Since the 1970s global rule-making with respect to international trade has increased in importance. Political and academic attention has been focused either on global institutions like the IMF, the World Bank, the WTO and UN organisations, or on regional blocs like the EU or NAFTA. As negotiations take place in different international arenas, these arenas themselves take on added strategic significance, with agendas pursued and switched from one arena to another, should one route be blocked. While dominant actors have sought to use arena switching to their advantage, subordinate actors have begun to reactivate alternative arenas of negotiation in order to pursue their different agendas. This book employs a multi-level and multi-arena perspective to analyze global rule-making in international trade. It explains why actors – both state and non-state actors – prefer particular arenas. It also addresses the question of which institutional designs serve the aims of specific groups best and how the rules of the different arenas are related.
In this book, Carol Mershon and Olga Shvetsova explore one of the central questions in democratic politics: how much autonomy do elected politicians have to shape and reshape the party system on their own, without the direct involvement of voters in elections? Mershon and Shvetsova's theory focuses on the choices of party membership made by legislators while serving in office. It identifies the inducements and impediments to legislators' changes of partisan affiliation, and integrates strategic and institutional approaches to the study of parties and party systems. With empirical analyses comparing nine countries that differ in electoral laws, territorial governance and executive-legislative relations, Mershon and Shvetsova find that strategic incumbents have the capacity to reconfigure the party system as established in elections. Representatives are motivated to bring about change by opportunities arising during the parliamentary term, and are deterred from doing so by the elemental democratic practice of elections.
This book is a critical analysis of Indonesia's civil society and its impact on the country's democratization efforts that does not only take the classical, pro-democratic actors of civil society into account but also portrays uncivil groups and their growing influence on political processes. In the wake of democratic opening, not only pro-democratic civil society organizations have mushroomed in the country, but 'uncivil' society groups have come increasingly to the fore as well. On the non-state level, violence is executed by self-protection groups, militias, fundamentalist religious groups, terrorist groups, and many more.The book analyses the framework for the development of civil society in Indonesia: the past and present political system and its implications for (civil) society, the role religion (and in particular Islam)play in Indonesia, the state of democratic culture, ethnic and other identities and the advancement of human rights. It draws an overall picture of Indonesia's associational life and the dynamics between its actors after 1998 and introduces some actors of both 'civil' and 'uncivil' society while answering questions about the nature of interaction between civil society and state as well as within civil society. Finally the book illustrates that an opening up of the public sphere and the rise of civil society can have negative impacts on democratization processes as well.This book will be of interest to upper level undergraduates, postgraduates and academics in political science and Southeast Asian studies.
Digital Technologies and Change in Education provides professionals and other leaders with a road map of the processes of change for teachers, schools, universities, and educational systems, including extensive case studies and evidence that clarify the benefits and challenges of digital technologies in education. To this end, Niki Davis offers a theoretical framework--the Arena--as a tool for exploration and analysis of our own experiences of teaching, leadership, and research. With a blend of local, regional, and global examples from all sectors of education, this book allows readers to move past the potentially misleading glitter of new technologies and into the co-evolving ecologies that make up education and training locally and globally."--Provided by publisher.
Local Citizenship in the Global Arena proposes a reconsideration of both citizenship and citizenship education, moving away equally from prevailing ‘global citizenship’ and ‘fundamental British values’ approaches towards a curriculum for education that is essentially about creating cosmopolitan, included and inclusive, politically-engaged citizens of communities local, national and global. Viewing education as both problem and solution, Findlow argues that today’s climate of rapid and unpredictable geopolitical and cultural re-scoping requires an approach to citizenship education that both reflects and shapes society, paying attention to relationships between the local and global aspects of political voice, equality and community. Drawing on a range of international examples, she explores the importance and possibilities of a form of education that instead of promoting divisive competition, educates about citizenship in its various forms, and encourages the sorts of open and radical thinking that can help young people cross ideological and physical borders and use their voice in line with their own, and others’, real, long-term interests. Successive chapters develop this argument by critically examining the key elements of citizenship discourses through the interrelated lenses of geopolitical change, nationalism, the competition fetish, critical pedagogy, multiculturalism, protest politics, feminism and ecology, and highlighting ways in which the situationally diverse lived realities of ‘citizenship’ have been mediated by different forms of education. The book draws attention to how we think of education’s place in a world of combined globalisation, localism, anti-state revolt and xenophobia. It will be of key interest to academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of education, political science, philosophy, sociology, social policy, cultural studies and anthropology.
Behavioral scientists are increasingly involved in international work through cross cultural research, conference presentations, and faculty exchanges. Psychology and social work NGOs work at the United Nations, both on providing professional consultation on timely issues, as well as advocating to promote human rights and sustainable development. Although this work at the United Nations is an important arena for behavioral scientists, this has been barely covered in the academic literature. "What are growing roles of psychology and the behavioral sciences at the United Nations today?" This first-ever volume brings together over 20 authors--both key experts and student interns--to answer this question. As the United Nations pursues its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the year 2030, behavioral scientists now occupy increasingly diverse roles to pursue evidence-based answers for these 17 timely SDGs. This panoramic yet concise 230-page volume is designed for students and professionals in the behavioral sciences, psychology and social work to provide state-of-the-art information on how behavioral scientists are addressing diverse global issues today. Each chapter offers a concise overview of a topic, including a glossary of current concepts, and citations to current research. ENDORSEMENTS "I am delighted to recommend this volume, which uncovers two important truths to the success of the UN. 1. The critical role of civil society that makes the UN more humane. 2. The important role of behavioral sciences in shaping UN policies to produce successful outcomes. Because of the UN, we've not had a third world war, yet. Human Rights have expanded beyond belief of anyone who founded the UN 75 years ago." - Bruce Knotts, U.S. diplomat, author, and Chair of the U.N. DPI NGO Executive Committee "As this new volume describes, the world is a better place because of the United Nations - where most of the world comes together with diverse and lofty goals such as protecting the environment, promoting health, supporting equality, and maintaining peace. All of these major goals require interventions that sometimes maintain and sometimes change human behavior. National and international policies need to be informed by the best available research in the behavioral sciences. Our future depends on it." - Diane F. Halpern, PhD., Former President, American Psychological Association "Attaining the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 is a formidable challenge that can be furthered by a foundation of solid evidence. This book provides a base of relevant psychological knowledge that can inform policy and interventions in the achievement of those goals." - Judith A. Gibbons, PhD, Past-President, Interamerican Society of Psychology "The authors make a convincing case for the relevance of behavioral sciences to the work of the United Nations. Progress on women's rights, preparing for and recovering from natural disasters, adapting to climate change, improving child well-being and more all have behavioral dimensions. These must be addressed for the UN to make progress on its goals. By chronicling the involvements of psychology and social work in the United Nations, this volume will inspire students and practitioners to engage further in global work and advocacy." - Lynne Healy, PhD, International Association of Schools of Social Work "Behavioral Science in the Global Arena - a timely and significant volume about the role of psychologists at the UN addressing our contemporary social problems - i.e. human rights, social justice, climate and environmental change. As Congress, Takooshian, and Asper demonstrate, it is time for psychologists to move from their individual focus toward social change at a macro, diverse and global focus following the UN's 17 sustainable development goals for 2030. We need to acknowledge changing population demographics, growing mobility and aging in our population, and recognize the continued gender inequities and disparities among migrants salient today. No longer can we simply consider psychology's role in the aftermath of disaster, but to be proactive and on the forefront about counterterrorism, climate change, etc. to promote global action so that we think and act together toward shared social change." - Jean Lau Chin, EdD, ABPP, Past-President, International Division, American Psychological Association "As the UN celebrates its diamond anniversary, it is fitting that thinkers in psychology provide critical insights into psychology's engagement with the UN SDG Agenda. The authors have carefully considered the UN from many vantage points, especially behavioural. This important volume posits fresh ideas for psychology's role and future impact in the only global body that brings all governments together to tackle the social, economic, political and security factors that are essential for peace and collective human development in our fragile world." - Saths Cooper, PhD, Past-President, International Union of Psychological Scientists (IUPsyS) "I am very excited to see the publication of a much-needed book on the contribution of the behavioral sciences at the UN which highlights the role of social work. The editors have successfully illuminated how social workers have been increasingly involved in addressing international issues. Speaking as the current president of NASW, member of the International Federation of Social Workers Executive and as a social work educator, I am especially appreciative of the content on the long-term involvement that social workers have had in the work of the UN. This book is a gift to students who are increasingly seeking to become involved in international social work. I am especially impressed by the editors' commitment to promoting the professional development of students by having them co-author the chapters in the book with both academics and UN leaders. Well done!" - Kathryn Conley Wehrmann, PhD, LCSW, President, National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Finalist • PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing “An inventive, fast-paced look at what have become our modern shrines in a sports-obsessed society.” —Tom Verducci In this “addictive” (Publishers Weekly) romp, intrepid sportswriter Rafi Kohan finagles access to our most beloved fields to find out just what makes them tick: from old-timer Wrigley, creakily adjusting to the twenty-first century, to the oversized monstrosity of Jerry’s World in Dallas. Investigating harrowing logistics and deeply ingrained traditions, Kohan employs his infectious “wit and style” (Christian Science Monitor) to expose the realities of building and maintaining these commercial cathedrals of sports worship. “Highly compelling” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), The Arena is a must-read for superfans, shameless bandwagoners, athletes, groundskeepers, culture junkies, and anyone who’s ever headed off eagerly to the ballpark to catch a game.
Since the structural change in Indian society that began in the 1990s - the result of the liberalisation of the economy, devolution of power, and decentralisation of the government–an unprecedented, democratic transformation has been taking place. This has caused the emergence of unexpected coalitions and alliances across diverse castes, classes, and religious groups according to the issues involved. In this volume, we intend to understand this deepening of democracy by employing a new analytical framework of the 'vernacular public arena' where negotiations, dialogues, debates, and contestations occur among 'vernacular publics'. This reflects the profound changes in Indian democracy as diverse social groups, including dalits, adivasis, and Other Backward Classes; minorities, women; individuals from rural areas, towns, and cities; the poor and the new middle classes–the 'vernacular publics'–participate in new ways in India’s public life. This participation is not confined to electoral politics, but has extended to the public arenas in which these groups have begun to raise their voice publicly and to negotiate and engage in dialogue with each other and the wider world. Contributors demonstrate that the participation of vernacular publics has resulted in the broadening of Indian democracy itself which focuses on the ways of governance, improving people’s lives, life chances, and living environments. An original, comprehensive study that furthers our understanding of the unfolding political dynamism and the complex reshuffling and reassembling taking place in Indian society and politics, this book will be relevant to academics with an interest in South Asian Studies from a variety of disciplines, including Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, and Media Studies. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.
This book provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the developments which have brought about a new, global wave of inclusiveness and democracy. From Brazil to Bangladesh, a new form of participatory politics is springing up. Featuring contributions detailing how such movements have worked in Latin America, Europe and Africa, the book analyzes the impact they have had on the democratic process. By opening up the political sphere in this way, the authors contend, these grassroots movements truly have created "spaces for change."
