This monograph examines the appropriation and ludification of the Germanic heroic tradition in video games as a digital medium, a process that unfolds on the margins of official discourse about the early Middle Ages. The project analyzes the adaptation of medieval material to the video game format through the use of Germanic epic motifs, such as the configuration of the hero, his conflict with the antagonist, and the pursuit of fame and wealth, derived from the medieval written sources that inspire them. Using narratology, the author evaluates the remediation of these narratives in video games as a playful, digital, and immersive experience.

This volume examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) surveillance tools, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV), facial recognition, and license plate readers, across Africa. Although governments claim these technologies combat cybercrime and terrorism, the book shows that they are often used to monitor citizens without their knowledge or consent.

The book also reveals that China has become the leading supplier and installer of these tools, helping to build powerful surveillance systems in many African countries. Drawing on examples from across the continent, the book argues that these technologies are shaping new forms of digital control. This book will appeal to scholars, policymakers, diplomats, human rights advocates, and students of African politics, international relations, and security studies.

This book explores the often-overlooked experiences of Black NASCAR fans, challenging the sport's traditional image as a stronghold of Southern white conservatism. Through a narrative inquiry approach, the book examines how Black fans navigate and transform NASCAR's cultural and spatial landscapes. Divided into three sections, it delves into Black placemaking within NASCAR, the impact of pervasive whiteness in the sport's geographies, and offers practical recommendations for fostering greater inclusivity within NASCAR. The presence and influence of Black fans within this space have largely been ignored in academic discourse, media coverage, and the sport's own self-representation. This book seeks to address this significant gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive and in-depth examination of how Black fans engage with, navigate, and transform the cultural and spatial landscapes of NASCAR while providing actionable insights for creating more equitable and inclusive environments in American sports.

This book sheds light on the reasons for our inaction in matters of the environmental crisis and presents solutions to address the crisis. The work draws on numerous disciplinary fields, such as psychology, neuroscience, anthropology, biology, philosophy, sociology, economics, ethology. The author argues that it is not possible to correctly understand the current environmental crisis in the light of a single discipline and emphasizes the importance of cognitive sciences to address the environmental crisis. He shows that the reasons for human inaction relate as much to the characteristics of our psyche/brain as to those of the consumption society that we invented and have lived in at least since the Neolithic. The analysis presented stresses the need to regulate individual behavior and to call into question our consumption patterns. Without questioning the characteristics of both modern society, and the way our brains work, will make it impossible to resolve the environmental crisis. This book proposes a revolutionary change of the way we live and act to preserve the planet.

This book presents a rigorous formulation of the general equilibrium model in economies with topological and measurable mathematical structures. It aims to provide basic tools and analytical methods for advanced graduate students and researchers interested in microeconomic theory and game theory. It is based on lecture notes distributed among advanced graduate students in the advanced mathematical economics course at the Ph.D. level. The book presents a unified treatment of the general equilibrium analysis of economies with perfectly competitive markets based on the Walrasian model. It is divided into Part I and Part II. The mathematical analysis of general equilibrium in perfectly competitive economies begins in Part II. As a mathematical preparation for Part II for most economics students, Part I collects some basic mathematical concepts and facts that are later needed and used in the theoretical economic analysis. Some readers may wish to start the book from Part II and refer back to Part I whenever it is necessary to review mathematical concepts and related well-known mathematical results referred to in the text.

The presentation of theoretical economic analysis of general equilibrium theory in Part II is organized chapter by chapter: Basic Concepts of Equilibrium Analysis, Mathematical Structure on the Space of Economic Agents' Characteristics, Individual Demands, Economies with a Measure Space of Consumers, Walrasian Equilibria of Economies, Production Economies, and Edgeworth Equilibria as the Core of Economies. The mathematical analysis in this book uses topological and measurable structures that are essentially built into the model to provide an appropriate means of expressing the characteristics of economic agents that form a basic part of economies along with commodities in market transactions and market prices for valuation in markets.

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the architecture and design disciplines, transforming how we design, think, and teach. This volume explores how AI is becoming not just a powerful digital tool but an active partner in the creation of more sustainable, adaptive, and forward-thinking design processes.

Focusing on the intersection of design, sustainability, and emerging technologies, this book investigates how AI contributes to the resilience of the architectural profession, supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and drives educational innovation aligned with the UNESCO 2019 Beijing Consensus.

Across the book chapters, leading researchers explore new workflows where AI enhances design development, enables complex analysis, and redefines creative roles. The book also examines hybrid analogue-digital practices and the adoption of computational concepts in design, revealing how architects are adapting to a deeply digitised future.

Organised around three central themes-AI for sustainable design, the evolving role of the architect, and innovation in education-this volume is essential reading for designers, educators, and researchers navigating the shifting landscape of architecture in the age of intelligent systems.

Part of Springer's Urban Sustainability series, AI-Aided Design for Sustainability offers critical insight into the tools, mindsets, and methods shaping contemporary architecture.

This book provides a synthesis of Late Neolithic / Early Chalcolithic imagery from South-Central Anatolia, encompassing both Central Anatolia and the Lake District. It explores the nature of transformations and continuities in imagery during the period between 6500-5500 BC. The author examines three main categories of artifacts - pottery, figurines and stamp seals - to trace the presence and transformation of particular images in time.

The Neolithic site of Catalhoeyuek (7100- 5950 BC) in Central Anatolia is renowned for its elaborate art found inside the houses. A wide variety of anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and geometric motifs and themes were reproduced on wall paintings, reliefs and mobile objects. The author addresses the question of what happened with the repertoire of motifs in the upper levels of Catalhoeyuek and after its abandonment, and what circumstances might have been related to this transformation. To reassess the imagery, data was collected from Late Neolithic levels at Catalhoeyuek investigated by the Polish team since 2001, as well as from four intensively excavated sites from the Lakes region: Hacilar, Kurucay, Hoeyuecek and Bademagaci. The author applies the semiotic perspective of American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, which they argue is a useful framework for discussing the imagery and its transformation over time. The analytical model used is the so-called replication, which allows grasping the diachronic changes. It has never been applied to studies on Neolithic / Chalcolithic imagery.

As the first monograph to specifically focus on the positive evaluation of belief (doxa) as a crucial concept in Plato's epistemology, this work contributes significantly to scholarly research by offering a fresh perspective that deepens our understanding of Plato's theory of knowledge. It shows that doxa is indispensable to the acquisition of knowledge in the human life, thus disproving the long-held notion that Plato was a mere idealist in this respect.
The author examines the nuanced, multifaceted role of belief in a well-chosen selection of Platonic dialogues (Meno, Republic, Theaetetus, Philebus, and Timaeus), challenging traditional as well as modern interpretations by letting belief step out of the shadow of knowledge. By offering detailed analyses of relevant arguments, engaging with previous research and providing an innovative interpretation, it is shown that doxa is not only a central but a highly versatile concept in Plato.
This study appeals especially to scholars of ancient philosophy and epistemology as well as to all students of philosophy interested in Plato and epistemology.

This book examines the cultural encounter and conflict that arose during the French occupation of Egypt (1798-1801) by analyzing mutual perceptions of the French and Egyptians. It investigates how the image of Egypt, originally shaped by the writings of late eighteenth-century French travelers, was transformed in the minds of those who participated in the French campaign, and how it was used in Napoleonic propaganda. The book demonstrates that French impressions of Egypt contributed to broader generalizations about the imagined Orient and analyzes how these attitudes were linked to French colonial policy. It includes the Arab perspective on the occupation, challenging the one-sided narratives found in French sources. Evgeniya Prusskaya argues that French perceptions of 'Oriental' society directly influenced French policies in Egypt, reinforcing a framework of violence and fostering the development of a colonial mindset, which later evolved into the dominant narratives of nineteenth-century imperialism. The book also examines the legacy of the Egyptian campaign during the French occupation of Algeria in the early 1830s.

This book investigates how authoritarian regimes extend repression beyond borders by targeting diaspora communities. Focusing on the strategic fusion of soft, sharp, and hard power, it introduces the concept of hybrid transnationalism to explain Turkey's deployment of cultural diplomacy, religious outreach, surveillance, abductions, and legal manipulation-such as the misuse of Interpol Red Notices. These mechanisms are shown not as isolated acts but as part of a coherent strategy to suppress dissent, enforce ideological loyalty, and consolidate authoritarian rule transnationally.

The book draws on rich empirical data, including institutional case studies and cross-border repression incidents, revealing how Turkish institutions like the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) serve dual roles-facilitating cultural ties while enabling surveillance and community control.

Situated within the broader landscape of global authoritarianism, the book offers comparative insights, highlighting shared tools of diaspora surveillance and the manipulation of international institutions. It emphasizes how Turkey's position within liberal internationalism allows it to exploit democratic norms and mechanisms while undermining them from within.

Timely and theoretically innovative, the book contributes vital understanding of how authoritarianism becomes mobile, adaptive, and emotionally resonant in the 21st century. Readers will benefit from an in-depth understanding of how authoritarian regimes operate across borders and the vulnerabilities in global governance systems they exploit. This book is essential for scholars, policymakers, human rights advocates, and diaspora members seeking to understand and counter the challenges posed by transnational repression. It offers actionable insights into safeguarding democratic values, protecting vulnerable populations, and reforming international institutions. The book fills a critical gap in the literature on authoritarianism, diaspora studies, and international law, making it a timely and indispensable resource.

This book explores the intricate relationship between humans and animals in the context of modern Turkish history. From drafted animals in war, to urban stray dogs and the role of cattle in the Kurdish conflict, the cases developed in this book show how animal lives are deeply entangled with human affairs, including complex social organisations such as families, states and nations. In doing so, the book exposes power dynamics, exploitative practices, and the discursive regimes that underpin development, nationalism, and urban growth.

This important book offers a timely exploration of human-animal relations, critically revising a number of concepts such as human rights, productivity, health and efficiency from a multispecies perspective.

The book revolves around narrative as an intriguing, as well as intricate object of analysis and demonstrates how theoretically sound and empirically founded narrative research can look like. Migration is imbued, motivated, and shaped by imagination. Based on the everyday language around migration in Cameroon, the author is exploring social narratives about migration and their relationship with the global. Migration storytelling is a cultural force which speaks about people and their lives to the fullest: What they aspire to, the risks they take, and the stories they tell about all of it.

Ancient African Futures provides a creative and critical account of the history and form(s) of systemic constellations practice (SCP) applying a decolonial lens, emphasizing the profound significance of Zulu epistemology on its origins.

The volume opens with an autoethnographic account of the author's African diasporan / European identity and its bearing within the SCP profession. It offers a summary introduction to SCP as a discrete modality of Western psychotherapy, commonly accepted as the creation of Anton Hellinger, a German national. Hellinger was a Jesuit missionary priest in South Africa during the 1950-1960s. The author argues that this colonial phenomenon and Hellinger himself, are emblematic of the European Imperial project. The volume scrutinises this historic-contemporary dynamic in relation to more-than-Western indigenous epistemologies, advocating for a pluriversal reckoning, considering European colonial histories and indigenous forms of cultural resistance.

Having interrogated the asymmetric dynamic exchange between Africana and Western cultures, the volume then explores a 'speculative manifesto'. This manifesto proposes numerous concrete actions regarding future curriculum design and faculty representation within professional SCP trainings, championing a recalibration, decentring whiteness, making SCP a profession more open to and representative of diverse global communities. Honouring their historic, cultural, colonial, postcolonial and political experiences, alongside their contemporary narratives of migration, settlement and resistance to Western neocolonialism. Ultimately, advocating for an empathetic and celebratory, Black / Global Majority Heritage-inclusive SCP practice model.

This book delves into the vibrant and dynamic cultural landscape of Latin America, exploring the creative frictions that arise from the coexistence among, and tensions between, diverse cultures. Inviting readers to think through critical questions about cultural and textual adaptation, this book examines how stories, texts, genres, and cultural practices develop into configurations that are both distinct and intimately connected to their progenitors. The metaphor of the "edge effect," borrowed from ecology, serves as a lens to understand these productive tensions. This book addresses a wide range of topics, including cultural change in the Americas, intertextual relationships, and adaptive histories. Ideal for scholars in Latin American studies, film studies, and adaptation studies, this book offers a novel analytical framework that enriches current academic practices and theories of hybridity, contact zones, and rhizomatic connections. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the complex interrelations between Latin American cultures and their textual and artistic expressions.

This book studies the approach Thomas Ritchie's Richmond Enquirer took on the Haitian Revolution. It focuses on the paper's coverage of two major events that most historians have overlooked: Haitian ruler Jean-Jacques Dessalines' massacres of French colonists in 1804 and President Jean-Pierre Boyer's invasion and annexation of Santo Domingo (the present-day Dominican Republic) in 1822 and its aftermath. Using archival evidence, the book shows that the Enquirer was objective and even relatively friendly to the Haitian Revolution. Even in reporting such seemingly egregious acts as the massacre of the white population in 1804 and the invasion and annexation of a militarily weak neighbour eighteen years later, it avoided the use of implicitly or explicitly racist pejoratives toward the Haitian revolutionaries. The book contributes new perspectives on the Haitian Revolution's final stages, particularly on these two important events in its evolution, as well as the Southern US press's observations and reactions toward them. After briefly analysing other scholars' treatments of US newspaper reports on the Haitian Revolution, which invariably ignored the Richmond Enquirer, the essay discerns that Northern newspapers paradoxically expressed greater fear of the Haitian Revolution's impact on slave revolts and social stability than the Southern press did.

This book discusses how people experience and inhabit high-density and high-rise urban environments, drawing on current literature about the psychological, physical, and environmental health impacts. It brings a novel exploration of the evolving definitions of space and new ways of socializing within vertical urban settings, coupled with a cutting-edge approach focused on applying neuroscience principles to urban design. International case studies from Singapore, Seoul, and Hong Kong convey useful lessons for the urban design and morphology of high-density cities.

This book explores the transformative power of urban public space for women's empowerment. Addressing a critical gap in the existing literature, the authors develop an empirically grounded methodology to measure women's interactions and empowerment in contemporary public spaces across diverse urban settings. The book provides a practical framework for researchers and urban planners to assess women's socio-spatial experiences in specific urban contexts and work toward improving public spaces through a gender-responsive approach. Beyond its contribution to the urban planning and design literature, particularly in the area of women and public space, this book highlights the central role of public space in enriching women's social lives and promoting their empowerment. It expands our understanding of the role of women in the urban fabric and offers valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to create more equitable, inclusive and empowered cities. The book presents a fresh perspective on the intersection of gender, urbanism, and empowerment, and invites readers to engage in the ongoing dialogue shaping the future of urban public spaces.

This 3-volume set examines how suburban spaces shape and reflect human experiences in North America, Europe, and Asia, bringing together works by an international group of scholars who explore suburbia through critical analyses of literature, culture, sociology, history, politics, and urban planning. The multidisciplinary and international scope of each volume offers readers a wide breadth of perspectives. Suburbia Reconsidered thus contributes significantly to the expanding field of suburban studies by offering novel insights into the representation of suburbs in literature, the cultural significance of suburban environments, and the socio-economic challenges confronting suburban communities across the globe.

Volume 2 of this 3-volume set explores representations of suburbia across various forms of popular culture and media, including rap, punk, and classical music, cinema, and theme parks. Contributors analyse how these cultural products both reflect and shape perceptions of suburban life. These diverse representations provide valuable insights into the evolving perceptions and realities of suburban existence across different contexts and media.

By integrating insights from literature, cultural studies, sociology, history, and urban planning, Suburbia Reconsidered enhances our understanding of suburban spaces and their potential for positive transformation, and encourages scholars to explore new methodologies and perspectives.

This book focuses on how youth work and music is measured and valued. The collection explores the landscape of youth work and music, music production and young people's identities, and the opportunities and constraints within the measurement of these kinds of programmes. In addition, it analyses the impact of music-making on young people's wellbeing, the criminalisation of minoritized groups of young people and subcultures, and the evaluation of informal education and creative education. Amid ubiquitous music-making and sharing by young people globally, these essays provide a practical resource with particular relevance for educators and cultural policymakers.

Chapter "Listening to Practice: Valuing the Informal in Youth Work Evaluation" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This is an open access book. What holds societies together-and what drives them apart? As worry over political polarization and social cohesion intensifies across the globe, this volume explores timely and vital questions of social cohesion and polarization through the lens of Computational Social Science. It brings together leading and junior scholars who harness the power of computational methods to analyze, model, and understand discourse, social relationships, and beliefs. Drawing on tools such as agent-based modeling, social network analysis, and natural language processing, the book offers a range of innovative approaches to study how belief systems form, attitudes polarize, and communities fragment.

Aimed at researchers, students, and practitioners across disciplines, this volume is both an introduction to the field and a showcase of its most promising applications. It is an introduction into CSS of social cohesion and polarization, and an invitation to rethink how we study-and perhaps even how we can repair-the social fabric.

This book views the whistleblower as a key character in democratic societies. It argues that whistleblowing is likely to become an increasingly important form of action in the coming years. Whistleblowers are unique actors in our democracies because they disclose wrongdoing from the inside, as organization employees. With their privileged access and specialized knowledge, they contribute powerfully to public, democratic, and moral debates in a way that no one else can. The book explores whistleblowers' relation to democracy by connecting them to values such as suspicion, openness, honesty, and critique. While anchored in a cultural sociological tradition, the book draws on several different sociological thinkers such as Niklas Luhmann, Ulrich Beck, Anthony Giddens, Juergen Habermas, and Pierre Bourdieu. Themes in the book include the democratic history of the whistleblower, normalized wrongdoing in organizations, the place of whistleblowers in popular culture, and Big Tech whistleblowing. This book will be of interest to readers in fields including political sociology, public sociology, the sociology of work, and organization studies.

Exploring the enduring legacy of colonialism as it transitions through postcolonialism and neocolonialism, shaping identity, culture, and indigeneity, Hamid H. Kazeroony reveals how power structures, representation, and justice continue to be influenced by these forces, especially in the evolving landscape of AI.

Covering the rise of AI-driven data biases, extractive business models, and the persistence of Western-centric knowledge production, chapters highlight how AI can be leveraged to disrupt global inequalities, promoting intellectual and cultural equity. Topics include global governance, the ethical implications of AI, and the potential for AI to reorient entrenched colonial power structures, offering a nuanced exploration of how AI can help foster social justice and responsible management.

It provides a valuable resource for those seeking to understand and dismantle the colonial mindset in the digital age.

Understanding Communication: Concepts, Contexts and Contemporary Practices edited by Prof Dahiya offers a comprehensive exploration into the multifaceted dimensions of communication, from its historical roots to its contemporary dynamics and future possibilities. The book's structured sections are designed to guide readers through foundational principles, sociological frameworks, theoretical paradigms, contemporary communication dynamics, specialized areas, and the transformative influence of emerging technologies in communication. Divided into six sections, it begins with an engaging introduction that sets the stage. The section on Fundamentals of Communication, explores the evolution of communication from the prehistoric era to the digital age. Further, it unpacks the essential concepts and processes, and understand the role of medium, signs, and language in shaping human interaction. The next section on Sociology of Communication delves into the intricate relationship between communication, society, and media. It analyzes the dynamics between media and audience, and examine communication within various sociological contexts. The Models and Theories of Communication and Mass Communication section navigates Western and Indian perspectives, contrasting models and ideologies. It provides scholars with insights into comparative analyses and enhances their understanding of mass communication and the intersection of communication behaviour and social psychology. Contemporary Communication Dynamics highlights effective communication techniques, the art of listening, and the significance of oral traditions. It also explores the intersection of communication behaviour and social psychology. The book then caters to the specialized areas of Communication and addresses government, strategic, diplomatic, political, business, and organizational communication. Readers will learn the nuances of developing messages, corporate communication, and navigating intercultural contexts while adhering to ethics and law. Finally, the last section on Communication and Emerging Technologies explores the impact of digital communication, multimedia convergence, AI, and emerging technologies. It concludes with an insightful look at the future challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of communication. It is an indispensable resource for students, scholars, academicians, professionals, and anyone keen on mastering the art and science of communication.