Sovereignty is a key factor to consider when studying the Mexico-United States relationship. During most of the twentieth century, as a result of the new character of the Mexican post-revolutionary regime, there was a decoupling between the state’s maximalist discourse on sovereignty, and its practice. Sovereignty as an undifferentiated whole does not exist; it should instead be disaggregated into the myriad issue areas in which it is constantly negotiated. Focusing on a tripartite classification relating to the construction of Mexico’s sovereignty towards its northern neighbor since 1920, this volume illustrates how Mexico’s sovereignty has varied not only according to the times, but also according to the issues at stake. In doing so, Arturo Santa-Cruz comprehensively covers a variety of issues in the bilateral agenda such as drug trafficking, electoral observation, human rights, investment, migration, security, and trade, as well as some defining moments in the relationship, such as the 1923 US granting of recognition to the Mexican post-revolutionary regime, the 1938 oil nationalization, the 1982 debt crisis, and the 1995 financial bailout. These diverse cases, analyzed through an original analytical approach, capture sovereignty’s multifocal meaning.

Andrea Cornwall is Professor of Anthropology and Development in the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex. --

The book provides an up-to-date analysis of the restructuring of public service employment relations in six European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark and the UK. Each of the chapters on national systems is organized around a set of themes and policy issues including: * the impact of fiscal crises, and increasing macro-economic integration within the European Union, on the scope and organization of public services * changes in the patterns and status of public service employment * the shift from centralized administration to new models of devolved management * changes in the organization and policies of public service trade unions * reforms in the structure, process and outcome of collective bargaining * patterns of conflict and cooperation between unions, managers and the state. Written and edited by some of the country's primary authorities on public sector industrial relations, this outstanding book on this high profile field is sure to be a valuable resource for those studying this important topic.

Many countries are currently debating the merits and implications of a federal-type dispensation. Some fear that it may encourage regional apartheid and discrimination, while others see it as a cohesive force. Federalism, however, has many faces and applications, and it offers a host of ways to accommodate the constitutional needs of a particular country. Evaluating Federal Systemsillustrates and compares a variety of experiences that countries across the world have had in the practical application of federal principles, and moots a long-felt need by analyzing recent international developments in federalism and regionalism. Contributions from world-renowned scholars in the theory and application of federal principles mean that the book will be of great value to all involved in the study and management of federal-type systems.

3. Investing in people.

The authors of this volume explore general themes of managerial public administration and government reform, then focus on specific Latin American experiences and trends. Discussions of accountability, empowerment, citizen values and new institutions are also included.