“A coherent, analytically innovative and original perspective on the institutional transformation of regimes in the Andean region and its relationship to democracy.” —Radek Buben and Karel Kouba, Journal of Politics in Latin America “This superb edited volume . .

From the anti-segregation sit-ins of the 1960s to the protests in response to the killing of Breonna Taylor, the rest of the nation - and often the world - has watched as Kentuckians boldly fought against instances of injustice. In Resistance in the Bluegrass, Farrah Alexander outlines the ways in which Kentucky's citizens have been models in the fight against intersectional issues of racial injustice, economic inequality, education, climate change, immigration, political representation, LGBTQ+ rights, and women's rights, while exploring and celebrating decades of Kentucky's contributions to social justice movements and the names behind them. Resistance in the Bluegrass gives engaged citizens-or those wishing to become more engaged-both inspiration and guidance on how they too can make a difference across the commonwealth. Together with interviews and issue-by-issue action items, Alexander reminds her readers that at the heart of all social change are everyday citizens who step up to make a difference. Optimistic and accessible, this people's history and guide calls Kentuckians of all backgrounds to action.

The right to rebel against an authoritarian power is part of liberal and democratic culture. As early as the late seventeenth century, John Locke theorised that if a state abuses its citizens, they have the right to revolt. Nowadays, information and communication technologies can help the early stages of revolt. However, at the same time they also seem to offer the threatened autocrats powerful tools. Failed revolutions that have unfolded in our digital age in countries such as Myanmar, Ukraine, Iran, Egypt, Hong Kong and Belarus, bring to light the great and often successful efforts of authoritarian regimes to use new technologies for surveillance, oppression, propaganda, censorship, and the suppression of fundamental rights. The risk of a drift towards despotism, from which even long-established democracies are not immune, prompts us to ask what skills, rules and institutions might help citizens to defend their freedom when it is under threat, including in the digital sphere.

"A well-edited, cohesive volume on the fundamental goals and strategies of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un to define the DPRK’s economic structure and outcomes..

“Provides a long-term view that is crucial to understanding where Latin American police institutions come from, how they have changed over time, and how long those transformations may take.” —Hernán Flom, Journal of Latin American Studies “Presents well-reasoned and logical arguments to support its contentions.” —Paul Bleakley, International Criminal Justice Review“An insightful book that should find a wide audience among scholars of crime, policing, security, state violence, and subnational politics. ” —Eduardo Moncada, Perspectives on PoliticsThough police are supposed to serve and protect, they all too often rob and abuse. Why? And what can be done about it? That is the central puzzle addressed in this book.Drawing on the disparate cases of Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, Diego Esparza analyzes why some countries' police forces are more corrupt than others and considers what policy initiatives can turn an abusive police force into one that works for its citizens. His findings, perhaps most notably, fundamentally challenge assumptions about the virtues of local control.

The volume consists of a collection of fifteen contributions to Political Theory, the focuses of which represent an interaction between different themes and perspectives. The collection brings together a series of philosophical, moral, political, psychological, medical, anthropological and mytho-symbolical issues, divided into three main sections. A first section concerns ethical, moral and jurisdictional constitutional issues of Political Theory, including contributions by Fabrizio Sciacca, Cassandra Basile, Andrea Germani and Paola Russo. A second section is devoted to the analysis of political myths and representations, including contributions by Giangiacomo Vale, Viviana Faschi, Giada Fiorese, Raffaella Sabra Palmisano, Alessandra Spano and Giuseppe d’Ambrosio. A third and final section focuses on the analysis of political dynamics specific to modernity, with contributions from Michele Lanna, Federica Rauso, Cornelia Stefan, Michele Olzi and Maria Rosaria Vitale.

"The success of Russia's military modernization efforts should not be assessed solely through a Western lens..

One of the defining features of United States foreign policy since World War II has been the nation's special relationship with Israel. This informal alliance, rooted in shared values and culture, grew out of a moral obligation to promote Israel's survival in the aftermath of the Holocaust as US policymakers provided military aid, weapons, and political protection. In return, Israel served American interests through efforts to contain communism and terrorism in the region. Today, the US provides almost four billion dollars in military aid per year, which raises questions regarding interest and propriety: At what point does US support for Israel exceed the boundaries of the countries' unconventional relationship and become counterproductive to other national interests, including the pursuit of peace in the Middle East? Kenneth Kolander provides a vital new perspective on the US-Israel bond by focusing on Congress's role in developing and maintaining the special relationship during a crucial period. Previous studies have focused on the executive branch, but Kolander demonstrates that US-Israel relations did not follow a course preferred by successive presidential administrations, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead, he illuminates how influential lobbyists, America's affinity for Israel and antipathy towards Arabs, and economic pressures influenced legislators and inspired congressional action in support of Israel. In doing so, he presents an essential investigation of the ways in which legislators exert influence in foreign policy and adds new depth to the historiography of an important dynamic in postwar world politics.

"This well-constructed, thoughtful book is highly recommended.” —Choice "Edozie and Khisa illuminate the agency that Africa exercises in international politics, sharing evidence that the continent's states are collectively shaping international discourse and policy outcomes." —Peter Penar, Davidson College"An important, and persuasive, sustained argument about the role of Africa as both a product and a driver of a new global politics. " —Thomas Tieku, University of Western OntarioThe African Union's threat to lead African states' mass withdrawal from the International Criminal Court in 2008 marked just one of many encounters that demonstrate African leaders' growing confidence and activism in international relations. Rita Kiki Edozie and Moses Khisa explore the myriad ways in which the continent’s diplomatic engagement and influence in the global arena has been expanding in recent decades.Focusing in particular on collective action through the institutional platform of the AU—while acknowledging the internal challenges involved—the authors show how Africa's role as a dynamic world region is both shaping and being shaped by current trends in global development and geopolitics.

“Provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the numerous issues, barriers, and structural impasses [necessary] to truly understand corruption and its foundation.” —Jamie M. Pratt, Crime, Law and Social Change "In this sophisticated analysis, Morris offers a deep and sobering reflection on five complex dilemmas that contemporary societies face when tackling corruption. "—Matthew M. Taylor, American University"Morris's provocative discussion of the history and politics of corruption reminds us not only that the rule of law is under constant strain in the modern world, but also that the very concept and nature of corruption are necessarily political, and all too often politicized, by leaders and the citizens that support them."—James D. Long, University of WashingtonContinuing his deep study of the nature of political corruption, in his new book Stephen Morris confronts a fundamental dilemma: How can we control power, when power essentially determines what we can, and cannot, control? More specifically, how can we control the power of those actors who use that very power to influence our understanding of corruption and shape our efforts to fight it, all in accordance with their own interests?As he unpacks the inherent contradictions that handicap the critical quest to limit the power of the powerful, Morris highlights the challenges of fighting corruption and contributes significantly to our understanding of its politicization and persistence.

“Well-argued analysis of the reasons that led Qatar to successfully weather the storm of the Gulf blockage..

"Mandatory reading for scholars and practitioners interested in understanding the concept of North America, its challenges and complexities, and how they matter for the region and the world."—Gustavo Flores-Macías, Cornell University"Provides crucial insights into the prospects for and limitations of the North American relationship."—Laura Macdonald, Carleton University (Canada)"Combines vision and constructive pragmatism, sharply focused on questions that need more and better attention. "—Abraham F. Lowenthal, University of Southern CaliforniaNorth America has survived a tumultuous three decades since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. What characterizes our shared region today? More importantly, what sort of region can advance our shared interests and well-being over the next generation? Addressing these questions, the contributors to North America 2.0 assess North America's present status as a region and explore its current challenges and emerging opportunities across a broad range of issues.

“Provides both historical context and forward-looking solutions, making it an essential read for scholars, policy-makers, and military professionals interested in the Middle East.” —Peter Wagner, Defense & Security Analysis "A valuable contribution. .

“An important, interesting, well-researched, well-reasoned, and logically argued presentation of an increasingly important and often neglected geopolitical region.” —Lt Col. James M. Davitch, Air & Space Operations Review "Should be in any collection concerned with US strategic and military goals in the 21st century." —Choice “Makes a sophisticated and well-structured argument for the importance of the polar regions to the future national security of the United States.... The Polar Pivot [is] an important contribution to the strategic debate over how the United States and its allies might best prepare for a potentially lengthy period of great power suspicion and rivalry.” —C. Dale Walton, Comparative Strategy"Unique and comprehensive…. This thought-provoking book should be required reading for all those interested in Great Power competition in the polar regions." —Ben Gochman, University of Denver"Provides compelling information as to the significance of the Arctic and Antarctica as areas requiring a renewed security focus for the US and other key international actors. A must-read for anyone interested in the polar regions." —Cameron Carlson, University of Alaska FairbanksOnce impassable and inhospitable, both the Arctic region and Antarctica are rapidly emerging as geopolitically strategic hot spots. As Ryan Burke writes in The Polar Pivot, the ice is melting and the tensions rising.In this new environment, what are the stakes? Why are Russia and China racing to increase their military capabilities and infrastructures in the polar regions? What is the United States doing to safeguard its interests and influence in response? Arguing that both poles are becoming contested military domains in an arena of great power competition, Burke tackles these questions and outlines the shift necessary in US defense policy to face a potentially looming crisis.

They were known as "political soulmates" who shared a "special relationship". Grounded in similar democratic systems, common historical discourses, and sustained military alliance through several of the twentieth century's most contentious conflicts, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and the American president Ronald Reagan shared a deep respect, admiration, and friendship, as well as similar ideologies. Many analysts and historians recycle a popular conception of the two New Right leaders joined at the hip politically, yet their relationship was more complex and nuanced. Drawing on a host of recently declassified documents from the Reagan-Thatcher years, A Diplomatic Meeting: Reagan, Thatcher, and the Art of Summitry, provides an innovative basis to understand the development and nature of the relationship between the two leaders. Author James Cooper boldly challenges the popular conflation of the leaders' platforms and proposes that Reagan and Thatcher's summitry demonstrated that foreign policy was not distinct from domestic policy: there was just policy, and the related politics of it. Summits, therefore, were a significant opportunity for world leaders to further their own domestic agenda. Cooper utilizes the relationship between Reagan and Thatcher to demonstrate that summitry politics transcended any distinction between foreign policy and domestic politics - a major objective of Reagan and Thatcher as they sought to consolidate power and implement their domestic economic programs in a parallel quest to reverse notions of their countries' "decline". This unique and significant study about the making of the Reagan-Thatcher relationship uses their key meetings as avenues of exploration and argues that there is fluidity between the domestic and international spheres, which is underappreciated within existing interpretations of the leaders' relationship, Anglo-American relations and, more broadly, in the realm of international affairs.

"An excellent undergraduate text, covering critical subjects that students need to know about this region. The chapters break the monotony of traditional textbooks.… I especially welcome the new chapter on violence and corruption, an important subject for understanding Latin America today. " —Cristina Escobar, Temple UniversityPraise for previous editions:"Provides students with a broad, thorough, and accessible introduction to a fascinating region." —Raul L. Madrid, University of Texas at Austin"Masterfully unravels many issues facing Latin America today to enrich our understanding of its complex dynamics."—Cynthia Chavez Metoyer, California State University, San MarcosThis new edition of Understanding Contemporary Latin America, the first under the editorship of Henry (Chip) Carey, reflects the many changes that have occurred in the region in the decade since the previous edition was published. An entirely new chapter on crime and security, along with new treatments of such classic subjects as geography, history, politics, economics, international relations, and more, make for an unparalleled introduction to the complexities of Latin America today.