Social media has fundamentally transformed political life, driving a surge in far-right extremism. In recent years, radical anti-democratic ideologies have entered into the political mainstream, fueled by energy from extreme online environments. But why do far-right extremist movements seem to thrive so well on social media platforms? What takes place within the fringe online spaces that seem to function as incubators for violent extremists? To answer these questions, this book goes inside the "murder capital of the racist Internet", examining 20 years of conversations on Stormfront.org. Using a combination of computational text analysis and close reading, we seek a deeper understanding of the emotional and social effects of being part of an extremist community. We lay the foundation of a new way of understanding online extremism, building on the tradition of Emile Durkheim and Randall Collins. We find that online radicalization is not merely an effect of repeated one-sided arguments, as suggested by metaphors such as "echo chambers". Instead, social media politics can be better understood through Durkheim's concept of rituals: moments of shared attention and emotion that create emotional energy and a sense of intersubjectivity, weaving from participants a political tribe - united, energized, and poised to act.

This book examines deliberative democracy and its practical forms and applications in local government public policy. Author Joanna Podgorska-Rykala explores the topic of democracy, leaning in particular on the origins of its representative variant. Analyzing the elite dimension of the concept of representation, she considers what historical and political events have influenced the contemporary shape of democracy and its understanding. How were democratic ideals shaped, and why are we currently experiencing a democratic recession? Why is the debate that should be integral to the functioning of collegiate bodies disappearing? Why aren't decisions based on evidence, and why don't decision-makers take into account expert opinions and stakeholder positions? Drawing on empirical research - interviews with city-level decision-makers - the author considers whether and how deliberative innovation can support the renewal of decision-making in representative institutions.

Deliberative Democracy, Public Policy, and Local Government will be of enormous interest to doctoral students and researchers as well as to practitioners of local government administration, civic leaders, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, and people interested in public affairs. It can also be used as an important supplement in courses on public administration, political science, international relations, law, economics, and related studies at both the undergraduate and the graduate level.

Angolan Political Thought introduces anticolonial thinkers whose writings on colonialism and liberation have been instrumental in the formation of Angolan identity. It focuses on the political nature of these thinkers and how their work has impacted Angolan political reality.

Luis Cordeiro-Rodrigues both introduces and critically analyzes the thought of Queen Njinga, Mario Pinto de Andrade, Agostinho Neto and Pepetela and systematically addresses five important topics in Angolan political thought. Firstly, it gives a general introduction to African political philosophy and explains the place of Angolan political thought in this. Secondly, it explains how different Angolan thinkers have conceptualized colonialism and its effects on the global Black community. Thirdly, the book surveys what key Angolan thinkers have identified as legitimate and effective tools of liberation and resistance from colonialism. For example, it addresses the place of poetry for liberation, as well as the justification for war against colonial powers. Fourth, this book will explain the different theories that Africa and, in particular, African identity, consists of. Finally, it will look at Angolan theories of distributive justice and compensation for historical injustices.

This wide-ranging collection acquaints American college instructors with insightful contributions and critical reflections from Europe on the study of campaigns, elections, Congress, and political behavior. Using an organizing conceptual framework of a "crossroads," which sets two parties apart on traditional democratic values, more than a dozen experts examine the political environment, issues, candidates, campaigns, media, and voters of the 2022 midterm election.

Distinctive in its breadth of topics, the book covers many new issues and the most controversial aspects of 2022 using a combination of statistical and descriptive analysis. These include but are not limited to: election results, unique features of midterm elections, the role of the Supreme Court and gerrymandering in 2022, intra-party cleavages, election denialism, the role of media and campaign finance, U.S. support of Ukraine, European public opinion on American democracy, and 2022 midterm as stage setter for the 2024 presidential election.

Drawing on thousands of historical documents from Polish and Dutch archives, this book explores Cold War cultural exchange between so-called 'smaller powers' of this global conflict, which thus far has been predominately explored from the perspective of the two superpowers or more pivotal countries.

By looking at how cultural, artistic and scholarly relations were developed between Poland and the Netherlands, Michal Wenderski sheds new light on the history of the Cultural Cold War that was not always orchestrated solely by its main players. Less pivotal states - for example, Poland and the Netherlands - likewise intentionally created their international cultural policies and shaped their cultural exchange with countries from the other side of the Iron Curtain. This study reconstructs these policies and identifies the varying factors that influenced them - both official and less formal.

The book will be of interest to scholars working in art history, history of the Cold War, post-war European history, international cultural relations, Dutch studies and Polish studies.

This book outlines evidence-based and data-driven strategies for combating grand corruption in Africa.

Although the causes of corruption vary from country to country, this book suggests that corruption in Africa is often a direct consequence of poorly conceived legislation, policies, and institutional loopholes. The authors in this solution-oriented book converge in arguing that effective strategies to combat corruption (corruption proofing) should integrate an independent enforcement system, vigilant civil society, vibrant media, and political leadership. Utilising empirical evidence and a systems thinking approach, the contributors also uncover root causes of corruption and identify high-leverage interventions to prevent abuse of entrusted power for personal gain. The book recommends an integrated proactive strategy that includes top-down, bottom-up, and multi-stakeholder approaches in the implementation of anti-corruption legislation and policies. Bringing together multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, the chapters in this volume include case studies from selected countries on the continent, including Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

Providing readers with a range of effective and functional initiatives in combating corruption in Africa, this book will be of interest to students and researchers of corruption, governance, ethics, peace and security, development, and African studies, as well as policymakers, practitioners, development partners, among other stakeholders.

Providing a global perspective on police adaptations to the COVID-19 pandemic, this book explores the extent of police organizational and operational changes in a number of countries as diverse as Brazil, China, South Africa, South Korea, the Philippines, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Bringing together a range of international experts, this book reflects on the changes in the broader social environment during the pandemic, examining the contours of police operational and organizational changes across several countries, analyzes the police enforcement of the government COVID-19 rules and regulations, explores the factors related to the COVID-19 effects on police officer wellness and safety, and studies police administrator, police officer, and citizen views about the potential consequences of organizational and operational changes on the interpersonal relations within police agencies and police-community partnerships.

Policing During the COVID-19 Pandemic is essential reading for scholars and practitioners interested in exploring the police organizational adaptations, particularly in the times of emergencies, and the societal, cultural, and legal impacts of such adaptations.

Police citizen encounters do not occur in a vacuum. Police systems globally have similarities and/or differences which remain largely understudied and therefore underexplained. Comparative policing is a new frontier for policing research as it aims at integrating the institutional and/or macro determinants of police strategy and provides important insights into the context in which such strategies emerge. This volume shows how lessons and insights emerge from a comparative approach to policing research in various regions of the world. It demonstrates the explanatory power of cross-national studies, with a particular focus on politics, policies, and for what concerns the nature of police work and the legitimacy of policing.

The book presents comparative studies from different geographical locations such as Latin and Central America, Africa, India, and Europe, and offers insights on:

• Police worker politics in India and Brazil
• Police, non-state security actors, and political legitimacy in central America
• Trust in the police and the militarization of law enforcement in Latin America
• The origins of police legitimacy in Europe
• How organizational contexts matter by analyzing police-adolescent encounters in France and Germany
• Legitimacy and cooperation with the police in two African states.

Cross-state and cross-society research is desirable to increase our understanding of variations of the macro context in which police forces operate, what policing means for citizens and for police officers as professional workers. This insightful volume is a key resource for scholars and researchers of policing, criminology, sociology, and law. This book was originally published as the inaugural volume of Comparative Policing Review / Policing and Society.

Written to help international students write essays and reports for their English-language university courses, this key title covers the essentials needed to achieve academic writing success. An easy-to-follow course that builds writing confidence and can be used both in the classroom and for self-study, this second edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to contain relevant examples, explanations and exercises.

Split into two key areas, the first part explains and demonstrates every stage of essay writing, from choosing the best sources, reading and note-making, through to referencing and proofreading. The second part explores key areas such as academic vocabulary and punctuation and is organised alphabetically for easy reference. A progress check at the end of each part allows students to assess their learning. All units are fully cross-referenced, and a complete set of answers to the practice exercises is included. There is also additional online support material available including a full set of teaching notes, more challenging exercises, revision material and links to other sources as well as interactive quizzes and videos to help develop knowledge. Additional features of the book include:

• Use of authentic academic texts from a wide range of disciplines
• Designed for self-study as well as classroom use
• Useful at both undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Fully updated, with sections on using electronic sources

All international students wanting to maximise their academic potential will find this practical, concise and easy-to-use book an invaluable guide to writing in English for their degree courses.

Lebanon's significance to the Middle East and the global arena is greater than its small size suggests - bordering Israel and Syria, it holds a geo-strategic role as the playing field for their competition as well as for their allies, America and Iran. This book examines how American diplomacy has responded to the intersection of local, regional, and international factors in Lebanon.

David Hale examines several key episodes in US diplomatic history with Lebanon, starting with the country's independence in 1943, up until the present moment. Crucial events such as the Lebanese Civil War, the Cedar Revolution, and more recently the spillover from the Syrian Civil War, are examined within the context of the respective US government administrations of the time and their foreign policy strategies. Hale asks whether policy-makers had realistic and compelling goals, the right strategy, sufficient means, and capable diplomats in its diplomatic approaches towards Lebanon through the years.

Crucially, this study focuses on how, during these critical periods, American diplomacy toward Lebanon had consequences beyond the country itself, and on the narrative lines and lessons for the broader conduct of American foreign policy.

This book locates the Arctic within the context of the People's Republic of China's (PRC) national strategy of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. Drawing on a range of sources published in Chinese and English, the author analyses Beijing's Arctic scientific activities and technological capabilities, including the research infrastructure, long-term goals, and the significance for China's understanding of the region, its Arctic identity, and international perceptions. Examining the region from the perspective of the Comprehensive National Security Outlook developed during the Xi Jinping era, the book focuses on military, economic, technological, and political components and considers the PRC's official and academic discourses and the views of the region within bilateral relations with Arctic states, outlining a science, security, and governance nexus in China's Arctic engagement.

This volume will be of interest to scholars and students of Arctic geopolitics, Chinese studies, security studies, and foreign policy analysis. It will also appeal to policymakers and defence analysts in Arctic states and other regional stakeholders.

Cooperation between Iran and Russia has expanded to unprecedented levels. Following the Russian offensive in Ukraine, their partnership has undergone a significant transformation, altering power dynamics and elevating Iran from a junior partner to an equal counterpart. Russia's dependence on Iran in unexpected areas has caught observers by surprise.

In her book, Ghoncheh Tazmini presents a fresh analysis of the complex relationship between Russia and Iran. She argues for a Russia-Iran 'alignment' based on their shared narratives of the international order. The two states are bound by connective tissue that is coded by ontological security preoccupations and mutual threat perceptions. Despite historical animosities and ongoing suspicions, the relationship has demonstrated resilience, fluctuating between conflict and convergence.

The Iran-Russia relationship holds decisive implications for the Middle East's future, where their interests both overlap and diverge, notably in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and with the GCC. Tazmini delves into Russian and Iranian geopolitical aspirations in the Middle Eastern theatre and addresses how evolving international realities impact their regional policies.

Through a blend of sophisticated theoretical analysis and empirical insights, Tazmini explains why Moscow-Tehran relations are more durable than many in the Western world and the Middle East may perceive. Russia and Iran's close alignment is expected to persist - undeterred by criticism and sanctions, the 'Power Couple' remains determined to establish a foothold in the international system through their collaborative efforts.

Providing a detailed guide to editing multi-authored publications such as a collection of papers, a special issue of a journal or an academic blog, this must-read book canvases the benefits and challenges of undertaking editorial work.

This compact book is designed to guide new scholarly (co-)editors through the complex journey of editing. It provides considered and detailed advice on the less well-known scholarly practices and the processes, challenges and rewards of this work, throughout the process from start to finish, with a focus on ensuring successful outcomes for all.

Practical advice is delivered throughout this book, mapped against the wider context of academic life and values, covering topics such as:

• Considering and preparing for how scholarly editing work fits with your academic career, your own values and your aspirations
• Building collaborative relationships with colleagues participating in the project, from publishers and co-editors to authors, reviewers and readers; and
• Understanding the specific requirements of edited monographs, journal special issues and multi-authored blogs, including insights into what can go wrong and how to manage recovery

Offering critical insights into the realities of scholarly editing, this is an essential read for any academic who plans to undertake a scholarly editing project.

The 'Insider Guides to Success in Academia' offers support and practical advice to doctoral students and early-career researchers. Covering the topics that really matter, but which often get overlooked, this indispensable series provides practical and realistic guidance to address many of the needs and challenges of trying to operate, and remain, in academia.

These neat pocket guides fill specific and significant gaps in current literature. Each book offers insider perspectives on the often implicit rules of the game - the things you need to know but usually aren't told by institutional postgraduate support, researcher development units, or supervisors - and will address a practical topic that is key to career progression. They are essential reading for doctoral students, early-career researchers, supervisors, mentors, or anyone looking to launch or maintain their career in academia.

This indispensable, one-stop resource examines where Democrats and Republicans stand on current civil rights and liberties issues related to voting, free speech, abortion and reproductive rights, guns, and other hot button topics.

Both the Democratic and Republican parties claim that they have the best interests of the nation and its people at heart, and they are equally adamant that they have the best policy solutions to address the nation's problems and challenges. Each volume in the Across the Aisle reference series examines the stated policy positions and actual voting/legislative records of the two parties (they are not always the same) on important areas of public policy, both historically and in the present day.

This volume sorts through the rhetorical clutter and partisan distortions that typify so many disputes between Republicans and Democrats and provides an accurate, balanced, and even-handed overview of the parties' attitudes and records on vital civil rights and liberties questions.

This edited collection explores absence, presence and remembrance in British political culture and memory studies. Comprehensive in its scope, it covers the entire modern period, bringing together the 19th and 20th centuries as well as Britain, Ireland and the Atlantic World.

As the first comparative and in-depth study to explore the central and contested place of memory and the invention of tradition in modern British politics, chapters include memorialisation, statue-mania, anniversaries and on the wider impact and invoking of 'dead generations'. In doing so, this book provides a new, exciting and accessible way of engaging with the history of British political culture.

A new history shows how FDR developed a vision of national security focused not just on protecting Americans against physical attack but also on ensuring their economic well-being-and how the nascent conservative movement won the battle to narrow its meaning, durably reshaping US politics.

Americans take for granted that national security comprises physical defense against attacks. But the concept of national security once meant something more. Franklin Roosevelt's vision for national security, Peter Roady argues, promised an alternate path for the United States by devoting as much attention to economic want as to foreign threats. The Contest over National Security shows how a burgeoning conservative movement and power-hungry foreign policy establishment together defeated FDR's plans for a comprehensive national security state and inaugurated the narrower approach to national security that has dominated ever since.

In the 1930s, Roosevelt and his advisors, hoping to save the United States from fascism and communism, argued that national security entailed protection from both physical attack and economic want. Roosevelt's opponents responded by promoting a more limited national security state privileging military defense over domestic economic policy. Conservatives brought numerous concerns to bear through an enormous public relations offensive, asserting not just that Roosevelt's plans threatened individual freedom but also that the government was less competent than the private sector and incapable of delivering economic security.

This contest to define the government's national security responsibilities in law and in the public mind, Roady reveals, explains why the United States developed separate and imbalanced national security and welfare states, with far-reaching consequences. By recovering FDR's forgotten vision, Roady restores a more expansive understanding of national security's meanings as Americans today face the great challenges of their times.

If China's space ambitions continue unchallenged, America will be seriously economically and militarily disadvantaged. This book provides a comprehensive strategy to secure U.S. primacy in the space domain.

From Moon landings to plans for asteroid mining, China is beginning to exploit space to achieve its great power ambitions. Its strategy could, over time, severely and adversely impact U.S. economic and military security. The United States needs to structure its approach to space to ensure that it can meet or surpass PRC timelines.

Authors Richard M. Harrison and Peter A. Garretson, both from the American Foreign Policy Council, review the literature on Chinese space ambitions and assess U.S. space-related initiatives across the government, military, and private sector to understand the maturity of technology available to support space initiatives. Their first-hand research and findings are supplemented by interviews with industry experts, corporate space leaders, and government and military officials.

The Next Space Race describes and seeks to influence the development of American space policy to ensure the U.S. industrial base is ready to meet or surpass PRC milestones, empower and clarify the mission of the newly minted Space Force, provide guidance to NASA and other federal agencies, and incentivize private sector companies to contribute to ensuring American space primacy.