The Handbook of Public Policy in Europe provides an invaluable overview of the content of public policy across the full range of policy areas in Britain, France and Germany. It is designed to be used by students, experts and practitioners both to help compare public policy across different policy areas and countries and as a source of information on individual policy areas. Each chapter describes the nature of public policy in a particular area, makes detailed comparisons of selected aspects and outlines recent developments. Detailed internet references are also provided.

Unraveling the complexities of the U.S. political system, Geer/Herrera/Schiller/Segal's GATEWAYS TO DEMOCRACY: AN INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, ENHANCED, 5th edition, highlights the "gateways" that facilitate -- or block -- participation. Illustrating the relevance of government to your life, the authors explain how the political system works and how individuals and groups opened gates and overcame barriers to influence public policy. The 5th edition includes expansive coverage of the first few years of the Biden Presidency, 2022 midterms, the impact of Black and Latinx activism on public policy, LGBTQ rights, the abortion debate, and other issues reflecting America's changing demographic infrastructure. Updates that focus on recent Supreme Court decisions show the constitutional context in which U.S. democracy has evolved, while a Political Analytics feature helps you evaluate the vast amounts of data in today's political discourse. Also available: MindTap and Infuse.

During the last two decades the judiciary has come to play an increasingly important political role in Latin America. Constitutional courts and supreme courts are more active in counterbalancing executive and legislative power than ever before. At the same time, the lack of effective citizenship rights has prompted ordinary people to press their claims and secure their rights through the courts. This collection of essays analyzes the diverse manifestations of the judicialization of politics in contemporary Latin America, assessing their positive and negative consequences for state-society relations, the rule of law, and democratic governance in the region. With individual chapters exploring Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, it advances a comparative framework for thinking about the nature of the judicialization of politics within contemporary Latin American democracies.

This book analyzes the Philippine economy from the 1960s to the 1980s. During this period, the benefits of economic growth conspicuously failed to "trickle down". Despite rising per capita income, broad sectors of the Filipino population experienced deepening poverty.;Professor Boyce traces this outcome to the country's economic and political structure and focuses on three elements of the government's development strategy: the "green revolution" in rice agriculture, the primacy accorded to export agriculture and forestry, and massive external borrowing.;James Boyce is the author of "Agrarian Impasse in Bengal" and co-author of "A Quiet Violence: View from a Bangladesh Village".

The rise and decline of great powers remains a fascinating topic of vigorous debate. This book brings together leading scholars to explore the historical evolution of world systems through examining the ebb and flow of great powers over time, with particular emphasis on early time periods. The book advances understanding of the regularities in the dynamics of empire and the expansion of political, social and economic interaction networks, from the Bronze Age forward. The authors analyze the expansion and contraction of cross-cultural trade networks and systems of competing and allying political groupings. In premodern times, theses ranged from small local trading networks (even the very small ones of hunting-gathering peoples) to the vast Mongol world-system. Within such systems, there is usually one, or a very few, hegemonic powers. How they achieve dominance and how transitions lead to systems change are important topics, particularly at a time when the United States' position is in flux. The chapters in this book review several recent approaches and present a wealth of new findings.

George Bush's 1988 campaign pledge, "Read my lips: no new taxes," has become a mantra for those who distrust politicians and bureaucrats. The gulf between what political leaders say and do seems to be widening, and in democratic societies around the world, contributing to an atmosphere of cynicism and apathy among the citizenry. Understanding the characteristics and functions of speech in policy processes is a requirement for trying to overcome this problem; indeed, politicians and bureaucrats spend a good proportion of their time and resources discoursing, i.e., writing, speaking, and publishing. However, there has been scant analysis of political discourse; the aim of this book is to fill this analytical gap, by exploring political speech from a variety of perspectives, including normative, epistemological, and empirical. Incorporating insights from economics, political science, philosophy, and law, and evidence from the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Turkey, and the EU, the book addresses a wide variety of timely issues, including:. Fiscal discipline in speeches vs budget balance: Is an improvement (deterioration) of the budget balance preceded by a more (less) fiscally disciplined discourse? Revenues and spending forecasted in budget speeches vs realised budget outcomes: Is there a systematic bias? If so, how can we explain it? Electoral pledges vs actual realisations: Do governments follow up on their electoral pledges? Ideological stance in party publications vs spending and revenues of party governments: Do parties of the right and the left speak different languages? How can we validly classify a government as of the left or of the right? Is there a systematic difference between governments of the right and of the left in terms of their policy? Speeches by central bank officers vs monetary policy: Can changes in monetary policy be predicted by official speeches? The political business cycle: How can taking into consideration the speech-action relationship strengthen (or threaten) our knowledge about electoral and partisan cycles in public spending? Other questions explored include: Should policy makers always tell the truth and all the truth? What are the benefits and the costs of transparency? How can we resolve the apparent contradiction between the democratic demand for transparency and the efficiency requirement of secrecy in many policy areas (budget preparation, monetary policy, foreign policy, security, etc.)? Under which conditions is secrecy acceptable in a democratic society? To what extent may deception and lies lead to a breach of trust or to power abuse? What are the most efficient institutional mechanisms to prevent such abuse? Collectively, the authors present new insights for understanding political process and government activity, and suggest avenues for further research.

Women and Politics in the Islamic Republic of Iran looks at the rise and role of female activism in Iran since the 1979 Revolution. Since 1979 women have played a decisive role in elections and assumed political posts. This study assesses this role as well as the impact of domestic and international policies on women's activism, highlighting the contradictions between politics and religion within the Islamic Republic. It also seeks to evaluate political and economic developments and the transformations in civil society, including the development of a gender conscious society. Women and Politics in the Islamic Republic of Iran features original research by Sanam Vakil, an Iranian-American scholar, who conducted interviews with women activists, politicians, journalists, clerics and students in Iran, Europe and the U.S. and used primary sources to specifically links women's activism to the domestic political changes in Iran. The book will be an essential resource for anyone studying Iranian politics and seeking to understand better the internal political and social dynamics in Iran and the critical role that women play.

Although there are many pamphlets and monographs that cover specific aspects of the European Community, the literature seems to lack a single, scholarly reader that gives a complete account of the many dimensions of European integration. This volume, written by a distinguished group of international specialists, seeks to fill this void by pulling together a broad collection of papers focusing on the political, sociological, and economic issues surrounding the European Union. Beginning with a historical look at the genesis, evolution, and theoretical interpretation of the historical process of European integration, the book goes on to analyze the socio-economic structure of the European community and the social forces operating within it. Students and scholars will find this a valuable, flexible, and versatile text for manifold courses in the social sciences; policymakers and general readers will find this a highly informative and readable evaluation of the current state of the European Union.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the oldest and most important international Islamist group. Aside from strong organizations in Egypt, Jordan, Syria—where it provides the main opposition--and its Palestinian offshoot Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip, the Brotherhood has become active in Europe and North America. Its flexible tactics which range from terrorism through electoral participation to social welfare activities have made it a particularly effective group. This book is the first comprehensive analysis of the Brotherhood’s organizations, doctrine, and leaders in all the main countries where it operates.

The Nature of Party Government examines relationships between governments and supporting parties on a comparative European basis. The book does so at the level of principles: there is a major conflict between governments, which should govern and parties, which being representative, wish to shape the way governments operate. The book studies relationships empirically as well: it shows that they occur on three plans, appointments, policy-making and patronage and assesses the extent of two-way influences, from parties to governments and from governments to parties.

Hardy Wickwar takes a global look at public administration from the perspective of one whose lifetime has spanned most continents and most of a century. His volume investigates what governments do to, for, and with people; how governments treat their lands and the resources on, in, around, and above them; and how governments relate to their citizens through the exercise of power, law, and political judgement. Relating public administration to a country's social structure, law, and history, the volume expounds a European model and then analyzes variants in relation to differences in geography and historical setting. Wickwar makes a sharp distinction between continental countries where people accept the state as supremely important and island countries that do not. Taking as a given the fact that governments render services, Wickwar examines the varying ways in which they use their power to serve their people: what governments do themselves and what they leave for other social institutions to accomplish. Because of its clear view of the relationship between the structure of a particular society's thought and of its institutions, without assuming that an American administrative model ought to be emulated worldwide, Power and Service serves as an excellent guidebook for those who operate in various administrative environments internationally. The volume is divided into three major sections: World Picture, Country Model, and Western Variance. Part I begins by elaborating on the idea and ideals of public administration and how they have emerged, establishing bases for comparing public administration in time, space, and phases of modernity. The eight chapters that compose section II scrutinize public order, education and health services, income protection services, and more using a European model as a point of reference. Western Variance assesses both western and world variants, considering variants in both insular and continental settings. The final chapter, Horizon 2001, probes the emerging world of global public administration discourse. By all standards this volume will be essential reading in courses in comparative administration, politics, criminal justice, social service, health administration, international relations, and European history.

The creation of Monetary Union marked a major step in the evolution of the European Union. Is the EU now taking the next step of deeper integration towards a fully-fledged economic government? The book seeks to answer this question by studying the evolution, execution and performance of new modes of economic policy co-ordination as potential stepping-stones towards more institutionalized forms of economic governance.

English regions appeared to have been killed off by the massive 'no' vote in the referendum in the North East on 4 November 2004. By contrast, this book analyzes the many institutions and networks established at the English regional tier since 1997. It argues that a new form of governance is developing in the English regions, characterized by processes rather than specific policy concerns: strategic co-ordination, scrutiny, and civic engagement.

This volume is a timely survey of the changes that have been occurring in South African politics and society since the unbanning of the exile liberation movements in 1990. It brings together a collection of seasoned scholars who examine the debates over changes in such areas as the economy, the state, the legal system, the position of women and foreign relations. The volume explores the forces pushing for radical change in South African society as well as those resisting it and is particularly notable for bringing a political science perspective to bear on such issues as the restructuring of government and the constitution.

The terrorist attacks occurred in the United States on 11 September 2001 have profoundly altered and reshaped the priorities of criminal justice systems around the world. Atrocities like the 9/11 attacks, the Madrid train bombings of March 2003, and the terrorist act to the United Kingdom of July 2005 threatened the life of democratic nations. The volume explores the response of democratic nation-states to the problems of terrorism and counter-terrorism within the framework of the Rule of Law. One of the primary subjects of study is the ways in which the interests of the state (security from external threats, the maintenance of civil peace, and the promotion of the commonwealth) are balanced or not with the liberty and freedom of the citizens of the state. The distinctive aspect of this focus is that it brings a historical, political, philosophical and comparative approach to the contemporary shape and purposes of the criminal justice systems around the world.

Saudi Arabia and Yemen are two countries of crucial importance in the Middle East and yet our knowledge about them is highly limited, while typical ways of looking at the histories of these countries have impeded understanding. Counter-Narratives brings together a group of leading scholars of the Middle East using new theoretical and methodological approaches to cross-examine standard stories, whether as told by Westerners or by Saudis and Yemenis, and these are found wanting. The authors assess how grand historical narratives such as those produced by states and colonial powers are currently challenged by multiple historical actors, a process which generates alternative narratives about identity, the state and society.

This thoroughly revised and updated edition of Needler's well-known text brings his comprehensive examination and analysis of Mexican politics up through the 1994 Mexican elections. Providing historical and geographical background, the work examines economics and politics in the light of the structural changes attending the adoption of the neo-liberal economic model. Also addressed are the implications of NAFTA, the Zapatista rebellion, and the assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio, among other current political issues. An ideal text for students of comparative politics, Latin American studies, and recent Latin American history.

This edited volume looks at China in the twenty-first century from a holistic perspective. Each of the ten authors emphasizes a particular dimension of politics, political economy, political culture and foreign policy focusing on a specific issue within the broader dimension. Each specific issue, such as the so-called harmonious society, the internet, and technocratic leadership, serves as a window through which the reader can glimpse through to understand China in the new century.

This book is a study of EU conditionality and compliance during the enlargement to the Central and Eastern European candidate countries. EU conditionality for membership is widely understood as having been a driving force for Europeanization, providing incentives and sanctions for compliance or non-compliance with EU norms, such as the 'Copenhagen Criteria' and the adoption of the acquis communautaire . By taking regional policy and regionalization as a case study, this book provides a comparative analysis of the effects of conditionality on the Central and East European countries and explores the many paradoxes and weaknesses in the use of EU conditionality over time.

Local governments throughout the West are undergoing a transformation of their leadership styles and structures. Some countries have abandoned traditional systems of collective or committee based decision-making in favour of Cabinet models or, more radically, a directly-elected executive mayor, while others have strengthened existing mayoral systems. There are a few exceptions to this trend. Based on original research in eleven countries the book assesses these changes in terms of their implications for political accountability, the role of lay politicians, political recruitment, the professionalization of leadership, and relations with the bureaucracy.

Examines the role of the masses in the collapse of the East German regime and state in 1989 in the northern district of Schwerin. The study shows the extent to which citizens of the GDR dictatorship were instrumental in their state's demise. The "bottom up" approach employed, in contrast to the study of power wielding elites and "opposition", explores the shift in mood and behaviour of citizens which brought about the internal collapse of the state.

Teachers, students, experts, policymakers, and citizen activists all should welcome this authoritative, systematic, single-volume sourcebook of who makes foreign policy, how it is made, and what U.S. policy has been since the 1960s. Well-known experts assess all the significant literature and research about U.S. policy in the region over the last three decades and analyze the role and procedures of foreign policymaking through regional institutions, key factors and major players in the United States, and special issues such as interventionism, human rights, democratization, and peacekeeping efforts.

This volume traces the developments in Cuba following the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 and the subsequent definitive demise of state socialism. Working from the premise that most non-European countries did not undergo the economic and political regime changes experienced by their European counterparts, this volume examines the nature of Cuban socialism. Topics covered include: the reasons for the persistence of "the Cuban model," and an examination of the complex interaction between elite and non-elite actors, as well as between domestic and international forces.

Assessing the legacy of the USSR and the changes in the last decade, this is a history of the rise and fall of a great superpower.

At the core is the overarching idea of the Motherland, which fused two passionately held beliefs and identities: Soviet and Russian society. Other key themes focus on the triumphs and the failures, New Soviet Man, and the contrasts between Moscow at the center and the rest of the sprawling empire, including the national problem. Set to become the most popular and debated book on twentieth-century Russia, it will completely change the way the Soviet Union was understood.