Regional / International studies Books

Book SynopsisThis book is part of a broad study on Confucianism and its implications for the modernisation of East Asia. The Opium War symbolises the beginning of foreign humiliations, and the Cultural Revolution represents the apex of self-oppression, self-intimidation and self-humiliations. China vainly strove under the guns of many countries until the end of World War II, and since then, has suffered from many civil wars. Immediately after New China was established in 1949, the CCP closed the door to the outside (democratic) world, thus creating self-humiliations. Since economic reform was launched in 1978, New China has been developed from the verge of nationwide self-murder to the track for prosperity and freedom. The long march from self-destructiveness to social and economic progresses raises many challenging questions about human survival and processes. Philosophical, historical, political and economic perspectives are discussed. An open and enriching New China could dramatically affect the world in the not-so-distant future. This book describes the history of New China as a dynamic process from the pole of central planning, anti-Americanism and anti-Confucianism towards market economy, Americanisation and modernising Confucian manifestations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisVery few countries in the world can be considered economically on the move forward but India, as well as China, is one of them. This book presents a country profile, several issue papers including those dealing with nuclear issues and a chronology of recent events.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIs really "Islam" to blame for many of the ills of the world, like stagnation, gender inequality, social inequality, human rights violations and ecologically unsustainable development? In this book, the authors will present a Barro-type of cross-national development accounting framework for the weight that the variable "Muslims per total population" has in comparison to standard world economic openness, political geography and political history indicators for 17 key economic, political, social and environmental variables in 134 countries. This is a ''first of its kind'' to develop a quantitative assessment of the "global Lisbon process" of the convergence or divergence of living conditions across the globe since the 1990''s. The authors draw come optimistic, socio-liberal conclusions about Islam in the world system while we show, at the same time, that membership in the EU-15, by comparative standards, has dire long-term consequences in the world economy, and globalisation does not fulfill many of its promises.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisZimbabwe is a newly independent southern African country having gained political independence from Great Britain almost three decades ago. The country is still going through a process of political, economic and socio-cultural change as it attempts to shed some of its colonial traditions and embrace a new postcolonial African identity. This book captures reflections of students caught up in that process as they struggle with issues central to development. These include how to balance traditional culture with the entrenched European culture in their education system, how to redress the racial imbalances inherited from the colonial past, and the lack of democracy and the role of the schools in the process of social change. The students highlight their hopes and frustrations in trying to preserve their traditional culture and in reconceptualising their own African identity through an education system which has been criticised for creating an Europeanized African elite whose relationship to their indigenous cultural heritage becomes petrified in the very process of that education. The student voices in this collection raise more questions than answers, questions which all newly independent African governments must ultimately address in order to promote sustainable development premised on equality, democracy, and reaffirmation of African cultural heritage. The concerns expressed in this work bridge continents and cultures and speak directly to students in the United States who are struggling to understand their relationship to the global community. We hear voices in this collection that are full of the hope and the promise, which is the future of Zimbabwe and indeed the entire African continent. The principal audience for this book is students, scholars and researchers in the fields of postcolonial and subaltern studies, International affairs, African studies, education and the humanities. The book gives scholars and researchers new raw data to help find answers to questions and issues of African development and education.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book contains a variety of research related to the future of the federal budget. Significant uncertainty surrounds long-term fiscal projections, but under any plausible scenario, the federal budget is on an unsustainable path- that is, federal debt will grow much faster than the economy over the long run. In the absence of significant changes in policy, rising costs for health care and the ageing of the U.S. population will cause federal spending to grow rapidly. If federal revenues as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) remain at their current level, that rise in spending will eventually cause future budget deficits to become unsustainable. To prevent deficits from growing to levels that could impose substantial costs on the economy, this book examines the revenues that must rise as a share of GDP, or the projected spending that must fall -- or some combination of the two which must be achieved. This book consists of public domain documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first section of the book is all about Indonesia''s democratic transformation -- as it is the main theme of the book. It looks at the ways in which political parties in Indonesia have been formed and how they function in Indonesia''s society, which is rich, diverse in culture, religion and ethnicity. Voter behaviour and electoral patterns are also examined herein. Included is a review of Indonesia''s democratic transformation since the fall of Suharto. As the economy is the most crucial factor determining Indonesia''s democratic and national progress, the second section of the book examines financial, trade, and industrial issues in Indonesia. Southeast Asia economic professor Hal Hill provides a comprehensive analysis of the Indonesian economy since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-98, which started a decade ago and of which Indonesia was one of the most prominent victims. Hill also shows where Indonesia is with its macro- and micro-economic managements and reforms.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSacramento Bee journalist Sam McManis spent five years on the road trying to find the real California. He discovered that there is more than one California, but every different California is equally weird and wonderful. Worlds collide and commingle: the neo-hippies with the rednecked farmers; the urban sophisticates with the quirky desert dwellers; the Hollywood power brokers with the outsider artists. Brought together in a bouillabaisse of voices, ''Crossing California'' will make you see the state in an entirely new light. From the briny scent of Fisherman''s Wharf to the fragrant sage scrub of Imperial County; from the otherworldly starkness of Death Valley to the crashing waves and flexing muscles at Venice Beach, ''Crossing California'' gives readers a first-hand experience. McManis has stalked the tony aisles of the newly minted Broad Museum in gentrified downtown Los Angeles, and quick-footed it through the International Banana Museum along the desiccated shores of the moonscaped Salton Sea. He has inadvertently gotten his car stuck in a tree at a cheesy drive-thru giant Sequoia roadside attraction along the hemp highway between Mendocino and Humboldt, and witnessed, with both fascination and can''t-look-away horror, grown men and women, sans children and sans inhibitions, belt out full-throated versions of Let It Go at a Disneyland sing-along. All told, ''Crossing California'' is a trip.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn many ways, this book is very different from almost all other books on this topic, not because this book does not depend on any individual case, personal sufferings, anecdotes and secret documents, but because its analyses and conclusions are different. For example, the analysis shows that Mao Zedong had no need to launch the Cultural Revolution to defeat Liu Shaoqi because Mao Zedong had many options; the Cultural Revolution was well-designed, well-prepared, well-organized, and well-controlled because . . ; Why the Cultural Revoluiton was so brutal because . . ; Most surprisingly, the analysis suggests that Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping might co-design the Cultural Revolution because . . Finally, this book discusses the pros for and cons against the reoccurrence of Cultrual Revolution in the future.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book explores the current political and economical climates of Pakistan and the People''s Republic of China. It explores China''s foreign aid activities in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. In the past several years, China has bolstered its diplomatic presence and garnered international goodwill through its financing of infrastructure and natural resource development projects, assistance in the carrying out of such projects, and large economic investments in many developing countries. Examined here is China''s economic impact in three regions; Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Also explored in this book is Pakistan, whose stability, democracy and prosperity are considered vital to U.S. interests.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs an emerging market economy, China has been the fastest-growing major nation for the past quarter of a century. The rapid economic growth of China results in enormous market capacity and potentials for further growth. Undoubtedly, it is ascribed to the continuous market-oriented economic reforms in various fields of China. The economic entity behaviours are becoming increasingly regularised, tending to follow or be guided by the market economy principles. The enterprises, even the state-owned ones, make their own production and operation decisions gearing to market demands instead of the administrative arrangements. This book presents an objective analysis on China''s economic reform and practices in these fields.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter communist North Vietnam''s victory over U.S.-backed South Vietnam in 1975, U.S.-Vietnam relations remained essentially frozen until the mid-1990''s. Since then, bilateral ties have expanded to the point where the relationship has been virtually normalised. Indeed, since 2002, overlapping strategic and economic interests have compelled the U.S. and Vietnam to improve relations across a wide spectrum of issues. For years, human rights have been the biggest thorn in the side of the relationship. Vietnam is a one-party, authoritarian state ruled by the VCP, which appears to be following a strategy of permitting most forms of personal and religious expression while selectively repressing individuals and organisations that it deems a threat to the party''s monopoly on power. This book explores the current issues and implications in U.S.-Vietnam relations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview of Jordanian politics and current issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations; Jordan''s government and economy and its co-operation in promoting Arab-Israeli peace and other U.S policy objectives in the Middle East. Several issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations include the stability of the Jordanian regime, the role of Jordan in the Arab-Israeli peace process, Jordan''s role in stabilising Iraq, and U.S.-Jordanian military and intelligence co-operation are discussed. The country''s small size and lack of major economic resources have made it dependent on aid from Western and friendly Arab sources. U.S. support, in particular, has helped Jordan deal with serious vulnerabilities, both internal and external.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLebanon is a religiously diverse, democratic state transitioning toward independence after a ruinous civil war and the subsequent Syrian and Israeli occupations. The United States and Lebanon have historically enjoyed a good relationship due in part to cultural and religious ties, the democratic character of the state, a large, Lebanese-American community in the United States, and the pro-western orientation of Lebanon, particularly during the Cold War. Current U.S. concerns in Lebanon include strengthening the weak democratic institutions of the state, limiting the influence of Iran, Syria, and others in Lebanon''s political process, and disarming Hezbollah and other militant groups in Lebanon. This book provides an overview of Lebanese politics, recent events in Lebanon, and the current issues in U.S.-Lebanon relations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith limited natural resources, a crippling illiteracy rate, and high population growth, Yemen faces an array of daunting development challenges that some observers believe make it at risk for becoming a failed state. Yemen is largely dependent on external aid from Persian Gulf countries, Western donors, and international financial institutions. As the country''s population rapidly rises, resources dwindle, and terrorist groups take root in the outlying provinces, the Obama Administration is left to grapple with the consequences of Yemeni instability. This book is an overview of Yemen''s history, U.S. relations and the role of Al Qaeda in the region.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince September 2001, the U.S. has increased focus on radical Islamist and terrorist groups in Southeast Asia, particularly those in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. Al Qaeda penetrated the region by establishing local cells, training Southeast Asians in its camps in Afghanistan, and by financing and co-operating with indigenous radical Islamist groups. To combat the threat, the U.S. has pressed countries in the region to arrest suspected terrorist individuals and organisations, funded and trained Indonesia''s elite counter-terrorist unit, and deployed troops to the southern Philippines to advise Philippine military in their fight against the violent Abu Sayyaf Group. This book examines the rise of Islamist militancy and terrorism in the region, its background and issues, and options for U.S. policy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe United States and Mexico have a close and complex bilateral relationship, with extensive economic linkages as neighbours and partners under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Bilateral relations are characterised by strong commercial and cultural ties and co-operation on a range of bilateral and international issues. In recent years, security issues have dominated the bilateral agenda, as the United States has supported Mexican President Felipe Calderon''s campaign against drug trafficking organisations (DTOs) and organised crime. This book is an overview on the background, history, economic trends, and current issues facing Mexico today.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Central Asian region is an age-old east-west and north-south trade and transport crossroads. While welcoming new trade, aid, and other ties, the leaders of Central Asia have been less receptive to calls to democratise and respect human rights. This book discusses the internal and external security concerns of the Central Asian states which include mixes of social disorder, crime, corruption, terrorism, ethnic and civil conflict, border tensions, water and transport disputes, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and trafficking of illegal narcotics and persons and the scope of U.S. interest and presence in the region.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe issue of the interpretations of Japan''s wars is not totally a matter of the past; it is related to the present. Conservatives firmly believe that China uses the issue of history to divide Japanese public opinions so that Japan cannot adopt more active foreign and defence policy. Due to the negative interpretations of Japan''s war, Japan still does not admit her state right of collective self-defence. Without it she cannot participate in any military operations under the aegis of the United Nation or an international coalition such as the 2003 Iraqi War. This book discusses Japanese conservative views on foreign policy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Greek city-state of Athens is believed to have developed the first known democracy around 500 B.C. Modern Greece has been a democracy since the toppling of a military junta in 1974. Since then, the New Democracy (ND) party and the Pan Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) have alternated leadership of the government. ND ruled from March 2004 until October 2009, when PASOK won national elections and a clear majority of the seats in parliament. PASOK''s victory has been attributed to anti-ND public sentiment caused by the economic recession, corruption scandals, and law-and-order issues. On taking power, PASOK inherited a severe financial crisis; economic growth has contracted for three consecutive quarters in 2009, and the budget deficit is projected to be 12.7% of GDP and debt to be 125% of GDP in 2010. This book focuses on Greece''s foreign policy; debit crisis, reunifying Cyprus; and relations with the U.S.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCentral Asia''s importance to the U.S. is rooted in the following three facts: its proximity to Afghanistan and thus the seat of the Taliban and Al-Qaida that have attacked us and will do so again; its proximity to key states like Russia, Iran and China, and the Indian subcontinent; and its large energy deposits which are becoming critical for Europe. These facts have led every administration since 1993 to advance broad geostrategic goals for Central Asia. This book explores the Central Asian country backgrounds of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Also discussed are the challenges and opportunities for the Obama Administration in Central Asia; Central Asian security issues and U.S. policy in Central Asia.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe loss of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened concerns about the region''s future. Issues such as Arctic sovereignty claims; commercial shipping through the Arctic; Arctic oil, gas, and mineral exploration; endangered Arctic species; and increased military operations in the Arctic could cause the region in coming years to become an arena of international co-operation, competition, or conflict. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial political, economic, energy, environmental, and other interests in the region. Decisions that Congress, the executive branch, foreign governments, international organisations, and commercial firms make on Arctic-related issues could affect these interests. This book provides an overview of Arctic-related background information and issues.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Organization of American States (OAS) is the oldest multilateral regional organization in the world. It was founded in 1948 by the United States and 20 Latin American nations to serve as a forum for addressing issues of mutual concern. Over time, the organization expanded to include all 35 independent countries of the Western Hemisphere (though Cuba currently is excluded from participation). The organization''s areas of focus have also shifted over time, evolving in accordance with the priorities of its member states. Today, the OAS concentrates on four broad objectives: democracy promotion, human rights protection, economic and social development, and regional security cooperation. It carries out a wide variety of activities to advance these goals, often providing policy guidance and technical assistance to member states. This book provides an overview of the OAS history and issues for Congress, with a focus on illicit drug trafficking and terrorism issues.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMembers of Congress continue to demonstrate an ongoing interest in the efficiency and effectiveness of United Nations (U.N.) development activities, both in the context of U.N. reform and broader U.S. development and foreign assistance efforts. Thirty-two U.N. agencies, funds, programs, and offices play a role in development. These entities, collectively referred to as the U.N. development system (UNDS), are independent intergovernmental organisations with distinct mandates, rules, membership, and financial resources. They work to help countries achieve social and economic progress through a range of development activities, including program implementation, technical assistance, providing forums for intergovernmental co-operation, setting and facilitating international standards and norms, advocacy and awareness raising, and research and data collection. This book discusses the origins and evolving role of the UNDS and its perceived strengths and weaknesses, with a focus on the current UNDS structure, funding levels and trends.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, the authors gather and present research from across the globe in the study of the political, economic and social issues of developing countries. Topics discussed include food security in Yemen; urban housing and social development in Nigeria; beef production in Southern Africa; NGOs partnering with universities to overcome evaluation challenges; colorectal cancer in relation to country development; social health protection and maternal health and the Millennium Development Goals; improving economic growth in South Africa; disparity in trauma burden between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries; energy system transition research for developing countries; and skills and business cycle in Uruguay.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBrazil occupies almost half of the continent of South America and is the fifth most populous country in the world. The United States has traditionally enjoyed co-operative relations with Brazil, which also is the seventh-largest economy in the world. United States administration officials have often highlighted Brazil''s status as a multicultural democracy, referring to the country as a natural partner that shares values and goals with the United States. Bilateral ties have been strained from time to time, however, as the countries'' occasionally divergent national interests and independent foreign policies have led to disagreements. U.S.-Brazilian relations have been particularly strained over the past year as a result of alleged National Security Agency (NSA) activities inside Brazil. Nevertheless, the countries continue to engage on issues such as trade, energy, security, racial equality, and the environment. This book discusses Brazil''s political and economic situation, as well as their relations with the United States. The book also provides Brazil''s human rights report for 2013; the international religious freedom report for 2012; and the investment climate statement for 2013.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is a bird''s eye view of the livelihood and geographical conditions of backward rural areas in the central and northern Andes in Perú and in Argentina. There, people live in scattered settlements dedicated to subsistence agriculture and are also marginal to markets. NGOs are playing increasing roles in the development of peripheral rural regions, such as in Perú; while the State addresses the production at the commercial agricultural levels, the subsistence dwellers speak of the difficulties they continue to encounter to manage the marketing of their crops. In rural development, we found the need for interdisciplinary approaches to tackle the poor conditions of education, health protection, increased agricultural output, infrastructure, improved living (including sanitary) conditions and social development. In conclusion, we argue that rural development should be confronted within a systems approach that relies heavily on education. In fact the poor education of the peasantry is a hindrance to a better livelihood. All these thoughts are applied to Frias, Perú and Quebrada Lules in Argentina. The book is arranged in 15 chapters that discuss conceptual terms such as "livelihood "and continues to present the study area and its possibilities to development. This gives way to expand on a discussion on participatory research, programmes supporting livelihoods in developing countries, natural resources, and productive activity. The environmental characteristics of the district of Frias and its agriculture are examined, as well as the factors limiting the development of Frias, its threats, social vulnerability and dwellers'' ways of life. The authors of this book also discuss the social ties and the role of local authorities in development taking, for example, the Quebrada de Lules in Argentina.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisRural communities, often the first indicators of economic downturns, play an important role in planning for development and sustainability. Increasingly, these communities are compelled to reimagine the paths that lead not only to economic success, but also to the cultural, social, environmental, and institutional pillars of sustainability. As the contributors to this volume demonstrate, there are many examples of such innovation and creativity, and many communities that seek out new ways to build the collaboration, capacity, and autonomy necessary to survive and flourish. Contributors: Don Alexander, Kirstine Baccar, Michael Barr, Mary A. Beckie, Moira J. Calder, Meredith Carter, Yolande E. Chan, Sean Connelly, Jon Corbett, Anthony Davis, Jeff A. Dixon, David J.A. Douglas, Roger Epp, Kelly Green, Lars K. Hallström, Greg Halseth, Casey Hamilton, Karen Houle, Glen T. Hvenegaard, Melanie Irvine, Bernie Jones, Robert Keenan, Rhonda Koster, Ryan Lane, Sean Markey, Shelly McMann, L. Jane McMillan, Morgan E. Moffitt, Karen Morrison, Karsten Mündel, Craig Pollett, Kerry Prosper, Mark Roseland, Laura Ryser, Claire Sanders, Jennifer Sumner, Kelly Vodden, Marc von der Gonna, Shayne Wright.Trade Review“This book is an excellent compilation of research on rural sustainability issues in Canada, covering a number of topics by university researchers and rural communities working closely together.… The rural issues the contributors discuss all involve public engagement with academics and rural citizens working together, covering a wide range of issues, from Aboriginal communities to land use regarding conversion of farmland, to economic impacts of rural population loss and aging, and the meanings of sustainability.” -- Duane (Dewey) Thorbeck * Great Plains Research *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction // Lars K. Hallström SECTION I: Contexts and Challenges for Rural Sustainability ONE Roots, Regions, and Radical Practice Rural Communities in Societal Survival and Transformation // David J. A. Douglas TWO Rural Sustainability and the “Lenses" of Place // Don Alexander and Bernie Jones THREE Engaging the Public in Wildlife and Greenspace Stewardship in Camrose, Alberta An Analysis of Outcomes, Drivers, and Lessons Learned // Glen T. Hvenegaard and Michael Barr FOUR Peaks and Valleys on the Prairies Optimism and Resistance to Sustainable Community Development in Craik, Saskatchewan // Sean Connelly, Kelly Green, Sean Markey, and Mark Roseland SECTION II: Sustainability Planning, Capacity, and Collaboration FIVE Municipal Sustainability Planning, Community Engagement, and Rural Revitalization A Case Study of Chauvin, Alberta // Moira J. Calder, Mary A. Beckie, and Shelly McMann SIX Developing Assessment and Adaptation Capacity Integrating Climate Change Considerations into Municipal Planning in Newfoundland and Labrador // Melanie Irvine, Robert Keenan, and Kelly Vodden SEVEN The Creative Economy An Opportunity for Rural Community Sustainability // Yolande E. Chan and Jeff A. Dixon EIGHT University–Community Partnerships to Support Small-Town Economic Transition // Laura Ryser, Marc von der Gonna, and Greg Halseth SECTION III: Implementation and Action: Lessons from the Front Lines NINE Taking the Next Steps Toward Environmental Sustainability Implementing the Official Plan on Pelee Island // Jennifer Sumner and Claire Sanders TEN Rural First Nations Tourism Examining the Relationship Between Sustainable Tourism and Capacity // Rhonda Koster and Kirstine Baccar ELEVEN Netukulimk Narratives Pathways to Rebuilding Sustainable Indigenous Nations // L. Jane McMillan, Kerry Prosper, Morgan E. Moffitt, and Anthony Davis TWELVE You Are Where You Eat Developing an Online Tool for Community Food Mapping // Jon Corbett, Casey Hamilton, and Shayne Wright SECTION IV: Assessment THIRTEEN An Ecohealth Framework for Evaluating Source-Water Protection, Health, and Well-Being in the Otonabee River Basin // Karen Morrison, Karen Houle, and Meredith Carter FOURTEEN Seeking Sustainability through Self-Assessment and Regional Cooperation in Newfoundland and Labrador // Kelly Vodden, Ryan Lane, and Craig Pollett FIFTEEN An Incremental Radicalism for Sustainable Communities // Roger Epp Contributors Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe transfer of knowledge is a key issue in the North as Indigenous Peoples meet the ongoing need to adapt to cultural and environmental change. In eight essays, experts survey critical issues surrounding the knowledge practices of the Inuit of northern Canada and Greenland and the Northern Sámi of Scandinavia, and the difficulties of transferring that knowledge from one generation to the next. Reflecting the ongoing work of the Research Group Circumpolar Cultures, these multidisciplinary essays offer fresh understandings through history and across geography as scholars analyze cultural, ecological, and political aspects of peoples in transition. Traditions, Traps and Trends is an important book for students and scholars in anthropology and ethnography and for everyone interested in the Circumpolar North. Contributors: Cunera Buijs, Frédéric Laugrand, Barbara Helen Miller, Thea Olsthoorn, Jarich Oosten, Willem Rasing, Kim van Dam, Nellejet ZorgdragerTrade Review“Traditions, Traps and Trends is exceptional in several ways…. [It] reflects the breadth of Indigenous knowledge systems; as it happens here, those of Inuit and Sami. Each contribution provides insight into the complexity and wholeness of these systems by illuminating the values and beliefs that meaningfully animate livelihood and social life.” -- George W. Wenzel, Journal of Northern Studies, 2020Table of Contents1 | The Transformation and Transfer of Inuit Knowledge Notes on isumaqsajuq, ilisaijuq, and qaujimajatuqangit WILLEM C. E . R ASING 2 | Language and Literacy Exchange between the Moravians and the Inuit A Transfer of Knowledge in the 18th Century THEA OLSTHOORN 3 | Traditions, Traps and Tricks Social Aspects of the Transfer of Inuit qaujimajatuqangit FRÉDÉRIC LAUGRAND and JARICH OOSTEN 4 | Finding New Places to Transfer Inuit Knowledge in Nunavut KIM VAN DAM 5 | Living Objects The Transfer of Knowledge through East Greenlandic Material Culture CUNERA BUIJ S 6 | Transfer of Healing Knowledge A Case Study of the Coastal Sámi BARBARA HELEN MILLER 7 | Two Traditional Sámi Love Songs and the Transfer of Knowledge NELLEJE T ZORGDRAGER 8 | Sámi Storytelling and the Transfer of Knowledge The Kautokeino Rebellion and Its Aftermath NELLEJE T ZORGDRAGER

Read more less

Book SynopsisRevisiting ten notable days from recent history, Aaron W. Hughes invites readers to think about the tensions, events, and personalities that make Canada distinct. These indelible dates interweave to offer an account of the political, social, cultural, and demographic forces that have shaped the modern nation. The diverse episodes include the enactment of the War Measures Act, hockey’s Summit Series, the patriation of the Constitution, the Multiculturalism Act, the École Polytechnique Massacre, victories for gay rights, Quebec’s second referendum on secession, The Tragically Hip’s farewell concert, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and ongoing Black equality struggles. Each day represents a window on contemporary Canada, jumpstarting reflection and conversation about who we are as a nation and how we got here. Ten Days That Shaped Modern Canada is the perfect guide for all those curious about the forces that shape our country and about how we understand our place in the world.Trade Review"10 Days is quirky and compelling. It is excellent book club material. It is a good way to start a fight." Holly Doan, Blacklock's Reporter, September 3, 2022 [full review at https://www.blacklocks.ca/review-memories]"Hughes does not pick his days at random. These are hinge points in the making of a modern state…. 10 Days That Shaped Modern Canada tells several striking stories. A very readable book, it offers some new and exciting interpretations of a number of old themes and topics. Not every reader will agree with the author’s point of view or his choice of days. But this is part of the volume’s charm.… the days highlighted by Aaron W. Hughes illustrate that in order to understand who we are as a national community, it is essential to be aware of where we came from.” Matthew J. Bellamy, Literary Review of Canada, January/February 2023Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 | October 13, 1970 “Just Watch Me” 2 | September 28, 1972 Team Canada’s Most Famous Goal 3 | April 17, 1982 Patriation of the Constitution 4 | July 21, 1988 Multiculturalism Act 5 | December 6, 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre 6 | May 25, 1995 Egan v. Canada 7 | October 30, 1995 Quebec Referendum 8 | June 2, 2015 Release of the Executive Summary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 9 | August 20, 2016 The Tragically Hip’s Final Concert 10 | March 8, 2018 A New Ten-Dollar Bill Acknowledgements Notes Index"

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince the mid-1990s, tertiary education in Malaysia has experienced great transformation. Legislation was introduced to make the system more democratic and international. Focusing on public universities, this book analyses recent reforms in the sector, and seeks to initiate an urgently-needed debate on how the reforms should be implemented. this study is based on extensive interviews with academics from public universities at Malaysian institutions, because it is individual academics who play a crucial role in developing and maintaining the credibility and reputation of universities. Their stories give a clear picture of public universities that are juggling different expectations and pressures from the social, political and economic environments. The question is how this elusive balance can be achieved.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver the last two decades, China''s extraordinary rate of economic growth has been driven by the 120-150 million people who have flocked into China''s cities from the surrounding countryside in search of a better life. This book examines the manner in which these people live, work, and interact with their urban cousins. A particular feature of the book is its comparative focus, with interesting parallels drawn between China''s experience with mass internal migration and labour market restructuring and the experiences of India, Mexico, and France.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe extraordinary economic performance of Asia is arguably the most important economic phenomenon of the last 50 years. Recovering from the shocks of colonial control, the world of Asian business is a rapidly changing scenario in which home-grown companies compete against multinationals for market share and market access. This collection focuses on the role of entrepreneurship -- both private and state -- in propelling Asian economic growth in the five decades since the end of the World War II. The volume places the familiar names of Asian business in a long term historical and policy context. The 21st century is now being heralded as the ''Asian Century'' and this book assists in understanding what has made all this possible.

Read more less

Book Synopsis"The Treaty of Waitangi" is the founding document of New Zealand, a subject of endless discussion and controversy, and is at the centre of many of this nation''s major events, including the annual Waitangi Day celebrations and protests. Yet many New Zealanders lack the basic information on the details about the Treaty.

Read more less

Book SynopsisToday, the streets of Victoria are busy thoroughfares. Yesterday, they were simple trails, used by the Hudson''s Bay Company men and the First Nations people who traded with them and helped build their fort. Then came the gold miners, followed by the bankers and businessmen, sailors and saloon-keepers, poets, postmasters, architects and astronomers. They''re remembered in Victoria''s city''s streets . . .and every street name tells a story: Courtney Street is a misspelled memorial to Captain George W. Courtenay, whose Constance was one of the first of Her Majesty''s vessels to sail into Esquimalt Harbour in the 1840s. Fan Tan Alley provides a tantalizing glimpse into 1800s Chinatown, where Fan Tan gambling dens existed alongside brothels and opium factories that fuelled the gamblers'' fortunes. Rattenbury Place is named for the ill-fated architect who designed the Empress Hotel and the Parliament Buildings. Danda''s knack for colourful, no-nonsense writing makes history come alive. You''ll sympathize with the characters she writes about, enjoy them and through their eyes experience 19-century Victoria in a way you''ve never experienced it before.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis aim of this book is to look at the dominant representation that at present underpin the issues of territorial organisation and planning in Europe. Cities and networks are often envisaged as inevitably driving territorial development. However, the conceptualisation of European territorial integration has often been reduced to two conventional models: the centre-periphery model and the hierarchical model of urban networks. Limiting territorial integration to these two schema means that integration is limited. Today, reference to polycentric territorial development has to some extent changed the picture. Rather than being viewed in a polarised, pyramidal manner, spatial dynamics are being read in terms of interconnection and reticulation. In addition, reflection on the subject of polycentric territorial strategies has encouraged politicians and spatial planners to include the principle of territorial cohesion in the priorities of European public policies. From considerations which associate conceptual approaches and analytical studies, this book makes it possible to understand in what manner polycentrism, viewed as an alternative to metropolisation, could sow the seeds for new readings, at various scales, of the organisation of European territory. The main challenge of this book is to explain why it is worthwhile revisiting some rather too static representations of territorial systems in Europe. The aim is to promote the emergence and the consolidation of new, critical ways of looking at the issues of territorial dynamics.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince 1991, post-Soviet political elites in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus have been engaged in nation -- as well as state-building. They have tried to strengthen territorial sovereignty and national security, re-shape collective identities and re-narrate national histories. Former Soviet republics have become new neighbours, partners and competitors searching for geopolitical identity in the new Eastern Europe," i.e. the countries left outside the enlarged EU. Old paradigms such as "Eurasia" or "East Slavic civilisation" have been re-invented and politically instrumentalised in the international relations and domestic politics of these countries. At the same time, these old concepts and myths have been contested and challenged by pro-Western elites. The main subject of this book is the construction of post-Soviet borders and their political, social and cultural implications. It focuses on the exemplary case of the Ukrainian-Russian border, approaching it as a social construct and a discursive phenomenon. The book shows how the symbolic meanings of and narratives on this border contribute to national identity formation and shape the images of the neighbouring countries as "the Other" thereby shedding new light on the role of border disputes between Ukraine and Russia in bilateral relations, in EU neighbourhood politics and in domestic political conflicts. The study also addresses "border making" on the regional level, focusing on the cross-border co-operation between Kharkiv and Belgorod and on the dilemmas of a Euro-region "in absence of Europe". Finally, it reflects the everyday experiences of the residents of near-border villages and shows how national and local identities are performed at, and transformed by, the new border.Trade Review[The] analytical structure and trajectory of Zhurzhenkos work travelling from broad historical time and geopolitical space to the here and now practically means one could read it from the last chapter to the first as easily as the other, conventional, way around. I enjoyed immensely reading in the closing chapters the Ukrainian and Russian villagers own testimonies, their preoccupations, details of their changing lives. I could well have taken all this in first before proceeding to the so called 'bigger questions' of state-to-state relations and the changing geopolitical architecture of Eastern Europe. Either way, it is a carefully constructed narrative about the advent of a border in peoples minds and across their land. -- Debatte, vol. 19, issue 1-2, 2011"I enjoyed immensely reading in the closing chapters the Ukrainian and Russian villagers' own testimonies, their preoccupations, details of their changing lives. It is a carefully constructed narrative about the advent of a border in people's minds and across their land. -- Marko Bojcun, Faculty of Governance and International Relations London Metropolitan University"Overall, this monograph is an excellent piece of scholarship, which is well written and extremely well researched. It will be of interest to researchers and students of East European Studies as well as Post-Soviet Studies and of specific interest for individuals interested in border studies as an emerging sub-field within the social sciences. -- Peter Rodgers, University of Sheffield[] many academic readers will find the fieldwork portion of Zhurzhenkos volume, as well as some of her theoretical analysis, informative and thought-provoking. [] Her detailed focus on the area and its problems is truly pioneering and is to be commended. -- Anthropology of East Europe Review 30 (1), Spring 2012Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations List of Images Foreword: Ukraine en route to where?, by Dieter Segert Acknowledgements Introduction Part I. Remapping the Post-Soviet Space 1. "Eurasia" and its Uses in the Ukrainian Geopolitical Imagination 2. Slavic Sisters into European Neighbours: Ukrainian-Belarusian relations after 1991 Part II. Bordering Nations, Transcending Boundaries 3. Under Construction: the Ukrainian-Russian Border from the Soviet Collapse to EU Enlargement 4. Boundary in Mind: Discourses and Narratives of the Ukrainian-Russian Border 5. "Slobozhanshchyna": Re-inventing a Region in the Ukrainian-Russian Borderlands Part III. Living (with the) Border 6. Making Sense of a New Border: Social Transformations and Shifting Identities in Five Near-Border Villages 7. Becoming Ukrainians in a "Russian" Village: Local Identity, Language and National Belonging

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis timely book investigates the complex relations between the Republic of Poland and the Slovak Republic in the context of ongoing processes in the European Unions political and economic system. The basic assumption of the study is that Polish-Slovak relations are affected and shaped not only by the interaction between the two of them but also by the dynamics of the European and global international environment. The authors explore different aspects of the interconnectedness of Warsaw and Bratislava. This includes the analysis of political, economic, and social dimensions of bilateral relations in the multilateral context. One of the goals of this volume is to define areas and spheres of Polands and Slovakias common interest, as well as to point out those areas with the highest potential for development. It also defines and analyzes problematic issues in common relations that could be seen as obstacles in developing cooperation in specific areas and politically strategic areas like foreign and security policy. Moreover, the book seeks to measure the extent to which Polish-Slovak relations are affected by the European integration process.

Read more less

Book SynopsisReligion and magic have played important roles within Eastern European societies where social reality and socio-political balance may differ greatly from those in the West. Although often thought of as being two distinct, even antagonistic forces, religion and magic find ways to work together. By taking on various examples in the multicultural settings of post-Soviet and post-socialist spaces, this collection brings together diverse historical and ethnographic analyses of orthodoxy and heterodoxy from the pre- and post-1989 periods, studies on the relationship of religious and state institutions to individuals practicing alternative forms of spirituality, and examples of borderlands as spaces of ambiguity. This volume is at the crossroads of anthropology, history, as well as cultural memory studies. Its archival and field research results help us understand how repurposing religious and magic practices worked into the transition that countries in Eastern Europe and beyond have experienced after the end of the Cold War.

Read more less