This volume examines how power was framed in Visigothic society and how a diverse population with a complex and often conflicting cultural inheritance was thereby held together as a single kingdom. Indeed, through this dynamic process a new, early medieval society emerged. Understanding this transformation is no simple matter, as it involved the deployment of an array of political and cultural resources: the production of knowledge, the appropriation of Patristic literature, controlling and administering rural populations, reconceptualizing the sacred, capital punishment and exile, controlling the manufacture of currency, and defining Visigothic society in relation to other polities such as the neighbouring Byzantine state. In order to achieve an analysis of these different phenomena, this volume brings together researchers from a variety of disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach therefore expands the available sources and reformulates topics of traditional scholarship in order to engage with a renewal of Visigothic Studies and reformulate the paradigm of study itself. As a result, this volume rethinks frameworks of power in the Peninsula along not only historical and archaeological but also anthropological terms, presenting the reader with a new understanding of Iberian society as a whole.

Miyazawa Kiichi played a leading role in Japan's government and politics from 1942 until 2003, during which time he served as Prime Minister, and also as Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of International Trade and Industry, Director General of the Economic Planning Agency, and Chief Cabinet Secretary. In this oral history autobiography, he discusses with candor and detail a wide range of topics, including his 1939 visit to the United States, recovery policies during the postwar occupation, the San Francisco Peace Treaty, and Japan's role in international organizations such as GATT and OECD, and gives a thoughtful insider's view of six decades of Japanese politics, closing with his thoughts on Japan's role in the 21st century. Miyazawa's testimony contains the unmistakable richness of the words of one who was present as history was being made. The political candor, unmatched scope, and largely first-person narrative make this book unique.

Conspiracy theories are a ubiquitous feature of our times. The Handbook of Conspiracy Theories and Contemporary Religion is the first reference work to offer a comprehensive, transnational overview of this phenomenon along with in-depth discussions of how conspiracy theories relate to religion(s). Bringing together experts from a wide range of disciplines, from psychology and philosophy to political science and the history of religions, the book sets the standard for the interdisciplinary study of religion and conspiracy theories.

The author had identified six 'Foundations Pillars' that are the essential and minimum requirements for all nations, to ensure development and improvements for all their citizenry. These are appropriate building blocks, regardless of the type of government the nation has, or the level of industrialisation and progress of their economy. This book focuses on India; it provides a dimension to the already ignited and meaningful discussion and debate for the 2014 Indian General Elections. It focuses on national and regional level issues to identify longer-term sustainable changes that are required for the essential improvements in India, for the benefit of all its citizens. Building on the principle of Ashoka's Pillar and stone inscribed edicts found across South Asia, this book aims to engage citizens to the key priorities and importance of the six 'Foundation Pillars' that form the basis of national transformational changes that are necessary to ensure improvements for all our citizens. Using the analogy of a house, a house we name India, these priorities form the six 'Foundation Pillars' on which the new 'House of India' can be built, they are the necessary components before citizens can the build a new Indian super-structure 'house' above ground. The weaker these 'Foundation Pillars', the greater the chance of unevenness and movement, and consequently, that the building blocks above ground will crack, damage and eventually either need rebuilding or redesigning. The Indian approach, in many aspects follows behaviour of 'build-neglect-rebuild', where they build something, not necessarily to last, but sufficient for a period, neglect it, and then have to rebuild it, as by that time it is beyond repair. This is where the author believes India is at the moment, and this case study focuses on what citizens could do to change this for their benefit.

Presidential Material: Messianic Memoirs of a Midlife Crisis doles out the intimate, indefatigable memoirs of Kermit D. Vincent, an idealistic, wacky, and unconventional bag-a-bones, in an invariably invaluable, wet-your-pants witty, cool, confident, and continually candid, manner. Kermit's reminiscences spew forth a narrative of no-holds-barred proportion; memories of growing up an only child in a paternally binge-drinking, maternally born-again, small town U.S.A. household; remembrances of growing up further, post adolescence, when confronted with the magically delicious "devilish enticements" of the big city; confessions of run-ins with the law, and know it all too well commentary on the prevalent prejudices, and pansy-ass practices, of U.S. jurisprudence, and correctional facilities; reflections on irrational, yet irresistible, interpersonal relationships, and fatally flawed fatherhood, through bittersweet revelations of unrequited love; contrite acknowledgments of a man stunned, now and again, by the error of his ways, at those times of cosmic comeuppance, when he would be rendered speechless, disgusted with himself, beset by guilt, wracked with remorse, and absolutely heartbroken, and how he persevered; recollections of his decade-long 'round-the-world odyssey as a street-publicly supported, modern-day wandering minstrel; offerings of hopes, and dreams, and far out there things he's seen; as well as explanations as to the motivations for his foray into presidential campaigning, and his plans for the future. Kermit's soul-searching chronicle of his eclectic, comically cantankerous life journey thus far, wrought with vivid, and at times outlandish, images, of his ubiquitousexperiences, has coalesced a text alarmingly amusing, dyed-in-the-wool diverse, interculturally introspective, in the end encouraging, and altogether enlightening. If you only read one book this lifetime, make it this one. You won't be sorry. It's a wild ride

Sentinel of Truth provides a gripping account of the assassination of two Turkish diplomats in California in 1973 by an aggrieved septuagenarian survivor of the Armenian Genocide, and explains how a study of the global campaign against Turkey's denial of the genocide cannot but include the killings carried out by Gourgen Yanikian. By describing in detail the effects these and subsequent acts of militancy had on the consciousness of diasporan Armenians, author Tigran Kalaydjian sheds new light on the activities of the tightly-knit group of people that is spearheading the drive for a comprehensive redress of the human rights disaster of 1915 and elucidates the many facets of the Diaspora's decades-long struggle for justice. "Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Armenian people, 20th century history, United States jurisprudence, the triumph of the state over the individual and the paucity of morality in modern-day politics; also, for the general reader, as an informative and heart-rending factual account of a little known chapter in European history." - Michael J. Hunt, author of Matabele Gold and Two Days in Tehran TIGRAN KALAYDJIAN, a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science, is a businessman, writer, activist and grandson of Armenian Genocide survivors. He is also a Board member of the Kalaydjian Foundation, a philanthropic organisation based in Cyprus. He resides in Larnaca, Cyprus, with his wife and two children. Publisher's website: http: //sbpra.com/TigranKalaydjian

This book aims to portray the staus quo of the World Heritage regime, to demonstrate its global influence and the world's response to its diverse power mechanisms, and to provide incentives for improvement.

Islam has been part of the increasingly complex American religious scene for well over a century, and was brought into more dramatic focus by the attacks of September 11, 2001. American Islam is practiced by a unique blend of immigrants and American-born Muslims. The immigrants have come from all corners of the world; they include rich and poor, well-educated and illiterate, those from upper and lower classes as well as economic and political refugees. The community's diversity has been enhanced by the conversion of African Americans, Latina/os, and others, making it the most heterogeneous Muslim community in the world.
With an up-to-the-minute analysis by thirty of the top scholars in the field, this handbook covers the growth of Islam in America from the earliest Muslims to set foot on American soil to the current wave of Islamophobia. Topics covered include the development of African American Islam; pre- and post-WWII immigrants; Sunni, Shi'ite, sectarian and Sufi movements in America; the role and status of women, marriage, and family; and the Americanization of Islamic culture.
Throughout these chapters the contributors explore the meaning of religious identity in the context of race, ethnicity, gender, and politics, both within the American Islamic community and in relation to international Islam.

How public affairs are run depends upon the degree of authority and control central government decides to relinquish to regional and local governments, and the extent to which it favors citizen involvement in the governing process. Public administrators do not operate in a vacuum. The context within which decision-making takes place greatly influences public administrators' approach to public issues. Consequently, what government decides to do and how it decides to carry it out affects the lives of people and how people perceive their role in the unfolding of public affairs.

While public administration varies from one country to another, public administrators inevitably face similar challenges. Running a government is not easy; it is complex, dynamic, contested, supported, subject to special interests, both demand- and supply-driven, just to name a few. In executing government functions, public administrators unsurprisingly contend with major decision-making questions. While obviously not exhaustive, this book addresses some key issues challenging practitioners. These challenges include questions on what gets included in the policy agenda, questions on policy response to problems through adoption and/or adaptation of exogenous policies, questions on the dangers of displacing policy goals, questions on transferring government activities to specialized agency, questions on decentralizing powers to regional and local governments, questions on combating corruption, and questions on managing public resources.

It is widely recognized that policy implementation is much more challenging than its design. Nonetheless, it is the manner in which public administrators address these challenges that creates opportunities for a more effective long-term policy prioritization, design and coordination, a more effective and inclusive public governance, and a more effective use of public resources for the delivery of needed public services.

Battered by our economy and disappointed by our government's role in that battering, we might be tempted to point the finger of blame at whoever's currently on the hot seat in front of us. But, as Phillip Cooper shows, we must widen our vision to take in the long history behind this dismal state of affairs. By doing so, it becomes clear that our present circumstances are in many ways the predictable outcome of a several-decades-long war against government regulation and its potential to protect and improve our lives. Cooper explains how the war against regulation has been conducted both from within and outside the government over the past thirty years. Chronicling its major battles from the Jimmy Carter years through the presidency of George W. Bush, he shows that it is a war - waged by Democrats and Republicans alike - that has been fought in high places but whose casualties include children, senior citizens, the infirm, and millions of families who have lost their homes and retirement savings. Cooper tells how Carter, praised for environmental regulation, worked to deregulate airlines, trucking, and banks; how Reagan undertook administrative rather than legislative measures against regulation - most of which weren't understood or even known by the public; and how George H.W. Bush continued the fight with the Quayle Commission. He describes Bill Clinton's commitment to fighting regulation despite having campaigned against his Republican predecessors' policies, then describes the behind-the-scenes maneuverings of George W. Bush as he sought to gut regulatory agencies entirely. He also devotes an entire chapter to parallel developments in the Supreme Court that substantially advanced the deregulation agenda during this era. Cooper contends that regulation, as one of a number of policy tools available to our leaders, is neither good nor bad in and of itself. Excessive deregulation - as opposed to regulatory reform, can present considerable peril, as current events clearly show. By considering key issues important to a more effective understanding and use of regulation in the future, ""The War against Regulation"" makes a vital case for restoring debate about regulation's rightful role within the republic and offers hope that a better understanding of that role can help lift us out of our current crisis.

The guilty verdicts handed out to three Arkansas teens in a horrific capital murder case were popular in their home state -- even upheld on appeal. But after two HBO documentaries called attention to the witch-hunt atmosphere at the trials, artists and other supporters raised concerns about the accompanying lack of evidence. Now, award-winning journalist Mara Leveritt provides the most comprehensive look yet into this endlessly shocking case.

For weeks in 1993, after the murders of three eight-year-old boys, police in West Memphis, Arkansas, seemed stymied. Then suddenly, detectives charged three teenagers -- alleged members of a satanic cult -- with the killings. Despite stunning investigative blunders, a confession riddled with errors, and an absence of physical evidence linking any of the accused to the crime, the teenagers were tried and convicted. Jurors sentenced Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley to life in prison. They sentenced Damien Echols, the accused ringleader, to death. Ten years later, all three remain in prison. Here, Leveritt unravels this seemingly medieval case and offers close-up views of its key participants, including one with an uncanny knack for evading the law....