This book explores some of the most daunting workforce challenges in healthcare services in history. These challenges are not new, but reflect decades of under-investment and lack of strategic planning. According to the World Health Organization, there will be a global shortage of 18 million health workers by 2030, mainly in low- and middle-income countries.

This book draws upon the best papers from the international Organisational Behaviour in Health Care (OBHC) conference, which took place at the University of Birmingham in 2022, hosted by the Health Services Management Centre. The OBHC conference is linked to the Society for Studies in Organising Health Care (SHOC), a learned society affiliated to the UK Academy of Social Sciences. Taking an international approach, this edited volume incorporates the highest quality papers submitted by members of the society and Key themes explored include clinical leadership in times of crisis, human resource management in homecare, and organisational behaviour and the health care workforce. With its in depth coverage, this book will appeal to international healthcare practitioners.

This book has come up with the most up-to-date, comprehensive and objective analysis of China's investments in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. It covers the broad range of Sino-Pakistan relations in the backdrop of Pakistan's complex political, governance, security, socio-environmental and technological challenges that hinder implementation of CPEC projects. Backed by robust empirical evidence, a unique feature of this volume is that it demystifies several myths about CPEC concerning 'debt-trap' narrative, China's 'win-win' proposition and Pakistan's mantra of 'game changer' and 'fate changer'. By examining Chinese infrastructure-building initiative vis-a-vis competing economic initiatives such as the US/G7-led Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment, the Global Gateway strategy of the European Union, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor of the G20, a distinctive significance of this book is that it aptly situates the implications of China's growing role in Pakistan in broader regional and global context.

This book provides a critical analysis of how credit rating agencies engage with the political and economic dynamics of developing countries. Focusing on Brazil and Argentina, it demonstrates how S&P Global, Moody's Investor Service, and Fitch Ratings-the "Big Three"-employ a politics of risk that seeks to advance the interests of global financial markets while interacting with domestic governance processes. Drawing on underexplored materials such as sovereign rating reports and press releases, this book examines how these agencies deploy their evaluations and public statements as instruments of this politics of risk. Their actions respond to the political risk conditions they identify, which are shaped by factors such as government ideology and shifts in the international context. Through detailed case studies of Brazil and Argentina, this book shows how credit rating agencies become part of wider political disputes over economic policy and governance in the Global South. Bringing together key debates in International Political Economy, "Political Risk and the Politics of Risk" sheds light on the intersections of financialization, neoliberalism, and the tensions between financial globalization and democratic governance. By revisiting recent political and economic developments in two of Latin America's largest economies, this book fills a crucial gap in the literature and offers fresh insights into the often-overlooked role of credit rating agencies in contemporary global capitalism. This book will be of interest to scholars, students, and practitioners in International Political Economy, Political Science, Development Studies, and Latin American studies, as well as those seeking to understand the complex relationships between finance, politics, and power in emerging economies.

This book provides examples of how social workers have pushed back against neoliberalism, attempts to co-opt or silence social workers, and reproduce philosophical and ethical assumptions that divide humans from each other and from the natural world.

This is the second book of a two-volume set that focuses on how authors have pushed boundaries in a particular field of practice, research or policy in social work. The books are culturally, gender-, and geographically inclusive, with contributors from every inhabited continent. It is future-focused, hopeful, and inspiring: it focuses on solutions rather than merely elaborating problems. The book includes chapters from a continuum of experienced practitioners and early career researchers; this provides a nuanced and accessible view of boundaries from both ends of the career path.

The global definition of social work says that the discipline 'promotes social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people' but in many nations where social work exists, social workers are expected to act as agents of social control, ensuring that people-particularly 'the poor'-conform to established political and social norms. Most often social workers are initially attracted to the discipline because they want to empower and liberate vulnerabilised and marginalised people and communities. In order to accomplish these high-minded goals, social workers must occasionally push boundaries that confine their practice.

This volume contains eight chapters from social workers who are challenging policy and the way social work is practiced in their national settings. Authors in this book interrogate the notion of national boundaries and contemporary populist self-interest. Not only are political boundaries considered, but the boundaries between humans and their natural environments are reconsidered. The book concludes by setting out key decisions that the global social work discipline must make in order to create its future, and identifies key markers on the path to that future.

Pushing Boundaries in Social Work Around the World, Vol. 2: Policy and Global Perspectives invites social workers to reconsider their assumptions about policy practice and boundaries themselves. It encourages them to rediscover the spark that originally drew them to their work.

This book explores how public hospital sector doctors in Hong Kong understand their work and careers. Using narrative interviews with 27 medical doctors, the book examines how their personal values provide motivation and meaning for their work. How do they cope with the various hardships and crises they face in public hospitals? How can other doctors navigate similar issues in their own work? What should medical students know about the reality of medical work, as they stand poised to start their own career journeys? What should medical administrators know about work at the coal-face as they seek to tackle the problems the sector faces? This book offers a rare, personal window into doctors' views on their own work. The book also provides a useful resource for students and scholars in the fields of medical humanities, public health, the sociology of work, and narrative research.

This book explores the lived experiences of young Muslims in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States as they seek religious guidance in an increasingly digital world. Based on extensive qualitative research-including interviews with 122 young Muslims-it examines how faith, identity, and knowledge come together in modern society.

In doing so, the book looks at the role of imams in diaspora communities, the trust (or skepticism) placed in online religious sources, and the influence of family, friends, and digital religious figures. Between Clicks and Clerics captures the shifts in religious learning as young Muslims turn to both traditional and digital sources.

Through firsthand narratives, this book highlights the voices of young Muslims as they work through questions of authenticity, authority, and independence in their spiritual journeys. It shows how they balance tradition with modern life, skepticism with belief, and personal choice with community expectations. As religious authority spreads beyond traditional figures, this book examines how Islamic knowledge is changing in the Anglosphere and what it means for the future.

This book breaks down new ways to use foresight and economic theory to enhance economic planning at a national level.

Economic forecasting models often rely on time-series analysis. While important, these models can limit an economist's ability to foresee economic outcomes comprehensively. Effective economic planning and policymaking require a deep understanding of the socioeconomic and political forces that shape future economic outcomes. Using an interdisciplinary approach to economic theory and foresight, this book explores a new way to approach economic planning.

Emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and future-oriented behavior, this book highlights how policymakers and researchers can integrate foresight and futures methodologies at local and national levels. It explores the methodological challenges inherent in foresight and offers a comprehensive guide to developing and utilizing scenarios. The chapters examine factors related to human thinking and behaviors, demonstrating how this knowledge can be used to support emerging developments across various economies.

The book provides resources and management tools to help readers understand economic development using economic foresight. Acknowledging both the challenges and opportunities of long-term planning within developing economies, the authors provide recent case studies from Greece and beyond. Readers will gain a thorough understanding of the political economy of foresight and the essential theories needed to illustrate unique dynamics of socioeconomic change.

This book provides examples of how social workers have pushed back against civic and private corporate powers that attempt to control women, children, racialised and stigmatised groups, migrants, and indigenous peoples, and public policy agendas that continue to vulnerabilise and marginalise people.

This is the first book of a two-volume set that focuses on how authors have pushed boundaries in a particular field of practice, research or policy in social work. The books are culturally, gender-, and geographically inclusive, with contributors from every inhabited continent. It is future-focused, hopeful, and inspiring: it focuses on solutions rather than merely elaborating problems. The book includes chapters from a continuum of experienced practitioners and early career researchers; this provides a nuanced and accessible view of boundaries from both ends of the career path.

The global definition of social work says that the discipline 'promotes social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people' but in many nations where social work exists, social workers are expected to act as agents of social control, ensuring that people-particularly 'the poor'-conform to established political and social norms. Most often social workers are initially attracted to the discipline because they want to empower and liberate vulnerabilised and marginalised people and communities. In order to accomplish these high-minded goals, social workers must occasionally push boundaries that confine their practice.

This volume contains eight chapters from social workers who are pushing social work boundaries in their own social and national settings. The contents are organised into two clusters: pushing boundaries for women and children and pushing boundaries against isms and stigma. Each chapter contains learnings that are applicable in different practice settings around the world.

Pushing Boundaries in Social Work Around the World, Vol. 1: Women, Children and Isms inspires social workers to push against the boundaries we impose on ourselves and our discipline. This book helps social workers rediscover the spark that initially drew them to their work.

This groundbreaking book is the first to present a definition of Islamic Mindfulness, exploring how its core principles-such as present-moment awareness, acceptance, and judgment-are deeply rooted in Islamic teachings- as outlined in the Quran. It delves into key Islamic mindfulness concepts like Tawhid (Oneness of God), self-awareness, and human purpose presented as Khalifa (steward), illustrating how these ideas directly inform the practical techniques of Islamic mindfulness, which include, contemplation, Prayer (?alah), Qur'anic Recitation, and Remembrance (Dhikr).

The book also highlights how Islamic mindfulness integrates spiritual virtues and ethical principles-such as patience, gratitude, and God-consciousness (taqwa)-in a way that fosters moral and spiritual growth, emphasising the holistic approach of Islamic mindfulness to wellbeing that integrates both the psychological and spiritual aspects of the human.

By blending theory with practical application this book offers a unique framework for integrating Islamic principles into modern wellbeing and mindfulness practices, making it Ideal for researchers, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and policymakers, it offers a fresh perspective on how mindfulness can be understood, practiced, and enriched within the context of Islam-bridging Islamic spirituality with wellbeing in a transformative way.

A vision for Jesuit institutions for a just future rooted in faith and adaptable to change

The mission of the Society of Jesus-its gift to the Church, its charism-has been expressed for 450 years through its sustained commitment to the education of young people. This mission, which promotes character formation and academic excellence, continues to this day in hundreds of Jesuit institutions worldwide, at all levels of education. This commitment to developing leaders for civic, private, and ecclesial institutions has required a continuous discernment process characterized by reflection and engaged in by the Society of Jesus's leadership and its many collaborators.

The Catholic University as a Social Project presents a collection of essays that reflect on an address given by Arturo Sosa, SJ, the current superior general of the Society of Jesus. In this address, which opens the book, Sosa advocates that Jesuit institutions meet the challenges of our times through the Ignatian practice of discernment-a commitment to reflection, innovation, and openness to the new. Presented after Sosa's address, the book's contributions explore themes such as intergenerational collaboration, intercultural dialogue, and the enduring relevance of Jesuit spiritual principles in tackling contemporary challenges. This volume highlights the tension between tradition and transformation, calling on Jesuit institutions to approach the future with clear eyes on the world's problems, inadequacies, and injustices, along with a clear sense of a responsibility to work toward a better world.

This book will interest senior leadership, faculty, administrators, and trustees at Jesuit universities and colleges. Readers eager to cultivate their own hope as they embrace the vocation of serving the common good will find in Sosa's address and the accompanying essays a source of wisdom and an invitation to generative reflection and action.

Economic and social inequality have become defining features of the world economy in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. While increased inequality has been particularly pronounced in the United States, a similar phenomenon of increasing inequality of incomes and wealth has emerged in the economies of most major western European states. Realizing Equality in Policy brings together leading scholars to address current issues relating to rising inequality as it affects policy in the areas of education, health care, anti-poverty, employment, and economic policy.

With contributions from scholars of both luck and relational egalitarianism, the essays reexamine a number of basic assumptions regarding social and economic policy from an egalitarian perspective. They explore gender-based discrimination, international justice, and the possibility for engagement between socialist and left-liberal thought. Rather than focusing on the subtle distinctions that divide egalitarian views, this volume shows that both views have the potential to offer important insights about how differences might be overcome and gaps might be closed. In offering new directions for solving wealth inequality through policy, Realizing Equality in Policy contributes to ongoing conversations in political theory, economic theory, and moral philosophy.

The foundations of modern political thought, presumed secular, were laid in conversation with theologically motivated politics and in negotiation with Jewish ideas
Mid-seventeenth-century England was a hotbed in which crucial ideas of modern politics were conceived: Thomas Hobbes presented his social contract; John Selden wrote major treatises which were foundational for modern natural and international law; and England participated in the wave of republicanism that swept over Europe. This was also the period of the English Civil War-which has been portrayed as a "war of religion" and a "revolution of saints"-and was characterized by religious ends and motivations guiding politics and politicians.
In England's Israel and the Foundations of Modern Political Thought, Meirav Jones proposes that the foundational political theory conceived in this period was significantly related to the theological politics of the time. Through an examination of the language and imagery shared by theorists and saints, Jones finds that, in the twenty-year period between 1640 and1660, when Hobbes, Selden, and their contemporaries published, over 40 percent of all texts published in England contained one or more of the terms "Hebrew," "Israel," "Jerusalem," "Zion," or "Jew." Further, all known works of political theory from the period employed these terms. While preachers in English parliament addressed and understood England as "Israel," foundational theorists of the modern state employed ancient Israel as a political model and explicitly preferred Hebrew over Greek wisdom.
Modern politics did not develop solely from within a conversation among elites, neither was it conceived as a Godless enterprise, even by its most renowned secular architects. Instead, as the book demonstrates, it spoke the language of religiously motivated politics and was conceived in its terms. Ultimately, Jones argues that it was through a sweeping revival of Hebrew in early modern Europe that the foundations of modern politics were laid in conversation with theological politics and in negotiation with Jewish ideas and ideas of the Jews.

Presents a transformative journey through Christian doctrine

William Lane Craig's Systematic Philosophical Theology is a multi-volume explication of Christian doctrine in the classic Protestant tradition of the loci communes as seen through the lens of contemporary analytic philosophy. Uniquely blending the disciplines of biblical theology, historical theology, and analytic theology, these volumes aim to provide readers with a biblical and philosophically coherent articulation of a wide range of Christian doctrines.

Volume II treats the locus On God in two parts. The first part, Volume IIa: Attributes of God, explores the coherence of theism. Conceiving of God as an infinite and personal being of maximal greatness, Craig carefully defines and explicates the divine attributes of incorporeality, necessity, aseity, simplicity, eternality, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and goodness.

In the second part, Volume IIb: Excursus on Natural Theology, On the Trinity, Craig examines six arguments for God's existence, including the argument from contingency, the kalām cosmological argument, the argument from the applicability of mathematics, the argument from cosmic fine-tuning, the moral argument, and the ontological argument, along with the problem of evil. Following the excursus, he transitions to an articulation and defense of Christian theism, formulating a biblical doctrine of the Trinity and offering a model of God as a tripersonal soul.

• Contributes to a diverse theological landscape with fresh perspectives on traditional concepts
• Integrates insights from authoritative Scriptures and diverse secular disciplines
• Provides a synoptic worldview that bridges the gap between religious and scientific knowledge
• Engages with deep philosophical questions surrounding Christian doctrine
• Presents unique formulations of Christian doctrines, such as God's temporality, Molinism, and a social model of the Trinity

Offering a clear and structured exposition of complex theological and philosophical topics, Systematic Philosophical Theology, Volume IIb: Excursus on Natural Theology, On the Trinity, is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduate students studying philosophy of religion, theology, or apologetics. It serves as a core or supplementary text for courses in systematic theology, philosophical theology, and Christian doctrine, and is an invaluable reference for scholars, theologians, and religious philosophers seeking a deeper understanding of the rational foundations of Christian theism.