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At a time when democratization and the state of democracy are at
the forefront of attention in many parts of the world, this book
examines the state-of-the-art on this vital political issue.
Revisiting the now classical literature on neo-corporatism in light
of current research and theory, the contributors illustrate the
enormous influence of the 'neo-corporatist debate' on modern
political science, political sociology, and political economy.
Reflecting on a major part of the recent history of social science,
they shed light on some of its current core concepts, such as
governance, policy networks, and varieties of capitalism. The book
traces the evolution of political conflicts concerning social
order; from the class conflicts in Europe in the of 1970s Europe to
the subsequent Latin American and Eastern European battles over
democratization and democratic transition, to the debate on the
'democratic deficit' of the European Union. Paying tribute to the
work of Philippe Schmitter, which bridges the themes discussed in
the book and which has provided inspiration to an entire generation
of social scientists, The Diversity of Democracy will be invaluable
to academics, students and researchers with an interest in
political science, democratic theory, European integration and the
study of democratic transitions as well as Latin American and
Eastern European studies.
In Governing Social Risks in Post-Crisis Europe, Colin Crouch
mounts an impressive comparative analysis to uncover the
contrasting ways in which different countries have sought to
address the exacerbated social risks, both 'new' and 'old',
unleashed by the financial and economic crisis. It demonstrates
that growing recourse to market forms of governance in social and
labour market policy is inversely related to the strength and
influence of organised labour across countries and, in turn, to the
degree of security provided for workers and their dependents. The
three main patterns identified for governing social risks in the
current era - neo-liberal, social democratic and traditional - are
shown to exhibit a clear lineage reaching back to the early 20th
century.' - Paul Marginson, University of Warwick, UK'Crouch's new
book offers an empirically based up-to-date theory relating
governance, egalitarianism, and labor market security in
contemporary post-industrial societies. It provides a highly
sophisticated, original assessment of modes of governance in Europe
in terms of their social and economic performance, drawing on
extensive comparison of European countries including the new
Eastern democracies. Contrasting in particular neoliberalism and
social democracy, Crouch shows that the social-democratic model of
state and associational intervention in markets performs much
better than its neoliberal opponent, raising the question why it is
the latter rather than the former that has become the leading model
for the post-crisis capitalist political economy.' - Wolfgang
Streeck, Max-Planck-Institute for the Study of Societies, Germany
How can a capitalist system reconcile its need to combine workers
on uncertain incomes and conditions with consumers confident that
they can spend? The approaches of different national economies to
this conundrum have had varying degrees of success, as well as
diverse implications for social inequality. Through the study of
European societies, and comparisons with experience from the rest
of the world, Colin Crouch scrutinizes this diversity, and looks at
how the 2008 global financial crisis has impacted it. Crouch
identifies three broad approaches that countries adopt in response
to this central dilemma of a capitalist economy, and examines these
across three different contexts: time, place, and the role of
inclusion and exclusion. This primarily statistical study embraces
all except the smallest European countries, with comparative
material on Japan, Russia and the United States. Countries are
grouped according to differences found in them in the roles of
governance by market, state, and community. This important book
will appeal to academics, policy makers and others interested in
comparative employment relations, European political economy and
social policy. Undergraduate and postgraduate students alike will
also find this a compelling, jargon-free insight into social policy
and the 2008 global financial crisis in Europe.
Leading chess author Colin Crouch selects and explains over 30
sensational games, all from the new millennium. By studying battles
between the world's best players, Crouch examines in detail all the
key areas of modern chess. Powerful attacking and resourceful
defending, bloodthirsty tactical battles, profound positional
mastery, deep opening preparation and superb endgame play are all
in evidence here, while Crouch also explores the ever-increasing
role of computers and the way human imagination can work in harness
with them. There is something for everyone in this book: aspiring
players will benefit greatly from the clear explanations of the
fundamentals, while stronger players will gain considerably from
Crouch's deep insight and analysis in more complex positions. This
book reflects the continuing changes in modern chess, and how you
can use the lessons learned to great effect in your own games.
The chess world has witnessed a great number of wonderfully gifted
attacking players, geniuses who have dazzled the chess public with
their brilliant masterpieces. Everyone has their own favourites,
and in "Chess Secrets: Great Attackers," Colin Crouch chooses three
of his own: Garry Kasparov, Mikhail Tal and Leonid Stein. World
Champions Kasparov and Tal need no introduction, while Stein was a
highly creative and intuitive player with the ability to destroy
the world's best players with his vicious attacks.Crouch examines
their differing approaches and styles, and highlights some crucial
themes, including the idea of controlled risk - in some sacrificial
attacks even the greatest players can't always see everything to
the end. A study of this book will help you to enhance your skills
in one of the most crucial elements of the game. *An entertaining
and instructive guide to attacking chess*Learn from the greats of
the game*Discover how famous chess minds work "Chess Secrets" is"
"a new series of books which uncover the mysteries of the most
important aspects of chess study: strategy, attacking play, opening
play and gambits, classical play, endgames and preparation. In each
book the author chooses and deeply studies a number of great
players from chess history who have excelled in a particular field
of the game and who have genuinely influenced their descendants. Dr
Colin Crouch is an International Master, an extremely experienced
tournament player and a highly regarded chess writer. His previous
books for Everyman Chess include "Queens"" Gambit Declined: 5
Bf4!," which has been highly acclaimed for its thoroughness and
originality, with one reviewer describing it as 'the opening bookof
the year'. He has been a regular columnist for "British Chess
Magazine" and "CHESS."
The main reason why we lose at chess is no big secret: we all make
unnecessary mistakes! But simply acknowledging this fact isn't
enough to help us improve. The big question is, how can we
eliminate these mistakes from our game, or at least keep them to an
absolute minimum? Colin Crouch tackles this vital subject
face-to-face. Drawing upon his considerable experience, he looks
back at critical moments within games where mistakes are made, and
examines how we can recognise the danger signs and avoid making
impulsive decisions. The reader is constantly challenged by
exercises, which provide perfect training for real over-the-board
battles.
What separates the best chess players from the rest? What gives
them the edge over their rivals? Chess legend Vladimir Kramnik
believes it's their fighting skills and the ability to continuously
find ways to keep a game alive. Colin Crouch agrees, and is
fascinated that the world's strongest players seem almost
unbeatable, even when games appear sharp and double-edged. In this
book Crouch examines the tremendous fighting qualities of today's
top grandmasters. Analysing key games from 2012, Crouch
demonstrates how they give nothing away to opponents but are always
alert to punish any slight errors, and crucially, how we can apply
these lessons to help us in our own games. Move by Move provides an
ideal platform to study chess. By continually challenging the
reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by
Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital
skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of knowledge.
Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you
actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you
learn. This is an excellent way to improve your chess skills and
knowledge.
Leading chess author Colin Crouch believes that the key to
sustained chess improvement lies in the critical analysis and
assessment of your own games. Each and every game you play provides
a significant learning opportunity, and this opportunity should
never be squandered.In this sequel to his highly acclaimed "Why We
Lose at Chess, "Crouch examines what we should do to maximize our
chess results and ratings, how to turn losses into draws, and draws
into wins. Here he focuses on major issues such as improving
decision making, how to plan after the opening, how to maintain
objectivity, improving endgame skills, the psychological aspects of
the game, and much more. Read this book, analyse your chess, and
get ready to improve your results!
- An essential guide to chess improvement
- Valuable advice on planning, strategy and tactics
- Covers opening, middlegame and endgame play
In this collection, innovative and eminent social and policy
analysts, including Colin Crouch, Anna Coote, Grahame Thompson and
Ted Benton, challenge the failing but still dominant ideology and
policies of neo-liberalism. The editors synthesise contributors'
ideas into a revised framework for social democracy; rooted in
feminism, environmentalism, democratic equality and market
accountability to civil society. This constructive and stimulating
collection will be invaluable for those teaching, studying and
campaigning for transformative political, economic and social
policies.
Two books from the Chess Secrets series brought together in one
volume. Chess Secrets is a series of books which uncover the
mysteries of the most important aspects of chess: strategy, attack,
classical play, opening play, endgames and preparation. In each
book the author chooses and deeply studies a number of great
players from chess history who have excelled in a particular field
of the game and undeniably influenced those who have followed.
Chess Secrets: Heroes of Classical Chess: Learn from Carlsen,
Anand, Fischer, Smyslov and Rubinstein by Craig Pritchett. In
Heroes of Classical Chess, Craig Pritchett selects five great
players whose style exemplifies classically direct, clear,
energetic, tough, ambitious yet fundamentally correct chess playing
attributes. Pritchett studies the major contributions they have
made, compares their differing styles and discusses the critical
influences they have had on the development of chess, on their
peers and on all our games. Chess Secrets: The Giants of Strategy:
Learn from Kramnik, Karpov, Petrosian, Capablanca and Nimzowitsch
by Neil McDonald. The chess world has been blessed with some
wonderful strategists, innovators of the game with their
instructive play and profound teachings. In The Giants of Strategy,
Neil McDonald chooses his selection of the most prominent ones and
highlights the major contributions they have made. He examines
their differing approaches and styles, and from Nimzowitsch to
Kramnik, how they followed in each other's footsteps. A careful
study of this book will help you to understand and improve in one
of the most crucial elements of the game.
In December 2012 Magnus Carlsen won the prestigious London Chess
Classic and in doing so he became the highest-rated chess player in
the history of the game, beating Garry Kasparov's 13-year-old
record. Carlsen followed up this performance with another
phenomenal tournament win at Wijk aan Zee, pushing his peak rating
to an astronomical 2872. He didn't lose a single game in either
tournament. What is Carlsen's secret? How did an already
world-class player succeed in reaching this unprecedented level
where he was regularly beating the world's strongest grandmasters?
In this book, International Master Colin Crouch provides answers to
these questions. Crouch studies Carlsen's progress in recent years
and demonstrates how he learned lessons from previous setbacks,
turned weaknesses into strengths, losses into draws, and draws into
wins. By doing so Carlsen was able to elevate his play to a
stratospheric level, but any aspiring chess player can use similar
methods to improve their game. *The story of Carlsen's
record-breaking performances *In-depth analysis of Carlsen's games
*Learn from the World's number one player
Two books from the Chess Secrets series brought together in one
volume. Chess Secrets is a series of books which uncover the
mysteries of the most important aspects of chess: strategy, attack,
classical play, opening play, endgames and preparation. In each
book the author chooses and deeply studies a number of great
players from chess history who have excelled in a particular field
of the game and undeniably influenced those who have followed.
Chess Secrets: The Giants of Power Play: Learn from Topalov,
Geller, Bronstein, Alekhine and Morphy by Neil McDonald. In The
Giants of Power Play, Neil McDonald selects five players who have
excelled in the field of 'power play' - the art of putting
opponents under constant pressure. McDonald examines the
contributions made by each player, their differences in approach
and style, and from Morphy to Topalov, how they followed in each
other's footsteps. Chess Secrets: Great Attackers: Learn from
Kasparov, Tal and Stein by Colin Crouch The chess world has
witnessed a great number of wonderfully gifted attacking players,
geniuses who have dazzled the chess public with their brilliant
masterpieces. Everyone has their own favourites, and in Chess
Secrets: Great Attackers, Colin Crouch chooses three of his own:
Garry Kasparov, Mikhail Tal and Leonid Stein. World Champions
Kasparov and Tal need no introduction, while Stein was a highly
creative and intuitive player with the ability to destroy the
world's best players with his vicious attacks.
This is the definitive textbook on European societies and the
changes the continent has experienced in the social sphere during
this century. This text is the only single-authored text covering
this topic, offering a holistic yet nuanced understanding of the
nature of European society and its dynamic nature. Colin Crouch
draws on 40 years' experience as a researcher on European societies
to explore this diversity across such key areas of life as patterns
of birth and death, family, gender, migration, religion, conflict,
economy and inequality. Crouch uses an astonishing wealth of
empirical data to analyse how European society functions on
national, international and continental levels with various state
and non-state actors. Through this approach, and by recognising and
accounting for the fluidity of society, and enduring influences
such as globalisation and security threats, Crouch offers an
important contribution to the study of Europe, and a pioneering
methodology for the study of social class. This text is an
essential for those wishing to be up-to-date in both the topic and
the practise of scholarship. This text was designed for
upper-undergraduates and postgraduates covering European Society,
the Politics and/or Sociology of Europe. It will also benefit all
readers studying social class to familiarise themselves with
Crouch's innovative methodology and analysis.
Neoliberalism and deregulation have come to dominate national and
international political economy. This major book addresses this
convergence and analyzes the implications for the future of
capitalist diversity. It considers important questions such as: Is
the preference for free markets a well-founded response to
intensified global competition? Does this mean that all advanced
societies must all converge on an imitation of the United States?
What are the implications for the institutional diversity of the
advanced economies?
Political Economy of Modern Capitalism provides a practical and
informed analysis of the public policy choices facing governments
and business around the world.
Modern capitalism, from neo-liberalism to deregulation, has come to dominate national and international political economy. This major book addresses this convergence and provides a comprehensive overview of the implications for future capitalist diversity. Leading international contributors consider important questions like: + Is the preference for free markets a well-founded response to intensified global competition? + Does this mean that all advanced societies must converge on an imitation of the United States? + What are the implications for the institutional diversity of the advanced economies? + How do we now evaluate the systems and institutions in East Asia? Political Economy and Modern Capitalism provides a practical and wide-ranging analysis of the public policy choices facing governments and business around the world. It will be invaluable reading for students and researchers of political economy, comparative politics, political science, political sociology, public policy, and administration.
The study of varieties of capitalism is moving on from the analysis
of static national types to embrace local and sectoral diversity
and the study of systems in the process of major change. This
volume addresses the issue by examining four localised sectors,
comparing a German case with one in another European country. The
general changes taking place in Germany itself and the other
countries (Hungary, Sweden, and the UK) form the context of the
studies. The case studies concern:
* Furniture making in North-Rhine Westphalia and southern Sweden,
* Automotive manufacture in east Germany and northern Hungary,
* Biotechnology around Munich and Cambridge,
* TV programme and film-making in Cologne and central
London.
The studies find a complex pattern of conformity with, and
deviation from, national types, but only occasional examples of
where divergence takes the form of a direct confrontation with a
national model. This is partly because national models are
themselves changing; partly because they are often capable of
accommodating more diversity than is often assumed by national
studies; and partly because firms are increasingly able to reach
outside their national boundaries for institutional resources.
Over the last decade the neo-institutionalist literature on
comparative capitalism has developed into an influential body of
work. In this book, Colin Crouch assesses this literature, and
proposes a major re-orientation of the field. Crouch critiques many
aspects of this work and finds a way of modelling how creative
actors trying to achieve change - institutional entrepreneurs -
tackle these constraints. Central to the account is the concept of
governance, as it is by recombining governance mechanisms that
these entrepreneurs must achieve their goals. In seeking how to
analyse the spaces in which they operate, Crouch criticises and
deconstructs some dominant approaches in socio-political analysis:
to typologies, to elective affinity and complementarity, to path
dependence. He develops a theory of governance modes, which
includes potentially decomposing them into their core components.
Finally, he proposes a reorientation of the neo-institutionalist
research programme to take more account of detailed diversity and
potentiality for change. The book is primarily theoretical, but it
makes liberal use of examples, particularly from studies of local
economic development and politics.
Over the last decade the neo-institutionalist literature on
comparative capitalism has developed into an influential body of
work. In this book, Colin Crouch assesses this literature, and
proposes a major re-orientation of the field. Crouch critiques many
aspects of this work and finds a way of modelling how creative
actors trying to achieve change - institutional entrepreneurs -
tackle these constraints. Central to the account is the concept of
governance, as it is by recombining governance mechanisms that
these entrepreneurs must achieve their goals. In seeking how to
analyse the spaces in which they operate, Crouch criticises and
deconstructs some dominant approaches in socio-political analysis:
to typologies, to elective affinity and complementarity, to path
dependence. He develops a theory of governance modes, which
includes potentially decomposing them into their core components.
Finally, he proposes a reorientation of the neo-institutionalist
research programme to take more account of detailed diversity and
potentiality for change. The book is primarily theoretical, but it
makes liberal use of examples, particularly from studies of local
economic development and politics.
This book examines patterns of economic governance in three
specific, contrasting, contexts: machinery-producing districts;
declining steel cities; and clusters of high-technology activities.
Building on the work of their previous book (Local Production
Systems in Europe: Rise or Demise? OUP 2001), which charted the
recent development of local clusters of specialized manufacturing
among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in France, Germany,
Italy, and the United Kingdom, the authors find patterns of
economic governance far more complex and dynamic than usually
described in a literature which insists on identifying simple
national approaches. The machinery industries were often identified
in the literature of the 1980s as prominent cases of industrial
district formation, which were then considerably weakened by the
crises of the mid-1990s. Did clustering help these industries and
their associated districts to respond to challenge, or only weaken
them further? The case studies focus on the Bologna and Modena area
of Emilia-Romagna, Stuttgart in Baden-Wurttemberg, Birmingham and
Coventry in the English west midlands, but generally in France
where there are very few local concentrations. Even while some
thought local production systems were in crisis, national
governments and the European Commission continued to recommend
their approach to areas experiencing economic decline. This was
particularly the case for cities that had been dependent on a small
number of large corporations in industries that would no longer be
major employers. Political and business leaders in these areas were
encouraged to diversify, in particular through SMEs. Could this be
done in response to external pressure, given that successful local
production systems depend on endogenous vitality? The authors ask
these questions of former steel-producing cities St. Etienne,
Duisburg, Piombino, and Sheffield. The idea that local production
systems had had their day was challenged by clear evidence of
clustering among SMEs in a number of flourishing high-tech
industries in parts of the USA and western Europe. Why do
scientists, other specialists and firms actively embedded in global
networks, bother with geographical proximity? This question is
addressed by examining the software firms at Grenoble, the mass
media cluster in Cologne, the information technology sector around
Pisa, and the Oxfordshire biotechnology region.
A group of leading European scholars examines the likely impact of European Monetary Union on the political institutions of the region. This book moves the debate about the Euro forward beyond the economic and sovereignty questions that have so far dominated discussion.
This book provides a timely reassessment of the relationship
between social research and social reform. A. H. Halsey's work on
educational opportunity is a particularly significant example of
the study of this relationship, and his retirement from the
directorship of the Department of Social and Administrative Studies
at the University of Oxford provides an opportunity to review his
contribution to date. It has been a rare oeuvre, combining a strong
moral commitment to egalitarian social reform with a vigorous
concern for evidence and quantitative research. In this book
leading scholars attempt to come to terms with Professor Halsey's
contribution by offering essays in their own specialisms that
reflect his continuing influence on their work. The range of
subjects covered reflects the breadth of his influence and
interests: Canon Barnett on ethical socialism; changing conceptions
of social work; community and citizenship; social groups and
movements within both State and market; an assessment of European
Poverty Programmes; the reform of secondary education; options for
reform of post-16 education and training; higher education policy
in Britain and the USA; social mobility and meritocracy; the role
of social research in community development; women's studies in
sociology, and the role of evaluation research in social policy in
the USA and Sweden. In the face of current scepticism about its
effectiveness, Social Research and Social Reform provides important
evidence on the influence of social research and suggests new ways
in which its relationship to social reform should be viewed.
It is increasingly accepted that "institutions matter" for economic
organization and outcomes. The last decade has seen significant
expansion in research examining how institutional contexts affect
the nature and behavior of firms, the operation of markets, and
economic outcomes. Yet "institutions" conceal a multitude of issues
and perspectives. Much of this research has been comparative, and
followed different models such as "varieties of capitalism,"
"national business systems," and "social systems of production."
This Handbook explores these issues, perspectives, and models, with
the leading scholars in the area contributing chapters to provide a
central reference point for academics, scholars, and students.
This is the first book to present a systematic analysis of the role of small manufacturing enterprises in the main European economies and to review different perspectives on industrial districts and clusters. Combining knowledge from case-study literature with original analyses of statistical data, enables the authors to present full accounts of the role of these clusters in Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, showing the considerable diversity of forms they take.
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