From Pariah to Priority gives a unique, insider perspective that explains the unexpected incorporation of LGBTI rights into the United States and Swedish foreign policies. From original data, case study analysis, and interviews with high-level officials within the State Department, Swedish Foreign Ministry and international institutions, former diplomat Elise Carlson Rainer provides insights from leaders responsible for shaping emerging global LGBTI policies. The research findings highlight the advocacy process of reforming US and Swedish foreign policy priorities to include LGBTI rights, shedding light on how normative values evolve in foreign affairs. The book examines Sweden as the first country to implement a feminist foreign policy and commence formal LGBTI diplomacy. Through this lens, Rainer contextualizes the diplomatic precedent of revamping foreign assistance to Uganda when lawmakers there proposed a death penalty law for homosexuality. Scrutinizing effective tactics for advocacy to influence foreign policy, From Pariah to Priority explores not only current debates in the area of gender and sexuality in foreign affairs, but also offers pragmatic policy recommendations for civil society organizations, foreign policy leaders, and human rights practitioners.

Incorporates a unique diplomatic, insider perspective to explain the unexpected incorporation of LGBTI rights into American and Swedish foreign policies.

This book explains how the Sweden Democrats (SD), a populist radical right party, has moved from the fringes into the mainstream of Swedish politics. SD has experienced rapid growth and success in Sweden in recent years. Following the 2022 elections, SD became an official support party to a right of centre minority coalition. The party has managed this sustained electoral growth since it entered parliament in 2010, despite having roots in right-wing extremism, including some links with fascism and nazism. For these reasons it was for many years isolated by other parties, and given an overwhelmingly negative treatment by the media. This book explores the position of SD in the electorate, the changing status of SD among Swedish voters, and how other parties interact with SD. The analysis sheds light on the route into the mainstream of a party without a reputational shield. The argument is that, although the route SD has taken is different, it is only a matter of time before SD will take the final steps into the Swedish political mainstream and reach a position comparable to those of the Danish People’s Party, the Finns Party or the Norwegian Progress Party. The text will be of interest to scholars and students of European politics, comparative politics and populism.

"Despite global progress in understanding the epidemiology of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), knowledge about the epidemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) remains limited and subject to much controversy. In the more than 25 years since the discovery of HIV, no scientific study has provided a comprehensive, data-driven synthesis of the spread of HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) in the region. Consequently, the effectiveness of policies, programs, and resources intended to address the spread of HIV/AIDS has been compromised. This report aims to fill the knowledge gap by providing the first-ever comprehensive scientific assessment and data-driven epidemiological synthesis of HIV's spread in MENA. It is based on a literature review and analysis of thousands of largely unrecognized publications, reports, and data sources extracted from scientific literature or collected from sources at the local, national, and regional levels. The resulting collection of data provides a solid foundation on which efforts to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS can be based. 'Characterizing the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the Middle East and North Africa' will be of particular interest to policy makers, researchers, development practitioners, and specialists in public health and epidemiology."

In the last few years repeated scandals have rocked their worlds of many industries. Stories which have hit the headlines recently have included news of - Deliberate cheating by car makers to evade emissions tests - LIBOR and FX manipulation by bankers - Falsification of drug testing results plus allegations of bribery and corruption in major pharmaceutical corporations - Unlawful tapping of phones of the famous by newspapers - Cover-ups over high death rates in hospitals. While it is not always obvious what has gone wrong, there is no disguising the widespread impact on many stakeholders, and the catastrophic loss of trust and sense of betrayal that results. Matt Nixon has had a privileged insider seat in several of the organizations which came to suffer major crises, crises which inspired deep emotional responses.