The Europa World Year Book 2003

The Europa World Year Book 2003
Author: Europa Publications
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 2470
Release: 2003
Genre: Associations, institutions, etc
ISBN: 9781857432275

First published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Fixing Democracy

Fixing Democracy
Author: Javier Corrales
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2018
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0190868899

The study of institutions, a core concept in comparative politics, has produced many rich and influential theories on the economic and political effects of institutions, yet it has been less successful at theorizing their origins. In Fixing Democracy, Javier Corrales develops a theory of institutional origins that concentrates on constitutions and levels of power within them. He reviews numerous Latin American constituent assemblies and constitutional amendments to explore why some democracies expand rather than restrict presidential powers and why this heightened presidentialism discourages democracy. His signal theoretical contribution is his elaboration on power asymmetries. Corrales determines that conditions of reduced power asymmetry make constituent assemblies more likely to curtail presidential powers, while weaker opposition and heightened power asymmetry is an indicator that presidential powers will expand. The bargain-based theory that he uses focuses on power distribution and provides a more accurate variable in predicting actual constitutional outcomes than other approaches based on functionalism or ideology. While the empirical focus is Latin America, Fixing Democracy contributes a broadly applicable theory to the scholarship both institutions and democracy.

Politics and Society in Southeast Asia

Politics and Society in Southeast Asia
Author: Peter A. Poole
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 215
Release: 2014-11-18
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 078645802X

The Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 caused severe hardship in Southeast Asia, and many countries tightened their regulation of banks and other financial institutions, adopted more conservative fiscal policies, and made themselves less vulnerable to Western market fluctuations by forming closer trade and investment ties with their neighbors. This book analyzes the major political and economic reforms that resulted from the Asian financial crisis, looking particularly at how such reforms helped to prepare Asian countries for coping with the 2009 global recession. In each of the ten country chapters, the historical background, social and political system, economic development, and foreign relations of each country are analyzed and compared with those of neighboring countries. The concluding chapter looks ahead at the prospects for Southeast Asia in a more integrated Asian region. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Mothers and Daughters

Mothers and Daughters
Author: Alice Hanna Deakins
Publisher: University Press of America
Total Pages: 350
Release: 2012
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 0761859152

Family stories of the ties between mothers and daughters form the foundation of Mothers and Daughters: Complicated Connections Across Cultures. Nationally and internationally known feminist scholars frame, analyze, and explore mother-daughter bonds in this collection of essays. Cultures from around the world are mined for insights which reveal historical, generational, ethnic, political, religious, and social class differences. This book focuses on the tenacity of the connection between mothers and daughters, impediments to a strong connection, and practices of good communication. Mothers and Daughters will interest those studying communication, women's studies, psychology, sociology, anthropology, counseling, and cultural studies.

The Handbook of the Middle East

The Handbook of the Middle East
Author: Michael Kort
Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2007-08-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 0822571439

Examines the past, present, and future of all the countries in the Middle East, discussing their history and culture.

Ghana: a Time to Heal & Renew the Nation

Ghana: a Time to Heal & Renew the Nation
Author: Kwame Afadzi Insaidoo
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2007-08-08
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1467090646

In this thought provoking book the author takes a critical retrospective glance at the political development of Ghana from its colonial past to the attainment of her sovereignty, and highlights the insidious fundamental flaws in the governance of the new nation. He unequivocally asserts that the creation of a dysfunctional totalitarian governmental system, where a cadre of unseasoned politicians systematically arrogated all power to themselves, and zealously prosecuted their political adversaries into oblivion, constituted the most fatal fundamental flaw in the governance of the nation. He points out that the militarys delusional belief in their self-appointed messianic role of liberating and redeeming Ghana from the odious dictatorship imposed on the people opened up the nation to the Pandoras box of bureaucratic ineptitude, gross power abuses, poorly conceived, and haphazardly implemented programs which precipitated political instability, stagnation, and decay of the institutions of state leading to the exodus of Ghanaians abroad. The dominant theme that permeates throughout the book revolves around the prevalence of the underlying institutional malaise inherited from colonialpolitical structureswhich concentrate too much raw political powers in the hands of the presidency. This accumulation of near absolute power elevates our presidents to the status of benevolent dictators, and sotheir policies go virtually unchallenged. This lack of checks and balances in our political system enabled the colonialists to totally exploit our people, andwhen our Ghanaian leaders governed our new nation in this same odious system they got the opportunity, like the colonial masters, to exploit and arrogate power to themselves, while utilizing the legal system as a weapon to harass their political opponents and silenced them. The author argues that this incompatibility of the colonial system with the political development of modern Ghana is the root cause of our political polarization, endemic instability and pervasive poverty.

Our Social World

Our Social World
Author: Dr Jeanne H Ballantine
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Total Pages: 630
Release: 2011-04-25
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1412992982

The Third Edition of Our Social World: Introduction to Sociology is truly a coherent textbook that inspires students to develop their sociological imaginations, to see the world and personal events from a new perspective, and to confront sociological issues on a day-to-day basis. Key Features: * Offers a strong global focus: A global perspective is integrated into each chapter to encourage students to think of global society as a logical extension of their own micro world. * Illustrates the practical side of sociology: Boxes highlight careers and volunteer opportunities for those with a background in sociology as well as policy issues that sociologists influence. * Encourages critical thinking: Provides various research strategies and illustrates concrete examples of the method being used to help students develop a more sophisticated epistemology. * Presents "The Social World Model" in each chapter: This visually-compelling organizing framework opens each chapter and helps students understand the interrelatedness of core concepts. New to the Third Edition: * Thirty new boxed features, including the innovative 'Engaging Sociology' and 'Applied Sociologists at Work' features * Three substantially reorganised chapters (2. Examining the Social World, 3. Society and Culture, and 13. Politics and Economics) * 315 entirely new references and 120 new photos.

Contested States in World Politics

Contested States in World Politics
Author: D. Geldenhuys
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2009-04-22
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0230234186

This book investigates a phenomenon in world politics that is largely overlooked by scholars, namely entities lacking international recognition of their status as independent states. It includes case studies on the Eurasian Quartet, Kosovo, Somaliland, Palestine, Northern Cyprus, Western Sahara and Taiwan.

Schools and Society

Schools and Society
Author: Jeanne H. Ballantine
Publisher: Pine Forge Press
Total Pages: 705
Release: 2011-04-04
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1412979242

"This reader is designed to present a broad introduction to the field of Sociology of Education. It is geared toward upper-level undergraduate and beginning level graduate courses in Sociology of Education, Foundations of Education, and related courses. It may be used as a text by itself or as a supplement to another text. Articles have been selected based on the following criteria: 1.) Articles that illustrate a broad range of theoretical perspectives, major concepts, and current issues. 2.) Articles that provide a level of reading and sophistication appropriate to upper-level students. 3.) Articles from a wide range of respected sources. 4.) Inclusion of both classic and contemporary sociologists' work in order to provide an excellent balance"--