Neutrality in World History

Neutrality in World History
Author: Leos Müller
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2019-01-10
Genre: History
ISBN: 1351683055

Neutrality in World History provides a cogent synthesis of five hundred years of neutrality in global history. Author Leos Müller argues that neutrality and neutral states, such as Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium have played an important historical role in implementing the free trade paradigm, shaping the laws of nations and humanitarianism, and serving as key global centers of trade and finance. Offering an intriguing alternative to dominant world history narratives, which hinge primarily on the international relations and policies of empires and global powers, Neutrality in World History provides students with a distinctive introduction to neutrality’s place in world history.

Who Decides What's True? Navigating Misinformation and Free Speech in the Social Media Landscape

Who Decides What's True? Navigating Misinformation and Free Speech in the Social Media Landscape
Author: Josh Luberisse
Publisher: Fortis Novum Mundum
Total Pages: 131
Release:
Genre: Computers
ISBN:

In the rapidly evolving digital age, the pursuit of truth has become a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. As misinformation and disinformation percolate through the vast networks of social media, the line between fact and fiction seems increasingly blurred. At the heart of this tumultuous landscape is a paradox: Social media platforms, designed to facilitate free expression and global connectivity, have become both the guardians of information and the gateways to a labyrinth of falsehoods. "Who Decides What's True?" is a deep dive into these complex, interconnected issues. In this book, Josh demystifies the nature of truth in the digital age, probes the anatomy of misinformation, and wrestles with the moral, ethical, and legal challenges of content moderation. Chapter by chapter, Josh unpacks the evolution of social media from mere communication tools to the de facto public squares of discourse. He delves into the reach and influence of these platforms, revealing the double-edged sword they wield in disseminating both knowledge and falsehoods. Through comprehensive analyses, he confronts the implications of misinformation, from political manipulation and election interference to public health crises and social unrest. At its core, the book grapples with a critical dilemma: How can freedom of speech be preserved on platforms inundated with harmful misinformation? This question forms the axis around which the exploration of content moderation revolves. Examining the role and responsibilities of social media platforms, the book sheds light on the operational and ethical challenges they face in the curation of content. It also scrutinizes the vital role of fact-checking organizations and the mechanisms for independent oversight of content decisions. The narrative then ventures into possible strategies for navigating this murky terrain. From fostering media literacy and critical thinking to implementing platform features and tools for combating misinformation, the book presents potential pathways towards a more truthful digital world. In its final sections, "Who Decides What's True?" takes a bold stride into the future, anticipating potential regulatory changes and their implications for social media. It dissects the intersecting concerns of data privacy and user rights, all while speculating about the impact of emerging technologies on the propagation of misinformation. Anchored in extensive research and informed analysis, this book is a necessary read for anyone looking to understand the complexities of truth, freedom of speech, and social media in today's interconnected world. It provides a blueprint for navigating the vast, often confusing terrain of digital discourse. It asks the tough questions, challenges assumptions, and invites its readers to participate in a crucial conversation about the role of truth in the age of social media. This book is more than just a critical exploration; it's a call to action for everyone who believes in the value of truth and the power of informed dialogue.

Defending American Religious Neutrality

Defending American Religious Neutrality
Author: Andrew Koppelman
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2013-01-01
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0674071077

Although it is often charged with hostility toward religion, First Amendment doctrine in fact treats religion as a distinctive human good. It insists, however, that this good be understood abstractly, without the state taking sides on any theological question. Here, a leading scholar of constitutional law explains the logic of this uniquely American form of neutrality—more religion-centered than liberal theorists propose, and less overtly theistic than conservatives advocate. The First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion is under threat. Growing numbers of critics, including a near-majority of the Supreme Court, seem ready to cast aside the ideal of American religious neutrality. Andrew Koppelman defends that ideal and explains why protecting religion from political manipulation is imperative in an America of growing religious diversity. Understanding American religious neutrality, Koppelman shows, can explain some familiar puzzles. How can Bible reading in public schools be impermissible while legislative sessions begin with prayers, Christmas is an official holiday, and the words “under God” appear in the Pledge of Allegiance? Are faith-based social services, public financing of religious schools, or the teaching of intelligent design constitutional? Combining legal, historical, and philosophical analysis, Koppelman shows how law coherently navigates these conundrums. He explains why laws must have a secular legislative purpose, why old, but not new, ceremonial acknowledgments of religion are permitted, and why it is fair to give religion special treatment.

Caught in the Middle

Caught in the Middle
Author: Johan den Hertog
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press
Total Pages: 185
Release: 2011
Genre: History
ISBN: 9052603707

The essays in this collection cover not only multiple countries, but also multiple aspects of the concept of neutrality: political, economic, cultural and legal. These case studies have led to a re-evaluation of the notion of neutrality, and the role of neutrals, during the First World War, making this collection of great value to all scholars of neutrality, the history of individual neutral countries, and of the war itself.

200 Years of Peace

200 Years of Peace
Author: Nevra Biltekin
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Total Pages: 222
Release: 2022-07-18
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781800735897

Since 1814 Sweden has avoided involvement in armed conflicts and carried out policies of non-alignment in peacetime and neutrality during war. Even though the Swedish government often describes Sweden as a ‘nation of peace’, in 2004 the 200-year anniversary of that peace passed by with barely any attention. Despite its extraordinary longevity, research about the Swedish experience of enduring peace is underdeveloped. 200 Years of Peace places this long period of peace in broader academic and public discussions surrounding claimed Swedish exceptionality as it is represented in the nation’s social policies, expansive welfare state, eugenics, gender equality programs, and peace.

European Enlargement Across Rounds and Beyond Borders

European Enlargement Across Rounds and Beyond Borders
Author: Haakon A. Ikonomou
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2017-03-16
Genre: History
ISBN: 1315460009

This volume suggests new, theoretically informed approaches for historians and social scientists to engage with the policy of enlargement – across rounds and in all its diversity. It follows three approaches: first tracing Longue Durée developments; second, investigating enlargement Beyond the Road to Membership; and third, exploring the Entangled Exchanges and synergies between the EC/EU and its outside. It attempts to properly historicise the process of enlargement with contributions from historians, social scientists and a legal scholar exemplifying suggested approaches and theoretical reflections from the various disciplines.

Knowledge Justice

Knowledge Justice
Author: Sofia Y. Leung
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 359
Release: 2021-04-13
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0262043505

Black, Indigenous, and Peoples of Color--reimagine library and information science through the lens of critical race theory. In Knowledge Justice, Black, Indigenous, and Peoples of Color scholars use critical race theory (CRT) to challenge the foundational principles, values, and assumptions of Library and Information Science and Studies (LIS) in the United States. They propel CRT to center stage in LIS, to push the profession to understand and reckon with how white supremacy affects practices, services, curriculum, spaces, and policies.