• verfasst von mit dem Sozialverwaltungsrecht besonders vertrauten Autoren
• umfassende Auswertung der massgeblichen Rechtsprechung von BSG und Obergerichten
• zahlreiche Vergleiche mit Regelungen des Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetzes.

• das Siebte Gesetz zur Aenderung des Vierten Buches Sozialgesetzbuch und anderer Gesetze und
• das Gesetz ueber die Entschaedigung der Soldatinnen und Soldaten und zur Neuordnung des Soldatenversorgungsrechts.

• kompakte und praegnante Darstellung
• schneller Einstieg in das Thema der betrieblichen Altersversorgung
• praxisorientierte Ausfuehrungen anhand aktueller Rechtsprechung

• Art. 14 Achtes Gesetz zur Aenderung des Vierten Buches Sozialgesetzbuch und anderer Gesetze von Dezember 2020
• Die Neuauflage beruecksichtigt die aktuellen Entwicklungen in der Rechtsprechung und Literatur, die geltenden Grenzbetraege/Obergrenzen sowie alle weiteren wichtigen Aenderungen fuer die betriebliche Altersversorgung.

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence discusses the need for ethics accompanying developments in artificial intelligence, from the point of view of different disciplinary fields and sectors of activity.

Artificial intelligence is profoundly restructuring our practices, creating new methods and significantly influencing the way we think and interact, at the level of individuals, organizations and societies, whether in our private, public or professional lives.

This book begins with a rather conceptual approach, particularly focusing on the possible future of AI. It then highlights the urgent need to establish an ethical framework for the uses associated with AI, illustrating two booming sectors of activity. Finally, it discusses the ethics of AI in professional sectors that are undergoing major changes because of the digitization of their activities.

Offers a groundbreaking analysis of how artificial intelligence is reshaping the dynamics of political communication and electoral competition

AI and Electoral Campaigns delivers a timely, in-depth exploration of how artificial intelligence is disrupting the foundational processes of electoral democracy. As AI technologies increasingly shape political communication, this much-needed book equips readers to identify and critically assess the emerging threats to transparency, fairness, and legitimacy in democratic elections. Drawing on real-world cases from across the globe-including Argentina, India, the U.S., and Slovakia-the authors present an empirically grounded taxonomy of AI-related threats, including deepfakes, firehosing, cognitive hacking, astroturfing, and psychographic microtargeting.

AI and Electoral Campaigns fills a critical gap in the literature by addressing not only the political and communicative dimensions of AI's role in elections, but also its legal and ethical implications. The authors propose a clear framework to evaluate the impact of AI through principles-based analysis and present comparative insights into the regulatory responses emerging in diverse jurisdictions. With a structured approach that spans historical context, threat classification, ethical considerations, and legal strategies, the book focuses on the systemic challenges AI poses to electoral integrity.

A foundational guide for navigating the next phase of democratic resilience in the digital age, AI and Electoral Campaigns:

• Offers a global analysis of the new vulnerabilities and systemic risks AI introduces to democratic processes
• Features technical, legal, and practical insights from experts with frontline electoral policy experience
• Addresses the role of electoral management bodies (EMBs) in countering AI-driven disinformation
• Includes an in-depth review of current legislative and regulatory responses from different jurisdictions
• Highlights underexplored "cyberpathologies" in political discourse shaped by AI technologies

AI and Electoral Campaigns is essential reading for postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students enrolled in courses such as Political Communication, Media Law, AI and Society, and Electoral Law. It is suitable for degree programs in Political Science, Communication Studies, Law, and Public Policy, and also serves as a key reference for electoral officials, policy makers, and legal practitioners.

• mit allen relevanten Neuerungen
• wissenschaftlich fundierte Kommentierung
• praxisnah und meinungsstark

• Die Neuauflage kommentiert bewaehrt und praxisnah die InsO in aktueller Fassung. Enthalten sind die Aenderungen durch das MoPeG, durch das Kreditzweitmarktfoerderungsgesetz, durch das Gesetz zur weiteren Digitalisierung der Justiz, sowie zum Postrechtmodernisierungsgesetz.
• Aktuelle Rechtsprechung z.B. zum Anfechtungsrecht oder zum Schutzschirmverfahren sind umfassend eingearbeitet.

This book presents an in-depth exploration of contemporary police leadership in Norway, drawing on unique data from police leaders. Through interviews with former and current police commissioner, police chiefs, prosecutors, and law enforcement executives, it examines their backgrounds, leadership philosophies, and the evolving role of top management within the Nordic model of policing.

Situating police leadership within broader societal and organizational contexts, the book analyzes the impact of reforms, crisis, crime trends, and elite influence on decision-making at the highest levels. It offers insights into how leadership shapes daily operations, investigations, and long-term strategic development.

By synthesizing the experiences of Norway's most senior police leaders-alongside perspectives from Swedish and Danish national police commissioners-the book provides a previously unexplored perspective on modern police leadership. Concluding with a new model for contemporary top-level police leadership, it is a valuable resource for scholars, policing professionals, and those interested in law enforcement governance.

Despite decades of evidence that justice-involved individuals are disproportionately affected by adversity and present with trauma-related symptoms, the links between trauma and offending and the mechanisms that explain these associations are underdeveloped within the social and psychological sciences. This book synthesises trauma and criminological literature and augments it with the author's own experience and research. It begins by facilitating an understanding of the key concepts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma and their relevance to criminology, sociology and social policy. The book then explores the burden that is experienced by the justice involved population, analyses reasons behind the burden, and highlights areas for prevention. Importantly, the book proposes a theory of deprivation to explain the overrepresentation of trauma in the justice system, the aim of which is not to conclusively explain these observations, but rather to generate interest and further research in the area. This book addresses a significant gap in the offending and prevention of offending literature and embeds trauma and offending into routine criminological, sociological and social policy teaching.

This volume addresses the drivers and mechanisms of institutional change in Europe and East Asia during times of international crisis. Under what conditions and through what processes does a form of regionalism or regionalization change? Why is there a different pace of development, and what mechanism is responsible for institutional change? Is it simply copying, or are there other mechanisms at work? Why do regions institutionalize, and why don't others?

We will distinguish between "regionalization" and "regionalism." While the former is a bottom-up process involving all kinds of citizens, non-governmental organizations, and academic circles, the latter is a top-down activity. It is the work of states, public international organizations, and diplomats. This book focuses on both phenomena. One could argue that East Asia first experienced regionalization, followed by regionalism. In the EU, however, it may be the other way around, as international organizations and elites have largely driven the integration project thus far.

In this book Juergen Habermas offers a wide-ranging reflection on his life and work and on the factors that shaped the development of his thought. He discusses the motives behind his work, the circumstances under which it emerged and the changes it has undergone over the course of his long and productive career. He speaks about the events and the texts that played a decisive role in his thinking and he recounts key encounters with colleagues. The image that emerges is that of a richly intertwined network of relationships which covers large swathes of the intellectual map of the twentieth century and reaches through to the present day.

Looking back at the development of his thought, Habermas discusses the specific historical circumstances that shaped his generation, identifies key experiences with his intellectual mentors, explores recent historical tendencies and political beliefs and talks about his own scholarly works and their reception. Time and again we see the normative impulse that lies behind so much of Habermas's work: 'I view the attempt to make the world even the tiniest bit better, or even just to be part of the effort to stave off the constant threats of regression that we face, as an utterly admirable motive.'

This autobiographical self-reflection by one of the greatest philosophers of our time will be of interest to a wide readership.

This Palgrave Pivot offers an in-depth exploration of the intricate interplay between gender, identity, and religion among the Nat community, a marginalized nomadic group in India and Nepal. Chapters delve into the historical context, societal norms, and cultural dynamics that shape the identities and roles of Nat women and the challenges they face. Examining the intersectional vulnerabilities of marginalized women, this book offers a nuanced understanding of the interplay between identity, gender, caste, and religion in shaping lived realities and deepens the discourse on the complex relationship between structural inequality and identity in South Asia. It thus contributes to scholarly debates on the politics of recognition, resistance, and agency among historically oppressed groups. This book will be of interest to students and scholars in sociology, gender studies, anthropology, legal studies, human rights, dalit studies, and South Asia studies, as well as policymakers, NGOs, and social workers aiming to support the empowerment and social inclusion of Nat women.

This book fills a major historical gap by investigating the role played by Jewish American organizations in the rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Tunisia's Jewish population during and after World War Two. Using a variety of archival sources to explore the intricacies of this intervention and the dynamics of interactions between these organizations and local Jewish leaders as well as Tunisian government officials, this book highlights that Jewish American organizations present in Tunisia during the wartime and postwar periods played a major role not only in the rescue and relief of the country's Jewish victims of war and German occupation but also in their educational, vocational, and medical rehabilitation which aimed to prepare them for immigration to Palestine.

This book undertakes an in-depth exploration of the pivotal role of rice, which is the world's most essential food crops, sustaining over half of the global populace. It meticulously analyzes how rice cultivation constitutes the material bedrock and defining characteristic in the evolution of Asian civilization. Additionally, it scrutinizes rice culture, which holds sway as the traditional mainstream in China and the majority of countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The author, with an extensive background in archaeological research within the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, anchors the specific content of this volume in materials sourced from this region. The book then proceeds to engage in a comprehensive inquiry into the fundamental question of the origin of rice cultivation, drawing on archaeological evidence, historical records, and interdisciplinary perspectives to offer a nuanced understanding of this significant aspect of human history. The book is divided into six chapters, which describe and analyze the origin, evolution and development of rice farming in the world and focus on the rich and diverse cultural styles and diversity characteristics of rice cultivation civilization in various parts of Asia due to geographical location and regional environmental differences.

This volume reflects nearly two years of Zoom interviews conducted leading up to and following the 2020 US election. In contrast to the abundance of literature on Trump and the far-right/left, the stories within highlight the struggle of the anti-Trump conservative voters who consider themselves caught between two increasingly polarized parties. Left behind by their party, and unwilling or unable to join the opposition, these individuals find themselves abandoned by the system dictated by a series of choiceless decisions. Grounded in anthropological and political theory and field methods, the interviews housed within this book reflect the advantages of the qualitative and holistic approach ethnography brings to the understanding of political identity.

The book begins with a brief but comprehensive overview on the history of the Republican Party from Eisenhower to Trump. The following chapter then unpacks the complex and subjective label of 'American conservatism'. Chapter Three ends with a breakdown of the dominant principles within conservative thought identified in the literature cited and each interview. The next few chapters analyze the party exits through a combination of Albert Hirschman's (1970) Exit, Voice, Loyalty model and social identity theory. The final chapter of this book presents the reader with an opportunity to consider their positionality as it impacts the future of American democracy.

Providing an interdisciplinary analysis of political identity in the American electorate, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of US politics, electoral politics, identity politics, political parties, public anthropology, and social science in general.

This book offers a nuanced exploration of gender politics, agency, and coercion across two interconnected contexts: Muslim diasporic communities in the UK and Muslim-majority countries, including Morocco, Pakistan, and Iran. It traces issues such as religious arbitration and forced marriage in the UK, legal reforms and women's rights in Morocco, women's political participation in Pakistan, and trans women's marital lives and feminist resistance in Iran. Chapters highlight the complex, context-specific, and intersectional nature of gender politics, showing how class, immigration status, religion, and legal frameworks shape experiences of agency and constraint. Rejecting simplistic binaries, this book reveals the multiple forms of resistance that challenge patriarchal norms. It adds to vital conversations about justice and rights by sharing the experiences of women and trans individuals in different Muslim settings. This book offers insights that can inform more transformative, inclusive strategies for advancing gender equality. It will be of interest to researchers and students in gender studies, women's studies, Islamic studies, Middle Eastern studies, diaspora studies, and sociology, as well as politicians, legal practitioners, policymakers, activists, and journalists concerned with women's rights.

This work-divided across three volumes-chronicles three decades of the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan (1628-1658). The first two volumes are by Abdul-Hamid Lahauri, and the third volume, available for the first time, is by Muhammad Waris. Since it is a court chronicle, the emphasis throughout is on the rise and fall of courtiers, governors, administrators, and military commanders and on incessant military campaigns in the Deccan, Bengal, and Afghanistan, but valuable details of life at court and the architecture of one of India's most avid builders are also included. This is an indispensable resource for students and scholars of Mughal India as well as those interested in Persian and Iranian studies.

The Persian Gulf 2024-25, part of the annual Persian Gulf Series published by MEI@ND, offers a comprehensive and systematic analysis of important political, foreign policy, security, economic and societal developments in the nine Gulf countries, namely Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and focuses on the developments of 2023 and 2024. It captures the important political, diplomatic, economic, strategic, cultural and expatriate-related developments between India and the regional countries in 2023 and 2024, and offers concise policy recommendations for the Indian industries, businesses, defence and security establishment and the Government of India.

The book will interest universities and colleges with departments on international relations and foreign policy, as well as strategic and research institutions and think tanks as well as governments engaged with Persian Gulf countries.

This book examines the peacebuilding efforts in Cote d'Ivoire after the 2002-2011 civil war, highlighting the complex dynamics of conflict resolution and social cohesion in fragile states. It analyzes historical, political, and socio-economic contexts, and provides practical insights to address inequalities and strengthen sustainable peace in Africa and beyond.

The book further scrutinizes UN-supported programs and various conflict resolution strategies, including mediation, negotiation, arbitration, and military intervention, as they are applied in Cote d'Ivoire and other African contexts. Key chapters explore the root causes of Ivorian conflicts, such as economic disparities, ethnic tensions, and political power struggles, and discuss the challenges of disarmament and economic instability.

The book highlights the importance of community dialogue, reconciliation, and local leadership, especially women, to advance harmony and address social inequalities. It critically analyzes external influences and evaluates international and regional peacebuilding strategies. The book will appeal to students, scholars, and researchers of political science, international relations, African studies, security studies, and the social sciences, as well as policy-makers interested in a better understanding of peacebuilding in Cote d'Ivoire, Africa, and beyond.

This book explores the relationship between tragedy and the justice that is sought in moral philosophy and the law. It shows how our moral and legal judgments can be seen as aesthetic or tragic judgments, and it considers what kind of passion or vocation moves the science and scholarship of law. It questions how democracy relates to the tragic dimension of existence and the conscience of so-called 'democratic man.' Using Nietzsche as a point of departure, these considerations fuel a tragic-creative ethics as well as an artistic excellence that promises to be vital both in theory and also in the practice of democracy, lawgiving and adjudication. From Nietzsche's call to revive tragic thought to the voices of Pascal, Kierkegaard, Dostoevsky, Buber, and Tillich, a new path unfolds-one that reconnects law with life, creativity, and conscience. This book is of interest to researchers, advanced students, and professionals interested in the relationship between aesthetics, ethics, and the basic foundations of law prior to a rationalist and positivist science of jurisprudence.

This book provides a comprehensive account and conceptualisation of the history and development of the middle class in Greece. What is the history of the middle class in the West after World War II? How is it related to consumerism, individualism and emancipation? How did it reach this, now unanimously admitted, existential crisis? Which is the historical course of the middle class in Greece from the 1960s onwards? Through which experiences was the social contract of the middle class during the Metapolitefsi drawn up? How is it that the Greek family acts as the middle class' natural habitat and its condemnation at the same time? Is there still a middle class identity in Greece or is it scattered in rival micro-communities of people who can hardly co-exist today, in a space of social and emotional desolation? Will the pandemic crisis validate the inequalities that govern the relationships among the members of the old middle class in Greece or will it prove to be a chance for a new social and cultural convergence?

This book provides new insights into how excessive loyalism hinders Russia's authoritarian government. When Russian bureaucrats, diplomats and academics go to great lengths to display their loyalty to the regime in Moscow, many observers regard it as a show of regime's strength. Yet where this results in overcompliance, excessive praise or needlessly aggressive rhetoric, it becomes a source of weakness - not only alienating citizens at home and irritating allies abroad but even contributing to costly strategic mistakes, such as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The book engages with an intractable dilemma facing the regime: it cannot punish these actors for being too loyal, but it also cannot allow such expressions of loyalty to break the boundaries it sets. The author helps explain why the regime has repeatedly stunned the international community with unexpected political moves and, in several cases, become its own worst enemy. In doing so, he illuminates many of the dynamics through which sycophancy undermines authoritarian governments across the world. The book addresses a broad array of manifestations of excessive loyalism and sycophancy in Russia - from rude and offensive comments of bureaucrats to rhetorical dissonance in the foreign policy to politically motivated rhetoric in the Russian academia. It combines quantitative and qualitative tools to study sycophancy empirically and develops a theory of excessive loyalism, which is applicable well beyond the Russian case.

Alexander Libman is Professor of Russian and East European Politics at the Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany. His main research interests include comparative politics of authoritarian regimes, Russian politics, historical legacies of authoritarianism and authoritarian cooperation in the post-Soviet Eurasia. His work has been published, among others, in the American Political Science Review, Comparative Political Studies, World Politics, Perspectives on Politics and British Journal of Political Science.

This book examines fair citizen participation as a key element of effective policy support. Over the past two decades, many countries have embraced more reflective and inclusive governance in environmental policymaking.

This book demonstrates how democratic and deliberative approaches yield better policy outcomes than technocratic methods that only superficially engage the public. Reflective governance highlights the importance of deliberative democracy, offering fair and open discourse opportunities for all stakeholders. Throughout the chapters, some of the most renowned authors in the field present the principal mechanisms for public engagement in deliberative decision-making.

By exploring innovative formats like stakeholder round tables and citizen assemblies, this book provides practical guidance on their unique merits and limitations. It addresses scholars, practitioners, and representatives of administrations, public and private institutions, and NGOs interested in a better understanding of the selection and design of the most effective formats for competent and fair policymaking, ensuring each format meets its full potential.