Through a detailed analysis of the example of China and the World Trade Organization, this book considers how developing countries are defined and, more importantly, how developing countries could be better defined in international economic law.

What is a developing country? How should developing countries be categorized for the purpose of providing aid or support? Is China still a developing country despite being the world's second-largest economy? There are currently a variety of ways in which developing countries are categorized, none of which are satisfactory. Once a country is designated as 'developing', it then receives significant developmental support and aid. This book aims to contribute to identifying innovative solutions to the question of how developing countries should be designated in the field of international economic law. The book uses the example of China and its controversial continuing status as a developing country by the World Trade Organization in order to provide an in-depth analysis of the wider issue of how developing countries should be defined and categorized in international economic law.

This book will be of interest to scholars in international economic law, law and development, political science, and international relations, as well as policymakers working in relevant areas.

Entries explore the role of the past, history and memory in organisation theory and practice, highlighting how historical thinking has become a cornerstone of organisation studies. Contributing authors establish a shared vocabulary, enabling readers to navigate complex terminology and engage more confidently with historical research.

The Elgar Encyclopedia of Historical Organisation Studies is a valuable resource for scholars and students of management, organisation theory and business administration. Its insights inform strategic decision-making, change management and organisational storytelling, making it prime reading for practitioners and organisational leaders.

Key Features:

• Contains over 140 accessible entries
• Encourages ongoing dialogue as the field develops
• Features contributions from over 150 international scholars, presenting diverse perspectives, cultures and research traditions from areas such as history, philosophy, sociology and communication studies

Chapters discuss teaching methods such as the use of games, integration of theory, global panel data, and student-centered learning, alongside how to teach in different contexts across democratic and autocratic societies. The book further highlights classic works on autocracy and perspectives beyond the canon, such as studies of informal institutions and parastatal organizations, giving teachers the tools required to provide well-rounded and engaging courses on autocracy.

Teaching Autocracy and Autocratic Politics is a key resource for educators looking to produce an effective and ethically sensitive programme on autocracy. Instructors teaching classes on comparative politics and political science more broadly will also find the volume useful.

Contributing authors address the timely themes of Net Zero, smart cities and the transformative influence of AI to build an analysis of the current path to digital technocracy. They adopt an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the emergence of a concentrated global economic elite and examine key questions pertaining to manifestations of technologically enhanced population management strategies. Incorporating national case studies across China, Iran, the USA and elsewhere, Rise of the Digital Technocracy evaluates how the digitally engendered fear and suspicion embedded in the deployment of evolving technological tools are used as means of undermining and assuming increasing control of political systems.

Innovative in its inter-connected analysis of global elites and technocracies, this book is essential reading for scholars and students of sociology, social policy, political theory and human-oriented data science. Professionals in bureaucracies, think-tanks and policy making will also benefit from its theoretical and practical insights.

The concept of the "common concern of humankind" (CCH) has gradually been incorporated into international law. Following the 2025 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on climate change, its international legal status is beyond doubt. International law attributes significant consequences to the CCH qualification, which essentially fall within the sphere of State responsibility. Ulti-mately, States have taken on board the responsibility of fulfilling the obligations they have undertaken for the benefit of humanity and the international community as a whole, and not merely to pursue their own individual and collective inter-ests. Today, the concept of CCH is associated with two global challenges: climate change and biodiversity loss.

This book explores the possibility of extending the CCH designation to include the "intentional destruction of the cultural heritage of humankind" (IDCHH). A comprehensive definition of IDCHH is provided. The arguments in favour of such inclusion are based on a systematic comparison of the qualifying features of the two legal concepts: CCH and IDCHH. These arguments also consider a modern, integrated approach to solving major global problems internationally, which recog-nises the destruction of cultural heritage, climate change and the loss of biodiver-sity as interconnected phenomena requiring consistent and uniform political and legal responses.

Combining structural analysis, historical enquiry, and intertextual reading, this book offers a fresh interpretation of one of antiquity's most enduring myths, autochthony, and provides a model for studying myths as living processes of cultural imagination.

Moving beyond approaches that treat myth as either a fixed symbolic system or a reflection of history, the book proposes a new framework for understanding myth as a dynamic cultural force. It argues that myths operate through the interplay of contextuality, structurality, and dialogicality, absorbing historical pressures, encoding symbolic tensions, and inviting reinterpretation across genres and generations. This framework is examined through the Athenian myths of autochthony-the claim that the Athenians originated from the soil of Attica. By tracing these narratives from early Greek poetry to classical civic ideology, tragedy, and philosophy, the author illustrates how autochthony influenced debates concerning gender, kinship, social order, and belonging. Through its analysis of the works of Hesiod, Aeschylus, Euripides, and Plato, the book demonstrates how myth became a site of cultural argument, enabling Athens to reconsider its origins and identity.

This book will appeal to students and scholars of classical studies, as well as to anyone interested in myths, cultural memory, and the formation of political identity.

Chapter 4 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Key Topics in Psychobiology is a compelling introduction to the science of psychobiology, offering a thorough exploration of its historical foundations, theoretical principles, research methods, societal impacts, and emerging areas of inquiry. Written by expert researchers, this text provides readers with a clear framework for understanding the biological underpinnings of human behaviour.

This book begins by establishing the importance of psychobiology in explaining psychological functions and processes. It then examines key theoretical principles that have shaped the field, providing insights into the foundational ideas driving research. A detailed overview of psychobiological methods follows, including studies on brain lesions, neuroimaging techniques, and measures of electrical and magnetic activity in the brain, showcasing the tools that uncover the biological basis of behaviour. The societal impacts of psychobiological research are explored, with discussions on its contributions to address challenges such as dementia and addiction. Finally, this book concludes with a forward-looking perspective on emerging areas, including climate psychobiology and the intersection of human and artificial intelligence, highlighting the exciting directions the field is set to take.

Both informative and engaging, Key Topics in Psychobiology, is an invaluable resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students in psychology and related disciplines.

The Syntax of Dutch presents a synthesis of current thinking on Dutch syntax. Its principal focus is on describing the Dutch language; technical issues related to linguistic theory are addressed only if new light is shed on the subject.

The work is organized around the four lexical categories verbs (volumes 1-3),nouns (volumes 4-5), adjectives (volume 6), and adpositions (volume 7). It includes a general introduction to the semantic, morphological, and syntactic properties of these categories, their argument structure, their modification possibilities, and issues related to word order. The functional categories (determiners, complementizers, etc.) are discussed in relation to the lexical categories with which they occur. Volume 8 concludes the work by considering a number of issues that extend beyond proper sentence grammar: main-clause external elements, coordination, and ellipsis.

The Syntax of Dutch will be an indispensable resource for researchers and advanced students of languages and linguistics interested in the Dutch language.

The Syntax of Dutch presents a synthesis of current thinking on Dutch syntax. Its principal focus is on describing the Dutch language; technical issues related to linguistic theory are addressed only if new light is shed on the subject.

The work is organized around the four lexical categories verbs (volumes 1-3),nouns (volumes 4-5), adjectives (volume 6), and adpositions (volume 7). It includes a general introduction to the semantic, morphological, and syntactic properties of these categories, their argument structure, their modification possibilities, and issues related to word order. The functional categories (determiners, complementizers, etc.) are discussed in relation to the lexical categories with which they occur. Volume 8 concludes the work by considering a number of issues that extend beyond proper sentence grammar: main-clause external elements, coordination, and ellipsis.

The Syntax of Dutch will be an indispensable resource for researchers and advanced students of languages and linguistics interested in the Dutch language.

The Syntax of Dutch presents a synthesis of current thinking on Dutch syntax. Its principal focus is on describing the Dutch language; technical issues related to linguistic theory are addressed only if new light is shed on the subject.

The work is organized around the four lexical categories verbs (volumes 1-3),nouns (volumes 4-5), adjectives (volume 6), and adpositions (volume 7). It includes a general introduction to the semantic, morphological, and syntactic properties of these categories, their argument structure, their modification possibilities, and issues related to word order. The functional categories (determiners, complementizers, etc.) are discussed in relation to the lexical categories with which they occur. Volume 8 concludes the work by considering a number of issues that extend beyond proper sentence grammar: main-clause external elements, coordination, and ellipsis.

The Syntax of Dutch will be an indispensable resource for researchers and advanced students of languages and linguistics interested in the Dutch language.

The Syntax of Dutch presents a synthesis of current thinking on Dutch syntax. Its principal focus is on describing the Dutch language; technical issues related to linguistic theory are addressed only if new light is shed on the subject.

The work is organized around the four lexical categories verbs (volumes 1-3), nouns (volumes 4-5), adjectives (volume 6), and adpositions (volume 7). It includes a general introduction to the semantic, morphological, and syntactic properties of these categories, their argument structure, their modification possibilities, and issues related to word order. The functional categories (determiners, complementizers, etc.) are discussed in relation to the lexical categories with which they occur. Volume 8 concludes the work by considering a number of issues that extend beyond proper sentence grammar: main-clause external elements, coordination, and ellipsis.

The Syntax of Dutch will be an indispensable resource for researchers and advanced students of languages and linguistics interested in the Dutch language.

In an era of increasing global polarization, the ability to engage in meaningful talk across different languages and cultures has never been more urgent. L2 educators and learners play pivotal roles in facilitating this. However, this challenge requires more than mere fluency; it demands a pedagogical shift that encourages L2 learners to uncover and question hidden assumptions while seeking solutions to problems they may identify.

Towards Critical Dialogue in the Language Classroom offers a timely response, viewing the L2 classroom not only as a site for language acquisition but also as a space for critique, inquiry, and analysis supported by respectful mutual engagement and dialogue in the L2. This book bridges the gap between foundational theory and classroom practice. The first part provides a deep historical and philosophical exposition of dialogue, from manifold sources, through the transformative problem-posing pedagogy of Paulo Freire to contemporary thinkers and educators. The second part translates these ideas into a documentation of classroom practice, detailing activities implemented in an actual L2 context. The book illustrates how to support L2 learners as they move towards critical dialogue. They engage with linguistic functions, use interactive tasks relating to potentially controversial themes, and uncover and question gender socialization embedded in everyday life.

What sets this work apart is its combination of rigorous theoretical grounding and a lived pedagogical narrative. Documenting incremental steps of classroom practice towards critical dialogue, this book serves as encouragement for L2 educators, researchers, and curriculum designers who seek to honor student voices and prepare L2 learners to thoughtfully reshape the world around them.

Teaching Second Languages through Dialogue and Interaction: Action, Turns, and Sequences advances an interaction-focused approach to second language teaching by placing social actions, turns, and sequences as central objects of instruction. Drawing on interactional linguistics, conversation analysis, and second language acquisition research, the book demonstrates how dialogue and social interaction can be taught systematically rather than left to incidental exposure or communicative practice alone.

While learning to say "what's next" in interaction is a critical competence for language learners, such interactional abilities are rarely addressed explicitly or coherently in instructional materials. This book shows how teachers can design and integrate materials that target the organization of talk itself, linking words, grammar, and multimodal resources to the social actions they accomplish. Presenting foundational research alongside empirically grounded teaching units across several languages, Huth illustrates how learners can be guided to recognize, produce, and respond to actions such as openings and closings, requests, complaints, stance-taking through so-called "little words," and other recurrent interactional practices. Additional teaching resources freely available to download complement this volume, encouraging practical applications and flexible personalization.

Research-based and classroom-tested, this book offers practical resources for designing lessons, developing assessments, and supporting curricular change. It will be of interest to current and future language teachers, as well as to students and researchers in second language teaching, second language acquisition, applied linguistics, and related fields focusing on language use as social action.

The expanded group of BRICS nations informally known as BRICS+ encompasses of both established members and the new additions nations which includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These BRICS+ nations stand at the cusp of unparalleled growth and economic expansion. BRICS+ contributes significantly to global primary energy production, accounting for 48% of the sector.

This book emphasizes the significance of energy for growth and sustainability, highlighting the role of BRICS+ nations in enhancing global energy resilience. This resilience could be achieved through collaborations, policy strategies, and economic implications, calling attention to energy trading free from sanctions. Further, it embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic landscape inhabited by the BRICS+ nations, a collective that includes established BRICS+ countries as well as new members. At its core, the narrative confronts the looming spectre of structural shocks, with a keen focus on the energy sector, and the profound implications these disruptions pose for the economic potential of these nations. What sets this work apart is its emphasis on the vulnerabilities of the BRICS+ nations, characterized by fiscally fragile economies heavily reliant on imported energy. It delves into the international externalities that make these nations susceptible, compounded by their geological predisposition to volatility. The book charts a course for change, proposing a systematic departure from these disruptions through academic insights and elaborations, laying the foundation for sustained and successful growth.

As such, it will be a useful guide for academics, students, researchers and policymakers concerned with the discourse on sustainability and resilience in BRICS+ nations, paving the way for a more informed and innovative approach to the challenges faced by these nations in the interconnected global landscape.

This book examines the rapid growth and rising global visibility of Africa's cultural and creative industries (CCIs) and how they are reshaping debates on economic and cultural development across the continent. Focusing on Ghana, the book explores how the development of CCIs is shaped through the interplay of creative policy, labour conditions, and entrepreneurial practices. While CCIs are increasingly celebrated for their potential, they continue to be constrained by precarious labour conditions, limited access to finance, weak infrastructure, and inadequate policy frameworks that often fail to reflect local realities.

Drawing on interdisciplinary research, the book analyses Ghana's creative policy infrastructure, assessing its capacity to support creative workers and entrepreneurs, and highlighting opportunities for more context-sensitive, home-grown approaches. It presents original empirical insights into creative labour and entrepreneurship across sectors including music, fashion, film, visual arts, crafts and theatre, illustrating how creative workers navigate uncertainty, sustain livelihoods, and develop business models in challenging institutional environments.

Arising from the international research project Advancing Creative Industries for Development in Ghana, this edited volume will be of primary interest to academics and university students studying creative industries and cultural economies in a global context.

AI for Marketing: The Consumer Perspective examines the human side of AI adoption at a moment when technology is advancing faster than consumer comfort. While millions use AI to search, plan, create and make decisions, trust remains fragile. This book explains why that gap persists and what it means for marketers trying to reach audiences who are both curious and cautious.

Drawing on proprietary research, global studies and behavioral science, the book maps the key barriers marketers must navigate: concerns about accuracy, authenticity, privacy, loss of control and systemic biases. It also identifies the consumer segments most open to AI-enabled products and messaging, including caregivers, multilinguals, sustainability enthusiasts and personalization seekers.

The book offers marketers practical guidance on designing AI-powered experiences that are credible, equitable and human-led. It shows how trust can be built into every touchpoint - from onboarding and data exchange to content creation and customer service - and why doing so is essential for adoption and long-term loyalty.

AI Governance: The Executive Handbook for Safe and Responsible AI is a book researched and written by cyber experts Ariel Evans and Ajay Singh with contributions from leading members of Cyber Intelligence 4U advisory board, including top CISOs, CIOs, CTOs, DPOs, and cyber attorneys to help businesses prepare for the safe and intelligent use of AI.

This book is a comprehensive handbook that bridges the gap between the complex world of artificial intelligence and its practical applications for business. Covering regulation requirements, governance, cyber controls, explainability, and privacy in easy-to-understand language, it is an essential resource to navigate and address the opportunities, complex challenges, and responsibilities associated with AI technologies and provides a roadmap for businesses to implement a safe AI program. Each area is explored from a business perspective to allow the reader to understand how this relates to their role in a company and to harness the power of AI in their respective fields and concludes with a section on how to create a step-by-step AI program. In addition, real-life examples of the challenges that any business needs to address as it rolls out AI-based applications are presented throughout.

This book will empower readers, whether they are IT professionals, tech enthusiasts, business leaders, or students, with the necessary knowledge and insights to create a safe and responsible AI program.

Integrating Business and AI is a comprehensive guide that bridges the gap between technical AI knowledge and practical business applications. It offers strategies for developing, marketing, and leveraging AI solutions across industries.

This book provides readers with actionable insights into AI integration, offering dual perspectives for both vendors and users. It delves into the theoretical foundations of AI technologies while presenting practical frameworks for assessing AI readiness and implementing AI across various business functions. Readers will benefit from detailed strategies for marketing and selling AI solutions, enabling vendors to effectively communicate their value to potential clients. For business users, the book offers guidance on managing AI-driven organizational transformation, addressing workforce concerns, and leveraging AI to gain a sustainable competitive edge. Additionally, the book addresses critical aspects of data management and privacy, helping businesses navigate the challenges of handling sensitive information.

Designed for business leaders, entrepreneurs, AI developers, students, and decision-makers, this book is ideal for those seeking to understand and implement AI in business contexts. It is particularly suited for courses in Business and AI, Digital Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Technology in Business at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

As businesses navigate an era of rapid technological advancements, global competition, and evolving market dynamics, the field of strategic management must adapt to meet new challenges. This book presents fresh perspectives, models, and frameworks that redefine how organizations formulate and execute strategy in today's complex environment. Bridging theory and practice, this book explores fundamental principles of strategic management, the impact of digital transformation, emerging business trends, and evolving decision making processes. It introduces innovative methodologies, including strategic quality management, business portfolio analysis, and empowerment-based strategies, while addressing critical questions on how strategy has evolved and what tools professionals can use to stay ahead. Through qualitative research and case studies, the volume provides actionable insights into modern strategic management approaches.

A must-read for advanced students, researchers, practitioners, and business leaders, this book offers a comprehensive yet accessible guide to understanding and implementing strategic management in the modern era. Whether new to the field or looking to enhance your strategic thinking, this book equips you with the knowledge and frameworks to navigate the ever-changing business landscape.

The Strategic Manager provides a comprehensive, clear, and applied insight in strategic management. Unlike more theory-heavy texts, this book focuses on how strategy works in everyday practice, taking readers' expectations and understanding beyond that of strategy as a matter of planning only. It enables the reader to learn and reflect upon their practical skills and knowledge and critically evaluate the strategy process and their own strategic decision-making.

The book is based around six different strategy theories, individually presented and supplemented with useful lists of questions that encourage readers to become competent strategic thinkers. This fourth edition has been fully updated throughout, including fresh case studies and examples ranging across a broader range of regions, as well as additional illustrations and fresh material considering the strategic implications and applications of new technologies, particularly AI. Chapters on industrial organization and institutional theory have been significantly expanded upon, with the final chapter including an updated framework on institutional theory perspective.

Essential reading for postgraduate students of strategic management, MBA students, and those in executive education, this text will also be a useful tool for reflective managers trying to develop a better understanding. Online resources include PowerPoint slides.

Navigating Organizational Complexity: Resilience and Adaptability from Black Swans to Green explores the challenges of contemporary management in an era defined by unpredictability, complexity, and environmental volatility. Drawing on Nassim Taleb's metaphor of the "black swan", this book expands this concept to include a typology of transformative events: Black Swans (negative and unexpected), White Swans (positive and unexpected), Gray Swans (known but neglected threats), and Green Swans (long-term environmental megatrends). Through interdisciplinary analysis, it examines how organizations can build resilience, adapt to uncertainty, and thrive in the face of disruption. It offers practical tools and frameworks for strategic foresight, leadership, and risk management, making it an essential resource for navigating the complexities of the modern business environment. Key features include an innovative approach to the "black swan" metaphor, integrating concepts such as antifragility, organizational resilience, and sustainability. This book combines insights from management, sociology, psychology, and economics, with references to global crises, climate change, and digitization. Readers will benefit from practical strategies for fostering adaptability, learning cultures, and visionary leadership, supported by rich academic literature and real-world examples. It is ideal for academics, researchers, and advanced students in management, organizational studies, and sustainability, as well as business leaders seeking actionable insights to future-proof their organizations.

Organization Design equips readers with advanced tools and frameworks for understanding and re-designing organizations by simplifying complex roles, processes, and structures. Now in a fully updated third edition, it introduces new pedagogical features to spotlight significant debates and encourage critical reflection on core ideas.

Grounded in both research and practical experience, this book offers a balanced approach to organizational efficiency and complexity, complemented by actionable insights throughout and supporting online material. Drawing on Russell Ackoff's system theory, Worren emphasizes the interconnected nature of all organizational elements as a key to support strategic goals. The book is designed around broad thematic areas: from a review of foundational theory to core components of organization design, methodologies for re-design projects, and a diagnostic framework for complex organizations. This structured division enables readers to follow chapters consecutively or consult each section independently.

Rigorous in focus, this textbook serves as an authoritative source that bridges academia and the professional world. Students, scholars, and practitioners alike will benefit from its comprehensive guidance and pragmatic orientation.

The Art of Coaching is a book to shift thinking and open up new possibilities, stimulate fresh insight, and adapt to your needs as a coach, leader or manager and to use creatively in practice. The first edition of this unique and bestselling book quickly became a staple in the coaching world; now the revised edition has been updated to include new models and diagrams that have been developed by the authors in response to changing social and political events.

Written by two experienced, highly qualified international coaches and supervisors, it is packed full of ideas, with tens of visual images, many original to the authors. Now with an additional chapter on Coaching in Turbulent Times and updated references for further reading, this new edition is a must-have for coaches, supervisors, managers and human resource professionals. Each model in the book is explained with a clear, accessible diagram and a simple guide to what it is, how it works and how to put it into action. The text is full of inspiration for applications of the ideas in scenarios based on real coaching practice.

This book is an invaluable resource for quick reference, instant accessibility and fast learning. Built on a strong theoretical base, it will inspire professional development, individual and team coaching, and transform thinking for coaches looking for new ways of developing awareness with clients, coaching students and trainees, coach supervisors, learning and development professionals and those working in human resource departments.

By integrating social ontology and epistemology, the book offers a systematic realist account of tourism, explaining how tourist entities, institutions, and practices are constituted, how tourism reality is structured as a domain of social reality, and how knowledge about this domain can be justified.

It provides a clear philosophical foundation for understanding tourism by learning how tourism reality is constituted and how knowledge about it can be justified. The book delivers these benefits through a systematic framework that integrates social ontology and epistemology, drawing on realist philosophy and Searle-inspired social ontology. It clarifies key concepts, distinguishes types of entities and facts within tourism reality, and explains the institutional mechanisms, such as collective intentionality, status functions, and constitutive rules, which structure the tourism domain. These theoretical arguments are illustrated with real-world examples from tourism practice that help explain how particular aspects of the framework operate in concrete contexts. By combining conceptual analysis with a coherent epistemological account of how tourism knowledge can be evaluated, the book provides researchers and advanced students with a rigorous meta-theoretical framework that supports clearer interpretation, stronger theoretical grounding, and more consistent research in tourism studies.

The book is intended primarily for scholars, researchers, and postgraduates in tourism studies who seek a deeper theoretical and philosophical understanding of tourism as a social phenomenon. It will also be of interest to academics in sociology, human geography, economics, anthropology, and philosophy of the social sciences, particularly those concerned with social ontology and epistemology. It may also benefit advanced graduate students and researchers engaged in theoretical, conceptual, or interdisciplinary work on tourism and social reality for its analysis of tourism reality.

Sustainability Transitions in Tourism and Hospitality offers vital conceptual and practical insights into the domains of sustainability transitions (ST) in tourism and hospitality sectors, business models, and operations.

Using ST theory, this book addresses the extent to which the tourism and hospitality industries drive the ST by revamping business models and practices to incorporate sustainability into their innovation strategy. The chapters are structured to examine these topics through ST, which entail a comprehensive consideration of the state of knowledge, conceptual underpinning about ST in tourism and hospitality, as well as current and alternative models and governance frameworks that support ST. By doing so, it sheds light on how ST in tourism and hospitality, by virtue of being multi-dimensional and multi-actor, are at the interface of political sciences, geography, sociological and behavioural sciences, technology, and innovation studies. This is supported with case-based insights throughout. This timely volume advances the tourism and hospitality research agenda towards generating an in-depth understanding of the dynamics, processes, and structures that shape the industry's transition to more sustainable consumption and production systems.

This book will be of pivotal interest to students, researchers, and academics of tourism as well as in development studies disciplines.

The book explores pilgrimage events and annual mass gatherings such as the Maha Kumbh Fair, Hajj, Lourdes, and Kartarpur, conceptualising pilgrimage tourism; its growing significance; social, cultural, and economic benefits; environmental impact; and sustainable development.

It offers valuable insights by capturing mythology underlying the mass pilgrimage, crowd dynamics, supply chain logistics, and environmental and community resilience and fostering local entrepreneurship development and stakeholders' public-private partnerships (PPPs). Drawing on theoretical perspectives, empirical research, and real-world case studies, the book offers prospects of planning, managing, and implementing public health concerns, supply chain, and resilience of the businesses and the local community to hold annual mega spiritual gatherings for the pilgrims. In doing so, it also promotes a shared vision for enhancing connectivity, commerce, trade, and collaboration for peace, progress, and prosperity for social, cultural, and economic impact for the continuation of such centuries-old spiritual pilgrimage events for generations.

The book is intended for academics, tourism researchers, economists, and students studying pilgrimage and religious tourism (RT). It will also be valuable for government departments, international organisations, and practitioners including religious organisations, tour operators, hospitality providers, and event management stakeholders.

A practical guide to help unlock potential savings of over 30% in IT spend, this book presents a framework for IT executives to identify hidden cost reduction opportunities, improve business alignment, and redirect savings toward critical digital transformation and innovation initiatives while maintaining operational stability.

Unlike books that focus solely on financial optimization of public cloud services like AWS, Azure, and Google, this one expands the scope to address cost savings across all types of enterprise IT assets, whether hardware, software, or even services. Readers will gain concrete strategies to assess FinOps maturity, understand IT spend factors, and implement optimization levers across their entire technology landscape. Through real-world case studies and a flexible Enterprise FinOps framework, the book provides actionable methods to reduce technology debt, fuel innovation, and align IT investments with business objectives, potentially unlocking millions in savings that can be redirected to strategic priorities like innovation and transformation. It positions IT from a cost-center to becoming a driver of business growth.

This guide is primarily designed for IT practitioners with budget decision-making authority, particularly CIOs and their executive management teams responsible for enterprise IT services. It also serves middle and senior managers seeking departmental cost optimization, independent consultants specializing in IT financial management, and students interested in this emerging field.

This book examines how AI in employment can lead to sex discrimination and sets out a legal response through analysis and reform.

The risk of sex discrimination in employment is being driven by the increasing use of artificial intelligence. While AI promises efficiency and economic value, its application in employment decision-making, from job advertising to recruitment and performance evaluations, can unintentionally perpetuate or even exacerbate existing sex discrimination. This book examines how AI across the employment lifecycle contributes to sex discrimination and assesses whether current UK legal frameworks are sufficient to address this emerging risk. It provides a detailed analysis of the Equality Act 2010 and data protection law. Drawing on comparative insights from EU and US law, the book proposes comprehensive legal reforms to both regulatory frameworks and substantive law, with the aim of ensuring that AI technologies promote fairness, equality, and transparency in employment.

The book will be of interest to researchers in the field of discrimination law, data protection law, employment law, and artificial intelligence.

The Endgame Election? European Views on the United States Elections of 2024 examines whether the 2024 U.S. presidential election marks a decisive turning point in American democracy by analyzing the contest and its broader political context from the perspective of European scholars.

Bringing together European scholars of American politics, this volume examines how Donald Trump's return to power unfolded against the backdrop of democratic backsliding, institutional fragility, and shifting electoral coalitions. It analyzes the internal transformations of the Democratic and Republican parties, the extraordinary replacement of Joe Biden by Kamala Harris, the role of media ecosystems and misinformation, the dynamics of voter suppression and the Electoral College, and the growing openness to executive aggrandizement within parts of the Republican Party. The book situates the 2024 election within broader debates about constitutional accountability, partisan polarization, and the erosion of democratic guardrails, asking whether the election narrowed the avenues of democratic self-correction that once defined the American system. The European vantage point offers analytical distance and comparative insight into patterns of democratic erosion familiar from other contexts.

This volume will be essential reading for scholars, students, and researchers of American politics, comparative politics, and democratic governance, as well as for policymakers and informed readers seeking to understand the implications of the 2024 election for the future of U.S. democracy.

China's rapid (re)ascendance as a global power, fuelled by its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has arguably become the most significant challenge to the United States' dominance, reshaping international relations and sparking debates over the future of the global order.

This book examines how the US has received and strategically constructed narratives around China's BRI to counter its influence. Offering a thorough analysis of US narratives and policies, it explores economic, security, technological, and political dimensions. By integrating critical constructivist and poststructuralist theories with thematic and narrative analysis, the author traces the evolution of these narratives, revealing how the US foreign policy elites selectively (re)constructs BRI narratives to delegitimise the initiative, justify countermeasures, undermine China's global influence, and sustain its waning supremacy in the global order. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including official documents, key speeches, and think tank publications, the author uncovers how US strategic narratives of the BRI are collaboratively shaped through a network of inter-narratives involving policy elites, allies, middle powers, and critics, rather than being solely driven by the US government.

This volume will be of great interest to scholars and students of international relations, public diplomacy, US foreign policy, China studies, as well as practitioners and observers involved in BRI projects around the world.