This book, based on in-depth field interviews, takes a fresh look at the phenomenon of diaspora communities exercising 'soft power' in the context of the Indian American diaspora in the US. By using an interdisciplinary approach, it marks a departure from the traditional study that measures the effectiveness of soft power sources by their popularity. Instead, it acknowledges the matrix of socio-economic and political factors, both internationally and domestically, which contribute towards the evolution of diaspora as a source of soft power. It focuses on how demography, policies and structural changes led to the evolution of an Indian American networking/strategic elite class. Exploring their participation in political fundraising and subsequent penetration into US foreign policymaking circles, this book analyses the foreign policy-related advocacy campaigns carried out by them and contributes to diaspora studies, foreign policy, international relations and political science.

This volume examines the complex interplay of geopolitics, electoral politics, and representative governance across South, Southeast, West, and Central Asia through an intersectional lens. Analyzing electoral developments in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, it explores diverse political systems ranging from consolidated democracies to hybrid regimes and entrenched authoritarian states. With many of these countries having held national elections in 2024, the volume offers timely insights into how majoritarian, proportional and hybrid electoral systems mediate governance, legitimacy and citizen participation. It interrogates the role of elections in enabling democratic representation while exposing how identity politics, majoritarianism, and systemic exclusion continue to shape outcomes. Combining macro and micro perspectives, the volume provides grounded, comparative analyses of Asia's political trajectories and will be of interest to scholars and students of political science, international relations, area studies, and electoral politics.

Combining impartial analysis with reliable facts and figures, this fully revised and updated 25th edition provides up-to-date commentary on these vast North American nations.

General Survey

Essays by leading experts analyse topics of regional importance, including:

- US-Canadian integration, climate change in the USA and Canada, and US foreign policy in the Arctic region.

- a directory of US and Canadian diplomatic representation abroad

- select bibliographies on topics concerning the entire North American region

Country Surveys

Each country is dealt with in greater detail within its own section. Country chapters include:

- a chronology of political events

- essays covering key socio-political and economic themes, including: recent political developments, foreign policy, the judicial system, the economy, energy policy, and trade

- historical, political and economic surveys of each of the US states and Canadian provinces and territories

- statistical surveys of economic and demographic indicators

- comprehensive directory sections covering public affairs, the economy and society, which provide contact details and other useful information for the most significant institutions in the region.

- select bibliographies on the history, politics, society and economy of each country

Collecting the ideas of a dozen young scholars, this book investigates the symbiotic relationships among globalization, diaspora, foreign policy, sustainability, and the profound psychological effects that ensue. This synthesis of diverse disciplines paints a vivid portrait of our interconnected world, offering a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities including sustainability and climate issues. Readers are taken on a journey through the complex shade of diaspora, unravelling the significant role played by global communities in bridging cultural divides and fostering international networks. The examination of foreign policy dynamics provides insights into how nations navigate the evolving global terrain, responding to the interconnected challenges of the 21st century. This book will be of interest to scholars of globalization, diaspora, and those seeking visions of the future.

This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the European Union's trade policy and its external perception, incorporating a post-colonial perspective and utilizing a hermeneutic analysis of an extensive media dataset. It responds to the scholarly, educational, and practical demands for a deeper grasp of the intricate dynamics at the crossroads of trade, sustainable development, and identity development.

The research delves into the EU's identity as a global normative trading entity, examining systemic, identity-related, and specific-issue dimensions. By focusing on bilateral trading connections with former European colonies, the study advances a fresh decentering agenda within the realm of EU foreign policy and international relations. This agenda incisively questions the EU's Eurocentric standpoint, communications, and behaviours in its external interactions, notably with past colonies of EU member states, particularly in the context of global trade. This is timely giventhe new geopolitical context, with increased ideological rivalries while urgently demanding international cooperation to channel the effects of climate change.

Leveraging the concept of perceptions and framing, the research presents innovative insights substantiated by meticulous empirical observations. Consequently, this study enriches our comprehension of the EU's function and challenges as a trading entity and illuminates the intricacies of its interaction with Southeast Asian nations, contributing valuable wisdom to the domain of international relations.

This book provides a useful framework for addressing the various aspects of current Asia-Europe relations, including examinations of power transitions and geopolitics, values, and pragmatism, climate change and sustainability, technology and innovation, and infrastructure and connectivity. It discusses the current state of affairs, the future of these relations, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the two regions. In modern times, developments in infrastructure, such as transportation and communication technologies, have enhanced these regions' connectivity. Yet, other geopolitical forces and power transitions are also influencing the stability of European-Asian alliances, sometimes in uncertain directions, particularly as competition between China and the United States disrupts the global order. The book also considers the impact of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict, in relation to Europe-Asia diplomacy. The book pivots on two fundamental questions: How can the two regions bridge their differences and cooperate to meet common challenges? And what opportunities-and challenges-arise for deeper political and economic integration in doing so? A valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and those interested in future of Asia-Europe relations, this book is a novel resource for researchers in political science and international relations, sustainability studies, sociocultural studies, and all areas relating to Asian and European regionalism.

This Handbook offers a state-of-the-art overview and comprehensive analysis of the emerging field of cyber diplomacy. During the last twenty years a complex cyber ecosystem has been emerging that is increasingly challenged at various levels, in different domains and by a variety of actors. Core issues range from cyber (dis)- information warfare and frequent cyberattacks on critical infrastructure to sophisticated cybercriminals penetrating systems for income or simply securing rights online. Such challenges are not only of a strictly technical nature, but have also important social, economic, legal and geopolitical implications. This broad policy agenda can neither simply be addressed by states alone nor by traditional diplomats that practice or engage in negotiations over securing cyberspace, whether this is in relation to regulations, norms, rules or indeed technologies that can provide security and preserve fundamental rights and freedoms on the Internet. Developments in practice and in theory require more complex conceptualisation and understanding of cyber diplomacy: of what it is, of who practices it where and how? The Handbook seeks to contribute to the wider question on how cyber diplomacy might have affected and changed the tools and approaches of diplomacy itself and might influence the study of diplomacy in the future.

This book explores the little known root cause and nature of the Cyprus conflict;fills the huge gaps that have been, over time, airbrushed out of Cyprus’s postcolonial
history; traces the UN led settlement process from 1964 to 2025, sharing Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot positions at the talks; evaluates the performance?of the UN in Cyprus; identifies the key reasons that have contributed to the failure of the talks; and sheds light on the needs of an equality-based, fair and sustainable?settlement in the critical/strategic geography that Cyprus finds itself.

This comprehensive survey of the countries of East and South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, along with 22 Pacific islands, fully revised to reflect current economic and political developments, is an essential resource for the Asia-Pacific region. Calendar of Political Events A calendar of events provides a convenient reference guide to the year's main political developments. General Survey Written by leading experts, this collection of essays provides incisive analysis of regional issues. Country Surveys Individual chapters on each country containing: ? essays on geography, history and the economy ? an economic and demographic survey of the latest available statistics on population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, communications and education ? a comprehensive directory of names and contact details covering the most significant political, financial and commercial institutions ? a country-specific bibliography. An entire section is dedicated to the Pacific islands, including specially commissioned essays examining the contemporary politics of the islands, their economies, security concerns and the environmental issues confronting them. Regional Information ? includes all major international organizations active in the region, their aims, activities, publications and principal personnel ? a detailed survey of major commodities in Asia and the Pacific ? a directory of research institutes specializing in the region ? select bibliographies of books and periodicals covering the Asia-Pacific region ? an index of regional organizations

Addressing Climate Risk in Coastal Urban Areas of East and Southeast Asia provides an in-depth exploration of the multifaceted challenges posed by climate hazards in coastal urban areas of East and Southeast Asia. It addresses interconnections between climate science, physical climate threats, engineering solutions, financial impacts and strategies for resilience. With contributions from leading experts, the book presents a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach for tackling physical climate risk, combining scientific knowledge with practical solutions.

The book is divided into three parts, covering:

• analysis of key issues and pain points in tackling physical climate risk from the perspectives of meteorological, engineering and financial sectors
• a methodology integrating principles of resilience, climate change science and financial risk assessment to provide a comprehensive framework for enhancing resilience
• a range of case studies that offer practical examples of state-of-the-art approaches, demonstrating how theoretical concepts can be applied in real-world situations.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and tackling the complex challenges posed by climate hazards in East and Southeast Asia's coastal urban areas. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners and decision-makers in each sector, helping them to plan, design, operate, and manage their assets under uncertainty.

This is an open access book. This volume critically examines challenges in the field of current and future military technology from a transdisciplinary lens. It helps objectify the debate around the development of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS). The volume offers a differentiated, informed and open approach to military artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the public realm, in politics and in the military itself. The contributions weigh the risks that artificially intelligent automation, like any new technology, brings, against technological innovation and progress. They address the issues of testing new technologies, implementing them socially and reflecting on their use, along with questions of unintended consequences of such technologies. The volume is divided into three parts. The first discusses perspectives on AI; how AI systems are understood by the public, by soldiers, and in cultural discourses. The focus is on (but not limited to) military applications. The second part focuses on the challenges and changes posed by the use of AI in military conflicts and addresses issues of how to deal with them. The third part examines the communication challenges posed by the implementation of AI in the military and the associated opportunities and risks.

This highly topical and timely volume is for researchers and students across disciplines who have an interest in military technology and those interested in AI and new technology.

China and the Global South in a Contested World Order is a timely and thought-provoking exploration of China’s growing influence across the Global South. From the Belt and Road Initiative to China’s rising power in Africa and Southeast Asia, this book explores China’s vision of a new world order and its unique approach to “true ?multilateralism”. Through compelling case studies and fresh insights such as China’s underexplored provincial diplomacy, it reveals the shared challenges, opportunities, competition, cooperation and untapped potential between China and the Global South. The author calls for deeper collaboration between China and the Global South to harness their collective potential in an era of global crises and shifting power dynamics. This book offers essential understanding of how this relationship is shaping the future of global change.

This book examines the occurrence and repercussions of insecurity on Africa’s oceans and seas, their impact on state sovereignty, national security, and the economy, and looks at how it could be moderated, eradicated, or combated. Maritime security is generally and primarily associated with piracy in the world’s oceans. But it is expansive and broader than that. As such, the book also looks at extralegal activities such as illegal fishing, kidnapping, human trafficking, smuggling, pollution and erosion, terrorism, that occur not only in the world’s oceans but also in regional seas, rivers and ports. The authors also focus on how national measures to combat maritime insecurity work alongside inter-governmental organizations and legislation such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

This book offers a timely exploration of how authoritarian states communicate with foreign publics, blending strategies of attraction, persuasion, manipulation, and control. As authoritarian regimes grow more sophisticated in projecting influence beyond their borders, this publication investigates the tools they employ from soft power initiatives in culture, sports, and academia to sharp power tactics of disinformation and censorship. Through a comparative lens, authors uncover the nuances of these regimes' practices, challenging assumptions about where public diplomacy ends and propaganda begins. By examining cases including China, Cuba, Egypt, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Venezuela, this book sheds light on the transnational implications of authoritarian public diplomacy in an era of shifting global power dynamics. An essential reading for scholars of international relations, political communication, and public diplomacy, this publication offers fresh insights into the evolving struggle for influence on the world stage.

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This book delves into the innovative thinking, new and key agendas, and practical evolution of China's diplomacy in the new era. As the world has entered a new epoch, the once-in-a-century world transformation is accelerating, and great power rivalry becomes increasingly prominent, with the Sino-US strategic competition emerging as the driving force behind the tremendous shifts in international relations. The interaction between China and the world has undergone significant changes, and China's diplomatic adjustments have captured global attention. This book elucidates the underlying logic behind these diplomatic adjustments, summarizes the manifestations of China's diplomatic concepts and innovative practices, highlights the numerous new issues arising from China's interaction with the world, analyzes the challenges and dilemmas faced by Chinese diplomacy, and explores new directions for China's diplomatic breakthroughs.

This book serves as a theoretical guide for professional researchers, including experts, scholars, research personnel, and students, while also offering a systematic understanding for a wide range of readers interested in China-related issues, including those in the business world, policy circles, and international activists.

The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence. A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content.

The book’s main aim is to present an understanding of why public diplomacy is relevant in today’s changing global world order and explain how Turkiye is investing in this field, prompted by the developments regarding its foreign policy. The readers will be informed about the relationship between international relations and public diplomacy efforts; the example of Turkiye will focus on the transformation the country’s practices. The concept of power will be put under the spotlight, and various aspects such as influence, and soft power will be addressed as well. Turkiye, surrounded by numerous challenges from ongoing conflicts in neighboring countries to global threats including terrorism, feels the need to communicate its policies in an accurate way to the international publics to support its foreign policy objectives, focusing on tools of public diplomacy. It is believed that the book will be of great interest to scholars of international relations, public diplomacy, and political communication. The book will provide a nuanced understanding of the role of concepts such as influence, soft power, reputation in international relations by giving a detailed example of Turkiye’s approach.

This book offers an account of the European Union (EU) facilitated dialogue for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, examining how the EU’s approaches, local politics, and civil society shaped the process. ?Rich with sources, it is essential reading for peace negotiations and EU’s work in the Western Balkans. Using first-hand experience, the book explains why the talks scored significant wins but have yet to achieve full normalization of relations between the two countries. Chapter 1 outlines the objectives of the normalization dialogue. Chapter 2 examines why the normalization dialogue became necessary even after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Kosovo’s independence was legal. Chapter 3 dissects the dialogue's so-called ‘technical’ phase, while Chapter 4 examines the shift to the political phase. Chapter 5 showcases civil society's corrective power and limits, while the conclusion deduces lessons for future EU mediation approaches and conflict resolution.

‘The indispensable guide to the election: invaluable statistics, revealing insights, astute analysis. A must-read for those interested in Irish politics.’

? David McCullagh, author, journalist and news presenter, RTE

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‘The How Ireland Voted series is the go-to guide for each election, used to analyse the last election and prepare for the next. How Ireland Voted 2024 continues in that tradition with fascinating data, analysis and coverage of the whole election. Indispensable.’

? Mary Regan, Political Editor, Irish Independent

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‘The book offers fascinating insights into party and voter dynamics during the 2024 Irish elections, all within the unique Irish party and electoral system. It’s exciting to see so many political scientists building on the growing wealth of high-quality research data to explore electoral and campaign behaviour in such depth and detail.’

? Professor Georg Lutz, University of Lausanne?

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In 2024, all across the democratic world governments were being thrown out of office as far-right and other radical parties made breakthroughs. In Ireland, the conditions seemed favourable for change. An ongoing housing crisis, which had heightened Sinn Fein’s electoral expectations, and a turbulent year preceding the election, which had seen anti-immigration riots in Dublin city centre, suggested that Ireland might follow the international trends. Yet support for the incumbent Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties held up, and the government was returned to office, albeit with new junior partners. How did this happen?

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This tenth volume in the?How Ireland Voted series?provides the definitive analysis of the election. It covers the campaign, the results and voting behaviour, government formation, and has a particular focus on the reasons why there was no far-right breakthrough. With an overview of Ireland’s newly emerging party system, it asks: is this the New Normal?

This research contributes to scholarship on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights at the international level and how LGBTQIA+ non-governmental organisations (NGOs) use international channels to advance the cause domestically, with a focus on countries that have a strong presence and influence of the Catholic Church. Case studies include Ireland, Italy and Peru. Based on over fifty interviews, author Helen Karen West identifies how specialised LGBTQIA+ INGOs facilitate access to international channels for local NGOs and argues that by accessing transnational networks and utilising international NGOs to access United Nations’ (UN) channels, local NGOs have a better chance of influencing domestic policy change in majority Catholic countries. She argues that it is necessary to consider an additional actor to predict outcomes more efficiently: the opposition, in this case, the Catholic Church and affiliated organisations, and its transnational network. West offers helpful insight into influencing domestic policies in countries with strong opposition to allow LGBTQIA+ organisations a better chance to succeed in their work and further the academic dialogue.?

This volume examines the history of natural disasters in the United States and the nation's ongoing struggles with long-term disaster preparedness and response. It explores the political, economic, and cultural factors that have shaped the country's vulnerability. It highlights why, despite its vast resources, the United States has remained one of the most resistant actors in recognizing and mitigating disaster risk.

Bringing together contributions from a variety of fields, this book analyzes the role of political institutions, media narratives, and cultural perceptions in shaping disaster policy. It examines key historical events to identify patterns of governance failure and missed opportunities to build resilience. Ultimately, this volume provides crucial insights into the historical baggage that the United States brings to multilateral climate negotiations, helping to explain its often frustrating role on the international stage.

This book is essential reading for students, researchers, and scholars in the social sciences, humanities, and environmental studies, as well as policymakers and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges and shortcomings of U.S. disaster mitigation policy.

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Chapter?“‘Becoming Green:’ Resilient and Green Building as Risk Mitigation in Atlanta, Georgia” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This book is one of three volumes that provide a systematic overview of public administration, public management and public governance in Italy. This second volume adopts an interdisciplinary approach to introduce readers to the ways in which public administration in Italy has been studied by various disciplines since the conception of the modern Italian state more than 150 years ago, including administrative law, management, economics, psychology, political science and public policy. The book also assesses key traits regarding the training, recruitment and regulation of public employment in Italy, as well as the role of oversight and judiciary bodies in the practice of public servants’ work. Contributors comprise some of the leading historians, political scientists, lawyers, social scientists and public management scholars from Italy, some of whom have also held key posts in the Italian public sector. It will appeal to students and scholars of public administration, public management and public governance, as well as practitioners with an interest in Italy.

This book examines the significant changes reshaping the European media landscape in the context of rapid technological advancements, political shifts, and economic pressures. It sheds light on the economic, political, and structural forces behind these transformations, focusing particularly on the impact of platformisation, media convergence, and the emergence of new players on media production, distribution, and consumption. At the same time, the book analyses how platform dominance is reshaping European media ownership by fostering mergers and collaborations, while also raising concerns about media concentration. Against this backdrop, it also considers the evolving role of public broadcasters, as governments and policymakers grapple with the challenge of regulating new media realities while maintaining diversity and pluralism. It also discusses the implications of the trends for European identity and the European public sphere, particularly the tension between a top-down, institutional, and regulatory approach to Europeanisation.

Providing a detailed overview of the trends and shifts shaping the future of European media, the book offers key insights into the dynamics and challenges of the contemporary media environment. It will appeal to students, researchers, and media professionals interested in media studies, European studies, international communication, and public policy. Its insightful analysis and empirical grounding enable readers to gain a better understanding of the ongoing transformations in the European media sector and the future direction of the media in the digital platform era.

This book chronicles the pivotal transformations in the United States from 2001 to 2021, with a particular focus on its evolving global image, internal political dynamics, and economic landscape. The phrase "the long two decades" describes a period characterized by a succession of four major crises that profoundly impacted American society and politics: the 9/11 attacks, the invasion of Iraq, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Intriguingly, these contemporary crises parallel four significant events of the 20th century?Pearl Harbor, the Vietnam War, the Great Depression, and the Spanish Flu?that similarly reshaped the nation’s political and social landscape. The book provides historical contexts, examines the duration of these crises, and explores their aftermath effects on American society, while also underscoring the unique differences among them.

This book examines the relationship between artificial intelligence and public policy in Africa. Bringing together academics and experts from multiple governance sectors, it assesses the ways in which AI is being utilised to achieve policy goals, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and how it is being governed. The book adopts a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on insights from political science, law, economics, data science, linguistics and engineering, to explore how national AI strategies are being adapted in different governance sectors across the continent. These include areas such as public safety, economic growth, electoral administration and public accountability. Attention is also given to feminist approaches to AI, and the likelihood of realising responsible AI for future public policy and governance in Africa. Practical policy recommendations are also highlighted, making this an important book for both practitioners and academics interested in African governance, public policy and AI.