As the shock of the 2008 European financial crisis begins to subside, it is time for scholars to step back and analyze the crisis's causes and effects from a multidisciplinary vantage point. Europe in Crisis examines the current state of the European economy, society, and polity, both on the theoretical and political levels, by placing special emphasis on its current crisis. With important contributions from heterodox economists and radical social and political scientists, this innovative new edited collection seeks to evaluate past efforts and policies (mainly since World War II), criticize the failed neoclassical/neoliberal perspectives, and offer alternative strategies and policies to Europe's socioeconomic impasse and misery.

Consistency and Viability of Islamic Economics Systems and the Transition Process outlines the transition problem for non-market economies and creates an analytic framework for understanding the cause and effect of these economies.

Consistency and Viability of Islamic Economics Systems and the Transition Process has the crucial intention of stimulating interest in Islamic economics by studying the Islamic Republic of Iran using the analytical framework of consistency and viability. This text develops an original analytic framework to understand the relationship between the economic, political, and ideological structures, the external environment, and the process of reform that gives rise to certain economic systems by establishing consistency. Consistency, however, is not enough; a consistent economic system must be flexible and have the internal mechanisms to be able to adapt to changes in social reality, thus making possible its survival over time. In other words, the economic system is viable when it is able to encourage increases in labor productivity and there is popular support. The collapse of centrally administered socialism in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union resulted in what was commonly referred to as the transition problem.

In 1985, General Secretary Mikhail S. Gorbachev led the Soviet Union through a series of revolutionary reforms, such as Perestroika ('Restructuring') and Glasnost ('Openness'). Yet many of these changes failed, resulting in the collapse of centrally administered socialism throughout the country and most of Eastern Europe. Consistency and Viability of Socialist Economics Systems establishes a new and enlightening approach to understanding complex socialist economies. This book presents an original analytical framework to better map out the relationship between the economic, political, ideological structures, and the external environment, as well as the reform process that gives rise to certain economic systems.

Economic systems and the reforms processes examined in Consistency and Viability of Socialist Economics Systems are the centrally administered socialist economics system of the Soviet Union, the Liberman-Kosygin reforms, the Gorbachev reforms and market socialism of Yugoslavia.

Having previously defined a good society as a sustainable society with a high level of development, significant provision of meaningful jobs, and low levels of inequality and social ills, Toward a Good Society in the Twenty-first Century provides a wide range of principles and policies that would be necessary if we are to achieve a good society.

Having previously defined a good society as a sustainable society with a high level of development, significant provision of meaningful jobs, and low levels of inequality and social ills, Toward a Good Society in the Twenty-first Century provides a wide range of principles and policies that would be necessary if we are to achieve a good society.Marangos and Karagiannis have put together a comprehensive volume that explores the principles and policies needed to bring about the good society, and focuses on four broad themes which are deemed important towards achieving a good or better society: quality education and fair distribution; environmentally sustainable prosperity; inclusive economic development and significant job creation; and beneficial civic institutions, and deepening of freedom and time use. All these topics can be highly controversial and call for alternative perspectives on theoretical (philosophical) and policy grounds.

Consistency and Viability of Capitalist Economic Systems develops an original analytical framework to understand the relationship between the economic, political, and ideological structures, the external environment, and the process of reform that give rise to certain economic systems by establishing consistency.

The ultimate survival of an economic system depends on whether or not the interrelationships between its institutions and its members are consistent with each other. Consistency and Viability of Capitalist Economic Systems develops an original analytical framework to understand the relationship between the economic, political, and ideological structures, the external environment, and the process of reform that give rise to certain economic systems by establishing consistency. Consistency, however, is not enough; a consistent economic system must be flexible and have the internal mechanisms to be able to adapt to changes in social reality, thus making possible its survival over time. In other words, the economic system is viable when it is able to encourage increases in labor productivity and there is popular support. Thus the economic system, in its broad social science context, must be both consistent and viable. Economic systems examined in this text are the capitalist economics systems of Great Britain, Japan, European Union and Sweden.

As a collection of alternative views on societies, methodologies, policies, and assessment of the current elements of the society, Alternative Perspectives of a Good Society brings together different authors to answer different questions all within the context of visions of a good society. From the visions of institutionalist views of what constitutes a good economy in the twenty-first century to a feminist perspective on the meaning and characteristics of a good society, this discussion will provide a framework for examining the current economic crisis among other pressing topics of the times. Marxist ideas about human nature are explored along with a number of the issues involved in the transition from our capitalist society, to a better post-capitalist society and post-capitalist human being, concluding with the consideration of the good society perspective from a development ethics point of view. The contributors to this volume offer methodological principles and alternative policies for building alternative socio-economic models that can contribute to the design of strategies for building a better world.

As a collection of alternative views on societies, methodologies, policies and assessment of the current elements of the society, Alternative Perspectives on a Good Society brings together different authors answering different questions all within the context of visions of a good society.

Cancer, dementia, and cardiovascular disease are responsible for almost two million deaths each year in the United States alone and represent the largest immediate threat to humanity. Over the last century, we have made spectacular advances that have transformed our society - splitting the atom, space travel, telecommunications, and the Internet - but with medical research focused mostly on science for the sake of science, it has yielded precious few cures. A Roadmap for Curing Cancer, Alzheimer's, and Cardiovascular Disease represents a "first of its kind" effort to address both the reasons for this and to posit solutions to fix our broken system, in an effort to finally end this cure crisis. Dr. Marangos draws on 45 years of experience in every aspect of the biomedical R&D field, from basic drug discovery research at the NIH to the co-founding of five drug companies. He has published 252 research papers and edited four books on drug discovery, is co-inventor on 14 patents, and founded "The Journal of Molecular Neuroscience". He argues that from a development perspective, the regulatory, patent, and legal hurdles that force industry to pursue so-called "me-too" drugs rather than cures for terminal diseases must be re-thought. Leadership accountability, strategy, focus, and urgency need to be re-evaluated, and major reforms to the NIH, FDA, and patent codes are proposed.to remedy these impediments to cures. Written for anyone frustrated with the seemingly endless threat of terminal disease, this book seeks to inform, energize, and provide the rationale for the public and industry stakeholders, as well as clinicians and researchers, to resurrect the physician-patient relationship and demand that we get serious about ridding society of this scourge on humanity. This work contains the views and opinions of the author and are in no way intended to harm the reputation of any person, agency, organization, or commercial entity discussed herein. www.cureterminaldisease.com

This book provides valuable information for investigators interested in the signaling and regulatory functions of adenosine and the adenine nucleotides. Topics covered in this comprehensive volume include the historical development of research on adenosine and adenosine triphosphate; various aspects of the formation, metabolism, release, transport, and receptors for endogenous adenosine and the adenosine triphosphate; functions of purines at the cellular level; the role of adenosine in the regulation of flow in different vascular beds; and angiogenesis. The book also addresses the purinergic regulation of the cardiac, renal, gastro-intestinal, and central nervous system, as well as potential therapeutic avenues for purine use. The book will be valuable to physiologists, pharmacologists, and other basic and clinical scientists interested in updating their knowledge of the expanding biological roles of these substances.