This book is an examination of minority government performance in conjunction with the territorial distribution of state power and the territorial interests of political parties. It examines political institutions, and the reconcilability of party goals and the contingent bargaining circumstances, in multilevel and territorial perspectives.

Few would have imagined the developments and the extent of reforms that occurred under Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero between 2004 and 2008. Under Zapatero, Spain rapidly withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, held a very public political debate on the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship, passed very progressive social legislation that included gay marriage and adoption as well as a sweeping gender equality act, and expanded autonomy in six of Spain's 17 regions. It has become quite common to refer to some or all of these developments as a 'second transition' that alters or revisits policies, institutional arrangements and political strategies that were established during Spain's transition to democracy. This book analyzes the patterns of continuity and change and provides a nuanced, critical evaluation of the concept of a 'second transition'. Three broad questions are addressed. First, to what degree do the developments under Zapatero's Socialist government represent a departure from prior patterns of Spanish politics? Second, what accounts for the continuities and departures? Finally, the project begins to assess the implications of these developments. Are there lasting effects, for example, on political participation, electoral alignments, interparty and inter-regional relations more broadly? This book was published as a special issue of South European Society & Politics.

Few would have imagined the developments and the extent of reforms that occurred under Spanish Prime Minister Jos? Luis Rodr?guez Zapatero between 2004 and 2008. Under Zapatero, Spain rapidly withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, held a very public political debate on the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship, passed very progressive social legislation that included gay marriage and adoption as well as a sweeping gender equality act, and expanded autonomy in six of Spain's 17 regions. It has become quite common to refer to some or all of these developments as a ?second transition? that alters or revisits policies, institutional arrangements and political strategies that were established during Spain's transition to democracy.

This book analyzes the patterns of continuity and change and provides a nuanced, critical evaluation of the concept of a ?second transition?. Three broad questions are addressed. First, to what degree do the developments under Zapatero's Socialist government represent a departure from prior patterns of Spanish politics? Second, what accounts for the continuities and departures? Finally, the project begins to assess the implications of these developments. Are there lasting effects, for example, on political participation, electoral alignments, interparty and inter-regional relations more broadly?

This book was published as a special issue of South European Society & Politics.

Bryan Collins has a unique problem: he remembers how the universe began, and he aches for it to end.

Other than dying, the only other thing Bryan has much interest in is Eerie Stennis, a golden-haired goddess of music who plays the violin. But Dymi Milton, Eerie's protege, wants her teacher all for herself, and she has no trouble noticing the attraction between Bryan and her mentor playing onstage.

As Bryan watches Eerie perform, FBI Agent Margaret Adams hauls him out of the concert hall. While the agent has a hard time believing that this man with a short ponytail is a terrorist, that's what she's told, and it warrants investigating.

Unfortunately for Dymi, and everyone else interested in Eerie, the truth is that the most celebrated violinist in the world is destined to be with Bryan, who has loved her since before she was born.

Eerie tries to save Bryan, however, she drives the world to the brink of nuclear war. The fate of everyone is at stake in The 33rd of August.

Approximately one-third of parliamentary democracies are or are typically ruled by a minority government - a situation where the party or parties represented at cabinet do not between them hold a majority of seats in the national legislature. Minority governments are particularly interesting in parliamentary systems, where the government is politically responsible to parliament, can be removed by it, and needs (majority) support in the parliament to legislate. The chapters in this volume explore and analyse the formation, functioning, and performance of minority governments, what we term the why, how, and how well. The volume begins with overviews of the concept of and puzzles surrounding minority governments in parliamentary systems, and establishes the current terms of the debate. In the thirteen chapters that follow, leading country experts present in-depth case studies that provide rich, contextualized analyses of minority governments in different settings. The final chapter draws broader, comparative-based conclusions from the country studies that push the literature forward and outline directions for future research on minority governments. Comparative Politics is a series for researchers, teachers, and students of political science that deals with contemporary government and politics. Global in scope, books in the series are characterized by a stress on comparative analysis and strong methodological rigour. The series is published in association with the European Consortium for Political Research. For more information visit: www.ecprnet.eu . The series is edited by Nicole Bolleyer, Chair of Comparative Political Science, Geschwister Scholl Institut, LMU Munich and Jonathan Slapin, Professor of Political Institutions and European Politics, Department of Political Science, University of Zurich.

Mary was in the middle of doing a book signing when she was scared to death by something that was supernatural....David and Sal knew that the beast had done something that could get them into real trouble.What will happen to Martha her assistant and Mary who is now in the ICU unit in the nearby local hospital..... What does Martha discover about her boss's life in the small town...What happens to David and Sal and the beast....

Mary Barker, a romance novelist is out too seek the truth about the train derailment which killed her family. What she discovers when she goes home will shock her, and bring to light what secrets the funeral home and the town itself have been hiding in their dark pasts and basements....

Bryan Collins has a unique problem: he remembers how the universe began, and he aches for it to end.

Other than dying, the only other thing Bryan has much interest in is Eerie Stennis, a golden-haired goddess of music who plays the violin. But Dymi Milton, Eerie's protege, wants her teacher all for herself, and she has no trouble noticing the attraction between Bryan and her mentor playing onstage.

As Bryan watches Eerie perform, FBI Agent Margaret Adams hauls him out of the concert hall. While the agent has a hard time believing that this man with a short ponytail is a terrorist, that's what she's told, and it warrants investigating.

Unfortunately for Dymi, and everyone else interested in Eerie, the truth is that the most celebrated violinist in the world is destined to be with Bryan, who has loved her since before she was born.

Eerie tries to save Bryan, however, she drives the world to the brink of nuclear war. The fate of everyone is at stake in The 33rd of August.

This book seeks to raise the profile of economic perspectives on crime and criminal justice. It includes exemplars and original contributions, welded into a coherent whole by commentaries on each chapter and annotated further readings. Its sections are: the economic analysis of crime and punishment; crime and the labour market; and modelling the system-wide costs of criminal justice policies. The book will be core reading for students and researchers in criminology, criminal justice, the sociology of deviance, criminal psychology, socio-legal studies, and applied economics.