With only 54 years of existence, the Constitution of the State of Alaska is in its developmental infancy compared to the constitutional history of the rest of the United States. However, having had the benefit of over 300 years, the Alaskan Constitution is a pioneer and model in--among other things--simplicity, coherence, vision and accessibility.
The Alaska State Constitution provides an outstanding constitutional and historical account of the state's governing charter. In addition to an overview of Alaska's constitutional history, it provides an in-depth, section-by-section analysis of the entire constitution, detailing the many significant changes that have been made since its initial drafting. This treatment, along with a table of cases, index, and bibliography provides an unsurpassed reference guide for students, scholars, and practitioners of Alaska's constitution. Previously published by Greenwood, this title has been brought back in to circulation by Oxford University Press with new verve. Re-printed with standardization of content organization in order to facilitate research across the series, this title, as with all titles in the series, is set to join the dynamic revision cycle of The Oxford Commentaries on the StateConstitutions of the United States.
The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States is an important series that reflects a renewed international interest in constitutional history and provides expert insight into each of the 50 state constitutions. Each volume in this innovative series contains a historical overview of the state's constitutional development, a section-by-section analysis of its current constitution, and a comprehensive guide to further research.
Under the expert editorship of Professor G. Alan Tarr, Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University, this series provides essential reference tools for understanding state constitutional law. Books in the series can be purchased individually or as part of a complete set, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.

The combined expertise of the McBeaths and their two associates is truly impressive: academic careers in science and politics and substantial work concerning the environment in China. This expertise is well integrated in this excellent analysis of environmental education in China. The depth of detail in the book is extraordinary for a discussion of Chinese public policy; the interpretations and conclusion are sophisticated and convincing; and there are several thoughtful policy recommendations as well.' - Cal Clark, Auburn University, US'Facing severe environmental deterioration for several decades, it is no surprise that China pays attention to environmental education as part of its mitigation strategies. This volume provides a useful overview of the development, state of the art and diversity of China's system of environmental education. Most interestingly, it details the similarities and differences with Western environmental education developments, both within and outside formal schools and universities.' - Arthur Mol, Wageningen University, the Netherlands China's environmental issues have been the subject of global criticism long before authors Gerald McBeath and Jenifer Huang McBeath began their study, yet often overlooked are the sizable efforts of the Chinese people and government to change attitudes and behavior in order to improve environmental outcomes. This much-needed book offers a comprehensive introduction to environmental education in China, from consideration of the environment in Confucian philosophy and provision of environmental education in schools and colleges, to the role of non-state actors and the media. The authors' examination of conditioning factors and educational variation within China - particularly their focus on the application of directives, new guidelines and analysis of teacher training in compulsory, secondary and college education - offers an insightful measure of the efficacy of environmental education over time. This unique book will appeal to researchers, scholars and educators interested in the areas of comparative education and environmental studies, both in China and internationally.

The first comprehensive examination of Alaska's urban and rural governments since statehood in 1959. Also explores the question of whether the state will be able to sustain them in the future. Compares and contrasts the two systems with local governments elsewhere in the U.S.

China and Taiwan have roughly one-eighth of the world's known species. Their approaches to biodiversity issues thus have global as well as national repercussions. Gerald McBeath and Tse-Kang Leng explore the ongoing conflicts between economic development, typically pursued by businesses and governments, and communities seeking to preserve and protect local human and ecosystem values. China and Taiwan have sharply different political and economic systems. In Taiwan, a public relatively more supportive of sustainable development, a free press, a more transparent decision-making process, and an autonomous civil society have influenced governance. Yet democratization has not guaranteed better environmental outcomes. In China, on the other hand, fragmentation of power and 'softer' forms of authoritarianism than in the Maoist era have created openings for NGOs, scientists, journalists, and officials seeking a sustainable future to participate in the environmental policy making process. The authors provide an explicit and comparative treatment of the national policies preserving rare, threatened, and endangered species and ecosystems. Considerable attention is paid to the actors involved in policy formation and implementation as well as to recent cases concerning biodiversity conservation in China and Taiwan. This comprehensive volume will appeal to students and researchers in the areas of political science, environmental science and politics, environmental activists in national and international NGOs, and members of multinational corporations working in developing countries.

Alaska is the largest and one of the least populated of the fifty states--extremes that create a unique government. Tied together by tiny airports and vast pipelines, the state features abundant natural resources and a remoteness that make it one of the last outposts of the United States, a role that Alaskans savor.

Gerald A. McBeath and Thomas A. Morehouse examine Alaska's character and the forces shaping it. Underlying their descriptions are the themes of independence, dependence, and the search for sustainable economic development. While independence and individualism are well-known attributes of Alaskans and their political process, their experience has also been colored by dependency. Alaska was the last region in the New World colonized by Westerners. It was not organized as a territory until 1912 and did not achieve statehood until 1959, evolving in only one generation from a territory with a weak government to a wealthy state with a powerful system of state and local government.

McBeath and Morehouse describe the workings of Alaska's government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as the state's relations with the federal government. The ongoing pattern of federal control and Alaskans' sporadically virulent response to it are emblematic of the tensions between dependence on federal policies and the struggle for equal influence with the other forty-nine states.

Geographic barriers, impeding transportation and communication, have left Alaska's regions, communities, and people separated from one another and from the outside. Yet, as Alaska Politics and Government demonstrates, the ability to deal with Alaska's future challenges is found in the vibrant and resilient character of its land and its people.