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?

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.

At the end of the twentieth century, the United States birthed a new Middle East order built on realpolitik and a stable balance of power. Three decades later that order has been destroyed. America's disastrous invasion of Iraq along with the failed Arab Spring created a vacuum that has allowed revisionist powers to extend their influence across the region.

In West Asia, Mohammed Soliman argues that it is time for the United States to move decisively away from nation-building and get back to the business of order-building. To do so will require zooming out, in both geographical and historical terms, to build a new regional order across 'West Asia' - from the Middle East to South Asia, connecting Europe to the Indo-Pacific via the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Working with India, Italy, Greece, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Japan, the UK and the United Arab Emirates, among others, he shows how the U.S. could lock in a new balance of power in the Eurasian supercontinent to offset China and Russia's efforts to disrupt the status quo and create a rival system. This new strategy rests on three layered coalitions - geostrategic, hard-power, and geo-technological - that together can anchor a stable order stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. But this will require a fundamental shift in U.S. grand strategy, with 'West Asia' at its core.

The Middle East is no more. Welcome to West Asia.

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.

This book presents primarily firsthand information from some mysterious and unpublished archaeological sites excavated in the Swat Valley in the 1980s. In addition, new studies of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, rock art, and ancient routes leading to and through Gandhara, as well as the analyses of epigraphic and numismatic evidence presented here, argue for a reconsideration of the established political, cultural, and religious history of Gandhara. The book also focuses on previously unknown discoveries, reviews selected research works, and critically reexamines some older finds by situating and studying them in their respective archaeological and landscape contexts. The inclusion of archaeological data and their study in a broader geographical and cultural context is also the objective of this book. Furthermore, it studies the reasons for the mixing of cultures and the processes of compromise, particularly between Gandhara, Central Asia and China.

What if the FBI's surveillance of the New Left wasn't only about repression and cynical self-interest?

This book revisits one of the most controversial episodes of the Cold War: the FBI's counterintelligence investigations into the activist leaders of SDS and other radical groups. While scholars have rightly emphasized political overreach, constitutional violations, and the Bureau's institutional self-interest, newly declassified documents reveal that it also possessed a stream of intelligence - often fragmentary, sometimes credible - that pointed to international ties many scholars have overlooked or discounted.

Through close historical analysis of this evolving intelligence picture, the book complicates the dominant narrative of Hoover-era surveillance. It shows how the FBI and other agencies perceived the New Left's developing connections to Cuba, North Vietnam, and other Communist powers, and why they came to see those ties as potential counterintelligence threats.

Rather than defending the Bureau's conduct, the book seeks to understand it on its own terms, emphasizing how counterintelligence agencies operate amid deep uncertainty and limited oversight. In doing so, it offers a new perspective on the internationalization of the New Left, the nature of foreign influence, and the machinery of Cold War security. A work of historical and analytical recovery, it challenges prevailing narratives in U.S. political history, intelligence studies, and the historiography of the 1960s.

This open access book examines how policymakers respond to natural hazards in the wake of global climate change. Through a series of five case studies it assesses how changing patterns of natural hazards collide with established patterns of spatial planning, and how alternative strategies could be operationalised in local policy practice. Due to global warming, wildfires and floods are occurring in regions where they had previously been virtually unknown. Yet local public policy for immediate protection against natural hazards has remained at the margins of both public and scholarly attention. The book argues that when it comes to the containment and mitigation of natural hazards as the consequence of climate change, effective prevention requires accurate anticipation of impacts, appropriate policy settings, and the mobilization of administrative skill.

This edited book reflects on the development and importance of psychosocial and mental health support in disaster interventions and management in India. Drawing on scientific studies and reports from the Indian context and Asian countries, this collection discusses the importance of psychosocial support for effective recovery, strengthening resiliency, and long-term sustainable development. The chapters examine the role of government's policies and humanitarian organizations in relation to critical situations due to disasters (earthquakes, floods, landslides, cyclones, tsunamis, conflicts), health emergencies (COVID-19), or human error (gas leak).

An invaluable read for researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of disaster management & risk reduction, mental health and psychosocial support, crisis intervention, community based interventions, and clinical services, this book collects examples and case studies to promote the development of four strategies of psychosocial support in disaster interventions: micro level interventions; standardized practice; knowledge sharing; government policy initiatives.

In recent years, political scandals involving nepotism, sexual harassment, coercion, and abuses of power have captured global attention. This book sheds light on this phenomenon, highlighting the transformations in media and journalism in the digital age and broader socio-political trends.

Amidst global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, scandals increase rapidly as institutions struggle under pressure, leading to moral and legal transgressions. These scandals drive public conflict along ideological lines and serve as strategic tools in political battles, reinforced by partisan media.

The book explores how scandals contribute to the spread of conspiracy theories, feeding public skepticism towards institutions. Based on recent research by international experts, it comprehensively analyzes the interplay between crises, conflicts, conspiracy narratives, and scandalization in modern society, presenting their impact on political and social dynamics.

Public Administration, Civic Engagement, and Spanish-Speaking Communities builds on the first bilingual (Spanish-English) special session at the National Academy of Public Administration's 2022 Social Equity Leadership Conference. Expanding on the themes of that groundbreaking conversation, this interdisciplinary volume addresses the urgent need to center multilingual voices in the pursuit of social equity in public administration. It examines the lived experiences and systemic challenges faced by Spanish-speaking communities in the United States-from language and cultural barriers to generational divides and unequal access to technology-while also highlighting innovative approaches to inclusive service delivery and democratic participation.

With 31 contributors representing diverse identities and disciplines, this volume models walking the social equity talk. Most chapters are coauthored by teams of scholars, students, and practitioners at different career levels, bringing forward the voices of Spanish-speaking communities alongside allies and social equity champions.

Designed for faculty, students, researchers, and practitioners alike, the book offers both breadth and depth: each chapter can be read on its own, yet together they create a comprehensive portrait of civic engagement, governance, and social equity in Spanish-speaking contexts.

This is the second edition of Springer's first wide-ranging, multi-authored handbook on philosophy of medicine. It covers the underlying conceptual issues of many important social, political and ethical issues in health care and, as such, provides a single source of information for this far-ranging and still developing field. This new edition of this authoritative handbook includes topics that have gained momentum in the last couple of years. This second edition introduces and develops nearly one hundred topics, concepts, and issues in the field. It is written by distinguished specialists from multiple disciplines, including philosophy, health sciences, nursing, sociology, political theory, and medicine.

Many complicated social and ethical issues in health care are based on conceptual problems, most prominently on the definitions of health and disease, or on epistemological issues regarding causality or diagnosis. Philosophy is the discipline that deals with such conceptual, metaphysical, epistemological, methodological, and axiological matters. This handbook covers all the central concepts in medicine, such as ageing, death, disease, mental disorder, and well-being. It is an invaluable resource for health care specialists who want to be informed and stay up to date with the relevant discussions, as well as philosophers and ethicists with an interest in medicine, and members of the general public with an interest in health care and related issues. The text also advances these debates and sets the agenda for years to come.

This book explores how public appointments influence and are shaped by political and administrative factors, and their impact on governance, state capacity, and democratic legitimacy across Latin America. Through comparative analyses and case studies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru, it investigates the complex interplay between political interests and meritocratic principles. The volume examines how politicized appointments affect institutional performance, corruption, and societal inequality, shedding light on strategic calculations behind cabinet formation, bureaucratic recruitment, and professionalization efforts. By dissecting the tensions between politics and bureaucratic expertise, it also highlights the challenges of politicization and the possibilities of professionalization and merit-based reforms. Rich with nuanced insights, this work serves as a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners aiming to understand and enhance public sector governance, institutional reform, and democratic stability in Latin America and beyond.

Bangladesh has one of the most centralized local resource management systems in Asia. It is, however, one of the lowest-performing regions in terms of local resource mobilization. The book focuses on the union council, otherwise known as a Union Parishads (UPs), which is the smallest rural local government unit in Bangladesh. The book examines the legal provisions and practices of resource mobilization at UPs to understand the effects of resource mobilization on development activities and the obstacles encountered by UPs when attempting to mobilize resources. Based on the extensive empirical research into UPs, which includes surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, as well as a review of government reports, working papers, and legal frameworks, the authors argue that current legal provisions and practices in local resource mobilization are ineffective for their intended purpose. The book also suggests remedies and policy recommendations for the effective mobilization of local resources.

This collected volume brings attention to the understudied work of the Russian philosopher, theologian, and Christian existentialist, Nikolai Berdyaev (1874-1948), showing that his philosophy is important for the present and future. It appeals to students, researchers and the general audience in revealing that through Berdyaev, humanity does not simply evolve from the biological to the technological but rather it is a presence and spiritual experience that places beings in the cosmos and provides real meaning. This edited volume presents contributions from a diverse group of scholars filling a lacuna in the scholarship of this classical thinker.

As democratic systems come under increasing strain worldwide, assessing their strength and resilience is more urgent than ever. Some argue that local democracy can serve as a bulwark against democratic backsliding-providing institutional resilience, political diversity, and grounded arenas for citizen engagement. But to fulfil this role, it must itself be strong, accountable, and responsive. Swedish Local Democracy at the Crossroads makes the case for continuous, systematic evaluation of democratic institutions at the local level and introduces a structured framework for doing so.

Applying this framework to Sweden-one of the world's most decentralised countries-the book offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of Swedish local democracy available in English. Swedish municipalities are key actors in delivering welfare services, upholding political legitimacy, and maintaining citizen trust. Yet they increasingly face rising demands, institutional ambiguity, and weakened party structures that challenge their ability to govern effectively.

Grounded in historical context and detailed empirical analysis, the book explores enduring tensions and outlines potential pathways for reform. It examines core dimensions such as representation, participation, institutional design, and the evolving relationship between politicians and bureaucrats. While centred on the Swedish experience, its insights extend well beyond national borders and will appeal to researchers, students, policymakers, and practitioners concerned with democratic governance and institutional renewal.

• 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.

• Gegenstand und Grundlagen des Arbeitsrechts (einschliesslich Rechtsquellen und Europaeisches Arbeitsrecht)
• Schwerpunkte des Individualarbeitsrechts (Arbeitsverhaeltnis, Begruendung, Pflichten, Beendigung, Kuendigungsschutz, Leistungsstoerungen, Haftung)
• Arbeitsgerichtlicher Rechtsschutz
• Arbeitsschutz

• mit zahlreichen Anschauungsfaellen, Beispielen und Uebersichten
• pruefungs- und praxisgerechte Vermittlung des Stoffs
• Klassiker der arbeitsrechtlichen Literatur

• zum Whistleblowing, Hinweisgeberschutz
• zu Sorgfaltspflichten in der Lieferkette
• zur Plattformarbeit

• Abgrenzung von Arbeitsverhaeltnis und Selbstaendigkeit
• Digitalisierung und des Datenschutzes
• Arbeitszeit- und des Urlaubsrechts
• Entgeltgleichheit
• AGB-Kontrolle
• des Betriebsuebergangs

This open access book assesses the links between decentralization and crises management in Czechia, paying particular attention to the ways in which local municipalities have dealt with turbulent problems including the Covid-19 pandemic and the migration crises caused by the war in Ukraine. There are more than 6000 municipalities in Czechia, most of which have fewer than 1000 inhabitants. With limited resources, municipalities are often forced to cooperate when it comes to dealing with major political and societal issues. Yet the various ways in which local governments cooperate, and the wider impact this has on the country as a whole, has not been fully examined. Drawing on existing literature and interviews with local governors, the book examines how decentralization affects the way crises are handled, and summarizes experiences and lessons from Czechia. In doing so, it identifies both the challenges brought about by decentralized local government systems, as well as the ways in which they contribute to community governance and its resilience. The book will appeal to all those interested in public administration and local government studies.

This book takes a step back from the usual debates over conscience in medicine and asks whether the conscientious practice of individual healthcare practitioners is coherent and acceptable on its own. This book argues in the affirmative and describes how we move forward in light of the deep moral and professional disagreement that exists. The book explains why the current framing within the debate is mistaken and offers an alternative framing. In so doing, the author discusses disagreement within healthcare professions, the distinction between conscience protectors and conscience dissenters, and how to properly understand the role of religious and personal philosophical reasons in practicing conscientiously. The book articulates the key confusion in much of the current debate - that disagreement over conscience in medicine is due to religious or personal philosophical beliefs - and rejects it. The book then, positively, argues that differing accounts of moral responsibility are at the root of this disagreement, opening up new avenues for dialogue and potentially fruitful collaborations. The book concludes with a much needed and basic discussion of what is going on when practical judgements are made in healthcare: the medical act. This book is of great interest to both advanced undergraduate and graduate students in philosophy, bioethics, and medicine, as well as researchers, physicians, and health professionals.

Geopolitical Challenges to the Global Influence of Western Society examines complex shifts, exploring how emerging forces, from geopolitical realignments to technological innovations and demographic changes, are redefining global power structures.

Exploring the decline of Western-centric dominance, alongside the rise of new power centers such as BRICS nations and regional powers, chapters assess the evolution of international governance and supranational institutions, the role of energy resources, the impact of trade disputes, and technological advancements that are reshaping international relations. Through an interdisciplinary lens, discussion spans the challenges posed by populist movements, migration, and shifting economic dynamics, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the underlying forces that threaten the existing world order. Authors provide thorough historical context and current analyses of global trends, making a case for why a nuanced understanding of these factors is crucial for both scholars and policymakers. As new geopolitical alliances form, and the influence of Western nations faces unprecedented challenges from emerging powers, this book offers fresh insights into the mechanisms driving these changes and their potential future impacts.

Focusing on providing in-depth case studies and real-world examples, this publication contributes significantly to the fields of political science, international relations, and global governance, making it an essential resource for academics, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders.

This book traces narratives of belonging around the globe from a political theory perspective. It highlights that such narratives have developed within the context of cultural exchange and relationality, i.e. transgressing space and time and embedded in relations between material and immaterial objects. These narratives are formed transculturally, forcing people to re-consider, re-negotiate, and re-evaluate their thoughts about community and belonging over time and often leading to changes and ruptures. In getting a deeper understanding of such exchanges of personal and intellectual constellations, this volume identifies potential anthropological constants in global thinking about belonging. Despite different linguistic, spatial, and cultural socialisations, trying to establish ways of living together that offer ontological security seems intrinsic to human life. Insights into what unites people, rather than divides them, might proof beneficial in finding ways for more sustainable peaceful human relations.

This edited volume is the fifth in the Japan Decides series and the premier venue for scholarly research on the 2024 general election for the Japanese House of Representatives. The 2024 election was historic, with Japan's long-ruling LDP suffering its second worst showing at the ballot box since it was founded. The volume features a broad range of scholarship from top researchers in Japan, the United States, and Europe. After an introduction that sets the stage, the second section analyzes political parties, including the LDP, CDP, Komeito, and Ishin. The third section explores the campaign, and features chapters on the policy positions of candidates, social media, public opinion, party manifestos, and turnout. The fourth section analyzes the major policy issues surrounding the election, including the Unification Church and money scandals, women's representation, LGBTQ+ rights, childcare, macroeconomics and inflation, and Japan's role in the global economy. The conclusion synthesizes the original research in the volume's chapters to provide a coherent overall explanation for understanding the election in both historical and comparative perspective.

This book offers an introduction to the history and course of the Russian war against Ukraine. Through this book, readers will:

- gain data, facts, and a general understanding of Russia's current war against Ukraine;
- understand the connections between history, culture, and politics on the one hand, and Russia's aggression toward its neighbors on the other;
- learn about the legal, economic, and humanitarian dimensions of the war;
- be able to correctly interpret new developments related to the war;
- expand their knowledge of international relations, international law, and the positions of individual states and organizations beyond the current war.

The book has a modular structure. Each chapter examines a different aspect of the war.

This book offers the first in-depth analysis of the evolution of Russia's relations with the Global South across political, military-political, and economic domains.

Though formally part of the Global North, Russia has, since 2007, increasingly positioned itself as an independent-and often opposing-actor to the West, aligning more closely with the Global South. This volume explores Russia's foreign policy during the 2022-2024 war with Ukraine and confrontation with the West, analyzing it at both global and regional levels.

The contributors propose models for understanding the Kremlin's shifting strategies, including doctrinal orientations, redefinitions of national interest, and the role of personal leadership. The book also examines the tools of Russian foreign policy in the evolving geopolitical context.

It highlights key areas such as Russia's efforts to reshape BRICS as a geo-economic counterweight to the West, its renewed activism in Sub-Saharan Africa, complex Middle Eastern diplomacy, and its strategic turn to Latin America-all within the broader pivot to the Global South.

Placed in long-term historical context-from the medieval era to the 2000s-the book combines theoretical and applied analysis. It is written for a multidisciplinary audience and is suitable for academic and classroom use.

This book provides a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the full spectrum of Russian influence operations targeting international actors and various segments of society following the onset of the war in Ukraine. It explores Russia's revisionist foreign policy, which has long aimed to challenge the post-Cold War international order through a combination of information operations and military power.

Russia's extensive military campaign in Ukraine is framed not merely as an assault on the Ukrainian nation but as a broader confrontation with Western countries, as orchestrated by the Kremlin. The book examines the deliberate escalation of tensions since the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv (2013-2014) and the subsequent overthrow of the pro-Russian Yanukovych regime. This period marked the beginning of intensified hostilities, culminating in the annexation of Crimea and the establishment of pro-Russian puppet states in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2014, followed by their incorporation into the Russian Federation in February 2022.

In addition to providing a historical overview, the book examines the organization and structure of Russian influence operations. It introduces modernized concepts and offers a novel classification of "influence operations," exploring their connections to information warfare, computational propaganda, disinformation, cyberattacks, AI-generated attacks, and the manipulation of politicians and opinion leaders, among other tactics. This study presents a critical resource for understanding the multifaceted nature of Russian influence strategies in the contemporary geopolitical landscape.