This book examines cinematic practices in Bollywood as narratives that assist in shaping the imagination of the age, especially in contemporary India. It examines historical films released in India since the new millennium and analyses cinema as a reflection of the changing socio-political and economic conditions at any given period. The chapters in Historicizing Myths in Contemporary India: Cinematic Representations and Nationalist Agendas in Hindi Cinemas also illuminate different perspectives on how cinematic historical representations follow political patterns and market compulsions, giving precedence to a certain past over the other, creating a narrative suited for the dominant narrative of the present. From Mughal-e-Azam to Padmaavat, and Bajirao Mastani to Raazi, the chapters show how creating history out of myths validate hegemonic identities in a rapidly evolving Indian society. The volume will be of interest to scholars of film and media studies, literature and culture studies, and South Asian studies.

David Brading is one of the foremost historians of Latin America in the United Kingdom. The essays in this volume convey the enduring nature of many of the questions raised by his work. They reflect the wide range of his interests: from Mexican Baroque and post-Tridentine Catholicism to studies of the dynamics of state building in nineteenth- century Mexico and of the problem of Mexican national identity. The contributions represent a wide chronological spread from the late seventeenth century to the twentieth century, as well as geographical diversity (Mexico City, Queretaro, and Puebla). Part I comprises an autobiographical essay by David Brading, an appreciation of him by Enrique Florescano, and an historiographical assessment of Brading's work by Eric Van Young. Part II gathers together six essays by former students (Susan Deans-Smith and Ellen Gunnarsdottir) and colleagues (Brian Hamnett, Marta Garcia Urgarte, Guy Thomson, and Alan Knight). David A. Brading recently retired from a chair in history at the University of Cambridge, UK where he directed the Latin American Centre. He is the author of dozens of articles and a number of widely praised volumes, including The First America: The Spanish Monarchy, Creole Patriots, and the Liberal State, 1492-1867 (Cambridge University Press, 1991).

The history of cinema, and notably that of post-war Italian cinema, can only be understood adequately in the context of other contiguous cultural disciplines. World literature, including that of France, Germany, and Russia, played a key role in the development of post-war Italian film and the cinematic technique it has come to embody. Moving away from the usual modes of defining this period--a trajectory that begins with neorealism and ends with Bertolucci--author Carlo Testa offers proof that coming to terms with literary texts is an essential step toward understanding the motion pictures they influenced.

The means of recreating literature for the screen has changed drastically over the last half-century, as has the impact of different national traditions on Italian cinema. Testa's work is the first to explicitly and deliberately link postwar Italian cinema to general intellectual concerns such as the relationship between literary authors and cinematic auteurs. Moreover, his analysis of the impact of French, German, and Russian cultures on Italy brings forth a new reading of Italian cinema, a new paradigm for exploring complex issues of authorship, culture, and art.

The Triads are the Chinese secret societies that originated in the mythic Shaolin monastery, overthrew the Qing dynasty, evolved into organized crime syndicates and today dominate the international heroin trade. Their influence has spread worldwide through the Chinese diaspora. The symbol of the Triads is a triangle enclosing the characters for heaven, earth and man and membership involves the practice of complex rituals involving mystical and martial arts. This classic work is the definitive study of the history, symbols and secret rituals of the Triads. Beginning with the origins of the Triads, it describes and illustrates the initiation ritual of the mystical journey, secret signs and words, Triad slang, the rite of the magic mirror, the oath of blood brotherhood, the symbolic decoration of Triad temples, symbolic numbers, sacred colors, Triad magic, and the meaning of the many sacred objects and ceremonies at the heart of Triad practice in minute detail. The authors also compare the Chinese Triads with other secret societies and systems of belief including Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, and conclude that the Triad ritual is a potent mystical allegory with an immense power that can be used for good or ill.

What is it about some men that makes them an object of our deepest desires? And how far are we willing to go in pursuit of those desires? Chasing Adonis: Gay Men & the Pursuit of Perfection delves into one of the most central mysteries of gay life: What is it gay men find attractive in other men, and why? How much is nature, how much is nurture . . . or maybe just clever marketing? This unique book examines steroid use, body image disorders, gym culture, Internet hook-ups, obsession, stalking, porn, erotic Web sites, strip clubs and everything else that makes gay men act a little bit nutty when they meet someone who drives them crazy! Frank, sexy, and controversial, it uses a light touch to examine a serious subject: how gay society objectifies the male body. Tim Bergling, author of Sissyphobia: Gay Men and Effeminate Behavior and Reeling in the Years: Gay Men's Perspectives on Age and Ageism, surveys gay men about their individual concepts of beauty and desire and about the almost unattainable Adonis standard many of them set for themselves. Teenagers, senior citizens, and the guys stuck in the middle discuss the idea of perfection, how much it changes or evolves over time, and whether the exterior package outweighs what's inside. From the author: It never ceases to amaze me just how powerful the 'd-word''(desire) can be, how it can take control of our lives and shut everything out, sometimes for just a few moments, sometimes for days or weeks at a time, depending on how badly we're smitten. Ask just about anybody, and they can likely pull up a story from their pastor their presentwhen they've done something incredibly stupid or ill-advised, or maybe just something completely out of character, in pursuit of their heart's desire. Chasing Adonis examines: obsession and rejection self-esteem issues the allure of youth preferences in body shapes, types, and sizes designer genes vs. first impressions assessing body parts narcissism or comfort level-why men chase after guys who look like them AIDS and HIV gay porn adult book stores and the Internet the Calvin Klein ad campaign featuring Marky Mark Wahlberg the Abercrombie & Fitch ads Tom of Finland gay icons weight training and fitness clubs steroids and plastic surgery circuit parties body dysmorphia and much more! Chasing Adonis: Gay Men and the Pursuit of Perfection is an entertaining and enlightening read for gay men of all ages.

In recent years China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore have been transformed from impoverished developing nations into strong and internationally competitive economies, but it is now clear that this rapid development has come at a high price in terms of ecological sustainability and environmental protection. The critical question for the future is -- how can the state effect the greening of industries and business without inhibiting economic growth? Can they 'leapfrog' the development process and build industrial economies that are both competitive and environmentally sustainable? This edited interdisciplinary volume uses case studies of all the important newly industrializing economies of Asia to address these vitally important questions. It makes an important contribution to the large international body of studies on environmental management and the greening of industries. It's findings are relevant to all developing countries, as well as to those with a particular interest in contemporary Asia. The work also addresses a wide readership of professionals and consultants in various state institutions and international development agencies, such as the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Program, the Ford Foundation and the Asian Development Bank.

Kragur village lies on the rugged north shore of Kairiru, a steep volcanic island just off the north coast of Papua New Guinea. In 1998 the village looked much as it had some twenty-two years earlier when author Michael French Smith first visited. But he soon found that changing circumstances were shaking things up. Village on the Edge weaves together the story of Kragur villagers' struggle to find their own path toward the future with the story of Papua New Guinea's travails in the post-independence era. Smith writes of his own experiences as well, living and working in Papua New Guinea and trying to understand the complexities of an unfamiliar way of life. To tell all these stories, he delves into ghosts, magic, myths, ancestors, bookkeeping, tourism, the World Bank, the Holy Spirits, and the meaning of progress and development. Village on the Edge draws on the insights of cultural anthropology but is written for anyone interested in Papua New Guinea.

This is the first systematic analysis of the early introduction and reception of international law as a Western political and legal science in China. International law in late imperial China is studied both as part of the introduction of the Western sciences and as a theoretical orientation in international affairs between 1847 and 1911. The first chapters serve the purpose of analysing the political, institutional, intellectual and linguistic process of adapting the theories of international law to the Chinese context language. The second major part of the book is dedicated to the discourse on China and world order within this framework.

This comprehensive and absorbing book traces the cultural history of Southeast Asia from prehistoric (especially Neolithic, Bronze-Iron age) times through to the major Hindu and Buddhist civilizations, to around AD 1300. Southeast Asia has recently attracted archaeological attention as the locus for the first recorded sea crossings; as the region of origin for the Austronesian population dispersal across the Pacific from Neolithic times; as an arena for the development of archaeologically-rich Neolithic, and metal using communities, especially in Thailand and Vietnam, and as the backdrop for several unique and strikingly monumental Indic civilizations, such as the Khmer civilization centred around Angkor. Southeast Asia is invaluable to anyone interested in the full history of the region.

This textbook does not focus on one major world religion, but uniquely looks more broadly to demonstrate the relevance and importance of ethics based in a variety of religious traditions. Each chapter includes a helpful pedagogy including a general overview, case studies, suggestions for further reading, questions for discussion, and a chronological structure, making this the ideal textbook for students approaching the topic for the first time. Explores controversial topics such as CRISPR, vegetarianism, nuclear weapons, women's leadership, and reparations for slavery, which are engaging topics for students and will instigate debate.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to chado, the Japanese tea ceremony. Unlike other books on the subject, which focus on practice or historical background or specific issues, this book considers the subject from multiple perspectives. It discusses Japanese aesthetics and philosophy, outlines how the tea ceremony has developed, emphasizing its strong links to Zen Buddhism and the impact of other religion influences, and examines how chado reflects traditional gender and social status roles in Japan. It goes on to set out fully the practice of chado, exploring dress, utensils, location - the garden and the tea house - and the tea itself and accompanying sweets. Throughout, the book is illustrated both with images and with examples of practice. The book will be of interest to a wide range of people interested in chado - university professors and students, tourists and people interested in traditional Japanese arts.

Traditionally, linguistic research has focused on the Indo-European language family - particularly English - and languages like Japanese and Chinese have not been pursued in theoretical developments. However, once scholars started to pay more attention to Japanese, its similarities to and differences from Indo-European languages not only revealed a great deal of typological variation, but also helped to provide a more accurate picture of the fundamental properties of human language. For the past four decades, linguistic research on the Japanese language has made remarkable progress, contributing to the intellectual and scientific exploration of the linguistic and cognitive sciences, synchronic and diachronic sociocultural developments, and to the humanities more generally. This three-volume collection, compiled of published articles that are considered seminal in the development of Japanese linguistic research, represents a variety of formal and functional approaches to a broad range of areas of linguistics. The collection also includes articles from journals and chapters taken from monographs and edited volumes.

The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Regionalism - the first of its kind - offers a systematic and wide-ranging survey of the scholarship on regionalism, regionalization, and regional governance. Unpacking the major debates, leading authors of the field synthesize the state of the art, provide a guide to the comparative study of regionalism, and identify future avenues of research. Twenty-seven chapters review the theoretical and empirical scholarship with regard to the emergence of regionalism, the institutional design of regional organizations and issue-specific governance, as well as the effects of regionalism and its relationship with processes of regionalization. The authors explore theories of cooperation, integration, and diffusion explaining the rise and the different forms of regionalism. The handbook also discusses the state of the art on the world regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Eurasia, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Various chapters survey the literature on regional governance in major issue areas such as security and peace, trade and finance, environment, migration, social and gender policies, as well as democracy and human rights. Finally, the handbook engages in cross-regional comparisons with regard to institutional design, dispute settlement, identities and communities, legitimacy and democracy, as well as inter- and transregionalism.

This book considers how a phenomenon as complex as coercive control can be criminalised. The recognition and ensuing criminalisation of coercive control in the UK and Ireland has been the focus of considerable international attention. It has generated complex questions about the "best" way to criminalise domestic abuse. This work reviews recent domestic abuse criminal law reform in the UK and Ireland. In particular, it defines coercive control and explains why using traditional criminal law approaches to prosecute it does not work. Laws passed in England and Wales versus Scotland represent two different approaches to translating coercive control into a criminal offence. This volume explains how and why the jurisdictions have taken different approaches and examines the advantages and disadvantages of each. As jurisdictions around the world review what steps need to be taken to improve national criminal justice responses to domestic abuse, the question of what works, and why, at the intersection of domestic abuse and the criminal law has never been more important. As such, the book will be a vital resource for lawyers, policy-makers and activists with an interest in domestic abuse law reform.

Extensive coverage of the political, economic and social affairs of the region.
This impartial up-to-date survey of the countries and territories that make up the region includes:
* Over 700 pages of current political, economic and social affairs
* Incisive analysis by acknowledged experts
* The latest statistics on the major economic indicators and population
* Invaluable directory material.
General Survey
* Leading authorities on the region analyse topics of regional importance including: "International Relations of Russia" "and the Commonwealth of Independent States; Politics of Energy in the Caspian Sea Region; Militant Islam in Central Asia and the Caucasus; The Economics of the Commonwealth of Independent States; Russia's New Federalism; Poverty and Social Welfare in the Commonwealth of Independent" "States; Trends in Religious Policy; Organized Crime in the Russian Federation and the CIS "and" Environmental Degradation: Past Roots, Present Transition and Future Hopes.
"
Country Surveys
Individual chapters on every country containing:
* An introductory survey, containing essays on the geography, recent history and economy of each country, which includes a map and full chronology
* An extensive statistical survey of economic indicators, which include area and population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transportation, tourism, media and education.
* A full directory containing names, addresses, contact numbers and e-mail and internet addresses for the following areas: the constitution, the government, legislature, local government, political organizations, diplomatic representation, thejudiciary, religion, the media, finance, trade and industry, transport, tourism, culture, education, social welfare, the environment and defense
* A useful bibliography, providing sourcesfor further research.
Political Profiles
* Biographical details on the leading figures in the region.
Regional Information
* Detailed information on the following: regional organizations; research institutes; a select periodicals bibliography and a select books bibliography.

Presents text, statistics and directory information on the geography, recent history and economy of the Western European countries and territories.
Key features include:
* Contributions from acknowledged experts
* A definitive factual and statistical survey of each country
* Some 800 pages of impartial data.
General Survey
* Introductory articles written by acknowledged experts cover issues of regional importance, such as: "The European Union Towards 2005; European Defence: All Illusions Exposed; The Politics of Immigration and" "Asylum in Western Europe; Economic Survey of Western Europe "and "Western Europe and the Developing World,"
Country Surveys
Individual chapters on each country, which comprise of:
* An introductory survey, containing essays on the geography, history and economy of each country, which includes a full chronology and map
* An extensive economic and demographic survey of the latest available statistics on area and population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, communications media and education
* A full directory section with names, addresses, contact numbers and e-mail and internet addresses covering the constitution, government, legislature, judiciary, political organizations, diplomatic representation, religious groups, the media, finance, trade and industry, tourism, defense and education
* A select bibliography, containing suggestions for further research.

This renowned reference title provides essential statistical and directory material on these vast North American nations and the issues surrounding it. Completely revised and updated, this eighth edition brings together statistical, factual and directory information on these two vast nations and their constituent states, provinces and territories.
It includes:
* Over 600 pages of in-depth analysis and thoroughly researched data
* Comprehensive geographical, historical, economic and political information
* Contributions from acknowledged regional experts.
Introductory Essays
* Leading experts on the area analyse topics of interest and importance to the region as a whole, including: "NAFTA at Ten: A New Pacific Century? North America and the Pacific Rim; Immigration Policies and Nation-building in Canada and the" "USA; Environment at the Crossroads "and "The Economic Development of Alaska and the Canadian North."
Each country is dealt with in greater detail within its own section. Part Two: USA, Part Three: Canada
Each country chapter includes:
* Introduction
* Essays" US Foreign" "Policy under George W. Bush: The Implications of 11 September and the War in Iraq; The Role of the USA in the Middle East: An Historical Overview; Manufacturing and Construction in the USA; In a Complicated State: Health Policy in the USA; Politics and Administration in Canada; Natural" "Resources and Primary Economic Activities in Canada; Perspectives on Canadian Social Policy: Social Security, Health and Education "and "Canadian Government Finances."
* Directory and Statistics.

An unrivaled survey on the countries and territories of this immense region.
* Over 900 pages of in-depth analysis, up-to-date statistics and invaluable directory details
* Includes contributions from acknowledged authorities who examine topics of regional importance.
General Survey
* Thoroughly revised and updated analytical articles written by acknowledged experts covering issues of regional importance are examined by acknowledged authorities of the area, subjects covered include: "Religion in 21st Century Latin America;" "Indigenous Peoples in Latin America in the 21st Century; The Geopolitics of Relations in North America: A Mexican Perspective; El Nino: A Latin American Phenomenon?; Combating Money-Laundering and Terrorist Financing in the Caribbean; Debt, Finance and the IMF; The Andean Regional" "Initiative; Central America and 'El Norte'; an Introduction to Latin American Politics,"
Country Surveys
Individual chapters on each country and territory incorporating:
* An introductory survey, containing essays on the history and economy of each country, as well as
* An extensive economic and demographic survey of the latest available statistics on area and population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transportation, tourism, communications media and education
* A full directory section with names, addresses, contact numbers and e-mail and internet addresses covering the constitution, government, legislature, judiciary, political organizations, diplomatic representation, religious groups, the media, finance, trade and industry, tourism, defense and education
* A select bibliography, containingsuggestions for further research.
Regional Information
* Includes full details of all major international organizations active in the region; a detailed survey of major commodities in Latin America; a directory of research institutes specializing in the region; select bibliographies of books and periodicals and an index of regional organizations.

Since 2011, Myanmar has experienced many changes to its social, political and economic landscape. The formation of a new government in 2016, led by the National League for Democracy, was a crucially important milestone in the country's transition to a more inclusive form of governance. And yet, for many people everyday struggles remain unchanged, and have worsened in recent years. Key economic, social and political reforms have stalled, conflict persists, and longstanding issues of citizenship and belonging remain. The wide-ranging challenges of living with Myanmar are the subject of this volume. Each other offers a different perspective on the socio-political and economic mutations occurring in the country and the challenges that still remain. The book is divided into six sections, and covers critical issues ranging from gender equality and identity politics to agrarian reform and the representative role parliament. Collectively, these voices raise key questions concerning the institutional legacies of military rule and their ongoing role in subverting the country's reform process. However, they also offer insights in the creative and productive ways the Myanmar's activists, civil society, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and everyday people attempt to engage with and reform those legacies.

A comprehensive survey of all the countries and territories of Central and South-Eastern Europe, presenting the latest economic and political developments.
* Includes expert comment on issues of regional importance, up-to-date statistics, a directory of institutes and companies and political profiles
* Provides an impartial and current perspective on economic and political developments
* Over 750 pages of authoritative analysis, current statistics, directory data and biographical details.
General Survey
Leading authorities on the area analyze topics of regional interest. Subjects covered are: Central and South-Eastern European Economies; Social Policy and Welfare in Central and South-Eastern Europe: Legacies, Trends and Choices; Religion in Central and South-Eastern Europe; Minorities in Central and South-Eastern Europe; The Baltic Sea Region; The Former Yugoslavia After Milosevic; The Macedonian Question and The Environmental Dimension of Transition in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
Country Surveys
* Detailed individual chapters for each country that include a description of physical and social geography; a chronology; essays on the history and economy; a statistical survey; and a directory of names and addresses and background information covering the constitution, national and local government, political organizations, the judicial system, religion, the press, finance, trade and industry etc.
Political Profiles
* Biographical details on the leading figures in the region.
Regional Information
* Detailed information on the following: regional organizations; research institutes; a select periodicals bibliography and a select books bibliography.

Spanning six centuries of political thought in European history, this book puts the ideas of thinkers from Christine de Pizan to Simone de Beauvoir in the broader contexts of their time. Conventional histories of political thought have sometimes relegated feminist thinking to the footnotes. This text considers how feminism is central to key notions of modern political discourse such as autonomy, liberty and equality, and feminist discussions of morality have been linked to major currents in political thought such as republicanism, civic humanism and romanticism. This collection of essays aims to show that feminism is not a variant of modern radical discourse but is a mode of analyzing the issues of authority, power and virtue that have been at the heart of European political thought from the Middle Ages.