The essays in Nationalizing Empires want to overcome the strict dichotomy between empire and nation state that has dominated historiography for decades. Their main focus is nation-building in the imperial core. The authors in the volume subscribe to the concept that the nineteenth century was not the age of nation-states: rather it has to be described as the age of empires and nationalism. A number of historical examples have been identified where nation building projects in the imperial metropolis aimed at the preservation and extension of empires rather than at their dissolution or the transformation of entire empires into nation states. Such observations have until recently largely escaped theoretical reflection. The collection of essays written by outstanding scholars of the field cover a wide range of topics and case studies both from western and from eastern European history with a focus on the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Thirteen essays by scholars from seven countries discuss the political use and abuse of history in the recent decades with particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia as case studies), but also includes articles on Germany, Japan and Turkey, which provide a much needed comparative dimension. The main focus is on new conditions of political utilization of history in post-communist context, which is characterized by lack of censorship and political pluralism. The phenomenon of history politics became extremely visible in Central and Eastern Europe in the past decade, and remains central for political agenda in many countries of the regions. Each essay is a case study contributing to the knowledge about collective memory and political use of history, offering a new theoretical twist. The studies look at actors (from political parties to individual historians), institutions (museums, Institutes of National remembrance, special political commissions), methods, political rationale and motivations behind this phenomenon.

Russian historiography - at least as it is reflected in history textbooks - has been invariably focused on the central state, to the power. The national historiographies of the peoples that were once part of the empire, on the other hand, concentrate on their own nation, and the empire for them is only a burdensome context in which a particular nation was "waking up", maturing and fighting for independence. Miller addresses the complex fabric of interaction between the imperial authority and local communities in the Romanov empire.Some of the questions that he seeks to answer include: How did the authorities structure the space of the empire? What were the economic relations between the borderlands and the center? How and why was the use of different languages regulated? How did the central authorities and local officials create and implement policies regarding different population groups? How did the experience, acquired in particular borderlands, influence the policies of the authorities in other borderlands, whether by borrowing administrative strategies and legal decisions or through officials who often changed their place of service several times during their careers? How did the local elites and communities react to the policies of the imperial authorities? How did they uphold their special interests if the empire encroached on them, but also - how did they collaborate with the empire and how did they use imperial resources for local interests?

Renowned academics compare major features of imperial rule in the 19th century, reflecting a significant shift away from nationalism and toward empires in the studies of state building. The book responds to the current interest in multi-unit formations, such as the European Union and the expanded outreach of the United States. National historical narratives have systematically marginalized imperial dimensions, yet empires play an important role. This book examines the methods discerned in the creation of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Ottoman Empire, the Hohenzollern rule and Imperial Russia. It inspects the respective imperial elites in these empires, and it details the role of nations, religions and ideologies in the legitimacy of empire building, bringing the Spanish Empire into the analysis. The final part of the book focuses on modern empires, such as the German "Reich." The essays suggest that empires were more adaptive and resilient to change than is commonly thought.

Renowned academics compare major features of imperial rule in the 19th century, reflecting a significant shift away from nationalism and toward empires in the studies of state building. The book responds to the current interest in multi-unit formations, such as the European Union and the expanded outreach of the United States. National historical narratives have systematically marginalized imperial dimensions, yet empires play an important role. This book examines the methods discerned in the creation of the Habsburg Monarchy, the Ottoman Empire, the Hohenzollern rule and Imperial Russia. It inspects the respective imperial elites in these empires, and it details the role of nations, religions and ideologies in the legitimacy of empire building, bringing the Spanish Empire into the analysis. The final part of the book focuses on modern empires, such as the German "Reich." The essays suggest that empires were more adaptive and resilient to change than is commonly thought.

The anthology "Race, Gender, and Criminal Justice: Equality & Justice for All?," examines the ways in which race, ethnicity, class, and gender impact offenders as they move through the criminal justice system, and integrate back into the community. While many books in the field address race or gender in the criminal justice system, this book offers a detailed exploration of both. The book also looks at the unintended consequences of criminal justice policies on women and minorities, and considers what, if anything, is being done to address disparities. Written in an accessible manner, the book is divided into five main sections:
- Understanding Race and Gender
- The Police
- The Courts
- Corrections
- Issues of Re-entry and Disenfranchisement
The individual chapters of the book cover topics that are of high interest to students in the fields of Sociology and Criminology, including the difference between race and ethnicity, racial profiling, the role of specialized courts, prosecutorial discretion, and recidivism. Issues such as the death penalty, imprisonment rates, and drug policy are examined from both domestic and international perspectives. Each chapter includes information on accessing relevant YouTube videos, websites, non-profits, government agencies, and journal articles, giving students the opportunity for additional examination. There are also critical thinking questions to encourage class discussions. "Race, Gender, and Criminal Justice: Equality & Justice for All? " can be used in both lower and upper-division courses in Criminal Justice, Criminology, and Sociology. It is also an excellent supplementary text for courses in the areas of Political Science, Women's Studies, and Race/Black Studies. Adopting professors will receive PowerPoint slides to assist with lectures and test questions.
Danielle McDonald received her Ph.D. in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2006. Currently, Dr. McDonald is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Northern Kentucky University. She teaches and conducts research in the areas of gender and crime, alternatives to incarceration, re-entry programming and service learning.
Alexis Miller is an associate professor of criminal justice at Northern Kentucky University, where she teaches and conducts research in the areas of race and crime, college students and faculty perceptions of crime, and criminal justice and the media. Dr. Miller received her Ph.D. from the University of Louisville, in 1999.