Governments Respond to Falling Oil Prices? Should Foreign Aid Be Abandoned? What's the Future of Foreign Aid? Chapter 6: Africa: The Last Frontier Is Africa's Emergence for Real? Can Africa Be Defragmented? Can Africans Become Shareholders in their Own Wealth? How Have the World's Newest Nations Fared? Can Africa Compete with China? Can Africa Follow China's Industrialization Path? Can Services Drive Africa's Development? Can Africa Feed Africa? How Does One Fix Africa's Statistics? Did Debt Forgiveness Work in Africa? Concluding Thoughts Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis book explores seven developing countries' use of technology to begin reforming the economy and government. Foregrounding the voices of policymakers and participants, it documents and critically assesses government efforts to kick-start digital transformation, and offers an exposition of the process of policymaking in the 2020s.Trade ReviewA great read for any political leader or bureaucrat looking to transform their government's digital economy. It is useful to understand what it really takes to support emerging countries who want to establish a digital public infrastructure. * Nandan Nilekani, Chairman and Co-Founder, Infosys and Founding Chairman, UIDAI *Benno saw the huge potential of the digital economy for Africa and devoted the last years of his life tirelessly working to get countries to adopt it. Many countries have begun taking up the technology but fail to adopt a whole of systems approach. Benno would I think have wanted fellow policy makers to learn from the lessons of some of the earlier adopters and what they got right - and wrong. * Vera Songwe, Senior Non-Resident Fellow, Brookings Institution and former Executive Secretary UN Economic Commission for Africa *An absolute gem for policymakers who want to turn their digital transformation aspirations into reality. The writing is refreshingly clear and devoid of jargon, making it a breeze to follow. The authors offer invaluable practical insights based on the experiences of a group of countries that have successfully navigated this complex journey. And what's more, this book doesn't shy away from the pitfalls and challenges you may encounter along the way. It's an honest, straight-talking guide that will leave you feeling inspired and confident to take action. * Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Chair, Global Digital Inclusion Partnership and Chief Digital Advisor, Centres for Disease Control Africa *This book is timely as it deals with such an important topic for my country and for many others in sub Saharan Africa and beyond. The book shows that the continent has an opportunity to fully benefit from greater digital transformation reforms, further than payment systems. Throughout, the book pays particular attention to context and respecting inclusion of multi-stakeholders in the process. Driving Digital Transformation tells us how to do this, not through giving instructions, but instead by sharing the lessons learned from other policymakers. * Blandina Kilama, Economic advisor to President Suluhu, Republic of Tanzania *Where clear measures of digital success and failure are sometimes lacking, the authors offer a full treatment of diagnosing and evaluating digital readiness. The rigorous focus on the nuances of implementation, especially in the book's Digital Economy Kit and strategy primer, make this critical reading for both scholars and practitioners! * Aaron Maniam, Deputy Secretary (Industry & International), Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface: Remembering Benno Ndulu Abbreviations and acronyms 1: Introduction to the Digital Economy Kit 2: Seizing opportunity for digital reform 3: Objectives: What is the Digital Economy Kit trying to do? 4: Assessment: Data and diagnostics 5: Multi-stakeholder dialogue 6: Strategy primer 7: A critical view on implementation 8: Conclusion References Index

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Book SynopsisHow have African rulers responded to the introduction of democratic electoral competition? Despite the broadly negative picture painted by the prevailing focus on electoral fraud, clientelism, and ethnic conflict, the book argues that the full story is somewhat more promising. While these unfortunate practices may be widespread, African rulers also seek to win votes through the provision and distribution of public goods and services. The author''s central argument is that in predominantly rural countries the introduction of competitive elections leads governments to implement pro-rural policies, in order to win the votes of the rural majority. As a result, across much of Africa the benefits of democratic electoral competition have accrued primarily in terms of rural development. This broad claim is supported by cross-national evidence, both from public opinion surveys and from individual level data on health and education outcomes. The argument''s core assumptions about voting behavior are supported with quantitative evidence from Ghana, and qualitative historical evidence from Botswana presents further evidence for the underlying theoretical mechanism. Taken together, this body of evidence provides reasons to be optimistic about the operation of electoral accountability in Africa. African governments are responding to the accountability structures provided by electoral competition; in that sense, democracy in Africa is working.Oxford Studies in African Politics and International Relations is a series for scholars and students working on African politics and International Relations and related disciplines. Volumes concentrate on contemporary developments in African political science, political economy, and International Relations, such as electoral politics, democratization, decentralization, the political impact of natural resources, the dynamics and consequences of conflict, and the nature of the continent''s engagement with the East and West. Comparative and mixed methods work is particularly encouraged. Case studies are welcomed but should demonstrate the broader theoretical and empirical implications of the study and its wider relevance to contemporary debates. The series focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, although proposals that explain how the region engages with North Africa and other parts of the world are of interest.Series Editors: Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy and International Development, University of Birmingham; Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, Professor of the International Politics of Africa, University of Oxford; Peace Medie, Senior Lecturer, School of Sociology, Politics, and International Studies, University of Bristol.Trade ReviewRobin Harding develops an original and forceful argument ... the book demonstrates the relevant role of rural politics in the enhancement of African democracy as it performs both a representative and development function. * Helder Ferreira do Vale, Democratization *a breath of fresh air...The variety and breadth of evidence presented in the book are impressive, offering something for everyone * Daniel de Kadt, Perspectives on Politics *

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Book SynopsisWhile much attention has been focused on Japan''s meteoric rise as an economic power, South Korea has been quietly emerging as the next industrial giant to penetrate the world market. South Korea is one of a series of countries (ranging from Taiwan, India, Brazil, and Turkey, to Mexico, and including Japan) to have succeeded through borrowing foreign technology rather than by generating new products or processes. Describing such countries as `late-industrializers,'' Amsden demonstrates why South Korea has become the most successful of this group.Trade Review`comprehensive study of Korean industrialization ... a detailed analysis that extends from the formation of macroeconomic policies down to the shop floor ... Amsden's book is a valuable contribution to the literature on Korean development ... provides an immeasurable service.' Business History ReviewAmsden's ambition in Asia's Next Giant is to articulate a general paradigm of growth for late industrializers all over the world. Notwithstanding the controversial, if not dubious nature of this technological paradigm, Amsden tackles it with speed and economy.- Alex H. Choi. - Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars Vol 30 No 3 1998

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Book SynopsisThis book is based on several talks and papers presented by the author in recent years. It is organized in two parts, the first dealing with an emerging development paradigm, and the second with the imperative for a new international dialogue in topics central to human development such as a peace agenda for the Third World.Trade ReviewThis remarkably honest, and somewhat provocative book provides a nice account of recent development thinking. * Kyklos *

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Book SynopsisA challenge to prevailing ideas about innovation and a guide to identifying the best growth strategy for your community.Across the world, cities and regions have wasted trillions of dollars on blindly copying the Silicon Valley model of growth creation. Since the early years of the information age, we''ve been told that economic growth derives from harnessing technological innovation. To do this, places must create good education systems, partner with local research universities, and attract innovative hi-tech firms. We have lived with this system for decades, and the result is clear: a small number of regions and cities at the top of the high-tech industry but many more fighting a losing battle to retain economic dynamism.But are there other models that don''t rely on a flourishing high-tech industry? In Innovation in Real Places, Dan Breznitz argues that there are. The purveyors of the dominant ideas on innovation have a feeble understanding of the big picture on global production anTrade Reviewa compelling and timely book * Kevin Morgan, Regional Studies *Want to be an innovation hot spot? Don't copy Silicon Valley... we should remember what innovation is and why we care about it. The first part comes down to realising that innovation is not invention. * John Morgan, The Times Higher Education *The abiding message of Breznitz's book is that it is a mistake to assume that "what works in one time and one place will always work across time and space... a defense of experiments, mistakes, and the right to choose. * William H. Jeneway, Project Syndicate *In this fascinating book, Breznitz, a professor at the Munk School at the University of Toronto, argues that innovation is 'the only way to ensure sustained long-term economic and human-welfare growth'. But, crucially, 'innovation is not invention, nor is it high-tech and the creation of new technology and gadgets". It is "the complete process of taking new ideas and devising new or improved products and services.' This Catholicism gives fascinating insights. * Martin Wolf, Financial Times *This book provides valuable guidance for all governmental or business leaders who are trying to find sustainable solutions in the midst of turbulent circumstances. Technology provides enormous opportunities, but these will be realized only through excellent leadership and management. * Aho Esko, former Prime Minister of Finland *Writing a book with advice to local leaders on how to create innovative ecosystems, which are resistant to the centrifugal forces of globalization, was a brilliant idea. This book proves that a precisely structured narrative can be a powerful tool to communicate the results of excellent academic research. * Marek Belka, former Prime Minister of Poland; Head of the Central Bank of Poland *A must-read book for researchers, mayors, economic developers and all those concerned with building more innovative and inclusive places. Breznitz combines cutting-edge research on innovative clusters and ecosystems, with laser-like focus on what works and what does not. His book provides a much-needed reminder that Silicon Valley is the wrong model: Cities across the world must forged their own unique paths and strategies for innovation and prosperity. * Richard Florida, author of Rise of the Creative Class *Breznitz's brilliant research on innovation and growth strategies coupled with a meticulous focus on explaining what does is means in practical terms for local leaders, makes is a must read for anyone who cares about their community. A truly important book and a highly enjoyable read. * Thierry Mandon, Former Minister of Public Accounts and State Reform and Minister of Higher Education and Research, France *In writing this highly engaging and accessible book, Breznitz has done an important public service. Readers interested in the future of innovation and prosperity will avail themselves of not only the most cutting-edge research, but also understand how it applies to their own community. Breznitz's provocative arguments against the Silicon Valley model and the Venture Capital Industry caused me to nod my head in agreement as the former Chief Scientist of Israel and wince in pain as an active Venture Capitalist at the same time. This's a tour de force and a must read for policy makers and concerned, but hopeful, citizens. * Avi Hasson, former Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Economy of the State of Israel *Finally, a book which is not only a masterful piece of research but is also extremely useful for policy makers. This very well written and superbly research book is a much-needed eye opener for the multiple opportunities that exist in our globalized world. * Victor Sánchez Urrutia, National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation, Panama *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I: The State of Innovation Chapter 1: The New Globalization of Innovation Chapter 2: The Silicon Peaches Chapter 3: Startups are Everywhere! (But The Growth Statistics) Chapter 4: Making America Great Again? Part II: Innovation and Prosperity Chapter 5: Four are Better Than One (But First, Let Us Plan It Strategically) Chapter 6: Singing and Designing--Incrementally--Innovation-Based Growth Chapter 7: Out With The Old, In With The New! But in What Ways? Chapter 8: Looking for Better Options: The Science of Innovation Policies and Agencies in a Globally Fragmented World Part III: The Three Dysfunctionals A Short Introduction to Part III Chapter 9: Our Anti-Intellectual Property Rights System Chapter 10: The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions: The Age of Financialization Chapter 11: Data: Why Mining Us is the New Boom and For Whom Conclusion: In Defense of Experiments, Mistakes, and the Right to Choose Index Bibliography

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBuilding on her groundbreaking earlier works, Low astutely describes public spaces as 'infrastructures of inclusion and exclusion,' where people, politics and place converge and connect, opening spaces for the negotiation and contestation of new public cultures. Focusing on contemporary issues such as racial injustice, climate change, socioeconomic and class inequality, she details ways that public space contributes to the flourishing of individuals, communities, cities and societies * Julian Agyeman, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University *From social justice to ecological sustainability, decades of public space fieldwork are usefully summarized in the latest 'all things public space' from Setha Low. A must have for all students of urbanism. * Emily Talen, Professor of Urbanism, University of Chicago *Most people, when asked their favorite memory of a city, mention public space--a plaza or a boulevard or a beach. How is it then that we understand so little about the social dynamics of places; that the designers and managers of public space seem to have so little research to support their work? In this book Setha Low sets out to fill that void. Why Public Space Matters is essential reading for anyone involved in the design, management, programming or simply the enjoyment, of public space. * David Burney, Director, Urban Placemaking and Management, Pratt Institute *In this brilliant and inspirational book, urban ethnographer Setha Low shows us why the stakes of debates about 'public space' in the 21st century could not be more serious and socially significant. In a world where we tend to either take public space for granted or express fear of the potential dangers they might hold, Low uses her nuanced theoretical lens and a variety of compelling ethnographic examples—from New York's Jones Beach and New Jersey's Lake Welch to Hudson Historical Park, Battery Park City after 9/11, and a thoughtful analysis of how the pandemic impacted the use and sense of public space in New York City—to demonstrate that discussions about democracy and social justice should never underestimate the importance of public space for the very sustainability of human life. * John L. Jackson, Jr., Walter H. Annenberg Dean and Richard Perry University Professor, the University of Pennsylvania *Low maintains an accessible style throughout, suitable for general readers, but the material will appeal most to expert scholars and planners. Anyone interested in public spaces will enjoy this book. * Choice *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Chapter 1. Why Does Public Space Matter? Chapter 2. What is Public Space? Chapter 3. What if Jones Beach Was Not Public: Social Justice and Belonging on Long Island, New York Chapter 4. Rebuilding a Bridge and a Community: Health and Resilience at Walkway Over Hudson, Poughkeepsie, New York Chapter 5. Playing in the Fields of Lake Welch, New Jersey Chapter 6. Improvising Public Space and the Informal Economy: Sidewalks, Streets and Markets in Buenos Aires, New York City, and Baguio City Chapter 7. Green Guerillas, Seed Bombs and Granite Gardens: Environmental Sustainability and Public Space in Paris and New York City Chapter 8. Place attachment and Cultural Identity: Monuments, Parks and Neighborhood Public Space in San José, Costa Rica, and the Statue of Liberty and Battery Park City in New York City Chapter 9. From the Winter of Despair to the Summer of Euphoria: Public Space During COVID-19 in New York City (2020-2021) Chapter 10. How to Study Public Space: The Toolkit for the Ethnographic Study of Space (TESS) in Tompkins Square Park, Manhattan, New York City and Other Strategies Appendices Appendix 1. Contact, Public Culture and Affect Atmospheres: A Theoretical Framework Notes Index

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Book SynopsisDiving into an original and unusually positive case study from India, Patching Development shows how development programs can be designed to work.How can development programs deliver benefits to marginalized citizens in ways that expand their rights and freedoms? Political will and good policy design are critical but often insufficient due to resistance from entrenched local power systems. In Patching Development, Rajesh Veeraraghavan presents an ethnography of one of the largest development programs in the world, the Indian National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), and examines NREGA''s implementation in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He finds that the local system of power is extremely difficult to transform, not because of inertia, but because of coercive counter strategy from actors at the last mile and their ability to exploit information asymmetries. Upper-level NREGA bureaucrats in Andhra Pradesh do not possess the capacity to change the power axis through direTrade ReviewHow do you get cash payments for labor to the rural poor in the world's largest anti-poverty program? From the commanding heights of the bureaucracy to the front-lines of the village, from sophisticated software to grass roots social audits, Patching Development brilliantly shows us how the National Rural Employment Guarantee program in India has confronted the infamous problems of the last mile. The challenges and conflicts of implementing public policies to fight poverty have never been illuminated in such detail and with such analytic power. * Patrick Heller, Professor of Sociology and International and Public Affairs, Brown University *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Map Abbreviations Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. The Genesis of Rights-Based Governance Chapter 3. Patching Technologies of Control Chapter 4. Patching Institutions Chapter 5. Public Meetings at the Last Mile Chapter 6. Reading and Writing the State Records Chapter 7. Caste, Class, and Audits Chapter 8. Conclusion: Patching the Power at the Last Mile Appendix 1. Methodology: Using Ethnography to Study Political Economy of Information Appendix 2. Explanatory Note on Comparing NREGA Performance across States

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHow do you get cash payments for labor to the rural poor in the world's largest anti-poverty program? From the commanding heights of the bureaucracy to the front-lines of the village, from sophisticated software to grass roots social audits, Patching Development brilliantly shows us how the National Rural Employment Guarantee program in India has confronted the infamous problems of the last mile. The challenges and conflicts of implementing public policies to fight poverty have never been illuminated in such detail and with such analytic power. * Patrick Heller, Professor of Sociology and International and Public Affairs, Brown University *Brilliant! In Patching Development, Veeraraghavan offers an innovative solution to bureaucratic hierarchy that is unable to respond to clients as it faces off against local power structures. * Michael Burawoy, Professor of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley *Peppered with exhilarating stories from in-depth research among tribal communities, village councils, social activists, and state officials, Patching Development illuminates a rare case where a combination of political will and digital technology enables democratically accountable socio-economic transformation. * Kentaro Toyama, W.K. Kellogg Professor of Community Information, University of Michigan *Veeraraghavan provides an excellent sectional analysis of social audit as patching—a mechanism to check misuse of money and authority in MGNREGA, a massive Indian public works programme. An important addition to systemic research on poverty and unemployment, Patching Development enriches the discussion on the challenges and potential of this emergent process. * Aruna Roy, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan *Development theory needs fresh thinking to move forward. Patching Development answers the call. The multilevel contestation of public officials, local politicians, and social movements is dissected together with the possibilities and limits of information technology to create a synthetic, original vision of how the needs of the poor might be better served. * Peter Evans, Professor of Sociology Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Map Abbreviations Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. The Genesis of Rights-Based Governance Chapter 3. Patching Technologies of Control Chapter 4. Patching Institutions Chapter 5. Public Meetings at the Last Mile Chapter 6. Reading and Writing the State Records Chapter 7. Caste, Class, and Audits Chapter 8. Conclusion: Patching the Power at the Last Mile Appendix 1. Methodology: Using Ethnography to Study Political Economy of Information Appendix 2. Explanatory Note on Comparing NREGA Performance across States

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