This volume traces the interconnections between myth, environmentalism, narrative, poetry, comics and innovative artistic practice, using this as a framework through which to examine strategies for repairing our unhealthy relationship with the planet. Challenging late capitalist modes encouraging mindless consumption and the degradation of human-nature relations, this collection advocates a re-evaluation of the ethical relation to "living with" and sharing the earth. Myth and the environment have shared a rich common cultural history travelling as far back as the times of storytelling and legend, with the environment often the central theme. Following a robust introduction, the book is organised into three main sections: Myth, Disaster and Present-Day Views on Ecological Damage; Indigenous and Afro-Diasporic Myths and Ecological Knowledge; Art Practices Myth and Environmental Resilience; and concludes with a Coda from Jeanette Hart-Mann. The methodology draws from diverse perspectives, such as ecocriticism, new materialism and Anthropocene studies, offering a truly interdisciplinary discussion that reflects on the dialogue among environment and myth, whilst a broad range of contributions are included from Canada, United States, the Caribbean, Ukraine, Japan, Morocco, and Brazil. This volume will be of interest for students, scholars, activists and experts in environmental humanities, myth and myth criticism, literature and art on more-than human and nature interaction, ecocriticism, environmental activism, and climate change.

The aim of the book is to enhance understanding of the great danger and some sources of animosity between human groups and to focus on developmental processes by which it should be possible to diminish orientations of ethnocentrism, prejudice and hatred. Teaching prejudice and ethnocentrism to children has, all too often in so many places, been virtually automatic and has been conducive to terrible harm in the past. The dangers of hateful outlooks are likely to be much greater as the twenty-first century unfolds. Scholarship and practice in international relations, including war and peace issues, have gravely neglected the crucial psychological aspects of these terrible problems and the educational opportunities. There is a fruitful conjunction of developmental and social psychology in understanding such vital issues and in working toward a more humane, democratic and safe course of adolescent and child development than can in turn affect the safety of humanity in the long run. There are many intriguing examples of research, educational innovations, and visionary leadership in several countries. Most of the book is devoted to promising lines of inquiry and innovation that foster a more humane and less violent development in childhood and adolescence. It should be of interest to scholars, to the education community, and to a well-educated and socially concerned segment of the community.

Museums, International Exhibitions and China's Cultural Diplomacy examines the role museums and, more specifically, international exhibitions, have played in shaping China's international image to date. Drawing on theories and methods from museum studies and international relations, the book evaluates the contribution international exhibitions make to China's cultural diplomacy strategy. Considering their impact on the country's international image, Kong also probes the mechanisms and processes involved, examining in detail the policy of, and international activities promoted by, the Chinese government. The book also analyses the motives of the Chinese and overseas museums that host these exhibitions. Taking some major exhibitions that were on show in the UK during the 21st century as a representative case study, the book reveals the mechanisms by which these exhibitions were developed and shared overseas. Questioning who really shapes the image of China, Kong challenges Western assumptions and looks ahead to consider whether, moving forward, the Chinese government and museums could work together in a mutually beneficial way. Museums, International Exhibitions and China's Cultural Diplomacy contributes to the growing literature on museums and diplomacy. As such, it will be of interest to academics and students engaged in the study of museums and heritage, international relations, culture, politics, China and wider Asia.

First conceived in 1966 but only completed in 2004, Brian Wilson Presents Smile has been called "the best-known unreleased album in pop music history" and "an American Sergeant Pepper." Reading Smile offers a close analysis of the recording in its social, cultural and historical contexts. It focuses in particular on the finished work's subject matter as embodied in Van Dyke Parks' contentious yet little understood lyrics, with their low-resolution, highly allusive portrayals of western expansion's archetypes, from Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts to Diamond Head, Hawaii. Documenting their multiple references and connotations, it argues that their invocations of national self-definition are part of a carefully crafted vision of American identity, society and culture both in tune and at odds with the times. Critical of the republic's past practices but convinced that its ideals, values and myths still provided resources to redeem it, the recording is interpreted as a creative musical milestone, an enduring product of its volatile, radical, countercultural times, and an American pop art classic. Of particular relevance to American Studies and popular culture scholars, Reading Smile will also appeal to those interested in 1960s popular music, not least to fans of Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks and the Beach Boys.

With the ever rising demand for meat around the world, the production of meat has changed dramatically in the past few decades. What has brought about the increasing popularity and attendant normalization of factory farms across many parts of the world? What are some of the ways to resist such broad convergences in meat production and how successful are they? This book locates the answers to these questions at the intersection between the culture, science and political economy of meat production and consumption. It details how and why techniques of production have spread across the world, albeit in a spatially uneven way. It argues that the modern meat production and consumption sphere is the outcome of a complex matrix of cultural politics, economics and technological faith. Drawing from examples across the world (including America, Europe and Asia), the tensions and repercussions of meat production and consumption are also analyzed. From a geographical perspective, food animals have been given considerably less attention compared to wild animals or pets. This book, framed conceptually by critical animal studies, governmentality and commodification, is a theoretically driven and empirically rich study that advances the study of food animals in geography as well as in the wider social sciences.

Using international perspectives and case studies, this book discusses the relationships between community development and populism in the context of today's widespread crisis of democracy. It investigates the development, meanings and manifestations of contemporary forms of populism and explores the synergies and contradictions between the values and practices of populism and community development. Contributors examine the ways that the ascendancy of right-wing populist politics is influencing the landscapes within which community development is located and they offer new insights on how the field can understand and respond to the challenges of populism.

This book looks at the history of EU's trade negotiations with China from 1975-2019 from a distinctive perspective-the EU as a linkage power. The author explains how the EU through linkage strategies speaks with one voice, overcomes its weakness in military capabilities and translates its non-military capabilities into advantages and influences in some specific policy areas. The book systematically traces the European negotiators' tactics in managing the EU's trade relations with China. It's the first time that the history of EU-China trade negotiations is presented to the public by a seasoned trade negotiator. The author, combining the identities of a negotiator and a scholar, gives a panoramic view of EU-China trade relations from 1975 when the European Economic Community established diplomatic relations with China, to 2019 when the Juncker Commission leaves office. This book will appeal to policymakers, think-tankers, professors and students, as well as anyone who is interested in trade policies and negotiations in the EU and China.

This volume discusses the nuances of cultural phenomena in the transforming urban landscape of Indian cities. It focuses on the role of globalization, transitioning economic patterns, National Urban policies in changing their urban landscape. The volume argues how culture is an important determinant of the emergent urban patterns. It decodes and determines the human centered inter-linkages such as social, cultural, economic, and political and their reactions in the transformations in urban morphology to understand the spatial perspective and visualization of new emerging cultural phenomena. The book reflects on the contemporary global forces and currently operational national urban policies that have enforced new dynamics of consumption, lifestyles, and institutions. Further, it also examines the ways in which these forces come together to create new hybrid cultures which manifest in spatial practices. With detailed case studies of different cities, this book will be of interest to students, teachers, and researchers of urban planning, cultural studies, urban sociology, urban geography, history, urban design, urban conservation, and policy studies. It will also be useful for professionals working in the field of smart cities in India and abroad, planning authorities, urban scientists, cultural tourists, artists, local cultural enthusiasts, and those interested in studying the urban conditions of Indian cities.

Why do different groups of people behave in different ways when dealing with the common challenges of human life? The answer often lies in their cultural attitudes, values, and consequent behaviours. The study of human culture has been deemed a key contribution to understanding human life for many centuries. Explanations and descriptions of cultural characteristics abound, but in the field of business, none have been more influential and warmly embraced than those developed by Geert Hofstede and the GLOBE group. These models of national culture, which characterise Japanese, Americans, French and may other nationalities in terms of common characteristics such as collectivism, masculinity, and power distance, are the most widely cited and applied in business research, teaching and recommendations for practice. But this seminal work needs a careful reality check. The authors of this book point out a range of problems associated with the Hofstede and GLOBE national culture measures which bring into question their accuracy and usefulness in meeting the expectations of management culture researchers and students. This book explains in detail why the measures developed by Hofstede and GLOBE are of dubious validity and why they should be viewed with caution by those looking for answers to the complex questions of culture.

Working towards equity of access to higher education remains a fundamental issue of social justice. Despite substantial efforts to redress historical exclusions via a wealth of government and institutional policies, longstanding enrolment patterns persist and new forms of inequality have emerged in a deeply stratified system. Community Matters: The Complex Links Between Community and Young People's Aspirations for Higher Education offers a new lens on equity of access. The policy focus, nationally and globally, on widening participation for under-represented target groups too readily treats such groups as if they have a singular voice, a singular history, and a singular set of concerns. Drawing on the perspectives of Australian school students, their parents/carers, teachers, and a vast array of residents from seven diverse communities, this book uses the lens of 'community' to reframe inequitable access. It does so by recognising the complex social and cultural forces at play locally that shape how young people form and articulate their post-school futures. In light of unprecedented challenges facing the higher education sector, this book interrogates dominant understandings of 'widening participation' and 'aspiration,' and offers timely insights about the broader economic, social, and cultural backdrop of aspiration formation. It is a valuable resource for academics and students interested in the sociology of higher education and for practitioners working at the forefront of equity policy and practice.

This volume explores a range of themes including impacts of climate change, resilience, sustainability, indigeneity, cultural genocide, disaster capitalism, preservation of biodiversity, and environmental degradation. Focusing on the island of Barbuda in the West Indies, it shares critical insights into how climate change is reshaping our world. The book examines how climate has changed in the Caribbean over different spatial and temporal scales and how varying natural and anthropogenic factors have shaped Barbuda's climatic and cultural history. It highlights projections of 21st-century climate change for the Caribbean region and its likely impacts on Barbuda's coastal ecosystems, potable groundwater resources, and heritage. With essays by researchers from the United States, Canada, Caribbean, and Europe, this volume straddles a range of disciplines such as archaeology, anthropology, paleoclimatology, environmental sciences, science education, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Drawing on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches that explore the intersection of natural and social systems over the longue duree, the volume will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and students of ethnography, social anthropology, climate action, development studies, public policy, and climate change.

This book addresses the mind-body dichotomy in movement and dance. This book includes a description of the often-forgotten kinesthetic sense, body awareness, somatic practices, body-based way of thinking, mental imagery, nonverbal communication, human empathy, and symbol systems, what occurs in the brain during learning, and why and how movement and dance should be part of school curricula. This exploration arguers that becoming more aware of bodily sensations serves as a basis for knowing, communicating, learning, and teaching through movement and dance. This book will be of great interest to scholars and students interested in teaching methodology and for courses in physical education, dance, and education.

Volume 2: Objects, People and Texts explores the movement of individuals and peoples and the circulation of material objects and books and texts. Through a series of short chapters, mobility is employed as an elastic, inclusive and multifaceted concept across various disciplines to shed light on a geographically and chronologically broad range of issues and case studies. In doing so, the concept of mobility is positioned as a powerful catalyst for historical change and as a fruitful approach to research in the humanities and social sciences. Like its sister volume, this volume is edited and written by members of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Mobility and the Humanities (MoHu) at the Department of Historical and Geographical Sciences and The Ancient World (DiSSGeA) of the University of Padua, Italy. The structure of the book mirrors the Theories and Methods, and Ideas thematic research clusters of the Centre. Afterwords from leading scholars from other institutions synthesise and reflect upon the findings of each section. This volume, together with Volume 1: Theories, Methods and Ideas, makes a compelling case for the use of mobility studies as a research framework in the humanities and social sciences. As such, it will be of interest to students and researchers in various disciplines.

This fascinating book is an insightful exploration of Western perceptions and representations of Japanese culture and society, drawing on social and cultural psychological ideas around stereotypes and intercultural relations. Hinton considers how the West views the Japanese as an ideologically different 'other', and proposes a cultural theory of stereotypes from which to explore Western observations of the Japanese. The book explores Western socio-cultural representations of the Japanese alongside Edward Said's well-known theory of Orientalism. It examines the West's intercultural relationship with Japan, and how this has changed over time, to show how the Japanese have been represented in the Western mind throughout history, to the present day. Hinton argues that our view of other cultures is based on our own cultural expectations, which involve complex issues of meaning making and perceived cultural differences. This book foregrounds this research through accounts of Westerners about the Japanese, to reveal how cultural representations can influence the ways in which people from different cultures communicate in interaction, and how intercultural understanding or misunderstanding can arise. By reflecting on the changing Western representations of the Japanese, and how and why these have emerged, this book will be of interest to students, academics, and general readers interested in stereotypes, cultural psychology, intercultural communication, and Japanese culture and history.

* The volume explores the psychological and social experiences of the people from Northeast India in the form of narratives and empirical evidence. * It discusses a range of issues that had major impacts on the lives of people such as return migration, community and social relationships, racial discrimination, child sexual abuse, tele-counselling, and social actions during the crisis. * Will be of interest to students, teachers, and researchers of psychology, social psychology, cultural studies, cultural psychology, development studies, and sociology across UK and US. It will also be useful for academicians, social workers, healthcare workers, psychologists, psychology professionals, sociologists, and anyone interested to learn about the North-Eastern region of India.

Over the past 25 years, activists, farmers and scholars have been arguing that the industrialized global food system erodes democracy, perpetuates injustices, undermines population health and is environmentally unsustainable. In an attempt to resist these effects, activists have proposed alternative food networks that draw on ideas and practices from pre-industrial agrarian smallholder farming, as well as contemporary peasant movements. This book uses current debates over Michel Foucault's method of genealogy as a practice of critique and historical problematization of the present to reveal the historical constitution of contemporary alternative food discourses. While alternative food activists appeal to food sovereignty and agrarian discourses to counter the influence of neoliberal agricultural policies, these discourses remain entangled with colonial logics. In particular, the influence of Enlightenment ideas of improvement, colonial practices of agriculture as a means to establish ownership, and anthropocentric relations to the land. In combination with the genealogical analysis, this book brings continental political philosophy into conversation with Indigenous theories of sovereignty and alternative food discourse in order to open new spaces for thinking about food and politics in contemporary Australia.

In-depth study of the origins and the trajectories of the law governing social policies in the Global South: Brazil, China, India, and South Africa. Adds a new dimension to the existing accounts on welfare state building which, so far, are dominated by European narratives and by scholars with a background in sociology, political science, and development studies. Will be of interest to scholars and students as well as political actors in the fields of comparative and international social security law, human rights law, comparative constitutional law, constitutional history, law and development studies, comparative social policies, global social policies, social work, and welfare state theory.

This book investigates the relationship of secrecy as a social practice to contemporary media, news cultures and public relations. Drawing on Georg Simmel's theorisation of how secrecy produces a 'second world' alongside the 'obvious world' and creates and reshapes social relations, Anne Cronin argues for close analysis of the PR industry as a powerful vector of secrecy and an examination of its relationship to news cultures. Using case studies and in-depth interviews, as well as recent research in media and cultural studies, sociology, journalism studies and communication studies, the book analyses how PR practices generate a second, shadow world of the media sphere which has a profound impact on the 'obvious world'. It interrogates both the PR industry's and news culture's role in shaping social relations for a digital media landscape, and those initiatives promoting transparency of data and decision-making processes. An insightful, interdisciplinary approach to debates on media and power, this book will appeal to students of public relations, sociology, media studies, cultural studies and communication studies. It will also be of interest to scholars and practitioners working at the intersections of media, social relations and public trust.

This text focuses on group behaviour in developing countries. It includes studies of producer and community organizations, NGOs, and some public sector groups. Despite the fact that most economic decisions are taken by people acting within groups - families, firms, neighbourhood or community associations, and networks of producers - the analysis of group functioning has not received enough attention, particularly among economists. Some groups function well, from the perspectives of equity, efficiency, and well-being, while others do not. This book explores why The text covers groups that perform three types of function: overcoming market failures (for example, producer organizations); improving the position of their members (for example, Trade Unions), and distributing resources to the less well-off (for example, NGOs and the public sector) It contrasts three modes of group behaviour: power and control; co-operation; and the use of material incentives, exploring what determines modes of behaviour of groups, and the consequences for efficiency, equity, and well-being.

Over the last few decades, the new discipline of sustainability science (SS) has evolved with a phenomenal rise in knowledge production, research, and publications, as well as the development of new academic programs and creation of centers and scientific communities, networks, and organizations. With pressing global environmental issues in the 21st century, SS has become an influential discipline and important subject of intellectual inquiry that deserves support from the academy and scientific communities worldwide to find solutions to global problems such as climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. Intellectual, Scientific, and Educational Influences on Sustainability is a concise and authoritative book that fills the crucial and unmet need for educational materials that integrates theoretical foundations, methodological basis, and practice in the science of sustainability. The goal of the book is to increase accessibility and use of educational and scientific knowledge among academic and non-academic audiences as it assembles the wisdom and insights from up-to-date scholarship and advances in this new discipline. Highlighting various topics such as biodiversity, public transportation, and human development, it is ideal for environmentalists, ecologists, technology developers, policymakers, academicians, researchers, and students.

Arguing that museums must place sustainability at the centre of all their activities, if they are to become key actors with a clear societal role, Garthe considers the issues that museums will likely face as they take on their new roles. Presenting case studies from a wide range of museums around the world, the book considers different ways of implementing sustainability in different types and sizes of institutions. Whilst the book clearly outlines the need for change, it also provides guidance about how to change. Garthe does this by considering specific concepts and approaches to sustainability in relation to the different aspects of museum operations. The book includes a hands-on manual for implementing sustainability management in a museum, whilst also considering the challenges practitioners will encounter and considering what the future of the sustainable museum might look like. The Sustainable Museum will be essential reading for museum and heritage professionals around the globe. The book will also be of interest to academics and students engaged in the study of museums, arts and cultural management, business administration, change management or sustainable development..

1) This book presents a comprehensive overview of the relationship between drama/theatre and politics. 2) It contains chapters on India, Africa, USA, the Caribbean, and Australia. 3) This book will be of interest to departments of cultural studies and theatre studies across UK.

This book analyses case studies of heritage-rich cities that hosted mega-events to discuss emerging challenges, controversies, and accomplishments. The future of mega-events has never been more uncertain. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has introduced an unparalleled level of doubt regarding the kind of mega-events that will take place in the coming years. This book arrives at a quite unique moment of reflection. Prior to 2020, cities were already questioning the traditional format of mega-events (e.g. Olympics and Expo) while other cultural mega-events have been spreading and gaining popularity, thanks in part to typically lower costs of infrastructures and venues, far more adaptable arrangements, spatial distribution and time frame for hosting. In these ways, they have already been demonstrating higher flexibility in which to respond to future health and safety constraints. When it comes to the relation to the existing city, cultural mega-events have been planned, implemented, and studied far more than any other. By leveraging the richness of cultural mega-events, this multidisciplinary collection deepens the intersection between events and cultural heritage. The chapters in this book provide a new theoretical framework, critical questions, and relevant case studies to argue that the nexus between mega-events and heritage is a key challenge for many cities in Europe and beyond. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of European Planning Studies.

This book builds on the work of anthropologists, designers and ethnographers to develop an original methodology and framework for Indigenous engagement and designer/non-designer collaboration in the field of social design. Following a collaborative case study conducted over a five-year period between the author, project team and Indigenous artisans in Mexico, the book outlines the practical challenges of design research, including funding, logistics, relationships between designers and communities, failures, successes, and pivots. Social design literature has often focused on introducing important questions to the design research process, but fails to deeply interrogate and demonstrate how these theories inform research projects in action, which can then be open to misinterpretation, bias and unintended harmful consequences. Centering the Indigenous communities, this book provides a detailed and clear example of not just why, but how design and designers can work authentically and responsibly through different approaches and systems. The book examines the specific cultural, epistemological and socio-political history of Mexico as it relates to colonization and Indigenous peoples, exploring the systemic influences of globalization and grounding the research in its unique context. It includes field notes, conversations with the Indigenous artisan communities, workshops and prototypes to offer unique insight into a detailed, collaborative social design initiative. This book intersects with the growing awareness of the necessity of decolonial approaches to design across the world and will be an important and useful study for academics, students and researchers in social design, sustainable development, cultural studies and anthropology.

This book explains the concept of social cohesion in the context of a comparative sociological study. It proposes an innovative approach to the measurement of social cohesion, considering as constitutive elements social trust, institutional trust, and societies' degree of openness. Aruqaj observes these elements across time and on multiple social levels: individual (socio-economic inequalities and ethno-linguistic diversification); group (social categorisations and regional statistics of religious, gender, social status and migration differences); and societal (reflecting the quality of life and human capabilities). This book provides an analysis of social cohesion not only between, but also within European societies. It will appeal to students and scholars interested in solidarity and social integration working in sociology, social psychology and development studies.