Democracies today are in the grip of a myth: the myth of the will of the people. Populist movements use the idea to challenge elected representatives. Politicians, content to invoke the will of the people, fail in their duty to make responsible and accountable decisions. And public contest over political choices is stifled by fears that opposing the will of the people will be perceived as elitist.In this book Albert Weale dissects the idea of the will of the people, showing that it relies on a mythical view of participatory democracy. As soon as a choice between more than two simple alternatives is involved, there is often no clear answer to the question of what a majority favours. Moreover, because governments have to interpret the results of referendums, the will of the people becomes a means for strengthening executive control - the exact opposite of what appealing to the people's will seemed to imply.Weale argues that it's time to dispense with the myth of the will of the people. A flourishing democracy requires an open society in which choices can be challenged, parliaments strengthened and populist leaders called to account.
Language is the medium in which we humans compose our thoughts, explain our thinking, construct our arguments, and create works of literature. Without language, societies as complex as ours could not exist.Geoffrey Pullum offers a stimulating introduction to the many ways in which linguistics, as the scientific study of language, matters. With its close relationships to psychology, education, philosophy, and computer science, the subject has a compelling human story to tell about the ways in which different societies see and describe the world, and its far-reaching applications range from law to medicine and from developmental psychology to artificial intelligence.Introducing Polity's Why It Matters series: In these short and lively books, world-leading thinkers make the case for the importance of their subjects and aim to inspire a new generation of students.
The election of an unabashedly patriarchal man as US President was a shock for many--despite decades of activism on gender inequalities and equal rights, how could it come to this? What is it about patriarchy that seems to make it so resilient and resistant to change? Undoubtedly it endures in part because some people benefit from the unequal advantages it confers. But is that enough to explain its stubborn persistence?In this highly original and persuasively argued book, Carol Gilligan and Naomi Snider put forward a different view: they argue that patriarchy persists because it serves a psychological function. By requiring us to sacrifice love for the sake of hierarchy, patriarchy protects us from the vulnerability of loving and becomes a defense against loss. Uncovering the powerful psychological mechanisms that underpin patriarchy, the authors show how forces beyond our awareness may be driving a politics that otherwise seems inexplicable.
Security intelligence continues to be of central importance to the contemporary world: individuals, organizations and states all seek timely and actionable intelligence in order to increase their sense of security. But what exactly is intelligence? Who seeks to develop it and to what ends? How can we ensure that intelligence is not abused?In this third edition of their classic text, Peter Gill and Mark Phythian set out a comprehensive framework for the study of intelligence, discussing how states organize the collection and analysis of information in order to produce intelligence, how it is acted upon, why it may fail and how the process should be governed in order to uphold democratic rights. Fully revised and updated throughout, the book covers recent developments, including the impact of the Snowden leaks on the role of intelligence agencies in Internet and social media surveillance and in defensive and offensive cyber operations, and the legal and political arrangements for democratic control. The role of intelligence as part of 'hybrid' warfare in the case of Russia and Ukraine is also explored, and the problems facing intelligence in the realm of counterterrorism is considered in the context of the recent wave of attacks in Western Europe.Intelligence in an Insecure World is an authoritative and accessible guide to a rapidly expanding area of inquiry - one that everyone has an interest in understanding.
With more than 500,000 people killed and at least half the population displaced, Syria's conflict is the most deadly of the twenty-first century. Russia's decision to join the war has broken the long military and political stalemate but it looks unlikely to deliver any of the core demands that spawned the original uprising against the Ba'athist regime.In this fully revised second edition of his acclaimed text, Samer Abboud provides an in-depth analysis of Syria's descent into civil war, the subsequent stalemate, and the consequences of Russian military involvement after 2015. He unravels the complex and multi-layered drivers of the conflict and demonstrates how rebel fragmentation, sustained regime violence, international actors, and the emergence of competing centers of power tore Syria apart in wholly irreversible ways. A resolution to the Syrian catastrophe seems to have emerged in the aftermath of Russia's intervention, but, as Abboud argues, this "authoritarian peace" contains the seeds of continued and future conflict in Syria. While the Assad regime has so far survived, the instability, violence, and insecurity that continue to shape everyday life for the Syrian people portend an uncertain future that will have repercussions on the wider Middle East for years to come.
Should African and Muslim-majority countries be obliged to protect LGBT rights, or do such rights violate their cultures? Should Western-based corporations be held liable if their security guards injure union activists in another part of the world, or should such decisions be settled under local or domestic law?In this book, renowned human rights scholar Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann vigorously defends the universality of human rights, arguing that the entire range of rights is necessary for all individuals everywhere, regardless of sex, color, ethnicity, sexuality, religion or social class. Howard-Hassmann grounds her defense of universality in her conception of human dignity, which she maintains must include personal autonomy, equality, respect, recognition, and material security. Only social democracies, she contends, can be considered fully rights-protective states. Taking issue with scholars who argue that human rights are "Western" quasi-imperialist impositions on states in the global South, and risk undermining community and social obligation, Howard-Hassmann explains how human rights support communities and can only be preserved if states and individuals observe their duties to protect them.
Recent startling successes in machine intelligence using a technique called 'deep learning' seem to blur the line between human and machine as never before. Are computers on the cusp of becoming so intelligent that they will render humans obsolete? Harry Collins argues we are getting ahead of ourselves, caught up in images of a fantastical future dreamt up in fictional portrayals. The greater present danger is that we lose sight of the very real limitations of artificial intelligence and readily enslave ourselves to stupid computers: the 'Surrender'.By dissecting the intricacies of language use and meaning, Collins shows how far we have to go before we cannot distinguish between the social understanding of humans and computers. When the stakes are so high, we need to set the bar higher: to rethink 'intelligence' and recognize its inherent social basis. Only if machine learning succeeds on this count can we congratulate ourselves on having produced artificial intelligence.
The updated second edition of the practical guide to international construction contract law The revised second edition of International Construction Contract Law is a comprehensive book that offers an understanding of the legal and managerial aspects of large international construction projects. This practical resource presents an introduction to the global construction industry, reviews the basics of construction projects and examines the common risks inherent in construction projects. The author ΓÇö an expert in international construction contracts ΓÇö puts the focus on FIDIC standard forms and describes their use within various legal systems. This important text contains also a comparison of other common standard forms such as NEC, AIA and VOB, and explains how they are used in a global context. The revised edition of International Construction Contract Law offers additional vignettes on current subjects written by international panel of numerous contributors. Designed to be an accessible resource, the book includes a basic dictionary of construction contract terminology, many sample letters for Claim Management and a wealth of examples and case studies that offer helpful aids for construction practitioners. The second edition of the text includes: ΓÇó Updated material in terms of new FIDIC and NEC Forms published in 2017 ΓÇó Many additional vignettes that clearly exemplify the concepts presented within the text ΓÇó Information that is appropriate for a global market, rather than oriented to any particular legal system ΓÇó The essential tools that were highlighted the first edition such as sample letters, dictionary and more ΓÇó A practical approach to the principles of International Construction Contract Law and construction contract management. Does not get bogged down with detailed legal jargon Written for consulting engineers, lawyers, clients, developers, contractors and construction managers worldwide, the second edition of International Construction Contract Law offers an essential guide to the legal and managerial aspects of large international construction projects.
A survey of astonishing breadth and penetration. No cognitive neuroscientist should ever conduct an experiment in the domain of the emotions without reading this book, twice.Parashkev Nachev, Institute of Neurology, UCLThere is not a slack moment in the whole of this impressive work. With his remarkable facility for making fine distinctions, and his commitment to lucidity, Peter Hacker has subtly characterized those emotions such as pride, shame, envy, jealousy, love or sympathy which make up our all too human nature. This is an important book for philosophers but since most of its illustrative material comes from an astonishing range of British and European literature, it is required reading also for literary scholars, or indeed for anyone with an interest in understanding who and what we are.David Ellis, University of KentHuman beings are all subject to boundless flights of joy and delight, to flashes of anger and fear, to pangs of sadness and grief. We express our emotions in what we do, how we act, and what we say, and we can share our emotions with others and respond sympathetically to their feelings. Emotions are an intrinsic part of the human condition, and any study of human nature must investigate them. In this third volume of a major study in philosophical anthropology which has spanned nearly a decade, one of the most preeminent living philosophers examines and reflects upon the nature of the emotions, advancing the view that novelists, playwrights, and poets - rather than psychologists and cognitive neuroscientists - elaborate the most refined descriptions of their role in human life.In the book's early chapters, the author analyses the emotions by situating them in relation to other human passions such as affections, appetites, attitudes, and agitations. While presenting a detailed connective analysis of the emotions, Hacker challenges traditional ideas about them and criticizes misconceptions held by philosophers, psychologists, and cognitive neuroscientists.With the help of abundant examples and illustrative quotations from the Western literary canon, later sections investigate, describe, and disentangle the individual emotions - pride, arrogance, and humility; shame, embarrassment, and guilt; envy and jealousy; and anger. The book concludes with an analysis of love, sympathy, and empathy as sources of absolute value and the roots of morality.A masterful contribution, this study of the passions is essential reading for philosophers of mind, psychologists, cognitive neuroscientists, students of Western literature, and general readers interested in understanding the nature of the emotions and their place in our lives.
A Companion to Chinese History presents a collection of essays offering a comprehensive overview of the latest intellectual developments in the study of China s history from the ancient past up until the present day.
An important new guide to flexible empirically supported practice in CBT. There is a growing movement across health care to adopt empirically supported practice.
Qualitative Research in Nursing and Healthcare is an invaluable resource for those who carry out qualitative research in the healthcare arena.
A state-of-the-art psychological perspective on positivity and strengths-based approaches at work This handbook makes a unique contribution to organizational psychology and HRM by providing comprehensive international coverage of the contemporary field of positivity and strengths-based approaches at work.
The most comprehensive survey of WittgensteinΓÇÖs thought yet compiled, this volume of fifty newly commissioned essays by leading interpreters of his philosophy is a keynote addition to the Blackwell series on the worldΓÇÖs great philosophers, covering everything from WittgensteinΓÇÖs intellectual development to the latest interpretations of his hugely influential ideas. The lucid, engaging commentary also reviews WittgensteinΓÇÖs historical legacy and his continued impact on contemporary philosophical debate.
Emil Brunner: A Reappraisal presents a comprehensive intellectual history and appraisal of Emil Brunner, the highly influential Swiss theologian who was instrumental in shaping modern Protestant theology. Renowned theologian Alister E.
The Wiley Blackwell Companion to the History of Science is a single volume companion that discusses the history of science as it is done today, providing a survey of the debates and issues that dominate current scholarly discussion, with contributions from leading international scholars.
A collection of essays discussing a wide range of sciences and the central philosophical issues associated with them, presenting the sciences collectively to encourage a greater understanding of their associative theoretical foundations, as well as their relationships to each other.
Written by top practitioner-scholars who bring a critical yet empathetic eye to the topic, this textbook provides a comprehensive look at peace and violence in seven world religions.
A Companion to Schopenhauer provides a comprehensive guide to all the important facets of Schopenhauer s philosophy. The volume contains 26 newly commissioned essays by prominent Schopenhauer scholars working in the field today.
Bringing together the perspectives of more than 40 internationally acclaimed authors, The Handbook of Global Media Research explores competing methodologies in the dynamic field of transnational media and communications, providing valuable insight into research practice in a globalized media landscape.
Now available in a completely revised and updated second edition, Vietnam: Explaining America s Lost War is an award-winning historiography of one of the 20 th century s seminal conflicts.
Taking into account significant developments in the metaphysical thinking of E.J. Lowe over the past 20 years, More Kinds of Being:A Further Study of Individuation, Identity, and the Logic of Sortal Terms presents a thorough reworking and expansion of the 1989 edition of Kinds of Being.
Charting over 45 years of feminist debate on the significance of gender in the making and understanding of art, the long-anticipated new edition of Feminism-Art-Theory has been extensively updated and reworked.
The life story of the Victorian novelist George Eliot is as dramatic and complex as her best plots. This new assessment of her life and work combines recent biographical research with penetrating literary criticism, resulting in revealing new interpretations of her literary work.
An accessible and up-to-date discussion of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders In ABC of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Dr. Munib Haroon delivers an insightful and practical introduction of various neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as discussions of their most common comorbid mental health conditions. The author offers a broad overview of neurodiversity and neurodevelopmental disorders to help you understand how people who are neurodivergent may present in a clinical environment, how they should be assessed, and how they can best be managed. Each chapter provides a list of resources for further reading, exploring these evolving, important, and fascinating topics in greater detail. You#ll also find: A thorough introduction to intellectual developmental disorders, as well as their assessment and diagnosis Comprehensive explorations of the assessment, management, and outcomes of tic disorders Practical discussions of assessing mental health conditions in children and young people with neurodevelopmental disorders Complete treatments of the genetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders A standalone chapter on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Aimed at mental health practitioners, including psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, addiction specialists, and social workers, ABC of Neurodevelopmental Disorders will also benefit healthcare workers who regularly treat neurodivergent people in a variety of settings.
The emergence of the discipline of encapsulation and controlled release has had a great impact on the food and dietary supplements sectors; principally around fortifying food systems with nutrients and health-promoting ingredients.
A Companion to Moral Anthropology features a collection of readings from international experts that explore the various currents, approaches, and issues in the emerging field of moral anthropology. This companion includes coverage of morality and ethics, moral philosophy, moral psychology, evolutionary biology, neuroethics, and bioethics.
This compelling study explores the inextricable links between the Nobel laureate s aesthetic practice and her political vision, through an analysis of the key texts as well as her lesser-studied works, books for children, and most recent novels.
This is a comprehensive collection of original essays that explore the aesthetics, economics, and mechanics of movie adaptation, from the days of silent cinema to contemporary franchise phenomena.
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