Embodying Democracy analyzes the politics of electoral reform in eight post-communist states including Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia and Ukraine. By exploring the multiple factors that shaped the design of electoral institutions during the first ten years of post-communist transition, it accounts for an important element of the post-communist reform process and illuminates general features of institutional design in post-transition states.

When and why do democratic political actors change the electoral rules, particularly regarding who is included in a country’s political representation? The incidences of these major electoral reforms have been on the rise since 1980. Electoral Reform and the Fate of New Democracies argues that elite inexperience may constrain self-interest and lead elites to undertake incremental approaches to reform, aiding the process of democratic consolidation. Using a multimethods approach, the book examines three consecutive periods of reform in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim majority country and third largest democracy, between 1999 and 2014. Each case study provides an in-depth process tracing of the negotiations leading to new reforms, including key actors in the legislature, domestic civil society, international experts, and government bureaucrats. A series of counterfactual analyses assess the impact the reforms had on actual election outcomes, versus the possible alternative outcomes of different reform options discussed during negotiations. With a comparative analysis of nine cases of iterated reform processes in other new democracies, the book confirms the lessons from the Indonesian case and highlights key lessons for scholars and electoral engineers.

International immigration, massive migrations, economic globalization and a world-wide communications revolution have brought about a mixing of races, cultures and lifestyles unprecedented in human history. What are the implications of this phenomenon? What options present themselves...a battle of cultures for power; a move toward communitarian cooperation, or, something new, the evolution of racially and culturally mixed societies? Anthropologist and sociologist Jacques Audinet proposes an alternative to culture wars and simple multiculturalism as he explores the history and evolution of mestizaje, the mixing of races and cultures resulting in a third and new force able to ease the tensions between the original two. Audinet reviews the tragic history of imperial and colonial conquests and traces the growth of mestizaje, especially stimulated by literature, music and sports. Audinet argues that, instead of chasing or preserving the illusion of "pure" races, we need to face the shifting boundaries of peoples and cultures. He acknowledges the uncertainty of the changes, but emphasizes the essential role that mestizaje can play in the avoidance of racial and cultural clashes while pursuing equality as part of the promise of a democratic society.

American democracy is at an inflection point. With voting rights challenged, election results undermined, and even the US Capitol violently attacked, many Americans feel powerless to save their nation’s democratic institutions from the forces dismantling them. Yet, as founders like Benjamin Franklin knew from the start, the health of America’s democracy depends on the actions its citizens are willing to take to preserve it. To Keep the Republic is a wake-up call about the responsibilities that come with being a citizen in a participatory democracy. It describes the many ways that individuals can make a difference on both local and national levels—and explains why they matter. Political scientist Elizabeth C. Matto highlights the multiple facets of democratic citizenship, identifies American democracy’s sometimes competing values and ideals, and explains how civic engagement can take various forms, including political conversation. Combining political philosophy with concrete suggestions for how to become a more engaged citizen, To Keep the Republic reminds us that democracy is not a spectator sport; it only works when we get off the sidelines and enter the political arena to make our voices heard.

The benchmark first and second editions of Comparing Democracies represented essential guides to the global study of elections. Reflecting recent developments in the field, this timely third edition gives an indispensable state-of-the art review of the whole field from the world's leading international scholars. With a completely new thematic introduction which explores how democracy is built and sustained, thoroughly updated chapters (many of which are also new) , the third edition provides a theoretical and comparative understanding of the major topics related to elections and introduces important work on key new areas. Comparing Democracies, third edition will remain a must-read for students and lecturers of elections and voting behaviour, comparative politics, parties, and democracy. Contents: Introduction: Building and Sustaining Democracy Lawrence LeDuc, Richard G. Niemi, and Pippa Norris PART I: ELECTORAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROCESSES Electoral Systems and Election Management Elisabeth Carter and David M. Farrell Political Parties and Party Systems Susan E. Scarrow Party and Campaign Finance Ingrid van Biezen Election Campaigns Christopher Wlezien Campaign Communications and Media Claes H. de Vreese PART II: PUBLIC OPINION AND VOTING Ideology, Partisanship and Democratic Development Russell J. Dalton Political Participation André Blais Elections and the Economy Timothy Hellwig Women and Elections Marian Sawer Conclusion The Consequences of Elections G. Bingham Powell

Covers all the core areas of human rights law, combining an engaging approach with helpful learning features and plenty of headings to make this an ideal text for those new to the subject Summaries, definitions, discussion topics and further reading references are integrated throughout the text and presented in a fresh colour design to illuminate legal complexities and highlight essential concepts Reflective questions are included at the end of each chapter, with suggested key issues for consideration provided on the book's accompanying website. These encourage students to reinforce their learning and foster best practice in developing a reasoned and structured approach to problem solving An accompanying website provides updates on case law and legislative developments as well as an interactive test bank of multiple choice questions to help students consolidate their knowledge Fresh two-colour text design makes the book easy to navigate and highlights cross references and learning features Human Rights Law is written in an engaging and lively manner with an emphasis on explaining the key topics covered on human rights law courses with clarity. No previous knowledge of the subject is assumed but the book provides a thorough introduction to the Human Rights Act 1998 and the way in which the Act gives effect to the European Convention on Human Rights. It looks at the main terms and implications of the convention rights themselves, highlighting some of the more complex and controversial issues of the subject.

This book provides educators with guidance on studying and practicing a curriculum problem solving artistry that is focused on deepening students’ subject matter understandings through democratic self and social understandings. The book begins with a discussion of seven principles of curriculum leadership, which provide a framework for the presentation of a theoretical platform that guides a four-phased process. The curriculum problem solving has four interrelated phases, and advice on studying and practicing each phase has been organized into separate chapters using a montage format incorporating inquiry prompts, supportive quotations, critical commentaries, practical tips, narrative illustrations, and study recommendations. There is a continuous recognition of the ways in which the four phases are folded into one another in highly interactive ways; hence, the problem solving approach is described as a fourfold process. The text concludes with an epilogue honoring the disciplined journey of understanding and the pursuit of professional virtues that are central to the cultivation of problem solving artistry. An ethical oath that was created by twenty Ohio teacher leaders serves as a collegial pledge to embrace this disciplinary commitment.