In this book, researchers of and representatives from various world religions contribute to the scholarship on the moral justification and future orientation of today's capitalism. The book is inspired by the sociologist Max Weber, who initiated an impressive research project on the 'Economic Ethics of the World Religions', discussing Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam. In this volume, the authors ask what from within the perspective of these religions themselves would be said today about capitalism in free markets. This text appeals to students and researchers working and interested in questions related to culture & economy, comparative religion and the economics of religion.

This book poses a provocative question: what happens when academic writing is imported not just as a skill set, but as an ideology, one that dictates whose knowledge counts, which languages belong, and how scholarly voice should sound? Focusing on English-medium instruction (EMI) universities in Central Asia, the book reimagines academic writing as a social practice rooted in power, identity, and institutional histories. Across chapters, contributors examine how students and educators negotiate imported norms, develop scholarly voice, and contest epistemic hierarchies through feedback, supervision, and writing groups. Rather than adopting global prescriptions, the book foregrounds local pedagogies, culturally embedded challenges, and creative responses to writing in EMI university contexts. As one of the first regionally grounded academic literacies volumes in Central Asia, this book offers essential insights for scholars of writing development, decolonial education, and the politics of knowledge production in global higher education reform.

This book describes the process of collectivisation policy and the "collectivisation movement" in Mongolia in the 20th century, which affected the entire agricultural sector and resulted in the "socialisation" of livestock. This brought about changes in the use of land and pasture, in the way of life and in the mentality of Mongolian pastoralists. The monograph mainly covers the years 1933-1959. For the study of the subject, mainly archival sources are used, which refer to the 20 years between 1940 and 1959 and thus, assuming the social development goals of the time, concentrate mainly on the period before the transition to socialism.

This book explores the relationship between an introduced gender equality rule and broader gender sensitivity in the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji. Key concepts of gendered institutional transformation - commitment, capacity and will - are contextualized from a Fijian gender politics perspective to uncover the extent to which actors and processes of this parliament are gender sensitive.
Very little of the global research on gender sensitive parliaments has focused on the Pacific region, despite significant investments from international organizations towards gender sensitive parliamentary strengthening. This investment is often predicated on the assumption that the international actors who have been instrumental in defining the norm are best placed to entrench it in local contexts. The case study of Fiji provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced in establishing the roots of cultural political change required to achieve truly gender sensitive parliaments.

This book, extensively revised and updated in its second edition, presents a comprehensive overview of housing policy in Australia over the last quarter century. At a time of widespread concern about declining housing system performance, it investigates the many dimensions of housing affordability and housing wealth inequality, together with government actions affecting these outcomes.

The authors analyse the causes and implications of falling home ownership, rising rental stress rates and the long-term neglect of social housing, as well as the housing situation of Indigenous Australians.

Building on its analysis of housing policy evolution in modern Australia, this new edition also documents and critiques the numerous government efforts of the early 2020s to halt the decline in housing affordability. These reforms span tenancy regulation, land-use planning and housing supply, first home buyer assistance, and social/affordable housing investment.

Throughout, the book identifies current and future housing challenges for Australian governments, recognising these as a complex set of inter-connected problems. Drawing on its coverage of the economics, politics and governance of housing provision, the final chapter outlines a pathway to the transformational national strategy needed for a fairer and more productive housing system.

This book examines the socially segregated Santals, a tribal community that migrated from various parts of Bengal and its neighbouring states of Bihar, Orissa, and Jharkhand to Kolkata, a city currently driven by capitalist-consumerist forces that pose a challenge in terms of the community's inclusion and accommodation. As residents of Kolkata for more than four decades, the Santal migrants have experienced multiple unique challenges in adapting to modern, urban life.
The book maps the political economy of social change around the globe and in India to understand how such marginalised tribes have coped with attempts to assimilate. By pursuing an ethnographic account and exploring the lived realities of the Santals as they negotiate the socio-cultural world of the city, the book attempts to deconstruct notions of 'pristine' tribal cultures and the need to 'mainstream' tribes, thus conveying a sense of the multiple discourses on the tribal question emerging from within the tribal community. In turn, it critically addresses the tension concerning the theory-practice divide in researching marginality. Combining theoretical insights with empirical discussions and thematic analyses of the qualitative data, the book offers researchers, scholars, students, and policymakers an interesting read on marginality in the context of globalizing urban spaces.

• 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.

• 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.

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 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 book takes an in-depth look at the debates surrounding democracy and social democracy. Questioning the effectiveness of elections and referenda in expressing the 'voice of the people', it explores how voters' decisions are influenced by ideology and politicians' past performance. It examines how political parties converge towards the median voter's position, and the strategies they use to win elections and justify their past performance. Furthermore, it explores the relationship between socialism and liberalism within European social democracy, highlighting the compatibility of egalitarian policies with economic competitiveness.

Written by Jose Maria Maravall, the former Spanish Minister of Education and Science (1982-1988), the book's analysis is enriched by the author's personal background. With a history of anti-Francoist activism, membership of underground organisations, and roles within the Spanish Socialist Party, the author's experiences offer unique insights into political strategy and governance. Drawing additionally on extensive data and empirical evidence, the book provides a thorough analysis of democracy, accountability, and the survival of governments, making it essential reading for anyone interested in democracy and social democracy.

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.

This book examines the way securitization (and representations) of Islam and Muslims varies from one national context to another in Western Europe over the longue duree, in contrast to most literature that assumes a homogenous post-9/11 securitization of Islam in the West. Through a detailed empirical analysis of different cultural contexts (Germany, Britain, and France), both historical and comparative, this book brings to the fore differences in the relationship between religion and politics and the different philosophical underpinnings of European understandings of integration and liberalism. It also highlights how historical representations of Islam and Muslims resonate, or not, in contemporary discourses on security, thus creating a bridge between studies of imperialism, colonialism and orientalism, and critical studies of security in international relations.

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 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.

The collapse of the USSR sparked hopes of a peaceful 'end of history', but these were quickly dashed. Why did the opportunity for the two former superpower adversaries to become partners slip away?

This book explains the complex reasons behind Russia's turbulent transformation since the dissolution of the USSR. It looks at inconsistent economic reforms, and the failure to establish democratic institutions. It also examines how the US and its allies missed opportunities to support Russia's integration into the global economic system. Drawing parallels with post-WWII Germany and Japan, the book argues that a different approach could have altered Russia's trajectory. With the West facing a prolonged hybrid war with Putin's Russia, it is crucial to understand this history to shape future policies.

Written in an accessible, engaging, and insightful style by the former Russian Deputy Minister of Finance (1993-1995) and former First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia (1995-1998), this book will appeal to anyone interested in the geopolitical dynamics of the post-Cold War era.

China's Blueprint for Global Leadership offers the first comprehensive academic analysis of China's Three Major Initiatives-the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)-launched between 2021 and 2023. Collectively known as the San da changyi, these initiatives reflect Beijing's attempt to articulate a new vision of global order rooted in Chinese values, norms, and leadership, and positioned as a challenge to the Western-led Liberal International Order.

The book analyses the origin, content, and likely consequences of these flagship proposals, placing them within the broader framework of China's foreign policy strategy during the Xi era. The authors explore how, through the GSI, GDI and GCI, Beijing seeks to present a coherent global vision that spans the realms of security, development, and political ideology. In doing so, China proposes itself as a leader beyond its immediate region-particularly for the Global South and the BRICS coalition.