Examining how local leadership has evolved by comparing the mayoralties of New York, London, and Amsterdam, this book uniquely focuses on Michael Bloomberg (2002-2014), Ken Livingstone (2000-2008), Boris Johnson (2008-2016), and Job Cohen (2001-2010) to reveal the cultural and operational contrasts that shaped their approaches to governance.

Drawing on the Leadership Capital Index (LCI) - a recent innovation in political leadership studies, Stafford offers a fresh perspective on the strong-mayor model, not only evaluating the strengths and limitations of the LCI but also advancing the debate on what makes effective urban leadership. Original and insightful, this book redefines how we understand mayors as pivotal political actors.

What have been the causes and consequences of poverty in society through the ages? How has poverty been portrayed and understood? And how has this understanding differed according to time and place?

In a work that spans 2,500 years these ambitious questions are addressed by 55 experts, each contributing their overview of a theme applied to a period in history. With the help of a broad range of case material they illustrate broad trends and nuances of the culture of poverty in world history from antiquity to the present. Individual volume editors ensure the cohesion of the whole, and to make it as easy as possible to use, chapter titles are identical across each of the volumes. This gives the choice of reading about a specific period in one of the volumes, or following a theme across history by reading the relevant chapter in each of the six.

The six volumes cover: 1. Antiquity (500 BCE to 800 CE); 2. Medieval Age (800 to 1450); 3. Dawn of the World Economy (1450 to 1650); 4. Age of the Emerging Atlantic World (1650 to 1800); 5. Age of Empire (1800 to 1920); 6. Modern Age (1920 to the present).

Themes (and chapter titles) are: defining poverty; poverty, charity, and spirituality; representations of need and want; poverty, race, and ethnicity; poverty and gender; community and exclusion; poverty and economic thought; and poverty and the body politic.

The page extent for the pack is approximately 1728pp. Each volume opens with notes on contributors and an introduction, and concludes with notes, bibliography, and an index.

Special introductory offer (valid up to 3 months after publication): GBP395 / $550 (full price: GBP440 / $610)

The Cultural Histories Series
A Cultural History of Poverty is part of The Cultural Histories Series. Titles are available both as printed hardcover sets for libraries needing just one subject or preferring a one-off purchase and tangible reference for their shelves, or as part of a fully-searchable digital library available to institutions by annual subscription or on perpetual access (see www.bloomsburyculturalhistory.com).

This book contains the latest cutting-edge research, compiling the most interesting contents of reports by researchers from 42 countries around the world at the International Studies Association Asia Pacific international conference held in Tokyo in 2023. Topics such as the Anthropocene, Covid-19, security, regional collaboration, democracy and autocracy, gender, and the Global South are included. Researchers from the United States, Europe, and Japan, along with emerging powers, China, India, and ASEAN nations, have conducted multifaceted analyses of topics involving climate change, Covid-19, the achievements and challenges of the growth of Asia, China and India, regional cooperation such as the Belt and Road Initiative, SAARC, BIMSTEC, ASEAN, RCEP, IPEF, and ASEAN, security issues, democracy and autocracy, and the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Gaza. The book also includes lectures by leading figures in international politics such as Joseph Nye, Amitav Acharya, and T.V. Paul; a panel of distinguished professors, with Mike Mochizuki, Mikel Swaine, Steven Rosefielde, Sang Chul Park, and Hundah Su among them; as well as papers by young, up-and-coming researchers, making it a collection of trailblazing research on the world order in the twenty-first century, conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and changing democracy. It is a must-read book on raising issues and solving problems from Asia, a world leader.

This book provides a comprehensive public health and disability-focused analysis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) across the lifespan-from childhood through adolescence and adulthood. It examines the global epidemiology of ADHD, developmental trajectories, and emerging evidence on potential biological, psychological, and social mechanisms underlying the disorder. The volume critically explores ADHD's classification as a disability, its psychiatric comorbidities, suicide risk, and its impact on educational attainment, occupational functioning, and social participation. It synthesizes evidence-based intervention strategies tailored to different life stages, including pharmacological treatments, psychosocial interventions, school-based supports, and community-level approaches. Importantly, the book evaluates international variation in ADHD diagnosis, treatment access, and policy frameworks, highlighting disparities shaped by gender, culture, race, and socioeconomic context. It identifies key research gaps and outlines future directions for advancing early detection, integrated care, and prevention-oriented public health models. By bridging epidemiology, mechanistic insights, clinical research, and policy analysis, this book offers an integrated roadmap for improving ADHD recognition, management, and advocacy globally. Timely and evidence-driven, it is essential reading for clinicians, researchers, educators, policymakers, and disability advocates.

This book provides a comprehensively understanding on urban water management's complexities and solutions. It addresses sustainable and resilient water management challenges amidst rapid urbanization and climate change. The book explores historical perspectives, current issues, and future trends, emphasizing integrating sustainable practices, technological innovations, and community engagement in urban planning. It guides urban planners, policymakers, environmentalists, and academicians, offering insights and strategies for developing healthier, more sustainable, and resilient cities. Designed as a pivotal resource, it highlights water's crucial role in urban ecosystems, balancing urban growth, environmental sustainability, and resilience. The book presents a multidisciplinary approach to urban water challenges, incorporating historical insights, technological innovations, and best practices in policy and community engagement. It fosters informed decision-making and strategic planning for sustainable, resilient, and healthy urban environments against climate change and urbanization.

This book addresses a growing and urgent educational challenge: equipping students and educators with the knowledge and critical tools needed to understand and navigate the complex world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Drawing on digital literacy education and the ethics of digital media, it adopts an interdisciplinary approach to combine theoretical insights with practical instructional strategies for teaching about AI. Designed with school-age learners in mind, the book includes a wide range of methodologies, such as Philosophy for Children, Inquiry-Based Learning, gamification to offer concrete, adaptable classroom activities suitable for diverse age groups and educational settings.

Responding to the increasing demand from policymakers and educators for clearer guidance on AI education, the book promotes an approach grounded in awareness, inclusion, and responsibility. Structured around the four key dimensions of AI literacy (cognitive, operational, critical, and ethical), it provides a coherent and comprehensive learning pathway that extends beyond technical skills to foster critical thinking, ethical reflection, and democratic participation.

Filling a significant gap in the current literature, this project delivers a practical educational toolkit for schools and teachers, supporting students not only in using AI, but also in questioning, critically evaluating, and shaping its development in alignment with human and civic values. In doing so, it contributes to the growth of informed and responsible digital citizenship.

This book adopts topography as a central analytical framework, examining Shenzhen's urban parks through the dual lenses of physical topography and lifeworld topography. It investigates how these parks serve as dynamic interfaces in the socio-natural relationship. By interweaving political-economic contexts with geographical-topographical contexts, the study moves beyond traditional formalist paradigms in the history of landscape architecture to uncover the power relations embedded within natural landscapes.

This book aims to examine the practical implications of digital video advertising across a wide range of contemporary video formats. It systematically explores the contributions of advanced advertising technologies-including 360-degree video, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, 3D and 2D video formats, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, high-definition (HD) video, and Dolby surround sound-in enhancing consumer experience and engagement. The book provides actionable insights into visual arrangement strategies and immersive design principles, making it a valuable reference for advertising design agencies, creative professionals, and expert panels involved in digital and 3D video advertising. In addition, it serves as a comprehensive knowledge resource for researchers working in gamification, virtual reality, and augmented reality by presenting the latest research findings in advertising technology. By outlining emerging trends and proposing future research directions, the book offers significant academic value for postgraduate and doctoral students seeking to pursue research in digital video advertising and related advertising technologies. The book is structured into three interrelated parts. The first part establishes the conceptual foundation of social proof and social media-driven influences on consumer decision-making. Chapters in this section analyze social media marketing strategies, mechanisms of brand awareness creation, the role of fear of missing out (FOMO), and the dynamics of digital influence shaping consumer behavior. The second part focuses on technological advancements that are redefining digital video advertising practices. It explores immersive and data-driven formats such as virtual reality, augmented reality, short-form video advertising, metaverse-based product demonstrations, and advanced video analytics. The final part examines effective digital video advertising strategies through the lens of consumer cognition, ethics, and engagement. Key themes include gamification, 3D video advertising in sports marketing, digital twins, extended reality (XR) technologies, and ethical concerns associated with artificial intelligence and data analytics.

This book offers a critical and comprehensive analysis of Africa's electrification journey. In 2024, the World Bank, African Development Bank, and their partners launched Mission 300, a bold initiative to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. Yet, this is not the continent's first electrification promise. From Lighting Africa to Power Africa, the past two decades have seen a proliferation of well-intentioned programs-yet the number of Africans without electricity has stubbornly remained around 600 million.

This book interrogates the gap between ambition and achievement, exploring the political, economic, and social dynamics that shape electricity access. Drawing on case studies from Kenya, Ghana, and beyond, it examines the role of development partners, private sector actors, and national governments in expanding access.

Key themes include:

1. The energy trilemma: balancing security, affordability, and sustainability.
2. The politics of regulation, subsidies, and cost recovery.
3. The impact of gender, culture, and tradition on energy access.
4. The promise and limits of off-grid and cross-border solutions.
5. The importance of data, measurement, and coordination.

This book is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand-and transform-the future of energy in Africa.

Offering a series of studies on key aspects of the Bonhoeffer's theology, this book emphasizes the biblical texture and dogmatic depth of his work and its continuing legacy.

The first part of the volume explores Bonhoeffer's work in Christology, Theology proper, and related doctrines. Ziegler argues that Bonhoeffer's fundamental orientation in theology and ethics is best captured and expressed when he is understood as theology of the Word of God. He offers an exposition of the commonly neglected Part II of Nachfolge, in its treatment of Pauline New Testament texts, as well as Bonhoeffer's promeity compared with the work of Kierkegaard. Ziegler examines Bonhoeffer's extended essay and biblical study on the theme of temptation, and concentrates on the role of eschatological concepts and themes in the Letters and Papers from Prison.

In its second part, the book explores elements of Bonhoeffer's ethical and political thinking, emphasizing throughout the deeply dogmatic substance and orientation of his work in these fields. This part offers explicit discussion of Bonhoeffer's ethics and his interpretation of soteriology, his reading and understanding of the Decalogue for Christian life and ethics, his views of the political service of the church and of Christians; and sustained reading and reflection on one of Bonhoeffer's final prison poems, Voices in the Night.

Introduces a theoretical perspective on the loss of communal lands and subsequent migration, with a focus on how media can help sustain diaspora communities' culture and their relation to land amidst such crises.

Through an exploration of the impact of land loss on emigration and immigration, this book lays out the permanent consequences of land loss and how these consequences have been explored and conceptualized in post-World War II cinema, literature, and visual art. A historical understanding of the loss of rural and urban common land helps illuminate violent anti-immigrant, and, surprisingly, anti-emigrant practices. This book considers immigration and emigration from both impoverished and wealthy countries, and offers a combined theorization of cultural artefacts and reference to historical context and current facts. Examples in this book illuminate immigration and emigration in South America, Central America, North America, and Asia.

The Trump II administration's trade wars and framing of the dollar's reserve status have accelerated concerns about the sustainability of the current monetary and trade system. Against a backdrop of various disintegrative tendencies, this volume re-introduces the concept of International Clearing Union (ICU) and offers an important overview of critical approaches to the prevailing monetary system.

The ICU concept is closely associated with J. M. Keynes but has older origins, diverse sources of debate, and a high degree of contemporary relevance. In discussing the concept this volume examines key contemporary political issues including principles of fairness in trade and finance, de-dollarization, development, exchange rate policy, capital controls, as well as urgent issues of climate emergency and ecological breakdown. It provides perspectives from different disciplines and from the Global North and South and opens up debate regarding new global institutional possibilities.

The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by The Finnish Research Council.

This book offers a compelling archaeological exploration of China's millennia-old civilization. It masterfully synthesizes material evidence with classical texts such as The Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), anchored by 15 iconic cultural artifacts. These range from the Jiahu bone flute (a testament to the sophistication of early Chinese musical systems) and the Liangzhu jade cong (a symbol of early political hierarchy and ritual authority) to the Four-Ram Square zun (a masterpiece of Shang Dynasty bronze craftsmanship) and the astronomical lacquer box from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng.

Adopting a rigorous interdisciplinary approach spanning archaeology, history, astronomy, metallurgy, and ritual studies, Peng Lin illuminates the technical ingenuity, cultural traditions, and social structures of ancient China, while highlighting the unity in diversity that shaped the evolution of Chinese civilization. Far from a static exhibition of relics, the book employs a "dual evidence" approach-cross-checking unearthed materials against received texts-to challenge fragmented interpretations of the past. Essential reading for university liberal arts curricula, it offers scholars and general readers alike a nuanced yet accessible lens on the nexus between material culture and the origins of Chinese civilization.

International relations theorist Amstutz describes how values and perspectives from Christianity can help advance a more humane global order. After highlighting key features of the nation-state and of global society, he illustrates the role of Christian values in international relations with case studies exploring three contemporary global problems-migration, development, and climate change. Amstutz contends that a Christian worldview, focused on the dignity and rights of the individual, as well as an emphasis on the common good, can contribute to peace, prosperity, and justice in the international community.
The topic of global order is now more important than ever, given that the rules-based global order established at the end of World War II is under great stress-as witnessed in current wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and the emergence of far-right regimes in Hungary, Turkey, and perhaps even France. Despite significant improvement in living conditions worldwide, the international community continues to face many global problems, including failing states, domestic and interstate violence, persistent poverty, growth in refugees, mass migration, climate change, and global economic instability. Most importantly, the contemporary liberal order is facing major opposition from authoritarian states. The contemporary challenge to the liberal order gives rise to urgent questions: Will the liberal global order be replaced by a more chaotic power-based order? Is there a better way to organize the world than the existing UN-based nation-state system? How can the liberal international system be renewed? Can fragile states be strengthened? What contribution can a Christian perspective bring to the task of renewing global order?
Amstutz argues that the advance of international justice and global order needs to be based on the nation-state, the basic building block of our contemporary international community. Most initiatives to improve the international community are rooted in political idealism or utopian thought and presume a shift from state sovereignty towards world governance. This study, by contrast, assumes that any improvement in world order will necessarily depend on the ongoing role of the sovereign state. In advancing global peace and prosperity, three tasks are vital: first, strengthen weak, fragile states; second, increase the number of constitutional, democratic states; and third, strengthen international cooperation in addressing shared global problems.
Christian values and perspectives, Amstutz claims, can contribute to a better world by helping to structure the moral analysis of issues and by inspiring action that advances the common good.

Growing complexity and dynamism characterize this world and most organizations. This book aims to provide a better understanding of the associated increase in turbulence of organizations and how to master it. It shows that organizations are not machines but should be understood and managed as living beings. The authors describe how this systemic way of thinking has been found in many disciplines since the mid-1940s and, as a cybernetic approach, is networked with biological, sociological, psychological, technical, and chaos theory approaches.

This book analyzes the transformation of development aid and international political thinking from the 1990s to the present. It highlights how aid became increasingly politicized as democracy promotion, governance reform, conflict prevention, and security concerns moved to the center of donor agendas. Focusing on France and the OECD, the book traces how post-Cold War transitions reshaped development policy while donor states continued to navigate the constraints of sovereignty. It examines France's shift from paternalistic postcolonial ties to formal diplomatic relations and its support for African-led peacekeeping initiatives. The book also explores globalization, fragile states, and post-9/11 debates on intervention, human rights, and the evolving meaning of sovereignty, including the emergence of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). Sovereignty remains crucial in balancing globalization, intervention, and national self-determination, while development aid continues to bridge disparities between developed and developing nations. A new preface addresses the end of the liberal international order, the rise of the Global South, and the 2025 dissolution of USAID, offering a timely assessment of development aid's role in a changing world.

What is the past, present and future of queer theory? How does it relate to real-world issues such as the current anti-LGBTQ+ backlash and the global rise of right-wing politics?

This textbook provides an introduction to queer theory, including key terms, concepts, debates, and applications across a range of academic disciplines and to contemporary life more generally.

The authors engage with a wide range of developments in queer theory thinking, including discussions of identity politics, transgender theory, intersectionality, post-colonial theory, Indigenous studies, disability studies, affect theory, and more.

This new edition:

- Makes difficult theory easy to understand, with clear 'Key Terms' boxes and 'Queer Theory in Practice' to show how theory applies to real life
- Provides an historically-informed approach to understanding queer theory, including how activism has shaped theory
- Helps you to engage further with theory through discussion questions, further readings and film recommendations
- Is thoroughly updated to engage with the latest scholarship in this fast-moving field, and includes new coverage of issues such as the impact of the rise of right-wing politics and queer experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In offering an updated reflection on the present tensions that queer theory must negotiate, as well as its unfolding future(s), Queer Theory Now is an ideal resource for anyone starting out on their queer theory journey; for students who want to get a grasp of the basic concepts, for teachers looking for a textbook for their queer theory course, or for scholars who want a quick go-to resource for key queer theory ideas and terms.

The concept of Abbreviation, proposed by the researcher and professor Maria C.D.P Lyra in the late 1980s, was extensively explored in the two subsequent decades, emerging as an important theory that underpins the early stages of mother-infant communication. As a theory, it takes into consideration significant aspects of human development, including processes of meaning-making, language constitution, and dialogism. Abbreviation Theory thus becomes the central contribution in the field of Cognitive Psychology by Maria C.D.P Lyra, serving as a focal point in her studies on the mother-infant communication process and being further explored by several of her students in the 1990s and 2000s at the LABCCOM (Laboratory for Development Studies in Culture: Communication and Social Practices).

This book aims to explore the work of Professor Maria C.D.P Lyra as an internationally recognized Brazilian researcher, her life story, passion for knowledge construction, constituting a powerful representation of the science conducted in South America by women in their relatively unknown but intellectually robust laboratory work. The book also focuses on Abbreviation as the genesis of communication, intersubjectivity, and the self at various stages of Professor Maria Lyra's reflection, as well as the intersections of this theory with other fields in psychology beyond development.

This book examines how an English terminology can be used to describe European school systems. By exploring the educational revolution of nineteenth and twentieth-century Europe, this book makes two significant contributions to the international history of education: a comprehensive analysis of over 115 English language keywords, and a reinterpretation of the expansion of primary and secondary schooling. This book will appeal to readers interested in deepening their understanding of the changing historical landscapes of European educational systems and how these may be presented using the medium of the English language.

This book focuses on the work of Dutch educational philosopher Gert Biesta. It offers a comprehensive exploration of his revolutionary ideas, guiding readers through his critique of contemporary educational thought and his alternative vision for education. By engaging with Biesta's work, we are invited to grapple with fundamental questions about the nature and purpose of education in the twenty-first century. What does it mean to be educated? What is the role of the teacher? How can education contribute to a more democratic society?

The book illuminates a different approach to the key question underpinning all of Biesta's work: what is the purpose of education? It pays particular attention to unpicking the more abstruse areas of his work, in order to make it more accessible to practitioners who are attracted to the general tenor of Biesta's work but find some of the philosophical discussions hard to digest.

This book will be beneficial to researchers, educators, policymakers, or readers interested in the future of education. At the end of it, readers will have been introduced to the key ideas of one of the most original and challenging voices in contemporary educational philosophy, as well as being able to identify exactly what it is that bothers them about modern schools and universities, and how those issues might be addressed.

The autocratic regimes in both North Korea and South Korea attempted to legitimize their rule through efforts in nation-building but achieved different results. North Korea and South Korea: Monopolizing Nationalism in a Divided Peninsula seeks to answer: How did these regimes' nation-building strategies through a variety of tools and venues differ in the process of regime development? How was nationalism utilized to construct a regime-legitimizing founding myth? What implications did these varied efforts have on authoritarian legitimacy and state-society relations under authoritarian rule?
Focusing on the period from the end of the Second World War and the start of the Korean War to South Korea's democratic transitions in the 1980s and North Korea's crises in the 1990s, Qingming Huang examines the authoritarian regimes' efforts in monopolizing the narratives of nationalism and constructing the founding myths of the regimes through textbooks and other myth-making venues. Huang argues that the North Korean regime's monopoly of nationalism helped it construct the founding myth of the party-state as an essential source of regime legitimacy. In contrast, the autocratic regimes in South Korea failed to eliminate the competing narratives about the nation and were unable to monopolize nationalism. As a result, South Korea struggled to construct a founding myth to buttress the regimes and became more vulnerable to domestic challenges.

By offering an integrated and human-centred perspective on contemporary social, cultural, and ethical challenges, this book provides readers with practical insight into how humanities scholarship can illuminate real-world problems and foster critical, reflective thinking across societies. Its greatest strength lies in translating complex ideas into accessible discussions that connect theory with lived experience and contemporary realities.

The book approaches its subject matter through an interdisciplinary lens, drawing together diverse viewpoints from literature, philosophy, history, culture, and social analysis. What is new about this approach is its emphasis on relevance and applicability: contributors do not treat humanities knowledge as abstract, but as a living tool for understanding identity, power, values, and social change in a rapidly evolving world. Case studies, contextual examples, and reflective analysis allow readers to see how humanities perspectives inform ethical decision-making and social responsibility.

The scope of the book is broad yet coherent, covering key debates and emerging themes while maintaining a clear focus on human experience and societal development. It is intended for academics, postgraduate and undergraduate students, researchers, educators, and policy-oriented readers with an interest in social understanding and critical inquiry. The book is used as a core or supplementary text in humanities and social science programmes, a reference for interdisciplinary research, and a resource for professionals seeking deeper cultural and ethical insight into contemporary issues.

The Christian church in America stands at a crossroads. It can continue to follow the path of incarceration, or it can choose the path of abolition and liberation.

For too long, the church has been a site of violence and exclusion, despite its language of love and redemption. David Dault offers a timely and provocative analysis of an unspoken crisis affecting all forms of Christianity, particularly in the American context. In the wake of rampant sex abuse and a leadership increasingly wedded to the interests of right-wing and reactionary politics, the rise of covert mechanisms of authority and decision making threaten to undermine what little trust remains in the leadership. The Covert Magisterium offers a fresh analysis of theological identities, hinging on the choice between a Christianity that defines itself through forms of incarceration, and a Christianity that sets itself on the path of abolition, inviting believers to become (in the words of the late Pope Francis) "the dignified agents of their own destiny." The book concludes with a vision of the synodal magisterium, a process of decision-making in which everyone, especially the "least of these," has a voice.