The so-called ?'spatial turn?' in the social sciences has led to an increased interest in what can be called the spatialities of power, or the ways in which power as a medium for achieving goals is related to where it takes place. This unique and intriguing Handbook argues that the spatiality of power is never singular and easily modeled according to straightforward theoretical bullet-points, but instead is best approached as plural, contextually emergent and relational. The Handbook on the Geographies of Power consists of a series of cutting edge chapters written by a diverse range of leading geographers working both within and beyond political geography. It is organized thematically into the main areas in which contemporary work on the geographies of power is concentrated: bodies, economy, environment and energy, and war. The Handbook maintains a careful connection between theory and empirics, making it a valuable read for students, researchers and scholars in the fields of political and human geography. It will also appeal to social scientists more generally who are interested in contemporary conceptions of power. Contributors include: J. Agnew, J. Allen, I. Ashutosh, J. Barkan, N. Bauch, L. Bhungalia, G. Boyce, B. Braun, M. Brown, P. Carmody, N. Clark, M. Coleman, A. Dixon, V. Gidwani, N. Gordon, M. Hird, P. Hubbard, J. Hyndman, J. Loyd, A. Moore, L. Muscara, N. Perugini, C. Rasmussen, P. Steinberg, K. Strauss, S. Wakefield, K. Yusoff

A Sunday Times top-ten title in 2007 and a bestseller ever since, I Before E (Except after C) has continued to inform and entertain its many readers. Offering reminders of mnemonics from our youth and containing countless more to help us in adult life, this handy collection contains all the memory aids you'll ever need to know: from well-known rhymes, mnemonics, and memorable sayings to a selection of more modern methods of boosting one's failing memory. I Before E (Except after C) will ensure you'll never struggle to remember names, dates, facts, figures and events ever again!

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. This exciting Research Agenda offers a multi-disciplinary and historically informed programme for the further investigation of the global political economy of the corporate sector. It tackles the question, can and should the corporation be reformed? Christopher May develops a range of intersecting areas for research while also offering an account of the possibilities for the reform of the global corporation. Based on an understanding of the history of corporations, the author provides key insights into their management and political agency as well as the operation of the global corporate supply chain. Drawing links between a range of disciplines and perspectives on business enterprises, May calls for a more nuanced understanding of the global corporate sector in order to better comprehend the contours of the contemporary global capitalist system. This Research Agenda will be a valuable resource for students and academics of politics, economics, sociology and law, who are curious to explore the corporation in relation to their area of study.

Offering a comprehensive review of contemporary research on inclusive innovation, chapters address the systemic, structural issues that present the 'grand challenges' of our time. With 27 contributions from 57 expert scholars, this Handbook highlights both emerging practices and scalable solutions. Acting as a call to action, the chapters place social impact at the heart of theory and practice, providing fresh insight into global issues and practical solutions. Organized into five distinct sections to reflect current theoretical approaches and frameworks, contributions cover social innovation as practice; community and place; systems, institution and infrastructure; individual, organizations and organizing, and networks and social change. This Handbook emphasises the fundamental shift needed in management scholarship to address global problems and achieve social impact through sustainable development goals. This will be an invaluable resource for those championing social inclusion in both research and practice, including innovation researchers and management scholars more broadly.

Best-selling author Michael Shermer presents an overarching theory of conspiracy theories-who believes them and why, which ones are real, and what we should do about them. Nothing happens by accident, everything is connected, and there are no coincidences: that is the essence of conspiratorial thinking. Long a fringe part of the American political landscape, conspiracy theories are now mainstream: 147 members of Congress voted in favor of objections to the 2020 presidential election based on an unproven theory about a rigged electoral process promoted by the mysterious group QAnon. But this is only the latest example in a long history of ideas that include the satanic panics of the 1980s, the New World Order and Vatican conspiracy theories, fears about fluoridated water, speculations about President John F. Kennedy's assassination, and the notions that the Sandy Hook massacre was a false-flag operation and 9/11 was an inside job. In Conspiracy, Michael Shermer presents an overarching review of conspiracy theories-who believes them and why, which ones are real, and what we should do about them. Trust in conspiracy theories, he writes, cuts across gender, age, race, income, education level, occupational status-and even political affiliation. One reason that people believe these conspiracies, Shermer argues, is that enough of them are real that we should be constructively conspiratorial: elections have been rigged (LBJ's 1948 Senate race); medical professionals have intentionally harmed patients in their care (Tuskegee); your government does lie to you (Watergate, Iran-Contra, and Afghanistan); and, tragically, some adults do conspire to sexually abuse children. But Shermer reveals that other factors are also in play: anxiety and a sense of loss of control play a role in conspiratorial cognition patterns, as do certain personality traits. This engaging book will be an important read for anyone concerned about the future direction of American politics, as well as anyone who's watched friends or family fall into patterns of conspiratorial thinking.

This innovative Research Handbook answers crucial questions about how individuals and organisations can make a difference towards sustainability. Offering an integrative perspective on sustainability agency, it reviews individual, active, organisational and relational forms of sustainability agency, demonstrating the capacity of individuals and organisations to act toward sustainable futures. The Research Handbook investigates the relationships between agency and sustainability, demonstrating the importance of agency for different types of sustainability challenges, including mitigating environmental change and resource depletion. International contributors offer a multidisciplinary overview of the field, constructing detailed literature reviews on its many angles and variations. Concluding with a consolidative meta-review of sustainability agency, the Research Handbook offers directions for future research in the discipline. Crucial reading for scholars and researchers of sustainability, this cutting-edge Research Handbook is particularly useful for those exploring new avenues for research in relation to agency. It will also benefit graduate students looking for an interdisciplinary perspective in the field, as well as practitioners, advocates and NGOs hoping to understand ways in which sustainability can be enacted in various contexts.

Dissecting the biggest medical myths and pseudoscience, Viral BS explores how misinformation can spread faster than microbes. Can your zip code predict when you will die? Should you space out childhood vaccines? Does talcum powder cause cancer? Why do some doctors recommend e-cigarettes while other doctors recommend you stay away from them? Health information-and misinformation-is all around us, and it can be hard to separate the two. A long history of unethical medical experiments and medical mistakes, along with a host of celebrities spewing anti-science beliefs, has left many wary of science and the scientists who say they should be trusted. How do we stay sane while unraveling the knots of fact and fiction to find out what we should really be concerned about, and what we can laugh off? In Viral BS, journalist, doctor, professor, and CDC-trained disease detective Seema Yasmin, driven by a need to set the record straight, dissects some of the most widely circulating medical myths and pseudoscience. Exploring how epidemics of misinformation can spread faster than microbes, Dr. Yasmin asks why bad science is sometimes more believable and contagious than the facts. Each easy-to-read chapter covers a specific myth, whether it has endured for many years or hit the headlines more recently. Dr. Yasmin explores such pressing questions as * Do cell phones, Nutella, or bacon cause cancer? * Are we running out of antibiotics? * Does playing football cause brain disease? * Is the CDC banned from studying guns? * Do patients cared for by female doctors live longer? * Is trauma inherited? * Is suicide contagious? and much more. Taking a deep dive into the health and science questions you have always wanted answered, this authoritative and entertaining book empowers readers to reach their own conclusions. Viral BS even comes with Dr. Yasmin's handy Bulls*%t Detection Kit.

Feeding the world, climate change, biodiversity, antibiotics, plastics, pandemics - the list of concerns seems endless. But what is most pressing, and what should we do first? Do we all need to become vegetarian? How can we fly in a low-carbon world? How can we take control of technology? And, given the global nature of the challenges we now face, what on Earth can any of us do, as individuals? Mike Berners-Lee has crunched the numbers and plotted a course of action that is full of hope, practical, and enjoyable. This is the big-picture perspective on the environmental and economic challenges of our day, laid out in one place, and traced through to the underlying roots - questions of how we live and think. This updated edition has new material on protests, pandemics, wildfires, investments, carbon targets and of course, on the key question: given all this, what can I do?

Legal academics in Europe publish a wide variety of materials including books, articles and essays, in an assortment of languages, and for a diverse readership. As a consequence, this variety can pose a problem for the evaluation of academic legal research. This thought-provoking book offers an overview of the legal and policy norms, methods and criteria applied in the evaluation of academic legal research, from a comparative perspective. The expert contributions explore developments relating to professional vs academic publications, editorial review vs peer review, rankings of journals and law schools vs other reputation mechanisms and a range of other evaluation practices and their intended and unintended effects. Analysing research evaluation practices across more than ten jurisdictions and multiple contexts, this insightful book reveals how evaluation practices differ across Europe. Through this analysis, the book exposes a range of possibilities for further debate and study. Engaging and topical, Evaluating Academic Legal Research in Europe will be valuable reading for legal academics, university and faculty managers, higher-education policy-makers and administrators as well as editors of law journals, legal publishers and research foundation and funding bodies. Contributors include: A. Bakardjieva Engelbrekt, K. Byland, D. Costa, J. Hojnik, P. Letto-Vanamo, A. Lienhard, D. Mac Sithigh, E. Maier, G. Peruginelli, N. Petersen, K. Purnhagen, A. Ruda Gonzalez, M. Schmied, M. Snel, R. van Gestel

'Currently, public administration as art and science ponders a challenging and uncertain future. Thus, no better time exists to take stock and ponder the practical and theoretical value of its topical coverage to date. Stazyk and Frederickson have assembled an eclectic and impressive group of senior and junior scholars to join them in this intellectual exercise. Collectively, the contributors offer a stiletto-like dissection of where and how the field's energy has been expended, what knowledge it has produced, what its limitations are, and where future energies might best be expended. Kudos to all.' - Robert F. Durant, American University, US This forward-thinking Handbook draws on the expertise of established and emerging scholars to provide a comprehensive review of the current state and future direction of theory and practice in US public administration. Chapters offer a cross-disciplinary, holistic review of the field, pulling together leaders from subfields such as public administration, public and nonprofit management, finance, human resource management, networks, nonprofits, policy, and politics. Chapter authors conclude that the field is intellectually rich and highly nuanced, but also identify numerous opportunities for growth and expansion in the coming years. The Handbook charts an agenda for future research in the field. The Handbook of American Public Administration is geared toward academics, researchers, and advanced graduate students. As an authoritative text on the history and state of US public administration, it proves equally suitable for national and international audiences. Practitioners who may be looking for background information or state-of-the-art knowledge about practice will also benefit from this Handbook. Contributors include: G. Arnold, G.A. Brewer, B.J. Cook, R.S. Davis, L. DeHart-Davis, M.D. Farnworth, P.S. Federman, S. Fernandez, H.G. Frederickson, H. Getha-Taylor, R.K. Ghere, D. Hatmaker, K. Hendren, C.J. Hill, N. Humphrey, K.R. Isett, S. Jo, J.E. Kellough, S.Y. Kim, Y. Kim, L. Langbein, M. Leighninger, L.E. Lynn, Jr., D.S.T. Matkin, B. Merriman, C.C. Merritt, A.V. Moldavanova, T. Nabatchi, S. Nicholson-Crotty, R. O'Leary, Z.W. Oberfield, A. Osorio, S.K. Pandey, Y.J. Park, S. Portillo, B.A. Radin, W.G. Resh, R.L. St. Clair, J.R. Sandfort, L.M. Shimek, A.E. Smith, S.R. Smith, E.C. Stazyk, S. Webeck, E.S. Zeemering, H.L. Zook

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. We face many important global environmental problems today, including climate change, biodiversity destruction, and environmental health issues. Key among the tools we have to understand and solve these problems is research. This Research Agenda argues for a transdisciplinary approach to the study of environmental management to provide better understanding and outcomes leading to practical solutions. By describing the key strategies needed to overcome common global environmental challenges and to undertake successful interdisciplinary environmental research, this Research Agenda demonstrates the possibilities for successful transdisciplinary environmental research. A series of case studies shows how this transdisciplinary approach to research has improved understandings of environmental problems and their potential solutions. Discussing the types of participation required and the difficulties of incorporating diverse groups into research projects, this Research Agenda provides lessons in how to successfully undertake transdisciplinary research in order to meet these challenges. A Research Agenda for Environmental Management provides invaluable insights for interdisciplinary researchers in all fields affected by environmental management as well as students and scholars engaged in environmental research looking for ways to successfully integrate transdisciplinary approaches into their work. Contributors include: J. Abrams, D.B. Agusdinata, G. Alonso-Yanez, B. Barnett, N. Basiliko, K. Calvert, D. Cordoba, T. de Souza, M. del Carmen Fragoso Medina, J.L. Dunn, A. Eastmond, D.J. Flaspohler, K. Floress, V.S. Gagnon, A. Giang, H.S. Gorman, R.B. Guerrero, K.E. Halvorsen, R.M. Handler, M.A. Hanif, R.J. Heffron, J. Heyman, L. House-Peters, A. Kantamneni, J.L. Knowlton, R.A. LaFave, J. Licata, H.K. Lukosch, E.E. Mata-Zayas, R. Medeiros, M.A. Mesa-Jurado, D. Minakata, A. Mirchi, C. Moseley, T. Moya Mose, T.H. Mwampamba, C.J.V. Navarrete, E.A. Nielsen, M. Ohira, E. Ortega, J.A. Perlinger, E.C. Pischke, E.W. Prehoda, V.D.P. Risso, J.C. Sacramento-Rivero, M. Samimi, D. Sanchez, C. Schelly, T.L. Selfa, R. Shwom, R.V. Sidortsov, B. Tarekegne, G. Tchobanoglous, N.R. Urban, L.P. Volkow, S. Walker, D. Watkins, R.L. Winkler

Published to coincide with an exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, London, this is an expressive exploration of Black popular culture at its most wildly imaginative, artistically ambitious and politically urgent. In the Black Fantastic assembles art and imagery from across the African diaspora that embraces ideas of the mythic and the speculative. Neither Afrofuturism nor Magic Realism, but inhabiting its own universe, In the Black Fantastic brings to life a cultural movement that conjures otherworldly visions out of the everyday Black experience - and beyond - looking at how speculative fictions in Black art and culture are boldly reimagining perspectives on race, gender, identity and the body in the 21st century. Transcending time, space and genre to span art, design, fashion architecture, film, literature and popular culture from African myth to future fantasies and beyond, this vital, timely and compelling publication is an expressive exploration of Black popular culture at its most wildly imaginative, artistically ambitious and politically urgent.

Is comparative legal history an emerging discipline or a much-needed dialogue between two academic subjects? This research handbook presents the field in a uniquely holistic way, and illustrates how comparative law and legal history are inextricably related. Cementing a solid theoretical grounding for the discipline, legal historians and comparatists place this subject at the forefront of legal science. Comprehensive in coverage, this handbook collates theory and method for comparative legal history, as well as discussing international legal sources and judicial and civil institutions. Particular attention is paid to custom and codification, contracts, civil procedure and ownership. By assessing the evolution of law across European, Asian, African and American environments from the pre-modern era to the nineteenth century, the chapters provide stimulating and enlightening cases of legal history through a comparative lens. A centrepiece for this field of scholarship, this research handbook will be an essential resource for scholars interested in comparative law, legal theory and legal history, from both legal and social science backgrounds. Contributors: S.P. Donlan, S. Drescher, M. Dyson, P. Finkelman, D. Freda, A. Giuliani, J.-L. Halperin, D. Heirbaut, E. Kadens, M.S.-H. Kim, A. Masferrer, D. Michalsen, K.A. Modeer, O. Moreteau, J.A. Obarrio, A. Parise, H. Pihlajamaki, W. Swain, A. Taitslin, C.H. van Rhee, J. Vanderlinden

INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF NEW AND EXPANDED ENTRIES From 'Aald Rock' to 'Zeenty-teenty', A Dictionary of Scottish Phrase and Fable is an unputdownable gallimaufry of curious items embracing sayings, put-downs, insults, mottos, traditions, legends, folklore, customs, festivals, games, songs, dances, nicknames - and much, much more. This new edition features many expanded entries, as well as completely new ones - including Big Tam, the Third Forth Bridge, the Loony Dook and the War of the One-eyed Woman. The result is a kaleidoscopic snapshot of the Scottish nation, both past and present, from the mythical origins of the Scots in ancient Scythia to the foibles of modern Follyrood, from Sawney Bean to Oor Wullie, from 'The end of an old song' to 'Aw fur coat and nae knickers', from The Heart of Midlothian to 'Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus'. In more than 4,500 such entries, A Dictionary of Scottish Phrase and Fable weaves an endlessly entertaining tapestry incorporating the texture and fabric of a nation's ever-shifting sense of itself.

This definitive Research Handbook explores the restructuring strategies of globalised firms, bringing together a wide range of topics from export exit, subsidiary divestment and market re-entry to relocation, offshoring and backshoring. Contributors from diverse fields including marketing, entrepreneurship, strategic management and economics provide a multi-dimensional methodological approach to the analysis of exit. They consider exit both in terms of export markets and foreign direct investment, and in terms of subsequent re-entry in the same markets as well as relocation to other countries. Taking a global view, chapters, which take the shape of literature reviews, conceptual works and qualitative and quantitative studies, represent diverse regions and country contexts, such as China, the EU, Norway, Russia and the US. Providing an overview of international divestments and their associated phenomena of relocation and re-entry, the book concludes by presenting avenues for further research. Drawing together conceptual works, case studies, quantitative studies, bibliometric analysis and meta-analysis, this timely Research Handbook will be a valuable resource for researchers and students of international business. Its use of empirical case studies will also be valuable for business practitioners interested in international divestment and export exit.

The media play a key role in post-apartheid South Africa and is often positioned at the centre of debates around politics, identity and culture. Media, such as radio, are often said to also play a role in deepening democracy, while simultaneously holding the power to frame political events, shape public discourse and impact citizens' perceptions of reality. Broadcasting Democracy: Radio and Identity in South Africa provides an exciting look into the diverse world of South African radio, exploring how various radio formats and stations play a role in constructing post-apartheid identities. At the centre of the book is the argument that various types of radio stations represent autonomous systems of cultural activity, and are 'consumed' as such by listeners. In this sense, it argues that South African radio is 'broadcasting democracy'. Broadcasting Democracy will be of interest to media scholars and radio listeners alike.

The majority of the world's population now live in cities, nearly a quarter of which boast populations of one million or more. The rise of globalisation has granted cities unprecedented significance, both politically and economically, leading to benefits and problems at national and international levels. The Handbook of Emerging 21st-Century Cities explores the changes that are occurring in cities, and the impacts that they are having, at the local, national and global scale. Bringing together voices from around the world, this Handbook provides an interdisciplinary view of the changes that are happening in emerging cities, examining a range of topics from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. With chapters covering changes in urban economies, social dynamics, and emerging technology this Handbook radically rethinks the dynamics of cities in the 21st century, including those in the global south. The Handbook of Emerging 21st-Century Cities is an important addition to the literature, and is a useful resource for students of geography, economics, sociology, anthropology and urban planning. Its insights will also be of value for public administrators and urban planners, and anyone else whose work impacts on, or is impacted by, cities. Contributors include: R. Aijaz, K. Archer, K. Bezdecny, R. Bower, M.M. Brannon, P. Carmody, Y.-w. Chu, B. Coffyn Mitchell, E. Fekete, R. Ghadge, R. Grant, L.A. Herzog, W.G. Holt, D. Honnery, A. Jansson, O.A. K'Akumu, M. Klausen, J. Lauermann, P. Moriarty, J.T. Murphy, A.C. Oner, F. Owusu, B. Pasin, V. Peiteado Fernandez, J. Richardson, C. Saldana, B. Warf, P.D.A. Wood

The ability to communicate effectively is one of the most important life skills a person can possess. It can pave the way to success, not only in terms of career but also in every other aspect of life where communication plays a role. 

Advanced communication skills focuses on essential communication skills and competencies for all aspects of the world of work. Advanced communication skills takes an integrated theory and practical approach to learning. It is designed to foster workplace communication in order to benefit interpersonal relationships, which in turn leads to personal enrichment, greater job satisfaction and increased productivity. The final chapter contains a selection of case studies with questions to assist in the evaluation of communication skills.

Advanced communication skills is aimed at managers, personal assistants, professional secretaries and all those studying towards certificates, diplomas or degrees in colleges and universities. It fully covers the syllabus for Communication N5/N6 at technical and vocational education and training colleges, and will prepare students for the national examinations in these subjects.

'The notion of governance has gained significant currency and has become an inseparable part of sport organisations' strategies and practices. It is also a widely taught subject in academic institutions. This is an original and well-conceptualized book, which provides a comprehensive examination of governance at different levels of analysis. Written by established scholars, the text represents a great reference source and will complement nicely the library of academics and practitioners alike.' - Vassil Girginov, President, European Association for Sport Management (EASM) 'The timeliness of this Research Handbook is underscored by the fact that the topic of sport governance has become extremely relevant and important but also extremely complex in our time.' - Hallgeir Gammelsaeter, Molde Specialized University in Logistics, Norway Recent scandals across the word of sport can be directly related to poor governance. This Research Handbook gathers the state-of-the-art research on sport governance by leading international scholars on various issues across various sports, offering a vital reference point for advancing research. Illustrating different approaches and perspectives such as good governance principles, systemic governance, political governance and network governance, chapters suggest research-informed practical solutions to current problems within sport organisations. Covering sport event governance, business implications, corporate social responsibility for enhancing good governance and extended board management, specific directions for further research are provided for each topic under examination. This is the essential reference for all sport governance researchers. It will also be insightful for sport governing bodies and administrators looking for advice on improving good governance in sport institutions.

Acclaim for the first edition:'A tour-de-force of trust research methodologies, from survey methods to critical incidents to hermeneutics... will prove invaluable to trust researchers of every stripe.' - Aks Zaheer, University of Minnesota 'This book fills an important gap. The burgeoning field of trust research has employed a wide variety of definitions and methods, but until the appearance of this Handbook there was no comprehensive overview of them. Its contributions, many written by leading international experts, cover conceptual issues as well as qualitative and quantitative methods. The editors are all working at the frontiers of trust research and in this Handbook they have compiled an indispensable source of reference for years to come.' - John Child, University of Birmingham, UK 'This is the right book at the right time. Central to the advancement of research on trust is the need to address a host of methodological, empirical, and analytical challenges. This Handbook provides a vital resource for doing so and holds the promise of infusing the literature with novel and enhanced approaches for studying and understanding trust. Researchers new to the field as well as established experts will find a wealth of insights contained herein.' - Bill McEvily, University of Toronto, Canada Drawing together a wealth of research methods knowledge gained by trust researchers into one essential volume, this book provides an authoritative in-depth consideration of quantitative and qualitative methods for empirical study of trust in the social sciences. This second edition of the Handbook of Research Methods on Trust provides a fully updated and extended account of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods for empirical research. While many researchers have already drawn inspiration and insight from the previous edition, the dynamic development of trust research calls for further and deeper engagement with methodological issues, particular methods, practical research experience, and current challenges and innovations as offered by this new edition. Identifying innovative methods for researching trust, this important handbook will prove invaluable for students and academics in the social sciences who are interested in trust, particularly postgraduates planning empirical research on trust, undergraduates researching issues of trust, faculty teaching research-based courses on trust and related topics, and experienced trust researchers looking for reflection, discussion and inspiration. Contributors: S.J. Addison, N. Alex, M.J. Ashleigh, R. Bachmann, D. Barrera, K.M. Bijlsma-Frankema, M.C. Bligh, B.F. Blumberg, G. Breeman, C. Brinsfield, C. Burns, V. Buskens, J.S. Carroll, S.M. Conchie, D.L. Ferrin, D.E. Gibbons, N. Gillespie, C. Goodall, J.C. Kohles, R.M. Kramer, T.M. Kuhlmann, A. Langley, V. Le Gall, R.J. Lewicki, E. Meyer, M. Muethel, R. Munscher, B. Nooteboom, J.M. Peiro, A. Pentland, R.L. Priem, W. Raub, R.A. Roe, D.M. Rousseau, R.H. Searle, M. Tillmar, E.M. Uslaner, B. Waber, A.A. Weibel, F. Welter, M. Williams, R. Zolin

They don't make comedy like they used to . . . From the slapstick comedy of Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, the surrealism of Spike Milligan and Monty Python, and the golden age of political incorrectness helmed by Benny Hill, to the alternative scene that burst forth following the punk movement, the hedonistic joy of Absolutely Fabulous, the lacerating scorn of Jimmy Carr, Ricky Gervais, and Jo Brand and the meteoric rise of socially conscious stand up today: comedy can be many things, and it is a cultural phenomenon has come to define Britain like few others. In Different Times, David Stubbs charts the superstars that were in on the gags, the unsung heroes hiding in the wings and the people who ended up being the butt of the joke. Comedians and their work speak to and of their time, drawing upon and moulding Britons' relationship with their national history, reflecting us as a people, and, simply, providing raucous laughs for millions of people around the world. Different Times is a joyous, witty and insightful paean to British comedy.

In 1788 John Adams created a sublime ambition for all nations - 'a government of laws and not of men'. In the intervening years we have come to learn that legislation itself works through the interpretations of the many men and women who work on the inside and the outside of the law. Effective regulation thus depends not only on scrupulous legal analysis, with its appeal to precedent, conceptual clarity and argumentation, but also on sound empirical research, which often reveals diversity in implementation, enforcement and observance of the law in practice. In this outstanding, worldly-wise book Leeuw and Schmeets demonstrate how to bridge the gap between the letter and the delivery of the law. It is packed with examples, cases and illustrations that will have international appeal. I recommend it to students and practitioners engaged across all domains of legislation and regulation.' - Ray Pawson, University of Leeds, UK Empirical Legal Research describes how to investigate the roles of legislation, regulation, legal policies and other legal arrangements at play in society. It is invaluable as a guide to legal scholars, practitioners and students on how to do empirical legal research, covering history, methods, evidence, growth of knowledge and links with normativity. This multidisciplinary approach combines insights and approaches from different social sciences, evaluation studies, Big Data analytics and empirically informed ethics. The authors present an overview of the roots of this blossoming interdisciplinary domain, going back to legal realism, the fields of law, economics and the social sciences, and also to civilology and evaluation studies. The book addresses not only data analysis and statistics, but also how to formulate adequate research problems, to use (and test) different types of theories (explanatory and intervention theories) and to apply new forms of literature research to the field of law such as the systematic, rapid and realist reviews and synthesis studies. The choice and architecture of research designs, the collection of data, including Big Data, and how to analyze and visualize data are also covered. The book discusses the tensions between the normative character of law and legal issues and the descriptive and causal character of empirical legal research, and suggests ways to help handle this seeming disconnect. This comprehensive guide is vital reading for law practitioners as well as for students and researchers dealing with regulation, legislation and other legal arrangements.