This book reflects the way in which the city interacts with the sacred in all its many guises, with religion and the human search for meaning in life. As the process of urbanization of society is accelerating thus giving an increasing importance to cities and the 'metropolis', it is relevant to investigate the social or cultural cohesion that these urban agglomerations manifest. Religion is keenly observed as witnessing a growth, crucially impacting cultural and political dynamics, as well as determining the emergence of new sacred symbols and their inscription in urban spaces worldwide. The sacred has become an important category of a new interpretation of social and cultural transformation processes. From a unique broader perspective, the volume focuses on the relationship between the city and the sacred. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, combining the expertise of philosophers, historians, architects, social geographers, sociologists and anthropologists, it draws a nuanced picture of the different layers of religion, of the sacred and its diverse forms within the city, with examples from Europe, South America and the Caribbean, and Africa. >

The transition to democracy in South Africa was one of the defining events in twentieth-century political history. The South African women's movement is one of the most celebrated on the African continent. Shireen Hassim examines interactions between the two as she explores the gendered nature of liberation and regime change. Her work reveals how women's political organizations both shaped and were shaped by the broader democratic movement. Alternately asserting their political independence and giving precedence to the democratic movement as a whole, women activists proved flexible and remarkably successful in influencing policy. At the same time, their feminism was profoundly shaped by the context of democratic and nationalist ideologies. In reading the last twenty-five years of South African history through a feminist framework, Hassim offers fresh insights into the interactions between civil society, political parties, and the state. Hassim boldly confronts sensitive issues such as the tensions between autonomy and political dependency in feminists' engagement with the African National Congress (ANC) and other democratic movements, and black-white relations within women's organizations. She offers a historically informed discussion of the challenges facing feminist activists during a time of nationalist struggle and democratization.

The digital divide, caused by several factors such as poverty and slow communication technologies, has offset the progression of many developing countries. However, with rapid changes in technology, a better collaboration among communities and governance based on the latest research in ICT and technology has begun to emerge. Employing Recent Technologies for Improved Digital Governance is an essential reference source that provides research on recent advances in the development, application, and impact of technologies for the initiative of digital governance. The book has a dual objective with the first objective being to encourage more research in deploying recent trends in the internet for deploying a collaborative digital governance. The second objective is to explore new possibilities using internet of things (IoT) and cloud/fog-based solutions for creating a collaboration between the governance and IT infrastructure. Featuring research on topics such as intelligent systems, social engineering, and cybersecurity, this book is ideally designed for policymakers, government officials, ICT specialists, researchers, academicians, industry professionals, and students.

Why have multiple mega-church leaders-Ted Haggard and Bishop Eddie Long, for example-committed acts of sexual misconduct? This book discusses the reasons in depth and examines how these acts are impacting the future of megachurches. Mega-churches-churches with congregations that number in the thousands of worshippers-are growing in popularity in America and around the world. Shockingly, a growing number of megachurch leaders have committed acts of sexual misconduct. While these scandalous crimes have received much attention through the media, literature that examines the topic in detail has been lacking. This book examines the various aspects of sexual misconduct by megachurch leaders, providing a comprehensive review of the topic that discusses the direct and indirect reasons for these crimes. The book provides unbiased, factual coverage of megachurch sexual abuse cases, covering issues surrounding the victims in specific cases, the role of the church, and notable ministers, such as Ted Haggard of New Life Church, Colorado Springs, CO; Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Lithonia, GA; and Joe Barron of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, TX. The author also discusses how these incidences have impacted societal perceptions of religion, and large churches, and religious organizations, and provides recommendations to curb future cases of sexual abuse within megachurches.

During the Second World War several independent business organizations in the US devoted considerable energy to formulating and advocating social and economic policy options for the US government for implementation after the war. This 'planning community' of far-sighted businessmen joined with academics and government officials in a nationwide endeavor to ensure that the colossal levels of productivity achieved by the US during wartime continued into the peace. At its core this effort was part of a wider struggle between liberals, moderates and conservatives over determining the economic and social responsibilities of government in the new post-war order. In this book, Charlie Whitham draws on an abundance of unpublished primary material from private and public archives that includes the minutes, memoranda, policy statements and research studies of the major post-war business planning organisations on a wide range of topics including monetary policy, demobilization, labor policy, international trade and foreign affairs. This is the untold story of how the post-war business planners - of all hues - helped shape the 'moderate' consensus which prevailed after 1945 over a permanent but limited government responsibility for fiscal, welfare and labor affairs, advanced American interests overseas and established.

""Americans Against Obama" "is a collection of newsletters that I produced as the Committee Chairman of the American Citizens Political Action Committee to show what Americans think about Obama and his administration. These newsletters were produced at the time the main stream media and others released their press releases. It is designed to illustrate what the average American thought of the articles and how biased the main stream media is in slanting their articles to favor the unions, Democrats and President Obama. There should be more truth in reporting. It appears that the White House is approving all the main stream media reports instead of reporting actual facts. That is not right.

Our purpose is to have a record of what the American citizens wanted our elected representatives and president to try to accomplish while they are in office. We will then be able to compare the results at the end of 2012 and see who has performed their duties in the manner that the United States citizens wanted. I think we are going to be really surprised by the results.

Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States 2011 is a volume in "The World Today Series". Published and updated annually, this series provides both a short historical treatment and an up-to-date look at the various countries of the entire globe. Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States deals with the twelve independent republics that became members of the Commonwealth of Independent States following the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1992. The book focuses strongly on recent economic and political developments with shorter sections dealing with foreign policy, the military, religion, education, and specific cultural elements that help to define each republic and differentiate one from the other. Approximately one-third of the book is devoted to Russia, with shorter sections dealing with Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. There is also a section dealing with how the Commonwealth of Independent States came into being and how it has evolved since 1992.

This narrative chronicles Libya's, and to a vast extent Muammar Gaddafi's, remarkable past, meteoric rise to prominence, and convoluted reign, and introduces potential scenarios that may play out in the near term. After four decades of tyrannical, erratic-and pioneering-changes fueled by oil wealth, Muammar Gaddafi's government fell in 2011, and Libya embarked on a new course without known charts. Libya: History and Revolution covers the nation from its origins as independent land masses and kingdoms to its present as a consolidated nation. The work does not focus on the "old" Libya, but aims to bridge yesterday's Libya with tomorrow's, looking at the nation as a regional economic power and military player in North Africa and the Middle East. The result is a comprehensive yet easy-to-understand introduction to the political, economic, and military history and events that led to Gaddafi's downfall, coupled with a consideration of Libya's past and present. Opening with historical underpinnings, the book focuses on the conflict and revolution in Libya during the Arab Spring that brought Gaddafi down, a change that opened a new future for the oil-rich nation. The book closes with a thoughtful discussion of what may be next for Libya and of possible perils for the nation, the region, and the world, as Libya matures as an independent, representatively governed country. Covers Libya from its ancient beginnings to the present in one easily readable volume Provides a complete history of Gaddafi's Libya and its revolution, including the historical antecedents, Gaddafi's rise to power, his reign, and his fall during the Arab Spring Offers projections about the post-Gaddafi era and prospects for Libya going forward Brings together the perspectives and insights of two authors with distinct yet complementary backgrounds Offers scholars and professors the detail they seek without intimidating the undergraduate or general reader

Come take a journey back to the true meaning of the First Amendment. See official court rulings to show how the ACLU has taken the First Amendment out of context to mean something totally opposed to the intent of America's Founding Fathers. Discover original Yale Laws, Precepts of Harvard, and Objectives of Princeton to show the history of America's educational system. These quotes from America's Founding Fathers and Presidents were formatted for school teachers to read one quote per day to their students for a month and parents to discuss with their children as an authentic facet of American history. These pages illustrate how far America has fallen from the divine guidance which inspired the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and how America is slip-sliding farther away from Her foundation. How do we get there from here? This compelling account serves as an admonition to a nation founded under God and as a caveat that America will continue to suffer consequences, both spiritually and socio-economically, unless we return to the faith upon which we were built; for America was not built by chance, and America's future is not left to chance. I don't mean to infer that every historical figure quoted in this book was a Christian. These quotes honor the Judeo-Christian culture America once had, which set Her distinctly apart in character from other countries. These precepts show the integrity of a faith which shaped the greatest nation on earth and lament that the road to Her future greatness is a road less traveled today. Still, in the spiritual relativism of America's postmodern 21st century New Age gallivanting, there is a relentless heart cry throughout the land from common, unknown citizens, "America, Come Home " And those voices cannot be silenced, in a confluence of patriotism where history cannot be re-written and the Truth is still revered, where the timeless Spirit strong enough to move mountains, is triumphantly marching on.

"Gabrielle Giffords and Mark Kelly's story is a reminder "of the power of true grit, the patience needed to navigate unimaginable obstacles, and the transcendence of love. Their arrival in the world spotlight came under the worst of circumstances. On January 8, 2011, while meeting with her constituents in Tucson, Arizona, Gabby was the victim of an assassination attempt that left six people dead and thirteen wounded. Gabby was shot in the head; doctors called her survival "miraculous."
As the nation grieved and sought to understand the attack, Gabby remained in private, focused on her againstall- odds recovery. Intimate, inspiring, and unforgettably moving, "Gabby "provides an unflinching look at the overwhelming challenges of brain injury, the painstaking process of learning to communicate again, and the responsibilities that fall to a loving spouse who wants the best possible treatment for his wife. Told in Mark's voice and from Gabby's heart, the book also chronicles the lives that brought these two extraordinary people together--their humor, their ambitions, their sense of duty, their longdistance marriage, and their desire for family.
A new, moving final chapter brings Gabby's story up to date, including the state of her health and her announcement that she would leave the House of Representatives.

The book is a collection of essays woven around the contours of the growth of the dalit movement, the crusade undertaken by the dalit icons for the cause of dalit emancipation and the burning issues that have cropped up before the dalits. These issues are at the crux of very lively debates that are taking place in contemporary India. Politics of exclusion and identity have restricted the amalgamation of dalits into the national mainstream to a certain extent and despite more than 60 years of independence, they are dependent on reservation as their major mobilisation plank. The new economic reforms have led to reduction in the scope and breadth of reservation and lessened the role of the state to the detriment of majority of the dalit population. The challenges posed to the dalit movement by the mandalites and the Hindutva forces have also been discussed in the book. Dalit symbolism and the repercussions of such acts on overall polity, position of the dalits in rural India & their acute deprivation from land assets and inter squabbles among them have also been highlighted in this book. The presentation style is lucid and simple so as to enable even ordinary readers to understand the topics. One hopes that the book will be found to be useful for the students of Indian polity.