Preferential trade agreements have become common ways to protect or restrict access to national markets in products and services. The United States has signed trade agreements with almost two dozen countries as close as Mexico and Canada and as distant as Morocco and Australia. The European Union has done the same. In addition to addressing economic issues, these agreements also regulate the protection of human rights. In Forced to Be Good, Emilie M. Hafner-Burton tells the story of the politics of such agreements and of the ways in which governments pursue market integration policies that advance their own political interests, including human rights.How and why do global norms for social justice become international regulations linked to seemingly unrelated issues, such as trade? Hafner-Burton finds that the process has been unconventional. Efforts by human rights advocates and labor unions to spread human rights ideals, for example, do not explain why American and European governments employ preferential trade agreements to protect human rights. Instead, most of the regulations protecting human rights are codified in global moral principles and laws only because they serve policymakers' interests in accumulating power or resources or solving other problems. Otherwise, demands by moral advocates are tossed aside. And, as Hafner-Burton shows, even the inclusion of human rights protections in trade agreements is no guarantee of real change, because many of the governments that sign on to fair trade regulations oppose such protections and do not intend to force their implementation.Ultimately, Hafner-Burton finds that, despite the difficulty of enforcing good regulations and the less-than-noble motives for including them, trade agreements that include human rights provisions have made a positive difference in the lives of some of the people they are intended-on paper, at least-to protect.

For decades, the Dalai Lama has travelled the world, meeting with people from a wealth of countries who differ greatly in their background, social status and viewpoint, bringing them his own individual wisdom and compassion. In his encounters with everyone from the inhabitants of shantytowns in S�o Paulo and Soweto to heads of state in Davos and Washington D.C., the Dalai Lama saw similar problems: a set of values that have helped the very rich to advance beyond the multitudinous poor, a disregard for the environment that could lead to global catastrophe and governments in paralysis, bereft of positive, progressive policies of any sort. Now, as he turns eighty, having built up a profound knowledge of the world we live in today, as well as a penetrating grasp of its scientific context, the Dalai Lama gives us his vision for a better future. Challenging what he sees as a general mixture of cynicism and self-interest, he offers a radically different perspective and a vision that can be assimilated by people around the globe. From cultivating early on a capacity for caring that transcends religious, ideological and national boundaries, to creating an economic system that applies principals of fairness and which values fulfilment, his argument focuses on what is urgent and why it should matter to each of us. In his unique manifesto, the Dalai Lama presents perspective on the world that can bring hope to millions, that will endure beyond the present day and that has the potential to reshape humanity as we know it.

MARRY THE KING, SAVE THE WORLD When the fae came, their magic brought destruction that only stopped when we offered them the one thing they wanted: Wives for their kings. I was selected "at random". Sacrificed to the fae. But the sexy, infuriating king I'm paired with doesn't want my body or soul; he wants my help. Thanks to some kind of prophecy, he and his people think I can get them back home. Getting them back home will require taking some of the king's magic, which is unstable on the best of days and catastrophic on the worst. When the power takes more effort to control than I would've ever guessed, and I'm forced to turn to my husband for help. But the fae never give anything away for free; especially knowledge. It was supposed to be simple: Marry the king, save the world. But now that we're married, and his power is becoming mine, our marriage might end up destroying the world... and I might be the one who destroys it. If you love books by Jennifer L Armentrout, Holly Black, Elise Kova, or Jaymin Eve, you'll devour this slow-burn enemies-to-lovers fae romance featuring an exciting new take on mermaids, faeries, dragons, and more!

Forced ranking assesses employee performance relative to peers rather than against predetermined goals. It's a performance management tool that—when used right—has increased productivity, profitability, and shareholder value. Unfortunately, some firms have misunderstood what forced ranking is, or have implemented it poorly—resulting in confusion and controversy. In this hands-on book, renowned performance management expert Dick Grote dispels common misperceptions about forced ranking and offers a clear-headed, convincing argument for why it should be a necessary part of any robust performance appraisal system. Based on extensive research, case studies, and consulting experience, the book provides a practical framework for developing a forced-ranking system that is fair, humane, and effective. From establishing appropriate guidelines to accurately categorizing employees, to managing A, B, and C talent differently, Grote shows how managers can use this tool to identify future leaders, give honest performance feedback, and grow the talent that matters most to the firm's success. Transforming a controversial management practice into a practical and powerful leadership-development tool, Forced Ranking will help organizations and their employees reach new heights of performance success.