Regional, state and other local government Books

Book SynopsisThis book provides academics, students, practitioners, journalists and others with a broad-ranging yet detailed account, not just of how local government actually works, but also the main political issues and debates surrounding its multi-faceted roles in contemporary Scotland.Trade ReviewComprehensive in examining local government, well-written, and contains a substantial theoretical and conceptual element. A long overdue book that is an excellent addition to the post-devolution literature on Scottish politics. It represents a thoroughly well researched, structured and focused text that will serve the undergraduate textbook market for local government studies. It fills a major gap in the market in Scotland, but should also be considered as a useful addition for those teaching UK local government and urban politics classes... A very well written book which strikes the right balance between description and analysis. A well thought out structure and approach results in a very coherent end product. A critical reminder of the roles and essential position lower tier authorities must have in a healthy civil society. I would recommend it to any organiser of a course on this subject, but also would direct researchers and commentators who need to be informed in this area to make this their first port of call. Indeed, given the robust and objective analysis -- albeit delivered with a smouldering anger -- of the attacks on the integrity and democratic accountability of local government by the Conservative administrations of the 1980s and 1990s, this should be compulsory reading for any new politician or commentator in this field. This is a thorough, short, intelligent and often tart account of Scottish local government! it is one of the first truly devolved books about Scottish politics This book takes Scottish devolution as a fact!and instead discusses how policy and administration work in Scotland. It is good to see Scotland as a case of public administration and public policy rather than of just nationalism and territorial politics. A long overdue book, that is an excellent introduction to the post-devolution literature on Scottish politics. It represents a thoroughly well researched, structured and focused text that will serve the undergraduate textbook market for local government studies. It fills a major gap in the market in Scotland, but should also be considered as a useful addition for those teaching UK local government and urban politics classes! [Scottish local Government] should be placed at the top of reading lists for undergraduate courses on Scottish public administration and politics. Comprehensive in examining local government, well-written, and contains a substantial theoretical and conceptual element. A long overdue book that is an excellent addition to the post-devolution literature on Scottish politics. It represents a thoroughly well researched, structured and focused text that will serve the undergraduate textbook market for local government studies. It fills a major gap in the market in Scotland, but should also be considered as a useful addition for those teaching UK local government and urban politics classes... A very well written book which strikes the right balance between description and analysis. A well thought out structure and approach results in a very coherent end product. A critical reminder of the roles and essential position lower tier authorities must have in a healthy civil society. I would recommend it to any organiser of a course on this subject, but also would direct researchers and commentators who need to be informed in this area to make this their first port of call. Indeed, given the robust and objective analysis -- albeit delivered with a smouldering anger -- of the attacks on the integrity and democratic accountability of local government by the Conservative administrations of the 1980s and 1990s, this should be compulsory reading for any new politician or commentator in this field. This is a thorough, short, intelligent and often tart account of Scottish local government! it is one of the first truly devolved books about Scottish politics This book takes Scottish devolution as a fact!and instead discusses how policy and administration work in Scotland. It is good to see Scotland as a case of public administration and public policy rather than of just nationalism and territorial politics. A long overdue book, that is an excellent introduction to the post-devolution literature on Scottish politics. It represents a thoroughly well researched, structured and focused text that will serve the undergraduate textbook market for local government studies. It fills a major gap in the market in Scotland, but should also be considered as a useful addition for those teaching UK local government and urban politics classes! [Scottish local Government] should be placed at the top of reading lists for undergraduate courses on Scottish public administration and politics.Table of ContentsContents; Introduction; 1. Thinking Politically: The Nature of Local Government in Scotland; 2. Mapping the Networks and Relationships of Scottish Local Authorities; 3. Scottish Local Authority Structures: From Feudal Burghs to Single-Tier Authorities; 4. Council Decision-Making Structures: From Traditional Administration to Post-Devolution Modernisation; 5. Councillors, Elections and the Electoral System: A Healthy Democratic Foundation?; 6. Beyond Elections: Non-Electoral Forms of Public Participation and Non-Elected Local Governance; 7. Political Parties in Scottish Local Government; 8. Reconstructing Accountability: Value for Money and the Rise of the Performance Culture in Scottish Councils; 9. Financing Scottish Local Government; 10. The Bigger Picture: Central-Local Relations, Multi-Level Governance and Globalisation; Conclusion: Has Devolution Made a Difference to Local Government in Scotland?.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides academics, students, practitioners, journalists and others with a broad-ranging yet detailed account, not just of how local government actually works, but also the main political issues and debates surrounding its multi-faceted roles in contemporary Scotland.Trade ReviewComprehensive in examining local government, well-written, and contains a substantial theoretical and conceptual element. A long overdue book that is an excellent addition to the post-devolution literature on Scottish politics. It represents a thoroughly well researched, structured and focused text that will serve the undergraduate textbook market for local government studies. It fills a major gap in the market in Scotland, but should also be considered as a useful addition for those teaching UK local government and urban politics classes... A very well written book which strikes the right balance between description and analysis. A well thought out structure and approach results in a very coherent end product. A critical reminder of the roles and essential position lower tier authorities must have in a healthy civil society. I would recommend it to any organiser of a course on this subject, but also would direct researchers and commentators who need to be informed in this area to make this their first port of call. Indeed, given the robust and objective analysis -- albeit delivered with a smouldering anger -- of the attacks on the integrity and democratic accountability of local government by the Conservative administrations of the 1980s and 1990s, this should be compulsory reading for any new politician or commentator in this field. This is a thorough, short, intelligent and often tart account of Scottish local government! it is one of the first truly devolved books about Scottish politics This book takes Scottish devolution as a fact!and instead discusses how policy and administration work in Scotland. It is good to see Scotland as a case of public administration and public policy rather than of just nationalism and territorial politics. A long overdue book, that is an excellent introduction to the post-devolution literature on Scottish politics. It represents a thoroughly well researched, structured and focused text that will serve the undergraduate textbook market for local government studies. It fills a major gap in the market in Scotland, but should also be considered as a useful addition for those teaching UK local government and urban politics classes! [Scottish local Government] should be placed at the top of reading lists for undergraduate courses on Scottish public administration and politics. Comprehensive in examining local government, well-written, and contains a substantial theoretical and conceptual element. A long overdue book that is an excellent addition to the post-devolution literature on Scottish politics. It represents a thoroughly well researched, structured and focused text that will serve the undergraduate textbook market for local government studies. It fills a major gap in the market in Scotland, but should also be considered as a useful addition for those teaching UK local government and urban politics classes... A very well written book which strikes the right balance between description and analysis. A well thought out structure and approach results in a very coherent end product. A critical reminder of the roles and essential position lower tier authorities must have in a healthy civil society. I would recommend it to any organiser of a course on this subject, but also would direct researchers and commentators who need to be informed in this area to make this their first port of call. Indeed, given the robust and objective analysis -- albeit delivered with a smouldering anger -- of the attacks on the integrity and democratic accountability of local government by the Conservative administrations of the 1980s and 1990s, this should be compulsory reading for any new politician or commentator in this field. This is a thorough, short, intelligent and often tart account of Scottish local government! it is one of the first truly devolved books about Scottish politics This book takes Scottish devolution as a fact!and instead discusses how policy and administration work in Scotland. It is good to see Scotland as a case of public administration and public policy rather than of just nationalism and territorial politics. A long overdue book, that is an excellent introduction to the post-devolution literature on Scottish politics. It represents a thoroughly well researched, structured and focused text that will serve the undergraduate textbook market for local government studies. It fills a major gap in the market in Scotland, but should also be considered as a useful addition for those teaching UK local government and urban politics classes! [Scottish local Government] should be placed at the top of reading lists for undergraduate courses on Scottish public administration and politics.Table of ContentsContents; Introduction; 1. Thinking Politically: The Nature of Local Government in Scotland; 2. Mapping the Networks and Relationships of Scottish Local Authorities; 3. Scottish Local Authority Structures: From Feudal Burghs to Single-Tier Authorities; 4. Council Decision-Making Structures: From Traditional Administration to Post-Devolution Modernisation; 5. Councillors, Elections and the Electoral System: A Healthy Democratic Foundation?; 6. Beyond Elections: Non-Electoral Forms of Public Participation and Non-Elected Local Governance; 7. Political Parties in Scottish Local Government; 8. Reconstructing Accountability: Value for Money and the Rise of the Performance Culture in Scottish Councils; 9. Financing Scottish Local Government; 10. The Bigger Picture: Central-Local Relations, Multi-Level Governance and Globalisation; Conclusion: Has Devolution Made a Difference to Local Government in Scotland?.

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Book SynopsisAddresses issues of national identity and nationalism in Scotland from a political and linguistic perspective.Trade ReviewA clear, precise, observant, politically nuanced analysis of the many different kinds of nationalism and national identity in Scotland, the ways they are expressed and the political behaviour to which they give rise. This book is a treat, and an education too. -- Murray Pittock, author of The Road to Independence? Leith and Soule's work, given how solitary it is on the market, will prove most important in the next few years when it is assumed the campaign for an independent Scotland will accelerate. British Politics and Policy at LSE Blog A clear, precise, observant, politically nuanced analysis of the many different kinds of nationalism and national identity in Scotland, the ways they are expressed and the political behaviour to which they give rise. This book is a treat, and an education too. Leith and Soule's work, given how solitary it is on the market, will prove most important in the next few years when it is assumed the campaign for an independent Scotland will accelerate.Table of ContentsTable of Contents Preface 4 Chapter 1: Whose nationalism is it anyway? 7 Chapter 2: The Politics of Contemporary Scottish Nationalism 29 Chapter 3: The changing sense of Scotland: the political employment of national identity 62 Chapter 4: Nationalism's metaphor: the discourse and grammar of national personification 97 Chapter 5: Mass Perceptions of National Identity: Evidence from Survey Data 128 Chapter 6: Narratives of identity: Locating national identity in the publics' discourse 151 Chapter 7: The Scottish Political Elite View of National Identity 181 Chapter 8: (Re)describing Scottish national identity 210 References 234 Appendix 252

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Book SynopsisAnalyses the rise and fall of Labour in Scotland and asks: is Labour''s decline irreversible? After being the leading party in Scotland for 50 years, Labour was shocked to lose an election and office to the SNP in the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary elections, and thunderstruck when the SNP won a majority government in the same elections in 2011. This book analyses the last 30 years of Scottish Labour, from the arrival of Thatcherism in 1979 right up to the results of the 2010 Westminster elections and 2011 Scottish Parliamentary elections.Table of Contents1. Introduction: The Strange Death of Labour Scotland; 2. Was There A 'Labour Scotland'?; 3. The Distinctiveness of Scottish Labour?; 4. The Challenge of Thatcherism; 5. The Internal Politics of Scottish Labour and the Emergence of New Labour; 6. Labour and the Establishment of the Scottish Parliament; 7. Scottish Labour: The Party on the Ground; 8. Labour and the Scottish Electorate; 9. The Shock of the New: The SNP Wins Office; 10. Conclusion: The Paradoxes of Scottish Labour and its Future.

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Book SynopsisAnalyses the rise and fall of Labour in Scotland and asks: is Labour''s decline irreversible? After being the leading party in Scotland for 50 years, Labour was shocked to lose an election and office to the SNP in the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary elections, and thunderstruck when the SNP won a majority government in the same elections in 2011. This book analyses the last 30 years of Scottish Labour, from the arrival of Thatcherism in 1979 right up to the results of the 2010 Westminster elections and 2011 Scottish Parliamentary elections.Trade Review'In this significant book, two scholars with a deep understanding of the Labour Party have explored the 'myth of Labour Scotland'. By 'myth' the authors capture the very real strength of Labour in Scotland but also the equally important existence of a widespread belief in Labour's dominance. They explain why the belief in Scottish Labour hegemony was less real than was often imagined and how devolution, especially its more proportional voting system, exposed the myth. The authors explore how this happened and devolution's impact on the party. The book combines public policy analysis, analysis of Labour's changing electoral base, the impact of New Labour, governing Scotland under devolution and its efforts to address the Scottish Question. This is not only the most up to date book on Labour in Scotland but the most comprehensive analysis of the party. It is required reading for anyone seeking to understand modern Scottish politics.' -- Professor James Mitchell, School of Government and Public Policy, University of StrathclydeTable of Contents1. Introduction: The Strange Death of Labour Scotland; 2. Was There A 'Labour Scotland'?; 3. The Distinctiveness of Scottish Labour?; 4. The Challenge of Thatcherism; 5. The Internal Politics of Scottish Labour and the Emergence of New Labour; 6. Labour and the Establishment of the Scottish Parliament; 7. Scottish Labour: The Party on the Ground; 8. Labour and the Scottish Electorate; 9. The Shock of the New: The SNP Wins Office; 10. Conclusion: The Paradoxes of Scottish Labour and its Future.

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

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Book SynopsisIs social democracy in a terminal condition in Europe? In this book, the authors examine the fortunes of social democracy in western and east central Europe and the policy challenges in economic policy, labour markets, social welfare, public services, integration and decentralisation.Table of ContentsPreface; 1. The Crisis of Social Democracy, Michael Keating and David McCrone; 2. The Long Depression, the Great Crash and Socialism in Western Europe, Donald Sassoon; 3. Social Democracy in Crisis: outlining the trends in Western Europe, David McCrone and Michael Keating; 4. The Positions and Fortunes of Social Democratic Parties in East Central Europe, Milada Anna Vachudova; 5. Rethinking Public Expenditure from a Social Democratic Perspective, David Heald; 6. Social Democracy in Crisis? What Crisis?, Bo Rothstein and Sven Steinmo; 7. Do the Fading Electoral Fortunes of the Swedish Social Democrats Signal the Erosion of Swedish Social Democracy?, Henry Milner; 8. Multiculturalism, Right Wing Populism and the Crisis of Social Democracy, Susi Meret and Birte Siim; 9. Labour Markets, Welfare States and the Contemporary Dilemmas of European Social Democracy, Martin Rhodes; 10. Class Politics and the Social Investment Welfare State, Colin Crouch; 11. Labour, Skills and Education in Modern Socio economic Development: Can There be a Social Democratic Economic and Industrial Policy in a Globalised Economy?, Ulrich Hilpert and Desmond Hickie; 12. From Single Market to Social Market Economy: Is There Room for Solidarity? Yves Meny; 13. Social Democracy and Security, Neil Walker; 14. Multilevel Social Democracy: Centralisation and Decentralisation, Michael Keating; Conclusion, Michael Keating and David McCrone; Bibliography.

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

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Book SynopsisAfter the referendum - what now? A Wealthier, Fairer Scotland looks at how devolved Scotland's powers could be used to make the country the best it can be: both economically successful and socially just for all citizens.Table of ContentsPreface; 1 .The Political Economy of Devolution - Michael Keating; 2. Taxes and Spending - Patrizio Lecca, Peter G McGregor and Kim Swales; 3. Inequality in Scotland: Dimensions and Policy Responses - David Bell, David Eiser and Katerina Lisenkova; 4. Towards a Fairer Scotland? Assessing the Prospects and Implications of Social Security Devolution - Nicola McEwen; 5. A More Gender-Equal Scotland? Childcare Policy in Scotland after the Independence Referendum - Craig McAngusand Kirstein Rummery; 6. Constitutional Change, Social Investment and Prevention Policy in Scotland - Paul Cairney, Malcolm Harvey, and Emily St Denny; 7. Getting to a Wealthier and Fairer Scotland - Michael Keating and Robert Lineira; References; List of Figures; List of Tables.

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Book SynopsisMathew Whiting explores Irish republicanism's transformation from violence to political power. He examines their electoral participation and engagement in democratic bargaining, the role of Irish-America and British government policy to argue that moderation was a long-term process of concessions in return for increased political inclusion.

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Book SynopsisMathew Whiting explores Irish republicanism's transformation from violence to political power. He examines their electoral participation and engagement in democratic bargaining, the role of Irish-America and British government policy to argue that moderation was a long-term process of concessions in return for increased political inclusion.

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Book Synopsis'The best American political biography since Obama's Dreams from My Father' GuardianNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA mayor's inspirational story of a Midwest city that has become nothing less than a blueprint for the future of American renewal.Once described by the Washington Post as "the most interesting mayor you've never heard of," Pete Buttigieg, the thirty-seven-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has now emerged as one of America's most visionary politicians. With soaring prose that celebrates a resurgent American Midwest, Shortest Way Home narrates the heroic transformation of a "dying city" (Newsweek) into nothing less than a shining model of urban reinvention.Elected at twenty-nine as the nation's youngest mayor, Pete Buttigieg immediately recognized that "great cities, and even great nations, are built through attention to the everyday." As Shortest Way Home recalls, the challenges were daunting?whether confronting gun violence, renaming a street in honor of Martin Luther King Jr., or attracting tech companies to a city that had appealed more to junk bond scavengers than serious investors. None of this is underscored more than Buttigieg's audacious campaign to reclaim 1,000 houses, many of them abandoned, in 1,000 days and then, even as a sitting mayor, deploying to serve in Afghanistan as a Navy officer. Yet the most personal challenge still awaited Buttigieg, who came out in a South Bend Tribune editorial, just before being reelected with 78 percent of the vote, and then finding Chasten Glezman, a middle-school teacher, who would become his partner for life.While Washington reels with scandal, Shortest Way Home, with its graceful, often humorous, language, challenges our perception of the typical American politician. In chronicling two once-unthinkable stories?that of an Afghanistan veteran who came out and found love and acceptance, all while in office, and that of a revitalized Rust Belt city no longer regarded as "flyover country" Buttigieg provides a new vision for America's shortest way home.Trade ReviewThe best American political autobiography since Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father.... Buttigieg writes unusually well for a politician.... Is it too much to imagine that America could elect a gay president? I don't think so.... Especially a man like this. -- Charles Kaiser * The Guardian *Personal, beguiling and quite moving as he talks about coming out and getting married... The story is told with brisk engagement ? it is difficult not to like him...When Obama wrote his memoir, the idea that the nation would soon put an African-American in the White House seemed beyond the realm of the possible. After reading this memoir written 25 years later, the notion that Buttigieg might be the nation's first openly gay president doesn't feel quite as far-fetched. -- Adam Nagourney * New York Times *In a sense, Buttigieg's book is a kind of antidote to J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy, a story of broken people in a broken place.... This is a comeback story of a place that got hit hard, survived and then began thriving again.... It's entirely true that a leap from mayor to president has been impossible in the past. But these pages make a pretty good case that city halls just might be better training schools for the presidency than attendance at any five years of congressional hearings combined. -- E. J. Dionne Jr. * Washington Post *If you were an early Barack Obama supporter a dozen or more years ago, you recall inching forward in your chair whenever he spoke. The words were so clear, the passion so strong, the message of hope so credible.... I suggest you watch the video of Pete Buttigieg at a CNN town hall. If that piques your interest, as it did mine, read his book, Shortest Way Home. -- Peter Funt * USA Today *Endearing ... might just restore your optimism -- Harriet Alexander * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisA concise and provocative introduction to state legislative politics, State Legislatures Today is designed as a supplement for state and local government courses and upper level courses on legislative politics. The book examines state legislatures and state lawmakers, putting them in historical context, showing how they have evolved over the years, and differentiating them from Congress. It covers state legislative elections (including the impact of redistricting, candidate recruitment, etc.), the changing job description of state legislators, legislatures as organizations, the process by which legislation gets produced, and the influences upon legislators.

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Book SynopsisWhen it comes to voting, taxes, environmental regulations, social services, education, criminal justice, political parties, property rights, gun control, marriage and a whole host of other modern American issues, the state in which a citizen resides makes a difference. That idea—that the political decisions made by those in state-level offices are of tremendous importance to the lives of people whose states they govern—is the fundamental concept explored in this book. Gary F. Moncrief and Peverill Squire introduce students to the very tangible and constantly evolving implications, limitations, and foundations of America’s state political institutions, and accessibly explain the ways that the political powers of the states manifest themselves in the cultures, economies, and lives of everyday Americans, and always will.Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1: Making a Case for the States Chapter 2: States and the Federal System Chapter 3: State Fiscal Systems Chapter 4: The Policymaking Environment in the States Chapter 5: The Policymaking Capacity of State Governments Chapter 6: Public Policy and the Role of the States in a Changing Federal System Chapter 7: States and Their Local Governments Chapter 8: Elections and Political Parties Chapter 9: Why States Matter Now Index About the Authors

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Book Synopsis1972 was a true watershed in Maine politics. Following a hundred years of Republican dominance, Democrats led by Senator Ed Muskie had achieved a string of victories that threatened to sweep Republicans from the board of congressional and gubernatorial offices. On election day only the win by first time Republican congressional candidate Bill Cohen would stop the Democrat shut out. Cohen won by determination and perseverance, charisma, and grit, and by his campaign 650-mile walk across Maine’s expansive second congressional district from Gilead on the New Hampshire border to Ft. Kent on the Canadian border. The Walk, as it became known, was an over-arching feature of that campaign and soon became a staple of the subsequent successful campaigns by congressional, senate, and gubernatorial candidates in the Pine Tree State. On the fiftieth anniversary of a campaign that would change the course of Maine politics and propel Cohen onto the national political stage where he would play prominent roles in the House, Senate, and as secretary of defense, this book captures, in the vivid and often surprising words of the participants, how The Walk came to be.

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Book SynopsisCalifornia: The Politics of Diversity examines the diverse and hyperpluralistic nature of California, particularly its people and the groups to which they belong. In their accessible style, Lawrence and Cummins bring an informed, insightful perspective to the examination of the numerous pressures that make governing the state increasingly challenging. Learning objectives and chapter conclusions offer students a roadmap to key ideas while study questions encourage critical thinking. Textboxes emphasize how California compares to the other states and highlight voices of prominent policymakers. No other textbook on California politics offers as much coverage and in-depth analysis of the state’s political development and institutions that have shaped the Golden State into what it is today.The eleventh edition has been revised to reflect the latest developments in California politics, including: Coverage of the first term of Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration Analysis of the impact of the COVID pandemic on the state’s politics and economy Discussion of the 2021 gubernatorial recall Updated analysis of the state’s major policy areas, including water, housing, transportation, health care, education, crime, immigration, and climate change Changes in demographics and voter turnout in 2022 general election Updated and expanded pedagogy and art program Jeff Cummins has provided a revised instructor’s manual, test bank, and new lecture slides. These resources may be found online at the book’s website: https://textbooks.rowman.com/california11eTable of Contents1.Explaining California Politics2.California’s Political Development3.Constitutionalism and Federalism: The Perimeters of California Politics4.Direct Democracy in a Hyperpluralistic Age5.How Californians Participate6.Linking People and Policymakers: Media, Parties, and Interest Groups7.Legislative Politics8.Executive Politics9.California’s Judiciary10.Community Politics11.Budget Policy: The Cost of Diversity12.Policies Stemming from Growth13.Policies Stemming from Diversity

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Book SynopsisWinsome Earle-Sears sent shock waves across Virginia and the country at large when she pulled off her stunning upset victory in November 2021 and became the first woman lieutenant governor of Virginia and the first Black woman, the first naturalized female citizen, and first female veteran elected to state-wide office. She earned intense national coverage because of her unwavering support for Second Amendment rights and her strong commitment to education opportunity for all students. Now in her memoir, How Sweet It Is, Winsome will tell her story and explain how she arrived at that historic moment in time.A devout Christian, Winsome is also a true believer in the promise of the American Dream. Her father was approved to immigrate to the U.S.A. and left Jamaica, arriving in America on August 11, 1963, with only $1.75 in his pocket. Winsome joined him when she was just six years old, and ever since she has never ceased enthusiastically bucking conventions, defying expectations, and charging straight toward challenges.Winsome's remarkable story is one of faith and family, personal loss and perseverance, philanthropy and patriotism, service and sacrifice. But through it all, her Christian faith sustained her, drove her, and compelled her to give back to her community and her country. Her unyielding belief in the fundamental righteousness of America stands in stark opposition to the increasingly pervasive ideologies that are dividing the country. In How Sweet It Is, Winsome encourages Americans to never stop fighting for their country and shows them how to chart a new path forward.

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Book SynopsisAfter the 2016 election, the Republican Party seized control not just of the White House and Congress but of many state governments. To be precise, the GOP seized control of both legislative chambers in 32 states and governor offices in 33 states-a majority the party hadn't held since 1928. What happened?In In the Red, journalist Meaghan Winter argues that over the last couple decades, the Democratic Party has made a very risky strategic choice to abandon state and local races in order to win federal races, while the GOP poured money into winning state governor seats and state congresses. For Republicans, it paid off.For Democrats--and the American public--the fallout has been catastrophic. Abortion access is more restricted than it has been in decades; gun control legislation has become even harder to pass; and ID laws are undermining voting rights. In states across the country, activists on the ground are fighting massive Republican power alone, liberal and progressive candidates are running campaigns with no support, and American citizens are suffering. If the Democratic Party establishment changes its strategy--and soon--there is hope. Meaghan Winter's book reminds us of the importance of robust local politics and the role that states can play in checking presidential power.

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Book Synopsis“This book will inspire people to work with and for their neighbors in all kinds of ways!” —Bill McKibben, author of Falter Heather Lende was one of the thousands of women inspired to take an active role in politics during the past few years. Though her entire campaign for assembly member in Haines, Alaska, cost less than $1,000, she won! And tiny, breathtakingly beautiful Haines isn’t the sleepy town it appears to be. Yes, the assembly must stop bears from rifling through garbage on Main Street, but there is also a bitter debate about the fishing boat harbor and a vicious recall campaign that targets three assembly members, including Lende. In Of Bears and Ballots we witness the nitty-gritty of passing legislation, the lofty ideals of our republic, and the way our national politics play out in one small town. With her entertaining cast of offbeat but relatable characters, the writer whom the Los Angeles Times calls “part Annie Dillard, part Anne Lamott” brings us an inspirational tale about what living in a community really means, and what we owe one another.Trade Review"Written in her usual sprightly, witty, humble, effervescent style, this one will please [Lende's] fans." —Kirkus Reviews "Lende’s vivid descriptions, good-natured humor, and adoration for her quirky neighbors further energize this engaging tale." —Library Journal “A detailed and amiable chronicle of [Lende's] three-year term as assemblywoman in Haines Borough, Alaska . . . Lende successfully balances the dry facts of assembly reports with humorous character sketches and lyrical odes to the natural beauty of Alaska. The result is an honest and inspirational investigation into why 'it’s easy to say what’s wrong with government; it’s harder to fix it, and progress can be very slow.'” —Publishers Weekly “In this fraught, bewildering American era, Heather Lende’s latest memoir is a blessed balm…What a blessing Lende’s view of democracy, which she calls ‘glorious chaos,’ is in this dark era.. She reminds us about the dreams we share, especially now, as we cry for, and struggle to save, our beloved country.” – The Minneapolis Star Tribune “[Lende’s] hard-won experience serves as both a Trump-era warning and a clarion call for citizens everywhere to honor public service and the representative democracy that depends on it.” – Anchorage Daily News ““As the reader follows [Lende’s] soul-searching perseverance, a heartwarming realization of our common humanity and of our struggles to understand and live with each other shines through. This is, above all, an uplifting story of democracy at work in a far-flung, beautiful part of the U.S.” – Booklist “Heather Lende's fourth book about her hometown delightfully and insightfully explores small-town life and politics, Alaskan style.” – Shelf Awareness “Citizenship—real, active citizenship of the kind we badly need—is hard work, as this book makes clear. But it’s also rewarding in a profound way; hopefully this will inspire people to work with and for their neighbors in all kinds of ways!” —Bill McKibben, author of Falter “All politics is local, so it’s said. If you haven’t served on a local board or commission you haven’t lived. If you have served and lived through it, Heather Lende feels your pain, and will have you laughing at hers. Sometimes a first rate writer also happens to be a first rate human being. I love when that happens.” —Tom Bodett, humorist (and former chair of the Selectboard of Dummerston, Vermont) “Heather Lende has the voice of that friend down the street you love to chat with over coffee—the one who knows everything going on in town, but also knows the difference between gossip and storytelling.” —Tom Kizza, New York Times-bestselling author of Pilgrim’s Wilderness and The Wake of the Unseen Object “Heather Lende’s brave, big-hearted book about her run for local office fairly bursts with affection for her place and its people. By the end you’ll be torn between wanting to move to Haines, Alaska, and wanting Heather to take the helm of your hometown.” —Melody Warnick, author of This Is Where You Belong “An uplifting reminder that democracy works in America. While its setting is an extraordinary landscape of mountains, glaciers and the waters of Lynn Canal, the political scene and the cast of characters Lende captures will find resonance in every corner of America.” —Bruce Botelho, former Mayor of Juneau, Alaska “This book is a fine story—many beautifully-woven stories, in fact, told with compassion, wisdom and wit—about democracy, community and decency in small-town America, and how to save the best of who we are. It’s medicine for the soul. I vote for Heather Lende.” —Kim Heacox, author of John Muir and the Ice that Started a Fire “Heather Lende has captured the essence of small-town governing in a community as politically divided as our nation is today. She reminds us that public service is hard, but also meaningful.” —Fran Ulmer, former Lieutenant Governor of Alaska

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Book SynopsisUrban governance and sustainability are rapidly becoming key issues around the world. Currently three billion people - half the population of the planet - live in cities, and by 2050 a full two-thirds of the world's population will be housed in ever larger and increasingly densely populated urban areas. The economic, social and environmental challenges posed by urbanization on such a large scale and at such a rapid pace are staggering for local, regional and national governments working towards sustainability. Solutions to the myriad problems plaguing the quest for sustainability at the city-level are equally as diverse and complex, but are rooted in the assumptions of the 'sustainability agenda', developed at the Rio Earth Summit and embodied in Local Agenda/Action 21. These assumptions state that good governance is a necessary precondition for the achievement of sustainable development, particularly at the local level, and that the mobilization of local communities is an essential part of this process. Yet until now, these assumptions, which have guided the policies and programmes of over 6000 local authorities around the world, have never been seriously tested. Drawing on three years of field research in 40 European towns and cities, Governing for Sustainable Cities is the first book to examine empirically the processes of urban governance in sustainable development. Looking at a host of core issues including institutional and social capacity, institutional design, social equity, politics, partnerships and cooperation and creative policy-making, the authors draw compelling conclusions and offer strong guidance. This book is essential reading for policy-makers, politicians, activists and NGOs, planners, researchers and academics, whether in Europe, North America, Australasia or transitional and developing countries, concerned with advancing sustainability in our rapidly urbanizing world.Table of ContentsPreface * 'The Level of Government Closest to the People...' Government, Governance and Local Sustainability * Meeting the Sustainability Challenge * Institutional Capacity and Social Capacity * Local Government and Civil Society * Governing for Sustainability * An Agenda for Action * Appendix A: DISCUS Fieldwork Methodology * References * Index

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Book SynopsisHundreds of people first attended the first West Indian Carnival held at Seymour Hall, London, in 1959. In this book you will meet some of those pioneers and share closely in their struggle to found a new life.

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Book SynopsisIn May 1999 the Scottish Parliament opened with high expectations. The decade since has seen a transformation in Scottish politics. As the Parliament's 10th anniversary approaches, now is the perfect time to reflect on its role in the Scottish and wider UK political process. What have been the challenges and its achievements? Have expectations been met? The Scottish Parliament's four Founding Principles - access and participation, equal opportunities, accountability and power sharing - aimed to establish a body answerable to the people of Scotland. This project, run by the Hansard Society, will bring together a group of varied and distinguished commentators to discuss some of the key issues in the development of the Scottish Parliament over the past decade. They will explore whether initial expectations have been met and analyse how the Parliament has evolved at the core of a new Scottish political process.Trade ReviewAlongside big names in the field of Scottish politics, Jeffrey and Mitchell explore the achievements and challenges of the last decade from a refreshingly unbiased viewpoint. -- Edinburgh Evening News

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Book SynopsisHow are we to explain the resurgence of customary chiefs in contemporary Africa? Rather than disappearing with the tide of modernity, as many expected, indigenous sovereigns are instead a rising force, often wielding substantial power and legitimacy despite major changes in the workings of the global political economy in the postCold War erachanges in which they are themselves deeply implicated. This pathbreaking volume, edited by anthropologists John L. Comaroff and Jean Comaroff, explores the reasons behind the increasingly assertive politics of custom in many corners of Africa. Chiefs come in countless guisesfrom university professors through cosmopolitan businessmen to subsistence farmersbut, whatever else they do, they are a critical key to understanding the tenacious hold that traditional authority enjoys in the late modern world. Together the contributors explore this counterintuitive chapter in Africa's history and, in so doing, place it within the broader world-making proc

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Book SynopsisAn expansive study of the problems encountered by educational leaders in pursuit of reform, and how these issues cyclically translate into future topics of reform. School reform is almost always born out of big dreams and well-meaning desires to change the status quo. But between lofty reform legislation and the students whose education is at stake, there are numerous additional policies and policymakers who determine how reforms operate. Even in the best cases, school reform initiatives can perpetuate problems created by earlier reforms or existing injustices, all while introducing new complications. In Reforming the Reform, political scientist Susan L. Moffitt, education policy scholar Michaela Krug O'Neill, and the late policy and education scholar David K. Cohen take on a wide-ranging examination of the many intricacies of school reform. With a particular focus on policymakers in the spaces between legislation and implementation, such as the countless school superintendents and district leaders tasked with developing new policies in the unique context of their district or schools, the authors identify common problems that arise when trying to operationalize ambitious reform ideas. Their research draws on more than 250 interviews with administrators in Tennessee and California (chosen as contrasts for their different political makeup and centralization of the education system) and is presented here alongside survey data from across the United States as well as archival data to demonstrate how public schools shoulder enormous responsibilities for the American social safety net. They provide a general explanation for problems facing social policy reforms in federalist systems (including healthcare) and offer pathways forward for education policy in particular. Trade Review"This multifaceted and fascinating book contributes on so many levels. Like no other work, it illuminates the policymaking stages between legislative passage of policy reforms and frontline implementation, centering on mid-level actors whose consequential decisions occur far from the limelight. As a case study in contemporary education policy, it vividly demonstrates the complications of foisting social policy responsibilities onto K-12 schools, to compensate for the threadbare safety net elsewhere. And it gives voice to teachers, principals, district officials, and others who must navigate the fresh problems arising from the collision of new reform efforts with old capacities and policy terrains. An unparalleled, expert analysis of the promise and pitfalls of the American policymaking system in education and well beyond." -- Andrea Louise Campbell, author of Trapped in America’s Safety Net"This book meticulously analyzes an enduring tension between change and continuity in education policy. Focusing on policymaking in the middle, between national legislation and frontline practice, the authors cogently theorize how knowledge, organization, and politics interact to enable and constrain policy and practice. By using the words and experiences of policymakers in state agencies, county offices, and school districts, the authors animate mezzo-level policymaking and its entailments for policy implementation. A must-read for all education policy scholars and for practitioners of policymaking and implementation!" -- James Spillane, Northwestern University“Reforming the Reform provides an original conceptual framework for thinking through the processes the reform sparks and the obstacles that challenge making those reforms work and stick. Offering an up-to-date and wide-ranging review of major policy initiatives, it will find a wide audience among education policy scholars and policy makers.” -- Jeffrey Henig, Teachers College, Columbia UniversityTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations Preface 1 What Happens after Reforms? 2 Inherited Terrains: The Political, Economic, and Social Foundations of American Public Schools 3 How Reforms Create Problems: New Policies, Inherited Terrains, and New Problems 4 Problems of Policy Spillover 5 Problems of Policy Overload With Cadence Willse 6 Problems of Policy Pockets With Cadence Willse 7 Problems of Policy Sparks 8 Learning from Reforms to the Reform Technical Appendix A: Supplemental Tables Technical Appendix B: Methodological Approach Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn this sweeping history of American democracy, Robert Wiebe traces the origins and development of democratic ruling in the USA since the early 19th century, also assessing its future prospects.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSoffer has written a fascinating biography of New York City Mayor Ed Koch--but he has done so much more than that. He skillfully uses Koch's reign to tell the story of the city from 1978 to 1990, a rags-to-riches saga with many lessons for today's cities as they cope with enormous financial pressure. Whether or not you are a New Yorker, this marvelously told tale of a mayor and his city will grip you. -- Lizabeth Cohen, Harvard University, author of A Consumers' Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America Soffer is able to bring Ed Koch into critical focus through his narrative gaze, clean writing style, and expert use of a dazzling array of sources. By using such a colorful character as Koch, Soffer illuminates the way neoliberalism has made, remade, and unmade our urban landscape. He illuminates the importance of Koch in local and national politics and represents a larger phenomenon in America life. By thoroughly examining the politics and policies of his mayoralty, he allows us to see more clearly the world in which we live. -- Richard Greenwald, Drew University, author of The Triangle Fire, the Protocols of Peace, and Industrial Democracy In Progressive Era New York 'How'm I doin'?', Ed Koch's tagline, promised New Yorkers accountability and order after a fiscal crisis that brought the city to the verge of bankruptcy, the Son of Sam serial murders, and the racial mayhem of the July 1977 blackout. Brilliant and witty, jovial and magnetic, Koch was also a mean, stubborn, and polarizing figure. Jonathan Soffer brilliantly navigates us through the sea of local, national, and international events that created the phenomenon that is 'Hizzoner.' -- Craig Steven Wilder, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, author of A Covenant with Color: Race and Social Power in Brooklyn Jonathan Soffer's is now the go-to book on Ed Koch and his mayoralty. Critical yet even-handed, it is lucidly written, theoretically sophisticated, and solidly sourced in interviews and archives. And it offers fresh perspectives on many aspects of New York's history in the 1960s-1990s, notably the neoliberal turn, the fiscal crisis, racial and religious relations, and the interlinked trinity of gentrification, homelessness, and redevelopment. -- Mike Wallace, City University of New York, coauthor of the Pulitzer-Prize winning Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 New York admirers will find much to relish here, while those interested in learning how municipal governments work, especially during financial crisis, will be especially during financial crisis, will be especially enlightened by Soffer's efforts. Library Journal This fascinating, entertainingly written and illuminating book, the best piece of contemporary urban history I've read in a long time, is a marvel of even-handedness and balance.The Millions -- Phillip Lopate The Millions Provides an invaluable resource for urbanists, historians, scholars of New York, and anyone interested in this extraordinary subject, city, and time. -- Miriam Greenberg Journal of American History In his evenhanded treatment of the confrontational and controversial mayor, Soffer endorses the liberal indictment and fully acknowledges Koch's shortcomings. At the same time, however, the author presents a compelling brief for Koch that underscores the desperate condition of New York City in the late 1970s and argues convincingly for the mayor's decision to employ draconian measures. -- Roger Biles American Historical ReviewTable of ContentsAcknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. Struggling to Be Middle Class: Ed Koch's Early Life 3. It Takes a Village (1949-58) 4. "Rhymes with Notch" (1959-64) 5. The Man Who Beat Carmine De Sapio 6. A Rebel with Reason 7. Koch's Corridor (1969-76) 8. "A Liberal with Sanity": Koch as the Anti-Bella 9. New York: Divided and Broke (1973-77) 10. The 1977 Mayoral Election 11. The Critical First Term (1978-81) 12. The Politics of Race and Party 13. Shake-up (1979-80) 14. Controlled Fusion: Or, to Koch or Not to Koch (1980-81) 15. Governor Koch? (1982-83) 16. Larger Than Life (1984-85) 17. A New Spatial Order: Gentrification, the Parks, Times Square 18. Homelessness 19. The Koch Housing Plan (1986-89) 20. AIDS 21. Crime and Police Issues (1978-84) 22. The Ward Years: Police, Crime, and Police Crimes (1984-89) 23. Don't Follow County Leaders, and Watch Your Parking Meters (1986) 24. Koch's Endgame (1988-89) 25. Epilogue Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisZeinab Abul-Magd examines both the visible and often invisible efforts by Egypt’s semiautonomous military to hegemonize the country’s politics, economy, and society over the past six decades to show how it gains and maintains control.Trade ReviewNo other work provides such a detailed account of the military's penetration of the economy or the state administration, nor of the causes or consequences of that penetration. The topic is of major importance and the range of sources drawn upon is without parallel. -- Robert Springborg, author of Mubarak's Egypt: Fragmentation of the Political Order The insidious connection between saving and militarizing the nation is the subject of this fascinating investigation of Egypt's current travails. Abul-Magd offers an impressive and meticulously documented account of this bleak process, from the establishment of military dominance in 1952 to its resurgence after 2011, and concludes with prescriptions on how to reverse it. Militarizing the Nation is essential reading for those lamenting the fate of the 2011 Arab revolts. -- Hazem Kandil, University of Cambridge Abul-Magd has written an empirically-rich and thoughtfully organized book. By capitalizing on many newly-available sources of information and contextualizing this in a broader theoretical literature on militarization, she has made the otherwise opaque subject of Egyptian military politics into a comprehensible case study. This text will be useful to students of Middle East politics but also to comparativists interested more broadly in political economy and critical military studies. -- Shana Marshall, George Washington University A must-read...Unlike the flurry of publications after January 2011 that viewed the Egyptian military from the outside as a black box making crucial decisions (i.e. to let Mubarak fall and then govern, and then to deal with and later topple the Muslim Brotherhood), this book provides more context. It describes how the Egyptian army, especially after the 1980s, managed to entrench itself in the state apparatus, the economy (even during times of privatization), and society. This book supersedes all previous empirical works in this area of study. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the decisions of the Egyptian military after 2011, and the enduring weight of these actions. -- Philippe Droz-Vincent, Middle East InstituteTable of ContentsAbbreviations Introduction: The Officer Has Saved the Nation 1. Socialism Without Socialists (1950s-1970s) 2. The Good 1980s: Arms, Consumerism, and Scandals 3. Neoliberal Officers Make Big Money (1990s-2000s) 4. The Republic of Retired Generals (1990s-2000s) 5. Angry Workers, Islamist Grocers, and Revolutionary Generals (2011-2014) Conclusion: Demilitarizing Egypt? Appendix Notes Index

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Book SynopsisBrian Calfano and Valerie Martinez-Ebers examine the history and current efforts of human relations commissions in promoting positive intergroup outcomes and enforcing antidiscrimination laws. Drawing on a wide range of theories and methods, they assess policy approaches, successes, and failures in four cities.Trade ReviewHuman Relations Commissions provides historical and practical details on beginning, continuing, and expanding human relations commissions. Calfano and Martinez-Ebers aptly highlight the tools necessary for engaging and identifying potential partners to promote good relations in any community. -- Beverly Watts, former president of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies and executive director of the Tennessee Human Rights CommissionCalfano and Martinez-Ebers have provided needed focus on local policy making by turning to human relations commissions and examining the effects of their work—not just on the communities they are created to serve but also on the leaders themselves who invest so greatly in the effort of making our pluralistic society more congenial. This is important work. -- Gary Segura, dean of the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLAHuman Relations Commissions presents an important application of bureaucracy and public administration literatures. This in-depth assessment demonstrates that staffers embody values that are critical in making both governments and neighborhoods fair and responsive to diverse constituencies. This book should be required reading for those interested in equity, public values, and the role of local governments. -- Kenneth J. Meier, coauthor of The Politics of African American Education: Representation, Partisanship, and Educational EquityFilling a canyon-like void in political science, urban studies, policy and administration, and more, Human Relations Commissions opens a whole new world to the relationship of HRCs and municipal governments. The synthesis of the authors’ varied methodologies and research orientations has created a fascinating book. -- John Bretting, University of Texas at El PasoTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Too Big a Task?1. Human Relations Commissions: Creativity in Constraint2. The History of Intergroup Relations in America3. Origins and Development of Organized Human Relations Efforts4. The Humans Who Must Relate5. Experimenting with the Dynamics of Intergroup Identity6. Reporting and Responding to Community7. Imagining Human Relations for the FutureAppendixNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisBrian Calfano and Valerie Martinez-Ebers examine the history and current efforts of human relations commissions in promoting positive intergroup outcomes and enforcing antidiscrimination laws. Drawing on a wide range of theories and methods, they assess policy approaches, successes, and failures in four cities.Trade ReviewHuman Relations Commissions provides historical and practical details on beginning, continuing, and expanding human relations commissions. Calfano and Martinez-Ebers aptly highlight the tools necessary for engaging and identifying potential partners to promote good relations in any community. -- Beverly Watts, former president of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies and executive director of the Tennessee Human Rights CommissionCalfano and Martinez-Ebers have provided needed focus on local policy making by turning to human relations commissions and examining the effects of their work—not just on the communities they are created to serve but also on the leaders themselves who invest so greatly in the effort of making our pluralistic society more congenial. This is important work. -- Gary Segura, dean of the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLAHuman Relations Commissions presents an important application of bureaucracy and public administration literatures. This in-depth assessment demonstrates that staffers embody values that are critical in making both governments and neighborhoods fair and responsive to diverse constituencies. This book should be required reading for those interested in equity, public values, and the role of local governments. -- Kenneth J. Meier, coauthor of The Politics of African American Education: Representation, Partisanship, and Educational EquityFilling a canyon-like void in political science, urban studies, policy and administration, and more, Human Relations Commissions opens a whole new world to the relationship of HRCs and municipal governments. The synthesis of the authors’ varied methodologies and research orientations has created a fascinating book. -- John Bretting, University of Texas at El PasoTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Too Big a Task?1. Human Relations Commissions: Creativity in Constraint2. The History of Intergroup Relations in America3. Origins and Development of Organized Human Relations Efforts4. The Humans Who Must Relate5. Experimenting with the Dynamics of Intergroup Identity6. Reporting and Responding to Community7. Imagining Human Relations for the FutureAppendixNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIn Her Own Name explores the origins and consequences of laws expanding married women’s property rights, focusing on the people and institutions that shaped them.Trade ReviewSara Chatfield has brought to American women’s history a unique theoretical and empirical vantage point. Her innovative analysis of emulation and diffusion in constitutional reform sets a new standard in American political development and the politics of gender. -- Daniel Carpenter, author of Democracy by Petition: Popular Politics in Transformation, 1790-1870Chatfield’s In Her Own Name insightfully explains the process by which rights law can expand and contract based on state interests and illuminates and deepens our understanding of the development of women’s rights. In Her Own Name is important and welcome work. -- Priscilla Yamin, author of American Marriage: A Political InstitutionChatfield tells a fascinating story about the trajectory of married women’s property reform. In doing so, she also contributes to a growing body of political science literature about the importance of understanding state-level political development. -- Julie Novkov, author of American by Birth: Wong Kim Ark and the Battle for CitizenshipIn Her Own Name is a compelling investigation of the development of married women's economic citizenship. Chatfield shows how male policy makers used property reform for married women to pursue an array of goals, including land conquest, slavery, temperance, and family needs—and how state-level institutions structured these pursuits. -- Jake Grumbach, author of Laboratories against Democracy: How National Parties Transformed State PoliticsTable of ContentsIntroduction1. Life Under Coverture and How It Changed2. Married Women’s Rights Reforms in American Political Development3. Social Movements and State Power: Reform in State Legislatures4. Constitutional Conventions as Key Reform Moments5. Decentralized Reform and Policy Diffusion6. Courts as Collaborators and CatalystsConclusionMethods AppendixAcknowledgmentsNotesBibliographyIndex

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